video analytics. Do they work?

Video analytics were originally hailed as the answer to just about everything in the world of CCTV when it first came to the  fore some years ago . The concept that an intelligent camera that was able  to look at a scene , interpret the difference between human activity and and other forms of movement such as foliage or wildlife was both appealing and very exciting news for the CCTV industry. In essence video analytics spelt the end of the use of PIR sensors and fixed beam technology , manned guarding would be made redundant and the biggest issue of all false alarms would be eliminated.
video analytics
As installers of course there is always a learning curve and entering into video analytics at an early stage would be risky but potentially very rewarding. So how did the early pioneers fair ? Well not so good really, Analytics promised much more than it was actually able to achieve . Demonstrations were always impressive but when it came to the real thing, an installation out in the field, false alarms plagued the early external systems.
Internally it was a different storey a more sterile environment coupled with smaller areas of coverage meant that video analytics proved both accurate and rewarding. People counting, intrusions into secure areas and missing objects were easy to both alarm and action so all in all we would highly recommend using video analytics for this purpose i.e  internally .
video analytics
Externally though the technology is still blighted to the point where it becomes unusable for unmanned systems . Spiders, rain,snow, moving side curtains on lorries and foliage still seem to be insurmountable issues for the manufacturers although if the system is manned this minor interference is nothing but a nuisance factor for an operator .
So in summary, internally brilliant. Used in conjunction with manned security then it is satisfactory . Unmanned for remote monitoring  we are afraid to say video analytics  still have a long way to go , in fact there has to be doubt whether it will ever be reliable enough  at all .

IFSEC 2011 news and reviews

So here it is again. IFSEC 2011, time flies. Well it was a good journey up . No traffic and straight into the car-park without fuss. Have to say we were well impressed with the organization there. Still £8 for parking and we were all thinking inflation was running at 4.5%!!.

So into the show and checking in was easy. Faced immediately with the Risco stand we thought we would take a look. Lots of wireless intruder options and generally helpful chaps, well done Risco. We had no real plan in mind so started to wonder around and see what caught our eye. Bold communications were advertising that they were celebrating 30 years in the business and their stand certainly outlined that fact. Bold communications are the suppliers of integrated security monitoring software for small to medium sized central stations but also boast some pretty good customers such as the Mitie group, they certainly were able to demonstrate some advanced monitoring technology and and we left quite impressed.

Bombarded with literature we carried on taking in as many stalls as we could but generally attracted to the big names on show. Panasonic stood out and we headed that way. We have to say the stand was impressive, the cameras look great , the DVRs seem to be able to do just about anything, but the guys on the stand just did not seem to understand any of their products, each seeking answers from each other from what should have been simple questions. Not impressed although this observation can only reflect on those we talked to not all the guys on the stand. The Bosch stand was good and the Dallmeier offerings equally impressive, still exhibiting the Netbox we noticed! Walked past dedicated Micros as it just did not seem to have much interesting going on. We wanted to get some information on the Honeywell HRDP DVR did not seem like there was any literature left though, but the staff were helpful, so fair enough. Then we became interested in the HDCCTV on show. Now HDCCTV is a concept where by HDCCTV cameras can be connected to existing coax and the cameras viewed without the need for compression so true HD images can be viewed. Well plenty of  HDCCTV cameras on in the exhibition but no-one seemed to be able to offer us a recording solution, that was until we found Everfocus. They are pioneers of  HDCCTV over coax and offer the complete solution. This technology will sit nicely with smaller installers who have customers craving  HDCCTV cameras but without the cost involved of upgrading analogue to IP, lets see how this HDCCTV technology develops.

Lunchtime……. could IFSEC 2011 beat the offerings of IFSEC 2010? Well….. it was …..ok……..So on we go to the Adpro stand. They have released the new FastTrace 2 , now this one is a winner, a good name and a great product. A Hybrid recorder with transmission that central stations are familiar with and rock solid delivery of images, quality images at that.

Stand of the day was Samsung, fantastic,impressive and must of cost a few quid but it drew the crowds in and with good reason, excellent products to view and very helpful staff. Panasonic, learn from this!!!

Now a few mentions for others. Silvernet, great product.Wireless IP transmission, easy to set up and and some rave reviews about how successful some of thier projects have been. Recommended if you need wireless IP. Paxton as always were there and their new POE IP solutions look like they will make life easier for installers, so well done Paxton. Avigilon………..Quality !

Finally we had the side shows lots of exhibitors who had obviously travelled from afar to show off their cameras, DVRs, IP products etc. but they still lack the clout in the UK enjoyed by the recognised names so they tend to get politely passed by.

All in all a good exhibition, was not so IP focused as last year but the market place is still taking time to move that way , much to many peoples surprise. However IFSEC 2011 as an exhibition certainly held its own and will be worth a visit again next year.

Gary Mercer of video IQ talks to Integrated CCTV about digital recording and video analytics

A Beginners Guide to Video Analytics by Gary Mercer of VideoIQ
Part 1

There have been many significant technological advances in the security industry over the years, most of which we now take for granted.The transition from VCR’s to DVR’s and NVR’s, the introduction of the first colour/mono cameras and more recently the arrival of IP and Mega Pixel technologies.
In their own way each of these has been a significant breakthrough that has led to an improvement to the systems installed, either in terms of quality, price, or both. But in the most part none of these developments has altered the modus operandi of a CCTV surveillance system.

iCVR VideoIQ camera
iCVR Video IQ camera

The majority of new installations are still designed on the basis of continual recording, storage for 31 days and reactive responses to alarms or incidents. The advances in technology have now enabled us to have higher quality images, faster playback and intelligent searches with enormous levels of recorded data stored on hard drives with mind boggling capacities of terabytes and petabytes.
• Do we still have a high level of false alarms?•

Are we still reliant upon the diligence and alertness of an operator to spot an infringement?•

Do we still record thousands of hours of completely useless footage?•

Are installers and end users still locked into a 31 day recording cycle, originally written around the 24 hour time lapse VCR that was first introduced into our industry over 20years ago?
The answer to all of the above is yes!
So the $64 question is why are we using technologically advanced equipment to provide us with the same information (albeit in better quality) we used over 20 years ago?

The lack of change may in some cases be driven by end users who are locked into procedures based on the 31 day cycle and some of it by the manufacturers of the recording and transmission equipment, who do of course have a vested interest in maintaining the current methodology. And the marked reluctance of installers to change what they perceive as a winning formula, utilising PIR’s, PTZ’s and video transmission.
So should we be looking at alternatives?
Video analytics seem the natural choice but is it reliable? Is it difficult to install? Obvious questions, but as always it depends on which equipment you select and this choice is somewhat blurred by many manufacturers now claiming to have “on board analytics”.
Because of the lack of maturity of the video analytics market, many installers, who instinctively know a good DVR from a poor one, will be bemused at the diversity of VA products available. This is further clouded by a lack of clarity from the manufacturer as to the capabilities and limitations of their equipment.
Here at VideoIQ, we often spend as much time explaining to our customers what analytics won’t do rather that what it will do, in order to establish which of our many feature sets will be applicable to the installation in question.
In the second part of this guide I will deal with the fundamentals of Video Analytics and the questions installers and end users should ask their supplier in order to avoid specifying the wrong equipment. I will also simplify the various technologies utilised in video analytics and explain the limitations and pitfalls of some of the more basic forms.

Gary Mercer Sales Director VideoIQ  UK

Fuel depot security measures……….stop stealing MY Diesel!!

Fuel, especially diesel has become a major target for thieves recently. Ok its always been valuable but the gains are currently outweighing the risks for thieves at this moment in time and there is no shortage of people who are very happy to buy it and turn a blind eye as to where it has come from.

cctv fuel depot

Fuel depots always pose an issue for security installers, this is because intrinsically safe cameras and sensors are often needed to ensure that no sparks can be created in the vicinity of of stored fuel. Obvious really, but very costly. However fuel theft has risen disproportionately recently and security installers  are starting to see business pick up as a result.

An area of particular growth is  is remote CCTV monitoring that is using analytics rather than sensors to generate alarms to the central monitoring station. This option helps reduce the price of an installation because the cameras can be installed in a “safe” position away from the area that will demand intrinsically safe equipment and generate alarms without the need for sensors in the direct proximity of the fuel.

All of a sudden we have a reliable, safe , cheaper option that can directly compete against security guards and serve as a useful management tool at the same time.

One of the biggest problems with fuel theft is that the criminal has no regard for the mess he leaves behind .With plastic tanks it has been known for the perpetrator to simply make a hole in the tank, drain what he can cart away and leave the rest to leak away into the ground. This leaves behind an almighty mess and an environmental disaster not to mention the inconvenience to the company involved and their customers. Metal storage tanks offer little added protection to the determined thief and these two are sometimes damaged beyond repair in order to get the fuel out. There is also an extreme risk he can start a fire and the destruction that goes with this .

cctv analytics

So prevention is better than cure and fuel companies, hauliers and many other businesses that choose to store fuel on their sites are now looking for  a credible solution.So If you are looking to protect and secure you fuel depot then analytics and CCTV is a very affordable and attractive option….certainly better than finding your fuel has been drained away …half left on the floor and no money left to run run your fleet…Don’t wait till it is too late!!

CCTV Analytics? check the label !

CCTV analytics………..Ooops, looks like one of the most successful analytic software companies is on the litigation campaign!

Object Video, behind many if not most of the World’s analytic technology, and seen by many as the pioneers of true intelligent Video Analytics, has decided enough is enough and has started proceedings against quite a few Security big boys – namely Bosch, Sony, Samsung and others.

Over recent years, Object Video have appeared to step out of the limelight, but recently, in 2011, it appeared again with a reported $27m investment, surprising as it seemed that OV were on the slide backwards……….then, mysteriously, a new page appeared on their website that listed a new VP of Litigation…..sending rumours around that perhaps the funding was the method to go for some pretty major litigation

What does this mean? well, if it is Patent infringement, then basically OV will go for damages, but this could mean that the big boys are forced to stop selling their analytics until the case is settled……either way…..

Notable exclusions include Axis, Pelco and Cisco – looks like they are either protected by licenced patents or OEM/reseller agreements……..

So, take a look at how important your current analytic solution is and make sure you have a 2nd choice……..just in case!

 

We would like to thank IP video market for much of the content we were able to use for this article