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Cover of Background to the Extended Austroads Vehicle Classification Scheme for Traffic and Transport Surveys
Background to the Extended Austroads Vehicle Classification Scheme for Traffic and Transport Surveys
  • Publication no: AP-R695-23
  • ISBN: 978-1-922994-04-2
  • Published: 11 September 2023

Safe, efficient and sustainable road transport relies on the accurate classification and identification of vehicles operating on our road networks. Accurate vehicle surveys support the planning and management of road assets and the regulation of road transport operations.

The Austroads Vehicle Classification Scheme, released in 1994 and updated in 2006, is highly influential. The scheme however is dated and no longer representative of the fleets operating on Australian and New Zealand road networks. As a result, stakeholders have reported that it is difficult to differentiate between some vehicle types in surveys.

This report details the research undertaken to extend the Austroads vehicle classification scheme to improve understanding and monitoring of the evolving vehicle mix on roads in Australia and New Zealand.

The report proposes an extended scheme that provides greater granularity in the existing 12 classes. It also provides a new class for active transport to address the need to count people walking and using mobility devices, wheelchairs and scooters.

A new class has also been introduced for unmatched vehicles that cannot be matched to any other existing classes.

Watch the three webinars below to explore new elements of the vehicle classification scheme with Drew Gaynor and David Johnston.

  • Summary
  • Glossary of terms
  • 1. Introduction
    • 1.1 Purpose
    • 1.2 Context
      • 1.2.1 Challenges with the 1994 vehicle classification scheme
    • 1.3 Scope
    • 1.4 Methodology
      • 1.4.1 Stakeholder consultation and scan of other schemes
      • 1.4.2 SWOT analysis
      • 1.4.3 Options development
      • 1.4.4 Development of an EVCS
      • 1.4.5 Validation of EVCS
      • 1.4.6 The final EVCS
    • 1.5 Report structure
  • 2. Stakeholder consultation and scan of Australian and international schemes
    • 2.1 Stakeholder consultation
      • 2.1.1 Key themes from the consultation
    • 2.2 Scan of Australian and international classification schemes
      • 2.2.1 Australian schemes
      • 2.2.2 International schemes
  • 3. Analysis of existing scheme
    • 3.1 Elements of the 1994 vehicle classification scheme which should be retained
      • 3.1.1 Post-processing
      • 3.1.2 Retain axle counting
    • 3.2 Required granularity of classification
      • 3.2.1 More granularity in classes
      • 3.2.2 Added granularity mapped to existing classes
      • 3.2.3 Review length boundaries between Level 3 classes
    • 3.3 Transport modes to be included
      • 3.3.1 Active transport consideration
      • 3.3.2 Extra granularity for heavy vehicles
      • 3.3.3 Unmatched vehicles
    • 3.4 Emerging classification opportunities
      • 3.4.1 Alternative measurement paths
      • 3.4.2 Per vehicle data standard and privacy safeguards
    • 3.5 Learnings from other vehicle classification schemes
      • 3.5.1 Alignment with and mapping to non-axle-based schemes
      • 3.5.2 Proposed additional work - develop a framework for alignment of classification schemes
    • 3.6 Transition Issues which could affect implementation
      • 3.6.1 Clarity of transition path
    • 3.7 Summary of recommended principles
  • 4. Extended scheme options development
    • 4.1 Provision of a class for unmatched vehicles
    • 4.2 Use of alternative measures and sensors
    • 4.3 Include classification of active transport
    • 4.4 The need for increased granularity
    • 4.5 Increasing granularity of 1994 vehicle classification Class 1
    • 4.6 Increasing granularity of 1994 vehicle classification Class 2
    • 4.7 Increasing granularity of 1994 vehicle classification Classes 3 to 5
    • 4.8 Increasing granularity of 1994 vehicle classification Classes 6 to 9
    • 4.9 Heavy vehicle classification issues
    • 4.10 Increasing granularity of 1994 vehicle classification Classes 10 to 12
    • 4.11 Transition to the new scheme
    • 4.12 Summary of themes, principles and design options
  • 5. Development of extended vehicle classification scheme
    • 5.1 Key elements of extended vehicle classification scheme
    • 5.2 Development of an implementation approach
      • 5.2.1 Impacts of transition options
      • 5.2.2 Validation checklist
    • 5.3 Summary of validation actions required
  • 6. Validation of extended vehicle classification scheme
    • 6.1 Axle separation validation
      • 6.1.1 Task 1: Change the length boundary between Classes 1 and 3 to 3.25 metres
      • 6.1.2 Task 2: Axle group definition change from 2.1 - > 2.5 m (Level 3 classes 9-12)
      • 6.1.3 Task 3: Criteria to distinguish Level 4 bicycle and motorcycle types (classes 101,102)
      • 6.1.4 Task 4: Criteria to distinguish Level 4 small vehicle types (classes 103-106)
      • 6.1.5 Task 5: Criteria to distinguish Level 4 trucks vs buses (Level 3 Classes 3 and 4)
      • 6.1.6 Task 6: Criteria to distinguish Level 4 trucks, buses & concrete trucks (Classes 501-503, 506)
      • 6.1.7 Task 7: Criteria to distinguish Level 4 trucks & articulated buses (classes 601-603)
      • 6.1.8 Task 8: Criteria to distinguish two types of articulated vehicle (classes 1002, 1003)
    • 6.2 Task 9: Criteria to distinguish types of non-road travellers (Level 3 class 20)
      • 6.2.1 Pedestrians (Class 2001) and skater/skateboard/segway (Class 2002)
      • 6.2.2 Scooter (Class 2003)
      • 6.2.3 Wheelchair/Mobility Scooter (Class 2004)
      • 6.2.4 Animals (Class 2005)
      • 6.2.5 VRU Cluster (Class 2009)
    • 6.3 Task 10: Classification using ANPR and indexing registration data
  • 7. Final Extended Vehicle Classification Scheme
    • 7.1 Graphic representation of extended vehicle classification scheme
    • 7.2 Implementation plan
      • 7.2.1 Step 3: Implement minimum viable product
      • 7.2.2 Step 5: Implement the 2023 classification scheme
    • 7.3 Technology recommendations
      • 7.3.1 Co-location of technologies
    • 7.4 Ongoing scheme evolution
  • References
  • Appendix A The extended vehicle classification scheme
  • Appendix B Stakeholder consultation
    • B.1 Stakeholder consultation list
    • B.2 Summary of consultations
      • B.2.1 Strengths of the 1994 scheme
      • B.2.2 Weaknesses of the 1994 scheme
      • B.2.3 Opportunities
      • B.2.4 Threats
  • Appendix C Australian and international classification schemes
    • C.1 Classification examples (Australia)
    • C.2 Classification examples (international)
  • Appendix D Austroads guides referencing vehicle classification scheme
  • Appendix E Validation task 10: Non-road travellers’ analysis
    • E.1 Mobility scooter examples
      • E.1.1 Mobility scooter A
      • E.1.2 Mobility scooter B
      • E.1.3 Mobility scooter C
      • E.1.4 Mobility scooter D
    • E.2 Scooter examples
      • E.2.1 Scooter example A
      • E.2.2 Scooter example B
      • E.2.3 Scooter example C
      • E.2.4 Scooter example D
    • E.3 Animal examples
      • E.3.1 Animal example A
      • E.3.2 Animal example B
      • E.3.3 Animal example C
      • E.3.4 Animal example D
      • E.3.5 Animal example E
      • E.3.6 Animal example F
    • E.4 Pedestrian analysis
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