In many computer vision tasks, scene changes hinder the generalization ability of trained classifiers. For instance, a human detector trained with one set of images is unlikely to perform well in different scene conditions. In this paper, we propose an incremental learning method for human detection that can take generic training data and build a new classifier adapted to the new deployment scene. Two operation modes are proposed: i) a completely autonomous mode wherein first few empty frames of video are used for adaptation, and ii) an active learning approach with user in the loop, for more challenging scenarios including situations where empty initialization frames may not exist. Results show the strength of the proposed methods for quick adaptation. ICPR 2010 This work may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any commercial purpose. Permission to copy in whole or in part without payment of fee is granted for nonprofit educational and research purposes provided t...