Adapting to circumstances

Theresa Druce, a senior engineer for Siemens Mobility, Traffic Solutions, explains how Scootlink can provide a more realistic modelling environment

09 December 2010

Using the same adaptive control system as is utilised on-street ensures the expected outcome produced is as close to the real world solution as possible

SCOOTLink means that SCOOT operation can be fully simulated within a model as it would be on-street and at faster than real-time speeds

Traffic signals are often modelled with fixed time plans or simple vehicle actuation (VA), whereas in practice the majority of traffic signals run adaptive control, with the synchronisation of green time and signal offset depending on the flow of traffic. Where junctions are closely associated, or on strategic routes, most authorities implement a form of linked adaptive control (SCOOT) via a traffic control system.

Creating additional scripts and signal plans to replicate the complex...