Connecting microscopic traffic simulation and LISA+ external signal control

Many researchers and traffic engineers have been working on optimizing signal control with respect to its effects on traffic flow and externalities like emissions. As large field studies for traffic management are not sustainable and actuated control strategy becomes complex, its evaluation is done with microscopic traffic simulation. However, their integrated signal control model often impedes implementing the custom control strategy in contrast to signal planning software. Making both types of software cooperate offers valuable perspectives to develop and evaluate a custom control strategy more efficiently. In this work, an overview of signal control and how it can be modeled in microscopic traffic simulation is given. Then, the signal planning software LISA+ and a microscopic traffic simulation (Aimsun in this case) are connected to allow for external signal control. LISA+ offers a virtual signal controller to communicate with external applications via network. Aimsun sends information about the chosen signal program and the detected vehicles to the controller and receives back the signal states for the next simulation second. This concept is presented in detail taking into account the communication protocol and the implementation on the Aimsun side. A case study with time-dependent actuated signal control is included as well.