Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
  • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
  • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
  • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
  • G08G1/0967—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits
  • G08G1/096708—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the received information might be used to generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
  • G08G1/096716—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the received information might be used to generate an automatic action on the vehicle control where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
  • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
  • G08G1/01—Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled
  • G08G1/052—Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled with provision for determining speed or overspeed
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
  • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
  • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
  • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
  • G08G1/0967—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits
  • G08G1/096733—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where a selection of the information might take place
  • G08G1/096758—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where a selection of the information might take place where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
  • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
  • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
  • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
  • G08G1/0967—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits
  • G08G1/096766—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the system is characterised by the origin of the information transmission
  • G08G1/096783—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the system is characterised by the origin of the information transmission where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method for detecting road closures on one or more traffic lanes at a site.
• the present invention is in the field of real-time management of traffic on road infrastructure, especially on motorways.
• the invention relates more particularly to the detection and prevention of traffic congestion on these road infrastructures, particularly in work zones.
• the safety of road infrastructures is usually managed in different ways, after signaling an incident by a surveillance officer or a user: a mobile team of road safety, or gendarmerie, or the like, goes to the scene of the incident and performs upstream signaling markup; a centralized control station generates the activation of flashing light signals at emergency terminals permanently installed on the channels at a constant distance between them, and displays ad hoc messages on text information panels installed at remains on the tracks, or even broadcasts messages on radio transmitters accessible to motorists.
• the most advanced systems for automatic incident detection fall into two main categories: the use of digital cameras, which look at a given area, and normally see moving vehicles. As soon as a vehicle is stationary, the analysis of the pixels at the level of each camera makes it possible to detect an anomaly and to signal the presence of an incident; use of Doppler radars. In a similar way, as soon as a radar observes the immobility of an object, whatever it is, there is an anomaly.
• cap detection systems require a rather heavy fixed infrastructure, and are therefore expensive, and often limited to the outskirts of large cities and areas of heavy traffic on motorways, and designed for a programmed management.
• Such a system must be able to overcome, both users, a central control station, for an immediate reaction in case of traffic anomaly.
• the aim of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art by proposing a method of easy implementation, on areas not specially equipped, and free from the constraints of the environment. It proposes a mobile and autonomous energy device for implementing this method, requiring no connection to a power supply network. To this end, the invention relates to a method for detecting and preventing traffic jams on one or more traffic lanes at a site, characterized in that:
• the spectrum of the speeds of the vehicles on said channel in each of said zones is constituted over a given period by means of acquisition means; in real time, by means of analysis means to which are communicated, by means of first local communication means said speeds, the average speed in each of said zones;
• a congestion state alarm is triggered on signaling means if one of said average speeds in one of said zones is lower than said first lower threshold of this zone.
• the invention also relates to a device for implementing said method, characterized in that it comprises at least two mobile support means for transporting and maintaining:
• acquisition means in particular in the form of a camera, - the first means of communication, especially in the form of a "Wifi" link,
• autonomous means for supplying energy and storing energy and at least one of said mobile support means further comprising:
• Second communication means in particular by radio link, with a remote monitoring station, and at least one of said mobile support means further comprises signaling means.
• the invention therefore makes it possible to take charge of the management of traffic hazards over an area liable to experience disturbances.
• the invention relates to the implementation of mobile equipment, which tracks the progress of work along a taxiway, adapting very quickly to the new position of a shipyard.
• FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one or several traffic lanes confined in zones according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is a flow diagram representative of the implementation of the method according to the invention
• 3 shows, schematically and in elevation, a movable support means belonging to a device for implementing the method according to the invention.
• the invention relates to the field of traffic management on road infrastructure, especially on motorways.
• the invention relates more particularly to the detection of traffic jams on these road infrastructures. It is intended to perform, in real time, a traffic analysis to inform, on the one hand the users, and on the other hand a remote monitoring station.
• a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the figures.
• the use of the invention finds its application particularly on sites deliberately disturbed by technical necessities, especially in work areas, on any road section, especially in the open countryside, where there is no food resource in energy.
• the invention is particularly applicable to real-time detection of plug formations, at the level of the channel restriction bevels, on construction site sites.
• the method implemented by the invention is based on the analysis of the speed spectrum of the vehicles in different successive zones, on one or more traffic lanes, by means of acquisition and analysis means coupled to means communicating with each other, and are designed to be mutually supportive. It is an expert tool, implemented by means of mobile and autonomous energy.
• the method of detecting road plugs makes it possible to monitor one or more traffic lanes 1 at a site 2.
• a channel 1 is cantoned in different zones, from the downstream to the upstream of a traffic flow of vehicles on lane 1: a zone with reduced capacity A.
• This zone A is notably consisting of a construction site, a restriction of circulation following a breakdown or accident, or other; a first zone B upstream from the direction of the flow of circulation of this zone with reduced capacity A;
• the box may of course be extended to other areas, if necessary, upstream of the second zone C.
• the implementation of the process requires the treatment of data collected in these different areas.
• First acquisition means 3 and traffic analysis 4 situated in the first zone B verify the fluidity of the traffic, in particular by measuring the speed of the vehicles, and by comparing it with adjustable thresholds, lower and upper.
• these acquisition means 3 and traffic analysis 4 are not intended to measure the speed of each vehicle, but to establish the speed spectrum of a vehicle flow flowing in a zone of cantonment during a certain observation period T.
• the spectrum of the velocities V of the vehicles on the channel 1 in each of the zones A, B, C is obtained by means of acquisition means 3.
• the measured speeds, or the signals directly derived from the acquisition means 3, are communicated to analysis means 4.
• the processing of the data by the analysis means 4 is a statistical processing
• the average speed VM is an aggregated average speed
• the period T is equal to the duration of a treatment cycle carried out by the acquisition means 3, in particular an image processing cycle taken by a camera constituting these acquisition means 3.
• the acquisition means 3 may be of another nature, a Doppler radar for example.
• the acquisition means 3 preferably consist of cameras or video, digital or analog detectors.
• the analysis means 4 are designed capable of performing a statistical processing of the data transmitted to them, after a possible decoding.
• the analysis means 4 are designed to constitute an expert system, with autonomous intelligence. They are especially designed to trigger alarms, including visual alarms, and to adapt the visual messages delivered to users according to the situation observed.
• Each of the zones resulting from the cantonment, A, B, C, and any subsequent ones, may be equipped with such acquisition means 3 and analysis 4.
• the first communication means 5 of each zone are designed to address and review information in relation to other communication means 5 connected to other means of acquisition 3 and analysis 4 equipping other areas.
• the means of acquisition 3 and analysis 4 of one of the zones contiguous to one of the zones where the average speed VM is in a range of uncertainty have for mission to remove the possible uncertainty, and to confirm or refute the results recorded by the first means of acquisition and analysis.
• the information can be transmitted to a third zone, or to other zones.
• the means of acquisition 3 and analysis 4 of each zone are also designed able to perform measurements and analyzes on the areas contiguous to theirs, if the relief terrain and infrastructure lends itself. These means thus make it possible to perform a mutual control of the zones, and to compensate for any material failures.
• the acquisition means 3 and analysis 4 of each zone are also preferably designed able to perform measurements and analyzes in both directions of traffic, on tracks related, if necessary.
• the communication technology of the first local communication means 5 is preferably an "Ethernet” network transmission system via "Wifi” or the like.
• the communication means 5 of each zone communicate with each other, and are still able to communicate in real time to or with a remote monitoring station 8 remote from the site 2, by means of second communication means 7. This last transmission is preferentially made by a link "EDGE3,” GSM “at 128 kb, or similar.
• the spectral analysis calculates a mean speed VM, which is between said first lower threshold VB and the second upper threshold VH of said zone, then one is in a range of uncertainty.
• a new spectral analysis of the speed V is performed in the zone immediately upstream of the zone concerned. If this corroborates the slowdown, ie if the calculated average speed VM is lower than the lower threshold VB, or if it is also in the range of uncertainty between the lower speed VB and the higher speed VM, a congestion state alarm is triggered.
• the new spectral analysis of the average speed VM in the area concerned is calculated. And a congestion state alarm is triggered if this new average speed VM in this zone is lower than the first lower threshold VB of this zone.
• the lower speed thresholds VB and higher VM can be parameterized for each zone. Preferably, they are the same for the related areas.
• At least the area which is located furthest upstream in the traffic direction is equipped with signaling means 16, in particular in the form of variable message signs.
• the invention advantageously makes it possible to improve responsiveness in the operational management of a plug, by providing real-time information to the users and the road network operator.
• the invention makes it possible to trigger, on signaling means 16, a congestion state alarm if one of the average speeds VM in one of the zones is lower than the first lower threshold VB of this zone.
• the alarm is made visible to the users by signaling means 16, such as danger indicating signs, and / or speed limiting to a predetermined value, as the case may be, or calculated according to the average speeds VM calculated in each zone.
• a cap alarm is triggered, in particular by the signaling means 16, if one of the analysis means 4 calculates a mean VM speed zero in any of the zones A, B, C. It is preferably transmitted to a station 8, by means of second communication means 7, since at least one of the analysis means 4, the calculation results of the average speeds VM, or / and signals from the acquisition means 3, and in particular traffic images when these means 3 are cameras, or any information circulating on the first communication means 5.
• This remote monitoring station 8 can then trigger very upstream, up to several tens of kilometers of the incident, speed limits, load shedding, law enforcement intervention, or giving instructions by radio or reporting the incident to transmitters in connection with receivers embedded by users, such as telephones portable, "GPS" or others.
• the invention also relates to means for implementing this method.
• These are constituted by mobile means, which are autonomously in support and supply energy of acquisition means 3, analysis 4 and communication means 5, 7, and which comprise means for raising said acquisition means 3 and analysis 4.
• a device 10 for implementing the method comprises at least two mobile support means 11, and preferably three or four.
• the equipment of each zone is made with such a mobile support means 11, such as a vehicle, preferably a trailer, which comprises acquisition means 3 and analysis 4, means for communication 5, energy supply means 12 and energy storage means 13, and, on at least the most upstream station, signaling means 16.
• a mobile support means 11 such as a vehicle, preferably a trailer, which comprises acquisition means 3 and analysis 4, means for communication 5, energy supply means 12 and energy storage means 13, and, on at least the most upstream station, signaling means 16.
• Each movable means 11 is adapted to be moved in a very short time, of the order of 4 hours, so as to leave a location, and join another, during the session of the same technical team.
• the means 11 is preferably a light trailer, single-axle, provided with rapid implementation stabilization means, and designed to be lifted, using at least one lifting point, by means of lifting, to be arranged behind safety rails.
• Each movable means 11 is designed capable of transporting and holding in working position:
• acquisition means 3 in particular in the form of a camera
• first communication means 5 in particular in the form of a "Wifi" link, energy supply means 12 and energy storage means 13,
• At least one of the mobile support means 11 combined to constitute the device 10 further comprises:
• the transmissions, in particular between mobile means 11, are made using multidirectional antennas, so as to avoid pointing from one to the other, and to reduce the time of implementation on the site 2 ..
• This particular means 11 remains individually usable for any other use, which ensures its optimal use.
• each of the mobile support means 11 comprises analysis means 4, and second communication means 7. This redundancy makes it possible to mitigate possible failures, or still advantageously allows an intensification of the calculations by modifying the reference period T.
• Each of the acquisition means 3 is designed to measure the speed of vehicles in at least two distinct and related traffic areas. It is further conceived capable of transmitting by means of first communication means 5 quantification signals of the measured instantaneous speeds.
• the acquisition means 3 are doubled, so as to affect each of them to monitor a single direction of movement.
• the mobile support means 11 concerned then receives a set of additional acquisition means 3 and analysis 4, for additional monitoring of the other direction of movement, without burdening the analysis and processing protocols.
• road traffic can be monitored and analyzed by rear-view, either by a dome-type camera with two front and rear objectives, or by two cameras, one of which is rear-facing.
• the first communication means 5 of any one of the mobile support means 11 are designed capable of transmitting to the analysis means 4 of any of the mobile support means 11 signals. These signals may come from any of the acquisition means 3 of the device 10 relating to a traffic zone, for their statistical processing and the eventual triggering of a congestion or plug warning signal.
• the device 10 comprises, in the preferred embodiment, mobile support means 11 polyvalent elements.
• the device 10 overcomes, in part, the problems of relief.
• Classically good results are obtained with a set of at least three mobile means 11, preferably four, at least the one located furthest upstream in the direction of the traffic is equipped with signaling means 16.
• signaling means 16 Such a configuration can, in particular , allow surveillance of one or more lanes for approximately 2 kilometers, if not more.
• the implementation of each mobile support means 11 is made at the option of the operator, depending on the available shoulders, and barriers constituted by safety barriers, buildings, escape routes, and the relief of the site.
• elevation means 14 are of the telescopic type or the like.
• the elevation means 14 are designed to allow rapid deployment during implementation, such as a quick reset in road position. They are designed to put the expensive equipment that is the means of acquisition 3 and analysis 4 out of reach of vandalism. It should be noted, in this connection, that these latter devices can provide their own security by self-monitoring, and / or by monitoring the neighboring mobile means 11 within the same device 10.
• the mobile means 11 are energy autonomous, and comprise energy supply means 12, and energy storage means 13.
• the energy supply means 12 are autonomous and preferably consist of photovoltaic cell sets. This energy autonomy is, again, a safety factor, insofar as no agent is necessary to make power supply connections, roadside section and weathering.
• Autonomy of more than six days is desirable in territories like France, or other fog-sensitive areas, where the weather and sunshine are not always optimal to ensure a sufficient supply or recharge.
• the energy storage means 13 are therefore designed able to conserve and deliver the energy necessary for the operation of the mobile means 11 for a minimum of six days.
• the energy storage means 13 are constituted by batteries, the capacity of the latter is preferably calculated to deliver, for six days, the energy corresponding to the maximum consumption.
• a mobile means 11 has a capacity greater than 1000 Ampere / hour.
• this does not concern the trailer or trailers equipped with signaling means 16 by variable message panels, the higher energy consumption of which requires additional energy storage means, which are preferentially dedicated to it, and which are calculated for the same duration, preferably more than 800 Ampere / hour. It is still possible to implement additional energy generation means, especially in the form of a self-starting generator set.
• the acquisition means 3 are preferably ultra-low power day / night IP cameras with a power of 3W.
• the autonomy of six days statistically guarantees the possibility of continuous recharging of the energy storage means 13. It is thus possible to use the mobile means 11 for a very long time, for example one year, between two periodic maintenance operations such as the verification of batteries, the cleaning of cells constituting the power supply means 12, or the cleaning and periodic maintenance of the acquisition means 3 and analysis 4, communication means 5 and 7, and elevation means 14.
• Photovoltaic cells are preferably energy supply means 12. They are arranged in panels of small width, so as to easily fit into the template of light vehicles or small trailers, constituting the mobile means 11. Their extension is preferentially done in the direction of the height.
• a preferred embodiment, as visible in Figure 3, consists of the juxtaposition of panel articulated on parallel axes to each other, allowing them to fold over each other in the manner of a wallet.
• these cells are four panels in 12V, coupled in 24V.
• the set of photo-voltaic cells 12 is fixed on a mast or support, preferably rotatable about a vertical axis, in particular under the action of operating means such as a crank and a conical torque .
• This mobility makes it possible to have the folded panels in the optimum transport configuration, and contributes to the speed of implementation or configuration of the mobile transport means 11.
• a variant may consist of the use of solar collectors 12 provided with repositioning means designed to ensure optimum performance.
• the energy supply means 12 may also be constituted by one or more wind turbines, or comprise, in particular in addition to photo-voltaic cells or the like.
• the mobile means 11 comprises at least one charge controller for managing and optimizing the energy production and utilization data.
• the mobile means 11 comprise rolling means for their rapid transposition on another site, and are constituted by trailers of mass less than 1000 kg, towable by light vehicles such as vans or 4x4 vehicles. These mobile means 11 can still receive ancillary services, such as lighting for construction crews, or the like.
• each of the moving means 11 is designed so that it can, depending on its positioning on the site 2, on one or the other of the different zones A, B, C, comprise all or part of the equipment mounted on its support means: • acquisition means 3, such as cameras;
• first means of communication 5 local with other mobile means in particular "Wifi”
• Second communication means 7 with a remote monitoring station 8 which can be very far, of several tens or hundreds of kilometers, in particular "EDGE / GPRS";
• Energy generation means 12 Energy storage means 13;
• Signaling means 16 in particular in the form of panels with variable messages.
• the communication between the mobile means 11 is facilitated by protocols for transmitting observations made on the movements of the vehicles in the different zones, and protocols for managing these observations, which ensure the possibility of mutual surveillance of the zones A, B, C by the various mobile means 11.
• Each movable means 11 can take over a mobile means 11 upstream or downstream fault, and monitor the traffic both upstream and downstream of the flow of vehicles.
• a delay triggers the extinction of the messages intended for the users, in particular on the variable message panels 16, after the end of a disturbance, and the observation of a predetermined period without particular slowdown detection, for example of a few minutes.
• the versatility of the devices 10 and moving means 11 according to the invention allows their use in detecting plugs, as well as for preventing plugs and informing users.
• the invention offers the great advantage of minimizing maintenance, and avoiding any human intervention on the site, which is particularly important when one knows the high level of the risk of accident for a pedestrian on a highway, and what is more on a delicate zone of intervention as a zone of works.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Atmospheric Sciences (AREA)
• Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
• Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)
• Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
• Control Of Driving Devices And Active Controlling Of Vehicle (AREA)
• Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
• Inspection Of Paper Currency And Valuable Securities (AREA)
• Controlling Sheets Or Webs (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=38969902

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2007
  • 2007-06-05 FR FR0755458A patent/FR2917219B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2008
  • 2008-05-22 DE DE602008005147T patent/DE602008005147D1/de active Active
  • 2008-05-22 EP EP08805832A patent/EP2162871B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2008-05-22 WO PCT/FR2008/050887 patent/WO2008152279A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2008-05-22 AT AT08805832T patent/ATE499672T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

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