Dahua full-colour cameras with Smart Dual Illuminators Technology enable a new era of digital video surveillance

Traditionally, there have been two options for using surveillance cameras in the dark - flooding the scene with visible light, or alternatively using infrared (IR) illumination to discreetly light a scene – but only enabling images to be seen in black and white.

The success of the surveillance system at night depends on using the correct supplementary lighting to provide artificial illumination. Factors to be considered include whether or not colour images are needed, the effects of light pollution, and illumination coverage distance.

IR illumination

Warm light can be used as a visual deterrent to illuminate a scene monitored by cameras

Warm light can be used as a visual deterrent to illuminate a scene monitored by cameras and provides general lighting to help pedestrians and drivers. It enables colour images to be captured, but may contribute to light pollution in the area – something that has become an increasing concern in recent years.

IR illumination, on the other hand, does not cause any light pollution and provides discreet or covert illumination at longer distances than white light. The downside of IR is that it only allows the capture of black and white images, and can only be used with monochrome or day/night cameras.

Smart Dual Illuminators Technology

But many users need both white light and infrared to meet their needs. With dual illumination cameras, users can have the best of both worlds. So, how to ensure colour monitoring at night, without any of the downsides of continuous white light, such as light pollution?

The answer is to use Full-colour Cameras equipped with Smart Dual Illuminators Technology. These cameras use IR illumination as their default lighting solution, keeping a discreet watch on scenes. When pre-defined events occur – usually the detection of a person on the scene – the camera automatically switches from IR to white light illumination, so as to enable colour images to be viewed.

Dahua Full-colour Cameras

Dahua Full-colour Cameras utilise deep learning algorithm technology to accurately detect targets

Alternatively, the camera can be set to IR mode only – where supplementary white light is not required – or to white light only for settings that need continuous colour footage at night.

Moreover, the Dahua Full-colour Cameras utilise deep learning algorithm technology to accurately detect human or vehicle targets, while disregarding other objects or animals, thereby ensuring that white light illumination is only activated by targets of interest, so as to avoid false alarms.

Illumination mode adjusted via DMSS app

The illumination mode of the Smart Dual Illuminators can also be adjusted through the DMSS app, with a single click, thereby enabling users to remotely manage and view the monitored scene from anywhere and at anytime.

Other highlights of Dahua Full-colour Cameras powered by Smart Dual Illumination Technology include:

• SMD Plus - Smart motion detection, equipped with a deep learning algorithm, focuses on people and vehicle detection, filtering out potential false alarms.
• Perimeter Protection - This technology can accurately recognise human and vehicle targets. In restricted areas, such as pedestrian zones and parking lots, false alarms caused by irrelevant objects can be significantly reduced.
• Quick Search - Users can extract and classify human and vehicle targets from a massive amount of video data, making it easier for end users to trace and analyse data history.
• Smart Codec – Dahua Technology’s smart codec technology provides greater efficiency than H.265 and H.264 compression, thereby providing high quality video, while reducing storage and transmission costs.

Powered by Smart Dual Illumination Technology, Dahua Full-colour Camera is suitable for scenario applications, such as business parks, retail stores, schools, hospitals and outdoor parks.

• Example 1: Residential premises

Crimes are often committed at night, so a surveillance system must be able to capture colour images of events for investigation and as evidence. To do that, white light is necessary, but constant use of white light can be a nuisance to other residents. Smart dual illumination cameras will provide the optimum solution for this issue.

• Example 2: Outdoor park

Continuous white light illumination can disturb the environment and cause light pollution, but without it, clear colour images of events during darkness cannot be captured. The Dahua Smart Dual Illuminators camera enables targets to be viewed in full colour, while avoiding continuous white light illumination.

It’s clear that with Smart Dual Illumination Technology, users can have their cake and eat it. The technology provides a flexible solution to users, who need the right lighting at the right time, for every incident.