Emergency Vehicle Safety Initiative


Book Description

From Book's Introduction: As traffic volume increases and the highway and interstate system becomes more complex, emergency responders face a growing risk to their personal safety while managing and working at highway incidents. The purpose of this report is to identify practices that have the potential to decrease that risk, as well as to reduce the number of injuries and deaths that occur while responding to and returning from incidents.







Traffic Signal Timing Manual


Book Description

This report serves as a comprehensive guide to traffic signal timing and documents the tasks completed in association with its development. The focus of this document is on traffic signal control principles, practices, and procedures. It describes the relationship between traffic signal timing and transportation policy and addresses maintenance and operations of traffic signals. It represents a synthesis of traffic signal timing concepts and their application and focuses on the use of detection, related timing parameters, and resulting effects to users at the intersection. It discusses advanced topics briefly to raise awareness related to their use and application. The purpose of the Signal Timing Manual is to provide direction and guidance to managers, supervisors, and practitioners based on sound practice to proactively and comprehensively improve signal timing. The outcome of properly training staff and proactively operating and maintaining traffic signals is signal timing that reduces congestion and fuel consumption ultimately improving our quality of life and the air we breathe. This manual provides an easy-to-use concise, practical and modular guide on signal timing. The elements of signal timing from policy and funding considerations to timing plan development, assessment, and maintenance are covered in the manual. The manual is the culmination of research into practices across North America and serves as a reference for a range of practitioners, from those involved in the day to day management, operation and maintenance of traffic signals to those that plan, design, operate and maintain these systems.







A Traffic Signal Control Algorithm for Emergency Vehicles


Book Description

Signal preemption disrupts normal traffic signal to allow emergency vehicles to pass through the intersection more safely and quickly. In medical emergency situations, EVP (Emergency Vehicle Preemption) offers a faster response to the sufferer which improves the chance of survival. Despite this lifesaving advantage, conventional preemption has some problems which need more attention. Two important issues are increased delay of overall traffic due to preemption and absence of prioritization of conflicting preemption requests. This thesis presents a traffic signal control algorithm that addresses the above. We have used TSP (Transit Signal Priority) techniques to improve the EVP system. TSP is a proven strategy to provide a better quality public transit operation in urban areas. Our proposed algorithm adjusts signal phases using TSP techniques to serve an emergency vehicle. We consider both single and multiple simultaneous emergency vehicle requests. TSP techniques help us to alleviate the impact on general traffic. For multiple emergency vehicle requests, a branch and bound algorithm is developed that prioritizes among conflicting requests. Experiments have been conducted using the VISSIM microscopic traffic simulator. Results show that the proposed traffic control algorithm reduces overall traffic delay by up to 8% compared to conventional EVP system.




Traffic Signal Control Equipment


Book Description

This synthesis will be of interest to traffic engineers and others interested in the capabilities of currently available equipment for traffic signal control. Information is provided on functions and operations of controller assemblies, displays, detectors, communications, and computerized system masters. Traffic engineers need to know the functional capabilities of the various types of signal control equipment in order to select appropriate equipment for a specific application. This report of the Transportation Research Board describes the functions of each type of equipment and how it works, and gives advantages, disadvantages, and limitations.




Signalized Intersections


Book Description

This textbook introduces the basics principles of intersection signalization including need studies, signal phasing, sequencing, timing, as well as more advanced topics such as detectors, controllers, actuated control schemes, and signal coordination. The book covers a variety of topics critical to the set up and operation of intersections controlled by traffic signals. Professor Ni imparts a basic understanding of how intersections work, what justifies intersection signalization, how to properly design phasing and timing plans for intersections, what is needed to run traffic-responsive signals, the workings of traffic controller cabinets, and how to set up signal coordination at multiple intersections—competencies essential to transportation professionals in charge of traffic operation at federal, state, and local levels. Aimed at students in transportation engineering programs with a focus on intersection signalization, the book is also ideal for researchers of traffic dynamics and municipal civil and transportation engineers.




Traffic Control Systems Handbook


Book Description

This handbook, which was developed in recognition of the need for the compilation and dissemination of information on advanced traffic control systems, presents the basic principles for the planning, design, and implementation of such systems for urban streets and freeways. The presentation concept and organization of this handbook is developed from the viewpoint of systems engineering. Traffic control studies are described, and traffic control and surveillance concepts are reviewed. Hardware components are outlined, and computer concepts, and communication concepts are stated. Local and central controllers are described, as well as display, television and driver information systems. Available systems technology and candidate system definition, evaluation and implementation are also covered. The management of traffic control systems is discussed.