LIFE WITHOUT LOOPS

The article surveys the available options for above-ground technologies concerning road vehicle detection, which are becoming increasingly important due to the problems of underground magnetic loop detectors. The outstanding advantage of above-ground detectors is their minimal ongoing cost of maintenance. Their installation is relatively inexpensive on multiple-lane high-speed roads with existing overhead structures. The options for above-ground detection include: (1) active infrared, where a stream of coded infrared, with typical wavelength 0.8-1.1 micron, is emitted onto a road surface, and a receiver examines the reflected signal; (2) passive infrared, which is sensitive to wavelengths, typically 8-14 micron, which are naturally broadcast by the targets; (3) ultrasonic, emitting ultrasonic waves which are reflected by targets; (4) CCD cameras, which are imaging systems operating in visible light or near infrared; (5) Doppler radar, which seeks small frequency shifts of radar reflected from moving targets; and (6) FMCW radar, which emits frequency modulated radar signals. In the UK and Belgium, Doppler radars have been used widely instead of loop detectors. Typical applications include: (1) pedestrian detection; (2) incident detection; and (3) traffic counts, speed estimation, and classification. Loop sensors are still best for detecting stationary vehicles. For the covering abstract see IRRD 877920.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13569252
• Corporate Authors:

  UK and International Press

  120 South Street
  Dorking, Surrey RH4 2EU,   England 
• Authors:
  • Bullimore, E D
  • HUTCHINSON, P M
• Publication Date: 1996

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 106-10
• Serial:
  • TRAFFIC TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL '96. ANNUAL REVIEW ISSUE
  • Publisher: UK and International Press
  • ISSN: 1356-9252

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Classification; Costs; Incident detection; Infrared radiation; Installation; Pedestrians; Radar; Recording; Sensors; Speed; Technology; Television; Traffic counts; Ultrasonics; Vehicles
• ITRD Terms: 8513: Classification; 224: Cost; 1632: Incident detection; 6797: Infrared; 3840: Installation; 1733: Pedestrian; 6738: Radar; 6969: Recording; 6120: Sensor; 5408: Speed; 3855: Technology; 6949: Television; 689: Traffic count; 6739: Ultrasonic; 1255: Vehicle
• Subject Areas: Finance; Maintenance and Preservation; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00723053
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jul 26 1996 12:00AM