Research in Progress (RIP)

Supplemental Traffic Count Pilot Project for Establishing a Statewide Count Program in Colorado

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 14:26:01 GMT

To design roadway infrastructure for comprehensive safety of all users, understanding exposure is essential. Current count and volume estimation methods primarily focus on vehicular traffic, leaving a gap in exposure data for other supplemental traffic modes. There is also a lack of guidance on supplemental traffic count programs for optimum coverage across regions. Partial guidance on counting programs is available from sources such as the Federal Highway Administration’s Traffic Monitoring Guide. However, all these documents describe the design of a full-scale supplemental traffic counting program as being dependent on and informed by small scale pilot programs. The proposed project will develop guidance for Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to develop a statewide full scale supplemental traffic count program. The objective of this study is to conduct a small-scale pilot supplemental counting program to test approaches identifying count location/distribution, technology use, and calculation of key statistics that would be available from a well-designed count program (such as crash/fatality rates). The outputs of this research effort would inform CDOT senior management and other practitioners when creating a detailed design and schedule for a full-scale supplemental traffic counting program. For researchers, this will provide a robust data driven framework for identifying supplemental traffic count locations. Furthermore, machine learning and statistical models for estimating and predicting supplemental traffic volumes using open source, readily available data will also be produced as part of this project. In addition to the aforementioned goals of the project, during multiple preliminary meetings with the CDOT team, the research team identified an additional need—creating a training program for the contractors who will collect the supplemental traffic data in the field. It is understood that, like the established vehicular traffic count program, a mature supplemental count program will rely on contractors for the data. The project team deemed it necessary that any contractor selected to collect supplemental traffic data via bidding would have to take a mandatory standardized training program. The project thus now focuses on contractor training and sample data collection during the training, field data collection post-training for a set of sites with different location characteristics (rural/urban/arterial, etc.), and identifying permanent counter locations based on the data collected, factors identified in the literature, and other available data.

Development of an Evaluation and Acceptance Process for Traffic Count Devices

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 10:05:54 GMT

As new traffic count device technologies emerge, it is crucial to establish guidelines for their evaluation and acceptance for use by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). These guidelines should consider factors such as count accuracy and reliability. Having guidelines will ensure that the most effective and efficient technologies are implemented for traffic monitoring and management. This project aims to develop an evaluation process for assessing the suitability of traffic count sensors for traffic monitoring purposes. The methodology will be tested and validated using a vision-based classification device as a pilot. The potential implementation of this research is that the Traffic Operations Division (TOD) can utilize the research results to establish an official traffic count device verification and acceptance procedure. This standardized procedure can be applied to all future traffic count devices seeking verification for use by VDOT.

Statewide Non-Motorized Traffic Monitoring Study

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 14:39:20 GMT

The objectives of this research are to do the following: (1) Consolidate non-motorized traffic data collected by Louisiana Transportation Research Center/Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LTRC/DOTD) to date onto a geographic information systems (GIS) platform (2) Explore the possibilities of consolidating non-motorized traffic data collected by other public agencies onto the same GIS platform. (3) Refine expansion factors for short-term counters with additional data. (4) Evaluate emerging data products by comparing them with counting data collected to date in Louisiana. (5) Evaluate opportunities for and needs pertaining to expanding counting locations to support DOTD’s needs.

Implementing Inductive Loop Signature Technology for Vehicle Classification Counts

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 14:11:11 GMT

This study evaluates recent technology that uses inductive loop detectors, traditionally used for collecting traffic volume and speed data, to provide vehicle classification data by examining the high-resolution signature produced when a vehicle passes over the sensor. The project aimed to verify the accuracy of the new classification system, collect additional heavy vehicle data to help improve system accuracy, and familiarize MnDOT staff with the technology through training and the development of a field deployment manual. Through collaboration with MnDOT and the technology vendor CLR Analytics, Inc., the VSign vehicle classification system was installed at five sites in Minnesota with preexisting loop detection systems. The final sites were chosen to be representative of MnDOT facilities, feature a mix of heavy vehicle traffic, and provide accessibility for deployment staff. Data from the VSign system was compared with manually verified ground-truth data collected from video under both the FHWA and HPMS classification schemes. The system demonstrated high accuracy for passenger vehicles but varying accuracy for different classes of heavy vehicles, though performance improved under the HPMS classification scheme. The VSign system was also evaluated against the video-based iTHEIA™ system at one site, which VSign outperformed in both classification accuracy and detection rate. The results suggest that the VSign system is more effective at locations where vehicles maintain consistent speeds and are centered in the lane due to the negative effects of variations in speed and lateral position on the consistency of vehicle signatures read by the detector.

Development and Implementation Guidance for a Traffic Count Extraction Program for Kansas City, Kansas, Using KC Scout Sensors Data

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 12:22:32 GMT

Kansas City Metropolitan area traffic is monitored by KC Scout (traffic management center), a two-state agency designed to collect vehicle data, assist with disabled vehicles, and provide critical information. KC Scout’s sensor network in Kansas covers major interstates such as I-35, I-435, I-70 and also state highways. Extensive data from the KC Scout Wavetronix sensor network has been investigated by K-State previously including updating the lane closure guide, and also finding limitations of data collection by the sensors during work zone operations. Although KC Scout is very effective in many respects, the research team would like to provide KDOT’s planning department a tool to extract accurate traffic counts using the KC Scout sensor network at key locations around the metropolitan area based on ground truthing. Additionally, the research team proposes an “implementation guide” or users manual on how to extract the data, request sensor calibration, and if any expansion factors are needed to the output data. The research team envisions an extraction program that can be connected to the existing TransCore database and work similar to the lane closure guide to provide accurate average daily traffic (ADT) counts to both KDOT and subcontractors. Prior to developing the proposed extraction program and implementation guidance, a ground-truthing protocol will be used to determine the accuracy and limitations of Wavetronix sensors at selected locations as determined by the research team and KDOT.

The Portable Single Lane Traffic Counting Device

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 12:09:26 GMT

A majority of traffic counting in the U.S is performed using portable traffic counters employing a road tube system that is unsafe, difficult to operate, and unable to meet the data quality standards desired by transportation agencies. This project developed a portable traffic monitoring device for counting and Federal Highway Administration's 13 vehicle classification, the standard vehicle classification system in the U..S. The device is a video-based system that uses a combination of artificial intelligence and image processing to collect data on a single lane. The performance evaluation results indicate consistent counting and classification with more than 98% accuracy. Return on investment analysis is presented, taking into account material costs, productivity gain and collection rejection rates. The findings indicate that the developed device has the potential for wide use in the industry. There are over 100 units currently in use by transportation agencies to collect traffic monitoring data. The report is available.

Development of Count Transfers Methods for TMAS Data Transfer from Clearinghouses Probably LA

Fri, 18 May 2018 13:49:21 GMT

Follow-up to existing work at PSU/NITC with the inclusion of one additional clearinghouse.

Development of Count Transfers Methods for TMAS Data Transfers from Clearinghouse

Fri, 11 May 2018 10:12:15 GMT

No abstract provided.

Synthesis of Information Related to Airport Practices

Sat, 07 Feb 2015 01:00:57 GMT

Airport administrators, engineers, and researchers often face problems for which information already exists, either in documented form or as undocumented experience and practice. This information may be fragmented, scattered, and unevaluated. As a consequence, full knowledge of what has been learned about a problem may not be brought to bear on its solution. Costly research findings may go unused, valuable experience may be overlooked, and due consideration may not be given to recommended practices for solving or alleviating the problem. There is information on nearly every subject of concern to the airport industry. Much of it derives from research or from the work of practitioners faced with problems in their day-to-day work. To provide a systematic means for assembling and evaluating such useful information and to make it available to the entire airport community, an ACRP synthesis program has been established similar to those currently in existence in both the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) and the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP). These programs search out and synthesize useful knowledge from all available sources and prepares concise, documented reports on specific topics. Reports from this endeavor will constitute an ACRP Synthesis of Airport Practice series. The objective of this project is to provide a synthesis program for the ACRP. A synthesis is a relatively short document (40-60 pages) that summarizes existing practice in a specific topic area based typically on a literature search and a survey of relevant organizations (e.g., airports). Synthesis reports are most valuable when they are focused on issues or problems common to many organizations. The primary users of the reports are the practitioners who work on those issues or problems using diverse approaches in their individual settings. Note that syntheses merely summarize existing practice. They do not undertake new research, nor do they contain policy recommendations.

Freight Demand Estimation from Secondary Sources

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:35:34 GMT

Research Statement

The estimation of future freight needs requires the use of network and freight demand models. When characterizing freight demand, basic data are sought to appropriately model the decision processes associated with freight generation, distribution, and consumption. In this context, freight origin-destination (OD) matrices are one of the most important data a planner could have, which is why a significant amount of effort, time and money is spent on their estimation. The estimation of OD matrices can be done by: (a) direct sampling methods; and, (b) using secondary data sources such as traffic counts. The latter techniques are referred here as OD synthesis (ODS).

Direct sample estimation includes all methodologies in which the OD data are obtained by interviewing the users. These approaches have some well known limitations: roadside interviews tend to double count trips; on board interviews may lead to bias in the parameters of random utility models; mail interviews are often biased because the rate of response varies across the population; and home interviews, though able to provide statistically sound estimates of OD, require a great deal of planning, time, effort and money (Ortuzar and Willumsen, 2001).

ODS overcomes these limitations by bypassing the need for surveys. In ODS, the traffic counts "which are a function of the OD flows" are used to estimate the OD matrices. Although there are hundreds of papers on passenger ODS, only a handful deal with freight (Tamin and Willumsen, 1988; Gedeon et al., 1993; List and Turnquist, 1994; Tavasszy et al., 1994; Al-Battaineh and Kaysi, 2005; Holguin-Veras and Patil, 2007; Holguin-Veras and Patil, 2008). This highlights the importance of funding research in this important subject as the increasing availability of global positioning system (GPS) and intelligent transportation system (ITS) data provide unique opportunities for transformative and innovative contributions to practice.

As part of a National Science Foundation project, team members developed new formulations to conduct freight ODS, and a novel tour based freight demand model. The freight ODS formulations use a gravity model to estimate commodity OD flows, and an empty trip model based on a simplified trip chain model to approximate tour behavior. The first formulation considered a single generic commodity (Holguin-Veras and Patil, 2007), while the second considered multiple commodities. The performance of these formulations was assessed using actual OD data. The numerical tests showed a reduction in the total summation of errors of 29% to 40% with respect to alternative models. A key limitation of these models is that they require, as an input, the amount of cargo produced and attracted by each zone.

The objective of the proposed work is to enhance this line of work by expanding the formulations to consider the case in which the amount of cargo produced and attracted by each zone is unknown, or there is uncertainty in their estimation. Among other things, this will enable metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to produce quick estimates of freight OD matrices on the basis of traffic counts. The proposed project would focus on the development of the required mathematical algorithms to produce such estimation. Among other things, the availability of such methodologies will facilitate integration of freight into the metropolitan transportation planning process.

An Examination and Presentation of Travel in Sussex County

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:16:18 GMT

Sussex County needs to be the focus of a comprehensive compilation and presentation of available travel and demographic data including origins and destinations, projections and their impacts, trip purpose, employment, seasonal variation, and trip generation. Available population projections also need to be examined in terms of future impact to areas in Sussex County. The Delaware Transportation Monitoring System, the National Travel Survey, and the Census 2000 CTPP are among practically untapped data sources. These together with Travel Demand Forecasting outputs, traffic studies, and traffic counts could provide a vital resource for planning and understanding for the public. Methods for dissemination of travel demand and traffic count information need to be developed.