new technology for LIFEGUARDs
Researchers at Australia's Griffith University are developing a camera-based motion detecting system that could increase the effectiveness of lifeguards in monitoring the country's many beaches. The system is designed to monitor the behaviour of beachgoers, according to a report in The Australian. It will harness images captured by web cameras set up by the national surf monitoring group Coastalwatch. 'We are trying to detect people to some level of accuracy and we are about 85 per cent [accurate],' said Steve Green, a doctoral student at the university's School of Information and Communication Technology. The system could be used to increase safety at unpatrolled beaches - lifeguards nearby could get an early warning if, for instance, bathers entered non-flagged areas. The main challenge is the low-resolution images, which makes human detection difficult in overcast conditions, but Mr Green said he hoped the system will be completed with greater accuracy in two years.