JP2001021669A - Snowfall detection system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a snowfall detection system for predicting the amount of snowfall without making a monitoring person confirm the snow condition or the presence or absence of snowfall every time even if a snowfall occurs quickly or intermittently. SOLUTION: The snowfall-detecting device 8 extracts a snowflake from an image that is acquired by an ITV camera 1 for shooting the monitoring area of snowfall and outputs the mount of the snowflake as snowfall data. A database part 10 stores the outputted snowfall data and weather observation data at each time, and extracts data that matches the conditions of snowfall to be detected from the stored data. A total judgment part 12 sets the conditions of snowfall to be detected, compares snowfall detection data at current time and the weather observation data with past data being extracted from the database, thus calculating the predicted amount of snowfall.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a snowfall detection system for detecting snowfall using image processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows a conventional snowfall detection system, in which 1 is an ITV camera section for photographing a monitoring area, 2 is a frame memory for storing an input image, and 3 is a difference for extracting a change component on the image.・ A binarization processing unit, 4 is a labeling processing unit for assigning a label number to each extracted change component, and 5 is a snowflake extraction for extracting a snowflake characteristic from the area and shape of each label component. Unit, 6 is a snowfall detection unit that counts snowflakes to determine snowfall, 7 is a display output unit that displays and outputs input video and processing result data by providing a monitor screen and output interface, and 8 is a frame memory 2 A snowfall detection device 9 having a configuration up to the display output unit 7 is a snowflake of snowfall photographed by the ITV camera unit 1.

Next, the operation will be described. The road and the surrounding scenery are photographed by the ITV camera unit 1 so that snowflakes can be photographed during snowfall, and the acquired video is input to the snowfall detection device 8. In the snowfall detection device 8, the frame memory 2 stores the input image, and the difference / binarization processing unit 3 performs a difference between the new input image and the image stored in the frame memory 2 and performs a binarization process of the difference image to obtain an image. The above change component is extracted. The labeling processing unit 4 performs label numbering for each cluster of connected pixels in the extracted change component. The snowflake extraction unit 5 extracts features such as the area and the aspect ratio of each label numbered label component, and is set based on the falling speed and size of the snowflake, the distance from the ITV camera unit 1, and the like. Only the label component that matches the characteristics of the snowflake is determined as a snowflake. The snowfall detection unit 6 counts the label component determined as a snowflake every processing execution time (for example, 1/30 second corresponding to the frame rate), and the number of counted snowflakes satisfies a preset value. In that case, it is determined that there was snowfall. When it is determined that snowfall has occurred, the display output unit 7 outputs an alarm to a supervisor using an external contact or a buzzer sound, and displays or externally outputs data of an image processing result on a monitor screen. Observers can use this snowfall detection system to detect when snow has started falling, and use camera images to check the snowfall situation at the site where the snowfall detection system is installed. Investigate and salt the road surface,
In addition to implementing snow and ice countermeasures, such as opening the water inlet and supplying water to the road surface, or running a snowplow, information is provided to road users to prevent accidents and disasters caused by snowfall.

[0004]

Since the conventional snowfall detection system is configured as described above, the detection of snowfall detects the beginning of snowfall, so even if snowfall occurs for a short time or intermittently. In each case, it is necessary for the observer to go to the site every time to check the snow condition and whether the snow is really falling or not, and the load on the observer is a problem. Also, at the beginning of snowfall, it is difficult to determine what level of response is required as a measure against snow and ice, resulting in a quick response and a reduction in efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem. It is necessary to take measures by detecting snowfall without error, predicting the amount of snowfall in consideration of the regional characteristics of the monitored area when snowfall occurs, and taking measures. It is an object of the present invention to provide a snowfall detection system that detects only when it is necessary.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a snowfall detection system for photographing a monitoring area of snowfall, and a snowfall detection means for extracting snowflakes from the image obtained by the above-mentioned image pickup means and detecting snowfall. And weather monitoring means for measuring weather such as temperature and humidity around the monitoring area or the monitoring area, and storing snowfall detection data from the snowfall detection means and weather observation data from the weather measurement means in association with time. A database for extracting data matching the snowfall conditions to be detected from the storage means, and condition setting means for setting the snowfall conditions to be detected, and detecting the snowfall at the current time. Means for calculating a predicted amount of snowfall by referring to snowfall detection data of the means and measurement data of the meteorological observation device with past data extracted from the database. It is obtained by a means.

The snowfall detection system according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a display means for receiving the output of the comprehensive judgment means and displaying predicted snowfall amount or snowfall caution information to the passing vehicle. .

The snowfall detection system according to a third aspect of the present invention is provided with a communication means provided between the control center and the comprehensive judgment means for notifying the control center of the predicted amount of snowfall or snowfall detection information. It is.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a snowfall detection system, comprising: an imaging means for photographing a monitoring area for snowfall; a snowfall detection means for extracting snowflakes from an image obtained by the imaging means to detect snowfall; A weather observing means for measuring weather such as temperature and humidity around the area or the monitoring area, and condition setting means for setting a snowfall condition to be detected, wherein the snowfall detection data of the snowfall detecting means and the weather It is provided with comprehensive judgment means for discriminating between snowfall and rainfall based on the measurement data of the observation device.

Further, the snowfall detection system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is a snowfall detection system in which, when the snowfall is recognized, the snowfall data is compared with the snowfall condition to be detected, and an alarm is output according to the comparison result. It is.

A snowfall detection system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention includes a display means for displaying the cautionary information of snowfall on a passing vehicle in response to the output of the comprehensive judgment means.

A snowfall detection system according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is provided between the traffic control center and the comprehensive judgment means, and includes communication means for reporting snowfall detection information to the traffic control center.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes weather observation data and snowfall detection data or manually input snowfall data, and creates and stores a time-series database. 11 is a meteorological observation device that measures temperature, road surface temperature, humidity, rainfall, etc., and 12 is based on current snowfall detection data and meteorological observation data. 13 is a snowfall detection data from the snowfall detection device 8, 14 is weather observation data such as temperature, road surface temperature, humidity, rainfall from the weather observation device 11, 15 is a comprehensive judgment unit 12 and a database unit 10. Database information communicated between In addition, the database unit 10 and the overall determination unit 12 are configured by a general-purpose computer and the like, and the weather observation device 11 is configured by a thermometer, a hygrometer, a rain gauge, etc. having an interface that can be connected to the computer.

FIG. 2 shows an example of database information 15 created in the database unit 10, wherein (a) shows an example of database information created during snowfall and (b) shows an example of database information created during rainfall. (B)
, The snowfall detection data 13 shows an example in which a false report has occurred due to raindrops in rainy weather.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show an example of a method for predicting snowfall using database information. FIG. 3A shows an example of a graph of temperature and snowfall over time, and FIG. 3B shows a temperature change rate per hour. An example of a table in which the snow cover amount two hours after the occurrence of the temperature change rate is totaled for each day and the average value is obtained is shown.

Next, the operation will be described. Snowfall detection device
8, the image of the ITV camera unit 1 is compared with the difference
Binarization processing unit 3, labeling processing unit 4, and snow break extraction unit 5
The snowfall detection unit 6 measures the amount of snowflakes extracted for each processing time (for example, the number of snowflakes within a predetermined time corresponding to 1/30 second per frame), and determines that the amount of snowflakes is a predetermined amount. When it is detected that the value has been reached, the measured amount of snowflakes is output as snowfall detection data 13 to the overall judgment unit 12 and the database unit 10 via the display output unit 7. When the amount of snowflakes has not reached the predetermined value or is zero, the amount of snowflakes is output as snowfall detection data 13 to the overall judgment unit 12 and the database unit 10 every time the processing is executed. The meteorological observation device 11 is used for weather observation data such as temperature and humidity.
14 is measured in real time and output to the database unit 10 and the overall judgment unit 12. The database unit 10 statistically analyzes the input data at certain time intervals, and creates and stores the database shown in FIG. The data created here is composed of the input weather observation data, snowfall detection data, and snowfall data, and the snowfall data is input by the observer based on the snowfall actually generated.

Based on the weather characteristics specific to the area inferred from the past weather observation data stored in the database unit 10, the comprehensive judgment unit 12 determines, for example, "Snowfall conditions" And "conditions for performing an alarm", an alarm is output when the current snowfall detection data 13 and weather observation data 14 satisfy these conditions. Here, since the ITV camera unit 1 captures an image of a subject from a distance to a nearby location in the field of view, the image becomes larger as the distance to the subject becomes shorter. Cannot identify snowflakes. Further, even in the difference / binarization processing unit 3, binarization cannot be performed so that snowflakes and raindrops are distinguished. Accordingly, the snowflake extraction unit 5 determines that the raindrops during rainfall are snowflakes, and when the amount of snowflakes becomes a predetermined value or more (for example, a value of 10 or more) as shown in FIG. It is determined that there is snowfall, and the snowfall detection device 8 outputs the detected amount of raindrops as the amount of snowflakes (for example, a value of 10). At this time, based on the meteorological observation data of the area measured by the meteorological observation device 11 and stored in the database unit 10, for example, as shown in FIGS.
If it is found that the rainfall occurs when the temperature is higher than 0 ° C and the snowfall occurs when the temperature is lower than 0 ° C, the observer preliminarily indicates, for example, “Temperature 3.
The temperature below 0 ° C. is set in the overall determination unit 12 as a “snowfall condition”. The comprehensive determination unit 12 detects that the current weather observation data from the weather observation device 11 satisfies the set “snowfall condition” (for example, “the temperature is less than 3.0 ° C.”) Judge as snowfall. In addition, the comprehensive judgment unit 12
An "alarm condition" is set in advance, and an alarm is output when it is determined that snowfall is met according to the "snow condition" and the snowfall detection data 13 is equal to or more than a predetermined value. For example, if “the amount of snowflakes is 30 or more” is set in advance as the “condition for performing an alarm”, an alarm is issued when the temperature reaches 1.0 ° C. and the amount of snowflakes obtained from the snowfall detection data 13 reaches 30. Do.

As described above, it is possible to clearly distinguish whether it is snowfall or rainfall, and it is possible to avoid unnecessary use of the observer to the site due to erroneous detection of snowfall.

Further, the comprehensive judgment section 12 includes a database section 10
Then, the amount of snow to be predicted is calculated from the database information, the current weather observation data 14 and the snowfall detection data 13. The prediction of the amount of snow is calculated based on time information and various data held as a database, using data indicating characteristics related to the amount of snow in the area. FIG. 3 shows an example of a calculation method for predicting the amount of snow, and FIG. 3 (a)
From the graph of the temperature and the amount of snow, it is possible to confirm the situation in which the snow is occurring after the temperature has decreased in a short time. FIG.
(B) shows the result of calculating the average value of past data of the actual snow amount with respect to the temperature change rate in order to predict the snow amount based on the temperature data. Based on the temperature and snowfall stored in 10,
In the case where the amount of snowflakes is detected and the temperature from the weather observation device 11 is equal to or less than a predetermined value, snow data indicating the actual snow amount corresponding to the temperature change rate is created. The overall determination unit 12 determines that the amount of snowflakes (for example, the amount of snowflakes 10
If it is determined that there is snowfall and the temperature obtained from the weather observation device 11 is measured to be equal to or lower than a predetermined value (for example, less than 3 ° C.), 1 By measuring the temperature change rate from the time temperature data and referring to the average value of the snow amount corresponding to the temperature change rate measured from the previously created snow data, the average value of the referred snow amount is determined for a predetermined time. It is output as a predicted value of the snow amount at a later time (for example, two hours later). here,
The definition of the weather data and the amount of snow to be used may be any method as long as it is created based on the information held by the database unit 10, and the characteristics of the snowfall in the monitoring area are taken into consideration. The monitor sets conditions for calculating the weather data and the amount of snow to be used in the comprehensive judgment unit 12.

By predicting the amount of snow by the comprehensive judgment unit 12 as described above, it is possible to judge what snow and ice measures should be taken from the beginning of the snowfall based on the amount of snow. For example, if the snowfall is predicted to be less than 10 mm, the guards will spray salt on the road surface and the snowfall will be 10 mm or more and 50 m.
If it is predicted to be less than m, the guard will supply water to the road surface,
Alternatively, if the amount of snow is predicted to be 50 mm or more, a measure such as arranging a snowplow can be taken.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 16 denotes a display panel which receives an output from the general processing unit 12 and displays a warning display for snowfall or a predicted snowfall amount for a passing vehicle; 17 is display data.

Next, the operation will be described. The ITV camera 1 is installed on a road or the like in an accident-prone area caused by snowfall, and the display board 16 is installed on an approach road to the area or in the area. The display unit 16 receives the display data 17 from the comprehensive determination unit 12 of the snowfall detection device 8 and automatically displays information such as information on caution about snowfall indicating that there is snowfall on the passing vehicle and information on prediction of the amount of snowfall. Since the real-time snowfall detection is performed, the immediacy of the information is ensured, and the prevention of an accident caused by snowfall can be realized.

Embodiment 3 FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention, in which reference numeral 18 denotes a communication processing unit for communicating with a control center, reference numeral 19 denotes communication data with a general judgment unit, and reference numeral 20 denotes a control center for monitoring roads. .

Next, the operation will be described. Communication processing unit 19
Communicates with the traffic control center 20 to notify the warning output of snowfall and the predicted amount of snowfall. Further, conditions set from the control center 20 side and weather observation data of the weather observation device 11 may be transmitted, and snowfall information in various places can be comprehensively managed by the control center 20, so that power saving and efficiency can be realized.

[0026]

According to the present invention, only the snowfall to be detected can be detected and the amount of snowfall can be predicted according to the snowfall characteristics of the area by setting the conditions by the road supervisor, so that the load on the road supervisor is reduced. At the same time, there is an effect that a reliable snowfall detection system can be obtained.

Displaying snowfall information on a passing vehicle is effective in preventing accidents caused by snowfall.

Further, by providing communication means to the control center, it is possible to realize labor saving and efficiency by integrating and managing data.

Further, by discriminating between snowfall and rainfall, false reports due to rainfall can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of database information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an example of created data for snowfall amount prediction according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional snowfall detection system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ITV camera part 2 Frame memory 3 Difference / binarization processing part 4 Labeling processing part 5 Snowflake extraction part 6 Snowfall detection part 7 Display output part 8 Snowfall detection device 9 Snowflake of snowfall 10 Database part 11 Weather observation equipment 12 General judgment part 13 Snowfall detection data 14 Meteorological observation data 15 Database information 16 Display board 17 Display data 18 Communication processing unit 19 Communication data 20 Control center

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tadashi Mayumi 297 Hiroaki-cho, Tsu-shi, Mie Prefecture Inside the Mie Construction Office, Chubu Regional Construction Bureau, Ministry of Construction (72) Inventor Katsuhiko Fujimoto 2-22- 9 Road Maintenance Technology Center Chubu Branch (72) Inventor Toshinobu Kato 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An imaging means for photographing a monitoring area of snowfall, a snowfall detection means for extracting snowflakes from an image obtained by the imaging means and detecting snowfall, a temperature and a humidity around the monitoring area or the monitoring area. Weather observation means for performing the weather measurement, and storage means for storing the snowfall detection data from the snowfall detection means and the weather observation data from the weather measurement means in association with the time, the conditions of snowfall to be detected and A database for extracting matching data from the storage means, and condition setting means for setting the conditions of the snowfall to be detected, wherein the snowfall detection data of the snowfall detection means and the measurement data of the weather observation device at the current time are stored. A snowfall detection system, comprising: comprehensive judgment means for calculating a predicted snowfall amount by referring to past data extracted from the database. 2. A snowfall detection system according to claim 1, further comprising a display means for displaying the amount of snowfall or the cautionary information of the snowfall predicted by receiving the output of said comprehensive judgment means for passing vehicles. . 3. The snowfall detection system according to claim 1, further comprising a communication means provided between the control center and the comprehensive judgment means for notifying the control center of a predicted amount of snowfall or snowfall detection information. 4. An imaging means for photographing a monitoring area for snowfall, a snowfall detection means for extracting snowflakes from an image obtained by the imaging means and detecting snowfall, a temperature and a humidity around the monitoring area or around the monitoring area. A meteorological observation unit that performs a meteorological measurement of the vehicle, and a condition setting unit that sets a condition of snowfall to be detected, based on the snowfall detection data of the snowfall detection unit and the measurement data of the weather observation device at the current time. A snowfall detection system, comprising: a comprehensive determination unit for determining whether it is rainfall. 5. The snowfall according to claim 4, wherein the comprehensive judgment means compares the snowfall data with the snowfall condition to be detected when the snowfall is recognized, and outputs an alarm according to the comparison result. Detection system. 6. The snowfall detection system according to claim 5, further comprising display means for receiving the output of said comprehensive determination means and displaying warning information of snowfall to a passing vehicle. 7. The snowfall detection system according to claim 4, further comprising a communication means provided between the control center and the comprehensive judgment means for reporting snowfall detection information to the control center.