Ethan Dang, Product Marketing Specialist at Premio explains how edge AI computing and video analytics aids the development of smarter cities.
As cities grow more complex with rapid technological changes, public safety and transportation must adapt to digital transformation.
Developing smart cities requires more than the reactive approach of traditional surveillance systems.
Intelligent video analytics (IVA) modernizes security and surveillance with proactive monitoring and analysis for actionable decision-making insights.
These AI-driven solutions are making significant improvements to smarter public safety and transportation.
Video surveillance has undergone a significant transformation over the years, evolving from traditional methods of passive observation to the implementation of advanced active AI technologies.
This shift has not only enhanced the effectiveness of surveillance systems but has also played a crucial role in improving public safety and the efficiency of transportation networks.
In the past, video surveillance primarily involved the use of cameras to monitor specific areas, with human operators tasked with watching the footage for any suspicious activity.
This approach was limited by the capacity of human attention and the sheer volume of data generated by multiple camera feeds.
However, with the advent of IVA systems, the landscape of surveillance has changed dramatically.
IVA systems are capable of processing high-definition video streams in real time, allowing for immediate analysis of the footage captured by surveillance cameras.
These systems leverage multimodal AI algorithms, which combine various data inputs and analytical techniques to enhance their ability to detect and interpret events.
For instance, they can analyze visual data alongside audio inputs, environmental sensors and even social media feeds to gain a comprehensive understanding of a situation.
One of the most significant advantages of these advanced surveillance systems is their ability to identify anomalies within the monitored environment.
By continuously analyzing video feeds, IVA systems can detect unusual behavior or patterns that may indicate a potential security threat or emergency situation.
For example, they can recognize when a person is loitering in a restricted area or when a vehicle is moving erratically, prompting immediate alerts to security personnel or law enforcement.
Moreover, these systems are equipped with predictive capabilities, allowing them to forecast incidents before they occur.
By analyzing historical data and current trends, IVA systems can identify potential hotspots for crime or accidents, enabling authorities to allocate resources more effectively and implement preventive measures.
This proactive approach not only enhances public safety but also fosters a sense of security within communities.
In addition to improving safety, the integration of AI in video surveillance has streamlined workflows within urban infrastructure.
Automated processes, such as incident reporting and response coordination, reduce the burden on human operators and ensure that critical information is relayed swiftly to the appropriate agencies.
This efficiency is particularly vital in transportation systems, where timely responses to incidents can prevent traffic congestion, accidents and other disruptions.
Overall, the evolution of video surveillance from passive monitoring to active AI-driven systems represents a significant leap forward in the realm of public safety and urban management.
By harnessing the power of advanced video analytics and real-time processing, these technologies are not only enhancing the effectiveness of surveillance but are also contributing to the creation of safer, more resilient urban environments.
As these systems continue to evolve, we can expect even greater advancements in how we monitor and respond to the complexities of modern urban life.
Examples of IVA deployment applications include:
While IVA offers transformative benefits, its implementation in public safety and transportation systems presents distinct technical and operational challenges that must be addressed to achieve reliable, real-time performance.
IVA applications require immediate data processing to deliver actionable insights.
Although traditional cloud architectures may have the necessary AI processing capabilities, it introduces latency due to the need to transmit large volumes of video data to remote data centers for processing.
This latency makes cloud-centric models unsuitable for time-sensitive, mission-critical IVA applications.
The integration of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) systems is essential for smart city infrastructure but introduces complexity.
IVA systems must interoperate with a diverse range of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and software platforms under a single centralized system.
IVA solutions are deployed in various industrial environments where 24/7 operational reliability is necessary even under extreme conditions.
Implementing commercial workstations will result in system failures that compromise surveillance and video analytics capabilities.
Public safety and transportation surveillance generate vast amounts of sensitive data.
With an influx of cybersecurity attacks and risks, minimal data exposure has become increasingly important.
By processing and storing data locally, it complies with privacy regulations and reduces vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks.
Industrial edge computers serve as the backbone in enabling IVA technologies at the edge.
These specialized systems are purpose-built to provide the necessary AI performance, IoT connectivity and on-premises durability to streamline complex IVA workloads.
Edge computing systems process video analytics directly at the data source, eliminating cloud transmission latency.
This localized processing enables real-time threat detection essential for public safety applications where incidents escalate within seconds.
Leveraging embedded-focused x86 processors (Intel Core TE) or ARM-based NVIDIA Jetson modules, these specialized architectures balance thermal efficiency with time-sensitive networking capabilities to deliver the computational density required for multi-stream AI inference workloads at the edge.
Purpose-built edge computers integrate specialized hardware accelerators (GPUs, TPUs, NPUs) to enable complex IVA workloads including object recognition, behavior analysis and predictive video analytics to run simultaneously across multiple video data streams.
These accelerators not only deliver real-time inferencing capabilities but also ensure low-power efficiency and thermal management for uninterrupted performance.
Industrial edge systems bridge IT/OT convergence gaps with a versatile set of connectivity options.
With support for advanced IoT sensors (via high-speed LAN and USB) and legacy interfaces (via COM, DIO, CAN Bus), these systems can deliver seamless interoperability with both advanced technologies within an existing security infrastructure.
Additionally, these industrial computers are compatible with all ranges of wireless communications from private or public 5G networks to local Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Data security and redundancy are paramount at the edge.
Industrial edge computers integrate multiple storage technologies including configurable RAID to safeguard against data loss and high-speed NVMe storage for rapid data aggregation workloads.
Local data processing and storage minimizes exposure to cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities.
Engineered for on-premises deployment in demanding environments, these industrial-grade edge computers feature a ruggedized fanless construction to prevent ingress of dust and debris while ensuring extended temperature ranges (-40°C to 75°C) and MIL-STD-810G shock/vibration resistance.
Additionally, these rugged systems incorporate flexible power management features including wide input voltage tolerance (9~36VDC) and comprehensive protection mechanisms (OCP, OVP, RPP) to handle inconsistent power sources.
Built for continuous 24/7 operation, they undergo extensive testing protocols to secure prestigious safety certifications such as UL Listed, ensuring dependable performance in mission-critical surveillance applications.
IVA solutions powered by industrial edge computers are a critical enabler of modern public safety and transportation systems.
By delivering real-time, actionable insights at the edge, IVA solutions drive operational efficiency, improve response times and support the development of smarter, safer cities.
This article was originally published in the April edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.