Page 50 - Security Today, October 2019

Security Pain Points
Currently, some of the most commonly deployed technologies in security systems are radar, cameras (including thermal cameras) and microwave sensors. While they each have a number of advan- tages, none can form a complete and robust system alone, as each technology has its own shortcomings, including:
• Low accuracy: Radar, for example, is not able to deliver reso- lution high enough to accurately identify potential threats.
• Constrained operating environment: Most cameras require
good lighting conditions to collect high resolution data. Ther- mal cameras can see in the dark but will struggle with situa- tions where the thermal signature of the target object matches with that of its surroundings. Microwave sensors are affected by moisture, so security systems using that technology tend to have poorer performance in bad weather.
• Only 2D imaging: While the human eye can identify 3D per- spectives of an object, camera image analytics is still strug- gling with that. And without reference points, even the hu- man eye cannot perceive the size of an object accurately. Other 3D information that is critical for security applica- tions, such as location and velocity, is difficult to determine in 2D imaging.
• Interference: Electromagnetic interference is a problem for technologies like radar and microwave sensors, so they cannot be used for critical infrastructure with a lot of steelwork.
• Data storage and transmission: The data capacity from cam- era-based systems is extremely large, which poses a challenge to store, transmit and process the data for immediate percep- tion and analytics.
Advantages of Lidar Technology
Lidar enables security systems to automatically detect many different types of threats, such as when a perimeter has been breached, and classify objects, such as a person or a car. Compa- nies can also classify alarms for different types of situations. With lidar systems that integrate the sensor with perception software, companies can immediately identify threats and respond to a sit- uation to resolve the issue. Lidar also reduces the number of false positives with its advanced object detection capabilities, enabling security teams to more efficiently use their resources.
Lidar produces high resolution three-dimensional point cloud data, providing an extremely accurate map of an area. This data can be supplemented with information from other data sources for an even more detailed scan of an environment. Additionally, lidar technology can see in the day and at night, providing com- panies with reliable 24/7 surveillance.
Another benefit of lidar is it has a high tolerance to interfer- ence, making it difficult to hack. While someone with a special device and custom clothing might be able to trick thermal cam- eras, it’s much tougher to fool lidar technology. Radar and other microwave sensing technologies are also subject to interference with metal, whereas lidar works fine even in environments with a lot of steelwork.
While traditional lidar systems were expensive, lidar has be- come much more affordable over the past few years. Factoring in the number of lidar units needed for a particular environment and the cost per unit—taking into consideration a lidar sensor’s range, angle and resolution—the overall cost of a lidar surveil-
“It’s clear that lidar represents a step forward for the security industry, enabling companies to accurately track and detect threats in real time without alert fatigue.”
lance system is quite competitive compared to other security solu- tions. As lidar starts to be produced at scale for autonomous cars and other smart machines, the costs will be driven down further.
Setting up Lidar Systems
Lidar technology helps to fill the gaps of other security solutions and can be integrated into systems that use cameras, radar and other types of sensors. For long range detection, radar technol- ogy is useful for triggering an initial response or alarm. For me- dium range detection – up to 150 to 300 meters, depending on the sensor – lidar can detect and classify threats and trigger a secondary response or alarm.
Lidar sensors can be set up in combination with edge com- puting devices to process information directly at the edge—or “locally”—to use less computing power than traditional security solutions. Processing information at the edge also helps security systems analyze information faster. If an intruder is entering a secured area, for example, it’s critical that security systems can immediately detect the threat so companies can handle the situ- ation before it becomes dangerous. Additionally, lidar transmits only a fraction of the information a video would and uses far less data storage and network bandwidth. This enables lidar to be used for more mobile installations, such as sensors set up along the perimeter of a remote field.
Use Cases for Lidar Technology
Enabling high-resolution 3D perception at an affordable price, lidar-based solutions will be ideal for airports, corporate cam- puses, government facilities, ports, schools, retail, tourist and rec- reational sites and transport infrastructure. Because lidar can be integrated with cameras, radar and other types of sensors, it can be used in a wide variety of security applications.
In areas where there is a risk for crime, such as a parking lot where break-ins might happen, lidar can help owners keep their property safe even with limited security personnel. Critical in- frastructure and facilities can also benefit from lidar technology, even for vast areas of land where a large number of security sys- tems need to be deployed. Lidar can be used in crowded stadiums, theme parks and arenas to monitor crowd flow, or airports and train stations where security systems need to identify suspicious incidents like someone leaving unattended baggage behind.
Most importantly, lidar protects the public’s privacy, so peo- ple who are not involved in security incidents can remain anony- mous. As companies upgrade their security
systems from traditional setups to modern so-
lutions, lidar will help deliver on the promise
of smarter and more connected cities that also
respect people’s privacy.
Neil Huntingdon is the vice president of busi- ness development at Cepton Technologies Inc.
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PRIVACY ISSUES