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Video motion detection

With new intelligent video technology, it is now possible to detect humans, not simply motion, with CCTV systems.

Intelligent video allows users to increase the range of motion detection, while tightening the area under surveillance. For outdoor applications, which present challenging conditions such as wind and rain, swaying trees or automobiles, VideoIQ can actually differentiate between simple movement and human movement. Humans can be quite difficult to find unless that is exactly what you are looking for. And that is exactly what intelligent video does - it finds and detects humans.

Intelligent video processes images from surveillance cameras and detects the actual presence of people in dynamic indoor and outdoor environments. It tells operators when it spots people, even where they are not supposed to be, and draws a red box around them right on the monitor screen. That means security personnel waste a lot less time chasing false alarms and instead spend their time zeroing in on the bad guys.

Because intelligent video minimises false detections even under difficult situations, it saves users countless dollars. Every time a guard is sent to verify an intrusion or to substantiate a break-in, it costs money. Intelligent video purges systems of the false alarms caused by video motion detectors, PIR sensors and fence protection devices that are sensitive to changes in the conditions to which they have been tuned to function.

Besides reducing, or actually eliminating, false alarms, intelligent video works seamlessly with video multiplexer/digital recorders (DVMR), adding more dimensions to alarm processing and digital recording. By alerting operators to the presence of people in monitored areas, guards only look at relevant video, boosting productivity by monitoring many more cameras. Security personnel can be quickly notified via alarm, pager or e-mail should human intrusion occur.

Intelligent video also enables very fast retrieval of human-related events. It substantially increases video storage capacities by limiting recording to only those moments when human-related activities occur.

By allowing remote monitoring and reducing the need for security guard services (a US$50 billion per year cost) intelligent video technology provides greatly improved productivity versus using so many security guards to monitor a large property. With extra eyes on the property, and the substantial savings realised by reducing dependency on guards, and instantly detecting and preventing break-ins, intelligent video becomes a vital business solution.

Being able to spot an intruder, day or night, where no human should be can result in substantial cost savings. People who loiter around jewellery stores or ATMs are quickly noticed and someone attempting a theft or vandalism can be quickly detained. This technology can vastly reduce the crime and suspect activity that makes shoppers in retail outlets and employees elsewhere uncomfortable and costs property managers countless dollars. With intelligent video, it is now feasible to create a 'virtual fence' around a property - without ever erecting a physical barrier. Video surveillance cameras can be trained to look down a virtual 'fenceline' and detect human intervention. Without deploying costly guards on foot patrol, a property can protect its perimeters, detect intruders, and call in law enforcement at a moment's notice. Day or night, a property can protect itself from vandalism, theft and loiterers - without using actual physical barriers or a platoon of security guards.

Darren Nicholson is the VP of marketing, GE Infrastructure - Security, Commercial Solutions.

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