Abstract
Generating and updating roadway geometric elements from aerial images is necessary for multiple geospatial information system purposes, which have been addressed through various approaches. However, most existing methods cannot deal with challenges such as differently curved ramp characteristics, whereas measurements of geometric elements are still of low effectiveness and accuracy. This paper presents a new method for the semi-automatic extraction of horizontal parameters of curved highway ramps using Google Earth images. The proposed method first determines a road centerline manually using a graphics editor software; the file is then saved and processed with a program that analyzes and splits the centerline into its basic components. After that, the curvature analysis and linear fitting methods are integrated for automatic PC and PT determination. Finally, at the post-processing stage, the radii of the curves are computed automatically using the least-squares method. The proposed method was tested on four highway ramps and validated by comparison with the obtained design plans. Results show that the proposed method successfully detected the curves’ PC/PT and measured their radii with a high degree of accuracy.
Highlights
The purpose of constructing highway ramps is to allow traffic on highways to pass through the junction without interruption from other crossing traffic streams [1]
In an attempt to address some of these limitations, this study proposes an automatic method to detect the PC and PT of roadway ramp curves, including simple, compound, and spiral curves, and measure their attributes from Google Earth (GE) imagery
This paper presents a new method for semi-automatically measuring the horizontal curves of highway ramps, including the PC/PT and curve radii, using Google Earth images
Summary
The purpose of constructing highway ramps is to allow traffic on highways to pass through the junction without interruption from other crossing traffic streams [1]. Horizontal curves on highway ramps are designed to provide a smooth and safe transition between straight lines along the road trajectory, allowing the vehicle to safely pass a turn at a gradual rate instead of a sharp cut [2]. Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety, a large number of serious vehicle crashes occur at interchange ramps of highways even though ramps only represent a small portion of the road network [3]. Public studies have been undertaken to determine how the attributes of horizontal curves on the roads could be associated with the increase in crashes and how practical measures can reduce crash rates. Knowing the geometric elements of the horizontal curves and their location are critical in reducing crash rates. The original design plan is often missing for ramps, making it difficult to assess safety performance
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