Teaching Old Dogs, New Tricks
21st Century Video and Video Integration
After more than 30 years in the security integration business, today’s video surveillance systems are certainly not the same CCTV systems I sold and installed when I first started hanging cameras. Back in the day, there were only a handful of companies out there and one that started with a “P” stood above the rest. If you were fortunate enough to get invited to travel on their private jet out to California to tour the factory, it was a real honor. I have a picture somewhere in my garage collecting dust, of me sitting in the co-pilot seat. I know, old-man highlights, but still very cool.
In the early days, it was wooden spools of RG59 Siamese cable, boxes of BNC connectors, square cameras with manual focus lenses mounted in EH14 housings, or a dome PTZ camera with a joystick controller. Everything just worked, and installations were simple if you had proper power and mounting hardware. There was only one viable PTZ protocol (Pelco P) and one standard (NTSC) that most integration companies here in the US used regardless of camera manufacturer. If you wanted to get real crazy with programming, you could set up motion detection at the DVR. Oh, and don’t forget the box of VHS tapes.
A Camera That is Connected
Then, virtually out of nowhere, came another company that started with an “A,” promoting what one of my early customers called “IP” cameras. What the heck is an “IP” camera? Oh, you mean IP camera as in Internet Protocol camera, a camera that is connected to a network and powered by a network switch? Old dog, time to learn new tricks. Pick your knuckles up off the floor and learn all about BICSI standards for network cable, distance limitations, how to convert old analog cable to network cable. Our team had to learn how to run and terminate Cat 5 network cables, POE extenders, NVRs, new compression standards, throughput calculations, and the list goes on and on.
What happened to the good old days of analog video?
It is also important to mention that this “A” company and several others started bringing open standards into our world. They also introduced more advanced video compression and their own, more powerful image processing chipsets. IP Video Convergence was the talk of the town. CCTV evolved right before our eyes and there was more to come.
Right on the heels of this evolution came the rise of video analytics. New companies sprung up virtually overnight. There was edge analytics, server-based analytics, hybrid solutions and Neural Networks for object classification. The days of simple video motion detection and line crossing went out the window. Object detection and Object Left Behind were terms born overnight and pasted on every booth at ISC West. With more processing required, new, more powerful chipsets were created to handle the processing needed to make the analytics work.
One of the next big developments was edge storage. Originally, edge-based storage was hailed as a revolutionary concept. The idea was to store video data directly on the camera itself, using onboard storage like SD cards. This approach promised redundancy and reduced the need for extensive network infrastructure.
Some of the manufacturers started selling the concept of not needing centralized recording of any kind. However, the practical limitations soon became apparent. Storage capacity was limited, and the reliability of SD cards in harsh environments was questionable. As cloud storage solutions improved, edge storage saw a decline, although it remains a useful feature for certain applications.
With more computing power at the camera itself, camera manufacturers started to focus on better quality video. Early video surveillance systems struggled with lighting variations, often rendering footage unusable in challenging conditions. How many times have you seen video footage on the news that was basically useless?
Handling Extreme Lighting Contrasts
Modern cameras, however, boast impressive Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) capabilities, allowing them to handle extreme lighting contrasts. Low light performance has also improved dramatically, with cameras now able to capture clear images in near-total darkness, thanks to advanced sensor technologies and powerful image processing algorithms.
The introduction of H.265, also known as HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding), marked a significant leap forward in video compression technology. Compared to its predecessor H.264, H.265 offers double the data compression ratio, reducing bandwidth and storage requirements without compromising video quality. This advancement has been particularly beneficial for IP cameras, enabling the transmission of high-resolution video over networks without excessive strain on resources.
Advanced compression also enabled the explosion of multi-sensor and panoramic cameras which drastically changed the way we currently design video surveillance systems of today.
I personally feel that one of the most significant advancements in CCTV surveillance has been the rapid advancements in multi-sensor camera technology. I could go on and on about the use of multi-sensor cameras but let me just highlight a few of the bigger benefits.
Probably the biggest single benefit would be multiple views with one camera/one network connection. For those knuckle draggers out there, that cannot live without a PTZ camera, you can get a 360-degree field of view and still have a PTZ camera to play around with. If you calculate the reduced infrastructure and maintenance cost associated with multi-sensor cameras, it is a no brainer.
Now, here is my one word of caution regarding multi-sensor cameras. It might only be one network connection and depending on what VMS system you are using, one camera license, but each lens should be treated as a physical camera. Meaning that in some cases, each lens/view needs to be set up individually for each lens to properly view and record video. Just because you can see an image, do not assume it is recording. Proper training on camera setup and operation is a must.
Plagued with Vulnerabilities
Is all this new network stuff safe? With the rise of IP cameras and networked video systems, cybersecurity became a critical concern. Early IP cameras were often plagued with vulnerabilities, leaving them susceptible to hacking and unauthorized access. Over the years, manufacturers have made significant strides in improving the security of their devices. Today’s systems incorporate robust encryption, secure authentication protocols, and regular firmware updates to protect against evolving cyber threats. However, the increasing sophistication of cyber-attacks means that vigilance is always required.
The influx of products from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) also led to a significant shift in the market. Chinese manufacturers flooded the market with affordable video systems, sparking a price war. While this made advanced technology more accessible, it also raised concerns about quality and security.
Additionally, geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions led to the decline of some PRC-based companies in certain markets. This created opportunities for other manufacturers to fill the gap with high-quality, lower cost, secure alternatives.
The early days of AI and facial recognition in video surveillance were marked by a mix of excitement and skepticism. Initial implementations were often inaccurate and prone to false positives, limiting their effectiveness. However, continuous advancements in AI algorithms and processing power have significantly improved the accuracy and reliability of these technologies.
Today, facial recognition is a powerful tool for security, enabling real-time identification and tracking of individuals in various environments. Additionally, your face can now grant access in what is called frictionless access control. Pretty cool stuff indeed.
At ISC West early this year, what was the new slogan blasted on almost every booth? You guessed it, AI and I do not mean Analog Input. AI and cloud technologies have become mainstream in the video surveillance industry. Cloud-based solutions offer scalable, flexible storage and processing capabilities, reducing the need for on-prem infrastructure. AI-driven analytics provide valuable insights, enabling proactive security measures and efficient incident response. Compliance with data protection regulations and robust cybersecurity measures are critical components of these modern systems. The argument for hybrid solutions, combining on-premises and cloud resources, remains strong due to the need for balance between control and flexibility.
Looking ahead, the future of video surveillance is poised to embrace direct-to-cloud appliances and advanced AI. Direct-to-cloud devices simplify deployment and management, offering seamless integration with cloud platforms. True artificial intelligence will enable even more sophisticated analytics, predictive capabilities and autonomous decision-making. As technology continues to evolve, the possibilities for enhancing security and operational efficiency are limitless.
The Dawn, of a New Day
What does all this mean to us old knuckle draggers? Well, for starters, the technicians of today are far more computer literate than we were in the early days of CCTV as everything today is done via software, including camera set up, commissioning and programming.
Virtually every manufacturer out there has basic and advanced certification classes and, in some cases, it is a requirement to have two or more technicians certified on a particular system before you can sell it. Specific camera manufacturers also require technicians to be certified on the camera itself as they require specific steps be taken to ensure the camera is working properly and sending high quality video back to the head end.
Back in the good ole days, most integration companies sold one- or two-name brand systems. Today, the company I represent has more than 85 technology partners on our line card and each technician carries multiple certifications as a single installation may require up to five or six different manufacturers all working together to ensure the video surveillance system works as advertised when complete.
The journey from analog video systems to today’s advanced IP and AI-driven solutions has been marked by continuous innovation and adaptation. The lessons learned and challenges overcome along the way have paved the path for a more secure and connected future.
As we look forward to the next wave of technological advancements, one thing is certain: the only constant is change, and those who embrace it will continue to lead the way in the ever-evolving world of video integration. For us old knuckle draggers out there, all is not lost, just surround yourself with a bunch of young, smart technicians and engineers and you will be OK.
This article originally appeared in the September / October 2024 issue of Security Today.