Publications Details

Curvature Based Analysis to Identify and Categorize Trajectory Segments

Schrum Jr., Paul T.; Laros, James H.; Newton, Benjamin D.

Since the attacks carried out against the United States on September 11, 2001, which involved the commandeering of commercial aircraft, interest has increased in performing trajectory analysis of vehicle types not constrained by roadways or railways, i.e., aircraft and watercraft. Anomalous trajectories need to be automatically identified along with other trajectories of interest to flag them for further investigation. There is also interest in analyzing trajectories without a focus on anomaly detection. Various approaches to analyzing these trajectories have been undertaken with useful results to date. In this research, we seek to augment trajectory analysis by carrying out analysis of the trajectory curvature along with other parameters, including distance and total deflection (change in direction). At each point triplet in the ordered sequence of points, these parameters are computed. Adjacent point triplets with similar values are grouped together to form a higher level of semantic categorization. These categorizations are then analyzed to form a yet higher level of categorization which has more specific semantic meaning. This top level of categorization is then summarized for all trajectories under study, allowing for fast identification of trajectories with various semantic characteristics.