The goal of this thesis is the utilization of computer vision methods, in a way that will lead to detection and identification of traffic signs in an image. The final application is to analyze video feed from a video camcorder placed in a vehicle. With focus placed on effective utilization of computer resources in order to achieve real time identification of signs in a video stream.

Crashes resulting from automobiles running a red light are typically severe in nature. One way to try to reduce the number and severity of these types of crashes is by increasing the red clearance interval of a traffic signal. In Portland, Oregon, eight intersections received a variety of treatments including red extensions. Determining which treatment had what effect can be difficult to weed out. Using a combination of crash analysis and a model simulating an intersection with red extensions, this paper describes the estimated impact of red light running intersection upgrades and red extensions on crashes. By performing a variety of before and after crash analysis, a reduction of angle crashes after treatments was detected, with a crash modification factor of 0.64 +/- 0.28 using the Empirical-Bayes method. Output from the simple simulation also suggest that red light running crashes can be reduced with red extension technology and confirms crash modification values determined from the Empirical-Bayes method.

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published_or_final_version / Transport Studies / Master / Master of Arts

This study documents and analyses the first established record of taxi hand signs and their respective destinations in South Africa. It demonstrates how taxi hand signification developed into a useful language over time, out of a desperate need for transport amongst black, multi-cultural and multi-lingual people living in South Africa. Its central objective is to recognise taxi hand signs as metaphors for processes of history in pre- and post-apartheid South Africa. This is a study that crosses disciplinary boundaries and marries fine art, anthropology and philosophy in exploring new meanings and understandings of taxi hand signs. In this way, it demonstrates the extent to which art informs other disciplines in extraordinary ways, adding to the value of inter-disciplinary research. The research indicates that taxi signs are part of an evolving, well-functioning, gestural language for sighted commuters. It goes further to probe the question of how blind commuters might have access to the signs, thereby enhancing their independence and movement. The study responds to this question through the design of a new, tactile shape-language of taxi hand signs for blind people. Qualitative research techniques were employed throughout the three phases of the research, namely: preliminary research, research design, and social and fine art responses. The methodologies utilised in the phases were sampling, semistructured interviews and participant observation. These were each employed at specific times to meet specific needs of different phases. I, along with some coresearchers, applied these in taxi ranks, taxi associations and on the streets of Gauteng. The methods used attest to the fact that when new knowledge was sought with key informants in the taxi industry, the different methodologies could be used to verify and corroborate the informants’ information, which in turn become the keystones of knowledge distribution in the thesis. With limited documentation on the emergence of taxi hand signs in the industry, the informants furnished unexplored background information, which I have interpreted in my artworks, films, books, stamps, maps and the blind shape-language. 16 The anthropological research also probed the function of signification through literary criticism. This involved an investigation of the components of the process of signification into its constituent parts in order to conceptualise and contextualise taxi hand signing and its particular relations and narrative content within the greater field of gestural signification. The response of art and artists to anthropological, historical and current approaches was also explored, again to provide context to my art that evolved out of the research. These involved conceptual and graphic art interpretations probing movement, time, space and signification, which led to an art exhibition at the Wits Art Museum (henceforth referred to as WAM) from 12 June to 14 July 2013. Taxi hand signs are continually evolving as new destinations and narratives arise. Together with the art responses document, this thesis records and promotes the established body of the current taxi hand signs, destinations and narratives, for both sighted and blind people, by providing written, visual and sensory evidence of a cultural phenomenon that was previously uncharted.

Today, the information (signal timings, detector extension, phase sequence, etc.) to install traffic lights on the street are obtained from traffic software simulations platforms, meaning that information from simulation is not tested on the field (intersection where it will be installed) before the installation. Many installed controllers on the street use time of day (TOD) patterns due to cheaper cost than adaptive traffic control systems, but that is not the best solution for traffic volume changes that can occur during the day or even a month. To improve traffic signal operation most of the traffic signal controllers in the same corridor or zone operate in coordination mode. Furthermore, phases need to be in coordination to achieve “green wave”. Green wave is term used when in corridor traffic lights allow continues flow of traffic through intersections that are coordinated. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Most U.S. urban traffic signal systems deploy multiple signal timing plans to account for daily variability of traffic demand (i.e. morning peak, midday, afternoon peak, off peak and night). Groups of signals (belonging to the one zone or section) along an urban arterial, usually operate in a coordinated manner. This essentially means that timing plans change at the same time for all the signals in the group, so as to facilitate vehicle progression of through a series of signals. Good traffic signal timing practices assume a certain level of monitoring and maintenance in order to guarantee that they are efficient in servicing current traffic conditions. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015 / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Neste trabalho são analisadas a conspicuidade (impacto visual), a estética e a harmonia com o meio ambiente dos principais sinais verticais de trânsito na área urbana. A análise é realizada com base nas respostas de questionários aplicados a grupos de pessoas (sujeitos), utilizando o método de comparação aos pares, da psicofísica. A pesquisa se concentrou nos seguintes sinais de regulamentação: sinal vertical de parada obrigatória, sinal vertical de sentido de circulação de via, sinal vertical de lombada, e no sinal de orientação de indicação de lugares. No caso dos sinais de regulamentação foram investigadas as seguintes características: tamanho da placa, largura do suporte e cor do suporte. No sinal de indicação de lugares, foram investigadas a cor do fundo da placa e a cor da estrutura de sustentação. No que concerne ao sinal de parada obrigatória, a pesquisa aponta como mais indicados uma largura da placa de 80 cm, suporte com largura de 12,5 cm e cor vermelha ou branca. Quanto ao sinal de sentido de circulação de via, as características mais indicadas são: largura da placa entre 60 e 70 cm, suporte com largura de 12,5 cm e cor vermelha. Em relação a placa de lombada, as características mais indicadas são: largura da placa de 80 cm, suporte com largura de 12,5 cm e cor preta. No que diz respeito de indicação de lugares, a pesquisa aponta como mais indicadas as seguintes características: cor da placa azul (distinta da cor verde regulamentada pelo Código de Trânsito Brasileiro) e suporte de sustentação da placa de cor verde (cor regulamentada pelo código do país) na cor preta ou verde. A comparação de alguns dos resultados encontrados no trabalho com aqueles obtidos em outras pesquisas mostram grande conformidade. Cabe ressaltar, contudo, que os resultados obtidos no trabalho devem ser vistos como tendências, pois o tamanho e a estratificação das amostras não satisfazem os requisitos para que os resultados tenham confiabilidade estatística. / In this work the conspicuity (visual impact), aesthetic and the environment harmony of the main traffic signs in the urban area are analyzed. The analysis is performed based on questionnaires answers applyed the groups of people (subjects), using the psychophysics method of comparison in pairs. The research is focus in the following traffic signs: regulatory signs - stop sign, one way sign - , speed bump warning sign and guide signs. In the case of the regulatory and warning signs the next attributes had been investigated: size of the sign, width and color of the support. In guide sings, the ground color sign and structure color had been investigated. About stop sign, the research points as more indicated a sign width of 80 cm, support width of 12,5 cm and red or white color. Concerning on one way sign, the pointed out characteristics are: sign width between 60 and 70 cm, support width of 12,5 cm and red color. In relation the speed bump warning sign, the more indicated characteristics: sign width of 80 cm, support width of 12,5 cm and black color. About guide sings, the research indicates as more indicated the following featuress: blue color to the sign ground (distinct of the green sing regulated by the brazilian traffic code) and black or green color to sustentation structure of the green color sign (color regulated by country laws). The comparison of some results found in the work with those gotten in other early research shows a great conformity. Its important to highlightes, however, that the results gotten in the work must be seen as tendencies, because the sample size and stratification does not satisfy the requirements to the trustworthiness statistics results.