Time Optimization for Real Time Traffic Signal Control System Using Genetic Algorithm

Abstract

In this paper, a traffic signal control strategy is provided using genetic algorithms to provide near optimal traffic performance for intersections. Real-time traffic signal control is an integral part of the urban traffic control system and providing effective real-time traffic signal control for a large complex traffic network is an extremely challenging distributed control problem. The developed system makes decisions as to whether to extend green time for a set of signals. The model is developed using genetic algorithm implemented in MATLAB. A traffic emulator is developed in JAVA to represent dynamic traffic conditions. The emulator conducts surveillance after fixed interval of time and sends the data to genetic algorithm, which then provides optimum green time extensions and optimizes signal timings in real time. The optimization parameters are - total number of vehicles in a road and importance of the road in the intersection. In the end, by comparing the experimental result obtained by the fixed time and real time based traffic systems which improves significant performance for intersections, we confirmed the efficiency of our intelligent real time based control system.