METHOD FOR RAPID CALCULATION OF CYCLE DURATION AND PHASES OF TRAFFIC LIGHT CONTROL

The paper is devoted to the development of a method for rapid calculation of cycle duration and phases of traffic light regulation under conditions of heavy traffic. The study objective is to propose an alternative approach to traditional methods used in domestic and international practice, which will simplify the calculation procedure and improve the accuracy of assessing the time intervals of traffic light signals. The task of the paper is to make a calculation algorithm that allows for the rapid determination of the optimal operating modes of traffic light systems without labor intensive additional operations and the use of complex graphical dependencies. Detailed empirical models are used, which take into account the geometry of intersections, the dynamic characteristics of traffic, and the features of traffic flow distribution. The novelty of the work is in the development of an original method for calculating the duration of cycles and phases, taking into account the actual load on each road lane, the possible separation of directions, and the requirements for pedestrian traffic. The proposed algorithm is adapted for quick manual verification (by pen and paper) and is implemented in the specialized computer program “Traffic Light Object Calculator”. The results obtained indicate the possibility of effectively reducing the level of congestion and improving the throughput capacity of road junctions by optimizing the duration of cycle periods and rationally allocating individual phases of traffic light control. The conclusions are based on a comparison of the developed method with classical methods (for example, Webster’s method) and demonstrate a significant improvement in vehicle delay indicators and an increase in the efficiency of traffic flow control.