Importance

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Abstract

A system for the automated determination of retroreflectivity values for reflective surfaces disposed along a roadway repeatedly illuminates an area along the roadway that includes at least one reflective surface using a strobing light source. Multiple light intensity values are measured over a field of view which includes at least a portion of the area illuminated by the light source. A computer processing system is used to identifying a portion of the light intensity values associated with a reflective surface and analyze the portion of the light intensity values to determine at least one retroreflectivity value for that reflective surface. Preferably, color images of the area and locational information are also generated by the system and are used together with a characterization profile of the light source to enhance the accuracy of the determination of retroreflectivity values. In one embodiment, a three-dimensional overlay of retroreflectivity values for the roadway is generated and can be manipulated to display retroreflectivity values of a reflective surface at any desired point along the roadway. In another embodiment, a virtual drive through along a roadway is simulated using a plurality of retroreflectivity values to simulate reflections from each reflective surface disposed along the roadway during the virtual drive through.

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First Claim