Network video image processing for security, surveillance, and situational awareness

Lockheed Martin and the University of Central Florida (UCF) are jointly investigating the use of a network of COTS video cameras and computers for a variety of security and surveillance operations. The detection and tracking of humans as well as vehicles is of interest. The three main novel aspects of the work presented in this paper are i) the integration of automatic target detection and recognition techniques with tracking ii) the handover and seamless tracking of objects across a network, and iii) the development of real-time communication and messaging protocols using COTS networking components. The approach leverages the previously developed KNIGHT human detection and tracking system developed at UCF, and Lockheed Martin's automatic target detection and recognition (ATD/R) algorithms. The work presented in this paper builds on these capabilities for surveillance using stationary sensors, with the goal of subsequently addressing the problem of moving platforms.