ORLANDO, Fla. — University of Central Florida computer scientists received a $1.3 million grant from the National Institute of Justice for a two-year project which hopes to automate the process of monitoring and reviewing large sums of video surveillance streams.
The technology would be used by police to better pour over thousands of hours of video footage from multiple security cameras to investigate crime scenes more effectively and efficiently, according to Space Coast Daily.
The research team will use live video clips supplied by the Orlando Police Department to develop algorithms that can spot abnormal actions, gestures, events and behaviors that would indicate criminal activity, the report states. One example is back in 2013 at the Boston Marathon bombing when all but one person in the crowd did not look back when one of the bombs exploded.
“Today there are too many surveillance cameras and too few human monitors,” said Mubarak Shah, UCF Trustee Chair professor of computer science and leader of the research team. “Watching multiple live-video camera feeds or retroactively reviewing long hours or video streams is a mind-numbing, error-prone task.”
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Also on the research team is Raymond Surette, a professor of criminal justice at UCF, and researchers from Columbia University.
Orlando Police Chief John Mina said using the most advanced technology to fight crime and keep the community safe is “a top priority.”
“The more eyes we have — whether they belong to officers or are created by technology — will further our mission to keep residents and visitors of Orlando safe and protected,” Mina said.
