Driving force

Optelecom-NKF’s Mike Girton and Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc’s Karen Finley debate the issues around intelligent traffic systems.

“Automated safety technology such as speed safety cameras and intersection safety cameras for detecting red light running are rapidly being deployed in about half of the states in the US.”
-Karen Finley

The transportation sector is increasingly faced with social changes and greater expectations regarding the protection of the environment and resources. In what ways can intelligent transportation systems  (ITS) help the sector to meet these challenges?

Mike Girton. One of the major benefits of modern society is being able to go where you want, whenever you want. Mobility is freedom in this day and age and that means that ITS technology needs to make travel on the motorways as smooth and efficient as possible.

There are already many different kinds of ITS across the globe from CCTV systems and sensors to variable message signs (VMS). Some nations, such as the Netherlands, have traffic cameras capable of license plate recognition monitoring entire highway infrastructures in order to enforce speed limits. Other countries, like the United States, use cameras and sensors more often to implement everything from speed limits in school zones to fines for drivers who run red lights. While these systems do help to ensure road safety, automatic incident detection (AID) allows for more extensive systems in which a single operator can monitor hundreds of cameras simultaneously and promptly manage traffic flow and incidents, as necessary.

By streamlining traffic and road use through the intelligent technologies in ITS, people can get where they are going more quickly and fewer roads need to be built to cope with the rising number of automobiles. In the end, this works to protect the environment and conserve resources.

Karen Finley. Intelligent transportation systems, such as fixed road safety cameras, can aid in 24/7 enforcement of laws with a small environmental footprint. Officers need not expend energy, transportation time and fuel by physically being stationed on the roadside. This real-time data capture and management can prove to be both financially and environmentally responsible and these types of safety systems enhance our growing urban landscape.

As new opportunities arise due to advances in information and communication technology, how are companies in the ITS sector capitalising on this?

MG. AID systems use intelligent algorithms to continually analyze camera images for unusual occurrences and to alert operators within seconds of the type of incident and its location. From a centralized control center, the notified operator can visually verify and assess the situation and react appropriately. This may entail adjusting lane control signs, variable speed signs or dynamic message signs as well as informing authorities, such as the police, fire department or emergency medical services. In this way, traffic can continue more smoothly and safely, despite obstructions or mishaps.

Moreover, similar technology can be used to collect data, such as counting how many trucks pass through a tunnel every day or how many cars use a certain highway each morning. With information like this, it becomes possible to reroute traffic or adjust infrastructures to improve road safety while simultaneously making highways more efficient, thus reducing the need for more roads.

KF. From video vehicle detection to in-ground sensor technologies to intelligent vehicles, information and communications technologies are rapidly emerging on our roadways. The innovation is spawned by the increasingly economic and rapid transfer of data. As long as data communications technology accelerates, so will the advent of new and intelligent systems that communicate on the road, whether it is vehicle-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-infrastructure.

Safety and efficiency are key priorities in transportation. How are ITS systems evolving to help deal with these issues?

MG. Companies are working to develop integrated and efficient solutions that combine various aspects of traffic management systems. This offers a more proficient and consistent means of transmitting collected material and initiating responses to incidents. Therefore, Optelecom-NKF, a global supplier of advanced video surveillance solutions, and Traficon, an expert in the development and implementation of AID algorithms, joined forces to create the Siqura TrafficServer.

By embedding Traficon’s field-proven incident detection algorithms into a Siqura encoder, the two companies were able to create a cutting-edge IP product that not only increases the quality and effectiveness of the AID system on the whole but also reduces the resources required.

By sharing cameras for both incident detection and video monitoring, the Siqura TrafficServer calls for fewer cameras. This decreases power consumption and installation space requirements, which, in turn, ultimately results in less maintenance and lowers the total cost of ownership.

Since the Siqura TrafficServer uses a dedicated DSP to implement the incident detection algorithms, all the number crunching is done locally, on the video server itself, and it therefore requires less processing power than traditional, centralized AID solutions. This dedicated DSP also cuts back the amount of data lost in transmission. As a result, the system uses less bandwidth while actually improving video quality.

An additional dedicated DSP allows the Siqura TrafficServer to transmit the promising, new H.264 as well as MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and MJPEG, simultaneously. Consequently, the Siqura TrafficServer is able to offer a selection of streaming options for several different purposes. Using MPEG-2 for live viewing, for example, offers a high-quality picture with relatively low-bandwidth while H.264 provides an excellent image that doesn’t take up much space, making it perfect for storing video material. Alternatively, MPEG-4 has a lower resolution but is optimal for streaming to web applications, and MJPEG is best used for transmitting image data to remote devices. The power to choose between these different video compression algorithms ensures an easy and effective integration of the Siqura TrafficServer with other, existing applications as well as with future additions.

Moreover, the Siqura TrafficServer is making life easier for operators and systems integrators. Each individual stream can be merged with incident detection information, giving operators a complete overview of the traffic data and events, and allowing them to easily access, maintain and enhance traffic conditions.

KF. The leading cause of death for Americans younger than 34 is automobile crashes on our roads and highways. Automated safety technology such as speed safety cameras and intersection safety cameras for detecting red light running are rapidly being deployed in about half of the states in the US. These systems don’t replace the judgement of a police officer. Rather they add an extra layer of automation and technological precision on the roadside and leave the ultimate authorization of a violation to an officer, who views evidence back at the police station. This efficiency puts in motion a multiplier effect whereby officers no longer need to use precious time and resources to remain stationary at the roadside, but can be redeployed to attend to other serious crimes in that community.

What are the main developments you envisage for the future of ITS technology?

MG. Ultimately, ITS technology will move towards networks that integrate all the latest features available for traffic management, such as automatic license plate recognition and data collection and analysis applications.

KF. Other enforcement technologies on the infrastructure side that are gaining acceptance are automated licence plate recognition and automated enforcement of bus lanes, HOV lanes and double white lane crossing.

With distracted driving becoming a causal factor in accidents due in part to cell phones, we believe technology must be used to counter technology. Some main developments we are likely to see are more vehicle-to-infrastructure communications for safety. This is the wireless exchange of data between artificially intelligent vehicles with embedded computing systems and highway infrastructure, intended primarily to avoid motor vehicle crashes through real-time driver warnings.

Biography

Karen Finley, President and CEO of Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc., started at Redflex in 1998, when Redflex had three US safety programs and 30 employees. She has successfully ushered the business through an enormous expansion, with revenues increasing over 15-fold. Today, Redflex has over 400 employees and 250 safety programs.

Mike Girton is Senior Solutions Engineer for Optelecom-NKF and has 20 years experience in field product support and management. His 13 years of experience with Optelecom-NKF includes technical sales support, for the fiber and IP product lines. Girton provides pre and post sales technical support and training for Optelecom-NKF customers, distributors and representatives.

“By streamlining traffic and road use through the intelligent technologies in ITS, people can get where they are going more quickly and fewer roads need to be built.”
-Mike Girton