GlobeSt.com: How are labor requirements changing as this technology progresses?

Gramann: Labor is still required, hence the crucial combination of people and technology. Video analytics has the intelligence to distinguish between a person or an animal, a bicycle or a vehicle driving, even distinguishing between a bird and a small drone. Once the computer determines that criminal activity may be taking place, an alarm sounds and a security professional at a remote monitoring data center is presented with a high resolution short video, rather like a GIF. The officer can scroll back and forth through the continuously recording video to determine exactly what's happening. If an event warrants investigation or intervention, the monitoring officer will immediately notify the on-site security officer, who can respond and possibly summon local law enforcement.

In addition to video analytics, current video technology enables “virtual guard tours.” Typically done once an hour, a remote live security officer views a sequence of different cameras to simulate walking through a property, covering parking lots and parking structures, lobbies, elevators, hallways, access points, and other areas. By combining virtual guard tours with conventional officers, building owners can simultaneously enhance coverage and save money.

GlobeSt.com: What else are you noticing?

Gramann: Regarding hardware, new cameras with built-in DVRs and analytics software range in price similarly to flat-screen TVs, but existing analog cameras can often be retrofitted to work with the new system for a fraction of the cost. This also helps building owners obtain excellent coverage while protecting their past investments.

Smart video analytics are also being used for effective license-plate recognition, a pairing of high-tech video cameras with law-enforcement crime databases, with the potential to immediately notify police if a wanted criminal enters a building location. LPR has advantages over storing continuous video on DVRs. With old technology, if an incident occurred, police or on-site security could scan endless hours of DVR video and still not be able to make out the license-plate number due to rain, fog or darkness. But high-tech cameras, day or night, are better able to capture the license-plate number. In a real life example, a car was broken into and the credit cards were used at 4:30 a.m. Law enforcement looked at the plates of vehicles between midnight and 4:00 a.m., and one of them matched their suspect. They knew the particular make, model and license plate. The suspect was in the area at 3:30 a.m. and had the only car that entered. They had this car as a suspect in another case, and the driver of that car was on the surveillance video at the convenience store where he tried to use the stolen credit cards. The police pieced it together and apprehended the criminal.

GlobeSt.com: What is the best way for building owners to stay current on this issue in order to maximize safety in their buildings?

Gramann: To stay current in order to maximize building safety, partner with knowledgeable security entities, both private contracted security providers and also non-profit security organizations. Become a member of a national security organization such as Infragard, and also locally such as Securing Our ECity Foundation in the San Diego region, for example, for up-to-date awareness of physical security and cybersecurity threats through direct emails, security symposiums and webinars, as well as site-specific assessments and education for the most effective security-asset allocation and solutions possible.

InfraGard is a partnership between the FBI and the private sector; it is an association of persons who represent businesses, academic institutions, state and local law-enforcement agencies and other participants dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the U.S. The Securing our ECity Foundation's vision is to create a safe digital neighborhood that is both resistant to cyber-threats and resilient to man-made or natural disasters, where our citizens, businesses, organizations and government can effectively and securely navigate, collaborate and conduct business to remain economically competitive in today's fast-changing technological environment. This is accomplished for businesses and the public by providing awareness of potential issues and offering free cyber security information and education.