New developments in surveillance software could mean fewer false alarms for Gardai to respond to. Netwatch, in partnership with the Centre for Sensor Web Technologies at Dublin City Univeristy (CLARITY), has developed a new alarm reduction system which uses applied imaging technologies to decipher alarm images.
The security firm believes that this new technology will dramatically decrease the amount of false alarms that Gardaí have to respond to, thus freeing up resources for other work. The imaging technologies will analyse the images captured for human characteristics such as shape, size and movement ensuring that when an alarm is triggered, it is an intruder and not an animal.
Netwatch’s remote visual surveillance solution already has customers in Ireland, the UK, Northern Ireland, Africa, the Middle East and the US. Upgrades will be available within the next three months.
“Many traditional monitored alarm systems are outdated, or obsolete, because site inspections by the Gardaí, a key holder or security guard are still necessary to determine if an emergency exists," said David Walsh, chief executive, Netwatch (pictured).
"The Netwatch System, allows us to conduct a remote site inspection, be sure it is intruders which have triggered the alarm and only then call the Gardaí and the keyholder. It will not only reduce the number of false alarms but it will also enable Netwatch Intervention Specialists to respond more aggressively when an alarm is triggered, as we will be able to quickly determine when human activity has triggered the alarm."
CLARITY is a partnership between UCD, DCU and Tyndall National Institute Cork and is funded by Science Foundation Ireland
Fiona Donnellan