Travel time and origin-destination data collection using Bluetooth MAC address readers

Vehicle origin-destination (O-D) data has traditionally been a resource-intensive and expensive collection process. This paper reports on the passive observations of Bluetooth protocol devices embedded in vehicles and motorists' mobile devices to collect the O-D data. Bluetooth media access control address data has been used widely in the last few years to collect speed and travel time data; however, the use of media access control (MAC) address data for O-D surveys is not well documented. Several MAC O-D trials were performed for the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. The Bluetooth MAC data are shown to compare favourably to both video and automated number plate recognition (ANPR) O-D data, however more research is needed to refine the expansion methodology. Despite expansion limitations, the MAC data collection is a cost effective way to collect O-D data in small and controlled networks. For more extensive networks the daily fluctuations indicated by MAC O-D data can be used to supplement traditional methods where collection over a longer period of time is cost prohibitive. (a) For the covering record of this conference, please refer to ITRD abstract no E220725.