Video Analytics Helping Delaware Capitol Police Identify Security Threats
- By Brent Dirks
- Dec 04, 2008
To say the Delaware Capitol Police has a daunting job is an understatement. In charge of protecting 100 state-owned buildings, including the governor’s mansion and residence, the law enforcement agency is always looking for ways to more effectively identify security threats.
Police officials have turned to Honeywell’s Active Alert suite of intelligent video analytics technology to help patrol facilities with an extra set of digital eyes. Like most agencies, deciding to most effectively deploy manpower can be an issue. But Capitol Police officials said the analytics technology has helped to ease that burden.
“One person watching numerous cameras can often accomplish a lot more than several officers patrolling the area, and technology like Honeywell’s Active Alert can help officers prioritize their responses,” said Capt. David Hunt of the Delaware Capitol Police. “Active Alert allows our officers to work smarter. It provides another set of eyes around the perimeter of the buildings and in critical areas that require constant surveillance.”
Monitoring a number of video surveillance locations throughout the state in a command center or from remote local offices, the department uses the analytics functions as part of Honeywell’s Pro-Watch security management system.
Installed by Delaware-based integrator Advantech Inc., the Active Alert system is designed to monitor areas that can’t always be watched by an officer. Programmed with a set of predetermined suspicious behaviors, the technology can alert operators when it detects a problem an officer should respond to.
“In the past, video was typically used as a forensic tool -- a tool to investigate an occurrence that had already happened,” said Craig Frost, director of sales for Honeywell. “But video is much more valuable if it’s used to detect an event in its initial stages. Honeywell’s Active Alert video analytics makes this possible and provides the mechanism to watch an entire facility from all angles.”
About the Author
Brent Dirks is senior editor for Security Today and Campus Security Today magazines.