Consistency of Video Detection Activation and Deactivation Times between Day and Night Periods
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 133, Issue 9
Abstract
Video detection has become an increasingly popular technology for vehicle detection at signalized intersections. Among the potential disadvantages of this technology is the tendency of video detectors to activate early at night due to headlight reflection on the pavement. This early activation results in a dramatic increase in the length of the effective vehicle detection zone. This observed variation in the effective length of the vehicle detection zone that varies by ambient lighting condition and camera placement presents a very serious impediment for traffic engineers to design vehicle extension intervals that operate consistently during day, night, and transition periods. Further, the stochastic variation in the length of the vehicle detection zone length has the potential to create driver expectancy issues. Tables are included that report the observed average and range of detection zone length variations for 16 observed video cameras that were extensively calibrated by the manufacturer at the test site. The paper concludes by recommending near-side placement of video detection devices to reduce the stochastic variation in detection zone length.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Joint Transportation Research Program administered by the Indiana Department of Transportation and Purdue University. The support for installing and configuring the video detection devices was provided by Dave Candey at Econolite Control Products. The contents of this paper reflect the views of the writers, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein, and do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Federal Highway Administration and the Indiana Department of Transportation, nor do the contents constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 133 • Issue 9 • September 2007
Pages: 505 - 512
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Dec 19, 2005
Accepted: Feb 22, 2007
Published online: Sep 1, 2007
Published in print: Sep 2007
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