Incident detection

Abstract

All transport networks are subject to unexpected disruption. The identification that disruption has taken place is usually given the broad title of ‘incident detection’. Taking the first question, we can consider an ‘incident’ to be an unplanned event that results in a set of consequences. These impacts might be a reduction in safety or increase in the level of hazard to road users, including maintenance and vehicle recovery workers who are present in the road; a loss of highway capacity that leads to vehicles being delayed and traffic congestion or, of increasing concern and importance, an unacceptable increase in air pollution. The latter is also a consequence for nearby residents and workers and so affects people who are not travelling. An individual incident may create all of these consequences.