Hybrid Active Contour-Incorporated Sign Detection Algorithm

Traffic signs are one of the important roadway assets. Transportation agencies are required to inventory sign assets, but current manual traffic sign inventory methods are labor-intensive and time-consuming. A generalized traffic sign detection algorithm has been developed to automatically detect signs. However, correctly detecting sign images with discontinuous sign image boundaries (DSIBs) remains a challenge. This leads to false negatives (i.e., missing detection of signs), which critically affect the system reliability and hinder the implementation of an automatic sign detection system. This paper presents this critical issue of reducing false negatives. A hybrid active contour (HAC) algorithm is proposed with a new energy function on the basis of unique traffic sign characteristics, including location probability distribution function (PDF), statistical color model (SCM), and global curve length, to detect traffic signs with DSIB problems. The proposed HAC algorithm can be incorporated seamlessly int...

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