TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT |
Evolving the artificial eye Driven by advances in sensor technology, processing power and machine intelligence, artificial vision is rapidly evolving. Now, Lector Vision is applying the technology to predictive and real-time traffic management Words | Lector Vision, Spain
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ur world is undergoing unprecedented change due to a common disruptor: technology. One area of rapid evolution – that of trying to imitate human thought-processing – is commonly known as artificial intelligence. In this field, two fundamental challenges arise: the structuring of autonomous learning and the acquisition and processing of both structured and unstructured data. The human brain’s ability to obtain, process and interpret images – in other words, to see – is complex.
Above: Lector Vision technology is being used to monitor traffic flow, vehicle speed and incidents on roads in several countries
Aspirations of seeing
Artificial vision is the branch of artificial intelligence that processes
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Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2022
and analyses an image obtained from a capture device such as a camera. It detects faults, identifies elements, contextualizes environments and, in short, draws conclusions. The obtained image can be static or dynamic, in which case they are treated as a set of individual static images and analyzed in sequence. This processing enables decisionmaking based on visual observation: a capacity hitherto exclusive to human beings. Artificial vision has become intrinsic to digital transformation across numerous sectors and several factors have driven its exponential advance. The rapid evolution of hardware has provided devices
with greater computing capacity, better specifications, reduced size and lower power-consumption, enabling solutions impossible or barely viable before. Cameras and sensors now offer improved resolution, accuracy, speed of response, as well as increased control over and adaptability to environmental factors such as variable light. Nevertheless, the cost of some devices has driven exploration of cheaper, more flexible alternatives, further boosting the development of digital imaging techniques. Reinforced by new algorithms, the processing capacity of devices has evolved, giving rise to more
