P5 - Thermo Portal at the Gotthard Road Tunnel
- Event
- SENSOR+TEST Conferences 2011
2011-06-07 - 2011-06-09
Nürnberg - Band
- Proceedings IRS² 2011
- Chapter
- IP - Poster Session
- Author(s)
- L. Fischer, C. Durrer - ECTN AG, Buochs (Switzerland), U. Hoffmann - DIAS Infrared GmbH, Dresden (Germany)
- Pages
- 119 - 122
- DOI
- 10.5162/irs11/ip5
- ISBN
- 978-3-9810993-9-3
- Price
- free
Abstract
There have been some devastating tunnel fires in the recent years; one of the most tragic accidents occurred in the Gotthard-Tunnel (2001). The reasons for these fires are different but an early fire detection system could prevent cars having symptoms of vehicle fires from entering the tunnel. The aim was to develop a system detecting vehicle fires and/or their potential sources outside the tunnel without affecting the running traffic.
The developed Thermo Portal is based on the combination of 3D laser scanners and infrared line cameras. The laser scanners are used for 3D vehicle recognition and collect vehicle profile information such as length, width and height. A complete 3D model for each monitored vehicle is generated and the vehicle class is determined automatically. The infrared line cameras generate a consecutive temperature profile with a high frame frequency to detect small hot spots at normal highway speeds. The concurrently gained infrared data are superimposed over the 3D information as pseudo color texture. In order to get a complete picture of the situation, the local weather data such as temperature, humidity, wind and precipitation are measured and recorded.
Potentially dangerous hotspots are precisely located, identified and indicated on the 3D model of the vehicle. The challenge is to automatically associate the measured temperature to functional parts of the vehicle, such as wheels, exhaust pipe etc. and to apply individual alarm thresholds. Currently these critical temperatures are subject to research. The goal is that the operator or an autonomous system in the traffic control centre can introduce suitable measures such as preventing the vehicle from entering the tunnel or activating an alarm. Vehicle data and the 3D thermo images are subsequently stored in a database for further analysis and evaluation.
A test installation is done at the south portal of Gotthard-Tunnel at an already existing sign gantry. Beyond the hot spot identification and localization the detection of technical faults are possible (hot wheel-bearings, overheated tires and exhaust pipes). The recognition of vehicles with regard to possible fire risks (cars resp. HGV’s and coaches) can be used for traffic control and fire prevention.