Arduino Code for: Low Cost-tech and no Tech Solutions for Assessing Likelihood of Impact for Tree Risk Assessment

Most tree risk assessment methods task the assessor with the evaluation of a trees’ likelihood of impact (i.e., the likelihood a target will be present if a tree fails) when determining the probability that an adverse event will occur. While this is generally accomplished in a qualitative manner based on visual cues, site occupancy, a key component of likelihood of impact, can often be directly measured with traffic counters. The use of traffic counters could potentially reduce risk assessment bias and increase reproducibility, though commercially-available devices may be cost-prohibitive. This work addresses one potential barrier to traffic counter adoption through the creation of a low-cost vehicle and pedestrian counting system. In this study, we compare the accuracy and consistency of a low-cost, homemade traffic counting system to estimates derived from a commercially available system, as well as, actual vehicle and pedestrian counts tallied by a hand clicker.

多数树木风险评估方法要求评估人员在确定不良事件发生概率时，对树木的影响可能性进行评估（即树木失效时受影响目标在场的可能性）。尽管此类评估通常基于视觉线索以定性方式完成，但作为影响可能性核心组成部分的场地占用情况，往往可通过交通计数器（traffic counters）直接量化。使用交通计数器或可降低风险评估偏倚、提升评估可重复性，但商用设备往往成本高昂，难以负担。本研究通过搭建一套低成本车辆与行人计数系统，旨在解决交通计数器推广应用中的一项潜在障碍。本研究将一套自制低成本交通计数系统的准确性与一致性，与商用系统的测算结果及手持点击计数器（hand clicker）统计的真实车辆、行人计数结果进行对比。