Design tips to migrate from analogue to high definition surveillance

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Migrating from analogue to HD surveillance solutions

Globally, the video surveillance market has been slow to move beyond its analogue origins. Many analogue technologies or first generation network video management systems installed in the last decade are now aging, becoming less reliable and unable to deliver the quality and coverage most security professionals demand. Increasing video quality using these older solutions requires an unmanageably large number of surveillance cameras and results in marginal forensic detail, making successful investigations difficult. As a result, we are now seeing a push beyond analogue into the world of high definition (HD) as security professionals begin to look for better video and greater resolution to lead to more successful investigations and higher rates of conviction.

Network surveillance and HD technology – the way forward

A network approach to surveillance, including high definition IP cameras, has proven to be the best way to deliver the extra resolution needed for improved video quality and overall security. HD technology can enhance security and reduce investigation times by capturing video that provides rapid, actionable evidence in place of the blurry, low quality images to which the industry was previously accustomed to.

In this article Rick Ramsay, Product Manager of Avigilon, describes five key design considerations to help security professionals successfully migrate or upgrade their surveillance systems to high definition as cost-effectively as possible.

1 - Address the core of the surveillance system First

Taking the POT approach to system design, security professionals can significantly reduce overall surveillance camera count while still achieving the best level of detail

Many organisations begin their upgrade initiative by replacing their cameras, but this is not necessarily the right place to start. Conventional systems that archive video from VGA cameras compromise quality because excessive compression eliminates detail, meaning that security professionals cannot recover visually lossless video.

Instead of trying to replace existing surveillance cameras, system designers should first find a compression and transmission software “engines” that maximizes the performance of existing VGA cameras and lowers costs. This approach, in combination with analogue to digital encoders, allows system designers to preserve assets while improving video quality – without re-cabling new cameras. Complement the existing camera network by designing a hybrid system complete with HD cameras at high traffic areas and protect critical views to the extent budget allows. By doing so, system designers can scale and add HD capability over time.

This approach, in combination with analogue to digital encoders, allows system designers to preserve assets while improving video quality

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defining the video quality required using “Pixels on Target”
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Using pixel targeting to increase the quality of images

2 - Define the video quality required using “Pixels on Target”

With megapixel surveillance cameras, users can define the video quality required to capture the desired forensic detail by using the new industry “pixels on target” (POT) metric. Commercial, off-the-shelf megapixel cameras are available today in one to 16 megapixels, allowing designers to build a fit-to-purpose system. A one megapixel camera delivers 327 percent more pixels than VGA while a sixteen megapixel camera delivers over 5000 percent more! POT is calculated by dividing the width of the scene covered by the horizontal resolution of the camera. A 1000 pixel wide camera covering 10 feet provides a POT of 100 pixels per foot.

To positively identify a human face, a POT of 40 pixels per foot is required. A single 16 megapixel camera can cover scenes up to 120 feet wide and capture 40 pixels per foot. In comparison, to achieve the same level of detail would require 50 or more conventional surveillance cameras. Taking the POT approach to system design, security professionals can significantly reduce overall camera count while still achieving the best level of detail required for each situation, thereby lowering costs while enhancing overall surveillance. And, the improved video detail available will result in a higher percentage of successful investigations and speed deployment for first responders.

3 - Reduce bandwidth requirements for video transmission

Perhaps the most crucial task for an HD surveillance system is to manage the transmission and display of visual information on monitoring workstations and shared remotely by associated decision makers or other agencies. The benefit of the additional detail provided by HD can be wasted by the inability of the system to transmit, process, or manage it properly.

Intelligent HD platforms use data management software to manage transmission and display using a progressive compression method. An HD data file is a deep three-dimensional stream that provides high forensic video value, archived and processed at the edge of a network. However, an investigator monitoring or calling up information will only view a portion of the file at any given time. By sending only the requested pixels and not the entire data stream, the monitor workstation does not become overwhelmed with processing unnecessary pixels or data. This design produces immediate savings in bandwidth for transmission and requires less processing power at the workstation level.

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4 - Improve video storage and retrieval

More pixels, more evidence, and more detail all result in the need for more storage. An effective video storage management system offers advanced tools that enable security professionals to manage available storage, including per camera data aging, maximum retention time, and scheduled online backups, also taking advantage of network design. Intelligent data aging allows organizations to retain recent footage at the original highest frame rate and then after a set time, store footage trimmed to half the original frame rate and at a further point in time, at one quarter the original frame rate for improved storage efficiency. System designers should look for a video storage management system that can set this standard on a camera-by-camera basis to achieve precise control of data quality and retention periods for each camera.

Once a robust, underlying data gathering, transmission, and management system is in place, the real worth of a HD digital surveillance system becomes clear

5 - Take advantage of real time video analytics

Once a robust, underlying data gathering, transmission, and management system is in place, the real worth of an HD digital surveillance system becomes clear: it can be digitally monitored to immediately and irrefutably detect unusual situations and associated detail, and can even perform accurate facial detail validation. Advanced video surveillance software can more effectively monitor real-time surveillance information gathered by cameras. When the software detects an event, it can alarm and alert security professionals for immediate investigation of the situation. Since HD video detail is far greater, judgments are more rapid and accurate; resulting in potentially reduced and resolved crises.

If the megapixel surveillance camera is equivalent to the eye, then recording, transmitting, storing, and monitoring solutions can be considered the brains behind an HD surveillance system. By specifying a software “engine” that can handle the transmission, recording, and analytics, security professionals can incrementally migrate from analogue to digital HD systems more easily.

Rick Ramsay
Product Manager
Avigilon

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Top ten security industry mergers and acquisitions of 2019

Two of the most familiar names in the physical security market – Pelco and Panasonic – underwent ownership changes during 2019. Consolidation continued on multiple other fronts. Security service companies, video companies and access control companies were all among the entities involved in merger and acquisition (M&A) activity during the last 12 months. In short, the industry landscape continues to transform in response to a changing market. Here's a look at the Top 10 M&A stories in 2019: 1. Pelco acquired by private equity firm Transom Capital Pelco Inc. was acquired in May by Transom Capital Group, a private equity firm, from Schneider Electric. Since the acquisition, Transom Capital has been working with Pelco’s management and employees to define and direct the next chapter of the iconic company. Pelco maintains its headquarters in Fresno, Calif., and has a presence in Fort Collins, Colo., near Denver, and a sales office in the New York area, not to mention many global employees who work remotely. 2. Panasonic spins of security business Electronics giant Panasonic sold off 80% of its video surveillance business to a private equity firm but is retaining 20%, and the new company will continue to use the well-known Panasonic brand. The move is aimed at reinvigorating a business challenged by competition from Chinese companies and lower video prices. Polaris Capital Group Co. acquired 80% of the outstanding shares of the new security systems business. 3. Qognify acquires OnSSI and SeeTec 2019 began with the acquisition of IP video management software (VMS) company On-Net Surveillance Systems (OnSSI), including SeeTec in Europe. Backed by the global investment firm Battery Ventures, Qognify completed the acquisition in the final days of 2018. 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Motorola continues video push with VaaS acquisition Following its acquisition of Avigilon in 2018, Motorola Solutions continued to build its presence in the security market in 2019 with the acquisition of VaaS International Holdings, Inc. (VaaS), a data and image analytics company. Motorola Solutions paid $445 million in a combination of cash and equity for the company, which includes fixed and mobile license plate reader cameras driven by machine learning and artificial intelligence. 6. ACRE acquires access control companies Open Options and RS2 Open Options is an open architecture access control company headquartered in Addison, Texas; and RS2 is an open systems access control provider in Munster, Ind. ACRE, global provider of security systems, wrapped up acquisition of both firms in 2019, after announcing the Open Options deal in the waning days of 2018 and following it up with the RS2 announcement in the spring. ACRE’s portfolio now consists of Vanderbilt, Open Options, RS2 and ComNet. 7. Assa Abloy expands capabilities with LifeSafety Power Lock and access control giant ASSA ABLOY acquired LifeSafety Power in September, providing a complement to the access control portfolio. The plan is to incorporate LifeSafety Power’s knowledge of power supply and consumption throughout the ASSA ABLOY access control line. LifeSafety Power was established in 2009 and has some 65 employees. The main office is located in Libertyville, Illinois. 8. Distributor Anixter going private and selling to CD&R Anixter International Inc., a distributor of network and security solutions, electrical and electronic solutions and utility power solutions, entered into a definitive agreement with an affiliate of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) to be acquired in an all cash transaction valued at approximately $3.8 billion. 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MOBOTIX M7 platform provides more flexibility and computing power

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ATMs provide convenience for bank customers, but they have vulnerabilities

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Design tips to migrate from analogue to high definition surveillance

Taking the POT approach to system design, security professionals can significantly reduce overall surveillance camera count while still achieving the best level of detail

Once a robust, underlying data gathering, transmission, and management system is in place, the real worth of a HD digital surveillance system becomes clear

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