By Chris Skinner, Director of Security Technologies
Video analytics use machine learning to recognize patterns and establish rules that can alert security personnel or trigger responses from the system.
This technology continues to grow more sophisticated and while it has its roots in security and video surveillance, it has business applications as well.
Increasingly complex video analytics can transform existing surveillance infrastructure into more than just a security measure, creating a platform that improves safety and efficiency.
Applications for this technology will grow as the artificial intelligence behind analytics continues to improve. Here are just five ways analytics can be used to improve business processes today.
Occupancy and People Counting
Video analytics can be trained to recognize individuals providing a count of people in a given space. Over time this data can be gathered and assembled to build trends that inform decisions like staffing or the design of high-traffic areas.
Occupancy and crowd density metrics can determine where bottlenecks are occurring in areas like malls or airports, leading to better design and layout decisions.
Analytics on when and where crowds develop can improve staffing in retail spaces, so security personnel are prepared and additional registers are open to ensure the checkout process runs smoothly.
Line Crossing and Loitering
Analytics software can establish lines across entryways or specific areas in frame for the camera to monitor.
These markers can then track whether individuals are entering a prohibited area or establish a count for how many individuals have passed through a door in a given period of time.
Time in area, or loitering metrics track how long a shopper remained in a department, or how long an advertisement held their interest.
This information can be applied to the layout and design of a retail space to create a better shopping experience.
It can also recognize when individuals have remained in an area for too long and alert store staff that a customer needs help, or alert security that an individual is acting suspisciously.
Streamlined Access
Analytics like license plate and facial recognition streamline credentialing and access to controlled spaces while eliminating the need for additional measures like ID cards.
In parking garages for offices or apartment complexes, license plate recognition can determine whether a vehicle has access to the garage and open gates and doors, or alert security to potential prohibited access.
At doorways, facial recognition means video surveillance can act as an access reader. The camera can recognize an individual, compare them to a database, and determine whether they have access to the space they are trying to enter.
In retail environments it can recognize individuals that have previously stolen from the store and arm loss prevention teams with the tools they need to limit shrinkage.
Object Detection
Object detection can be used in a variety of ways to monitor spaces where access is privileged or prohibited in spaces where certain conditions need to be maintained.
Using object detection, the system is trained on how the space it is monitoring is supposed to appear, and to alert security personnel when those conditions change.
This means in a private area of a restaurant or store the system can alert staff when someone has entered the area without permission.
It can also alert facility staff that a door has been propped open, or that an assembly line is not operating correctly.
Compliance and Safety
Systems are being developed that can monitor spaces like warehouses and manufacturing facilities to improve safety and compliance for employees. These systems can help mitigate safety incidents and decrease headaches for management.
The latest in video analytics is being designed to monitor for personal protective equipment like vests and helmets where they are required. These systems can alert staff when they are out of compliance, limiting infractions and maintaining safety standards.
As video analytics continue to grow and learn, they can be purpose-built to the needs of your business or facility.
For more information on how these systems can improve security, safety and efficiency for your business, contact our security specialists to schedule a consultation.
