Safe city image/video-based analytics: a force multiplier

Published 19 May, 2022

Conventional CCTV cameras for monitoring crime scenes have now become redundant and are being replaced by smart image/video-based analytics. The capability of video analytics devices to interpret and analyse video clips seamlessly makes them indispensable for law enforcement agencies. Video analytics systems that have been playing an instrumental role in assisting law enforcement agencies in streamlining criminal investigations are currently in high demand.

How does Video Analytics Work?

One of the fastest-growing areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is Video Analytics, known for helping law enforcement agencies and significantly reducing crime rates. It makes use of AI to gather accurate data to detect and prevent crimes. Furthermore, this computer-based video footage assessment leverages algorithms to distinguish between object types and helps identify particular actions in real-time, besides providing users with instant notifications/alerts. It generates automatic descriptions of what appears in the video stream, which can later be used by investigators for tracking criminals, automobiles, and other objects.

The advent of Video Content Analytics (VCA) technology has increased the significance of video footage at an exponential rate. The use of video analytics can assist law enforcement agencies in monitoring live feeds and searching recordings for video evidence. Apart from these, such smart systems also help law enforcement agencies in multiple ways:

• Accelerates Investigations: Surveillance devices integrated with video analytics technology can expedite video investigations by providing an easy way to review hours of video footage in minutes. Face recognition software identifies potential suspects quickly with the help of digital images taken from videos or alternative sources.
• Identifies Criminals/Suspects with Ease: The integration of deep learning technologies into video analytics devices helps in detecting specific details that human eyes cannot quickly identify. Such smart devices can differentiate people based on gender, figure, complexion, and other relevant factors, such as the colour of their dress, objects they are carrying, and so on. For example, if an investigator is searching for a red-clad woman-suspect carrying a tote bag, analytics allow the investigator to focus only on people who match the description. Once the suspect has been identified, the device can track down the person on other live streams. Moreover, once she is isolated it becomes simple to monitor her actions.
• Identifies High Crime Areas: Drug trafficking is an illegal trade not only in India but around the world. The crime of drug smuggling is combated vigorously by the country’s customs authorities. In the past, finding sites of illegal drug sales called for an entire team of investigators to watch certain suspected neighborhood for countless days. However, it is now possible to completely automate this task by setting up a hidden virtual analytics-enabled surveillance camera and customizing the system to detect significant foot traffic. When a suspected individual or a group of individuals travels frequently between locations, it is most likely that the place is being used for smuggling drugs and then sold. Video analytics systems can provide valuable and actionable information to street crime investigators about such activities in real-time.
• Mitigates Crime Rate: Video analytics systems play a key role in combating crimes. These advanced surveillance systems have the potential to track down accused rapists, murderers, and traffic violators in fewer than 24 hours. Additionally, technical capabilities of video analytics, such as facial recognition algorithms, allow law enforcement agencies to easily chase down criminals, thus reducing crime rates. The use of video analytics can reduce crime through the detection of intruders, abandoned objects, and burglary, as well as individuals suspected of carrying out the crime.

Video Analytics Overhauling the Future of Crime Detection

Video analytics systems have made the process of surveillance more reliable and efficient. Advanced technologies such as these provide law enforcement agencies with unprecedented power to stem crime. The image processing technology provides evidence for crime investigation. The law enforcement agencies are increasingly deploying security cameras with AI-based video analytics in public facilities across the country to maintain the safety and security of the masses. This is among the major advantages offered by this technology in surveillance and security. Keeping security in mind, the virtual analytics surveillance cameras do not store data on their SD cards. Instead, they instantly upload the video to the cloud using a secure wireless connection.

Moreover, The process of video analysis offers investigators to overcome the problem encountered due to fuzzy images. Each frame holds its own importance in the investigation since it is related to different features of the criminal suspect like vehicle license plate number, etc. Digital image processing algorithm solves the problem and enhances the target details thus offering valuable information. The application of video analytics is extremely extensive in order to provide favorable conditions for rapid detection of crime.

With violent crimes on the rise in society, advanced video analytics surveillance systems have become indispensable because they give law enforcement agencies reliable information about crimes that have occurred in a particular locale at a given time, as well as a way to validate every piece of evidence.

Source: Times Of India