VITAL: traffic signal control based on C2I communication data – application and results from the field

Abstract

The aim of the research project VITAL (Vehicle-Actuated Intelligent Traffic Signal Control) was to implement and to test two novel signal control methods in the field. The two new approaches are the delay-based control and the cooperative control which are based on vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) communication data. The two test intersections used for validation are located in the German cities of Halle (Saale) and Braunschweig. Before applying the controls in the field, they were benchmarked in simulation studies and prepared in the traffic signal laboratory of DLR for implementation. The test intersections had to be adapted with additional detection and controlling equipment, and the vehicle-actuated controllers were modified. After these preparations the two new VITAL control approaches were activated for test runs with durations of several weeks. The measured data showed that the two new VITAL control methods work as well or better than the existing reference controls.