The search was conducted using a camera mounted on a pole deployed from a 20’ vessel. Arc search patterns were executed using the boat motor to move the vessel left and right, while the bow of the vessel was fixed to a post on shore.

The LYYN T38 was connected between the pole camera and a DVR. A second monitor was plugged into the DVR so that Sam could see in the highly turbid water.

Broward County Sheriff's Office divers

Footage by:

Deputy Sam Lapinsky
Broward County Sheriff’s Office
Marine Unit/Dive Rescue Team

Sam also runs his own company: Innovative Dive Equipment Inc.

Enhancing visibility in CCTV systems

The dock has to be monitored even in fog.

Every waterway presents unique safety and security challenges. Marine and atmospheric environments, local maritime laws and increasing vessel traffic all complicate the navigation of waterways, ports and rivers. Maritime borders must be protected from illegal immigration, drug traffic and environmental hazards. Fisheries and other natural resources are in danger of depletion. Cargo and passenger ships need to get to their intended destination safely and on schedule. Ships in distress need to be quickly found and assisted. Commercial and naval ports need protection from terrorist attack.

Many technologies are used to detect objects and possible threats, like radar and transponder systems. Advanced imaging technologies like IR and thermal cameras are widely used to gain as much visual information as possible. But there still remains the problem of visual identification of the detected objects. Then you need the color and details only provided by CCTV color cameras.

Atmospheric conditions

A white old steamer in fog. Not that easy to see...

The marine environment is particularly harsh and unfriendly to remote monitoring. Fog, haze, rain and snow are common and usually the object you need to identify is distant, maybe moving at high speed. Thermal imaging and IR has solved many problems and outperforms traditional CCTV cameras, but they still have their limitations, being monochrome and often with low resolution.

Another way to address visibility problems is to enhance the color image. LYYN® has developed real-time image enhancement algorithms that can give any CCTV system a real boost. The technology is proven with several hundred users worldwide, many being in the SubSea industry where there always are visibility problems. But this technology is equally useful in security & surveillance applications.

The viewing distance problem

Even on a supposedly clear day there is still haze, obscuring details on this ship.

Even on a clear day there is moisture in the air. Looking over great distances, for instance monitoring port entry, you need powerful zooms. The problem is that this compression of distance doesn’t remove the haze or fog; it actually amplifies the perception of it. Something LYYN® algorithms are exceptionally good at removing.

De-hazing IR cameras

IR camera with LYYN T38 as dehazer

Even though the LYYN algorithms are designed for color video we still have an interesting result on monochrome video. Probably the most interesting application is our ability to enhance IR imagery.

We have customers that claim that LYYN outperform the standard tools of the large IR camera manufacturers. Visit the customer case to read more.

LYYN Hawk System is the
19” rack-mounted, real-time LYYN
solution for analog CCTV systems

Each video frame is optimized for contrast and color spectrum to make it as “natural” as possible to the human eye. Even the smallest fragments of color and object shape can be extracted from the camera sensor. And all this is done in real-time.

The result is an image that constantly self-adjusts to the environment, and you can focus on mission objectives.

One viewer – many cameras
By installing the LYYN Hawk System together with a video switch it is possible to add LYYN to the whole system. The operator can choose and switch any camera through the unit, providing lyynification™ wherever it is needed.

Cost efficient
Instead of installing more enhanced cameras you only need one LYYN Hawk System per simultaneous viewing channel. A simple system upgrade bringing a powerful result to the whole system.

Video standards
PAL 625-line 25 fps or NTSC 525-line 30 fps, autosensing of format. Standard composite or S-video (separate luminance and chrominance), with BNC connectors.

Video synchronization
LYYN Hawk System has three video synchronization modes. The video output can be synchronized to the video input, an external synchronization signal on a separate micro connector can be used or an Time Based Corrected signal can be obtained by controlling the delay.

Simple integration
LYYN Hawk System is controlled remotely. It can be easily integrated into operator consoles through three different control interfaces:

• RS 232
• USB 2.0
• Ethernet (RJ45) either using Telnet or an internal web server

Some sample clips with post-processed video that speak for themselves. In any situation where you need a clear view, you need LYYN.:

Lights Camera Action LLC was started in 1999 and acted solely as a sales representative company until 2007. At that time LCA began manufacturing some of their own products; the 7700 series cameras. Currently LCA work closely with the nuclear utilities in the United States and globally. They have also a very strong presence in the oceanographic community. Link to their web site.

MAR-VEL International is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ADS, Inc. For more than 60 years MAR-VEL has constantly sought out the best equipment for our customers and backed it by the best warranties and customer service in the industry. Our mission is to provide the finest tactical and emergency response Equipment to Law Enforcement, Homeland Security, Corrections, Fire, Rescue and Marine Operations professionals. The MAR-VEL catalog has been the industry standard since 1946. Link to their web site.

LYYN T38™ is the solution to your visibility problems in fog, haze, smoke, dust, rain, low-light and many more situations.

The true power of LYYN T38™ is that the visibility enhancement is done in real-time in a live video stream. And you can also use it on stored material.

Use the LYYN T38™ to enhance the feed from a surveillance camera in a video security system. Or to enhance a video tape in a camera brought back to office after some police fieldwork. Or wherever you need to see more with video.

The LYYN T38™ is easy to use. Connect it in-between the camera and a monitor, tv set or vcr and you are up and running. With controls for enhancement level and size and position of a rectangular selection of the scene you can always make sure to catch the object on film, and see it.

If you need visibility aid in the field you connect the LYYN T38™ in-between your camera and an external screen. The screen will show enhanced visibility real-time, helping you zooming and focusing on the right object.

Go to the LYYN T38™ page for more information

Peter Jonsson, lecturer at Engineering Geology, Lund University (to the left) receives the first LYYN T38™ from Andreas Ekengren, Managing Director of LYYN (to the right).

Peter immediately put his LYYN T38™ in to some good use, processing video he had taken of the see floor outside the harbor of Ystad.

The second unit was delivered to the Swedish Police with this remark from the receiver: “I did not really dare to hope that it would work as well as your demonstration, but it does. Even if it had only been half as good it would still be worth it’s price.”

We at LYYN can only express our gratitude for this very positive feedback.