# TopoMask: Instance-Mask-Based Formulation for the Road Topology Problem via Transformer-Based Architecture

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2306.05419 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2306.05419/

## Key facts

- Cited by 5 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 24 of its 27 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 8 Jun 2023.

## Builds on (most cited first, 24 of 24)

- [Masked-attention Mask Transformer for Universal Image Segmentation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2112.01527/) (2021)
- [Lift, Splat, Shoot: Encoding Images From Arbitrary Camera Rigs by Implicitly Unprojecting to 3D](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2008.05711/) (2020)
- [Argoverse 2: Next Generation Datasets for Self-Driving Perception and Forecasting](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2301.00493/) (2023)
- [DAB-DETR: Dynamic Anchor Boxes are Better Queries for DETR](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2201.12329/) (2022)
- [PETRv2: A Unified Framework for 3D Perception from Multi-Camera Images](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.01256/) (2022)
- [MapTR: Structured Modeling and Learning for Online Vectorized HD Map Construction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2208.14437/) (2022)
- [HDMapNet: An Online HD Map Construction and Evaluation Framework](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2107.06307/) (2021)
- [VectorMapNet: End-to-end Vectorized HD Map Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.08920/) (2022)
- [Spatial As Deep: Spatial CNN for Traffic Scene Understanding](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1712.06080/) (2017)
- [Cross-view Semantic Segmentation for Sensing Surroundings](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1906.03560/) (2019)
- [PersFormer: 3D Lane Detection via Perspective Transformer and the OpenLane Benchmark](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.11089/) (2022)
- [Keep your Eyes on the Lane: Real-time Attention-guided Lane Detection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2010.12035/) (2020)
- [Ultra Fast Structure-aware Deep Lane Detection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2004.11757/) (2020)
- [Structured Bird's-Eye-View Traffic Scene Understanding from Onboard Images](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2110.01997/) (2021)
- [PolyLaneNet: Lane Estimation via Deep Polynomial Regression](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2004.10924/) (2020)
- [CondLaneNet: a Top-to-down Lane Detection Framework Based on Conditional Convolution](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2105.05003/) (2021)
- [Rethinking Efficient Lane Detection via Curve Modeling](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.02431/) (2022)
- [CurveLane-NAS: Unifying Lane-Sensitive Architecture Search and Adaptive Point Blending](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2007.12147/) (2020)
- [Gen-LaneNet: A Generalized and Scalable Approach for 3D Lane Detection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2003.10656/) (2020)
- [Graph-based Topology Reasoning for Driving Scenes](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.05277/) (2023)
- [Lane Graph as Path: Continuity-preserving Path-wise Modeling for Online Lane Graph Construction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.08815/) (2023)
- [ONCE-3DLanes: Building Monocular 3D Lane Detection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2205.00301/) (2022)
- [InstaGraM: Instance-level Graph Modeling for Vectorized HD Map Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2301.04470/) (2023)
- [Topology Preserving Local Road Network Estimation from Single Onboard Camera Image](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2112.10155/) (2021)

## Built on by (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [MapTRv2: An End-to-End Framework for Online Vectorized HD Map Construction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.05736/) (2023)
- [TopoMLP: A Simple yet Strong Pipeline for Driving Topology Reasoning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.06753/) (2023)
- [TopoMaskV2: Enhanced Instance-Mask-Based Formulation for the Road Topology Problem](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2409.11325/) (2024)
- [Spatial Retrieval Augmented Autonomous Driving](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2512.06865/) (2025)
- [TopoHR: Hierarchical Centerline Representation for Cyclic Topology Reasoning in Driving Scenes with Point-to-Instance Relations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.24119/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Driving scene understanding task involves detecting static elements such as lanes, traffic signs, and traffic lights, and their relationships with each other. To facilitate the development of comprehensive scene understanding solutions using multiple camera views, a new dataset called Road Genome (OpenLane-V2) has been released. This dataset allows for the exploration of complex road connections and situations where lane markings may be absent. Instead of using traditional lane markings, the lanes in this dataset are represented by centerlines, which offer a more suitable representation of lanes and their connections. In this study, we have introduced a new approach called TopoMask for predicting centerlines in road topology. Unlike existing approaches in the literature that rely on keypoints or parametric methods, TopoMask utilizes an instance-mask based formulation with a transformer-based architecture and, in order to enrich the mask instances with flow information, a direction label representation is proposed. TopoMask have ranked 4th in the OpenLane-V2 Score (OLS) and ranked 2nd in the F1 score of centerline prediction in OpenLane Topology Challenge 2023. In comparison to the current state-of-the-art method, TopoNet, the proposed method has achieved similar performance in Frechet-based lane detection and outperformed TopoNet in Chamfer-based lane detection without utilizing its scene graph neural network.