TECHNOLOGY

Video Analytics and Business

A new reality for Monitoring Centers

By Avi Lupo, DICE Corporation

Video surveillance used to be – and still is in many cases – a security guard watching a security wall with multiple camera feeds keeping an eye out for suspicious activity. Not only is this not effective, but it leaves out monitoring stations.

When I led OzVision, about 20 years ago, we presented a new central station model by introducing video as a service. At that time, we used motion detection. Of course, this was before high-speed Internet and today’s analytics and artifi cial intelligence. But it was a beginning.

Video analytics today monitors video and now alerts you to activity when something happens. Much of monitoring can now be automated, opening the doors to bring more services to monitoring stations. As I mentioned, motion detection is a basic example, but video surveillance companies are adding more and more complex video analytic features such as facial recognition, occupancy detection, people counting, loitering detection, perimeter detection, fall detection.

With those unique features, the services that monitoring stations can offer are becoming unlimited. The video can be used beyond security such as improving business management and operations as well as in studying consumer behaviors. But the real power is integrating analytics with the monitoring station model.

Using video analytics makes surveillance systems more effi cient, reduces the workload on security guards and operators, and gets rid of the “video garbage” that you don’t need by making video more intelligent and providing users with important information.

Today’s video analytics, which are based on AI and deep learning, allow for real-time insights in monitoring. For central stations, it is an opportunity to offer more services and work with integrators, who can then offer their potential customers these new services and solutions. They can even go back to existing customers by upgrading their CCTV cameras with analytic solutions.

I keep mentioning opportunities and new services. Let’s see how they fi t in to the business model of monitoring stations and how they can benefi t your company.

Video analytics, and all it can do, can now be tied to event management, similar to alarms, as the industry is used to, but going way beyond.

Think in terms of having a video clip, like an alarm signal, enter the central station or command center with a level of priority. In addition, there now is the possibility of an operator viewing the video clip, seeing a live view, and interacting with the camera with PTZ, voice down and listening in. As well, there is also the possibility of tying in other cameras or an operator to view.

Avi Lupo is co-president of the New DICE. He served as the CEO of FST21 America, a security technology company with offi ces in Israel and the U.S. and also served as cofounder and president of OzVision Global, a leading developer of advanced video solutions in the international security monitoring market. Among his many accomplishments, Avi formed strategic alliances that introduced Video as a Service (VaaS) to the security industry, establishing industry standards.

Because of the cloud, events can be stored, and history can easily be reviewed. Clips can be sent by SMS or email to business owners, security guards, and the police. Some of it can even be automated depending on the level of priority, customization, and the gravity of the event.

For instance, in a construction site, a person trespassing at night would be an event where an operator would not only call the police, but also send a video clip to the police cruiser and allow the offi cers to also receive a live view.

On the other hand, if a worker is not wearing the proper safety equipment, the owner might receive an SMS or email message. No need for operator intervention or to call the police.

As well, a guard can receive these clips and if authorized can have the ability to see a live view and take action, just like central station operators do today right from his tablet or cell phone.

All this could be included in a report, with every action that the dispatcher did and even include the video in the report.

All events would be stored in the cloud.

There are many video analytic companies today, but the opportunity lies in having their analytics truly integrated with central station services. This is the opportunity for central stations, command centers, and integrators, which opens the door for what I like to call the “new alarm industry.” Video analytics is a game-changer that offers security at a whole new level. I am excited, seeing that the possibilities and opportunities are endless!

Please contact Alice Cornett Giacalone for a complimentary review of your current program and quotes.

Central Insurance Agency, Inc (CIA) is a specialized agency for the security and alarm industry. CIA contracts with several insurers to provide customers with competitive prices, broad coverage and wide line of products. The agency strives to provide each customer with responsive expertise. We provide insurance to companies that offer Burglar, Fire, CCTV, Access Control, Home Automation, PERS/Medical Alarms, Armed & Unarmed Guard/Patrol Response, Fire Suppression and Armored Car Services.

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