United States Department of Transportation
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Feasibility Analysis of Real-time Intersection Data Collection and Processing Using Drones
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2021-09-01
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[PDF-20.52 MB]
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Edition:Final Report, Period Covered: 10/15/2019 – 09/31/2021
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Abstract:Traditional data collection techniques at intersections are known to be time consuming and costly while handling the complexity associated with the heavy traffic volume and travel demand on today’s roadways. Therefore, transportation agencies have been searching for more innovative, safer, and cheaper data collection solutions to have a faster and lower cost collection and analysis of traffic data to obtain traffic volume, speeds, queues, turning movements and conflict points (e.g., vehicle to vehicle, vehicle to pedestrian or bicycle, etc.) at intersections. One innovative solution is using drones in combination with computer vision applications. The overall goal of this project was to provide a feasibility analysis on the utilization of drones and computer vision applications to extract microscopic traffic data at intersections. Findings are expected to help the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in integrating new technologies into their day-to-day data collection operations. Consistent with this goal, the following tasks have been completed as part of the project: (a) perform literature review and analyze state-of the-practice to provide guidance and recommendations on legally and safely using drones with video/image processing techniques for the uniform traffic studies; (b) generate statewide crosswalk inventory using aerial images and artificial intelligence (AI2); (c) investigate the fatal pedestrian-involved crashes that occur at locations other than intersections in Florida and analyze their detailed crash reports; (d) design and conduct exercises with tethered drones to collect intersection data in the cities of Tallahassee and Jacksonville, Florida; and (e) perform a cost analysis comparing traditional methods with different drone-based traffic data collection techniques. Meeting these objectives led to appropriate guidelines and recommendations to FDOT in terms of evaluating and justifying the feasibility of using drones as safer and cheaper data collection alternatives while significantly improving intersection safety and operations. Results and recommendations of this research will also be used by the FDOT consultants who already perform traffic data collection on Florida’s roadways.
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