Introduction to Signal Timing & Traffic Control

Authors

Sarah V. Hernandez, University of Arkansas, FayettevilleFollow
Mariah Crew, University of Arkansas, FayettevilleFollow
Karla Diaz-Corro, University of Arkansas, FayettevilleFollow
Taslima Akter, University of Arkansas, FayettevilleFollow

Files

Description

The purpose of these lesson plans is to introduce students to traffic signalization basics. Students will be lead through a series of mini-lectures on traffic control and signalization including a discussion on the limitations and benefits of traffic signalization. The lesson plans compliment a computer simulation “game” in which students act as manual operators for a single up to four by four gridded intersection. Students attempt to control the progression of signals to understand the relationship between signal timing and user delay. Through experimentation with the simulation, students generate a presentation discussing the benefits and drawbacks of signal timing and graph the relationship between signal cycle length and driver delay. The lesson plan concludes with each student group giving a presentation on their experimental findings. This set of lesson plans includes the lecture PowerPoint slides with scripted comments and the simulation game files.

Publication Date

7-2017

Age

5th-7th grades

Document Type

Lesson Plan

Outreach Activity

GirlTREC hosted by MarTrec

Keywords

Signalization, Highway traffic control, Traffic signal timing, Stopped time delays, Traffic simulation, Education and training methods

Disciplines

Civil Engineering | Hardware Systems | Other Electrical and Computer Engineering | Transportation Engineering | Urban Studies and Planning

Comments

Please use the Transit Trouble Game to test your knowledge.

Recommended Citation

Hernandez, S. V., Crew, M., Diaz-Corro, K., & Akter, T. (2017). Introduction to Signal Timing & Traffic Control. Civil Engineering Teaching and Learning. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/cveglearn/3