Evaluation of SCATS Control System

Principal Investigators

Dr. Utpal Dutta
University of Detroit Mercy

Project Dates:

03/01/2007 to 05/30/2008

Project year: Year 1

MIOH-UTC Project Identifier: TS 4; Projects 1 & 2

Focus Area:

Research: Intelligent Transportation Systems

Abstract:

The purpose of this research study is to determine the effectiveness of Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System (SCATS) in reducing traffic congestion by examining travel time, delay, queue length and crash rate as Measure of Effectiveness (MOE). Similar to many urban areas across the nation, Oakland County, one of the largest counties in the State of Michigan has been experiencing congestion for the past two decades. Looking for innovative and cost effective ways to improve road user mobility and safety, the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) began investigating innovative traffic control strategies associated with Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). As a part of this effort, the county has gradually converted its signalized traffic network from optimized fixed-time to SCATS control starting from year 1992.

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of SCATS signal system, a comparative parallel evaluation methodology will be used. Due to lack of 'before' data (prior to 1992), a 'Comparative Parallel' study plan will be used to conduct statistical experiment. In the 'Comparative Parallel' study, the measures of effectiveness will be compared for a test corridor (a corridor that has been converted to the SCATS system) and a control corridor (a corridor that has not been converted to the SCATS system and operates under conventional signal control) for various measures of effectiveness selected for this study. Student's t-test and Paired t-test will be used as a part of statistical analysis. Traffic simulation software Synchro/Sim Traffic (version 7.0) will be used to verify delay data.