Page 21 - Security Today, January/February 2019

Audio analytics can quickly pinpoint zones that security staff should focus on, which can dramatically shorten response times to incidents. Audio-derived data also provides a secondary layer of verification that an event is taking place, which can help prioritize responses from police and emer- gency personnel.
Is it Legal to Capture Audio?
With many state laws governing audio re- cording, audio analytics on the edge over- comes legal challenges as it never passes audio outside of the camera. The result of audio analytics processed at the camera is simply an event message saying a certain type of sound was identified.
Processing audio analytics in-camera provides excellent privacy since audio data is analyzed internally with a set of algorithms that only compares and assess the audio con- tent. Processing audio analytics on the edge also reduces latency compared with any sys- tem that needs to send the raw audio to an on-premise or cloud server for analysis.
How Do In-Camera Audio Analytics Work?
Many IP-based cameras have small micro- phones embedded in the housing while some have a jack for connecting external micro- phones to the camera. Microphones on in- door cameras work well since the housing al- lows for a small hole to permit sound waves to reach the microphone. Outdoor cameras that are IP66 certified against water and dust ingress will typically have less sensitivity since the microphone is not exposed. In cases like these, an outdoor microphone, strategi- cally placed, can significantly improve out- door analytic accuracy.
There are several companies that make excellent directional microphones for out- door use, some of which can also combat wind noise. Any high-quality external micro- phone should easily outperform a camera’s internal microphone in terms of analytic ac- curacy, so it is worth considering in outdoor areas where audio information gathering is deemed most important.
The camera extracts the characteristics of the audio source collected using the camera’s internal or externally connected microphone and calculates its likelihood based on the pre-defined database of audio signatures. If a match is found for a known sound—gun- shot, explosion, glass break, or scream—an event is triggered, and the message is passed to the VMS.
Surveillance cameras with a dedicated System on Chip (SoC) have become available in recent years with in-built video and audio analytics that can detect and classify audio events and send alerts to staff and emergency
staff. Having a SoC allows a manufacturer to reserve space for specialized features such as an audio analytics database of reference sounds needed for comparison or room for specialized business analytics.
Analytics for Business Intelligence
In the retail space, business analytics applica- tions enable people counting, heat maps, and queue management. Similar to audio analyt- ics, no records are kept about personal iden- tities, only actionable insights about what is working and what needs improvement. This capability is seeing rapid adoption as more integrators and end users discover the consis- tent business value inherent in what was pre- viously a capital expense. A security system that delivers actionable intelligence about businesses and city infrastructure can rapidly pay for itself and even become a revenue gen- erating tool in some instances.
Just as computers and VMS continue to get “smarter,” so too are cameras, evolving their capabilities to see beyond the pixels they capture. IP-based cameras can do much more than simply pass images to a monitor or NVR. Modern IP-based cameras with sophisticated system-on-a-chip designs are completely self-contained security devices capable of detecting a range of events and behaviors both visually and aurally.
Hanwha Techwin’s Wisenet cameras in- clude a suite of built-in analytics. We con- tinue to invest heavily in R&D to bring new levels of edge-based analytic capability to our customers as technology and deep learn- ing algorithms continue to evolve. There also is focus on cyber-security and installation flexibility has allowed us to develop a unique SoC that both protects and enhances our cameras in a way that is truly industry lead- ing. In-camera audio analytics are a unique Wisenet camera feature.
As advances in AI and machine learn- ing continue to evolve on-edge analytics, it is time to set expectations higher for security systems and infrastructure. Make sure your camera system goes beyond simply providing video feeds and becomes a key component to a holistic security infrastructure.
When considering a new system or up- dates to an existing one, look for manufactur- ers with a solid track record and a constantly evolving product line. Most importantly, think about what else your security system can do for your business with regards to ana- lytics, not just for security,
but also for business in-
telligence. You might just
find it pays for itself.
Paul Kong is the technical director at Hanwha Tech- win America.
R o d a
Check Out Our Latest Webinars!
S
K
T
WWW.SECURITYTODAY.COM
egister to attend free live events r view on demand after the live ate! Click on the Webinars tab
t securitytoday.com
K-12 & Higher Education Classroom Security: Addressing the Issue of Secondary Barricade & Locking Devices January 31, 2019. 2:00 PM ET
Sponsored by ASSA ABLOY
Creating a Comprehensive Security Plan for Your Campus February 13, 2019, 2:00 PM ET
Sponsors include Johnson Controls and Nightlock
Casino Security — Making Sure the Customer Experience Is Safe and Secure
March 13, 2019, 2:00 PM ET
Sponsors include Security Today
Why Schools Need a Mass Notification Unified Security System
April 24, 2019, 2:00 PM ET
Sponsors include Security Today and
Campus Security & Life Safety
chedule your webinar today with
evin O’Grady, kogrady@1105media.com
echnology | Education | Solutions
Go to sp.hotims.com and enter 13 for product information.
21