Ministry of Transportation Pilot Project

 

In large urban centers, dedicated traffic sensors and cameras are deployed on major freeways (e.g. COMPASS and RESCU systems in the Toronto area) enabling traffic managers to obtain information on road conditions in near real-time.  But little real-time information is currently available for other roadways, least of all in remote areas. Loops and cameras connected to traffic operating centres are the current “gold standard” for acquiring information, but their high cost prevents rapid extension to all significant networks and corridors in the province of Ontario. 

This project proposes a demonstration of innovative technology, to deploy a low-cost Satellite IP Camera (SIPC) Pilot Project, incorporating video capture, solar power and internet communications, thereby removing the need for expensive power and communications infrastructure costs. The accuracy over an instrumented road section will be comparable to the gold standard of loops and cameras. 

Further economies will be realized because the particular communications technology incorporates a user-adjustable bandwidth capability.  In practice, this means that the number of video frames transmitted can range from low levels, like one every one to five seconds when traffic is light or normal, to 20 frames per second or higher during heavier or unusual traffic activity. 

more info>>