International. In a recent article authored by him, the Senior Expert Engineer at Axis Communications, Stefan Lundberg, addresses the evolution of the demand for network video.
Beginning its analysis, Lundberg warns that the demand for high-resolution network video is growing, creating a pressing need for a video encoding standard that delivers high-quality video at low bitrates for efficient streaming and reduced storage costs. "Fortunately, that standard already exists: AV1. Introduced in 2018 by the Alliance for Open Media (AoM), AV1 is a next-generation, device-agnostic video coding standard that is poised to revolutionize the surveillance market," says Axis Communications' Senior Expert Engineer.
Below are the aspects analyzed by the renowned expert:
What exactly is the AV1 codec?
AV1 is a flexible video format designed for optimized hardware and software deployment. It facilitates video streaming over the internet by enabling high-performance video playback on many devices. AV1 is open source compatible, with open access verification streams and is available unlicensed in AoM. AoM's founding members include industry leaders such as Amazon, Cisco, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Mozilla and Netflix, highlighting the broad support for AV1 video technology.
Why go beyond H.264 and H.265?
Today, most of today's video surveillance systems are based on H.264, Stefan Lundberg continues. While H.264 has broad support and good performance, this 20-year-old technology struggles to meet modern demands for transmitting and storing high-resolution video surveillance images. For years it was expected that H.265 would replace H.264. Unfortunately, however, their restrictive licenses have limited their adoption. It has been virtually impossible for browser vendors to include client set-top boxes, and it is complicated for end-users to install the necessary set-top boxes themselves.
How AV1 Outperforms Traditional H.264
AV1 works well with all types of video material, offering efficient video streams with an attractive quality-to-bitrate ratio. For high-resolution videos and complex motion, it delivers results that are on par with H.265, barring complicated licensing requirements. For most network video users, replacing the older H.264 with the newer AV1 will deliver a significant reduction in bitrate, lower storage costs, and meet the growing demand for high-resolution video. However, it is important to note that the transition to AV1 will take place over years and video surveillance solutions will need to continue to support traditional encryption methods for some time.
AV1 and the cloud
AV1 is also the preferred set-top box for cloud-based applications, with strong support across major cloud frameworks. Streaming from the cloud to the client device is a mature solution for the mass market and AV1 support in network cameras will facilitate integration and deployment by simplifying surveillance solutions. In addition, many standardized cloud technologies, such as WebRTC, already use AV1 today. The introduction of AV1 to the surveillance market will make it easier to connect applications and enable hybrid solutions to be brought to market faster.
Extensive support for AV1
Since its launch, software and hardware vendors have been busy preparing support for AV1 on various devices. Currently, AV1 is compatible with all major browsers, computer operating systems, and mobile platforms. Popular microprocessors from Intel, AMD, and ARM have long supported hardware-accelerated decoding, and more and more mobile devices with hardware-accelerated set-top boxes are hitting the market.
The video surveillance market is ready for AV1
It's time to bring the benefits of AV1 to the video surveillance industry. AV1 offers high-resolution, hassle-free, and cost-effective streaming and storage, providing advantages that users will appreciate. As such, the market is expected to rapidly adopt this next-generation standard as forward-thinking vendors embrace it.
"At Axis we are proud to be the first surveillance equipment supplier to offer AV1 to our customers and partners. In addition to H.264 and H.265, all future products that include the ARTPEC-9 SoC will include AV1 support," concludes Lundberg.
