Do you want to protect your buildings and grounds from intruders?
Depending on your situation, this can be done in all kinds of ways and with different security measures.
But always from the outside in and start signaling the intruder.
For example, with a camera system with Video Content Analysis (VCA).
Whether you are at high or low risk, the sooner you spot an intruder, the more likely it is that the intruder can be stopped and caught before reaching the target.
It is therefore preferable to do this already on your outdoor area.
There are various outdoor detection systems for sale, such as underground detection systems, fence or wall energizer systems, and active or passive infrared detection systems.
In this article, we will discuss the possibilities of a camera system with video analysis software to monitor your site and quickly identify intruders.
What is Video Content Analysis?
Video content analysis (VCA) software detects changes in the camera image, whether or not in real-time.
For example, a moving object that is located on a site.
In addition to motion, the analysis software can also determine the size and aspect ratio of the object, so that it is clear what type of object it is (e.g. human, animal or vehicle).
The software can even determine the color of the object and determine how fast and in which direction the object is moving.
The rules set by yourself (in advance) determine what the software signals and when an alarm is given.
The software can be present in the camera itself, but VCA can also be available in modern video management systems (VMS).
Terrain detection with VCA
A camera system in combination with VCA is very suitable for quickly detecting intruders on your property.
With the content analysis software, you can draw a virtual line in the outdoor area – for example directly along the inside of the fence.
You can then indicate that any object observed (of a certain size, so that animals are excluded) that crosses this line should be detected and that you want to receive an alarm from it.
For example, in the form of a pop-up in the VMS, an e-mail, a sound signal.
In addition to an alarm, all kinds of other follow-up actions can be initiated.
Critical Success Factors
Choosing the right type of camera is essential for the effectiveness of your VCA terrain detection system.
This can be either an optical or a thermal camera.
An optical camera gives a normal (overview) image, but in the dark or in bad weather conditions it gives a less good image and therefore more unnecessary messages.
Thermal cameras (or thermal imaging cameras) perceive people by the heat they radiate.
The camera can detect people or vehicles even in pitch darkness, in fog or through dense vegetation.
Because this type of camera only provides a thermal image, people or license plates can never be recognized or identified.
Unless you combine thermal cameras with optical ones or apply units that include both an optical and a thermal camera.
In order to be able to detect successfully, the VCA software must be properly adjusted and tailored to the local conditions.
If you set it too tightly, it can easily lead to too many needless alarms.
If the opposite is the case, you run the risk of missing suspicious situations.
Setting up the system properly takes a relatively long time.
We often adjust the settings in the first period after installation to optimize the operation of the system.
That is why we connect the systems implemented by Mactwin to the Mactwin Operation Center (MOC) as standard.
The setting/adjustment can then be done remotely from the MOC as much as possible, so that we can not only act quickly, but also keep the costs as low as possible.
In addition, it is important to project the cameras in such a way that the entire site is well monitored and there are no gaps.
The best way depends entirely on the terrain to be monitored, the characteristics of the chosen cameras (e.g. the angle of view) and the possible presence of obstacles (through which the camera cannot see), etc.
The cameras should not (or hardly at all) vibrate.
A small vibration can cause a big distortion in the image, especially if the camera is looking a little further away.
And that, in turn, has a negative impact on detection security.
It is also always useful if you can verify reports (afterwards), so that you know what the cause of an unnecessary report is and can ‘learn’ this from the VCA software.
And then this.
The VCA software used by Mactwin can distinguish between animals and humans.
At least, as long as the animal is not too big….
A sheep or very large dog does not differ enough in size from a human, so that the distinction is not always made.
Therefore, make sure that such large animals cannot enter the site
!
Future
VCA is based on the analysis of pixels and is quite static.
With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), much more can be done in the field of image analysis.
AI is based on ‘artificial neural networks’.
These are algorithms that attempt to mimic the brain and behavior of humans.
In practice, this means that you can train the software, for example on the basis of example videos and situations.
Thanks to AI software, various objects in video images can be recognized and detected, such as: a person, boat, car, motorcycle, truck, airplane, mobile, notebook, television, suspect, weapons, motorcycle helmet, etc.
It is even possible to distinguish people with or without a safety helmet or face mask.
It can also be seen whether the required 1.5 meters distance between each other is achieved in a certain zone.
Furthermore, thanks to AI, queues can be detected, for example in front of a reception post or cash register.
By ‘learning’ and ‘training’, the accuracy and performance of the AI algorithms are constantly improving.
Combine with other systems and increase the level of security
If a camera system with VCA is combined with other site detection measures, an even higher level of security can be achieved.
For example, it is customary to demarcate a site with a fence.
These measures will slow down an intruder, where cameras only signal.
By adding other forms of detection, such as radar detection or an underground detection system, you can detect unwanted persons on your property even more reliably.