A quick solution for traffic control
Angela Ionita1 Adrian Zafiu1,2, Valeriu Ionescu2
1 2
Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence
Romanian Academy
Romania
aionita@racai.ro
Abstract—In this article, we present a solution for
implementing traffic control in an urban area. This is a low
cost solution that is easily to implement and extend. There is no
need any infrastructure at road network level except only a
device that collect data about traffic in key road crossing. The
presented solution creates a strong base for traffic
management and offers an infrastructure for other urban
traffic applications.
Keywords-traffic control; data collecting;wireless; realtime
I. INTRODUCTION
The recent studies revealed that in an urban environment
drivers spent an entire work week sitting in traffic each year.
In large cities, the country’s benchmark for traffic
congestion, it could be up nearly two weeks.
Traffic has serious consequences [1]. The estimated cost
of traffic is more than 100 billion euro (in fuel and wasted
time), and that doesn't take into account factors like
environmental damage or health costs due to pollution. The
traffic congestion results affect not only the budgets but,
more worst, affect the life quality.
Many factors can contribute to traffic congestion, but the
most basic explanation is that the number of drivers trying to
use the same road is so high that it exceeds the road's
capacity. That's a pretty simple explanation -- too many cars
in one place causes congestion. Unfortunately, the
underlying reasons for too many cars in one place at one
time are more complicated. University departments and civil
engineers dedicate hundreds of hours and require millions of
dollars in funding research that tries to understand how
traffic congestion forms and what can be done to avoid it.
City planners, civil engineers, environmental advocacy
groups, homeowner associations, politicians and the general
population can have a significant impact on how to address
traffic congestion. Traffic is a political and sensitive issue
since almost every proposed method of addressing it carries
a hefty price tag, raising the question of who pays the bill.
In this article, we'll present a solution for implementing
traffic control in an urban area. This solution is easily to be
implemented and extended. More, this is a low cost solution.
There are no needed any infrastructures at road network
level. The presented solution creates a strong base for traffic
Electronic, Communication and Computers
University of Pitesti
Romania
adrian.zafiu@upit.ro, valeriu.ionescu@upit.ro
management and offers an infrastructure for other urban
traffic applications.
II. BASIC PROBLEM
Traffic management implies the existence of an
infrastructure that can provide the authorities with real-time
information about the traffic evolution in the sighted area.
This information is related and action is taken in order to
prevent congestion [2], and if it has happened, to find a way
to clear the adjacent roads in order to allow the release of a
much higher number of cars from the sighted area.
A. Network overload
If there are highways or surface streets that suffer from
heavy traffic congestion, no matter what the actual road
conditions might be, they fall into the category of network
overload. These are the bottlenecks where demand always
outweighs capacity.
The congestion doesn't immediately clear up -- it
continues to shift slowly back down the highway because, as
space opens up ahead of your car, you can accelerate and
escape the congestion. The person behind you can accelerate
a few moments later, and the person behind them a few
moments after that. Congestion can clear if traffic becomes
light enough to stop the traffic-wave effect.
B. Traffic disturbances
Accidents and breakdowns, road construction and repair,
and harsh weather conditions are all considered traffic
disturbances. You can't always predict where these
disturbances will occur, but they still heavily impact traffic
flow.
It's easy to imagine a construction site, an accident, or a
policeman giving a traffic ticket causing congestion --
drivers slow down either to change lanes or to see what
happened. Road work might shut down one or more lanes,
requiring drivers to shift over into open but crowded lanes.
Bad weather might cause some drivers to maintain a slower
driving speed out of concern for safety.
There are two kind of solution for traffic management:
road network management and traffic control management.
 III. SOLUTION FOR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
The solutions adopted for traffic management consist in
the management of road network and in the management of
real time traffic [3,4].
Road network management [5,6,7] implies the
continuous adjustment of roads to match the community’s
needs in order to increase the maximum car flow and
determine coherent traffic rules that can ensure the traffic’s
fluency. There is a theory according to the increase of lane
number and maximum allowed speed lead to the increase of
maximum flow capacity. This theory, however, cannot be
applied in crowded areas due to legal limitations of the lane
number that can be built. The second aspect considers the
creation of flow passes with the help of traffic rules.
All the factors taken into consideration for the problem’s
solution from this perspective are static. If the traffic flow
exceeds the considered model‘s margins it can easily lead to
local traffic congestions, that diffuse into adjacent areas.
Congestions cannot be completely covered in simulations
achieved from statistical data because statistics implies
mediation.
Even though a certain margin of error is considered, there
is still a limit that cannot be passed. The solution to
situations that exceed these boundaries can only be a
dynamic traffic control system that can adapt to the practical
situation.
Traffic control systems imply, in the first place, the
collection of a high quantity of information from a sensors
network that observes traffic development in the sighted
area. The sensor network is made from elements that can
determine the car number, the driving speed, the emissions
etc. All the sensors must be connected through a
communication network to a central system that can give
meaning to the collected data and provide the necessary data
for taking decisions or it can contain an automated system
that can take decisions in certain boundaries and warns the
operators if the decisions that should be made overtake the
required limitations.
Installing sensors into the road network is an expensive
operation concerning the cost of the equipment, manufacture
and maintenance.
An easier way is not to fix the sensors on the road
network. Most vehicles are provided with navigation systems
GPS that can collect information about the covered distance,
driving speed and eventually road obstacles etc.
Starting only with this information, a traffic control
system, more reduced than a conventional one, can be
imagined. More, costs are divided between the local
authorities who implement the system and traffic
participants. The envisaged system is concerned with:
 Providing drivers with traffic information;
 The elimination of updating maps regarding
traffic rules (speed, limitations)
 Providing optimum routing information in
accordance with various criteria (distance,
speed, time, facility, usage) for drivers
 Providing drivers and authorities with real-time
information about the traffic evolution
 Collecting information about the traffic
evolution in real-time
 Ensuring protection over cars steeling
 Making the logic for the cars endowment:
o Material transportation
o Persons transportation
 In common transportation
 Cab transportation
IV. SOLUTION’S PREZENTATION
The presented system is formed by:
 a data storage system
 a data processing system
 a communication network between the collection of
data points and the data storage system
 secured wireless communication systems
 devices installed on vehicles contain
o a GPS module
o a wireless communication module
o a module for data storage and processing
o an application of voice synthesis
o an application for navigation
o optionally an alternative transmission
system (GPRS for example)
Brief system architecture is presented in Figure 1.
Figure 1. System architecture
In the system are implemented algorithms for:
 Collecting traffic information
 Correlating traffic information with the map of the
sighted area
 Transmission of navigation information to the traffic
drivers
A. Collecting traffic information
Traffic information is collected from every vehicle.
Relating all the information has leads to the creation of a
global view about traffic in the sighted area. The operation of
collecting information is extremely simple:
 An auto vehicle collects data about a track and
processes them in order to take a part of the
processing that the server must do. If the cars
 number in the system is low, it is possible that the The information received from the central system is
whole processing to be done by the server. formed by a range of road segments, optionally with diverse
Otherwise, a part is shared among the unities characteristics (for example the maximum speed is a
installed on cars. characteristic used by the system to warn – optionally – the
 When it gets in the range of collecting units, it driver that he exceeded the legal speed).
unloads the data. Information is sent to the central In conclusion, the driver will introduce the destination
system. where he wants to arrive and, optionally, characteristics of
 The central system integrates the received data with the way in which he wishes to travel:
the data already existent about the referred track  The distance to me minimal
using statistical algorithms for prediction.  The driving speed to me larger or the running time to
be smaller.
B. Relating traffic information with the map
 The selected road are mains ones.
The map of the sighted area is made from the driver’s  The travel speed are preferred
point of view from a network of roads provided with length The transmission of the information is made also in the
attributes, speed limitations, orientation restrictions etc. The area where traffic information is collected. These areas are
traffic information affects a medium value for each segment chosen in a way that allow the vehicle to park a period or
of road, for which the information is referred. move with a speed as low as possible.
The information is integrated using predictive statistical
algorithms. A demand for a medium speed on a road to the D. How navigation information is used
data processing system must give an answer in accordance to The navigation information is used in two ways: by
the speeds that recent vehicles used in that area but also display it on a graphic display, over a map background or by
according to the period of time between the date of the last translate it into audio messages. The second way is the best
information received for that segment and the moment of the because the drive can track the traffic state and the
demand. information is delivered to him when is needed. The audio
messages consist in:
C. Transmission of navigation information to the traffic
drivers  warnings for changing the traffic direction
 warnings for exceeding the maximum speed;
Traffic drivers use the device installed on the auto  information for the traversal of the next crossing.
vehicle for navigation. From the driver’s point of view it acts For audio playback software with pre-defined messages
like a usual GPS navigation with several functions can be used.
implemented additionally that cannot be provided by usual
systems. V. WIRELESS COMUNICATION
In the first place, routing is made on the processing
server. Few advantages result from here: A. Comunication sollutions
 The routing information includes all the information The wireless communication possibilities available are
about the traffic development in the sighted track. presented in the following table.
 All the blocked road segments or with disturbed
traffic are avoided right from the start.
 All the rules settled by the authority for traffic TABLE I. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WIRELESS
regulation are taken into account because this COMMUNICATION
information is included in the map once at their WLAN
design. Even though there is a gap between the Characteristic DSRC DECT Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
implementation of some traffic rules and their record Action range ≤ 30 m ≤ 300 m ≤ 100 m ≤ 100 m
in the map, the correlation between map and traffic Frequency
5795 – 5805
2400 – 2400 –
information makes these new regulations visible. For (5805 – 5815 1880 - 1900
(MHz) 2483.5 2483.5
additional)
example, if a one-way sign was installed, with time,
Duplexare TDD TDD TDD TDD
the speed of road segments in the opposite direction Radio tube
of the one-way sign becomes zero and implicitly the bandwidth 3000 1.720 MHz 1000//20000 1000
routing on that segment will be avoided in the (kHz)
incorrect direction. Services Bilateral data
Bilateral data
Bilateral data
Bilateral
 The routing demand includes also certain and voice data
FHSS sau FHSS cu
characteristics of the vehicle: weight, dimensions, Modulation MA binary GFSK/ADPCM
DSSS GFSK
preferred speeds etc. All the data correlates with the Number of
routing algorithm and help to avoid the situations in Unavailable Unavailable
channels for
Unavailable 12 (package (package
which the auto vehicle is driven to road segments customer per
structure) structure)
where traffic it is not allowed due to local traffic radio tube
rules. Data
transmition 500 1152 11000 1000
speed in the
Characteristic DSRC DECT
WLAN
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
radio
tube(kbit/s)
Simetry:
Effective data
432.6 or
transmition 500 32/canal ≤ 2000
speed (kbit/s)
asimetry:
721
It can be noticed that the indicated solution is the
utilization of a WLAN network [8,9] because the
transmission speed is high and the range is sufficient for a
vehicle to send and also to receive corrections for navigation.
B. The communication algorithm
The communication between the vehicle and the
information collection points represents a problem for the
system because the vehicle is moving during connection and
the connection speed may be slow down. These drawbacks
can be solved through the adequate placing of the collecting
devices.
Another problem is represented by the fact that at a
certain moment many demands may arrive for connection
and the collector cannot face all of them. More, a device
installed on a vehicle may try to connect many times. These
aspects can be solved with an algorithm installed on the
device on the car which handles the communication.
Data collecting devices should be installed especially
near crossroads (crossroads with traffic lights are preferred)
because the driving speed is low. More, at the crossroads
with traffic lights there is also a waiting time more than
sufficient for sending and receiving data.
In order to avoid the overload of the collecting points,
each device will make only one transmission and only one
reception of data at a time. Once accomplished these two
operations, the device installed on vehicle will disconnect
automatically and won’t try to connect until it has passed a
distance equal to the diameter of the collecting device.
C. Navigation data actualization
Navigation data is demanded at every data collecting
point that the vehicle is passing through.
The demand will contain as a start point the next
crossroads through which the vehicle will pass according to
the current track. Therefore, it is to be avoided a
modification of the current track when the vehicle entered
the crossroads or when it just has left it.
VI. CONCLUSIONS
The proposed system represents a viable solution
concerning the implementation cost. The solution provides
numerous advantages:
 It doesn’t need the implementation of a sensors
infrastructure which needs a system to code the
collected information and resend it to a central point;
 It doesn’t need the implementation of some systems
to announce the traffic problems for those who have
a device installed on the car
 These devices can be lent for those who spend a
limited period of time in the sighted area
 The traffic data processing is shared between the
central system and the devices installed on vehicles.
(the central system can be also shared in a way that a
part of the processing is done in the area where it is
collected)
 It is not needed anymore the maps’ update. The
information for navigation is always up to date.
 Allows the quick implementation of a system for
traffic management.
The solution can be used also for the implementation of
an automatic system in order to follow stolen cars. A GPRS
communication system attached to the device can activate
when the car is moving and if this function hasn’t been
deactivated.
REFERENCES
[1] Lei Zhiyi, (2009), “Economic Effect Analysis of Road Traffic”,
Intelligent Computation Technology and Automation, 2009. ICICTA
apos;09. Volume 4, 2009, pp:302 – 305.
[2] Oscar Sánchez and Omar Mekkaoui, (2006), “Automatic Bottleneck
Detection Based on Traffic Hysteresis Phenomena: An Application to
Paris Highway Network”, Innovative Internet Community Systems,
Volume 3473/2006, ISBN 978-3-540-28880-0, 2006, pp 236-251.
[3] Ya Chu Yang; Chien Ming Cheng; Pei Yun Lin; Shiao Li Tsao,
(2008), “A real-time road traffic information system based on a peer-
to-peer approach”, Computers and Communications, 2008. ISCC
2008, pp 513 – 518.
[4] http://trafficwaves.org/.
[5] A. Ionita, A. Zafiu, M. Dascalu, E. Franti, M. Visan, (2009), “An
approach for intelligent decision support system for urban traffic
monitoring”, in Proc of. “Urban and Regional Data Management” –
UDMS Annual 2009, Ljubljana, Slovenja, 24 – 26 iunie 2009, Eds.
Alenka Krek, Massimo Rumor, Sisi Zlatanova, Elfriede Fendel, CRC
Press Taylor & Francis Group – A BALKEMA BOOK, ISBN: 978-0-
415-55642-2, ISBN: 978-0-203-86935-2, pp. 455 – 464
[6] Zafiu, A., Ghita, C., (2008), „An efficient model for traffic
simulation”, Advanced in Applied Mathematics, Sistems,
Communications ans Computers Conference, June 1 – 3, 2008,
Maraton Beach, Attica, Greece, ISSN 1790-2769, ISBN 978-960-
6766-69-5, pp.265-269
[7] Ionita, A., Zafiu, A., Dascalu, M., Visan, M., (2008), “An Approach
For Urban Road Traffic Management As Application Of Spatial Data
Infrastructures”, The 3rd National Conference on National Spatial
Data Infrastructures, Bucharest, Dec., 2008, Romania
[8] Jingyu Liu, Yanjun Fang, (2006), “Urban Traffic Control System
Based on Wireless Sensor Networks” , "International Conference on
Information Acquisition”, pp. 295-300, 2006.
[9] Feilong Tang , Minglu Li, Chuliang Weng, Chongqing Zhang,
Wenzhe Zhang, Hongyu Huang and Yi Wang, (2009), “Combining
Wireless Sensor Network with Grid for Intelligent City Traffic”,
Advances in Computer Systems Architecture, Volume 4186/2006,
ISBN 978-3-540-40056-1,2006 , pp 260-269.