Month: January 2025

There is public support for the police’s use of facial recognition to solve and prevent crimes – even in traditionally more skeptical countries as Denmark. Here, a new opinion poll shows that 84 percent have a positive attitude. However, trust in the technology depends on politicians and authorities establishing clear rules for the protection of data and privacy. Whether it is recorded video material used to solve crimes, or live images that, for example, can identify unwanted hooligans at a football stadium, public support for the use of facial recognition is quite significant. In Denmark 84 percent support the use of facial recognition in connection with the prevention and solving of crime and terrorism. The support spans across age, gender, and geography, according to a nationally representative analysis conducted by Norstat for Milestone Systems. But the support has strings attached. 70% of Danes see clear rules, data protection, and transparency about how and where the technology is used as the most important factor for their trust. Additionally, 51% consider it crucial that data is deleted as soon as it is no longer relevant to a case. “The support for facial recognition also obliges. Therefore, politicians and authorities must get started on creating clarity about rules, responsibility, and protection of our data. It is fine that they are currently operating within a pilot scheme, but it is urgent to look at more permanent regulation of facial recognition,” said Thomas Jensen, CEO of Milestone Systems. Danish Milestone Systems develops and sells data-driven video technology and analysis tools used in, for example, airports, by police, traffic control, companies, hospitals, and stadiums worldwide. “It is crucial to have clear and transparent regulation if we are to maintain the public’s support and trust in the technology and the authorities. At the same time, there must be security for how facial recognition data is stored and deleted when it is no longer relevant. It could be 30-60 days,” said Thomas Jensen. The technology is used today for everything from verification – such as when you open your iPhone, show a badge, or go through passport control – to recognizing a specific person at, for example, a sports venue. The support for facial recognition also obliges. Therefore, politicians and authorities must get started on creating clarity about rules, responsibility, and protection of our data. It is fine that they are currently operating within a pilot scheme, but it is urgent to look at more permanent regulation of facial recognition Thomas Jensen CEO, Milestone Systems “In addition to all the practical and well-known applications, modern AI-driven facial recognition is also a powerful tool that can help both solve and prevent crimes,” said Thomas Jensen. Although the publics knowledge of the technology behind facial recognition is relatively low, the attitude is positive. The new survey shows significant support for using facial recognition technology in cases of murder (88%) and serious violence and rape (87%). Likewise, 81% believe that facial recognition should be used to prevent and solve terrorism by quickly identifying known terrorists. Technology is not always perfect – this also applies to facial recognition. Therefore, two trained operators should verify with their own eyes when the software finds a face match – a picture in a database that matches a picture from a video recording of, for example, a wanted criminal or a hooliganThomas Jensen CEO, Milestone Systems Clear rules and regulations are one thing. There is still a need for common sense and human judgment, says Thomas Jensen. “Technology is not always perfect – this also applies to facial recognition. Therefore, two trained operators should verify with their own eyes when the software finds a face match – a picture in a database that matches a picture from a video recording of, for example, a wanted criminal or a hooligan,” said Thomas Jensen. He emphasizes that although most respondents in the survey support the police’s use of facial recognition in their work to protect citizens, prevent, and especially solve crimes. “But that trust and support also obliges to create clarity and frameworks,” he emphasized. Facts about facial recognition ● Today, AI – artificial intelligence – is used to train facial recognition software and convert images into anonymous signatures/ numbers. These signatures are compared with anonymous signatures in a database based on images of faces from, for example, the police, Interpol, FBI etc. ● Only when there is a potential match between the signatures are the images retrieved from the database for comparison. ● The technology is used today for everything from verification – such as when you open your iPhone, show a badge, or go through passport control – to recognizing a specific person at, for example, a football stadium. ● The technology behind facial recognition was developed in 1965 by the American mathematician Woodrow Wilson Bledsoe (1921–1995) to identify or confirm a person’s identity based on facial features. ● Post-event facial recognition analyzes video recordings after the event has taken place, instead of live. Investigators can use recognition software on recorded video from cameras to identify suspects by matching their face/signatures with known databases. ● Real-time facial recognition is the immediate analysis of a live video feed, where faces are compared with a database to generate instant alerts when a match is found. At large public events such as sports stadiums, real-time facial recognition can be used to detect wanted or banned individuals – for example, known hooligans. Read more posts

Hikvision has integrated seven advanced technologies that drive stability, precision, and efficiency in video monitoring with Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras. In this blog, we will explore how these innovations – such as image stabilization, rapid focusing, and dual-view capabilities – enable Hikvision’s PTZ cameras to provide unmatched performance in various environments. Numerous real-world challenges face security professionals who need to deliver reliable and efficient video monitoring solutions. Sometimes, it is finding a way to focus on critical issues that occur within a video stream. At other times, they need to be able to ‘see’ in very adverse weather conditions. To cope with these different challenging scenarios, security solutions must be able to adapt and respond with precision and intelligence. Hikvision’s PTZ cameras bring together dedicated technologies designed to address these needs, ensuring optimal performance in the most demanding conditions. 7 innovations that enable Hikvision’s PTZ cameras to be trusted in diverse real world scenarios 1. Stabilizing images against vibrations When PTZ cameras are installed on bridges or in areas with strong winds, they are prone to vibration. This can cause the image to show signs of shaking, especially when the lens is extended to its maximum focal length. To address this problem, Hikvision has developed unique Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Gyroscope Image 7 Advanced Technologies That Optimize The Performance of Hikvision’s PTZ Cameras Stabilization (GIS) technologies for its PTZ cameras. Both technologies use a gyroscope to detect and measure camera vibrations. The OIS technology compensates for the camera motion by moving the lens in the optical path, ensuring that the lens always stays focused on the sensor. The GIS technology, meanwhile, counterbalances the camera’s motion digitally. 2. Seeing through fog When monitoring long distances, fog can be a significant issue. Hikvision’s defog technology measures fog density based on the level of grayness in the live video feed and automatically activates a proper defog mode. In light fog, the Algorithmic Defog mode enables the camera to digitally recover and enhance image details to produce colored video. In more challenging, thick fog conditions, the Optical Defog mode is activated. This mode uses infrared light, which can penetrate the fog to generate black-and-white video. Despite the absence of color, the video is of high quality thanks to advanced Image Signal Processing (ISP), which significantly reduces noise. 3. Focusing at lightning speed while zooming Just as eagles can spot small animals from high in the sky, Hikvision’s PTZ cameras can sharply focus on distant objects, even as their zoom level changes. This capability is powered by Hikvision’s Rapid Focus technology. By creating a 3D model of the camera’s surroundings, the system pre-calculates the coordinates and zoom ratio for every point in the scene. When the camera needs to focus on a specific point, it uses this pre-calculated data to quickly achieve sharp focus, dramatically reducing focusing time. 4. Keeping track of moving objects In some situations, it is essential to continuously track a moving object. In a chemical park, for example, it is crucial to monitor trucks transporting hazardous materials to ensure they follow the designated entrances and routes. In such cases, Hikvision’s Auto Tracking 3.0 technology provides an effective solution. By leveraging Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), the PTZ camera can identify, lock onto, and accurately follow a specific vehicle. The camera’s pan and tilt capabilities allow it to maintain focus on the vehicle as long as it remains within coverage, even if it is temporarily obscured by other objects. 5. Delivering dual, smartlylinked views at once When a traditional PTZ camera moves or zooms in, incidents outside its current field of view may be missed, creating gaps in coverage. In environments such as critical facilities or infrastructures, maintaining complete, uninterrupted coverage is vital in ensuring no incident goes unnoticed. Hikvision’s TandemVu PTZ cameras tackle this challenge by integrating multiple lenses, offering panoramic and close-up views simultaneously. The innovative Smart Linkage technology ensures that when an object is detected in the panoramic view, the PTZ lens automatically activates to track and identify it. If it identifies a trespasser, the camera can even issue visual and auditory warnings. This dual-view capability allows users to focus on details or respond to specific events while maintaining a wider overview, ensuring effective situational awareness. 6. Extending operational life with an upgraded slip ring for pan-tilt PTZ cameras undergo countless pan and tilt movements throughout their lifespan, which can lead to mechanical wear and decreased reliability in standard models. Hikvision’s Dual-Track Slip Ring is designed to address this challenge by offering enhanced durability and redundancy. The dual-track design ensures that the camera remains operational even if one track experiences damage, providing up to 10 years of reliable performance. The gold-plated tracks further enhance smoothness and resistance to wear, ensuring continuous and stable operations necessary for demanding applications. 7. Automatic recovery from lens direction drift In high-traffic environments, such as busy intersections, PTZ cameras must continually pan and tilt to provide complete coverage, which can lead to gradual lens direction drift. Hikvision’s Smart Pan-Tilt Correction technology solves this problem by automatically keeping the camera lens aligned with the intended direction, even during prolonged operation or when affected by external forces. This technology detects and corrects any directional drift, ensuring precise monitoring and accurate privacy masking. As a result, users are guaranteed the exact coverage needed for dependable security. Hikvision’s PTZ cameras are crafted with one goal in mind: to address a diverse range of challenges with precision, reliability, and intelligence. Whether it’s through ensuring stable video in windy environments, tracking moving vehicles as they travel through high-security zones, or providing clear visibility even in dense fog, these tailored technologies guarantee the powerful performance of PTZ cameras that users demand. They work together to reduce maintenance needs and costs, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure that no critical moment is missed. Read more posts

A firefighter’s protective clothing is composed of three distinct layers made of different textiles. In response to concerns about the gear possibly exposing firefighters to PFAS chemicals — several of which have been linked to cancer — NIST researchers investigated the presence of the chemicals in textiles used to make the layers. This latest study analyzed hoods and gloves worn in structural fires as well as protective clothing worn to fight wildfires. Credit: B. Hayes/NIST. Credit: B. Hayes/NIST The protective clothing worn by wildland firefighters often contains PFAS, according to a new study from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The study also found PFAS in hoods and gloves worn by firefighters who respond to building fires. PFAS – which stands for ‘per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances’ – are a category of chemicals used in a wide range of products. In high concentrations, PFAS may have harmful health effects on people. Firefighters have more PFAS in their blood than the average person. It isn’t clear why, but one theory is that it comes from the protective equipment they wear during a fire – called turnout gear. “Our latest study showed that PFAS are present not only in the jacket and pants worn by firefighters, but also in many of the smaller protective garments,” said NIST Chemist and Study Co-author Rick Davis, “Measuring the presence of the chemicals is the first step in understanding their impact on firefighters.” The NIST studies do not assess the health risks that firefighters might face due to the presence of PFAS in turnout gear. However, they provide previously unavailable data that toxicologists, epidemiologists and other health experts can use to assess those risks. NIST conducted these studies at the behest of Congress, which called on NIST to study PFAS in firefighter gear in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. PFAS are everywhere. They don’t react very easily with other chemicals, so they make very effective nonstick surfaces, lubricants and food packaging. But the fact that they’re unreactive also means that they don’t break down easily. These chemicals stay in the environment for a long time, which is why they are sometimes called ‘forever chemicals.’ Fabrics containing PFAS are often used to make firefighting gear because these chemicals are very good at repelling water. Part of the standard for firefighter gear requires a minimum amount of water resistance to prevent steam burns and provide protection from chemicals. Water resistance also tends to make gear safer because heat can travel much more efficiently through water than through air. For example, a dry potholder will let you safely pull a hot dish out of an oven. But that same dish can give you a third-degree burn in just one second if the potholder is wet. NIST researchers have been running a series of experiments to understand how much PFAS are in that equipment. The two prior NIST studies looked at the level of PFAS in firefighter coats and pants and how wear and tear can increase the amount of measurable PFAS in these garments. This latest study, published on Dec. 13, analyzed gloves and hoods worn by structural firefighters (those who fight fires in buildings), as well as gear worn by wildland firefighters. The researchers were particularly interested in hoods and gloves because they come in direct contact with skin, as opposed to coats and pants that are worn over a base layer. Wildland gear includes the protective shirt and pants worn for fighting wildfires. It’s designed for long treks over difficult terrain, so it trades off some heat protection for mobility. Unlike the thick, heavy coat and pants used to fight a structural fire, wildland gear is like something you might wear camping with extra heat protection. The NIST team tested four types of gloves, eight types of hoods, and nine types of wildland firefighter gear from several manufacturers of firefighter gear in 2021-23. All these garments are commercially available. Our latest study showed that PFAS are present not only in the jacket and pants worn by firefighters, but also in many of the smaller protective garments Rick DavisNIST Chemist and Study Co-author The researchers pulled the garments apart into 32 textile samples and extracted PFAS from the samples into a solvent. Then they tested each solvent to see if it contained any of 55 different PFAS chemicals. After running these tests, Davis and his team found measurable amounts of PFAS in 25 of the 32 textile samples. Across those samples, they found 19 different types of PFAS. “There was a range in the amount of PFAS we found in each sample,” said Davis, “Most had only a little, but a few had large amounts.” The hoods contained low PFAS levels. In almost all cases, the amount of PFAS in hood layers was too small to be measured confidently. The inside layers of the gloves had amounts of PFAS similar to those found in the inside layers of coats and pants tested in prior studies. Wildland gear is made of only one layer. The assumption among researchers was that this layer was unlikely to contain much PFAS. In general that was true, as most of the wildland gear tested had low levels of PFAS. But there were some cases that had notably high levels. Across all the textiles tested in this study, the largest total concentration of PFAS in a single sample was about 4,240 micrograms per kilogram from a piece of wildland gear. “We still don’t know what this means in terms of risk to a firefighter’s health,” said Davis, “But understanding where PFAS is will help us reduce potential impacts as we learn more about these chemicals.” The researchers plan to run a follow-up study on the same samples to see how wear and tear might increase the amount of detectable PFAS in hoods, gloves and wildland firefighter gear. Read more posts

Traditional cameras, which rely solely on visible light, have limitations in their ability to monitor and detect in challenging conditions such as darkness, fog, or other visual obstructions. To overcome these limitations, the industry is increasingly adopting non-visible light perception technologies such as thermal imaging, radar, x-ray and audio. By tapping into the non-visible light spectrum, these technologies enhance monitoring capabilities by detecting heat signatures, movement and details that would otherwise go unnoticed. This not only enhances security applications, such as surveillance in complete darkness or adverse weather, but also opens up new opportunities in fields like healthcare, industrial inspection, and environmental monitoring. To further explore the adoption of these advanced technologies, asmag.com and Hikvision have partnered up to conduct a survey examining the deployment and full potential of four key non-visible light technologies: thermal imaging, audio, x-ray and millimeter radar. Key findings Thermal imaging and audio lead in non-visible light tech deployment Survey data shows that thermal imaging (72%) and audio technology (57%) are the most widely deployed technologies by respondents, followed by X-ray technology (31%) and millimeter radar technology (29%). Audio technology has become a valuable component of security applications, and recent advancements have further expanded its capabilities. The transition to IP-based audio solutions has facilitated integration with existing surveillance systems, enhancing communication and sound warnings. Moreover, the incorporation of two-way audio into surveillance cameras has enabled real-time interaction with individuals in the field. While X-ray and radar technologies are gaining traction, their adoption rates remain lower than thermal and audio solutions. Factors such as cost, complexity and regulatory restrictions may contribute to this. As these challenges are addressed and technological advancements continue, we can anticipate further growth in the adoption of X-ray and radar in various sectors. Customer demand alignment with current market deployment Customer demand seems to align closely with the technologies being offered, especially for thermal imaging and audio solutions. Survey data shows that thermal imaging has the highest level of inquiries, with 15% of respondents indicating that they are always asked about it, 24% often and 39% sometimes. Similarly, audio technology also sees strong demand, with 16% reporting that it was always requested and 24% often. These figures suggest that the market is effectively meeting customer needs for these two technologies. However, demand for X-ray technology and millimeter radar outpaces their current deployment. While 42% of respondents receive inquiries for X-ray (5% always, 10% often, 27% sometimes), only 31% of solutions providers offer it. Similarly, millimeter radar is requested by 37% of respondents (2% always, 11% often, 24% sometimes), but only 29% offer it. This suggests that while customer interest is growing, existing challenges are limiting deployment. The gap suggests a potential opportunity for vendors to expand their offerings if they can address these challenges effectively. Security remains primary reason for adoption Across all technologies, security remains the primary reason for adoption. A significant 69% of respondents cited the need to enhance detection in low-light or challenging environments as a key motivator, with 49% focusing on proactive threat detection and management and 41% seeking to improve situational awareness through multi-dimensional perception. This strong emphasis on security aligns with the high demand for thermal imaging and audio technologies, which have been proven to enhance surveillance and communication in real-time security operations. Interestingly, the survey results showed that there is a growing trend towards expanding applications beyond security, with 41% of respondents indicating this as a reason for adoption. Moreover, another equal percentage (41%) cited the need to meet customer requests and project requirements. This correlation suggests a customer-centric approach in the industry, where providers are responding to specific client needs and preferences. Technology insights, applications by industry Thermal technology Security/perimeter protection remains the primary application for thermal imaging, accounting for 86% of responses. Other top applications include early fire and smoke detection (65%), industrial equipment monitoring (53%) and body temperature monitoring (43%). These applications align with the unique capabilities of thermal imaging, which detects objects based on their heat signature. Respondent quotes further support these findings: The top five verticals for thermal imaging deployment are energy infrastructure, factories, transportation, healthcare, and office/corporate buildings. This is consistent with its ability to improve situational awareness and detect potential hazards. For instance, in energy infrastructure, it can also be used to monitor equipment overheating. What are the primary applications of thermal imaging technology for your projects/ customers? Audio technology Security ranks a solid No. 1 (88%) as the primary application for audio technology. Indeed, audio solutions such as intercoms, public address systems and warning messages have been deployed for security purposes for many years. Today, audio and video surveillance can be integrated, enabling warning messages to be played back on a speaker when a potential intruder/ loiterer is detected. Non-security applications are also cited, for example industrial equipment monitoring (47%) and background music (41%). The top verticals for audio solution deployment are retail, factories, energy infrastructure, office/corporate buildings and healthcare. This is not a surprise – retail stores, for example, are known to use PA systems for both security and background music, and factories use audio analytics for equipment monitoring. It’s important to note that the audio industry is transitioning to IP-based solutions, similar to the growth of IP surveillance. This shift is expected to drive significant growth in the audio technology market as organizations adopt more advanced and integrated solutions. What are the primary applications of audio technology for your projects/ customers? Millimeter radar technology Security and traffic management are the primary applications for respondents, accounting for 81% and 64% of responses respectively. Radar works by emitting signals into the environment and processing the reflected signals to determine the speed, size and distance of those objects. This makes radar ideal for both security and transportation, for use cases such as speed measurement and traffic flow detection. Compared to cameras, radar offers several advantages, including the ability to cover large areas and operate independently of weather conditions. Radar can also be combined with PTZ cameras to provide…