Karelsky Okatysh improves safety at level crossings using computer vision technology

2024: Introduction of digital monitoring of traffic violations at level crossings

Karelsky Okatysh (part of Severstal) has implemented digital monitoring of traffic violations at railway crossings. Severstal announced this on June 24, 2024.

There are eight railway crossings on the territory of the Karelsky Okatysh. To save time, drivers sometimes make risky maneuvers by crossing paths at a red light. Previously, security experts identified violators manually by viewing video camera recordings. Now the technology of computer vision, which was developed by the specialists of the plant, helps employees in this work.

There are ready-made solutions on the market for monitoring the passage of level crossings, but all of them involve a high cost and a long supply of equipment. We decided to cope on our own and develop a system with advanced functionality, since our specialists have similar experience. The project was launched three years ago after an incident when a heavy vehicle driver tried to drive in front of the trains. As a pilot, video cameras and a controller were installed at one of the crossings, which was integrated into the railway infrastructure. The software and hardware complex using artificial intelligence and computer vision technologies determines the presence of transport in the controlled zone, ignoring the presence of railway transport and people on the tracks. The system installed at the railway crossing begins video recording immediately after the red light lights up. If the car passes to a traffic light prohibiting signal, the system records the state number and generates an incident that automatically enters the [database]] through the ClientABM information system. We expect from the implementation of the project the maximum exclusion of violations of traffic rules when crossing railways on the territory of the enterprise, "said Vladimir Lyushenko, head of the digital technologies department of the development center of the Business System of Iron Ore Assets of Severstal.

If necessary, you can extend the system with additional tasks for analyzing different situations. After the pilot project, computer vision technology was introduced at three relocations of the plant's industrial site. In the near future, the decision will be replicated at the remaining five moves.

The passage of cars to the prohibition signal is a gross violation of traffic rules, it is also a failure to comply with basic rules that save a life. In the first quarter of 2024, four such cases were identified. When the offender is an employee of the enterprise, he is limited in obtaining travel documentation and re-passes the knowledge test. If such a misconduct was committed by the contractor, penalties are applied to his organization, - said Alexander Vasiliev, head of the road safety department of the transport department.