COLOR AND SHAPE RECOGNITION OF REFLECTORIZED TARGETS UNDER AUTOMOBILE LOW-BEAM ILLUMINATION AT NIGHT

Two independent studies were conducted to determine the distances at which the color and the outside shape of reflectorized targets were recognized at night under automobile low-beam illumination. The targets were flat plates presented in one of three outside shapes and covered with retroreflective sheeting using one of six colors. All flat plates were prepared in such a way that they had the same area and close to the same specific intensity per unit area. In Study 1, the color recognition distances and the shape recognition distances were determined. In Study 2, the only color recognition distances investigated were for square targets that had the same area and specific intensity per unit area as used in Study 1. Summary measures for recognition distances and confusion matrices were obtained to examine the effects of color and shape. The results of Study 1 indicate that the recognition distances for highly saturated colors are about twice the recognition distances for outside shapes. The statistical analysis results of both studies show that the recognition distances for highly saturated colors are significantly different and that some colors have longer recognition distances than others. In addition, on the basis of a statistical analysis, the results of Study 1 indicate that the recognition distances for the shapes are not significantly different. It may be concluded that the highly saturated colors are superior stimuli when earliest possible recognition of a reflectorized target under automobile low-beam illumination at night is important.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1991/1327/1327-001.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=COLOR+AND+SHAPE+RECOGNITION+OF+REFLECTORIZED+TARGETS+UNDER+AUTOMOBILE+LOW-BEAM+ILLUMINATION+AT+NIGHT&author=H.+Zwahlen&author=J.+Wu&publication_year=1991
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309051673
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1327, Visibility, Rail-Highway Grade Crossings, and Highway Improvement Evaluation 1991. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Zwahlen, Helmut T
  • Wu, Jing
• Publication Date: 1991

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 1-7
• Monograph Title: Visibility, rail-highway grade crossings, and highway improvement evaluation, 1991
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1327
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Color; Distance; Low beamed headlamps; Night; Perception; Shape; Statistical analysis
• Old TRIS Terms: Low beamed headlights; Recognition; Reflectorized targets
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00622225
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309051673
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: May 31 1992 12:00AM