Vitronic names municipality of Schmitten winner of VINTEC Award for reducing noise pollution

The municipality of Schmitten in Germany is the recipient of the VINTEC Award 2010, presented by machine-vision system manufacturer Vitronic (Weisbaden, Germany). The award recognizes the municipality for its innovative concept for traffic safety and the reduction of noise pollution by motorcycles. It was presented to Mayor Marcus Kinkel by Vitronic's Managing Director Dr.-Ing. Norbert Stein.

The central component of the municipality's traffic system is the speed enforcement system PoliScan-speed, which photographs motorcycles from the front and the rear. The main objectives consist of reducing the significant noise pollution caused by speeders and improving traffic safety.

The Vitronic systems are permanently installed at two locations. Instead of only a single column that can monitor both driving directions, two additional cameras are installed in smaller columns. These not only make it possible to photograph motorcyclists from the front, but also from the rear; ie, at the same time in both driving directions. "The motorcyclist's photograph and the photograph of the license plate are the necessary evidence in order to prosecute speeders," says Stein.

Another distinctive feature: for the first time in Germany, a laser-based speed measuring system that requires no invasive installations and monitors traffic from only one side of the roadway was especially designed for motorcycles. Loops in the ground periodically require elaborate road work and consequently interfere with the traffic flow. The speed enforcement system PoliScan-speed, in contrast, is base on a laser and therefore requires no installations in the road surface.

The noise pollution for the residents was clearly reduced due to speed enforcement. "You have persistently pursued and ultimately reached your goal. This technical solution sets new standards worldwide," said Stein to Kinkel.

The VINTEC Award is presented by Vitronic annually since 2008. The award recognizes innovative solutions that are created in close cooperation with a customer and feature a machine vision system as essential component. The solutions are unique and the first of their kind, and require the corporation of both partners. Previous recipients of the award were Daimler, in Germany (2008) and the Numina Group, in the USA (2009).

SOURCE: Vitronic

Posted by Vision Systems Design