EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

FOR PORTABLE
AUTOMATICTRAFFIC COUNTER AND IHMCL
CLASSIFIER (ATCC) SYSTEM
FORCAPTURING AND SHARING
SURVEY DATA ON REAL TIME BASIS

P K Engineers
 EOI Portable Automatic Traffic Counter and Classifier (ATCC) System for Capturing and
Sharing Survey Data on Real Time Basis

Contents
1. Solution Details ..................................................................................................................................... 2
1.1 Non-Intrusive Technologies .......................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Automatic Traffic Counter and Classifier (ATCC) .......................................................................... 3
2. Type of Technology ............................................................................................................................... 3
2.1 ATCC using Pneumatic tubes ........................................................................................................ 3
2.2 ATCC using TIRTL (Infrared Sensors) ............................................................................................. 7
2.2.1 Vehicle Detection using “Beam Events” : ............................................................................. 7
2.2.2 Speed and Vehicle Direction Detection : .............................................................................. 8
2.2.3 Vehicle Direction Convention: .............................................................................................. 8
2.2.4 Lane Detection ...................................................................................................................... 9
2.2.5 Axle, Axle Groups, Vehicle Detection and Wheel Size ........................................................ 10
2.2.6 Classification of Vehicles ..................................................................................................... 11
2.2.7 Communication ................................................................................................................... 11
2.2.8 Time Synchronisation .......................................................................................................... 12
3. Control Centre..................................................................................................................................... 12
4. Accuracy level ..................................................................................................................................... 12
5. Connectivity requirements ................................................................................................................. 12
6. Any prior implementation/project details .......................................................................................... 12

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 EOI Portable Automatic Traffic Counter and Classifier (ATCC) System for Capturing and
Sharing Survey Data on Real Time Basis

1. Solution Details

1.1 Non-Intrusive Technologies

Non-intrusive technologies include video data collection, passive or active infrared detectors,
microwave radar detectors, ultrasonic detectors, passive acoustic detectors, laser detectors and
aerial photography. All these technologies represent emergent fields that are expanding rapidly with
continuing advances in signal processing. Most non-intrusive systems are operationally and
somewhat visually similar, consisting of small electronics unit mounted in a weatherproof housing
placed in various locations, as shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 1: Typical non-intrusive technology configurations

The first type of non-invasive detectors are roadside mast-mounted. The detector possesses a field-
of-regard covering an oblique area upstream or downstream of the unit. There are also multiple
zones of detection defined within the overall field of regard, or the overall zone of detection same
as the field of regard, depending on the specific detector type and technology. Obscuration
problems occur when high-sided vehicles screens lower vehicles from the detector or the field-of-
view being too large, leading to detection of vehicles outside the desired lane.

The second type of non-invasive detectors are mounted on gantries or bridge undersides, with field
of regard directly below, or at a slight oblique to the unit.

Finally, some units, such as open-path pollutant monitors are mounted road side at ground level,
firing a beam across the road. Such units are subject to side-by-side masking and hence most
suitable for only single lane, unidirectional flows.

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 EOI Portable Automatic Traffic Counter and Classifier (ATCC) System for Capturing and
Sharing Survey Data on Real Time Basis

1.2 Automatic Traffic Counter and Classifier (ATCC)

Traffic related data for planning and analysis was traditionally obtained by conducting traffic surveys
manually through regional transport authorities. To standardize the process of data collection and
creating of central data repository, MoRT&H envisaged to conducting traffic surveys on National
Highways using Portable Automatic Traffic Counter and Classifier (ATCC) Systems.

ATCC is capable of counting vehicles according to their class with help of different non-intrusive
technologies such as Pneumatic tubes, TIRTL, OHR-I etc.

The company is capable to collect, control, manage and share data through server with two type of
non-intrusive technologies at real time. The non-intrusive technologies are as follows

i) ATCC using Pneumatic tubes and

ii) ATCC using infrared sensors (TIRTL).

2. Type of Technology

2.1 ATCC using Pneumatic tubes

Each pneumatic tube should be secured using the method described for a Classifier Sensor layout.
Note that equal tube lengths are not an issue when using a Count Sensor layout. Count Sensor
Layouts provide you with basic volume information, as well as traffic characterization, such as gap
analysis.

Traffic surveys collected on Project highway by using Portable Automatic Traffic Counter and
Classifier (ATCC) Systems. ATCC, Pneumatic tube technology was used to counting vehicles
according to their class.

The Pneumatic Tube Roadside Unit is a dual air-sensor data logging unit. The Roadside Unit is used
at the Count Sensor Layouts, to obtain the count Information. The sensors were used in a split
mode.

The figures below shows How Classifiers Work:-

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EOI Portable Automatic Traffic Counter and Classifier (ATCC) System for Capturing and
Sharing Survey Data on Real Time Basis

Process Image - 1

Process Image - 2

Process Image - 3

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Sharing Survey Data on Real Time Basis

Process Image - 4

Process Image - 5

Process Image - 6

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Sharing Survey Data on Real Time Basis

Process Image - 7

Process Image - 8

Process Image - 9

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 EOI Portable Automatic Traffic Counter and Classifier (ATCC) System for Capturing and
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Process Image - 10

Figure 2: Typical Non-Intrusive ATCC Technology - Pneumatic Tubes Works

2.2 ATCC using TIRTL (Infrared Sensors)

The Infra-Red Traffic Logger (TIRTL) is a traffic

surveillance system that is non-intrusive and
capable of highly advanced functionality with
features making it the most flexible ITS
product in the world today.

A TIRTL installation consists of a transmitter

and receiver pair located on opposite sides of
the road. The transmitter is the source of infra-red beams used to detect traffic. The receiver
detects disturbances in the infra-red beams caused by the wheels of passing vehicles, and uses
intelligent software to analyze the timings of the light pulses to produce vehicle classifications.

2.2.1 Vehicle Detection using “Beam Events” :

The transmitter emits a beam of infra-red light from each forward facing lens. These light beams
overlap at the receiver, such that the light from each falls over both of the receiver’s lenses. This
beam overlap yields four different paths of light from the transmitter to the lenses of the receiver,
two parallel beams and two crossed beams as illustrated in Figure 3. As a vehicle passes between
the receiver and transmitter, each wheel interrupts each of the four beam pathways.

By use of the specialised TIRTL Optical Sights and the intelligent setup software accurate alignment
during the day or night is easily achieved.

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 EOI Portable Automatic Traffic Counter and Classifier (ATCC) System for Capturing and
Sharing Survey Data on Real Time Basis

Figure 3: Typical Non-Intrusive ATCC Technology - TIRTL Beam Configuration

2.2.2 Speed and Vehicle Direction Detection :

TIRTL installation on a bi-directional roadway as viewed from above. As the wheels of the vehicles
interact with the 4 beam pathways, Make and Break Beam Events are generated. The speed of a
vehicle is determined by the time interval measured (t1 or t2) between like Beam Events on the
parallel beams, A and B. The redundant

The redundant information is used to discard invalid measurements in multi-lane installations where
passing traffic obscures or distorts a Beam Event associated with the target vehicle.

Figure 4: Typical Non-Intrusive ATCC Technology - TIRTL Speed and Vehicle Direction Detection

2.2.3 Vehicle Direction Convention:

When viewed from the rear of the TIRTL receiver positive velocity signed traffic always moves from
left to the right of the unit.

This is only true if the correct installation information is entered into the Site Information details.
The Site Information must accurately reflect the orientation of the TIRTL units. Non-inverted

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 EOI Portable Automatic Traffic Counter and Classifier (ATCC) System for Capturing and
Sharing Survey Data on Real Time Basis

operation is defined as when the TIRTL is mounted underneath a tripod. Inverted operation is typical
for permanent installations.

Figure 5: Typical Non-Intrusive ATCC Technology - TIRTL Standing behind receiver: Positive velocity
for cars travelling left to right

2.2.4 Lane Detection

As each wheel of the vehicle interacts with infra-red light pathway A, Ax, B and Bx, Beam Events are
generated. For each class of Beam Event, Make or Break, time intervals are measured. t1 and t2 are
defined as the time interval between Beam Events on beams A and Ax. t3 and t4 are similarly
defined as the time interval between Beam Events on beam A and Bx. Figure 6 illustrates that there
exists a quantized time difference between time interval t1 and t2 used by the intelligent software
of the TIRTL receiver to learn the lane positions of the installation. The measured time intervals are
normalized to the vehicle speed to provide a ratio metric measurement of vehicle position. Time
intervals t3 and t4 represent an example of redundant measurement information which may be
employed to verify vehicle information on a multi-lane installation.

Figure 6: Typical Non-Intrusive ATCC Technology - TIRTL Lane Detection

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 EOI Portable Automatic Traffic Counter and Classifier (ATCC) System for Capturing and
Sharing Survey Data on Real Time Basis

2.2.5 Axle, Axle Groups, Vehicle Detection and Wheel Size

The combination of a Break Beam Event followed by Make Beam Event of the same beam occurring
within a single vehicle lane constitutes the detection of an axle. Detection of axles is the first stage in
the important process of vehicle classification. The distance between axles is measured by knowing
the speed of the vehicle, the vehicles lane location and the time taken to traverse the 4 beam
pathways.

Figure 7: Typical Non-Intrusive ATCC Technology - TIRTL Axle, Axle Groups and Vehicle Detection

The wheel size of a particular vehicle class is necessarily a TIRTL learned parameter. It is necessary
that this parameter is learned as the height of the beams above the road varies between TIRTL
installations. Each of the infra-red beam pathways between the transmitter and receiver effectively
scribes a chord across the circle of the passing wheel (Figure 8). With the speed measurement of the
vehicle, the time between the Break and Make Beam Event and the travelling lane a measure of the
wheel width is obtained. This measurement can be ratio metrically used to discriminate between
vehicle classes, where the vehicles have very similar wheel bases, based upon percentage wheel size
variances.

Figure 8: Typical Non-Intrusive ATCC Technology - TIRTL Wheel Size Measurement

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 EOI Portable Automatic Traffic Counter and Classifier (ATCC) System for Capturing and
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2.2.6 Classification of Vehicles

There are a number of different features of the wheel base of road vehicles which may be used by
the TIRTL software to classify vehicles. Figure 9 illustrates these features. Classification Schemes
based upon these features are built up by the user using the Classification Editor function of the
TIRTLsoft GUI.

A classification scheme contains a series of patterns based upon parameters associated with vehicle
axles. Each pattern contains a number of parameters that uniquely describe a vehicle class.
Generally, the Classification Scheme moves toward finer and finer detail for the parameters of a
particular vehicle class.

Figure 9: Typical Non-Intrusive ATCC Technology - TIRTL Axle Groups

2.2.7 Communication
TIRTL has a number of flexible communication interfaces for remote management of the units
including

 direct serial communication

 standard POTS telephone
 the mobile telephone network using GSM r 3G packet data services
 Ethernet using an external interface.

TIRTL supports two types of connection protocol via direct serial connection:

• PPP which adds extra functionality over the RS232 link including error correction, addressing
and multiplexing
• raw serial communication.

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 EOI Portable Automatic Traffic Counter and Classifier (ATCC) System for Capturing and
Sharing Survey Data on Real Time Basis

2.2.8 Time Synchronisation

There are 3 methods to achieve time synchronisation of a TIRTL.

A. Manual

This method involves setting the time of the TIRTL manually, connecting locally to the TIRTL and
using TIRTL soft to set the date and time. The TIRTL has an internal real-time-clock (RTC) which
maintains the time when the device mains power or battery power is removed. The RTC clock
battery has a life of 10 years.

B. GPS

Installation of a GPS antenna provides the TIRTL with the ability to maintain time with Global
Positioning System.

C. NTP

The TIRTL supports Network Time Protocol (NTP) using a network and a NTP server to synchronise
UTC time on numerous devices. A suitable NTP server and network must be available. CEOS does not
recommend NTP over 3G packet switched networks.

3. Control Centre

The Control Centre (Server location for real time data and backup of data) will be at head office
(Gurgaon).

All team members can simultaneously login to the system and check the real time data.

4. Accuracy level

These non-intrusive technologies can provides the +/- 2% accuracy level.

5. Connectivity requirements

To access the server and upload the data only a Good Internet Required.

6. Any prior implementation/project details

The team member name required to create the login IDs.

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