The project, called iBox, has been developed by NCITA's Safety and Security group and has already secured considerable investment from multinational conglomerate Tyco. The technology converts analogue video data into a digital format which can be then used for motion detection, facial recognition, and behavior prediction.

NICTA iBox research engineer David Snowdon, who developed the operating system, said the system can be used in airports, transit facilities and in other public arenas requiring high-level security.

"iBox overcomes the problems of traditional surveillance and sensory technology because it can be located at higher, lower or more obscure angles while still making a positive ID with far less [facial] information," Snowdon said.

"There is a big push to develop intelligent surveillance; technology needs to be predictive rather than reactive."

Complex algorithms interpret physical characteristics, appearances and mannerisms from the data stream to identify suspicious behavior.