Though many projects have been proven with pilots and real-case deployments, artificial intelligence (AI) in the security industry is in the relatively early stages and its role in video surveillance is as varied as the vertical markets that implement it. The term itself still has a lot of noise surrounding it and many in the industry shy away from using AI — opting instead for more specific characteristics to define their technology. Integrators must sift through all the noise to find appropriate products for themselves and their customers. To begin, it’s important to understand what’s currently available in the marketplace.
“Today, there are more cameras and recorded video than ever before, which means security operators are faced with the challenge of keeping pace. AI is a technology that can help overcome this challenge as it doesn’t get bored and can analyze more video data than humans ever possibly could. It is designed to bring the most important events and insight to users’ attention, freeing them to do what they do best: make critical decisions,” explains Dr. Mahesh Saptharishi, CTO and senior vice president, Avigilon, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. According to Saptharishi, the company’s AI-powered video management software called Avigilon Control Center (ACC) automates the detection function of surveillance and removes the need for operators to constantly watch video screens. The company also has a deep learning search tool called Avigilon Appearance Search, which allows users to initiate a search using a physical descriptor for results across one or multiple sites within seconds.