Pedestrian Tracking at Traffic Intersections for Signal Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current traffic detection systems lack the ability to accurately differentiate and count pedestrians within traffic intersections, leading to inadequate management of pedestrian traffic and signal timing adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for identifying and counting pedestrians within a traffic detection zone by using zone position analysis and object movement analysis, combined with part-based object recognition, to determine pedestrian presence, volume, velocity, and trajectory, and triggering alarms for incidents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional detection systems use virtual zones to detect vehicles, then vehicle detection capability is provided, but pedestrian detection and counting accuracy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system segments the field of view into multiple specialized zones: vehicle detection zones, bicycle detection zones, and pedestrian detection zones. Each zone is optimized for detecting specific types of road users, allowing the system to accurately differentiate and count pedestrians without requiring a single complex detection mechanism to handle all object types.
2Loss of information
If conventional systems count total vehicles only, then simple counting is achieved, but differentiation between vehicle types and pedestrians is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments traffic flow into distinct categories by creating separate detection zones for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. This segmentation preserves detailed traffic composition information while maintaining processing efficiency through specialized detection algorithms for each zone type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that analyzes detection zone outputs to differentiate between object types. This intermediary layer processes zone data to extract detailed traffic composition information without requiring complete redesign of the underlying detection system.
3Reliability
If no pedestrian-specific detection is implemented, then system simplicity is maintained, but pedestrian safety management and signal timing optimization are inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements pedestrian-specific detection by segmenting the field of view into dedicated pedestrian detection zones. This segmentation provides reliable pedestrian safety management through accurate detection and counting while adding minimal complexity by reusing the existing virtual zone framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system achieves multi-functionality by using the same virtual zone infrastructure to detect vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians simultaneously. This universal approach improves pedestrian safety management without requiring entirely separate detection systems for each object type.
Data Source
AI summary
Pedestrian detection and counting for traffic intersection control analyzes characteristics of a field of view of a traffic detection zone to determine a location and size of a pedestrian area, and applies protocols for evaluating pixel content in the field of view to identify individual pedestrians. The location and size of a pedestrian area is determined based either on locations of vehicle and bicycle detection areas or on movement of various objects within the field of view. Automatic pedestrian speed calibration with a region of interest for pedestrian detection is accomplished using lane and other intersection markings in the field of view. Detection and counting further includes identifying a presence, volume, velocity and trajectory of pedestrians in the pedestrian area of the traffic detection zone.