Sensing and privacy
Inductive loop detector
Boucle inductive
Inductive loop detector is a vehicle detector using an electrically energized loop in or beneath the pavement to sense changes caused by nearby metal. Its performance depends on loop geometry, installation, tuning, and maintenance, and pavement works can affect its reliability or require coordination before resurfacing a street.
Understanding the term
Loops measure presence within a detection area rather than the legal boundaries of a parking zone. Match the installation footprint to the intended operational measurement.
Validate the measurement against an independent reference under representative conditions. Record uncertainty, coverage, missing intervals, and the difference between a raw observation and an inferred activity. Technical outputs should be used only for purposes they can support reliably. Assign responsibility for calibration, corrections, access, and retention, and assess privacy across the complete data flow. An operational dashboard can conceal measurement errors if it displays precise values without their method or limitations.