There are a number of traffic sensor solutions that can be installed and operated to improve the stream of data that fuels traffic management and traveler information systems. From a planning perspective, it would be very interesting to quantify unit costs for different sensor solutions then chart these to some measure of the "richness" of the data provided. A cost/performance curve could be developed that would help in decision making. The analysis would be most useful if it also addressed the value of the information that can be derived from the data. Another approach to this would be to start at the end of the business process by identifying the data that is required to drive the desired information applications, then define the sensor requirements that support the collection of such data.
It is likely that data collection infrastructure will be developed in an incremental fashion beginning with a basic data collection infrastructure that is enhanced by further investments over time. Enhancements would include expanded geographical coverage, increased data resolution, additional data elements and fusing data from multiple sources.
