Continuous variance estimation in video surveillance sequences with high illumination changes

Continuous estimation of signal statistics is an important issue in many video processing systems, such as motion detection in surveillance applications. In this paper we demonstrate how results of classical expressions for variance estimation decrease in accuracy when dealing with sequences containing high illumination variations. The paper also proposes a new estimation method, and shows how, under such conditions, the accuracy of the proposed method produces better results whilst maintaining performance in scenarios with smaller changes, thus improving the motion detection stage of a video surveillance system.