1. A computing device for detecting an object of interest in an image, comprising: a memory device; and a processor communicatively coupled to said memory device and having encoded instructions which when executed are configured to process image data by: evaluating pixel contrast to facilitate detecting an edge transition in an image, by identifying neighboring pixels that are above a predetermined contrast value, which represent a potential object of interest; filtering the pixels based on color information to identify areas of high contrast where there is a color edge transition; applying a convolution filter mask to yield regions of pixels having a localized concentration of contrast and color changes; applying a threshold filter for identifying those pixel regions having values that are greater than a predetermined threshold value and grouping the identified pixel regions into one or more groups representing an object of interest; and generating an alert to notify an operator that the object of interest in the image has been detected.