Digital Eye on the Road

Video logging image samples, taken at 5 meter intervals in both directions of all SWR highways

The following article originally appeared in the May/June 2006 Southwestern Region Monthly Report and has been updated to reflect current findings.

Video logging is the general term used to refer to the system of truck-mounted digital cameras, Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies. Together, they provide geo-referenced images along highway corridors. Video logging enables MTO to view a highway through continuous images and extract, measure and catalogue highway assets; while the geo-referencing aspect of the data allows access from desktop GIS maps. Many road authorities are rapidly adopting the technology that allows an up to date look at highway features or elements of composition.

In October 2005, MTO awarded Stantec Consulting Limited a consultant assignment managed by the Southwestern Region (SWR) Geomatics Section to complete a demonstration project. The assignment acquired video logging of MTO Highways in the Owen Sound area, Highway 402 and Highway 403 in SWR as well as Highway 7 from Stratford westerly. The purpose of the project was to assess the benefits of video logging and feature/asset extraction technology. This coincided with a similar project undertaken by Central Region Geomatics.

The assignment specified two cameras with color, and geo-referenced digital images taken at 5 meter intervals in both directions of the highways. A total of approximately 1,840 kilometers of digital images (consisting of approximately 735,000 .jpg images) were delivered by the consulting firm and filed by MTO's Linear Highway Referencing System (LHRS) section number in order to ease the organization and GIS access to the data. When viewed in succession, the individual images create the sense of a moving video of the highway. Demonstrations of video logging resulted in positive feedback from Engineering, Contracts and Operational Services and concluded a variety of uses. The ability to view pavement conditions, entrances, signs and pavement markings provides benefit for MTO's daily operations, while public information, photos for report use or support to scoping projects would assist with inquiries from the public.

The video logging demonstration project was completed on the remainder of SWR in mid-2006. Plans for further assessment of this technology as a roadway management and cataloguing tool has been planned by the ministry.