Can we truly rely solely on video analytics to protect our properties and assets? Think again, says Gary Williams, GJD Global Applications Director.

With burglary and vandalism rates skyrocketing in recent years, can we truly rely solely on video analytics to protect our properties and assets?

Despite the hype surrounding advanced video analytic technologies, each promising significant improvements, we often still fall short in safeguarding our site and assets.  

The question remains: Is video analytics alone enough for comprehensive security? Experience time and time again suggests otherwise.

A more effective approach to site security involves combining video analytics with external detectors and illuminators, creating a layered security strategy. 

CCTV and Video Analytics: The modern security marvel 

CCTV and video analytics have revolutionised the security industry, offering capabilities we could only dream of a decade ago.

With video analytics, security systems can analyse live footage in real-time, detecting anomalies and potential threats.  

This technology is especially valuable for visual verification, a feature that’s become indispensable in modern security systems.

However, with AI advancing rapidly, even visual verification might not be enough to place someone at a scene soon. 

Despite their impressive tech, video analytics have their limits.

Environmental factors like lighting conditions, weather, and physical obstructions can significantly impact performance.

Car headlights, flickering lights, shadows and even bugs can mess with a camera’s ability to accurately analyse its surroundings.  

Wet conditions can cause reflections and water on the lens, degrading footage quality, which is concerning, especially considering the terrible weather we have experienced in the first half of the year in the UK.

While infrared (IR) cameras help, they often fall short in providing sufficient illumination, leading to subpar video quality.

These issues scream for a more reliable solution. 

The superiority of physical detectors in all conditions 

Physical motion detectors and laser sensors are the unsung heroes, offering reliability and performance in all lighting conditions.

Unlike CCTV cameras that need dedicated lighting, physical detectors are built for external use.

They excel in varying outdoor lighting and environmental conditions, ensuring consistent performance no matter what.  

By integrating physical detectors with CCTV systems, you can drastically reduce nuisance alarms.

This integration prioritises genuine intruder alerts, allowing organisations to rely on a system that detects intrusions accurately while minimising false positives.

This means the security team can focus on real threats, not false alarms. 

Precise, accurate and flexible detection 

One major challenge with video analytics is their limited performance over long distances.

Weather conditions, light intensity, dust, and insects can severely compromise accuracy at extended ranges.

In contrast, physical detectors offer programmable detection ranges—like GJD’s motion detectors, which can detect from 8m to 60m—and adjustable fields of view, creating unique alarm zones tailored to specific layouts.

This flexibility allows security personnel to set up pre-warning and critical alerts, ensuring precise and reliable intruder detection across various distances. 

Minimal unwanted alarms 

Using video analytics as a standalone solution often leads to unwanted alarms triggered by outdoor conditions.

This is counterproductive for both the end-user and the security installer, leading to responses to false positives and the potential for genuine events to be missed.

Worst case? CCTV systems and problematic cameras are turned off to avoid these issues, compromising overall security. 

An alternative, more robust approach is to place physical motion detectors or laser sensors at the core of your security system, like our D TECT PIRs, Dual Techs and Curtain Lasers.

This strategy reduces unwanted alarms and ensures the system remains active and reliable.

At the end of the day, we want a system that’s on, working and detecting real threats. 

Integrating detection with VMS Platforms 

Modern detectors’ integration capabilities with Video Management Systems (VMS) further enhance their utility in comprehensive security systems.

By leveraging pre-loaded VMS drivers and customisable URL commands, installers can quickly integrate detection devices with existing security infrastructure.

This integration ensures efficient communication between detectors, cameras, and monitoring systems, creating a cohesive and responsive security solution. 

A layered approach to security 

Ultimately, the most effective security systems use a layered approach; combining the strengths of video analytics and incorporating physical motion detectors, illumination and laser sensors offers superior performance, reliability and accuracy. 

While video analytics offer powerful visual verification, physical detectors provide reliability and accuracy in diverse environmental conditions.

When faced with intruders, you don’t want to be caught with blurry, ineffective visuals.

Integrating these technologies ensures higher protection, minimising false alarms and promptly detecting genuine threats.  
 
The limitations of CCTV and video analytics as standalone tools in intruder detection are clear.

By placing physical detection at the heart of security systems, organisations create a more effective and resilient perimeter and intruder protection strategy. And that’s a win for everyone. 

About GJD  

GJD is an industry leader in the design, UK manufacturing and supply of professional external detector equipment, ranging from CCTV and lighting controllers to its White-Light and Infra-Red LED Illuminators. 

The company has been providing reliable detection and intelligent deterrent solutions for the global security market for nearly 40 years.

Its award-winning D-Tect detectors have unique algorithms embedded in each device that ensure false positives are almost irradicated.  

GJD is an Ava Group Company – a market leader of risk management technologies trusted by some of the most security conscious commercial, industrial, military and government clients in the world. 

About Author 

Gary is the global application director for GJD, bringing 32 years of experience in the security industry. 

With expertise in understanding complex technical customer requirements, Gary specialises in perimeter intrusion detection and has successfully worked on large-scale security projects for defence, military and commercial customers around the globe.  

Gary has a wealth of experience and knowledge that covers the design, installation and maintenance of complex external detection systems. 

This article was originally published in the August Edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.