Analysis and Comparative Study of Signalized and Unsignalized Intersection Operations and Energy-Emission Characteristics Based on Real Vehicle Data

Abstract

With the development of the economy, urban road transportation has been continuously improved, and the number of motor vehicles has also increased significantly, leading to serious energy consumption issues. As critical nodes in the urban road transportation network, intersections have become a focal point of research on vehicle energy consumption. To investigate whether traffic signal lights affect fuel consumption and emissions, this study analyzed the operating characteristics, fuel consumption, and emissions of intersections with and without traffic signal lights using real-world vehicle data. The data from the INTERACTION dataset for both signalized intersection VA and unsignalized intersection MA are used in the study, with a time duration of 3200 s. The VT-micro energy consumption and emissions model was applied to calculate and comprehensively analyze the vehicle flow, fuel consumption, and emissions. Additionally, the study compared the fuel consumption and emissions for different driving scenarios, including straight through, left turn, right turn, and U-turn, within a single traffic signal cycle. The results revealed that at signalized intersections, the average fuel consumption per vehicle was 26.54 L/100 km, NOx emissions were 68.76 g/100 km, and CO2 emissions were 61.07 g/100 km. In contrast, at unsignalized intersections, the average fuel consumption per vehicle was 46.88 L/100 km, NOx emissions were 149.26 g/100 km, and CO2 emissions were 107.16 g/100 km. The study indicated that for traffic volumes between 50 and 103 vehicles per 100 s, signalized intersections demonstrated better fuel consumption and emission performance than unsignalized intersections. Signalized intersections could accommodate larger traffic volumes and provide enhanced traffic safety. In conclusion, the findings of this study are important for urban traffic planning and environmental policies. They provide a scientific basis for reducing fuel consumption and emissions and improving road traffic efficiency. Due to the advantages of signalized intersections in terms of energy consumption and emissions, future urban traffic planning should consider more signal light controls to achieve energy savings, emission reduction, and improved traffic operation efficiency.