What is Video Content Analysis?

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Video content analysis is a technique that’s used to automatically review and analyze video footage to detect any specific events, such as temporal events. 

Video content analysis is a common technique that’s used in many industries, including occupational health and safety. 

It relies on a series of algorithms, often powered by AI and deep learning models, to detect motion, identify any specific events based on conditional logic, and can even track moving objects. 

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How Does Video Content Analysis Work?

Video content analysis is generally a new technology, and many companies primarily rely on third-party tools that integrate with their existing monitoring network. 

For instance, companies that have extensive CCTV coverage throughout their facilities can use an AI-powered tool that offers video content analysis. 

This way, instead of having a person carefully review the footage, they can just define specific rules, and the AI will conduct an analysis to identify events that occurred based on the parameters. 

Over time, the AI gets smarter as more data is fed into it. For instance, companies can use video content analysis to identify safety breaches in the workplace. 

This can be used to send warnings in real-time to employees who aren’t taking proper safety precautions as defined in the company’s guidelines. These notifications can also be sent to responsible authorities, such as safety managers. 

Companies often use video content analysis to gather data and analytical information on specific points, such as social distance tracking or even detecting whether employees are wearing face masks. 

From tracking body language to identifying a breach in a specific exclusion zone, video content analysis can offer deeper insights about safety culture and performance in the workplace. 

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How Does Video Content Analysis Work?

Video content analysis primarily works through the use of AI and deep learning technologies. An AI software is connected to a conventional video feed, and custom rules are defined. 

For instance, if the company wants to detect if all employees on a site are wearing hard hats, they can input thousands of images of hard hats, thus allowing the tool to learn how hard hats appear and distinguish between specific data points. 

Then, the AI reviews the feed in real-time and identifies whether subjects are wearing a hat or not. If not, it sends an automatic warning to the designated authority. 

The good thing about using video content analysis is that it’s constantly improving. As it receives more and more input, the AI continues to get smarter. 

All video footage is also safely stored and tagged for review later on. This makes it easy for companies to review any safety breaches and then plan for different safety hazards.

Modern video content analysis software works seamlessly with existing CCTV networks, so there’s no need to replace the cameras altogether. A visual processing box connects to the entire network, adding “smart” capabilities. 

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Benefits of Using Video Content Analysis

Using video content analysis in the workplace to monitor safety protocols offers a variety of benefits, some of which are discussed below.

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Real-Time Monitoring

One of the biggest benefits of using video content analysis is that the footage is reviewed and analyzed in real-time. Companies don’t have to worry about hiring safety staff to carefully observe other employees. 

This isn’t a scalable method, and there’s always the risk of human error. Instead of hiring a group of employees who work in rotations, AI cameras can work tirelessly, round the clock. 

They use smart algorithms to detect any breaches and send a report whenever a safety issue is detected. The events are also recorded and stored for review.

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Reduced Costs

The costs of hiring a group of employees to monitor safety performance is obviously quite high. Simply having people to observe your employees is just not a viable solution.

The cost of implementing an AI solution might be high in the beginning, but they usually end up saving considerable sums of money over time. 

They don’t have to worry about increasing the burden on their payroll, and the system helps bring about a significant decrease in safety events, which makes the workplace much safer overall.

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Secure Data Storage

Video content analysis software generally stores data in the cloud, or on a local server. When data is stored in the cloud, it can be accessed by relevant individuals in real time, making it easier for them to access it from anywhere. 

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Improved Analytical Reporting 

Companies often rely on detailed safety audit reports to identify how to make changes to the workplace. With the data that they gather through these reports, safety managers can make more effective decisions.

The video footage is carefully analyzed and can be used by companies to recognize trends that may influence their decision-making.

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Use Protex AI for Accurate Video Content Analysis and Improve Workplace Safety

Protex AI’s workplace safety software can plug into any existing CCTV network and help companies improve safety protocols. 

It helps companies create a data-driven safety culture by monitoring events in real-time and preparing reports. You can also build custom rules using the information from your EHS team and tailor it to the work environment. 

This makes it easy for companies to identify risks in the workplace, recognize dangerous trends, and make informed decisions to prevent any major incidents. 

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