SafeWalk designed to protect the most vulnerable road users

Vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and riders of powered two-wheelers (PTWs) and their passengers account for around 46% of the 1.3 million global road traffic deaths every single year. In fact, according to figures sourced from the World Health Organization’s recently published Global Status Report on Road Safety, in low-income countries in South East Asia, for example, over 80% of those killed are vulnerable road users.

Right: SafeWalk is an above-ground sensor for pedestrian detection

As a result of these shocking statistics, there is an increasing focus on vulnerable road users in terms of urban design, traffic management as well as automotive safety. In the field of intelligent transport systems, the latest video detection solution from the world’s leading video detection specialist, Traficon, has been designed to buck this worrying trend. Launched in Kortrijk, Belgium, yesterday, to an international audience at the Design at Work Exhibition, SafeWalk takes Traficon’s established video detection technologies to a whole new level. However, in addition to the safety benefits, the SafeWalk system addresses intersection efficiency directly, leading to fewer delays for motorists as a whole, with potential savings in terms of the cost of waiting at intersections amounting to some Euro 800 a month per installed device.

Integrating stereovision technology and intelligent detection for pedestrian presence detection at curbsides, the main goal of this new smart innovation is to improve pedestrian operations and safety at traffic signals. “By detecting waiting pedestrians and, at the same time, by managing and controlling traffic lights more dynamically, this intelligent sensor reduces unnecessary delays to both pedestrians and motorists,” says Jo Versavel, Traficon’s top man and founder (widely regarded as the Godfather of video detection technology).

Left: By monitoring the curbside near zebra crossings, SafeWalk can increase safety and efficiency for both pedestrians and motorists

This above-ground sensor is designed to view a detection zone adjacent to the pole to which it is mounted. Stationary pedestrians or those moving in the designated zone waiting to cross a roadway will generate a detect state 24/7 in urban conditions. The stereovision video image processing technology is used for the detection and monitoring of pedestrians who are waiting to cross the street within a user-definable zone. As soon as a pedestrian enters a predefined detection zone (‘virtual loop’) and is waiting for a configurable time, a detection output is provided to the traffic light controller, enabling the software to activate the green time for the pedestrian.

SafeWalk can also hold the red time for pedestrians, as long as there is no pedestrian presence, making traffic flow more fluent and efficient. Using camera images (JPEG snapshot), virtual pedestrian detection zones can be positioned accurately. Verification and viewing of the detection is possible via MPEG-4 streaming video.

There will be a more detailed focus on this new launch in the February/March issue of Traffic Technology International. Also, Jo Versavel is interviewed in the January 2010 issue of Vision Zero International magazine

10 December 2009