Skip to main content

Benefits of SMART Signal system

Developed by researchers led by civil engineering associate professor Henry Liu at the University of Minnesota, the SMART Signal (Systematic Monitoring of Arterial Road Traffic Signals) system is said to be reducing congestion on roads controlled by traffic lights. The system automatically collects and processes data from traffic signal controllers at multiple intersections. It then creates performance measures, including information on the times and locations congestion occurs on a given road. Traffic eng
October 17, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Developed by researchers led by civil engineering associate professor Henry Liu at the University of Minnesota, the SMART Signal (Systematic Monitoring of Arterial Road Traffic Signals) system is said to be reducing congestion on roads controlled by traffic lights.

The system automatically collects and processes data from traffic signal controllers at multiple intersections. It then creates performance measures, including information on the times and locations congestion occurs on a given road.  Traffic engineers can use these measures to determine whether signals are properly timed and to monitor the overall performance of the system.

SMART Signal has been deployed at more than thirty intersections in Minnesota and six intersections in Pasadena, California.

According to Steven Misgen, metro traffic engineer at the 2103 Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), the system also has benefits for the travelling public, including reduced congestion and improved travel time throughout a given corridor.

“As a result, they’ll have a better quality of life, [spending] less time sitting in congested intersections,” Misgen says.

A new video from the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Institute highlights the benefits of the system: %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal www.its.umn.edu/Research/FeaturedStudies/smartsignals/index.html#SMARTSignal Smart signals false http://www.its.umn.edu/Research/FeaturedStudies/smartsignals/index.html#SMARTSignal false false%>

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Registration now open for ITS Europe
    February 8, 2017
    Registration for the ITS European Congress in Strasbourg, France on 19-22 June 2017 is now open, with discounted early bird registration rates until 24 April. The organisers expect 2,500 ITS professionals will attend to discuss the latest trends in intelligent transport throughout the sessions. There will also be numerous networking opportunities in the exhibition and social events. Some of the highlights of the congress include 100 exhibitors and technical visits to see the latest ITS developments, a
  • European Conference on ICT for transport logistics 2015
    September 7, 2015
    The 8th European Conference on ICT for Transport Logistics (ECITL) will be held in Bordeaux from 5 to 7 October 2015 with the theme of Intelligent logistics solutions – a catalyst for digital economy. The ECITL is co-organised by Ertico-ITS Europe under the auspices of the CIP Pilot CO-GISTICS. The conference will look at in-depth technologies as intelligent transport systems (ITS), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), etc., which are not only essential for the introduction of e
  • Integrated traffic management solutions from Swarco
    October 15, 2012
    Swarco will use its ITS World Congress exhibition stand to focus on the company’s integrated solutions capabilities in urban and interurban traffic management, parking and e-mobility and public transport. The company’s Omnia all-in-one solution for intelligent traffic management will be on display as will its solution for energy-efficient intelligent street lighting. A premiere is a joint application of carmaker BMW with road operator Asfinag and signage specialist Swarco to foster knowledge about the Rettu
  • ITS associations highlight road safety, video analysis, new regulations
    December 19, 2016
    ITS Australia has welcomed the country's National Transport Commission's roadmap of regulatory reform for automated vehicles, Ertico-ITS Europe has been appointed as the work-package leader for dissemination, exploitation and standardisation for the EU’s Cloud LSVA, French opportunities in the Italian ITS market formed the theme of ITS France’s first international breakfast meeting, TTS Italia vice president Diego Galletta highlighted the role of new technology solutions, Chris Philip, ITS Canada’s new boar