GIS-augmented video surveillance

Abstract Registration in augmented reality is a process that merges virtual objects generated by a computer with real-world images captured by a camera. In this article, we present a method for registration of geospatial data applicable to outdoor video surveillance systems consisting of several PTZ cameras. PTZ is an abbreviation for pan-tilt-zoom, and in the terminology of video surveillance it indicates cameras that can rotate in the horizontal (pan) and vertical planes (tilt) and change their level of magnification (zoom). Registration is based on transforming these relative camera view parameters into the absolute position, orientation and field of view required by the three-dimensional geographic information systems (3D GISs). Once the 3D GIS and camera views are aligned, it is possible to identify geospatial objects from the camera image, as well as to overlap the virtual scene with the real one. In addition, inverse transformation of the view parameters allows for selecting and pointing the appropriate camera to some geo-referenced feature or event. Based on the proposal, we developed GeoScopeAVS, a GIS-based system for augmented video surveillance and suggested application of such a system in emergency situation management and urban planning. Keywords: augmented realitygeographic information systemvideo surveillancevirtual reality Acknowledgements The work described in this article was substantially supported by the Municipality of Rakovica, Belgrade, Serbia. The authors personally wish to thank Bojan Milić, chairman of the municipality, for valuable discussions and many helpful suggestions. We would also like to thank Jugoslav Beljin, IT manager from Evrogeomatika Ltd., which supplied the geospatial data used for this project.