Development And Field Testing Of An Automatic Turning Movement Identification System

Development and Field Testing of an Automatic Turning Movement Identification System

Today many intersections are operated based on data input from nonintrusive video detection systems. With those systems the video detectors can be easily deployed/modified for different application requirements. This research project is initiated to improve the convenience and coverage and reduce cost in turning movement data collection, by taking advantage of the existing video detection system at signalized intersections. This research involves hardware design and algorithm testing, where an automatic turning movement identification system (ATMIS) is developed to interface the current signal control system at each intersection. The ATMIS is tested in different scenarios with variations in intersection configuration and weather conditions. The turning movement data obtained from the system are compared with the ground truth by watching the synchronous video. While the average accuracy level in the first phase of tests for most intersection movements reached 90%, additional improvements in the algorithm and hardware design to handle large-sized vehicles, irregular geometrics and pedestrians, have further advanced the data accuracy to be over 95% for the entire intersection. The major problem leading to the errors is due to turning buses at small intersections, where the size of vehicles can cause false detections. We found an effective solution to this problem by adjusting the camera angle or height, but it was not done for every such case partly because it adds to the busy daily work for the city engineers and partly due to the low volume for the turning movements at small intersections, where the error can be contained in the ADT data. It has been demonstrated that the ATMIS algorithm can effectively address variations in geometrics within the scope of this project, with no obvious degrading impact on the accuracy level by normal rain and snow.

Transportation Research Record

Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1980