Inductive_Loop_Signature_-_Statement_of_Work.docx

CLIN

Statement of Work Origin-Destination Study Using Inductive Loop Signature Technology

1. Background One major challenge facing Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMAs) is limited quantitative transportation data to understand how the Federally-owned transportation network is utilized by the traveling public. A patchwork of investment in older technologies, difficulty in installing and maintaining in‐road technologies as road rehabilitation projects occur, inconsistent interpretation of collected data, prior difficulty in introducing suitable technology into sometimes remote areas, and minimal collaboration across FLMAs are some identifiable reasons for the deficiencies in qualitative transportation data.

To address these issues, one FLMA, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), would like to field test technology first tested by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This project is being conducted as part of the Federal Lands Highway (FLH) Coordinated Technology Implementation Program (CTIP). Inductive Loop Signature Technology (ILST) uses road loops similar to those used to detect vehicles at traffic signals to anonymously identify vehicles. By installing several of these loops throughout a FLMA, this project aims to use this technology to understand the travel patterns of visitors inside the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (KNWR).

2. Technical Tasks

2.1 CLIN 0100 - Component Acquisition and Configuration

The contractor shall provide an origin-destination data collection system for deployment at KNWR by procuring the necessary equipment for 10 different roadway locations within the Refuge. More details on these locations are provided in the Appendix. Most are in gravel roads with no existing lane dividers. Two of the locations on Keystone Drive are only about 100 yards apart and may be monitored with a single set of equipment and four loops. At present, the equipment at each site is expected to include:

· An inductive loop classifier, modified by the contractor

· An environmental housing

· Two 12-Volt, 55 watt solar panels

· Batteries

· A solar controller

· Loop wire The contractor shall purchase, configure, and deliver the equipment to each deployment site. Volpe Center staff and contractors will install the equipment at each site in accordance with the contractor’s requirements. Volpe will acquire and install poles at each site for mounting the equipment. Volpe has extensive experience in using solar-powered equipment, and to take advantage of Alaska’s long summer daylight, it plans to install one panel facing southeast and the other facing southwest.

There will not be a need for a communications mechanism with this system. Instead, the contractor shall implement a simple means for local FWS staff to download data on a weekly basis. The staff will not have a laptop to use for this function, but they will be able to change a thumb drive or SD card. The contractor shall implement an automated method for downloading the data that involves only the need to change the SD card or insert and remove a thumb drive.

The Volpe Center will install a loop wire in each roadway lane being captured. Volpe will install each pole, mount the enclosure to the pole, and trench the loop wires to the classifier. The contractor will be responsible for any tuning and to ensure the components are operating properly. Since the system will be running on solar power, the potential exists for the batteries to become depleted. In such conditions, it is essential that the data collection system restarts automatically when power returns.

The contractor shall be present during the installation to ensure the system is installed in accordance with its requirements and to test and configure the equipment.

2.2 CLIN 0200 - Data Analysis and Documentation

The contractor shall analyze the data and produce a report detailing the results. The report will contain the following:

· A count of vehicles by each of the sensors.

· For each pair of sensors, the contractor shall list the number and times of vehicles determined to have been present at both sensors on the same day.

· The contractor shall provide graphics for each sensor as an origination point indicating the origin-destination findings.

· The contractor shall also analyze the effectiveness of the inductive loop signature system for this application, by describing what percentage of vehicles could not be uniquely identified without additional methods (such as Bluetooth ID) and what percentage of vehicles could not be identified at all. As part of this task, the contractor shall provide a table of the raw data, showing each vehicle’s data, a random unique identifier, and the degree of certainty of that identity. The table will also show if the inductive loop signature was adequately unique or if Bluetooth was needed to augment the identification.

· The contractor shall document the results in a Microsoft Word document.

3. Deliverables The contractor shall deliver the following:

· All of the components of the 9 Inductive Loop Signature Systems, except for the poles, tools and hardware needed to install the equipment.

· Ship the equipment to the deployment site. Volpe will provide an address.

· Mechanism for FWS staff to download data from each system on a weekly basis.

· Draft report in Microsoft Word detailing the Origin-Destination analysis and the assessment of the effectiveness of this system for this particular application.

· Final report that incorporates Volpe Center suggested changes and addresses comments.