Automated Pavement Marking Detection and Quality Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for applying and evaluating pavement markings on roadways rely heavily on manual processes, which are time-consuming, prone to errors, and lack efficiency, especially in determining the location and quality of markings.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based system utilizing sensors, cameras, and augmented reality to automatically determine the location and quality of pavement markings, providing data for robotic vehicles or drones to apply markings accurately and efficiently, and to assess when re-painting is necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual measurement and inspection methods are used to determine pavement marking locations and quality, then the process is simple to implement, but the time consumption and labor requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement and inspection methods with an automated computer-based system that uses sensors, cameras, and image processing algorithms to detect pavement marking locations and evaluate their quality, thereby eliminating the time-consuming manual processes while maintaining implementation feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing the computer to automatically determine pavement marking locations, assess their quality against predefined criteria, and generate reports without requiring manual intervention at each step, thus reducing both time consumption and labor requirements
2Device complexity
If manual processes are used to determine pavement marking locations and evaluate quality, then the system complexity is low, but the accuracy and precision of measurements decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes manual visual inspection with automated optical sensors and camera-based image processing systems that provide precise measurement of pavement marking dimensions, positions, and conditions, significantly improving measurement accuracy while introducing moderate system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies of pavement markings through image capture and processing, allowing for precise digital measurement and analysis of marking dimensions, reflectivity, and condition without physical contact, thereby enhancing measurement precision through computational analysis
3Productivity
If automated computer-based systems with sensors and cameras are deployed to determine pavement marking locations and quality, then the productivity and efficiency improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional integrated system where a single computer-based platform performs multiple tasks including location determination, quality assessment, data analysis, and report generation, thereby improving overall productivity while managing device complexity through functional integration
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple functions (sensor data acquisition, image processing, quality evaluation, and decision support) into a unified automated platform, enhancing productivity by eliminating sequential manual operations while consolidating system complexity into an integrated architecture
4Ease of operation
If manual inspection is used to evaluate pavement marking quality, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the reliability and consistency of quality assessment decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the computer system automatically compares detected pavement marking characteristics against predefined quality criteria and standards, providing consistent and reliable quality assessments that eliminate human subjectivity while maintaining ease of operation through automated decision support
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual quality judgment with automated image processing and analysis algorithms that objectively measure pavement marking properties such as reflectivity, dimensions, and condition, thereby improving assessment reliability and consistency while requiring minimal operational intervention
Data Source
AI summary
In an approach to determining pavement markings, a computer determines a location of a first computing device based on data received from one or more location devices associated with the first computing device. The computer then retrieves pavement marking data for one or more pavement markings for the location and determines whether one or more existing pavement markings are present at the location. Responsive to determining that one or more existing pavement markings are present at the location, the computer determines whether each of the one or more existing pavement markings meet one or more pre-determined thresholds for an acceptable pavement marking quality. Furthermore, responsive to determining each of the one or more existing pavement markings do not meet the one or more pre-determined thresholds for an acceptable pavement marking quality level, the computer provides pavement marking data to the first computing device.