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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
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    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
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      <title>Traffic Signal Non-Intrusive Detection Technology Assessment and Comparison</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2601431</link>
      <description><![CDATA[North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has been using in-pavement (in-ground) magnetic induction loops to detect vehicles and operate traffic signals for decades as have many other state DOTs. Given the high number of signals in NC there are hundreds of thousands of loops that must be maintained for efficient signal operation and coordination. Many non-intrusive (above-ground or out-of-pavement) vehicle detection systems are compatible with NCDOT's signal controllers and can provide the same operation-critical inputs to the controllers as can magnetic induction loops. Yet they have numerous benefits enumerated herein.

The motivation for this study is to assess the costs of non-intrusive vehicle detection systems so that NCDOT can compare their costs and the value of the benefits they provide to the cost and benefits of magnetic induction loops. The goal is to determine how to quantify the various benefits and costs. The ITS and Traffic Signals Section has identified radar and cameras as the most promising non-intrusive detection technologies. The Signals Management Program Plan update now identifies the need to make a dedicated study of the costs, benefits, and return on investment of these technologies. Their goal is to identify specific technologies that meet specifications and to determine whether a targeted or blanket shift to those technologies is the optimal use of Department financial and time resources.

The purpose of this research is to assess NCDOT traffic signal detection technology to determine if it should evolve from the current magnetic induction loops to a technology based on radar or cameras (so that signal system performance is maintained or enhanced) and determine the cost of transitioning partially or fully. This study to answer the following questions: (1) “what technology is most well suited to NCDOT's needs?" (2) “what is the cost of the transition?" (3) “what is the return on investment? (4) “how would the transition occur?" This study will explore whether or not used by any division within NC and be realistically and efficiently implemented.

The lessons learned from the assessment and analysis will be combined with the experiences of other NC divisions and with knowledge gained from the literature to formulate one or more potential strategies to meet NCDOT needs. In doing so, NCDOT may improve both its overall financial decision making and the management of this critical roadway asset, resulting in overall cost savings and safety enhancement.

The proposal articulated below first introduces the context of the research need statement by providing a background. The background describes the nature of the NC traffic signal system. It then provides quantification data. The introduction also addresses the technology of vehicle detection systems and describes those that are most prominent. For each detection technology a table provides examples of manufactured products followed by a brief assessment of each technology.

The research needs and objectives are stated next and are followed by a literature review. This introductory literature review illustrates a number of important references that aid in understanding what others have done to address the questions mentioned above. The research tasks are then enumerated in significant detail. The significance of the proposed work (and the execution of the enumerated tasks) is stated. The research products are articulated next and a detailed discussion of the implementation plan is presented. That is followed by a cost benefit analysis which is a major part of the proposed work.

Finally, the project schedule is presented in two parts. The first part focuses on major milestones. These are a point in time. In one sense, they act as deadlines. The second schedule articulates the research tasks as activities. These span a longer duration over time.​]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:48:46 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Review and Study of Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer Technology for In-road Charging of Electric Vehicles</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2507249</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Electric vehicles offer tremendous opportunity to reduce emissions and save fuel and maintenance costs. However, significant challenges, centered around range and supporting charging infrastructure, remain in the pursuit of widespread adoption of electric vehicles. The emerging inductive Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) technology offers a promising solution to address these challenges. By charging electric vehicles in road using inductive DWPT devices, power can be brought to the vehicles where they drive. This will lead to smaller and longer-lasting batteries on vehicles, making electric vehicles less expensive to purchase and operate than their fossil fuel counterparts. In-road charging using inductive DWPT will also enable unlimited electric vehicle range and a seamless charging experience for drivers of electric vehicles. These improvements will help accelerate widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
In the past few years, multiple in-road charging pilot projects have been completed or launched in the United States. For example, the nation’s first inductive wireless charging road was opened in Detroit, Michigan in November 2023, which spans a quarter mile on 14th Street, between Marantette and Dalzelle streets. The road is equipped with inductive DWPT devices that can charge electric vehicles as they drive on the road. Another pilot project was launched on U.S. Highway 52 in Indiana this year, which aims at testing wireless charging for electric vehicles, particularly heavy-duty electric trucks, traveling at highway speeds. These early projects provide useful information for the planning, design, and implementation of the pilot in-road charging system to be installed in the I-80 6-line, Seward to Pleasant Dale project. However, the adoption of in-road charging infrastructure using the inductive DWPT technology is still in very early stages. Many questions and issues remain in the pursuit of widespread adoption of the DWPT technology for in-road charging of electric vehicles.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 10 Feb 2025 14:08:44 GMT</pubDate>
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