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Appraising Data-Acquiring Technology: Using Speed Data to Create Safer Cities

Author(s): Chaffey, Jacklin

Slidedeck Presentation:

1B Chaffey

Abstract:

Background:

Investing in innovative technology for safer cities can be an overwhelming process as the speed at which technological advances can leave your investments unrealized. An assessment of speed-sensing solutions used by public road authorities can be used to compare the flexibility and effectiveness of each available possibility, to better inform cities on how to gain best value for their cities’ needs. The impact of improvements to roadway safety should be the priority when deciding on new technology and should also be validated against several compounding factors that influence the value of your investment.

Cities are using traffic data to support decision-making for a range of engineering and operations-planning applications, including analyses for traffic-calming initiatives, assistance in targeting enforcement, assessments of roadway maintenance, and the evaluation of innovative programs and policies to enhance operations management. Traffic speed data is also being used to supplement traffic volume data to assess the need for road improvements and roadway classification studies. As we become more reliant on technology, municipal decision makers can now depend on data to visualize the needs of a city and inform urban design.

Liveable Cities is a division of LED Roadway Lighting Ltd., a Canadian-owned and operated clean
technology company with a focus on smart street lighting products including LED streetlights, network
technologies and smart sensors.
Livable Cities has developed a streetlight radar sensor called the Data Acquisition Platform (DAP). The
DAP installs in the photocell socket of a standard streetlight, or it can be acquired as an integrated
module within a new streetlight fixture. It measures and records the spot speeds of nearby vehicles and
the data is transmitted to a database and software program where it can be accessed and analyzed by
practitioners through the cloud. The DAP is a unit that installs in the photocell socket of a standard streetlight, or it can be acquired as an
integrated module within a new streetlight fixture. It measures and records the speeds of nearby
vehicles and transmits the data to a database and software program where it can be accessed and
analyzed by practitioners through the cloud.

Aims:

Currently, the most commonly used speed-measuring systems include pneumatic tubes, smart sensors, spot videos, and radar speed boards. These systems measure and collect data, which is stored in either stand-alone recorders, transmitted via gateways, or available in the cloud for real-time visualization. With the use of cellular networks and secure cloud-based data storage, new technology solutions are challenging the ways in which cities can access and make decisions on collected speed data.

This third-party technology review will uncover commonly realized challenges that can complicate the decision to invest in new technology. Leveraging a survey of municipal decision makers, we can review their initial priorities, felt benefits and realized challenges to deploying new traffic technology, such as installation (ease of deployment, flexibility in selecting locations, resistance against theft and vandalism, safety of installation crews), completeness of data (availability of measured data and accuracy despite varying environmental conditions, data security, privacy & integrity), device removal (decommissioning, technology advancements), and ancillary time and costs (onboarding, retraining, level of effort).

Methods:

A survey of municipalities across Canada was undertaken to gather information on the common studies and applications which require traffic data and the challenges, benefits and costs associated with various data collection devices and methods.

A variety of speed-sensing solutions are used to enhance roadway safety, capturing data to assist decision-makers in planning and maintaining safer cities. We will present information on studies and applications requiring traffic data and discuss the challenges, costs, and benefits associated with data collection methods. Several devices are commonly used to acquire the traffic data needed to support the applications discussed. These devices include:
• The Data Acquisition Platform (DAP);
• Pneumatic Tubes;
• Spot Video; and
• Radar Speed Boards.

Results:

While all survey responses help to inform the marketing and future development of the DAP unit, the two
responses to the survey that directly influence the contents of this report are as follows. The responses from all agencies to the question “For what applications do you use Speed Detection Technologies” Of note, there is a large number of individuals (10 of 13) that use speed data for traffic volume/flow
analysis and transportation planning applications. Other popular applications include real-time feedback
to drivers, targeted enforcement and traffic calming initiative analysis.
The other question, which guides the content of this report, was posed as: “Please rank the importance
of the following factors when determining which speed data collection technologies to use?”. From the
responses to this question depicted in Figure 2, the factors used to assess alternative data collection
devices (as documented in Section 4) were generated and refined. Livable Cities indicates that the DAP unit is particularly well suited for roadways up to three (3) lanes where speeding vehicles may create safety concerns for other road users including cyclists and pedestrians. As a radar unit, it measures and records speeds. Other data types such as volumes may also be captured to add context to the speed data but are not its primary function. Another important consideration is that of long-term (i.e. more than 2-weeks) vs. short-term deployment. Of the devices listed, only the DAP unit is intended for long-term deployments. Consequently, if the continuity of data for more than 2-weeks is required, the DAP unit is likely the preferred selection.

Discussion:

we will present the results of a comparison of the DAP unit against other devices typically used by
Public Road Authorities to measure speeds. As other studies have quantified the accuracy of the DAP
data, this will focus on the comparison of the deployment, operations, conspicuity and cost of the
DAP units vs. other commonly used devices across the country.

Many of these applications are supported by the responses from the municipal survey. It is within the
context of these applications that a comparison is made to other data collection devices.
However, in addition to the studies above, speeds can be a valuable supplement to traffic volume data
for the following applications:
• Assessing the need for road improvements;
• Roadway classification studies;
• Effects of work zones on traffic; and
• Effects of diversion from nearby disruptions or construction.

Conclusions:

Another important consideration is that of long-term (i.e. more than 2-weeks) vs. short-term deployment. Of the devices listed, only the DAP unit is intended for long-term deployments. Consequently, if the continuity of data for more than 2-weeks is required, the DAP unit is likely the preferred selection.

Based on the third party comparison, the DAP Unit is one of the most practical ways of acquiring traffic
speed data when it is required for longer duration studies (i.e. more than 2-weeks) for 3-lane roadways.
But it is also cost-effective for shorter-term studies when compared to the other data collection devices
that are widely available for spot speed data.

As the DAP unit continues to evolve, adding traffic volume counts to the capabilities of the device would
allow it to be used to support several types of traffic studies including:
• Assessing the need for road improvements;
• Roadway classification studies;
• Effects of work zones on traffic; and
• Effects of diversion from nearby disruptions or construction.
The communications of these field units with a central program also make them ideal for other smart
city applications.