Improved sensing for signalised intersections

This study is aimed at keeping abreast with emerging technologies, including physical detection devices, sensor fusion and third-party data. The objective of this research project is to critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of existing and emerging technologies, and to identify those technologies that are most compatible with arterial traffic management systems.

The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is engaged in a study of advanced technologies for road user detection, sensing, and perception, with the aim of enhancing traffic operations at signalised intersections.

Participants

• Department Transport and Main Roads (Queensland)
• Queensland University of Technology

Project background

Optimal operation and control of the road transport network is a primary goal and a major challenge for transport agencies. TMR has a strategic vision to create and optimally operate an integrated, multimodal road network, which provides safe, efficient, and reliable mobility services to everyone.

In working towards achieving this vision, TMR adopts various traffic management strategies such as modal priority, adaptive control, emergency vehicle pre-emption, and smart pedestrian crossing. These strategies rely on the ability to detect and sense different road users, making road user detection, sensing, and perception technology crucial.

TMR aims to develop an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) driven, technology-agnostic approach to traffic sensing technology and data/information collection and& control at signalised intersections for the purpose of common traffic management.

The rapid rate of technology advancement has made it imperative for TMR to stay informed about emerging technologies and their potential application in traffic operations. This may include, but is not limited to, physical detection devices, sensor fusion technologies, third-party data streams or other derived sources of information.

The purpose of this project is to find mid-term solutions for road user detection and sensing that are appropriate to bridge the gap until the future super state where Co-operative and Autonomous Vehicle Infrastructure (CAVI) is readily available on a large scale to provide complete information on traffic states.

The project aims to bring together TMR’s knowledge on detectors and sensing, and to take a technology agnostic approach to support practical implementation and use.

This project will deliver a comprehensive report that documents in detail, the strengths and limitations of the various existing and emerging traffic sensing, detection, and perception technologies and data sources that would help improve traffic signal operations.

It will also document international and national best practices in road user detection, sensing and perception to identify technologies that integrate well with existing traffic management systems.

The project report can be used as a reference for selecting advanced road user detection, sensing, and perception technologies for supporting the next generation of signalised intersection operations. It will explore, through appropriate supporting literature and market awareness, the different existing and emerging road user sensing, detection, and perception technologies that can support traffic signal operations in the future.

This work will provide TMR with a comprehensive understanding of the available technologies and best practices in the field to support their decision-making in the implementation of advanced traffic management systems.

Project objectives

Achieve the stated goal of producing a future state report on the state-of-the-art and practice of road user sensing, detection and perception technologies that explores what the best technologies, current and emerging, are for road user detection and viable for system integration, the project aims to achieve the following key objectives:

1. Document and understand existing and emerging detection and sensing technologies, their benefits, and limitations at the strategic management and tactical control level
2. Identify national and international best practices on traffic detection/sensing and application of these technologies

Project wrap-up

This project has been completed, and a wrap-up has been published at: Technology to enhance signalised intersection traffic operations. Included is details of the project’s objectives, methodology, findings, and recommendations.