Modeling signal controllers

You can define signal controllers (SCs) for the following signal control procedures:

Fixed-time control and traffic-actuated controls with data files

• Use Balance-Central (Using Balance-Central signal control procedures)
• Econolite ASC/3 (for North America only) (Add-on module Econolite ASC/3)
• Use Epics/Balance-Local (Using Epics/Balance-Local signal control procedures)
• External: Access user-defined program DLL files for control as well as dialog DLL files (Add-on module external signal control signal controller).
• Fixed time, with add-on module Vissig (Using signal controller type Fixed time)
• Fixed time (simple) (Using signal controller type Fixed time (simple))
• Fourth Dimension D4 (for North America only) (Add-on module Fourth Dimension)
• LISA+ OMTC (Add-on module LISA+ OMTC)
• McCain 2033 (for North America only) (Add-on module McCain 2033)
• Ring Barrier Controller (for North America only) (Add-on module RBC)
• SCATS (Australia) (Add-on module SCATS)
• SCOOT (Add-on module SCOOT)
• Siemens VA (Siemens-VS-PLUS, TL, PDM-C by Siemens AG, Munich) (Add-on module Siemens VA (TL / Siemens VS-PLUS))
• TRENDS (Using add-on module TRENDS)
• VAP (vehicle-actuated signal control, freely programmable logic according to RiLSA 1992, guidelines for signal controllers in Germany) (Add-on module Traffic-dependent VAP Programming)
• VS-Plus (Rudolf Keller AG, Basel) (Add-on module VS-Plus)

For the signal control procedures Fixed time control, Epics Balance/Local and External, you can use the add-on module Vissig to define and configure signal groups. The Network editor allows you to add signal heads to the Vissim network. You assign each signal head a signal group of your choice.

Traffic-actuated controls without data files

You can define signal controllers for the following types of traffic-actuated signal control procedures without having to provide data files. This enables you to create simple traffic-actuated signal controls without having to program the necessary run control yourself:

• Pedestrian crossing (Defining pedestrian crossing)
• Railway crossing (Generating a railway crossing)
• 2-Stage Controller (Using 2-stage controllers)

Vissim automatically creates two signal groups for these types of signal control procedures:

• Default signal group for the major flow
• Calling signal group for pedestrians, railways or minor flows: A call detector port number needs to be allocated. For the Railway Crossing type, you will also have to allocate a checkout detector port number.

Signal state sequence of the standard signal group and the calling signal group

• Standard signal group: steady green signal, as long as there is no call from the call detector of the calling signal group.
• If there is a call for service, the standard signal group changes to red by taking into account its minimum green time.
• After the clearance time of the standard signal group has elapsed, the calling signal group changes to green. The calling signal group turns amber or red-amber, if times are set accordingly.
• After the minimum green time of the calling signal group has elapsed, it changes to red.
• After the clearance time of the calling signal group has elapsed, the standard signal group turns green.