Sudhindra Holla, Sales Director, Axis Communications
A cost-effective detector with visual confirmation for safety of both people and property in numerous environments is one of the core offerings of Axis’ thermal cameras, says Sudhindra Holla, Sales Director – SAARC and India, Axis Communications, in conversation with Souvik Goswami of Elets News Network (ENN).
Give us an overview of Axis Communications.
Founded in 1984, Axis Communications is a Sweden-based company. We are the market leader in network video technology and offer intelligent security solutions that enable a smarter, safer world. Axis is driving the industry by continually launching innovative network products based on an open platform thereby delivering high value to customers through a global partner network. We are a company that provides end-to-end solutions for your security needs be it medium or enterprise businesses. Our aim is to create high quality CCTV cameras and software’s that complement our product offerings to maximize security and efficiency.We are active in many verticals such as retail, government, transportation, hospitality and smart cities. Our solutions are designed keeping in mind, the end user applications.We have more than 2,800 dedicated employees in more than 50 countries around the world, supported by a global network of over 90,000 partners.
How is surveillance becoming increasingly relevant in the ecosystem of Smart Cities in India?
I firmly believe in creating a safe city before a smart city. Providing core infrastructure along with a decent quality of life, a clean and sustainable environment and application of ‘Smart’ solutions is the focus of Smart Cities as per the Govt. of India. Security and surveillance is an integral part of all societies. For example, autonomous vehicles, which will become a reality in five years is a big area of concern as it can be prone to remote hacking. Risk of hacking traffic signals etc. would cause an increase in mishaps and accidents. Designing a fool-proof security implementation for a smart city is of paramount importance.Data is a very powerful tool and is often misused if it falls into the wrong hands and we need to be very cautious. Hence, surveillance is one of the most relevant and important pieces of the smart cities ecosystem in India.
Read more: Smart Cities gaining momentum
How significant is the IP-based surveillance in providing a fool-proof security cover in the worldview of Smart Cities?
Recording high-resolution videos with in-built compression is what today’s IP video surveillance technology is capable of. There are multiple benefits of using IP-based surveillance to provide fool-proof security in the smart cities arena:
Video analytics: Traffic control and monitoring and movement of vehicles and humans can be detected by cameras who in turn provide data on which areas are congested, peak time traffic hours, foot traffic count, vehicular count etc. Such analytical data is the cornerstone of smart cities initiatives. With increasing innovations amongst CCTV manufacturers, the same technology can be pivoted for other purposes. Citizens will be able to track parking spots in their area, traffic authorities can direct traffic through the most efficient routes.
Environmental sensors: Environmental conditions such as air quality, temperature and humidity, water quality and noise levels, can be measured using sensors which are useful for city authorities to direct resources towards any mitigated imbalances.
Support for law enforcement: Law enforcement agencies use video surveillance to gather primary evidence during investigations. Deployment of high-quality CCTV cameras are critical for civic authorities. Today’s surveillance technology is built in line with the requirements of the police departments —one can also get inclusions such as facial recognition, multi-angle recording and license plate recognition to aid in identifying criminals, cars and objects from far away.
How can thermal-based cameras be a help in strengthening security set up of cities?
The recent advances in camera technologies, such as thermal imaging and enhanced low-light capabilities have been significant steps forward. Thermal technology is renowned for ensuring reliable detection with a low rate of false alarms. A cost-effective detector with visual confirmation for safety of both people and property in numerous environments is one of the core offerings of Axis’ thermal cameras. These cameras have built-in analytics, such as Video Motion Detection that can send an alert when it detects motion from moving objects within a predefined area.In environments where the privacy of individuals is paramount – for example schools and care homes – thermal imaging detects incidents without revealing personal details of the people in the image. Together with analytics, these cameras can trigger alerts or alarms in response to patient or resident falls, allowing staff to take immediate action thereby making cities safer.
Are there any specifically important projects in the offing for your organisation?
Nanded Case study, Kolhapur, Aurangabad, Bhavnagar. Government Power, Oil & Gas segments, Crucial Govt buildings in CPWD.
We had few successful installations in cities like Bhavnagar. Bhavnagar Police chose Axis surveillance solution which was deployed across the city to ensure effective traffic management in the city and identifying criminals and traffic violators. It has also helped to assist the on-field police in crime tracking, directly from the Command and Control Room and has enabled better governance and civic administration.
Nanded Safe city project is one of the benchmark projects in urban security. The Axis smart surveillance solution deployed across the city of Nanded, has helped the law enforcement to assist the on-field police in crime tracking, directly from The Superintendent of Police headquarters’ and has enabled better governance and civic administration. The solution helps to monitor strategic places such as the SachkhandGurudwara, traffic signals, busy streets and other places of religious importance which are potential criminal/terrorist targets.
Kolhapur Municipal Corporation deployed Axis surveillance solution to ensure Kolhapur is a safe and well-connected city.
We have deployed Axis surveillance solutions in Government Power plants, Oil & Gas focused organizations. Also, we have installed in crucial government buildings through CPWD.