Xin, Wei
(2015)
Determining the Environmental Benefits of Adaptive Signal Control Systems using Simulation Models.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Adaptive Traffic Control Systems (ATCS) have recently been implemented across the world and are considered as a new tool to reduce traffic delays and stops in coordinated traffic signal systems, which are urgent problems regarding not only traffic flow efficiency, but also environmental issues. Excessive fuel consumption and vehicular emissions on urban streets can be reduced by maintaining optimal signal timings which reflect changes in traffic demand and distribution. It is hypothesized that there are environmental benefits to implementing ATCS as compared to traditional Time of Day (TOD) plans. This research develops a methodology to quantify these benefits and tests the methodology to establish the reduction in emissions for a signalized roadway corridor as a line source of emissions. The research also considers the linking between microsimulation models, emission models and dispersion models to estimate air quality benefits in a corridor at specific receptors.
This testing of the methodology was conducted by using a high-fidelity SYNCHRO microsimulation model of an 8-intersection corridor on Route 19 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. This signal system was recently converted from a traditional TOD timing plan operation to an ATCS operation, using the InSync system. The simulation results comparison showed significant reductions in all emission categories estimated by SYNCHRO. This first step in showing the benefits in a corridor can then be used to determine actual emission reductions at specific locations. Using simulation results from SimTraffic for an optimized TOD timing plan and the InSync system actual operations, a methodology was then hypothesized to integrate simulation emission results of the ATCS benefits with emission and dispersion models to indicate emission benefits at specific receptors.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
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| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
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| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
8 June 2015 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
20 March 2015 |
| Approval Date: |
8 June 2015 |
| Submission Date: |
9 March 2015 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
82 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Swanson School of Engineering > Civil and Environmental Engineering |
| Degree: |
MSCE - Master of Science in Civil Engineering |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
ATCS, microsimulation, Synchro, InSync, emissions |
| Date Deposited: |
08 Jun 2015 17:11 |
| Last Modified: |
15 Nov 2016 14:26 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24014 |
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