Arc-Side Traffic Surveillance Carrying Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional traffic surveillance systems, often utilizing gantries, face challenges with limited working angles, high visual impact, and burdensome maintenance requirements, which hinder efficient tracking and registration of vehicles while increasing costs and disrupting traffic flow.

Innovation Solution

A traffic surveillance system with a carrying structure that positions traffic surveillance devices, including vehicle identity registration and tracking cameras, in an arc-shaped configuration alongside the road, allowing for flexible placement and reduced visual impact, enabling efficient vehicle tracking and registration with minimal disruption to traffic flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a gantry is used to position traffic surveillance devices, then the devices can be mounted at a height that allows all vehicles to pass underneath, but the working angles of the devices are restricted and maintenance becomes burdensome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking angle flexibilityVSAvoidgantry structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The carrying structure is positioned in a plane from which the surveillance zone protrudes, transitioning from a traditional overhead gantry to a side-mounted configuration. This dimensional change allows devices to be arranged at different heights and angles without requiring a large overhead structure, thereby improving working angle flexibility while reducing structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The devices are arranged in an arc-shaped configuration along the carrying structure, allowing optimal positioning at different angular positions. This curved arrangement enables each device to achieve its ideal working angle toward the surveillance zone, resolving the angle restriction problem while maintaining a compact structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a large gantry is used to accommodate all devices, then all surveillance functions can be provided, but the visual impact is negative and maintenance is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurveillance coverageVSAvoidvisual impact
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The surveillance system is divided into multiple discrete devices mounted along an arc-shaped carrying structure rather than consolidated on a single large gantry. This segmentation allows the system to provide comprehensive surveillance coverage while presenting a lower visual profile, as the distributed devices blend better with the roadside environment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The carrying structure serves multiple functions: it positions devices at optimal heights and angles, provides structural support, and enables maintenance access without requiring road closure. This multi-functionality allows comprehensive surveillance capabilities to be achieved with a more compact, less visually intrusive configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If smaller gantries are used to reduce visual impact, then the structure is less obtrusive, but maintenance requires lifting cranes and road closure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual impactVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The carrying structure extends slightly beyond what is minimally required to hold the devices, creating accessible platforms at each device location. This excessive extension provides maintenance personnel with easy access to devices without requiring complex lifting equipment or road closure, while still maintaining a compact overall structure with reduced visual impact

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Reliability

If multiple gantries are deployed to monitor several roads, then accurate surveillance is ensured, but the visual impact and implementation cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurveillance accuracyVSAvoidnumber of gantries
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple surveillance functions for several roads are merged into a single carrying structure by arranging devices along an arc that can cover multiple road entries and exits. This consolidation maintains surveillance accuracy across all monitored roads while reducing the total number of separate gantry structures, thereby lowering both visual impact and implementation cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2858056B1Traffic surveillance system
Publication Date: 2016.12.07 KAPSCH TRAFFICCOM AB
  • EP2858056B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP2858056B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP2858056B1 patent drawingFigure 2a

AI summary

Traffic surveillance system (1), wherein the system (1) is adapted to track and register vehicles passing a surveillance zone (2). The traffic surveillance system (1) comprises a carrying structure (3) and a plurality of traffic surveillance devices, wherein the traffic surveillance devices are adapted to be mounted upon the carrying structure (3) and comprises at least a vehicle identity registration device (4) and a vehicle tracking device (5). The surveillance zone being defined as the coverage of the devices and provided in a plane (22) from which the carrying structure (3) protrudes, wherein the surveillance zone (2) comprises a plurality of gateway zones (6) and at least one interconnecting zone (7), which interconnecting zone (7) connects at least two gateway zones (6) with each other. The vehicle identity registration device (4) is arranged such upon the carrying structure (3) that it define the gateway zones (6) in that it is adapted to record a passage of a vehicle into or out from the surveillance zone (2) through the gateway zones (6) and the vehicle tracking device (5) is arranged such upon the carrying structure (3) that it defines essentially arc shaped interconnecting zone (7).