METU Image Analysis Implementation and Research Center
Middle East Technical University (METU) embraced an important center that will operate for the analysis, implementation and research of images. Image processing and analysis processes regarding defence industry in particular and also in the fields of security, biomedical, environment, city planning, robotic applications, earth and underground observation will be conducted at the METU Image Analysis Implementation and Research Center (OGAM) that involves 32 academicians.
The Undersecretariat for Defence Industries supports this project that is being executed jointly with Havelsan. OGAM will especially provide support to the studies of relevant institutions and associations through conducting rapid analysis of the images for cases such as urbanization operations, earthquakes and natural disasters.
The academicians to work at OGAM will carry out the analysis of the image that aims to acquire all types of information required by human beings from the images automatically with the help of computer applications. The faculty members and researchers of the Institute of Science and Institute of Informatics in addition to the faculty members and researchers from METU electric and electronic engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, mining engineering, geological engineering, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, physics engineering and from the department of architecture will be assigned at the OGAM.
The establishment of OGAM was initiated and supported by the faculty members in the center as a result of the achievements of the defence projects based on image analysis that are conducted with the support of the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries and by Havelsan as a subcontractor. OGAM aims to become a solution center for the institutions besides the aforementioned sectors as well.
In his speech at the opening ceremony of the OGAM held at the METU Culture and Congress Center, METU President Prof Ahmet Acar stated that they launched a basic and critical technology that will act as an “intelligent eye” for the systems especially regarding the defence industry and security issues and also biomedical, earth observation, micro/nano-scale image analysis, consumer electronics, multimedia and robotic applications. “METU will provide the technology and data support required by the companies operating in such areas in addition to the public institutions in issues such as obtaining image analyses and statistics with this center” continued Acar. Expressing that this center would be gathering many researchers, President Prof Ahmet Acar added, “OGAM will become one of Turkey’s prominent centers of expertise. The center will assume a great role in providing the data, analyses and technology required by our industry while enabling the expansion of the research activities producing indigenous technology on the other hand”.
Stating that the center established will make great contribution to the cooperation between the industry and the university, the Undersecretary for Defence Industries Prof. İsmail Demir underlined that image acquisition, analysis and sharing bore vital importance. Prof. Demir mentioned that this center would not provide assistance only to defence and security issues and said, “Analyses of the images regarding health, environment, city planning, natural disasters, underground and earth movements and acquisition of statistics will be conducted by this center as well”. Adding that the image analyses conducted by the satellite platforms formed a remarkably rich algorithmic pool for the country, the Undersecretary for Defence Industries Prof İsmail Demir added that, “The studies executed should go beyond this point, the acquired outputs should be utilized both for military and civil requirements. These studies should not be restricted with the satellite images, various platforms should be used”.
Havelsan General Manager Sadık Yamaç stated that OGAM will be the pioneer for the development of the national technology and said, “As Havelsan, we are proud to support this center. Hopefully, this center will be an important step towards the development and further improvement of our national technology. May this center go well for our country”.
Studies regarding the Biomedical Image Analysis, Multimedia Analysis, Machine Vision and Robotics, Micro/Nano Scale Image Analysis, Image Analysis for Defence and Security and Earth Observation issues will be executed at the OGAM center, the activities of which were within METU Electronics Department. OGAM is expected to meet the requirements of the governmental institutions, system/product developing R&D institutions, technoparks, SMEs, Public Research Institutions and centers and academicians and become a center that leads and supports for the manufacturing of products with high added-value bearing export potential.
