[LINK] Surveillance cameras

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Anyone see a problem with this reasoning?

China's government has a problem with the extreme pollution in Beijing.

Their problem is ... severe pollution blocks their surveillance cameras.

However, this newspaper report notes, "The government has come to realize 
the seriousness of the issue and commissioned scientists to come up with a 
solution."

Thus, a solution? Professor Li, an image processing expert notes, "On the 
smoggiest days, we may need to use radar to ensure security in some areas."

--

"Big Brother blinded: Security fears in China as smog disrupts surveillance 
cameras"

By Stephen Chen, South China Morning Post, Tuesday, 05 November, 2013
<http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1347835/security-fears-china-
surveillance-cameras-are-blinded-thick-smog>


To the central government, smog that blankets the country .. is a threat to 
national security.

Last month visibility in Harbin dropped to below three metres because of 
heavy smog. 

On days like these, no surveillance camera can see through the thick layers 
of particles, say scientists and engineers.

To the authorities, this is a serious national security concern. 

Beijing has invested heavily to build up a nationwide surveillance network 
that lets police watch every major street and corner in main cities.

But with smoggy days becoming more frequent, the effectiveness of the 
system has been greatly compromised. Some fear terrorists may choose a 
smoggy day to launch attacks.

Kong Zilong, a senior project engineer with Shenzhen Yichengan Technology 
and an expert in video surveillance technology, said the security devices 
that could function in heavy smogs had yet to be invented.

Existing technology, such as infrared imaging, can help cameras see through 
fog or smoke at a certain level, but the smog on the mainland these days is 
a different story. 

The particles are so many and so solid, they block light almost as 
effectively as a brick wall.

"According to our experience, as the visibility drops below three metres, 
even the best camera cannot see beyond a dozen metres," he said.

His company sells products from some of the world's leading security camera 
makers, such as Raymax from Japan, Bewator from Britain, FLIR from the 
United States and VisSim from Norway.

The government has come to realise the seriousness of the issue and 
commissioned scientists to come up with a solution.

The National Natural Science Foundation of China funded two teams, one 
civilian and one military, to study the issue and has told the scientists 
involved to find solutions within four years.

Professor Yang Aiping, an expert in digital imaging with the School of 
Electronic Information Engineering of Tianjin University and leader of the 
civilian team, said she was facing tremendous pressure because of the 
enormous technological challenges.

"We need to heavily revise, if not completely rewrite, algorithms in some 
mathematical models. We also need to do lots of computer simulation and 
extensive field tests."

The military team is led by professor Bi Duyan of the Air Force Engineering 
University of the People's Liberation Army in Xian, Shaanxi province. He 
could not be reached for comment on the research.

Professor Zhang Li, an image processing expert with the department of 
electronic engineering of Tsinghua University, said the researchers might 
have to think out of the box.

"On the smoggiest days, we may need to use radar to ensure security in some 
sensitive areas," he said.

Microwaves or electromagnetic waves could travel through smog easily and 
bounce back if they hit an object. With the help of good software, sharp 
and clear images could be produced. But a radar camera would also generate 
radiation that harms people's health.

"It has to be a contingency device," Zhang said.

Editor's Comment: The Chinese capital has for many years suffered from 
serious air pollution. Primary sources of pollutants include exhaust 
emission from Beijing's more than five million motor vehicles, coal burning 
in neighbouring regions and local construction dust. A particularly severe 
smog engulfed the city for weeks in early 2013, elevating public awareness 
to unprecedented levels and prompting the government to roll out emergency 
measures. 

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as 
Security threat as smog blinds
cameras

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