Active shape model for vehicle modeling and re-identification

1. A method for modeling a vehicle, comprising:

receiving an image that includes a vehicle; and

automatically constructing a three-dimensional (3D) model of the vehicle, wherein the 3D model is constructed by:

(a) taking a predetermined set of base shapes that are extracted from a subset of vehicles, wherein 3D active shape models of the vehicles in the subset of vehicles are each defined by a combination of base shapes, and wherein the base shapes include surface markings and high curvature regions, the surface markings including a front windshield of a vehicle, rear window of the vehicle and side-bottom frame of the vehicle all of which are represented as 3D edge points in the active shape model, and the high curvature regions are represented as viewing direction dependent occluding contours of the vehicle;

(b) multiplying each of the base shapes of the predetermined set by a parameter;

(c) adding the resultant of each multiplication to form a vector that represents a shape of the vehicle in the image;

(d) fitting the vector to the vehicle in the image; and

(e) repeating steps (a)-(d) by modifying the parameters until a difference between the fit vector and the vehicle in the image is minimized, wherein a plurality of fit vectors form the outline of the vehicle in the image.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base shapes are extracted by applying principle component analysis to vectors of landmark points, wherein each vector of landmark points represents a vehicle in the subset.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter of (b) is a linear interpolation coefficient.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter of (b) is found using a search algorithm.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the search algorithm is a gradient descent.

6. A method for re-identifying a vehicle, comprising:

capturing an image that includes a first vehicle;

automatically constructing a three-dimensional (3D) model of the vehicle, wherein the 3D model is constructed by:

(a) taking a predetermined set of base shapes that are extracted from a subset of vehicles, wherein 3D active shape models of the vehicles in the subset of vehicles are each defined by a combination of base shapes, and wherein the base shapes include surface markings and high curvature regions, the surface markings including a front windshield of a vehicle, rear window of the vehicle and side-bottom frame of the vehicle all of which are represented as 3D edge points in the active shape model, and the high curvature regions are represented as viewing direction dependent occluding contours of the vehicle;

(b) multiplying each of the base shapes of the predetermined set by a parameter;

(c) adding the resultant of each multiplication to form a vector that represents a shape of the vehicle in the image;

(d) fitting the vector to the vehicle in the image; and

(e) repeating steps (a)-(d) by modifying the parameters until a difference between the fit vector and the vehicle in the image is minimized, wherein a plurality of fit vectors form the outline of the vehicle in the image;

capturing an image that includes a second vehicle;

constructing a 3D model of the second vehicle, wherein the 3D model of the second vehicle is constructed by performing steps (a)-(e); and

determining if the 3D model of the first vehicle is the same as the 3D model of the second vehicle by comparing the 3D models to each other.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

extracting color information from the vehicles in the images; and

applying the color information to the respective 3D models.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of determining if the 3D model of the first vehicle is the same as the 3D model of the second vehicle further comprises:

comparing the colored 3D models to each other.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

extracting environmental condition information of an area surrounding each of the vehicles in the images; and

applying the environmental condition information to the respective colored 3D models.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein when the environmental condition information is different, the method further comprises:

equalizing an effect of the environmental conditions on the colored 3D models.

11. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

extracting texture information from the vehicles in the images; and

applying the texture information to the respective 3D models.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of determining if the 3D model of the first vehicle is the same as the 3D model of the second vehicle further comprises:

comparing the textured 3D models to each other.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

extracting environmental condition information of an area surrounding each of the vehicles in the images; and

applying the environmental condition information to the respective textured 3D models.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein when the environmental condition information is different, the method further comprises:

equalizing an effect of the environmental conditions on the colored 3D models.

15. The method of claim 6 , further comprising: categorizing the 3D models.

16. A method for performing shape based control, comprising:

receiving an image that includes a vehicle; and

automatically constructing a three-dimensional (3D) model of the vehicle, wherein the 3D model is constructed by:

(a) taking a predetermined set of base shapes that are extracted from a subset of vehicles, wherein 3D active shape models of the vehicles in the subset of vehicles are each defined by a combination of base shapes, and wherein the base shapes include surface markings and high curvature regions, the surface markings including a front windshield of a vehicle, rear window of the vehicle and side-bottom frame of the vehicle all of which are represented as 3D edge points in the active shape model, and the high curvature regions are represented as viewing direction dependent occluding contours of the vehicle;

(b) multiplying each of the base shapes of the predetermined set by a parameter;

(c) adding the resultant of each multiplication to form a vector that represents a shape of the vehicle in the image;

(d) fitting the vector to the vehicle in the image; and

(e) repeating steps (a)-(d) by modifying the parameters until a difference between the fit vector and the vehicle in the image is minimized, wherein a plurality of fit vectors form the outline of the vehicle in the image;

identifying a desired portion of the vehicle for further analysis; and

causing another image that includes the vehicle to be taken, wherein the image further includes an enhanced version of the desired portion.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the images are captured from one or more than one camera.

18. A system for re-identifying a vehicle, comprising:

a first camera for capturing an image that includes a first vehicle;

a second camera for capturing an image that includes a second vehicle; and

a computer in communication with the cameras, the computer including a memory device for storing a program and a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to:

receive the image that includes the first vehicle;

automatically construct a three-dimensional (3D) model of the vehicle, wherein the 3D model is constructed by:

(a) taking a predetermined set of base shapes that are extracted from a subset of vehicles, wherein 3D active shape models of the vehicles in the subset of vehicles are each defined by a combination of base shapes, and wherein the base shapes include surface markings and high curvature regions, the surface markings including a front windshield of a vehicle, rear window of the vehicle and side-bottom frame of the vehicle all of which are represented as 3D edge points in the active shape model, and the high curvature regions are represented as viewing direction dependent occluding contours of the vehicle;

(b) multiplying each of the base shapes of the predetermined set by a parameter;

(c) adding the resultant of each multiplication to form a vector that represents a shape of the vehicle in the image;

(d) fitting the vector to the vehicle in the image; and

(e) repeating steps (a)-(d) by modifying the parameters until a difference between the fit vector and the vehicle in the image is minimized, wherein a plurality of fit vectors form the outline of the vehicle in the image;

receive the image that includes the second vehicle;

construct a 3D model of the second vehicle, wherein the 3D model of the second vehicle is constructed by performing steps (a)-(e); and

determine if the 3D model of the first vehicle is the same as the 3D model of the second vehicle by comparing the parameters of the 3D models to each other.

19. The system of claim 8 wherein the first and second cameras are in different locations.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the first and second cameras communicate with the computer over a wired or wireless network.

21. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for modeling a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving an image that includes a vehicle; and

automatically constructing a three-dimensional (3D) model of the vehicle, wherein the 3D model is constructed by:

(a) taking a predetermined set of base shapes that are extracted from a subset of vehicles, wherein 3D active shape models of the vehicles in the subset of vehicles are each defined by a combination of base shapes, and wherein the base shapes include surface markings and high curvature regions, the surface markings including a front windshield of a vehicle, rear window of the vehicle and side-bottom frame of the vehicle all of which are represented as 3D edge points in the active shape model, and the high curvature regions are represented as viewing direction dependent occluding contours of the vehicle;

(b) multiplying each of the base shapes of the predetermined set by a parameter;

(c) adding the resultant of each multiplication to form a vector that represents a shape of the vehicle in the image;

(d) fitting the vector to the vehicle in the image; and

(e) repeating steps (a)-(d) by modifying the parameters until a difference between the fit vector and the vehicle in the image is minimized, wherein a plurality of fit vectors form the outline of the vehicle in the image.