Abstract
Accurate traffic surveillance is vital to modern traffic control systems. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) contracted with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to investigate the feasibility of obtaining traffic flow parameter measurements automatically in real time from video images. Synthesis of the vehicle detection and tracking algorithms and software has been the most challenging aspect. Wide ranging operational conditions such as shadows, reflections from wet pavement, varying sun direction, weather and night conditions have required a significant advancement in the state-of-the-art.