Scalable Urban Traffic Control

Scalable Urban Traffic Control, abbreviated as SURTRAC, represents an innovative approach to managing and optimizing traffic flow within urban environments. Developed by researchers at the Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, SURTRAC is a cutting-edge adaptive traffic control system designed to enhance the efficiency of urban traffic management.

Overview of SURTRAC

At its core, SURTRAC aims to dynamically optimize the control of traffic signals to improve traffic flow across urban grids and corridors. The system's optimization goals include reducing waiting times, minimizing traffic congestion, shortening travel durations, and decreasing pollution levels. The core control engine of SURTRAC leverages a schedule-driven approach to intersection control, combined with decentralized coordination mechanisms.

SURTRAC adopts a real-time perspective, aligning with prior model-based intersection control methods that compute intersection control plans to optimize actual traffic inflows. By reformulating the optimization problem as a single-machine scheduling issue, the core optimization algorithm—known as a schedule-driven intersection control algorithm—can compute optimized intersection control plans on a second-by-second basis over an extended time horizon.

Key Features

Schedule-Driven Intersection Control

This feature allows SURTRAC to account for real-time traffic conditions and compute intersection control plans that are tailored to current traffic inflows. The schedule-driven algorithm optimizes signal timings, leading to more efficient traffic movement through intersections.

Decentralized Coordination

SURTRAC's design includes decentralized coordination mechanisms that manage the flow of traffic through urban road networks. This approach is particularly beneficial for urban networks with closely spaced intersections, where precise coordination of intersection controllers is necessary to handle dynamic shifts in traffic flow.

Urban Network Management

SURTRAC is specifically designed to manage grid-like urban road networks, where multiple competing dominant flows change throughout the day. Unlike arterial or major crossroads applications, these flows cannot be predetermined. This aspect of the design allows for greater flexibility and adaptability in managing urban traffic.

Challenges in Urban Traffic Control

Urban networks often have densely spaced intersections, creating challenges for adaptive traffic control systems. The presence of competing dominant flows that dynamically shift makes it crucial for systems like SURTRAC to adapt swiftly and efficiently. By using its unique combination of schedule-driven control and decentralized coordination, SURTRAC addresses these challenges effectively.