Uri Guterman, Video Solutions Product Manager, Qognify, pictured, lists trends in the video surveillance market expected in 2016. In some cases, these trends aren’t new, but their relevance and maturity in the market is such that they still made the cut.
You may not necessarily read about any surprises; you will though find the list compelling as we consider how the market will be impacted by them and the future innovations they bring. It will be interesting to see how they play out and the impact they’ll have on future trends.
Intuitive integration between the two most common and active systems in a security centre seems to be a growing market demand, especially now that the access control systems (ACS) market is on an innovation trajectory with cloud and wireless solutions. Security operators need to follow procedures that combine tasks from both the VMS and ACS worlds. A straightforward integration makes this process more efficient and effective, saving the operator and thus the control centre valuable time.
Incident management
Video surveillance is more than just watching video, it’s about taking the next step to manage an incident once identified. Security organisations work with operational procedures that are often performed using paper forms and even by memory, which can stymy communication, collaboration, not to mention contribute to human error. By computerising, pre-configuring and when possible, automating tasks, security operations can create the necessary structure to improve the response itself, and its timing, while minimising the risk of human errors. Incident management solutions also allow organisations to capture all related and relevant information such as video footage, map extents and notes in a single record so that all stakeholders can have access to the same, accurate information based on their permissions. This not only enhances collaboration, it’s very valuable for post-event investigation.
Analytics
This is not a new one, and has been showing up on yearly trend lists for the past few years. It remains on our list as it continues to evolve and is becoming increasingly prevalent. Being more available and reachable in the market, manufacturers are introducing more cameras with embedded analytics capabilities. The challenge now will be to leverage the technology by correlating it with other information sources. We also see emerging concepts that utilise video analytics in an interactive process, rather than depending on its results alone.
Storage
While VSaaS and available Cloud solutions may not be relevant for high-end security customers, central storage is becoming an attractive option for many in the market. The important thing is to be aware of the pros and cons associated with central storage, and select the right solution to compensate for any drawbacks. We’re seeing some in the market choosing central storage, even in highly distributed environments, and keeping local storage mainly for buffering purposes.
Cameras
Another growing trend are panoramic or 360 degree cameras. Camera manufacturers forecast increased demand for those cameras in the major security verticals. They are ideal for covering wide areas, and usually allow the selection of various view modes. Video surveillance systems are expected to support new camera models by integrating with their dewarping APIs for perspective correction, as well as support the different features they offer.
