An optimized combination of panoramic and pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras can help smart cities cover the maximum area while zooming in on specific matters of interest.
An optimized combination of panoramic and pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras can help cover the maximum area while zooming in on specific matters of interest. With real-time monitoring, no blind spots, and high-quality footage, this combination can be ideal for city surveillance, according to Axis Communications.
In a recent
blog post, Olof Leidecker, Global Product Manager for multisensor and ultra-high-resolution cameras at Axis Communications, pointed out that monitoring incidents in cities is often difficult because of obstructions, high levels of activity, distance, etc. There are also chances of multiple incidents happening at the same time, making things even more complicated.
“Local security teams lack the resources to have ‘eyes and ears’ in all places and rely heavily on technology to monitor areas and provide details on incidents,” Leidecker said. “Panoramic and Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras are key parts of a surveillance solution, and there are a number of use cases where they add value.”
How to make the best of this combo
Before getting into the combo itself, understanding the cameras is necessary. Most of you would already know this, but for the uninitiated, panoramic cameras could be single-sensor, multi-sensor, or multi-sensor multidirectional, each offering some unique advantages.
“It’s important to remember that in addition to the high level of activity, each area within a city has its own surveillance needs,” Leidecker said. “For example, a metro station at rush hour will require a different level of monitoring than a quiet alleyway at midnight. In both scenarios, you need a surveillance solution which helps you capture what’s happening – with no blind spots – alerts you to any activity of interest, and arms you with the information you need to investigate further.”
For example, an ATM in an alleyway with low lighting is a high-risk area. The number of people who use this ATM may be less, but its location and conditions can encourage bad actors to rob or vandalize the machine. PTZ cameras, along with analytics, can help security officers here.
“To effectively monitor this area, you can position a panoramic camera to cover the whole alleyway and add a PTZ camera positioned to focus on the ATM,” Leidecker said. “Additional software can be used to improve activity detection, such as a directional audio detector. If an incident occurs, the software could send you an alert requesting to direct your attention to the alleyway. This gives you the chance to intervene and capture the incident for later analysis or evidence.”
On the other hand, a camera at a train station needs to capture visuals from a wide area without blind spots. Panoramic multidirectional cameras come in handy here, providing real-time footage of every corner from a single camera.
“Finally, consider a small shop – in this case, a combination of a single sensor panoramic camera positioned on the ceiling along with a PTZ pointed at the cash register may be the most useful,” Leidecker added. “In this way, activity across the shop can be captured – even in the furthest aisles – and high-risk areas such as the cash register be closely monitored.”
Finding the right combination essential
Cities often present a complex challenge for security service and solution providers. There are lots of people, buildings, activities, vehicles, traffic, etc. Monitoring everything at the same time is difficult, requiring sophisticated equipment integrated to work together seamlessly.
But the demand for city surveillance is growing, and integrators cannot ignore it. Mordor Intelligence forecasts the global city surveillance market is expected to register a CAGR of 5 percent from 2021 to 2026. Concerns about public safety continue to remain a major issue in many cities worldwide.
Using PTZ and panoramic cameras can go a long way in making city surveillance easier, providing footage of multiple angles and places in high quality. Along with other modern sensors and analytics, these cameras offer a solid security foundation on which law performance agencies can rely.