Optimising traffic signal control with evolutionary algorithms.

From the early days on, optimising traffic control plans is a research topic in traffic engineering. Usually done by hand or with an analytical approach. Since a number of years a new optimisation approach, called evolutionary algorithms, is possible. A special type of evolutionary algorithms was used to optimise control of four single controlled intersection and to compare it with traditional vehicle actuated control. The comparison has been done with simulation. The results are a bit disappointing, because the two types of control perform more or less the same. Further research should be carried out to answer the question whether or not evolutionary algorithms are suitable to use in traffic control.