Edge Computing in Surveillance: Smarter Cameras, Safer Cities

As cities grow smarter, ensuring public safety becomes more efficient with edge computing in surveillance. This innovative technology empowers security cameras to analyse footage on-site, eliminating the need for distant servers and speeding up threat detection. 

With quicker responses, improved accuracy, and enhanced privacy, edge computing is transforming surveillance systems, making cities safer and more connected. 

The global edge computing market size was valued at USD 16.45 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 36.9% from 2024 to 2030.

In this blog, we’ll explore how this technology is reshaping urban security and helping to protect communities in real-time.

What is Edge Computing?

Edge-based smart computing is like having a superpower for cameras. Traditionally, security cameras send all the footage they record to a faraway server, where the data is processed. This can take a lot of time and can slow things down. But with edge-type computing, the camera itself can process the data right there, on the spot, without needing to send everything to a server.

This means that the camera can instantly understand what it's seeing, such as detecting if someone is moving or if there’s something out of place. By doing this, edge computing makes the system much faster and smarter.

Edge Computing in Making Surveillance Smarter

Edge computing helps security cameras think for themselves. Instead of waiting for a server to tell them what’s happening, the camera can analyse the footage and make decisions on its own. For example, if a camera detects something suspicious, it can alert security right away without waiting for a delay. This makes cities safer because problems can be solved faster.

According to a report, real-time Edge AI is transforming video surveillance by providing AI-driven insights at the edge. This technology enhances traffic management in smart cities and strengthens security in public spaces.

The real benefit is speed. The camera doesn’t need to send all the video to a cloud or server for processing. It can do everything right there, reducing the chances of delays and errors. This is especially important in emergencies when every second counts.

Benefits of Smarter Surveillance Cameras

Smarter cameras, powered by edge computing, bring several advantages to surveillance. They make cities more secure by allowing quick responses to incidents. Here are some key benefits:

• Faster Decision Making: Edge-type computing processes the data instantly on the camera, so security teams don’t have to wait.

• Better Accuracy: Cameras can detect events like trespassing, theft, or accidents with higher precision.

• Cost-Efficient: Less data needs to be sent to the cloud, which means lower costs for storing and processing footage.

• Improved Privacy: Since data is processed locally, fewer personal details are shared with outside servers, ensuring privacy.

Organisations can scale their surveillance systems more efficiently without overwhelming centralised infrastructure by distributing the workload across multiple edge devices.

Making Cities Safer with Edge Computing

Edge computing helps create safer cities by improving surveillance in many areas. Smarter cameras can track movements in real-time, allowing law enforcement or security teams to respond quickly to any danger. Here are a few examples of how edge-type computing can improve safety:

• Traffic Monitoring: Cameras can immediately detect accidents or traffic violations and alert authorities, leading to faster response times.

• Public Safety: In crowded areas, cameras can analyse the crowd for any unusual activities, like fights or suspicious behaviour.

• Emergency Alerts: If a camera detects a fire or a medical emergency, it can send an alert to the nearest first responders instantly.

Edge Computing Reduces the Need for Constant Monitoring

This means with traditional cameras, users might need to watch the recording of live footage continuously. Edge-type computing avoids this behaviour in smart cameras. The system automatically detects unusual activity, such as loitering around a building or running in a restricted area for any person. Security guards would not have to keep staring at a screen for long; instead, a camera sends alerts when something significant occurs. This makes security work much more efficient and saves time.

• No More Constant Watching: Cameras can notify security teams when there’s something unusual.

• Smarter Alerts: Only relevant alerts are sent, reducing the noise from unimportant data.

• Less Human Effort: Cameras help monitor large areas, which would be impossible for humans to do alone.

The Future of Smart Cities with Edge Surveillance

With the growth of cities, the importance of technology, such as edge computing, will only increase. Imagine a world where every street is monitored by cameras that can instantly detect anything suspicious. Whether it's a missing person, an intruder, or an emergency, smart cameras will make it easier to take action fast.

Edge-based computing forms the foundation of this smart future, turning surveillance systems into something that watches but which is meant to protect citizens in the true sense of the word. As time passes, we will see an even sharper correction of these defects by smart cameras.