Bluecity VS Traffic Cameras
BLUECITY VS. TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Are traffic cameras really the best method for collecting traffic data and can they capture all the data required for better traffic planning?
- The video camera alternative
When traffic cameras were first introduced, traffic planners and city engineers were able to get valuable information about the presence of road users at intersections and their behaviours. Traffic cameras are now used in a variety of ways, including intersection surveillance, recording red light and stop sign infractions and the monitoring of vehicles for excessive speed.
While they have been effective in significantly reducing the number of serious and fatal car crashes, they have several disadvantages and have been surrounded by controversy:
- Cannot record effectively during adverse weather conditions and at nighttime or in poor lighting
- Are subject to citizen complaints regarding privacy violation
- Can be expensive to install and maintain
As research shows that most traffic accidents occur at night and during poor weather, new solutions to address these shortcomings were sought out. Lidar was a technology that filled the gap by offering reliable and anonymous traffic data in any lighting or weather.
- Who should use traffic cameras?
Traffic cameras are an excellent option for incident detection. However, since they are not reliable in poor light or weather, cameras cannot provide 24/7 coverage making them less effective for traffic management. They are suitable for cities in climates where adverse weather conditions are not very common.
- Who should use Bluecity AI
Bluecity AI is an ideal cost-effective solution for transport planners, city engineers, and operations and road safety departments, who need multimodal traffic data collection in all weather and lighting conditions.
It is an excellent choice in areas where substantial controversy exists regarding the collection of private citizen data. Lidar sensors capture data anonymously, effectively eliminating concerns regarding private data being collected and stored.
What’s more, Bluecity’s artificial intelligence power advanced safety analytics and offers better visualization of the data captured.
TABLE OF COMPARISON
| Detection | Traffic Cameras | Bluecity Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Detects presence of vehicles |
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| Measures all modes of transport |
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| Detects speed |
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| Detects trajectory |
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| Detects post encroachment time |
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| Works in any weather |
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| Works in any lighting |
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| User-defined virtual loops |
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| Counts number of near misses |
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| Detects red-light runners |
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| Detects illegal turning |
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| No collection of private citizen data |
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| Provides signal performance measures |
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| Installation & Maintenance | Traffic Cameras | Bluecity Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Easy to install |
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| Inexpensive installation |
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| One sensor per intersection required |
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| Easy maintenance |
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| Inexpensive maintenance |
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PRIVACY QUESTIONS
- Can traffic cameras help with operations?
Answer: No
Since traffic cameras can’t supply reliable data at night or during adverse weather, they are not as useful for operations.
- Is privacy protected with traffic cameras?
Short answer: No
Since cameras record everything, from vehicles, to license plates and faces, many citizens groups object to private data being captured and stored by government agencies. There is concern that more surveillance by video can lead to more opportunities for privacy abuse.
- Are traffic cameras the most accurate method for capturing traffic data?
Short answer: Yes and no
Traffic cameras are more accurate than other methods like inductive loops, but they are not more accurate than lidar sensors. Bluecity and an engineering firm recently performed a study to measure and compare the accuracy of video cameras and lidar sensors. The study found a difference of less than 1% between the number of vehicles counted by the LiDAR sensor and the video cameras. However, the study did not include the ground truth so it was impossible to say which method was most accurate.
- Can traffic cameras tell which intersections are dangerous?
Short answer: Yes and no
Video cameras are often used to capture incidents such as accidents on the road, so yes, they can tell you which intersections are dangerous, but only after the fact. Another drawback is that cameras are not reliable at night and in poor weather, which is when most accidents occur. Once enough accidents have occurred at a particular intersection, it can be labeled as dangerous, and video can be examined to see what caused the accidents. Bluecity goes a step further by providing safety analytics that can offer information such as speeding, wrong turns, near misses and more
TRAFFIC CAMERAS
REVIEW SUMMARY
Pros
Radar installed at intersections is a great choice because it detects the presence of vehicles in all types of lighting and weather conditions. When it detects the presence of vehicles at an intersection, traffic light timing can be optimized.
Cons
Radar can be an expensive choice because roads need to be dug up in order to install the required wiring, and this causes road closures. More than one sensor is needed for each intersection. Radar is also not able to distinguish between the different types of road users.
Best Alternative
Bluecity’s solution is a unique, cost-effective solution that allows planners to capture multimodal traffic data in real-time 24/7. Its lidar sensors are easy to install and maintain and most intersections require only one sensor. It leverages artificial intelligence to power advanced safety analytics that help identify dangerous intersections and improve road safety.
Bluecity is a modern solution for traffic data collection, traffic actuation and safety analytics.