Green-Initiative for Realizing Adaptive Traffic-Signals by Exploiting Smart-Antenna Technology (GREATEST)

Traffic signals control and coordination is a critical function on today's busy roadways. Typical traffic signals have been shifting from fixed cycle timing to the adaptive cycling regime using variety of sensors. However, several shortcomings such as; a vehicle approaching the signal needs to be at certain fix positon from sensor, sensitivity of sensors, and requirement of direct communication between vehicle and traffic light etc., are identified in the existing sensors based approaches. We propose a technique for realizing adaptive traffic signal timing by exploiting Direction of Arrival (DOA) and Timing Advance (TADV) information transmitted from cell-phones, carried by the car drivers and passengers, to Smart Antenna installed on cellular base stations. The simulation results based on a simplified traffic scenario show that the proposed method offers an overall eleven-percent improvement in travel time and thirty-four-percent reduction in vehicle Red-light wait time.