01594117

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2545-13

This paper presents a comprehensive all-weather evaluation of a dual microwave radar vehicle detection system at a highway–rail grade crossing equipped with four quadrant (quad) gates. Weather conditions ranged from favorable (normal) to adverse and included rain (light and heavy), snow (light and heavy), fog, and wind. Initial assessment of the detection performance in adverse weather showed higher than acceptable error rates mostly in heavy rain (false calls > 30%) and heavy snow (systemwide missed calls > 11%). However, after detailed feedback was provided to the vendor and the system parameters were remodified, a subsequent reevaluation was made by using more than 110,000 radar activations and close to 450 h of data. Final results showed that the remodified setup not only reduced the frequency of errors in heavy rain and heavy snow conditions but also maintained a desirable performance in the other weather conditions (including light rain and light snow). After remodification, there were no systemwide missed calls, stuck-on calls, or dropped calls, with less than 1% detection errors in good weather and up to 2.6% during specific periods of adverse weather. This paper describes the process followed to achieve this performance in the field. To ensure reliability, before the system is set as the primary gate control mechanism, thorough evaluation and monitoring of similar systems at other locations is recommended, particularly at wider crossings and longer crossings.

01595166

16-5234

English

pp 123-130

2016

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309369671

Print

Figures (2) ; Photos; References (8) ; Tables (4)

Before and after studies; Errors; Evaluation and assessment; Grade crossing protection systems; Radar vehicle detectors; Railroad grade crossings; Weather conditions

Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment

PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 12 2016 6:16PM

• Application of Light Detection and Ranging Technology to Assess Safe Passage of Low-Ground-Clearance Vehicles at Highway–Rail Grade Crossings
• Decision Tree Approach to Accident Prediction for Highway–Rail Grade Crossings: Empirical Analysis
• Design and Performance of Well-Performing Railway Transitions
• Dynamic Vehicle–Track Model to Study the Effects of Track Geometry and Vehicle–Track Interaction on Concrete Tie Rail Seat Load Environment
• Effects of Rail Hardness on Rail Wear and Head Check Initiation
• Evaluating the Correlation Between the Geotechnical Index and the Electromagnetic Properties of Fouled Ballasted Track by a Full-Scale Laboratory Model
• Finite Element Analysis of the Effects of Bolt Condition on Bolted Rail Joint Stresses
• How to Put Light Rail on a Floating Bridge: Experimental Evaluation of a Novel Approach
• Influence of Track Variables and Product Design on Insulated Rail Joints
• Morphological Characterization of Railroad Ballast Degradation Trends in the Field and Laboratory
• Rehabilitation of Railway–Highway At-Grade Crossings: Recommendations and Guides
• Risk-Based Optimization of Rail Defect Inspection Frequency for Petroleum Crude Oil Transportation
• Use of Power Spectral Density for Effective Turnout Geometry Maintenance