By Nophakhun Limsamarnphun
the Nation
Published on June 27, 2009As the world gets more dangerous, people need the authorities to keep an eye out for them and yet respect their privacy. This is where the latest, state-of-the-art Network Video Surveillance system comes in, says Axis Communications' Bodil Sonesson Gallon

Bodil Sonesson Gallon, vice president for global sales at the Swedish firm Axis Communications, believes that more people need security in this increasingly volatile world.

Thus the global market for Network Video Surveillance (NVS) is growing at an annual rate of 35 to 40 per cent and is projected to double in value to a total of US$14 billion (Bt478 billion) by 2012.

NVS, which uses digital technology, is replacing the previous generation of analogue closed-circuit TV (CCTV) at a fast pace and should account for nearly half the total market in 2012, up from the current 20 per cent, according to Gallon.

"The CCTV is based on the TV standard, which is about 40 years old. Going digital using wireless communications, Ethernet or fibre cable etc means you can do the surveillance from anywhere in the world.

"The quality of the image is better, while the network is more intelligent with motion sensors and other features.

"In addition, there is no limit [on distance] as is the case with CCTV, which are like old-generation television sets. Now we have flat-screen or LCD TV sets, or the iPod rather than the Walkman," she explained.

When it comes to video surveillance, London perhaps has the highest concentration of surveillance cameras per square metre in the world.

It is often said that you could be filmed any time, anywhere in the British capital, because Big Brother is always watching. Obviously this is good for public safety as evidenced by the authorities' increased capability in coping with rising terrorism and crime.

"In Stockholm [the Swedish capital, with a population of about a million people], all the 10,000 public buses have cameras. The drivers have insisted they be installed for safety reasons.

"In the United States, many schools have also installed cameras [in the wake of violence and vandalism] while in Thailand city surveillance, transport and power utilities are among the top reasons for NVS.

"The Thai market is estimated to be worth around $60 million a year," she added.

At present, Bangkok has 200 cameras for traffic management and plans to install another 10,000 for city surveillance.

The five southern provinces, including Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, where unrest has been frequent in the past few years, are preparing to install a total of 3,000 cameras to keep an eye out for separatists.

Overall, Gallon says, the biggest buyers of NVS systems are in the retail sector, accounting for 25 per cent of new installations around the world, followed by public transport, traffic control and airport and seaport surveillance, as well as city surveillance.

Businesses and industries in India and elsewhere also use NVS to boost workers' productivity in remote areas where physical monitoring is not economically worthwhile.

In the case of city surveillance, most public surveys show positive feedback because residents feel safer in an increasingly dangerous and volatile world.

In Gallon's opinion there ought to be a balance between public safety and privacy, which should be regulated by legislation so that personal privacy is adequately protected while at the same time the public feels secure.