The tests, prepared for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), required formal data collection during a variety of environmental and traffic conditions including Cold-Hot; Dry-Wet-Snow; Day-Night.

* 5-lane road in Virginia with loops and side-fired RTMS vehicle detection sensor
* A mixed traffic stream (cars, trucks, and buses)
* Loop detectors at same site, counting the same lanes
* A human counter providing an accurate count

1. The RTMS can successfully replace detection loops. The unit preformed in accordance with manufacturer claims. No critical problems were observed.

2. The RTMS can produce Volume, Occupancy, and Speed data that is plus or minus 5-percent in accuracy.

3. The RTMS tracked counts in all types of weather, and over a temperature range of the 20’s to the 80’s degrees F (during the first test period). Later RTMS data was successfully collected as the temperature reached 95 plus degrees.

4. The RTMS seemed to be immune to the vast number of electromagnetic (radar) fields existing around the Pentagon and National Airport.

5. The RTMS can be installed and calibrated by relatively unskilled personnel, but response benefited significantly when "fined-tuned" by a factory representative.

6. The RTMS in side-fire mounting should be used by VDOT for highway traffic flow monitoring and traffic counting. For the STC/TMS modification, the RTMS should be used at new count stations, and to replace main line loops as they fail. The Traffic Flow/Incident Detection module of the STC central software should be modified to poll the RTMS directly, rather than go through a 170E.