Traffic Engineering Design Challenge
The week-long camp culminated in a design challenge. The objective of the traffic challenge was to minimize total delay (one of the key measures of effectiveness used in design) through a corridor of two intersections by collecting the most poker chips. Each team was given different corridor characteristics, thereby requiring each team to design their own unique signal timing plans. Figure 4 illustrates the students executing their design challenges. This section outlines the main components of the design challenge. Note that the design challenge required students to integrate many of the traffic engineering concepts they learned throughout the week.
Student Executing the Design Challenge
The objective of the design challenge was for students to minimize delay through their corridor, using the collection of poker chips as a means to estimate the delay. To perform the design challenge, students needed graph paper, a watch, scratch paper, and a calculator, as well as the metronome and poker chips, traffic signals and taped-off traffic corridors. As part of the design challenge, students drew their corridors (including volumes, dimensions, and phasing) and developed timing plans for two signals, by selecting cycle lengths, green times, and an offset, to minimize vehicle delay.
For additional details regarding the Traffic Engineering Design Challenge please see the links below.