Automated security bringing intelligent insights to the smart city

Within smart constructs cloud technology facilitates the gathering of data from a wealth of network connected sensors and devices to generate actionable insights, helping to solve real-world problems and, ultimately, improve the quality of citizens’ lives. Cloud-enabled or hosted physical security solutions can offer many applications to the designers and builders of smart city environments, with the combination of AI and analytics producing powerful benefits from a security perspective and beyond.

Within smart constructs cloud technology facilitates the gathering of data from a wealth of network connected sensors and devices to generate actionable insights, helping to solve real-world problems and, ultimately, improve the quality of citizens’ lives. Cloud-enabled or hosted physical security solutions can offer many applications to the designers and builders of smart city environments, with the combination of AI and analytics producing powerful benefits from a security perspective and beyond.

Cloud and physical security integration

A huge leap forward from the analogue, standalone systems of the past, video surveillance as-a-service (VSaaS) and access control as-a-service (ACaaS) are hosted security solutions with cloud technology facilitating automated data insights via the Morphean AI platform. In a busy office environment, an access control solution that is linked to HR staff records can check the swipe of an access card or use of a QR code against staff data. A surveillance camera provides secondary authentication, with any attempt at unauthorised entry triggering an alert to notify security.

This integration of physical technology and cloud connectivity proves a powerful combination and also facilitates remote management of premises. When many buildings were left vacant during multiple lockdowns as a result of the pandemic, or manned by only essential key workers, security and operations teams benefitted from having on-site visibility through remote management of sites, with data from the access control and video surveillance systems providing an overarching view of the environment via mobile device.

Operational insights

VSaaS and ACaaS are capable of producing powerful insights based on the data they capture and process, offering a compelling reason to adopt such solutions. Possibilities for use span industries and sectors. On a busy retail park, sensors installed at store entrance points can keep a log of the number of people within the building at any time. This technology has proven invaluable during Covid and serves as an example of the system’s many benefits beyond security. As part of a future-proof solution, this functionality is readily available, should it be required if and when Covid infection rates again begin to rise.

In the modern, intelligent office environment, video surveillance technologies can be used to create a competitive advantage by understanding working preferences or how employees move around the building, derived from a combination of access control and video data. The resulting intelligence may influence hot desking and home working policies, or the introduction of energy-efficient lighting applications, representing cost savings.

Smart traffic and logistics management

Intelligent analytics can be used to improve operations across the city’s many modes of public transport. Sensors and devices, integrated on buses and trains, can provide instant images and video footage to control centre personnel, while proactive intruder and loitering alarms employed at busy stations and depots, can deter suspected troublemakers before an incident occurs.

Numberplate recognition technology, connected to the same system, can be used to monitor traffic, detecting stolen vehicles or those that are moving erratically and causing concern. This technology can be used to control the admission of vehicles to the city’s busy logistics and distribution warehouses where collections and deliveries can be scheduled and automatically processed using a mixture of cameras and sensors, streamlining operations.

VSaaS and ACaaS have great potential to be implemented right at the core of intelligent building design and smart cities planning. Factoring in such systems right from the outset will provide enhanced protection while unlocking multiple benefits relating to the unlocking of data-driven insights to streamline business operations across the city. VSaaS and ACaaS can bring a peace of mind that comes from being well prepared to face any challenges that might lie ahead.