Parametric Tracking Across Multiple Cameras with Spatial Estimation

Abstract

This paper presents a method of tracking a target based on the combination of parameters between colour blobs. Apart from tracking targets based on parameters between colour regions, the blob parameters can be used as a means for estimating the spatial location of the target relative to the location of the cameras. The blobs are obtained by segmenting the overall target into multiple colour regions. The colour regions are segmented using the EM method. After segmentation into different regions on different colour layers, parameters can be generated between colour regions of interest. In this instance, the colour regions of interest are the top and bottom colour regions. Parameters between colour regions of interest were the vector magnitude, vector angle and the value difference between colour regions. These parameters are used for tracking the target of interest across an array of cameras which in this instance are three cameras. The summarized results of tracking targets across three cameras have shown that parameters between colour regions have the capability to track targets across cameras. In addition to tracking targets across multiple cameras, the work presented in this paper also shows the capability of estimating spatial information based on tracking of targets as it moves across different camera view fields. The spatial information that can be estimated from an array of cameras with non-overlapping view fields is distance estimation of the target from camera and distance estimation between cameras.

Keywords:

• Blob
• Multiple cameras
• Parametric tracking
• Surveillance
• Tracking
• Video

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Patrick Sebastian

Patrick Sebastian is currently a senior lecturer in the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP). He received his PhD in parameteric tracking with spatial extraction across an array of cameras from Middlesex University, London. He has interests in the areas of computer architectures, embedded systems, image processing and video surveillance. Prior to his current appointment, Patrick was a senior engineer at Penang Seagate Industries Malaysia and an equipment engineer in Carsem (M), Ipoh.

Yap Vooi Voon

Yap Vooi Voon is currently an assistant professor and dean of Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR). Prior to his current appointment, Dr Yap was a senior lecturer at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) where he played a major role in the setting up the Information Technology degree. He received his PhD in wavelet-based image compression for mobile devices from Middlesex University, London. He has over 20 years teaching experience in colleges and universities both in the United Kingdom and Malaysia, with special interest in embedded systems and software engineering. He is also involved in a funded research project in intelligent video surveillance. Email: [email protected]

Richard Comley

Richard Comley is professor of computer communications in the School of Computing Science at Middlesex University, UK, where he is currently the director of Research. Prior to this, he was head of the Computer Communications Department at Middlesex University and associate dean of Engineering at City University, London. He received his BSc in electrical and electronic engineering in 1974 and his PhD in computer aided measurement in 1979, both from City University. He has over 30 years teaching and research experience, with special interest in mobile communications, computer networks and security, and digital signal processing. His research interests are predominately in the signal processing and computer networks areas. Email: [email protected]