Road Hazard Risk Mapping Using Mobile Imaging and Weather Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current road management systems face challenges in detecting freezing conditions beyond the range of fixed cameras and effectively predicting and preventing pothole formation, leading to inefficient maintenance and potential safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A mobile imaging apparatus captures road images and environmental data, which are analyzed to calculate the risk of obstructing factors like freezing or pothole formation, and this information is linked to map data for real-time display, enabling proactive maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fixed cameras are deployed to detect road conditions, then detection accuracy at specific locations is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to need for multiple dedicated cameras
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling mobile imaging apparatuses (originally designed for general road imaging) to perform multiple functions: capturing road surface images, acquiring environmental information, and detecting various road conditions including freezing and potholes. This eliminates the need for dedicated fixed cameras at every location while maintaining comprehensive detection capability through mobile deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from static fixed camera systems to dynamic mobile imaging apparatuses that move through different locations. This dynamic approach allows a single or few mobile units to cover multiple areas over time, reducing the total number of cameras needed while maintaining detection accuracy across the entire road network
2Loss of information
If fixed cameras are used to monitor road conditions, then current freezing status can be detected, but the ability to predict future road conditions and prevent hazards is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by acquiring environmental information (temperature, humidity, weather conditions) and analyzing road surface images to calculate the risk of future obstructing factors before they actually occur. This allows the system to predict potential freezing or pothole formation in advance, enabling preventive maintenance rather than just detecting current conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring road conditions and environmental factors, then using this data to update risk calculations and predictions. The system feeds back this predictive information to maintenance authorities, creating a closed-loop system that improves reliability through continuous learning and adaptation
3Area of stationary object
If comprehensive road monitoring is implemented using multiple dedicated devices, then detection coverage is improved, but cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic mobile imaging apparatuses that can move to different locations to provide comprehensive coverage, replacing the need for multiple stationary cameras. This maintains wide detection coverage while reducing system complexity by using fewer, multi-positioned devices instead of many fixed installations
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile imaging apparatus is designed to perform multiple detection functions (road surface condition, environmental monitoring, freezing detection, pothole detection) within a single integrated system, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated devices and reducing overall system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A risk of occurrence calculating apparatus includes an image analyzing unit configured to analyze an image of a road; an environmental information acquiring unit configured to acquire environmental information of the surroundings of the road; a risk of occurrence calculating unit configured to calculate a risk of occurrence indicating the likelihood that an obstructing factor that may hinder passage on the road occurs, based on an analysis result resulting from an analysis by the image analyzing unit and the environmental information acquired by the environmental information acquiring unit; and a display controlling unit configured to link the risk of occurrence to map information indicating position information of the road.