Rourkela: National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) has secured a patent for an advanced surveillance system that detects unauthorizsd persons in restricted areas using thermal imaging and gait recognition.
Titled “Unauthorized Person Detection using Thermal Imaging and Gait Recognition for Intra-Building Security” (Patent No. 580748), the technology offers a smart and automated solution to the limitations of conventional CCTV-based monitoring.
The system has been developed by Prof Samit Ari of the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, along with research scholar Mohammad Iman Junaid and MTech graduates Narayan Prasad Sharma and Irshad Ali.
Unlike traditional surveillance setups that rely heavily on manual monitoring, the new system operates autonomously. It employs thermal imaging to detect human presence even in complete darkness or low-light conditions, significantly reducing false negatives and human error.
A key feature of the innovation is gait recognition technology, which identifies individuals based on their unique walking patterns. When a person enters a restricted zone, the system instantly compares their gait against a database of authorised personnel. If no match is found, it automatically flags the individual as suspicious and alerts security staff in real time.
Developed with support from the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), the prototype includes three thermal cameras linked to a central server. It enables multi-point tracking, maintains temporary records of unidentified individuals, and analyses entry-exit patterns. Data of unidentified persons is automatically deleted upon exit, while suspicious activity logs are retained for forensic purposes.
The system, developed at an estimated cost of Rs 1.90 lakh, integrates multi-camera tracking with centralised data processing for efficient and reliable surveillance.
The technology has potential applications in academic institutions, corporate campuses, industrial facilities, defence establishments, and other high-security zones. Its ability to function in low-visibility conditions makes it particularly suitable for critical surveillance operations.
The research team is now actively seeking industry partners for large-scale commercialisation and wider deployment of the technology.
