Using Intelligent Agents for Dynamic Urban Traffic Control Systems

In this research we investigate the applicability of autonomous intelligent agents in Urban Traffic Control (UTC), and why these Artificial Intelligent strategies are useful. Designing, implementing, optimising and adjusting UTC systems involves quite some effort and knowledge. We propose a system that autonomously can adapt to changing environments. The main advantages from the artificial Intelligent Agents (IA) are: Self adjustabilty is an integral part of artificial IA based traffic control unit (both long (road works) and short term (accidents) changes are covered); The, more flexible, traffic control unit can be optimised while the unit is operating. For self-evaluating, -optimising and -adjusting UTC we need a fully pro-active, realtime traffic control system. Such an UTC system requires monitoring system of traffic, a ruleor model-base for evaluation and adjustment, a model of the surrounds and an efficient diagnostic routine for both traffic light operations as well as ruleand parameter adjustments. The UTC model system is based on several Intelligent intersection Traffic Signalling Agents (ITSA) and some authority agents.