Modelling and analysis of traffic light control systems

Abstract

An urban traffic network of signalised intersections can be suitably modelled as a discrete event system, in which the traffic light alternations are described by means of timed coloured Petri nets (TCPNs). A module of basic traffic TCPN model with a signal timing plan for a day is successfully constructed. The traffic operations are ruled by the control logic of TCPN and an analysis method using place invariant is verified. From the basic TCPN model, some of the complicated traffic signal models will be easily obtained. Moreover, a real-world supervisor of the urban traffic light system is implemented by the new methodology. Finally, an urban traffic light control system with five intersections is realised. Also, the performance of the supervisor of the urban traffic light system can be confirmed by the simulation results.