 |
|
Portable imaging system will help maximize public health response to natural disasters
October 07, 2008Researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have developed a low-cost, high-resolution imaging system that can be attached to a helicopter to create a complete and detailed picture of an area devastated by a hurricane or other natural disaster. The resulting visual information can be used to estimate the number of storm refugees and assess the need for health and humanitarian services.
Aid organizations currently don't have a quick and accurate way to determine how many people need assistance. Satellites can collect images of areas affected by a natural disaster, but there are dissemination restrictions and cloud cover can prevent collection of images.
"Without a real-time map, it's very hard to do population estimates and demographic estimates to figure out where people are, how they're moving, how they're spaced out and even how many people you have on the ground," said Benjamin Sklaver, a project officer from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) International Emergency and Refugee Health Branch. "This technology does not exist currently, so GTRI's imaging system is really an innovative project."
The imaging system was developed with funding from the CDC, and agency officials would like to begin using this device as soon as possible. After responding to the recent devastation caused by Hurricanes Hanna and Ike, the CDC asked GTRI to accelerate delivery of the imaging device for use during the 2008 hurricane season.
"We plan to package the system for use on Coast Guard UH-60J Black Hawk helicopters, which were among the first to fly over Haiti following Hanna's devastation," said David Price, a GTRI senior research technologist.
The imaging system - designed by Price and senior research engineer Gary Gray - is called the "Mini ModPOD," which stands for "Miniature Modular Photographic Observation Device." It consists of an off-the-shelf Canon Digital Rebel XTi digital camera, a global positioning system receiver, a small circuit board that uploads mission parameters, and an inertial measurement unit that measures the aircraft's rate of acceleration and changes in rotational attributes, including pitch, roll and yaw. The images collected from the system can be stitched together to create a complete picture of the affected area.
The research team has tested the device on several flights, selecting areas with large populations of people likely to be outdoors.
"During the first test flight, we wanted to test the clarity and resolution of the images collected during the run, and we were very pleased," said Price. "We could see tennis balls on the ground and people reading books at outdoor tables. This was sufficient detail to allow accurate counting the number of people in an area."
After the first flight, the researchers reduced the weight of the device and developed a more accurate geo-referencing capability, which allowed the physical location of the scenes shown in each photograph to be determined with precision. With the modifications made, the researchers went for a second flight test in July.
Mosaic image shown here is made of individual photographs collected from the Mini ModPOD system and stitched together to create a more complete picture of the ground below.
Click here for more information.
The research group selected a rectangular zone of interest and loaded the latitude and longitude coordinates of the zone into the system from a USB drive. As soon as the helicopter flew into the zone, the camera began snapping pictures. The electronics were set to measure the speed of the aircraft so that each photo overlapped 60 percent of the preceding photo, making it easier to stitch together the photos to create a complete picture. The pilot made two passes, at altitudes of 500 and 1,000 feet above ground level.
"This test flight was successful in confirming the Mini ModPOD's ability to activate the camera within the zone of interest. The resulting photos were extremely sharp and clear - they were free of any vibration or motion effects," added Price.
The photos were successfully matched to the flight data, which enabled the CDC to adjust them for geospatial reference. However, due to a software glitch, they were not overlapped as planned. The researchers made a small adjustment to the software and completed a third a third test flight in August.
"This flight resulted in images that were 60 percent overlapped, enabling CDC engineers to build a high-resolution mosaic image," noted Price. "Individuals on the ground were easily distinguishable as people separate from other objects."
The imaging system will also be available to the CDC and other agencies, such as the American Red Cross, to count people in refugee camps in order to plan for health and humanitarian services.
Georgia Institute of Technology Research News
The imaging system was developed with funding from the CDC, and agency officials would like to begin using this device as soon as possible. After responding to the recent devastation caused by Hurricanes Hanna and Ike, the CDC asked GTRI to accelerate delivery of the imaging device for use during the 2008 hurricane season.
"We plan to package the system for use on Coast Guard UH-60J Black Hawk helicopters, which were among the first to fly over Haiti following Hanna's devastation," said David Price, a GTRI senior research technologist.
The imaging system - designed by Price and senior research engineer Gary Gray - is called the "Mini ModPOD," which stands for "Miniature Modular Photographic Observation Device." It consists of an off-the-shelf Canon Digital Rebel XTi digital camera, a global positioning system receiver, a small circuit board that uploads mission parameters, and an inertial measurement unit that measures the aircraft's rate of acceleration and changes in rotational attributes, including pitch, roll and yaw. The images collected from the system can be stitched together to create a complete picture of the affected area.
The research team has tested the device on several flights, selecting areas with large populations of people likely to be outdoors.
"During the first test flight, we wanted to test the clarity and resolution of the images collected during the run, and we were very pleased," said Price. "We could see tennis balls on the ground and people reading books at outdoor tables. This was sufficient detail to allow accurate counting the number of people in an area."
After the first flight, the researchers reduced the weight of the device and developed a more accurate geo-referencing capability, which allowed the physical location of the scenes shown in each photograph to be determined with precision. With the modifications made, the researchers went for a second flight test in July.
Mosaic image shown here is made of individual photographs collected from the Mini ModPOD system and stitched together to create a more complete picture of the ground below.
Click here for more information.
The research group selected a rectangular zone of interest and loaded the latitude and longitude coordinates of the zone into the system from a USB drive. As soon as the helicopter flew into the zone, the camera began snapping pictures. The electronics were set to measure the speed of the aircraft so that each photo overlapped 60 percent of the preceding photo, making it easier to stitch together the photos to create a complete picture. The pilot made two passes, at altitudes of 500 and 1,000 feet above ground level.
"This test flight was successful in confirming the Mini ModPOD's ability to activate the camera within the zone of interest. The resulting photos were extremely sharp and clear - they were free of any vibration or motion effects," added Price.
The photos were successfully matched to the flight data, which enabled the CDC to adjust them for geospatial reference. However, due to a software glitch, they were not overlapped as planned. The researchers made a small adjustment to the software and completed a third a third test flight in August.
"This flight resulted in images that were 60 percent overlapped, enabling CDC engineers to build a high-resolution mosaic image," noted Price. "Individuals on the ground were easily distinguishable as people separate from other objects."
The imaging system will also be available to the CDC and other agencies, such as the American Red Cross, to count people in refugee camps in order to plan for health and humanitarian services.
Georgia Institute of Technology Research News
Imaging System Current Events and Imaging System News RSSVERITAS telescopes help solve 100-year-old mystery: The origin of cosmic rays
Nearly 100 years ago, scientists detected the first signs of cosmic rays - subatomic particles (mostly protons) that zip through space at nearly the speed of light.
Iowa State researchers contribute to discovery of gamma rays from starburst galaxy
Iowa State University astrophysicists contributed to the recent discovery that a galaxy quickly creating new stars is also a source of high energy gamma rays.
Researchers develop innovative imaging system to study sudden cardiac arrest
A research team at Vanderbilt University has developed an innovative optical system to simultaneously image electrical activity and metabolic properties in the same region of a heart, to study the complex mechanisms that lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
Concurrent imaging of metabolic and electric signals in the heart
Cardiac rhythm disorders can result from disturbances in cardiac metabolism. These metabolic changes are tightly linked with specific cardiac electrophysiology (CEP) abnormalities, such as depressed excitability, impaired intra- and extracellular conductivities, wave propagation block, and alteration of conduction velocity, action potential amplitude, and duration.
Bioluminescence imaging used for eye cancer detection
At the moment, doctors rely on biopsy analysis to determine the progression of eye cancer. However, researchers now believe that a new technology, bioluminescence imaging (BLI), will allow doctors to detect tumors earlier and quickly choose a method of treatment that doesn't necessarily involve eye surgery.
Getting down to details
Dave Wilson was dissatisfied with blurry, low-sensitivity optical images of diseased tissues. So, four years ago he set out to create a better imager.
Radiologists and engineers develop a modified catheter to reduce contrast material injuries
Though rare, IV contrast material administration can sometimes result in patient injury. However researchers have developed a modified catheter that may prevent such events from occurring.
Annual Survey Shows High Numbers of Seed Scallops on Georges Bank, Low Numbers in Mid-Atlantic
A NOAA Fisheries scallop survey off the northeastern coast between North Carolina and Massachusetts shows high numbers of juvenile "recruit" sea scallops and ocean quahogs on Georges Bank tempered with weak numbers for seed scallops in the Mid-Atlantic for 2009.
Jet-propelled Imaging for an Ultrafast Light Source
John Spence, a physicist at Arizona State University, is a longtime user of the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he has contributed to major advances in lensless imaging.
LROC's first look at the Apollo landing sites
The imaging system on board NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) recently had its first of many opportunities to photograph the Apollo landing sites.
More Imaging System Current Events and Imaging System News Articles
 |
Medical Imaging Signals and Systems by Jerry L. Prince (Author), Jonathan Links (Author) For courses in medical imaging systems. With signal processing as its foundation, this text covers the most important imaging modalities in radiology: projection radiography, x-ray computed tomography, nuclear medicine, ultrasound imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging. Organized into parts to emphasize key overall conceptual divisions, Medical Imaging is most appropriate for engineering students who have taken the prerequisite signals and systems courses as well as elementary probability. |
 |
Disk Utilities Professional by Avanquest Running Disk Utilities on your computer is the equivalent of taking your car in for a tune-up. Disk Utilities Professional safely manages and organizes your hard drive, and backs up your critical data, software programs and Windows operating systems in the event disaster strikes. Hard drive cloning and disk wipe features make transferring to a new hard drive easy. |
 |
MK Digital Direct Photo eBox Imaging System, Complete Product Photography Studio with One Light Switch. by MK Digital Direct |
 |
Automatic Refill System for HP Color Ink Cartridges by Hitachi Koki Imaging Solutions, Inc. Inkjet Auto Refill Kit System For Hewlett Packard Models Color |
|
UVP BioDoc-It Imaging System; With M-20 transilluminator, 20x20cm filter, 302nm, 230V by Ultra Violet Products Imaging Systems; BioDoc-It Workstation, 230V. Includes M-20 Transilluminator. Acquires gel images w,CCD monochrome camera; live preview of images on LCD. Preset exposure times. Filter area: 20 x 20cm. Overall, 14W x 10D x 19 in.H | |
 |
Black Imaging Kit for 1824/1826 Mfp 30K Yield by INFOPRINT PRINTING SYSTEMS/PRINTERS InfoPrint Solutions Company printing supplies have been engineered specifically to complement InfoPrint Solutions Company's line of workgroup printers. Manufactured with stringent quality control standards, InfoPrint Solutions Company printing supplies can help you maximize productivity, minimize maintenance and deliver exceptional print quality. |
|
ATN OTIS-14 Thermal Imaging System by ATN Corporation ATN OTIS-14 Thermal System intended for fire fighting, public safety, law enforcement, and commercial uses. Built around state of the art uncooled thermal imaging technology, highly integrated DSP-based electronics and a compact, light weight system. This monocular provides excellent image quality that is unaffected by lights or shadows that seriously hamper image quality of image intensified night vision. Total darkness, fog, smoke, camouflage or bright lights will not affect the sensitivity of this unit. Superior performance, compact size, and cost efficiency makes it the perfect thermal imaging device. | |
|
Humminbird TMC-1 Trolling Motor Filter for Side-Imaging by Humminbird This kit reduces electrical inteferance for your Side Imaging units. Kit is installed between the trolling motor foot control and the power source. | |
|
Chrysler Audio System [Audio Music Cd]; How to Set Digital Clock, & Cd Player, Infinity Spatial Imaging-isi (18 Tracks Total-12 of Music) SOMEDAY~LOVE IS A WONDERFUL THING~COCERTO IN E-FLAT MAJOR,III ALLEGRO~POWER OF LOVE/LOVE POWER~LIVE FOR LOVING YOU~BIG SKY COUNTRY~I AM A SIMPLE MAN~WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND~IT HAD TO BE YOU~THE RIDE OF THE VALKYRIES~CRAWLING BACK~LOVE..THY WILL BE DONE~CAN'T STOP FALLIN' INTO LOVE | |
 |
A System Engineering Approach to Imaging (SPIE Press Monograph Vol. PM38) (SPIE P.) by Norman S. Kopeika (Author) This textbook addresses imaging from the system engineering point of view, examining advantages and disadvantages of imaging in various spectral regions. Focuses on imaging principles and system concepts, rather than devices. Intended as a senior-year undergraduate or graduate level engineering textbook. A solution manual is included. Contents: |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |