Surveillance systems put the "eye" in intelligent

Computer Science

Security cameras are turning up everywhere - in airports, shopping centres, public streets, buses, and even the University of Adelaide. The difference here though, is that they're intelligent.

Like many other organisations, the University of Adelaide uses video surveillance on its campuses.

At any one time, the University has more than 100 cameras placed in strategic sites around the North Terrace Campus and elsewhere in the CBD. They operate 24/7 and help ensure the safety and security of staff, students and visitors.

Researchers in the University's Australian Centre for Visual Technologies have developed the software for the hi-tech surveillance system, working within the School of Computer Science.

The Adelaide research team is also responsible for the technology behind the world's most popular automated video surveillance product - currently used to monitor the Sydney Harbour Bridge and a host of airports, railway stations and shopping centres, among other locations.

Dr Anton van den Hengel, the Director of the Australian Centre for Visual Technologies, said the research takes video surveillance one step further by helping to develop the next generation of "intelligent" monitoring systems.

The new centre promotes innovative, computer-based technologies for the production and analysis of digital media. "Our goal is to link creative activity in the digital arts with cutting-edge technologies in computer science," he said.

The centre operates on three platforms - research, communication and innovation.

"On the research side we have just signed a major contract with one of the primary international producers of video technology. We are also negotiating with a number of local companies on projects involving the analysis of 3D data and the technologies involved in large-scale automated video surveillance," Dr van den Hengel said.

University of Adelaide Security Operations Manager Dave Eason described the campus surveillance system as "one of the most sophisticated" in Australia, certainly in the education sector.

"It is one of a kind in South Australia and has led to significant reductions in the incidence of theft and break-ins on the campus," he said.

The Australian Centre for Visual Technologies is also working with the Defence Science & Technology Organisation (DSTO) to generate 3D maps from videos captured by unmanned aircraft.

"We can take the footage from video cameras attached to unmanned aerial planes and generate a 3D map of any given area. This provides the department with detailed maps for planning purposes," Dr van den Hengel said.

"The same technology can be used by agri-businesses to help plan where fertilisers should be applied, which sections of land need more irrigation, and in virtual reality to allow computer-generated objects to be inserted into real video. Similarly, we are also writing software for unmanned aircraft to survey marine national parks and identify illegal fishing boats."

Dr van den Hengel said the School of Computer Science planned to offer Masters and Bachelor degrees in Visual Technologies in 2008.

"It will be a course about giving people the computer science and visual skills to be able to move with the technology," he said.

For more information about the Australian Centre for Visual Technologies, visit www.acvt.com.au

Story by Candy Gibson