Video surveillance compared
Why false alarms and staring at monitors are a thing of the past: focus on AI-based monitoring
This morning I was woken from my sleep by a deafening alarm. Way too early, way too loud and definitely not from my cell phone alarm clock. The third time this year, and as it turned out, another false alarm on the neighboring property. Monitoring buildings and grounds is an important measure to protect property. There are three basic approaches: traditional video surveillance with an alarm system (like my neighbor’s, a manufacturing company), person-based real-time monitoring (not everyone can or wants to afford it) and AI-based real-time monitoring (AI-what?). Since the third false alarm this morning left me standing upright in bed, this is the perfect opportunity to explain in more detail how these surveillance systems actually work, what they do and, above all, what costs you have to expect.
Functionality
Traditional video surveillance systems consist of conventional surveillance cameras that continuously record footage. These systems operate passively, meaning they only capture events without immediately reacting to them. Therefore, you must also have an alarm system installed so that an alarm is triggered in the event of security-relevant incidents. This method seems like the perfect deal at first glance: “It only costs me the installation, a bit of maintenance, and occasionally a small fee for the false alarm.” False alarm rate depending on the system and technology up to 90% liesThis means that the motion detector can sometimes howl with delight at a curious fox or a storm. But hey, if nobody breaks in, it’s the cheapest alternative!
How does the break-in proceed
But let’s assume that someone really does break in, the sequence of events would probably be as follows: The burglars get over the fence of the factory premises, the motion detector sounds the alarm and the camera records the break-in. So far so good. However, as the site has often triggered false alarms in the past – caused by animals or strong winds, for example – the alarm may not be taken seriously (I didn’t this morning either), and the perpetrators have enough time to do the damage and say goodbye in comfort. The material loss is often higher than the security costs.
The costs
The next day, the painstaking work begins: the police spend hours analyzing the video footage. If they are lucky, they find a clue. The detection rate in Germany is around 15%, in Switzerland around 25%. The material loss often exceeds the security costs, and the disillusionment is great. A system that only records and remains passive may seem inexpensive at first glance, but you pay a high price in an emergency.
Person-based real-time video surveillance
Functionality
Real-time surveillance works by continuously monitoring live video recordings in order to immediately detect and respond to security incidents, in other words according to the principle: “Big Brother is waking you!”. You either have your own employees who do nothing all day but stare at monitors and hope that something will finally happen, or you hire an external security service to do exactly that for you. In both cases, people sit in front of screens and watch countless camera feeds. They not only have to keep an eye on the premises, but also on data protection and are actually just waiting for that one moment when they can say: “There’s the burglar!”
How does the break-in proceed
Let’s assume that the burglars finally sneak onto the premises, and it is precisely at this crucial moment that the surveillance personnel are distracted – either because they have been staring at monitors for hours, on which nothing usually happens, or because the security guard is just grabbing a coffee to stay awake. The sheer monotony of such tasks can quickly lead to fatigue. Monitoring may also only run to a limited extent because it is not staffed around the clock for data protection or cost reasons.
But even if everything runs smoothly, there are other pitfalls lurking: people are simply not designed to spend hours watching video feeds on which nothing happens very often (with the exception of TikTok and Instagram). At some point, concentration and reaction speed simply diminish and real threats can easily be overlooked. What’s more, frequent false alarms – triggered by animals, weather or other harmless factors – minimize staff attention and delay their response time.
The costs
In the end, the false alarm rate may be better and monitoring may be active in real time, but you pay a small fortune for it. Traditional real-time monitoring with in-house security requires a large number of staff to ensure 24/7 operation. Each operator can usually only monitor around 30 cameras, which means that you need several employees per shift for larger facilities. The personnel costs quickly add up. On top of this, there are also costs for the equipment – including monitors, communication equipment and regular training. Although external security services offer the option of outsourcing the infrastructure, they are by no means cheaper. Not only are there hourly fees, which vary depending on the region and service provider, but there are often also surcharges for emergency operations. In addition, technical and organizational factors make efficiency more difficult: external service providers are therefore not always able to support several companies at the same time, as the maximum number of cameras to be monitored per operator is limited.
AI-based real-time video surveillance
Functionality
Now we come to the “new hero of surveillance technology”: AI-based real-time video surveillance with Vaidio. Vaidio analyzes image data around the clock and reacts immediately to relevant events, without staff having to stare at monitors for hours on end. It detects suspicious activity in real time and reliably distinguishes between genuine threats and harmless events. False alarms? Almost zero. Vaidio’s false alarm rate is reduced by 99.9%. A storm that makes the tree sway or a cat scurrying through the picture are simply recognized for what they are: harmless. Vaidio is like a security superhero that never sleeps, never gets tired and never loses focus. Day or night, the system reacts in a fraction of a second. But it can detect more than just break-ins: Smoke development? Vaidio sounds the alarm immediately. An employee falls? Our security superhero recognizes this immediately and calls for help. This system is a true all-rounder that can be used in many different ways.
And how does the break-in proceed?
The burglars climb up the fence of the factory premises. Vaidio immediately recognizes human movements, and even balaclavas, ski masks or weapons are reliably detected. Security personnel are alerted immediately – and unlike with traditional surveillance, employees are not dulled by hours of uneventful staring at monitors. Instead, they react with vigilance and concentration, verify the alarm immediately and inform the police. So while the burglars are still heading for the building in eager anticipation of a big haul, the emergency call is already being made and the emergency services are on their way. Burglars often only need 5 to 15 minutes to carry out their crime – exactly the time it takes the police to arrive at the scene after an emergency call. Thanks to the rapid detection by Vaidio and the immediate reaction of the security personnel, this time window is used optimally to alert the police in good time and cut off the perpetrators’ escape routes and apprehend them.
Regarding the costs
A major advantage of AI-supported video analysis with Vaidio is the significant reduction in operating costs. Whereas with conventional surveillance systems, an operator can only monitor around 30 cameras simultaneously, AI technology allows up to 500 cameras to be monitored by a single operator. This is because the AI only issues alarms when truly suspicious activity is detected. This means that the operator no longer has to stare at screens for hours on end in order to detect something, but is notified specifically when a situation needs to be checked. This means that they can also carry out other tasks and are not permanently tied to the surveillance monitors.
The savings are enormous: fewer staff means lower salary and non-wage labor costs, especially in 24/7 operation, where several shifts are normally required. The costs for infrastructure such as control rooms, monitors and communication systems are also significantly reduced. Companies can therefore not only save on personnel costs, but also on technical equipment.
Further possibilities
It becomes even more efficient when companies use the Synaedge security control center. Instead of setting up their own expensive infrastructure, several companies basically share the modern control center technology. This significantly reduces the monthly costs, while the companies still benefit from state-of-the-art monitoring.
In addition to the savings in personnel and infrastructure costs, Vaidio offers the opportunity to improve operating processes through automated analyses. Errors are detected at an early stage, safety gaps are closed and stocks are monitored efficiently. This not only maximizes operational safety, but also contributes to higher productivity and quality.
Conclusion
A comparison clearly shows that both traditional video surveillance and person-based real-time surveillance are inefficient and cost-intensive. Traditional systems cause high follow-up costs due to numerous false alarms and only offer passive monitoring that often reacts too late in the event of break-ins. People-based real-time surveillance requires hours of live monitoring, usually without any incidents worth mentioning, which leads to less attention and high costs.
AI-based real-time video surveillance with Vaidio solves these problems: it almost completely reduces false alarms and enables a single operator to effectively monitor up to 500 cameras. This makes better use of resources, as the operator is only notified of real incidents. In addition, unused video data is converted into valuable insights through intelligent analysis, which also saves costs and optimizes processes.
Sources
Anne-Katrin Michelmann
Date 24.09.2024