Design and development of a fog alert system

Because fog conditions are a major concern for transportation safety, it is vital that low cost devices be developed to warn of low visibility conditions. This paper describes the process by which a low-cost standalone and portable fog detection apparatus was designed, developed and tested using an optical transmissometer technique. Extensive testing was performed to validate and calibrate the device. A real time visibility index is displayed and a warning signal is generated if the visibility conditions are below a predetermined threshold. The device can be integrated with other applications in a vehicle to warn drivers of low visibility. This will help improve transportation safety for both the driver and the public.