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Security systems have evolved through the years, becoming more sophisticated as technology continues to advance. Video surveillance cameras have become more commonplace, with higher resolution outputs and functional capabilities. However, the process of reviewing footage can be tedious and prone to human error.
As a result, more complex security systems have begun using video analytics to streamline monitoring and analysis, either archived or live feeds, to improve security.
What is video analytics?
Also known as video content analysis or intelligent video analytics, video analytics is a technology system that can automatically recognize temporal and spatial events in videos. Through machine learning and algorithms, the system can monitor and detect changes in the subject environment, objects, object attributes, movement behaviors, and other elements.
This technology can be used for real-time monitoring and reviewing previous footage, allowing users to gain data from past patterns and behaviors. Because of this, video analytics has a wide range of applications, especially in security.
How does video analytics help improve security?
Video analytics works by tracking and identifying various elements within a video and alerting security staff of possible events. It can also be used to review previous footage to provide users with key data to enhance security strategies. It can do so through the following functions:
- Recognizes camera tampering
Camera vandalism and tampering can compromise a critical part of any security system. Video analytics software can operate with advanced video loss detection. This allows the system to recognize if a camera has been tagged by a vandal, is being dismantled, or is being moved away from an intended scene and raise the alarm.
Security systems are now more vigilant against this type of sabotage and prevent incidents before they escalate. It also gives users an idea of areas that are vulnerable to vandalism or tampering.
- Detects various types of movement
When viewing or reviewing camera footage, there are situations wherein several actions and elements are in play. This can make it difficult to know where the camera should focus and keep track of more important details.
With video analytics, motion detection can be calibrated to be more accurate. This allows the system to pick out target subjects from normal background movements and other surrounding elements such as light glare, leaves blowing in the wind, and the like. These natural movements can be further defined for activity thresholds, minimizing false alarms.
- Recognizes facial features
With this function, security systems can pick up various faces in a video feed and run them against a list of public and private databases. This can be done in real-time on live feeds or when processing archived videos.
Video analytics can be used to identify people in several contexts. First, visitors and third parties can easily be monitored and managed. Second, suspects in a security breach can be pinpointed for law enforcement to track down.
- Counts subjects in view
This function allows the system to count subjects—both persons and objects—when motion is detected in a specific view. Users can set the necessary configurations like defining areas of interest and activity thresholds to get an accurate count.
Accurately counting subjects can help security sift through high-volume areas and increase staff for on-the-ground monitoring. It can also be used to monitor behavior patterns in places like parking lots or walkways—like a sudden increase of people at an exit—notifying staff if these patterns are interrupted.
- Automatically tracks subjects
In more traditional security systems, security staff keeps an eye on persons of interest or objects and act on out-of-the-ordinary circumstances. With video analytics, this process can be automated and streamlined to make the system more efficient.
In this function, specific parameters can be set to track certain behaviors (or lack thereof) and trigger an appropriate security response, if needed. The camera can pan, tile, or zoom on subjects in defined zones to follow their movement. If the subject crosses over a virtual boundary, security staff are alerted.
Additionally, this can be used to detect a lack of movement or loitering. Once the subject has remained stationary for longer than the user-allotted time, a similar alert will be triggered.
- Detects objects taken or left behind
Security breaches that lead to incidents like theft and bombings can be hard to protect against, especially in high-traffic areas. The time between detecting the event and taking action is critical, especially when lives are in danger.
With video analytics, the system can be calibrated to detect when designated stationary objects are removed from a particular area or when a stationary object appears or is left in a defined area and remains there. Once an action is taken, an alarm triggers to alert security staff.
- Identifies smoke, fire, and other dangerous anomalies
Aside from humans, natural disasters and other dangerous anomalies can also pose a threat to both people and property. Industrial video camera systems utilize video analytics to spot these anomalies early on to alert staff and resolve the incident before it worsens.
These irregularities can be defined within the video analytics software to include more specific scenarios, depending on the nature of the facility or structure being monitored.
Strengthen Security with Video Analytics
Video analytics is at the cutting edge of security systems, creating a more effective and strategic approach to safeguard people, property, and other critical areas. With the latest advancements in technology, security solutions can be tailored to fit the specific needs of businesses or organizations.
For effective industrial video solutions, contact IVC Co for inquiries.
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