Technology in Rural Transportation “Simple Solution” #4: Low Cost Vehicle Detection

Vehicle detection to determine traffic volumes or lane occupancy is essential for timing traffic signals, planning roadway expansions and predicting traffic impacts, even on low volume roads or rural areas. Traditional loop detectors require permanent installation and are expensive. This simple solution uses less expensive audio technology to detect the presence of vehicles. This application was identified as a promising rural Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) solution under a project sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the ENTERPRISE program. This summary describes the solution as well as opportunities for expansion into the broader context of rural ITS.