I AM NOT A SPEED CAMERA!
Why Am I here?
You have arrived at this site because you scanned the QR code on a piece of traffic surveying equipment.
What is the equipment?
The QR code you scanned is attached to a traffic survey camera owned by Matrix Traffic and Transport Data
What is it for?
Traffic surveys mean counting and studying the number of vehicles, pedestrians, and sometimes bikes at certain spots on local roads, highways, and intersections. This helps us understand how traffic is moving and is useful information in improving the traffic.
How Does it work?
The camera you’ve seen is set to record traffic flows for a period of time to capture the traffic when it is at its busiest. This is usually a few hours during the morning and afternoon peak periods.
The video collected is then analysed to extract the required information. This can be done both manually and automatically.
How is this information used?
Transportation Planning: Traffic counts help transportation planners understand the patterns of vehicle movement, such as peak traffic hours, popular routes, and congestion points. This information is used to design and optimize transportation infrastructure, such as road expansion, new intersections, and public transit routes.
Traffic Engineering: Engineers use traffic count data to analyse the capacity and efficiency of roads and intersections. This helps them design better traffic signal timings, lane configurations, and other traffic control measures to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.
Infrastructure Investment: Governments and organizations use traffic count data to prioritize funding for infrastructure projects. By identifying heavily used routes and congested areas, they can allocate resources where they are needed the most.
Environmental Impact Assessment: When planning new roads, highways, or other transportation projects, traffic counts can help assess potential environmental impacts, such as air quality and noise pollution, which are influenced by traffic volume.
Safety Analysis: Traffic counts are an important component of safety assessments. By understanding the traffic volume at different locations, authorities can identify areas with high accident rates and take measures to improve safety.
Public Transit Planning: Traffic count data can inform decisions about where to establish or modify public transportation routes and stops. It can also help in scheduling services to align with peak travel times.
Urban Development: Real estate developers use traffic count data to evaluate potential locations for new commercial and residential developments. An area with high traffic counts may be more attractive for businesses due to increased visibility and accessibility.
Travel Demand Modelling: Traffic counts are used as inputs for travel demand models that predict future transportation needs and patterns. These models assist in forecasting future traffic volume and making informed decisions about infrastructure investments.
Congestion Management: Traffic counts play a crucial role in understanding congestion patterns and devising strategies to manage and alleviate congestion. This might include implementing variable speed limits, HOV lanes, or toll systems.
Policy Formulation: Governments and transportation agencies use traffic count data to inform policy decisions related to transportation and urban planning. For instance, policies related to carpool lanes, bike lanes, pedestrian crossings, and more can be shaped by this data.
Overall, traffic counts are an essential tool in modern transportation planning and management, enabling data-driven decision-making to create more efficient, safe, and sustainable transportation systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a traffic survey?
A traffic survey is a systematic collection of data about the movement and behaviour of vehicles, pedestrians, and sometimes bicycles at specific locations on roads, highways, intersections, or other transportation networks.
What types of data are collected in traffic surveys?
Traffic surveys collect data on vehicle counts, vehicle types, vehicle speeds, pedestrian counts, bicycle counts, traffic patterns, and sometimes additional information like vehicle classification and direction of movement.
What is the purpose of classifying vehicles in traffic surveys?
Vehicle classification involves categorizing vehicles based on characteristics such as vehicle class, size and number of axles. This information helps engineers design roads and intersections that can accommodate various types of vehicles safely and efficiently.
How often are traffic surveys conducted?
The frequency of traffic surveys can vary based on the specific needs of the transportation project or study. Some surveys are conducted periodically, while others might be one-time studies for specific purposes.
How is pedestrian and bicycle data collected in traffic surveys?
Pedestrian and bicycle data can be collected through manual counts, video recordings, or using specialized sensors that detect human and bicycle movement.
Can traffic survey data help with environmental considerations?
Yes, traffic survey data can provide insights into air quality, noise pollution, and other environmental impacts of transportation. This information can guide decisions to mitigate negative effects.
Who typically requests Matrix to conduct traffic surveys?
Traffic surveys are requested by transportation agencies, consulting firms, research institutions, and local governments, depending on the scope and purpose of the study. In most situations, Matrix is not made aware of the reasons for the survey.
How is privacy considered in traffic surveys involving video cameras or sensors?
Privacy concerns are addressed by anonymizing collected data, adhering to data protection laws, and ensuring that personally identifiable information is not disclosed.
Can traffic surveys predict future traffic trends?
Yes, traffic survey data can be used as inputs for travel demand models that help predict future traffic patterns and trends based on population growth, economic changes, and other factors.t about my privacy – No personal details are collected during the traffic survey process. The analysis required contains counts only and the results are aggregated into time periods.
Further Details
For any further information please email matrix sales@matrix888.com