Designing traffic signal patterns through genetic algorithms

This paper describes a new optimization technique for the design of traffic signal patterns. The proposed method uses a Genetic Algorithm for searching through the better signal patterns. Since the Genetic Algorithm is effective to search directly through a huge binary coded state spaces, the proposed design method has the following advantages over the conventional OR methods: (1) on-line optimization is available within a reasonable time, (2) there is no limitation to the types of signals to be optimized. Some computer simulations are carried out and its ability of getting high quality control in a short period is demonstrated.