Digital Transformation of the Watchman
Benefits and New Risks in Video Surveillance
CCTV in stadiums has come a long way from its historical roots in watchtowers and early police forces. Today, with AI and high-resolution cameras, it ensures both broad scene monitoring and detailed identification, vital for crowd safety and security. Learn how modern surveillance blends tradition with cutting-edge tech to keep large venues secure—and discover how we implement these solutions in our stadiums.
Origin and evolution
Since ancient times, security has been a priority in any organized society. The watchmen in the towers of castles or fortresses, observing the approach of enemies, are among the first examples of surveillance systems. These watchmen were also present in ancient cities, with police officers responsible for tracking down those guilty of crimes. The existence of police forces dates back, according to historical records, to Ancient Egypt, where their duties were similar to today’s: protecting citizens and locating suspects through verbal descriptions or rudimentary sketches. These officers had to memorize this information to identify individuals in the crowd. Interestingly, we still do this because politicians believe that automating this function infringes on rights.
This historical precedent brings us to the two main functions of modern video surveillance systems: observing scenes for clues and identifying specific entities, such as faces, license plates, or bags. When CCTV cameras first arrived, with their low-resolution capabilities, their role was limited to general scene surveillance. It wasn’t until image quality significantly improved that cameras began to capture more precise details, such as facial features, representing a leap in surveillance capabilities.
However, the real revolution has come with advances in artificial intelligence algorithms, which can detect coherent patterns such as faces, colors, license plates, tattoos, clothing, and more. This automation has allowed cameras to perform functions beyond what was imaginable just a few decades ago.
A clear example is the decline of PTZ cameras (motorized pan-tilt-zoom cameras), as a 360-degree fixed camera can cover more space without the additional maintenance costs of motors and joysticks. Moreover, the loss of information that occurs while a PTZ camera adjusts to the relevant scene is critical in risk situations. Another recent improvement through digitization is that current cameras can capture vehicle license plates at speeds of over 250 km/h, whereas older systems barely record the dust of cars moving at 90 km/h.
This raises an important consideration for infrastructures like stadiums, where large crowds increase risks. Panoramic cameras, often used outdoors, are insufficient for detecting threats in critical areas. An adequate arrangement of fixed cameras, capable of capturing faces and body details in key areas such as entrances, hallways, and turnstiles, provides more efficient and cost-effective surveillance.
High-quality cameras that capture forensic-level details for judicial processes can be more economical than investing in motorized cameras, whose maintenance and functionality can quickly become obsolete.
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New risks
However, there is an additional element we must not overlook: espionage. Just as ancient spies sought crucial information to gain an advantage, today’s internet-connected cameras have become an attractive target for hackers, unscrupulous journalists, or even foreign governments. Despite advancements since the days when cameras could be easily tampered with via coaxial connections, the threat persists in the digital era. Companies like Hikvision and Dahua have been flagged for possibly sending encrypted data to unknown IP addresses, something a good CISO can prevent with simple measures. Unfortunately, cybersecurity is not always applied to physical security systems.
In summary, CCTV systems in stadiums should be designed with a clear separation of uses: Specific surveillance for access points (turnstiles, doors, access to the stands, etc.), and continuous monitoring of each spectator in the stands throughout the entire match.
Success Case Study
At LALIGA, we apply this philosophy by installing high and very high -resolution cameras that capture faces with forensic quality, complying with security regulations and ensuring that individuals responsible for violent or criminal acts can be identified. Additionally, we monitor to prevent incidents like falls, abandoned objects, etc.
The evolution of CCTV continues, and while advances in artificial intelligence could one day make human "watchmen" a thing of the past, for now, we still need robust, well-designed, and above all, secure systems.
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Bonus: If you're interested in military strategy and the importance of espionage, here’s a link to the famous book by General Sun Tzu, The Art of War — available for free on many websites.