The pedestrian counters will monitor pedestrian flow and blockages, and the data will be used to improve safety and connectivity to transport services.
The joint Smart Transport Planning project received funding under the Australian Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs Program.
Real-time and historical transport, parking and pedestrian data will be consolidated in an open-source platform to inform planners and local businesses across Macquarie Park.
Pedestrians out and about in Macquarie Park may notice some of the 73 newly installed boxes on electrical and light posts around the district. The sensors will count numbers of pedestrians and cyclists, as well as detecting temperature and humidity to monitor the effect of environmental conditions.
“The sensors developed by Macquarie University will collect crucial real-time data that will help improve management of traffic and pedestrian activity in Macquarie Park,” said Smart Cities project lead Professor Michael Sheng.
“Making the district safer and more accessible for pedestrians and improving traffic congestion has clear social, environmental and economic benefits.”
City of Ryde Mayor, Councillor Jerome Laxale, said: “The data received from the sensors will help plan future pedestrian and vehicle movements throughout Macquarie Park to ease congestion and provide better transport options.
“It will help inform future planning decisions and allow planning authorities to appropriately respond to the rising number of residents, workers and students who make their way around Macquarie Park every day.”
