Facial Recognition CCTV Systems Explained

We’ve put together this detailed article and guide on all aspects of CCTV systems that feature advanced facial recognition and how this type of CCTV can help businesses. Click on the links below to jump to each section.

• What is facial recognition?
• What is it used for?
• How does it work?
• Facial recognition four phases
• Algorithms
• AI CCTV systems
• How is facial recognition used with CCTV?
• Network video recorders
• Is it legal?
• CCTV maintenance
• Making the decision about your CCTV
• What is the right CCTV solution for your business and for you as a business owner?
• Techcube CCTV installation

What is facial recognition?

Facial recognition refers to the advanced technology that can identify or verify a face through video or an image, either recorded or captured or in real-time. It works like a face scanner and captures facial features and metrics.

What is it used for?

Facial recognition is a category of biometric security and identification. Other forms of biometric software that identifies an individual include voice recognition, fingerprint recognition, and eye retina or iris recognition. The technology is mostly used for security and law enforcement, though there is increasing interest in other areas of use, especially for CCTV installation used by businesses and organisations.

Facial recognition is already used widely with a variety of uses such as face recognition technology through the FaceID used to unlock iPhones and used by social media to automatically suggest people to tag in photos.

How does it work?

Facial recognition is a method used to identify and/or confirm a person’s identity by scanning their face. Biometric facial recognition uses unique mathematical and dynamic patterns that are captured from the face of someone. An individual’s facial biometric features, expressions, pattern and data is used as the biometric identification of that specific person. Facial recognition technology collects and combines the unique facial data to match and verify a person.

Facial recognition enables CCTV that has the facial recognition and video analysis software to generate and obtain images for biometric facial data of a person in order to identify and authenticate them using a database.

Facial recognition is advanced and uses algorithms and mathematical patterns to process biometric data, running each face against a database of face images. In order to do this, it uses video analytics software, but facial recognition will need much more supporting hardware to run effectively, while face detection can be built into modern IP cameras.

Facial recognition four phases

Face detection is different to facial recognition and is more enhanced and advanced through these four steps.

1. Face detection

This is where a camera or video device will auto-detect a face and focus in on it, similar to a digital camera or mobile phone camera when it auto-locates and focuses on an individual or object.

2. Face analysis

Facial analysis will analyse and scan the facial features including shape of the facial features – eyes, mouth, bone structure, ears for instance – and measures the facial features, so the distance between the eyes for instance. This produces a facial pattern of data that the software can recognise, compare against and match.

3. Converting images to data

When the image of the face is captured by a face recognition camera, it is transformed into digital data based on the individual’s features – or data sets which is a mathematical formula. The numerical code is called a face print. In the same way that fingerprints are unique to an individual, each person will have their own face print.

4. Face recognition

Face recognition is the step that identifies the individual and authenticates or confirms them, often against a database of faces.

Algorithms

Algorithms are part of the facial recognition tool which has deep learning functionality. It learns faces and then can capture the facial image, compare it and authenticate an individual using their facial features. Algorithms that are developed for facial recognition can automatically detect patterns in data and make predictions, compare and match based on those data patterns.

AI CCTV systems

Like fingerprints or voices, each face is unique and has distinct characteristics. Facial recognition CCTV systems compare these characteristics through facial biometrics and face recognition algorithms and by using Artificial Intelligence (AI).

CCTV cameras can integrate advanced AI which gives sophisticated facial recognition functionality by matching images to a database, as well as counting people and perimeter protection. Both AI-based facial recognition technology and facial recognition software can instantaneously search databases of faces and compare them to one or multiple faces that are detected in an area.

We have already identified the four stages for facial recognition to work, and one of those stages is facial recognition. AI facial recognition searches on the data points and parameters of the face which won’t usually change or alter. An individual’s face is made up of numerous data points which include, for example, height of cheekbones, width of head, height of eyes to the nose to the mouth, distance between the eyes, shape of eyebrows and so on. AI facial recognition searches on those data points which ultimately builds a unique face print.

AI CCTV will capture a lot of images and aggregate that data in order to search and compare with the database that it creates by correlating and matching the captured images – or data sets – to an individual’s identity.

CCTV surveillance combined with AI is so smart, it will also factor in variations such as light and the angle that the face is positioned to the camera. AI biometrics gives enhanced identification speed, accuracy and security scalability.

Thanks to the use of AI and machine learning, facial recognition software and algorithmic technologies, face recognition systems operate in real-time and with the highest safety and reliability standards.

How is facial recognition used with CCTV?

Facial recognition gives CCTV advanced security benefits and is one of the most sophisticated surveillance solutions. It is particularly useful for retailers, organisations and all types of businesses as a security and safety feature as it will capture people of interest who may be about to commit a crime or are showing suspicious behaviour. You can also monitor a person’s entry frequency onto the premises, as well as monitor their movements on the premises.

This type of CCTV technology can help to cut crime with its live facial recognition technology.

Facial recognition will alert staff to an individual who has entered the building. So, if there is a persistent troublemaker or criminal, staff are instantly alerted of their entry and presence in order to promptly deal with that person.

As well as accurately detecting individuals, these types of cameras are also used to identify vehicles. They benefit from night vision so will capture footage and offer security 24/7 round the clock.

Facial recognition CCTV can be targeted and optimised for maximum security. It is beneficial for the surveillance of restricted areas, such as store rooms, areas where there are high value products and items and loitering detection to track someone demonstrating suspicious behaviour.

Facial recognition CCTV can also be used for gathering important data such as tracking customer traffic and footfall at all times of the day.

Facial recognition CCTV cameras are placed and positioned for the optimum surveillance accuracy, for instance at a main entry point. Staff and individuals can be added and filtered from CCTV.

Network video recorders

As well as the CCTV camera itself which will give live facial recognition, Network Video Recorders, or NVRs, that are used for video monitoring, can also be loaded with facial recognition technology and software that will search through a video recording and identify faces and individuals. This saves a lot of time and effort when it comes to looking through a recording that is captured, as the face is automatically found by the NVR.

Is it legal?

Using facial recognition CCTV and cameras is within the law. It is used widely by the police and other law enforcement and Government agencies to keep the public safe, whether in public spaces or at venues and on premises. More and more businesses and organisations are using CCTV and facial recognition software to vastly increase their security and safety and protect their staff and business.

CCTV maintenance

Maintenance support is really important to keep your CCTV working. Ensure that you will receive after-sales CCTV software updates that protect your system and give you the maximum performing results. Techcube provides CCTV maintenance packages to ensure your CCTV installation is fully protected and maintained. We provide CCTV maintenance for both our own CCTV installations and existing CCTV that isn’t installed by us. Maintenance is imperative to ensure that your CCTV is working, in tip-top condition and is secure and compliant.

As well as looking at a facial recognition CCTV system itself, check out the maintenance plans on offer and the costs. Think about what happens if your CCTV stops working, here are factors to consider.

• How quickly can your CCTV supplier get to you and fix the problem?
• What are the standard callout times?
• Are there different service level agreements and maintenance packages to choose from?
• Can your CCTV supplier come on-site quickly?
• What are the terms and conditions of the maintenance package?
• What are the costs of maintenance?
• Can you get maintenance discount for volume of CCTV installations and systems?
• Are your NVR and CCTV monitor screens covered in the maintenance package?
• What are the price levels for upgraded maintenance packages, is it worth paying the extra for a faster callout?

Making the decision about your CCTV

So now you have the information on a facial recognition CCTV system, choosing the right CCTV is your next step.

What is the right CCTV solution for your business and for you as a business owner?

• It’s important when considering CCTV systems, you think about:
• The size of your business
• Business risk. What is at risk with your business that you want to protect?
• Scalability. Where do you want to be in five years’ time?
• Your industry and sector
• Your requirements. What do you want out of your CCTV and how do you want it to help your business?
• Do you want facial recognition CCTV?
• How can you access your CCTV video recording? Can you have remote access 24/7?
• Are there other integration options you can have with your CCTV? For example, with your EPOS system?

Discussing your business requirements and finding out more about the right CCTV system for you is an important step to take. Finding a reliable, high quality CCTV provider with the expertise in all things CCTV is equally important.

Techcube CCTV installation

Techcube is one of the most experienced CCTV providers, providing many businesses with CCTV systems in Essex and London. We provide complete CCTV systems and can advise on the ideal CCTV solution tailored to your business requirements and sector. We also offer a free site visit to come to your premises and provide free advice and help on the best CCTV solution for you and your business. Since 2007, we have installed thousands of CCTV systems for customers in London, Greater London, Essex and the M25 area. There isn’t much that we don’t know about CCTV!

We are SSAIB accredited. SSAIB stands for Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board and is a leading UK certification body for businesses providing security and alarm systems. Being accredited by SSAIB is a mark of excellence, and it means that we provide CCTV equipment and installations to the highest quality and standards.

We provide AI facial recognition CCTV solutions giving advanced surveillance capabilities which can cut crime and addresses security and safety concerns for businesses.

As CCTV experts, we have the technical expertise and knowledge, working with many clients from the retail, hospitality, cash and carry and warehousing sectors. We can also integrate CCTV with our EPOS systems to provide greater coverage and security.

We provide CCTV installation in Essex and London. Read more about our CCTV systems and contact us to find out more. Our friendly team of CCTV experts can assist you and discuss your requirements.

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