Open Access

ARTICLE

Implementing Convolutional Neural Networks to Detect Dangerous Objects in Video Surveillance Systems

Carlos Rojas¹, Cristian Bravo¹, Carlos Enrique Montenegro-Marín¹, Rubén González-Crespo^2,*

1 Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, Bogotá, 110311-0110, Colombia
2 Department of Computer Science and Technology, Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, Logroño, 26006, Spain

* Corresponding Author: Rubén González-Crespo. Email:

Computers, Materials & Continua 2025, 85(3), 5489-5507. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmc.2025.067394

Received 02 May 2025; Accepted 29 August 2025; Issue published 23 October 2025

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of violent incidents in public spaces has created an urgent need for intelligent surveillance systems capable of detecting dangerous objects in real time. While traditional video surveillance relies on human monitoring, this approach suffers from limitations such as fatigue and delayed response times. This study addresses these challenges by developing an automated detection system using advanced deep learning techniques to enhance public safety. Our approach leverages state-of-the-art convolutional neural networks (CNNs), specifically You Only Look Once version 4 (YOLOv4) and EfficientDet, for real-time object detection. The system was trained on a comprehensive dataset of over 50,000 images, enhanced through data augmentation techniques to improve robustness across varying lighting conditions and viewing angles. Cloud-based deployment on Amazon Web Services (AWS) ensured scalability and efficient processing. Experimental evaluations demonstrated high performance, with YOLOv4 achieving 92% accuracy and processing images in 0.45 s, while EfficientDet reached 93% accuracy with a slightly longer processing time of 0.55 s per image. Field tests in high-traffic environments such as train stations and shopping malls confirmed the system’s reliability, with a false alarm rate of only 4.5%. The integration of automatic alerts enabled rapid security responses to potential threats. The proposed CNN-based system provides an effective solution for real-time detection of dangerous objects in video surveillance, significantly improving response times and public safety. While YOLOv4 proved more suitable for speed-critical applications, EfficientDet offered marginally better accuracy. Future work will focus on optimizing the system for low-light conditions and further reducing false positives. This research contributes to the advancement of AI-driven surveillance technologies, offering a scalable framework adaptable to various security scenarios.

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Keywords

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