Road Surface Condition Detection Technique Based on Image Taken by Camera Attached to Vehicle Rearview Mirror

A road surface condition detection technique is explained in this paper. It is based on an image taken by a camera attached to the rearview mirror of a vehicle. The technique detected features related to water and snow on a road surface, and could be used during the day or at night. The determination of water on the road is made by obtaining the polarization property from the image. The determination of snow on the road is made by image texture analysis. Field tests were conducted to verify the detectability of road surface condition on an expressway at an average speed of 100 km/h. Favorable results were obtained.