Blog Date: 6/10/2011
Author: Ray Coulombe

Video analytics as a security technology has been hyped for the past several years, with the widespread view that it has been oversold, overpriced, misapplied and simply not ready for prime time. But recent advancements may change that view.
There are some recent technological advances that are contributing to the start of the long-term emergence of video analytics. Certainly one of the most significant is camera-level analytics, allowing a significant amount of processing to be performed at the edge. This conserves network bandwidth by controlling times and rates of transmission — particularly helpful if transmission is via bandwidth-limited wireless networks.
Many of the embedded analytic algorithms can compensate for various camera issues and quality levels, making possible the use of lower-cost cameras or achieving better range and resolution. Closely associated with this is the increasing capability of thermal cameras (see the Jan. 2011 Tech Trends, “Thermal Imaging a Hot Technology”) in the outdoor environment, leading to improved detection capability at night. Megapixel cameras represent a different challenge, as they provide a richness of scene detail and information that allows greater analysis to occur over larger coverage areas.
We are also seeing a trend towards tighter integration with adjacent systems including Video Management (VMS), Physical Security Information Management (PSIM), Point of Sale (POS) and Building Automation — mirroring the broader integration and interoperability trend in our industry.
Link to Complete Article as it appeared in Security Technology Executive Magazine

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