SiLVi: Simple Interface for Labeling Video Interactions
Organizations: Institute of Computer Science and Campus Institute Data Science, University of Göttingen · Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany · Department of Sociobiology/Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
Abstract
Computer vision methods are increasingly used for the automated analysis of large volumes of video data collected through camera traps, drones, or direct observations of animals in the wild. While recent advances have focused primarily on detecting individual actions, much less work has addressed the detection and annotation of interactions -- a crucial aspect for understanding social and individualized animal behavior. Existing open-source annotation tools support either behavioral labeling without localization of individuals, or localization without the capacity to capture interactions. To bridge this gap, we present SiLVi, an open-source labeling software that integrates both functionalities. SiLVi enables researchers to annotate behaviors and interactions directly within video data, generating structured outputs suitable for training and validating computer vision models. By linking behavioral ecology with computer vision, SiLVi facilitates the development of automated approaches for fine-grained behavioral analyses. Although developed primarily in the context of animal behavior, SiLVi could be useful more broadly to annotate human interactions in other videos that require extracting dynamic scene graphs. The software, along with documentation and download instructions, is available at: https://silvi.ozankanbertay.com.
Figures & tables
| Type of Error | Example | How to Fix |
| Misclassification | A lemur is labeled with class “feeding box”. | Click on the track and go to the tracking panel. Select “lemur” from the drop-down menu in the “Change class” option. |
| Misidentification | The individual named George is assigned the ID Genovesa. | Right-click on the track and select George from the drop-down menu. |
| ID switch | The track starts on the correct individual, but continues on a different individual. | Click on the track on the frame where the ID switch is happening and go to the tracking panel. Select “Assign the next unused ID” and choose “All frames after this frame”. |
| False positive detection | A bounding box is produced at a location without an object. | Click on the track, go to the tracking panel. Select “Remove track”. |
| False negative detection | An object is not detected. | Enable drawing mode and draw a bounding box around the undetected individual. If the movement trajectory is linear, go to the last frame of the movement, draw a new bounding box, and select “Interpolate”. |
| Partial detection | An object is detected but the bounding box is not precise. | Enable drawing mode and resize the bounding box by dragging the handles on its corners. |
Animal Behavior Analysis
Animal behavior analysis uses computational tools to measure how animals move, interact, communicate, and respond to their environments.
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