New IoT Perspectives: Smart Video Surveillance

The definition of IoT has always been rooted in the technological aspect of connectivity as well as the information-driven strategy it absorbs.

As such, it leaves much interpretation as to which devices are considered part of the IoT landscape. This definition is only further obscured in the face of the sheer growth and outwards expansion the industry is experiencing, with new applications and devices being developed at an unprecedented pace.

The traditional approach to surveillance cameras is a recording unit intended to maintain and monitor security and safety within all sectors of commercial and public services. With the conversation of public security getting ever more heated, it’s no surprise video surveillance coverage is only anticipated to increase. However, quite predictably, IoT technology will soon provide some radical innovations to the otherwise underdeveloped process of installing a CCTV camera and pressing “record”.

This new alternative proposes that captured surveillance material is connected with smart analysis tools, opening up a vast expanse of opportunities, to name just a few; quantifying retail habits/staff engagement, traffic/congestion monitoring, as well as endless security-oriented possibilities. It is proposed that video footage start forming part of big data and subsequently the data processing/analytics performed on it. Furthermore, this footage can create actionable results as opposed to static data like before.

The second important notion to the video footage analysis is speed. While big data is usually processed only at the specific request of its owner, in contrast, this data will be analysed immediately. Supported by an automated system, the default setting would be to process the data at the time it is received, with an option of switching to prompt-based service if needed.

Because of such applications, the video surveillance market is expected to reach a worth of $75 billion (£53.5b) in 2022, over twice its worth in 2016 – $30 billion (£21.4b).

One particular advantage Dashboard recognises in video surveillance and its features is its lack of boundaries in regard to sector. In one form or another, video surveillance can now be used to monitor employees, public spaces, roads and working environments in order to extract insights that have previously been unattainable, and we look forward to seeing where else this technology might provide radical change.