16.03.2016 change 16.03.2016

Weapons visible in the crowd

Photo:. Fotolia Photo:. Fotolia

Kraków researchers are working on an algorithm that will allow cameras to detect a person holding a hand gun, knife or other dangerous tool in a crowd. Head of the project is Dr. Michał Grega from the AGH University of Science and Technology, winner of the LIDER programme of the National Centre for Research and Development.

"Terrorist attacks occur more frequently now. We believe that the technology is ready to offer a solution that will alert the system operator of a possibility of a dangerous incident. This will be an algorithm that analyses data from the cameras. We want this solution to work with commonly used cameras. It could be installed in special small computers, which will be installed together with the camera" - explained Dr. Grega.

He explained that the system itself does not take a decision or call the police. An operator has to determine whether the situation is dangerous, or maybe, for example there is a festival in the city, in which historical reconstruction such as lancers participate. The system will inform the operator of a potentially dangerous situation, which can be seen on the selected camera.

National Centre for Research and Development subsidizes work on the algorithm with the amount of approx. 1 million 37 thousand zlotys. The LIDER programme allows to create a research team. Dr. Grega works with academics at the end of doctorate studies and with students of the last years of study. He noted that in IT it is common that students are on the labour market before they finish college. Team member responsible for optical systems is Piotr Guzik, astronomy graduate at the Jagiellonian University and a expert in experiments related to machine learning. Andrzej Matiolański conducts experiments and is responsible of object recognition. Krzysztof Rusek specializes in systems integration, so that they are ready for the market.

According to the authors of the system, currently there aren\'t any solutions on the market that would be directly competitive. The authorities responsible for the safety and local governments do not have the equipment capable of recognizing the shapes of dangerous tools using cameras. Systems built in the United States are based on sound analysis, microphone systems that detect a firearm shot.

"Our system has a clear advantage, because it detects a threat before anyone fires a shot, when the weapon is only taken out. Very often these minutes or seconds play a huge role when it comes to the response of the relevant services" - said Dr. Grega.

The researchers conducted a preliminary analysis of the market and determined that a major recipient of the results of their work will be companies that build monitoring systems. Apart from the CCTV cameras, these systems include camera management software. Systems have simple image analysis algorithms, such as those that allow you to determine if someone enters into a prohibited zone. Companies that implement such solutions may be interested in the algorithm developed at AGH.

The team received letters of recommendation, among others, from the Polish company that implemented city monitoring for Warsaw and from the representatives of the Romanian police who consulted on the project. Another letter of recommendation was issued by a team of experts working at the Office of the City of Kraków. In the referendum conducted in 2014 the people of this city opted for the construction of a comprehensive monitoring system for improved security. The team determined that the project should have elements of the so-called intelligent monitoring that contains elements of mathematical algorithms. Team leader Prof. Janina Czapska assessed that the solution planned by researchers from the AGH would be potentially applicable.

"The privacy issue is essential. Most of us do not want strangers watching us. I am dispelling concerns about surveillance of society, because the image is analysed by automatic monitoring algorithms, and not by human operator. While in the public space, we must reckon with the fact that our privacy is naturally limited, but we reduce the role of observer in this project. Instead, we keep the human role in making the final decision on how to react" - said the team leader.

Privately a shooting sport enthusiast, Dr. Grega added that a person legally holding a weapon do not have to be afraid that they will be flagged by the system. In his opinion, responsible firearm owners usually do not advertise the possession of weapons by wearing it on display in public places.

"This system alerts about people who have taken out a gun and give the impression of wanting to use it. The fact of holding a firearm or blade in hand is disturbing and indicates danger. This does not necessarily mean that any such person should be detained. But we should find out what is going on" - concluded the researcher.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland, Karolina Olszewska

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