Multi-spectral fusion for surveillance systems

Surveillance systems such as object tracking and abandoned object detection systems typically rely on a single modality of colour video for their input. These systems work well in controlled conditions but often fail when low lighting, shadowing, smoke, dust or unstable backgrounds are present, or when the objects of interest are a similar colour to the background. Thermal images are not affected by lighting changes or shadowing, and are not overtly affected by smoke, dust or unstable backgrounds. However, thermal images lack colour information which makes distinguishing between different people or objects of interest within the same scene difficult.By using modalities from both the visible and thermal infrared spectra, we are able to obtain more information from a scene and overcome the problems associated with using either modality individually. We evaluate four approaches for fusing visual and thermal images for use in a person tracking system (two early fusion methods, one mid fusion and one late fusion method), in order to determine the most appropriate method for fusing multiple modalities. We also evaluate two of these approaches for use in abandoned object detection, and propose an abandoned object detection routine that utilises multiple modalities. To aid in the tracking and fusion of the modalities we propose a modified condensation filter that can dynamically change the particle count and features used according to the needs of the system.We compare tracking and abandoned object detection performance for the proposed fusion schemes and the visual and thermal domains on their own. Testing is conducted using the OTCBVS database to evaluate object tracking, and data captured in-house to evaluate the abandoned object detection. Our results show that significant improvement can be achieved, and that a middle fusion scheme is most effective.     

Delay Dependent Exponential Stability for Fuzzy Recurrent Neural Networks with Interval Time-Varying Delay

In this paper, the problem of delay-dependent exponential stability for fuzzy recurrent neural networks with interval time-varying delay is investigated. The delay interval has been decomposed into multiple non equidistant subintervals, on these interval Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals (LKFs) are constructed to study stability analysis. Employing these LKFs, an exponential stability criterion is proposed in terms of Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs) which can be easily solved by MATLAB LMI toolbox. Numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Geometric Representation of Graphs in Low Dimension Using Axis Parallel Boxes

An axis-parallel k-dimensional box is a Cartesian product R ₁×R ₂×???×R _k where R _i (for 1≤i≤k) is a closed interval of the form [a _i ,b _i ] on the real line. For a graph G, its boxicity box?(G) is the minimum dimension k, such that G is representable as the intersection graph of (axis-parallel) boxes in k-dimensional space. The concept of boxicity finds applications in various areas such as ecology, operations research etc. A number of NP-hard problems are either polynomial time solvable or have much better approximation ratio on low boxicity graphs. For example, the max-clique problem is polynomial time solvable on bounded boxicity graphs and the maximum independent set problem for boxicity d graphs, given a box representation, has a $\lfloor 1+\frac{1}{c}\log n\rfloor^{d-1}An axis-parallel k-dimensional box is a Cartesian product R ₁×R ₂×⋅⋅⋅×R _k where R _i (for 1≤i≤k) is a closed interval of the form [a _i ,b _i ] on the real line. For a graph G, its boxicity box (G) is the minimum dimension k, such that G is representable as the intersection graph of (axis-parallel) boxes in k-dimensional space. The concept of boxicity finds applications in various areas such as ecology, operations research etc. A number of NP-hard problems are either polynomial time solvable or have much better approximation ratio on low boxicity graphs. For example, the max-clique problem is polynomial time solvable on bounded boxicity graphs and the maximum independent set problem for boxicity d graphs, given a box representation, has a ?1+\frac1clogn?^d-1\lfloor 1+\frac{1}{c}\log n\rfloor^{d-1} approximation ratio for any constant c≥1 when d≥2. In most cases, the first step usually is computing a low dimensional box representation of the given graph. Deciding whether the boxicity of a graph is at most 2 itself is NP-hard.     

Assessing two large area burnt area products across Australian Southern Forests

Burnt area is a critical parameter for estimating emissions of greenhouse gases associated with biomass burning. Several burnt area products (BAPs) derived from Earth Observation satellites/sensors have been released; these are based on different spatial resolutions and derived using different methodologies so that accuracies can vary amongst them. This study validates a global (MODIS) and a national (AVHRR) BAP across Australian southern forests using two reference datasets: state fire histories (SFHs) from 2000 to 2013 and a forest cover map derived through high resolution air photo interpretation (API). The spatial and temporal agreement between fires in the BAPs and reference SFH were analysed based on 2610 sample points representative of Australian southern forest types (successful detection was evaluated according to fire type: planned burn vs. wildfire, size of fire, and land tenure). Results show that both BAPs were most successful when identifying large wildfires (>5000 ha). Overall accuracy for AVHRR and MODIS was 73.9% and 62.5%, respectively. When compared to the API derived forest cover map as reference dataset, both products achieved higher overall accuracies (94.1% for AVHRR and 87.1% for MODIS); an expected result given that the fires detected in this dataset are known to be observable using Earth observation data. But regardless of reference dataset, the AVHRR BAP which is tailored to Australian conditions achieved better results than the MODIS global BAP. Also, the AVHRR archive in Australia goes back to 1988, which is an important consideration for calculating wildfire history for greenhouse gas accounting.     

Three generations of cellular wireless systems

Advances in cellular communication technology have resulted in improved capacity, higher data rates and better quality of service (QoS). Many first and second-generation systems have been deployed and currently offer a range of predominantly voice-oriented services. Third generation cellular systems have been proposed with the goal of providing a seamless integration of mobile multimedia services into a single global network infrastructure. These systems are all summarized in a table     

The development of a new signal processing program at theQueensland University of Technology

The School of Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia (QUT), offers three bachelor degree courses in electrical and computer engineering. In all its courses there is a strong emphasis on signal processing. A newly established Signal Processing Research Center (SPRC) has played an important role in the development of the signal processing units in these courses. This paper describes the unique design of the undergraduate program in signal processing at QUT, the laboratories developed to support it, and the criteria that influenced the design     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(keto-amines). 2. Self-polycondensation of 4-methyl-3-aminophenacyl chloride and 2-methyl-4-aminophenacyl chloride

Poly(keto-amines) such as poly(4-methyl-3-iminophenacyls) and poly(2-methyl-4-iminophenacyls) were prepared by self-polycondensation of 4-methyl-3-aminophenacyl chloride and 2-methyl-4-aminophenacyl chloride under different experimental conditions. All the polymer samples were insoluble in common organic solvents. They were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectral studies, estimation of M?_n by non-aqueous conductometric titration and study of thermal properties by DTA. The properties of P4M3IP and P2M4IP were compared with those of poly(4-iminophenacyls).     

Shigella and the fluorinated quinolones

An 8-year-old girl presented with marked shortening of the right forearm due to destruction of both the radius and ulna secondary to neonatal osteomyelitis. A one-bone forearm operation was performed to achieve a stable forearm. Two years later, the one-bone forearm was lengthened for 6 months by callus distraction (callotasis) achieving 12 cm of extra length. The patient was last followed up at the age of 16. The appearance and functional outcome of the right upper limb had been improved and she was independent in all activities of daily living.     

Thermogravimetric studies of Y1Ba2Cu3O7−x superconductors

The synthesis conditions and oxygen stoichiometry were determined using a thermogravimetric analyser. The kinetics of oxygenation at different temperatures and at different atmospheres were studied. The oxygenation kinetics were found to be sensitive to porosity of the material. The appropriate oxygenation temperature was found to be 400 °C. For oxygenation temperatures below 400 °C, the oxygenation occurs by a nucleation and growth process, whereas for higher temperatures it is diffusion limited.     

Mechanical aspects of vascular graft-host artery anastomoses

For vascular graft implantation the mechanical stresses induced by abnormal flow dynamics as well as regions of stress concentration in the walls of the host artery and the graft appear to play an important role in neo-intimal fibrous hyperplasia formation and loss of patency. Detailed in vitro and in vivo experimental studies as well as theoretical analysis, will help delineate the factors responsible for hyperplasia formation and thus enable modifications in the design characteristics to minimize the problem. In the case of end-to-end anastomoses the compliance mismatch between the host artery and the vascular graft appears to be the dominant factor for the abnormal flow dynamics in the anastomotic region. However, in end-to-side anastomoses, the geometry at the anastomosis appears to be more important, with the compliance mismatch playing a secondary role. Further detailed experimental studies complemented by detailed three-dimensional unsteady flow analysis in realistic anastomotic geometries are needed to suggest possible solutions to minimize the problem of loss of patency, particularly with medium and small diameter vascular grafts