Impact of Snow on Video Detection Systems at Signalized Intersections

Video detection (VD) systems are increasingly being deployed instead of inductive loops for vehicular detection at signalized intersections. VD systems are easily adaptable to changing conditions without disruption to the traffic; however, VD systems’ performance under inclement weather conditions may deteriorate. Four measures of performance were used to quantify the performance of VD systems from three manufacturers under snow conditions. It was found that under snow conditions more vehicles were not detected and more false activations were generated. Both of these have negative ramifications for the operation of a signalized intersection. This paper quantifies the proportion of detection errors under snow conditions (during daytime) with 9 h of data from 4 days. Under snow conditions it was found that at the stop bar locations, on the average 38% to 74% of the calls placed by the VD systems were false, and between 0% and 6.7% of the vehicles were missed, which translated to a total of 10 missed vehicles. All the systems failed to drop calls (ranging from 1% to 50%) at the stop bar after the vehicles departed. At the advance locations average false calls ranged from 8% to 75%, and the number of vehicles missed varied from 3% to 31%. As is evident from the high rate of false calls, regardless of which of the three VD systems is used, there can be a significant inefficiency in the operation of signalized intersections. This paper will discuss in detail the performance of each system when they are seen in the same image (side-by-side).

• Record URL:
  http://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/160000.aspx
• 
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00978515
• Authors:
  • Medina, Juan C
  • Chitturi, Madhav V
  • Benekohal, Rahim F
• Conference:
  • Fourth National Conference on Surface Transportation Weather; Seventh International Symposium on Snow Removal and Ice Control Technology
  • Location: Indianapolis Indiana, United States
  • Date: 2008-6-16 to 2008-6-19
• Publication Date: 2008-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 469-479
• Monograph Title: Surface Transportation Weather and Snow Removal and Ice Control Technology: Fourth National Conference on Surface Transportation Weather and Seventh International Symposium on Snow Removal and Ice Control Technology, June 16-19, 2008, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Circular
  • Issue Number: E-C126
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0097-8515

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Detection and identification; Errors; Performance; Signalized intersections; Snow; Video cameras; Weather conditions
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01103936
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Weather08-013
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jun 30 2008 3:05PM