3. Real Time Traffic Counting and Monitoring System

An accurate and continuous traffic count is vital for all transportation planning purposes. Specifically, planning for the future expansion needs a good estimate of traffic both in terms of the cumulative and peaking in a day or during special events. Currently these needs are met by manual count for very limited time periods. In addition, the growth of vehicular traffic is exerting pressure of the limited road infrastructure. An optimal usage the existing facilities require an accurate monitoring. This can be achieved by a real-time traffic counting and monitoring system (RTCMS). The specific objectives of the subproject SP3 – Real time traffic counting and monitoring system are:

* Customizing the Loop detectors for Vehicle count in Indian traffic condition which is heterogeneous and with limited lane discipline

* Exploring the efficacy of video-image processing to detect, count, classify, and determine the speed of the vehicles

* Develop an intelligent tool to supply the historic traffic information for transportation planners

* Develop and deploy an intelligent online web interface to exhibit the current traffic condition and congestion level on a given travel corridor as part of Advanced Travelers Information System (ATIS)

The real-time traffic counting and monitoring system was developed, implemented and evaluated by IIT-Bombay with the support of C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram.