Summary

With support from Caltrans through the PATH program, we have previously developed a laser-based prototype system to measure outline shapes of vehicles on the roadway for purposes of measuring highway travel times by identifying and re-identifying vehicles at specific locations on the highway. A patent on this technology was recently awarded by the U.S. Patent Office.

The research proposed here is focused on applying the, basic methodologies developed during our earlier research efforts to field deployment and new methods of detection and vehicle characterization. The proposed two-year research project will:

1. Develop 12 field deployable laser photodiode array based detectors based on the current configuration, and collaborate with other PATH researchers to perform comparison studies with different detection technologies.
2. We will research the feasibility of enhancing our existing detector configuration, making it more capable of accurately measuring vehicle re-identification feature vectors under stop and go (jerk) traffic conditions, measuring vehicle infrared reflectance signatures, and investigating methods to remotely measure vehicle pollutant emissions and other chemical species with "homeland security" implications.
3. We will develop a final production configuration feasible for commercial manufacture.