A generalized sensor location model for the estimation of network origin-destination matrices

This study examined the network sensor location problem by using heterogeneous sensor information to estimate link-based network origin-destination (O-D) demands. The proposed generalized sensor location model enables different sensors' traffic monitoring capabilities to be used efficiently and the optimal number and deployment locations of both passive- and active-type sensors to be determined simultaneously without path enumeration. The proposed sensor location model was applied to solve the network O-D demand estimation problem. One unique aspect of the proposed model and solution algorithms is that they provide satisfactory network O-D demand estimates without requiring unreasonable assumptions of known prior information on O-D demands, turning proportions, or route choice probabilities. Therefore, the proposed model and solution algorithms can be practically used in numerous offline transportation planning and online traffic operation applications.