Jamaica is being rapidly urbanized with new commercial or residential developments leading to challenges in managing traffic flow and mitigating congestion. To predict the possible impacts of the development effective traffic impact assessment (TIA) must be performed on larger developments. This blog drives into the modern method of conducting a TIA and how it is revolutionizing the way we design.
A Traffic Impact Assessment forecasts the potential impact a proposed development will have on the traffic flow in surrounding areas during its construction and operational phases. This assessment involves a comprehensive examination of various critical parameters including but not limited to traffic generation in the area, speed limits, site access, roadway capacity, parking demand and transit stops.
TIAs begin with a traffic count which is traditionally are done using pneumatic counters[i] or humans to manually count and classify vehicles. As one can imagine, these methods have limitations. Pneumatic counters can be expensive to rent and are only suitable for short term use. On the other hand, manual counting and classification methods are susceptible to human errors, are labour intensive and become impracticable under impossible in complex and adverse conditions. With the advancement of technology, CEAC has implemented the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in our traffic counts, enhancing accuracy, efficiency and reliability.
The underlying technology utilized is not new – this requires a camera, even a smartphone camera, along with a vehicle detection algorithm trained using artificial intelligence (AI). The camera records traffic footage which is fed to a software and an AI algorithm assesses the video, classifies the vehicles (pedestrians as well) and produces the travelled path of each object. This data can be used to determine traffic volumes, travel speeds, and gain key insights into driver behaviour at critical junctions. Given the advances in computing processing the raw video data can be done in less than one day.
With that being said, let’s talk pros and cons. Some pros of AI in TIAs are: processing large amounts of data quicker than manual methods; increased accuracy as this eliminates the probability of human error, more data regarding driver behaviour and real-time monitoring. Conversely, data quality may be compromised due to suboptimal lighting conditions and poor camera quality, which can be planned around.
Rapid urbanization of Jamaica brings with it the imperative need for effective traffic management strategies to alleviate congestion and ensure smooth traffic flow amidst ongoing development projects. The integration of AI into traffic counting processes, emerges a promising solution that offers greater efficiency, accuracy, and real-time monitoring capabilities. As we look forward, the future of traffic counting with AI shows great potential. Ongoing innovation and improvements are set to make TIAs even more effective in the coming years.
[i] Tallying devices that count compressed air pulses