Estimation of Absolute Distance and Height of People Based on Monocular View and Deep Neural Networks for Edge Devices Operating in the Visible and Thermal Spectra

Accurate estimation of absolute distance and height of objects in open area conditions is a significant challenge. In this paper, we address these problems and we propose a novel approach that combines classical computer vision algorithms with modern neural network-based solutions. Our method integrates object detection, monocular depth estimation, and homography-based mapping to achieve precise and efficient estimations of absolute height and distance. The solution is implemented on the edge device, which enables real-time data processing using both visual and thermography data sources. Experimental evaluation on a height estimation dataset prepared by us demonstrates an accuracy of 97.06% and validates the effectiveness of our approach.