Simulation-Based Traffic Signal Design For Selected Intersections In Dhaka Using PTV VISSIM

Abstract

An automatic traffic signaling system is a critical requirement for improving urban traffic management in rapidly growing cities such as Dhaka, Bangladesh. This research investigates three key signalized intersections—Panthapath, Karwan Bazar, and Farmgate—which represent some of the most congested corridors in the city. These intersections serve as major nodes connecting educational, medical, commercial, and administrative zones. At present, traffic operations at these locations are primarily controlled manually by traffic personnel, resulting in inconsistent signal timing and frequent congestion. In this study, a VISSIM based microscopic simulation approach has been applied to design and evaluate an optimized traffic signaling system. The results demonstrate that the proposed system significantly enhances traffic performance by reducing average delay by approximately 85%–90% and decreasing vehicle queue lengths by 60%–70% compared to existing manual control operations.