Real-time multiple object tracking using virtual shells

This paper presents a new multiple object tracking framework where arbitrarily shaped complex objects having severe occlusions are successfully tracked in real-time using stationary cameras. The proposed method utilizes the concept of a virtual shell that encloses each moving object in the scene and simplifies analysis of object interactions. Object’s state transitions are handled by an event resolution analysis. Such a regional analysis boosts the tracking process. Finally, a pixel level evaluation is employed for all objects to establish successful pixel memberships. The proposed tracking algorithm is experimentally tested on some public databases and our own challenging aquarium setup that contains many different fish interactions.