Freeway Network Traffic Detection and Monitoring Incidents

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Date Created
2007
Report Number
2007-40
Description
We propose methods to distinguish between moving cast shadows and moving foreground objects in video sequences Shadow detection is an important part of any surveillance system as it makes object shape recovery possible, as well a improves accuracy of other statistics collection systems. As most such systems assume video frames without shadows, shadows must be dealt with beforehand. We propose a multi-level shadow identification scheme that is generally applicable without restrictions on the number of light sources, illumination conditions, surface orientations, and object sizes. In the first level, we use a background segmentation technique to identify foreground regions that include moving shadows. In the second step, pixel-based decisions are made by comparing the current frame with the background model to distinguish between shadows and actual foreground. In the third step, this result improved using blob-level reasoning that works on geometric constraints of identified shadow and foreground blobs. Results on various sequences under different illumination conditions show the success of the proposed approach. Second, we propose methods for physical placement of cameras in a site so as to make the most of the number of cameras available.

Development of a Tracking-Based Monitoring and Data Collection System

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Date Created
2005
Report Number
2005-40
Description
This report outlines a series of vision-based algorithms for data collection at traffic intersections. We have purposed an algorithm for obtaining sound spatial resolution, minimizing occlusions through an optimization-based camera-placement algorithm. A camera calibration algorithm, along with the camera calibration guided user interface tool, is introduced. Finally, a computationally simple data collection system using a multiple cue-based tracker is also presented. Extensive experimental analysis of the system was performed using three different traffic intersections. This report also presents solutions to the problem of reliable target detection and tracking in unconstrained outdoor environments as they pertain to vision-based data collection at traffic intersections.

Real-Time Collison Warning and Avoidance at Intersections

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Date Created
2004
Report Number
2004-45
Description
Monitoring traffic intersections in real- time as well as predicting possible collisions is an important first step towards building an early collision warning system. We present the general vision methods used in a system addressing this problem and describe the practical adaptations necessary to achieve real-time performance. A novel method for three-dimensional vehicle size estimation is presented. We also describe a method for target localization in real-world coordinates, which allows for sequential incorporation of measurements from multiple cameras into a single target's state vector. Additionally, a fast implementation of a false-positive reduction method for the foreground pixel masks is developed. Finally, a low-overhead collision prediction algorithm using the time-as-axis paradigm is presented.