DACOLIAN Origin - Destination Study

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Origin - Destination Study

INTRADA Automatic Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) combines high yield license plate recognition with tuning-less installation of road side camera equipment. This makes Intrada ALPR also very useful for temporary traffic measurements. This case describes an origin-destination study during which Intrada ALPR has been used successfully to recognize Belgium license plates.

Origin - Destination Study N8 - N369 Belgium

Connection Systems

Dhr. F. Wagemans
+31(0)6 25062623

Date:	August, 24th 2003
Country:	Belgium
Location:	Triangle: Veurne, Diksmuide en Ieper
Observation points:	6

On August the 24th 2003 Connection Systems performed a traffic origin-destination study in western Belgium. Traffic coming from Veurne and Diksmuide, traveling in the direction of Ieper has been investigated.

The map below shows a navigational map of the region.

Observation setup

Observation posts

Traffic was monitored from 16:00h until 21:00h using a total of 6 observation posts (OP). Each observation post was equipped with digital video input and INTRADA ALPR software used for vehicle identification. The recognition software supports country identification for multiple countries simultaneously.

The given setup has 3 entrance points (OP1, OP4, OP5) and 3 exit points (OP2, OP3, OP6). Between these points lie 4 sections: 1-2, 1-3, 4-6 and 5-6.

Vehicle detections at each of the 6 posts were combined at the end of the monitoring interval to differentiate between ending, originating and passing-through traffic on sections between observations.

A vehicle detected at OP1 is classified as 'ending' if it is not detected at OP2 or OP3. If it were detected, it would be classified as 'passing through'. A vehicle passing OP2 without being detected at OP1 is classified as 'originating' in section 1-2.

Study Results

Traditional studies, without ALPR, would have delivered vehicle frequency information for all 6 observation posts. In addition, with licence plate recognition, more extensive reports can be made:

Individual vehicle paths within the observed region
Travel times per vehicle
Identification of country of origin

		incoming traffic		exiting traffic
relation	# passing through	total	% passing	totaal	% passing
from 1 to 2	2768	4675	59%	4191	66%
from 1 to 3	371	4767	8%	837	44%
from 4 to 6	675	2825	24%	2648	25%
from 5 to 6	1532	1532	18%	2648	10%

Individual vehicle paths within the observed region over time

section	average travel time	maximum
from 1 to 2	28 min	35 min
from 1 to 3	15 min	20 min
from 4 to 6	27 min	35 min
from 5 to 6	22 min	30 min

Travel times per vehicle

country	percentage
Belgium	79,29
France	19,25
Great Britain	0,43
Netherlands	0,41
Germany	0,14
Hungary	0,02
Italy	0,02
Poland	0,01
Slovenia	0,01
unknown	0,16
total	100,00

Country of Origin

Method comparison: ALPR versus traditional methods

Traffic analysis by hand

Until a few years ago, traffic studies were performed by hand. Field workers were stationed along high ways for hours to count and classify passing vehicles.

The current state of ALPR technology provides a useful alternative to this traditional method. Below some ALPR advantages are listed:

Immediate availability of traffic data.
Near errorless data sets. Old-style traffic monitoring would require manual processing twice. First notes are taken on site, then all data is entered into the computer.
Quality control of test data can be performed if required.
Silent observation. Cameras attract far less attention then a group of field workers.
Safer procedures: less people along the road. Equipment can be installed at night. Only a few daytime checks need to be performed.
Accurate timing enables speed and travel time calculation.
Studies can be performed continuously for longer periods.

Measurement using digital video