Time for change
David Evans, Jean Bacon, Alastair R. Beresford, Richard Gibbens, D.G.W. Ingram · 2010
Distribution of traffic information from sensors to travellers is one important mechanism for encouraging the use of alternative travel times or modes of transport at peak times and for providing information for strategic planning. The objective of this study is to investigate the use of cheap sensors attached to lighting columns in urban areas to acquire data on traffic flow and road occupancy. Lighting columns are well placed and contain a power supply which can be made available for sensor use. Devices can be installed within the column, and at a height from the ground, rendering them less susceptible to vandalism. A prototype dedicated lighting column is described. Using a thermal sensor simplifies image processing as it removes background clutter and faces and number plates cannot be discerned, preserving privacy. The sensor coped well with climatic conditions. Data from a trial at peak hour and off peak hours are described. A middleware layer for peer-to-peer implementation of reconfigurable architecture for typed event streams was developed which provides a reliable and flexible data processing system. If a component of the system needs to be upgraded or migrated (perhaps to deal with malfunctioning hardware), this can be done without interruption to service by remapping its end points. It should be possible to use the data obtained to improve journey time estimates for all road users cost-effectively.