Have you ever watched a crime show on television and wondered how they found the perp so fast, going through video footage? If you’re like most people, you probably assumed that you need to watch hour after hour, combing through every detail to find what you are looking for. And though there is sometimes a need for that scrupulous inspection, there are tools out there that can make finding what you are looking for so much easier.
That’s where Aviglon Appearance Search can be so useful. This tool leverages advanced video analytics technology and deep learning through artificial intelligence (AI) to scan hours of footage in just minutes. Whether it’s responding to an active incident or piecing together a complex investigation, Avigilon Appearance Search offers speed, accuracy, and clarity that is unmatched. Anywhere.
In this article, we’ll tell you all about how this tool works and why you need it for your video technology, regardless of the industry you work in.
What is Avigilon Appearance Search?
Before we get into the specifics on Avigilon Appearance Search, let’s talk a bit about Avigilon itself. Basically, Avigilon offers AI-powered on–premise security systems that include access control and cloud management. Their technology is widely recognized for reliability and invocation. At EMCI Wireless, we’re proud to be a reseller of these products as we believe that Avigilon is the best in the business.
Avigilon Appearance Search happens to be one of Avigilon’s most impactful tools. It’s a deep learning AI search engine that scans hours of recorded video in just minutes. This makes it possible to find a person or vehicle fast and accurately, and that matters so much when it comes to helping people who might be in danger.
Operators can initiate searches in multiple ways. One way is by entering physical descriptions such as gender, hair color, clothing color, and the type of vehicle, or by uploading a reference photo. They can also select an image directly from a captured video.
What makes Appearance Search so different from other tools on the market is its ability to turn an overwhelming amount of video into something usable. Instead of painstakingly reviewing footage, operators can zero in on what they need to see. This saves time and improves investigation accuracy.
How Avigilon Appearance Search Works
It sounds too good to be true, right? We promise, it’s not. Avigilon Appearance Search is designed to make it easy to manage massive amounts of video both faster and with more accuracy. Here are some of the features that make this tool stand out from others available on the market.
- Search Physical Descriptions: Consider the example of a missing person. One of the things that law enforcement officials will ask is what the person was wearing the last time they were seen. And of course, they want to understand what the person looks like. This information can then be entered into the platform. For example, this means identifiers such as hair color, assumed gender, clothing color, age, etc. And for vehicles, it’s a similar process. Operators can enter in the type of vehicle (truck, SUV, or sedan) and the color.
- Facial Recognition: We all come with unique facial characteristics, and this information can be very helpful when trying to solve a crime. Avigilon’s platform incorporates facial characteristics into searches. This can help recognize a person even if they are no longer wearing the same clothes or have taken steps to alter their appearance.
- Photo or Video Reference: Platform users can upload a static image of a person or vehicle of interest. Or, they can pull a reference frame directly from recorded footage to help initiate a search.
- Multi-Site Search: Investigations typically span across multiple locations. Users can conduct a search in one location but search other sites at the same time using the Avigilon Control Center (ACC) software.
- Control Center Integration: Appearance Search is fully integrated with Avigilon Control Center 7 and ACC 6 Enterprise software. It is also compatible with Avigilon cameras and select NVRs (network video recorders).
- Playback, Bookmark, and Export: Footage can be reviewed, bookmarked, and exported to create comprehensive evidence packages. This helps investigators compile a clear narrative of events with insights across multiple video sources.
Overhauling the Approach to Investigations
As we discussed a bit earlier, in the past, investigators would need to spend hours sifting through footage to find the information that they were looking for. Today, that information is available almost instantaneously. Here’s what Avigilon can do:
- Build a Timeline of Events: Quickly trace a person or vehicle across multiple cameras and even different facilities.
- Trace Routes and Locations: Map out where a person or vehicle has been. This can help predict where they might be headed next.
- Save Time: What once took hours, if not days, can now be completed in just minutes.
- Improve Accuracy: Because the platform relies on AI-driven analytics rather than manual searching, it reduces the chance of overlooking important details. Small things such as hair color, clothing, and even vehicle type can be cross-referenced to help narrow down results.
Avigilon Appearance Search’s Impact on Incident Response
When an incident is taking place in real time, speed matters, and in a big way. Traditional video review is often too slow to help when time is of the essence. Thankfully. Avigilon Appearance Search changes that by giving operators search capabilities that are practically instant.
- Fast Identification of people of interest
- Track the situation in real time
- Make more informed decisions when under pressure
- Apply insights to high-stakes situations
Benefits for Forensic Investigations
While Appearance Search can prove invaluable during active incidents, its real strength comes into play when accuracy, detail, and objectivity are of super importance. Traditional evidence review can be painstaking. With Avigilon’s technology, users can focus on assembling fact-based, comprehensive narratives.
- Compile Robust Evidence: Collect multiple video clips across cameras and sites.
- Create Clear Narratives: Show exactly where someone went, the route they took, and the critical actions that took place.
- Improve Compliance: Many industries require detailed records of incidents for insurance, liability, or regulatory reasons. Appearance Search makes compliance that much easier by producing reliable video documentation.
- Reduce Errors and Prevent Oversight: Because the system is powered by artificial intelligence, the platform significantly lessens the chance that footage can be missing. This means there is no need to rely on guesswork. Investigators can retrieve exactly what they need, when they need it.
Applications Across Industries
It’s pretty obvious that Avigilon Appearance Search can be useful for law enforcement. But what about other industries? Here are some hypothetical yet real-world examples of how this software can help, no matter what business you might be in.
- Retail: Security staff can respond to a shoplifting incident by searching for a suspect based on a clothing description. The system could quickly pull clips showing the individual’s movements, from entry through exit, to support an investigation.
- Healthcare: Though hospitals do what they can to keep patients safe and where they are supposed to be, things can happen. If a patient were to go missing from a ward, security teams can search for them and follow their route throughout the facility.
- Education: We know that our schools have faced some serious security incidents in recent years. Now, with this platform, administrators and law enforcement can work together to locate an individual, no matter which building they are in. And, the ability to trace movements can provide safety with minimal disruption to the campus at large.
- Transportation: We’ve all seen and heard the phrase, if you see something, say something. And there’s a reason for this. But just think of how much easier this can be if security teams can locate unattended vehicles or track down where a mysterious bag might have come from.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Security
Deep-learning artificial intelligence sits at the core of Avigilon Appearance Search. This allows the technology to understand video content at a higher level. This means the ability to spot details that the human eye just might not pick up on.
Manual Video Review vs. AI-Assisted Search
- Manual review: Security staff must watch video in real time or fast-forward through footage, which is time-consuming and prone to error. Important details may be overlooked, especially under pressure.
- AI-assisted review: With Appearance Search, operators enter a few details or upload an image, and the system quickly narrows down relevant footage. The search is consistent, unbiased, and efficient.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t take a moment to discuss one concern that many people have about the use of AI. With Appearance Search, AI is not meant to replace people. Rather, it is intended to empower them. Users remain in control of their investigation, and AI takes things to the next level by reducing tedious work. This means catching criminals, missing persons, and suspects for various crimes, that much easier.
Challenges and Considerations
While Avigilon Appearance Search brings powerful advantages to investigations, organizations should keep several considerations in mind to ensure responsible and effective use:
- Data Storage: Video analytics generate large files, requiring secure storage solutions and clear retention policies.
- Privacy Concerns: Because searches may involve facial analytics and identifiable features, organizations need strict policies to protect individual rights and comply with regulations.
- Training and Usage: Operators must be properly trained to use the system effectively and know when searches are appropriate.
- Human Oversight: AI can accelerate searches, but is not foolproof. The best results come when human judgment guides how results are applied.
- Policy Development: Establishing guidelines for retention, access, and release of footage builds trust and prevents misuse.
Smarter Investigations and Stronger Security with Avigilon Appearance Search
Avigilon Appearance Search is reshaping how organizations approach security and investigations. By using advanced AI to scan hours of video in just minutes, it helps users locate people or vehicles faster, build accurate timelines, and strengthen both incident response and forensic investigations. From law enforcement and retail to healthcare, education, and transportation, this technology transforms surveillance footage into actionable intelligence that saves time and improves outcomes.
For businesses and agencies in Florida, having the right tools in place can make all the difference when safety and accountability are on the line. EMCI Wireless is proud to provide Avigilon solutions that help organizations protect people, property, and peace of mind.
Contact us today to learn how Avigilon Appearance Search can be integrated into your security strategy.