Integrated camera and radar cells have shown that traffic travelling along a key dual carriageway into Bristol, UK has fallen by 81 per cent during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Data from Fusion Processing's TrafficTrak system, which includes an AI processor, counted an average of 422 vehicles per day using the road during lockdown – this is compared to 2,260 passing vehicles per day on a typical weekday in March 2020.
The data also shows that this reduced road use has stayed consistent during lockdown so far.
TrafficTrak uses low-powered radar, a low-light optical camera, an AI processor, and Fusion’s object detection software to monitor multiple lanes from a single roadside unit.
The units were installed to analyse traffic flows in and out of Bristol in order to improve traffic management and reduce pollution. One requirement to achieve this is better traffic light sequencing.
Not only does the TraffficTrak system enable local authorities to detect, identify and count different vehicle types, the system can log their speeds and locations with a video or still image.
With an accuracy of 98 per cent, TrafficTrak can detect and count pedestrians at 40m and cars at 100m thanks to its high resolution camera.
Jim Hutchinson, CEO of Fusion Processing, said; 'The Covid19 lockdown is an unprecedented period, so we’re delighted our TrafficTrak system is analysing traffic flows and confirming that people are, in the main, staying home to protect our NHS.'
Credit: Fusion Processing
Further reading
Vision algorithms take control of traffic - Greg Blackman explores the vision and AI technology transforming our roads
