Why use thermal cameras for traffic monitoring?

The advantages of using cameras for traffic monitoring and incident detection is well established. Although integrated recognition software has improved substantially in recent years, some environmental conditions can make it difficult for traffic operators to detect, analyze, and manage traffic incidents. This creates delays in the mean-time-to-detect (MTTD) and hence response of emergency services.

Smoke, sun glare, vehicle headlights, dynamic shadows, and even time of day can impact the effectiveness of visible spectrum cameras. For traditional video cameras to work well, light needs to illuminate all areas of observation. In contrast, thermal cameras can ‘see’ regardless of conditions by detecting subtle differences in temperature and representing them in a high definition image.

While traffic operators may prefer the visible spectrum for monitoring needs such as zooming in for specific detail or vehicle verification, thermal imaging can provide increased awareness and critical information that otherwise may have been missed.

Delivering reliable detection results and significantly fewer false alarms.

So which option is better, visible or thermal? The answer is both. A multi-sensor approach can provide uninterrupted 24-hour detection of vehicles and pedestrians. A dual-vision camera provides visible spectrum awareness with enhanced thermal detection, achieving significantly improved performance in automatic incident detection (AID) systems. This enables rapid incident response and consequently reduces the impact of serious traffic incidents.

Typically applied to tunnels, highways and bridges, the added benefit of thermal imaging can also extend detection ranges beyond visible camera capabilities. Whereas the visible camera provides overall awareness, the thermal camera helps traffic operators increase efficiency and ultimately saves lives.

This partner content is brought to you by Armitage Group.