Evaluation of traffic sign retroreflectivity measurement using mobile LiDAR

辉固Roadware是一家总部位于密西索加的公司，专门从事定制道路基础设施数据收集和处理解决方案。辉固Roadware以其创新和客户驱动的自动道路分析仪(ARAN)技术而闻名国际。阿兰技术最早是在20世纪80年代中期开发的。模块化Aran是一种用于路面数据收集的多功能车辆，目前正被世界各地的许多交通和基础设施机构使用。目前的ARAN系统在检测和评估反光交通标志质量方面的能力有限。后向反射率是与夜间能见度相关的因素之一，它是材质将光线重新定向回其光源的特性。随着回射特性随着时间的推移逐渐恶化，该标志变得更少 在夜间可察觉且可辨认。因此，对于规律性、警示性和指导性标志，持续监测标志的反射状态并保持其最低反射率水平是至关重要的。用手持设备测量交通标志的反光率是维持交通标志反光率最客观的方法。然而，这种用较少代表性的几何形状测量反射率的维护方法耗费人力、时间，并使维护人员面临风险。因此，迫切需要一种更自动化、更准确、更安全的符号回射率测量方法。最近，辉固Roadware将新兴的移动激光雷达(光检测和测距)扫描仪与ARAN系统集成在一起，这使得 公司快速收集道路走廊沿线的高密度和准确的定位和反射强度数据。为了支持正在进行的ARAN技术的研究和开发，该项目旨在调查安装在辉固Roadware的ARAN系统上的移动激光雷达扫描仪作为传统标志维护过程的另一种标志回射率测量方法的潜力。研究成果将为辉固罗华的交通标志反射率监测提供基于激光的分析服务的新发展。

Fugro Roadware is a Mississauga based company specializing in customized roadway infrastructure data collection and processing solutions. Fugro Roadware is internationally known for its innovative and customer-driven Automatic Road Analyzer (ARAN) technology. The ARAN technology was first developed in the mid-1980s. The modular ARAN is a multifunctional vehicle used for road surface data collection, and is currently employed by numerous transportation and infrastructure agencies around the world. The current ARAN system is limited in its ability to detect and assess the quality of retroreflective traffic signs. Retroreflectivity, one of the factors associated with night visibility, is the property of a material to redirect light back towards its source. As the retroreflective properties gradually deteriorate over time, the sign becomes less detectable and legible at night. Therefore, it is critical to keep monitoring the reflective status of signs and maintain their minimum retroreflectivity levels for regularity, warning, and guide signs. The most objective method to maintain traffic sign retroreflectivity is measuring sign retroreflectivity with handheld devices. However, this maintenance method, measuring reflectance with less representative geometry, is labour-intensive, time-consuming and exposes maintenance crews to risk. Thus a more automated, accurate and safer method of sign retroreflectivity measurement is urgently required. Recently Fugro Roadware integrates an emerging mobile lidar (light detection and ranging) scanner with ARAN system, which allows the company to rapidly collect high-density and accurate positioning and reflective intensity data along road corridors. In support of ongoing research and development of ARAN technology, this project aims to investigate the potential of mobile lidar scanners mounted on Fugro Roadware's ARAN system as an alternative measure of sign retroreflectivity, to the traditional sign maintenance process. The outcomes of proposed research will lead to a new development of laser-based analytic service for monitoring traffic sign retroreflectivity for Fugro Roaware.