Winter Road Condition Recognition Using Video Image Classification

1998 ◽  
Vol 1627 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Kuehnle ◽  
Wilco Burghout
Keyword(s):  
Network Architecture ◽  
Video Camera ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
Video Cameras ◽  
The Road ◽  
Weather Information ◽  
Road Condition ◽  
Maintenance Decisions ◽  
Winter Road ◽  
Hidden Neurons

Sweden spends 1.7 billion Crowns on winter road maintenance annually. A large part of this money goes into plowing, salting, and sanding of the roads. The decision about what maintenance to perform is made, in part, based on data received from road weather information stations, some of which are also equipped with video cameras. These video cameras form an additional unexploited sensor for determining the road condition during winter. Images taken from a handheld roadside video camera are investigated here to see if it is possible to determine the road state (dry, wet, snowy, icy, snowy with tracks) from the video images alone. The system is intended to supplement the other weather station measurements, such as temperature and wind speed, and make better maintenance decisions and quality control of maintenance possible. The results indicate that it is possible to distinguish between all road states except for ice/wet and ice/tracks. Typical class separations are a Mahanalobis distance between 0 and 2. Neural networks with three or four input features, three to five hidden neurons, and a sigmoid-sigmoid-linear architecture are used to classify the road state. Rates of correct classification are typically 40 to 50 percent with these networks. There are useful feature combinations, including purely monochrome features, which do not depend on the network architecture.

scholarly journals Map support of winter road maintenance

Geografie ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (3) ◽  
pp. 218-229
Author(s):  
David Konečný
Keyword(s):  
Road Maintenance ◽  
Winter Maintenance ◽  
The Road ◽  
Weather Information ◽  
Maintenance System ◽  
Road Condition ◽  
System Operator ◽  
Winter Road ◽  
Weather Stations ◽  
Maintenance Activities

The aim of this paper is to present road weather information system and map sources which can be used by winter maintenance system operator to clarify his perception of road meteorological situation in order to be able to take well-founded decision while managing maintenance activities. Presently the so-called status map showing current warnings from road weather stations is the principal map in winter maintenance. In its new version displaying the map of any feature measured by outstations as well as layer handling and zooming will be available. Map outputs of the model forecasting the road condition and temperature are described in the last chapter.

scholarly journals A Geostatistical Investigation into the Effective Spatiotemporal Coverage of Road Weather Information Systems in Alberta, Canada

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Xu Wang ◽  
Lian Gu ◽  
Tae J. Kwon ◽  
Tony Z. Qiu
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
The Road ◽  
Weather Information ◽  
Geostatistical Approach ◽  
Adverse Weather ◽  
Winter Road ◽  
Winter Road Maintenance

Inclement weather acutely affects road surface and driving conditions and can negatively impact traffic mobility and safety. Highway authorities have long been using road weather information systems (RWISs) to mitigate the risk of adverse weather on traffic. The data gathered, processed, and disseminated by such systems can improve both the safety of the traveling public as well as the effectiveness of winter road maintenance operations. As the road authorities continue to invest in expanding their existing RWIS networks, there is a growing need to determine the optimal deployment strategies for RWISs. To meet such demand, this study presents an innovative geostatistical approach to quantitatively analyze the spatiotemporal variations of the road weather and surface conditions. With help of constructed semivariograms, this study quantifies and examines both the spatial and temporal coverage of RWIS data. A case study of Alberta, which is one of the leaders in Canada in the use of RWISs, was conducted to indicate the reliability and applicability of the method proposed herein. The findings of this research offer insight for constructing a detailed spatiotemporal RWIS database to manage and deploy different types of RWISs, optimize winter road maintenance resources, and provide timely information on inclement road weather conditions for the traveling public.

scholarly journals Using UAV Based 3D Modelling to Provide Smart Monitoring of Road Pavement Conditions

Information ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 568
Author(s):  
Ronald Roberts ◽  
Laura Inzerillo ◽  
Gaetano Di Mino
Keyword(s):  
3D Model ◽  
3D Models ◽  
3D Modelling ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
The Road ◽  
Road Pavement ◽  
Road Section ◽  
Good State ◽  
Road Condition ◽  
Maintenance Decisions

Road pavements need adequate maintenance to ensure that their conditions are kept in a good state throughout their lifespans. For this to be possible, authorities need efficient and effective databases in place, which have up to date and relevant road condition information. However, obtaining this information can be very difficult and costly and for smart city applications, it is vital. Currently, many authorities make maintenance decisions by assuming road conditions, which leads to poor maintenance plans and strategies. This study explores a pathway to obtain key information on a roadway utilizing drone imagery to replicate the roadway as a 3D model. The study validates this by using structure-from-motion techniques to replicate roads using drone imagery on a real road section. Using 3D models, flexible segmentation strategies are exploited to understand the road conditions and make assessments on the level of degradation of the road. The study presents a practical pipeline to do this, which can be implemented by different authorities, and one, which will provide the authorities with the key information they need. With this information, authorities can make more effective road maintenance decisions without the need for expensive workflows and exploiting smart monitoring of the road structures.

scholarly journals Infrared Thermometry in Winter Road Maintenance

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 846-856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrik Jonsson ◽  
Mats Riehm
Keyword(s):  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
Monitoring Methods ◽  
The Road ◽  
Ground Temperatures ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Road Condition ◽  
Nonintrusive Measurement ◽  
Winter Road ◽  
Winter Road Maintenance

Abstract There is significant interest among road authorities in measuring pavement conditions to perform appropriate winter road maintenance. The most common monitoring methods are based on pavement-mounted sensors. This study’s hypothesis is that the temperature distribution in a pavement can be measured by means of a nonintrusive method to retrieve the topmost pavement temperature values. By utilizing the latest infrared (IR) technology, it is possible to retrieve additional information concerning both road temperatures and road conditions. The authors discovered that surface temperature readings from IR sensors are more reliable than data retrieved from traditional surface-mounted sensors during wet, snowy, or icy road conditions. It was also possible to detect changes in the road condition by examining how the temperatures in wheel tracks and in between the wheel tracks differ from a reference dry road condition. The conclusion was that nonintrusive measurement of the road temperature is able to provide an increase in relation to the knowledge about both the road temperature and the road condition. Another conclusion was that the surface temperature should not be considered as being equal to the ground temperatures retrieved from traditional surface-mounted sensors except under conditions of dry, stable roadways.

scholarly journals Assessment model of levels for winter road maintenance

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomas Ratkevičius ◽  
Alfredas Laurinavičius
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
The Road ◽  
Road Users ◽  
Foreign Countries ◽  
Winter Road ◽  
Winter Time ◽  
National Significance ◽  
Winter Road Maintenance

The limited funding for the road industry leads to economizing in the planning of road network maintenance, to identifying the appropriate priorities of the activities with the greatest benefit for the society. The level of maintenance is the direct assessment of the road operation and maintenance service provided to the road users; it directly affects the road maintenance and for road users costs the better is road maintenance, the road users incur the fewerexpenses and vice versa. Insufficient road maintenance in the winter time causes not only the danger of traffic accidents but also worsens the driving conditions, increases the fuel consumption, vehicle depreciation, transportation becomes more expensive. Many results of studies showed that the current choice of maintenance levels in the winter time taking into account only the road category and traffic volume does not ensure the indicators of the most advanced world countries and road functional purpose. The principle of the minimal expenses for the society should be the main criterion in identifying the optimal levels of winter road maintenance. The experience of Lithuania and foreign countries helped in creating the model of assessment of winter maintenance levels for Lithuanian roads of national significance, which can be applied in the other foreign countries as well. This model could be an effective tool for the selection of the optimal maintenance levels, which would economically substantiate the winter road maintenance strategy, that best corresponds to the needs of the society.

Predicting Weather and Road Conditions: Integrated Decision-Support Tool for Winter Road-Maintenance Operations

2003 ◽  
Vol 1824 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
William P. Mahoney ◽  
William L. Myers
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
User Needs ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
Surface Transportation ◽  
Road Condition ◽  
Winter Road ◽  
Maintenance Decision ◽  
Winter Road Maintenance

Winter road-maintenance practitioners have expressed a strong interest in obtaining weather and road-condition forecasts and treatment recommendations specific to winter road-maintenance routes. These user needs led the FHWA Office of Transportation Operations Road Weather Management Program to support the development of a prototype winter road-maintenance decision-support system (MDSS). The MDSS is a unique data-fusion system designed to provide real-time treatment guidance (e.g., treatment times, types, rates, and locations) specifically regarding winter road-maintenance routes to winter maintenance decision makers. The system integrates weather and road data, weather and road-condition model output, chemical concentration algorithms, and anti-icing and deicing rules of practice. FHWA began the multiyear project in 2001 by engaging several national laboratories that had expertise in weather prediction and winter road engineering. A user-needs assessment for surface transportation weather information, performed by FHWA in 2000, formed the basis for the development effort. FHWA required that the system be developed in an open environment with significant input from the stakeholders (state transportation personnel and private-sector meteorological services). The resulting technologies have been released (in an initial version) on a nonexclusive basis to the surface transportation community. It is anticipated that the prototype MDSS will provide a springboard for the development and rapid deployment of operational systems by the private sector.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Road Service Performance Based on Human Perception of Vibration While Driving Vehicle

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Wenbo Shi ◽  
Ming Li ◽  
Jingxuan Guo ◽  
Kaixuan Zhai
Keyword(s):  
Human Perception ◽  
Service Performance ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
Vibration Level ◽  
Vibration Acceleration ◽  
The Road ◽  
Vibration Data ◽  
Road Condition ◽  
Road Condition Monitoring ◽  
On The Road

Road surface monitoring is a significant issue in providing smooth road infrastructure for vehicles, and the key to road condition monitoring is to detect road potholes that affect driving comfort and transportation safety. This paper presents a simple, efficient, and accurate way to evaluate road service performance based on the acquisition of road vibration data by vibration sensors installed in vehicles. Inspired by the discrete fast Fourier transform, the vibration acceleration is processed, and the RMS value of vibration acceleration at 1/2 octave is calculated, after which the road vibration level is calculated. The vibration level is optimized according to the human body’s sensitivity to different frequencies of vibration, resulting in road service performance indicators that can reflect the human body’s real feelings. According to the road service performance index values on the road grading, combined with GPS data on the electronic map color block labeling, the results obtained for the road condition warning, road maintenance, driver route selection have an important significance.

scholarly journals Developing Statewide Optimal RWIS Density Guidelines Using Space-Time Semivariogram Models

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Simita Biswas ◽  
Tae J. Kwon
Keyword(s):  
Surface Condition ◽  
Space Time ◽  
Optimization Techniques ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
Weather Information ◽  
Regional Topography ◽  
Winter Road ◽  
Near Future

Preventing weather-related crashes is a significant part of maintaining the safety and mobility of the travelling public during winter months. To help mitigate detrimental effects of winter road conditions, transportation authorities rely on real-time and near-future road weather and surface condition information disseminated by road weather information systems (RWIS) to make more timely and accurate winter road maintenance-related decisions. However, the significant costs of these systems motivate governments to develop a framework for determining a region-specific optimal RWIS density. Building on our previous study to facilitate regional network optimization, this study is aimed at considering the nature of spatiotemporally varying RWIS measurements and integrating larger case studies comprising eight different US states. Space-time semivariogram models were developed to quantify the representativeness of RWIS measurements and examine their effects on regional topography and weather severity for improved generalization. The optimal RWIS density for different topographic and weather severity regions was then determined via one of the most successful combinatorial optimization techniques—particle swarm optimization. The findings of this study revealed a strong dependency of optimal RWIS density on varying environmental characteristics of the region under investigation. It is anticipated that the RWIS density guidelines developed in this study will provide decision makers with a tool they need to help design a long-term RWIS implementation plan.

Before-and-After Empirical Bayes Evaluation of Achieving Bare Pavement using Anti-Icing on Urban Roads

2020 ◽  
Vol 2674 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-101
Author(s):  
Maged Gouda ◽  
Karim El-Basyouny
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Bayes ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Road Maintenance ◽  
The Road ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Deicing Chemicals ◽  
Winter Road ◽  
Nonfatal Injury ◽  
Ice Control ◽  
Snow And Ice

Canadian municipalities are increasingly choosing to achieve bare pavement (BP) for snow and ice control during fall/winter seasons. When a snowstorm event is forecasted, one strategy is to apply anti-icing chemicals to the pavement surface to prevent the snow and ice from forming a bond with the road surface. Such an approach facilitates a more efficient plowing operation and reduces the amount of deicing chemicals needed to achieve BP. This study assesses the safety performance of achieving BP using anti-icing compared with the traditional reactive winter road maintenance (WRM) approach on urban roads using the before-and-after Empirical Bayes technique. Results suggest that achieving BP significantly reduces all collision types and severities on midblocks with a reduction value in the range of 13.7% to 19.7%. Attaining BP at intersections was found to be very effective in reducing injury collisions with an estimated reduction of 12.5%. When sites were grouped based on a WRM priority-basis, it was found that anti-icing was effective for reducing the majority of collision types and severities at the different priority levels with reductions ranging from 8.7% to 49.83% on midblocks and between 5.37% and 13% at intersections. All reductions were statistically significant. The monetary benefits of the reductions in property-damage only and nonfatal injury collisions were estimated at 60 million Canadian dollars using a 1.92% interest rate and a 2-year service life. These findings provide unequivocal evidence that achieving BP using anti-icing can lead to significant societal safety benefits that economically translate to huge collision cost savings.

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