Megapixel Cameras Will Dominate the Next 10 Years in Video Surveillance

As GIT SECURITY celebrates its first 10 years, better performance and lower cost benefits will continue to make megapixel cameras a major driving force in the industry‘s transition from analog to IP video surveillance systems over the next decade. The clarity and precise detail of megapixel video has convinced customers to embrace the superiority of an IP system's substantially greater resolution over analog and standard definition IP cameras.

Other benefits of IP systems are easier connectivity and wider availability of video for remote monitoring. For end users and systems integrators, megapixel video quality represents terrific added value. It‘s clear that megapixel video imaging and IP network systems are now being broadly embraced. Greater industry adoption of megapixel cameras is helping to drive the ongoing transition to IP video systems.
The transition to IP is one of several market factors stimulating the deployment of megapixel cameras for mainstream video surveillance applications. Let‘s examine some other factors that are generating the demand for megapixel cameras.

Megapixel cameras contribute to better system performance. In the real world of video surveillance, higher image quality is the advantage that makes it possible to identify the face of a suspect or to read a license plate number of a passing vehicle. Megapixel video technology provides clearer images that can be enlarged so the security team can see the details they require. Customers accustomed to accepting the limitations of analog and VGA IP video resolutions are enthusiastically embracing the greater capabilities of megapixel cameras. Customers who previously relied on pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) devices to cover larger areas know a PTZ can only point in one direction at a time, which creates a significant risk for missing an important or security-threatening event in another part of the coverage area. The wider views delivered by megapixel cameras provide a much stronger solution. Multi-megapixel cameras provide more complete coverage and users can do "virtual" PTZ in live or archived video.
Megapixel solutions for virtually any application. New megapixel imaging technologies are ideal for a broad array of applications.

Today there are cameras with resolutions from 1.3- to 40-megapixels. There are day/night cameras, compact cameras, multi-sensor day/night camera systems, all-in-one dome cameras, vandal-resistant dome cameras, wide dynamic range cameras (WDR) and cameras designed to endure difficult environmental challenges. For example, Arecont Vision‘s camera line includes all these choices, and also 360° or 180° panoramic cameras, each with four 2-megapixel, four 3-megapixel WDR, four 5-megapixel, or four 10-megapixel sensors. Having the right camera for the application is of major importance as megapixel video extends its reach into more mainstream uses.

H.264 Compression Is a Game Changer
Managing resources such as network bandwidth and storage is an important consideration when designing IP video surveillance systems. H.264 compression technology is a game changer that enables the use of higher-resolution cameras in networked systems and requires less bandwidth and storage. The H.264 video standard has substantially reduced bandwidth and storage concerns related to megapixel video. Compared to motion JPEG, H.264 technology up to 5-10 times more efficient when it comes to bandwidth and storage. H.264 makes megapixel cameras more economical to use and paves the way for greater use of high-resolution cameras to provide better functionality and greater image clarity. And H.265 will be coming in the near future which will deliver additional benefits.

Choose a platform, cameras and network components for a best-of-breed system. Megapixel camera manufacturers and video management systems (VMS) suppliers work closely together to facilitate integration of megapixel images and recording systems. Technology and software collaboration among industry suppliers ensures that megapixel video works with leading VMS systems. Specifically, Arecont Vision works with VMS suppliers such as Milestone, Genetec, Salient, Video Insight, Exacq, OnSSI, DVTel, Nice, SeeTech and dozens of others. The thorough testing facilities of the MegaLab at Arecont Vision‘s headquarters in Los Angeles ensures smooth integration of megapixel cameras with third party systems. Quality assurance engineers oversee the MegaLab integration and load performance testing. VMS suppliers who use the MegaLab work hand-in-hand with development engineers to tune the application to ensure optimal performance with Arecont Vision cameras.

Customers realize a better return on investment (ROI) with megapixel cameras. The global economy is improving, but a greater focus on cost justification and return on investment (ROI) is here to stay. The mandate to control costs and maximize ROI plays perfectly to the strengths of megapixel cameras, which makes systems with fewer components and greater functionality possible. Megapixel video makes it easier for the security professional to demonstrate to management the value of a better-performing system, whether it‘s the dollars and cents impact of being able to solve a case or to potentially thwart a personal liability lawsuit. The precise value of the added performance and functionality is dependent upon each application and specific to each end-user organization. High-resolution megapixel images provide an easily observable and tangible benefit for networked video surveillance systems. Cost savings emanate from the ability to view larger areas. From a systems perspective, using megapixel cameras means fewer cameras are needed, and fewer cameras require fewer software licenses, less support, fewer cables and housings, reduced installation costs, etc.

All of these factors are combining to ensure a healthy future for megapixel cameras in a wide range of uses around the world. In fact, these factors are creating excellent opportunities now and in the future that will firmly establish megapixel video as the new global benchmark of security system performance.