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By Alberto Jessurun / December 16, 2020 / Blog

5 Ways Automation Makes Surveillance Better

Surveillance is an important security measure and adding automation can make the process of protecting your business or residence more efficient

Better surveillance technology means better security. Whether it is in the interest of protecting a business or residence, implementing security cameras can make a big difference in fortifying the safety of everyone on site. Growing sales in security-related products highlight this. For example, in 2019, the smart home security camera market was valued at 3.71 billion. This number is only projected to grow. 

Whether for personal or business use, having a security camera installed can not only help solve crimes, but the mere sight of the technology can also serve as a deterrent to would-be criminals. 

Surveillance technology has been around for a while. As such, many perceive it through memories of its most archaic iteration: Grainy footage, unmanned cameras, and technology that is not guaranteed to be effective.

Fortunately, today’s surveillance technology is sharper, sleeker, and smarter. One development making this possible is the introduction of automation. In this article, we will discuss why surveillance and automation are an unbeatable combination. From analyzing metadata to eliminating the tedious task of manually monitoring live feeds, here is how automation makes surveillance better:

1. Automation can analyze live video feeds

What if there was a way to take the hours and hours of video footage from a security camera and search it just as you would search for something on Google? 

This timesaving, data-driven invention exists. In 2017, IC Realtime released Ella, a search engine powered by AI that does exactly this. Ella allows the user to use search terms to locate video footage by looking at metadata and uploading it to a secure server where it is analyzed. 

For example, a business owner who believes his store was robbed by an individual in a blue Toyota Corolla can search “blue Toyota Corolla” using this technology and find any relevant footage containing that kind of vehicle. Over time, the AI uses machine learning to understand which events and individuals have significance to the user. There is also an option to receive customized alerts. 

2. Automation can identify suspicious human behavior

In 2018, a Japanese company called NTT East built a security camera in conjunction with Earth Eyes Corp. aimed at reducing shoplifting through analysis of human behavior in live video feed. The product is called AI Guardman, and it uses open source technology from Carnegie Mellon University to match human behavior with suspicious activities, such as slipping an item into a pocket or loitering for a long time in an aisle. This technology was used at stores and found to reduce shoplifting by 40 percent.

3. Automation can communicate information

When working in conjunction with surveillance, automation needs to do more than just analyze. This is why the best, most modern security solutions on the market also have the ability to communicate information. Based on relevant criteria, automation can not only detect threats or incidents of interest when viewing live or recorded footage, it can also notify the right person or an entire team immediately. This allows for a rapid response. 

4. Automaton can reduce overhead

No matter what the purpose of automation is, whether it is something as simple as self-checkout at a grocery store or AI analyzing live video feed, one of the core benefits is the reduction of overhead. When it comes to surveillance, automation eliminates the need to hire someone to complete the tedious task of monitoring footage 24 hours a day. Not only does this free up time to focus on a more pressing or complex project, but it also frees up money to invest in growth. 

AI surveillance also eliminates human error. An individual monitoring a live feed or reviewing recorded footage may miss key details, perhaps as a result of fatigue, forgetfulness, or simply being human. Automation is free from human errors and not hampered by exhaustion, boredom, or failure to pay attention to small details. 

5. Automation keeps people safer

One key benefit of automation in surveillance is facial recognition. This can be deployed to monitor individuals who enter and exit a property, and it can be used in tandem with a list of prohibited individuals or even criminals. When used at a business, the overall effect is that it allows employees and customers to feel safer.

Considerations for effective surveillance automation

Automation works best when paired with a high-quality surveillance system. An excellent camera and strategic placement are both necessary to benefit from facial recognition and other automated features. When using this technology, note that the process still benefits from a human eye, as AI can occasionally mistake an everyday activity for something suspicious or flag footage that needs to be reviewed manually. 

Next steps to create a smarter surveillance system

If you are interested in making your enterprise safer and smarter with best-in-class technology, contact Unisol International. We will work with you to find what is best for your needs and are happy to ship worldwide.

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