Video Analytics Help Your Business

How Video Analytics in CCTV Help Your Business

CCTV cameras are used for security monitoring and surveillance in any facility. CCTV stands for Closed-Circuit Television because security camera systems transmit video footage over a single channel, creating a closed circuit. This means CCTV footage is displayed on limited personal monitors and screens, not publicly broadcasted.

CCTV cameras are a staple in crime prevention because they help ward off criminals, monitor building premises, and record valuable footage of events.

Whether you’re looking to reduce theft and loitering in your business or provide a haven for your residents, you must know the basics of video surveillance CCTV systems.

Security cameras have come a long way from the large, square bricks feeding you a grainy black-and-white image. Today’s cameras are smaller, sleeker, and far more advanced internally, too. The cutting-edge surveillance network of the day has motion-activated Infra-Red night-vision cameras, 4k quality, Pan-Tilt-Zoom functions, and remote viewing capabilities. The most advanced surveillance systems are also equipped with video analytics in CCTV software, turning your security cameras into a powerful business tool.

Auto-Tracking Security Cameras

The fundamental principle behind video analytics is people counting. This can be done a variety of ways, most commonly from an overhead camera. Some use thermal imaging to identify individual heat signatures – people – and track them as they cross a virtual line. Others distinguish people visually by using advanced recognition algorithms or by tracking motion.

However they do it, the accuracy of people counting cameras is dependent on their placement, field of view, and quality. Ceiling-mounted cameras with multiple sensors are generally most accurate for positional data because they compare two images to triangulate position. A single-lens camera has no true depth perception, but can still detect objects crossing a line or entering an area. For wider fields of view – and therefore more data to analyze – multiple cameras facing many directions might be used.

Line-crossing and object detection are common on-board software for cameras today. Full analysis was initially only available on a centralized server, requiring all footage to be transmitted before analysis. While still a viable solution, this limits bandwidth availability and storage space. Running the analysis on the camera side – “on the edge” – lessens the load on the server, freeing up processing power and storage by only sending the analysis and a small clip of an incident. The full recording is stored temporarily on the camera, ready to be transmitted and stored at request.

Video Analysis Applications

Video Analytics in CCTV is a valuable asset for your security staff, highlighting important events and flagging potential problems while ignoring irrelevant data. Your security cameras become a preventative measure in addition to an investigative one. Getting a series of alerts on suspicious behaviour lets you intervene before an issue arises. Remember that while video analytics is a helpful security tool, it doesn’t replace your security guards or monitoring centre – you still need people to respond to and analyse gathered data.

Security for Retail

In retail applications, video analytics can tell you a lot about your business. Store-wide people counting can give you a heat map of your building, showing you high- and low-traffic areas. You’ll also be able to see how long people stay in one area – useful for determining problems with checkout lines or finding out which products aren’t grabbing your shoppers’ attention.

It won’t just show you where people went and stayed, though – the report can give you the directional paths as well, so you’ll know what areas your customers visit in which order. Lastly, facial and shape recognition gives you demographic data like gender and age group with ever-increasing accuracy. With this data, you’ll be able to tell what marketing, advertising, or layout strategies are working and which ones you need to rethink.

Industrial Security Solutions

Video analytics in industrial, manufacturing, and warehouse applications tend to work more in real-time to secure your business operations. Object detection allows a camera to alert you when problem occurs, like equipment failure or merchandise winding up somewhere it shouldn’t. Cameras can detect when a person or vehicle crosses a virtual line and sound an alarm. They can also let you know when you have a shipment coming in or out by watching for trucks on the loading dock.

Installation & Integration

As with all security systems, professional installation is the best choice for a CCTV system with video analytics. A professional consultation lets you customize a unique, flexible security solution for your business, and hiring a company to install and set up your cameras gives you a guaranteed warranty and maintenance. Whether you want to explore video analytics in CCTV for your business or are curious about commercial security in general, contact SPRINKLER FIRE SAFTEY AWARENESS AND WELFARE FOUNDATION for more information.

Ref:
James Eldred - VMS for CCTV

Things that slow your PC down

You are install one CCTV Software in your Customer PC. During boot up a computer brand new from the store, and to revel in the galactic super-speed in which it loads. It’s another to keep it running at that same speed, especially after some months have passed.

There are many reasons why your computer isn’t running at its optimum. Fortunately, they’re all very easy to solve. Read on to find out what slows your PC down, and what you can do about it.

An overloaded startup
Most applications you install usually add themselves automatically to your Start Up folder. This results in a slower startup because of the time needed to load them all. If your computer used to boot at the speed of light, but now moves slower than an old lady at the zebra crossing, this might be your problem.

SOLVE THIS: by accessing the MSCONFIG command through your search bar or run application, heading to the Startup tab at the top, and unchecking all unnecessary programmes. Seriously, do you really need iTunes to boot whenever you start your computer?

Too many temporary files
Whenever you look at webpages, watch videos, look at photos or even type on Microsoft Word, your computer stores temporary files so that it can load up faster the next time round. These files build up over time and may slow your computer down, especially since they’re usually located in your OS drive.

SOLVE THIS: By running Windows Disk Cleanup, found in Accessories, regularly.

A fragmented disk
A very old school problem, but still a very real one. Disk fragmentation occurs when the file system can’t or won’t allocate enough continuous space to store a complete file. This results in gaps within that file, and can make that file run slower than it usually would. Sometimes, those gaps occur when the OS deletes a file it doesn’t need any more. (This is safe though, your OS is smarter than you think).

SOLVE THIS: By running the Disk Defragmenter, also found in Accessories, regularly. We suggest not using the computer whilst the Defragmenter runs so as to minimise more fragmentation 

Programs uninstalled improperly
What a mouthful this header is. A PC does not work like a MAC – simply deleting the application you don’t want won’t cut it, and leaves behind remaining files that may cause your computer to slow down.

SOLVE THIS: By always uninstalling programs with the proper uninstall.exe, or remove them via the Control Panel. Go one step further to delete leftover files from the folder manually after uninstallation. This could include save games, 3rd party add ons, screenshots and etc.

A full OS disk
Many people make the mistake of saving everything possible into their C:/ drive, and that usually hosts their OS, or operating system. Once that drive gets too full, it slows down, thereby slowing down your entire computer’s processing speed.

SOLVE THIS: by partitioning your drive into C:/ and D:/ and saving your data in D:/. The lack of strain on your OS drive will let it run faster. You might be pleasantly amazed at the difference this can make.

Background anti-viruses
Anti-viruses are always helpful, but can sometimes do more harm than good. Since they’re always running and usually boot together with your computer, they can slow down processes considerably. Strangely enough, it’s always the ones you’ve got to pay for that wreak the most havoc.

SOLVE THIS: By disabling auto scans and updates, or by switching to a more lightweight, freeware anti-virus. Some have suggested Avira and AVG Antivirus, but it’s your job to ask your trusted geek friend what he’s using.

Spyware and viruses
Malicious software often heads straight for your Windows Registry or core file system, slowing down your computer. They can sneak in with applications you download online and install, and can also hop in from less-than-savoury websites you visit.

SOLVE THIS: While spyware and viruses can be removed manually by deleting them from your registry, some can be more persistent. In this case, use an automatic spyware remover – tons are available if you do a Google search. One of the more popular one is Ad-Aware Spyware Remover.

--Thanks to Maryanne Lee to provide info.