Impact of system parameters on the accuracy of wireless location technology-based traffic monitoring systems

State transportation agencies have participated in several field tests of traffic monitoring systems that used wireless location technology to sample the movements of probe vehicles. Whereas these systems offer the potential for significant improvements in system coverage and operations costs, existing systems have not been able to deliver the accurate estimates of speeds or travel times that agencies need in order to provide traveler information or generate performance measures. This paper describes preliminary results of a simulation-based attempt to quantify system design parameters that could influence the accuracy of these systems. Parameters that impact the accuracy of these systems are identified, and some broad guidelines for the design of future wireless location technology based traffic monitoring systems are presented.