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%>

Related Content

  • October 29, 2014
    Real-time video vehicle tracking from Covisys
    German company Covisys develops a range of high performance machine vision for many industries, including automotive, using cutting edge HTML5 technologies like WebRTC for video streaming and WebSockets for control of its smart cameras and devices. Its CarID vehicle licence plate detection and recognition system can be used to identify vehicles accessing public car parks and to control vehicle input and output fl ow in restricted areas.
  • September 26, 2012
    ITS Austria hosts Austrian technology at World Congress
    Austria is hosting the ITS World Congress, so you might expect something special on the ITS Austria stand. Well you are not going to be disappointed! About 40 Austrian companies will be represented on Stand E10 to show their products and services. For example, together with the Vienna Transport Authority, Telereal will show its ‘multi-sensual’ sign system, a new type of info point for people with hearing, visual or physical impairments.
  • December 24, 2012
    USDOT transportation T3 webinars 2013
    Sponsored by the US Department of Transportation's ITS Professional Capacity Building (PCB) Program. T3 webinars are interactive online meetings where subject matter experts present on a wide range of topics related to Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) planning, design, procurement, deployment, operations, noteworthy practices, and lessons learned. Recently added webinars include:
  • March 12, 2014
    Future Railway launches pantograph design competition
    As part of the UK’s rail electrification programme, FutureRailway is launching a competition to design a Pantograph Dynamic Behaviour Measurement Device for use in Rolling Stock Maintenance Depots. Currently pantographs cannot be run too close together and are limited in the speed they can achieve. Electric trains which can run at faster speeds whilst coupled together in multiple could improve both train performance and network capacity. Improvements in pantograph capability are thought to be needed to r