Bluetooth-based traffic detection

Traffax has launched BluFax, based on the globally ubiquitous Bluetooth digital communications protocol, which operates by detecting the MAC addresses of Bluetooth signals from passing cars.
February 6, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
A BluFax freeway installation in Indiana
2262 Traffax has launched BluFax, based on the globally ubiquitous 1835 Bluetooth digital communications protocol, which operates by detecting the MAC addresses of Bluetooth signals from passing cars. By positioning two units at distances of between 1-3km, vehicle travel times are calculated from the relative detection times recorded by the two units. Traffax has licensed the patent-pending technology from the University of the Maryland, where the concept originated under the support of the Maryland State Highway Administration.

Traffax says Bluetooth address matching can be used for a number of applications including measurement of travel times on both freeway and arterial roadways, measurement of origin-destination patterns, and tracking of pedestrian flows. Since it directly measures travel times and space-mean speeds, Traffax claims BluFax is one of the few technologies that offers the ability to accurately measure arterial travel times. The company says that demonstrated detection rates exceeding five per cent of the total traffic stream, yield sample sizes adequate for reliable measurement of arterial flows.

There are two versions of the Traffax BluFax unit. An off-line version is offered that stores its measurements on removable storage media for subsequent processing. This device is typically used for traffic studies, performance measurement and validation of other data collection techniques. It is self-powered and requires no communications.

A real-time version is also offered that continuously transmits the MAC addresses and detection times of passing vehicles to a collection site for continuous processing. The real-time unit is used for such applications as display of travel times on variable message signs, and data inputs to 511 telephone systems.
Detection, Monitoring & Machine Vision

Related Content

  • November 16, 2012
    Bluetooth traffic monitoring in Denmark
    Denmark’s second largest city has installed the BlipTrack Bluetooth based traffic monitoring system to monitor travel times and traffic flow. The sensors have been installed at strategic locations around the city and following eight months of testing, the company says the non-intrusive system provides the same information as alternative and more expensive solutions such as ANPR and loops. Sixty sensors are currently installed around the city to monitor travel times, detect changes in traffic patterns and w
    Read More
  • December 17, 2012
    Houston traffic technology ‘going global’
    A real-time traffic data collection system developed by the Texas A&M University Transportation Institute (TTI) is going nationwide and could go global, according to the university. The development, known as AWAM (Anonymous Wireless Address Matching), uses the first portion of the MAC address from anonymous wireless devices, such as Bluetooth-enabled devices, carried in vehicles to measure the travel time between two points along freeways and arterial roads in rural and urban environments. It provides real-
    Read More
  • November 13, 2012
    Social media mooted for traffic management
    SQLstream’s Ronnie Beggs discusses with Jason Barnes the potential and pitfalls of using social media for traffic monitoring and management. cataclysmic events such as hurricanes and tsunami have challenged perceptions of what constitutes robust traffic management infrastructure in recent times. Presumptions that only fixed systems could offer high levels of unbroken service, accuracy and communication bandwidth, have been taught some hard lessons by nature. In many respects wireless systems now represent t
    Read More
  • January 27, 2012
    Integrate systems to reduce roadside infrastructure
    David Crawford reviews promising current developments. Instrumentation of the road infrastructure has grown to become one of the most dynamic sectors of the ITS industry. Drivers for its deployment include global concerns over the commercial and environmental pressures of traffic congestion, the importance of keeping drivers informed throughout their journeys, and the need to reduce accident rates and promote the safety of all road users, for example by enforcing traffic safety rules.
    Read More

Highlighted Content