This year’s presidential election has highlighted the importance of security. Just consider the two assassination attempts against former President Trump, the first of which resulted in the death of a campaign event attendee.
Whenever large numbers of people gather, they constitute a potential target. Campaign events frequently fill large stadiums, bringing together tens of thousands of supporters. Polling places can mean long lines, with hundreds waiting their turn to vote.
How can security personnel keep all these people safe, plus the candidates and their entourages of friends, family, and staff?
The good news is that technological advances can make election-related events more secure than ever. Based on state-of-the-art fiber optics and audio, these innovations deploy the ever-vigilant eye of AI to assist human security personnel.
Introducing Next-Generation AI-Based Surveillance
Security staff can now monitor large crowds and events in real-time using a sophisticated surveillance and audio-monitoring system called a Fiberoptic Ring Interferometer (FoRI). Essentially, installing a ring of fiber optics around a facility can turn it into a microphone.
A new surveillance platform called AURA by Huvr couples a FoRI with cameras and an AI system that tirelessly scans the data, searching for possible disturbances and any sounds or images that might deviate from normal attendee behavior. For instance, it can be programmed to flag specific words like “help,” “shooter,” or “gun.” Indeed, the sensors are even sophisticated enough to track the fall of a snowflake or the path of a projectile.
When the system identifies an anomaly — perhaps someone wanders into a restricted area or some other unusual activity occurs — it immediately records a 60-second video of that location. In seconds, the server assesses the video and creates a detailed report for human staff that includes descriptions of the persons of interest and the exact coordinates of the disturbance.
The technology can even send text messages and mobilize the right personnel, depending on the nature of the disruption. If there’s a medical emergency, then it calls first responders into action. If there’s a security threat, it summons the rapid response team to take over.
These cutting-edge AI-powered systems can better and more comprehensively monitor people’s behavior in a crowd than human staff. Since these machines are also indefatigable, they can operate without pause 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In this way, they offer a great way to supplement traditional security measures with a powerful AI assist.
Additionally, these systems can track crowd movements and send warnings if pockets of high density develop. Members of the security detail can deploy to the problematic location to prevent overcrowding, address any bottlenecks, and ensure a smoother flow of foot traffic. This helps avoid crushes, which can become dangerous and even fatal.
Finally, these systems can also alert management if human resources should be shifted to ensure a more efficient experience for attendees. In the context of a campaign event, for instance, this technology could help seat people at large venues quickly and smoothly.
Moreover, these smart systems are simple and easy to operate.
A Surprisingly Practical Solution
Believe it or not, these systems only need one person to run them. The control center for AURA is a laptop computer with a PC-style user interface that comes in a single case about the size of a small Pelican Box and only weighs approximately 11 pounds. It has a lithium battery and can connect to AC, DC, or even a small solar panel. A standard power supply of 110 volts is sufficient.
While these systems may seem complex, they are actually surprisingly easy to install. Whether the event is large or small, indoors or outdoors, these systems can be adapted to the occasion. The largest perimeter the OpticSense system can establish is 20 miles across.
In my experience, these systems can also be set up in only about two to three days. Depending on the site, the fiber optic cables may be temporarily installed on a line of fencing. At larger venues like sports arenas where they will be in permanent use, these cables are usually buried.
This platform can also interface with the venue’s existing network of surveillance cameras, such as standard 1080P and 4K cameras, but our team can also provide high-resolution cameras if needed. Of course, the better the cameras’ resolution, the better the system’s algorithm can process their images.
It’s Time to Harness the Potential of AI for Security
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the threat of terrorist attacks will remain high not only for the remainder of this year but also throughout 2025. As the agency explains, “Lone offenders and small groups continue to pose the greatest threat. Meanwhile, foreign terrorist organizations, including ISIS and al Qa’ida, maintain their enduring intent to conduct or inspire attacks in the Homeland.”
It’s time to harness AI’s enormous potential for greater security at campaign events or anywhere large crowds gather. Next-generation AI-based surveillance systems make it possible for security to sense and respond to threats faster and more effectively than ever before.
