Ottawa Airport Testing Searidge Technologies' Surface Detection System

Ottawa International Airport is evaluating a new system, developed by Searidge Technologies, that detects and tracks aircraft, vehicles, humans and other objects, on an airport with a network of "low cost" digital imaging sensors and computer vision technology.

Searidge says its CASD (computer-vision-based airport surface detection) system has successfully detected and tracked targets in a variety of low visibility weather conditions including rain, fog, high winds and snow flurries.

CASD consists of a number of camera-sensor sets (visible light and infrared), which cover a defined geographic area, a core processing engine, and a 3D display.  Images from the visible-light sensors are computer-enhanced to improve daytime contrast and eliminate thermal phenomena such as heat spots on runway surfaces, while its infrared sensors provide images in darkness and inclement weather.

Searidge believes CASD can offer more flexibility and functionality at a lower cost than traditional radar and multilateration-based systems.

The system will be operational for the next 12 months in the south-west area of the airport, and its results will be collected and analyzed.

A brief video demonstration of CASD is available at http://www.searidgetech.com/video_link.  12-08-2006.

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