Q: What exactly is video analytics?
A: It’s the use of software algorithms for the analysis of CCTV images to detect alarm conditions, such as an intruder moving into a restricted area. The major benefit of this technology is the potential for automating the sometimes laborious task of monitoring CCTV images.
Q: Isn’t that the same as motion detection?
A: Motion detection is a simple form of video analytics, but ordinary motion detection systems have their limitations. For example, if the lighting conditions suddenly change – perhaps the sun comes out from behind a cloud – false alarms are often produced. They’re also likely to be fooled by localised conditions such as movement of the camera pole or insects/birds passing through the field of view. For these reasons, plain motion detection systems are normally only useful for indoor applications.
Q: So what does video analytics do?
A: The most useful video analytics software can detect objects of a specific size – typically people – while ignoring irrelevant objects. It can then track these objects reliably, taking into account perspective, and generate an alarm when specific conditions are met, which is configured in the software by the user. In deciding whether to generate alarms, the software can take into account many factors, such as the size, speed, direction of travel of the target, and the distance it has moved. It also ignores environmental effects such as lighting changes and weather patterns, and therefore produces a very low level of false alarms. If any attempt is made to tamper with or disable the cameras, good video analytics software will provide a warning.
Q: Where are sophisticated video analytics likely to be used?
A: Applications are extremely diverse but tend to be external. These typically involve protecting the perimeter of a high-security installation such as a prison, airport or military compound. In these applications, CCTV combined with video analytics is often more cost-effective and less problematic than using conventional systems long term. The applications do need to be evaluated very carefully, however, as the number of cameras needed and their placement is likely to be different from an ordinary CCTV installation. Applications for video analytics are changing all the time. The most common applications in security are currently perimeter protection, object tracking, object abandonment, people counting and ANPR.
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