Transportation agencies use many traditional data collection methods (e.g., manual counts, pneumatic tubes, in-road sensors, radar sensors) as well as emerging data collection methods (e.g., purchasing sensors as a service, probe data, video image processing) for traffic data collection. Traffic data is collected for a variety of reasons including to inform traffic studies or other transportation planning efforts, to complete Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) reporting, or to support traffic management efforts.
While traditional traffic data collection methods have provided trusted data for many years, there may be advantages to using emerging traffic data collection methodologies to supplement or replace existing methods. For example, emerging traffic data collection methodologies may reduce resources needed to operate and maintain detection devices in the field, provide more complete coverage and faster access to data, or offer advanced analytics to increase an agency’s ability to glean useful insights from the data.
Because tradeoffs likely exist when assessing various traffic data collection methods, it’s important to compare emerging data collection options to traditional methods and learn from agency experiences.
This ENTERPRISE Pooled Fund Study project is exploring emerging methodologies for collecting traffic data, with a focus on understanding costs and benefits (e.g., time) compared to more traditional methodologies.
The project is gathering information through a literature search, industry scan, and survey and/or interviews with transportation agencies. After information-gathering is complete, a comparison of emerging traffic data collection alternatives to traditional methods will be documented, considering factors such as cost, benefits, drawbacks, reliability, ubiquity, accuracy, reporting frequency, and practicability.