Sensys Gatso Australia will present the latest progress report for a PhD project that is developing an axle-based vehicle classification system utilising tracking radar technology. The radar is currently being used to track the speed, position and dimensions of vehicles travelling within its wide-angle beam. The new radar algorithms being developed under this project utilise the micro-Doppler effect to detect the rotating wheels on a vehicle and hence the position of the associated axles. By determining the positioning of the axles and their groupings, the radar is able to classify 12 different vehicle types in accordance with the AUSTROADS or FHWA schemes.

Additionally, the presentation will introduce a new simulation algorithm that can synthesize radar data generated by a vehicle, including the micro-doppler signal produced by its wheels. The talk will then illustrate how this data is utilised to calculate the accuracy metric of the radar vehicle classifier algorithm.

The proposed solution offers a number of advantages over existing invasive technology. Firstly, it requires no in-road infrastructure, which lowers maintenance costs and extends the equipment life. Secondly, it can be used on roads with excessive camber or even unsealed roads. Thirdly, it is an all above-ground solution, making it suitable for pole, gantry or bridge mounting and hence less prone to vandalism.