Security is one of the pillars for the proper functioning of a society, and this requires coordinated work between authorities, companies, and individuals. The idea is to achieve the integration of effective technologies, such as an electronic video surveillance system that allows not only to record what happens every day and prevent risks but also to act as an aid for the public security authorities in their investigative work, optimizing their processes.
In this article, you’ll learn about the importance of surveillance systems and crime scene reconstruction software that can help make footage from this system useful. Among the benefits of having an urban video surveillance system are the following:
Reduction of acts of vandalism:
The cameras offer fast and automated detection of incidents, which can be done before an event occurs, and act as a deterrent since the offender, seeing cameras, can think twice before carrying out any act of vandalism. Video surveillance systems activate a verifiable alert and improve the time and type of response of reaction teams.
Decrease in vehicular accidents:
With motion detectors, it is possible to identify areas with a high level of traffic, situations of congestion, stopped vehicles, and serious accidents. Early detection of these situations allows us to act quickly to restore normality so that users can move as quickly and safely as possible.
24/7 surveillance of the streets:
We know that crime does not rest, and that is why it is vital to watch for it day and night. You can even monitor from mobile devices. But we all know that regardless of how much you watch for a crime, you can not always prevent it. Thus in cases whereby a crime occurs, there will be an image or video recording of such a scene.
Hence the main question is always to find out if images or video evidence taken from video surveillance cameras are suitable for crime scene investigations.
Can Coverages from Video Surveillance Cameras be used for Crime scene Investigations?
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cameras are a popular tool mostly used in policing. However, its use is controversial, especially for crime scene investigations. This is primarily due to the fact that not all CCTV has the power to give out high-quality images and videos, which goes against the factor a court of law can consider any forensic image useful to a crime scene. That is, most footage you can get from the CCTV comes out blurry.
So, in cases where this occurs, you can use such an image by performing image authentication. Also, you can use a CCTV video enhancer in the case of a video recording. One tool we can recommend for you is the Cognitech video investigator, which helps you enhance your image and produces a better quality image fit enough for crime scene investigation.
Common uses of CCTV for the police
- Internal cameras inside patrol vehicles
- Training
- crime scene processing
- covert surveillance
- tactical operations
- Investigation into traffic accidents
- Question
- video alignment
The observation level of CCTV cameras can be divided into three categories:
- Covert: the camera is completely hidden;
- Discreet: the camera may be visible, but its appearance does not immediately suggest its purpose;
- Open: the camera is visible, and its function is clearly to deter criminals.
Performance standards for CCTV
- Monitoring: The person or vehicle (target) is 5% of the screen size. It cannot be recognized, but the target is observed in the place and time it was; it is good to contextualize.
- Detection: The person or vehicle is 25% of the screen size and still can not be recognized, but suspicious activities can.
- Reconnaissance: The target is 50% of the screen size; the police/investigation team can recognize it.
- Identification: the person or vehicle is 120% of the size of the screen, its face can be clearly recognized, and other details (for example, car plates) are also decipherable. Used in entrances/exits of companies and businesses.
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Cognitech video investigator
In any of these scenarios, images from the CCTV may come out blurry, and the police may need image enhancement software. A perfect example of such software is the MC2 security cloud which clears the situation and gives a clear-cut image with improved quality.
Immediate benefits of CCTV in research
- Identify suspects, witnesses and vehicles involved.
- Indicates the entry and exit points of the incident scene
- Establish a timeline of events.
- It identifies behaviors before, during, and after an incident.
So, if you want to enhance your images or you need a forensic image enhancement software free. Your best bet is the Cognitech video investigator, the number one best photogrammetry software worldwide.
