A single intersection cooperative-competitive paradigm in real time traffic signal settings based on floating car data

New technologies such as “connected” and “autonomous” vehicles are going to change the future of traffic signal control and management and possibly will introduce new traffic signal systems that will be based on floating car data (FCD). The use of floating car data to regulate traffic signal systems, in real time, has the potential for an increased sustainability of transportation in terms of energy efficiency, traffic safety and environmental issues. However, research has never explored how not “connected” vehicles would benefit by the implementation of such systems. This paper explores the use of floating car data to regulate traffic signal systems in real-time in a single intersection and in terms of cooperative-competitive paradigm between “connected” vehicles and conventional vehicles. In a dedicated laboratory, developed for testing regulation algorithms, results show that “invisible vehicles” for the system (which are not “connected”) in most simulated cases also benefit when real time traffic signal settings based on floating car data are introduced. Moreover, the study estimates the energy and air quality impacts of a single intersection signal regulation by evaluating fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. Specifically, the study demonstrates that significant improvements in air quality are possible with the introduction of FCD regulated traffic signals.