DRONE TRAFFIC SURVEYS
The modern approach to traffic data acquisition
Revolutionising Traffic Data Collection with Drone Traffic Surveys
Managing traffic flow and infrastructure in a rapidly urbanising world requires accurate, timely, and actionable data. Traditional methods of conducting traffic surveys often involve costly setups, lengthy operations, and safety risks for survey teams.
At Skytech Cambridge, we offer a transformative solution with drone traffic surveys, providing unparalleled efficiency, precision, and insight for infrastructure planning, traffic management, and urban development.
What Are Drone Traffic Surveys?
Drone traffic surveys use advanced aerial technology to monitor and capture data on traffic patterns, vehicular movements, and road conditions.
By leveraging our high-resolution cameras and precision GPS-enabled drones, we provide a bird's-eye view of key transport hubs, junctions, and arterial roads.
This innovative approach offers detailed insights without the need for intrusive or disruptive survey equipment.
Why Choose Drone Traffic Surveys with Skytech Cambridge?
- Enhanced Efficiency
Traditional manual traffic data collection often requires the installation of bulky equipment, along with lengthy coordination processes involving local authorities and landowners. Our drones eliminate these challenges by capturing real-time data from above, ensuring minimal disruption and significantly faster turnaround times.
- Accurate and Comprehensive Data
Our drones capture high-resolution video and still images, enabling precise analysis of traffic flow, congestion points, and vehicle classifications.
This level of detail provides a more accurate representation of traffic behaviour than traditional methods, helping clients make data-driven decisions.
- Cost-Effective Solutions
Drone traffic surveys reduce the need for costly equipment rentals, large survey teams, and extended project timelines. Our efficient technology minimises labour costs while delivering high-quality results, making it a budget-friendly option for projects of all sizes.
- Safety-First Approach
Safety is our number one priority in every survey we conduct. Traditional traffic surveys can put surveyors at risk, especially on busy roads. With drones, all data is collected remotely, keeping survey teams out of harm's way and ensuring the highest standards of safety for both our staff and the public.
Applications of Drone Traffic Surveys
Our drone traffic surveys are ideal for a wide range of projects, including:
- Infrastructure Planning: Assess the impact of new developments on traffic flow.
- Road Improvement Projects: Identify congestion points and inefficiencies to guide road upgrades.
- Event Management: Plan and manage traffic flow for major events such as festivals, sports games, or concerts.
- Traffic Signal Optimisation: Analyse traffic behavior at intersections to optimise signal timings.
- Transport Policy Development: Provide data to support local council initiatives or government policies.
Real-Life Example: Enhancing Urban Traffic Flow
Skytech Cambridge recently partnered with a city council to analyse traffic flow at a major junction notorious for congestion. Using drones, we conducted a survey over three consecutive days, capturing data across morning, afternoon, and evening peaks.
The results highlighted key congestion points and helped the council propose solutions, including adjusted traffic signal timings and the introduction of a new pedestrian crossing.
The entire project was completed in a week, significantly faster than traditional methods, saving both time and money while ensuring high-quality results.
Vehicle Speed Analysis with Unbiased Accuracy
Traditional methods often skew speed data as motorists adjust their behavior when monitored. Skytech Cambridge's drones operate discreetly at 100-120 meters above the ground, remaining unnoticed by drivers. This ensures the collection of accurate, unbiased speed data across urban and rural environments, delivering reliable insights for effective planning and analysis.
Traffic Classification and Detection
Our advanced auto-detection technology identifies and tracks cars, commercial vehicles, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians with precision. Each object is monitored throughout its time in the frame, enabling analysis at individual, group, or dataset levels. This detailed classification provides comprehensive insights, empowering you to make informed decisions with confidence.
Zone Waiting Time Analysis
Our drones monitor designated areas like
set-down zones, time-limited parking,
and
no-waiting zones, tracking how long each vehicle remains. This data reveals driver behaviour, helping you identify misuse and decide
if further measures, such as signage or enforcement, are needed to improve compliance and traffic flow.
Automatic Traffic Counters (ATC)
ATCs serve as virtual gates within the drone’s frame, collecting accurate data on vehicle speeds, classifications, traffic flow, and crossing counts. With no limit on the number of gates, they offer flexible, detailed data collection without physical installations, making
them a highly efficient solution for traffic analysis.
Traffic Flow Analysis
Understand how vehicles move through key areas, including bottlenecks, merging lanes, and roundabouts. This analysis helps identify congestion points, optimise road layouts, and improve traffic signal timings.
Origin-Destination Studies
Track vehicle journeys to determine where traffic originates and terminates within the survey area. This
data is valuable for infrastructure planning, such as deciding where to build new roads or parking facilities.
Peak Hour Traffic Monitoring
Focus on traffic behavior during specific times, such as rush hours, school drop-off periods, or special events. This data helps in planning strategies to reduce congestion during high-demand times.
Pedestrian and Cyclist Movement Analysis
Monitor the flow of non-motorised traffic, including pedestrians and cyclists, to assess the safety and efficiency of crossing points, bike lanes, and pedestrian zones.
Queue Length and Delay Analysis
Measure how far traffic queues extend and how long vehicles are delayed at intersections, toll booths, or congested roads. This data can help prioritise areas for improvement.
Event Traffic Management
Capture and analyse traffic behavior around event venues, such as stadiums or concert halls, to design
better traffic flow strategies and parking plans.
Parking Utilisation Studies
Monitor car parks or on-street parking areas to assess usage patterns, peak occupancy times, and compliance with parking regulations.
Environmental Impact Analysis
Use drone surveys to study how traffic patterns contribute to noise and air pollution in specific areas, enabling data-driven decisions for reducing environmental impact.
Construction Impact Studies
Monitor how construction activities affect traffic flow in surrounding areas, helping planners mitigate disruptions and plan alternative routes.
Public Transport Utilisation Monitoring
Analyse how buses and other public transport vehicles interact with traffic, including dwell times at stops, adherence to schedules, and their impact on overall
traffic flow.
Traffic studies for all road users
All Motorised Road Vehicles
Bicycles
Pedestrians
And so much more....
Each and every project we work on is optimised to output the most important and accurate data possible. There is almost no limit to the array of traffic metrics that we can deliver for your project.
If you have considered a traffic survey in the past but have been dissuaded due to the potential logistical and planning complexities of a traditional traffic survey, rest assured that our drone operations are quick and simple to set up. We are fully authorised by the CAA; are fully insured; and operate with safety as our number one priority.