Airports & ports security applications

Market dynamics are changing the U.S. residential security market, creating new business models that better appeal to the approximately 70% of households without a security system. Smart home adjacencies have helped revitalise the traditional security industry, and alternative approaches to systems and monitoring for the security industry are emerging, including a new batch of DIY systems. Growth in the residential security market and its position as the channel for smart home solutions have attracted numerous new entrants. Telecoms, cable operators, and CE (consumer electronics) manufacturers are joining traditional security players as they compete to fulfill consumer demand for safety and security. Connected products also provide a layer of competition as consumers must decide whether having category devices such as doorbell video cameras, networked cameras, and other products suffice for their security. Increasingly competitive landscape Smart home services can provide additional revenue streams for the security industry For instance, IP cameras are a highly popular smart home device rooted in security, and Parks Associates estimates 7.7 million standalone and all-in-one networked/IP cameras will be sold in the U.S. in 2018, with $889M in revenues. Product owners may feel their security needs are fulfilled with this single purchase, as such dealers and service providers are under increasing pressure to communicate their value proposition to consumers. Categorically, each type of player is facing competition uniquely—national, regional, and local dealers all have a different strategy for overcoming the increasingly competitive landscape. Smart home services can provide additional revenue streams for the security industry. In Parks Associates’ 2017 survey of U.S. security dealers, 58% report that smart home service capabilities enable extra monthly revenue. Almost half of dealers also note they have to offer smart home devices and services in order to keep up with their competition. While white-label devices are acceptable in some instances, dealers need to integrate with hero products whenever possible when those exist for a category. For dealers who have added smart home devices and services are all potential benefits and good for business Improved customer engagement That 2017 survey also revealed 36% of security dealers that offer interactive services report security system sales with a networked camera and 16% report sales with a smart thermostat. For dealers who have added smart home devices and services, enhanced system utility, increased daily value, and improved customer engagement with the system are all potential benefits and good for business. Security has served as the most productive channel for smart home solutions, mainly because the products create natural extensions of a security system’s functions and benefits, but as smart home devices, subsystems, and controllers expand their functionality, availability, and DIY capabilities, many standalone devices constitute competition to classical security. Particularly viable substitute devices include IP cameras, smart door locks, smart garage doors, or a combination of these devices. Products that are self-installed offer both convenience and cost savings, and these drivers are significant among DIY consumers—among the 6% of broadband households that installed a security system themselves, 39% did it to save money. Enhance traditional security Self-installable smart home devices may resonate with a segment of the market who want security While many security dealers believe substitute offerings are a threat, some dealers do not find such devices an existential threat but instead view them as another path to consumer awareness. They argue that the difference between smart product substitutes and traditional security is that of a solution that provides knowledge versus a system that gives one the ability to act on that knowledge. A common theme among professional monitoring providers is that a homeowner who is aware of events happening in the home does not necessarily have a secure and protected household. For example, a Nest camera, a DIY product, notifies a consumer via smartphone about events in the home when it detects motion, but only when the notification is opened and identified will a consumer be able to act on the related event. Self-installable smart home devices may resonate with a segment of the market who want security but are unwilling to adopt professional monitoring; however, providers can leverage these devices to enhance traditional security features and communicate the value of professional monitoring. Smart home devices and features, while posing a threat to some security companies, are a potential way forward to increased market growth Increased market growth A key counterstrategy for security dealers and companies is to leverage their current, powerful role as the prime channel for smart home devices. Many security dealers now include smart home devices with their security systems to complement their offerings and increase system engagement. For example, as of Q4 2017, nearly 70% of U.S. broadband households that were very likely to purchase a security system in the next 12 months reported that they want a camera to be included as part of their security system purchase. In response, many security system providers now offer IP cameras as optional enhancements for their systems. Smart home devices and features, while posing a threat to some security companies, are a potential way forward to increased market growth. Security dealers have an opportunity to become more than a security provider but a smart home solutions provider rooted in safety. Provide status updates Comcast has entered both the professionally monitored security market and the market for smart home services The alternative is to position as a provider of basic security with low price as the key differentiator. Comcast has entered both the professionally monitored security market and the market for smart home services independent of security. It has discovered that monetising smart home value propositions through recurring revenue becomes increasingly challenging as the value extends further away from life safety. Since the security industry remains the main channel for smart home services, security dealers are in a unique position to leverage that strength. Value propositions must shift from the traditional arming and disarming of a system to peace-of-mind experiences that builds off the benefits of smart devices in the home to provide status updates (e.g., if the kids arrived home safely) and monitoring at will (e.g., checking home status at any time to see a pet or monitor a package delivery). These types of clear value propositions and compelling use cases, which resonate with consumer and motivate them to expand beyond standalone products, will help expand the home security market.

One of the biggest recent security divestitures in the news was the sale of Mercury Security to HID Global, which occurred around a year ago. The seller in that transaction was ACRE (Access Control Related Enterprises), also the parent company of Vanderbilt and ComNet. We recently spoke to founder and CEO Joe Grillo, a 30-year industry veteran, about the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market, ACRE’s future, and new opportunities opened up by the Mercury sale. Q: What’s new with ACRE? Grillo: We have an opportunity to have organic growth and to have some scale on a global basis to be a decent size player" ACRE is a company I founded in 2012, and since then we have had six acquisitions and one divestiture. We’ll never focus on ACRE as a brand, but we currently have more visibility of ACRE as a parent company with our two strong brands, ComNet and Vanderbilt. Last year was a very busy year [with the sale of Mercury Security to HID Global] because it takes as long to sell a brand as to buy one, maybe more so. Q: What’s next? Grillo: What you are seeing from us this year is that we are again in a buying mode. No announcement yet, but we expect one by the end of the year. We are well-funded, have great partners, and see an opportunity to continue to grow acquisitively as our highly fragmented space of access control continues to consolidate. From the standpoint of ACRE, with the ComNet and Vanderbilt brands, we are also doing more integration on the backside – not what the customer sees. We will continue to grow toward a $200 million business. We were there when we owned Mercury, and we will get there again. We have an opportunity to have organic growth and to have some scale on a global basis to be a decent size player. Because ACRE are owned by a private equity company, we are brought into every opportunity: ComNet is a good example" Q: Do you see the M&A market being more competitive – more companies looking to acquire? Grillo: There’s a lot of money chasing not-so-many deals, so evaluations can get expanded. But as interest rates creep up, it is definitely a challenge to find the right valuation, the right financing and the right strategic fit. It is a very strategic market. Q: There have been some big acquisitions lately. Were you guys involved at all in evaluating those opportunities? Grillo: Because we are owned by a private equity company, we are brought into every opportunity. An example of that was ComNet. I would not have been aware that the founder passed away two years ago and that there was this opportunity to own the business. So we look at everything; anything that’s out there we look at. The biggest recent announcement in our world was S2 (being sold to UTC/Lenel), and, yeah, we looked at that. It didn’t fit our profile – it was too expensive. Great business, and it’ll be interesting to see how it fits into the UTC environment. There was also Isonas [which was recently sold to Allegion], but the size didn’t add enough scale, but I like the technology. ComNet sells communication networking solutions and products, which is more attractive than video systems for ACRE Q: So what are you looking for in an acquisition? Grillo: It’s hard for us to find something that moves the needle, and you have to find that right balance. Is it something we can digest and have the financing for, and also is there room on the back end? We are private equity-owned, so we know there will be an exit for our investors, too. So we have to find the right balance, good valuations, the right size and digestible. If you look at our acquisitions, we have done two “carve outs.” The Vanderbilt name didn’t exist until we bought the business from Ingersoll Rand, and then we bought the [intruder] business from Siemens. That’s how Vanderbilt came about. You get a lot of value when you carve out a business, but there’s a lot of work. In the case of Mercury or Access Control Technology (ACT) that we acquired; they were growing and profitable but they stretch your finances a lot more. So you have to find the right mix in there. Q: Does video interest ACRE at all? Grillo: We have to find the right balance, good valuations, the right size and digestible"ComNet is our video play. ComNet sells communication networking solutions and products, and 70 to 80 percent of that is used for video systems. But unlike cameras, which don’t interest us, it’s actually good margins, highly specialised repeat business and with good channel partners. So where are we going to play? Cameras – no (because of commoditisation). We have some recorder technology (from the Siemens acquisition) and we have the communication networking technology (with ComNet). On the software side, we have looked at a lot of the VMS companies, and a lot of them have been on the market. But the valuation expectations can be high because they are software companies. And we really believe in partnering as a good thing, too. If we integrate to Milestone or Salient or some of these companies, we will never lose an access control client because they chose a particular VMS. Q: ACRE is also looking to grow organically, isn’t it? Grillo: From a technology perspective, we are a product company and we are continuing to bring new products to the market with the ComNet communication networking business and the access control business. And in Europe, we have a third leg of the stool, which is the very successful intrusion and burgular alarm business we acquired from Siemens (SPC products now sold under the Vanderbilt brand). That business continues to do well and is now one of the highest performing segments in our portfolio.The intrusion and burgular alarm continues to do well and is now one of the highest performing segments in our portfolio" Q: But you don’t have to own a company to make it part of your solution. Grillo: An important word is integration. We have to integrate to all the wireless locks. We have to integrate to the VMS systems. But we don’t have to own them. Q: How has the Mercury Security divestiture impacted the rest of your business? Grillo: It has opened up the opportunity for us to look at Mercury partners as possible acquisition targets without worrying about conflicts with the very good business of Mercury. We have more flexibility now compared to the Mercury era. Q: How will the economic cycle impact the security market? Grillo: Interest rates are a much bigger issue than the overall economic cycle. We talk a lot about it with our owners – clearly interest rates are tightening up. If you go out to do acquisitions or to borrow money to do something with your business, it will be tougher than it was two years ago, and it may get worse in the next two years. Security is less impacted by the economic cycle than some industries.

In the simplest terms, video systems capture and record video. But supporting these basic operations are a growing number of other functions that expand usefulness and the ability to interact with related elements in a larger system. As video system functionality expands, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the most important function of a CCTV system and why?

In 1901 New York state made a pioneering regulation move and became the first US state to require automobile owners to register their vehicles. This marked the beginning of regulation on modern traffic, which - following decades of development - resulted in a multi-layer concept of regulation relating to vehicles and driver’s licenses, traffic signs and insurance mechanisms that we are all familiar with nowadays. While certain parallels can be drawn between the early days of cars and our contemporary experience with quadcopters, we are facing a new challenging era that is far more complex to organise and regulate. Integrating drones in existing regulatory ecosystem Similar to other pioneering technologies in the past, drones need to integrate into a long existing and well-balanced ecosystem, the rules of which have first been drafted some one hundred years ago and have evolved without taking vehicles such as drones into account. Yet the safety risks related to aviation hinder the quick integration of drones into that ecosystem, broadening the gap between existing regulatory landscape and the exponentially growing popularity and ever-advancing technology of drones. The safety risks related to aviation hinder the quick integration of drones into the legislative ecosystem For the past several years, governments and legislators have been trying to tackle this problem by trying to answer two questions: how to properly integrate drones into the airspace without creating a hazardous impact on existing airborne operations, and how to enforce regulations in order to prevent the side-effects related to careless or malicious drone flights, taking into consideration public safety and physical security. Counter-UAS measures and regulations Up until 2018, legislators tried to tackle these two questions as a whole by introducing bundled legislation drafts covering the entire landscape of gaps they needed to address, which resulted in multi-parliamentary committee efforts both in the US and abroad to review and approve each bill - a process that is very slow by design. It was only in the beginning of this year that the issues were starting to be addressed separately: legislation related to limitations and counter-drone measures on the one hand, and legislation related to integration into airspace on the other. Let’s take a closer look at Counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems) measures and what makes them challenging in terms of regulation. Over the past years, various counter-drone technologies have been introduced to enable control over rogue drones in order to either stop them from achieving their flight purpose or prevent them from creating safety hazards to people or property. These measures can be grouped into 3 types of technologies: Military grade solutions - including lasers and surface-air missiles Kinetic solutions - including net-guns and autonomous drones set out to catch the rogue drone and disable it airborne Non-kinetic RF-based solutions - aimed at either disabling, disrupting or accessing the drone’s communications channels in order to trigger a return-to-home function, or guide the drone into a safe landing route Aside from combat military operations, the legality of using the above technologies is questionable as they tamper with an airborne aircraft, might be considered as wiretapping and/or violate computer fraud laws. Therefore, one can conclude that unless changes to regulation are made, non-military facilities will continue to be defenceless from and vulnerable to rogue drones.  One can conclude that unless changes to regulation are made, non-military facilities will continue to be defenceless from and vulnerable to rogue drones European c-UAS legislation Next, let’s look at the state of c-UAS legislation in both Europe and US to better understand different legislative ecosystems and how they affect the possibilities of using counter drone measures. In the European Union, there is currently no uniform legislation, and the member countries rely on their own existing legal infrastructures. Roughly speaking, most countries use a method of exemptions to the communications and aviation laws to allow the use of counter drone measures after a close examination by the relevant authorities. Such exemptions are approved under scrutiny to particular sites, which provide some relief, but they do not allow broad use of countermeasures. Further discussion regarding a broader regulation change, on a country level or EU-wide, is only preliminary. US c-UAS legislation Preventing Emerging Threats - provides an initial infrastructure for counter drone measures to be used by various DoJ and DHS agenciesUnlike the EU, in the US exemptions are not possible within the existing legal framework, and the possible violation of US code title 18 means that the hands of both the government or private entities are tied when attempting to protect mass public gatherings, sports venues, or critical infrastructure. Therefore, it was more urgent to introduce legislation that would allow countermeasures to some extent. In September, US Congress approved the FAA-reauthorisation act for the next 5 years (H.R. 302), which was shortly after signed by the President and came into effect. Division H of the act - Preventing Emerging Threats - provides an initial infrastructure for counter drone measures to be used by various DoJ (Department of Justice) and DHS (Department of Homeland Security) agencies under strict limitations. However, the act avoids determining which technology the agencies should use, yet it requires minimal impact on privacy and overall safety in order to strike the necessary balance. This is the first profound counter-drone legislation and is expected to be followed by additional measures both in the US and in other countries. Updating counter-drone legal infrastructure In summary, 2018 has been a pioneering year for counter-drone legislation, and while technology already allows taking action when necessary, legal infrastructure needs further updates in order to close the existing gaps: covering additional federal assets, state-level governments, and private facilities of high importance, such as critical infrastructure sites. Legislators in the US and around the world need to continue working in a rapid tempo to keep up with the growing threat of drones. As with cars a century ago, the number of accidents will rise with the increase in time taken to regulate.

Whether you are a veteran in the access control world or have never installed a card reader before, there are always ways to increase profits in the ever-evolving world of access control. The hope is that by considering a few key focal points, you can find ways to increase market share. Whether we are releasing an electronic lock through a simple intercom button or using biometric and multi-authentication based on a database; the tactics for bringing on more revenue is the same. Learning to focus on a few key items can help open up opportunities. Business access controls Understanding vertical markets is a strong strategy for success in increasing your profits with access controlIf you are new to access control, it’s important to determine the right product offerings for your business model and experience level of your team. Mistakes in estimating or installing can be costly and complex. Take advantage of manufacturer training both online and in the classroom for both your sales team and installation department. It’s important to understand the fire and building codes in your area to make sure you design the proper solution for your customers. Furthermore, understanding the products, components and proper wiring can save you money in labour and materials.  Today we will look at four focus points: vertical markets, cloud-based access control, technology upgrades, and preventative maintenance and service agreements. These four focal points are simple to implement and can be easily added to your current operation. Vertical markets Understanding vertical markets is a strong strategy for success in increasing your profits with access control. The concept is that understanding a certain vertical and their security needs can increase your sales team’s marketability. If you spend your time focusing on the healthcare industry, for instance, you will see that HIPA requirements open doors for selling access control. Getting to know the regulatory concerns of different verticals is a great strategy for more effective sales Having logs of who entered your HR files room or patient records storage is a crucial part of addressing privacy concerns. Getting to know the regulatory concerns of different verticals is a great strategy for more effective sales.  Another example could be apartment communities or other multifamily dwellings. In this competitive marketplace, these complexes are looking for ways to stand out in their market. Knowing this and being able to offer amenities like secured locks with Bluetooth credentials that tenants can open with their smartphones is a selling point for you and for your customer. Building on each customer you contact within a vertical is like free sales and marketing training. The more you learn from each potential client, the more you increase your conversation starters for the next potential client. Cloud-based access control With the growing cloud-based access control market, integrators can find more opportunities in small businesses and vertical markets that typically wouldn’t be on the radar of your sales team. A typical card access system often makes the move from the traditional lock and key systems to electronic card access cost prohibitive. This is due to the large upfront costs for a server, software and annual licensing. With cloud access, integrators can offer less expensive upfront costs with low monthly subscription fees that cover all software updates, database backups, security patches and more. The real benefit for the integrator is the reoccurring revenue. By helping our clients save money on server, software and IT infrastructure costs, we are securing reoccurring revenue for our companies that increase our profitability. Building reoccurring revenue not only provides cash flow but also keeps your name on the top of the minds of your customer and that leads to additional sales. By helping clients save money on server, software and IT infrastructure costs, we are securing reoccurring revenue for companies that increase profitability Technology upgrades Another often overlooked opportunity is technology upgrades. Training your sales staff and even service technicians to watch out for clients with older technology can reap major benefits. When you bring new technology to your clients, you show another value that you bring to the table. Even if your client isn’t ready to make an upgrade, you can easily plant a seed that will get their minds and budgets rolling. An easy example is a customer with an older intercom door access system An easy example is a customer with an older intercom door access system. This may have met their needs 10 years ago when it was installed, but the office has grown and perhaps an integrated card access intercom system is a great technology upgrade. Bringing this to the customer will once again show that you are the “subject matter expert” and your customer will be more apt to refer you to their friends and colleagues. Another easy way to find technology upgrades is to dig through your ageing client list and build a list of potential targets that you have not visited lately. If you keep records of what was installed previously, it will make it easier to plan ahead and bring solutions to your next visit, saving your sales staff time and again building confidence with your clients. Preventive maintenance and service agreements One thing that sales teams often miss is the opportunity to add service agreements and preventative maintenance agreements. Even if a customer already has an access control system, they may not have a service provider and may be interested in securing a service agreement. Typically, a service agreement can be written to cover all parts and labour or just labour for an annual feeShowing the value of a service agreement is paramount, adding annual or semi-annual preventative maintenance to your service agreement is one way to add value. Inspecting locking mechanisms, request to exit motions and buttons, door status switches, headend equipment, batteries and power supplies, can save your customer from a costly after-hours service call or the inconvenience of a non-functioning access control system during business hours. Additionally, checking computer hardware and software logs for errors can save a customer from a catastrophic failure.  Typically, a service agreement can be written to cover all parts and labour or just labour for an annual fee. It is helpful to come up with a percentage of the install value that makes sense so that your sales team can easily quote a service agreement for your customer. Offering several levels of service also opens the table for negotiations. You can offer an “all parts and labour 24/7” or a “parts and labour M-F 8AM-4PM”, as an example. Offering guaranteed response times can also be a marketing strategy. Critical area access management Checking computer hardware and software logs for errors can save a customer from a catastrophic failureA 24-7 facility that has 200 employees moving in and out of critical areas may be a great potential customer for a high-level service agreement with semi-annual preventative maintenance and a guaranteed 4-hour response time. Where a small office that is only open during standard business hours may be better suited for a labour only M-F with annual preventative maintenance inspection. The point is that a creative, intentional, and focused approach to access control can yield the fruit that brings long-term success to your team. Building a plan and learning from each prospect, sale, and installation will develop a process that brings results. Attending a trade specific expo like ESX will give you the opportunity to meet with manufacturers and other integrators that can help you implement a product offering and strategy for success.

ISC East is making a name for itself as a must-attend regional conference and trade show in New York City that brings together the large community of law enforcement and private sector security professionals from the Tri-State area. ISC East, being held Nov. 14-15 at New York’s Javits Center, is emerging from the long shadow of its sister show – ISC West in Las Vegas in the spring – and making its own mark on the industry. ISC East is 20% larger than last year, and exhibitors have swelled from 230 to more than 300. Familiar names at ISC East this year (who were absent in 2017) include Allegion, Arecont Vision Costar, Bosch Security Systems, and Seagate Technology. In all, there are 115 new exhibitors compared to 2017.Familiar names at ISC East this year (who were absent in 2017) include Allegion, Arecont Vision Costar and Bosch Security Systems “We purposefully make sure we reflect the region we are in,” says Will Wise, Group Vice President, Security Portfolio, Reed Exhibitions. “It’s not a mistake that both our keynote speakers have New York-centric backgrounds and have topics to reach a larger market. We want to tap into the strengths of the region.”  ISC East (International Security Conference & Exposition) has come a long way in the last five years. In 2014, the show was a mere 28,000 square feet, and this year it has grown to 44,000 square feet of exhibit space. One factor driving growth has been improvements in the educational session, powered largely by show partner Security Industry Association (SIA). The two-day event is characterised by “good energy” on both days, says Wise. There is less than 10% duplication of attendance with ISC West. Liability issues of event security A big topic for New York and surrounding areas is event security, and one session covers “Confined Space Protection & Risk Mitigation for Today’s Industry Leaders.” The session will focus on safeguarding event organisers’ brands, protecting them from liability, and balancing the need for security that doesn’t negatively impact the “guest experience.” One factor driving growth has been improvements in the educational session, powered largely by show partner Security Industry Association (SIA) Liability issues of event security are especially timely now, given MGM Resorts' recent lawsuit asking the courts to protect it from legal liability in the wake of the Las Vegas massacre last October.  “Event security is integration of physical security with smart technology and not being overzealous,” says James DeMeo, Founder, President and CEO of Unified Sports & Entertainment Security Consulting LLC. DeMeo’s presentation on event security is one of the “back by popular demand” sessions at ISC East – there was a big turnout for his previous sessions at last year’s ISC East and at ISC West.  “A big part of event security is integrating technology, but we also need the human element,” says DeMeo. “Good guest security and harmonious relationships require a level of training that includes escalation, behavioral analysis, and communicating more harmoniously.” ISC East is 20% larger than last year, and exhibitors have swelled from 230 to more than 300 Holistic approach and technology integrations From the session, DeMeo hopes attendees will take away awareness of the need for responsible social media monitoring, integration of technology, threat behaviour analysis and early attack indicators, proactive risk mitigation, and staff training. The emphasis is on a holistic approach “from the top down and the bottom up,” says DeMeo. “It’s a sophisticated niche based on potential liability, and we must do everything possible to protect fans and patrons.” Crowd security is another ISC East topic that is tailor-made to the New York location of the show Crowd security is another ISC East topic that is tailor-made to the New York location of the show. A session on installation of safety and security barriers to protect pedestrians and crowds is another session that is “back by popular demand.” Rob Reiter, co-founder of the Storefront Safety Council, will present the session on protecting urban environments.   Another return session is about drone security and regulations. It will provide an overview of current policy and regulatory framework and provide understanding of how to get involved in the discussion to enable drone use in security applications. Converged security and smart cities A new session at ISC East this year will be “Smart Cities, Smart Buildings and the Evolution of the Converged Security Approach.” Pierre Bourgeix, president of ESI Convergent, will help attendees understand converged security and how it relates to the smart cities and smart buildings movement. Located on the ISC East exhibit floor, Unmanned Security Expo will include exhibits and demos of UAVs, UGVs and autonomous systems SIA and ASIS International will present findings from a study on how successful individuals can gain experience and skills they need to advance their security careers.  Co-locating with ISC East will be the Unmanned Security Expo, which focuses on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Unmanned Ground Robotics & Vehicles (UGVs), counter-drone solutions and software applications to support them. Located on the ISC East exhibit floor, Unmanned Security Expo will include exhibits and demos of UAVs, UGVs and autonomous systems. Also co-locating with ISC East will be Infosecurity North America, which includes a conference program with well-respected industry speakers, an expo floor and networking opportunities.

AIG, Aéroport International de Genève, is one of the most dynamic airports in Europe. In 2012 alone it handled almost 13.9 million passengers and 193.000 flights to 120 destinations, serviced by 200 different companies. Obviously, with these figures, security is an important issue and needs to be up to standard at all times. Managing access for a large workforce The implemented AEOS platform controls the access of a workforce of 9,500, manages 37,500 badges, 200 organisations working at the airport’s facilities. Securing and controlling such a dynamic environment requires a flexible access control system, based on state-of-the-art technology which is able to meet present demands as well as future security requirements. Handling multiple access control technologies One of the main reasons for AIG to choose Nedap AEOS as its security management platform was its radical different architecture based on software components. AEOS software components allow the platform to support and enhance the airport’s security policy and procedures. Furthermore, changing requirements can be put into effect much more easily. Another reason to choose AEOS is its capability of simultaneously handling multiple reader and credential technologies in a single platform. Single card access control Four different identification technologies are used simultaneously in AEOS access control functionality at Geneva Airport: Nedap, Mifare, Legic and Magnetic stripe, each technology serving a different purpose. The Nedap Combi card has been put into place, which combines all the required technologies, therefore increasing convenience for the users, as they do not have to carry four different cards.

Levels of security inside the Aviation industry have never been higher; mainly due to increased terrorism threat levels across the globe, combined with a worldwide rise in smuggling activity. No airport is immune from these pressures and Ghana’s ‘Kotoka International’ can now claim to meet ACC3, the highest accreditation in the aviation industry, thanks to their recent investment in the latest generation of IP CCTV systems from Hikvision. Ghana’s Kotoka International Airport Established in 1994, Aviance Ghana Ltd provides a range of ground handling services at Ghana’s Kotoka International Airport, situated just outside the capital, Accra. The airport itself is Ghana’s premier international flight centre and is capable of accepting large aircrafts, such as the latest generation of Boeing 747.Aviance Ghana is one of eight companies making up the Aviance Alliance, which operates at more than 100 airport locations across 4 continents It occupies more than 650 hectares, with two large terminals for domestic/regional and international/long-haul operations that are connected by an internal walkway. Terminal 2 is the principal international departure terminal and includes restaurants, duty-free shops and two Executive lounges for First and Business Class travellers. There are also two smaller terminals dedicated solely to diplomatic flights and military operations. Aviance Ghana is one of eight companies making up the Aviance Alliance, which operates at more than 100 airport locations across 4 continents. At Kotoka, the ground services include managing all the passenger concourse facilities in Terminal 2, plus passenger check-in and baggage handling, the loading and unloading of cargo from freight flights and a cargo warehouse operation for all import and export needs. Overriding security objectives Given that today’s security concerns require the aviation industry to maintain very high levels of protection measures, close scrutiny of the 650 hectare site that the airport occupies and protecting passengers, aircraft and cargo were the twin key objectives for Aviance when deciding to upgrade the Airport’s CCTV system. The company also recognised that intelligently deploying the camera infrastructure would be necessary to maximise cost-effectiveness and efficiency. The new Skylink CCTV system design uses four different types of Hikvision IP camera Aviance Ghana turned to Skylinks Technical Services Ltd and tasked them with designing a solution that would enable it to meet the EU’s ACC3 accreditation, the highest accreditation in the aviation industry. In turn, Skylinks turned to Hikvision for the design of an all-IP CCTV system capable of not only meeting the current challenges facing Aviance in its operation at Kotoka International Airport, but also providing an expandable base that could rise to meet future developments. The new Skylink CCTV system design uses four different types of Hikvision IP cameras connected to a 32-channel, RAID 5 NVR over an entirely new Gigabit network infrastructure. According to Haim Atanelov, Skylinks General Manager, “The final brief for the CCTV upgrade included installation of new cameras in Aviance’s import and export cargo warehouses, both entry and exit vehicle gates, within the terminal public areas, at the biometric log-in area and associated turnstiles, and within the VIP lounge areas. “In all of these disparate areas, we were challenged by Aviance to deliver high resolution images at all times and in all lighting conditions. It is these pressures that helped us in choosing Hikvision components, with their robust build quality, excellent video quality, and quick and simple installation and operation due to the user-friendly software. It also helped that the products offer very competitive prices and are accompanied by after-sales service and technical support from a first-class team.” Clear images in poor lighting conditions Aviance is committed to phasing out the old system in favour of a totally Hikvision IP system as soon as possible" The CCTV system uses a combination of IP66-rated dome and bullet cameras with either 1.3 or 3MP resolution. A total of four DS-2CD2312-I 1.3MP Outdoor Network Mini Dome cameras were installed, two in the public areas of the terminal and two at the main gates where passengers complete the biometric log-in process and enter through the turnstiles. To complement the dome cameras, nine EXIR bullet cameras were used: five DS-2CD2212-I5 1.3 MP units for general surveillance in the warehouses together with a pair of DS-2CD2232-I5 3MP units where greater resolution was required, and two DS-2CD2632F-I 3MP Vari-focal EXIR cameras for the main vehicle entry and exit gates. “All of the cameras offer great resolution, with 3D DNR and Digital WDR as standard, together with a full complement of alarm triggers, including line crossing and motion and intrusion detection” says Haim Atanelov. “But, the true day/night capability of the EXIR infrared technology meant that they always delivered clear images, even in the warehouses where lighting conditions are not good. Both the 1.3MP and 3MP bullet cameras employed in the warehouses live up to the 50-metre IR range quoted. What’s more, the 30-metre EXIR range of the mini dome cameras deployed in the terminal building is also very useful during night time hours when the building lighting is partially shut down.The new system has already proved its worth, helping to completely seal the export warehouse in particular “We also paid particular attention to the vehicle entry and exit points, in each case choosing the 3MP Vari-focal bullet cameras for their IP66 environmental protection, high resolution, advanced night viewing capabilities and zoom.” Into the future The new system has already proved its worth, helping to completely seal the export warehouse in particular and enabling Kotoka to meet ACC3 accreditation. Together with securing the import warehouse, which serves global airline and cargo brands such as British Airways, South African Airways, Alitalia, KLM, Virgin, DHL, Cargolux, etc., it means that the airport is well-placed to continue to attract business. “Aviance is especially pleased with the smooth integration of the Hikvision IP system with the access control system at the 4 turnstiles,” says Haim Atanelov, “something which was also carefully noted by the EU ACC3 validators. Aviance was also pleased with the integration of the new system with the existing analogue CCTV system, although it did show up the difference in video quality immediately. "We have already agreed to add further IP cameras to the site and Aviance is committed to phasing out the old system in favour of a totally Hikvision IP system as soon as possible.”

British Airways i360 is a 162-metre (531 ft.) tall observation tower on the seafront of Brighton on the UK’s south coast, which opened in August 2016 on the site of the historic West Pier. Conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects, the creators of the London Eye, British Airways i360 is the world’s first vertical cable car and the world’s tallest moving observation tower. Just as the original pier welcomed Victorian society to ‘walk on water’, British Airways i360 invites visitors to ‘walk on air’ in the fully enclosed futuristic glass observation pod which gently lifts up to 200 passengers to a height of 138 metres (450 ft.), providing a new perspective on the city with totally unobstructed views. Seagate storage solution selected for surveillance system The technology deployed in the development and daily operation of the observation tower set a new standard for innovation – including a high-tech video surveillance solution supplied by local firm Brighton CCTV, with Seagate’s storage solutions chosen as a key component in the technology. A specialist in CCTV design, installation and maintenance for the commercial and residential market, Brighton CCTV was selected as the preferred supplier for its experience and local expertise. British Airways i360 selected Brighton CCTV as its camera security and webcam partner and their system partner, Hikvision, produces industry leading equipment that enables smooth, clear video streaming. Brighton CCTV selected Seagate as an additional partner for the project to deliver the surveillance storage solution, providing 10TB of storage in total. High resolution images were a must for this high-profile site and with the IP CCTV system running over a huge network, a solid and reliable storage solution was a necessity. Each camera also had to be carefully selected for the right area of the structure, taking into consideration installation, service and maintenance, as well as being capable of dealing with bright scenes due to the observation tower’s beachside location. SkyHawk surveillance: Solid and reliable “We had worked with Seagate before on a previous project and knew the reliability its storage provides,” said Christopher Dean, Owner of Brighton CCTV. “The SkyHawk surveillance drives operate with an extreme workload rating, low power consumption, provide long-term drive reliability and can operate in harsh environments, withstanding a variety of temperature ranges – ideal for British Airways i360 being on the seafront.” “We were thrilled our technology was selected to be a part of this ambitious and innovative landmark,” commented Andrew Palmer, Sales Manager, Enterprise and Surveillance Group, Seagate Technology UK. “We were able to make this surveillance solution possible working alongside our trusted partners Brighton CCTV and Hikvision.” A British Airways i360 spokesperson said: “British Airways i360 is a spectacular observation attraction and is the cornerstone to funding the regeneration of Brighton’s seafront. With some 700,000 visitors expected at British Airways i360 annually, it was vital that we worked with the best team in order to deliver on our vision and that included using trusted suppliers providing innovative technology.”

Ampelmann provides solutions that allow people to safely disembark from ships onto offshore structures. The company has equipped all of its systems with high-resolution MOBOTIX cameras for visual access control, on the recommendation of JB Systems, Ampelmann’s industrial automation partner. High-tech offshore transport Ampelmann was founded in 2008 as a spin-off of the Delft University of Technology. The company developed an innovative platform that compensates for the motion of the sea, allowing people to disembark from ships at sea onto offshore structures – even when there are heavy waves. The company strives to make disembarkation from ships at sea as easy as crossing a street on land. Safety requirements and legislation for the offshore sector are constantly becoming stricter. To keep up with these developments, Ampelmann has grown significantly over the past few years and now numbers over 300 employees. The company initially focused on providing systems to customers working in the North Sea. Ampelmann went on to broaden its horizons and has installed approximately 45 of its systems around the world to date. “We were invited to work on developing a control solution for the Ampelmann prototype shortly after the company was founded,” reports Cor Blok, Sales Engineer at JB Systems. “We were very interested in taking on this project, since we greatly prefer using our expertise and experience to help our clients develop innovations instead of simply providing them with standard systems.” Visual access control Each Ampelmann system consists of a telescopic gangway and a stabilising platform. The systems are installed on ships – offshore workers can safely and easily board offshore structures to perform the necessary installation and maintenance work. The disembarkation point lies roughly 20 metres away from the ship’s control console, which calls for an additional visual control closer to said point. "MOBOTIX cameras areparticularly easy for us tointegrate as they are high-resolution, all-in-one videosolutions with sound,memory, processors andcomprehensive video software" “The disembarkation point represents our greatest potential safety hazard. High-resolution cameras let us carefully observe it from a distance,” Blok continues. “To find the right camera for the job, we conducted tests comparing ones made by various brands. A MOBOTIX camera emerged as the clear winner. It’s a compact all-in-one solution that perfectly withstands the weather conditions on the high seas. The cameras made by other brands were all larger and heavier than this one, since they were made to withstand dust and water in industrial environments. We’ve integrated the MOBOTIX camera that we chose into all of the Ampelmann systems – it’s mounted onto a signal light pole located right in front of the disembarkation point. That way, it lets us see whether it’s safe to disembark. By the way, this signal light pole – this ‘Ampelmast’ – is where Ampelmann got its name.” Integration with industrial controls JB Systems is a MOBOTIX partner based in Vlaardingen, Netherlands, that specialises in industrial automation applications. The company belongs to the Hoogendoorn Group, a subsidiary of the privately held company Batenburg Techniek, and employs a total of 850 people. JB Systems planned and developed the electrical control for Ampelmann’s entire system, including the hydraulic drive. “We use joysticks and Siemens HMI software on an industrial computer screen to deploy and install each Ampelmann system,” explains Blok. “The live feed from the MOBOTIX camera is also displayed in a special window on this HMI screen. The operator can enlarge this image as necessary or expand it to a full-screen view. We worked with M12D cameras in the beginning. We switched over entirely to M15D models after they came onto the market, since they feature both day and night lenses. MOBOTIX cameras guarantee that employees of Ampelmann’s customers can disembark safely "As a partner of both large and small companies with critical processes, we pay a great deal of attention to the quality of all the products we use. MOBOTIX has had an excellent reputation in its field for many years. Moreover, MOBOTIX cameras are generally maintenance-free, which allows our customers to save on operating costs throughout the entire product lifetime.” Safe disembarkation guaranteed “For our company, the best thing about using MOBOTIX cameras is that they provide our operators with a good view of the end of the gangway,” says Johan Holster, Manager of Motion Control Operations at Ampelmann. “As such, the cameras help us guarantee that our customers’ employees can disembark safely. Speaking from personal experience, I can confirm that the cameras really hold their own against the rough weather conditions in the offshore area, and that the day/night switchover works very well. Generally speaking, the cameras we’ve installed worked perfectly, which is exactly what we wanted.” JB Systems also provides MOBOTIX cameras for Ampelmann’s cargo transfer systems. These systems consist of combined transfer and lifting systems. The high-resolution cameras make it easy to closely follow loads as they are lifted. “They’re particularly easy for us to integrate as they are high-resolution, all-in-one video solutions with sound, memory, processors and comprehensive video software,” says Blok. “Moreover, each MOBOTIX camera can work fully automatically as well as with other IP cameras in a network, which increases the number of potential applications. For example, we’ve installed an ATEX version with a special housing for potentially explosive industrial and offshore environments.”

Airports and ports are some of the world’s busiest environments, making safety and security a primary concern for the sector. By their very nature, these facilities need to be open, efficient and accessible, but due to the high volume of traffic that these areas generate, they are a popular target for terrorism, smuggling and theft. These kinds of incidents have the potential to cause loss of life, economic impacts, insurance losses and business interruptions. Transport issues Vanderbilt understands the issues faced in the airports and ports sector. These facilities are large areas with many access points. Due to the large volumes of traffic that pass through every day, there is a hierarchy of sensitive areas with multiple levels of access rights. It is this high volume of traffic that also makes it a “soft” target in the eyes of would-be terrorists, and so there is a need to record who is present in key locations for security and muster reporting. Again, to counteract and deter such threats, as well as thefts and smuggling, video recording demands a high resolution for continuous analytics. Vanderbilt has a host of solutions across access control, intrusion detection, and video management to help combat these issues. One such example of this can be seen at Dublin Airport, Ireland’s busiest airport, where Vanderbilt’s access control product, Entro, is in use. Vanderbilt Entro Dublin Airport provides on-site maintenance facilities for many of the hundreds of aircrafts that use it every day. When these facilities were upgraded, an important part of the project was the refurbishment of the administrative offices that accommodate the workers who coordinate, monitor and control the maintenance operations. As part of the office upgrade project, a new security system was needed to control access through the 25 doors that allow entry to and movement between the areas that make up the office suite Security in transport is a sensitive issue and one that requires agility, adaptability, and dependability; flagship traits of Vanderbilt Vanderbilt’s Entro system was selected for the job. An Entro segment controller partnered with a standard PC as the central element of the system, is complemented by 25 door control modules, one for each of the doors covered by the system. The model of segment controller selected has a maximum capacity of 32 doors and therefore provides generous capacity for future expansion of the installation. It processes all the information in the system and stores the complete database of cardholders and their entry privileges. This makes it robust in its functioning and it remains completely operational even when it is not connected to an external PC or server. Integrated solutions The Vanderbilt door controllers support two readers and are configured to control both entries and exits to the restricted areas in the aircraft maintenance administrative offices. The controllers have an integrated status display window that simplifies installation and maintenance and they include an anti-tamper switch for added security. To work with the new installation, 300 contactless access control cards were also needed. The system allows these to be readily programmed to allow users access to any or all areas within the office suite and to restrict access for individual users depending on the time of day or day of the week. Security in transport is a sensitive issue and one that requires agility, adaptability, and dependability; flagship traits of Vanderbilt. People want to travel without fear of falling victim to attack, but security cannot be so invasive that it makes travel unpleasant. Vanderbilt’s solutions respond to these expectations to facilitate free movement and allow for effective safeguarding measures such as live and mission critical monitoring, door interlock functionality, and integrated devices.

The international airport at Naples, Napoli Capodichino Airport, is used by 6 million travellers every year. With the introduction of the Panomera® multifocal sensor system from Dallmeier, security in both the apron and the airport forecourt areas is enhanced further still by the very latest in camera technology. Napoli Capodichino offers direct connections to 50 domestic and international destinations. It is managed by GESAC SPA, a member of the F2I Airports Group, an airport management company known for the excellent quality of its services and for its culture of continuous improvement. GESAC works constantly to find efficient solutions and satisfy the requirements of its passengers and field operators, particularly with regard to personal safety and environmental protection. Innovative multifocal sensor technology GESAC‘s security engineers saw the Panomera® multifocal sensor system from Dallmeier for the first time at the “Sicurezza” trade fair in Milan in 2010, and were very impressed by the performance capabilities of this ground-breaking video technology. Unlike conventional cameras, which have a single focal lens, multifocal sensor technology is based on a multi-sensor platform with several lenses, each with different focal lengths, creating the unrivalled Panomera® effect. This innovative system provides surveillance of large areas with extremely high resolution, all from a single installation site. This innovative system provides surveillance of large areas with extremely high resolution, all from a single installation site The contact at the trade fair was followed by an intensive planning and design phase, during which the staff at Dallmeier Italy worked closely with the “Infrastructure Development & Flight Operations” department of GESAC, under the direction of Alessandro Fidato. Representatives of Dallmeier Italy visited the site several times so that they could adapt the new video system precisely to the requirements of the airport management company. Safety for apron, runways and forecourt For GESAC, two major zones of the airport site were of paramount importance: the area in front of the airport buildings (“Panomera® Forecourt” project), and the apron and runways (“Panomera® Airfield” project). In the airport forecourt and concourse, Panomera® monitors traffic and pedestrian flows between the multi-storey car park, Terminal 1 and the network of feeder roads and paths by which people arrive at and leave the airport, either in motor vehicles or on foot. The customer also wanted to obtain complete coverage of the movements of all vehicles and aircraft anywhere on the entire airfield, including the ramps and aprons, taxiways, and takeoff and landing runways, so that incidents could be reconstructed if necessary, wherever they occurred on the site. The cameras of the Panomera® system for this airfield project were installed at a considerable height, close to the roof of the APRON tower at about 13 metres; three Panomera® systems installed in a semicircle provide a panoramic view through 228°. The Panomera® Viewer workstation was located inside the APRON Tower to provide security staff with a unique and full panoramic view of the entire airfield. “With Panomera® technology, distant objects can be captured with the same quality as those in the foreground. The extremely high resolution over the entire area of interest and intuitive operation of the system led us to choose Dallmeier”, says Giuseppe Musto, Head of Innovation & Automation Development for GESAC. Another important difference between Panomera® and conventional PTZ cameras is that the whole area to be monitored with Panomera®, is recorded continuously, so the high resolution images enable important, single details to be examined even after the event. With PTZ cameras, the general overview image is lost while the camera is recording a detailed area. "GESAC confirms its orientation towards innovative solutions that ensure high standards of security and simplify management arrangements" Reliable recording Recording is based on the Dallmeier DIS-2/M NSU blade technology – this ensures maximum availability and reliability of the recording. Each blade unit is equipped with a redundant hard disk. The units are powered via a rack for 19" slide-in modules with redundant power supply units. The rack system can accommodate up to 10 single modules, so that even relatively large systems can be installed in compact and cost-efficient manner. The modular structure of the system guarantees high availability of the overall solution. Complete success Alessandro Fidato, Director of the Infrastructure Development & Flight Operations department, describes the video system as a resounding success: “With these two projects, GESAC confirms its orientation towards innovative solutions that ensure high standards of security and simplify management arrangements. We are very satisfied with this cooperation.” Pierpaolo Piracci of Dallmeier Italy responds: “I am very proud to have been personally involved in these highly innovative projects, and I would like to thank Alessandro Fidato and Giuseppe Musto of GESAC SPA for the confidence they have shown in our technology and professionalism.”