Generating Traffic Statistical Profiles Using Unmanned Helicopter-Based Video Data

Small unmanned vertical take off and landing vehicles are used to provide the eye-in-the-sky alternative to monitoring and regulating traffic dynamically. Spatial-temporal visual data are collected in real time and they are used to generate traffic-related statistical profiles, serving as inputs to traffic simulation models. Generated profiles, which are continuously updated, are used to calibrate traffic model parameters, to obtain more accurate and reliable simulation models, and for model modifications. This method overcomes limitations of existing traffic simulation models, which suffer from outdated data, poorly calibrated parameters because of outdated data, questionable accuracy and poor predictions of traffic patterns.