Virtual 3D shield for asset protection

In this paper, we propose a practical system for detecting 3D volumetric intrusion in a predefined restricted area using depth images provided by a range camera. This system can be employed for the protection of valuable objects displayed in public areas, as well as for monitoring the space around private property assets. The system defines a virtual 3D shield around the asset that has to be protected, thus delimiting the protected boundaries in all three dimensions. Experimental results performed with both passive stereo camera and IR depth sensors confirmed that the proposed method effectively localized the intrusion detection to the volume of the monitored object.