International Standards for Traffic Data Collection
In today’s globally connected infrastructure ecosystem, transportation professionals rely heavily on standardized traffic data to ensure uniformity, reliability, and comparability across regions and projects. Whether you’re conducting a simple vehicle count or an advanced Origin-Destination (O-D) study, aligning with international standards in traffic data collection is essential for delivering credible and actionable insights.
In this blog, we’ll explore the major international standards that govern traffic data collection and why they matter for engineers, planners, and traffic data providers alike.
Why Standardization in Traffic Data Matters
Ensures data comparability across cities, states, or countries.
Supports infrastructure funding and policy decisions based on validated, uniform data.
Improves data accuracy and reduces ambiguity in interpretation.
Facilitates integration with transportation models, simulation tools, and government datasets.
Without standards, data inconsistencies can lead to planning errors, misallocated budgets, or failed mobility interventions.
Key International Standards in Traffic Data Collection
1. ISO 14813 & ISO 17572 – Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)
These ISO standards provide reference architectures for ITS, including how traffic data should be structured and shared across platforms.
ISO 14813: Framework for ITS architecture
ISO 17572: Location referencing for data exchange
2. EN 15531 (CEN) – SIRI (Service Interface for Real-time Information)
Primarily used for public transport data sharing, but relevant for integrating traffic flow and incident data with real-time services and dashboards.
3. PIARC Guidelines (World Road Association)
Recommended global best practices for data collection, including classification, count durations, and environmental considerations.
4. FHWA Traffic Monitoring Guide (USA)
Though US-specific, the Federal Highway Administration’s guide is widely adopted globally for its clarity on:
Sensor placement
Count durations (short-term vs continuous)
Classification schemes (FHWA 13-category standard)
5. UK DfT Guidelines
In the UK, the Department for Transport (DfT) has issued comprehensive standards for:
Manual counts
Automatic Traffic Counter (ATC) usage
Cycle and pedestrian count methodologies
These guidelines help ensure uniform datasets across local and national road networks.
Types of Standardized Data Collected
Vehicle classification (often using a 7-class or 13-class system)
Axle and weight data (via WIM systems)
Turning movement counts
Pedestrian and cyclist flows
Journey time and congestion levels
Traffic volume by time interval (e.g., 15-min counts)
Technologies Aligned with Standards
Modern traffic data collection tools are increasingly designed to meet international standards:
ANPR & Video-Based Systems: Equipped with timestamped, georeferenced output formats
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi sensors: Designed with MAC address anonymization in compliance with privacy laws
AI-powered analytics tools: Offer export formats in CSV/XML compatible with ISO or FHWA protocols
Role of Traffic Data Count in Meeting Standards
At Traffic Data Count, we ensure all our services—whether manual or software-based—adhere to globally recognized standards. Our workflows are designed for:
Accuracy under high-volume conditions (up to 2000 vehicles per 15 mins)
Multi-format exports for client integration
Validated classification schemes using FHWA or PIARC guidelines
Compliant privacy controls, particularly for ANPR and video-based studies
Conclusion
International standards are the backbone of reliable and effective traffic data collection. From ensuring global comparability to enabling accurate transport modeling, these protocols elevate the quality of transportation planning and execution.
By aligning with standards from ISO, FHWA, PIARC, and more, providers like Traffic Data Count help cities, consultants, and engineers make smarter, evidence-backed decisions that shape the future of mobility.
