●Research Trends and Results

Advanced road management using
imagery probe information
KANAZAWA Fumihiko, HeadSUZUKI Shoichi, Senior Researcher
MOTOMIZU Shota, Researcher
MAEDA Takeyori, Guest Research Engineer
Research Center for Advanced Information Technology, Intelligent Transport
System Division(Key Words) ITS, imagery probe information, road management, anomalous phenomena detection
1. Introduction
In the past, studies to apply technologies for theanalysis of images collected by cameras installed onroad sides have been used to clarify anomalousphenomena and traffic conditions in order to manageroads more effectively and more efficiently. In recent
years on the other hand, it is predicted that the numberof vehicles equipped with on-board cameras toimprove traffic safety will increase in number. And
researches have been performed to develop
technologies which will utilize imagery probe
information that combines imagery information
obtained by such in-vehicle cameras with positioning
information to judge the dryness/wetness of the roadahead1), and research on the concept of drive recordersystems comprised of full-time-archived drive
recorders in combination with smart phones 2). This
report introduces an outline of a study in the ITS field
which, by combining image processing technology
and information communication technology, will be
developed for advanced road management by letting
road operators use imagery probe information.

Photo 1. Example of an In-vehicle Camera Installed
on a Rear-view Mirror
2. Conceptual model for utilization of imagery
probe information
Figure 1 shows a conceptual model for utilization ofimagery probe information. The model is comprised offour functional units. The first is “Data collection”
which means collecting images and positioning
information; the second is “Phenomena detection”
which uses the data collected to detect somephenomena; the third is “Data transmission” which istransmitting collected data or the results of detection;and the fourth is “Data management” which is usingtransmitted data for advanced road management. Of
these, “Phenomena detection” is performed either on
the on-board unit side or the center side according to
the adopted technologies and the functionalrequirements.
Detecting timing,detecting phenomena,technologies, etc.

Data collection

Image data format, in-vehicle
camera functions, collecting
timing, trigger, etc.
Data transmission

Phenomena
detection

Transmission timing, data
volume, transmissionmedium/method, etc.
Data management
Scope of data management
and utilization, etc.

Figure 1. Schematic Figure of Conceptual Model andExamples of Technological Challenges
3. Future prospect
In order to use imagery probe information foradvanced road management, we will clarify
technological challenges in each unit of the conceptualmodel and carry out research and development toresolve them. Moreover, we will study how to treat
security and privacy issues of imagery probe
information, and a business model for using imagery
probe information for advanced road management.
[Reference]
1) Tanaka, Morie, et al.: Dry/Wet Judgment ofRoad Surface Using Gabor Filtering of Vehicle
Camera Images, IEICE Technical Report,ITS2010-63, IE2010-138, p.263-267, February
20112) Shimada, Inoue et. al.: System Proposal ofAlways-archived Drive Recorder by using Smart
Phone and “Vider” New Video Services, IPSJ SIG
Technical Report, Vol. 2009-ITS-38 No. 2,September, 2009