Estimation of pollutant emissions from road traffic by image processing techniques. A case study in a suburban area

This paper suggests a methodology based on the image processing technique able to automatically calculate the vehicle traffic and its components (light vehicles, heavy vehicles and motorcycles). The method also allows to evaluate instant vehicle speeds and, where necessary, to rebuild vehicle trajectories. Traffic data obtained through the procedure described below (capacities and speeds) can be also usefully applied to estimate pollutant emissions from vehicle traffic per year; therefore, the suggested method employs the algorithms defined with CORINAIR procedures, implemented in Copert 4 software. In order to evaluate how effective is the methodology, an experiment has been carried out in a suburban area, more precisely in a motorway section approaching the International airport “Falcone e Borsellino” of Palermo in Italy.