Computer-implemented method for determining a number of vehicles and computer program product

Abstract

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for determining the number of vehicles passing through a specific geographical area within a specified time interval, wherein at least one measuring vehicle (1) continuously collects position data during operation with the aid of position-determining means, wherein the position data comprise at least the current geoposition of the measuring vehicle at the respective collection time of a respective position data point (2), the measuring vehicle (1) sends the position data to a computing unit, the computing unit enters each position data point (2) at its respective geoposition in a digital road map (3) and assigns it to a road section (4) of the digital road map (3). The method according to the invention is characterized in that the digital road map (3) is divided into grid segments (5.1, 5.2, 5.3), wherein the computing unit determines the number of vehicles by counting the position data points (2) assigned to a respective grid segment (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) in the time interval; the computing unit enters a direct connecting line (6) for two consecutive position data points (2) in the digital road map (3) and generates at least one interpolation point (7) between the two position data points (2) on the connecting line (6); the computing unit assigns each of the interpolation points (7) located on the connecting line (6) to a road section (4) of the digital road map (3); and the computing unit counts the interpolation points (7) to determine the number of vehicles.

Claims

[1] Computer-implemented method for determining a number of vehicles passing a specific geographical area within a specified time interval, wherein at least one measuring vehicle (1) continuously collects position data during operation with the aid of position-determining means, wherein the position data comprise at least the current geoposition of the measuring vehicle at the respective collection time of a respective position data point (2), the measuring vehicle (1) sends the position data to a computing unit, the computing unit enters each position data point (2) at its respective geoposition in a digital road map (3) and assigns it to a road section (4) of the digital road map (3), characterized by , that the digital road map (3) is divided into grid segments (5.1, 5.2, 5.3), wherein the computing unit determines the number of vehicles by counting the position data points (2) assigned to a respective grid segment (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) in the time interval; the computing unit enters a direct connecting line (6) for two consecutive position data points (2) in the digital road map (3) and generates at least one interpolation point (7) between the two position data points (2) on the connecting line (6); the computing unit assigns the interpolation points (7) lying on the connecting line (6) to a road section (4) of the digital road map (3); and the computing unit counts the interpolation points (7) to determine the number of vehicles. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized bythat the position data points (2) are each enriched with at least one of the following additional information: - the speed of movement of the measuring vehicle (1) at the time of the survey; - a residence time of the measuring vehicle (1) in the grid segment (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) in which the respective position data point (2) is located; - a timestamp, in particular in the form of the time of the survey. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the computing unit distributes the interpolation points (7) equidistantly on the connecting line (6). [4] Method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that the computing unit determines the number of interpolation points (7) to be generated on the connecting line (6) proportional to the speed of movement of the measuring vehicle (1). [5] Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized bythat the computing unit determines the number of interpolation points (7) to be generated on the connecting line (6) inversely proportional to the size of the grid segments (5.1, 5.2, 5.3). [6] Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the computing unit determines such a number of interpolation points (7) that for a set of grid segments (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) that lie on a road section (4) extending between the two consecutive position data points (2), exactly one interpolation point (7) is assigned to each grid segment (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) of the set of grid segments (5.1, 5.2, 5.3). [7] Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized bythat the computing unit does not assign a further interpolation point (7) to a raster segment (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) if a position data point (2) or an interpolation point (7) lying on the same connecting line (6) is already assigned to the respective raster segment (5.1, 5.2, 5.3). [8] Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the computing unit uses artificial intelligence to assign at least one of the position data points (2) or interpolation points (7) to a respective road section (4). [9] Method according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized bythat the road sections (4) in the digital road map (3) are each assigned a speed limit and the computing unit, in the step of assigning at least one of the position data points (2) or interpolation points (7) to a respective road section (4), carries out the assignment to a more distant road section if the speed of travel of the measuring vehicle (1) assigned to the position data point (2) or interpolation point (7) deviates by a predetermined amount from the speed limit applicable on the road section (4) currently being considered. [10] Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the grid segments (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) have the shape of a regular polygon and the distance from an interpolation point (7) to its respective neighboring interpolation points (7) or position data points (2) is at most as large as the side length of one side of the grid segment (5.1, 5.2, 5.3). [11] Computer program product, characterized by machine-interpretable instructions that cause a processor of a computing unit to execute a method according to one of claims 1 to 10.

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