Application of stochastic optimization method for an urban corridor

Abstract

This paper presents a stochastic traffic signal optimization method that consists of the CORSIM microscopic traffic simulation model and a heuristic optimizer. For the heuristic optimizer, the performance of three widely used optimization methods (i.e., genetic algorithm, simulated annealing and OptQuest Engine) was compared using a real world test corridor with 12 signalized intersections in Fairfax, Virginia, USA. The performance of the proposed stochastic optimization method was compared with an existing signal timing optimization program, SYNCHRO, under microscopic simulation environment. The results indicated that the genetic algorithm-based optimization method out-performs the SYNCHRO program as well as the other stochastic optimization methods in the optimization of traffic signal timings for the test corridor.