La Xunta de Galicia implements the Videoguard maritime video surveillance project

The video surveillance system for the prevention and prosecution of illegal fishing and furtivism in the seafood, Videoguard, is already underway on the Galician coast. In this first phase, surveillance will reach four kilometres and, after the summer, will be tested over short distances.

In October 2013 we announced in Digital AV Magazine, the participation of the Galician Telecommunications Technology Centre in the Videoguard project, almost a year later this development has been implemented.

At the end of July, the Xunta de Galicia launched this video surveillance system for the prevention and persecution of illegal fishing and furtivism in the seafood. People who are on the coast, boats in port areas, the beach, rocks and punts can be detected both day and night at 4 miles from the coast.

After the summer, the second phase will start to test the system over short distances, which will allow you to monitor the entrances and exits of the port, the nearest boats and batting areas.

Videoguard project uses intelligent image analysis technology for video surveillance of the maritime environment, specifically the coast, under low or no visibility conditions.

Detection algorithms have been investigated and developed, classification and tracking of video objects based on thermal imaging use, suitable for boats and people in these scenarios, as furtivism usually occurs during night hours, or in low visibility conditions with low illumination, to which adverse weather conditions are added.

Also, developments have also been made to bring this long-distance video surveillance deployment, taking advantage of the infrastructures available in the area that are managed by the public operator Retegal, dependent on the Agency for Technological Modernization of Galicia (Atmega).

The system records images of the monitored area, analyzes information from recordings and, detection of a possible violation, moves the alarm to the control center and mobile devices in real time. In addition, stores the information allowing the consultation and recovery of the recorded images.

Public and private participation

Videoguard is a business project funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the funds of the Feder Interconnecta Galicia programme 2012-2014, coordinated by the CDTI and the Galician Innovation Agency. Also, there is also a consortium of technology companies consisting of Coremain, Retegal, Trc And Bastet Engineering.

Coremain has been in charge of global management and tasks related to management platforms; while TRC is involved in design development and deployment of coastal surveillance stations.

The project has focused so much on short-haul stations, located on ports and beaches, and long distance, located in Retegal communications towers off the coast. TRC collaborates with Retegal on specification, design and deployment of the hardware of these surveillance stations, especially when it comes to thermal video sensors and network infrastructure.

In addition, in collaboration with the Gradiant Technology Center, who has contributed his experience in researching intelligent video analysis technologies, TRC has been involved in the development of new technologies for the detection and monitoring of people and vessels in thermal imaging.

Other articles on Bastet Engineering, Coremain, Gradiant, Retegal, Trc