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Vehicle and Bicycle Traffic Counts Accessed Remotely

Working with MTDC, SDTDC set up a system that uses the USDA Forest Service radio network to transmit visitor count data from the field to the office. Employees can access visitor counts and know when visitors are entering and leaving particular sites. The information is transmitted to the office automatically at predetermined times. Recreation managers also can request that data be transmitted at any time.

A prototype system has been set up at the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in Kentucky and Tennessee. Vehicle traffic counters and telemetry equipment allow traffic count data to be downloaded automatically to a USDA Forest Service desktop computer. Mountain bike counters help monitor trail use. Counts include the date and time a visitor passes the site.

This project is sponsored by the Inventory and Monitoring Steering Committee. Additional information on the project can be found on the USDA Forest Service's internal computer network at: http://fsweb.sdtdc.wo.fs.fed.us/programs/im/fy04/remotelyaccessed.shtml.

For more information about the remotely accessed visitor counting system, contact George Broyles, project leader (phone: 909–599–1267, ext. 277; e-mail: gbroyles@fs.fed.us).

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