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Smarter security starts at home

With the reality of high crime statistics in our country, more South Africans are choosing to move to secure residential estates and complexes in the hope of creating a safer, community-minded environment. This is where innovative technologies like video analytics and Ultra-High Definition (UHD) surveillance cameras (as well as thermal cameras) have an important part to play ensuring that security is proactive rather than reactive and that residents are getting what they’re paying a premium for: making sure crime stays outside the estate walls.

To maintain security in an estate, intruders must be prevented from entering through the estate entry and exit points, and the perimeter needs to be secured against intrusion as well. Monitored by a security operator, traditional CCTV surveillance setups are often ineffective.

Intelligent video analytics applications are able to automatically detect threats and distribute alerts in real time, leaving security personnel to effectively manage threats to the estate rather than expend effort detecting them, sometimes unsuccessfully. Video analytics technology is able to positively identify and protect against intrusions with up to 98% accuracy and is capable of distinguishing between animals, humans and vehicles.

In traditional systems, where beams and alarms are used, an intrusion would only be detected once the person touches a fence or triggers a beam at the perimeter, after which it is already too late. With video analytics, an alarm is triggered before the intrusion takes place, as an UHD camera with video analytics is capable of detecting a human up to 200 metres away.

Smarter video analytics cannot deliver effectiveness in isolation, and it’s critical that the surveillance cameras chosen are providing the best possible surveillance picture. Ultra-high definition low-light cameras and thermal cameras (with built-in video analytics) are all becoming more affordable, making this equipment an essential part of security in any surveillance system design. Video analytics applications are available in standalone box setups, capable of implementation into existing camera systems.

Working smarter, not harder

These new UHD cameras, or 4K cameras, as they’ve become known, offer four times more detail when compared to standard HD cameras. Low on bandwidth usage with unique adaptive streaming, 4K cameras can record and playback at a higher resolution than a standard HD camera. Using 4K cameras reduces the overall number of cameras required in a system as one 4K camera can do the same job as three to four standard cameras. Fewer cameras require fewer network points and means that less storage is required, which brings down the overall installation and running costs as well.

Smart video analytics and 4K cameras can be used in conjunction with thermal cameras for optimal surveillance. Thermal cameras are military-spec and can work both in total darkness and daylight. Unaffected by bright light, these cameras can penetrate through dust, smoke and any adverse weather conditions with an effective detection range of between 200-400 metres, depending on the lens used. Again, using thermal cameras can reduce the overall number of cameras required in a surveillance set up.

While the end-goal for all residential estates remains the same, the layout and requirements of each is unique and complex. Before making a hardware purchasing decision, it is critical to complete a site survey in order to effectively upgrade existing systems or carry out a system design for new estates.

To keep crime on the other side of the estate walls, it is proactive security surveillance technologies like smart video analytics, ultra-high definition and thermal cameras that will ensure that security estate residents feel like they are getting their money’s worth when it comes to peace of mind and effective security.

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