Title: Green wave-based virtual traffic light management scheme with VANETs

Authors: Li-Der Chou; Tsung-Yi Shen; Chia-Wei Tseng; Yao-Jen Chang; Yen-Wei Kuo

Addresses: Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan; National Center for High-performance Computing, National Applied Research Laboratories, Hsinchu, 30076, Taiwan ' Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan ' Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan ' Department of Electronic Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan, 32023, Taiwan ' Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan

Abstract: Green intelligent transportation systems (GITS) have received significant attention in recent years. Traffic congestion, which is an important research topic on intelligent transportation systems (ITS), is rapidly becoming one of the most serious problems affecting urban areas. This study utilises the vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) technology to build a virtual traffic light (VTL) environment to reduce traffic congestion. The objective of this study is to adjust the traffic light signal time length on-demand to enable vehicles to pass through numerous intersections rapidly, thereby saving energy and reducing fuel consumption. The traffic phase combination algorithm and VTL operation mechanism are also addressed to improve the traffic congestion situation in urban areas. Simulation results indicate that the proposed scheme can increase the percentage of traffic flow and the average speed of all vehicles in all intersections, thereby saving energy.

Keywords: VANETs; vehicular ad hoc networks; VTL; virtual traffic lights; green wave; green ITS; intelligent transport systems; speed guidance; traffic management; traffic congestion; energy consumption; fuel consumption; vehicle speed; urban areas; simulation; signal time length.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAHUC.2017.080921

International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing, 2017 Vol.24 No.1/2, pp.22 - 32

Received: 11 Apr 2015
Accepted: 25 Feb 2016

Published online: 12 Dec 2016 *

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