Then in 1983 she moved to INRIA where she worked on pattern recognition and artificial intelligence techniques for complex object recognition (as galaxies, zoopanktons or fishes) and on computer vision for the automatic interpretation of 3D stereo data of indoor scenes or of road scenes (Prometheus). She also developed computer vision and knowledge-based systems for automating the construction of image processing systems. She has proposed to use planning and control of execution techniques (program supervision) for the reuse of programs, in particular image processing and video analysis libraries.

In the last years she has focused her activity on realtime video analysis and video understanding (3D analysis, event and scenario recognition) and their applications to video surveillance or health and well being. Her more recent research activities concern cognitive vision techniques (ontologies for vision, learning, categorization, intelligent control,....).

Monique Thonnat has supervised 29 PhD theses. She teaches computer vision and artificial intelligence in universities and in several High Engineer Schools. She is directly involved in the application of her research in the industrial domain; in particular in the framework of 8 European projects (Eureka Project PROMETHEUS, Esprit Project PASSWORDS, Esprit Project AVS-PV, Esprit Project AVS-RTPW, Climate and Environment Project ASTHMA, IST Project ADVISOR, IST Project AVITRACK) and CARETAKER.