Using Single and Multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Microscopic Driver Behaviour Data Collection at Freeway Interchange Ramps

This paper presents a detailed methodological framework for collecting microscopic driver and vehicle behaviour data over a long road segment with an application to the entire stretch of a freeway ramp segment using single and multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The methodology allows users to collect reliable and complete trajectories of traffic movements at areas with challenging physical characteristics (long road segment, horizontal curvature, changing elevation, and presence of shadow), challenging traffic characteristics (high traffic volume, high speeds, and high speed changes), and restrictive regulations (UAVs prohibited from hovering over the freeway or the right-of-way). Different UAV setups were recommended and can be used depending on the site conditions. Specific commercial software and procedures used to complete the data collection are explained. The methodology was applied at two ramps and verified with speed data acquired from differential GPS receivers using three different error metrics. Results showed good performance of the proposed methodology, including when aerial videos must be taken from oblique angles.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author