Bayesian Nonparametric Approach to Average Annual Daily Traffic Estimation for Bridges

Abstract

Every year, the U.S. government provides several billions of dollars in the form of federal funding for transportation services in the U.S.A. Decision making with regard to the use of these funds largely depends on performance indicators like average annual daily traffic (AADT). In this paper, Bayesian nonparametric models are developed through machine learning for the estimation of AADT on bridges. The effect of hyperparameter choice on the accuracy of estimations produced by Bayesian nonparametric models is also assessed. The predictions produced using the Bayesian nonparametric approach are then compared with predictions from a popular Frequentist approach for the selected bridges. Evaluation metrics like the mean absolute percentage error are subsequently employed in model evaluation. Based on the results, the best methods for AADT forecasting for the selected bridges are recommended.