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(meteorobs) Sirko's WGN article
Thought I would pass on a note I sent to Sirko for those interested on the
list, it is in regards to a paper he is publishing in the NEXT WGN to be
mailed. The article can be accessed at:
http://www.tu-chemnitzdot de/~smo/meteore/status.html
Pete
--------------------
Sirko;
Just read your paper (et al) on video history, status and future. It
parallels a lot of what I wrote about in my article to WGN over a year ago
(what, no citation???) . I am planning to write another on the algorithmic
appraoch I am using and the trials and tribulations of trying to run PC's
in real-time in the next month or two (for WGN). At least I know someone's
interested out there.
If it is not too late I have two items that you might want to add or
enhance in your article. The first is you may wish to expand on what other
video developers are working on and more details on the MOVIE system. For
example I know you process your data off-line by passing several times
through the same tape examining different parts of the field each pass.
The work I have been doing is trying to accomplish the same thing (meteor
detection) on a single pass. The goal being to avoid storage on tape and
work directly with the video signal (lower noise, shorter turnaround time).
With a bank of imagers this may become necessary or you may get buried in
tapes. What about what the others out there are doing? Is there anyone
else seriously looking into this? Also I find I have no power issues since
my imager and camcorder both run off the car battery, which is always close
at hand as a portable warming hut. In fact I take the imager with me on
company travel around the country, though getting it through security at
airports can cause a few minute delay. It fits in a medium sized case and
can be carried onboard, so it is very portable.
Another item is that of the use of video systems should also include just
basic monitoring of activity levels on a night to night basis. I just read
the article in this months WGN on the survey of meteor observers. Seems
there are big gaps in observational periods for the typical observer. I
know due to work, family, and the need for sleep on occasion, I tend to
only observe clear weekends (fri, sat) or within a few days of major
showers and the occasional minor shower. Video systems help fill the gaps
when fewer or no observers are out on a watch!
By the way I would be reluctant to say that we are throwing data away since
we cannot process the numerous video detections we have. Instead I would
pose it as a challenge to find more automated ways to post process the
detected events! I know it is a hard problem, but lets get people thinking
about it, someone out there may have an idea. I know I have some thoughts
on it.
pete gural
pgural@trg1.saic.com
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