New warning system will make graffiti history

London, September 11 : Researchers at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia, have developed a computerised system that can prevent unnecessary graffiti, the removal of which involves huge costs.

Project leader Seng Chu Tan has revealed that the new system is particularly aimed at curbing graffiti that is scratched into surfaces, such as Perspex, which is much more difficult to cope with and usually requires the entire surface to be replaced at great cost.

The researcher says that the new device can hear when graffiti is being carved into surfaces, reports New Scientist magazine.

As to how the system operates, Chu Tan says that a set of microphones attached to the surface is connected to a computer program that has been trained to distinguish background noise from the tell-tale signature of graffiti scratches.

As soon as the computer senses signs of vandalism in action, it triggers an alarm to scare off the perpetrators and call the authorities to investigate.

ANI