Page 30 - Trafficinfratech Magazine Aug - Sept

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Can thermal-based cameras be a help in
strengthening city’s transport? Some of the key features includes:
CCTV cameras cannot see at night and will have problems i) Smart city traffic enforcement (ITMS): Can
with direct sunlight and shadows. Thermal cameras overcome be used with Red Light Violation Detection.
these limitations because these do not make use of visible Integrated with RTO: e-Challan.
light, but rely on thermal radiation, or heat given off by ii) Parking Management: Calculates the vehicle
everything in their field of view as thermal cameras do not get occupancy time for each parking slots.
confused by sun glare, darkness, headlights, shadows, wet
streets, snow or fog. iii) Entry / Exit / Tollbooth Vehicle Monitoring:
This is a typical use case for what we call Video
This, according to Richard Canday, makes the thermal analytics for smart buildings. Implementations
camera an ideal component of a 24/7 traffic monitoring include:
solution. Based on temperature differences between objects, a) Comparing number plate with Blacklist
thermal imaging sensors produce a clear image in any lighting and White list
condition, day or night. An additional benefit of thermal
imaging is that this technology enables operators to see b) Time spent by vehicle inside premises
through smoke. This can be a life-saving feature in smoke-filled c) Alert on vehicles that haven’t exited end
buildings and can provide valuable information to firefighting of the day
teams about the possible location of people. d) Daily reporting: Vehicle counting reports.
Ashish Dhakan, says, “The thermal cameras can be very iv) Video incidence detection for highways (VIDS)
helpful in the transportation vertical for human and vehicle a) Illegal parking detection in no parking areas
detection at crucial points. Thermal cameras are useful in b) Wrong way detection
places like tunnels where it can detect people and forewarn
the driver (Metro Rail, Train, Bus, Tram, etc.), with the relevant c) Speeding detection
information. In places such as unmanned level crossings, d) Sudden stop detection in the middle of the
thermal cameras can prevent collisions between trains and road indicating accident
obstacles by detecting if a vehicle stops on railway tracks and is e) Traffic Classification into Congested,
obstructing the path of a running train, in a real-time scenario.” Stop and Go and Normal
In public transportation, thermal imaging cameras offer f) Vehicle classification, colour detection,
many new possibilities to enhance safety and efficiency. In multi-lane vehicle counting and reports.
public transportation tunnels, thermal cameras can help Meanwhile, Aabmatica Technologies’ focus is
prevent fires, by detecting hot spots, or detect fires in an centred on traffic management and enforcement
early stage so they don’t have a chance to spread. Thermal solutions. Arvind Tewari, General Manager,
cameras, for example, can be used as a rearview camera for Aabmatica Technologies Pvt. Ltd sees a sharp
railway vehicles that are conducted by a single person. When increase in the demand of products in these verticals
parked, thermal sensors could be used to monitor trespassers as it forms part of all smart city and traffic police
in a certain perimeter around the vehicle. Thermal cameras modernization projects. He adds, “With the current
can also monitor equipment, like overhead lines, and generate emphasis on traffic safety and amended Motor
warnings when component failure is imminent. Generally Vehicle Act, we foresee a further use of technology
speaking, all electronic equipment and components heat up in these fields. The policy makers as well as the
before they break down. These potential problems will be government wants technology to replace all feet
clearly shown in a thermal image. on ground ensuring a transparent and fair system.”
When thermal-based cameras are combined with video In order to reduce waiting time at traffic junctions
analytics technology they can identify potential threats and and understand traffic status across the length and
immediately notify the relevant authorities. Thus being able breadth of cities, usage of various types of sensors
to see in all light conditions and their ability to integrate with has increased. The company has been able to make
analytics software to reduce false alarms, thermal cameras are major breakthroughs in traffic management solutions
ideal for strengthening security in cities. and expects an exponential growth in this market.
Rahul Kamat

30 August-September ’19 / TrafficInfraTech www.trafficinfratech-com-500653.hostingersite.com