Segmentation of traffic signs from poles with mathematical morphology applied to point clouds

Journal Article (2021)
Author(s)

Jesús Balado Frías (Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, TU Delft - GIS Technologie)

M. Soilán (University of Salamanca)

Lucía Díaz-Vilariño (Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, TU Delft - GIS Technologie)

P.J.M. Oosterom (TU Delft - GIS Technologie)

Research Group
GIS Technologie
Copyright
© 2021 J. Balado Frías, M. Soilán, L. Díaz-Vilarino, P.J.M. van Oosterom
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-annals-V-2-2021-145-2021
More Info
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Publication Year
2021
Language
English
Copyright
© 2021 J. Balado Frías, M. Soilán, L. Díaz-Vilarino, P.J.M. van Oosterom
Research Group
GIS Technologie
Issue number
2
Volume number
5
Pages (from-to)
145-151
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Abstract

Traffic signs are one of the most relevant road assets for driving, as the safety of drivers depends to a great extent on their correct location. In this paper two methods are compared for the segmentation of the sign and the pole supporting it. Both methods are based on the morphological opening to identify the sign points, the first one directly employs the mathematical morphology directly applied to point clouds and the second one through point cloud rasterization into images. The comparison was conducted on twenty real traffic signs acquired with Mobile Laser Scanning obtaining point clouds from environments with signposts, traffic lights and lampposts. The results showed a correct segmentation of the signs, obtaining a F-score of 0.81 by the point-based method and a 0.75 by 2D image method. In particular, the point-based mathematical morphology proved to be more accurate in the segmentation of traffic sings installed on traffic lights and lampposts, avoiding over detection shown by the 2D image method.