The use of video security data must evolve

Thanks to advancements in HD TV, video compression techniques, etc., today’s standard is IP cameras and the industry is on the cusp of evolution again. The video surveillance infrastructure is made up of a complex ecosystem that includes cameras, storage, software, miscellaneous hardware, and professional services — and with the market expected to increase to $40.8 billion by 2020, all areas of the industry continue to evolve at pace.

Therefore, we came to the conclusion that the biggest opportunities will be in adapting to new technological practices, particularly around the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud storage, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). So how exactly will these trends shape video surveillance in the future?
 

The explosion of connected devices

Recently, Seagate and IDC released a white paper titled Data Age 2025 looking at the future of data and the factors that will contribute to worldwide data exploding to 163ZB by 2025. One of the biggest reasons for the increase in data is the increase in connected devices as a result of the IoT. Specifically within surveillance we are seeing this occur already, thanks to drones and other wearable security devices becoming connected and coming online. With so many more transactions being created and tracked it’s crucial to think about how the surge in data will be managed.

With the IoT being one of the biggest drivers in our data age, we need to start looking at how these connected devices (whether they’re cameras or sensors) will interact with people too – and what opportunities can be created as a result.
 

Video in the cloud

However, the rise of connected devices is also generating a substantial volume of data. This poses the question of where and how this data can be stored; and conversations are already taking place around storage and access to video in the cloud.

As consumers we’ve become very familiar with the cloud – maybe without even realizing it – thanks to subscription services such as Netflix and Spotify. Cloud storage is also becoming a hot topic within video surveillance too and there are many benefits to consider. Firstly, the data is stored in a central, shared system so users can access the content quickly and easily from wherever they are. Secondly it’s possible to improve a cloud-based product on an ongoing basis, often in real-time, and once improvements have been made they are immediately visible and available to customers.

A key driver of the shift to cloud-based, fast-access, and truly mobile data usage is that data has increasingly become a critical influencer for not only our businesses but also our lives in all aspects, as revealed by the IDC research.
 

Artificial Intelligence for real-time analytics

The use and integration of data in businesses and our lives is also quickly increasing the need for real-time data. As such, data is delivered to not only inform but also determine actions — sometimes autonomously.

Consequently machine learning and AI is causing a huge buzz within video surveillance. When the opportunity for improving applications for safety and security is huge: if security teams and emergency services can use the data from AI to make smart predictions, it will help increase preventative and real-time safety from our surveillance activities, rather than being seen primarily as a reporting process for forensic insights.

A recent project launched by the Tainan City Government – optimizing monument preservation, tourism analysis, environmental monitoring and traffic surveillance by deploying flying drones along with operating AI analytics – as part of its smart city initiatives, serves as a good example.

However, the entire surveillance industry needs to keep building communication among the different technology and application providers. Over time, the demand for intelligent video analytics and systems is only going to increase as more and more industries realize the benefits for its application. It’s up to all of us to work with our partners and customers to ensure that they are ready for this change and are advised of the best way to manage and store the data generated to meet their needs.