How Can CCTV Surveillance Systems Improve Security?
CCTV surveillance systems have advanced significantly technologically over the past ten years, both in terms of their own capabilities and their ability to work with other security technologies.
According to professionals in the field, there are three main applications for CCTV systems: as a deterrent, a forensic tool, and an interdictor.
CCTV surveillance systems were first just a deterrent. Often, the knowledge that “Big Brother” was keeping an eye on things was enough to deter misbehavior. CCTV surveillance systems, however, are now so prevalent that they have lost their novelty and are less effective as a basic deterrent, particularly for unauthorized entry or violent crime.
CCTV surveillance systems have developed into a forensic tool, which is used to gather evidence after an incident has occurred, as recording and storage technology and software like video analytics have become more effective.
But as monitoring, alarm, and access control devices are increasingly easily connected with CCTV surveillance systems, a third application of CCTV is gaining popularity: assisting security professionals in identifying and stopping security breaches as they happen, or even before they do.
Intelligent video algorithms, such complex motion detection, may spot odd walking patterns and warn a guard to keep an eye on a certain camera screen. A briefcase or other suspicious thing that has been left somewhere it shouldn’t be can also be recognized by object-recognition algorithms, as can a person who may just be idling. Once more, the system can send a warning to a guard who is watching to enable proper action.
Facial recognition is the most sophisticated intelligent video algorithm. Most specialists concur that it will still be a few years before this technology is used effectively in the commercial sector.
Intelligent video algorithms are often part of a computer system in a security room that receives footage from several CCTV cameras. But soon, camera makers will create devices that can handle the intelligent video algorithm internally.
Another technology that is showing up more frequently on CCTV cameras is wide dynamic range. When there are many bright and dark regions in an image, cameras with wide dynamic range may still capture fine details. Normal cameras are unable to achieve it.
