Visual Surveillance of Cultural Heritage Sites by means of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)

This paper proposes an advanced technology framework that, through the use of UAVs, allows to monitor archaeological sites. In particular this paper focuses on the development of computer vision techniques such as super-resolution and mosaicking aiming at extracting detailed and panoramic views of the sites. In particular, super-resolution aims at providing imagery solutions (from aerial and remote sensing platforms) that create higher resolution views that make visible some details that are not perceivable in the acquired images. Mosaicking aims, instead, at creating a unique large still image from the sequence of video frames contained in a motion imagery clip. In this way large areas can be observed and a global analysis of their temporal changes can be performed. In general super-resolution and mosaicking can be exploited both for touristic or surveillance purposes. In particular they can be efficiently used to allow the enjoyment of the cultural heritage through a fascinating visual experience also eventually containing augmented information but also for surveillance tasks that can help to detect or prevent illegal activities.