© APR 2023 | IRE Journals | Volume 6 Issue 10 | ISSN: 2456-8880

Security Surveillance System with Email Notification

Using Raspberry Pi
NKOLIKA O. NWAZOR1, STELLA IFEOMA ORAKWUE2
1, 2
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Department, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract- Security is one of the major concerns of In recent years, there has been an increase in video
man after food and shelter. The video security surveillance systems in public and private
surveillance system proposed in this work hinges on environments due to a heightened sense of security[1,
the integration of cameras and raspberry pi zero 2]. The next generation of surveillance systems will
microcontrollers into an alert system. Raspberry Pi be able to annotate video and locally coordinate the
operates video cameras which stream live video and tracking of objects while multiplexing hundreds of
allows for access to real-time events. This work is video streams in real time. Video surveillance
focused on developing a security surveillance systems play an increasingly important role in the
system that detects the intrusion of humans and maintenance of social security. It has been widely
responds speedily by capturing and relaying images used in many settings such as finance, public
to owner-based wireless modules. The Raspberry Pi security, banking and homes. Traditional video
Zero microcontroller was programmed using surveillance can generally achieve close-distance
functions found in Open CV. This Raspberry Pi- monitoring by using the PC as a monitor host
based Smart Surveillance System presents the idea connected to a monitor camera with a coaxial cable
of monitoring a particular place in a remote area. [3].
The proposed solution is a cost-effective
surveillance system, which is efficient and easy to Initially, it was dominated by analog cameras
implement. connected using coaxial cables. For cost and
performance reasons, there was a change in
Indexed Terms- security, surveillance, raspberry pi, preference for digital switching systems and now IP-
motion detection, open CV, e-mail notification based delivery of data [1].Detection and tracking of
moving objects are important tasks for computer
I. INTRODUCTION vision, particularly for visual-based surveillance
systems. Video surveillance application, most times
Security is one of the major concerns that affect our requires the system to monitor a wide area, so
day-to-day life. Everyone wants to be secure. multidirectional cameras or mobile cameras are
Recently, the world has experienced an exponential generally used [4].
increase in crime rate. Criminals break into houses
daily around the world carting away huge amounts of Commercial spaces, universities, hospitals and
money and precious items. Sensitive and confidential factories require video capturing systems that have
documents, materials and equipment in corporations the ability to multitask objectives such as alerting
are constantly declared missing from where they are and recording live video of an intruder. The
kept. So there is a need to provide a device that can advancements in video surveillance technology have
detect unauthorized persons in an environment. made it possible to view your remote security camera
Surveillance involves monitoring behaviour, from any internet-enabled PC or smart phone from
activities, or other changing information for the anywhere in the world. This encompasses the use of
purpose of influencing, managing, directing, or CCTV (DVRs) systems and IP cameras. This
protecting. This involves observation from a distance technology is impressive but the price of
by means of electronic equipment or interception of implementation has proven to bean obstacle,
electronically transmitted information (i.e. internet especially for a small home application.
traffic or phone calls).

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Therefore, new technology in this aspect revolves features such as the intercom to communicate with
around the affordability of a product in terms of its visitors, a door lock switch and an alarm button that
price and ease of implementation. The Raspberry Pi could activate the alarm at the central system that
encompasses both criteria in its cheapness and monitors the residence [5].
effectiveness as a computer which can be interfaced
with other modules to realize systems with great Today, more advanced security systems are used by
functionality. A lot can be done on it ranging from homeowners. Users can confirm that their doors are
motor speed control, automatic lighting, VPN server, locked and alarms on by simply logging in remotely
security systems etc. This project is an application of via a web-enabled device [6]. With the push of a
the latter. button, they can lock doors, enable the system, or
adjust the thermostat. Nowadays, there are
The Raspberry Pi microcomputer is capable of surveillance cameras that are as small as a square
implementing cost-effective security system for inch, connected to the internet and outfitted with
various applications. This new arising technology powerful lenses that can capture and stream high-
related to security provides a comfortable and safe definition video online and can be viewed from any
environment for small homes. The various objectives location. Homeowners can now program their
of the system are to detect an intruder, take an image security systems to send a live video clip of an area if
of the intruder and also convey an alert message to motion is detected when the home is unoccupied and
the owner via output devices. In doing so it thus the alarm is activated by using a connected smart
allows for remote monitoring of homes from home system,
anywhere in the world. The system proposed in this
work cannot wholly replace the role of CCTV and IP Some authors have worked on security surveillance
surveillance cameras, especially in large commercial systems. The authors [8, 9], developed a real-time
set-ups but will make it easy for low-income home security system using human motion detection. The
owners to monitor their homes at a very affordable system monitors the area in which it is being
price. In addition to the fact that the Raspberry Pi deployed. In the system, the human motion detection
board is cheap, the camera used in this project is system is achieved using a web camera. If a motion is
cheaper compared to the others. The whole system is detected, the computer will start recording, buzz an
straightforward and easy to implement. alarm and send an SMS to people listed in its
database. A motion-based security system that uses a
II. LITERATURE REVIEW passive infrared sensor (motion sensor) was proposed
by [10, 11, and 12].When a human motion is detected
Security is the state of being protected or safe from the system sends an alert. The authors [13], proposed
harm. It is a term that has different dimensions in a smart surveillance system that the user can use to
psychology, public safety, defence and military observe environments using an Android application.
matters and information access. Security and safety Whenever the PIR Sensor detects an intruder or new
are always intertwined and it is impossible to design introduction it will send a signal to the raspberry pi
a security system without taking into account the GPIO pin. Pi senses the signal and in turn, sends the
safety of the object or person into consideration. An signal to the USB Camera for capturing the image.
early model of an advanced video home security The authors [14, 15, and 16] also worked on the use
system included a large motorized camera that moved of raspberry pi for security surveillance and a motion
down a track to view the exterior of the home sensor to allow live streaming for her system. A
through four peepholes mounted in the front door [5]. system that uses a motion-activated security camera
The video camera transmitted grainy images of with email notifications using Raspberry Pi was
visitors to a stationary television monitor that also proposed by [17]. The system described allows
served as the control panel where the homeowner customization in that the user can turn off the motion
could remotely control the camera's movement [6]. sensor or leave it on. The author [18] worked on low-
The panel, which was located in a separate room cost wireless image acquisition and transfer to web
away from the camera, was equipped with security clients using Raspberry Pi for remote monitoring. A

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wi-Fi-controlled raspberry pi home security system connected in parallel to increase the output current of
was proposed by [19]. The major limitation of some the regulator to 2 Amp. A light emitting diode (d1) is
of the previous systems is how conspicuous they are used as a power indicator. The circuit requires a
and they can be easily spotted by a bugler. They are power of 10 watts. The two voltage regulators are
also quite expensive when they are implemented. connected in parallel to supply 10 watts. Two voltage
Moving security cameras can be a hassle and will regulators were used. Both 7805 gave 5V. From the
most times require a professional technician to help datasheet (in appendix A) the 7805 output voltage is
with the move. 5V 1A. In the parallel connection of both regulators it
supplies 2A.
III. METHODOLOGY
3.1 The input unit
The proposed system is a home security surveillance The input unit is made up of the raspberry pi camera
system that is capable of detecting human motion by that captures the human face and sends the data to the
means of a portable camera. The system is also very microcontroller. The raspberry pi camera board plugs
inconspicuous; it can be hidden in any location where directly into the raspberry pi. It is able to deliver a
the user wants to survey. The system is not as crystal clear 5-megapixel resolution image to the
expensive as most security systems in the market. raspberry pi zero. This camera is made specifically
The system is lightweight and doesn’t require for the Raspberry Pi.
professional help when changing the location.
The control unit is the raspberry pi zero wireless
For a surveillance system to be utilized for effective module controller. The Raspberry Pi Zero is a super-
monitoring and alerting, the system has to have small, hackable and ultra-low-cost computer. It
atleast three functions. These functions are detection comes with a mini-HDMI, micro-B OTG USB, and
which is carried out by the camera, image processing the same 40-pin GPIO. It is this microcontroller that
and alert mechanism. This Raspberry Pi based is used to receive the image of the environment and
security system is thus composed of mainly two scan if the image is same as the image stored in the
parts. These are: design hardware and design controller. The system will keep checking from the
software. input of the camera, if the image is different and once
it detects a change in the environment it will send
3.2 Design Hardware signal to the output unit.
The system design consists of four parts which are
the power supply unit, the raspberry pi camera The system uses an open CV library for the
system, the control unit and the output units. The processing of the image of the individual. The open
block diagram of the design of the system is shown in CV library makes use of the motion based algorithm.
fig.1 The microcontroller uses the motion algorithm
method to identify motion (movement) of objects in
the group of live frames. The motion is identified
using contour map between frames. The difference in
frames is used to find the contour. The human
contour is categorized using a threshold contour size.
When a human is detected it sends an E-mail to the
owner and the streaming of the events can be
accessed via the raspberry pi. The video of the event
is sent via email to the owner of the house it is
Fig 1. Block Diagram of Hardware Components
deployed. The email is sent from the output using a
LAN network. The microcontroller was programmed
The power supply unit is made up of the power pack
using python language. The system works based on
which supplies voltage and current to the voltage
the algorithm and program used to control the control
regulator (U1 and U2). The voltage regulators are
unit.

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3.2 Output Units Step 4: Activate alert mode: If any motion belongs to
The output unit is the email. The LAN network predefined size or type is identified, then the alert
enables the system to sends the video frames of the mode is activated by a trigger to the controller.
intrusion process to the user of the device. Internet Step 5: Alert message transfer: The Email contents
connection was necessary to enable the Raspberry Pi are created with the consecutive frames where motion
communicate over network protocols and thus allow was detected. Then the API command is activated to
for installation of required Python packages. Since send the Email to the receiver. After sending Email to
the broadcast router uses Dynamic Host the user the captured image is stored in the local
Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to dish out IP storage.
addresses to devices connected to it, it was necessary
to change the IP address of the Pi from static to 3.3.2Flowchart for System Process
dynamic. This was done by editing the network The flowchart in fig.2 shows the processes taken by
interfaces file. When the network interface file is the Raspberry Pi Controller when an intruder is
changed, the user can then access the camera’s live detected to the email notification point. The
footage using the IP address. algorithm begins with system initialization through
the capturing process by the Raspberry Pi Camera all
3.3 Software Design the way to the check for internet connectivity. The
Open CV library and the python programming systems will then generate and send an email based
language were used in the command modules in the on the foreground and background image. The
system. Open CV was used to analyze images and raspberry Pi generates the email which it sends to the
video files. Open CV thus provided the necessary user of the system.
platform to achieve image processing. The code that
enables video processing is implemented using Open IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
CV. Python Programming is a very useful
programming tool that has an easy to read syntax,
and allows programmers to use fewer lines of code
than would be possible in languages such as
assembly, C or Java. The python programming
language was used to implement instructions to the
microcontroller. The algorithm for the system
software is shown below:

Step 1: Image capturing and transfer: The camera is

capturing scenes of a fixed location. The captured
frames are transferred to the Raspberry Pi controller.
Step 2: Background subtraction: Each frame is
applied with background subtraction method to get
the foreground image where the motion to be
identified.
Step 3: Motion detection: Motion of objects above a
standard size (small size insects, animals are not
considered) are detected through a group of frames
using temporal motion detection method
Fig 2: Flowchart of the system.

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Fig.3: The Circuit Diagram of the Entire Hardware

The circuit diagram of the proposed system is shown [2] Jyothi, S. and Vardhan, K.(2016),Design and
in fig.3.The system was analysed and the circuit was implementation of real time security
designed in an electrical drawing studio (Proteus surveillance system using, 2016 International
version 7.8) environment. This was used to simulate Conference on Communication and Electronics
some of the parts of the circuit to show if the design Systems (ICCES) IoT 1-5, doi:
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Monitoring System using Arm. IOSR Journal of
This project was all about the design and construction Engineering 3(7),14-18, doi:10.9790/3021-
a system that can be able to detect when an intruder 03761418
enters an area and sends the picture and video files of
[4] Martinel N, Foresti GL, Micheloni C., (2016),
the event to the owner. The system utilizes the
Person Reidentification in a Distributed Camera
Raspberry Pi Zero microcontroller and was
Network Framework. IEEE Trans Cybern.
programmed using the python-language and the Open
47(11):3530-3541. doi:
CV library. The system worked satisfactorily and as
10.1109/TCYB.2016.2568264
expected. Summarily this system allows for faster
transmission of the intruder alert, can be assessed [5] Ragmahale, RS (2018)"A Literature Survey on
from anywhere and anytime and is an economical Smart Home Automation Security."
means of surveillance. International Journal of Computer Networks and
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