Search

One of the focal points in the field of intelligent transportation is the intelligent control of traffic signals (TS), aimed at enhancing the efficiency of urban road networks through specific algorithms. Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) algorithms have become mainstream, yet they suffer from inefficient training sample selection, leading to slow convergence. Additionally, enhancing model robustness is crucial for adapting to diverse traffic conditions. Hence, this paper proposes an enhanced method for traffic signal control (TSC) based on DRL. This approach utilizes dueling network and double q-learning to alleviate the overestimation issue of DRL. Additionally, it introduces a priority sampling mechanism to enhance the utilization efficiency of samples in memory. Moreover, noise parameters are integrated into the neural network model during training to bolster its robustness. By representing high-dimensional real-time traffic information as matrices, and employing a phase-cycled action space to guide the decision-making of intelligent agents. Additionally, utilizing a reward function that closely mirrors real-world scenarios to guide model training. Experimental results demonstrate faster convergence and optimal performance in metrics such as queue length and waiting time. Testing experiments further validate the method's robustness across different traffic flow scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic lights are crucial for urban traffic management, as they significantly impact congestion reduction and travel safety. Traditional methods relying on hand-crafted rules and operator experience are limited in their ability to adapt to changing traffic environments. To address this challenge, we have been exploring intelligent traffic light control using deep reinforcement learning techniques. However, current approaches often suffer from inadequate training data and unstable training processes, leading to suboptimal performance and real-world consequences. In this study, we propose RELight, a novel random ensemble reinforcement learning-based traffic light control framework. RELight effectively utilizes collected empirical data, ensuring a stable and efficient training process. To evaluate the performance of our proposed framework, we conducted a comprehensive set of experiments on a variety of datasets, including four synthetic datasets and a real traffic dataset collected from surveillance cameras at an intersection in Hangzhou, China. The results show that RELight outperforms existing approaches, demonstrating its superiority and potential for practical traffic light control applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban traffic congestion is of utmost importance for modern societies due to population and economic growth. Thus, it contributes to environmental problems like increasing greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution. Improved traffic flow in urban networks relies heavily on traffic signal control. Hence, optimizing cycle timing at many intersections is paramount to reducing congestion and increasing sustainability. This paper introduces an alternative to conventional traffic signal control, EcoLight+, which incorporates future noise predictions with the deep dueling Q-network reinforcement Learning algorithm to reduce noise levels, CO 2 emissions, and fuel consumption. An innovative data fusion approach is also proposed to improve our LSTM-based noise prediction model by integrating heterogeneous data from different sources. Our proposed solution allows the system to achieve higher efficiency than its competitors based on real-world data from Tallinn, Estonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperation between intersections in large-scale road networks is critical in traffic congestion. Currently, most traffic signals cooperate via pre-defined timing phases, which is extremely inefficient in real-time traffic scenarios. Most existing studies on multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) traffic signal control have focused on designing efficient communication methods, but have ignored the importance of how agents interact in cooperative communication. To achieve more efficient cooperation among traffic signals and alleviate urban traffic congestion, this study constructs a Graph Cooperation Q-learning Network Traffic Signal Control (GCQN-TSC) model, which is a graph cooperation network with an embedded self-attention mechanism that enables agents to adjust their attention in real time according to the dynamic traffic flow information, perceive the traffic environment quickly and effectively in a larger range, and help agents achieve more effective collaboration. Moreover, the Deep Graph Q-learning (DGQ) algorithm is proposed in this model to optimize the traffic signal control strategy according to the spatio-temporal characteristics of different traffic scenes and provide the optimal signal phase for each intersection. This study also integrates the ecological traffic concept into MARL traffic signal control, which aims to reduce traffic exhaust emissions. Finally, the proposed GCQN-TSC is experimentally validated both in a synthetic traffic grid and a real-world traffic network using the SUMO simulator. The experimental results show that GCQN-TSC outperforms other traffic signal control methods in almost all performance metrics, including average queue length and waiting time, as it can aggregate information acquired from collaborative agents and make network-level signal optimization decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic congestion is becoming a serious problem with the large number of vehicle on the roads. In the traditional traffic control system, the timing of the green light is adjusted regardless of the average traffic rate at the junction. Many strategies have been introduced to solve and improve vehicle management. However, in order to handle road traffic issues, an intelligent traffic management solution is required. This article represents a self adaptive real-time traffic light control algorithm based on the traffic flow. We present a machine learning approach coupled with image processing to manage the traffic clearance at the signal junction. The proposed system utilizes single image processing via neural network and You Only Look Once (YOLOv3) framework to establish traffic clearance at the signal. We employed YOLO architectures because it is accurate in terms of mean average precision (mAP), interaction over union (IOU) values and fast in object detection tasks as well. It runs significantly faster than other detection methods with comparable performance. The average processing time of single image was estimated to be 1.3 s. Further based on the input from YOLO we estimated the 'on' time period green light for effective traffic clearance. Several real time parameters like number of vehicles (two wheelers, four wheelers), road width and junction crossing time are considered to estimate the 'on'time of green light. Moreover, we used the real traffic images to test the performance and trained the system with different dataset. Our experiments investigation reveals that the predicted vehicle counts were well matched with the actual vehicle count and proposed method apprehended an average accuracy of 81.1%. The reported strategy is self adaptive, highly accurate, fast and has the potential to be implemented in the traffic clearance at the junctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though effective in theoretical simulation, the established traffic control models and optimization algorithms will result in model mismatch or even control strategy failure in actual application. However, they are commonly adopted in traffic signal control research, resulting in the unavailability of many exceptional control algorithms in practice. Simulation should function as a bridge between theoretical research and actual application, allowing the gap between the two to be communicated and made up for. However, an effective connection between the two has yet to be established to enable simulation methods in existing traffic control research. To this end, we designed and developed a simulation platform for "Online Application—HILS (Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation)—Practice" integration over traffic signal control. In this paper, the architecture and characteristics of the integrated simulation platform were described. Besides, the function of each module of the platform was detailed, followed by listing simulation examples for six complex scenarios, with the active control scenario being selected for simulation comparison analysis. The findings demonstrated extensive road network simulation with the integrated simulation platform, multidimensional control variables, control strategies with support, as well as stable and reliable operation. It can be used to verify several sorts of traffic control simulation with variable dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the population increasing so high, and traffic density remaining the same, traffic prediction has become a great challenge today. Creating a higher degree of communication in automobiles results in the time wastage, fuel wastage, environmental damage, and even death caused by citizens being trapped in the middle of traffic. Only a few researchers work in traffic congestion prediction and control systems, but it may provide less accuracy. So, this paper proposed an efficient IoT-based traffic prediction using OWENN algorithm and traffic signal control system using Intel 80,286 microprocessor for a smart city. The proposed system consists of '5' phases, namely IoT data collection, feature extraction, classification, optimized traffic IoT values, and traffic signal control system. Initially, the IoT traffic data are collected from the dataset. After that, traffic, weather, and direction information are extracted, and these extracted features are given as input to the OWENN classifier, which classifies which place has more traffic. Suppose one direction of the place has more traffic, it optimizes the IoT values by using IBSO, and finally, the traffic is controlled by using Intel 80,286 microprocessor. An efficient OWENN algorithm for traffic prediction and traffic signal control using a Intel 80,286 microprocessor for a smart city. After extracting the features, the classification is performed in this step. Hereabout, the classification is done by using the optimized weight Elman neural network (OWENN) algorithm that classifies which places have more traffic. OWENN attains 98.23% accuracy than existing model also its achieved 96.69% F-score than existing model. The experimental results show that the proposed system outperforms state-of-the-art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vehicle traffic in large cities is increasing every day. Despite the significant development of telecommunications, communication between such vehicles must still evolve to make mobility smarter. Many studies have been carried out to enable a network between vehicles and computational infrastructures, called Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks (VANETs). Within the context of VANETs, traffic lights can play an important role in exchanging information with vehicles to reduce congestion. Intelligent traffic lights aim to manage intersections in urban traffic and avoid idle roads. Several research topics have already been explored related to smart traffic control such as network latency, people safety, driver assistance, among others. However, given the variety of problems and solutions, it is complex to identify research trends and gaps related to smart traffic field without a systematic review. This paper presents a systematic review of smart traffic in the context of VANETs. The paper selection was started with 1117 works followed with three processes of refinement wherein 115 papers were selected to thorough revision. The remaining 115 papers were cataloged and classified according to three criteria general focus, evaluation method, and communication type. The review revealed research gaps and trends in the area of smart traffic. This work provides a list of references to find the mapped papers, thus being able to guide more reliable research studies. Besides, we identify research challenges and directions based on the set of papers that were studied. The research challenges are presented according to the main topics explored in this systematic review: security, physical safety of people and protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intersection control has an important role in the management of urban traffic to ensure safety, high traffic flow and to prevent congestion. Recently, a growing body of literature has been reported on the theme of non-signalised intersection control in which traffic lights are replaced with intelligent road side units. Data from several studies suggest that non-signalised control could reduce vehicle delays and fuel consumption significantly whilst ensuring safety. However, there is little published data on the impact of the mixed driving behaviour with human-driven vehicles and autonomous vehicles. This paper investigates the emerging role of connectivity and vehicle autonomy in the context of traffic control under the mixed driving behaviour scenario. The concepts of vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications and multi-agent systems are central to achieving a robust and reliable traffic-light-free intersection control. Comprehensive computer simulation results on a four-way intersection indicate over 96% reduced average vehicle delay and 37% less fuel consumption with the non-signalised control solution compared to the traffic light control. The outcome of this study offers some important insights into enabling cooperation between vehicles and traffic infrastructure via V2I communications, in order to make more efficient real-time decisions about traffic conditions, whilst ensuring a higher degree of safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]