Rapid Technological Advances in Object Tracking and Image Analysis to Drive Video Surveillance Equipment Markets

Rapid Technological Advances in Object Tracking and Image Analysis to Drive Video Surveillance Equipment Markets

LONDON, /PRNewswire/ -- Following the tragic 7/7 bombings and the subsequent failed bomb attacks on London, the importance of video surveillance equipment such as digital video recorders (DVRs) and closed circuit televisions (CCTVs) has never been more apparent.

Although manufacturers of surveillance equipment have had to cope with unfavourable public attitudes towards surveillance equipment and their encroachment on individual privacy, these attacks only reinforce the need for such equipment on buses and public transport systems that are most vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

Europe already leads the way in the number of CCTV installations in the world. However, with the market approaching maturity, manufacturers need to offer added features such as facial recognition, digital video and intelligent video software to sustain revenues.

"Currently, London has approximately four million cameras in use and the ratio of camera to people is estimated to be one camera for every fourteen people. The smaller cities and towns in Britain are no exceptions, although the ratio there is much lower," observes Frost & Sullivan (http://autoid.frost.com) Senior Research Analyst Soumilya Banerjee.

The European video surveillance equipment market generated revenues worth US$2.36 billion in the year 2003 and is expected to grow at a 6.0 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach US$3.55 billion by 2010.

A shift in demand from digital to IP-based security systems that permit remote monitoring is expected to be one of the major causes for the increase in revenues during this period, followed by the rise in demand in eastern European countries such as Poland, Croatia, Latvia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria among others.

Improvement in image quality and analysis is another area that manufacturers are focusing on to drive uptake of CCTVs. In fact, the incorporation of algorithms has made it possible for CCTV systems to send out alerts before or during the initiation of a crime and ultimately assist concerned authorities in taking immediate action.

"It is expected that developments in chip technology will also eliminate undesirable interference in the images, resulting in far superior picture clarity," explains Mr. Banerjee. " Cameras in future can be expected to be able to capture more number of pixels and also allow operators to zoom in on particular elements of interest while retaining high picture resolution."

Another area of focus gaining popularity throughout Europe is the video motion anomaly detection (VMAD) system, which has a preloaded algorithm to help users study the movement of pixels within the image. These smart cameras can also identify objects that are partially or completely hidden from view for a certain period of time.

Some manufacturers are also working on intelligent cameras with non-lethal weapons that have the ability to lock on their target, measure the distance and shoot if the target is within a range of 50 feet. These cameras are expected gain acceptance in extremely high security and high-risk areas such as prisons or covert government research facilities.

Although the acceptance of smart cameras in the European market is highly promising, manufacturers need to solve the issue surrounding the false alarm rate (FAR). Dallmeier Electronics, Germany has developed the Self Educating Detector (SEDOR) that aims at reducing future FARs by incorporating movements in the field-of-view that have previously generated false alarms.

The European industry is likely to witness wide spread consolidation as competition intensifies and smaller companies try to catch up with major participants such as Panasonic, Bosch Security Systems, Sony Corporation, JVC, Tyco International, SeimenBT and Honeywell that account for 55.0 per cent of the market.

"Larger companies have acquired smaller ones that have faced rising manufacturing costs and falling margins with a view to acquiring new or niche technology or expanding into new geographical areas," says Mr. Banerjee.

In the future, as the emphasis on public safety increases, integration of DVRs with other technologies such biometrics is likely become a popular trend that would result in highly efficient security systems.