Overview and Modeling Capabilities of an Event-Based Signal Controller

Abstract

Developing appropriate signal timing strategies is a primary concern in traffic signal control; however, professionals are constrained by predefined controller options. Existing signal controllers in North America adhere to National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) standards with ring-barrier control (RBC) design. Due to unique traffic conditions and objectives for each traffic mode, conflicts arise, making it challenging to devise suitable traffic control strategies within current controllers. The limitations include inflexibility in defining pretimed signal diagrams, modifying them, and defining algorithms for modification. This paper introduces the event-based controller (EBC) framework, implemented in DUMKA_E software, capable of replicating NEMA-based RBC functionalities while providing additional flexibility beyond conventional RBC controllers. The EBC eliminates the asymmetry of flexibilities in existing traffic controller frameworks, addressing the challenges mentioned. Overcoming critical limitations of RBC, such as barrier constraints and restricted functionalities to built-in algorithms, the EBC empowers professionals to craft custom traffic signal control strategies. Unlike approaches enhancing RBC with complex computation, the EBC offers flexible functionalities without sacrificing simplicity. The study shows that the EBC’s fundamental concepts are no more intricate than RBC’s, positioning the EBC as a potential traffic controller framework. The paper establishes the EBC’s capability to reproduce RBC controllers’ core logic, showcasing advanced abilities for more efficient control logic than RBC. The EBC’s functionalities enable context-sensitive traffic signal control strategies, catering to special conditions like multi-modal activities and diverse priority requests, highlighting its full potential.