Sometimes the strongest solution comes from not one system, but two distinct technologies working together as one. This is exactly the case with thermal cameras that use video analytics.
Sometimes the strongest solution comes from not one system, but two distinct technologies working together as one. This is exactly the case with thermal cameras that use video analytics.
Thermal cameras use a special lens to detect the infrared light emitted by all of the objects in view, whereas traditional security cameras display everything that can be seen in the visible light spectrum. Traditional cameras rely on sunlight – or, in some installations, spotlights or street lights – in order to “see” and create video images. Thermal cameras see heat signatures, so they can detect people and movement at any time of day or night, with or without light.
When combined with video analytic capabilities, end users in challenging environments can benefit from a thermal solution that overcomes many of the limitations of “visible light” cameras while also gaining the proactive security benefits provided by analytic technology. The combination of the two technologies creates a powerful virtual fence-line for facilities that have far-flung perimeters, remote locations and wide open areas to secure, such as critical infrastructure sites, airports, transportation facilities and more.
Some of the specific benefits certain facilities can gain by employing a thermal camera solution using video analytics are:
Proactive security. Thermal cameras with analytics are a great fit for any location that requires real-time detection, rather than forensic video evidence. Analytics enables real-time alerts so that officials can investigate events as they occur. For example, an airport that uses thermal cameras to secure its perimeter would need to know immediately if people had breached its perimeter at night. A thermal/analytics system enables officials to be notified as soon as the virtual fence-line is crossed.
Usable video in bad conditions. Traditional cameras can struggle in conditions with bad weather or poor lighting. However, thermal cameras can still provide clear video during rain, at night, and at sunrise and sunset, when too much contrast can make video unusable. Thermal video is typically black and white in the security industry, which creates a good contrast between objects and their background. Video analytics and thermal cameras make sense together because video analytics needs good contrast in the video to detect even the smallest changes in the scene.
Less susceptibility. In certain areas, visible light cameras illuminated with external lights become very susceptible to vandalism and crime. To avoid being detected by a camera, a criminal can even smash or shoot out the light, leaving the video in the dark. Thermal cameras don't need to be illuminated, so they are well-suited for such high-crime areas. And by making use of video analytics, officials can lessen the frequency of false alarms caused by things like moving tree branches, car headlights and animals.
Lower cost. For many facilities, thermal cameras with analytics can actually save money by covering a larger area using fewer operators and making use of real-time notifications.
Thermal cameras and video analytics are both powerful technologies. Today, a growing number of end users are taking advantage of the capabilities of both, providing better protection for their facilities than before.