JP2013061726A - On-vehicle snow accumulation measuring apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an on-vehicle snow accumulation measuring apparatus that is mounted on a vehicle or the like, and reliably measures a snow accumulation to enable snow removal work to be properly performed.SOLUTION: An on-vehicle snow accumulation measuring apparatus 1 is mounted on a vehicle 20 and comprises a control section 2, a display section 3, an operation section 4, a camera 5, and a communication device 6. The control section 2 is connected to a power supply 11, a vehicle speed sensor 12, a GPS unit 13, and an alarm device 14. The camera 5 captures an object to be measured 25 in front of the vehicle 20 and obtains image data required for measuring a snow accumulation. The communication device 6 transmits various data obtained by the on-vehicle snow accumulation measuring apparatus 1 to a computer 30 provided in a management center which a snow removal manager belongs to.

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle snow accumulation measuring device mounted on a vehicle such as a snowplow.

  Although not for in-vehicle use, a snow amount measuring device is known that monitors the amount of snow by installing a camera near the snow pole. An example of this type of snow accumulation measuring device is shown in the figure (see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the entire conventional snow accumulation measuring device. FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram of the installation state of the sensor device unit of FIG. 4, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of the object to be measured of FIG. The snow amount measuring apparatus 100 described as a snow removal work start system includes a plurality of sensor device units 160, a mobile phone communication network 161, a management device unit 300 including a personal computer, a work manager who manages snow removal work, and snow removal. And a mobile phone 162 held and carried by a worker engaged in the work. As shown in FIG. 5A, the sensor device unit 160 is attached to an installation pole 163 such as a utility pole that is installed in the vicinity of the measurement object 250 that is a reference pole (snow pole). And a laser distance meter 164 for measuring the distance hb from the snowy surface. The laser distance meter 164 is installed at the ground height Hb.

  The amount of snow is calculated from the image data from the camera 105 sent from the sensor device unit 160 to the management device unit 300 via the mobile phone communication network 161, and the exposed portion of the reference coloring band 165 of the measurement object 250 is calculated. It measures on an image, calculates height ha to reference height Ha, and calculates snow amount data (snow cover value) from Ha-ha. Based on the obtained snow accumulation data, it is determined whether or not snow removal is necessary. If snow removal is necessary, the mobile phone 162 of the work manager or worker is contacted. In this way, it is possible to receive a start instruction for snow removal work reliably and promptly, regardless of the state of the work, without having to go around the snow removal target location, and to perform the necessary snow removal work promptly. Is disclosed.

JP 2009-257805 A

<Disadvantages described in Patent Document 1>
The sensor device section 160 of the snow accumulation measuring device 100 that is a snow removal work start system described in Patent Document 1 is a fixed type that is installed in the vicinity of the measurement object 250 that is a reference pole (snow pole). This requires a lot of cost for installation and maintenance. In addition, because of the installation at a specific point, the regional displacement of the snow cover due to heavy snow caused by cumulonimbus cannot be captured, resulting in disadvantages such as the necessity to change the work time at the site.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle snow amount measuring device that is mounted on a vehicle or the like and can reliably measure snow amount and appropriately perform snow removal work. Is to provide.

In order to achieve the above-described object, an in-vehicle snow amount measuring apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by the following (1) to (3).
(1) An in-vehicle snowfall measuring device mounted on a vehicle,
A control unit;
A camera for imaging the front of the vehicle;
A communication device for communicating various information data;
With
The camera images an object to be measured to make the amount of snow visible.
The control unit analyzes the captured image data and acquires snow amount measurement data based on the snow amount,
The communication device transmits the snow accumulation measurement data to a computer provided in a management center.
about.
(2) An on-vehicle snowfall measuring device having the configuration of (1) above,
A GPS unit;
The control unit acquires position information data of the vehicle from the GPS unit,
The communication device transmits the position information data to the computer together with the snow amount measurement data.
about.
(3) An on-vehicle snowfall measuring device having the configuration of (1) or (2) above,
The control unit calculates the snow removal work time by comparing the snow amount measurement data and the snow removal work time table,
The communication device transmits the snow removal work time to the computer;
about.

According to the on-vehicle snow amount measuring apparatus having the configuration (1), the apparatus can be mounted on a vehicle and can measure a plurality of snow amounts following the movement of the vehicle. And can perform appropriate snow removal work.
According to the in-vehicle snow amount measuring apparatus having the configuration (2), the snow accumulation state for each region can be grasped, and a finer snow removal work plan can be made.
According to the in-vehicle snow amount measuring device having the configuration (3), the time required for snow removal is provided together with the snow amount measurement data, which can be useful for improving the efficiency of snow removal work.

  According to the present invention, the amount of snow is measured and transmitted based on image data captured by a camera mounted on the vehicle, so that the amount of snow can be grasped in a timely manner by the management center. As a result, a snow removal work plan that matches the snow removal work site is established, and the appropriate number of workers, work equipment, etc. can be input based on accurate work time, and an in-vehicle snowfall measurement device that helps improve the efficiency of snow removal work is provided. it can.

  The present invention has been briefly described above. Further, details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through the modes for carrying out the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an in-vehicle snow accumulation measuring device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for measuring the amount of snow using the in-vehicle snow amount measuring apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a snow amount measuring procedure using the on-vehicle snow amount measuring apparatus of FIG. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the entire conventional snow accumulation measuring device. 5A is an explanatory diagram of the installation status of the sensor device unit of FIG. 4, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of the object to be measured of FIG. 5A.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Specific configuration>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an in-vehicle snow accumulation measuring device of the present invention. Based on FIG. 1, the on-vehicle snow amount measuring apparatus of the present invention will be described.

  The in-vehicle snow amount measuring device 1 is mounted on a vehicle 20 such as a snowplow, a road work vehicle, or a snow patrol vehicle, and includes a control unit 2 including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a display unit 3, an operation unit 4, a camera 5, The communication apparatus 6 is comprised. The control unit 2 is connected to a power source 11, a vehicle speed sensor 12, a GPS unit 13, an alarm device 14, and the like.

  The control unit 2 acquires various information data obtained from the camera 5, the vehicle speed sensor 12, the GPS unit 13, and the like, analyzes and calculates them by a program or the like, and converts them into data serving as a determination criterion. Further, it instructs the display of necessary data on the display unit 3, the operation of the communication device 6 and the alarm device 14, and the like. The display unit 3 displays the monitored state of the in-vehicle snowfall measuring device 1, the position of the vehicle 20, the video from the camera 5, and the like. The operation unit 4 can perform ON / OFF of the in-vehicle snow amount measuring device 1 and other necessary operations, and is provided with operation buttons, a dial (not shown), and the like.

  The camera 5 has a built-in CCD and the like, takes an image of the front of the vehicle 20, and particularly acquires image data necessary for measuring the amount of snow. Further, the camera 5 may be provided with a distance measuring device for measuring the distance of an object to be measured 25 which will be described later in front of the vehicle 20 with a laser, a millimeter wave radar or the like. The communication device 6 transmits various data obtained by the in-vehicle snowfall measuring device 1 to a computer 30 provided in a management center or the like to which a snow removal manager belongs and receives commands from the management center or the like.

  The vehicle speed sensor 12 gives a pulse signal for calculating the travel speed and travel distance of the vehicle 20 to the control unit 2. The GPS unit 13 gives the control unit 2 position information, distance information, and time information of the vehicle 20. The alarm device 14 receives a command from the control unit 2 and generates an emergency siren sound or a warning sound for notifying a dangerous state or the like.

  The computer 30 organizes and integrates various data transmitted from the in-vehicle snow accumulation measuring device 1 and provides the snow removal manager with data necessary for snow removal work. The snow removal manager makes a snow removal plan from the acquired data, arranges a snow removal vehicle, and gives a snow removal instruction to the snow removal operator.

<Measurement of snow cover>
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for measuring the amount of snow. A method for measuring the amount of snow will be described with reference to FIG.

  A camera 5 is attached to the head of the vehicle 20. The camera 5 images a measurement object 25 such as a snow pole in front of the vehicle 20. The to-be-measured object 25 is a snow pole (line-of-sight guide sign) or the like installed at regular intervals on the side of the route so that the amount of snow is visible. There are various methods for measuring the amount of snow cover (snow cover height) LT [cm]. In the present invention, angle measurement (trigonometry) will be described as an example. An angle θ formed by the reference height L [cm] of the measurement object 25 and the height H [cm] of the snow cover is calculated from the captured image data. From the relationship between the distance D [cm] between the vehicle 20 and the object to be measured 25, the height T [cm] of the exposed portion of the object to be measured 25 is calculated. Using the calculated T [cm], the snow accumulation amount (snow accumulation height) LT−cm [cm] can be calculated.

  The distance D [cm] between the vehicle 20 and the object to be measured 25 is obtained from the difference between the position information data of the vehicle 20 obtained from the GPS unit 13 and the position information data registered in advance for each object to be measured 25. It is done. As another method, the distance D between the vehicle 20 and the object to be measured 25 may be measured by a distance meter mounted on the camera 5. Further, as a method other than these, even if the separation distance D [cm] is unknown, the angle based on the image data obtained at two time points from the camera 5 when the vehicle 20 approaches the measurement object 25, respectively. It is also possible to calculate T [cm] from the change amount Δθ of θ and the travel distance Δd between imaging.

  When the object to be measured 25 is a snow pole, the maximum installation interval is defined as 50 m on a straight line and 5 m to 40 m on a curve. Therefore, the imaging interval from the camera 5 depends on the traveling speed of the vehicle 20. From 1 second to 1 minute.

  The calculated snow amount measurement data is transmitted to the computer 30 of the management center via the communication device 6 together with the position information data of the vehicle and the position information data of the measurement object. For transmission, an electric communication line (for example, an Internet line, a satellite line, a mobile phone line, a mobile communication network, etc.) is used.

  Also, the work time, work equipment, number of workers, etc. necessary for snow removal can be calculated using the snow removal work time table. The snow removal work time table described here is a database of data related to past snow removal work. This table records the amount of snow, the location of snow, the snow area, the snow removal time required for snow removal, the number of workers, work equipment, and the like.

  When the snow removal work time table is recorded in the control unit 2 of the in-vehicle snow amount measuring apparatus 1, the snow removal amount measurement data calculated by analysis and calculation in the control unit 2 is compared with the snow removal work time table. And calculate the optimum snow removal work time and the like. The calculated snow removal work time and the like are transmitted to the computer 30 through the communication device 6 of the in-vehicle snow accumulation measuring device 1. Further, when the snow removal work time table is recorded in the computer 30, the optimum snow removal work time and the like can be calculated on the administrator side by transmitting the snow accumulation measurement data. In addition, based on the acquired image data, a work manager belonging to a management center or the like can make a snow removal work plan based on past experience.

  Since the in-vehicle snow amount measuring device 1 is mounted on the vehicle 20 and can measure the snow amount at a constant distance while the vehicle 20 moves, a fine snow removal operation is possible. Moreover, in order to perform snow removal work efficiently, the amount of snow accumulation can be mapped for each predetermined region. In particular, snow accumulation due to cumulonimbus clouds has a large difference in the amount of snow even at a distance of only 100 m. Therefore, it is indispensable to acquire detailed snow amount measurement data at the site when performing snow removal work. By using the measuring apparatus 1, an appropriate and safe snow removal work can be performed.

<Procedure for measuring snowfall>
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the snow amount measuring procedure.

  Step 40 [imaging]: The front of the vehicle 20 is imaged by the camera 5 at regular intervals.

  Step 41 [Measurement Object Determination]: When it is determined that the measurement object 25 exists in front of the vehicle 20, the process proceeds to the next step.

  Step 42 [Measurement]: The image data acquired by the camera 5 is analyzed and calculated by the control unit 2, the snow amount is measured, and the measured data is stored in the control unit 2 as snow amount measurement data.

  Step 43 [Acquisition of position information]: The control unit 2 acquires position information data of the vehicle 20 and the measured object 25 that can be acquired from the GPS unit 13.

  Step 44 [Calculation of work time]: Based on the measured snow amount measurement data, the operation is compared with the snow removal work time table, and the work time, work equipment, number of workers, etc. necessary for snow removal are calculated.

  Step 45 [Communication]: Send the snow amount measurement data, the position information of the vehicle 20, the position information of the measurement object 25, the snow removal work time, etc. to the computer 30 of the management center.

  As mentioned above, in the vehicle-mounted snow amount measuring apparatus of embodiment of this invention, it is the vehicle-mounted snow amount measuring apparatus 1 mounted in the vehicle 20, and displays the control part 2 which consists of CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and required information. The display unit 3, the operation unit 4 that performs various operations, a camera 5 that mainly images the front of the vehicle 20, and a communication device 6 that mainly communicates various information data necessary for snow removal work. Then, the object to be measured 25 such as a snow pole for enabling the amount of snow to be observed is imaged, and the captured image data is analyzed and calculated by the control unit 2 to calculate the amount of snow to obtain snow amount measurement data. The snow amount measurement data is transmitted to the computer 30 provided in the management center or the like via the communication device 6.

  With this configuration, it can be mounted on the vehicle 20 and can measure a plurality of snow accumulation amounts following the movement of the vehicle 20, and the snow removal work manager can obtain snow accumulation measurement data in a timely manner and perform appropriate snow removal operations. It is possible to provide an on-vehicle snow amount measuring device that can be used.

  Further, in the in-vehicle snow amount measuring apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the GPS unit 13 is connected to the in-vehicle snow amount measuring apparatus 1, and the position information data of the vehicle 20 that can be acquired from the GPS unit 13 is stored in the control unit 2. The position information data is transmitted to the computer 30 together with the snow amount measurement data via the communication device 6. With this configuration, it is possible to provide an in-vehicle snow amount measuring apparatus that can grasp the snow condition for each region and can make a more detailed snow removal work plan.

  In the in-vehicle snow amount measuring apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the snow removal amount measurement data calculated by analysis and calculation by the control unit 2 and the snow removal work time table are compared and calculated to calculate the optimum snow removal work time. Then, the data is transmitted to the computer 30 via the communication device 6. With this configuration, since the time, equipment, and number of people necessary for snow removal are provided along with the snow amount measurement data, it is possible to provide an in-vehicle snow amount measuring device that can help improve the efficiency of snow removal work.

  In the in-vehicle snow amount measuring device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the snow removal work time table is recorded in the control unit 2 in advance. With this configuration, all the data necessary for snow removal work is transmitted from the communication device 6 of the in-vehicle snow amount measuring apparatus 1, and a snow removal work manager can provide an in-vehicle snow amount measuring apparatus that can promptly perform snow removal work instructions. it can.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A deformation | transformation, improvement, etc. are possible suitably. In addition, the material, shape, dimension, numerical value, form, number, arrangement location, and the like of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary and are not limited as long as the present invention can be achieved.

  The snow removal manager described in the embodiment of the present invention refers to a person in charge of snow removal working in a snow countermeasure room or the like of a municipality, but may be a person who is equivalent to the person in charge.

  Although the imaging interval from the camera 5 has been described as being from 5 seconds to 1 minute, it is not particularly limited to this interval, and it is sufficient if image data can be acquired within a range that does not interfere with the measurement of the amount of snow and the snow removal work plan. Minutes and 3 minute intervals are also acceptable.

  The measured object 25 is not necessarily a cylindrical pole. There is also an object in which a denier or a trapezoidal plate with a signature is attached to the top of the object to be measured 25. Accordingly, the reference height L of the object to be measured 25 may be the apex of the object to be measured 25 or the tip of a reflection sheet such as red or green. The reference height L is established as a specified value by setting the reference height L of each measurement object 25 in advance for the in-vehicle snow accumulation measuring device 1.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 On-vehicle snow amount measuring apparatus 2 Control part 5 Camera 6 Communication apparatus 13 GPS unit 20 Vehicle 25 Measured object 30 Computer

Claims (3)

An in-vehicle snow amount measuring device mounted on a vehicle,
A control unit;
A camera for imaging the front of the vehicle;
A communication device for communicating various information data;
With
The camera images an object to be measured to make the amount of snow visible.
The control unit analyzes the captured image data and acquires snow amount measurement data based on the snow amount,
The communication device transmits the snow accumulation measurement data to a computer provided in a management center.
An in-vehicle snow amount measuring device characterized by that. A GPS unit;
The control unit acquires position information data of the vehicle from the GPS unit,
The communication device transmits the position information data to the computer together with the snow amount measurement data.
The on-vehicle snow amount measuring device according to claim 1. The control unit calculates the snow removal work time by comparing the snow amount measurement data and the snow removal work time table,
The communication device transmits the snow removal work time to the computer;
The on-vehicle snowfall amount measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.

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