Tests of Automated Incident Detection with Video Image Processors in Attica Tollway Tunnels

European regulations for the management of roadway tunnels became stricter after the 1999 Mount Blanc inferno. Several video image processing (VIP) devices for traffic surveillance have automated incident detection (AID) capabilities. Autoscope, Citilog and Traficon were tested with eight pre-existing cameras in Attica Tollway tunnels. The suppliers of the competing devices were responsible for setting and calibrating the devices for best results. No literature was found in which VIPs developed in year 2000 or later were evaluated for incident detection. The results show promise for the future, but the evaluated performance was poor. This is due to three reasons (1) low maturity of the technology, (2) complex algorithms due to the provision of extensive functionality and (3) suboptimal camera location and height for image processing, but VIP devices must adapt to tunnel limitations.