OVERHEAD INFRARED VEHICLE DETECTOR

THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE WIDELY USED BURIED-LOOP VEHICLE DE- TECTOR -- 3 TO 5 YEAR LIFETIME, COSTLY, INCONVENIENT TO MAINTAIN/REPLE, INCOMPATIBLE WITH SOME ROADWAYS, UNRELIABLE ACTIVATION BY SOME VEHICLES -- CAN BE OVERCOME THROUGH THE USE OF OVERHEAD INFRARED VEHICLE DETECTORS. THE TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH INCLUDE A SURVEY OF APPROPRIATE INFRARED SENSORS AND DEVICE ANALYSIS, DESIGN, FABRICATION AND TESTING. AFTER IDETIFYING, VIA THE SURVEY, THOSE INFRARED SENSORS MOST APPROPRIATE FOR VEHICLE DETEC- TION, AN ACTIVE AND A PASSIVE SENSOR WILL BE DESIGNED AND FABRICATED. THE SENSORS WILL BE TESTED UNDER ACTUAL TRAFFICCONDITIONS AND THE RESULTS COMPARED WITH MEASUREMENTS BY BURIED-LOOP DETECTORS. THE TESTING AND EVALUATION WILL BE DONE IN COOPERATION WITH MEMBERS OF THE ORANGE COUNTY FLORI-DA TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THISRESULT IN A RELIABLE, LOW-COST, OVERHEAD INFRARED VEHICLE DETECTOR WHICH IS EASY TO INSTALL, OPERATED, AND MAINTAIN.