This paper was presented at the session titled `Risk management in the roads sector - safety management'. This paper describes the development of an innovative video monitoring technology to detect and report over-height load collisions under highway overpasses and in tunnels. Current Intelligent Traffic System (ITS) video systems are used to provide single frame shots of license plates for toll and ticketing purposes, or to provide occasional live video feeds of trouble spots on major traffic arteries. Over-height load collision monitoring requires multiple continuous high-speed video feeds to capture an over-height load incident both before and after the impact. Video images must be of sufficient resolution to provide positive identification or corroboration with optional license plate images. Furthermore, the system must perform under adverse lighting and weather conditions. This paper documents the implementation of a system in co-operation with Alberta Infrastructure at the Highway 2A overpass on Highway 2 south of Leduc, Alberta. The system, consisting of four progressive scan cameras and a computer, places video images on a secured Internet web-site and provides immediate telephone and e-mail notification of over-height load impacts. (A)
Abstract