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AIRBORNE CAMERA EXPERIMENTS FOR TRAFFIC MONITORING 
A. Bômer®*, I. Ernst”, M. Ruhé”, S. Sujew®, M. Hetscher ” 
? German Aerospace Center (DLR), Optical Information Systems, Rutherfordstr. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany, 
anko.boerner@dlr.de 
b German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Transportation Research, Rutherfordstr. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany, 
(ines.ernst, martin.ruhe, sergej.sujew, matthias.hetscher)@dlr.de 
Commission I, WG 1/6 
KEY WORDS: surveying, sensor, aerial, digital, real-time 
ABSTRACT: 
Prediction of traffic, dynamic routing, off board navigation and a standardisation of traffic flow parameters are the cornerstones of 
modern intelligent transport systems. The development of such systems requires intelligent data acquisition from different sensors 
and platforms. Due to its spatial and temporal flexibility airborne sensors can provide useful information beside existing systems, 
e.g. induction loops and vehicle probes data etc. DLR is involved in two projects proving the gain of using aerial images for traffic 
monitoring — LUMOS and “Eye in the sky”. 
For LUMOS an infrared camera system was used in combination with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) onboard an airplane. 
The project “Eye in the sky” provides an opportunity to evaluate the relevance of image data captured by a zeppelin and a 
helicopter. A high resolution digital camera and an inertial measurement unit mounted on an airborne platform were used to 
provide images and attitude data. In both projects, images were transmitted to a ground station, georeferenced and processed in 
order to extract user relevant traffic information. The whole procedure is realized in real time. 
Within the projects a variety of different sensors and platforms were used. This allows a validation of several configurations 
helping DLR in opening up new perspectives for traffic monitoring in future. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
Prediction of traffic, dynamic routing, off board navigation and 
a standardisation of traffic flow parameters are the 
cornerstones of modern intelligent transport systems for 
individual road traffic and fleet management. For all 
applications, a very good database is necessary so that the 
applications can contribute to solving such problems as 
enhancement of road safety, driver assistance, emission 
reduction, or advance of infrastructure capacity. 
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) with its institutes of 
Transportation Research, Communication and Navigation, and 
the department of Optical Information Systems is addressing 
these problems with research on wide area traffic data 
collection, processing and evaluation. Using innovative 
technologies and sensors on terrestrial, airborne and space 
borne platforms, DLR will contribute to opening up new 
perspectives for traffic monitoring in future (Runge et al 2003, 
Ruhé et al 2003, Kühne et al 2002). 
2. PROJECTS 
Two projects mainly influenced the development of airborne 
traffic monitoring at DLR — “Eye in the sky” and LUMOS. 
Both projects are introduced shortly. 
2.1 Eye in the sky 
"Eye in the Sky" is a research project funded by the European 
Commission that contributes to the development of a European 
intelligent transport infrastructure. The project aims to develop 
  
Corresponding author. 
a number of services based on the synergy of surveillance, 
communications and digital mapping technologies. The 
project's main objective is to provide commercially viable 
integrated solutions addressing issues of traffic monitoring, 
fleet management, customized mobility information and 
emergency services support for the better organization of large 
scale events. The test area of the proposed services is the sky 
and land area of Athens, which will host the 2004 Olympic 
Games. 
"Eye in the Sky" is a project carried out by an interdisciplinary 
partnership of companies, agencies and research institutions 
(Eye in the sky 2004). 
The first set of services addresses traffic monitoring, fleet 
management and customized mobility information issues. In 
concept, vehicle probes data are collected and transmitted via 
terrestrial mobile communication networks to a central 
processing centre. In parallel, high-resolution digital imagery 
collected from a camera onboard an airborne platform 
complements the traffic data. 
Integration of optical and vehicle probes provides traffic 
information of superior quality. This approach forms the base 
on which fleet management services and mobility information 
services are developed. 
The second set of services addresses emergency services 
support issues. 
Both sets of services are geared towards the 2004 Olympic 
Games in Athens, and the key objective is the formation of a 
service provider company in time for this large scale event.