Road watch

Cameras with intelligent image processing can help traffic managers to spot incidents and respond quickly

Words | Paola Clerici, Sprinx Technologies, Italy

Incident detection and vehicle tracking is achieved at an advanced level with video analytics software from Sprinx Technologies

With ever-increasing numbers of vehicles causing congestion within city centers and on highways, local authorities are under increasing pressure to react quickly and effectively to any traffic incidents, as well as anticipate when traffic jams will occur.

Video surveillance and video analytics are becoming powerful tools to meet these needs. The proliferation of video cameras, the technology maturity of video analytics and, last but not least, the high cost of human operators and the high rate of overlooked events, are some of the driving factors of the rapid growth of the video intelligent solutions for traffic applications.

The surveillance camera is an innovative and useful technology in traffic monitoring and control. These cameras can record traffic patterns, providing valuable data for transportation authorities making decisions regarding future development and traffic planning.

Video analytics experts at Sprinx Technologies and video surveillance specialists at Hanwha Techwin have combined their expertise to offer a complete, easy-to-deploy and affordable traffic event detection and reporting solution. The Automatic Incident Detection (AID) and Traffic Data Collection application from Sprinx Technologies is now able to run onboard all Hanwha Techwin Wisenet X cameras, meaning the ability to detect incidents and keep traffic on the move has been significantly enhanced.

Intelligent vision system

The new Wisenet X camera with onboard Sprinx AID application is a vision system that, as well as providing high quality video, is capable of extracting specific information from the captured images, generating event descriptions that can be used in an intelligent and automated system. The AID application on board Wisenet X cameras offers distinctive advantages over normal cameras by performing not just image capture, but also image analysis and event detection.

AID uses intelligent image processing to quickly alert operators about traffic incidents and queuing and, at the same time, enables the collection of statistical data such as vehicle classification, counting and flow to be recorded. An origin-destination matrix feature highlights traffic conditions at busy city center crossroads and roundabouts with simultaneous monitoring of different lanes. AID Software also detects wrong-way drivers and smoke in tunnels.

Reliable alert generator

AID Software can be relied on to generate an alert when traffic incidents occur, as well as when traffic

Hanwha Techwin’s Wisenet cameras team perfectly with Sprinx software for traffic analysis

is slowing down or if there is a lengthening queue. It will also detect if a vehicle has illegally stopped or broken down on a busy main road, if there is a wrong-way driver, a pedestrian walks in a restricted area, or if there is smoke or low visibility in a tunnel.

AID’s intuitive web user interface enables operators to specify detection zones and parameters and to analyze statistical data via easy-on-the-eye graphics and charts. An event journal provides a log of all events and snapshots of individual incidents.

Traffic managers can choose from any of Hanwha Techwin’s extensive range of weather-proof and vandal-resistant Wisenet X cameras and be assured they are fully compatible with the Sprinx AID plug-ins. This is because the massive processing power of the chipset at the heart of the Wisenet X cameras means AID is always able to work at peak performance to provide accurate, intelligent traffic management information when it is needed most.

The commonly used 2D tracking systems track objects that move on the image plane regardless of their location in the real world or interaction with the surrounding environment. Most of the video AID systems are based on this more simplistic approach. In contrast, 3D tracking aims to reconstruct information about object movement in the real world through the 3D modeling of their trajectory. This more realistic 3D approach in Sprinx video AID systems enables a reduction in the number of false alarms. In addition, it is easier to configure the video AID system because of its relation to the real world through the use of the perspective. This new approach available in the range of Sprinx AID software, combined with the accuracy and the precision of the implemented algorithms, is of real added value to most video traffic applications.

The ability to install intelligence on board standard CCTV cameras is invaluable because it combines with the demand for cost-effective solutions.

There are currently not many cameras on the market that enable the integration of third-party applications and only a few of them have adequate power to run all the AID algorithms on board simultaneously.

Traffic monitoring specialist

The Wisenet X series of cameras from Hanwha Techwin incorporates a number of features that make the device ideally suited to the challenges of traffic monitoring such as harsh lightning, motion blur and image noise. Wisenet X H.265 open platform cameras are equipped to deliver a supercharged performance with twice-as-fast video processing as you would expect in high-definition cameras, complete with three times more memory to handle enhanced onboard video and audio analytics. Specific models are also equipped with gyro sensors that provide more accurate stabilization to combat wind or vibrations. Other key features include highly efficient network transmission and dual SD slots to provide the potential of 512GB onboard data or video storage.

Onboard intelligence in cameras facilitates the local deployment of smart sensors that can interface and integrate easily and flexibly across the network.

The Sprinx AID application sends event notification to third-party systems to alert operators and trigger video recording, and it is fully integrated with physical security information management (PSIM), intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and video management system (VMS) platforms.

“Across Europe, we are increasingly being entrusted to provide video surveillance solutions for a wide range of critical infrastructure projects, including the monitoring of activity in tunnels,” says Tim Biddulph, head of product and solutions for Hanwha Techwin Europe. “Our partnership with Sprinx Technologies is underpinning our ability to provide world-class solutions that are easy to implement and use for these applications. It is an excellent example of how we are always looking for new opportunities to capitalize on the open platform capabilities of Wisenet cameras to deliver video surveillance solutions that offer real-life operational benefits to our customers.” n