#AxisInnovates - the digital transformation edition

AxisInnovates

The digital transformation edition

How network cameras support digital transformation // Page 5

Video data in logistics, transport and sport // Page 7

Security technology accelerating innovation // Page 9

Editor

Dominic Jones

Email: dominic.jones@axis.com

Tel: +44 (0)1582 283760

Digital transformation: a new era for network video

Linn Storäng, Regional Director Northern Europe

Connecting a video camera to a network revolutionised the physical security industry. Axis first unveiled the NetEye 200 back in 1996 and it was one of the first ever Internet of Things (IoT) devices. And little did we know, this innovative technology was an early example of digital transformation in action.

At the time, the full capabilities and potential a network camera afforded could scarcely have been imagined. Today, network cameras are utilised across every industry and sector, both indoors and outdoors, in all weathers, with advanced analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) allowing them to perform ever more complex tasks that fully support both business operations and traditional security requirements.

Video sensors, as part of a rapidly growing Internet of Video Things (IoVT), are increasingly being used as powerful business intelligence tools to streamline and optimise processes. One camera can collect metadata on an enormous number of diverse parameters and process that data in real-time to deliver actionable insights at speed.

Of course, this widening scope of capability puts the physical security community in a strong position as the digital transformation agenda gathers pace. But we are also witnessing increased appetite from beyond the physical security space. As hardware and software technology providers seek to solve end users operational and efficiency challenges, video is becoming a valuable and transformational data source.

This shift has been made possible by the innovative technology onboard Axis cameras, such as the latest ARTPEC-8 chipset enabling deep-learning analytics on the edge. This can help to vastly improve operations within almost any environment. In the industrial sector, for example, cameras can monitor manual production lines, utilising remote working capabilities to ensure smooth operation based on analysis of video data in real-time. Such capabilities also serve to enhance and complement people, freeing them to undertake tasks requiring greater skill.

As we look to better harness the potential of machines to boost productivity and efficiency, we should also point to the benefits of a leaner use of resources and less waste. Deploying a network camera system that is designed for optimal power consumption is better for the environment and will ultimately represent cost savings to businesses from an energy point of view.

The use of software applications and edge processing, for example, preserves only the important forensic detail which means only relevant video data is passed back through the cloud for storage or wider analysis, saving on bandwidth and energy by an average of 50%. In addition, the use of reusable and recyclable materials in the manufacturing of cameras supports a greener business agenda in line with an ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) framework.

The ability to help multiple industries through new and varied applications of surveillance technology opens a whole new world of possibility, both for Axis’ physical security and technology integration partners. Everyone can benefit greatly from developing knowledge around the full capabilities that network cameras now afford, enabling them to foster stronger partner and customer relationships, both with existing customers and when pushing into new markets.

I hope you enjoy this issue of #AxisInnovates as we explore the robust and cutting-edge solutions that are unlocking a smarter, more connected and more efficient world for modern industry.

Cameras, acting as sensors, are being incorporated into tailor-made smart applications designed to solve specific industry problems with no related security factor. This unlocks fantastic potential to support digital transformation.

How network camera applications are supporting digital transformation

By Markus Lai, Regional Manager Sales Engineering & Training

The first Axis network camera paved the way for a shift from traditional CCTV systems towards a smarter world of connectivity, data sharing and integration. Over time, the addition of powerful innovations to complement the network camera, such as analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), has resulted in a wide variety of network-ready technologies available to the market to satisfy all manner of requirements, both large and small.

Such is the potential for modern network cameras with high-quality images and edge-processing capabilities, that they are progressively finding new and varied applications in an increasingly digitalised world. While CCTV and network cameras have become synonymous with security, we are increasingly seeing primary applications where there is no related security factor.

The possibilities afforded by integrating cameras into a data acquisition system, for example, enable manufacturing businesses to quickly and efficiently analyse operational data to optimise processes, while constantly monitoring for potential failures in their automated systems. Cameras, used as sensors, are helping to drive efficiencies right at the cutting edge across a wide range of industries and sectors.

Digitalisation, video data and Industry 4.0

Digitalisation has meant that cloud infrastructure and the exchange of information across networks now underpins modern society. This is further enhanced by the Internet of Things (IoT), enabling a network of devices and sensors to connect and communicate. And the more recent addition of artificial intelligence (AI) means data can be used to augment human decision-making processes.

Indeed, the fourth phase of the industrial revolution, commonly termed Industry 4.0, utilises cyber-physical systems (CPS), interconnectivity, automation and real-time data to transform the manufacturing industry, improving operations and using data to automate many manual or repetitive tasks.

Here, interconnected devices and sensors on cloud infrastructure - the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) – are influencing the way goods are produced and packaged. Network cameras with powerful analytics capabilities can be trained to detect anomalies when monitoring, for example, high-speed production lines that would be beyond the capability of the human eye in terms of speed and scale. If an error is detected in the video data a production line can be automatically stopped, before the knock-on effects are felt.

Innovation to complement human productivity

As computers connect and communicate with one another, they can increasingly make decisions without human involvement. Within a logistics environment, network cameras with built-in analytics are used to detect serial numbers. The solution utilises video data and AI to link the serial number of a product to a corresponding batch number and then assigns the correct delivery address for that product. This information is sent back to the warehouse floor, where a delivery label is printed displaying the address and batch number. The process takes only four seconds, significantly saving time and reducing the margin for error.

Yet, this does not represent a threat to human productivity. Instead, it essentially enhances and complements people, allowing them to work smarter and cover a greater number of tasks more quickly. A crane operator at a busy shipping port is benefiting from technology that can improve accuracy while enabling greater efficiency when loading and unloading containers. Network cameras attached to the end of the crane arm send an image to a screen mounted in the driver’s cab, giving crystal-clear imagery #AxisInnovates

of what is happening on the ground. Fine-tuning movements become possible, while picture-perfect image quality even in lowlight conditions using AXIS Lightfinder, means that productivity is unaffected by adverse weather or seasonal changes with longer periods of darkness.

Smarter efficiency with a greener agenda

The use of machines will only increase if greater productivity and efficiency gains are realised, which means leaner use of resources and less waste. And employing network cameras that are designed for low-power consumption are also better for the environment and will ultimately represent cost savings to businesses from an energy point of view. In addition, the use of edge processing capabilities means that only relevant data is passed back through the cloud for storage or wider analysis, saving on bandwidth, while Axis Zipstream technology further improves bandwidth and storage requirements by an average of 50% or more. All of this supports a greener business agenda.

In the digital age, network cameras used for their ability to collect and process data will have a key role to play in supporting digital transformation. Businesses across a wide range of industries are already benefiting from varied uses of network cameras and sensors that are fast becoming an essential component in their operations. High-quality, robust and cutting-edge solutions are unlocking a smarter, more connected and more efficient world for modern industry.

Axis Zipstream technology further improves bandwidth and storage requirements by an average of 50 % 50 %

Can video data deliver transformational benefits sector wide?

By Stefan Holmqvist, Regional Key Account Manager

For more than two decades Axis pioneering solutions have brought the highest levels of innovation to secure and protect thousands of organisations around the world. It stands to reason then that business leaders will seek other ways to harness the technology to enable smarter ways of working. When such requests are fed back to our designers and engineers, this can spearhead the next wave of technological innovation. And so, we have reached a point where more uses of Axis solutions are emerging that support digital transformation and the evolving requirements of modern businesses.

The applications we’re seeing are many and varied from those that have become part of Industry 4.0 within manufacturing, automotive and packaging environments, to the monitoring and analysis capabilities required to remotely coach a sports team. Axis technologies provide insight and intelligence to help organisations push beyond their perceived boundaries to increase speed, accuracy and efficiency while realising cost benefits. As businesses unlock the wider capabilities of the technology, so we will increasingly see, and be involved in, fantastic new use cases for ever more exciting projects.

Trusted solutions for agriculture

Grain management in silos is a complex task which aims to maintain a high quality of crop and reduce losses. Moisture and warm temperatures support the rapid growth of fungi and the production of mycotoxins, rendering affected grain unusable. While facilities will have monitoring apparatus in place, checking the gauges and levels on many silos one-by-one is a manual, timeconsuming process. Furthermore, upgrading to a fully digital system is often not financially viable. Axis network cameras, mounted in front of existing analogue systems, help monitor and detect variance in normal levels, sending video data through a central VMS to help identify issues faster and allowing remedial action to be taken sooner.

Elsewhere, within the fish farming industry, constant monitoring for changes in fish behaviour and overall condition is essential to ensure optimum health. Here network cameras watch over a vast number of tanks, while automated systems driven by video surveillance data identify the ideal time for feeding to reduce waste and maintain the shoal’s condition. In such environments, working with Axis as a trusted partner is helping the agricultural industry digitally transform its operations to address pain points while providing long-term benefits.

System integration to benefit logistics

As convenience and speed makes online shopping an increasingly attractive option for consumers, logistics operators are under increasing pressure to process orders and dispatch goods quickly and efficiently. Nowaste Logistics experienced a sharp rise in the number of missing items complaints, with refunds often issued to settle disputes in the absence of hard evidence relating to an order. This began to negatively affect profits and the use of staff and managers’ time.

Axis network cameras alongside AI software from SiB solutions presented Nowaste Logistics with a state-of-the-art business intelligence solution, allowing video of picking and packing processes to be linked to specific data. This is helping to protect business profits by delivering much needed proof of order fulfilment and distribution. The business now spends 70% less time dealing with questions relating to orders and, due to improved visual insights and evidence from AI and video analytics, error KPIs have been improved by 50%. The solution ensures full transparency of processes, including the tracking of all orders, resulting in a higher level of customer satisfaction.

Analysis to improve sports performance

Athletes need to be able to analyse their movements in order to identify where training should be focused to improve performance in their chosen sport. Where handheld cameras have obvious limitations, Axis cameras, coupled with dedicated sports analysis software, are making it possible for athletes and their coaches to record movements in real time, and to immediately view and analyse the sequences on a mobile device. The British Curling team is currently using such a solution to fine-tune coaching strategy based on real-time feedback, ensuring that members are always top of their game.

Track and field medallists are also using the solution to great benefit. Real-time appraisal of athletes’ movements means that suggestions for improvement can be made immediately, when it really counts, and not forensically after the moment has passed. Such is the versatility of the solution that it is also being used in football and other field games to monitor performance of entire teams, capturing the entire playing surface, and using specially trained analytics to track play.

Cost effectiveness and productivity in transport

One of the largest operators of linen and textile services in Europe, Elis, has been able to reduce both its costs and its environmental impact while increasing road safety awareness through Axis’ video surveillance technology combined with third-party telematics data. Increased driver training based on this data has already had a bearing on improving conduct and driving ability, including the use of excessive acceleration and braking. Elis noticed a 12.7% increase in fuel efficiency across the fleet and a decrease in driving related incidents by 58%. In addition, drivers use the intelligence to prove fault in the case of accidents or items taken during the loading or unloading of their vehicles. For Elis, digital transformation, supported by the smart use of video, is resulting in improved operations and a greener, more cost-effective business model.

Camera Control UK worked with Axis to document part of a major highways infrastructure programme; creating a dual carriageway to improve traffic flow along a route from Perth to Inverness in Scotland. High-quality 4K time-lapse video was used to capture the works for auditing purposes, to provide evidence of best practice and to serve as example material for future projects, showcasing the enormous achievements in restructuring and reshaping the carriageway. Thanks to the low-power capabilities of Axis’ cameras, they could run on sustainable solar energy, removing the need to draw power from a local source or use a diesel-fuelled generator.

The success of such projects has inspired Axis to explore new ways of improving efficiency, optimising performance, and ultimately leading to increased profitability across industries and sectors on a global scale. Through delivery of solutions comprised of network video, AI and data analytics, Axis continues to innovate, leading the market with smart tools and technologies that are driving positive change and enhancing the possibilities afforded by digital transformation.

IP video technology accelerates innovation in business operations and services

Jimmy Ek, Sales Manager, Nordics

Axis regularly speaks to decision makers across a wide range of industries and sectors about how its innovative solutions can help them face their challenges and achieve their goals. Digital transformation, the power of cloud and the ease of connectivity using the Internet of Things (IoT), means that the possibilities are now almost endless when it comes to utilising technology to improve operations and services. In fact, use cases are often limited only by a lack of vision around what is possible as the technology rapidly evolves.

With developers working to get the most from cameras and sensors, connected to open platforms that facilitate collaboration with third-party technologies, it’s time for businesses to work closely with providers to determine how best the technology can work for them. This might include improvements to services; automating legacy processes to make them more productive and their outcomes more meaningful. By considering one industry and looking at an application of integrated and connected technology we can see what’s currently possible and how rapidly developing technology can help businesses achieve their future objectives as requirements dictate.

Increasing safety in construction

The hard hat has become an essential piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) for anyone working in the construction industry. Head protection accounts for only 3% of PPE purchases, but in the workplace environment head injuries account for 20% of overall injuries. Alarmingly, it has been reported that in the U.S. 84% of fatal head injuries are sustained by employees not wearing head protection, and research shows deaths and injuries are increasing.

wearing head protection.

Site managers are under pressure to keep a constant lookout for those flouting the rules, which is not an easy task in a distracting environment with constant noise, vehicles, materials and people on the move. Wearing the wrong headgear, or refusing to wear it altogether, not only increases the potential for injury from falling objects or slips and trips, but can cost businesses significant amounts of money in compensation pay-outs and lost labour time. For these reasons, construction businesses are turning to solutions powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help them tighten up and enforce health and safety protocols.

Analysing a scene using onboard analytics

Cameras acting as sensors with onboard analytics can intelligently detect whether workers are wearing safety headgear from the moment they enter a hazardous location. In addition, peoplecounting analytics can record the workers present and determine the number, if any, that are not wearing appropriate protection. Here an announcement can be triggered through an IP speaker to remind operatives of the correct protocols, with an alert sent to management for non-compliance.

While it sounds almost futuristic, this technology is here today. Cameras with onboard object-analytics capabilities can be trained on data depicting a wide range of business-relevant scenarios so that information from any given scene can be compared against learned rules. A camera that detects an object coming into the field of view will be able to firstly tell that it is an object, and secondly, differentiate between, for example, a person or a vehicle by comparing the scene against thousands of stored images. And the more data that is available, the smarter the analytics will become.

Advanced solutions to complex processes

Having established a working protocol the industry can now get even more granular. As an example, datasets of people wearing and not wearing hats can be used to differentiate between hard hats intended for groundwork - complying with the regulation EN397, or for working at height - complying with EN12492 for additional protection. Surveillance cameras can use AI algorithms to ‘learn’ what the appropriate hard hat looks like. Anyone not wearing a hard hat that is suitable for the zone in which they are working is rapidly identified. Again, alerts and alarms can be triggered to ensure that appropriate protective measures are taken depending on an operative’s role and location on site.

The fitting of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system into every helmet further augments advanced AI and analytics capabilities. Consisting of a tiny radio transponder, a radio receiver and transmitter, this technology can be used to transmit digital data back to a reader. This could be the hard-hat manufacturer’s name, identification mark and the European Standard number. Possibilities for use include a system to detect the condition or age of a hard hat to determine its suitability for auditing purposes and to ensure ongoing compliance with appropriate regulations. Visual confirmation from the camera can be sent to a screen, with a digital text overlay providing the relevant information from the RFID system. This provides a complete picture for an operative who can see all of the essential information at a glance, supported by high-quality video.

Innovating for today

It’s an exciting time to be involved in the design, manufacture and application of cutting-edge technology. Such is the potential for thinking of an application and then building a system to do it, that we’ll soon be seeing many new uses of surveillance, access control, IP audio, thermal, radar and a wide array of sensors and switches to completely transform industry and the complex manual processes we still see happening all around us. Axis is proud to be working closely with its valued partners and customers to help them achieve new and diverse requirements to support Industry 4.0 and innovate for a smarter, more automated and more connected world.

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An intelligent video solution for flawless logistics

Axis and SiB Solutions combine to deliver Nowaste Logistics a powerful video analytics and AI solution that improves operations and profitability.

As convenience and speed makes online shopping an increasingly attractive option for the consumer, logistics operators are under pressure to process orders and dispatch goods quickly and efficiently. Yet, a sharp rise in the number of missing items complaints has put an additional burden on logistics teams. Often, refunds are issued to settle disputes in the absence of hard evidence relating to an order. This not only negatively affects profits, but also has an impact on staff and managers’ time.

This is where surveillance technology can help. Network video systems are increasingly being used in innovative ways to optimise business efficiency, in addition to enhancing safety and security. Digital transformation, and the underpinning innovations in cloud platforms, video analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), has enabled data from multiple sources to be combined, helping companies operate more intelligently. This in-turn improves profitability. A prime example is the system currently being used by Nowaste Logistics, which was developed as a result of a partnership between Axis and SiB Solutions, an intelligent video and AI services provider.

An innovative video solution for smarter logistics

Nowaste Logistics is one of countless logistics businesses that has been struggling with incoming enquiries and claims regarding orders. As its legacy solution had no tracking capabilities, an alternative was quickly required to allow teams to gain greater understanding of how goods were being packed and processed, and to understand how issues were arising. In partnership with Axis and SiB Solutions, a system was designed that would combine hardware and software data sources to provide intelligent AI insights, resulting in an innovative logistics solution to aid loss prevention. The solution has already significantly improved error KPIs by 50% and efficiencies in dealing with customer claims. Dragisa Jovanovic,

Project leader, Nowaste Logistics, said of the new solution: “By deploying this intelligent video service, we now get an immediate insight regarding how an order was handled. It’s like having a time machine. We search for any order, item or pallet reference to travel back in time and see exactly what happened. This has allowed us to spend 70% less time dealing with questions related to orders due to improved visual insights and evidence. Thanks to the use of AI with video analytics, it is absolutely possible to have flawless logistics.”

Video evidence + data analytics protects profits   Utilising network video products from Axis, alongside SiB Solutions’ AI software, has resulted in a state-of-the-art business intelligence solution that allows Nowaste Logistics to link video of their picking and packing processes to specific pieces of data. This can help to protect business profits by delivering much needed proof of order fulfilment and distribution.

Staffan Persson, Co-founder, SiB Solutions, explained: “Axis has the technology we need to enable our data analytics solutions. Together, we don’t just put out fires in the warehouse; we remove the match. AI functionality allows businesses to stop errors proactively. It enables them to search for an error, find it, and learn from it. It can also help protect warehouses from daily false claims. In this instance, not only has our partnership with Axis helped Nowaste Logistics to significantly reduce time spent dealing with queries, but it has also improved error KPIs by 50%, enabling them to operate more efficiently.”

Intelligent logistics leading to ongoing growth

At a time of expansion for Nowaste Logistics, it was considered high-risk to continue to invest time and money dealing with complaints and launching investigations, usually with little success. Now, the business can invest in delivering improved customer value. After the success of the new AI video analysis solution at its central site, the company plans to roll out identical systems to its new warehouses, as well as adding AI capabilities to its intelligent video service portfolio.

Thanks to the use of AI with video analytics, it is absolutely possible to have flawless logistics.

Dragisa Jovanovic, Project leader, Nowaste Logistics

The Royal Oldham Hospital triples advanced clinical training capacity

Integrated video, audio and data solution ensures first-rate patient care within The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Royal Oldham Hospital, part of The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, wanted to ensure its clinical staff were highly skilled and able to provide their patients with first-class care. To achieve this, the hospital opened a state-of-theart Simulation and Clinical Skills Centre, including a two-bay simulation ward, a one-bay simulated acute setting, a clinical skills room and two debriefing rooms. The variety of clinical settings is helping doctors, nurses, midwives and other clinical staff access the training they need in an environment that reflects their daily clinical practice.

Video, audio and data in one solution

When designing and planning the centre, the main challenge for the hospital was collecting all the data from a training session for playback, including audio, visual and patient data, to ensure an effective debrief for trainees. The hospital decided an integrated video, audio and data networked system would be the most efficient method of ensuring all details during a simulation were retained. The Royal Oldham Hospital enlisted Pure Audio Visual to implement an end-to-end Axis solution within its Skills Centre.

The solution included four AXIS P Series PTZ Dome Network Cameras, providing high video quality for detailed images of simulations, as well as the added benefit of zooming in on a manikin to observe medical procedures. The cameras also feature audio detection to recognise vocal interactions during a session. The solution also includes three AXIS M Series PTZ Dome Network Cameras, offering broad coverage so trainers observing a session have a far-reaching overview of all simulated procedures. Audio

integration is facilitated by three AXIS Network I/O Audio Modules, seamlessly plugging into the network video system.

Katherine Robertson, Learning and Organisational Development Project Manager at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said, “During the simulation debrief, all aspects of the training undertaken can be analysed in order for detailed feedback to be given to delegates, helping them develop the skills needed to deal with the challenges faced on a daily basis within a real hospital environment. The end-to-end Axis solution is used for recording all training carried out, as well as playback during the debriefing phase of the training. This includes the management of 21 separate feeds such as video, audio and patient data.”

1,400

1,400

clinicians upskilled per year within its new high-tech Simulation Suite

E nhanced patient care

Through the use of an Axis audio and video networked solution, The Royal Oldham Hospital has successfully enabled doctors, nurses and midwives to be trained in advanced clinical procedures. The hospital anticipates it will successfully upskill 1,400 clinicians per year within its new high-tech Simulation Suite, helping to provide a higher level of patient care.

There are many applications or industries where this type of training solution could be applied beyond the healthcare environment. Any scenario in which audio input is vital, as well as a need to access other streams of data including video, could be adapted to this setup.

Tony Crossley, Pre-sales Technical Director at Pure Audio Visual

Network video adds new dimension to sports analysis for British Curling

Axis cameras help improve athletes’ performance in preparation for competition.

Curling originated on Scotland’s frozen ponds and lochs in the 16th century and is one of the world’s oldest team sports. What started as a winter pastime has evolved into a modern sport, with its own world championships and a platform on the Winter Olympics and Paralympics stage.

British Curling, the organisation that manages and develops elite curling in Britain, is responsible for delivering a top-level performance programme for the sport to ensure athletes can achieve their potential and deliver Olympic and Paralympic medals. Following great success at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014, the organisation received funding to build a new £3.15m National Curling Academy at the Stirling Sports Village in Scotland. To stay one step ahead of the competition and improve on a previous portable sport analysis solution, the academy required an integrated visual sports analysis system to help training staff improve athletes’ performance.

Real-time performance analysis

British Curling turned to AnalysisPro, a provider of performance analysis solutions to help enhance

athlete training, to procure a fixed IP camera system utilising its AP Capture solution. AnalysisPro installed the software alongside 16 innovative Axis network cameras located around the four curling sheets within the Academy. This includes eight overhead 4K network cameras with full pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) capability, as well as an additional eight fixed position 1080p network cameras located at a lower level to show sideon views of the curlers in action.

This solution gives analysts and coaches real-time footage of training sessions, so they can deliver feedback to help improve techniques during, rather than after, training. British Curling High Performance Manager, Kevin McHugh, explained, “We wanted to ensure coaches could concentrate on the athletes during training rather than having the distraction of filming sessions themselves.”

Kenny More, British Curling Performance Analyst, said, “It’s been a really pleasing journey and the coaches are finding it much easier to get on with their core job. Being able to provide feedback live while the athletes are on the ice also means any problems with technique can be rectified immediately.”

The contribution of the Axis system is recognised by coaches and athletes alike. Both Kevin and Kenny are confident that the new analysis tools will go a long way to helping improve technique and tactics, and ultimately the most important performance of their lives – at the Olympics and Paralympic games every four years.

In the spotlight: ARTPEC-8

The ARTPEC SoC is now in its eighth generation. And trust us… it has grown leaps and bounds in sophistication since the early iterations.

First and foremost, we designed ARTPEC to support powerful analytics applications based on deep learning on the edge.

For example, it facilitates highly nuanced object classification that can distinguish between bikes, cars, buses, trucks, and more. This is the basis for our AXIS Object Analytics, but this is one of many analytic applications that can operate at the edge, including tailormade applications from our range of technology partners.

ARTPEC-8 continues to support the array of remarkable capabilities and features first seen with the implementation of ARTPEC-7, including superior imaging, enhanced cyber security, powerful compression, and impressive analytics on the edge.

The ability to analyse data on the edge allows for faster alerts, so users can proactively respond in real-time, traditionally to protect people and property, but progressively to make important and informed decisions about operations.

Read more about SoC and ARTPEC-8 here: www.axis.com/solutions/system-on-chip

At the heart of every Axis device is our system-on-chip (SoC). Just like its predecessors, the ARTPEC-8 SoC is designed by Axis, specifically for network video.

The tipping point for edge analytics

Analytics running on surveillance cameras isn’t new. However, the combination of lower thresholds for developers, robust cameras with outstanding processing power, and deep learning, is unlocking a new generation of analytics on the edge. We caught up with Mats Thulin, Axis Communications Director of Core Technologies, to get his view on the benefits today and in the future.

The arrival of ARTPEC-8 represents a new era of deep learning analytics at the edge of the network. Although in-camera analytics isn’t new – video motion detection was a feature of Axis cameras more than a decade ago – the combination of superior image quality and deep learning is transformational in analytics capabilities.

Reducing the burden of analytics on the server

“A decade ago, surveillance cameras didn’t have the processing power needed to deliver advanced analytics at the edge of the network, so there was a natural gravitation towards server-based analytics,” says Mats Thulin. “But while processing power on a server is plentiful, other factors can present challenges. Compression of video images before transfer from the camera to the server can decrease the quality of the images being analyzed, and scaling solutions where all analytics takes place on a server can become a costly exercise.”

This is particularly the case when deep learning is used within analytics. Mats continues: “Analytics employing deep learning is a compute-intensive task. When running purely on servers, you need to encode and then decode the video, which takes additional time before you can process the stream. Processing several video streams, even in a relatively small system, requires significant resources.”

“The processing power and capabilities of our edge devices are now at a level where the analytics function is migrating back to them. And more analytics within the camera itself reduces the need for compute-intensive server and cloud-based analytics. Importantly, it also means that analytics is applied to images at the point of capture, meaning the highest possible image quality,” adds Mats.

Improved system scalability

Analytics at the edge can reduce the amount of data sent across the network, creating efficiencies in bandwidth, storage, and servers. That’s not to say that server-based analytics don’t still have a role to play. Far from it. Ultimately, hybrid approaches that use the strengths of edge, server and cloud-based analytics will become the optimal solution.

“Sharing the processing load between the edge and server will make systems much more scalable, because adding a new camera with an edge analytics capability means you wouldn’t need to increase server processing power,” explains Mats.

While standalone edge systems will continue to be used for scene analytics applications – creating real-time alerts based on object recognition and classification – Mats believes that hybrid server and edge analytics solutions will become increasingly dominant for advanced processing requirements.

Protecting privacy

Edge analytics brings benefits that can help support privacy, while also delivering security, safety, and operational benefits. For example, edge-based people counting analytics – useful in a retail environment – will only need to transfer data from the camera rather than video images.

But edge analytics can also protect privacy even when video images are transferred.

“Intelligent masking, where the faces of people in a scene can be blurred, means that privacy is maintained. By sending the original stream in addition, which is only viewed when necessary, this means that if there’s an incident, operators can still access the un-masked video,” says Mats.

A new world of computer vision applications

Alongside the increased capabilities of hardware powered by ARTPEC-8, enhancements to the Axis Camera Application Platform (ACAP) are giving a broader group of developers than ever before the chance to create computer vision applications in familiar environments. Now in its fourth generation, ACAP includes industry-standard APIs and frameworks, as well as support for high-level programming languages.

“The changes in ACAP version 4 mean we’re seeing an increase in development partners from a different background to the traditional surveillance sectors,” confirms Mats. “ACAP is based on open, familiar components for developers coming from a cloud or server background. We’re pushing the ONVIF metadata specifications for an open environment where developers can create hybrid architectures with different ONVIF conformant products. This is one of the key enablers in getting a hybrid system and architectures to work.”

The development in analytics detection capabilities is also assisting security developers and innovators from wider sectors alike.

“Advances in object detection, with cameras increasingly developing contextual understanding of a scene – differentiating between a street, a lawn or a parking lot, for example – will help us to implement more accurate analytics on the scene and other objects within it. This knowledge will bring another level of innovation,” says Mats. “The new potential for edge analytics is huge, for our existing partners, developers new to computer vision applications and, of course, to our customers.”

Your industry champions.

Jimmy Ek Sales Manager, Nordics

Inthis issue of #AxisInnovates, we have explored the robust and cutting-edge solutions that are unlocking a smarter, more connected and efficient world for modern industry. This is digital transformation in action.

jimmy.ek@axis.com

For more information on what opportunities the digital transformation can bring to your business, get in touch with one of our industry champions.

Stefan Holmqvist Regional Key Account Manager stefan.holmqvist@axis.com

Markus Lai Engineering & Training markus.lai@axis.com

About Axis Communications

Axisenables a smarter and safer world by creating solutions for improving security and business performance. As a network technology company and industry leader, Axis offers solutions in video surveillance, access control, intercom, and audio systems. They are enhanced by intelligent analytics applications and supported by highquality training.

Axis has around 4,000 dedicated employees in over 50 countries and collaborates with technology and system integration partners worldwide to deliver customer solutions. Axis was founded in 1984, and the headquarters are in Lund, Sweden.

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