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From damage management to false alarm prevention

Josua Braun.

For logisticians, it is essential to get as good an overview as possible of what is happening in the warehouse, at hazard points, etc., as quickly as possible. The fewer camera images, the better the overview and traceability, however, it is important to make the right technology decisions, especially for long distances and wide areas, which are prevalent in logistics.

Multifocal sensor technology is the best choice in this environment. This video technology is used in the patented Panomera camera systems by Dallmeier. It combines several sensors with different focal lengths in one optical system. This allows operators to view any number of detailed images of a vast area in a composite image at the click of a mouse. This combination of overview and detail dramatically improves the ability to see and follow relationships and significantly reduces the number of cameras and infrastructure required (masts, cables, network, etc.). The results are reduced total cost of ownership for security and, ultimately, a significantly improved overall logistics service quality.

Real-time cargo tracking

Misplaced parcels are another common challenge, especially in the less-than-truckload sector. The automatic linking of video images with package item numbers enables fast and automated searches and rapid localisation of the packages in question. In intelligent video-based systems, the various scan events are synchronised on a frame-by-frame basis using time servers. This makes it possible to assign the corresponding video sequences quickly, reducing the time required to locate parcels.

DIN standard visual inspection for yard management and safety

In addition to security, visual monitoring and documentation of operations is an important secondary benefit of outdoor camera systems. Applications include video support for yard management, damage management and preservation of evidence in the event of accidents.

The detailed traceability of processes and the usability of images in court are particularly important to logistics companies. DIN EN 62676-4 specifies which resolution density in pixels per metre (px/m) enables which recognition. For example, with a resolution density of at least 250 px/m, it can be assumed that a judge will most likely recognise the video image of a person for positive identification.

Camera systems that can cover as large an area as possible without falling below the required minimum resolution density are clearly advantageous. They make it possible to capture as much context as possible without gaps, even in yard management, which is becoming increasingly complex with an increasing number of surveillance cameras and screens.

Automatic detection of false alarms on the perimeter

In outdoor areas, the high number of false alarms in perimeter protection is often problematic. Modern video systems now use AI-based object classification. This ensures that the systems only report relevant events as alarms. This is the case when, for example, a human intruder or a vehicle is detected with a defined probability. This frees up security personnel and increases security. As with video-assisted yard management, technologies that require fewer cameras – such as multifocal sensor technology – offer the advantage of lower total cost of ownership while providing a better overall view.

The smart perimeter is just one example of the rapidly evolving field of video analytics. From people counting to object classification and threat detection, new solutions are emerging at a rapid pace.

Whatever the application, decision-makers often underestimate the fundamental requirement for good analysis; good data quality. In video analytics, this is synonymous with image quality. For this reason, logistics managers are well advised to ensure that their camera systems can define a constant minimum image quality over as large an area as possible. In this way, they will be well equipped for current and, above all, future analysis tasks – as well as being able to use the images in court, for example.

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