[LoweGear]

Originally Posted by DarrenW

I've never seen this before. Who would want that information, and what do they eventually use it for?

Here's a rundown on some of the things a count would be used for:

Originally Posted by Agency For Real Estate Affairs

Traffic count surveys, both vehicular and pedestrian, provide essential data for the planning and siting of new commercial premises or for the potential acquisition of an existing business. Petrol service stations, shopping centres and convenience stores are among those that benefit most from this type of survey. Traffic volumes at, and near, potential development sites, together with relevant demographic data for the area, provide the most reliable indicator of the all-important passing trade.

Traffic counts are tailored to meet the requirements of each client’s need and all collected data is handled with strict confidentiality for the client’s exclusive use.

From http://www.area.co.th/English/bar13.php

Also:

Originally Posted by The Geography of Transport Systems

Transport planning at all levels requires understanding of actual conditions. This involves determination of vehicle or pedestrian numbers, vehicle types, vehicle speeds, vehicle weights, as well as more substantial information such as trip length and trip purpose and trip frequency. The first group of data dealing with the characteristics of vehicle or people movement is obtained by undertaking traffic counts. Those related to measuring trips involving knowledge of origin and destination require more detailed surveys.

There is a wide range of counting methods available. It is useful to distinguish between intrusive and non-intrusive methods. The former include counting systems that involve placing sensors in or on the roadbed; the latter involve a remote observational techniques. In general the intrusive methods are used most widely because of their relative ease of use and because they have been employed for decades. The only widely used non-intrusive method is manual counting, which enjoys wide application because of its ease. Intrusive methods, however, have evolved little over the last decade, but in the US, with federal transport policy emphasis on IT solutions to traffic management, progress is being made in the development of non-intrusive methods.

The major intrusive methods include:

Bending plate: a weight pad attached to a metal plate embedded in the road to measure axel weight and speed. It is an expensive device and requires alteration to the road bed.
Pneumatic road tube: a rubber tube that is placed across the lanes that uses pressure changes to record the number of axle movements in a counter placed on the side of the road. The drawback is that it has limited lane coverage, may become displaced, and can be dislodged by snow ploughs.
Piezo-electric sensor: a device that is placed in a groove cut into the roadbed of the lane(s) being counted. This electronic counter can be used to measure weight and speed. Cutting into the roadbed can affect the integrity of the roadbed and decrease the life of the pavement.
Inductive loop: a wire embedded in the road in a square formation that creates a magnetic field that relays the information to a counting device at the side of the road. This has a generally short life expectancy because it can be damaged by heavy vehicles, and is also prone to installation errors.

The major non-intrusive methods include:

Manual observation: a very traditional method involving placing observers at specific locations to record vehicle or pedestrian movements. At its simplest, observers use tally sheets to record, but numbers, on the other hand there are mechanical and electronic counting boards available that the observer can punch in each time an event is observed. It can record traffic numbers, type and directions of travel. Manual counts give rise to safety concerns, either from the traffic itself or the neighborhoods where the counts are being undertaken.
Passive and active infra-red: a sensor detecting the presence, speed and type of vehicles by measuring infra-red energy radiating from the detection area. Typically the devices are mounted overhead on a bridge or pylon. The major limitation is the performance during inclement weather, and limited lane coverage.
Passive magnetic: magnetic sensors that count vehicle numbers, speed, and type are placed under or on top of the roadbed. In operating conditions the sensors have difficulty differentiating between closely spaced vehicles.
Microwave- Doppler/ Radar: mounted overhead the devices record moving vehicles and speed. With the exception of radar, devices they have difficulty in detecting closely spaced vehicles and do not detect stationary vehicles. They are not affected by weather.
Ultrasonic and passive acoustic: devices that sound waves or sound energy to detect vehicles. Those using ultrasound are placed overhead to record vehicle presence but can be affected by temperature and turbulence; the acoustic devices are placed alongside the road and can detect numbers and vehicle type.
Video image detection: use of overhead video cameras to record vehicle numbers, type and speed. Various software is available to analyze the video images. Weather may limit accuracy.

From http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/e...n/ch9m2en.html

So yes, there are LOTS of important reasons why something like a traffic count should be done.

Originally Posted by Bonta Kun

anyway I know one shouldn't really apply RL here but even if its anime those girls should have been wearing Hi Visability jackets, even if its during the day.

Given that the girls aren't in the way of traffic when doing their counts and that they're doing their job in broad daylight I don't see what giving them hi-viz jackets would do other than making them extremely conspicious. It's not like they're contract part-timers working on a construction job or something.

Besides, I'd rather see the girls in casual dress, they look sexier that way...