Peter Chen, a computer science professor, has a new use for surveillance cameras to make the University and Baton Rouge more secure.
Chen said cameras used by the Department of Transportation and Development only are positioned to detect accidents and other traffic problems. But Chen believes the cameras could serve another purpose.
“What I’m suggesting is that we can put cameras in strategic locations,” Chen said. He believes placing existing cameras closer to ground level and putting new cameras in certain locations could better detect vehicles and activity.
“Some of the surveillance cameras can be repositioned to detect license plate numbers,” Chen said.
In addition, the cameras could be used to detect distinguishing marks on vehicles, such as decals and bumper stickers.
Chen said once a license plate number is captured, it can be placed in a Department of Motor Vehicles database to find the vehicle’s owner. Using the database, investigators also could obtain driver’s license photos to compare with police sketches.
“If the cameras get a license plate at a crime scene, you can narrow down the persons you want to search,” Chen said.
Harry Smith, a biological sciences computer analyst working with Chen, said the system is based on similar technology used for facial analysis.
“A lot of it is based on finding relationships between people and matching them,” Smith said.
Chen said the cameras could be used in the serial killer investigation and on campus. Chen submitted a proposal for surveillance camera use to the serial killer task force. He said so far, the reception has been positive.
Chen also has spoken to members of LSUPD about his proposals, and he said they have seemed “very interested” in his suggestions.
Chen said while some surveillance cameras already are being used on campus, the decision on repositioning them and adding more cameras is now in the hands of LSUPD and University administration.
The cost for repositioning surveillance cameras varies from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the sophistication and capabilities of the equipment.
“It really depends on how much you want to do and how detailed you want the information to be,” Chen said.
Nigel Gwee, a computer science instructor working on the project, said although the technology is complex, he felt it could be used to develop practical solutions to problems.
“We hope that these solutions can be obtained efficiently, resulting in economical use of resources for LSU and Baton Rouge in general,” Gwee said.
Smith agreed the surveillance cameras could add to other campus security measures.
“This can be such a great tool to add to the lighting projects,” Smith said. “The cameras could make it very easy to hone in on suspicious individuals.”
Cameras proposed for safety
April 8, 2003