Small target detection for search and rescue operations using distributed deep learning and synthetic data generation

Kyongsik Yun; Luan Nguyen; Tuan Nguyen; Doyoung Kim; Sarah Eldin; Alexander Huyen; Thomas Lu; Edward Chow

doi:10.1117/12.2520250

13 May 2019 Small target detection for search and rescue operations using distributed deep learning and synthetic data generation

Kyongsik Yun, Luan Nguyen, Tuan Nguyen, Doyoung Kim, Sarah Eldin, Alexander Huyen, Thomas Lu, Edward Chow

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10995, Pattern Recognition and Tracking XXX; 1099507 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2520250
Event: SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing, 2019, Baltimore, MD, United States

Abstract

It is important to find the target as soon as possible for search and rescue operations. Surveillance camera systems and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are used to support search and rescue. Automatic object detection is important because a person cannot monitor multiple surveillance screens simultaneously for 24 hours. Also, the object is often too small to be recognized by the human eye on the surveillance screen. This study used an UAVs around the Port of Houston and fixed surveillance cameras to build an automatic target detection system that supports the US Coast Guard (USCG) to help find targets (e.g., person overboard). We combined image segmentation, enhancement, and convolution neural networks to reduce detection time to detect small targets. We compared the performance between the autodetection system and the human eye. Our system detected the target within 8 seconds, but the human eye detected the target within 25 seconds. Our systems also used synthetic data generation and data augmentation techniques to improve target detection accuracy. This solution may help the search and rescue operations of the first responders in a timely manner.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Kyongsik Yun, Luan Nguyen, Tuan Nguyen, Doyoung Kim, Sarah Eldin, Alexander Huyen, Thomas Lu, and Edward Chow "Small target detection for search and rescue operations using distributed deep learning and synthetic data generation", Proc. SPIE 10995, Pattern Recognition and Tracking XXX, 1099507 (13 May 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2520250

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