Jacobs test drives Bosch camera with Intelligent Video Analytics (IVA) Pro Traffic

Jacobs provides a spectrum of professional services, including consulting, technical, scientific, and project delivery for the government and private sector. Jacobs was selected to operate and maintain Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and manage traffic operations for Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, a division of the Florida Department of Transportation, for the last 30 years. As part of this responsibility, Jacobs operates, manages, and maintains more than 500 miles of ITS-connected roadway infrastructure across the state.

Near Florida’s Turnpike Operations at Milepost 65 Pompano Beach Service Plaza, Jacobs is working with Transportation Control Systems to test the accuracy of a DINION 7100i camera with IVA Pro Traffic in counting vehicles traveling that stretch of highway. Based on deep neural networks, edge-based IVA Pro Traffic supports strategies that enhance mobility, safety, and the efficient use of roadways. In addition to providing accurate counts, it offers reliable detection and subclassification of vehicles, such as cars, bicycles, buses, motorcycles, and trucks.

Currently, Florida’s Turnpike is using a microwave vehicle detection system (MVDS) to capture vehicle counts for determining the volume of traffic traveling its toll roads. Benchmarking the DINION 7100i camera with IVA Pro Traffic against MVDS, Jacobs has found the two technologies deliver an average accuracy of roughly 99 percent. Even in inclement weather, the camera continues to deliver a high-level of accuracy.

“I earned my PhD in computer science, so I knew the technology was capable of 99 percent accuracy,” said Debojit Biswas, ITS Project Planner, Jacobs. Serving as an analyst of technology for Florida’s Turnpike, Biswas is testing camera-based AI as a next-generation alternative for existing devices as they require replacement. Along with the MVDS for counting, the turnpike also uses separate video cameras for visual monitoring.

The DINION 7100i camera is installed on the same pole as the existing MVDS and is counting vehicles in three defined areas within its field of view, including an on-ramp, service station off-ramp, and a section of highway that covers three lanes. It provides the added benefit of combining traffic data with video monitoring in a single device and can also go beyond basic counts to deliver data based on subclassifications of vehicles.

“It was easy to implement, and we are satisfied with the outcome. Using a single device instead of multiple devices can also help to lower maintenance requirements,” continued Biswas.

"As a Bosch distributor, Transportation Control Systems is proud to harness the power of IVA Pro Traffic analytics from Bosch,” said Jimmy Fountaine, Vice President, ITS and Smart Cities for Transportation Control Systems. “This breakthrough technology marks a game changer for Departments of Transportation nationwide, empowering them with unparalleled insights for smarter, safer, and more efficient roadways."

Moving forward, Jacobs will continue testing and analyzing the technology to fully understand the potential benefits for Florida’s Turnpike.