An acoustic-based road traffic monitoring method

Abstract

The paper shows an acoustic-based road traffic monitoring method and its capabilities of utilizing it in the road system management. First, the acoustical signal acquisition process is shown. The database development and the methodology of audio signals preprocessing are described. Next, selecting appropriate parameters used to detect the presence of the vehicle on the road is discussed. The detected events are subjected first to the statistical evaluation related to intervals between vehicles (safe distance criterion), and then classification is carried out. Several methods for classifying vehicle types based on their sound are employed, using four classes of vehicles. Additionally, the method of assessing traffic safety is presented with regard to the vehicle tire adhesion with the road surface—by acoustic detection of the presence of water and snow on the roadway. The effectiveness of 0,968 has been obtained for the type of a vehicle, whereas 93.3% for detecting humidity on the road surface. [The project is financed by the Polish National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) from the European Regional Development Fund under the Operational Programme Innovative Economy No. POIR.04.01.04-00-0089/16 entitled: INZNAK – “Intelligent road signs for adaptive traffic control, communicating in V2X technology.”]