Development and Evaluation of Test Criteria for Sensor-Based Traffic Detection Technologies

Sammanfattning

In Sweden, traffic regulation at signalized intersections is primarily based on vehicledetection using inductive loop detectors embedded in the roadway. These detectors areactivated by the presence of metallic objects and have long been a proven and established technology. However, inductive loops have several limitations. They are unable to detect vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists and provide only binary information regarding vehicle presence, without offering data on vehicle type, speed, or other relevant traffic parameters. Emerging detection technologies have the potential to provide richer and more detailed traffic data. In this study, radar-based detection is investigated due to the availability of such a system. Access to additional traffic information may enable more adaptive (self-regulating) and efficient traffic signal control strategies. Despite these potential advantages, radar detection is currently rarely applied in Sweden. This is partly due to uncertainty regarding whether radar-based systems can meet the performance requirements of Swedish traffic requirements and partly due to the lack of a structured framework for testing and approving new detection technologies. This thesis identifies and formalizes the functional requirements that a detection technology must satisfy to perform equivalently to inductive loop detectors in Swedish traffic signal systems. Based on these requirements, the performance of a radar detector installation is evaluated. In addition, qualitative insights regarding detection technologies in traffic systems are obtained through interviews with industry specialists.