Automatic vehicle counter-cum-classifier system refers to the various components and processes of the toll collection system with which the toll equipment is able to determine the configuration of the vehicle for the purpose of charging the appropriate toll to the user. Also, AVCCs are increasingly being used for permanent data collection and/or traffic monitoring. The system is useful as it gives accuracy to the monitoring process, and leaves no scope for manipulations.

COMPONENTS OF AVCC:

The AVCC system consists of sensor devices installed in a lane to record the physical characteristics of vehicles and a processing unit to aggregate the input from the various sensor devices. This helps in the interpretation of the input, so as to assign class to each vehicle passing through the lane.

HOW IT WORKS

A vehicle’s class can be variously determined on the basis of its physical attributes, such as:
•    Number of axles
•    Number of tyres on each axle
•    Spacing between the axles
•    Length of the vehicle body
•    Weight and dimensions of the vehicle

For example, a vehicle with two axles and single set of tires on the second axle may be classified as a car/jeep/van, while a vehicle with two axles and dual tyres on the second axle may be classified as a truck. Such distinction is easy for humans, but the classification of vehicles become complex when being handled automatically. An automatic vehicle classification needs to determine vehicle height, length, and number of axles, presence of dual tyres, and vehicle weight or a combination of these to distinguish the vehicles and assign the appropriate class.