Vehicle Classification from Single Loop Detectors

Vehicle classification data are important inputs for pavement maintenance, traffic modeling, and emission evaluation. Various technologies including weigh-in-motion (WIM), axle counting with piezo-electric sensors or length measurement from dual loop detectors have been used for vehicle classification. This research extends length based vehicle classification to single loop detectors. It promises a lower cost alternative as well as the potential to use existing detectors already deployed for freeway management. Of course the single loop based estimates could also be easily incorporated in a more sophisticated classification station as an independent validation of its measurements. The main challenge with single loop detector based length based classification comes from accurately estimating speed and thus, length. This study develops a methodology to make such accurate speed and length estimates ant then uses the latter to classify vehicles based on length. Performance is validated against two sources of independent ground truth data with results that approach the accuracy of dual loop detectors. In the process of generating ground truth data a few previously unknown, sight specific problems with existing vehicle classification and detection stations were found and diagnosed, e.g., pulse break-up, as discussed in the report.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This research was funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Ohio State University, Columbus

  2070 Neil Avenue
  Columbus, OH  United States  43210

  Midwest Regional University Transportation Center

  University of Wisconsin
  2205 Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive, Room 272
  Madison, WI  United States  53706

  Wisconsin Department of Transportation

  4802 Sheboygan Avenue, P.O. Box 7910
  Madison, WI  United States  53707-7910

  Research and Special Programs Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  University of Wisconsin, Madison

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  1415 Engineering Drive
  Madison, WI  United States  53706
• Authors:
  • Coifman, Benjamin
• Publication Date: 2007-3-31

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 59p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality management; Environmental impacts; Freeways; Loop detectors; Pavement maintenance; Pollutants; Traffic data; Traffic speed; Traffic surveillance; Vehicle classification; Vehicle detectors
• Uncontrolled Terms: Single loop detectors
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01056142
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: MRUTC 05-02, CFDA 20.701
• Contract Numbers: DTRS-99-G-0005 (Grant); 0092-05-28
• Files: UTC, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 2007 7:03AM