Ask The Expert

By Dave Shelton · January 2007

OBJECT tracking, people counting and facial and license plate recognition are just some of the capabilities of new technologies known as video analytics or intelligent video. Today's providers of intelligent video use highly specialized software with algorithms capable of noticing objects left behind or removed, vehicles or people moving in the wrong direction and many other tasks.

The development the sophisticated software was originally the work of governments -- the Israelis were among the early proponents -- looking for ways to help protect borders, ports, airports and for other homeland security/military purposes. But the technology has been taken over by private industry, and today there are more than 20 companies offering intelligent video products.

ISSUE: Is intelligent video ready for use at the corporate level?

SOLUTION: The answer is maybe. Intelligent video is still a young, developing technology. The costs are still high, and it takes a lot of fine tuning to achieve reliable performance. Environmental conditions, such as windblown objects, car headlights and shadows, can create alarm situations. These types of variables make outdoor applications more difficult to control than interior installations.

Also, camera quality and placement take on heightened importance when using intelligent video software. Top-quality, high-resolution cameras and lenses with wide-dynamic range are critical to gain full advantage of intelligent video. In addition, more cameras located in more places will be required.

ISSUE: How does an organization go about choosing the intelligent video product that best suits its needs?

SOLUTION: Some manufacturers offer standalone boxes while others build software into a camera, DVR, NVR or an edge encoder. One manufacturer has chosen to go with a two-camera system for object tracking. The cameras work in tandem with one stationery camera, providing an overview of the area while a second, linked PTZ does the tracking.

Some intelligent video software is capable of tracking objects with as few as four pixels on the display. Others require more than 100 pixels as a minimum. That may or may not be important to an end user, depending on what the software is expected to analyze.

All this points out that as of today, intelligent video is not for the faint of heart or those with a tight budget. But there is no doubt that the technology is here to stay and will only become less expensive, more feature laden and easier to use.

The amount of video the average mid-sized or large corporation collects is massive. Making sense of it all can be mind boggling. Intelligent video software offers a way to make better use of this valuable data by automatically analyzing it and noting user-defined alarm situations. But before making the plunge into the technology, consult with a systems integrator with proven experience using intelligent video.

READER QUESTION: We recently had a corporate spy get into our company's design center, an area that is growing and vital to our successful operations. This person got past our receptionist and through an access controlled door following an employee. Fortunately, he was discovered before he had a chance to see anything of importance. Are there systems that can better monitor who gets past our lobby?

SOLUTION: The answer here is absolutely and maybe. Intelligent video can be an answer here, but it is very situational sensitive. In other words, if there is adequate lighting, space and background for differentiation to be made possible, intelligent video (IV), or video analytics, can be a big help here. If two people at a normal distance of 2 to 4 feet apart are walking towards a door or through an area where the camera has their profile or 45 degrees of it, IV can help here. If those same people are piggybacking, or at least appear that close, throughout the camera-covered area, then IV will not have much of a chance.

Another solution is turnstiles. Optical turnstiles are nice in a lobby environment and are non-contact through use of optical beams that have to be crossed in a sequence at a time interval. These and mechanical turnstiles will prevent piggybacking, where two or more people are admitted with one card read. Mechanical turnstile offers more absolute prevention, but can be perceived as offensive in the wrong environment. IV is non-offensive, but unless there is careful planning and thought to the camera placement and the physical action necessary to prevent intrusion, it may be useless. Weigh your budget, the true need and environment, then talk to your security systems integrator.

What's on your mind? Do you have a question or a topic that you'd like addressed in Ask The Expert? If so, please e-mail it to asktheexpert@stevenspublishing.com.

 

About the author

Dave Shelton
Dave Shelton is president of D/A Central Inc.


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