Airport security

NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) announced an investment in Tascent, Inc., a U.S.-based biometric system company, with the aim of accelerating the global expansion of its safety business. The amount of the investment is not disclosed. Recently, the demand for multimodal biometric identification to further bolster security is rapidly growing. Within this environment, the iris identification market is expected to experience significant growth. NEC has been developing biometric identification technologies for more than 40 years, and systems using NEC's Bio-Idiom biometrics have been introduced through more than 700 systems in 70 countries and regions around the world. Moreover, earlier this year, NEC's iris recognition was named the world's most accurate by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, which has also recently named NEC's face recognition and fingerprint recognition technologies as the most accurate. Next generation iris authentication Established in 2015, Tascent provides multimodal biometric identification systems, with particular emphasis on the iris modality. The company's technologies include optical control technology to remotely capture an accurate, high-quality iris image at high speed, and a user interface (UI) technology that smoothly guides users in support of capturing accurate biometric information. Tascent's technologies are embedded in security systems widely used at airports, government agencies and enterprises around the world. This investment and partnership will enable the two companies to jointly enhance the capacity of iris recognition This investment and partnership will enable the two companies to jointly enhance the capacity of iris recognition, using Tascent's optical control and UI technologies and NEC's advanced biometric engines and create a next generation iris authentication offering for the public safety market. Accelerating multimodal biometrics applications "In NEC's 'Mid-term Management Plan 2020', the company positions its safety business as an engine for global growth and focuses on the development of this business," said Masakazu Yamashina, executive vice president, NEC Corporation. "Moving forward, NEC aims to expand its social solution business and further boost profitability by acquiring new customers, delivery resources, core technologies and business models through collaborations and M&A, while developing its own core technologies and solutions." "Tascent is excited to partner with NEC to develop world-class identity solutions and to accelerate the adoption of multimodal biometrics in government and commercial applications. The unique combination of NEC and Tascent technologies has great potential to address today's identity challenges, making life easier and safer for people around the world," said Alastair Partington, Founder and Co-CEO of Tascent, Inc.

Princeton Identity, provider of the fastest, simplest and most secure biometric security system on the market, announced three new patents related to innovations in iris recognition technology that the company was awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The new patents include: Patent 10042994 for Validation of the Right to Access an Object. Patent 10025982 for Collecting and Targeting Marketing Data and Information Based upon Iris Identification. Patent 10038691 for Authorisation of a Financial Transaction. Ensuring accurate authentication of people The new patents represent the application of Princeton Identity’s unique approach to iris authentication in three very important market areas: access, marketing, and financial transactions. Using the techniques described in these patents, Princeton Identity advances the application of iris identification and personnel authentication much more broadly than physical security and represents the anticipated adoption of these technologies in the broader marketplace. “We’re extremely excited that the USPTO has recognised Princeton Identity’s latest inventions and team of biometrics experts,” stated Mark Clifton, CEO of Princeton Identity. “With over 11 patented technologies in our portfolio and many more pending, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to creating the most advanced and accurate iris recognition-based solutions to ensure accurate and convenient authentication of people and access to assets.” Implemented in airports, universities and stadiums Quickly gaining recognition as a leader in advanced biometric security, Princeton Identity’s technology is present in the busiest international airport in the world, prominent financial institutions, major universities, sports stadiums and the largest American manufacturing company. The company has deployments within the U.S. Department of Defense, and its identification software has been integrated into over 90 million mobile devices in over 120 countries.

EUSAS and Euralarm, hosted by Airbus, recently organised their second joint conference, which was this year on the topic of aviation safety and security. It showed once again the importance of technological development for an industry endeavoured to protect lives with a particular relevance to the aeronautics and air transport sectors. Aviation safety & security The US Federal Aviation Administration reports yearly over 100 false fire alarms on airplanes, resulting in unplanned landings and turn-backs. The consequences for passengers, airlines’ reputations and managing flight routes make the issue of false alarms a priority for the companies providing fire detection devices for airplanes – and this is just one example of the challenges of safety and security on airplanes. Several organisations and companies gathered for two days on July 11th and 12th in Bremen, the second-largest Airbus site in Germany, where airplanes’ wings and fuselages are manufactured. Airbus, the biggest aeronautics and space company in Europe and a worldwide leader in the sector, was the host of a series of lectures and presentations on fire detection, fire suppression, evacuation and security in the aviation sector. This event was jointly organised by the European Society for Automatic Alarm Systems (EUSAS), a group connecting academia and industry, and Euralarm, which represents the European fire safety and security industry. Fire detection technologies The event addressed the special challenges of fire detection and extinguishing in airplanes, airports and in the aviation industry. From the depleting extinguishing agent reserves worldwide, to the large number and sheer size of airport buildings and hangars, which require specific solutions on top of traditional fire detection technologies. Furthermore, are the financial and time constraints for compliance testing in an industry where efficiency and safety are a must. Detection systems must provide an indication to the flight crew within one minute after the start of a fire The criteria used for fire detection testing on airplanes are stringent. Detection systems must provide an indication to the flight crew within one minute after the start of a fire, but also be highly resistant to false-alarms. This has led the aviation industry to ask for the most advanced technologies to be used on aircrafts: such as multi-wavelength, multi-scattering angle photoelectric detection, a field at the edge of applied physics, and which was presented by Kenneth Bell, from UTC Aerospace Systems. Green fire suppression system Another issue for the industry is the replacement of Halon, a gas that has a high global-warming factor and attacks the ozone layer in our atmosphere. This fire suppression agent is used in cargo compartments, as well as for turbine fire due to its favourable characteristics. The production of Halon has now been discontinued and stocks of recuperated gas are rapidly declining. While Terry Simpson and Edda Liu from UTC Aerospace Systems presented the overall current progress on the replacement of Halon for fire extinguishing and suppression, Dr. Jan Boris Philipp, from Diehl Aviation, in Germany, presented an alternative green fire suppression system manufactured by his company. Computer-simulated airport evacuation Many solutions presented at the conference were based on computer simulations. Real life fire extinguishing tests on airplanes are part of the certification process of new airplanes. To avoid environmental consequences, a newly developed simulation technique presented by Airbus’ Dr. Konstantin Kallergis, can now predict the fire suppressant’s behaviour inside the cargo compartment. Project ORPHEUS allows the computer-simulated modelling of an airport’s evacuation, as well as smoke spread prediction in case of fire Another illustration was the research project ORPHEUS, financed by the German federal government, which was presented by Dr. Lukas Arnold, from the Institute of Advanced Simulation in Jülich, near Cologne. It allows the computer-simulated modelling of an airport’s evacuation, as well as smoke spread prediction in case of fire. The evacuation test concept of an A380 aircraft was impressively shown by Wolfgang Moeller from Airbus: all 850 passengers and crew members could escape the aircraft in significantly less than 90 seconds. Video-based detection technologies On the topic of airports and hangars, the width and height of the buildings is generally the main problem, as was explained by Securiton’s Stefan Brügger. Automation and integration of electronic safety and security solutions presented by Maarten Wings from Bosch, while Roland Voraberger from g+m elektronik, a company in Switzerland, provided a concrete example for the connection of voice alarm systems to fire alarm systems, which is not as straightforward in airports as it would be in smaller buildings. The challenges of fire detection in buildings with high-ceilings, which is a case for most modern terminals, or half open hangars could be overcome in the future with video-based detection technologies or thermal radiation-based fire detectors, presented respectively by Soeren Wittmann from Bosch and Dr. Simon Trippler together with Dr. Jörg Kelleter from GTE Industrieelektronik. Video is, of course, also useful when it comes to security with video analysis against intrusion in security zones being presented by Securiton’s Thomas Hermes and Michael Seidl, from the Frankfurt Airport, the busiest in Europe by cargo traffic. Adaptive Escape Routing Systems Finally, in a demonstration that stood-out by its focus on a non-technology related topic, Dr. Sebastian Festag, representing Germany’s electronic industry association ZVEI, explained the concept of Adaptive Escape Routing Systems and shows why human behaviour is of major significance in an optimised evacuation and guidance strategy. The solution to fire and security challenges in aviation clearly lies in cutting edge technologies and research on fire safety and security, as well as in the standards, which sometimes lag behind the technology. Dr. André Freiling, from Airbus, a speaker at the event, noted that some standards used to testing smoke detection in aircrafts for example can date as far back as 1994.

ThinkReps LLC, a security manufacturers’ rep firm in the New York Metropolitan area, announces that the company has expanded and added a new team member, Kenneth C. Kraemer to its roster. ThinkReps is a manufacturer's representation firm based in New York and focused on enhancing the sales and market awareness of the best physical security solutions in the industry. The company is committed to providing top notch sales and support to its customer base and continues to raise the bar on sales management. ThinkReps was looking for a veteran security expert to add to the team; and Kenneth fit the role perfectly. Handling border security Kenneth has been in the security industry for over 40 years and specialises in working with the A&E community and is a subject matter expert on electronic security systems. With a diverse security background that includes running an integration business for over 13 years to managing security at all three New York airports for the Port Authority; to handling border security in eight countries and working as a top engineer for Raytheon in Russia; Kenneth has done it all when it comes to security.  He now brings his wide array of security expertise to ThinkReps and will help manage territory sales in the New York Metropolitan area. In his role at ThinkReps, Kenneth will focus on educating architects and engineers on the technical merits of products within the ThinkReps line card and work to ensure that those products become specified on future projects. We are extremely excited to bring Kenneth on board to help broaden our relationships in the A&E community" Develop relationships with A&E community “We are extremely excited to bring Kenneth on board to help broaden our relationships in the A&E community and continue to build momentum for the security manufacturers that we represent,” states Adam Messina, President at ThinkReps LLC. ThinkReps is committed to its manufacturers and confident that bringing Kenneth on board will add to its customers’ success. “I’m extremely excited to be part of the ThinkReps team and to go back to the original community of engineers and help get our products out there and implemented,” states Kenneth C. Kraemer, Sales Rep at ThinkReps LLC. With a broad background in designing and overseeing the installation of Enterprise Level Integrated Security Systems for the US DoD / DTRA throughout Eastern Europe, Africa & Asia; Kenneth is a perfect addition to the ThinkReps team.

In line with its strategy of growth which is both organic and inorganic, Getronics has acquired ITS Overlap, a French ICT integrator and a subsidiary of the ITS Group. ITS Overlap with 5 locations across France and has a turnover of €50m per year, serving 400 customers. As one of the historic players in the French ICT market, the digital services provider focuses primarily on delivering and optimising customer IT infrastructures for medium-sized companies, specialising in digital integration and transformation. With the acquisition, Getronics is set to become an even stronger force, both inside and outside of France. “With 3 of its 20 European Data Centres based in France, Getronics was already a well-established entity. Now, thanks to the acquisition, we will be able to serve our customers even better with a broader offer of end-to-end solutions in terms of integration, business software tools (for airports and health systems, for example), multi-cloud management and unified communication”, confirms Francis Weill, Managing Director France and Western & Central Europe for Getronics. Getronics will continue to build local customer relationships and provide local solutions, backed by the strength of a global service delivery organisation Digital transformation solutions Getronics is the European provider of digital transformation solutions with a rich history that extends over 130 years and a consolidated revenue reaching $1.3 billion globally. With a presence in 23 countries worldwide and coverage in over 110 countries through the Global Workspace Alliance, Getronics will continue to build local customer relationships and provide local solutions, backed by the strength of a global service delivery organisation. “It goes without saying that we are very pleased with this most recent acquisition”, states Nana Baffour, Chairman and Group CEO of Getronics. “Thanks to this new size, we are ready to fulfil our ambition of being the best partner for our customers in France as in the rest of the world, using the latest technologies to support them in their digital transformations. As ever, it’s a matter of honour for us to consistently deliver the best services and solutions in order to build long-lasting relationships with our customers.” ITS Overlap employees will join an ambitious group, with whom we will continue to collaborate on joint opportunities" Collaborating to better serve the clients “Getronics presented the best plan for ITS Overlap employees”, comments Jean-Michel Bénard, Chairman and CEO of the ITS Group. “They will join an ambitious group, with whom we will continue to collaborate on joint opportunities. For the clients and partners of ITS Overlap, too, Getronics was the best project. “Thanks to the complementarity of our respective services, but also our specific knowledge of the French market on the one hand and Getronics’ global reach on the other, we will be able to further extend and strengthen our combined portfolios, in order to serve our clients even better.”

Global and domestic threats have highlighted the need for tighter security across all verticals. One of the technologies that has redefined situational awareness and intrusion detection is thermal imaging. Once a technology exclusively manufactured for the military operations, thermal cameras today are deployed across hundreds of security applications and continue to see strong demand in existing and emerging commercial markets. With thermal technology, security personnel can see in complete darkness as well as in light fog, smoke and rain Technology overview and early adoption What distinguishes thermal cameras from optical sensors is their ability to produce images based on infrared energy, or heat, rather than light. By measuring the heat signatures of all objects and capturing minute differences between them, thermal cameras produce clear, sharp video despite unfavorable environmental conditions. With thermal technology, security personnel can see in complete darkness as well as in light fog, smoke and rain. Originally a military developed, commercially qualified technology, the first thermal cameras for military and aircraft use appeared in the 1950s. By the 1960s, the technology had been declassified and the first thermal camera for commercial use was introduced. However, it wasn’t until the late 1990s - when FLIR Systems introduced a camera with an uncooled thermal detector - when the technology began to see substantial adoption beyond government defense deployments. Installations at critical infrastructure sites In the 2000s, industrial companies were some of the first adopters of thermal, using the technology for predictive maintenance to monitor overheating and machine malfunctions. In the years following the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, there was an increase in thermal camera installations across critical infrastructure sites. Stricter security requirements drove the deployment of thermal cameras for perimeter protection, especially in the nuclear power sector. Thermal cameras produce clear video in daylight, low light or no light scenarios and their sharp images result in higher performing analytics In 2010, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Committee released its 73.55 policy, which states nuclear facilities must “provide continuous surveillance, observation and monitoring” as a means to enhance threat detection and deterrence efforts onsite. Because thermal cameras produce clear video in daylight, low light or no light scenarios and because their sharp images result in higher performing analytics, thermal cameras quickly became the preferred option for nuclear facilities. Likewise, following the 2013 sniper attack on PG&E Corporation’s Metcalf transmission substation, the Federal Energy Regulation Commission introduced the Critical Infrastructure Protection Standard 014 (CIP-014). The policy requires utilities to identify threats to mission critical assets and implement a security system to mitigate those risks. This statute also led to more thermal installations in the utility sector as thermal cameras’ long-range capabilities are ideal for detection of approaching targets beyond the fence line. The demand from both industrial and critical infrastructure entities, as well as other factors, helped drive volume production and price reduction for thermal, making the technology more accessible to the commercial security marketplace. Commercial applications In recent years, the increasing affordability of thermal cameras along with the introduction of new thermal offerings has opened the door to new commercial applications for the technology. In the past, thermal cameras were designed for applications with enormous perimeters, where the camera needed to detect a human from 700 meters away. Locations like car dealerships, marinas and construction supply facilities can be protected by precise target detection, thermal analytic cameras providing an early warning to security personnel Today, there are thermal cameras specifically designed for short- to mid-range applications. Developed for small to medium enterprises, these thermal cameras ensure property size and security funds are no longer barriers to adoption. Lumber yards, recreation fields and sports arenas are some of the commercial applications now able to implement thermal cameras for 24-hour monitoring and intrusion detection. Affordable thermal cameras with onboard analytics have become attractive options for commercial businesses Innovation and advancements Innovation and advancements in the core technology have also spurred growth in thermal camera deployment, providing faster image processing, higher resolution, greater video analytic capabilities and better camera performance. In particular, affordable thermal cameras with onboard analytics have become attractive options for commercial businesses that need outdoor, wide area protection. Car dealerships, marinas and construction supply locations all store valuable merchandise and materials outside. Without protection, these assets are vulnerable to vandalism and theft. However, by providing precise target detection, thermal analytic cameras provide an early warning to security personnel so that they can intervene before a crime is committed. By helping to deter just one incident, the thermal solution delivers a clear ROI. New market opportunities Not only are there more thermal cameras in use today than ever before, but there are also more thermal sensors being integrated with other multi-sensor systems, driving the adoption of thermal in new markets. For large perimeter surveillance applications, thermal is repeatedly being integrated with radar and drones to expand situational awareness beyond the point of fixed cameras. Users get immediate, accurate alerts of approaching targets and evidentiary class video for target assessment In the commercial market, thermal imagers are combined with optical sensors, analytics and LED illuminators into one solution that integrates with central monitoring station platforms. By bringing these technologies together, users get immediate, accurate alerts of approaching targets and evidentiary class video for target assessment. The result is a lower number of false positives, reducing the total cost of ownership for the solution. These multi-sensor solutions also feature two-way audio capabilities, which enable remote security officers to act as “virtual guards” and speak to intruders in real-time to dissuade them from illegal activity. The introduction of solutions that integrate all these state-of-the-art technologies under one unit reduces the amount of capital and infrastructure needed for deployment. Consequently, more small businesses and alarm monitoring companies can implement advanced perimeter security technologies like thermal sensors, some for the very first time. Thermal cameras have gone from military defense devices to widespread commercial security cameras Multi-sensor thermal solutions Multi-sensor solutions featuring thermal are quickly gaining traction and opening the door to new business opportunities for the security channel. One of the primary reasons for the strong market interest in these systems is they enable integrators to increase their recurring monthly revenue (RMR). With intense price competition and eroding margins on CCTV equipment, integrators have to rely on RMR to grow their businesses. Offering remote video monitoring services and virtual guarding technologies is one of the best ways to do so.  Additionally, there is a clear demand for it. Central stations are continually looking for new technologies to offer their customers and businesses are interested in economical alternatives to physical guards. In conclusion, thermal cameras have gone from military defense devices to widespread commercial security cameras that are a substantial segment of the outdoor security protection market. From nuclear power plants to construction locations, thermal technology is being implemented to secure sites around the globe.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge relies on customised security solutions from Bosch to ensure safe operations. The world’s largest sea-crossing bridge was opened by Chinese officials late October 2018. Spanning 55 kilometres in length, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge directly connects Hong Kong to Macao and then to the Chinese city of Zhuhai for the first time. At a total cost of USD 20 billion, it is a major boost for China’s Greater Bay Area, an emerging industrial and technological hotbed that is home to 68 million people and a showcase project for Bosch Building Technologies. Equipping critical infrastructures The large-scale project was built over the course of eight years using 400,000 tons of steel and includes underwater tunnels and two artificial islands that serve as customs ports. Ensuring the security of these two islands, where drivers need to present special permits to use the new bridge and pass customs checkpoints, was a priority from the start. Bosch Building Technologies won the contract to provide the artificial islands with video surveillance, intrusion alarms With a proven track record of equipping critical infrastructures such as airports, hotels, commercial buildings and underground metros, Bosch Building Technologies won the contract to provide the artificial islands with video surveillance, intrusion alarms, as well as public address and voice evacuation systems. On the island between Zhuhai and Macao, the Bosch partner Shanghai SAGA Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. installed more than 5,700 Bosch loudspeakers and over 260 amplifiers which are all managed via the PRAESIDEO Digital Public Address and Emergency Sound system. Custom-ordering solutions Fulfilling a key customer request, the installation incorporates 15 different models of ceiling, wall mount, and line array speakers to blend in with the facility’s modern interior. Furthermore, Bosch was able to match Macao’s local standards by custom-ordering solutions with British power cord, programmed with graphic interfaces in traditional Chinese lettering. On the island outside of Hong Kong, which is home to a customs clearance port, Bosch partner Pro-United Co., Ltd. installed 2,200 public address speakers of various models, including outdoor speakers for the travel inspection building. Experts also adjusted 200 vari-directional array loudspeakers to balance sound variations from different building materials. Live voice announcements “The Bosch technical team and partners used professional software to simulate the sound pressure level of a specific area and comprehensively simulate the entire project to ensure that the selected products can meet the requirements of different areas in the actual application,” said Lin Lizhi, Bosch Building Technologies. Bosch also covered the island with more than 2,000 HD cameras including the FLEXIDOME, DINION, and AUTODOME series. The PRAESIDEO systems on both islands enable security staff to broadcast live voice announcements via security call points Monitored from a security control center on the Hong Kong-side of the island, these cameras support 24/7 surveillance of the customs clearance port, travel inspection building, Immigration Department and Hong Kong Customs Office. The PRAESIDEO systems on both islands enable security staff to broadcast live voice announcements via security call points, while multiple sets of intrusion alarm systems protect personnel and property. Broad customisation options “We added the supporting intelligent call station PRAESIDEO, which is usually used for airport projects, in order to ensure that the staff can directly perform voice broadcasts throughout the call station during operation, thus making the security management more convenient,” said Wang Yiping, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai SAGA Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. The high-profile infrastructure project highlights the flexibility and broad customisation options offered by Bosch Building Technologies as a one-stop solutions provider. Now that it is fully operational, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is already considered a key asset in the Greater Bay Area, also known as ‘China’s Silicon Valley’. The bridge reduces the travel time between Zhuhai and Hong Kong from four hours to a mere 30 minutes. It also creates a new gateway for travellers between vital transportation hubs such as Shenzhen and Hong Kong airports with the integrated Bosch security solutions ensuring a safe passage.

Teleste Corporation reveals that its S-AWARE platform has been selected by Helsinki City Transport to drive improved situational awareness and safer travelling across the Helsinki metro system. The deployment of the platform will be started in 2019 and the project will be carried out in several phases and be completed at the end of the year 2020. The total value of the deployment will be more than two million euros. “We are delighted to expand our long-term cooperation with Helsinki City Transport on developing smart and safe public transport in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The rapidly growing urbanisation challenges public transport operators throughout the world to find solutions that can provide enhanced operational control and tools to increase safety in public places. Adding situational awareness through intelligent public transport systems is one of the key methods the operators can use to reach the target,” stated Esa Harju, Head of Teleste’s Video Security and Information Business unit. Prioritizing passenger safety Every year, over 80 million passengers and commuters enjoy travelling in the system, which forms the northernmost metro in the world During recent years, the Helsinki Metro has undergone several upgrades and major extensions. Today, it includes more than 20 stations in Helsinki and its neighbouring cities and serves the capital region of Finland with hundreds of thousands of daily rides. Every year, over 80 million passengers and commuters enjoy travelling in the system, which forms the northernmost metro in the world. Keeping the safety and security of the passengers and the entire metro system in mind, Helsinki City Transport is adopting Teleste’s S-AWARE platform to develop their response capabilities and to ensure a high service level, e.g., during possible security failures, alerts and states of emergency, as well as in other complex or critical situations. Safe and attractive travelling experience “Helsinki Metro is being developed to bring seamless mobility to the growing metropolitan area. At Helsinki City Transport, our mission is to continue building an increasingly effective and highly functional metro system that provides a safe and attractive travelling experience for our customers in their everyday life,“ told Ville Lehmuskoski, CEO, Helsinki City Transport. Teleste S-AWARE platform has been designed to help enhance efficiency, safety and security in public transportation, airports, critical infrastructure The Teleste S-AWARE platform has been designed to help enhance efficiency, safety and security in public transportation, airports, critical infrastructure and in the governmental sector. The platform works by collecting real-time information from various subsystems, data sources and sensory inputs, and it displays a unified and real-time view of the whole operational infrastructure. This provides for the improved understanding of what is happening in the surroundings and creates grounds for sharp and efficient decision-making. Smart incident management In addition, the platform can be used to pre-define automated operating procedures for efficient and smart incident management, hence ensuring that corrective action is immediately taken when unexpected incidents occur. The advanced reporting, debriefing and training tools ensure that the system can be used to project future events and be prepared for exceptional situations. Teleste’s deployment to Helsinki City Transport will also enable efficient use of the system for multiple other operators, including the police, fire and rescue forces, Helsinki Regional Transport Authority, and the cities of Helsinki and Espoo. Delivering the right information to the right people at the right time, the system is harnessed with high information and data security that guarantees protection from any unauthorised access.

Vega Systems Inc. has announced that their Redundancy Management Framework (RMF) software has begun operations at a prominent airport in the Middle East. The airport surveillance software plugin for Milestone XProtect enhances video security. Typically, without the software system, video surveillance down-times at critical infrastructure locations have the potential to create security loopholes. Vega Systems' RMF reduces live video disruption to milliseconds during server failure episodes while simultaneously providing uninterrupted access to all archived footage. This, along with other beneficial features, mitigates the impact of server failures on security. Vega Systems' RMF RMF is a novel, few-to-all approach towards enhancing XProtect Recording Server Redundancy through dual recording. A few redundant servers can handle concurrent failures of all primary servers. Offering a live view recovery almost instantaneously following the recording server failure, the system works two orders of magnitude faster than fail-over recording. RMF is a result of collaboration between Vega Systems Inc in San Jose, California, Sunjin Infotech based in Seoul, South Korea, and Milestone Systems' Middle East offices. The product is a plug-in framework for the Canon subsidiary Milestone Systems' XProtect software.

Dallmeier offers comprehensive security solutions for all areas of application around airports. Specifically, in the area of cameras a wide range of systems allow customers to tackle all of their safety and security challenges and be able to comply fully with operational and regulatory requirements. On top of that, Dallmeier supplies video management solutions that not only give operators an exhaustive overview of security-relevant events, but also allow the video data to be analysed with a view to optimising business processes such as ground handling operations. One of the paramount concerns for airports is perimeter protection; an issue, which was highlighted by a number of recent incidents involving unauthorised access onto airfields. It is important to be able to use video system to track an intruder, but the ultimate goal is to prevent an intrusion in the first place. IR cameras with integrated IR illumination With its range of high-performance IR cameras with integrated IR illumination, Dallmeier offers the right solution for every area of applications across airports IR cameras are a key component of any video security system that must provide around-the-clock monitoring capabilities, and the Dallmeier line of advanced IR cameras is ideally suited for that. With its range of high-performance IR cameras with integrated IR illumination, Dallmeier offers the right solution for every area of applications across airports. The IR cameras are designed specifically for applications requiring images with highest resolution in real-time at day and in the IR mode at night. Dimly lit areas on the apron or sections along the airport perimeter, which might only be lit in case lighting systems are triggered by movement, are among the many possible applications. Multi-focal sensor technology Panomera Airports typically encompass wide areas and stretch over long distances, which poses particular challenges for video monitoring system. In the past, in order to adequately monitor the entire area, it was necessary to use a number of cameras installed in a whole range of locations. Dallmeier’s multifocal sensor system Panomera, however, represents an entirely new technology and a fundamentally different approach to the issue of video security. The patented multi-focal sensor technology Panomera from Dallmeier is the ideal video solution for landside and airside safety and security. It was specially developed for the all-encompassing video surveillance of expansive areas. With Panomera, huge widths, as well as areas with large distances can be displayed with a completely new resolution quality, in real time and at high frame rates of up to 30 fps. With Panomera, a huge area can be surveyed from a single location and depending on the customer’s needs, the resolution can be scaled nearly limitlessly. For example, one Panomera system equipped with eight sensors is sufficient to replace up to 35 standard megapixel cameras. Optimising airport operations Panomera offers unique capabilities for optimising airport operations, such as aircraft turnaround time, as well as monitoring airfield traffic on both aprons and runways Moreover, in conjunction with intelligently designed video management and analysis systems, Panomera offers unique capabilities for optimising airport operations, such as aircraft turnaround time, as well as monitoring airfield traffic on both aprons and runways (e.g. ground support equipment on the way to restocking aircraft galleys). The fact security personnel are provided with a comprehensive overview of the entire airport, regardless of where their individual focus may at any given time, means that they can react quickly to any incidents. Video technology can therefore assist airports with the implementation of the Europe-wide optimisation concept of Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM), which is supported by a number of organisations including the European Organisations for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL) and the Airport Council International Europe. The latter represents over 500 airports from 45 European countries. A-CDM specifically aims to enhance the operational efficiency of airports, which opens up various application areas for video technology. Proactive video monitoring as is enabled by the Dallmeier video information systems, instead of passive surveillance, is the way forward across different industries - including airports.

Thruvision, a provider of next-generation people screening technologies, announces that the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) has deployed the Thruvision TAC mobile stand-off people screening solution to enhance LA Metro’s transit security and counter-terrorism capabilities. The Thruvision TAC addresses the growing need to protect public transit, surface transit and public venues from the threat of personnel-borne improvised explosive devices (PB-IEDs), explosives, weapons and other threats. A 2015 MIT study concluded that terrorists have shifted to attacking surface transit using these types of concealed threats. Unlike metal detectors, which cannot detect non-metallic threats such as plastic explosives, the Thruvision TAC can detect any concealed objects at distances up to 25 feet. Unlike airport body scanners, it does not reveal anatomical details and it emits no energy or radiation. Detect potential threats “As recent terrorist attacks indicate, public transit agencies such as LA Metro need to be able to quickly, safely and effectively identify potential threats in crowded venues,” commented Kevin Gramer, Vice President of Thruvision Americas. “The Thruvision TAC provides immediate identification of concealed items. Due to its compact design and mobile configuration, LA Metro will be able to deploy it rapidly based on changing security requirements.” In a statement issued by the US Transportation Security Administration, which performed extensive testing of Thruvision’s technology, TSA Administrator David Pekoske hailed the deployment of Thruvision’s system to improve transit security: “TSA applauds the leadership of L.A. Metro for its proactive efforts to evaluate, procure and use state-of-the-art technology designed to detect potential threats to the transit system,” said TSA Administrator Pekoske. Metro has been testing new technologies to meet evolving threats to our public transportation infrastructure" Testing new technologies “TSA is pleased to have been a partner during the evaluation and testing process, which ultimately led to the purchase of a recommended system to help detect and deter potential acts of terrorism while keeping the traveling public safe.” In the same press release, Sheila Kuehl, L.A. County Supervisor and Metro Board Chair, commented: “Metro has been testing new technologies to meet evolving threats to our public transportation infrastructure. This new technology will augment our already aggressive safety and security measures and help us proactively deter potential attacks to our system.” Originally developed by government research labs in the UK and US, the Thruvision system uses passive terahertz technology that detects the natural energy emitted by a person’s body and can determine if a concealed object is blocking this energy.

Traka has been specified at a main UK international Airport to deliver bespoke solutions for the safe management of replica improvised explosive devices (IEDs), alongside intelligent key management systems. The UK airport, which cannot be named for security reasons, uses replica IEDs for training purposes across its security network, to ensure correct procedures are being followed in the unfortunate event of a real threat. Security management using replica IEDs The importance of secure management of replica IEDs is integral, with recent well-publicised events having shown the major disruption caused by any unaccounted items, including an abandonment of the last game of the season for Manchester United in 2016. Traka, which already provides the airport with essential intelligent key management units, created a bespoke management locker solution for the safe storage of replica IEDs on site, to ensure they could only be operated by authorised personnel. The units present audit control capability and reporting on an instant basis with any units that do not get returned being instantly accountable. To have any replica IED device unaccounted for would have serious security implications for the Airport as a whole" Intelligent key management Says a Security Manager at the Airport, “To have any replica IED device unaccounted for would have serious security implications for the Airport as a whole, with a real possibility of closure and consequential mass disruption.” “With increasing numbers of passengers and noted global security threats, we cannot afford to take the risk and knew Traka could be called upon as the experts to provide a solution. The lockers not only provide an extra security dimension, but also ensure the smooth running of the Airport security.  They enhance our training objectives as the audit control capability allows replica IEDs to be used across terminal staff, safe in the knowledge they will always be accounted for and returned.” The lockers support the Airport’s use of Traka solutions for intelligent key management Asset and vehicle tracking The lockers support the Airport’s use of Traka solutions for intelligent key management for security and engineering keys, alongside asset and vehicle control. Ben Farrar, Traka Market Development Manager added, “It is the focus of every Airport to deliver the best possible experience for passengers, while ensuring their absolute safety and security at all times. And in doing so, ensure staff can present all processes in a smooth and stress-free environment.” “Traka’s provision of bespoke locker solutions for the safekeeping of replica IEDs, alongside our intelligent key management systems as used by this Airport may only seem like smaller details in a complex security matrix. But they work together for the benefit of security teams to ensure effective management and automation, decreasing the likelihood of causing delays and disrupting the airport flow unnecessarily.”