ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC CONTROL

An adaptive traffic control system was developed where the traffic load is continuously measured by loop detectors connected to a microcontroller-based system which also performs all intersection control functions. Intersection controllers of an area are interconnected with a communication network through which traffic load and synchronization information is exchanged. As a result, the duration and relative phases of each traffic light cycle change dynamically. The new architecture is completely distributed and eliminates the need for a central computer to individually control traffic lights. For the basic function of the system only the intersection controllers are required. The connection of the central computer is needed only for system surveillance and for traffic data collection and storage.