Long-Term Border Traffic Counts

This project sought to modify a selected vehicle counter and test the modified vehicle detector for counting both cars and trucks at an international border crossing. Researchers tested the existing Leddar Tech IS 16 LED scanner after modifying the existing LeddarTech firmware to improve functionality and detection accuracy. They evaluated the modified system first in the TAMU Riverside campus in College Station and then made plans to purchase additional equipment for installation and testing in the Ysleta/Zaragoza Port of Entry in El Paso. Results of testing the modified LeddarTech IS 16 showed that the equipment is a viable detector for counting vehicles at international border crossings. For FY 2016, the research team recommends additional deployment of this detector to include a northbound deployment to monitor and count passenger cars on the Mexico side of the border since previous investigations failed to identify a suitable site on the U.S. side. Researchers also recommend including a way to store and/or transmit data to the TTI offices in El Paso and a means to periodically check system accuracy without having to cross the border. An ongoing additional test should determine how well the detector will hold up over the long term in the harsh outdoor environment in El Paso.