Visibility monitoring using conventional roadside cameras – Emerging applications

• Published in: Transportation research. Part C, Emerging technologies Emerging technologies, 2012-06, Vol.22 (22), p.17-28
• Main Authors: Babari, Raouf, Hautière, Nicolas, Dumont, Éric, Paparoditis, Nicolas, Misener, James
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air quality; Applied sciences; Atmospheric visibility; Buildings. Public works; Camera; Engineering Sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Ground, air and sea transportation, marine construction; Intelligent transportation systems; Meteorological observation; Other; Road operations (signalization, lighting, safety and accessories, snow clearance, acoustical panel, etc.); Road safety; Road transportation and traffic; Transportation infrastructure
• ISSN: 0968-090X; 1879-2359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trc.2011.11.012

► An estimator of the atmospheric visibility by already-existing highway cameras. ► An estimator robust to illumination variations by selecting Lambertian areas. ► A calibration with reference data issued from a dedicated test site. ► Visibility estimates up to 15km with an average error of 30%. ► Emerging applications related to safety, mobility and environment. The measurement of atmospheric visibility is an important element for road and air transportation safety. We propose in this paper a novel estimator of the atmospheric visibility by already existing conventional highway cameras, with a technique based on the gradient magnitude selected by applying Lambert’s law with respect to changes in lighting conditions. The response of this estimator is calibrated by non-linear regression with data from a visibility meter installed in a test site which has been instrumented with a camera. Through our technique, atmospheric visibility estimates are obtained with an average error of 30% for images taken in the day, with sky luminance between 10 and 8000cdm−2 and visibility distances up to 15km. Our results allow us to envision practical implementation on roadsides in the near future to determine local visibility for the benefit of road safety, meteorological observation and air quality monitoring.