Applications of Intelligent Video Analytics in IP Cameras

Intelligent Video Analytics, Video Content Analytics or Video Analytics refer to the intelligent capture and analysis of video footage and it enables the Video Surveillance system to initiate further actions based on video analytics results. In this article, let us look at some of the applications of Intelligent Video Analytics functions in IP Surveillance systems (IP Cameras) and how they could be useful in everyday situations.

Video Analytics or Video Content Analytics are not new. Video motion detection technologies exist for the last 25 years. With time, they have matured and these days some Intelligent video analytics functions and algorithms are built right into IP Cameras! This saves a lot of processing power, bandwidth and space required in the Network Video Recorder Servers as the cameras record only if certain results are found while analyzing video footage. Let us look at some applications of Video Analytics below.

Video Motion Detection: This function detects if there has been a considerable amount of motion (of interest) in the field of view of a network camera or just a small area of interest within the field of the IP camera. This could be used to protect a store or museum or factory at nights when no one is supposed to enter the premises. If there is considerable suspicious movement inside the surveillance zones, the IP Camera can intimate the owner’s cell phone/ email & start recording. This will also prevent a lot of unwanted video recording (processing power, space and bandwidth) as only the events with considerable amount of movement need to be/ will be recorded.

People Counting: One of the applications of Video Motion Detection is to count the number of people / vehicles moving in a particular direction. This would be useful to locate traffic violations (one way violation), monitoring the popularity of certain sections of a large store based on the total number of people visiting that section, etc.

Camera Tampering Detection: What if an intruder covers the camera with an opaque sheet or just applies some spray paint over the lens? IP cameras can detect them and send alert messages back to the owners.

Digital Fencing/ Cross Line Detection: IP Cameras can detect if an object or a person crosses across a virtual line, where they are not supposed to go. For example, the boundary wall of a company could be monitored by IP cameras and if a person or object crosses the wall, the owners could be notified.

License Plate Recognition: IP Cameras, can recognize and record the license plate numbers for cars parked in a company parking, for example. They can even record numbers from moving vehicles, which might be required for law enforcement agencies.

Facial Recognition: An IP Surveillance system can recognize if a face matches any of the faces already stored in a database. This could be useful for access control, automatic attendance updation, locating a fugitive in a public place, etc.

Object Tracking: Its possible to zoom, center and track a particular object of interest automatically by PTZ Cameras. For example, when a truck is entering into a factory premises, you might want to zoom in and record the truck movement and activities.

Zone Movement: With IP Cameras its possible to designate certain sub-zones in a frame and monitor if they move or people are getting too close to that area. This could be useful in a museum to monitor and protect rare and valuable objects. The system can intimate the owner when an object is moved (and start recording simultaneously) or it can alert people who are going too close (through a loud speaker system).

Many IP Surveillance systems/ IP Cameras have API (Application Programming Interfaces) to allow external analytics programs to interface with them. Something is possible doesn’t mean that its feasible, and hence such applications should always be tested for your particular requirements. One of the biggest issue with Intelligent Video Analytics are false positives & to a small extant, false negatives.

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