A Multi-Objective Optimization Method for Single Intersection Signals Considering Low Emissions

Abstract

The exponential growth of urban centers has exacerbated the prevalence of traffic-related issues. This surge has amplified the conflict between the escalating need for travel among individuals and the constricted availability of road infrastructure. Consequently, the escalation of traffic accidents and the exacerbation of environmental pollution have emerged as increasingly pressing concerns. Urban road intersections, serving as pivotal junctures for vehicle convergence and dispersal, have remained a focal point for scholarly inquiry regarding enhanced operational efficacy and safety. Concurrently, vehicles navigating intersections are subject to external influences, such as pedestrian crossings and signal controls, causing frequent fluctuations in their operational dynamics. These fluctuations contribute to heightened exhaust emissions, exacerbating air pollution and posing health risks to pedestrians frequenting these intersections. A reasonable signal timing scheme can enable more vehicles to pass through the intersection safely and smoothly and reduce the pollutants generated by transportation. Therefore, optimizing signal timing schemes at intersections to alleviate traffic problems is a topic that needs to be studied urgently. In this paper, the emission model based on specific power is analyzed. Through an analysis of the correlation between specific power distribution intervals and the emission rates of individual pollutants, it has been observed that vehicle emission rates are at their lowest during idle speed, progressively increasing with rising vehicle speeds. Investigation into specific power distribution based on variables, such as vehicle type, frequency of stops, and varying delays, has led to the deduction that the peak specific power of vehicles at intersections consistently occurs within the (0, 1) interval. Furthermore, it has been established that high-saturation intersections exhibit higher peak specific power compared to low-saturation intersections.