International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXII, Part 5. Hakodate 1998 
DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA AND APPLICATION 
FOR HUMAN MOTION ANALYSIS 
Tetsuji ANAI*, Hirofumi CHIKATSU*, Shunji MURAI** 
*Department of Civil Engineering 
Tokyo Denki University 
Hatoyama, Saitama, 350-0394 
E-mail: anai@g.dendai.ac.jp 
Japan 
**Space Technology Application and Research Program, 
Asian Institute of Technology 
P.O. Box 4 Klong Luang Pathumthani 12120 
Thailand 
Commission V, Working Group 4 
KEY WORDS: Real-time Imaging, Digital Video Camera, Human Motion Analysis 
ABSTRACT 
The change in photogrammetry from analog to digital means a change from film to CCD sensor and real-time imaging 
became possible. It can be said that the most remarkable point of this change in photogrammetry is acceleration of 
real-time imaging. There are many kinds of digital still cameras on the market and these have became useful instruments 
in real-time imaging for stationary objects. 
For moving objects, a video camera is utilized since 30 or 60 frames are acquired per second. Especially, video image 
sequences often give important information about dynamics of human motion in the field of sports training or 
rehabilitation. A video camera means 8 mm camera; however, an 8 mm camera is an analog camera in spite of the fact 
that a CCD sensor is used and an analog image cause a bottleneck for real-time human motion analysis. Thus, 
development of a digital camera is expected and the change in video camera from analog to digital means a change from 
analog tape to digital tape and direct transmission of digital image to a computer. In these circumstances, a digital video 
camera system for human motion analysis was developed by the authors. 
This paper presents the concept of a digital video camera and shows examples obtained through tests. 
  
1. INTRODUCTION 
Video image sequences often give important information 
about dynamics of human motion in the field of sports 
training or rehabilitation. 
The authors have been concentrating on developing a 
video theodolite system consisting of a CCD camera, a 
theodolite and a video recorder where the camera rotation 
parameters can be determined in real-time while recording 
a human behavior. The effectiveness of the video 
theodolite system for dynamic analysis of human motion 
has been demonstrated (Chikatsu and Murai, 1995, 
Chikatsu and et al.,1996) . 
However, image data acquired using video theodolite 
system are analog data in spite of the fact that a CCD 
sensor is used. Similarly, image data acquired using a 
video camera are also analog and analog data cause a 
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bottleneck for real-time human motion analysis. 
For real-time human motion analysis, a digital video 
camera which make possible of direct transmission of 
digital image to a computer is expected. 
With this motive, a digital video camera system for human 
motion analysis consists of 5 parts; camera, recording, 
image processing, control and display was developed. 
This paper discuss the concept and remarkable features 
of a digital video camera and experimental results are also 
reported. 
2. DV CAMERA AND MPEG CAMERA 
DV camera means that the digital video camera which is 
based on the DV format and use of DV camera is rapidly 
increasing. However, the DV terminal should be taken 
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