Machine vision technologies are increasingly being used to facilitate the analysis of video images for purposes of traffic management, transportation planning, traffic safety, surveillance and security, and other transportation engineering functions. The focus of much of this activity is on the reading and processing of vehicle license plates images captured by video cameras and camcorders. Examples are provided of recent applications in England and the United States. Included among these examples are: cordon-line origin-destination surveys; measuring travel times on urban expressways and arterials; analyzing patterns of movement within complex freeway interchanges and highway networks; speed violation detection and deterrence, and; establishment of security cordons. (A)
Abstract