Best Use of Traffic Counting Stations David C Hamilton Datagen Ltd Viking Workshop Copenhagen Denmark 5 – 6 October 2005

Introduction Scottish Roads Traffic Database (SRTDb) holding the data from: Scottish Roads Traffic Database (SRTDb) holding the data from: 1350 stations; including 350 ATC; 450 JTC 1350 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 Specification Old Specification New Specification New Specification Emerging Methods Emerging Methods Viking Workshop Copenhagen Denmark 5 – 6 October 2005

Old Specification Single loop per traffic lane – volumetric only Single loop per traffic lane – volumetric only Single loop per traffic lane Single loop per traffic lane Cabinet Cabinet Counter Counter Power source (battery or solar) Power source (battery or solar) Manual data retrieval Manual data retrieval Cost = above plus traffic management at installation (approx. £2,800 for 2 lanes) Cost = above plus traffic management at installation (approx. £2,800 for 2 lanes) Viking Workshop Copenhagen Denmark 5 – 6 October 2005

New Specification 2 loops per traffic lane – speed and class 2 loops per traffic lane – speed and class 2 loops traffic lane 2 loops traffic lane Cabinet Cabinet Counter Counter Power source (solar or mains) Power source (solar or mains) Power source Power source Retrieval by telemetry (land line or mobile) Retrieval by telemetry (land line or mobile) Cost = approx. £3,300 for two lanes. Paid back in one to two years due to lower operational costs. Cost = approx. £3,300 for two lanes. Paid back in one to two years due to lower operational costs. Viking Workshop Copenhagen Denmark 5 – 6 October 2005

Benefits of New Vehicle class (EUR 6) and speed Vehicle class (EUR 6) and speed Congestion monitoring Congestion monitoring Pseudo journey time data Pseudo journey time data Telemetry Telemetry Faster identification of problems Faster identification of problems Allows Vehicle by Vehicle data collection Allows Vehicle by Vehicle data collection Power usage increase Power usage increase Vehicle by Vehicle option Vehicle by Vehicle option Better fault diagnosis Better fault diagnosis Improved data analysis Improved data analysis Lower Operational Costs Lower Operational Costs Viking Workshop Copenhagen Denmark 5 – 6 October 2005

Vehicle by Vehicle Date, Time, Lane, Direction, Speed and Class of every vehicle Date, Time, Lane, Direction, Speed and Class of every vehicle Improved Analysis Improved Analysis Platooning Platooning Gap/Headway measurements Gap/Headway measurements Gap/Headway measurements Gap/Headway measurements Flexibility Flexibility Downside Downside Storage Storage Telemetry costs increase Telemetry costs increase Viking Workshop Copenhagen Denmark 5 – 6 October 2005

Emerging Methods Event Monitoring Event Monitoring Live congestion monitoring Live congestion monitoring Incident detection Incident detection Weather station data collection Weather station data collection CCTV and still digital images CCTV and still digital images Viking Workshop Copenhagen Denmark 5 – 6 October 2005

Summary Speed : safety analysis, congestion monitoring and event monitoring Speed : safety analysis, congestion monitoring and event monitoring Telemetry : reduced operational costs, improved fault identification and, VBV feasible Telemetry : reduced operational costs, improved fault identification and, VBV feasible VBV : gap/headway analysis, user-specified speed analysis and improved diagnostics VBV : gap/headway analysis, user-specified speed analysis and improved diagnostics Cost of installation - little change Cost of installation - little change Viking Workshop Copenhagen Denmark 5 – 6 October 2005

Best Practice When installing a loop site, ensure that the infrastructure – loops, cabinet, power source – are to a basic standard capable of speed and class data collection. Consider VBV data collection and telemetry too. When installing a loop site, ensure that the infrastructure – loops, cabinet, power source – are to a basic standard capable of speed and class data collection. Consider VBV data collection and telemetry too. Priority 1 = 2 loops Priority 1 = 2 loops Priority 2 = telemetry Priority 2 = telemetry Priority 3 = VBV Priority 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 2005Copenhagen Denmark