Pedestrian surveys, sometimes called pedestrian movement surveys, are undertaken for various reasons. The data collection methods used may include pedestrian sensors and video surveying techniques as well as interview surveys.
Pedestrian surveys can be carried out to support the need for a new crossing facility or to find out how many people are using a specific route. Intersection pedestrian surveys count the number of people crossing each arm of the junction in each direction. Pedestrian volume data can also be broken down into categories such as child, adult, disabled and mobility aid users.
Pedestrian surveys can also be used in retail areas, commercial premises and public buildings. Data collected may include entrance usage figures, how people move around the area, how long they spend in any particular place and how they react to a promotion. Different survey methods may be used, depending on the environment where the survey is undertaken.