Monitored Video Camera System Installed
We have a large industrial facility in Southeastern Massachusetts, which had a 24hr guard service for over 30 years. Due to cost constraints, we were able to eliminate on site guards through the installation of a sophisticated Video Surveillance System designed, installed and MONITORED by AAA Alarms from their off site UL Central Station. Through the use of "analytic" technology that is built into their system, we were able to create a virtual perimeter fence around our facility, which would "arm" based on schedules we establish. Video Analytics, also referred to as Video Content Analysis (VCA), is a generic term used to describe computerized processing and analysis of video streams. This paper will use the term “Video Analytics” with regards to the analysis of video streams captured by surveillance systems. Video Analytics applications can perform a variety of tasks ranging from real-time analysis of video for immediate detection of events of interest, to analysis of pre-recorded video for the purpose of extracting events and data from the recorded video. Relying on Video Analytics to automatically monitor cameras and alert for events of interest is in many cases much more effective than reliance on a human operator, which is a costly resource with limited alertness and attention. Various research studies and real-life incidents indicate that an average human operator of a surveillance system, tasked with observing video screens, cannot remain alert and attentive for more than 20 minutes. Moreover, the operator’s ability to monitor the video and effectively respond to events is significantly compromised as time goes by. Furthermore, there is often a need to go through recorded video and extract specific video segments containing an event of interest. This need is growing as the use of video surveillance becomes more widespread and the quantity of recorded video increases. In some cases, time is of the essence, and such review must be undertaken in an efficient and rapid manner. Surveillance system users are also looking for additional ways to leverage their recorded video, including by extracting statistical data for business intelligence purposes. Analyzing recorded video is a need that can rarely be answered effectively by human operators, due to the lengthy process of manually going through and observing the recorded video and the associated manpower cost for this task. While the necessity for, and benefits of, surveillance systems are undisputed, and the accompanying financial investment in deploying such surveillance system is significant, the actual benefit derived from a surveillance system is limited when relying on human operators alone. In contrast, the benefit accrued from a surveillance system can be significantly increased when deploying Video Analytics. Video Analytics is an ideal solution that meets the needs of surveillance system operators, security officers, and corporate managers, as they seek to make practical and effective use of their surveillance systems. Video surveillance systems are typically installed to record video footage of areas of interest within a facility, around its perimeter or in outdoor areas which require observation, with a view to “catching” (allowing the user to be able to observe) and recording events related to security, safety, loss prevention, operational efficiency and even business intelligence. Video Analytics enhances video surveillance systems by performing the tasks of real-time event detection, post-event analysis and extraction of statistical data while saving manpower costs and increasing the effectiveness of the surveillance system operation. Through the implementation of various image processing algorithms, Video Analytics can detect a variety of events, in real-time, such as: • Penetration of unauthorized people / vehicles into restricted areas • Tailgating of people / vehicles through secure checkpoints • Traffic obstacles • Unattended objects • Vehicles stopped in no-parking zones, highways or roads • Removal of assets • Crowding or grouping • Loitering And more. By defining the set of events that the surveillance system operator wants to be alerted to, the Video Analytics software continuously analyzes the video in real-time and provides an immediate alert upon detection of a relevant event. This technology is what enabled us to eliminate on site Security guards that were typically found sleeping. I would highly recommend AAA Alarms and their team of Sales Engineers and technicians that design a system that does exactly what we need and saves us thousand of dollars annually.
