The job of city surveillance security professionals is more stressful now than ever

Preventing crime, protecting people, and securing critical infrastructure has never been easy. However, with higher populations and more traffic on the roads, the task is growing even more complicated.

Add in sophisticated cybersecurity attacks and social media platforms where people openly discuss threats – both real and fake. Plus, heightened pressures related to the local economy, ethical supply chains, and sustainability.

The result? A multitude of security and operational concerns that must be seen and evaluated in real-time.

To help tackle these challenges and foster a safer, more prosperous future, city surveillance professionals are increasingly turning to cutting-edge AI-enabled surveillance technologies.

Creating smarter & more secure cities: Advantages of AI-powered surveillance systems

Traditionally, pixel-based motion detection in older CCTV systems have resulted in widespread false alarms from irrelevant motion, such as moving shadows, waving trees, and more.

Now, with the integration of AI, object detection has become far more accurate for surveillance operations, thus reducing false alarms and bolstering operator efficiency. When it comes to Hanwha Vision AI solutions, advanced analytics are performed directly on the device (also known as “edge AI”), reducing server-side computing requirements to save costs while also bolstering cybersecurity.

To deploy a smart surveillance solution, or upgrade technologies used in existing systems, operators should start by defining their goals, desired outcomes and creating a plan that is agreed on by all stakeholders.

With city surveillance, you need to be flexible and ensure that investments today can easily be integrated with existing infrastructure, scaled, and updated as new technologies are introduced.

Having the right technology partner is a valuable way to ensure that these initial steps are optimized for your needs and that you have, at all times, an accurate TCO (total cost of ownership) report.Lear n more about true value of TCO (Total Cost of Ownership).

The right partner will ensure that you are using the right cameras for your needs and budget, utilizing ideal camera placement, and maximizing the value of insights garnered from the license-free AI data analytics offered.

Hanwha Vision and our range of STEP partners have extensive experience supporting city surveillance leaders. We provide high-performing, customizable solutions with our wide range of cameras, cloud and VMS options, that are easy to integrate and manage.

Hanwha Vision offers a wide range of products and solutions to enable smarter cities, including for traffic management, car parks, city-wide surveillance, cybersecurity, and more. This allows local leaders and city security professionals to better manage the flow of people and vehicles around key areas as well as ensure efficient planning.

Learn how the busy London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham benefits from working with Hanwha Vision .

Should every city try to be a smart city now?

View other customer sucess stories on Transport (rail & subways), airports, etc.

While not imminent, the pace of technological innovation is making widespread smart cities feasible.

For instance, the state-of-the-art Hanwha Vision Smart City solution, which integrates our advanced AI-powered cameras with cloud services and Wisenet VMS, can facilitate the transformation of cities into safer and smarter environments.

Furthermore, utilizing the Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol means that networked Hanwha Vision video cameras can work seamlessly with any number of other sensors in an installation. Thanks to MQTT, video surveillance can now do a lot more than security monitoring — it can have an impact on all sorts of business and city operations, for example in monitoring air quality.

With operators increasingly looking to deploy a single pane of glass approach, seamless integration across systems is fundamental.

A recent survey conducted by the Hanwha Vision Europe team revealed that 51% of city planning managers anticipate creating new efficiencies through AI-enabled video technology.

Interestingly, in ranking the top uses for AI-enabled video in smart cities, efficiency and quality of life were rated as high or higher than security. These findings come from a survey of 225 smart city professionals.

Deploying adequate resources to manage crowding in public spaces (43%).
Managing the efficient flow of public transport, such as buses, trams, and trains (38%).
Spotting hazards like broken — down vehicles or spilled lorry loads on busy roads (38%).
Identifying vehicle types using roads and their patterns to better plan road repairs and construction (36%).
Monitoring air quality and other environmental conditions in urban areas (34%).

We observe similar trends across other countries worldwide, with AI-powered video surveillance either currently – or soon to be — employed for more than just security.

There are also some very good examples of how AI-enabled video is improving operational efficiency, quality of life, and safety.

Hanwha Vision’s Road AI solution, for example, is an edge-based solution that has a high-speed option for highway usage, and an urban-based application mode, both of which can deliver real-time classification of more than 600 vehicle models.

It automatically detects real-time traffic issues, like accidents and issues alerts accordingly, helping to mitigate traffic jams by adjusting traffic light timing and lane openings based on visual alerts. Additionally, it assists city planners in assessing driver commuting trends and developing low-emission road use plans.

As cities evolve, so too must the strategies and technologies that protect them. With growing populations, tighter budgets, and increasing expectations for sustainability and quality of life, city surveillance professionals are being asked to do more — often with less.

By adopting AI-powered video surveillance solutions, cities can move beyond reactive security toward proactive management, enhanced operational efficiency, and greater public trust. From managing transport flow to monitoring environmental conditions, these technologies are proving to be critical tools for modern urban planning.