Six alternatives to pen and paper traffic counts
Traffic counting using pen and paper is an outdated method. This technique often led to very limited data sets and extrapolated models. Today, new methods are available which are way more efficient and accurate.
Geo Mobility makes use of different data sources which can be combined or used on its own, which means we have a solution for projects of all sizes.
Introducing 6 ways to gather objective traffic data:
1. Counts using CCTV or ANPR
2. TomTom Move: Traffic Stats and Origin Destination
3. Visitor counts based on telecom data
4. Theoretical traffic model
5. Mobicount (AI camera)
6. Pneumatic tubes
Every approach has its own advantages: below you will find a short overview.
1. Counts using CCTV or ANPR
CCTV or ANPR counting is carried out at a specific location during a three to seven day period. The collected data provides insights into the absolute number of traffic, the modal split and origin destination data at micro level. Whether it’s a pedestrian, cyclist, car, truck or another travel mode, CCTV or ANPR is able to provide insights. This method is ideal for designing and / or evaluating your circulation plan. Moreover, this approach can be used to conduct near-miss analysis.
2. TomTom Move
Based on historical data (starting from 2008) you get a representative view of how fast people drive, how busy it is and travel time depending on time and day. This data is viewable per day, per period or even in real-time. Depending on the location 8 to 25% of car traffic is monitored with TomTom Move (which is lower than CCTV > 99%). However, the biggest advantage is that TomTom Move allows you to view historic data at a very reasonable price without having to install hardware. This method is applicable to small and large areas.
3. Visitor counts based on telecom data
By using cell phone signals, we are able to determine where visitors come from. Furthermore, we can see why they visit a specific part of a city: work related, shopping or late-night dining. All this for a specific zone in a city. This provides insights into how busy it is at a specific time and the reason. It is a very useful tool for crowd monitoring. A disadvantage is that the granularity is lower than, for example, GPS data.
4. Theoretical traffic model
Based on open data, we have created a theoretical traffic model that can provide insights on travel time, commuting patterns and intensities. This theoretical traffic model can be further calibrated by using traffic counts or TomTom data. This model can be used to calculate the effects of a change in the road network.
5. Mobicount (AI camera)
The radar or AI-vision module of our sister company Aptus is mounted on lighting poles. These modules are used for long-term analysis at a specific location. This application is particularly well suited for, for example, monitoring the effects of a bicycle street. An online dashboard will present you the data on the modal split, changing car speed, changing cyclist behaviour, and much more, in a visual way.
6.Pneumatic tubes
During a period between three days to three months one or more pneumatic tubes can be installed. The data gives insight into the total number of motorised vehicles: motorcycles, cars, vans and lorries. Not only can you detect the type of vehicle and its velocity but also its direction. This method is very useful to retrieve precise data during a long time period. In comparison to CCTV, pedestrians are not included in this method. On the other hand, pneumatic tubes are one of the more cost-effective methods.
| CCTV or ANPR | TomTom Move | Telco data | Theoretical traffic model | Mobicount | Pneumatic tubes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration |
On average 7 days.
Normally between 3 and 14 days. |
From days to years |
Weeks/
months/ years |
Theoretical | Long term | Week/months |
| Historical | Up to 6 months before | Before vs after changes | ||||
| Hardware installation | Limited for CCTV | |||||
| Categorisation | ||||||
| Subject of counts | Road users and type | Cars | Movements | Movements | Road users and type | Motorised traffic |
You see: there are many different options depending on the objective. Not to worry, our data experts can guide you to the best method for your project.
Feel free to contact Michiel if you have any questions, we are always happy to discuss the best option for your specific needs.
