Development of New Data Collection Techniques

ITE/MPO 2004 Technical Conference

NYSDOT Traffic Monitoring Section

Todd B. Westhuis, P.E.

Data Collection Technologies• Sensors/Hardware

• Mobile Traffic Monitoring Platform• Permanent Acoustic Site• Micro Loops• High speed WIM

• Communications• Trafmate Digital Pagers• Trafinfo Tri-Mode Cellular Modems

• Software Applications• Highway Data Management System• Highway Data Store• Traffic Count Editor• Traffic Data Forecaster

Mobile Traffic Monitoring Platform

“Side Fire” Geometry

SAS-1 Acoustic Sensor

SAS-1

91 Look Directions(0 Deg to 180 Deg)

Time

Each “Blob” Shows Positionand Strength of a Vehicle’sAcoustic Intensity - Lt Green is Weak - Dk Green/Red is Strong

Lane Switcher

Detection Indicator(Magenta Markers)

Lane 1Lane 2

Lane 3LS RS

Traffic in Other Direction

Mobile Platforms• Trailer equipped with a

35’ telescoping mast and SAS monitor

• Powered by 50 watt solar panel and two 100 aH deep cycle batteries (12V DC)

• Interface for programming and data download to laptop

• Trafmate digital pager for data download via telemetry

Special Studies

• Non-traditional counts• Seasonal snowmobile and

ATV studies

• Siting new equipment• Event coverage• Traf Mon Section

support offered

Permanent Acoustic Site

• Equipped similarly to platforms

• Cost: ~$8-12K including installation

Micro Loop Traffic Monitoring Site

Under Bridge Deck Application

M701 Microloop(Hold secure with RTV or foam)

3/4" PVC pipe, 24" Long, Schedule 40ASTM D-1785, Bristolpipe

Type T Rigid PVC Access Fitting 3/4",Kraloy T07

(Insert Microloop through this cover)

1" PVC Schedule 80 SocketFlange, NIBCO 851-H10

Bolted Water Pipe GroundClamp, 1/2" to 1", Galvan

Industries #DCG

Magnet - Supervet, Alnico V, Model TA134, 0.5"dia. X 3" lg. (Hold secure to clamp with RTV )

3/4" PVC pipe, 2" Long, Schedule40

ASTM D-1785, Bristolpipe

3/4" Plug, PVCLASCO 449-007

3/4" Coupling PVCLASCO 429-007

Glue to underside of bridge deck using structural epoxy such as 3M DP-810. (See surface prep. note below)

During magnetic field surveys, an oval of 3M 08612 Auto Glass Butyl Sealer may be used to provide a temporary bond to bridge deck.

Preparation for structural epoxy bonding:* Wipe all bonding surfaces free of dust and most films with solvent, such as isopropyl alcohol.* Abrade surfaces using fine grit abrasive (180 grit or finer)* Remove residue using solvent such as isopropyl alcohol.

TEE Reducing 2"X2"X1" PVCLASCO 401-249

Holding Screw - Self-Tapping,SS, #4X1/2" (Drill 3/32" pilot

hole in Tee)2" PVC pipe, Schedule 40 ASTM D-1785, Bristolpipe

Clamp to bottom of bridge I beams

1" to 3/4" PVC ReducerBushing, LASCO 437-131

Van Wyck Expressway• Site installed by NYSDOT forces on elevated 8 lane section

of I-678 in Queens• 142,000 AADT

• Two probes per lane• Currently collecting volume data via telemetry

A Cost Effective Method to Obtain ‘Weigh-In-Motion’ Data

Weight Data Needs

• Planning

• Targeted Commercial Vehicle Enforcement• Joint New York State Police/NYSDOT effort

• 2002 Pavement Design Guide

Guide’s Three Hierarchical Levels of Design Inputs

• Level 1 – Site Specific Measurements• Traffic Volume • Vehicle Classification (axle configuration)• WIM (Axle load distribution)• Data collected within or near project area

• Level 2 – Correlations• Regional values derived from larger dataset• Similar truck traffic and truck weight characteristics

• Level 3 – Default Values• National defaults configured with local knowledge

“Do More With Less”

• Traditional WIM Sites• Expensive to equip• Expensive to install• Expensive to maintain

• DOT Traffic Monitoring Programs• Staffs shrinking• Funding limited

• Cost effective alternatives needed

2001 Construction

‘WIM Card’ Development

• Desire to collect volume, speed, classification and truck weight data using piezo axle sensor inputs to an auto-calibrating traffic recorder • Added functionality for existing traffic monitoring sites• Provides a cost effective and safe weighing solution

when compared to other WIM technologies

• Nineteen sites now online statewide• Periodic testing to verify accuracy

• Continuous monitoring and collection

WIM Site Features/Capabilities

• Auto-calibrates using steering axle of a Class 9 truck with user selected sample size• Meets ASTM 1318-02 accuracy requirements for Class I piezos

(ASTM Type II)

• Auto-gain control detects input signal from the piezo sensor and adjusts gain to provide best axle detection and resolution

• Solar powered• Cell modem for communications• Seamless integration into Statewide Traffic Monitoring

System• Trafman software for auto polling

• Automated quality control checks

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Archived Data Formats

• Standard is FHWA W card• Enhanced W card

• Vehicle time stamped to 1/100 second• Speed recorded to 1/10 mile per hour

• Quarterly report for stakeholders• Summary by site of volume, speed, class

and weight data in user friendly format• Design Guide inputs and ESALs• Raw data available by request

Costs

• Four Lane AVC/WIM site installation• $50K (Upstate)• $80K (Metro New York

City)

• WIM Enabled TCC 540 ATR• $10K per unit

• Data Rate • $20-$30/day

Site Maintenance Contract

• Performance based maintenance contract highly recommended

• Payment based on “per day of data”• Full 24 hours with no interruptions or failures

• Liquidated damages• Site “down” for more than five days• System drops below 95% readiness

• Over and Above Items• New construction or upgrade of sites

“Cutting The Cord”Wireless Communications and Traffic

Monitoring Sites

Communications: Why Wireless?

• No infrastructure costs• Service fees less than landline• Eliminates line quality issues• Coverage issues resolved• Digital• Low power

• Accommodates use of photovoltaics • Flexibility

• Equipment choices• Coverage choices

NYSDOT’s Sites• 169 Locations in Statewide

Traffic Monitoring System (Continuous Count)

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Tri-Mode CDMA Cellular Modem

• Dataremote CDS 9022

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Dataremote CDS 9022

• Equipment Costs• $695 for cell modem• $70 for antenna

• Monthly Service Costs

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OnlyClass/Speed

Weigh-In-Motion

$11-$24 $24-32 $25-$100

Digital Pager• Trafinfo.com Trafmate

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Trafmate

• Equipment Costs• $685 for digital pager

including antenna

• Monthly Service Costs

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1-3 Lanes

Volume

4-7 Lanes

Volume

8 LanesClass/Speed

$6.75 $8.95 $9.80 $25.00

Two-Way Digital Pager• Trafinfo.com Trafmate 6

Trafmate 6

• Equipment Costs• $795 for digital pager

including antenna

• Monthly Service Costs

Volume/Class/Speed

$20.00

Highway Data Management SystemHDMS

Highway Data StoreHDS

DATABASE TOOLS

• HIGHWAY DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (HDMS)• An Oracle-based relational database and

application to process and manage highway and traffic data with linkages to other NYSDOT data systems

• HIGHWAY DATA STORE (HDS)• A data warehouse tool to access and query

data maintained in HDMS

HDMS

• All data in one consistent database• Replaces flat file mainframe data storage system

• Traffic and pavement data linked to highway data• All volume, speed, classification and truck weight

data captured and archived on network• State, county and local facilities

• Extracts to support current users• Business rules/list of values driven• Feature based as opposed to segment

Highway Data Store

• An Oracle Discoverer-based data warehouse tool to access the highway inventory and traffic monitoring data of the NYSDOT Highway Data Services Bureau

• Refreshed nightly with data from HDMS

• Pre-packaged data sets available

• Full data access offered

HDS Implementation

Sequence of user implementation:• NYSDOT Highway Data Services

Bureau staff

• NYSDOT Main Office “super users”

• NYSDOT Regional Offices/other Intradot users

• MPOs/FHWA web-based access

Traffic Count Editor(TCE)

TCE

• Analyze, maintain, and submit short-term volume, classification and speed counts • Standard file formats found in NYSDOT EI 01-001

“Traffic Monitoring Standards”• Includes automatic processing conditions/checks• Any combination of conditions of 15 different types

can be configured centrally and distributed to users

• Used by thirty-three NYSDOT county and Regional offices

Traffic Data Forecaster(TDF)

TDF

• Evaluates historical AADT data and determines short- and long-term traffic growth rates based on user selected criteria• Applies these projections to determine

AADT forecasts and estimates for sites without annual counts

• Produces a variety of summary reports and file extracts

Traf Mon Future Directions

• Road Weather Information System (RWIS)• Road temperature sensor input on WIM board• Installed in shoulder at test site• Real time temperature data for use in deicing

operations

• Commercial Vehicle Enforcement• Augment weigh stations with High Speed WIM

to enable continuous monitoring of locations

• Information Exchange Network (IEN)

Traf Mon Future Directions

• Micro Fuel Cell Venture?• Backup power source

• All traffic data available through GIS (Arcview)• On target for completion, November 2004

• Traffic controllers for data collection • Counts at intersections• Piezo inputs to obtain vehicle classification data

A Plea To The ITS Community

• Don’t forget us!• Archive and share your data

• Build on successes• Early partnerships with ITS & Traf Mon in

NYSDOT Region’s 1, 6 and 8• Additional hardware and/or software

modifications

Questions?

The NYSDOT Traffic Monitoring Section Thanks You For Your

Interest In Our Program