Self-Calibrating Cameras in Video Surveillance

This chapter introduces intrinsic camera calibration with focus on video surveillance. Calibration of camera-specific parameters such as the focal length is mandatory for metrological problems, for example, measuring a vehicle’s speed. However, it also improves target classification, target detection, and target tracking. Geometry has become important in multi-camera systems that hand over and track objects across cameras. We present the basic geometric concept behind calibration and show which information about the cameras, the scene, and the images is necessary to realize automatic methods. Self-calibration will be a key technology for the practical deployment of future smart video cameras.