Written by Magnus Lundegård, Global Product Manager and Niklas Lindman, Global Product Manager at Axis Communications

When formulating a security or perimeter protection plan, Middle Eastern enterprises are inclined to utilise as many independent surveillance and monitoring technologies as possible. While organisations would simply purchase and set up a collection of CCTV cameras dotted across a building or facility in the past, the ever-changing security needs of organisations today demand a more comprehensive and holistic approach, as well as solutions that go beyond traditional visual surveillance. It’s also relevant for organisations to rethink their approach to visual surveillance, especially amidst increased privacy concerns surrounding surveillance cameras and systems in the region.

Radar and thermal imaging technologies serve as key components of that security approach. By complementing network cameras with radars and thermal cameras, organisations can unlock additional value from their physical security strategies, as well as tap recent innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics to enhance their physical security resilience.

Where we started…
Developed in the 1940s, primarily for military and defence purposes, radar technology has evolved and now boasts a wide variety of applications across multiple industries, most notably in physical security. Radar technology and thermal imaging allow you to see what visual cameras cannot. Devices can detect moving objects (people, vehicles, etc.) regardless of lighting conditions, or in environments where weather or operating conditions do not allow for adequate visual surveillance.

This way, operators can improve their understanding of the surveyed area and be more accurate when it comes to detecting multiple objects. Their deployment alongside traditional visual cameras also helps to create a wide buffer zone and well-defined perimeter line thanks to two-layered security. An innovation that warrants attention is visual cameras that are integrated with radar. Radar-video fusion cameras combine radar and video data for the purpose of the visual image – radar detections fused into the video image – with analytics, where the input from both sources is merged to enhance the output.

Where we’re going…
There’s a debate to be had around which technology is superior or whether they work best separately or together. But the fact is that radar and thermal imaging solutions, used in conjunction with video surveillance, let operators enjoy total coverage of an area. To achieve this, many solutions are designed to be compatible with major video management systems (VMS). They are also a practical solution in the event video surveillance cannot be used due to privacy restrictions, as people and their faces cannot be identified with thermal cameras or radars. Thermal imaging cannot be used for reliable identification so, along with radar, it enables operators to abide by any restrictions they may have to adhere to, while the technology itself is inherently secure.

However, the applicability of radar technology and thermal imaging extends beyond perimeter protection. The technologies offer real promise for road, traffic, and vehicle monitoring and management, especially in the Middle East where traffic-related incidents cost lives and can have severe annual economic consequences to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. Using radar devices strategically placed across highway systems, traffic management centres and officials can detect and identify vehicles, how many there are, and at what speeds or directions they are travelling, culminating in reliable data and statistics that can improve decision-making. Meanwhile, thermal cameras give officials a means to see vehicles 24/7, regardless of the weather conditions.

One innovation that takes radar technology and thermal imaging forward is AI. Combined with radar, AI allows for enhanced object detection and classification to the point that it serves as the basis for trends such as autonomous driving. The goal is to minimise false alarms, and AI-based human and vehicle classifications, combined with modern intrusion detection analytics, make that possible by ignoring variable illuminations and moving objects such as vegetation that may cause moving shadows.

All this goes to show that radar technology and thermal imaging are still evolving. Cutting-edge devices and solutions represent not just a value in terms of security, but also a value in forward thinking. With the help of trusted manufacturers and vendors, organisations in the Middle East can leverage the full power of these technologies for their operations and projects.