Development and field test of a laser-based nonintrusive detection system for identification of vehicles on the highway

A real-time laser-based nonintrusive detection system has been developed for the measurement of true travel time of vehicles on the highway. The detection system uses a laser line that is projected onto the ground as a probe. The reflected light is collected and focused into a photodiode array by an optical system. Vehicle presence is detected based on the absence of reflected laser light. By placing two identical laser/sensor pairs at a known distance apart, the speeds of both the front and rear of a vehicle are measured based on the times when each sensor is triggered. The length of each vehicle is determined by using these speed measurements and the residence time of the vehicle under each sensor. Using real-time software, the speed, acceleration, and length of a detected vehicle can be calculated and displayed simultaneously. A new prototype system has been tested on the highway with different types of vehicles and scenarios, and the results are presented here. The tests have also been carried out for different weather conditions and road materials. The results indicate that the laser system operates well under real highway conditions.