Recent Advances Traffax

Traffic Monitoring Equipment

Donna Nelson, PhDMarketing Director, Traffax Incdcnelson@traffaxinc.com240-447-8612www.traffaxinc.com

Traffax, Inc

• Formed in 2009. • Technology commercialized from University of Maryland.• Patents pending.• Core technology is field-hardened with over 50,000 hours of

“real” use.• Growing base of happy customers. • Expanding network of high-quality, seasoned distributors.• Provides portable and permanent applications for traffic

studies and realtime monitoring.

BluFax Concept

Distance L

Each Bluetooth devices has a unique, but anonymous device ID.

BluFax devices record:ID of each detectable device.Time stamp ID detected.BluFax unit IDBluFax location coordinates.

BluStat Software:Processes station data.Filters and processes data.Outputs graphics and results.User-configurable parameters.

Detection Zones

Detection zones. IDs are detected within a detection zone, the size and shape of which varies based on the Level of Bluetooth radio and the antenna configuration.

A

B

BluFax Anatomy

Power: Accepts battery, solar, 12v, 110 Powered by an AGM-type battery .Operates at least 14 days on a charge.

GPS: Internal GPS for location and time reference.

SD Card: Stores up to 2 years data on a micro SD card. Readable with standard adapter

LED Start-up Sequence. LED lights confirm successful startup and GPS lock.

Data Transmission: Built-in GSM Cellular, serial port, data terminal.

USB port for Bluetooth Radio/Antenna. Std. configuration Class 1 w/100m diameter range. Accepts other configurations..

Spatially-based ConceptApplications build on the concept of comparing the time at which unique device IDs are detected by pairs of units.

Stations

Segments are defined between pairs of stations

A CB

ED F

Direction of travel for analysis is based on the order in which stations are defined for segments.

A B

A B B A

O and D PairsOnce segments (pairs of stations) have been defined, users can define routes (corridors) and O-D pairs for analysis.

O-D Pairs can be defined between any pair of stations that have been defined as a segment.

A CB

ED F

The user can define specific segments, pairs, and time windows for analysis.

A B

ED

BluStat software will output travel-time and matched pairs (e.g. sample sizes) in a matrix format.

Bluetooth CharacteristicsThe same basic principles apply to most study types, however the detailed design of the study and strategies for data analysis are tailored to the situation.

The majority of detectable devices are carried by an individual on foot, in an automobile, truck, bus, in the local coffee shop; or vehicles in main lanes and adjacent HOV lanes.

Follow specific signals over multiple segments.A B C

Pick up multi-modal trips

Data Collection Concepts

• Data represents all traffic • Time, location, • Size for statistical significanceSample

• Data collected for all traffic• Data collection day(s) and times

representative of location/conditions.Population

SurveysFloating cars

BluetoothCellular

Licence-plate matching

Volume CountsClassificationsManual counts

Some video studies.

Samples needed to provide results that “represent” all traffic vary for different applications, however, a healthy sample size provides results that are sufficient for traffic or planning studies.

BluFAX Sample SizesBluFAX data are a sample. The size of the sample is based on:

Volume

% w/ devic

es

Station

Detection

Matched Pairs

Sample

Station detections are the number of unique IDs captured by a single BluFax unit during some specified time window.Matched Pairs are the number of MAC IDs that were detected by pairs of stations during some specified time window.

Volume: Expected traffic volume passing a specific unit.

Population w/ devices. The proportion of the population passing a unit that carry a detectable device.

BluFax System Components

BluFax Data Collection

Data collection

Data Storage

Connectivity

BluStat Processing

Off-line analysis

Stations and segments

Routes or Matrices

BluFaxWeb Realtime

Web access/interface

Realtime Monitoring

Data streaming and archiving

Realtime or not?

MonitoringTraveltime Displays Traffic Monitoring

AnalysisTraffic Studies Planning Studies

BluFax equipment supports a full range of applications from off-line studies and remote-data reporting, to real time traffic monitoring.

Realtime Monitoring Planning Applications

Portable to Permanent

PermanentIndefiniteShort-term

The same core BluFax units support all types of installations from very short-term studies to permanent installations.

Short-term studies are likely to use battery operated units secured to infrastructure or mounted on existing poles.

Studies or instillations more than two weeks or so, that may or may not tie into existing power or communications infrastructure

Long term deployments. BluFax and/or core software processing capabilities may be integrated into existing infrastructure and/or software.

All types of installations can utilize BluStat or realtime BluFaxWeb, as needed

Flexible ConfigurationsPortable short-term

Permanent Integrated existing infra structure software

Off-line operation, manual data download

BluFax

Remote Reporting

Stand-alone

Indefinite

Applications…….Examples

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• I-95 Vehicle Probe Project- Travel time Validation.

• Wait time at Airport Security Check points

• US-Canada Border Wait times (real time)

• Arterial signal timing (MD)• Work Zone monitoring and

evaluation.• Baltimore City Real-time

demonstration.• Salt Lake City Arterial/Interchange

travel times.

• Freeway Interchange Assessment• Pedestrian O-D studies (NYC)• Evaluation of Freeway Ramp

Metering.• Brickyard/Indianapolis Study• Australia- Queensland O-D Study.• Alberta Canada O-D Study• Caltrans Travel-time Studies

Comparison with toll tags• Arterial Travel time & OD Daytona

Beach Florida

• Travel-time Studies • O-D Applications

I-95 Corridor Vehicle Probe Project

www.i95Coalition.org

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Core Coverage• 1500 Freeway miles• 1000 Arterial miles• New Jersey to North

CarolinaExpansions• All NJ Freeways• All NC Interstates

Validation of Inrix Travel time Data

Travel time

Floating car

Inrix Data

Bluetooth

Floating car

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Bluetooth Mean in Black

Bluetooth Data in Blue

INRIX Data in Red Outliers marked with Black

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Speeds over time

Freeway with Weigh Station

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Travel time and Speed over time

Arterial Analysis

• MD24 in Northern Baltimore• Before/After impact of signal timing• AM, Mid-day, and PM analysis• February 23-27, 2009

– New timing on 2/25/09

E

B

C

F

D

A

G

Work Zone Example

Combination of time and location

The combination of time and location data is very powerful!

Allows comparisons of travel-time and speed data among multiple routes or parts of routes.

Combination of BluFax capabilities and software features opens up new opportunities for customers!

Intersections and InterchangesTurning movement proportions and travel-time (delay) through interchanges, intersections, and roundabouts are measured by placing BluFax units at each approach.

A complex interchange is treated like a small-scale O-D study.

All twelve movements for a complex interchange can be captured with as few as four units.

The key is to ensure that sample sizes on each segment are sufficient for your study needs.

Once units are in place, the additional costs associated with collecting from 1 to 14 days of data are minimal.

Volumes and Detection Rates

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BluFAX does not collect traffic volumes, however,

Studies indicate that detection rates track to volumes for comparable time periods.

Proportion of turning movements for arterial intersections and interchanges support this…..

Detections can be compared to volume counts to establish a baseline for a specific location.

Comparison with ATRs

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Comparison of BluFAX data with ATR data…..

Speed

Proportion of volume by time of day

BluSTATs Analysis Software• Is packaged with ALL BluFAX data collection units.

– No additional fees– Software updates available at no-charge.

• Provides analytical tools needed to support:– Traveltime studies– Corridor studies– Origin-Destination Applications– Studies on freeways, arterials, urban roadways– Pedestrian studies and studies in dense urban corridors.

• Can be use to analyze data collected through realtime monitoring.

BluSTAT Basic Highlights

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BluStat Analysis Software

BluStat data analysis software is provided with ALL BluStat units.Provides data processing capabilities needed by majority of customers.

User friendly, provides output in formats familiar to customers, compatible with analysis tools.

BluStat outputs KMD files for map display

Detection Data Output

0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 240

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

DETECTION RATE PLOTStation 6FC

Hour of day from 05-Nov-2008 to 06-Nov-2008

Blu

eto

oth

dete

ctions /

5 m

in

5 Minute Detection Rates0 to 18

0 to 50

0 to 80

0 to 65

Other Report Options

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Once station and segment data are processed, corridor and O-D reports are generated

Date and Time Filters

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Origin-Destination Reporting ParametersMETHOD DATE_TIME_FILTEREDDATETIME BEGINDATETIME ENDSEARTCHTIME MINIMUM 0:00:00SEARCHTIME MAXIMUM 3:00:00

Status of O-D PairsEND STATION

BEGIN STATION UNIT A UNIT B UNIT CUNIT A OK OK OKUNIT B OK OK OKUNIT C OK OK OK

O-D DataEND STATION

BEGIN STATION UNIT A UNIT B UNIT CUNIT A 4273 4293 2132UNIT B 3652 1081 82UNIT C 2375 96 705

11/5/2008 0:0011/5/2008 23:59

Date_Time filter settings depend on purpose of study.

Segment with the same beginning and end point, and longer time window, provides O-D information for vehicles entering and leaving via the same route.

BluFaxWebRealtime on-line display. Green line represents monitored routes in Baltimore Maryland.

Sunday Monday

Travel Times for routes of multiple segments.

Sunday Monday

Travel Times for Segments Blue = transversals (detections)

Red = average travel time

Green = predicted travel time

MondaySunday

From Light Street (across from Hyatt) to Howard / I-395

Signal Plan A Signal Plan B

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Utah Demo SetupSix units set up as shown in Sandy, Utah.Bangerter Highway.

The objective was to collect travel-times along the corridor from 1 to 6, but also to analyze data from 2,3,4, and 5 to estimate travel times and delay through an intersection by movement.

1

2 34

5

6

Data for Bangerter Highway

12 AM 3 AM 6 AM 9 AM 12 PM 3 PM 6 PM 9 PM 12 AM0

2

4

6

Tra

vel T

ime

- M

inut

es

TRAVEL TIME :: Segment B00-BB1 Utah 6 to Utah 1 :: 15-Nov-2010

Bluetooth Data

Bluetooth Mean

12 AM 3 AM 6 AM 9 AM 12 PM 3 PM 6 PM 9 PM 12 AM0

20

40

60

80

100

Spe

ed -

MP

H

SPEED based on a distance of 1.7479 miles

Bluetooth Data

Bluetooth Mean

12 AM 3 AM 6 AM 9 AM 12 PM 3 PM 6 PM 9 PM 12 AM0

5

10

15DETECTION RATE

5 minute Detection Rate

1-Hour Sample sizes for travel-time study along Bangerter Highway in Sandy Utah from Station 1 to Station 6

Travel time Matrix 8 to 9 AMMonday, November 15, 2010

Sample sizes for turning movements through the Intersection are small for a one-hour period. However, many customers collect data for 3 hour peak periods, for 2 to 3 “similar” days.

Flagstaff sits at 7,000 feet elevation approximately 2.5 hours drive north from Phoenix, Arizona. The Arizona Snow bowl is the local ski area located north of Flagstaff on US 180 and attracts 200,000-300,000 skiers per year.

The Flagstaff Metropolitan Planning Organization and its member agencies; the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County and the Arizona Department of Transportation are seeking an intelligent transportation system solution to support collection of travel time data and real-time reporting to the traveling public within the corridor.

Flagstaff Arizona Traveltime

BluFaxWeb Map Display

BluFax units are shown as blue diamonds

Stations (units) are paired to define segments.

Alternative RoutesFive different routes were defined in Flagstaff that represent alternative paths drivers may take through the area.

Tabular information for routes can be expanded to show information for individual segments that comprise that route.

Segments can be highlighted in color when travel times reach defined thresholds.

Route Information

Route Travel TimesOn route travel time charts, mean travel times for each segment are displayed in a different color.

For this route, travel-times on some segments are fairly consistent, but clear spikes are evident on other segments.

BluFax System Components

BluFax Data Collection

Data collection

Data Storage

Connectivity

BluStat Processing

Off-line analysis

Stations and segments

Routes or Matrices

BluFaxWeb Realtime

Web access/interface

Realtime Monitoring

Data streaming and archiving

BluFax System Non-Realtime

Standard Portable

Pelican case

Battery

GPS Antennal

Class 1 Bluetooth

Internal Antenna

BluStat

License to use w/BluFax data

Updates at no charge

Getting Started Tutorial

Common Options

Enabled Cellular modem

Solar panel

Pole-mounting brackets

Non-metalic enclosure

BluFax portable units may be purchased or rented. Units configured for customer’s needs.

Placement of Units

PATH Station, World Trade Center, NYC

Baltimore, MD