Hourly Vehicle Traffic Data Associated with Industrial Activity on the North Slope of Alaska During Summers 2019

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Severson, John P. (ORCID: 000-0002-1754-6689)
Originator: Vosburgh, Timothy C.
Originator: Johnson, Heather E. (ORCID: 0000-0001-5392-7676)
Publication_Date: 20230925
Title:

Hourly Vehicle Traffic Data Associated with Industrial Activity on the North Slope of Alaska During Summers 2019–2020

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Anchorage, Alaska
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center

Other_Citation_Details:

Suggested Citation: Severson, J.P., Vosburgh, T.C., Johnson, H.E., 2023, Hourly vehicle traffic data associated with industrial activity on the North Slope of Alaska during summers 2019–2020: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9HXW3N5

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9HXW3N5
Larger_Work_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center
Publication_Date: 2020
Title:

USGS Changing Arctic Ecosystems: Minimizing effects of Arctic energy development on wildlife

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: website
Series_Information:

Series_Name: Alaska Science Portal
Issue_Identification: 441

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Anchorage, Alaska
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center

Other_Citation_Details:

This is a link to the broader USGS Alaska Science Center research project supported by these data. Users will find a description of the research project and links to associated reports, publications, and data products.

Online_Linkage: https://alaska.usgs.gov/portal/project.php?project_id=441

Description:

Abstract:

This dataset contains hourly vehicle traffic counts in the Kuparuk and Milne Point oil fields on the North Slope of Alaska during summers 2019 and 2020. The oil field roads were generally closed to the public during the study period, so traffic was primarily associated with industrial activities. Data were collected using TRAFx vehicle traffic counters (TRAFx Research Ltd, Canmore, Alberta, Canada) that were placed at random locations throughout the Kuparuk and Milne Point road systems representing varying traffic conditions. We deployed 25 counters from 12–13 June to 11 August in 2019, and 24 counters from 8–9 June to 19 August in 2020. The locations of the counters were changed between 2019 and 2020 to increase the spatial coverage of data collection across the road system (Severson et al 2023). The counters were programmed to record the number of vehicles each hour based on changes in the nearby electro-magnetic field. We provide the hourly traffic counts, along with information about the counter settings, locations, deployment and collection dates, and additional comments.

Purpose:

These data were collected to relate human activity levels in the oil fields to wildlife behavior and assess effects of infrastructure.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20190612
Ending_Date: 20200819

Currentness_Reference: observed

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent:

Arctic coastal plain of Alaska between the Colville and Kuparuk Rivers

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -150.7764
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -148.8757
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 70.5139
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 69.9416

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Metadata Identifier
Theme_Keyword: USGS:ASC560

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: Transportation
Theme_Keyword: Environment

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: NASA GCMD Earth Science Keyword Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: Landscape ecology
Theme_Keyword: Transportation
Theme_Keyword: Infrastructure
Theme_Keyword: Oil Production

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS CSA Biocomplexity Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: Environmental Impact
Theme_Keyword: Effects of human activities on ecosystems
Theme_Keyword: Anthropogenic effects
Theme_Keyword: Environmental Effects

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: Terrestrial ecosystems
Theme_Keyword: Tundra ecosystems
Theme_Keyword: Human impacts

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: Human wildlife interactions
Theme_Keyword: Energy development
Theme_Keyword: Human activity

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
Place_Keyword: Alaska
Place_Keyword: Arctic Coastal Plain
Place_Keyword: North Slope
Place_Keyword: Kuparuk
Place_Keyword: Milne Point

Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:

It is requested that the authors and the USGS Alaska Science Center be cited for any subsequent publications that reference this dataset.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical
Address: 4210 University Drive
City: Anchorage
State_or_Province: Alaska
Postal_Code: 99508
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 907-786-7000
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: ascweb@usgs.gov

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Severson, J.P.
Originator: Vosburgh, T.C.
Originator: Johnson, H.E.
Publication_Date: 2023
Title:

Effects of Vehicle Traffic on Space Use and Road Crossings of Caribou in the Arctic

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:

Series_Name: Ecological Applications
Issue_Identification: 33(8):e2923

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: online
Publisher: Wiley

Other_Citation_Details:

Severson, J.P., Vosburgh, T.C., Johnson, H.E., 2023. Effects of vehicle traffic on space use and road crossings of caribou in the Arctic. Ecological Applications 33(8):e2923 doi:10.1002/eap.2923

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2923

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

Time, date, and collection settings were programmed for each counter each summer before deployment by connecting the counter to a computer and setting the values with software from TRAFx. Traffic counts are accurate within the capabilities and specifications of the counters and seem logical (except where noted). Notes were made in the comments section when counts were suspected to be inaccurate (e.g., from a malfunctioning counter in 2019 and vehicles parked near counters in 2020), and these counts should be removed by practitioners using the data.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Inconsistencies are noted in the "notes" column in the "Traffic_Counters_Data.csv" dataset. Counter 25 was faulty in 2019 and did not collect reliable data. Counters 2, 7, 10, and 18 did not collect data for the first 2 weeks of monitoring in 2019 due to a faulty electrical connection. Counters 11 (13-23 Jul 2019) and 18 (22 Jul - 13 Aug 2019) were removed for a period of time during 2020 for road construction. Counter 13 had a spike in counts on day 206 during 11:00 to 14:00, likely due to vehicles parked nearby for an extended period; this spike should be removed for any analyses. We also suggest removing the first and last day of data collection for each counter to limit the effects of deployment and collection on traffic counts.

Completeness_Report:

All data collected by the counters are provided in the dataset, which includes known inconsistencies. Inconsistencies are noted in the "Logical Consistency Report" and in the notes in the "Traffic_Counters_Data.csv" dataset. Users of the data should be aware of the inconsistencies and remove data as needed before analysis.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

Positions determined by hand-held GPS; accuracy estimated to be within 3 m.

Lineage:

Methodology:

Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:

We monitored traffic in the Kuparuk and Milne Point oil fields during summers 2019 and 2020, starting before caribou regularly used the area and ending after they had generally left. We deployed 25 TRAFx vehicle traffic counters (TRAFx Research Ltd, Canmore, Alberta, Canada) on 12–13 June 2019 and 24 counters on 8–9 June 2020 at random locations throughout the road system representing varying traffic conditions. Counters were placed in plastic bags within waterproof plastic boxes staked securely along the edges of the roads. Locations were changed between 2019 and 2020 to increase spatial coverage of data collection across the road system. The counters recorded traffic volume by measuring changes in the nearby electro-magnetic field each time a vehicle moved past a device. Counters were programmed to record the number of vehicles each hour ("Period" setting = 1), record vehicles on both sides of a road ("Mode" setting = D [VEH-4d]), a 1 second delay between counts ("Rate" setting = "fast"; "Delay" setting = 016), and the default sensitivity for detecting vehicles ("Threshold" setting = 006). In 2019, the counters were checked on 28-29 June to ensure proper data collection. Four counters had failed to collect data due to a faulty battery connection, and subsequently, batteries were secured with electrical tape. The counters were recovered from the field on 11 August in 2019 and on 19 August in 2020.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Upon checking and collection, a TRAFx dock was used to download the data from the counters.

Process_Date: Unknown

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Raw TRAFx "shuttle" files of counts from the TRAFx dock were uploaded to the TRAFx online application, and csv files of raw counts were exported for each counter. The csv files were imported into R, compiled, and additional columns were added (i.e., ordinal day, weekday, hour, site #, year).

While all raw data are included here for completeness, for our subsequent analyses, we further processed the data by removing data we suspected as being incorrect, as noted in the "Logical Consistency Report".

Process_Date: Unknown

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Point

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Geographic:

Latitude_Resolution: 0.001
Longitude_Resolution: 0.001
Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84)
Ellipsoid_Name: World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84)
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257223563

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: oilfieldTraffic_vehicleCount_NSlope_severson.csv
Entity_Type_Definition:

Table containing hourly traffic count data, date, time, and site of collection. Presented in a Comma Separated Value (CSV) formatted table.

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ID
Attribute_Definition: Arbitrary row ID
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 1
Range_Domain_Maximum: 75549

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: time
Attribute_Definition: Date and time of 1-hr block of traffic counts
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 2019-06=12 12:00
Range_Domain_Maximum: 2020-08-19 18:00
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: count
Attribute_Definition: Count of traffic within 1-hour block
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
Range_Domain_Maximum: 1761
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: vehicles/hour

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ord_day
Attribute_Definition: Ordinal day of the year
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 160
Range_Domain_Maximum: 232
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: day of year

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: weekday
Attribute_Definition: Numeric day of the week (1=Sunday)
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 1
Range_Domain_Maximum: 7
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: day of week

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: hour
Attribute_Definition: Hour of the day (0=midnight)
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
Range_Domain_Maximum: 23
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: hour of day

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: site
Attribute_Definition:

The site number that the counter was placed. Corresponds to the 'site' column in the table "oilfieldTraffic_counterDetails_NSlope_severson.csv" included with this data package.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 1
Range_Domain_Maximum: 25

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: year
Attribute_Definition: Year of data collection
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 2019
Range_Domain_Maximum: 2020
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: year

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: oilfieldTraffic_counterDetails_NSlope_severson.csv
Entity_Type_Definition:

Table containing data associated with the counters (dates of collection, location, settings, additional information). Presented in a Comma Separated Value (CSV) formatted table.

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ID
Attribute_Definition: Arbitrary row ID
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 1
Range_Domain_Maximum: 49

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Counter_Name
Attribute_Definition:

Unique identifier for each counter (associated with serial number). The name of the specific counter stayed the same between years; the serial number is an additional identifier.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Unique identifier for each counter (associated with serial number)

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Serial_Number
Attribute_Definition:

Serial number of the counter. Unique identifier given to the counter by the manufacturer. The counter name is an additional identifier.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Serial number of the counter

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: site
Attribute_Definition:

Site number where the counter was placed. Site numbers changed between years (e.g., site 1 in 2019 was a different location than site 1 in 2020). Corresponds to the 'site' column in the table "oilfieldTraffic_vehicleCount_NSlope_severson.csv" included with this data package.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 1
Range_Domain_Maximum: 25

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Operator
Attribute_Definition:

Oil field operator/company where the traffic monitoring occured; Hilcorp Alaska, LLC and ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc. (CP)

Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Hilcorp
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Oil field operator = Hilcorp Alaska, LLC
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: CP
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Oil field operator = ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc.
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: year
Attribute_Definition: Year of data collection
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 2019
Range_Domain_Maximum: 2020
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: year

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: longitude
Attribute_Definition: Longitude of the site location
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: -150.281883
Range_Domain_Maximum: -149.333980
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: Decimal degrees (WGS84)

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: latitude
Attribute_Definition: Latitude of the site location
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 70.215483
Range_Domain_Maximum: 70.480880
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: Decimal degrees (WGS84)

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Mode
Attribute_Definition:

Counter setting for vehicle type and road width (see TrafX documentation)

Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: D
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Count vehicles both ways on a 2-lane road
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Period
Attribute_Definition:

Counter setting for time period aggregation (1=1 hour) (see TrafX documentation)

Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 1
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Traffic data aggregated hourly
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Delay
Attribute_Definition:

Counter setting for delay between counts (see TrafX documentation; 16 = 1 sec delay)

Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 16
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Delay between counts = 1 second
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Threshold
Attribute_Definition:

Counter setting for detection threshold (see TrafX documentation; 6 is default/recommended setting)

Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 6
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: default/recommended setting
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Author defined

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Deployed_Date
Attribute_Definition: Date of deployment; start of monitoring
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 2019-06-12
Range_Domain_Maximum: 2020-06-09
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: YYYY-MM-DD

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Check_Date
Attribute_Definition:

Date of status check; completed in 2019 but not 2020. Blank cells indicate no data.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 2019-06-28
Range_Domain_Maximum: 2019-06-29
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: YYYY-MM-DD

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Collected_Date
Attribute_Definition: Date of collection; end of monitoring
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 2019-08-11
Range_Domain_Maximum: 2020-08-19
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: YYYY-MM-DD

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: notes
Attribute_Definition: Additional information
Attribute_Definition_Source: Author defined
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Additional information

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical
Address: 4210 University Drive
City: Anchorage
State_or_Province: Alaska
Postal_Code: 99508
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 907-786-7000
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: ascweb@usgs.gov

Resource_Description:

The U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center is the authoritative source and distributor of these data.

Distribution_Liability:

Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes or on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: CSV
Format_Information_Content:

Data are distributed in a Zip package containing data in CSV format and FGDC metadata in XML and HTML formats.

File_Decompression_Technique:

Compression applied by the 7-Zip utility using the default compression level [5]. The Zip package can be decompressed and unpacked by open source or commercially available unzip tools.

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9HXW3N5

Fees: None

Hourly Vehicle Traffic Data Associated with Industrial Activity on the North Slope of Alaska During Summers 2019–2020

Metadata: