K Kumarasamy, Vijayalakshmi (University of Tennessee at Chattanooga), Saroj, Abhilasha (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), Duhamel, Joseph (University of Tennessee Chattanooga), Liang, Yu (University of Tennessee at Chattanooga), Wu, Dalei (University of Tennessee at Chattanooga), Hunter, Michael (Georgia Institute of Technology), Sartipi, Mina (University of Tennessee at Chattanooga)

Optimizing Traffic Signal Control to Enhance Transportation Efficiency and Maximize Pedestrian Benefits in the Road Network

Scheduled for presentation during the Poster Session "Road Traffic Control I" (WeBT15), Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 14:30−16:30, Foyer

2024 IEEE 27th International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC), September 24- 27, 2024, Edmonton, Canada

This information is tentative and subject to change. Compiled on December 26, 2024

Abstract

Increasing urban mobility requirements demand efficient transportation system strategies for both vehicular and pedestrian movement. This study enhances the Decentralized Graph-based Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (DGMARL) approach, originally tailored for vehicular traffic signal timing, to incorporate pedestrian traffic dynamics. The improved algorithm considers crucial metrics such as Eco_PI, assesses vehicle fuel consumption by factoring in stops and delays, and addresses pedestrian waiting time, crucial for system efficiency while acknowledging driver waiting time impact. Utilizing Digital Twin simulation along the MLK Smart Corridor in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the algorithm's performance is compared for various pedestrian control scenarios. To evaluate the effectiveness of DGMARL, this study compared DGMARL-enabled signal management with automated pedestrian traffic detection and an actuated signal management system (real-word baseline) with pedestrian recall, which predetermingly enforces a pedestrian phase every cycle. Findings indicate substantial improvements with DGMARL, showing a 28.29% enhancement in vehicle Eco_PI, a 60.55% reduction in pedestrian waiting time, and a 55.74% decrease in driver stop delay, on average, compared to the baseline actuated signal timing plan.