Traffic Detector Handbook: Third Edition—Volume I
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Traffic Detector Handbook: Third Edition—Volume I Publication No. FHWA-HRT-06-108 October 2006 Research, Development, and Technology Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center 6300 Georgetown Pike McLean, VA 22101-2296 FOREWORD The objective of the third edition of the Traffic Detector Handbook is to provide a comprehensive reference document to aid the practicing traffic engineer, planner, or technician in selecting, designing, installing, and maintaining traffic sensors for signalized intersections and freeways. Judicious application of the concepts and procedures set forth in the Handbook should result in improved installations and operations of traffic sensors and a long-term savings of public funds. Sensor types include both in-roadway and over-roadway sensors. Topics covered include sensor technology, sensor applications, in-roadway sensor design, sensor installation techniques and sensor maintenance. The sensor technology chapter discusses the operation and uses of inductive loop detectors, magnetic sensors and detectors, video image processors, microwave radar sensors, laser radars, passive infrared and passive acoustic array sensors, and ultrasonic sensors, plus combinations of sensor technologies. Sensor application topics include safety, operation, multimodal issues, and physical and economic factors that affect installation and performance. The appendixes include a variety of research, background papers, and implementation guidance. The information contained in this Handbook is based on the latest research on available treatments and best practices in use by jurisdictions across the United States and elsewhere. References are provided for the student, practitioner, researcher, or decisionmaker who wishes to learn more about a particular subject. The third edition is published in two volumes, of which this is the first, Volume I (FHWA-HRT-06- 108), containing Chapters 1 through 4. Volume II (FHWA-HRT-06-139) contains Chapters 5 and 6 and all Appendixes. Antoinette Wilbur, Director Office of Operations Research and Development NOTICE This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document. QUALITY ASSURANCE STATEMENT The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement. Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. FHWA-HRT-06-108 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Traffic Detector Handbook: Third Edition—Volume I October 2006 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Principal Author: Lawrence A. Klein Coauthors: Milton K. Mills, David R.P. Gibson 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Lawrence A. Klein 3 Via San Remo 11. Contract or Grant No. Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 Contract No. DTFH61-03-P00317 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Federal Highway Administration Implementation Package Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center 6300 Georgetown Pike, HRDO-04, Room No. T204 McLean, VA 22101-2296 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 15. Supplementary Notes David R.P. Gibson ([email protected]) at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (http://www.tfhrc.gov) was the Technical Representative for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Milton K. Mills, Advanced Research Team FHWA, contributed many technical papers. Traffic sensor researchers and practitioners contributed significantly to document organization, content, and exhibits. The peer review panel, consisting of Darcy Bullock of Purdue University, Dan Middleton of Texas Transportation Institute, and Tom Urbanik of the University of Tennessee, provided peer review and advice based on their use and testing of sensors. Tom Potter of Reno A&E gave technical advice on the electrical functioning of loop detectors. Sensor vendors provided technical information and exhibits on their technologies. In addition, many FHWA staff members participated as sensor group members and/or provided comments throughout the project, including Pamela Crenshaw, Ralph Gillman, Peter Huang, David Jones, and Raj Ghaman. 16. Abstract The objective of this Handbook is to provide a comprehensive resource for selecting, designing, installing, and maintaining traffic sensors for signalized intersections and freeways. It is intended for use by traffic engineers and technicians having responsibility for traffic sensors, whether in-roadway or over-roadway sensors. These two families of sensors have different characteristics and thus corresponding advantages and disadvantages that are discussed throughout the Handbook. Topics covered include sensor technology, applications, in-roadway sensor design, installation techniques, and maintenance. The sensor technology chapter discusses the operation and uses of inductive loop detectors, magnetic sensors and detectors, video image processors, microwave radar sensors, laser radars, passive infrared and passive acoustic array sensors, and ultrasonic sensors, plus combinations of sensor technologies. The sensor application topics addresses safety, operational performance, multimodal issues, and physical and economic factors that the practitioner should consider. Appendixes include research, background papers, and implementation guidance. The information contained in this Handbook is based on the latest research available on treatments and best practices in use by the surveyed jurisdictions. References are provided for the student, practitioner, researcher, or decisionmaker who wishes to learn more about a particular subject. The third edition is published in two volumes, of which this is the first, Volume I (FHWA-HRT-06-108), containing Chapters 1 through 4. Volume II (FHWA-HRT-06-139) contains Chapters 5 and 6 and all Appendixes. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Traffic detectors, sensors, detector installation, detector maintenance, No restrictions. This document is available signalized intersections, intersection safety, intersection treatments, to the public through the National infrared sensor, inductive loop, magnetometer, video image processor, Information Technical Service, Springfield, microwave radar sensor, laser radar sensor, acoustic sensor, ultrasonic VA, 22161 and Research and Technology sensor, magnetic sensor. Product Distribution Center, 9701 Philadelphia Court, Unit Q, Lanham, MD 20706; telephone: 301–577–0818; fax: 301– 577–1421. 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 288 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized SI* (MODERN METRIC) CONVERSION FACTORS APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS TO SI UNITS Symbol When You Know Multiply By To Find Symbol LENGTH in inches 25.4 millimeters mm ft feet 0.305 meters m yd yards 0.914 meters m mi miles 1.61 kilometers km AREA in2 square inches 645.2 square millimeters mm2 ft2 square feet 0.093 square meters m2 yd2 square yard 0.836 square meters m2 ac acres 0.405 hectares ha mi2 square miles 2.59 square kilometers km2 VOLUME fl oz fluid ounces 29.57 milliliters mL gal gallons 3.785 liters L ft3 cubic feet 0.028 cubic meters m3 yd3 cubic yards 0.765 cubic meters m3 NOTE: volumes greater than 1000 L shall be shown in m3 MASS oz ounces 28.35 grams g lb pounds 0.454 kilograms kg T short tons (2000 lb) 0.907 megagrams (or "metric ton") Mg (or "t") TEMPERATURE (exact degrees) oF Fahrenheit 5 (F-32)/9 Celsius oC or (F-32)/1.8 ILLUMINATION fc foot-candles 10.76 lux lx fl foot-Lamberts 3.426 candela/m2 cd/m2 FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS lbf poundforce 4.45 newtons N lbf/in2 poundforce per square inch 6.89 kilopascals kPa APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS FROM SI UNITS Symbol When You Know Multiply By To Find Symbol LENGTH mm millimeters 0.039 inches in m meters 3.28 feet ft m meters 1.09 yards yd km kilometers 0.621 miles mi AREA mm2 square millimeters 0.0016 square inches in2 m2 square meters 10.764 square feet ft2 m2 square meters 1.195 square yards yd2 ha hectares 2.47 acres ac km2 square kilometers 0.386 square miles mi2 VOLUME mL milliliters 0.034 fluid ounces fl oz L liters 0.264 gallons gal m3 cubic meters 35.314 cubic feet ft3 m3 cubic meters 1.307 cubic yards yd3 MASS g grams 0.035 ounces oz kg kilograms 2.202 pounds lb Mg (or "t") megagrams (or "metric ton") 1.103 short tons (2000 lb) T TEMPERATURE (exact degrees) oC Celsius 1.8C+32 Fahrenheit oF ILLUMINATION lx lux 0.0929 foot-candles fc cd/m2 candela/m2 0.2919 foot-Lamberts fl FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS N newtons 0.225 poundforce lbf kPa kilopascals 0.145 poundforce per square inch lbf/in2 *SI is the symbol for the International System of Units. Appropriate rounding should be made to comply with Section 4 of ASTM E380. (Revised March 2003) ii CONTENTS OF VOLUME I CHAPTER 1.