Refining Inductive Loop Signature Technology for Statewide Vehicle Classification Counts

Transportation agencies in the United States use devices such as loop detectors, automatic traffic recorders (ATR), or weigh-in- motion (WIM) sensors to monitor the performance of traffic network for planning, forecasting, and traffic operations. With a limited number of ATR and WIM sensors deployed throughout the state roadways, temporary double tubes are often deployed to get axle-based vehicle classification counts. An inductive loop signature technology previously developed by a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program sponsored by the US Department of Transportation is used to classify vehicles using existing loops. This technology has the potential to save time and money while providing the state, counties or cities more data especially in the metro area where loop detectors have already been installed. This research leveraged the outcomes from previous development to validate the classification accuracy with video data. A loop signature system was initially installed at a traffic station in Jordan, MN, to evaluate its performance. The system was later moved to another location on US-52 near Coates, MN, to validate its classification accuracy with more heavy- vehicle traffic. Individual vehicle records were manually verified and validated with ground-truth video data using both the 13 and 7-bin classification schemes from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS). The combined results from both test sites indicated that the loop signature technology had an overall classification accuracy of 93% and 96% using the FHWA and HPMS schemes, respectively. The classification performance can be further improved by including additional vehicle signatures from the state to the classification library.

• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/62297
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Minnesota

  Department of Mechanical Engineering
  111 Church Street SE
  Minneapolis, MN  United States  55455

  Minnesota Department of Transportation

  Research Services and Library
  395 John Ireland Boulevard
  St Paul, MN  United States  55155
• Authors:
  • Liao, Chen-Fu
• Publication Date: 2021-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 50p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Loop detectors; Traffic counts; Vehicle classification; Video
• Geographic Terms: Minnesota
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01850181
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: MN 2021-27, CTS #2021002
• Contract Numbers: 1036215
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 27 2022 5:16PM