Robust Consensus Approach to the Signal Control of Urban Traffic Networks

Traffic congestion is a growing problem that currently affects large urban areas around the globe and it has been recognized that introducing advanced control methods from system theory into urban traffic is more practical and efficient than the extension of infrastructure in the city. The regional congestion in urban traffic networks (UTNs) is usually caused by the disequilibrium in traffic demand. The balancing of traffic flow is converted into traffic network flow equilibrium. In this paper the authors provide an approach to avoid or delay the traffic congestion caused by traffic inhomogenity by analyzing the balance of traffic flow from the view of traffic control. A robust consensus approach of UTNs is presented. The authors propose a simulation model of UTNs called a cell transmission model (CTM).