Can something good emerge from the relationship between AI and cameras?

In recent years, we have witnessed a revolution in the field of artificial intelligence. This technology sector is constantly evolving, pushing the boundaries of our imagination, and expanding the horizons of possibilities. As this technology gains momentum, it becomes clear that AI is not just a passing trend but an integral element shaping the future of various aspects of our lives.

On the other hand, camera technology has also come a long way, evolving from a simple device – the camera obscura – into complete CCTV video monitoring systems capable of not only recording but primarily analyzing images.

The development of both technologies so far is impressive, but one thing is certain – at the current pace of progress, it is far from over. Moreover, these two fields have joined forces, and today, their limitations are only constrained by our imagination.

The union of AI and video monitoring is termed video analysis, and today I would like to talk about it. But first, let’s explore how this newly emerged technology works.

Modern video monitoring systems are highly advanced teleinformatics solutions, consisting not only of specialized visual and thermal cameras, archival systems, and management systems but also various teletransmission systems that transmit generated video streams and analyze them according to user guidelines. In each of these areas, we observe dynamic technological advancements.

Cameras have long ceased to serve only the basic function of providing images. They have been equipped with a range of technologies that enable the generation of high-resolution images, operation in low light conditions, autonomous tracking of objects, and intelligent image analysis, generating mathematical descriptions of images (metadata) in parallel with the visual signal. Contemporary visual systems operate based on software running on servers and recording material on disk arrays.

The management system is a central element of the system. It can be centralized and installed on a server or virtual environment. In larger solutions, such a system can be installed in multiple locations, controlling all visual streams, recording, access rights, and many other parameters related to the image, archiving period, or communication with external systems.

The largest systems are hierarchical solutions that enable management not only of individual objects or areas but entire cities or multiple objects in different locations. Therefore, teletransmission systems, which allow the transmission of enormous amounts of data over any distance with minimal delay, become crucial. They most often appear as wired systems, mainly based on fiber optic solutions, but there are also radio systems, operating in both licensed and unlicensed bands, allowing for the rapid expansion of monitoring systems while maintaining full mobility. We should also not forget about devices providing computational power for advanced analytical algorithms associated with machine learning. In terms of analytics, it is worth noting that it can also be implemented directly on the device (camera) – in this case, it sends the image and metadata.

We now know how video analysis works. Let’s focus on the more practical part of this topic – what purposes can this technology serve?

And here is the answer to all our problems related to control, logistics, optimization, security, and many other areas. As I mentioned at the beginning, thanks to the combination of AI and monitoring, the possibilities of using CCTV systems are much broader than ever before, and it depends on us how we will use this tool. All thanks to continuously evolving algorithms that can be ‘taught’ or adapted to our needs. Forget about cameras connected to 30 monitors in front of a very bored employee trying not to fall asleep during the night shift. Let’s not fool ourselves – such work is not the most interesting or easiest. Meanwhile, with a CCTV system connected to AI, you can program cameras to record, analyze, and inform the staff only about events that matter to us. Let’s look at this with examples:

Warehouse security monitoring: AI-powered intrusion detection algorithms can enable a quick response, such as activating alarms in case of unauthorized access, thereby securing valuable goods. With AI, we can classify this movement, meaning teaching the system to distinguish between a guard and an intruder, analyze motion trajectories, and detect undesirable actions (e.g., manually removing goods from shelves).
Quality control in production: Quality assessment algorithms can automatically reject products that do not meet established standards, increasing production efficiency and reducing the risk of releasing defective products to the market.
Workplace safety in manufacturing plants: Algorithms monitoring worker safety can activate alarms in case of potential threats, assisting in maintaining high safety standards in the work environment.
Customer path analysis: Algorithms analyzing customer preferences use data on store movement to understand shopping habits and preferences, helping optimize store layouts or customize promotional offers.
Employee productivity measurement: Algorithms monitoring employee behavior can help assess performance, identify areas for improvement, and provide data for optimizing workplace processes.
Shelf product control: Object classification algorithms can recognize brands, product categories, and even assess their inventory status, facilitating warehouse management and delivery planning.
Public places/high-traffic safety: Video analysis algorithms can identify potentially dangerous behaviors, such as running, pushing, or leaving suspicious packages, which may pose a threat to public safety.

The examples could go on, but no one would read this article to the end…

The essence lies in the fact that the relationship between AI and cameras truly brings immense possibilities, both in business and public services. Of course, technology is constantly evolving, and some applications of video analysis will work better than others, but this does not change the fact that sticking to traditional monitoring methods is like still using a simple calculator in accounting.

Remember that monitoring today is no longer just an IMAGE; it’s DATA, and the camera is a universal sensor.

If you want to learn how to use it to grow your business, contact us https://konwerga.pl/en/contact/ and let’s talk about your needs.

👉 Konwerga |IT Integrator| – We Create Intelligent IT Solutions