Automatic Traffic Signs and Panels Inspection System Using Computer Vision

Abstract

Abstract-Computer vision techniques applied to systems used on road maintenance, which are related either to traffic signs or to the road itself, are playing a major role in many countries because of the higher investment on public works of this kind. These systems are able to collect a wide range of information automatically and quickly, with the aim of improving road safety. In this context, the correct visibility of traffic signs and panels is vital for the safety of drivers. This paper describes an approach to the VISUAL Inspection of Signs and panEls ("VISUALISE"), which is an automatic inspection system, mounted onboard a vehicle, which performs inspection tasks at conventional driving speeds. VISUALISE allows for an improvement in the awareness of the road signaling state, supporting planning and decision making on the administration's and infrastructure operators' side. A description of the main computer vision techniques and some experimental results obtained from thousands of kilometers are presented. Finally, the conclusions of the system are described.

Overview of Environment Perception for Intelligent Vehicles

“…The Hough transform was proposed to process the edge features [87], [88]. A radial symmetry detector was proposed for sign detection [89], [90].…”

Role of Computer Vision in Automatic Inspection Systems

“…Computer vision plays a major role in traffic signs and road maintenance for providing road safety [2]. First step is the detection of vertical traffic signs and its recognition .Inside the vehicle, a camera is mounted which is looking towards the road.…”

Robust traffic signs detection by means of vision and V2I communications

“…In order to achieve this goal, an analysis of the shapes obtained from an edgeimage is carried out. A Hough transform for straight lines is used to detect triangular, while a Hough transform for circles is applied to detect circular signs as well as the Stop sign, although the proposed method can also be used to detect rectangular or arrow signs, as shown in [2].…”

“…But not only it is useful as a driving-assistance system, TSR also has other possible applications, such as inventory system of traffic signs [1], or building and maintaining maps of signs, furthermore it can be used as automatic inspection of signs. For example, VISUALISE system [2] provides automatic retro-reflection measurement of traffic signs and panels, allowing better maintained roads resulting in better and safer signposting.…”