Viability of remote sensing on two-lane roads

The objective of this study was to observe how successfully remote-sensing observations can be made on two-lane roads, to identify the factors that affect the success with which observations are made, and to quantify the relationship. The investigation involved both an empirical and a theoretical analysis. The empirical analysis included observation of the number of successful observations made at three sites in Baton Rouge, La., under varying traffic conditions. The theoretical analysis included development of a simulation model of traffic on a two-lane road. It was found that approximately 800 successful observations per hour can be made on two-lane roads in urban areas. This is roughly 80% of the number achievable at single-lane sites. Factors affecting the number of successful observations on two-lane roads are volume, directional split, and traffic composition of the traffic stream. The impact of these traffic characteristics on successful observation was captured in a model that was able to explain 95% of the variation in the data observed in this study.