Operation, Analysis, and Design of Signalized Intersections

Operation, Analysis, and Design of Signalized Intersections
Author: Michael Kyte
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2014-07-04
Genre: Roads
ISBN: 9781500204365

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Before they begin their university studies, most students have experience with traffic signals, as drivers, pedestrians and bicycle riders. One of the tasks of the introductory course in transportation engineering is to portray the traffic signal control system in a way that connects with these experiences. The challenge is to reveal the system in a simple enough way to allow the student "in the door," but to include enough complexity so that this process of learning about signalized intersections is both challenging and rewarding. We have approached the process of developing this module with the following guidelines: * Focusing on the automobile user and pretimed signal operation allows the student to learn about fundamental principles of a signalized intersection, while laying the foundation for future courses that address other users (pedestrians, bicycle riders, public transit operators) and more advanced traffic control schemes such as actuated control, coordinated signal systems, and adaptive control. * Queuing models are presented as a way of learning about the fundamentals of traffic flow at a signalized intersection. A graphical approach is taken so that students can see how flow profile diagrams, cumulative vehicle diagrams, and queue accumulation polygons are powerful representations of the operation and performance of a signalized intersection. * Only those equations that students can apply with some degree of understanding are presented. For example, the uniform delay equation is developed and used as a means of representing intersection performance. However, the second and third terms of the Highway Capacity Manual delay equation are not included, as students will have no basis for understanding the foundation of these terms. * Learning objectives are clearly stated at the beginning of each section so that the student knows what is to come. At the end of each section, the learning objectives are reiterated along with a set of concepts that students should understand once they complete the work in the section. * Over 70 figures are included in the module. We believe that graphically illustrating basic concepts is an important way for students to learn, particularly for queuing model concepts and the development of the change and clearance timing intervals. * Over 50 computational problems and two field exercises are provided to give students the chance to test their understanding of the material. The sequence in which concepts are presented in this module, and the way in which more complex ideas build on the more fundamental ones, was based on our study of student learning in the introductory course. The development of each concept leads to an element in the culminating activity: the design and evaluation of a signal timing plan in section 9. For example, to complete step 1 of the design process, the student must learn about the sequencing and control of movements, presented in section 3 of this module. But to determine split times, step 6 of the design process, four concepts must be learned including flow (section 2), sequencing and control of movements (section 3), sufficiency of capacity (section 6), and cycle length and splits (section 8). Depending on the pace desired by the instructor, this material can be covered in 9 to 12 class periods.

Traffic Data Collection and Analysis

Traffic Data Collection and Analysis
Author: Alexander French
Publisher: Transportation Research Board National Research
Total Pages: 68
Release: 1986
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN:

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This synthesis will be of interest to traffic engineers, highway planners, and others concerned with the collection of traffic data for traffic engineering studies, for long-range planning, and for evaluation of traffic law enforcement. Information is presented on current practice in traffic data collection and analysis. Although types of highway traffic data collected over the past 50 years have not changed significantly, the quantities, analysis procedure, and presentations of these data have changed as a result of changing policies, operational concerns, and capabilities resulting from new technologies. This report of the Transportation Research Board describes the technology (both hardware and software) that is being used for traffic data collection, and discusses technological advances that have not yet been applied to the acquisition and presentation of traffic data.

Traffic Signal Timing Manual

Traffic Signal Timing Manual
Author: U.s. Department of Transportation
Publisher: CreateSpace
Total Pages: 286
Release: 2015-02-20
Genre: Transportation
ISBN: 9781508557173

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This report serves as a comprehensive guide to traffic signal timing and documents the tasks completed in association with its development. The focus of this document is on traffic signal control principles, practices, and procedures. It describes the relationship between traffic signal timing and transportation policy and addresses maintenance and operations of traffic signals. It represents a synthesis of traffic signal timing concepts and their application and focuses on the use of detection, related timing parameters, and resulting effects to users at the intersection. It discusses advanced topics briefly to raise awareness related to their use and application. The purpose of the Signal Timing Manual is to provide direction and guidance to managers, supervisors, and practitioners based on sound practice to proactively and comprehensively improve signal timing. The outcome of properly training staff and proactively operating and maintaining traffic signals is signal timing that reduces congestion and fuel consumption ultimately improving our quality of life and the air we breathe. This manual provides an easy-to-use concise, practical and modular guide on signal timing. The elements of signal timing from policy and funding considerations to timing plan development, assessment, and maintenance are covered in the manual. The manual is the culmination of research into practices across North America and serves as a reference for a range of practitioners, from those involved in the day to day management, operation and maintenance of traffic signals to those that plan, design, operate and maintain these systems.

Effective Experiment Design and Data Analysis in Transportation Research

Effective Experiment Design and Data Analysis in Transportation Research
Author:
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
Total Pages: 89
Release: 2012
Genre: Experimental design
ISBN: 0309258499

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This report describes the factors that should be considered in designing experiments and presents 21 typical transportation examples illustrating the experiment design process, including selection of appropriate statistical tests. The examples encompass a wide range of transportation disciplines and statistical methods. This report will be very beneficial to anyone with limited research experience needing to answer a question based on data (e.g., presenting ozone concentrations in a region, determining whether a contractor's quality assurance/quality control procedures are adequate, estimating the effect of automated enforcement on speeds, monitoring trends in the condition of bridge superstructures, developing a user survey to determine the impact of transit fare changes). The report is a companion to NCHRP CD-22, Scientific Approaches to Transportation Research, Volumes 1 and 2, which were developed in NCHRP Project 20-45 and present detailed information on statistical methods.

Using Digital Video Analysis to Monitor Driver Behavior at Intersections

Using Digital Video Analysis to Monitor Driver Behavior at Intersections
Author: Derrick Parkhurst
Publisher:
Total Pages: 58
Release: 2006
Genre: Automobile drivers
ISBN:

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Commercially available instruments for road-side data collection take highly limited measurements, require extensive manual input, or are too expensive for widespread use. However, inexpensive computer vision techniques for digital video analysis can be applied to automate the monitoring of driver, vehicle, and pedestrian behaviors. These techniques can measure safety-related variables that cannot be easily measured using existing sensors. The use of these techniques will lead to an improved understanding of the decisions made by drivers at intersections. These automated techniques allow the collection of large amounts of safety-related data in a relatively short amount of time. There is a need to develop an easily deployable system to utilize these new techniques. This project implemented and tested a digital video analysis system for use at intersections. A prototype video recording system was developed for field deployment. A computer interface was implemented and served to simplify and automate the data analysis and the data review process. Driver behavior was measured at urban and rural non-signalized intersections. Recorded digital video was analyzed and used to test the system.