Buses as probes : the use of Automatic Vehicle Locationing AVL information for improved signal control.

This paper describes research which investigates the extent to which relevant traffic information, collected by appropriately equipped buses and transmitted in the form of a "telegram", can improve traffic signal control. The modelling of generic beacon- and satellite-based Automatic Vehicle Locationing (AVL) systems and the modelling of a SCOOT-like method of signal control using SIGSIM, a microscopic traffic simulator, is described. Finally, the paper explores ways to use the information contained within bus "telegrams" to update estimates of traffic parameters of selected signal control systems. (A)