Development of New Data Collection Techniques NYSDOT Traffic

Development of New Data Collection Techniques NYSDOT Traffic Monitoring Section Todd B. Westhuis, P. E. ITE/MPO 2004 Technical Conference

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

SAS-1 Acoustic Sensor Each “Blob” Shows Position and Strength of a Vehicle’s Acoustic Intensity - Lt Green is Weak - Dk Green/Red is Strong Lane Switcher Traffic in Other Direction Detection Indicator (Magenta Markers) Time SAS-1 Lane 3 LS “Side Fire” Geometry Lane 1 Lane 2 RS 91 Look Directions (0 Deg to 180 Deg)

Mobile Platforms • Trailer equipped with a 35’ telescoping mast and SAS monitor • Powered by 50 watt solar panel and two 100 a. H deep cycle batteries (12 V 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 -12 K including installation

Micro Loop Traffic Monitoring Site

Under Bridge Deck Application

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

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 • $50 K (Upstate) • $80 K (Metro New York City) • WIM Enabled TCC 540 ATR • $10 K 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) Cell Landlin e Modem 73 69 Digital Pager 27

Tri-Mode CDMA Cellular Modem • Dataremote CDS 9022

New York Cell Sites

Dataremote CDS 9022 • Equipment Costs • $695 for cell modem • $70 for antenna • Monthly Service Costs Volume Only Class/Speed Weigh-In. Motion $11 -$24 $24 -32 $25 -$100

Digital Pager • Trafinfo. com Trafmate

Metro New York City Pager Sites

Trafmate • Equipment Costs • $685 for digital pager including antenna • Monthly Service Costs Volume 1 -3 Lanes 4 -7 Lanes $6. 75 $8. 95 Volume 8 Lanes Class/Speed $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 System HDMS Highway Data Store HDS

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