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VIDEO BASED GAP ANALYTICS

Imperial Traffic & Data Collection performs video-based gap studies at unsignalized intersections, driveways, median openings, and other access points.

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Using video collected specifically for the study, or suitable existing footage, ITDC identifies and summarizes gaps in the conflicting traffic stream. The resulting data helps project teams evaluate whether drivers have sufficient opportunities to enter, cross, or turn onto a roadway.

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What is a gap study?

A gap study evaluates the available time between vehicles in a conflicting traffic stream and, when included in the scope, whether those gaps are accepted or rejected by drivers waiting to complete a movement. Gap studies can support evaluations of intersection operations, access conditions, driver behavior, traffic control, and development-related impacts.

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Study locations

  • Unsignalized intersections

  • Stop-controlled approaches

  • Driveways and site-access points

  • Median openings

  • Two-way stop-controlled intersections

  • Minor-road approaches to major roadways

  • Left-turn and crossing movements

  • Roundabout entries, if supported by your methodology

  • Locations being evaluated for modified traffic control

 

Data that can be provided

  • Available gaps in the conflicting traffic stream

  • Gap duration

  • Gap frequency and distribution

  • Gap summaries by user-defined time bins

  • Directional traffic volumes

  • Traffic volumes by analysis period

  • Minor-street or driveway demand

  • Time-stamped events for video verification

  • Custom reporting intervals

  • Peak-period comparisons

 

ITDC’s video-based approach

ITDC’s proprietary GAPS analysis tool converts suitable roadway video into detailed, engineering-ready gap and traffic-volume data. The system processes video efficiently while retaining time-stamped information and original footage for verification and quality-control review. The tool can analyze video collected specifically for a gap study and may also use existing Turning Movement Count footage when the camera angle, roadway visibility, and video quality are suitable.

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How the study works

  1. Define the study - ITDC confirms the location, conflicting traffic streams, movements of interest, study periods, lane configuration, and required outputs.

  2. Review or collect video - ITDC evaluates existing footage or deploys dedicated video equipment to obtain a clear view of the analysis area.

  3. Establish the analysis area - The applicable lanes, travel directions, and regions of interest are defined for processing.

  4. Process and verify the data - The footage is processed using ITDC’s GAPS workflow. Results are reviewed, and time-stamped observations can be checked against the original video.

  5. Customize and deliver - Gap bins, reporting intervals, summaries, and deliverable formats are tailored to the project.

 

Why use ITDC’s GAPS analysis?

  • Faster processing than traditional manual reduction

  • Objective and repeatable analysis

  • Custom gap-duration bins

  • Gap and traffic-volume data from the same footage

  • Time-stamped results that can be verified against video

  • Retention of detailed underlying data

  • Ability to evaluate suitable existing footage

  • Reduced need for additional field collection

  • Custom outputs for project-specific engineering analysis

  • Potential application to multilane facilities

 

Already have intersection video?

ITDC can review previously collected footage to determine whether it is suitable for gap analysis. Existing TMC or project video may eliminate the need for additional field collection, provided the footage clearly captures the applicable traffic stream, lanes, and analysis area.

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Quality assurance

Gap results are reviewed for completeness and reasonableness, with time-stamped data retained for comparison against the original video. ITDC can perform targeted video checks and adjust classifications, gap bins, or analysis settings when required by the project.

 

Deliverables

  • Excel gap-data files

  • PDF summary reports

  • Gap-frequency distributions

  • Custom gap-duration bins

  • Directional traffic-volume summaries

  • Time-period summaries

  • Time-stamped data for verification

 

Common applications

  • Access-management studies

  • Traffic-impact studies

  • Driveway and site-access evaluations

  • Unsignalized intersection analysis

  • Median-opening studies

  • Left-turn and crossing evaluations

  • Intersection-control evaluations

  • Safety studies

  • Development and redevelopment projects

  • Before-and-after studies

  • Reviews of existing or proposed access configurations

  • Evaluation of opportunities for vehicles to enter a major roadway

 

Need to understand the available gaps at an intersection or driveway?

Send us the study location, movements of interest, analysis period, and any existing video. ITDC will review the location and recommend an appropriate data collection and processing approach.

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