LINJA II
Project: Fuzzy control for public transport priorities and areal traffic signal control (ID 106)

Project description

New methods, like fuzzy logic and neural networks are coming into the field of adaptive traffic signal control. Nowadays, the aim at the Helsinki University of Technology, Laboratory of Transportation Engineering, is to apply fuzzy logic in adaptive traffic signal control. The main goals of our FUSICO-research project are theoretical analysis of fuzzy traffic signal control, generalized fuzzy rules for traffic signal control using linguistic variables, validation of fuzzy control principles and calibration of membership functions, and development of a fuzzy adaptive signal controller. The vehicle-actuated control strategies, like SOS, MOVA and LHOVRA, are the control algorithms of the first generation. The fuzzy control algorithm can be one of the algorithms of the second generation, the generation of artificial intelligence (AI). The fuzzy control is capable of handling multi-objective, multi-dimensional and complicated traffic situations, like traffic signalling. The typical advantages of fuzzy control are simple process, effective control and better quality.

Project results

The results of this project have indicated that fuzzy signal control is the potential control method for isolated intersections. The comparison results of Pappis-Mamdani control, fuzzy isolated pedestrian crossing and fuzzy two-phase control are good. The results of isolated pedestrian crossing indicate that the fuzzy control provides the effective compromise between the two opposing objectives, minimum pedestrian delay and minimum vehicle delay. The results of two-phase control and Pappis-Mamdani control indicate that the application area of fuzzy control is very wide. The maximum delay improvement was more than 20 %, which means that the efficiency of fuzzy control can be better than the efficiency of traditional vehicle-actuated control.

According to these results, we can say that the fuzzy signal control can be multi-objective and more efficient than conventional adaptive signal control nowadays. The biggest benefits can, probably, be achieved in more complicated intersections and environments. The FUSICO-project continues. The aim is to move step by step to more complicated traffic signals and to continue the theoretical work of fuzzy control. The first example will be the public transport priorities.

Timetable

The research project has been implemented during 1998-1999.

Researchers and contacts