Video Analytics and Security PDF 125KB - Schneider Electric

White PaperII. Captured on Video. Now What?'s VideoInAnalyticsthe past decade,softwarevideois easysurveillanceto usecamerasandgrowinghavefunctionality.become ubiquitous.For example,Most companiesit can beofmmed to look for specifically defined anomalies. Itany size wouldn’t think of running a facility withouten be programmed to give special attention tocameras in place. For large operations, videoc elements in a video frame—such as a computer,surveillance is a significant investment involvingor filing cabinet.technology, guard stations, video storageand maintenance.rmore, Video Analytics can be integrated withsecurity All and of this information attention to systems video is justified, to create because newilities for security using cameras and managing help protect video people data. as well asproperty, both physical and intellectual.But some executives have begun to ask a simplequestion: What value can a company derive fromall this video technology? What can be done withthe massive amounts of video data accumulatingon expensive servers?The answer is a rapidly growing technology calledVideo Analytics.A typical surveillance scenario...It’s late at night. One guard is on duty, trackinga dozen video monitors. As he leans away tostir his coffee, a figure in one of the parking lotsapproaches a company car, slips around to theother side, and disappears from view.The next day, when the crime is discovered…A Video Analytics scenario…It’s late at night. One guard is on duty, tracking adozen video monitors. As he leans away to stir hiscoffee, an alarm sounds. The guard looks up. TheVideo Analytics software has detected unusualactivity in one of the camera fields. That monitor’slight is blinking.The guard sees a person who shouldn’t be there,slipping behind a car. The guard calls the police.The intruder is apprehended on the scene.What is video analytics?Video Analytics software tracks people and objects,and The can website send videoanalytics.org alarms when suspicious defines activities Video occur.Analytics as “the emerging technology wherecomputer vision is used to filter and manage realtime CCTV video for security and intelligenttraffic monitoring.”Simply put, Video Analytics is an automatedapproach to managing and analyzing video,without the cost or man-hours previously required.There are many different brands and technologyplatforms for Video Analytics, but they all workon the same basic principles, using patternrecognition and other Algorithms technology toprovide two critical capabilities:• Recognize unusual activities as they happenand notify the security system in real-time.• Convert video files into a data asset that can besearched, managed and analyzed to improvesecurity and business performance.Today’s Video Analytics software is easy to useand offers growing functionality. For example, itcan be programmed to look for specifically definedanomalies. It can even be programmed to givespecial attention to specific elements in a videoframe—such as a computer, door, or filing cabinet.Furthermore, Video Analytics can be integratedwith other security and information systems tocreate new possibilities for using and managingvideo data.Video Analytics softwaretracks people and objects,and can send alarms whensuspicious activities occur.3VIDEO ANALYTICS AND SECURITY: USING DATA TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND ROIVideo Analytics and Security | 4

White PaperIII. Start Where the Paybackis BiggestThe first step for most companies is to useVideo Analytics to support and enhance guardperformance. In this application, Video Analyticssoftware continuously monitors everything thathappens in the field of vision of every surveillancecamera, every second of every day. When it seessuspicious or unusual patterns and activities, itsends an alert to the security system so guardscan look at the monitors, see first-hand what ishappening, and take any needed immediate action.It can also trigger other security events, such ascoordinating the motion of several cameras totrack the movement of a suspect through a facility.In some programs this is called “guard service.”Guard service should make every guard moreeffective, so companies find they can actuallyimprove security and reduce staff at the sametime. According to a recent webinar hosted bysecuritymagazine.com, it’s common for guardservice applications to generate savings of 75%or more in total guard costs.Enhancing the valueof video dataAfter guard enhancements pay for themselves,which is capable of happening quickly based onguard usage, companies start looking for otherways to add value to video.For example, Video Analytics can be linked to cardaccess systems to improve security. A card beingused in an unauthorized or suspicious way cantrigger cameras to zero in on the event and recordthe time and other information in a searchablevideo log.The real power of Video Analytics may be the factthat it turns analog video into useable data thatcan be analyzed, searched and managed. Thisopens up endless possibilities for improvingdecision-making.One example is building use and work patternanalysis. With Video Analytics, it’s now possible…guard service applicationstypically generate savingsof 75% or more in totalguard costs.to capture and analyze all kinds of data aboutfacilities and people, such as who uses whatareas, walkways and doors. This informationcan help guide decisions on facility use, energyconsumption, personnel safety, and manyother issues.Video Analytics may even provide a directsavings in insurance costs, as many insurancecompanies offer discounts for using securityenhancingtechnology.Less measurable, but vitally important, is theimproved response time. You can simply findinformation and act on it more quickly with VideoAnalytics, whether the problem is a break-inhappening right now, or a building use problemthat pops up every day.A few things to considerVideo Analytics software can probably be layeredonto your existing surveillance system, so addingthe capability is an incremental enhancement,not a new installation Packaged applicationsare available for reporting, alerting, and other“dashboard” capabilities.The real value comes from integrating VideoAnalytics with other security and informationsystems, so most companies will want a platformthat is standards-based and has experiencedsupport behind it.Experts also advise starting with applicationsthat have fast and measurable ROI, such asperimeter detection, protection of outdoor assets,and guard enhancement.Video Analytics and Security | 5

White PaperIV. ConclusionAfter collecting and storing petabytes of video data, organizations now wantmore value out of their investment. Video Analytics provides an answer, helpingmost companies improve security and lower costs.By starting with applications that deliver rapid ROI, like guard enhancement,companies can implement the technology in a way that pays for itself. Thevalue can then be extended to other security and information systems,leveraging many technology investments to improve security and buildingmanagement. It is reasonable to think that Video Analytics will soon take itsplace with other business intelligence tools as a key ROI enabler.The bottom line is, executives have invested in video data. Now it’s timeto use it.Video Analytics and Security | 6

Schneider ElectricOne High Street,North Andover, MA 01845 USATelephone: +1 978 975 9600Fax: +1 978 975 9674www.schneider-electric.com/buildingsAll brand names, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respectiveowners. Information contained within this document is subject to change without notice.On October 1st, 2009, TAC became the Buildings Business of its parent company SchneiderElectric. This document reflects the visual identity of Schneider Electric, however there remainsreferences to TAC as a corporate brand in the body copy. As each document is updated, the bodycopy will be changed to reflect appropriate corporate brand changes.© 2008-2009 Schneider Electric. All rights reserved.WP-SEC-VIDEOANALYTICS-A4.BU.N.EN.3.2008.0.00.CCMarch 2008 sm