Video Metadata: Describing the Details that Matter

Modern surveillance systems generate an overwhelming (and mostly unused) amount of data. This is especially true when recording video in 24/7 operations, which is essential to capturing evidence, incidents and events. It is not only hard to pick out what really matters in a scene, but also extremely time consuming. Making data more identifiable and actionable is a key problem to solve. Applying metadata to describe key details in a scene allows data to be more identifiable and actionable.

This is why metadata is the foundation for gathering intelligence from surveillance video and/or audio streams. Metadata provides a fast way to find, evaluate, and act on the singular details that matter the most through one, hundreds or thousands of video and audio footage streams. Metadata is now an essential part of effective security and business operations.

What is Metadata?
Typically, Metadata is referred to as ‘data about other data.’ In the context of video surveillance, that translates to ‘data about video data’. Video metadata accurately describes the details that matter in a scene. For instance, attributes for metadata can describe all sort of details about moving objects of interest, e.g. location, time, colors, sizes, shapes, coordinates, volume decibels, speed, direction, etc.
Additionally, foundational details can be added, such as video stream description, codec, time stamps and device identity.

The aforementioned are ‘meta’ descriptions of details in, or related to, a scene. Based on AI machine and deep learning, Meta descriptions can be more (or less) granular. This allows for classifying a group of pixels as a person, animal, vehicle or other pre-defined object classes. Being more precise with more refined descriptions of people or objects e.g. vehicle type, make model, color, speed, direction, etc.

The Value of Metadata
Metadata not only provides details about people, objects and events in a scene. It also allows large amounts of video and recorded footage to quickly group, sort, search, recover and use. As a result, the overall use cases for metadata fit into three areas.

1. Real-time alarm triggering and notifications
2. Post event forensic searching
3. Statistical analysis and reporting

Adding Intelligence to Scenes
Metadata essentially assigns digital meaning to each video frame about the objects and events within it. In other words, it adds interpretation or intelligence about the scene rather than just the raw video footage, which needs to be processed manually by an operator.

Once software can interpret scenes in this way, it can understand the scene details and enable the scene to be acted upon in real-time via events, after events (post-event), via manual search or simply analyzed for statistical analysis. This enables the use of metadata to design baselines that define what is ‘normal’ for any scene feed from any individual camera. In turn, this allows software to recognize any degree of deviation, anomaly or specific behavior or activities, etc. as well as predict what will happen in that scene to a specific probability.

Harnessing the Full Potential of Metadata
Video metadata adds immense value to a video management system. In fact, its true potential is realized when applied to multiple inputs spanning visual, audio, activity, and process-related inputs. In the management of any site, things like RFID tracking, GPS coordinates, tampering alerts, noise detection, and point of sale transactional data, are all high value data sources. Unifying this metadata generated from many different sources means gaining much more insights than one can ever get from each system alone. Interoperability is key, and open-protocols and industry standards are essential to this effort. Ultimately seamless metadata integration will allow us to harness massive amounts of data from all kids of systems and gain a greater understanding of everything around us.

This article originally appeared in the November / December 2022 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Joe Danielson, Global Enterprise Solutions, Axis Communications, AB.

Featured

  • AI to Help Resolve Non-Emergency Calls Across Utah and Decrease 911 Caller Wait Times

    The Utah Communications Authority (UCA), which oversees the state’s next generation 911 technology services, recently announced that public safety answering points (PSAPs) throughout the state plan to implement Motorola Solutions’ Virtual Response technology to automate the receipt and resolution of 10-digit non-emergency line calls in Utah with the help of AI. Read Now

  • Report Reveals Local Governments Face Surge in Ransomware Attacks with Minimal Resources

    KnowBe4, the cybersecurity platform that comprehensively addresses human risk management, recently released new research highlighting the critical cybersecurity challenges facing state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments. The report details how government organizations have become prime targets for cybercriminals while simultaneously facing severe resource constraints. Read Now

  • Video Surveillance Trends to Watch

    With more organizations adding newer capabilities to their surveillance systems, it’s always important to remember the “basics” of system configuration and deployment, as well as the topline benefits of continually emerging technologies like AI and the cloud. Read Now

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

New Products

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.