When properly deployed, video analytics boost security by automatically alerting personnel to take action when an event occurs, freeing them from watching an increasing number of video displays. Intelligent video leverages the inherent strengths of machines and people. Automated sensors never tire, can cover large distances, and “see” what the eye would miss, even in the absolute darkness. People can then make smart decisions based on good information when actual violations occur. And for many indoor surveillance applications, this is often the case.

The key to eliminating nuisance alarms outdoors is to use technology properly designed for outdoor applications rather than misapplying analytics intended for more controlled indoor surroundings

When it comes to outdoor surveillance, too often the reality is different. Outdoors, the security officer who was supposed to be more efficient now spends his time dealing with nuisance alarms that result when a gust of wind or a change in lighting triggers the video detection system inappropriately. As a result, security personnel come to distrust the system, and may tune down the detection sensitivity or possibly even turn off the alarms themselves.

Some facilities have hundreds of nuisance alarms every week. One reason is that video analytics are often being used outdoors in applications for which they weren’t designed. The time security personnel spend addressing these nuisance alarms can negate the claimed efficiency advantages of intelligent video, while redirecting their efforts away from other areas of security importance.

The key to eliminating nuisance alarms outdoors is to use technology designed for outdoor applications rather than misapplying analytics intended for more controlled indoor surroundings. Indoors, a camera only needs to see a limited field of view in typically controlled surroundings. It’s a mistake to apply the same technologies to monitor critical infrastructure applications such as transportation, energy, utilities or large campuses in the outdoors where conditions are continually changing.

Using intelligent video to secure large outdoor venues requires the use of specific technologies like sufficient on-board camera processing power to overcome lighting and weather issues and accurately detect and track legitimate targets from extraneous surrounding motion and clutter. Such systems can also employ geographic information system (GIS) coordinates to determine a target’s location, size and velocity,even over large fields of view.

Although outdoor video surveillance applications are challenging, it is possible to deploy automated outdoor systems to deliver high-accuracy detection of targets over a large area while greatly reducing nuisance alarms.

This is the first post of a series that will explore this important topic in greater detail. Subscribe to the SightLogix blog and keep updated on future articles.

 Print |  Email