Agent-Based Simulation for Reducing Pollution and Delay at Signalized Intersections

Azhari, Farzad; Rassafi, Amir Abbas; Pourmoallem, Nasser

doi:10.48301/kssa.2025.494106.3086

Agent-Based Simulation for Reducing Pollution and Delay at Signalized Intersections

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Farzad Azhari ¹

Amir Abbas Rassafi ²

Nasser Pourmoallem ³

¹ M.Sc., Department of Transportation Planning, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran.

² Professor, Department of Transportation Planning, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran.

³ Department of Transportation Planning, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran.

10.48301/kssa.2025.494106.3086

Abstract

The increase in the number of motor vehicles and population growth has led to intensified traffic congestion, reduced efficiency of transportation systems, increased air pollution, and higher fuel consumption. This study employs agent-based simulation to investigate the impact of traffic factors, including traffic light timing and changes in the geometric design, on traffic indicator (delay) and environmental indicators (pollutant levels) at a signalized intersection in Qazvin city. In this regard, six scenarios with various combinations of signal timing (green times of 25, 35, and 45 seconds) and geometric design (adding or not adding an exclusive left-turn lane) were designed, and the impact of each scenario on five response variables—namely delay, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons—was examined. The simulations for different scenarios were conducted in the NetLogo software environment, and the optimal scenario for reducing traffic delay and air pollution was identified through pairwise comparison using the t-test. The results indicate that selecting an appropriate geometric design and traffic light timing can reduce air pollution by up to 30% and traffic delay by up to 38%. This study demonstrates that the application of agent-based simulation can significantly contribute to improving urban traffic management and reducing environmental impacts without the need for implementing policies in the real world, which often require substantial time and cost.

Keywords

Traffic Delay

Air Pollution

Signalized Intersection

Agent-Based Simulation

Optimization

Subjects

Civil Engineering

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