AI Video Search Enhances Security Investigations

Hanwha Vision has released an updated version of its plug-in for the Milestone XProtect video management system (VMS), introducing AI-powered Similarity Search together with expanded camera integration capabilities. The update enables security operators to access advanced AI analytics directly within the XProtect interface, supporting faster investigations across enterprise surveillance deployments in sectors including commercial facilities, transportation, manufacturing, retail and critical infrastructure.

AI analytics integrated into open-platform video management
Milestone XProtect is an open-platform video management system that allows organizations to operate cameras from multiple manufacturers within a single surveillance environment. The latest Hanwha Vision plug-in extends this architecture by exposing AI analytics generated at the camera edge without requiring operators to switch to separate software.

The integration enables users to search AI-generated metadata, manage supported cameras and access advanced analytics from the existing XProtect interface. This approach reduces operational complexity while allowing organizations to use the AI capabilities already available in compatible Hanwha Vision cameras.

Similarity Search accelerates forensic video investigations
The principal addition in Release 1.09.00 is Similarity Search, available on cameras equipped with the Wisenet 9 chipset. Instead of relying solely on predefined metadata filters, the feature identifies visually similar people or vehicles from a selected reference image across large volumes of recorded video.

The technology uses AI-generated feature vectors extracted from representative Best Shot images captured by the camera, enabling rapid searches across multiple recordings while reducing server processing requirements. Hanwha Vision states that this edge AI approach allows investigators to locate relevant footage within seconds, even in large-scale deployments. The feature does not perform facial recognition or identify individuals, but instead compares visual characteristics to find similar objects.

Expanded AI search capabilities
In addition to Similarity Search, operators can perform searches using AI attributes including person, face, vehicle and license plate information directly from the XProtect monitoring interface. The plug-in also supports application-specific analytics for retail environments, industrial safety monitoring and barcode detection.

Road AI and Vehicle Management functions extend vehicle searches by enabling filtering based on vehicle make, model, colour and country of registration. Each result includes a Best Shot image to help operators quickly verify the detected subject.

Integrated camera control and live analytics
The updated plug-in extends beyond forensic search by incorporating operational camera management within XProtect. Users can control standard camera functions together with PTZ and thermal imaging cameras without leaving the monitoring interface.

Support has also been added for IP audio and intercom integration, allowing operators to communicate with personnel on site while reviewing live or recorded video. AI object bounding boxes, Intelligent Video Analytics (IVA) events and virtual line detections can be displayed as overlays on live video streams, providing immediate visual feedback when configured detection rules are triggered.

According to Thomas Bille, Vice President for Product and Partner Marketing at Milestone Systems, the integration enables organizations already using Hanwha Vision AI cameras with XProtect to utilize embedded analytics directly within their existing workflow without additional hardware.

John Lutz Boorman, Head of Product and Marketing for Hanwha Vision Europe, stated that the updated integration expands access to AI analytics, including Similarity Search, while helping operators improve investigation speed and operational efficiency from a unified interface.

Additional Context: Technical Specifications and Competitive Benchmarking
Similarity search has become an increasingly important capability within enterprise video surveillance platforms as organizations manage growing volumes of recorded video. Comparable appearance-based search technologies are available in enterprise systems from Axis Communications, Genetec and Avigilon, although implementation methods differ. Hanwha Vision performs feature extraction at the camera edge using supported Wisenet 9 AI cameras before transmitting optimized metadata, reducing server computational load. The technology is supported through Hanwha Vision BLAZE as well as dedicated plug-ins for Milestone XProtect version 1.09 or later and Genetec plug-in version 1.08 or later. Milestone deployments require compatible Expert or Corporate licensing to support AI metadata functionality.

Bearbeitet von Sucithra Mani, Redakteurin bei Induportals – mit Unterstützung von KI.

www.hanwhavision.com