April 20, 2023 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM (ET)
About the Webinar:
Traffic congestion is challenging to resolve at closely spaced oversaturated intersections. This condition leads to underutilization of green time at upstream intersections due to queue spillback from downstream traffic signals (green starvation). The research team developed a microsimulation model near Texas A&M University campus to simulate a network of traffic signals which included a pair of closely spaced signals that experience green starvation frequently. The research team investigated two treatments to alleviate this condition when a queue spillback was detected: one, a low-level preemption at one or both intersections, and two, a preemption at one or both intersections to call the phases to meter or service the saturated link to clear the queues. The research team analyzed these treatments with various combinations using the simulation model. Based on the study, the research team recommends the scenario with a treatment at both closely spaced intersections with a 250-second reservice setting for preemption as the best alternative for addressing the queueing problem.
About the Presenter:
Srinivasa Sunkari, PE, is a senior research engineer at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute and has over 30 years of experience as a professional engineer and a researcher in the field of traffic signal operations, hardware-in-the-loop simulation, and Connected Vehicle Initiatives. Mr. Sunkari was a key researcher and led many projects in the area of Connected Vehicles and traffic signals. He was the principal investigator and led the development of a hardware-in-the-loop platform to evaluate Connected Vehicle Applications and Connected Vehicle Technologies. Mr. Sunkari was also the principal investigator in a project to identify and eliminate conflicts in the Connected Vehicle Messages from the infrastructure to the mobile devices. He was one of the contributing authors of the first version and the second version of the FHWA’s Traffic Signal Manual. Mr. Sunkari was also a key researcher that developed the Signal Timing Handbook for the Texas Department of Transportation. He has developed and presented numerous workshops specifically for the Texas Department of Transportation and ITE. These include workshops in arterial optimization, diamond interchange operations, rail preemption at intersections near highway-rail grade crossing, advance coordination features, and hardware-in-the-loop simulation. He has frequently been relied upon to provide technical support to various TxDOT districts for traffic operations.
