Sensors for Traffic Control

Sensors for Traffic Control
An Introduction

Prof. David Bernstein
James Madison University

Computer Science Department

bernstdh@jmu.edu

What's Needed?

The Desired Data:
- Presence, Counts
- Velocity, Flow
- Headway, Spacing
About the Sensors:
- Some sensors can collect all data directly
- Some sensors have to be used in pairs to collect some data
- Some sensors require additional processing to collect some data

Platform

Infrastructure Only:
- RADAR, LIDAR
- Inductive Loops, Pneumatic Tubes, Piezoelectrics
- Camera/Imaging
Vehicle + Infrastructure:
- RFID Tags
- Other Radio Systems (e.g., Cellular)

Probes

The Idea:
- A subset of vehicles in a vehcile+infrastructure system that voluntarily provide data
Using Government Vehicles:
- Buses, maintenance vehicles, emergency service vehicles can be used as probes

Spatial and Temporal Characteristics (cont.)

Point in Space, Point in Time

Spatial and Temporal Characteristics (cont.)

Area of Space, Point in Time

Spatial and Temporal Characteristics (cont.)

Point to Point