Cambridge University develops cheap, high-density traffic sensor network

Date: 4/3/2010

Source: ‘Time for change’, Intertraffic World, Annual Showcase 2010, pg. 52-56

The University of Cambridge has carried out research into sensor and network technology design as a part of the Transport Information Monitoring Environment (TIME) project. It aims to build an appropriate sensor technology and reusable software components to distribute, process, and store sensor data in real time, taking into account privacy issues and commercial interests.

Their prototype sensor is a low-resolution thermal camera with image processing on-board to detect vehicle speed and flow.  It is mounted on a lamp-column and feeds off the lamp’s power supply.  Communication is via a wireless mesh.  The prototype is estimated to cost £40 and has been shown to work through heat, rain, cold and snow in the last year.

Keywords: Communications, Enforcement, Traffic centre, Traffic management