Importance

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Abstract

A method for predicting a traffic flow rate at a point on a road to control a traffic light signaling system measures a traffic density on the road to predict a traffic flow rate by utilizing the fact that a velocity of a vehicle on the road is restricted by an interval between successive vehicles, since the traffic density is locally increased when the vehicle interval is not uniform and therefore the spatial mean speed is lowered. This method offers higher accuracy by utilizing a correction coefficient obtained from an actual vehicle distribution, for instance, a coefficient derived from entropy. An apparatus for controlling a traffic light signaling system installed on a point of a road by utilizing this predicting method, thereby smoothing a traffic condition, includes video cameras for picking up images of a traffic condition at an upper stream of an intersection, an A/D converter for converting an analog video output signal into a digital video signal, two sets of image memories for storing digital image data about two scenes imaged by the video cameras at a proper time interval, an image processing unit for extracting moving objects from the images, a data process/control unit for calculating a total number of vehicles within a predetermined area and each space headway, whereby a vehicle distribution pattern is recognized an a correction coefficient is calculated, and an input/output unit for interfacing with the traffic light signaling system installed on the road.

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First Claim