Review Software Or Various Types Of Software Data

ABSTRACT

With the variety of instruments used in the Safeguards field, users are required to operate these instruments on an intermittent basis—often with several months between uses. While initial training courses are useful, the extended periods between instrument use often result in diminished knowledge of its functionality. Before multimedia, users had no real ability to attend remedial training on an as-needed basis. With this in mind, long-time instrument suppliers Aquila Technologies Group and Canberra Industries have adopted a resourceful training program that combines text, graphics, and animation with the traditional media of audio and full-motion video.

BACKGROUND

Multimedia-based training is an interactive learning experience incorporating the use of either CD-ROM or World Wide Web technology (via the Internet or, more often, an internal company "intranet" using WWW protocols). Key benefits for interactive multimedia applications include increased payback, increased availability of training, consistency in training, site flexibility, and reduction in training time. Most importantly, in an international environment, interactive training is the method of choice because of the ability to bridge language and cultural differences that regular printed or classroom instruction cannot easily handle. Previous studies have shown that well-designed interactive multimedia training reduces the amount of time needed to learn, while markedly increasing retention. This provides reduced costs from instructor fees, travel, and the time the trainee loses from work, as well as improved user competence.

NEW LINE OF TRAINING

Aquila’s experience with the MIVS and GEMINI interactive training programs have shown that this method of training is more effective than linear videos because the interactive CD ROM allows trainees to make choices, see the consequences of those choices, be evaluated on their performance, and repeat the process--all at their own pace. The results are: 1) trainees can correct mistakes quickly, 2) instant feedback intensifies the learning process by reinforcing each step of the lesson, and 3) understanding, retention, and skill levels advance rapidly. Aquila and Canberra are now implementing this type of training on Canberra instrumentation as well.

Using Aquila’s GEMINI training system as a model, a new project was launched this year involving Canberra’s GENIE 2000. The GENIE 2000 project incorporated promotional/informational video with an interactive technical manual to supplement written user materials. Aquila Training Developers worked with Canberra to develop a structure for the Interactive Technical Manual. The program incorporates text, voice-over, and videos demonstrating the use and features of the GENIE 2000 in detail. A new strategy in developing this CD-ROM was to capture the actual user interface (rather than simple screen captures) with a specialized software tool, Lotus Screen Cam. Finally, the multimedia presentation was organized into four parts: 1) System Overview, 2) User Interface, 3) Special Application Packages, and 4) Service and Support. Canberra acted as technical consultants to insure accuracy, and the finished program will be released on CD-ROM for Windows 95/NT and will be made available online at Canberra’s Web Site (www.canberra.com).

SUMMARY

Aquila’s CD-ROM development process allows conversion of training materials (text, graphics, video, audio, etc.) into computer-based training applications. Complexity can range from simple information retrieval (similar to an interactive encyclopedia) to complete interactive multimedia training, incorporating tutorials, and detailed interactive scenarios complete with video and audio clips. While the CD-ROM does not replace classroom instruction, technical support, and hands-on experience, it is a cost-effective tool for remedial training demands. By providing access to multimedia-based training, safeguards organizations are likely to benefit from improved inspector competence with equipment, which leads to more efficient inspections.

As the trend in Safeguards technology leans toward replacing analogue surveillance systems with Digital Image Surveillance (DIS), technical and safeguards review of digital image data and related information can be accomplished easily with a general review software application.

In the past, Aquila provided the GEMINI Advanced Review Software (GARS), which performs efficient review of digital images including decompression, image display, motion detection analysis, image authentication, and a graphical overview of scene environment data. The software’s "on-the-fly" approach combines decompression, motion detection, and display processes into a single-task, greatly reducing review time.

However, remote monitoring requirements, along with the variety of surveillance systems used by monitoring agencies such as IAEA and the CEC, have prompted Aquila to create a new version of GARS, the General Advanced Review Software. Along with the previous features, GARS now performs advanced review functions on surveillance data originating from GEMINI, MOS/MUX, and Neumann DCM-14 digital surveillance systems, which includes the one-channel VDIS, the Remote VDIS, and the All-In-One. In addition, GARS is "network aware" and can perform reviews on data residing on different workstations simply by attaching the designated files through a modem connection to the network. This paper discusses new data storage options and methods for supporting all future DIS data collected by various surveillance systems.

INTRODUCTION

The recent availability of all-digital surveillance systems has provided the missing link that enables an entirely new integrated approach to modern Safeguards practices and equipment. While some safeguards surveillance techniques cover visual surveillance only, others combine video and nondestructive assay (NDA). Depending on the immediate need of the user or agency, video surveillance has generally been captured and reviewed by one of four different types of cameras and review stations, while NDA data has been reviewed via a separate compatible software program. Although these advances have brought safeguards to a higher level of quality and expertise, this need for product specific review software has cost agencies time and money since each surveillance system has needed its own review software. Thus, not only have agencies paid for each software and hardware program, but they have also spent valuable time learning different programs to fulfill their safeguards needs.

SOLUTION

With cost-effectiveness and convenience in mind, Aquila has created the General Advanced Review Software (GARS) to support the GEMINI Surveillance System, the MOS/MUX Surveillance System, and the Neumann DCM-14 Surveillance System. GARS reads video surveillance data via surveillance plug in modules implemented through Windows Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs). With the introduction of the DLLs, GARS efficiently creates review files, decompresses images, generates reports, and authenticates images. The software’s "on-the-fly" approach combines decompression, motion detection, and display processes into a single step/task, thereby greatly reducing the time it takes to perform a review. Even with the inclusion of motion detection, the overall review process time is approximately half of the total review time of the previous prototypes with their separate steps/tasks. This combined "on-the-fly" approach provides a simple user interface and a more efficient digital image review process (refer to Figure 1).

Figure 1:
GARS User Interface

PROCESS

GARS is a cross-platform application available for X86 Windows95 and WindowsNT platforms. The Aquila Pentium-based Review Station incorporates a disk docking port/station into which a removable hard disk (RHD) or CD-ROM containing archived images is inserted for review. The digital format simplifies automated review, reducing inspection time by indexing technical review information and by identifying probable safeguards events through a state-of-health indicator and motion detection analysis. This is provided via a rapidly executing motion detection algorithm that analyzes adjacent images to detect potential changes in user-defined areas in the images.

GARS works consistently across all surveillance system DLL code, which decompresses the images, recognizes the software surveillance type, and generates reports. GARS, an image database front-end, uses existing GARS database files or automatically creates a database of images with index files. GARS shares this common database index file with the surveillance systems, which allows for graphical overviews, rapid searching, and data sorting. Image format does not matter, because the DLLs decompress the data so that GARS can authenticate and open each data file. In addition, while GARS main menus are the same, the report generation screen looks and prints different reports to fulfill the different needs of each system.

GARS offers multi-camera support (up to 32 cameras per surveillance), persistent zoom for image playback of maximum sized images, a resize/maximize function for screen resolutions greater than 800x600, and an improved Graphical Overview tool for reviewing scene specific or interval information. GARS also has the capability to load scenes from as many as 8 different directories, and it can continue reviewing data without having to recreate a database after the user exits and restarts the program. With JPEG decompression implemented as a software algorithm, a PC or PC Laptop with SCSI disk interface can be used with the GARS software to review surveillance data, providing operational and field use convenience and flexibility.

GARS also provides an extensive set of display, print, image analysis, and processing tools. The GARS review playback function performs at full frame resolution at a rate in excess of 20 images per second. For example, because the GARS implements the image verification process via the DLL, it is able to decrypt GEMINI data, MOS/MUX data, and the DCM-14 data that has been encrypted easily and efficiently, allowing for a review analysis that can range from a basic playback of collected images to a sophisticated safeguards analysis. In addition, GARS offers enhanced DCM-14 support, which now covers review of VACOSS seal data.

GARS TOOLS

The GARS provides six special tools that allow for efficient and high quality surveillance review: Display Enhance, Motion Detection, Authentication, Graphical Overview, Trigger Detection, and Multi-Camera View.

DISPLAY ENHANCE

The Display Enhance tool provides the user functionality for enhancing the quality of the displayed image. With this tool, the user can adjust the brightness, contrast, and gamma image display characteristics/attributes to modify the way scenes are displayed. The scenes are only displayed; there are no changes to the scene.

MOTION DETECTION

The Motion Detection tool is used to select the range of scenes in which to detect motion. Once selected, there are two options available: Motion Detection Range, which sets the range of scenes on which to perform motion detection, and Erase all previously detected events, which is used if a previous motion detection was performed on a subset of the images and the results need to be retained along with the results of the current motion detection.

AUTHENTICATION

Authentication is used on the scenes in the selected range to insure that they have not in any way been modified since their creation by the surveillance system. Authentication algorithms are defined by the surveillance system manufacturer with the verification code in the surveillance system’s DLL. For example, the algorithm used in the GEMINI System uses the RSA public key signature based authentication method. The authentication process checks the following five image attributes to verify whether the image is authentic: the correct file format, an unmodified image, the correct scene date and time, the correct camera ID, and the correct public key.

The Authentication tool includes Authenticating Range, which allows the user to choose the range of scenes for the authentication, and Erase all previously detected events, which is used if a previous authentication was performed on a subset of the images, and the results need to be retained along with the results of the current authentication. If the "Erase all previously detected scenes" box is checked, then previous authentication events will be erased. If this box is not checked, then new events will be appended to the old events.

TRIGGER DETECTION

Trigger Detection is used to find which scene’s triggers meet the trigger detection criteria set by the user.

GRAPHICAL OVERVIEW

The Graphical Overview tool is used to initiate the Graphical Overview Window, which graphically displays scene specific information, including scene interval, exposure time, temperature, humidity, charging voltage, charging current, volts measured, GND measured, contrast, and camera signal. Availability of scene information is dependent on which surveillance system is currently selected.

MULTI-CAMERA VIEW

The Multi-Camera View tool initiates the Multi-Camera View window, which is used to view, at the same time, the scenes created from a multi-camera surveillance. This dialog displays scenes from up to four cameras of a multiple-camera surveillance system. The playback of each scene is synchronized, and the user can pick which four cameras to view out of up to the thirty two cameras. GARS also allows an inspector to review these images simultaneously, making it possible to denote when material is moved, as well as in what direction.

CONCLUSION AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

The recent advances in digital video processing and the all-digital systems that use it have overcome the technical hurdles that have impeded the fusion of multi-sensor capabilities into remote monitoring functions. Aquila’s General Advanced Review Software provides the safeguards community with multi-camera review of the GEMINI, MOS/MUX, and Neumann DCM-14 Surveillance Systems’ image data. In form and function, the GARS is easy to use and flexible, with high performance quality. Presently, GARS has been licensed to several facilities, including the IAEA, CEC, and Sandia National Labs. Future design directions include working with Canberra, Aquila’s parent company, to integrate the review of NDA data with GARS.