Best Use of Best Use of Traffic Counting Traffic Counting
StationsStationsDavid C David C HamiltonHamiltonDatagen LtdDatagen Ltd
Viking Workshop Copenhagen Denmark 5 – 6 October 2005
IntroductionIntroduction Scottish Roads Traffic Database Scottish Roads Traffic Database
(SRTDb) holding the data from:(SRTDb) holding the data from: 1350 stations; including 350 ATC; 450 JTC1350 stations; including 350 ATC; 450 JTC Inductive loops Inductive loops Entire trunk road network (3400 km)Entire trunk road network (3400 km)
Presentation:Presentation: Old SpecificationOld Specification New SpecificationNew Specification Emerging MethodsEmerging Methods
Viking Workshop Copenhagen Denmark 5 – 6 October 2005
Old SpecificationOld Specification Single loop per traffic laneSingle loop per traffic lane – volumetric – volumetric
onlyonly CabinetCabinet CounterCounter Power source (battery or solar)Power source (battery or solar) Manual data retrievalManual data retrieval Cost = above plus traffic management at Cost = above plus traffic management at
installation (approx. £2,800 for 2 lanes)installation (approx. £2,800 for 2 lanes)
Viking Workshop Copenhagen Denmark 5 – 6 October 2005
New SpecificationNew Specification 2 loops 2 loops per per traffic lane traffic lane – speed and class– speed and class CabinetCabinet CounterCounter Power sourcePower source (solar or mains) (solar or mains) Retrieval by telemetry (land line or Retrieval by telemetry (land line or
mobile)mobile) Cost = approx. £3,300 for two lanes. Cost = approx. £3,300 for two lanes.
Paid back in one to two years due to Paid back in one to two years due to lower operational costs.lower operational costs.
Viking Workshop Copenhagen Denmark 5 – 6 October 2005
Benefits of NewBenefits of New Vehicle class (EUR 6) and speedVehicle class (EUR 6) and speed
Congestion monitoringCongestion monitoring Pseudo journey time dataPseudo journey time data
TelemetryTelemetry Faster identification of problemsFaster identification of problems Allows Vehicle by Vehicle data collectionAllows Vehicle by Vehicle data collection Power usage increasePower usage increase
Vehicle by Vehicle optionVehicle by Vehicle option Better fault diagnosisBetter fault diagnosis Improved data analysisImproved data analysis
Lower Operational CostsLower Operational Costs
Viking Workshop Copenhagen Denmark 5 – 6 October 2005
Vehicle by VehicleVehicle by Vehicle Date, Time, Lane, Direction, Speed Date, Time, Lane, Direction, Speed
and Class of every vehicleand Class of every vehicle Improved AnalysisImproved Analysis
PlatooningPlatooning Gap/Headway measurementsGap/Headway measurements
FlexibilityFlexibility DownsideDownside
StorageStorage Telemetry costs increaseTelemetry costs increase
Viking Workshop Copenhagen Denmark 5 – 6 October 2005
Emerging MethodsEmerging Methods Event MonitoringEvent Monitoring Live congestion monitoringLive congestion monitoring Incident detectionIncident detection Weather station data collectionWeather station data collection CCTV and still digital imagesCCTV and still digital images
Viking Workshop Copenhagen Denmark 5 – 6 October 2005
SummarySummary SpeedSpeed : safety analysis, congestion : safety analysis, congestion
monitoring and event monitoringmonitoring and event monitoring TelemetryTelemetry : reduced operational costs, : reduced operational costs,
improved fault identification and, VBV improved fault identification and, VBV feasiblefeasible
VBVVBV : gap/headway analysis, user- : gap/headway analysis, user-specified speed analysis and improved specified speed analysis and improved diagnosticsdiagnostics
Cost of installation - little changeCost of installation - little change
Viking Workshop Copenhagen Denmark 5 – 6 October 2005
Best PracticeBest Practice When installing a loop site, ensure When installing a loop site, ensure
that the infrastructure – loops, that the infrastructure – loops, cabinet, power source – are to a basic cabinet, power source – are to a basic standard capable of speed and class standard capable of speed and class data collection. Consider VBV data data collection. Consider VBV data collection and telemetry too.collection and telemetry too. Priority 1 = 2 loopsPriority 1 = 2 loops Priority 2 = telemetryPriority 2 = telemetry Priority 3 = VBVPriority 3 = VBV
This is not just a local best practice.This is not just a local best practice.
Viking Workshop Copenhagen Denmark 5 – 6 October 2005