APDS FINAL DRAFT

Rapid urbanization in Metro Manila has created hazardous road conditions, with pedestrians accounting for 33.54% of road-related fatalities according to recent traffic data. Traditional fixed-timing and manual push-button crossing systems fail to adapt to real-time pedestrian volume, exposing vulnerable populations to severe safety risks. To address this underlying gap, this study developed the Automatic Pedestrian Detection Stoplight System (APDS), an adaptive, low-cost traffic regulatory prototype. Utilizing an Arduino Uno R3 microcontroller, dual Passive Infrared (PIR) motion sensors, and custom C++ control logic, the system automates traffic signal transitions while providing multi-sensory feedback through an integrated LCD countdown timer and a synchronized piezo buzzer. Adopting a Research and Development (R&D) design, the prototype’s hardware was evaluated through 50 consecutive simulation trials benchmarked against the IEC 63180:2020 international standard, while its usability was assessed via a 7-point Likert scale questionnaire administered to a convenience sample of 36 students from Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Taguig. Empirical testing revealed that a programmed two-pulse logging mechanism achieved a 100% detection accuracy rate and a 0% error rate, with an average system response latency of 1.6518 seconds. Furthermore, the user satisfaction assessment yielded high acceptance scores across all evaluation dimensions, ranging from a 91.82% agreement rate for accessibility to 95.96% for system usability, backed by an excellent Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficient of 1.00. Ultimately, the study concludes that the APDS serves as a highly reliable, responsive, and user-accepted framework capable of advancing inclusive, pedestrian-centered smart city infrastructures in local communities.