Avigilon acquire VideoIQ

Well the big news this week in the world of CCTV is Avigilon’s announcement that they are buying out HD analytics experts VideoIQ. In a statement released yesterday a spokesman for Avigilon said:

“We are excited to announce that today we have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the video analytics company, VideoIQ, Inc.  Founded in 2006, VideoIQ has grown to become a leader in real-time intelligent video analytics solutions for security and business intelligence applications. This new acquisition complements Avigilon’s line of high-definition surveillance solutions and provides us with sophisticated and proven analytics technology supported by one of the leading development teams in the industry”.

Avigilon ACC-4.6 Range

Back in March 2011 we reported a synergy between the two companies now it seems they are one.

 

So why would Avigilon purchase videoIQ and what advantages does it bring to the installers and end users? Well firstly it brings powerful analytics into the Avigilon range. This will help installers deliver security solutions that now includes an intelligent method of detecting changes in the images that are needed for a proactive approach to security. Alarms generate a measured response and will prevent crime rather than just have the ability to watch it being played back after the event. A spokesman for Avigilon continued:

” Adding this technology to our HD video surveillance solution enables end-users to prevent crime proactively and to more effectively analyze large amounts of data for both security and business intelligence purposes. By adding VideoIQ’s advanced technology to the Avigilon solution, our customers will have the benefits of automated real time detection, real time alerts and post-incident analysis and forensic search capabilities, along with all of the other benefits that Avigilon’s end-to-end solutions deliver”

There is one other benefit that Avigilon may chose to exploit. Video IQ are well known for being pioneers of EDGE recording. It remains to be seen if this will be developed further by Avigilon but its always been a unique selling point for VideoIQ and something that should not be overlooked for the future.

So is this the end of VideoIQ ? For the moment we are led to understand that Video IQ will continue in its own right. It has a global user base and support will continue to be provided as before. Eventually though of course VideoIQ will be integrated fully into Avigilon’s products and eventually the two companies will be one.

It is certainly an exciting development that Avigilon should chose to take this step, an already powerful product will become an almost complete solution and this will give end users a huge choice as to how they are able to process and act upon activity taking place within their company. Avigilon will still be providing solutions to health and safety issues as well as monitoring production and increasing security but now with the benefit of high quality analytics on board.

Automated realtime detection in HD is now here and underpinned by technology developed by two of the most successful companies within the industry.

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

Avigilon and VideoIQ partnership

Avigilon and VideoIQ unite

Avigilon logo

VideoIQ, a company we have been following closely recently have announced they are now fully integrating their cameras with Avigilon’s Control Center 4.6 Network Video Management Software (NVMS). This new partnership allows both video IQ and Avigilon customers to upgrade their Avigilon surveillance systems with VideoIQ’s award winning adaptive analytics that are integrated into the iCVR-HD camera range; this includes the iCVR dome cameras, iCVR encoders, and iCST line of streaming cameras and encoders.

Avigilon ACC-4.6 Range

The iCVR-HD unlike other analytical technologies, feature full megapixel analytic processing something the industry has been screaming out for and self calibration means simple installation and set up.

iCVR VideoIQ camera
iCVR Video IQ camera

Avigilon’s CCTV solutions and Megapixel IP cameras secure many hundreds of sites in more than 60 countries. The Avigilon Control Center 4.6 update extends the video management platform’s performance, extensibility, and manageability. The partnership seems the perfect synergy for these two camera giants.

 

What Avigilon have said of the partnership.

Avigilon Rick_Ramsay Product Manager

“VideoIQ enables us to provide our joint customers with extended proactive surveillance solutions that include leading video analytic solutions in the market, helping organizations identify and address security risks before incidents occur,” said Rick Ramsay , product manager, Avigilon. “VideoIQ’s unique combination of megapixel analytics, self calibration and high accuracy in all weather and light ensure we deliver the best joint solution available today.”

Avigilon Camera HD Pro
Avigilon CCTV

 

 

VideoIQ  commented…

“Avigilon delivers one of the most powerful, open High Definition VMS platforms on the market and we are confident this integration will provide unmatched value and return for our customers,” said Mark Gally, vice president marketing of VideoIQ.  “By partnering together, we are able to reach an even larger market with a proactive surveillance solution that solves the needs of not only the most secure critical infrastructure customers, but also mainstream businesses of all sizes.”

About Avigilon

About VideoIQ

So it seems that these two companies have found a way to up their market share and Avigilon and VideoIQ must be considered when specifying cameras here in the UK.

 

HD cameras but no Video Analytics

HD Camera manufacturers are struggling to offer Video Content Analytics on their HD / Megapixel IP cameras……… they don’t tell you why – it is simple, their hardware cannot cope with it and needs updating……….probably too much stock of legacy kit though

At least one company (VideoIQ) has cut out the middle man and gone straight to hardware that can support it – clever people

iCVR Video IQ camera
iCVR Video IQ camera

Video IQ iCVR IP camera

VideoIQ have come up with a fantastic solution to recording IP video.The iCVR camera together with some cutting edge encoders are able to record event generated video on the edge of the network eliminating the need for third party DVR, NVR or VMS software.

iCVR Video IQ camera
iCVR Video IQ camera

By using advanced analytics the iCVR HD camera produce and record HD images without the need to use the network, meaning bandwidth use is reduced to the absolute minimum. With the need for a central storage solution eliminated and advanced analytics that are able to learn events and increase accuracy over time, the iCVR is very simple to install and easy to use. It would seem that edge device recording is without question the way forward and Video IQ are well ahead of their competitors. Check out the iCVR camera and on board recording solutions on the Video IQ website….well worth a look.