Real-Time Traffic Surveillance: Aerial Vehicle Detection, Tracking, and Counting with YOLOv7
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Abstract
In this research, we present an advanced aerial surveillance system powered by the YOLOv7 object detection model, designed for automatic and on-demand collection of traffic data. The system uses unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to capture real-time video, making it especially valuable in areas without fixed surveillance cameras, such as rural roads and busy highways. It accurately detects, classifies, and tracks eight types of vehicles, and includes vehicle counting with directional analysis (left, right, or straight). This comprehensive approach enables the extraction of detailed traffic statistics, including flow rates, movement patterns, and vehicle density. Our classification model achieved an overall accuracy of 98.6%, with some vehicle types reaching up to 99.6%, demonstrating the system’s strong performance and practical utility for traffic monitoring.
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