KR20160069762A - Nighttime Visibility Assessment Solution for Road System Method Thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An objective of the present invention is to provide a system and a method for investigating and evaluating nighttime road visibility which can measure continuous visibility by photographing a road while driving a vehicle on the road at night. According to an aspect of the present invention, the system for investigating and evaluating nighttime road visibility comprises: a satellite device to transmit a location of a vehicle running on a road; an imaging device to photograph the road on which the vehicle received from the satellite device is running, and divide a photographed image into a plurality of pixels to set brightness values of the pixels; and a control center to measure visibility of the road according to the brightness values of the pixels set by the imaging device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a nighttime visibility assessment system,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a night road visibility investigation evaluation system and method, and more particularly, to a night road visibility investigation evaluation system and method capable of examining and evaluating road visibility influence factor information by using an image obtained while a vehicle is running .

It is difficult to predict how convenient and safe the driver is to drive, even in today's highly developed road design technology. Especially, in the case of the road including the tunnel section in the design, the design method of the road alignment, the facilities, the lighting, the color, the signs, and the entry and exit road greatly affect the safety of the driver using the road.

In this way, it is possible to determine whether the road can be safely driven by factors influencing the visibility of the road.

Therefore, it is possible to measure and evaluate the performance of lanes, reflectors, etc. by using a material having good reflection performance in order to investigate and evaluate the visibility of the road.

However, existing technologies are mainly focused on measuring and evaluating the reflection performance of individual facility materials, and it is difficult to continuously measure the road visibility characteristics, and it is difficult to quantify the environmental suitability of the road visibility at the driver's point of view .

Further, there is also a problem that there is no quantitative method of acquiring, processing, and evaluating information about influence factors affecting road visibility in addition to reflection performance of a material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a nighttime road visibility investigation evaluation system and method capable of continuously measuring visibility by driving a road in a vehicle at night and photographing a road .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a nighttime road visibility investigation evaluation system and method which can quantitatively examine and evaluate night visibility so as to judge a night visibility felt by a driver driving a vehicle running on the road at night.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a night road visibility evaluation system comprising: a satellite device for transmitting a position of a vehicle traveling on a road; An image device for dividing an image taken and photographed into a plurality of pixels to set respective luminance values and a control center for measuring the visibility of the road according to the plurality of pixel luminance values set by the image device .

Wherein the nighttime road visibility evaluation system comprises a variable information indicator for varying the information of the road according to the visibility of the road measured by the control center, The brightness control unit may control the brightness of the display unit.

Wherein the video apparatus comprises: a satellite receiver receiving the position of the vehicle transmitted from the satellite apparatus; a photographing unit photographing the road on which the vehicle travels and capturing the road at a predetermined interval; A brightness setting unit for setting a brightness value, and a transmitter for transmitting the snapshot to the control center.

Wherein the photographing unit comprises a condition server for setting a photographing condition when photographing the road, a photographing server for photographing the road in accordance with photographing conditions set by the condition server, And a control server for capturing an image of the road photographed by the photographing server at a predetermined interval and converting the captured image into a snapshot.

The photographing server may include an environment mode for distinguishing the day and night according to at least one of a time and a season for measuring the road, and a general mode or a night mode, depending on brightness information generated in at least one of a headlight and a street lamp of the vehicle A brightness mode, and a brightness mode.

Wherein the brightness setting unit includes an editing server for editing the snapshot captured by the photographing unit into a plurality of pixels, an operation server for calculating brightness for each of the plurality of pixels edited by the editing unit, And a setting server for setting a luminance value for each pixel.

The control center can control the variable information mark and the illumination control device provided on the road on which the vehicle travels according to the luminance value set by the image device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for evaluating night road visibility, comprising: (a) transmitting a position of a vehicle measured by a satellite device; (b) photographing a road on which the vehicle travels in a video device; (c) capturing an image photographed by the imaging device in an imaging unit; (d) a brightness setting unit for setting a brightness value in the snapshot captured by the photographing unit; (e) transmitting the snapshot having a brightness value set to the control center; (f) controlling a variable information mark and a lighting control device provided on the road on which the vehicle travels according to a luminance value set by the image device; . ≪ / RTI >

Wherein the video apparatus comprises: a satellite receiver receiving the position of the vehicle transmitted from the satellite apparatus; a photographing unit photographing the road on which the vehicle travels and capturing the road at a predetermined interval; A brightness setting unit for setting a brightness value, and a transmitter for transmitting the snapshot to the control center.

Wherein the photographing unit comprises a condition server for setting a photographing condition when photographing the road, a photographing server for photographing the road in accordance with photographing conditions set by the condition server, And a control server for capturing an image of the road photographed by the photographing server at a predetermined interval and converting the captured image into a snapshot.

The photographing server may include an environment mode for distinguishing the day and night according to at least one of a time and a season for measuring the road, and a general mode or a night mode, depending on brightness information generated in at least one of a headlight and a street lamp of the vehicle A brightness mode, and a brightness mode.

Wherein the control center comprises: an editing unit for editing the snapshot transmitted from the image device into the plurality of pixels; an operation unit for calculating brightness for each of the plurality of pixels edited by the editing unit; And a brightness setting unit for setting a brightness value for each pixel.

Wherein the brightness setting unit includes an editing server for editing the snapshot captured by the photographing unit into a plurality of pixels, an operation server for calculating brightness for each of the plurality of pixels edited by the editing unit, And a setting server for setting a luminance value for each pixel.

A method of photographing a road in a video device, the method comprising: (a) extracting a route for each road section of the road; (b) extracting a vanishing point for each photographing section; (c) calculating a center for each photographing section; (d) calculating a position of the measurement area of the road; (e) calculating a luminance value average of the measurement area; .

According to the night road visibility investigation evaluation system and method according to the present invention, continuous imaging can be performed by photographing a road by an image device provided in a vehicle that runs on a road at night.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a quantitative method of determining a visibility by capturing an image taken by a video device, editing it with a plurality of pixels, and setting a luminance value for each pixel.

1 is a perspective view showing a night road visibility investigation evaluation system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a block diagram showing a night road visibility investigation evaluation system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a block diagram illustrating a video apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4A to 4B are diagrams showing a state in which a road is photographed by a video device.
5 is a flowchart showing a night road visibility evaluation method according to another embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of photographing a road in a video apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Figs. 7 to 8 are views showing a state in which a measurement area and a center line are extracted. Fig.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a night road visibility evaluation system and method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a night road visibility investigation evaluation system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a night road visibility investigation evaluation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, the night road visibility evaluation system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a satellite device 100 that transmits the position of a vehicle 20 that travels on a road 10, An image device 200 for setting a luminance value by dividing an image photographed by photographing the road 10 traveled by the vehicle 20 transmitted from the device 100 into a plurality of pixels 450, And a control center 700 for measuring the visibility of the road 10 according to the brightness values of the plurality of pixels 450 set by the imaging device 200. [

The night road visibility evaluation system includes a variable information sign 800 for changing the information of the road 10 according to the visibility of the road 10 measured by the control center 700, And a lighting controller 900 for controlling the luminance of the illumination provided on the road 10 according to the visibility of the road 10 measured by the road 10.

The satellite apparatus 100 can sense the position of the vehicle 20 traveling on the road 10 and transmit the position where the vehicle 20 is traveling to the vehicle 20. [

The video apparatus 200 includes a satellite receiving unit 300 receiving the position of the vehicle 20 transmitted from the satellite apparatus 100 and a control unit 300 for photographing the road 10 on which the vehicle 20 travels, A brightness setting unit 500 for setting a brightness value to a snapshot captured by the photographing unit 400 and a control unit 500 for transmitting the snapshot to the control center 700 A transmitter 600 may be provided.

The satellite receiving unit 300 can receive the position of the vehicle 20 sensed by the satellite device 100 and receive information such as the traffic volume of the road 10 by the satellite receiving unit 300.

The photographing unit 400 can photograph the road 10 on which the vehicle 20 travels and can determine the visibility of the road 10. The photographing unit 400 can photograph the road 10 while the vehicle 10 is traveling in the vehicle 20 that is provided inside or outside the vehicle 20 and travels the road 10.

The photographing unit 400 may set a measurement area 430 that is set according to the interval of the road 10 to photograph the road 10. The measurement area 430 can measure the road 10 in consideration of the curved part and can measure an area between 80 and 120 meters.

The brightness setting unit 500 may set a brightness value in a snapshot formed by capturing the digital image photographed by the photographing unit 400 at predetermined intervals. The visibility of the road 10 can be determined by the luminance value.

The transmission unit 600 can transmit the snapshot having the luminance value set by the brightness setting unit 500 to the control center 700.

The control center 700 can determine the visibility of the road 10 by the snapshot transmitted from the video device 200 and can display the variable information mark 800 and the light control device 900 can be controlled.

The variable information sign 800 controls the average speed of the road 10 according to the night visibility of the road 10 determined by the control center 700 to prevent an accident or set an average speed of the new road 10 .

For example, if it is determined that the visibility of the road 10 is low according to the weather conditions when the average speed of the road 10 is 80 km / h, the average speed of the road 10 at the control center 700 is set to 60 km / h Can be set low.

The lighting control device 900 may be provided on the side of the road 10 and may adjust the luminance according to the night visibility of the road 10 determined by the control center 700 to prevent obstruction of the driver's glare Can be prevented.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a video device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4A to 4B are views showing a state in which the video device 200 photographs the road 10. FIG.

3 to 4, the video apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a satellite receiver 300 receiving a position of the vehicle 20 transmitted from the satellite apparatus 100, A photographing unit 400 photographing the road 10 on which the vehicle 20 travels and capturing the road 10 at predetermined intervals; a brightness setting unit (not shown) for setting a brightness value in a snapshot captured by the photographing unit 400 500, and a transmitter 600 for transmitting the snapshot to the control center 700.

The satellite receiving unit 300 may receive information of the vehicle 20 traveling on the road 10 from the satellite device 100.

The photographing unit 400 includes a condition server 410 for setting photographing conditions when the road 10 is photographed and a photographing unit 400 for photographing the road 10 in accordance with photographing conditions set by the condition server 410. [ A measurement area 430 set according to an interval between the roads 10 when the photographing is performed by the photographing server 420 and a measurement area 430 set by the photographing server 420 And a control server 440 for capturing the digital images of the digital still camera 10 at predetermined intervals and converting the digital images into snapshots.

When the road 10 is photographed at night in the video apparatus 200, the condition server 410 may interfere with the quantitative analysis by the shift function such as the auto-focus function and the white balance. Therefore, Can be adjusted.

The photographing server 420 includes an environment mode 421 for distinguishing the day 10 and the night according to at least one of a time and a season for measuring the road 10, And a display mode 422 for dividing the display mode into a normal mode or a brightness mode according to brightness information generated in at least one of the streetlight, the streetlight, and the streetlight.

The environment mode 421 can be divided into day and night according to the time of taking the road 10, the season, and the like in the video device 200.

For example, since the sunset time of winter is shorter than that of summer, the setting of taking the road 10 at daytime and at night may be different depending on the season.

In addition, since the luminance value may vary depending on the external environment at night, it is possible to shoot at a different setting from the daytime.

The image mode 422 may be divided into a brightness mode and a normal mode.

The brightness mode may be a video mode 422 in which only the calculated brightness value is extracted instead of the general video mode 422, and the red mode is a red mode, and the red mode is a red mode. In the normal mode 422 (RGB mode), only the brightness information can not be grasped. However, in the brightness mode, brightness information is generated by the brightness information generated in at least one of the street lamp, the reflection on the road surface, Can be visually expressed and can be grasped easily.

The measurement area 430 may measure lane brightness and continuous road surface brightness.

The control server 440 may capture digital images of the road 10 photographed by the photographing server 420 at predetermined intervals and convert the captured digital images into snapshots.

When capturing a digital image of the road 10 from the control server 440, the conditions for capturing according to time and distance may be changed.

For example, the control server 440 may be set to capture every 2 seconds, 5 seconds, and 10 seconds, or may be set to capture digital images 10, 50, 100, Can be captured, converted into a snapshot, and stored.

The brightness setting unit 500 includes an editing server 510 for editing a snapshot captured by the photographing unit 400 with a plurality of pixels 450, And a setting server 530 for setting a luminance value for each of the plurality of pixels 450 calculated by the calculation unit.

4A, the editing server 510 can edit the snapshot captured by the control server 440 of the photographing unit 400 with a plurality of pixels 450. [ The editing server 510 edits the snapshot with the plurality of pixels 450 to evaluate the visibility of the measurement area 430 and the area other than the measurement area 430 respectively.

The calculation server 520 may calculate the luminance for each pixel 450 edited by the plurality of pixels 450 in the editing server 510.

When calculating the luminance in the calculation server 520, it may be set to a Y value indicating brightness in chromaticity coordinates. The Y value can be easily collected through the snapshot and can be easily converted by a general conversion formula. Also, visibility can be advantageous for evaluation because the sensation felt by a driver is more important than a precise data value.

When the Y value is set, it can be divided into a Y component, which is a brightness of a color, and a U component and a V component, which are chrominance, and can be converted by a conversion formula.

[Conversion formula]

The setting server 530 may set the luminance value for each of the plurality of pixels 450 calculated by the calculation unit as shown in FIG. 4B.

When the brightness value is set for each pixel 450 in the setting server 530, it may be set numerically so as to be easily distinguished.

The transmission unit 600 may transmit the snapshot to the control center 700 in which the brightness value is set for each of the plurality of pixels 450 in the setting server 530.

In the following description of the night road visibility investigation evaluation method according to another embodiment of the present invention, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those of the night road road visibility investigation system according to the embodiment described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted do.

5 is a flowchart showing a night road visibility investigation evaluation method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In step S1100, the satellite device 100 can sense the position of the road 10 on which the vehicle 20 travels and transmit it to the vehicle 20.

In step S1200, the road 10 on which the vehicle 20 sensed by the satellite apparatus 100 travels can be photographed by the video apparatus 200 provided in the vehicle 20. [

The video apparatus 200 includes a satellite receiving unit 300 receiving the position of the vehicle 20 transmitted from the satellite apparatus 100 and a control unit 300 for photographing the road 10 on which the vehicle 20 travels, A brightness setting unit 500 for setting a brightness value to a snapshot captured by the photographing unit 400 and a control unit 500 for transmitting the snapshot to the control center 700 A transmitter 600 may be provided.

In step S1300, the digital image captured by the image capturing apparatus 200 may be captured by the capturing unit 400. [

When capturing an image by the photographing unit 400, a snapshot may be provided by capturing various images according to time and distance.

In step S1400, the snapshot captured in step S1300 may be edited by the brightness setting unit 500 with a plurality of pixels 450, and a brightness value may be set for each of the pixels 450. [

In step S1500, the snapshot having the brightness value set can be transmitted to the control center 700. [

In step S1600, the control center 700 receives the snapshot in step S1500. In step S1600, the control unit 700 displays a variable information cover (not shown) provided on the road 10, on which the vehicle 20 travels, according to the luminance value set by the video apparatus 200 800 and the lighting control device 900 can be controlled.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of photographing a road in a video apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 7 to 8 illustrate a method of extracting a measurement area and a center line.

In step S2100, the route 423 for each section of the road 10 can be extracted. In the method of extracting the route 423, a linear shape is extracted through the Canny algorithm and the HoughLine algorithm, and then the linear angle and the length are calculated in the extracted linear shape, and the center and the previous section route 423 of the extracted route 423 The route 423 can be selected.

If it is determined in step S2200 that the route 423 has not been extracted in step S2200, the flow advances to step S2300. In step S2200, the route 423 ) Can be applied.

If it is determined in step S2200 that the route 423 has been extracted in step S2200 or if the previous route 423 is applied in step S2300, the vanishing point 424 may be extracted for each photographing area. The vanishing point 424 according to the shooting interval can be tracked and extracted in various ways, such as a curve or a straight line, which the vehicle 20 travels, as shown in FIG.

If it is determined in step S2500 that the vanishing point 424 has not been extracted in step S2500, it is determined in step S2500 that the disappearance point 424 of the previously extracted image is extracted as in step S2600, Can be applied.

If it is determined in step S2500 that the vanishing point 424 has been extracted in step S2500, or if the vanishing point 424 of the previous photographing section is applied in step S2600, the center line 425 for each photographing section can be calculated. The center line 425 for each photographing section can be calculated by connecting the vanishing points 424 to each other as shown in FIGS.

In step S2800, the center line 425 calculated in step S2700 can calculate the position of the measurement area 430 between 80 to 100 mites, which is the last object of interest.

In step S2900, the average brightness value for the brightness value of the measurement area 430 calculated in step S2800 can be extracted.

In this process, the produced image data, attitude information, location information, and related meta information can be stored. When the storage is completed, the user can proceed to the next search section.

While the system and method for evaluating the night road visibility evaluation according to the embodiment of the present invention have been described above, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. Those skilled in the art, who understands the spirit of the present invention, can readily suggest other embodiments by adding, changing, deleting, adding, or the like of components within the scope of the same idea, I would say.

100: Satellite device 200: Imaging device
300: Satellite reception unit 400:
500: brightness setting unit 600:
700: Control center

Claims (14)

A satellite device for transmitting the position of the vehicle traveling on the road;
A video device for capturing an image of the road on which the vehicle is traveling and dividing the captured image into a plurality of pixels to set respective luminance values;
And a control center for measuring the visibility of the road according to the plurality of pixel luminance values set by the imaging device.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the nighttime road visibility evaluation system comprises: a variable information marker for varying information on the road according to the visibility of the road measured by the control center;
Further comprising a lighting control device for controlling the brightness of illumination provided on the road according to the visibility of the road measured by the control center.
The method according to claim 1,
The video apparatus includes a satellite receiver for receiving a position of the vehicle transmitted from the satellite apparatus,
A photographing unit photographing the road on which the vehicle travels and capturing the road at a predetermined interval;
A brightness setting unit for setting a brightness value to the snapshot captured by the photographing unit;
And a transmitter for transmitting the snapshot to the control center.
The method of claim 3,
Wherein the photographing unit comprises a condition server for setting photographing conditions when photographing the road,
A shooting server that shoots the road in accordance with shooting conditions set by the condition server;
A measurement area set in accordance with an interval of the road when the photographing server takes a photograph,
And a control server for capturing an image of the road photographed by the photographing server at a predetermined interval and converting the captured image into a snapshot.
5. The method of claim 4,
The photographing server may include an environment mode for distinguishing between daytime and nighttime according to at least one of a time and a season for measuring the road,
And an image mode for distinguishing a normal mode or a brightness mode according to brightness information generated in at least one of a headlamp and a streetlight of a vehicle provided on the road.
5. The method of claim 4,
The brightness setting unit may include an editing server for editing the snapshot captured by the photographing unit into a plurality of pixels,
A calculation server for calculating luminance for each of the plurality of pixels edited by the editing unit;
And a setting server for setting a luminance value for each of the plurality of pixels calculated by the calculation unit.
5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the control center controls the variable information mark and the illumination control device provided on the road on which the vehicle travels according to the luminance value set by the image device.
(a) transmitting a position of a vehicle measured by a satellite device;
(b) photographing a road on which the vehicle travels in a video device;
(c) capturing an image photographed by the imaging device in an imaging unit;
(d) a brightness setting unit for setting a brightness value in the snapshot captured by the photographing unit;
(e) transmitting the snapshot with the brightness value set to the control center;
(f) controlling a variable information mark and a lighting control device provided on the road on which the vehicle travels according to a luminance value set by the image device;
Wherein the method comprises the steps of:
9. The method of claim 8,
The video apparatus includes a satellite receiver for receiving a position of the vehicle transmitted from the satellite apparatus,
A photographing unit photographing the road on which the vehicle travels and capturing the road at a predetermined interval;
A brightness setting unit for setting a brightness value to the snapshot captured by the photographing unit;
And a transmitter for transmitting the snapshot to the control center.
10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the photographing unit comprises a condition server for setting photographing conditions when photographing the road,
A shooting server that shoots the road in accordance with shooting conditions set by the condition server;
A measurement area set in accordance with an interval of the road when the photographing server takes a photograph,
And a control server for capturing an image of the road photographed by the photographing server at predetermined intervals and converting the captured image into a snapshot.
11. The method of claim 10,
The photographing server may include an environment mode for distinguishing between daytime and nighttime according to at least one of a time and a season for measuring the road,
Wherein the image mode is divided into a normal mode or a brightness mode based on brightness information generated in at least one of a headlight and a streetlight of a vehicle provided on the road.
11. The method of claim 10,
Wherein the control center comprises: an editor for editing the snapshot transmitted from the video apparatus into the plurality of pixels;
An operation unit for calculating luminance for each of the plurality of pixels edited by the editing unit;
And a brightness setting unit for setting a brightness value for each of the plurality of pixels calculated by the calculation unit.
9. The method of claim 8,
The brightness setting unit may include an editing server for editing the snapshot captured by the photographing unit into a plurality of pixels,
A calculation server for calculating luminance for each of the plurality of pixels edited by the editing unit;
And a setting server for setting a luminance value for each of the plurality of pixels calculated by the calculation unit.
10. The method of claim 9,
A method of photographing a road in a video device,
(a) extracting a route for each road section of the road;
(b) extracting a vanishing point for each photographing section;
(c) calculating a center for each photographing section;
(d) calculating a position of the measurement area of the road;
(e) calculating a luminance value average of the measurement area;
Wherein the road surface visibility evaluation method comprises the steps of:

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