An evaluation system for signalized intersections in a mixed-traffic environment

The rise in mixed traffic has resulted in increased traffic congestion and accidents across China. The primary objective of this study was to accurately evaluate the operational efficiency and safety of signalized intersections in a mixed-traffic environment and to perform a spatial analysis of intersection traffic conflicts, as well as to apply physics theories to solve practical problems in traffic. The mixed nature of mixed traffic is a form of chaos. Through the matching analysis of mixed-traffic characteristics and entropy, entropy can be used effectively describe the mixed state of a signalized intersection and quantify traffic chaos and disorder. The results of this study show that the entropy flow in a motor-vehicle traffic environment is 0.3807, and the evaluation grade is C. Meanwhile, the entropy flow of a mixed motor vehicle–nonmotor vehicle–pedestrian traffic environment is 0.4084 and the evaluation grade is D, indicating an increase in confusion at intersections in this type of traffic environment compared to in a motor-vehicle traffic environment. The proposed model provides a scientific and systematic method for evaluating the signalized intersection operation in mixed-traffic environments, offering a reliable theoretical foundation for improving intersection travel efficiency and safety.