by Brad J. Wilson, CPP

As I've discussed in previous issues of the Integrator, one of the security advances we're most excited about is the advent of intelligent video. As opposed to "passive" CCTV, which only records events, intelligent video systems can take action to avert problems as they arise. In this issue, I'd like to expand on this topic by describing some specific application scenarios for intelligent video in three different industries.

Healthcare

In a hospital or convalescent care setting, there is a great need to keep close track of patients. For instance, if an elderly patient in a nursing home gets out of bed and leaves her room in the middle of the night, it is important that staff is immediately alerted.

In these types of situations, security cameras can be strategically installed in rooms and corridors. Areas of interest can then be digitally created around patient beds using video analytics software, and specific types of events can be programmed as "abnormal." Now if the patient gets out of bed, or should fall or wander away, the system detects this event as abnormal and immediately alerts on-duty staff.

Another application for intelligent video is the protection of newborns in hospital maternity wards. Unfortunately, many babies are stolen from hospitals each year, causing untold heartache to new parents as well as opening up hospitals to the threat of litigation. In these situations, infant bracelets can be programmed with sensors that trigger security cameras if the baby is taken from a specific area. These systems not only automatically record the perpetrator, they can track his or her movement inside the hospital while automatically notifying staff of the abduction.

Retail

Imagine a shoplifter taking merchandise off a shelf and placing it into his jacket. In this situation, the typical benefit of a CCTV system will be to provide a recording of the theft after the fact, which on many systems will be time-consuming to locate. If they are very fortunate, security personnel may spot the theft on a video screen and have an opportunity to apprehend the thief before he leaves the store. But in most cases the system will only record the incident, not play a role in stopping it.

Now imagine the same scenario, but this time with an intelligent video system in place. In this situation, the merchandise has been tagged with lightweight sensors that are detected by the system via analytics software when moved beyond a specified range. When that happens, the camera system activates and trains itself on the thief while alerting security personnel. Loss prevention can then identify suspects and the system can automatically follow them across multiple cameras in real-time by tracking the location of the sensor. And thanks to the intelligent video analytics (IVA) software, a simple query will retrieve the video of interest in a matter of minutes.

This type of intelligent video can have a dramatically positive impact on shrinkage by helping loss prevention apprehend thieves before they have a chance to exit the store. At the same time, shoplifters are deterred from attempting thefts in the first place, while employees are discouraged from engaging in illegal behavior.

Banking

Due to their attractiveness to highly dangerous individuals and the need to provide excellent customer service while making clients feel safe, an intelligent video system (IVS) can provide a number of important benefits for a bank or other financial institution.

On the operations side, an IVS can provide vital information on queue lengths, wait times and traffic. This information can then be used to improve overall customer service and determine staffing requirements for different times throughout the day.

From a security standpoint, cameras can be programmed to alert a monitoring center if the bank building is approached or a human presence is detected inside the building at night, while simultaneously recording the suspect activity. ATM security can be enhanced by triggering the system if someone loiters at an ATM beyond a certain period of time or without making a transaction. The system can also be programmed to detect and record entry into secure areas (such as the vault or safe-deposit box area) or "tailgating" without valid system verification.

This is just a brief glimpse into the many ways intelligent video systems are enhancing security and operational capabilities across a broad spectrum of industries. We will continue to keep you up-to-date on these exciting advances in future issues of the Integrator. In the meantime, if you have a question or a potential application for intelligent video you'd like to discuss, please contact your RFI representative.