September 1, 2009: In August Skycomp flew 5 synchronized aircraft at off-set altitudes over Jersey City, NJ to capture time-lapse photographs that will be used to produce true origin-destination assignment tables. This was being done to calibrate a micro-simulation model that will support development of a 50-year plan to reclaim the Hackensack River waterfront from industrial uses. The survey zone was 5 miles long; surveyed facilities included NJ Turnpike Int. 14A, NJ Rte 440, NJ Rte 7, and the circle at Tonnelle Ave.
The covered periods were 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Four 50-minute periods of continuous, synchronized photography were conducted during these times. Each photographer was assigned a 1.5-mile field-of-view within the five-mile survey area. High-resolution images were acquired at two-second intervals. During post-production, those digital images will be rotated and aligned to facilitate vehicle tracing; then Sky- comp personnel will use the proprietary “SkyTracker 2” software to trace and tag sample vehicles from each assigned origin to its destination.
Feasibility of the aerial approach initially depended on solving the problem of obstructed views caused by the elevated Pulaski Skyway viaduct along Rte 7. This was done by assigning two aircraft to the same oval-shaped flight route, and keeping them on opposite sides of the oval during data-capture operations.
Skycomp’s methods permit the affordable gathering of true origin-destination data of complex movements that would be impossible or prohibitively expensive using ground- based methods. Use of true OD tables (vs. estimated or “synthesized” tables) during calibration greatly increases the confidence of decision makers and the public in the ability of micro-simulation models to properly project future “what if” conditions.
For more information contact Skycomp at 410-884-6900.