Posted on 04/25/2006 1:59:00 PM PDT by LibWhacker
In an attempt to tackle gun crime in the UK, researchers from Loughborough University are developing an innovative identification system that will use CCTV cameras to spot individuals carrying concealed firearms.
Starting in June, the three-year multi-environment deployable universal software application (Medusa) project aims to develop intelligent software that can detect a person carrying a concealed weapon in real time.
While it is difficult to predict if someone is carrying a gun before crime occurs, Professor Alastair Gale, head of Loughborough University's Applied Vision Research Centre and leader of Medusa, said there are a number of cues the CCTV operator can pick up. These tend to be overt and covert cues (conscious and subconscious) and they will form the base of the intelligent software at the heart of the system.
The team will examine CCTV footage of people carrying concealed firearms to identify characteristics associated with the behaviour of criminals before they commit a gun-related crime. These will include body stance, gait, movement and eye contact with cameras. Once acquired, this information will be used to develop a novel machine-learning system for behavioural interpretation. Armed with this data, the CCTV cameras will scan footage automatically and match behavioural characteristics that indicate if an individual might be carrying a gun.
Researchers will use existing CCTV images and collaborate with the Royal Armoury at Leeds to generate a new set of images. These will cover a range of scenarios, covering armed and unarmed people and a variety of guns. 'We are primarily looking into gun-carrying behaviour but the challenge is that it is difficult to obtain that much real-life footage of people carrying guns in the street,' said Gale. He said the system will be developed to study knives as well, though at this early stage other weapons have not been considered.
In parallel with the project, researchers will meet experienced CCTV operators to establish the key cues they use to identify people carrying concealed weapons. 'The idea is to marry human operator cues with the new software system which ultimately will produce an auditory and auto-visual cue to the operator,' said Gale.
As a result of this work, the database of CCTV footage of individuals carrying or not carrying concealed firearms will be used by local authorities and the police for training CCTV operators to learn what to look for.
Gale added that it will be relatively straightforward to implement Medusa since the CCTV infrastructure is already in place.
It should also lead to more efficient use of police time and offer a more socially acceptable police practice for identification of potential criminals.
Gun crime is a growing problem in the UK - almost 11,000 firearm offences were recorded in England and Wales in 2004/2005, an increase of six per cent on the previous year.
The project, funded by a £620,000 grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, involves collaboration with Kingston, Brighton, Liverpool and Sunderland Universities.
And Airstrip One will be even safer. Thank you Big Brother for our happy life!
Perhaps they can also use it to study people wearing homicide bomber vests. Nah, that would probably be too much like racial profiling.
That's impossible. After disarming the population there's no way for the criminals to have guns. Obviously lies by the NRA. < /sarcasm which goes to 11>
The UK is going to wind up being one of the most repressive societies in the so called civilized world.
On the plus side, they'll be able to light half of London when they harness the rotational energy of George Orwell spinning in his grave.
Is it just me, or to our British cousins seem to have a fixation with security cameras and g-g-g-guns?
It's interesting that the article makes no effort to divorce the term "crime" or "gun crime" from the term "carrying a gun", as if carrying a gun is the same thing as committing a crime with one.
Oh wait- this is England? Never mind- I hear it IS the same thing there.
"Is it just me, or to our British cousins seem to have a fixation with security cameras and g-g-g-guns?"
And "traffic control".
From the article: 'We are primarily looking into gun-carrying behaviour
behavior? Uh oh, our friends across the pond may get nicked because of concealed gun behavior?
Bobbie-You! You are under arrest!
Royal Subject#2241-8541b- Me?! What did I do.
Bobbie- You are being under arrest with the charge of "suspicious behavior of being viewed with a crappy 2MP camera from 40 meters away by someone making minimum wage who THINKS you are acting as if you have a concealed weapon...maybe".
Very serious charge, come with me...
There was a really great article by Dr. Darmarplyle about the generalized breakdown of law and order, and the total failure of the government to punish criminals.
It is truely an asinine place at this point, and I would not consider living there.
Will they include explicit markers for race and/or ethnic origin? Even if they don't, it is possible that the chosen parameters will indeed turn out to have been proxies for race or ethnicity. Gotta watch what those machines do - they may surprise you by their lack of political correctness...
marking thread and link ... thanks
We have to slap this type of crap down now, Or we'll have to fight for our liberty with the control freaks in our own country.
No, that bulge isn't a concealed handgun, I'm just happy to see you!
More bullshit.
More bullshit.The world thrives on bullshit.
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