Automatic freeway incident detection: review of practices and guidance

With increasing congestion on many Australian freeway networks, there is an increasing interest in the use of freeway management systems to maximise utilisation. Automatic freeway incident detection (AFID) algorithms and systems are an effective tool to deal with non-recurrent congestion by providing early feedback to road managers as well as road users. This paper reviews current practices amongst road agencies in Australia. Incident data from Melbourne freeways was successfully used to confirm the choice of incident detection parameters and performance indicators suitable for an AFID system. This paper provides guidelines on the choice of incident parameters, incident performance indicators and their target values, and the selection of AFID algorithms. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E220164.