Upgrade Your Business Security Camera Systems with Heat Map Technology

In 2022, the United States was a victim of over 1,600 bank robberies, 1,700 cargo theft incidents, and 119,000 shoplifting crimes, the latter of which resulted in a loss of $112 billion in gross revenue for retail stores. 

These figures not only highlight the ongoing threats that multiple industries face, but also emphasize the urgent need for enhanced security measures, as traditional methods are no longer as effective due to the rapidly evolving nature of our security landscape. For example, shoplifters and thieves have developed new ways to exploit vulnerabilities while hiding in plain sight from guards and CCTV cameras.

For businesses looking to bolster their security systems, investing in thermal security cameras has become a necessity. Modern business security camera systems, which are equipped with thermal surveillance and cutting-edge detection features, offer increased protection by revealing hidden threats that outdated CCTV cameras may miss. Additional benefits include real-time monitoring, seamless integration with alarms and access control systems, and advanced features such as heat mapping capabilities.

Heat maps in particular offer businesses a data-driven and proactive approach to security. By utilizing advanced algorithms to analyze and visualize data captured by thermal cameras, heat maps can provide actionable insights into activity patterns and potential threats. Moreover, heat maps can even increase cost savings by eliminating a guard service at a property while enhancing access control capabilities.

Here’s a look into what heat maps are and how they enhance a security camera system for business owners.

What is a Heat Map on Thermal Surveillance Cameras?

Heat maps are overlays on surveillance camera footage that use various colors to show areas of high activity or potential threats within an environment. Cooler colors, such as blue or green, typically indicate low or non-threatening activity, while warmer colors, like yellow, orange, and red, indicate high-risk activity and unusual behavior.

Because of this more visual approach to data, security personnel are better able to detect hidden security threats that may, otherwise, go unnoticed by the naked eye. This includes loitering, crowding, and suspicious user activity in blind spots.

For businesses in need of infrared video cameras, the integration of heat map technology provides clear visual clues of potential threats. This will not only enhance security monitoring but also simplify the identification of suspicious activities in high-risk areas.

How Do Thermal Security Camera Heat Maps Work?

Businesses can use either thermal CCTV cameras or surveillance cameras with video analytics software to view heat maps, but the way they are generated is due to these three main aspects:

• Object detection and tracking
• Motion analysis
• Image processing

Object Detection and Tracking

Detection within heat maps uses computer vision algorithms to identify objects in a video or image, like specific areas, products, or people. The movements of these objects are then tracked using tracking algorithms, centroid tracking, or learning-based trackers. This is often in real-time, where foot traffic patterns, products, and suspicious activity can be immediately seen by security personnel, which is particularly useful for retail theft prevention.

Motion Analysis

Motion analysis looks for changes in an environment by comparing various frames in a video feed. Through sophisticated methods like frame differencing, optical flow, and background subtraction, motion analysis can accurately identify moving objects and suspicious activity in real-time. This will allow users to promptly detect and respond to threats, ensuring a more proactive approach to their security measures.

Image Processing

Image processing in heat maps helps to improve the quality of videos or images, making relevant objects and details much more visible. Various techniques are used to enhance pixel values and reduce grain, which ensures that video frames are thoroughly processed. This not only sharpens the image, but also improves motion analysis and object detection and tracking within the cameras.

Which Industries Benefit From Heat Mapping & Infrared Security Cameras?

Almost all industries can benefit from business security camera systems with heat map tracking. Retail, transportation and logistics, and financial institutions are some of the more well-known ones to utilize heat maps, followed by:

• Healthcare industries
• Government agencies
• Educational institutions
• Energy companies
• IT service providers
• Museums
• Amusement parks
• Highways and transportation departments
  
  

Protect Your Business Today with General Security

Infrared video cameras with heat mapping technology offer a comprehensive solution to combat the rising threat of security breaches and retail thefts. With real-time tracking, algorithms to monitor objects and movements, and color gradients to identify threats, the integration of heat maps enables swift identification and responses to breaches, shoplifters, and thieves. By leveraging heat maps, businesses will be able to effectively bolster their security systems and protect their assets, employees, and customers.

The best time to enhance your security is today, and with our team of experts at General Security, we’ll be able to tailor a custom security strategy and system for your commercial or small business property. Contact us at 800-343-2250 to Request a Free Quote and to learn more about business security camera systems.