Improved Weighted Sensor Algorithm for Emergency Vehicles Road Transport Management

Abstract:

This study developed Traffic Control with Emergency Priorities (TCEP) algorithm that uses a dynamic time allocation and gives priority to emergency vehicles. The TCEP uses closed circuit television (CCTV) to capture the image of vehicles on the travelled lane. The vehicle image is sent to the traffic management centre (TMC) for processing using canny edge detection technique. The processed binary image determines the type of vehicle whether it is an emergency vehicle. The mote sensors deployed on the road detects vehicular movement. and send signal to the TMC. The TMC then gives priority to the emergency vehicle’s lane. Traffic update is sent to the cloud through a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) and road users that connect to the cloud using their global positioning system (GPS) enabled devices. Input data was generated using uniformly distributed random numbers. The model was benchmarked with an existing Traffic Signal Time Manipulation Algorithm (TSTMA) using Average Waiting Time (AWT) and Average Queue Length (AQL) as performance metrices. The simulation result showed that TCEP out-perform TSTMA in terms of AWT and AQL. The proposed model will reduce road traffic congestion and prevent road accident between emergency vehicles and other public vehicles at traffic light intersections.

Keywords— Emergency vehicles, Traffic management centre, vehicle image, TSTMA, TCEP, VSAT