Area Traffic Control System
implementation at Pune
by
V. Muralidharan
Additional Director, Head CIG
C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram 695033
Email: murali@cdactvm.in
Area Traffic Control System

Area traffic control system are traffic responsive
system that use data from vehicle detectors and
optimize traffic signal settings to reduce vehicle
delays and stops
 The system operates in a closed loop,
evaluating the real time demand and properly
updating network signal timings
The Indian Scenario
 Most
of the traffic signal controllers
installed across the Country are first
generation, fixed time controllers
 Only two cities (New Delhi and Pune) has
the Area Traffic Control System (ATCS)


New Delhi - 63 Junction (imported from UK)
Pune - 38 Junctions (developed by C-DAC)
Even this is a very small percentage
Disadvantages of Fixed time traffic
signal controllers
 The
timing plans are based on historical
data, which may not be an accurate
reflection of typical conditions
 The timing plans rapidly age and the
benefits achieved decrease
 The system cannot respond to
unpredictable events
Result of fixed time controller
 Wasted
Green time
 Unresolved Queues
 Minor Accidents at the intersection
Major building blocks of ATCS
 Traffic
Signal Controller
 Vehicle Detectors
 Communication Network
 Application Software
 Central Control Station
Traffic Signal Controller
Vehicle Detection
(Balgandharv Chowk, Pune)
Exit Loop for Right
turning traffic
Stop line Loop for
Straight going traffic
CCR
• CETRAL CONTROL STATION
• ATCS SOFTWARE
Communication network
ArTIC #1
ArTIC #2
ArTIC #3
ArTIC #n
CONTROLLER
DETCTOR
Detector
Detector
Detector
Detector
Central Control Station (CCS)
Challenges in implementing ATCS
on Indian roads

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Traffic is not lane following
A vehicle entering the approach (upstream) on a
particular lane need not maintain the same at
the intersection
High mix of traffic
Uncontrolled side roads and on-street parking
Obtaining a correct measure of traffic count is
highly complex
Data loss due to power failure
Network failure
Availability of funds
Homogeneous, lane
following traffic
Typical flow on Indian Roads
(A scene from Pune)
Typical Indian Road Condition

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There is not, physically, as much road
space and roads are not always planned
and designed for efficient traffic use
The roads are called upon to perform a
wide variety of functions which includes
non-traffic use


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for example, the co-existence of market
stalls and through traffic on the same road
space
Segregated footpaths are often poorly
provided or used for other purposes,
forcing pedestrians to use the roadway
Vehicle growth rates are very high
Vehicle mix can cover a wide range of
types and characteristics, from bicycles and
bullock-carts to articulated trucks
On Street Parking
A typical parking pattern seen on Laxmi Road
Typical corridors
(Laxmi Road, Pune)
Addressing the Challenges

C-DAC developed a Composite Signal Control
Strategy (CoSiCoSt) for distributed network
model that address all typical Indian road
conditions
 Strategies are built into the system to guard
against network failure, power failure etc.
 Distributed control give high scalability. Phased
implementation of the system is possible based
on funds availability
C-DAC ATCS Model
Stop line
Detector
Traffic Signal
Controller
Average Occupancy
Signal Control
Feedback
(Signal Timings executed
against the prediction)
Signal Timings
(Prediction)
Central Control
Station (CCS)
Signal
Lights
Characteristics of C-DAC ATCS

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The average occupancy information is collected by the Traffic Signal
Controller from the vehicle sensors at stop-line and exit at the
respective intersections
Signal timings for the intersection is generated by the traffic signal
controller
Lead time required for the decision to terminate or continue a green
is typically 1 to 2 Sec.
Green time executed at the intersection is intimated the to CC for
audit and update
CC computes the limits for green time for every approach for all the
intersections in the network, based on the demand trend analysis
Traffic signal controller is given autonomy to terminate the green
prematurely, if the demand does not satisfy the CC predicted value
The traffic signal controllers can operate in vehicle actuation during
communication failure or isolated mode
Scalable from independent intersection-to-corridor control with
distributed time synchronization-to-ATCS
CoSiCoSt Network Model
Intersection
Controller
Demand
Split
Optimizer
Detector
New Timings &
Preferences
Translation
Plan
Stage Timing, Stage
Saturation, Speed info
Route
Selection &
Offset
Optimizer
Performance
Index / Offset
Preferences &
Observations
Split time
modifier
Weights &
Bias
Area
Optimizer
Current
Timings
Scalability
Camera
ATCS
SCMS
VMS
Vehicle Actuated Corridor Control
Vehicle Actuated Traffic Signal Controller /
Urban Traffic Controller System (UTCS)
SCMS – Service Crew Monitoring System
VMS – Variable Message Signs
Pune ATCS Configuration
CCR
Variable Message Sign
GSM
NETWORK
Variable Message Sign
Leased line Network
SCMS
(Data, Control & Video)
ArTIC #1
ArTIC #2
ArTIC #3
Camera
Detector
ArTIC #38
Camera
Detector
Detector
Detector
SCMS
Project Area in Pune
38 Intersections
Laxmi Road
Central Control Room
Variable Message Sign
(Swargate, Pune)
Service Crew Monitoring System
Photographs from Surveillance Camera
Alka Talkies Junction, Pune
Corridor performance report
Traffic Flow
Time space diagram
Controller supply and installation
 M/s
Webel Mediatronics Ltd., Kolkata
38 controllers and 136 vehicle sensor
loops
Impact Analysis of ATCS in Pune
 M/s.
Consulting Engineering Services
(India) Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai
Pre and Post implementation study
Measure of Effectives (MoEs) considered
for evaluation of impact of ATCS
 Average
Travel Speed
 Average Delay
 Average Saving in Fuel
 Average Saving in Time
Summary of these MoEs
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Average travel speed increase of - 2% to 12%
Reduction in average delay of - 11% to 30%
Estimated annual fuel savings in the year 2006
is about - Rs. 4.77 Crores
Estimated annual time saving benefits in the
year 2006 is about - Rs. 0.83 Crores
Total annual saving in the year 2006 is about Rs.
5.60 Crores
Over all Increase in the Traffic Volume is 9.06%
ATCS Pune

Project Jointly funded by DIT and Pune Municipal Corporation
 Duration
- 30 Months (January 2004 to June 2006)
 Project Cost
- Rs.597.68L
Percentage Share
35%
DIT
PMC
65%
Further Implementation
 Jaipur

One corridor (9 junctions) on pilot scale
• Implementation in final stage. Expected to be fully
functional by the end of January 2007
 Ahmedabad

Three corridors (31 junctions) on pilot scale
• Detailed project report being prepared by M/s.
Webel Mediatronics Ltd., Kolkata
Agencies come forward for
ATCS Technology
 M/s.
Webel Mediatronics Ltd., Kolkata
o M/s. KELTRON, Thiruvananthapuram
o M/s. Bharat Electronics Ltd., Bangalore
Patents

A method for synchronizing Heterogeneous
Road Traffic and System thereof

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System and Method for Vehicle Identification

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#1087/CHE/2005 dated 08/08/05
#1201/CHE/2005 dated 29/08/05
Distributed Time Synchronization of Road Traffic
Signal Controllers using GPS

IP 2069/AFS/pgv (K&S Partners ref.)
Paper Publishing
A Composite Signal Control Strategy for Indian
Roads, Indian Highways, August 2006 issue
of The Indian Roads Congress, New Delhi
Paper Presentation
 7th

International Workshop
Transportation Planning & Implementation
Methodologies for Developing Countries:
Infrastructure Systems
 Topic

Real-time Adaptive Traffic Control Systems for
Indian Cities – Challenges and
Solutions,Indian Institute of Technology
Bombay,3rd December 2006
Thank You