Particle Swarm Optimization-Based Joint Integrated Probabilistic Data Association Filter for Multi-Target Tracking
Research Article  ·  Published: 28 June 2025
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Chinese Journal of Information Fusion
Volume 2, Issue 2, 2025: 182-193
Research Article Open Access

Particle Swarm Optimization-Based Joint Integrated Probabilistic Data Association Filter for Multi-Target Tracking

1 School of Computer Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
2 State Key Laboratory of Integrated Service Networks, School of Telecommunications Engineering, Xidian University, Xi’an 710071, China
3 Independent Consultant, Anacortes, WA 98221, United States
* Corresponding Author: Shuang Liang, [email protected]
Volume 2, Issue 2
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Article Information

Abstract

The joint integrated probabilistic data association (JIPDA) filter is effective for automatic multi-target tracking in cluttered environments. However, it is well-known that when targets are closely spaced, the JIPDA filter encounters the track coalescence problem, leading to inaccurate state estimations. This paper proposes a novel particle swarm optimization-based JIPDA (PSO-JIPDA) algorithm, which improves the state estimation accuracy by optimizing the posterior probability density, effectively addressing the information fusion challenge in multi-target tracking scenarios with closely spaced targets. The trace of the covariance matrix of the posterior density serves as the objective function for the optimization problem. Minimizing the trace enhances the accuracy of target state estimation by refining the posterior density. Specifically, all possible permutations of the targets are enumerated, with each permutation assigned a unique index. These indices are mapped to association hypothesis events within a probabilistic fusion framework, where each mapping corresponds to a particle in the PSO algorithm. The particles are initialized by stochastically assigning indices to hypothesis events, forming the initial swarm. During iterations, the particles dynamically adjust their positions and velocities based on individual and global optimal solutions, guided by the trace minimization objective. Experimental results demonstrate that the PSO-JIPDA algorithm significantly improves the accuracy of Gaussian approximation and makes notable progress in addressing the track coalescence problem.

Graphical Abstract

Particle Swarm Optimization-Based Joint Integrated Probabilistic Data Association Filter for Multi-Target Tracking

Keywords

multi-target tracking particle swarm optimization probabilistic fusion joint integrated probabilistic data association

Data Availability Statement

Data will be made available on request.

Funding

This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 62306226, in part by the Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi under Grant 2025CY-YBXM-074, and in part by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under Grant GK202406006 and Grant XJSJ25002.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate

Not applicable.

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Cited By (3)

  1. Gongming Chen, Yuanyuan Qu. AQPDA: Adaptive Quality-Weighted Probabilistic Data Association for Multitarget Tracking Under UWB Anchor Anomalies. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 2026 , 75 .
    [CrossRef]
  2. Yao Li, Yueqi Su, Xin Chen, Peng Rao. A distributed sensor-based method for tracking and localization of space target groups. Infrared Physics & Technology, 2026 , 152 .
    [CrossRef]
  3. Dongdong Huang, Longsen Lin, Zhiyuan Yang, Fengming Shi. . 2026 8th International Conference on Electronic Engineering and Informatics (EEI), 2026 .
    [CrossRef]
* Citation data provided by Crossref Cited-by.

Cite This Article

APA Style
Zhu, Y., Wang, H., Liang, S., Mallick, M., Guo, T., & Liao, J. (2025). Particle Swarm Optimization-Based Joint Integrated Probabilistic Data Association Filter for Multi-Target Tracking. Chinese Journal of Information Fusion, 2(2), 182–193. https://doi.org/10.62762/CJIF.2025.506643
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TY  - JOUR
AU  - Zhu, Yun
AU  - Wang, Hao
AU  - Liang, Shuang
AU  - Mallick, Mahendra
AU  - Guo, Tianyu
AU  - Liao, Jilei
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/06/28
TI  - Particle Swarm Optimization-Based Joint Integrated Probabilistic Data Association Filter for Multi-Target Tracking
JO  - Chinese Journal of Information Fusion
T2  - Chinese Journal of Information Fusion
JF  - Chinese Journal of Information Fusion
VL  - 2
IS  - 2
SP  - 182
EP  - 193
DO  - 10.62762/CJIF.2025.506643
UR  - https://www.icck.org/article/abs/CJIF.2025.506643
KW  - multi-target tracking
KW  - particle swarm optimization
KW  - probabilistic fusion
KW  - joint integrated probabilistic data association
AB  - The joint integrated probabilistic data association (JIPDA) filter is effective for automatic multi-target tracking in cluttered environments. However, it is well-known that when targets are closely spaced, the JIPDA filter encounters the track coalescence problem, leading to inaccurate state estimations. This paper proposes a novel particle swarm optimization-based JIPDA (PSO-JIPDA) algorithm, which improves the state estimation accuracy by optimizing the posterior probability density, effectively addressing the information fusion challenge in multi-target tracking scenarios with closely spaced targets. The trace of the covariance matrix of the posterior density serves as the objective function for the optimization problem. Minimizing the trace enhances the accuracy of target state estimation by refining the posterior density. Specifically, all possible permutations of the targets are enumerated, with each permutation assigned a unique index. These indices are mapped to association hypothesis events within a probabilistic fusion framework, where each mapping corresponds to a particle in the PSO algorithm. The particles are initialized by stochastically assigning indices to hypothesis events, forming the initial swarm. During iterations, the particles dynamically adjust their positions and velocities based on individual and global optimal solutions, guided by the trace minimization objective. Experimental results demonstrate that the PSO-JIPDA algorithm significantly improves the accuracy of Gaussian approximation and makes notable progress in addressing the track coalescence problem.
SN  - 2998-3371
PB  - Institute of Central Computation and Knowledge
LA  - English
ER  - 
BibTeX Format
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@article{Zhu2025Particle,
  author = {Yun Zhu and Hao Wang and Shuang Liang and Mahendra Mallick and Tianyu Guo and Jilei Liao},
  title = {Particle Swarm Optimization-Based Joint Integrated Probabilistic Data Association Filter for Multi-Target Tracking},
  journal = {Chinese Journal of Information Fusion},
  year = {2025},
  volume = {2},
  number = {2},
  pages = {182-193},
  doi = {10.62762/CJIF.2025.506643},
  url = {https://www.icck.org/article/abs/CJIF.2025.506643},
  abstract = {The joint integrated probabilistic data association (JIPDA) filter is effective for automatic multi-target tracking in cluttered environments. However, it is well-known that when targets are closely spaced, the JIPDA filter encounters the track coalescence problem, leading to inaccurate state estimations. This paper proposes a novel particle swarm optimization-based JIPDA (PSO-JIPDA) algorithm, which improves the state estimation accuracy by optimizing the posterior probability density, effectively addressing the information fusion challenge in multi-target tracking scenarios with closely spaced targets. The trace of the covariance matrix of the posterior density serves as the objective function for the optimization problem. Minimizing the trace enhances the accuracy of target state estimation by refining the posterior density. Specifically, all possible permutations of the targets are enumerated, with each permutation assigned a unique index. These indices are mapped to association hypothesis events within a probabilistic fusion framework, where each mapping corresponds to a particle in the PSO algorithm. The particles are initialized by stochastically assigning indices to hypothesis events, forming the initial swarm. During iterations, the particles dynamically adjust their positions and velocities based on individual and global optimal solutions, guided by the trace minimization objective. Experimental results demonstrate that the PSO-JIPDA algorithm significantly improves the accuracy of Gaussian approximation and makes notable progress in addressing the track coalescence problem.},
  keywords = {multi-target tracking, particle swarm optimization, probabilistic fusion, joint integrated probabilistic data association},
  issn = {2998-3371},
  publisher = {Institute of Central Computation and Knowledge}
}

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Chinese Journal of Information Fusion
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