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Building a Traffic Radar System To Catch Reckless Drivers?
cbraescu1 writes "I live in a city with a population in the millions (someplace in the Middle East; the country is not important), and I am mad as hell. The car traffic is going from bad to worse, and I'm sick of all the car accidents that keep happening (we have one of the biggest accident and mortality rates per km of road or per 1,000 vehicles). I just witnessed a car accident a few hours ago, and in the last few months I've given first aid at two other car accidents, all happening within 500 meters of each other. Today's victims escaped alive, but the motorcycle driver who was responsible fled and the police weren't equipped to catch him. There are laws, but not much willingness to enforce them, and no traffic lights at all. After speaking with some of my friends, we decided to take the issue into our own hands: build a traffic radar system able to capture a vehicle's speed, install it at our own expense, and share the generated penalties with the city government (all subject of their approval, of course). We want to start on the main avenue (more than 15 km) and to 'roll' the income from the penalties into covering new streets (so that perpetrators will basically finance the system). We're not rich and we will not ask for our money back. We just need to make the system start and we're confident the penalty fees will cover its spread. So, I'm asking Slashdot: what would be a workable way to build such a system? It must withstand drivers claiming the system is cheating, high temperatures, high levels of humidity, and crappy electricity. Any suggestions would be appreciated. This is about technology saving lives — literally."
This is bullshit. Typical western capitalist viewpoint. You don't need a dozen specialists and millions of dollars to create a traffic monitoring system. You need some off the shelf hardware and a few people willing to work on it till it functions properly. First off, you don't use radar. At all. You use cameras and lasers. (IR band preferably). Second, it doesn't take an engineer to build a gizmo.
They say necessity is the mother of invention. THEY are right. If it's needed, it can probably be done, and done well no less. This guy isn't trying to invent a new technology. He's wanting to use existing technology to do something other people have already done.
A simple run down of a possible build out, right off the top of my head... casing, power supply (backup?), 1 video camera (any camcorder will work, or specialized cameras are an option), 1 or 2 IR lasers with rangefinding capability, a thin client control system with data capture and Wifi or cellular link. Well shit, we're done with hardware. Now all you need is proper software, most of which already exists and would simply need to be modified. I could build a unit like this, that could clock your speed through it's field of view, capture your cars image, the license plate and maybe the drivers face. I could build it for maybe 500$ each unit, probably figure 1000$ just to be safe. Where I come from this sort of thing is a weekend project. Getting it implemented as a part of the legal system would be the hard part.
If installing traffic enforcement cameras costs millions of dollars, it's because of bureaucracy and waste. Not because the actual system cost is really that high. My understanding is that most of that cost in the US comes from built in contract padding and kick backs, and the legal obligations that our litigious society requires. Such things are allowed to continue because people like you think that's the only way it can work. You are wrong.
wow, just wow. You are suffering from arrogance of ignorance.
where did you study civil engineering?
You really have NO CLUE how complex a city is, none what so ever.You have your little shallow view and assume everything you dont' understand is stupid.
People like YOU hold back civilization.
I'm not tlaking about new technology.
ahh, your so ignorant.
"?), 1 video camera (any camcorder will work, or specialized cameras are an option)"
it needs to survive for long periods out doors. It also need IR, and it needs to have a good lens, and it needs to be maintained.
you fuck twad.
"Well shit, we're done with hardware"
or rally? how ar you going to power it? is the nearby power source designed to take on more load? is the power supply in the case able to handle sudden spikes and dirty power?
"1 or 2 IR lasers with rangefinding capability"
IR? how the fuck ar tyou going to ensure your not blinding people? You do realize the power and range needed, right? of course you don't because your about as smart as a back od socks.
You could not build a reliable unit for less then 1000 dollars, closer to 5 AND you still need to pay to have it done. PLUS you will need thousands of them. at least 4 on each corner.
"If installing traffic enforcement cameras costs millions of dolla"
putting in enough for a city with a million people would.
"My understanding is that most of that cost in the US comes from built in contract padding and kick backs,"
you understanding is SHIT, you ignorant fuck.
" Such things are allowed to"
ah, a strawman. of course your only argument is a logically fallacy, you poor excuse for a limp wristed cum stain.
"You are wrong."
no, I am not. This shit is expensive to implement Cities are complex... very complex Everything is working in conjunction with everything else.
"Where I come from this sort of thing is a weekend project. "
What magical place do you come from where you can design, build, lay infrastructure, install, hire people to maintain it, hire people to support the data in a weekend?
god you are stupid
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
Clearly a case of the following driver not driving with due care and attention, or of not leaving a proper gap between them and the preceding vehicle?
I take it your new to this whole driving experience.
If your driving through a green light, your just casually driving. It's not Formula 1 racing, it's driving. Suddenly, the light turns yellow, and almost instantly the person who was going 45 mph in front of you has laid every ounce of their weight onto their anti-lock brakes. Suddenly, the 45 mph vehicle in front of you has decelerated to 10 mph in almost a blink of time. What do you do? First, you have to be cognizant of it which take s a touch of time. Second, you have to move your foot from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal. Keep in mind, you're already in deficit for time here since the person in front of you has already started performing the deceleration probably 1/4 to 1/2 a second before this time. Now, a million factors come into play: do your tires have better traction than the person in front of you? Does your vehicle have a softer suspension than the vehicle in front of you which allows the vehicle to travel on a different axis while braking for a short period of time before bottoming and allowing the vehicle to absorb that energy into the braking system and tires.
I'm sure by now I don't need to go into any more details, and you can see that from the beginning it's obvious that it's a losing situation. Yellow lights are there for a reason, and the lights need to have a gap to tell a driver that the red light is coming, along with allowing them to decelerate in a safe & prudent fashion without risking another individuals property or life.
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