Optimizing YOLOv5-powered real-time surveillance using optical communication networks

In today’s push toward smarter and safer cities, having a reliable system for nighttime surveillance has become increasingly important. To address this, our study presents an advanced monitoring setup that uses multiple cameras positioned in different directions to act as perceptual sensors. These cameras work together to provide better situational awareness and enhance public safety, especially during low-light conditions. At the core of this system is the YOLOv5 model, which we have fine-tuned specifically for real-time object detection in challenging urban environments at night. With over 50 security cameras deployed in a distributed network, there is a need for fast and efficient data transmission. To handle this, we use a high-speed optical communication backbone that ensures smooth, low-latency streaming of video footage to a centralized processing unit. This optical network setup allows the system to respond quickly and process visual data effectively, even when under heavy load. In our experiments, a multi-scale version of the YOLOv5 model (YOLOv5MS) achieved a mean average precision (mAP) of 88.7 %, proving its capability to perform well under real-world conditions. By combining cutting-edge computer vision with high-speed optical transmission, this system demonstrates a major step forward in building intelligent, responsive surveillance solutions for modern cities.