Suggested Solution for traffic jam

How many times have you reached your office in time, late for
15 minutes, late for more? You will definitely be one of the
strugglers who face the global traffic jam daily, why? Because
you are reading this article which excludes presidents and tyrants
(who don't face that jam), and I don't think you are one of them!

Well, I invite you to share me my thoughts about advanced

solution to this persistent problem. We know about ordinary
traffic signal and how it helps regulate traffic in intersections. In
fact traffic signal passes through progressive improvements:

1. Ordinary TL based on traffic density. This type pre-calculates

the number of vehicles passing through certain intersection in all
directions within specific period of time (usually car/min), after
that a scientific formulae is used to calculate the number of
seconds to light red, yellow and green in each direction.
2. Smart TL-1. This is an advanced model of the previous one, it
minds the different traffic densities in different times of the day;
in the morning we find jam in the directions towards city centre
where companies and governmental offices are located. This type
adjusts itself on time basis, and the lighting period for each colour
varies with time of the day.
3. Smart TL-2. Here sensors are used in a certain intersection to
detect existence of cars and to analyze the current situation and
current traffic densities around the signal ; if it lights red in a
direction and the transverse road is free of cars, TL detects this
situation and cuts the red light period and turns it to green in the
locked direction. Different types of sensors are used in this
system, some are mounted on walls or poles and others are
implanted in the asphalt.
Is this all? Yes, these are the three main models of traffic
signals. Now before stating my solution, I'd like to discuss the
efficiency of each of the three types:
1. In the first ordinary TL it is clear that its efficiency is very low
when it faces real traffic jam; suppose, as illustrated in (Node. D),
that the road to the west of the traffic signal is full of cars till the
next intersection, will it help to light green from east to west? This
point applies to the second type as well.
2. In the third type, suppose it detects the same traffic density in all
directions, what direction will be the lucky one? Doesn't it need
extra criterion to choose the direction that first lights green? At
least it should compare the densities in the next intersections and
should open for the direction that has minimum density in its
following intersection. See (Node.J).
Well... From the above it is easy to state the approach to the
Comprehensive Instantaneous Traffic Status (CITS); it is the
simultaneous assessment of the traffic status in a city, or a
sector of a city, to configure the optimal traffic signals
directions for the best flow of vehicles movement through the
whole city/sector. In other words, it is the global study of all
factors which affects traffic in the city/sector; factors like
instantaneous traffic density in all directions of different
nodes, distance between consecutive traffic signals, curvature
of different roads, width of roads, existence of accidents, road
repair or any temporary incidence, permissible speed in
different roads… to name a few. One may say that all these
factors are included in the design of traffic signal, yes, this is
true but it is designed for ordinary single traffic conditions
which can easily be altered by small accident the effect of
which may extend in waves to the third or fourth traffic
signal! What I am trying to do is to mind these waves, to look
at the whole then come to the part. Lighting red or green
should not be a local decision that deals with a single traffic
signal it should consult all surrounding traffic signals whether
they accept its action or not!

One may say what if an obstacle persists for hours in certain location
as illustrated in the diagram to the west of (Node F). Well, this is
another point that entails using (CITS), but with extra feature of alert
system which rings the bell when a certain direction is blocked for
more than five minutes for example. In the traditional systems the
green light will continue to light normally but the (CITS) will
immediately solve it by rearranging the traffic map of the area.

The matter looks like hundreds of traffic policemen discussing,

simultaneously, the conditions in their different locations to
guarantee best traffic flow; what I am suggesting is to computerize
and unify these gentlemen in a single hyper traffic police computer
that fulfills the following rule:

“Green should be before and after traffic signal, with great care to
the next and previous traffic signal”
I think at this stage of speculations I should start quantifying my
suggested solution and to help make the algorithm and flowchart of
that solution. Of course we will need a mathematical model to set as
vertebra around which discussion will arise and improvements will be
added. The first step is to mention the factors affecting traffic signal
behavior according to my suggested solution:

1. The ordinary traffic density records in all roads, the traffic

density per day is important but the most needed factor is
traffic density per each hour of the day.
2. The width of all roads.
3. The curvature of each road if any.
4. The distance between different consecutive traffic signals.
5. Existence of traffic sensors in most of intersections, covering
reasonable distance before and after the signals.
6. Zoning the city or sector to dependant and independent signals.
Now let’s discuss the algorithm:

1. At time 0 read all existing traffic densities at different nodes,

before and after the signal.
2. Consider the biggest traffic density (TD) before a signal, check
the TD after that signal; if it is 0 (as sensors detect 100 m after
the signal) turn that signal green, if not go to second biggest
density within the zone of interdependent signals.
3. Keep repeating (2.) above until we get a signal to start with.
4. If two or more signals are similar in the condition around them
 then give priority to the wider road in the intersection. If width
is the same consider distance to the next signals in all
directions and give priority to direction that has longer
distance to reach the next signal. If distance is the same
consider curvatures after the signals and give priority to the
least curvature.
I know it doesn’t seem to cover all factors, and even the order of
influential factors may not be the best, that is why I write this article
as suggestion and not solution, I need the help of all interested
persons and entities to refine the suggested solution to the best. It is
clear that the whole solution depends on GIS; hence cities that are
not GIS systemized are excluded from this solution.

I will keep working on this suggestion, but I do appreciate joining me

at this stage to refine, together, the solution to the maximum extent.

Civil Engineer: Mutaz Ali

Nationality: Sudanese
Mobile: 00966530911028
Current location: Saudi Arabia - Riyadh