The market for video analytics products is surging. A Mordor Intelligence Report projects the market will grow from USD 2.96 billion in 2024 to USD 6.01 billion by 2029. Many factors are fueling this growth, from advances in video artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to the need for more intelligent security solutions to address increasing business security threats. By leveraging the power of video analytics, industrial video systems are becoming invaluable tools for enhancing security and improving operational efficiency.
In today’s blog post, we’ll discuss the role of video analytics in industrial environments. We’ll also explore key applications where this technology is particularly effective and review IVC’s video analytics solution.
What is video analytics?
Video analytics refers to advanced technology that utilizes computer algorithms and artificial intelligence to analyze and interpret video data. So, instead of just capturing video images, a video system with video analytics can extract meaningful understandings from the recorded visual data. This data might include detecting and tracking moving objects, recognizing patterns, and even identifying anomalies or specific deviations events. In short, video analytics has the power to dramatically improve manufacturing efficiency, operations, security, and worker safety.
Common Industrial Applications for Video Analytics
Video analytics is often used to optimize manufacturing processes. For example, on a manufacturing production line, video analytics can monitor processes and workflows, identify system upsets or unexpected failures such as bottlenecks in production, and automatically alert plant managers. These automated alerts lead to a reduction in production downtime.
Another area where video analytics can optimize manufacturing operations is quality control and defect detection. Video analytics can be used to inspect products for quality issues as they move along the production line. By analyzing visual data, the system can identify abnormalities in product appearance, dimensions, or other quality parameters. If a defective product is found, the video analytics system can generate an alert to operators so that the defect can be removed from the production line.
Video analytics can also be used to monitor the health of production manufacturing equipment and for predictive maintenance. It does this by analyzing the video feeds from machinery to detect signs of equipment malfunction or wear. This reduces overall downtime and prevents unexpected failures.
One example of how video analytics can be used for predictive maintenance is the monitoring of temperature differences in critical equipment, such as an industrial ladle used to move molten metal in a steel factory. IVC’s industrial-grade thermal cameras can monitor temperature differences in different areas of the ladle and detect hot spots that indicate weaknesses, preventing a potentially catastrophic event.
In industrial environments, ensuring worker safety is paramount. Video analytics can be used in numerous ways to identify potential safety hazards or breaches in safety protocols. Here are just a handful of examples:
- Safety monitoring: Video analytics can detect unsafe workplace behaviors, such as workers not wearing proper PPE or safety gear, or operating machinery without adhering to protocols. If a safety breach is detected, the system can send a real-time alert to supervisors and operators.
- Emergency response: In the event of an emergency, such as a fire or chemical spill, video analytics can identify the location and severity of the event and automatically notify emergency responders.
- Worker Fall Detection: also referred to as man-down, is aided by video AI that can recognize human falls or accidents and activate an emergency response protocol. This is particularly crucial in environments where the risk of injury is high, such as on a busy manufacturing floor or around inspection tanks.
- Hazardous Material Handling: Video analytics can monitor the proper handling of hazardous materials by identifying breaches in safety procedures. This helps prevent accidents related to the mishandling of dangerous substances.
- Red Zone intrusion detection: When specific zones are defined within an industrial facility or remote site, video analytics can identify if there’s an unauthorized entry or a presence in a restricted area.
IVC’s Video Analytics Solution
Video analytics uncovers valuable insights and automates critical tasks to play a critical role in a comprehensive video monitoring system. IVC has developed functionality within its video management system and overall system architecture to allow for centralized control and configuration of video analytics features.
The overall architecture involves the seamless integration of IVC video cameras and the IVC video management system (VMS). In some cases, edge computing is employed, where video analytics processing occurs on the camera itself, reducing the need for extensive centralized processing.
The cameras can be equipped with embedded video analytics capabilities or can be integrated with external analytics software. These cameras capture high-resolution video footage and process the data locally, detecting and analyzing relevant information in real-time.
The IVC VMS serves as the centralized hub for managing, storing, and analyzing video data from multiple cameras. Video analytics software is integrated into the VMS, allowing for centralized control and configuration of analytics features. IVC’s VMS and video analytics software can also be customized to fit the exact needs of an application and can be easily integrated with other systems such as alarms, access control systems, SCADA, DCS, and loss prevention systems, to streamlines processes.
IVC’s AI Video Engine can then be used to (1) track and record process behavior (2) detect deviations and potential downtime-causing behaviors (3) send customized alerts based on this data (4) identify areas of potential improvement.
How IVC Can Assist You with Your Video Analytics Project
Step 1 – Define the Problem: Identify your specific needs and challenges.
Step 2 – Provide Visual Data: Share snapshots or videos of the scene to be monitored.
Step 3 – IVC Proposes the Solution: Our expert team will design a tailored video analytics solution to meet your objectives.
For more information about IVC’s video analytics solutions:
Visit https://ivcco.com/video-analytics-software/
Watch our video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5shcPt3P1zo&t=8s
Jarred Melendez is a senior channel sales director at Industrial Video and Control has been with the company since 2015. To get in touch with Jarred directly, email him at jmelendez@ivcco.com.