Concrete placement management device, concrete placement management method, and concrete placement management program

Abstract

To provide a device, a method and a program for managing concrete placement more easily.SOLUTION: A concrete placing management device is a placing management device for managing unloading when ready mixed-concrete is supplied to a pump vehicle, after an agitator vehicle for transporting ready mixed-concrete manufactured at a factory has arrived at a construction site. The concrete placing management device includes: an imaging part which is mounted to a pump vehicle to image an agitator vehicle or arranged near the pump vehicle, in order to image a back face of the agitator vehicle that has been backing and approaching the pump vehicle and stopped in the vicinity thereof; an identification number extraction part for extracting an identification number of an agitator vehicle from a video; a start time recording part for recording the first extracted time, as unloading start time, in association with an identification number, if the same identification number is extracted continuously for a predetermined time; and finish time recording part for recording, if the same identification number has not been extracted for a predetermined time continuously, the time at which the same identification number became non-extractable first, in association with an identification number.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a concrete placement management device, a concrete placement management method, and a concrete placement management program.

Background Art

[0002] In the above technical field, Patent Document 1 discloses that an IC card is held by a driver of a fresh concrete transport vehicle, and when the driver holds the IC card up to a card reader at the time of shipment of fresh concrete, arrival at the site, and completion of placement, identification information of the transport vehicle and the like are transmitted to a management server. The management server is disclosed to automatically calculate the shipment time, transportation / waiting time, driving time, and time until completion of driving based on the identification information of the transport vehicle and the reception time thereof to manage the transport time of fresh concrete (paragraph

[0041] of the same document, FIG. 2, etc.).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1 above, the transport time of fresh concrete was managed by loading an information communication medium such as an IC card on a concrete truck and reading information with an IC card reader. Therefore, new devices such as information communication media had to be attached, the cost increased, and the placement of concrete could not be managed simply.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the concrete placement management device according to the present invention is A concrete placement management device that manages the unloading of ready-mix concrete transported from a ready-mix concrete manufacturing plant to a concrete construction site by an agitator truck, after the agitator truck arrives at the construction site and supplies the ready-mix concrete to a pump truck, In order to image the agitator vehicle, an imaging unit is attached to the pump vehicle or positioned near the pump vehicle, and moves in reverse towards the pump vehicle and images the rear of the agitator vehicle when it stops near the pump vehicle. An identification number extraction unit extracts an identification number for identifying the agitator vehicle from the image captured by the imaging unit, If the same identification number is continuously extracted by the identification number extraction unit for a predetermined period of time, the start time recording unit records the time when the same identification number was first extracted as the unloading start time, and associates it with the identification number. If the identification number extraction unit does not continuously extract the same identification number for a predetermined period of time, the end time recording unit records the time when the same identification number first ceased to be extracted as the end time of unloading, and associates it with the identification number. It is equipped.

[0006] To solve the above problems, the concrete placement management method according to the present invention is A concrete placement management method that manages the unloading of ready-mix concrete when an agitator truck, which transports ready-mix concrete manufactured at a ready-mix concrete manufacturing plant to a concrete construction site, delivers the ready-mix concrete to a pump truck after arriving at the construction site, In order to image the agitator vehicle, an imaging step is taken to image the rear side of the agitator vehicle as it approaches the pump vehicle in reverse, with the agitator vehicle attached to or positioned near the pump vehicle. An identification number extraction step is performed to extract an identification number for identifying the agitator vehicle from the image captured in the imaging step, In the identification number extraction step, if the same identification number is extracted continuously for a predetermined period of time, the start time recording step records the time when the same identification number was first extracted as the unloading start time, and associates it with the identification number. In the identification number extraction step, if the same identification number is not extracted for a predetermined period of time, the completion time recording step records the time when the identification number first stopped being extracted as the unloading completion time, and associates it with the identification number. Includes.

[0007] To solve the above problems, the concrete pouring management program according to the present invention is: A concrete placement management method that manages the unloading of ready-mix concrete when an agitator truck, which transports ready-mix concrete manufactured at a ready-mix concrete manufacturing plant to a concrete construction site, delivers the ready-mix concrete to a pump truck after arriving at the construction site, In order to image the agitator vehicle, an imaging step is taken to image the rear side of the agitator vehicle as it approaches the pump vehicle in reverse, with the agitator vehicle attached to or positioned near the pump vehicle. An identification number extraction step is performed to extract an identification number for identifying the agitator vehicle from the image captured in the imaging step, In the identification number extraction step, if the same identification number is extracted continuously for a predetermined period of time, the start time recording step records the time when the same identification number was first extracted as the unloading start time, and associates it with the identification number. In the identification number extraction step, if the same identification number is not extracted for a predetermined period of time, the completion time recording step records the time when the identification number first stopped being extracted as the unloading completion time, and associates it with the identification number. Have the computer execute it. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, by using cameras installed at the construction site, the entire process from concrete transportation management to concrete placement management can be carried out in a consistent manner, making it possible to manage concrete placement simply and reliably. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1A] This figure illustrates the general operation of a concrete pouring management device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1B] This figure illustrates the operation screen of the start button in a concrete pouring management device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a concrete pouring management device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of an image data table in a concrete pouring management device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This figure illustrates the hardware configuration of a concrete pouring management device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5A] This is a flowchart illustrating the procedure for managing unloading times using a concrete pouring management device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5B] This is a flowchart illustrating the procedure for processing paper slips using a concrete pouring management device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the configurations, numerical values, processing flow, functional elements, etc., described in the following embodiments are merely examples, and they can be freely modified or changed, and the technical scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to the following description.

[0011] The concrete placement management device 100 as the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A to 5. The concrete placement management device 100 is a device for managing the driving when a mixer truck 140 that transports fresh concrete manufactured at a fresh concrete manufacturing plant to a concrete construction site 160 supplies the fresh concrete transported to a pump truck 150 after arriving at the construction site 160.

[0012] <Driving management> First, referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the unloading management of fresh concrete at the construction site 160 will be described. The mixer truck 140 loaded with fresh concrete manufactured at the fresh concrete manufacturing plant 130 departs towards the construction site 160.

[0013] When the mixer truck 140 arrives at the construction site 160, the unloading operation of the transported fresh concrete is started. When performing the unloading operation, the driver of the mixer truck 140 moves the mixer truck 140 to near the designated pump truck 150 according to the guidance of the operator at the construction site 160.

[0014] Normally, when setting the mixer truck 140 at a predetermined position with respect to the pump truck 150, the mixer truck 140 is reversed (backed) to approach the pump truck 150. When the mixer truck 140 approaches the pump truck 150 to a predetermined distance, the fresh concrete storage drum of the mixer truck 140 is connected to the pump truck 150 by a chute. When the connection between the mixer truck 140 and the pump truck 150 is completed, fresh concrete is poured from the mixer truck 140 into the pump truck 150, and when the pouring of the entire amount of the transported fresh concrete is completed, the unloading operation ends.

[0015] Here, as shown in Figure 1B, in this embodiment, the license plate 170 installed on the rear of the agitator truck 140, which is approaching the pump truck 150 in reverse, is captured by a camera 195 installed on the outrigger of the pump truck 150, for example. The concrete pouring management device 100 then reads the license plate (vehicle registration number) from the license plate 170 of the agitator truck 140 from the image captured by the camera 195. In Figure 1B, a camera 195 with a field of view that allows two agitator trucks 140 to fit within one frame is used, but the field of view of the camera 195 is not limited to this, and a camera 195 with a field of view that allows one or three or more agitator trucks 140 to fit within the frame may also be used.

[0016] The concrete pouring management device 100 then extracts the license plate number 170 of the agitator truck 140 from the video captured by the camera 195. The concrete pouring management device 100 continues to extract the license plate number 170 from the video captured by the camera 195 as long as it can. The concrete pouring management device 100 then records the time when the license plate number 170 is first extracted as the unloading start time, linking it to the vehicle number of the agitator truck 140 and the license plate number 170.

[0017] Furthermore, the concrete pouring management device 100 determines that unloading work is continuing as long as the license plate number 170 of the agitator truck 140 (the same number) is extracted from the image captured by the camera 195. In other words, as long as the license plate number of the agitator truck 140 can be extracted, it can be determined that the agitator truck 140 is parked next to the pump truck 150, and therefore, as long as the license plate number is extracted, it can be determined that unloading work is in progress.

[0018] Therefore, as described above, if the same number is continuously extracted between the recorded unloading start time and unloading end time, the concrete pouring management device 100 records this time as the unloading time and associates it with the number of the agitator truck 140. In this way, the concrete pouring management device 100 records the unloading start time, unloading time, and unloading end time, so that it can consistently manage the entire process from the start to the end of unloading at the construction site 160.

[0019] Furthermore, during the unloading of ready-mix concrete from the agitator truck 140, workers at the construction site 160 may, for operational reasons, block the view of license plate 170, preventing camera 195 from capturing an image of license plate 170.

[0020] In such cases, even if the concrete pouring management device 100 is unable to extract the license plate number from the captured image for a certain period of time, if the same license plate number can be extracted again after that period has elapsed, it will determine that the unloading operation is continuing. In other words, even if there is a period of time during which the concrete pouring management device 100 is unable to extract the license plate number 170, if the predetermined conditions are met, it will determine that the unloading operation from the same agitator truck 140 is continuing.

[0021] <Transportation Management> Next, we will explain the transportation management of ready-mix concrete at the time of shipment from the manufacturing plant. As shown in Figure 1A, ready-mix concrete manufactured at manufacturing plant 130 is shipped from manufacturing plant 130 and transported to construction site 160. In this case, at the time of shipment from manufacturing plant 130, employees of manufacturing plant 130 fill in necessary information, including the time of shipment of the ready-mix concrete, on a paper slip 120. The worker then hands the slip 120 with the necessary information to the driver of the agitator truck 140, which is a transport vehicle for ready-mix concrete, and the driver takes the slip 120 and departs for construction site 160.

[0022] In this embodiment, when the agitator vehicle 140 departs from the manufacturing plant 130, the driver of the agitator vehicle 140 or an employee of the manufacturing plant 130 takes an image of the slip 120 with a camera 190 installed on a portable device such as a tablet. Once the image of the slip 120 has been captured, the driver or employee transmits the image data 191 of the slip 120 to the concrete pouring management device 100 via wireless or wired communication.

[0023] Furthermore, the images of the slips 120 at the manufacturing plant 130 may be taken by the driver of the agitator vehicle 140 or an employee of the manufacturing plant 130 using a camera 190 on a tablet device, or by using a slip-reading camera installed in the manufacturing plant 130.

[0024] The concrete placement management device 100 then acquires image data 191 of the transmitted slip 120. The concrete placement management device 100 processes the acquired image data 191 of the slip 120 using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to read the contents of the slip 120. The contents read from the slip 120 include, for example, the vehicle number of the agitator truck 140, the amount of ready-mixed concrete loaded, and the time of shipment of the ready-mixed concrete.

[0025] Once the contents have been read, the concrete pouring management device 100 records the vehicle number, load capacity, and shipping time read from the slip 120, linking them to the license plate number 170 of the agitator truck 140. After these tasks are completed, the driver of the agitator truck 140 departs for the construction site 160.

[0026] Next, with reference to Figure 2, the configuration of the concrete placement management device will be described. The concrete placement management device 100 has an imaging unit 201, an identification number extraction unit 202, a start time recording unit 203, an end time recording unit 204, and an unloading time recording unit 205. Placement management is performed by these components. Furthermore, the concrete placement management device 100 has an acquisition unit 206, a reading unit 207, and a recording unit 208. Transportation management is performed by these components.

[0027] The imaging unit 201 is attached to the pump truck 150 or positioned near the pump truck 150 in order to image the agitator truck 140. The imaging unit 201 approaches the pump truck 150 in reverse and images the rear of the agitator truck 140 when it stops near the pump truck 150.

[0028] Here, the camera 195, which serves as the imaging unit 201, is attached, for example, to the outrigger of the pump truck 150. However, the installation location of the camera 195 is not limited to this, and it may be installed in any location that allows the license plate 170 on the back of the agitator truck 140 to be captured within the imaging range of the camera 195. For example, the camera 195 may be installed near the pump truck 150 or at any location in the construction site 160. Note that if the camera 195 is installed on or near the pump truck 150, the correspondence between the agitator truck 140 and the pump truck 150 to which ready-mix concrete is supplied becomes clear. In addition, the number of cameras 195 installed may be one or multiple. Furthermore, if only one camera 195 is installed, one camera 195 may image two or more agitator trucks 140. If there are two or more cameras 195 installed, and there are also two or more agitator vehicles 140, each of the two or more cameras 195 may capture images of each of the two or more agitator vehicles 140.

[0029] The identification number extraction unit 202 extracts an identification number for identifying the agitator vehicle 140 from the video captured by the imaging unit 201. The identification number extraction unit 202 also starts extracting the identification number when the rear of the agitator vehicle 140 comes into the imaging range of the camera 195. In other words, if the rear of the agitator vehicle 140, which is reversing and approaching, is not in the frame of the camera 195, the agitator vehicle 140 will not be visible in the video captured by the camera 195, and therefore the identification number cannot be extracted. Accordingly, the identification number extraction unit 202 starts extracting the identification number when the agitator vehicle 140 comes into the frame of the camera 195. Note that the timing at which the identification number extraction unit 202 starts extracting the identification number is not limited to the timing shown here, and may be, for example, when the movement of the agitator vehicle 140 in the video captured by the camera 195 stops.

[0030] Here, the identification number extraction unit 202 extracts the vehicle registration number of the agitator vehicle 140 (the number on license plate 170) as the identification number. The reason the identification number extraction unit 202 extracts the vehicle registration number as the identification number is that there are no fixed rules regarding the display position or font size of the vehicle numbers (door numbers) displayed on the front and sides of the agitator vehicle 140, and there is a possibility of duplicate numbers. Therefore, the identification number extraction unit 202 extracts the number on license plate 170, which has a somewhat fixed installation position, and whose font size and font are also standardized. The combination of the agitator vehicle 140's vehicle registration number and vehicle number is pre-registered.

[0031] The identification number extraction by the identification number extraction unit 202 is performed according to the following procedure. First, the identification number extraction unit 202 identifies the location of the license plate 170 in the image captured by the camera 195. The location of the license plate 170 is identified using, for example, image recognition by artificial intelligence (AI), but is not limited to this. For example, technologies such as character recognition by OCR processing may be used.

[0032] In other words, when the agitator vehicle 140 approaches the pump vehicle 150 in reverse and the rear of the agitator vehicle 140 comes into the frame of the camera 195, the identification number extraction unit 202 begins to identify the position of the license plate 170. The focal position of the camera 195 is set to cover a range including the position in front of and behind where the agitator vehicle 140 is expected to stop.

[0033] Furthermore, in the case of the agitator vehicle 140, the position where the license plate 170 is displayed is almost fixed for each vehicle, making it relatively easy to identify the position of the license plate 170 in the image captured by the camera 195. The license plate 170 on the agitator vehicle 140 is almost always located next to the hopper of the agitator vehicle 140, but it may be installed in other locations. Therefore, the identification number extraction unit 202 first identifies the position of the license plate 170.

[0034] Once the location of license plate 170 is identified, the identification number extraction unit 202 extracts the numbers (number) of license plate 170 by, for example, cutting out the license plate portion of agitator vehicle 140 from the image captured by camera 195 and performing character recognition.

[0035] If the same identification number is continuously extracted by the identification number extraction unit 202 for a predetermined period of time, the start time recording unit 203 records the time when the same identification number was first extracted as the unloading start time, and associates it with the identification number.

[0036] Here, the start time recording unit 203 sets the condition for recording the unloading start time as the same identification number being continuously extracted for a predetermined period of time. This condition is set because, for example, if the agitator truck 140 simply crosses in front of the camera 195, the license plate 170 of the agitator truck 140 may be briefly captured by the camera 195, and the identification number of the agitator truck 140 may be extracted. However, in such a case, the agitator truck 140 did not approach the pump truck 150 to unload, so the unloading operation does not begin. Therefore, if the start time recording unit 203 were to record the unloading start time, it would record incorrect data, and it is necessary to eliminate the recording of incorrect data. For this reason, the start time recording unit 203 sets the condition for recording the unloading start time as the same number being continuously extracted for a predetermined period of time.

[0037] Therefore, in order to prevent such erroneous recordings from occurring, the start time recording unit 203 confirms that the identification number of the agitator truck 140 has been continuously extracted for a predetermined period of time, and then records the time when the identification number of the agitator truck 140 is first extracted as the unloading start time. This allows the start time recording unit 203 to accurately and reliably record the unloading start time of the ready-mix concrete.

[0038] The agitator truck 140 transports ready-mix concrete manufactured at the manufacturing plant to the construction site 160. However, at the stage of concrete placement planning, the pump truck 150 to which the agitator truck 140 will unload the ready-mix concrete is not determined. When the agitator truck 140 arrives at the construction site 160, the driver of the agitator truck 140 follows the instructions of a guide who directs the driver to the designated pump truck 150 at the construction site 160 to unload the concrete.

[0039] The completion time recording unit 204 records the time when the same identification number was first stopped being extracted by the identification number extraction unit 202, if the same identification number has not been extracted for a predetermined period of time, as the unloading completion time, and associates it with the identification number. In other words, since the agitator truck 140 is parked next to the pump truck 150 during the unloading operation, the rear of the agitator truck 140 is captured in the frame of the camera 195. Then, the identification number extraction unit 202 continues to extract the same identification number.

[0040] However, once the unloading operation is complete and the agitator truck 140 leaves the vicinity of the pump truck 150, the agitator truck 140 moves out of the frame of the camera 195. As a result, the identification number extraction unit 202 can no longer extract the same identification number that was extracted during the unloading operation. If this state continues for a predetermined time, it can be determined that the unloading operation has already been completed, and the completion time recording unit 204 records the timing when the same identification number that was extracted during the unloading operation was first no longer extracted as the completion time of the unloading operation, linking it to the identification number.

[0041] The unloading time recording unit 205 records the time between the unloading start time and the unloading end time as the unloading time, linked to the identification number, if the same identification number is continuously extracted between the unloading start time and the unloading end time.

[0042] In other words, the unloading time recording unit 205 determines that the unloading operation of the agitator truck 140 with the identification number is continuing if the same identification number is continuously extracted by the identification number extraction unit 202. Then, as long as the identification number of the agitator truck 140 currently undergoing unloading continues to be extracted, the unloading time recording unit 205 records the time between the time the identification number was first extracted and the time it was last extracted as the time the unloading operation is in progress.

[0043] For example, when the agitator truck 140 is set up next to the pump truck 150, and unloading work begins, the agitator truck 140 remains stationary in that location until the entire amount of ready-mix concrete that has been transported has been transferred to the pump truck 150. Therefore, while the unloading work of the agitator truck 140 is being carried out, the license plate number of the agitator truck 140 continues to be extracted. Thus, as long as the same license plate number is continuously extracted, the unloading time recording unit 205 records the time during which the extraction is continuous as unloading work is in progress.

[0044] Furthermore, the unloading time recording unit 205 records the period between the unloading start time and the unloading end time as the unloading time, linked to the identification number, if the same identification number has been continuously extracted between the unloading start time and the unloading end time, and then a period occurs where the same identification number has not been extracted for a certain period of time, followed by the continuous extraction of the same identification number again.

[0045] For example, the driver of the agitator vehicle 140 or a worker at the construction site 160 may stand in front of the license plate 170 to perform their work, obscuring the license plate 170, which was previously within the frame of the camera 195. In this situation, the identification number extraction unit 202 will be unable to extract the identification number. However, if the worker moves out of front of the license plate 170, the identification number extraction unit 202 will be able to extract the identification number again. In such a case, if the system were to determine that the unloading work had ended at the moment the identification number could no longer be extracted, it would result in recording an incorrect unloading completion time, even though the unloading work was actually still ongoing.

[0046] Therefore, the unloading time recording unit 205 determines that unloading is in progress if, even if there is a period during the unloading operation when the same identification number cannot be extracted by the identification number extraction unit 202, the same identification number can be extracted again afterward.

[0047] The unloading time recording unit 205 can determine more accurately and without error whether the unloading work is continuing by making such a judgment. The set time can be a few seconds, tens of seconds, or a few minutes, and can be set as appropriate according to the work procedures and movement patterns set up at the construction site 160.

[0048] The acquisition unit 206 acquires image data 191 of the slip 120, which is used when transporting ready-mix concrete to the construction site 160, by reading the slip 120 using an imaging device at the time of shipment of the ready-mix concrete. In other words, the concrete placement management device 100 uses image data 191 of the paper slip 120 used when transporting ready-mix concrete manufactured at the ready-mix concrete manufacturing plant 130 to the construction site 160 by agitator truck 140. Therefore, in order for the concrete placement management device 100 to be able to use the paper slip 120, the paper slip 120 is read (imaged) using the camera 190 (imaging device) of a portable terminal carried by an employee of the manufacturing plant 130 or the driver of the agitator truck 140, and image data 191 is generated.

[0049] In this way, by reading the paper slip 120 with the camera 190 and generating image data 191, the concrete pouring management device 100 can handle the slip 120 as digital data. The generated image data 191 is transmitted to the concrete pouring management device 100. Here, the concrete pouring management device 100 and the portable terminal held by the driver of the agitator vehicle 140 are connected via wireless or wired communication.

[0050] The acquisition unit 206 then acquires image data 191 transmitted from a mobile terminal held by the driver of the agitator vehicle 140 or the like. The transmitted image data 191 also includes information such as imaging conditions and time of imaging.

[0051] The reading unit 207 reads the vehicle number of the agitator truck 140, the amount of ready-mix concrete loaded, and the time of shipment of ready-mix concrete from the image data 191 on the slip 120. The reading unit 207 reads the contents of the slip 120 by performing OCR processing on the acquired image data 191. Note that the contents of the slip 120 read by the reading unit 207 are not limited to the vehicle number, amount of load, and time of shipment.

[0052] Here, the vehicle number of agitator vehicle 140 is a one- to four-digit number displayed on the side of the vehicle, such as on the door or on the front of the vehicle, and is called the door number. Compared to the vehicle registration number (the number on license plate 170), the door number is displayed in an easily visible location, making it easier to monitor using surveillance cameras at manufacturing plants such as 130, and is therefore widely used. Also, because it is displayed in an easily visible location, it is easy to manage vehicles loading ready-mix concrete and to keep track of waiting vehicles, and the door number is widely used as a management number for agitator vehicle 140.

[0053] The recording unit 208 records the read vehicle number, load capacity, shipping time, and identification number of the agitator truck 140, linking them together. Here, any identification number can be used as long as it is a number that can distinguish and manage each agitator truck 140. If the contents of the slip 120 are unclear or the position of the information is misaligned, and the reading unit 207 cannot read the shipping time, the recording unit 208 may perform the following process. That is, the recording unit 208 records the time when the camera 190 read the slip 120 as the shipping time. This makes it possible to manage the transportation time (shipping time) of the ready-mix concrete even if the shipping time is not written in the designated position on the slip 120 or is written in a position misaligned from the designated position. With the above, the series of processes at the time of shipment of ready-mix concrete is completed, and the transportation management of ready-mix concrete begins.

[0054] Next, with reference to Figure 3, an example of the image data table 301 of the concrete pouring management device 100 will be described. The image data table 301 stores image data information 312, read content data 313, vehicle registration number 314, unloading time 315, and extraction intermittency time 316, associated with the image data ID (Identifier) ​​311. The image data ID 311 is an identifier used to identify the image data 191 of the slip 120 captured by the camera 190. The image data information 312 is information about the imaging conditions and imaging time of the slip 120.

[0055] The read content data 313 is data about the content read from the image data 191 of the slip 120 by OCR processing, and includes the vehicle number, shipping time, and load capacity. The vehicle registration number 314 is the license plate number 170 of the agitator vehicle 140, extracted by the identification number extraction unit 202. The unloading time 315 includes the start time and end time. The start time is the time when the license plate number 170 of the agitator vehicle 140 was first extracted, which is defined as the start time of unloading. The end time is the time when the license plate number 170 of the agitator vehicle 140 could no longer be extracted, which is defined as the end time of unloading. The extraction intermittent time 316 is the time when the license plate number 170 of the agitator vehicle 140 could not be extracted, and if this time is within a certain period of time, it indicates that the license plate was continuously extracted.

[0056] Referring to Figure 4, the hardware configuration of the concrete pouring management device 100 will be described. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 410 is a processor for arithmetic control and realizes the various functional configurations of the concrete pouring management device 100 shown in Figure 2 by executing programs. The CPU 410 may have multiple processors and execute different programs, modules, tasks, threads, etc. in parallel. The ROM (Read Only Memory) 420 stores fixed data such as initial data and programs, and other programs. The network interface 430 communicates with other devices via the network. Note that the CPU 410 is not limited to one, and may have multiple CPUs, or may include a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) for image processing. Furthermore, it is desirable that the network interface 430 has a CPU independent of the CPU 410 and writes or reads transmitted and received data to or from the RAM (Random Access Memory) 440 area. It is also desirable to provide a DMAC (Direct Memory Access Controller) for transferring data between the RAM 440 and the storage 450 (not shown). Furthermore, the CPU 410 recognizes that data has been received or transferred to the RAM 440 and processes the data. The CPU 410 also prepares the processing results in the RAM 440 and leaves subsequent transmission or transfer to the network interface 430 or DMAC.

[0057] RAM 440 is a random access memory used by the CPU 410 as a work area for temporary storage. RAM 440 has a storage area reserved for storing the data necessary to realize this embodiment. The slip image data 441 is image data 191 of the slip 120 captured by an imaging device, and is data relating to the image of the slip 120 captured at the time of shipment from the manufacturing plant 130. The image data information 442 is information including the imaging conditions and time of imaging when the slip 120 was captured. The read data 443 is data relating to the contents of the slip 120 read from the image data 191. The vehicle registration number data 444 is data relating to the license plate 170 of the agitator vehicle 140, extracted by the identification number extraction unit 202. The start and end time data 445 is data relating to the time when the identification number extraction unit 202 was first able to extract the license plate 170 of the agitator vehicle 140 and the time when it was no longer able to extract the said license plate. The extraction intermittent time data 446 is data relating to the time during which the extraction of the same identification number by the identification number extraction unit 202 is intermittent.

[0058] The transmitted and received data 447 is data transmitted and received via the network interface 430. The RAM 440 also has an application execution area 448 for running various application modules.

[0059] The storage 450 stores the database, various parameters, and the following data or programs necessary for realizing this embodiment. The storage 450 stores the image data table 301. The image data table 301 is a table that manages the relationship between the image data ID 311 and the extraction interruption time 317, as shown in Figure 3.

[0060] The storage 450 further houses the imaging module 451, the identification number extraction module 452, the start time recording module 453, the end time recording module 454, and the unloading time recording module 455. The storage 450 also houses the acquisition module 456, the reading module 457, the recording module 458, and the display control module 459.

[0061] The imaging module 451 is a module that images the agitator vehicle 140. The identification number extraction module 452 is a module that extracts the license plate number 170 of the agitator vehicle 140 from the image captured by the imaging unit 201. The start time recording module 453 is a module that records the time when the license plate number 170 is first extracted by the identification number extraction unit 202 as the unloading start time, linked to the vehicle number and license plate number. The end time recording module 454 is a module that records the time when the license plate number 170 can no longer be extracted by the identification number extraction unit 202 as the unloading end time, linked to the vehicle number and license plate number. The unloading time recording module 455 is a module that, if the same identification number is continuously extracted between the unloading start time and the unloading end time, records the time between the unloading start time and the unloading end time as the unloading time, linked to the identification number.

[0062] The acquisition module 456 is a module that acquires image data 191 of the slip 120. The reading module 457 is a module that reads the vehicle number, load capacity, and shipping time written on the slip 120 from the image data 191. The recording module 458 is a module that records the read vehicle number, load capacity, and shipping time in association with each other. The display control module 459 is a module that displays at least one of the vehicle number, load capacity, shipping time, unloading start time, and unloading end time on the display of a mobile terminal placed at the construction site 160. These modules 451 to 459 are read into the application execution area 448 of the RAM 440 by the CPU 410 and executed. The control program 470 is a program for controlling the entire concrete pouring management device 100.

[0063] The input / output interface 460 interfaces with input / output devices for input / output data. The display unit 461 and the operation unit 462 are connected to the input / output interface 460. A storage medium 464 may also be connected to the input / output interface 460. Furthermore, a speaker 463 which is an audio output unit, a microphone (not shown) which is an audio input unit, or a GPS position determination unit may also be connected. Note that the RAM 440 and storage 450 shown in Figure 4 do not contain programs or data related to the general functions of the concrete pouring management device 100 or other feasible functions.

[0064] Next, the processing procedure of the concrete pouring management device 100 will be explained with reference to the flowcharts shown in Figures 5A and 5B. These flowcharts are executed by the CPU 410 in Figure 4 using the RAM 440, and realize the various functional configurations of the concrete pouring management device 100 in Figure 2.

[0065] First, with reference to Figure 5A, the management of unloading time by the concrete pouring management device 100 will be explained. In step S501, the imaging unit 201 images the rear of the agitator truck 140 as it approaches the pump truck 150 in reverse. That is, the camera 195 images the rear of the agitator truck 140. In step S503, the identification number extraction unit 202 determines whether or not the license plate number 170 of the agitator truck 140 can be extracted from the image captured by the imaging unit 201. If it is determined that the identification number cannot be extracted (NO in step S503), the concrete pouring management device 100 returns to step S501. If it is determined that the identification number can be extracted (YES in step S503), the concrete pouring management device 100 proceeds to the next step S505.

[0066] In step S505, if the same identification number is continuously extracted by the identification number extraction unit 202, the start time recording unit 203 records the time when the identification number was first extracted as the unloading start time, and associates it with the identification number.

[0067] In step S507, the unloading time recording unit 205 determines whether the time during which the same identification number is extracted by the identification number extraction unit 202 is within a predetermined duration. If it is determined that it is not within the predetermined duration (NO in step S507), the concrete pouring management device 100 terminates processing. If it is determined that it is within the predetermined duration (YES in step S507), the concrete pouring management device 100 proceeds to step S509. In step S509, the unloading time recording unit 205 records the time during which the identification number is continuously extracted as the unloading time, linking it to the identification number.

[0068] In step S511, the completion time recording unit 204 determines whether the same identification number cannot be extracted continuously for a predetermined time. If it determines that the identification number can be extracted continuously for a predetermined time (NO in step S511), the concrete pouring management device 100 continues processing. If it determines that the same identification number cannot be extracted continuously for a predetermined time (YES in step S511), the concrete pouring management device 100 proceeds to the next step S513.

[0069] In step S513, the completion time recording unit 204 records the time at which the same identification number can no longer be extracted as the unloading completion time, and associates it with the identification number.

[0070] Next, with reference to Figure 5B, the processing of paper slips 120 by the concrete pouring management device 100 will be described. In step S531, the acquisition unit 206 acquires image data 191 of the slip 120, which was generated by reading it using the camera 190 at the time of shipment from the manufacturing plant 130. In step S533, the reading unit 207 reads from the image data 191 the vehicle number of the agitator truck 140, the amount of ready-mixed concrete loaded, and the time of shipment of the ready-mixed concrete, which are written on the slip 120.

[0071] In step S535, the recording unit 208 determines whether the shipping time can be read. If it determines that the shipping time can be read (YES in step S535), the recording unit 208 proceeds to step S537. In step S507, the recording unit 208 records the read vehicle number, load capacity, and shipping time, linking them together.

[0072] If it is determined that the shipping time cannot be read (NO in step S535), the recording unit 208 proceeds to step S539. In step S509, the recording unit 208 records the time when the camera 190 read the slip 120 as the shipping time of the ready-mix concrete, linking it with the vehicle number, etc.

[0073] According to this embodiment, time data related to unloading operations, from the start to the end of unloading concrete transported from the manufacturing plant, can be consistently managed using cameras installed at the construction site.

[0074] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be modified as appropriate. Various modifications to the configuration and details of the present invention can be made that will be understood by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, any system or apparatus that combines the separate features included in each embodiment in any way is also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0075] Furthermore, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of multiple devices or to a single device. Moreover, the present invention is also applicable when an information processing program that realizes the functions of the embodiment is supplied to a system or device and executed by a built-in processor. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention includes programs installed on a computer to realize the functions of the present invention on a computer, the medium on which the program is stored, the WWW (World Wide Web) server that allows the program to be downloaded, and the processor that executes the program. In particular, at least a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing a program that causes a computer to execute the processing steps included in the above-described embodiment is included in the technical scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A concrete placement management device that manages the unloading of ready-mix concrete transported from a ready-mix concrete manufacturing plant to a concrete construction site by an agitator truck, after the agitator truck arrives at the construction site and supplies the ready-mix concrete to a pump truck, To image the agitator vehicle, an imaging unit is attached to the pump vehicle or positioned near the pump vehicle, with its focal point set to a range in front of and behind the assumed stopping position of the agitator vehicle, and which approaches the pump vehicle in reverse and images the rear of the agitator vehicle when it stops near the pump vehicle. An identification number extraction unit extracts an identification number for identifying the agitator vehicle from the image captured by the imaging unit, If the same identification number is continuously extracted by the identification number extraction unit for a predetermined period of time, the start time recording unit records the time when the same identification number was first extracted as the unloading start time, and associates it with the identification number. If the identification number extraction unit does not continuously extract the same identification number for a predetermined period of time, the end time recording unit records the time when the same identification number first ceased to be extracted as the end time of unloading, and associates it with the identification number. Equipped with, The start time recording unit records the unloading start time when the identification number is extracted by the identification number extraction unit for a predetermined period of time after the agitator vehicle enters the imaging range of the imaging unit. The completion time recording unit is a concrete pouring management device that records the unloading completion time when the identification number extraction unit does not extract the identification number for a predetermined period of time after the agitator vehicle has moved out of the imaging range of the imaging unit.

2. The concrete pouring management device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit images two agitator vehicles.

3. The system has two of the aforementioned imaging units, The concrete pouring management device according to claim 1, wherein each of the two imaging units captures an image of each of the two agitator vehicles.

4. The concrete pouring management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an unloading time recording unit that, if the same identification number is continuously extracted between the unloading start time and the unloading end time, records the time between the unloading start time and the unloading end time as the unloading time, linked to the identification number.

5. The concrete pouring management device according to claim 4, wherein the unloading time recording unit records the time between the unloading start time and the unloading end time as the unloading time, linked to the identification number, when the same identification number has been continuously extracted between the unloading start time and the unloading end time, a period of time during which the same identification number has not been extracted occurs, and then the same identification number is continuously extracted again.

6. An acquisition unit that acquires image data of a slip used when transporting the ready-mixed concrete to the construction site, by reading the slip using an imaging device at the time of shipment of the ready-mixed concrete, A reading unit reads the vehicle number of the agitator truck, the amount of ready-mixed concrete loaded, and the time of shipment of the ready-mixed concrete from the image data and the slip, A recording unit records the read vehicle number, load capacity, and shipping time, linking them to the identification number. A concrete pouring management device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising:

7. The concrete pouring management device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the aforementioned identification number is the vehicle registration number.

8. A concrete placement management method that manages the unloading of ready-mix concrete transported from a ready-mix concrete manufacturing plant to a concrete construction site by an agitator truck after arriving at the construction site, when supplying the ready-mix concrete to a pump truck, The imaging unit is attached to the pump truck or positioned near the pump truck in order to image the agitator vehicle, and its focal position is set to a range in front of and behind the assumed stopping position of the agitator vehicle, and the imaging step is to image the rear side of the agitator vehicle as it moves in reverse towards the pump truck and stops near the pump truck, The identification number extraction unit performs an identification number extraction step in which it extracts an identification number for identifying the agitator vehicle from the image captured in the imaging step, The start time recording unit, in the identification number extraction step, if the same identification number is extracted continuously for a predetermined period of time, records the time when the same identification number was first extracted as the unloading start time, and records it in association with the identification number. The completion time recording unit, in the identification number extraction step, if the same identification number has not been extracted for a predetermined period of time, records the time when the identification number first stopped being extracted as the unloading completion time, and associates it with the identification number. Includes, The start time recording unit records the unloading start time if, in the start time recording step, the agitator vehicle enters the imaging range of the imaging unit and, in the identification number extraction step, the identification number is extracted for a predetermined period of time. A concrete pouring management method wherein, in the completion time recording step, the completion time recording unit records the unloading completion time if, after the agitator vehicle has moved out of the imaging range of the imaging unit, the identification number is not extracted for a predetermined period of time in the identification number extraction step.

9. An agitator truck, which transports ready-mix concrete manufactured at a ready-mix concrete plant to a concrete construction site, after arriving at the construction site, transfers the ready-mix concrete that it has transported to a pump truck. A concrete pouring management program that manages unloading during supply, In order to image the agitator vehicle, an imaging unit is attached to the pump vehicle or positioned near the pump vehicle, and its focal position is set to a range in front of and behind the assumed stopping position of the agitator vehicle. The imaging step involves imaging the rear side of the agitator vehicle as it approaches the pump vehicle in reverse and stops near the pump vehicle. An identification number extraction step is performed to extract an identification number for identifying the agitator vehicle from the image captured in the imaging step, In the identification number extraction step, if the same identification number is extracted continuously for a predetermined period of time, the start time recording step records the time when the same identification number was first extracted as the unloading start time, and associates it with the identification number. In the identification number extraction step, if the same identification number is not extracted for a predetermined period of time, the completion time recording step records the time when the identification number first stopped being extracted as the unloading completion time, and associates it with the identification number. Have the computer run it, The start time recording unit records the unloading start time if, in the start time recording step, the agitator vehicle enters the imaging range of the imaging unit and, in the identification number extraction step, the identification number is extracted for a predetermined period of time. A concrete pouring management program in which, in the completion time recording step, if the agitator vehicle exits the imaging range of the imaging unit and, in the identification number extraction step, the identification number is not extracted for a predetermined period of time, the completion time of unloading is recorded.

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