Video Smoke Detection

Video Smoke Detection (VSD) has been used for several years, during which time it has rapidly developed from an emerging technology to become a recognised solution in a growing number of applications, where more conventional technologies might not have provided a satisfactory solution. VSD is used with other fire detection technologies to provide a fire detection solution in specific areas inside or outside a building. Video image fire detection is still an active area of research and there are only a few systems that are commercially available. The capabilities of these systems vary from being able to only detect smoke to also being able to detect flame, as well as providing motion detection and other surveillance/ security features.

Typically, VSD systems consist of video-based analytical smoke recognition algorithms that integrate cameras into fire detection systems. The video image from an analogue or digital camera is processed by proprietary software, to determine if smoke from a fire can be identified in the image. The detection algorithms use different techniques to identify the smoke characteristics and can be based on spectral, spatial or temporal properties. These include assessing changes in brightness, contrast, shape, edge content, motion and colour matching.

VSD systems can provide unique advantages in a wide range of applications. These include the following:

• Commercial buildings, or parts of them, with high lobbies, open areas or interconnecting wells between storeys.
• Large aircraft hangars or similar structures.
• Oil and gas installations.
• Road and rail tunnels.
• Forests or other open area, long distance risks.