Let’s think, what if we had a security system that watches the surroundings
but additionally it can also evaluate and respond in real time, it would be so
cool, wouldn’t it? That’s exactly what imagined when I was younger. Because,
at that time we just had security systems that were traditional, which
required monitoring manually. They just record the footages and we used to
re-watch them if we had any suspicions (by that time, the danger might already
have happened). But right now, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence
(AI) as well as open source tools, the imagination we had of what it would be
to have security system that doesn’t just record but also analyzes and
responds immediately has been fulfilled. In this blog, we’ll be exploring into
the impact of AI on surveillance of security videos. By the time you finish
reading this blog, you’ll be able to recognize the main tools and methods as
well as the benefits of using AI in your security systems.
How Artificial Intelligence (AI) is Transforming Video Surveillance
While monitoring security systems, the traditional methods completely depend
on what we humans can see. The cameras keep recording the footages but those
footages are usually left unseen until it is checked manually, only if
something bad occurs. The main purpose of cameras are for surveillance, but
these traditional methods results in limitations in surveillance itself.
But when we use AI, specifically through machine learning models, the security
systems become more active. Let me list down the features AI brings:
-
Detection of humans and things in real-time: This is a
really cool feature, because it detects suspicious behaviors, trach and
identify things at the same time it happens. This feature is usually made
available by using advanced high-tech models like the YOLO (You Only Live
Once) model.
-
Reduces False Alarms: Compared to the traditional methods
which can get triggered sometimes by wind or even shadows, AI will give you
alerts only when there are cases of something suspicious, thereby reducing
false alerts.
-
Monitors Efficiently: AI has the ability to scan long
duration footages in just a few minutes, at the same time it also flags
important events or based on the observed patterns, they can also create
trends.
All these features makes the security system more proactive with AI. It
reduces the need of constant monitoring by humans and furthermore, it offers
insights in real-time.
The Role of Open Source alongside AI In Surveillance
So, to briefly tell you, Open Source is referred to a software that have their
source code available to the public, so that anyone can view it, make changes
and distribute them. While we know AI is a game changer for the surveillance
systems but it can be quite expensive and its flexibility may be limited. In
such cases, open-source tools from AI makes it easily accessible to everyone.
Below I will let you know about some of the leading open-source tolls which
are being used to develop security systems powered by the AI.
ZoneMinder is an open-source tool which is featured completely for
surveillance of videos. It can work with various camera models and also allows
the monitoring of several areas or zones in real-time, along with parallel
detection of objects and producing alerts when necessary. It can be set up on
a standard hardware which can be mounted based on your needs, either up or
down.
Kerberos.io is another open-source tool which uses AI and cloud-native
technologies and is designed to monitor video management. It provides footages
in real-time from the cameras with several features. Some of the features
include: detecting motion, heatmaps and also searches videos based on deep
learning, with these features it can be an ideal tool to be used in offices,
retail chains and also smart cities.
Frigate, is a specific type of open source tool that integrates with Home
Assistant, which uses TensorFlow to produce object detection in real-time.
This tool can identify among humans, animals and several other objects,
contributing to accurate monitoring.
Viseron, is also an open-source tool that provides face detection in addition
to object detection, which makes it ideal for areas with tight security. It
also works well with hardware from IP cameras to NVIDIA Jetson Nano and
Raspberry Pi, which makes it a great option for DIY setups.
Setting up an AI-Powered Video Surveillance System
As I had mentioned before, the rise of open sources have made setting up of
AI-Powered Video surveillance systems more available, which would have been
more intimidating if there weren’t any open sources. Let’s get to the steps of
its setup:
-
Choosing of Open-Source Software: You can begin by
selecting one among the list of platforms listed above, like Viseron or
Frigate. You can then go through the documentation, which is detailed so you
can get guided throughout the process of setting up.
-
Selection of Cameras: Great number of open-source systems
work with most models of IP cameras. You can select for a camera in your
budget or much more high-tech cameras based on your needs.
-
Installation and Configuration: Your platform will provide
you with a guide with installation steps, which you can follow to install
the system. For instance, in the case of Kereberos.io, it provides a rather
easier Docker setup, that allows you to run it quickly.
-
Usage or Training of Pre-Built Models: Some tools such as
Viseron or Frigate comes with models that are pre-built for detecting
objects, but there is also an option where you can train and customize the
models based on your needs for your security.
-
Setting Alerts and Automation: At the end of the setting up
process, after it becomes operational, start shape it to send your devices
real-time alerts. In addition, you can also connect it to your smart home
systems such as the automation of lights, locks, doors and other appliances
if there is detection of some events by using Home Assistant system.
Arising Challenges and Overcoming Them
Even with the spread of AI in this generation, nothing is perfect. Even if
it’s perfect, it does have certain challenges. Some of these challenges are:
-
False Positives: Sometimes when using AI, there can be
something that causes false alerts. To overcome this, you can change and
train your settings so that the model can identify only specific motions or
things.
-
Limitations in Hardware: If you look, processing algorithms
that are AI dependent can require too much resources. For huge setups,
Hardwares can have limitations, it would be better to purchase a hardware
that is compatible with GPU processing such as NVIDIA Jetson.
-
Concerns over Privacy: These AI-dependent surveillance
systems does have some privacy concern, specially when in the public spaces.
You should always abide by the local laws and try to use anonymizing
characteristics such as using the blurring of faces to protect identities.
Benefits of Using AI-dependent Open-Source Tools
If you’re still thinking, why should I think about using open-source security
systems that are enhanced by AI? Then, let me tell you:
Affordable Prices: Compared to other tools that take a huge
amount of fees for licensing, open-source tools such as Frigate are accessible
for free, but even for hardware costs they just charge a small amount.
Modifiable: These open-source tools, you can modify features
unlike some tools, where you’ve to live through the default features. The
features can be changed as per your requirements, even training them to alert
in the presence of specific motions.
Scalability: Here, you can begin by using just one camera and
then start multiplying more as depending on your needs and demands. These
open-source softwares have the ability to manage so many cameras easily, which
makes them ideal for any area, whether its your home or your office or even
the entire city.
Community Support: The community of open-source systems are
always active and keeps updating their platforms. This allows you to contact
them anytime you’re struck with an issue.
Lastly, after reading all this, you’ll know that open-source AI tools indeed
has allowed video surveillance to get advanced, making security systems much
more budget friendly, effective and scalable. It empowers the individuals as
well as businesses to regulate their spaces by detecting objects in real-time,
automation and even smarter ways of alerting. The most leading tools that
provide these features are ZoneMinder, Kerberos.io, Frigate and Viseron.
Doesn’t matter, if you want a surveillance to protect your home or you want to
provide security for your business buildings or complexes, these tools gives
you a more modifiable and budget friendly approach. If you use the idea
AI-powered setup, your surroundings and spaces can be just beneath your eye.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1.Can you suggest me some best open-source tools for Ai-dependent video
surveillance?
Some of the popular tools are ZoneMinder, Frigate and Kerberos.io.
Each of these tools have their own specific features such as object
detection in real-time and scalability is much quicker.
2. Can AI-Powered systems work with regular cameras?
Yes, majority of them support a large group of IP cameras. You don’t
have to get a special hardware for it.
3. Is setting up these AI-based security systems complicated?
No, it isn’t hard at all!! Most of these systems have simple steps to
be installed, often they offer a Docker or also a pre-configured
packages.
4. Is security guaranteed when using open-source tools?
Yes, these open-source systems gives you power to control your data
and modify the security settings according to your requirements, so
they are as secure possible.
