By Graham Cook
SFU students look into the math behind red lights
A trio of SFU mathematics students have deduced that Vancouver could benefit from what is known as a “scramble crossing” at select intersections to replace the traditional model used now. This new system would stop traffic from all four directions at an intersection and allow pedestrians to cross the street in any direction they choose, as opposed to the current scenario where automobiles and pedestrians move across in the same direction simultaneously.
The students involved, Sam Maggs, Svyatoslav Glazyrin, and Michelle Leung, conducted the research for their course Math 402W: operations research clinic. The class is an upper division requirement for the relatively new Operations Research program offered at the Surrey campus. The group observed the downtown Vancouver intersection of Cambie and Broadway, deciding that this particular crossing would benefit from an upgraded paradigm. The majority of passers-by that they interviewed agreed.
Though one member of the group was not available for comment, Maggs and Leung spoke to The Peak about the project and the Operations Research program.
“Basically, we made up a mathematical model that determined an optimal light cycle . . . and then deemed that a scramble crossing would work and have improvements if the entire light cycle was shorter than the current system,” explained Maggs. He went on to discuss a problem a scramble crossing could solve, stating that during their observations they saw “a lot of cars that wanted to turn right weren’t able to, because pedestrians were constantly crossing the street either perpendicular or parallel to traffic. . . . Also, a lot of the pedestrians were wanting to get from one corner to the opposite diagonal corner.”
The students are arguing that their proposed intersection would benefit crossings that have higher volumes of pedestrians, citing a scramble crossing in Richmond’s Steveston area.
They were so confident in this assertion that they sent their findings to Vancouver City Hall. As of yet, they have not received a response.
The pedestrians passing by that the group interviewed during their research felt that a Scramble Crossing would make the intersection safer. Maggs and Leung explained that this was due to pedestrians having exclusive access to the intersection, eliminating the possibility of being run over. However, concern was raised over confusion for first time users, which Maggs said would “depend on the city and how they properly communicate [how to use the intersection].” This new system, were it implemented, would also increase wait times for vehicle traffic. The group defended this by stating that the city of Vancouver’s official stance is to prioritize pedestrians over vehicles.
The two students also discussed the Operations Research program itself. Leung pointed out that out of the three, she is the only one majoring in the program, having been drawn to it from another field. She entered the program in spring of 2011 and spoke of the low amount of people actually in Operations Research. “It’s a relatively small group, but I would say it’s a group of elites,” said Leung.
“Operations Research is more applicable than traditional math, calculus, and all that boring stuff . . . and we get a lot of students like myself who want to just take O.R. courses because it’s not as technical,” said Maggs.
The instructor of the Operations Research Clinic, Abraham Punnen, also spoke with The Peak about the course and program. He said that typically for this course he would come up with several assignment options for students to choose from, but the students themselves created this particular project. Punnen described Operations Research as “the science of optimal decision making,” and expressed his hopes that the program continues to grow and develop.
The work was an honourable mention at the Canadian Operational Research Society’s undergraduate student paper competition, with the first prize going to their classmates who looked at a TA assignment problem.
