Controlling Traffic Congestion in a Residential Area via GLOSA Development

Abstract

The phenomenon of traffic congestion started in the second half of the twentieth century. This arose because of our society’s constant increase in demand for mobility. The excessive traffic of vehicles attempting to use the same infrastructure at the same time is what causes congestion. The consequences are well-known: delays, air pollution, reduced speed, and dissatisfaction (which may lead to risky maneuvers, reducing pedestrian and other driver safety). Our objective is to simulate the change in traffic patterns brought about by app users in residential areas (using navigational tools like Google Maps and Apple Maps), where the majority of navigational tools provide shortcuts that go through residential areas. In addition to discouraging navigation apps from directing drivers through residential areas during peak hours to mitigate pollution levels, by developing an algorithm based on the technology of Green Light Optimized Speed Advisory (GLOSA) and implementing it in a simulated environment (VISSIM), we can see the effect of changing the duration of red lights while keeping green lights constant. Overall, this solution can be implemented to change the times of traffic lights without the need for supplies, additional equipment, or warning signs because most cities’ traffic lights are already remotely controlled. In addition, this procedure is temporary to provide some freedom and does not adhere to the speed specified for drivers who wish to pass through residential areas outside of rush hour.