Can OpenCV Read CCTV?

asked 2014-06-19 11:48:28 -0600

yohanrw
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updated 2014-06-19 11:49:38 -0600

berak
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I need to get inputs from multiple CCTV cameras and take it to the PC. Once it is in PC, I need to run a OpenCV program on the video input provided by each individual camera and perform some image recognition work. Everything should happen on real time. I have never worked with CCTV before, so I am not sure how I can get the input from "multiple cameras" to the PC, and I am not sure how I can use OpenCV too identify the different cameras. Unfortunately our media lab also do not provide much details on this..

So my question, is it possible for a PC to take input from multiple CCTV cameras (maybe 5 or 10 or 16 or whatever), and can OpenCV read these cameras so I can see the images and do the processing?

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if those are ip cameras, yes, sure.

berak ( 2014-06-19 11:57:39 -0600 )edit

@berak: No, you know, normal CCTV cameras.

yohanrw ( 2014-06-19 12:32:25 -0600 )edit

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answered 2014-06-19 11:59:37 -0600

Mathieu Barnachon

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It depends on the interface for each camera: USB, network, proprietary acquisition card? For the two first, it's ok, for the others, you will have to write your own binding to get access to the camera.

For the processing of multiple cameras in the same time, it's feasible, but highly depends on the process (and image size) you want.

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Thanks for the reply. Can you explain the answer a bit more please? You know these CCTV cameras cannot be connected to the PC like USB cameras, they get connected from another way (I think they are connected to a "three phase connector" or something and that get connected to a "multi Video interface card" or something and that get card connected to the PC). The process I am doing is motion detection. So mainly, can OpenCV read these CCTV or any other way around? Like you said, reading CCTV using something else and passing the video to OpenCV?

yohanrw ( 2014-06-19 12:30:24 -0600 )edit

you will have to write your own binding to get access to the camera. - You mean I can stream the video using another library and pass it to OpenCV?

yohanrw ( 2014-06-20 01:39:46 -0600 )edit

In my point of view, you have two solutions: creating an image (for each you received from your CCTV) with OpenCV (raw data, like a char* with the cv::Mat constructor). Or writing a binding for VideoCapture that take CCTV direct feed. This solution is more tricky, but would be a long term one. I can say more without knowing which kind of access do you have to your cameras...

Mathieu Barnachon ( 2014-06-20 03:23:02 -0600 )edit

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Can OpenCV Read CCTV?

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