CHAPTER 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION

As the number of vehicles and the need for transportation grow, cities around the world

face serious road traffic congestion problems. On the short term the most effective measures in

the battle against traffic congestion seem to be a selective construction of new roads and a better

control of traffic through traffic management. Traffic light control can be used to augment the

flow of traffic in urban environments by providing a smooth circulation of the traffic or by using

“green waves”, or to regulate the access to highways or main roads (ramp metering). A traffic

light, traffic signal, or stop light is a signaling device positioned at road intersection, pedestrian

crossing, or other location in order to indicate when it is safe to drive, ride, or walk using a

universal color code. A modern traffic signal system consists of three basic subsystems: the

signal lights in their housing, the supporting arms or poles, and the electric controller. The signal

lights and housing are known as the signal light stack.

Today, traffic is automatically routed onto limited access highways courtesy of a computer

activated guidance system that determines traffic volume on the highway. Global positioning satellite

systems (GPS) are installed in many cars. These systems connect with a satellite and inform drivers where

they are and possible routes to their destination. Such systems will eventually enable a drive to determine

the best route to a destination given prevailing traffic conditions.

In Malaysia, the traffic lights for vehicles commonly have three main lights, a red light that

means stop, a green light that mean go and yellow that means ready to stop. However for the

pedestrians, there have only two lights, a red light and a green light that mean go and stop

respectively.
The traffic lights have given many benefits to all road users. Besides reducing the number of

accidents, it made the traffic flow smoothly and possibly could save people time.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The world’s first traffic light came into being before the automobile was in use, and traffic consisted only

of pedestrians, buggies, and wagons. Installed at an intersection in London in 1868, it was a revolving

lantern with red and green signals. Red meant "stop" and green meant "caution." The lantern, illuminated

by gas, was turned by means of a lever at its base so that the appropriate light faced traffic. On January 2,

1869, this crude traffic light exploded, injuring the policeman who was operating it. After the coming of

automobiles, the situation got even worse. Police Officer William L. Potts of Detroit, Michigan, decided

to do something about the problem.

What he had in mind was figuring out a way to adapt railroad signals for street use. The railroads were

already utilizing automatic controls. But railroad traffic traveled along parallel lines. Street traffic traveled

at right angles. Potts used red, amber, and green railroad lights and about thirty-seven dollars worth of

wire and electrical controls to make the world’s first 4-way three color traffic light. It was installed in

1920 on the corner of Woodward and Michigan Avenues in Detroit. Within a year, Detroit had installed a

total of fifteen of the new automatic lights.

At about the same time, Garrett Morgan of Cleveland, Ohio realized the need to control the flow of

traffic. A gifted inventor and reportedly the first African American to own an automobile in Cleveland,

Ohio, he invented the electric automatic traffic light. Though it looked more like the semaphore signals

you see at train crossings today. Many others had obtained US Patents for Traffic Signals, some as early

as 1918. But Morgan's Patent was purchased by General Electric Corporation and provided the protection

they needed to begin building a monopoly on traffic light manufacture.

The current system of traffic light have been provides a fixed traffic control plan, which settings are based

on prior traffic counts but may be manually changed. It is the most common form of signal control for

now a days and result in inappropriate behavior in traffic which differs from that which the plan was

based, such as the use of unnecessary phases when the traffic is light.

1.2.1 THE CURRENT SYSTEM OF TRAFFIC LIGHT

The traffic jams are the common problem in most of the city in the world. The one of the main cause of

this problem is accident. To find the way to maximize the traffic flow smoothly can reduce the numbers

of the accident and can reduce the people time in road. The government has carried out a few rules to

overcome this problem. Beside take the punishment to all the traffic offenders, the traffic lights have been

made at the location that high risk in accident. However, increasing the numbers traffic lights have

contributed some contra issues/problems:

a) Traffic light cause the heavy traffic jams

Increasing the number of vehicle in road, have cause the heavy traffic jams. This happened usually at the

main junctions commonly at the morning, before office hour and at the evening, after the office hour. The

main effect of this matter is increasing time wasting of the people at the road.

b) No traffic, but the road user still need to wait

The traffic light has contributed more wasting time people at road. At the certain junction, sometime there

have no traffic. But because the traffic light still red, the road users should wait until the light turn to

green. If they run the red light, unfortunately they maybe should pay the fine about RM 300.
 c) Emergency car stuck in traffic jam

Usually, during traffic jam, the emergency vehicle, such as ambulance, firebrigade and police will be

stuck especially at the traffic light junction. This is because the road users waiting for the traffic light turn

to green. This is very critical problem because it can prevent the emergency case become complicated and

involving life.

1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this project is design a program for Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) that could

minimize the waiting time of the cars at intersections, when the traffic volume is significantly low. Beside

that, it can prevent the emergency car stuck in the traffic jam at the intersections as well. The

programming of Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) could change timing plans for three mode of

operation; normal mode, emergency mode and night mode. The objectives of this Project work are as

follow;

a) To understand the structure and operation of PLC

b) To study the ladder program and their programming technique

c) To understand how to make the interfacing to the PLC

d) To design the program which are working together with model of sensors for four-junction traffic

light

e) To build the model of four-junctions of intelligent traffic light that can overcome some of major

problem of current traffic light

The purpose of this study that is parallel to the objectives of the study is to develop a Traffic

Simulation which will effectively introduce a unique pattern of traffic control and controls

vehicle passing through the intersection of two or more roadways by giving a visual (animation)

indication to drivers when to proceed, when to slow, and when to stop through the use of micro-

computer, thereby reducing human errors.

1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY

The study is restricted to the detailed study of a model traffic control for four junctions of traffic

lights in real environment using animation with programmable logic controller to display the

simulation of the four ways junction traffic light control system.

The study covers the ways the software part and the hardware part to simulate traffic

light system. After the hardware has been setup, a program written in Java Platform 2 an Object

Oriented Programming is installed into the microcontroller with an algorithm of the traffic signal

system done using JDK 1.6 software.

1.6 LIMITATION

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

LITERATURE REVIEW

An essential part of any research work or project is literature review. Literature review involves

reading through of recorded works or researches previously done on topic relevant to the study.

Literature review gives the researcher the opportunity of obtaining information about the work

that has been done which can be reasonably applied or extended.

Here, the strength and weakness of the similar developed systems are looked into.

The research project is aimed at analyzing the existing system and identifying its limitation.

Also, it aimed at ensuring proper accuracy as well as correct ways to develop an interactive

simulation application which will effectively introduce a unique pattern of computer [system]. It

also aimed at:

I.) Expanding the volume of operation in the aspect of traffic control using text oriented

instead of signals only.

II.) Increasing the confidence of road user during traffic jams.

III.) It is also to explore the new technique in information technology so as to further identify

ways of reducing human errors.

This project stress further that no matter how small a junction is, the increase in

technology challenges the operators of such devices should also move with trends in conjunction

with technological innovations.

2.2 TYPES OF TRAFFIC LIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM.

2.3 ANALYSIS OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND MODE OF OPERATION

Most traffic signals will have the following or parts;

i. Main display with red, yellow and green,

ii. Traffic signal cabinet containing the traffic signal controller and Vehicle Detection

Systems,

iii. Inductive loops or sensors.

In the many cities, traffic signals mainly operate in three modes:

a. FIXED-TIME MODE: Under this mode, there are no detections for any approach. The

signal continuously cycles regardless of actual traffic demand. Pedestrian walk signals

are automatic and will cycle concurrently with the vehicular signal indication.

b. SEMI-ACTUATED MODE: Under this mode, the detection system is present only on

a minor cross street. When detection is activated, the green light on a major street is

interrupted to allow the minor street traffic and pedestrians to safely enter the

intersection. Pedestrian walk signals for crossing a minor street are automatic, while

those for crossing a major street are not. Pedestrians crossing a major street must push the

“pedestrian push button” to get the walk signal.

traffic signal is set to provide the green light “on-demand” or only in the presence of

vehicles.

2.4 BENEFITS OF TRAFFIC LIGHT CONTROLLER

When properly used, traffic control signals are important devices for the control of vehicular in

road. They assign the right-of-way to a choice of traffic and thereby deeply influence traffic

flow. Traffic control signals that are properly designed, located, operated, and maintained will

have one or more of the following advantages:

I. Provide orderly movement of traffic .

II. Minimize completing movement.

III. Coordinated for continuous movement.

IV. Provide driver confidence by assigning right way.

Traffic control signals are often considered a cure for all traffic problems at intersections. This

belief has led to traffic control signals being installed at many locations where they are not

needed, adversely affecting the safety and efficiency of vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic.

Traffic control signals, even when justified by traffic and roadway conditions, can be ill-

designed, ineffectively placed, improperly operated, or poorly maintained. While traffic signals

can help in locations where they are justified and installed properly, they also have

disadvantages. There will always be some disadvantages even if the signal is justified.
2.4.1 BENEFITS OF USING 3D ANIMATION

3D animation is a widely used Simulation to design digital traffic Light controller. It

can also be used for modeling analog descriptive language that describes a

relationship between drivers and road users. A simulation model describes a unit of

digital hardware .

I. Interconnections of other hardware unit whose models prescribe their behavior in

a simulation and

II. Behavioral / procedural algorithms that abstractly describe input/output behavior

that could be personified in a hardware unit. Hardware description language (HDL)

is divided by two types, Verilog

and VHDL (VHSIC – Very High Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description

Language). Both have advantages and disadvantage. In this project, Verilog HDL

was chosen because it’s used for synthesis of logic (synthesizable code), used for

verification purposes of a circuit (can be analog or digital or mixed signal), can be

used by combining synthesis & verification (synthesizable & behavioral code) and it

used for netlist representation of a synthesizable circuit (structural code). The

advantages using Verilog HDL are shown below:

I. Easy to write

II. Easy to understand as it similar to C program

III. Easier to learn compared with VHDL

No13,kolawole street off church street alapere, ketu.

Funmidammy4christ@Gmail.com

08062794726,08082995733.

OBJECTIVE

My objective for these company is to create a team work among the worker

and to move the organization forward among the other organizations with the

help of God and with my knowledge in all my qualification.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

First leaving certificate at Ebenezer primary school 1989-1995

Second leaving certificate at celestial high school 1995-2001

Phocus computer training in Desktop publishing 2006-2007

National diploma in computer science at The polyssssss