The goal of a traffic engineer is to keep traffic running smoothly, safely and efficiently for the driving public, and often this involves making changes to specific intersections and to the overall road system. The trouble is that it can be difficult to observe and quantify just how these changes have affected traffic flow. A method to measure the effects of those changes can be an invaluable tool—but how do you do that?
The solution? A performance measurement system, which will gather data from many different detectors and collate them into useful and concrete reports, graphs and tables. A system like this takes the guesswork out of evaluating the traffic on your roads and lets you fine-tune changes until you achieve your desired results. Read on to learn how to create such a system using the Wavetronix SmartSensor Matrix and SmartSensor Advance and other tools.
These sensors are what will gather the data to send back to the TOC. (The backend software system you use will determine exactly how many total detectors and intersections you could tie into the system.)
The detectors you use need to be able to gather high-resolution data: counts in each lane, speeds of approaching vehicles, and the like. What makes the Matrix and Advance excellent choices for this application is first, the high-quality and reliable data, and second, that these sensors can gather the needed information while also performing their primary functions as intersection detectors.
So install your sensors, configure your detection channels, and then sit back while each device both delivers the necessary performance measure data and performs dilemma zone protection, stop bar detection, or any of the other useful applications these sensors can be used for.
At one corner of the intersection, put a traffic cabinet. These cabinets needs to have two devices inside:
Each traffic cabinet in the system should be connected back to the TOC; fiber is a popular choice, but your options are open for this step.
At the TOC you’ll need a server for the performance measures system. This server, running backend software that you’ve created, borrowed from another DOT, or obtained from a third party, will poll all the connected sensors and gather their detection data. It then goes through all this data and provides statistical analyses.
The backend software will then create useful graphs, tables and reports to deliver to you, the end user. This resources will allow you to see, and quantify when necessary, how well intersections are performing and whether changes you’ve made have affected those intersections.
You can see if your decisions have benefited the driving public, and you can find ways to further improve your roads.
