Security is a top priority for many people around the world, and statistics show that we have increasing reasons to be concerned about safety each year. Not that things are getting worse in the world in which we live, but with an ever-increasing population, the number of minor crimes such as robberies is on the rise.
People did not have any techniques of capturing burglars on video proof and using it as evidence before a judge back then. Things were considerably more difficult for sheriffs back then, but due to technological advancements, we now have a variety of options for improving our security, including installing CCTV cameras.
Closed-circuit television is abbreviated as CCTV, or video surveillance. Unlike “regular” television, which is transmitted to the whole public, “closed-circuit” television is only broadcast to a few (closed) monitors. CCTV networks are commonly used to detect and deter criminal activity as well as to record traffic offenses, but they can be used for other purposes as well.
In 1942, German scientists developed CCTV technology to track the launch of V2 rockets. It was later utilized by American scientists in atomic bomb testing. CCTV surveillance of the public is universal in many parts of the world. Body-worn video cameras have been popular in recent years as a new kind of surveillance, particularly in law enforcement, with cameras mounted on a police officer’s chest or head. Video surveillance has sparked a heated debate about how to balance its use with people’s right to privacy in public.
Digital multiplexing was developed in the 1990s, allowing numerous cameras to record at the same time, as well as time-lapse and motion-only recording. As a result of the time and money saved, the adoption of CCTV has increased. With a trend toward Internet-based goods and systems, as well as other technological advancements, CCTV technology has recently improved.
Also Read: CCTV Footage importance as an Evidence
Crime management
Potential offenders may be deterred by CCTV surveillance. When a crime occurs, video footage can aid law enforcement in their investigation and eventually serve as evidence in court. Audio, thermal, and other types of sensors, when used in conjunction with CCTV, can notify officials of unusual events, such as a fire or gunshots at a location. In-house criminal conduct can be detected and tracked using CCTV cameras in enterprises. In prisons, video surveillance might be used to prevent drones from delivering drugs and other contraband to inmates. Security cameras can keep an eye on areas that are tough to reach, including rooftops.
Disaster management
Emergency services and rescue workers can analyze and monitor events in real-time using CCTV cameras to send a “situation” to disaster management teams via videos, such as from within a burning building, a cave, or a helicopter flying over a site.
City and community street monitoring
People are monitored by cameras at traffic lights and other locations throughout cities to collect traffic statistics and evidence of speeding. The IOT is a Chicago effort that collects real-time data on the city, especially weather and ecology. Security cameras are among the sensory nodes that assess the images they capture but do not broadcast or store them to safeguard people’s privacy. In most cases, just a small number are kept for senior academics to use to “create computer vision software.” Privacy advocates have raised concerns about the project.
Medical monitoring and diagnosis
People’s thoughts and feelings are expressed through 43 facial muscles. Smart software can better recognize emotional expressions, such as pain or worry, in photos than individuals can. Patients – such as youngsters or the elderly – can also be monitored by CCTV cameras to detect impending medical catastrophes, such as a stroke or an epileptic or asthma attack.
Behavioral research
According to CCTV footage used in the suicide study, 83 percent of persons attempting to jump in front of a train displayed distinct tendencies. These were evaluated subsequently using CCTV footage and are now utilized to notify monitor watchers of probable suicides. Researchers employ surveillance networks to track crowd activity in public locations and prevent anti-social conduct. Schools, for example, have utilized cameras for security and to record bullying and playground occurrences on tape.
Retail intelligence
Market intelligence gleaned from customer video surveillance is being used to study purchase trends and enable better strategizing, such as how people shop, which aisles they frequent the most, and how likely they are to respond to calls to action in various store layouts. Heat maps can assist shops to determine peak buying times, preferred promotion kinds, and staffing requirements during peak shopping periods by displaying the highs and lows of shopper activity at specific spots in the store.
How does CCTV work?
Analog and digital systems operate in very different ways, yet current CCTV networks transform analog to digital using conversion software and hardware. Retrofitting is the term for this procedure.
A typical CCTV system includes:
- One or more cameras (analog or digital), each having an image sensor-equipped lens
- A recorder — for analog systems, a basic videotape recorder; for digital systems, a Direct Video Recorder (DVR) or Network Video Recorder (NVR).
- RJ45 for digital and coaxial for analog cables
- The visuals are sent to one or more monitors.
Types of CCTV systems
- Analog – To transmit continuous video signals, use Bayonet Neill-Concelman (BNC) connectors on coaxial cables. They have a low resolution yet are inexpensive and effective. In an analog system, there are more peripherals; for example, conventional coaxial wires rarely transport audio. Analog signals can be converted to digital, making digital conversion more cost-effective even with older equipment. A video capture card is required to save the photographs on a PC or tape recorder. Analog HD is a step up from previous systems, with higher resolution (1080 pixels) and compatibility with analog cameras and BNC.
- Digital – At the camera level, digitalize signals. These systems do not require a video capture card because images are saved directly to a computer, but they do necessitate a (relatively) big quantity of storage space for recordings, thus they are usually extensively compressed.
- Network or IP – These systems use a video server to feed footage over the internet from analog or digital cameras. The benefits include WiFi and audio capabilities, Distributed Artificial Intelligence (DAI) for image analysis, remote access, Power Over Ethernet (POE), and higher resolution. Furthermore, IP cameras can combine many cameras into a single unit, allowing them to cover a wider area than multiple cameras or camera systems could.
All three options are still in use, with IP camera systems and digital video cameras is the most popular.
Network CCTV
pros and cons
Pros – Allow for remote monitoring, no network cabling is required, and surveillance activities can be automated.
Cons – It can be expensive to buy out of the box. It entails a higher learning curve and is at risk from hackers
Analog CCTV
pros and cons
Pros – It can be Cheaper and easier installation than network CCTV with more vendor support available
Cons – Lower resolution, more cabling required, and don’t facilitate data encryption
The future of CCTV
Other digital technologies, according to Wesley G. Skogan, will complement CCTV in the future to provide a more autonomous and proactive surveillance approach. Face recognition, networked cameras, intelligent hardware, license plate scanners, drones, police body cams, and the Internet of Things are among these technologies. These technologies will increase passive surveillance, allowing systems to raise alerts rather than people. Mass surveillance and increased security camera deployment, as seen in China, could spread to other countries.
Advantages
The use of CCTV camera systems has undeniably significant benefits. Their effectiveness in discouraging crime is difficult to show, yet it is widely assumed. Customers who visit a store knowing they are being recorded are much less inclined to steal. Members of the public who are aware that a hospital waiting room is monitored by CCTV are less likely to assault workers. CCTV makes everyone’s lives safer since it can detect incidents as they happen – such as on the highway – and dispatch help promptly. It certainly saves lives.
With the use of CCTV, missing individuals are identified, criminals are tracked down, and accidents are avoided. When CCTV security systems are installed in houses, residents feel safer and more protected. The adoption of CCTV security systems protects businesses and their livelihoods against theft and monetary loss. For the most part, the benefits of surveillance outweigh the negatives.
Disadvantages
“Those who trade liberty for safety deserve neither,” Benjamin Franklin declared, and opponents of a monitoring society agree. They recognize the benefits of CCTV systems but believe that a larger concern for individual liberty outweighs this public good. Some argue that CCTV is ineffective in preventing crime, and there have been some credible university-led studies to support their position. They claim that CCTV gives the public a false sense of security and that its usage is part of a larger plan to reduce the number of officers on the street. The notion that the implementation of CCTV across the country harms the citizen-state relationship is much broader. In 1995, Sir John Smith, the former Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, issued a warning on the subject. His warning concerning greater surveillance is well-received.
