Automatic Real-time Vehicle Classification by Image Colour Component Based Template Matching

Selection of appropriate template matching algorithms to run effectively on real-time low-cost systems is always major issue. This is due to unpredictable changes in image scene which often necessitate more sophisticated real-time algorithms to retain image consistency. Inefficiency of low cost auxiliary hardware and time limitations are the major constraints in using these sorts of algorithms. The real-time system introduced here copes with these problems utilising a fast running template matching algorithm, which makes use of best colour band selection. The system uses fast running real-time algorithms to achieve template matching and vehicle classification at about 4 frames /sec. on low-cost hardware. The colour image sequences have been taken by a fixed CCTV camera overlooking a busy multi-lane road