1. Calibration of an Infrared-based Automatic Counting System for Pedestrian Traffic Flow Data Collection Step 3: Calibration Models Calibration models were built using the relationship between raw sensor counts and the group patterns. The calibration models were proposed as : (a) Group 1 (b) Group 2 (c) Group 3 Parameters including β 20, β 21, β 30, and β 31 were estimated using the bootstrap regression method. 10,000 bootstraps, each of size 100, were conducted. The estimated coefficients for each replication were presented in the following scatter plots: This study used the estimated mean coefficients to establish the final calibration models. For 15-minute intervals, the estimated calibration models are: For 1-hour intervals, the estimated calibration models are: Step 4: Validation Test New datasets collected at three different sites were tested. The first dataset was collected on April 10 (10:30am to10:30pm) at the same trail (site 1) where training data were collected. The second dataset was collected on October 19 (9:00am to 10:00pm) at a trail on Rutgers Busch campus (site 2). And the third dataset was collected on May 22 (9:00am to 5:00pm) at an intersection nearby Trenton transit center, NJ (site 3). Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Step 3: Calibration Models Calibration models were built using the relationship between raw sensor counts and the group patterns. The calibration models were proposed as : (a) Group 1 (b) Group 2 (c) Group 3 Parameters including β 20, β 21, β 30, and β 31 were estimated using the bootstrap regression method. 10,000 bootstraps, each of size 100, were conducted. The estimated coefficients for each replication were presented in the following scatter plots: This study used the estimated mean coefficients to establish the final calibration models. For 15-minute intervals, the estimated calibration models are: For 1-hour intervals, the estimated calibration models are: Step 4: Validation Test New datasets collected at three different sites were tested. The first dataset was collected on April 10 (10:30am to10:30pm) at the same trail (site 1) where training data were collected. The second dataset was collected on October 19 (9:00am to 10:00pm) at a trail on Rutgers Busch campus (site 2). And the third dataset was collected on May 22 (9:00am to 5:00pm) at an intersection nearby Trenton transit center, NJ (site 3). Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Results The results of validation tests were presented in the following figure. Visually, the calibrated infrared counts were more close to the ground truth than the raw counts. Statistical comparison results were presented in the following table. Wilcoxon matched=pairs signed-ranks test showed that the there is no significant difference between the calibrated results and the ground truth. The overall errors reduced by about 20 percent. Conclusions This study proposed a calibration procedure so that the raw data can be calibrated to reflect the ground truth. It established a statistical relationship between the pedestrian arrival patterns and the infrared counter performance. The calibration approach performed better at the high volume trails. More factors should be considered to calibrate intersection counts as the pedestrian arrival patterns are more complex than trails. Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank the NJDOT for providing guidance and suggestions at various stages of this study. We also appreciate Mr. Ranjit Walla and Robert Williams of the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University for the initial work of this project. For detailed information contact: yanghong@eden.rutgers.edu Results The results of validation tests were presented in the following figure. Visually, the calibrated infrared counts were more close to the ground truth than the raw counts. Statistical comparison results were presented in the following table. Wilcoxon matched=pairs signed-ranks test showed that the there is no significant difference between the calibrated results and the ground truth. The overall errors reduced by about 20 percent. Conclusions This study proposed a calibration procedure so that the raw data can be calibrated to reflect the ground truth. It established a statistical relationship between the pedestrian arrival patterns and the infrared counter performance. The calibration approach performed better at the high volume trails. More factors should be considered to calibrate intersection counts as the pedestrian arrival patterns are more complex than trails. Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank the NJDOT for providing guidance and suggestions at various stages of this study. We also appreciate Mr. Ranjit Walla and Robert Williams of the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University for the initial work of this project. For detailed information contact: yanghong@eden.rutgers.edu Abstract Conventional data collection methods such as manual counting hardly satisfy the requirements of long-term pedestrian studies. Technological advancements accelerated the development of automatic pedestrian counting devices. Practices show that none of automatic counter performs perfectly. There is need to improve the automatic counting performance. This paper attempts to propose a novel calibration procedure to estimate more reliable counts using the raw sensor outputs. It focuses on the relationship between pedestrian arrival patterns and pedestrian counter performance. Lab experiments and field tests were conducted to establish and validate the statistical relationships between actual counts, sensor counts and arrival patterns. Statistical tests illustrated that there wee no statistically significant differences between the “calibrated” and actual counts. Abstract Conventional data collection methods such as manual counting hardly satisfy the requirements of long-term pedestrian studies. Technological advancements accelerated the development of automatic pedestrian counting devices. Practices show that none of automatic counter performs perfectly. There is need to improve the automatic counting performance. This paper attempts to propose a novel calibration procedure to estimate more reliable counts using the raw sensor outputs. It focuses on the relationship between pedestrian arrival patterns and pedestrian counter performance. Lab experiments and field tests were conducted to establish and validate the statistical relationships between actual counts, sensor counts and arrival patterns. Statistical tests illustrated that there wee no statistically significant differences between the “calibrated” and actual counts. Introduction Pedestrian counts are important for decision making in pedestrian facility planning, signal timing, and pedestrian safety modeling. However, the quality of existing pedestrian data is considered quite poor and the priority for more accurate pedestrian traffic collection is high. Researchers have been developing new counting tools to improve efficiency and quality of pedestrian data. Infrared counters are one of the frequently used pedestrian counting devices. Infrared counters yield high accuracy with single pedestrians, but have accuracy concerns with simultaneous arrivals. The objective of this study was to calibrate an infrared-based automatic pedestrian counter deployed at locations with relatively high pedestrian volume. The relationship between counter errors and actual pedestrian traffic patterns were investigated. Infrared Counter EcoCounter, a dual sensor pyroelectric infrared counter, was selected for this study. Typical features of EcoCounter are: Two lenses sensitive to human body infrared radiation, Avoid false counts caused by plant movement, rain or sun, Dual-direction count by double-direction vertical technology, Work properly in all weather conditions, Internal battery life is up to 10 years, Minimum data integration: 15-minute, Data logger capacity: up to 1 year, Easy to install. Introduction Pedestrian counts are important for decision making in pedestrian facility planning, signal timing, and pedestrian safety modeling. However, the quality of existing pedestrian data is considered quite poor and the priority for more accurate pedestrian traffic collection is high. Researchers have been developing new counting tools to improve efficiency and quality of pedestrian data. Infrared counters are one of the frequently used pedestrian counting devices. Infrared counters yield high accuracy with single pedestrians, but have accuracy concerns with simultaneous arrivals. The objective of this study was to calibrate an infrared-based automatic pedestrian counter deployed at locations with relatively high pedestrian volume. The relationship between counter errors and actual pedestrian traffic patterns were investigated. Infrared Counter EcoCounter, a dual sensor pyroelectric infrared counter, was selected for this study. Typical features of EcoCounter are: Two lenses sensitive to human body infrared radiation, Avoid false counts caused by plant movement, rain or sun, Dual-direction count by double-direction vertical technology, Work properly in all weather conditions, Internal battery life is up to 10 years, Minimum data integration: 15-minute, Data logger capacity: up to 1 year, Easy to install. Research Methodology Our research methodology can be summarized as follows: Step 1: Conduct pilot lab tests Step 2: Conduct field tests Step 3: Develop calibration approach Step 4: Test calibration approach. Step 1: Pilot Lab Tests Step 2: Field Tests A 6-day data collection was scheduled in Piscataway, NJ. The selection of the test sites was based on criteria such as pedestrian volume, availability of mounting facility, accessibility, and the recommendation of the NJDOT. Research Methodology Our research methodology can be summarized as follows: Step 1: Conduct pilot lab tests Step 2: Conduct field tests Step 3: Develop calibration approach Step 4: Test calibration approach. Step 1: Pilot Lab Tests Step 2: Field Tests A 6-day data collection was scheduled in Piscataway, NJ. The selection of the test sites was based on criteria such as pedestrian volume, availability of mounting facility, accessibility, and the recommendation of the NJDOT. Paper: 10-3574 Kaan OZBAY, Ph.D., Hong YANG, M.Sc. and Bekir BARTIN, Ph.D. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey FIG 2. Controlled Pedestrian Arrival Patterns TABLE 2. Pedestrian Arrival Patterns TABLE 4. Wilcoxon Matched-pairs Signed-Ranks Test FIG 7. Comparisons of Validation Results FIG 1. Configuration of Infrared EcoCounter TABLE 1. Pilot Tests Results TABLE 3. Correlations : Total Flow vs.. Counts of Each Group FIG 3. Field tests at a Pedestrian Trail FIG 4. Example of Potential Infrared Sensor Counting Types FIG 5. Bootstrap Replications of Regression Coefficients FIG 6. Validation Tests at Different Sites Mounting screwsDual lens Activation Key Cables Sensor logger Counted Missed CountedMissed Rutgers Intelligent Transportation Systems (RITS) Laboratory Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering