Mathware & Soft Computing 10 (2003), 117-129 117 Fuzzy Approach for Data Association in Image Tracking * J. García 1 , J.M. Molina 1 , J.A. Besada 2 , J.I. Portillo 2 1 Depto. Informática. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Avda de la Universidad Carlos III, 22. Colmenarejo 28270. Spain 2 E.T.S.I. Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid Ciudad Universitaria s/n. Madrid 28040. Spain Abstract A fuzzy system has been developed to ponder update decisions both for the trajectories and shapes estimated for targets. It is embedded in an A-SMGCS Surveillance function for airport surface, based on video data processing, in charge of the automatic detection, identification and tracking of all interesting targets (aircraft and relevant ground vehicles). The tracking system captures a sequence of images, preprocesses them to extract the moving regions (blobs), and associates the blobs to tracks to estimate the number of targets in the scenario and their parameters. The system was initially built with a set of rules derived from performance analysis, and then a procedure based on neuro-fuzzy techniques was applied to automatically obtain rules from examples. A validation of learned system shows its capability to produce appropriate decisions. Results obtained with real data in representative ground operations show the system capabilities to solve complex scenarios and improve tracking accuracy. 1. Introduction In airport area, Advanced Surface Movement, Guidance and Control Systems (A- SMGCS) (FAA 1993) are conceived as new procedures and technologies to support ground traffic management, increasing both safety and efficiency of traffic flow in complex, high-density airport ground scenarios. One of the core functions within A- SMGCS is Surveillance, in charge of the automatic detection and tracking of all relevant targets located in the airport movement area (runways, taxiways and apron areas). In this work we will focus on tracking aspects when the data to be processed are provided by cameras. Cameras can be configured as a set of local installations * Funded by CICYT (TIC2002-04491-C02-02) and CAM (07T/0034/2003 1)