JP2017010293A - Information processing apparatus and congestion monitoring method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing apparatus configured to calculate a length of vehicle congestion accurately, and a congestion monitoring method.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus includes a detection unit, a determination unit, and a calculation unit. The detection unit detects a length of vehicle congestion which has occurred in each of sections, from an image obtained by an imaging unit arranged in each of road sections to capture an image of a section. The determination unit determines whether the congestion length in a first section is equal to or longer than a predetermined length and first vehicle congestion which has occurred in the first section leads to a section other than the first section. When a determination is made that the congestion length in the first section is equal to or longer than the predetermined length and that the first congestion leads to a section other than the first section, the calculation unit calculates a length by adding the congestion length in the first section to a congestion length in a second section, which is obtained by excluding a section not connected to the first congestion from the sections other than the first section, as a length of the first congestion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an information processing apparatus and a traffic jam monitoring method.

  Using one surveillance camera installed on the road, the traffic congestion length of the vehicle within the viewing angle of the surveillance camera is calculated from the image obtained by the surveillance camera, and in a narrow area such as an intersection. This is a technology that makes it possible to calculate the length of traffic jams in vehicles.

JP 2002-222486 A JP-A-8-69596 JP 2004-56629 A JP-A-8-235492 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-305891 JP 2000-182180 A JP 2004-265186 A JP-A-10-154292

  However, in the above technique, the traffic jam length of the vehicle is calculated from an image obtained by imaging by one monitoring camera. Therefore, when the traffic jam of the vehicle occurs over a long distance, the traffic jam of the vehicle It is difficult to accurately calculate the traffic jam length.

  The information processing apparatus according to the embodiment includes a detection unit, a determination unit, and a calculation unit. The detection unit detects a traffic jam length of a vehicle jam that has occurred in each section from an image obtained by imaging each section by an imaging unit provided for each section of the road. The determination unit determines whether the congestion length of the first section is equal to or longer than a predetermined length, and whether the first congestion of the vehicle generated in the first section is a congestion that leads to a section other than the first section. . When the calculation unit determines that the congestion length of the first section is equal to or longer than a predetermined length and the first congestion is a congestion that leads to a section other than the first section, the calculation section determines the congestion length of the first section and the first section. Among the other sections, the length obtained by adding the congestion length of the second section excluding the section where the first congestion is not connected is calculated as the congestion length of the first congestion.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a traffic jam monitoring system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the traffic congestion monitoring system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the central processing unit included in the traffic jam monitoring system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a traffic jam length calculation process in the traffic jam monitoring system according to the present embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a traffic monitoring system to which an information processing apparatus and a traffic monitoring method according to the present embodiment are applied will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a traffic jam monitoring system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the traffic congestion monitoring system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the traffic congestion monitoring system according to the present embodiment includes an information collecting device A, an interpolation device B, a central processing device C, a control device D, and an information providing terminal E. doing. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the information collection device A (an example of an imaging unit) is configured by a monitoring camera or the like, and is provided for each section in the road to be monitored. The information collecting apparatus A can capture the section in which the information collecting apparatus A is provided, and image data of an image obtained by capturing the section (hereinafter referred to as a monitoring camera video) is sent to the central processing unit C. Send.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the interpolation device B includes a vehicle sensor (traffic counter), an emergency call, a smartphone, a mobile phone, and the like. The interpolation device B can detect the traffic jam of the vehicle at the location where the information collection device A cannot capture an image on the monitored road. And the interpolation apparatus B transmits the detection result of the traffic jam of the vehicle in the location which cannot be imaged by the information collection apparatus A to the central processing unit C as interpolation information.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the central processing unit C (an example of the information processing apparatus) determines the monitoring target from the monitoring camera image obtained by the imaging of the information collecting apparatus A, the detection result of the traffic jam by the interpolation apparatus B, and the like. The length of the traffic jam occurring on the road (hereinafter referred to as the traffic jam length) is calculated. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the control device D (an example of the information processing device) displays the length of the traffic jam calculated by the central processing unit C, and controls the traffic jam occurring on the monitored road to control the traffic in the control room. Notify government officials. In the present embodiment, the central processing device C and the control device D are configured by separate devices, but the central processing device C and the control device D may be configured by one device.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the information providing terminal E is composed of an information board, a highway radio, a smartphone, a mobile phone, an on-vehicle device, etc., and provides information to road users (users) who ride on vehicles traveling on the road. This is an example of an external terminal capable of notifying the user. In the present embodiment, the information providing terminal E notifies the user of the information providing terminal E of information related to the traffic jam that has occurred on the monitored road, such as the traffic jam length calculated by the central processing unit C.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the central processing unit included in the traffic jam monitoring system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the central processing unit C includes a communication unit 301, a detection unit 302, and a calculation unit 303. The communication unit 301 acquires (receives) image data from the information collection apparatus A. The detection unit 302 detects the congestion length of the vehicle that has occurred in each section from the monitoring camera video of the image data acquired by the communication unit 301. The calculation unit 303 calculates the overall length of the traffic jam when the traffic jam occurring on the monitoring target road occurs across a plurality of sections.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a traffic jam length calculation process in the traffic jam monitoring system according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the central processing unit C stores arrangement information of the information collection device A in advance (step S401). Here, the arrangement information is information indicating a position where the information collection device A is arranged on the road to be monitored. In the present embodiment, the arrangement information indicates the position in the downstream direction or the upstream direction of the section in which the information collection device A is provided with reference to a preset section among a plurality of sections of the road to be monitored. Information. The downstream direction (an example of the first direction) is a direction in which the vehicle flows on the monitored road. The upstream direction (an example of the second direction) is a direction opposite to the downstream direction.

  The communication unit 301 acquires image data from the information collection device A in each section. Then, the detection unit 302 performs image processing on the image data acquired from the information collection device A in each section, and detects a traffic jam that has occurred in each section (step S402). Next, the detection unit 302 determines whether or not a traffic jam is detected in each section (step S403). If no traffic jam is detected in any section (step S403: No), the process returns to step S402, and the detection unit 302 repeats image processing on the image data acquired from the information collection device A.

  On the other hand, when a traffic jam is detected in any section (step S403: Yes), the detection unit 302 uses any one section of the sections in which the traffic jam is detected as a reference section, and information collection apparatus for the reference section Image processing is performed on the image data acquired from A. Thereby, the detection unit 302 (an example of a determination unit) has a traffic jam length of a traffic jam detected in the reference section (an example of the first traffic jam) that is equal to or longer than a predetermined length, and the traffic jam detected in the reference section It is determined whether or not there is a traffic jam connected to a downstream section that is an adjacent section in the downstream direction of the reference section (step S404). Here, the predetermined length is a length set in advance by a manager of the traffic jam monitoring system or the like, and is a lower limit length for judging that the traffic jam of the vehicle has occurred. When it is determined that the congestion length of the reference section is equal to or greater than the predetermined length and the congestion detected in the reference section is a congestion connected to the downstream section (step S404: Yes), the detection unit 302 includes information on the downstream section. Image processing is performed on the image data acquired from the collection device A (step S405), and the congestion length of the congestion occurring in the downstream section is detected (step S406).

  Next, the detection unit 302 performs image processing on the image data acquired from the information collection device A in the downstream section, and the traffic jam detected in the downstream section is a section adjacent to the downstream section in the downstream direction. It is determined whether or not there is a traffic jam leading to a downstream section (step S407). When it is determined that the traffic jam detected in the downstream section is a traffic jam leading to the new downstream section (step S407: Yes), the calculation unit 303 can make the new downstream section the head of the traffic jam (the most downstream). Therefore, a flag (hereinafter referred to as a downstream flag) is assigned to the information collection device A in the new downstream section (step S408), and the process shown in step S405 is executed again.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the traffic jam detected in the downstream section is not a traffic jam leading to the new downstream section (step S407: No), the calculation unit 303 determines the position of the information collection device A in the section that has finally become the downstream section. Is determined to be the head of the traffic jam detected in the reference section. As a result, the calculation unit 303 detects the position of the information collection device A in the section where the congestion occurring in the reference section is interrupted among the sections located in the downstream direction with respect to the reference section as the head of the congestion. Since the section that became the last downstream section is the most downstream (first) section of the traffic jam that has occurred in the reference section, the calculation unit 303 sets a flag ( Hereinafter, the most downstream flag is assigned), and the congestion length of each downstream section is stored (step S409).

  Next, when it is determined that the traffic jam detected in the reference zone is not a traffic jam leading to the downstream zone (step S404: No), or when the most downstream flag is given to the zone that finally became the downstream zone, the detection unit 302 Then, image processing is performed on the image data acquired from the information collection device A in the reference section. Thereby, the detection unit 302 (an example of a determination unit) has a traffic jam length of a traffic jam detected in the reference section that is equal to or longer than a predetermined length, and the traffic jam detected in the reference section is adjacent to the upstream direction of the reference section. It is determined whether or not there is a traffic jam leading to an upstream section that is a section to be performed (step S410). When it is determined that the traffic jam length of the traffic jam detected in the reference zone is equal to or greater than a predetermined length and the detected traffic jam is a traffic jam leading to the upstream zone (step S410: Yes), the detection unit 302 The image processing is performed on the image data acquired from the information collecting apparatus A (step S411), and the congestion length of the congestion occurring in the upstream section is detected (step S412).

  Next, the detection unit 302 performs image processing on the image data acquired from the information collection device A in the upstream section, and a traffic jam detected in the upstream section is a section adjacent to the upstream section in the upstream direction. It is determined whether or not the traffic is congested leading to an upstream section (step S413). When it is determined that the traffic jam detected in the upstream section is a traffic jam leading to the new upstream section (step S413: Yes), the calculation unit 303 can make the new upstream section the end of the traffic jam (the most upstream). Therefore, a flag (hereinafter referred to as upstream flag) is assigned to the information collection device A in the new upstream section (step S414), and the process shown in step S411 is executed again.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the traffic jam detected in the upstream section is not a traffic jam leading to the new upstream section (step S413: No), the calculation unit 303 determines the position of the information collection device A in the section that has finally become the upstream section. Is determined to be the end of the traffic jam detected in the reference section. Thereby, the calculation part 303 detects the position of the information collection apparatus A of the area where the congestion which generate | occur | produced in the reference | standard area among the areas located in the upstream direction on the basis of the reference | standard area as an end of the said congestion. Since the section that finally became the upstream section is the most upstream (end) section of the traffic jam that occurred in the reference section, the calculation unit 303 sets a flag (in the information collection device A of the section that became the last upstream section) Hereinafter, it is referred to as the most upstream flag), and the congestion length of each upstream section is stored (step S415).

  When it is determined that the traffic jam detected in the reference zone is not traffic jam leading to both the downstream zone and the upstream zone (step S404: No, step S410: No), that is, both the most downstream flag and the most upstream flag Is not given, the calculation unit 303 stores the traffic jam length of the traffic jam detected in the reference section (step S416). On the other hand, when there is a section to which the most downstream flag and the most upstream flag are assigned, the calculation unit 303 selects the information collection apparatus A to which the most upstream flag is assigned from the section of the information collection apparatus A to which the most downstream flag is assigned. A length obtained by adding the lengths of the respective traffic congestions up to the current section is calculated as the traffic congestion length of the traffic congestion occurring in the reference section (step S417).

  Further, in the present embodiment, when only the most downstream flag is assigned, the calculation unit 303 detects each of the sections from the reference section to the section indicated by the arrangement information of the information collection device A to which the most downstream flag is assigned. The total length of the traffic jam lengths calculated is calculated as the traffic jam length of the traffic jam occurring in the reference section. Further, when only the most upstream flag is assigned, the calculation unit 303 calculates the congestion length detected for each of the sections from the reference section to the section indicated by the arrangement information of the information collection device A to which the most upstream flag is assigned. The total length is calculated as the traffic jam length of the reference section.

  When it is determined by the above processing that the congestion length of the reference section is greater than or equal to a predetermined length and the traffic congestion of the vehicle that occurred in the reference section is a congestion that leads to a section other than the reference section, The total length of the congestion length of the traffic detected in the reference section and the congestion length of the section (an example of the second section) excluding the sections that are not connected to the traffic jam that occurred in the reference section among the sections other than the reference section Is calculated as the congestion length of the reference section. As a result, the traffic jam length of the section that is not connected to the traffic jam of the reference section is not added up as the traffic jam length of the traffic jam that occurred in the reference section, so if the vehicle traffic jam occurs over a long distance, It is possible to accurately calculate the length of traffic jam.

  In addition, the calculation unit 303 subtracts the length of the portion where the two sections overlap from the congestion length of one of the two sections (an example of the third section) among the two sections to which the congestion that has occurred in the reference section is connected. . In this case, the length of the portion where the two sections overlap is set in advance. As a result, when two sections connected to the traffic jam that occurred in the reference section have overlapping portions, it is possible to prevent the traffic jam lengths of the overlapping portions of the two sections from being added together. Can be calculated more accurately.

  Also, the calculation unit 303 acquires a traffic jam detection result from the interpolation device B (an example of an external device) via the communication unit 301, and corrects the traffic jam length of the reference section based on the acquired detection result. For example, when there is a part that cannot be captured by the information collecting apparatus A between two sections where the traffic jam that has occurred in the reference section is connected, the calculation unit 303 sends the part from the interpolation device B that can detect the traffic jam of the part. Get the detection result of traffic jam. Then, when the acquired traffic jam detection result indicates that traffic jam has occurred at the location, the calculation unit 303 adds the distance between the two zones to the traffic jam length of the reference zone. Thereby, the traffic jam length of the traffic jam of the vehicle can be calculated more accurately.

  Thereafter, the communication unit 301 (an example of a transmission unit) notifies the traffic congestion length of the calculated reference section to the control device D or transmits it to the information providing terminal E (step S418). A control unit (not shown) of the control device D displays the congestion length notified from the central processing unit C on the display unit of the control device D. Further, the information providing terminal E displays the congestion length distributed from the central processing unit C on the display unit of the information providing terminal E.

  In addition, a control unit (an example of a display control unit) (not shown) included in the control device D is assigned with the most downstream flag in order from the reference section in the monitoring camera video obtained by imaging of the information collection device A in each section. Until the section in which the information collection device A is provided (that is, the head of the traffic jam that occurred in the reference section), the monitoring camera image obtained by imaging the section is displayed on the display unit of the control device D. Also good. Further, the control device D has a section (that is, the information collecting device A to which the most upstream flag is assigned in order from the reference section among the monitoring camera images obtained by imaging of the information collecting device A in each section (that is, the section) You may display the monitoring camera image | video acquired by imaging the said area on the display part which the said control apparatus D has (until the tail of the traffic congestion which generate | occur | produced in the reference | standard area). Thereby, the monitoring camera image of the beginning or the end of the traffic jam from the reference section can be continuously viewed by the controller of the traffic control room in which the control device D is provided.

  Alternatively, a control unit (not shown) included in the control device D may include a section in which the information collection device A to which the most downstream flag is assigned is provided in the monitoring camera video obtained by imaging of the information collection device A in each section (that is, The monitoring camera video obtained by imaging the head of the traffic jam that occurred in the reference section may be displayed on the display unit of the control device D. Thereby, it is possible to cause the controller to view the monitoring camera image of the cause of the traffic jam occurring in the reference section.

  As described above, according to the traffic jam monitoring system of the present embodiment, the traffic jam length of the section not connected to the traffic jam of the reference section is not added up as the traffic jam length of the traffic jam generated in the reference section. In the case where it has occurred over the range, it is possible to accurately calculate the traffic jam length of the traffic jam of the vehicle.

  The detection unit 302 can also detect a bottleneck point that causes a traffic jam that has occurred in the reference section, from the monitoring camera video obtained by imaging of the information collection apparatus A in each section. Specifically, the detection unit 302 performs image processing on the monitoring camera video in which the traffic jam is detected among the monitoring camera videos obtained by the imaging of the information collecting apparatus A, and from the monitoring camera video, When a predetermined image such as an image or a lane-decreasing image is detected, a section in which the information collection device A that captures the monitoring camera image is provided is detected as a bottleneck point.

  Note that the program executed by the central processing unit C of the present embodiment is provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM (Read Only Memory) or the like. The program executed by the central processing unit C of the present embodiment is an installable format or executable format file, and is a computer such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). The information may be provided by being recorded on a recording medium that can be read by the user.

  Furthermore, the program executed by the central processing unit C of the present embodiment may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. The program executed by the central processing unit C of the present embodiment may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  The program executed by the central processing unit C of the present embodiment has a module configuration including the above-described units (communication unit 301, detection unit 302, and calculation unit 303). As actual hardware, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) is used. Unit) reads out the program from the ROM and executes it, so that each unit is loaded onto the main storage device, and the communication unit 301, the detection unit 302, and the calculation unit 303 are generated on the main storage device. .

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. This embodiment is included in the scope and gist of the invention, and is also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

A Information collecting device B Interpolating device C Central processing unit D Control device E Information providing terminal 301 Communication unit 302 Detection unit 303 Calculation unit

Claims (15)

A detection unit for detecting a traffic jam length of a vehicle generated in each section from an image obtained by imaging each section by an imaging unit provided for each section of the road;
A judgment unit for judging whether or not the length of the traffic jam in the first section is equal to or longer than a predetermined length and whether the first traffic jam of the vehicle generated in the first section is a traffic jam leading to a section other than the first section; ,
When it is determined that the traffic jam length of the first section is equal to or longer than the predetermined length and the first traffic jam is a traffic jam leading to a section other than the first section, the traffic jam length of the first section, A calculation unit that calculates a length of the traffic jam of the second traffic segment, which is a segment other than the first traffic segment, excluding a segment where the first traffic jam is not connected, as the traffic jam length of the first traffic jam;
An information processing apparatus comprising:   The calculation unit is configured to determine a position of the imaging unit provided in the second section where the first traffic jam is interrupted in the second section located in a first direction in which a vehicle flows with respect to the first section. The position of the imaging unit provided in the second section where the first congestion is interrupted among the second sections located in the second direction opposite to the first direction, detected as the head of the first traffic jam. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus detects the end of the first traffic jam.   2. The calculation unit according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit subtracts a length of a portion where the two sections overlap from a traffic jam length of one of the two adjacent sections in which the first congestion occurs. Information processing device.   From the first section to the second section at the beginning of the first traffic jam, the image obtained by imaging the section is displayed on the display unit, and at the end of the first traffic jam in order from the first section. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a display control unit configured to display an image obtained by imaging the section up to the second section on the display unit.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display control unit displays an image obtained by capturing the second section in which a head of the first traffic jam is detected on the display unit.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects a bottleneck point that causes the first traffic jam from an image obtained by imaging each section of a road.   2. The information according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the traffic jam length of the first traffic jam calculated by the calculation unit to an external terminal capable of notifying a user who rides a vehicle traveling on a road. Processing equipment.   The calculation unit acquires a detection result of the traffic jam at the location from an external device capable of detecting the traffic jam at a location that cannot be captured by the imaging unit on the road, and based on the acquired detection result, the traffic jam length of the first traffic jam The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is corrected. From the image obtained by imaging each section by the imaging unit provided for each section of the road, the congestion length of the traffic jam of the vehicle that occurred in each section is detected,
Determining whether or not the length of the traffic jam in the first section is equal to or greater than a predetermined length and the first traffic jam of the vehicle generated in the first section is a traffic jam leading to a section other than the first section;
When it is determined that the traffic jam length of the first section is equal to or longer than the predetermined length and the first traffic jam is a traffic jam leading to a section other than the first section, the traffic jam length of the first section, A length that is the sum of the traffic length of the second section excluding the section where the first traffic jam is not connected among sections other than the first section is calculated as the traffic jam length of the first traffic jam.
Congestion monitoring method including that. The position of the imaging unit provided in the second section where the first congestion is interrupted among the second sections located in the first direction in which the vehicle flows with respect to the first section is the head of the first congestion. Detect as
The position of the imaging unit provided in the second section where the first congestion is interrupted among the second sections located in the second direction opposite to the first direction is detected as the end of the first congestion. To
The traffic jam monitoring method according to claim 9.   The traffic congestion monitoring according to claim 9, comprising subtracting a length of a portion where the two sections overlap from a traffic jam length of one of the two adjacent sections in which the first traffic congestion has occurred. Method. From the first section to the second section at the beginning of the first traffic jam, images obtained by capturing the section are displayed on the display unit,
From the first section to the second section at the end of the first traffic jam, images obtained by capturing the section are displayed on the display unit.
The traffic jam monitoring method according to claim 10.   The traffic congestion monitoring method according to claim 12, comprising displaying an image obtained by capturing the second section in which the head of the first traffic jam is detected on the display unit.   The traffic congestion monitoring method according to claim 9, comprising transmitting the traffic jam length of the first traffic jam to an external terminal capable of notifying information to a user who rides a vehicle traveling on a road.   Obtaining a traffic jam detection result from an external device capable of detecting traffic jam at a location that cannot be captured by the imaging unit on the road, and correcting the traffic jam length of the first traffic jam based on the obtained detection result; The traffic congestion monitoring method according to claim 9.

Images