The main goal of this paper is to present new possibilities for the detection and recognition of different categories of electric and conventional (equipped with combustion engines) vehicles using a thermal video camera. The paper presents a draft of a possible detection and classification system of vehicle propulsion systems working with thermal analyses. The differences in thermal features of different vehicle categories were found out and statistically proved. The thermal images were obtained using an infrared thermography camera. They were utilized to design a database of vehicle class images of passenger vehicles (PVs), vans, and buses. The results confirmed the hypothesis that infrared thermography might be used for categorizing the vehicle type according to the thermal features of vehicle exteriors and machine learning methods for vehicle type recognition.

Intelligent Parking Systems (IPS) allow customers to select a car park according to their preferences, rapidly park their vehicle without searching for the available parking space (place) or even book their place in advance avoiding queues. IPS provides the possibility to reduce the wastage of fuel (energy) while finding a parking place and consequently reduce harmful emissions. Some systems interact with in-vehicle navigation systems and provide users with information in real-time such as free places available at a given parking lot (car park), the location and parking fees. Few of these systems, however, provide information on the forecasted utilisation at specific time. This paper describes results of a traffic survey carried out at the parking lot of supermarket and the proposal of the model predicting real-time parking space availability based on these surveyed data. The proposed model is formulated as the non-homogenous Markov chains that are used as a tool for the forecasting of parking space availability. The transition matrices are calculated for different time periods, which allow for and include different drivers’ behaviour and expectations. The proposed forecasting model is adequate for potential use by IPS with the support of different communication means such as the internet, navigation systems (GPS, Galileo etc.) and personal communication services (mobile-phones).

This article presents the use of the combination of the object detection method and feature detector in an infrared video on traffic infrastructure and in tunnels. The theme of the paper is the validation of vehicle detection and its classification using infrared video streams. In addition, the article focuses on the use of a feature detector and object detection to distinguish between vehicles with electric and combustion motors. The method suggests the use of a low-resolution thermal camera as an inexpensive extension of installed thermal camera technologies. The developed system has been verified for the applicability of vehicle detection and classification using object detection methods and their application in transport infrastructure and tunnels. It also presents a method for distinguishing propulsion units into electric and internal combustion; both systems’ conclusions are then statistically verified. The application of the system is evident in regional traffic management systems, including safety applications for traffic control in tunnels. Categorizing vehicles provides valuable information for higher levels of traffic management, toll systems, and municipal database systems, as well as for a preventive system for estimating vehicle conditions and their potential of fire in tunnels.