Video Analytics - In a Nutshell

 What is Video Analytics?

Video Analytics, also referred to as Video Content Analysis (VCA), is a generic term used to describe computerized processing and analysis of video streams. Computer analysis of video is currently implemented in a variety of fields and industries, however the term “Video Analytics” is typically associated with analysis of video streams captured by surveillance systems. Video Analytics applications can perform a variety of tasks ranging from real-time analysis of video for immediate detection of events of interest, to analysis of pre - recorded video for the purpose of extracting events and data from the recorded video (also known as forensic analysis). Relying on Video Analytics to automatically monitor cameras and alert for events of interest is in many cases much more effective than reliance on a human operator, which is a costly resource with limited alertness and attention. Various research studies and real-life incidents indicate that an average human operator of a surveillance system, tasked with observing video screens, cannot remain alert and attentive for more than 20 minutes. Moreover, the operator’s ability to monitor the video and effectively respond to events is significantly compromised as time goes by.
Furthermore, there is often a need to go through recorded video and extract specific video segments containing an event of interest. This need is growing as the use of video surveillance becomes more widespread and the quantity of recorded video increases. In some cases, time is of the essence, and such review must be undertaken in an efficient and rapid manner. Analyzing recorded video is a need that can rarely be answered effectively by human operators, due to the lengthy process of manually going through and observing the recorded video and the associated manpower cost for this task.
While the necessity for, and benefits of, surveillance systems are undisputed, and the accompanying financial investment in deploying such surveillance system is significant, the actual benefit derived from a surveillance system is limited when relying on human operators alone. In contrast, the benefit accrued from a surveillance system can be significantly increased when deploying Video Analytics.
Video Analytics is an ideal solution that meets the needs of surveillance system operators, security officers, and corporate managers, as they seek to make practical and effective use of their surveillance systems.

 What is Video Analytics used for?

Video surveillance systems are typically installed to record video footage of areas of interest within a facility, around its perimeter or in outdoor areas which require observation, with a view to “catching” (allowing the user to be able to observe) and recording events related to security, safety, loss prevention, operational efficiency and even business intelligence.
Video Analytics enhances video surveillance systems by performing the tasks of real -time event detection as well as post-event analysis, while saving manpower costs and increasing the effectiveness of the surveillance system operation.

 Video Analytics for Real-Time Alerts

Through the implementation of various image processing algorithms, Video Analytics can detect a variety of events, in real-time, such as:

• Penetration of unauthorized people / vehicles into restricted areas
• Tailgating of people / vehicles through secure checkpoints
• Traffic obstacles
• Unattended objects
• Vehicles stopped in no-parking zones, highways or roads
• Removal of assets
• Crowding or grouping
• Loitering

By defining the set of events that the surveillance system operator wants to be alerted to, the Video Analytics software continuously analyzes the video in real-time and provides an immediate alert upon detection of a relevant event.

 Video Analytics for Investigation

In addition, Video Analytics algorithms may be implemented to analyze recorded video, a task that is challenging and time consuming for a human operator, especially in cases whereby a large amount of video must be reviewed. Through rapid analysis of recorded video, Video Analytics can perform the following tasks:

• Pinpoint an event in recorded video, and retrieve the relevant video segment from the stored video
• Perform analysis of motion patterns and detection of motion irregularities in defined areas
• Perform a variety of statistical analysis tasks relating to people or vehicles over defined periods of time

Through the use of search queries, the surveillance system operator defines the event or analysis desired in a specific segment of recorded video. The Video Analytics system analyzes the video and provides the search results through an automated search, without requiring any additional intervention from the operator.

How video analytics helps reconstruct Boston Marathon bombings

On Thursday morning, authorities were reportedly set to release photos of two suspects in the bombings, although the analysis of all that footage will undoubtedly continue, as the police and FBI seeks to piece together the chain of events. The FBI released photos of the suspects Thursday night, asking for help in identifying them. Later, one of the suspects, identified as brothers
How do investigators weed through terabytes of video in different formats, whether 30-second snippets from cell phones or hours of footage from a surveillance camera at a nearby store? Going through all that footage is still largely a labor-intensive task, but video analytics and digital forensics tools can help investigators compress video, pinpoint areas of interest, look for anomalies and find relevant details, according to government and industry experts.