The escalating demand for security measures across airports, seaports, urban areas, and borders has driven a shift toward more advanced monitoring systems. This evolution began with static imagery but quickly transitioned to full motion video (FMV), followed by sophisticated video analytics capable of automatically identifying unusual events. According to ReportsNReports, the global smart surveillance and video analytics market was valued at $13.5 billion in 2012 and is projected to reach $39 billion by 2020.

Compared to static images, FMV enables continuous monitoring over time, allowing for behavioral analysis and reducing the risk of overlooking critical details through persistent observation. However, this technology faces two major challenges: capturing high-quality imagery despite vibrations, fluctuating lighting conditions, fog, or other environmental factors, and efficiently processing and storing the massive amounts of data generated.

The quality issue has been largely resolved with rugged video cameras designed to provide daylight high-definition television (HDTV) for FMV applications. These cameras feature optimized functions that adapt to changing lighting and atmospheric conditions and can operate continuously in airborne environments. For example, Adimec’s Video Contrast Enhancement Function demonstrates how advanced source material can be further refined for clarity even through challenging environmental obscurants like fog.

The sheer volume of data presents another hurdle—FMV collection is enormous. U.S. drones reportedly generated 327,384 hours (equivalent to nearly 37 years) of video footage in 2011 alone. This has intensified the need for better video analytics through automated computer processing that eliminates manual review of uninteresting footage.

The ideal solution involves automating these processes using technologies like pattern recognition and change detection directly on imaging platforms, transmitting only relevant data to address bandwidth and storage limitations. Advances in camera technology and analytics are steadily enabling smarter intelligence extraction from FMV, transforming surveillance systems into more efficient tools for security monitoring.

Last Updated: 2025-09-04 19:35:36