Dynamic Intersection Signal Control Optimization (DISCO) is a fully dynamic traffic signal control approach. DISCO works with dynamic and pre-existing traffic loadings. It can be used to simulate the performance of an existing timing plan or to optimize for a new one according to three schemes: Fixed-Green-Fixed-Cycle (FGFC), Variable-Green-Fixed-Cycle (VGFC), or Variable-Green-Variable-Cycle (VGVC). The FGFC plan is equivalent to the traditional fixed-time plan.  

DISCO is developed by the research team led by Dr. Hong K. LO of the Department of Civil Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Team members include Elbert Chang, Joe Chan, Eric Hung, and Andy Chow. Support for DISCO includes two grants from the Sino Software Research Institute, and the Research Grants Council's Competitive Earmarked Research Grant.

To install, download and unzip the following file. The installation will take a few minutes. This demo version of DISCO can work with up to three signalized intersections.

Beta Disco (around 7 MB)

Input file examples: 1-junction, 2-junction, Argyle Street (right-click, choose "Save Target As", set "Save as type" to "All Files", enter "1-junction.din" as File name) Note that DISCO input files must be named as "XXXX.din", where "XXXX" is your choice but the file name extension must be ".din" (without ".txt") . Also, the name of the working directory cannot be too long. For example, "d:\disco1" is fine, whereas "d:\data - office\my research files\civl563\disco examples\argyle street" is too long.

DISCO Manual (around 1.2 MB)

Note: If your computer is using "Windows 7", you need to change the security setting:

 1. Control Panel -> System and Security -> Action Center -> Security -> User Account Control -> Change Settings

 2. Change "Always Notify" to "Never Notify"

 3. Restart Windows 7

Note: If your computer is using "Windows 10", to run "Editor" properly, you need to right-click the shortcut to "run as administrator"

or follow the procedure in http://www.cnet.com/how-to/always-run-a-program-in-administrator-mode-in-windows-10/ to permanently change to run Editor as administrator.

Please send comments to Dr. Hong K. LO, cehklo@ust.hk

References

Lo, H. and H.F. Chow. 2004. Control Strategies for Over-Saturated Traffic. ASCE Journal of Transportation Engineering, 130. 466-478.

Lo, H. and H.F. Chow. 2002. Adaptive Traffic Control System: Control Strategy, Prediction Resolution, and Accuracy. Journal of Advanced Transportation: ITS Special Issue, 36 (3), 323-347.

Lo, H. 2001. A Cell-based Traffic Control Formulation: Strategies and Benefits of Dynamic Timing Plans. Transportation Science, 35(2), 148-164.

Lo, H., E. Chang, and Y.C. Chan. 2001. Dynamic Network Traffic Control. Transportation Research A, 35(8), 721-744.

Lo, H. 1999. A Novel Traffic Signal Control Formulation. Transportation Research A, 33, pp. 433-448.

(since Feb, 2005)