Automatic transformation of video image data from UAVs into traffic information for simulation model calibration.

Real-time traffic information is essential for proper calibration of traffic simulation models to support development of Intelligent TransportationSystem (ITS) strategies. This study proposes the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to collect video traffic data as an alternative to existingmethods. The proposed system employs a rotary-wing UAV that is remarkablein its maneuverability, small size and affordability. Further, the UAVs' on-board vision systems developed in this study apply image processing techniques to derive real-time traffic information from the video data. It further discusses an approach to automatically convert traffic information into statistical profiles for calibrating traffic simulation models. For the covering abstract see ITRD E134653.