This paper presents a new automated incident detection system based on machine vision vehicle sensing via video cameras. The advantage lies in the wide area detection capabilities which allow efficient detection of shock waves and other traffic parameters that cannot be easily obtained by conventional devices. In addition, video detection allows employment of ancillary information such as traffic on the shoulders, stopped vehicles, lane changing and speed differential, traffic slow downs in the opposite direction, etc. The system, installed at the Traffic Management Center (TMC) of the Minnesota Department of Transportation was previously evaluated under continuous around-the-clock operation over a four-month period beginning in December 1991, and has been running continuously since. A number of changes were recently made in the system to improve its performance and applicability. (A)
Abstract