Milestone-Agent Vi integration protects logistics perimeter

Milestone and Agent Vi protect major logistics enterprise site against perimeter breaches

Integrated with Milestone open platform VMS, the real-time alerts from Vi-System on Axis thermal cameras enabled a decrease in guards, cutting costs without lowering security.

 "We are very happy with Agent Vi's real-time video analytics solution. The seamless integration with our Axis thermal cameras offers excellent detection rates at all times of day, and in all lighting conditions... The real-time alerts generated by Vi-System and sent to the monitoring station have allowed us to decrease the number of security guards stationed around the perimeter, effectively cutting our costs without lowering our level of security."
     Operations Manager
            KDL Trans

Product: Vi-System - Real-Time Video Analytics 
Application: Security and Perimeter Protection
Customer: KDL Trans  
Location: Brussels, Belgium 
Vertical Market: Enterprise
Agent Vi Partners:
Axis Communications - Cameras
Milestone Systems - Video Management System (VMS)
ESSC - Certified Systems Integrator

Challenge

Founded in 1991, KDL Trans is a globally-oriented logistics provider that specializes in electronic and computer equipment, offering services such as air freight, ocean freight, packing, storage, customs brokerage, and more. The company is based out of a new 11,000 square meter facility close to Brussels airport, which offers easy access to important trans-European highways. The extensive facility is home to a fleet of some 100 trucks and vans, and includes a range of loading docks, storage warehouses and areas for sorting and other logistical activities.

KDL Trans sought to provide the highest level of security at the new premises, and thereby offer the best possible service to their range of customers, comprised of both local and international high-profile businesses and organizations. Recognizing that the high value of the goods passing through the facility could attract intrusions by thieves, KDL Trans looked for the most effective way to undertake early detections of unauthorized people in their facility. KDL Trans sought a perimeter detection solution that connected with its monitoring station, to cut down costs associated with employing multiple guards stationed around the premises on weekends when the site is less busy. 

Solution

After testing for an optimal solution, KDL Trans decided to deploy Vi-System - Agent Vi's real-time video analytics solution, with Axis cameras. The challenging environmental conditions, among them outdoor areas with natural vegetation, harsh weather and extreme changes in lighting, led to a decision to employ Axis thermal cameras, which eliminate these parameters to a large degree. Together with Agent Vi's analytics, the thermal cameras offer excellent range and deliver highly accurate detection results. 

Specifically, the site's 8 Axis thermal cameras (AXIS Q1910-E and 1921-E) - which are strategically located around the building's perimeter - were enabled with Agent Vi's embedded video analytics component (Vi-Agent) to allow the following real-time detection rule to be active on each camera:

• Person moving in an area to detect and alert to unauthorized personnel entering the premises and moving freely in restricted areas.

KDL Trans employs Milestone XProtect® Professional as their VMS recording and viewing application, which is fully integrated with Agent Vi's software. Therefore, events detected by Vi-System generate an alert which is displayed in the Milestone XProtect Smart Client.

Result

The deployment of Vi-System at the site has lifted the level of security by allowing the early detection of intruders entering the site. In fact, a number of perimeter intrusions have been picked up by Vi-System, and the lead time gained by these early detections enabled a more effective response by the security guards.

Furthermore, the added layer of security offered by Vi-System has been instrumental in KDL Trans' efforts to build business relations with new and existing clients, as they can point to the superior level of security offered at their site.

Jurgen De Laet, Operations Manager at KDL Trans, said that "We are very happy with Agent Vi's real-time video analytics solution. The seamless integration with our Axis thermal cameras offers excellent detection rates at all times of day, and in all lighting conditions." Furthermore, he commented on the return on investment enabled by Vi-System, saying that "The real-time alerts generated by Vi-System and sent to the monitoring station have allowed us to decrease the number of security guards stationed around the perimeter, effectively cutting our costs without lowering our level of security."

Toon Eeckelaert, Co-Owner of ESSC, stated that: "We tested a range of solutions, including active infra red beams, radars and video analytics, to identify the best option for the site. We compared the products, level of security offered, added value and price. On all levels, video analytics had the highest score." As a certified member of Agent Vi's Channel Partner Program, Mr. Eeckelaert is familiar with Agent Vi. He commented that: "It's all about trust, experience and knowledge. We have found that Agent Vi has the highest level of professionalism for all three, compared to other providers." 

Ariel Frischoff, VP Sales EMEA & APAC at Agent Vi said: "The installation at KDL Trans demonstrates the synergy of Axis thermal cameras with Agent Vi's video analytics, which provides the customer with some significant benefits. Firstly, the false alarm rate (FAR) is extremely low, due to the analytics software being more immune to environmental changes such as shadows, rain and snow, when using thermal cameras. Furthermore, the solution enables accurate detections at long distances without the need for expensive illuminators. KDL Trans was able to deploy a minimal number of thermal cameras to cover its entire perimeter, thereby providing the customer with the lowest cost of ownership compared with other surveillance systems."