High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), also known as H.265, is a proposed video compression standard, a successor to H.264/MPEG-4 AVC (Advanced Video Coding), currently under joint development by the ISO/IEC Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and ITU-T Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG).

Compared to the current mainstream AVC standard H.264, H.265 is said to be capable of further reduction of  50% of the data rate requested for high quality video coding. Bitrate is acclaimed to have around 40% to 50% reduction at 1080p while rendering superb image quality.

To summarise, firstly, H.265 can downsize video footage to a great extent while playing fairly smooth video with low bandwidth, and all these benefits further drive market demand on 4K/Ultra HD; second, with the fast development of 4G and mobile technology, there is no doubt that the integration between the two industries will create many more amazing possibilities.

Despite all the benefits, according to Dahua, the current phase within the security sector seems to show a little reticence towards H.265 as this compression standard is still new to the video surveillance industry, which means it will take some time to be adopted and adapted. Dahua Technology, as a leading and innovative corporation, perceives this as an opportunity and aims to bring the reality of H.265 to the industry right now. The company has adopted H.265 in its latest product portfolio, including network cameras, NVRs, transmission devices as well as video-wall systems.

Starting with cameras, Dahua has a recently released 5.0 megapixel ultra-smart network camera that uses H.265/H.264 dual codec, allowing over 40% lesser bandwidth use while acquiring outstanding image quality. Moreover, with its functions such as ultra defog, RoI, and intelligent detection, the camera can make surveillance clearer, smarter and smoother; based on this trend, Dahua can foresee more H.265 cameras in different resolutions are on their way.

When it comes to back-end devices, Dahua was thought to be the first in the industry to introduce a comprehensive H.265 4K NVR product lineup, which covers various demands, including small-to-medium as well as large-scaled applications. These NVRs have up to 12.0 megapixel decoding capability, supporting 1080P@60fps and H.265 preview and playback; 4 channel 4K real-time live view and playback; meanwhile, its intelligence functions including behavioural analysis, facial detection etc. are also supported. What is also worth mentioning is that Dahua say that their R&D team put great energy at the planning phase to ensure that the products they develop are eco-friendly.

In addition, Dahua has also introduced a control platform, the M70, with H.265 standard - this platform can decode multiple channels of H.265 videos at the same time; and thanks to modular design, M70 can handle up to a maximum of 40-channel UHD video outputs with each supporting H.265 decoding; plus, this HD output video can be presented as an integrated image by combining HD outputs.

“Obviously, H.265 is one of the major compression standards that allow us to implement UHD solutions, such as 4K or even 8K, which is definitely the trend of video surveillance.” said James Wang, Product Director of Dahua Technology.

“The benefits that H.265 bring are not limited to those already discussed,” Wang continued, “just like a magician's hat, you can expect much more from it, for example, our R&D team has carried out some great performance tests on bitrate control, image quality balance as well as intelligent analytics and tracking.”

“For me, I always feel thrilled about new trends and technologies as they have the potential to nourish many new possibilities, to bring products, industry, and even society to a better place,” Wang added. “H.265 is just the case, we have the confidence to tap out the potential of this standard and make full use of it, so my advice is to stay with us, stay with the latest trend and see how we use it like magic.”