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Home > Video Surveillance in 2008 -- A shift toward intelligent video monitoring
January 18, 2008
By: Lynn Bryant
With each passing year, technology plays an increasingly
prominent role in our everyday lives. As we look at what is
in store for video surveillance in 2008, this trend
certainly holds true. Video surveillance technology is
emerging to become even more proactive and innovative than
ever before. As this technology continues to advance and
become more intelligent, it becomes even more widely
accepted as an invaluable security tool.
As more and more people turn to the use of CCTV equipment
and surveillance technology for added security and
protection, there are some however, that are growing
concerned. In addition to fully exploring the recent
advancements in video surveillance technology, we will
briefly discuss some of the negative implications of this
growing reliance.
Intelligent video surveillance becomes more of a
reality
- Video analytics -- This technology filters
through captured video images and analyzes it for
specific data, objects, or behavior. Surveillance video,
either live or captured, can be evaluated to determine
trends, abnormalities, or alert events, which can
sometimes be missed by human personnel. As this video
technology continues to improve and the practical
advantages become more pronounced, more and more
providers are working to develop software solutions to
capture this market. Some of the biggest names in video
analytics software include:
Agent Video Intelligence,
Cernium,
Smart CCTV Limited, and
Vidient.
Major cities across the United States and the World are
taking advantage of this type of video surveillance
technology to improve their security infrastructure. The
City of Chicago for one has partnered with
IBM Corporation to implement a
smart video surveillance network across the city
that incorporates anomaly detection. It is being dubbed
as one of the most advanced video security networks
implemented in any U.S. city. The video surveillance
system can be programmed to alert officials whenever a
vehicle with a specific license plate number is
detected, a vehicle is detected circling a specified
location, or an object is left unattended. The
reliability, speed, and accuracy of this type of video
surveillance technology are much more efficient than
traditional manual or tape-based video surveillance
monitoring methods.
- Cellular alarm communications -- Swiss
researchers from the
Institute of Pervasive Computing in Zurich,
Switzerland have developed software that turns basic
cellular camera phones into an intelligent video
surveillance network. The software called
Facet, utilizes Bluetooth technology to connect
phones together into their own smart network.
Information and video can then be automatically shared
between mobile phones, and captured events collectively
analyzed. When this technology is utilized, anytime a
phone detects an object either entering or leaving its
field of view, an instant message is sent via Bluetooth
to alert its neighboring phones within the network.
Information is also automatically transmitted to a
computer through a standard cell phone connection for
further analysis.
- Video convergence solutions -- This is a
growing video surveillance trend designed at bringing
together IT and physical security. Another phrase often
used for this type of video surveillance technology is
automated awareness solutions. The idea is to monitor
activity, analyze captured video and trends, and notify
necessary personnel, all in real time. Whenever
information can be pulled together and analyzed from
multiple disparate networks, both internal and external,
the likelihood of thwarting a security breech before it
occurs is greatly increased.
One company,
Agent Logic, offers a solution that does just that.
Their
Enterprise Agent Server (EAS) is able to collect and
manage data from a variety of different sources, as well
as easily manage and set exceptions and alert criteria
on an individual user level.
Unique technology breakthroughs support intelligent
video surveillance trend
As video surveillance technology becomes increasingly
advanced, the hardware used must also improve in order to
keep pace. Following is a list of some of the latest video
surveillance hardware trends making their debut.
- Large capacity hard drives -- These drives
are designed to facilitate higher resolution video
streaming along with larger video storage capacity.
Seagate Technology has introduced its
SV35 Series hard drives with up to 1 terabyte of
storage space that are capable of providing thirty-two
full days of high-resolution video streaming. These
devices can record multiple video streams at once, and
allow for unprecedented fast access to recorded video.
-
Roving video surveillance cameras -- Police cars
in major cities across the country are taking advantage
of these powerful video surveillance cameras to rapidly
scan over 200 license plates a minute. Captured numbers
can then be compared to a master database of registered
vehicles. If a match is found to a stolen vehicle, or a
license plate number of an amber alert victim, an
audible alert will sound. The speed and automated nature
of these cameras allow for the rapid scanning and
analysis of hundreds of vehicles just from one routine
drive through the city.
- Unmanned aerial vehicles --
GFS Projects Limited in Peterborough England have
developed an
unmanned aerial device that can hover, soar, bank,
fly over any terrain, and take off vertically from any
solid surface. In addition, the surveillance device can
travel 30 to 40 miles per hour and is very stable,
making it extremely difficult to knock out of the air.
The practical applications this type of surveillance
technology can have for the military are obvious.
Is there such thing as privacy any longer?
With the ever-increasing number of video surveillance
camera installations around the country and the globe, one
has to wonder if there is such a thing as privacy anymore.
Many believe it is naive on our part to assume we are
entitled to any level of privacy any longer in the public
sector. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for one has
said in a recent posting to the
Daily News: "It's just ridiculous people who object to
using technology."
While proponents of video surveillance technology can
easily list off numerous benefits to both the individual and
national security, there are definite trade offs that exist.
With the proliferation of video surveillance cameras at an
all time high, and no sign of the trend slowing down,
privacy is definitely threatened. While most individuals
understand the upside, those that do not are left with few,
if any options.
About the Author
Lynn Bryant is a successful freelance writer and contributor
to Video-Surveillance-Guide.com. Your definitive guide to
video surveillance equipment, CCTV cameras and wireless
security systems for home and business.
Also See:
[
LukWerks home security & surveillance camera systems ]
[ Objections
by motorists to the use of photo enforcement devices ]
[ The benefits
and pitfalls of installing home surveillance cameras ]
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