T RAFFIC JAM DETECTION SYSTEM

TRAFFIC JAM DETECTION SYSTEM

Chapter
1
Introduction

Traffic system is at the heart of civilized world and

development in many aspects of life relies on it. Excessive
number of traffic in roads and improper controls of that traffic
create traffic jam. It either hampers or stagnate schedule,
regimen, business, and commerce. Automated traffic
detection system is therefore required to run the civilization
smooth and safe- which will eventually lead us towards proper
analysis on traffics, proper adjustment of control
management, and distribution of controlling signals.

The aim of this project is to develop a traffic jam detection

system using image processing and object detection. Besides,
we developed an application that uses this detection
mechanism and provides instant online information through
Short Messaging Service (SMS) and e-mail. This information
helps the travelers to incorporate with current situation on
specific roads and the authority to plan and schedule load
balancing on the roads.

1.1 Traffic Jam Detection

Mostly, automated systems need the interaction with a

computer that requires an algorithm to meet the specific
requirements.

5
 T RAFFIC JAM DETECTION SYSTEM

Human eye can easily detect whether there is a traffic jam or

not. Within less than a second, human brain processes the
image of the traffic, detects and analyzes objects, and
thereafter comes to a decision. A programmer also detects, as
being a human, traffic jam according to the analysis and
detection of objects. But implementation of such a biological
process requires some special treatment.

Computers can recognize only binary signals and a picture of

the road can be represented as a digital image. This image is
used as primary source of data. But, an image, when it is
captured from natural environment, is very raw and
unformatted. Programmers have to process the data and
extract relevant information from images. Frequent need of
extracting information from images has led to the
development of several fields (e.g. Image processing,
Computer Vision, Object recognition etc) in computing
industry. We have used image processing and object
detection to detect traffic jam. It takes several steps of image
processing for us to make decision. Key points of these steps
are,

• Image Analysis

• Object detection

• Typed object count

• Motion detection

• Result representation

We have integrated these steps in our system and have

developed an application to simulate it.

1.2 Techniques of Traffic Jam Detection

Several approaches have been taken to detect traffic jam.

Oldest and most reliable approach of them is to employ a
person in important traffic points. But with the advent of

5
 T RAFFIC JAM DETECTION SYSTEM

technology and increment of traffic flow, several approaches

with less involvement of human have been taken.

Magnetic Loop Detector (MLD) used to count the number of

plying vehicles using magnetic properties [Koller et al. 1994].

Light beams (IR, LASER etc) are also use. As traffic move on
road light beams are cut. Electronic devices can record these
events and detect traffic jam.

In contemporary approaches, image processing, computer

vision etc are highly recommended. In these types of
approaches involvement of computers provide online
characteristics, facilitate centralized control over distributed
system and develop compact platform. Computer vision (or
Robot Vision) can also provide other services. In these
approaches, information feed through telephone or web
networks can easily be supported. Even, traffic flow of whole
city can be observed from a centre and statistics can be
made. Traffic systems design and urban planning can be very
efficient by taking statistics from computer aided traffic
systems.

We are using computer aided image processing to attain

optimal support.

1.3 A Brief of Our Approach

In our project, as mentioned earlier, we have used image

processing. Major steps of our work are presented next,

1.3.1 Image Analysis

At first we must capture the image of the traffic point where
we are going to detect traffic jam. This image is taken using a
good digital camera. Usually some fundamental image
enhancements using Gaussian filter and noise reductions are
done by camera itself. So, we do not need to apply them again
and kept this step for camera.

5
T RAFFIC JAM DETECTION SYSTEM

1.3.2 Object Detection

This step is very crucial. We used ‘Lane Masking’ [Atkociunas et al.
2005]. After masking lane, the image contains only traffic
vehicles. Then ‘Euclidean Color Filter’ is applied. It will fill
pixels with white where the difference of color is minimal.
Then, the image will be converted into a binary (first
‘Grayscale’ and then ‘Black & White’) image using a threshold
value. Afterwards, ‘Erosion’ operator and ‘Adaptive
Smoothing’ are applied. Finally, ‘blobs’ are found from the
image and are placed apart. We recognize these blobs as
objects.

We will call this technique as ‘Erosion-Blob Technique of Object

Extraction’.

1.3.3 Typed Object Count

Object detection is followed by object count. We, classify all
the objects found, in previous step, into four groups (small,
large, critical and perfect) and count them. This information is
provided to determine the present state of traffic.

We will call this technique as ‘Erosion-Blob Technique of Typed

Object Count’.

1.3.4 Motion Detection

To detect motion, we need two consecutive captures of the
road. Both images undergo ‘Erosion-Blob Technique of Object
Extraction’ (section 1.3.2). Then, we detect overlapped blobs.
Then, we calculate the distance the same blob has moved.
Finally we average the result to determine speed of plying
traffic.

1.3.5 Result Representation

We simulate our system with an application developed in the
.Net Framework.

5
 T RAFFIC JAM DETECTION SYSTEM

1.4 Outcome of the Project

Our project is targeted at developing a tool for detecting

traffic jam. This project reaches the target successfully and
can be implemented in various online systems. We can feed
information about:

• Number of plying vehicle

• Existence of Jam

• Average speed of traffic

In the next chapters we will represent details of our project.

TRAFFIC JAM DETECTION SYSTEM

Chapter
2
Background

5
T RAFFIC JAM DETECTION SYSTEM

TRAFFIC JAM DETECTION SYSTEM

Chapter
3
Work Approach

5
T RAFFIC JAM DETECTION SYSTEM