Contemporary Procedures for Traffic Data Collection With a Special Emphasis on the use of Drones

Abstract

Traffic planning represents a key component of urban and regional development, requiring a comprehensive analysis of socio-demographic, spatial, and economic factors. The research is focused on the application of contemporary methods of traffic data collection, with particular emphasis on the use of drones in detecting the effects of specific traffic-calming measures. Specifically, two locations in Podgorica were analyzed, each featuring different types of speed-reduction devices: rubber elements and an asphalt platform. Aerial footage was captured using a “DJI Mini 3” drone, and the data were processed with the DataFromSky software. Statistical analysis was conducted using a t-test, which revealed statistically significant differences in vehicle speeds at the analyzed locations, with slightly lower speeds recorded at the site featuring rubber elements. The advantages of drones over fixed cameras lie in their flexibility, unobtrusiveness, and ability to capture real driving behavior, although there are temporal limitations on recording and challenges related to adverse weather conditions (rain and wind). The results indicate a high applicability of drones in the quantitative analysis of traffic flows, as well as the importance of appropriate method selection depending on the analytical objectives. The obtained data contribute to more accurate calibration of traffic models in software such as VISUM, AIMSUN, and PTV Vistro, thereby enhancing the quality of strategic planning decisions in urban traffic management.