ADEC Technologies High-Performance Detectors for Traffic and Parking Applications

ADEC Technologies, founded in 2009, develops and manufactures various detectors for traffic management, traffic counting and classification, and parking space management. Our products are purchased by and integrated into traffic management systems by small and large system integrators worldwide.

Traffic management systems for road operators and traffic authorities

Traffic management plays an increasingly important role. Due to the intensifying growth of road traffic, capacity constraints and the inability to simply ‘add more lanes’, traffic management plays a progressively essential role to road operators and traffic authorities.

Traffic management systems that minimise the adverse effects of uncontrolled traffic flow, which leads to frequent stop-and-go traffic, are a cost-effective solution to achieve maximum capacity. These systems measure traffic parameters through a dense sensor network. They then process the data and instruct motorists (using variable message signs) of applicable speed limits, the ability to travel on break-down lanes, and any other measures at the operators disposal.

ADEC non-intrusive traffic detectors for traffic management and ITS

The density and the quality of the data of any traffic management systems’ sensor network are decisive in maximising traffic throughput. While most traffic detectors perform well in free-flow traffic in fair conditions, problems arise in dense traffic. It is in exactly such traffic situations where speed and occupancy accuracy is crucial.

ADEC’s TDC3 traffic detectors leverage three distinct sensor technologies (triple-technology) for unparallelled performance, even in lowered expressways, tunnels and other unconventional locations. Specifically designed for mounting above the lanes, each device features two connectors for linking them together into a bus topology.

Beyond the conventional occupancy and speed measurement, TDC3 detectors can also be used for vehicle classification, which is commonly the domain of automatic traffic counting and classification (ATCC). TDC3 detectors distinguish up to 8+1 vehicle classes according to TLS by default, achieving classification accuracies of between 80% and 99.6% (depending on vehicle class).

Solar-powered GSM/3G traffic counting system with internet access

Traffic counting and classification is quite different from traffic management. While traffic managements’ key requirements are accurate traffic data in real-time, traffic counting data is used for feeding traffic models and ultimately helping road planners to invest in infrastructure where the investment has the greatest impact.

Using ADEC Technologies’ products, you receive an end-to-end solution for traffic counting applications. The cornerstone of the solution is the BaseStation2 (BS2), which retrieves traffic data from up to three traffic detectors.

The BS2 is connected to the internet through its 3G modem, and powers itself and the detectors from the attached solar panel or the integrated battery. The traffic data is sent to the exosite-based internet of things (IoT) server, which stores all traffic data, provides browser-level access for data visualisation, and allows users to directly download all data. In addition, traffic data is available through web interfaces, specifically for third-party applications.

The traffic counting system can be used for temporary or permanent installations. Thanks to its light weight and small form factor, the system can be easily mounted on any lamppost. For locations where sun radiation is insufficient, the BS2 can also be powered intermittently through alternative sources, such as street lights.

Outdoor parking space management

Most motorists are familiar with the popular parking guidance systems found in many parking garages: the occupancy state of every parking space is retrieved using a ceiling-mounted sensor that integrates a green and red light emitting diode (LED).

Such systems are not as prevalent on street-parking spaces and other outdoor parking facilities, which typically lack a ceiling. ADEC has developed a system consisting of battery-powered ground detectors or parking occupancy detectors (POD), solar-powered GSM/3G stations, and easy-to-access web-interfaces.

The unique quad-technology ground detector is either inserted into or mounted on top of the pavement in the centre of each parking space. The compact, integrated system ensures accurate detection in harsh outdoor conditions and guarantees a seven-year battery life, minimising installation and maintenance costs.

Parking occupancy changes are forwarded to the exosite-based IoT server. Owners and operators can comfortably access the occupancy status of the parking spaces of a parking lot under management through a browser interface.

The Android-smartphone supported commissioning process allows installers to prepare the parking detectors for operation directly through the app using the near field communication (NFC) chip built into each POD, acquiring and storing the GPS location and orientation of each POD.