Dorset Council is planning the installation of a series of sensors to monitor transport and travel patterns across the county.
It has formed a partnership with supplier Vivacity Labs with funding from the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund.
The first stage will involve the provision of 14 sensors in Dorchester, Ferndown, Shaftesbury, Stapehill and Weymouth.
The council is aiming to understand the current cyclist, pedestrian and traffic usage and trends in these areas.
It plans to use baseline data over five years to measure changes in behaviour and modal shift following the implementation of active travel focused schemes, including new cycleways and walking routes, along with planned improvements to bus services.
Solving challenge
Joe Allen, principal technician at Dorset Council, said the sensors will solve the challenge of monitoring pedestrians’ and cyclists’ movements.
Mark Nicholson, CEO of Vivacity Labs, added: “We’re looking forward to seeing the impact of data driven decision making across the region, and providing Dorset Council with the insights it needs to achieve ambitions for a sustainable travel network.”
