Application of mathematical modeling in traffic flow prediction and signal light optimization

With the acceleration of urbanization and the rapid development of motor vehicles, the problem of urban traffic congestion has become more and more important. Even in non-central cities, this problem has also become an important factor limiting local economic development and affecting residents' happiness. Based on the differences of traffic flow at intersections, this paper uses K-means clustering algorithm model to divide the day into three periods: peak period, peak period and trough period. Then, a directional traffic flow estimation model is established and the traffic flow is predicted using MATLAB. By analyzing the historical data and using the Webster delay model, a traffic light optimization model was established to optimize the traffic light configuration at each intersection.