Video Surveillance Trailers - Showcase Evaluation #17

This project relates to design, requirements development, usage, documentation, maintenance and storage of videosurveillance trailers that are used by WTI for variousevaluation and research activities.

The Western Transportation Institute (WTI) is based in Bozeman, Montana, but conducts research throughout the United States. The variety of project locations and relative distance from Bozeman can make data collection activities difficult. For this reason, WTI utilized the opportunity provided by Rural California/Oregon Advanced Transportation Systems (COATS) funding in 2001 to purchase three video surveillance trailers to use in COATS Showcase evaluation activities. These trailers were custom-built for long-term surveillance with a minimum of maintenance. The equipment includes the following characteristics:§ autonomous power, through an integrated solar panel and battery system, to allow for up to 30 days of continuous operation;§ trailer-mounted, to allow for ease of mobility and adjustment;§ microwave sensor input, to activate video recording only when vehicles are approaching the camera location;§ a mast-mounted closed-circuit television camera, which can record real-time black-and-white from up to 25 feet above ground; and§ a time-lapse video recorder, which can record at variable speeds up to real-time (30 frames per second).The trailers were first used in winter 2001-02 to collect speed data for the Showcase evaluation of an icy curve warning system at Fredonyer Summit. This application was more or less successful; however, it was clear that there were several issues related to the trailers that need to be addressed in order to improve and facilitate their use. The purpose of this project is to address these identified needs, including trailer maintenance, comprehensive documentation on trailer usage, solar panel expansion, and technology transfer related to the utility of the trailers.