Traffic Engineering Applications of Drone...

Traffic Engineering Applications of Drone Technology

2017

PBS Engineering and Environmental Inc. pbsusa.com 1


John Manix, PE, Senior Traffic Engineer, PBSDerrick Westoby, Unmanned Aerial Survey Program Lead, PBS


2017


If a picture is worth a thousand words…

…what does this say?

Video collection process

Clearanceprocess

Collect the data

Dronehardware


2017


Drone Hardware Considerations

Drone TypeFixed Wing

or Multi-Rotor

BatteryFlight TimeLimitations

CameraAngles & Positions

Clearances and Waivers

FAA waiversmay be required

Airspace waivers90+ days

Other waivershard to obtain

ALL commercial flights require a part 107 license.


2017


Myra Road and US 12

Trucks and Roundabouts

1x


2017


Trucks and Roundabouts

10x

Emerging Technology with High Potential

UAS is a valuable tool for:

Collecting smarter data

Understanding safety conflicts

Explaining complex issues


2017


Explaining Complicated Transportation Issues

Car wash site has existing driveway (#2) 75 feet from busiest intersection in Walla Walla. Proposed driveway #3 is with WSDOT right-of-way restrictions.

Site Driveway Close to Traffic Signal

This large commercial site may not be economically viable with right-in, right-out of driveway?


2017


Queuing Results

How does it model?

2018 SimTraffic modeling of intersection without the project


2017


UAS Shows Gaps in Traffic and Validate Model

Modeling with Project


2017


But will it be safe?

• What is the safe stopping distance?

• Safety is a function of vehicle speed

Data from the Sky


2017


Lessons Learned

• Our traffic modeling accurately estimated queue length.

• A full-access driveway has gaps to accommodate the car wash traffic.

• It is safe. Traffic speeds are slow speeds.

Understanding Safety Conflicts


2017


Level of Service & Delay for Alternatives

Traffic Signal Alternatives


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UAS Evaluation

Mini-Roundabout Alternative


2017


Lessons Learned

• Verified delay estimates• Showed effects of platoon and

short head-way• Showed need for left-turn lanes• Supported mini-roundabout

alternative

Collecting Smarter Data


2017


Manual Parking Survey ResultsMay 23, 2017

Parking Area 8:30 AM 9:30 AM 10:45 AM1 29 34 272 22 28 283 8 10 64 15 11 95 84 95 676 108 123 757 173 179 948 5 4 69 36 34 1910 54 55 2311 27 26 16

Staff 28 31 29

Parking Data Collection via UAS

Parking Area 4 – Only one vehicle school parking


2017



Parking Area 8 – three vehicles not related to school parking


Parking Area 9 – two parked cars related to the school.


2017



Parking Area 11 - 15 vehicle related to Kennewick YMCA

School-in and Out Data Review

Aug 202017 School out/summer

Parking Area

9:00 A 9:30 A 10:00 A

4 3 1 1

8 3 2 3

9 2 2 2

11 8 15 32

May 232017 School in session

Parking Area

8:30 A 9:30 A 10:45 A

4 15 11 9

8 5 4 6

9 36 34 19

11 27 26 16


2017


Lessons Learned• Get your request in early to FAA

for clearance to fly.• Aerial parking surveys can

provide:– Parking occupancy– Turn-over data– Parking distribution data– All data recorded on an aerial!

In Closing: What does UAS offer?

Doesn’t replace conventional data, but makes the data smarter

An important resource for understanding vehicle interaction

New details not seen from still or ground mounted cameras

For traffic For safety evaluations For data collection


2017


Thank you!

Questions & Answers

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Traffic Engineering Applications of Drone...

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