Video Surveillance: Integrators' perspective on the year ahead

• Sean A. Ahrens, CPP, CSC, project manager -- security consulting and design services, Schirmer Engineering, an Aon Global Company
• Ray Bernard, president, Ray Bernard Consulting Services
• Bill Bozeman, CEO, PSA Security Network
• Jim Coleman, president, Operational Security Systems Inc.
• Bob Stockwell, director of U.S. Systems Operations, Niscayah Inc.

What is the one technological innovation that will have the greatest impact on video surveillance this year, and how will it do it?

Ahrens: The semi-conductor industry shall continue to proliferate advances in camera technology. As a result, distributed edge technologies will continue to foster growth in video analytics. Time will facilitate advances of software templates or pattern recognition that will bring pseudo guard monitoring. The advancement of pattern-based camera recognition will facilitate reduction in security staffing. In addition, the use of high-resolution digital interfaces such as DVI and HDMI will replace traditional BNC/S-Video video connections.

Bernard: I believe that remote monitoring services will become very important for many companies. I know of one laundromat business in California that has been able to extend its hours of operation and increase its customer base through the use of cameras with two-way audio and remote control of doors and lighting. This has been a revenue-increasing move for the business -- not just a security improvement. I don't know what the impact on the industry as a whole will be, but for many individual businesses both large and small, remote monitoring is able to make a significant contribution to the business.

Bozeman: The virtualization of the NVR. It is already happening and this change will open up the video surveillance market to yet another level, allowing for increased deployment opportunities.

Coleman: Likely IP cameras will have the greatest impact on growth of revenue in the video surveillance segment. They will continue to grow in market share.

Stockwell: Managed Remote Services Offerings will be the significant "piece of the puzzle" for customers who have made a significant investment in video hardware and infrastructure over the years. The industry has alluded to technology for remote diagnostics, remote system heath checks, network attached video storage and a host of other remote services that, until now, were not readily available. With the technological advances in Management Remote Video Offerings, customers can take full advantage of their existing investment in video equipment while reducing costs and avoiding significant capital outlay. This is especially appealing given the current economic climate -- everyone appreciates spending less and getting more.

Next Page: Is video analytics gaining traction?

How will video analytics gain traction and becomes a profitable part of the video surveillance industry in 2010?

Bozeman: It already has for these who have chosen to dip their toe in. The improvements in the last 24 months have been noteworthy. VA can now be deployed by the traditional security systems integrator in an efficient and profitable manner. This has not been the case in the past, as deployment has been difficult, resulting in projects that were not profitable for the integrator.

Ahrens: Advances in the development of pattern recognition templates will foster expansive growth in video analytics.

Coleman: Video Analytics will become easier to set up and use. Products like Video IQ's [intelligent cameras with built-in edge recorders] are easy to implement into an existing system.

Stockwell: First, video analytics must be a "soft solution" that is importable to existing hardware platforms. Companies have a large capital investment in hardware and cannot financially change (nor will they) just to have analytics. Second, video analytics should be called "Business Intelligence Reporting." In retail for example, it should capture customer shopping patterns, shopper trends and other data that is critical or can be critical to the retail marketing and Consumer Packaged Goods (GPG) executives. BIR will only get traction when a sound business case can be made that clearly shows a significantly positive impact to the bottom line via increased sales, revenue, market share, etc.