Fuzzy logic data analysis of environmental data for traffic control

Traffic control is based on the analysis of traffic detection and environmental conditions. Especially bad environmental conditions are a hazard to car drivers. In this paper fuzzy technologies are used to analyze environmental conditions like road surface, visual range and weather conditions detected by local stations and road sensors. Because of the fact that detection of environmental conditions is uncertain, conventional approaches are unsuitable in a certain evaluation and analysis of the given signals detected by the available equipment. The fuzzy solution takes the diversified equipment of the different detection stations into account, uses a two step plausibility check to determine the quality of sensor signals, computes substitute values as long as comparable sensors are in use and leads to more appropriate results for the evaluation of road surface condition and visual range to indicate slippery road or fog warning. The solution was developed for an existing traffic control system of the B27, a state highway between Stuttgart city, Stuttgart airport and Tubingen, Germany. The unit is part of a complete fuzzy logic traffic control system. Implementations in several other systems are scheduled.