presentation TJHSST Thomas Jefferson High School for Science

							The Simulation of Traffic Patterns
  and Optimizing Traffic Lights
          by Gregg Tabot
             My Basic Simulation
•   Two road intersection
•   Two laned roads
•   No turning lanes
•   Motorized vehicles only
    (no pedestrians)
Three Methods of Traffic Lights
       Optimization

         • Manual Method

         • Timed Method

    • Frequency Formula Method
                Manual Method
• Make sure that the
  auto_switch? option is
  Off
• Press the East-West
  Switch button and the
  traffic lights for the cars
  moving east or west
  switch from red to
  green or vice versa
• Similar function with
  the North-South
  Switch button
Manual Method
              Manual Method
• Based solely on user input
• If the user presses switch, the lights switch
             Manual Method
Advantages
• Good for situational traffic
Disadvantages
• Back up the entire system
• Human error
• It’s manual!
               Timed Method
• Make sure that the
  auto-switch? option is
  On
• Make sure that the
  formula? option is Off
• Set the amount of time
  a switch stays green by
  adjusting the
  light_timer slider
  (measured in units)
Timed Method
             Timed Method
• Compares the amount of time a light has
  been green with the light timer option set
• If the amount of time a light has been green
  is greater than or equal to the light timer
  option the lights switch
              Timed Method
Advantages
• Not manual
Disadvantages
• Doesn’t account for busier roads
• If there’s only one car, it may have to wait a
  long time
    Frequency Formula Method
• Make sure that the
  auto-switch? option is
  On
• Make sure that the
  formula? option is On
• Adjust the max_wait
  slider (measured in
  different units)
Frequency Formula Method
    Frequency Formula Method
• Compares flowing traffic frequency multiplied
  by a timer with the stopped traffic frequency
  multiplied by the quantity of the timer
  subtracted from maximum wait time.
• If the first quantity is greater than or equal to
  the second quantity the light switches.
    Frequency Formula Method
Advantages
• Good for situational traffic
• Takes into account heavily trafficated roads
• Keeps traffic flowing
Disadvantages
• Could take a while if you were on a less
  populated road
      Bugs/Errors/Fixes for Later
• Sometimes the program will display an error
  randomly before beginning
• Cars do not slow to a stop, they just
  instantaneously stop
• There is no wait time in between traffic light
  switches
• Car crashes are not yet implemented
The End