Airport security

AxxonSoft, a developer of intelligent VMS and PSIM software, is proud to present Axxon Next VMS version 4.3.2. The new version introduces new capabilities in video analytics and smart forensic search, integration of multiple camera feeds into a single panoramic view, centralised server management for maintenance and updates, as well as many other enhancements and improvements. Added Queue Length and Visitor Counter detection tools. The Queue Length detection tool counts visitors within a designated area and notifies the system when the limit is exceeded. The Visitor Counter counts visitors entering and exiting a specific area. Both detection tools are targeted at the retail industry. They provide accurate estimates of traffic in stores and sales areas and enable effective management of POS staff. Smoke video detection Support for handling metadata from ANPR cameras was added as well Support for handling metadata (recognised license plates) from ANPR cameras was added as well. This makes it possible to reduce the server load while searching in Video Footage by license plate numbers. That means you can use more cameras per server. AI-powered fire and smoke video detection tools now use dedicated neural networks for each type of hardware (CPU, GPU, and Intel® Movidius™ VPU) for increased performance. MomentQuest is now available through a web client that comes even closer to desktop software. The MomentQuest smart forensic search system performs real-time scene analysis and generates a stream of metadata – a lean description of moving objects within the scene – which is recorded along with video stream. Retrieving recorded footage To retrieve recorded footage of an event of interest, you just need to enter specific criteria: motion in area(s), crossing of a line, object colour or size etc. Within seconds the system displays relevant video thumbnails, which makes it truly interactive. Also, you can now use saved MomentQuest search criteria on any other camera channel. You can zoom in on a portion of the panoramic view to display it in a separate tile The newly introduced FrameMerge function ensures much more convenient and efficient coverage of wide areas, such as sports arenas, airports and seaports, warehouses, production facilities, and public spaces. FrameMerge stitches video feeds from adjacent cameras into a single panorama which can be viewed in real time, played back from Video Footage, or exported. You can zoom in on a portion of the panoramic view to display it in a separate tile. Integrated video image The panoramic view is stitched automatically - the algorithm scans images from adjacent cameras for appropriate stitching points and matches these points in the integrated video image. The Failover Service is sufficiently improved. You can now suspend any server in the cluster with no system downtime, e.g. for maintenance. The configuration of the suspended server will be automatically transferred to the backup server and restored when the server is restarted. All servers within the cluster can now be updated with a single distribution package or a link to a file on the network. This approach makes system updates a breeze.

The sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT enhances an important feature of its collision avoidance radar system for UAVs. As part of extensive laboratory tests and measurements, HENSOLDT develops special radome technology which protects the radar from mechanical environmental influence such as bird strikes or lightning, while minimally affecting the radar’s functionality. The architecture of the new radome was initially tailored to a test aircraft but can be adapted to other platforms. Further flight tests are scheduled to take place this summer. HENSOLDT has developed a demonstrator of a so-called detect-and-avoid radar system, which uses the latest radar technology to detect objects in the flight path of a UAV and to give early warning of any threat of collision following precise evaluation of the flight direction. Excellent detection capabilities At the same time, the sensor also assumes all the functions of a weather radar system. The multifunction radar for UAVs will be presented for the first time to the general public in Ulm, during the International Radar Symposium of the German Institute for Navigation (DGON). The multifunction radar is equally suitable for military and civilian UAVs The radar system uses state-of-the-art AESA technology (Active Electronically Scanned Array), which allows several detection tasks to be carried out at the same time and enables objects to be detected extremely fast. It replaces the pilot’s visual assessment of the situation. Thanks to its excellent detection capabilities, the multifunction radar is equally suitable for military and civilian UAVs, e.g. for the delivery of cargo. Radio-frequency components This radar system, which is incorporated into the UAV’s nose, needs to be protected by a radome that is electrically transparent, has exactly the same thickness across the board and is adapted to the aerodynamics of the platform. This, however, requires special knowledge of materials processing and the operating principle of radar systems. HENSOLDT is a pioneer radar manufacturer and operates cleanroom production facilities at its Ulm site in order to produce the radio-frequency components required for AESA equipment. The company’s radar systems and radar components are used on board aircraft, satellites, ships and in ground stations.

Senstar, a provider of video management systems (VMS) and perimeter intrusion detection systems (PIDS), is pleased to announce its products were recently selected to protect five airports in various locations around the world. These sites join the list of hundreds of civilian and military airports currently using Senstar products. “Airport infrastructure and assets represent a vital economic engine for many cities and countries making them prime targets for vandals, thieves and terrorists,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jeremy Weese. “Senstar products help to keep operations, goods and people safe and moving.” Improve security monitoring Senstar’s VMS, video analytics, and associated hardware reduce operator workload and improve overall security monitoring by automatically detecting persons of interest, items left in public spaces, crowd formations, and wrong way movement between landside-airside egress points. These technologies also streamline operations and centralise IT management in the cloud, saving time and money. While Senstar VMS and PIDS are open platforms designed for integration with a wide variety of systems" Senstar’s PIDS provide early warning of unauthorised entry onto airport grounds, including into sensitive areas within the apron such as aircraft parking, fuel storage, electrical substations, and navigation/communication equipment areas. “While Senstar VMS and PIDS are open platforms designed for integration with a wide variety of systems, they work even better together,” said Mr. Weese. Perimeter intrusion attempt Built-in integration enables security personnel to monitor a wide range of sensors and cameras from a single workstation, with the end result being simplified operator interfaces and reduced response times. For a real world demonstration on the benefits of integrated VMS and PIDS solutions, watch Senstar’s surveillance video of a recent perimeter intrusion attempt. The new airport projects use the following Senstar products: Symphony VMS (manages 250 cameras), Enterprise Manager software (centralised cloud management), Thin Client network video display appliances, Face Recognition, Automatic License Plate Recognition, Left and Removed Item Detection, Outdoor People and Vehicle Tracker analytics, FiberPatrol® fiber optic fence-mounted intrusion detection system, and OmniTrax® buried cable intrusion detection system.

Innovator of road blocker, bollards and vehicle barrier systems, ATG Access, has promoted Iain Moran to sales and marketing director. Having worked at ATG Access for the past 18 years, Iain is hugely experienced and has helped to shape the company’s success in the UK and internationally, including in Australia and the USA. As part as his new role, Iain will lead a team of eleven to deliver ambitious growth targets, both internationally and in the UK, as the business continues to expand and develop more cutting-edge products. ATG aims to grow export sales over the next three years utilising their extensive network of international distributors.  Secured high profile security projects Iain first joined ATG as an electrical engineer before moving to Commercial UK Sales, High Security Sales and then finally heading up UK Sales, whilst also looking after transactions in America, Australia and Canada. He has helped to secure high profile security projects including The Shard, Sydney Opera House, London Olympics 2012, various Network Rail train stations and multiple airports including LAX Airport. Meeting customer needs Commenting on his promotion, Iain Moran, said: “ATG Access is a brilliant place to work and I’ve enjoyed helping the business make waves in the security industry. Over the past 18 years, I have gained vast knowledge and understanding of the market and how our solutions are best placed to meet customer needs, and I am excited about the challenge ahead.” Gavin Hepburn, managing director at ATG Access, said: “Iain is a highly valued and fundamental member of the team, and will play a significant role in helping us to expand and meet our ambitious growth plans for the future.”

Honeywell announces the launch of new category of software, Enterprise Performance Management for Operations Technology, that will improve the way a variety of companies collect, analyse and act on data from their operations. The software solution, called Honeywell Forge, will leverage the company's more than 100 years of expertise in asset and process control technology and will transform the way work gets done by owners and operators of buildings, airlines, industrial facilities and other critical assets and infrastructure. Honeywell Forge converts massive quantities of data from equipment, processes and people into intuitive, actionable insights that enable monitoring of enterprise operations from a single screen. In turn, this helps customers optimise the efficiency, effectiveness and safety of their business. Derive business intelligence The company is developing Honeywell Forge to incorporate the latest cybersecurity protections Honeywell Forge is designed to be quick and cost-effective to implement, with a hardware- and software-agnostic approach that allows for use of existing systems. Honeywell Forge leverages predictive analytics to help identify maintenance issues before they happen; enable workers to be more productive, proficient and safe; reduce costs; and increase productivity. The company is developing Honeywell Forge to incorporate the latest cybersecurity protections. “Large enterprises around the world consistently lack top-to-bottom visibility into how their operations are performing, and most lack the ability to derive business intelligence from their disparate data sources. Their existing systems are disjointed and have shortcomings that slow growth and cut into profitability,” said Que Dallara, president and chief executive officer of Honeywell Connected Enterprise. “Honeywell Forge can provide leaders of complex businesses with the visibility they need to transform their operations quickly and efficiently, at every level and with minimum disruption, enabling users to focus resources on innovation and achieving business objectives.” Helping business owners According to a recent Honeywell survey, more than 80 percent of C-suite executives and senior decision makers believe it is important to implement a holistic solution as companies look to digitise and better connect their operations. The same survey shows key decision makers believe better enterprise management will offer superior predictive information, leading to safer and more secure facilities, enhanced efficiency and profitability in the supply chain, more efficient use of resources, and better real-time decision making to avoid downtime. Honeywell Forge offers these advantages and more to customers looking for quick adoption and fast payback. Honeywell announced the wide availability this week of Honeywell Forge for Buildings, which is intended to revolutionise the management of building portfolios by helping business owners and operators decrease operating expenses, improve energy consumption and manage space optimisation across an entire building portfolio while also enhancing the individual occupant experience. Transforming building operations Currently, many building portfolio owners have multiple disconnected systems in each building “Buildings house incredible and powerful data on the performance and usage of the building; however, if that data is difficult to access, interpret or use for meaningful insights, it doesn't help drive a customer's business. We are transforming building operations via enterprise software that allows owners and operators to get more out of their building data in order to drive significant business results,” said David Trice, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Connected Enterprise, Buildings. “Honeywell Forge for Buildings is open, extensible, intelligent and easy to use. You can turn on a building in a day or less and review the operations of a building from anywhere – including your favourite coffee shop.” Currently, many building portfolio owners have multiple disconnected systems in each building. Often these systems do not communicate with and are not compatible with each other, leading to manual maintenance, data trapped in proprietary systems, disconnected teams and systems, over- or underutilised space, and poor occupant experience. Enterprise management system More than 90 percent of building management decision makers surveyed agree that a better enterprise management system can help improve resource management, avoid unplanned downtime and provide enhanced predictive information to make facilities safer and more secure. When fully deployed, Honeywell Forge for Buildings aims to help reduce the operating expense of a building portfolio by up to 25 percent by providing visibility, monitoring and control of all building systems and processes across an entire portfolio of buildings. Honeywell Forge for Buildings easily integrates with other systems" “With more than 50 buildings in our global property portfolio, implementing next-generation building management systems enables us to make sound strategic decisions that will deliver improved capacity and space management, more agility and increased energy efficiency,” said Martin Frohock, head of facilities UK & EMEA, Arm, a multi-national semiconductor and software design company. “Honeywell Forge for Buildings easily integrates with other systems and allows us to gauge performance across the entire enterprise at any given time from a central location.” Protect critical operations The family of Honeywell Forge offerings will continue to expand across a wide range of sectors over the coming months: Honeywell Forge for Industrials (launching in June) monitors process performance and leverages digital twins to help optimise production and increase throughput; Honeywell Forge for Airlines (launching in June) provides insights and analytics to help save airlines money; Honeywell Forge for Inspection Rounds (launching in June) digitises the deskless worker and helps improve efficiency, productivity and compliance; and Honeywell Forge Cybersecurity (launching in the fourth quarter) helps protect critical operations from ever-evolving cyber threats.

German manufacturer Dallmeier announces a development partnership with AnyVision, a pioneer in AI-based facial, body, and object recognition. The aim of the cooperation is to integrate AnyVision’s facial recognition technology into the Dallmeier ‘HEMISPHERE’. The HEMISPHERE software platform offers customers from various industries a wide variety of modular solutions for security applications and business process optimisation. From the optimisation of marketing activities to forensic evaluations – the use of facial recognition technologies is becoming increasingly important for customers of video technology solutions. The integration of AnyVision’s technology will enable Dallmeier customers to utilise facial recognition data within various modules of the Dallmeier HEMISPHERE software platform. Facial recognition solution This allows customers of the Dallmeier HEMISPHERE software platform to access and leverage the data In this way, security and business processes can be optimised, e.g. through blacklist/whitelist procedures, marketing optimisation through VIP-customer recognition, forensic evaluations in law enforcement procedures or the automation of access controls in office or manufacturing environments. This allows customers of the Dallmeier HEMISPHERE software platform to access and leverage the data within various solution suites. Specifically, AnyVision’s facial recognition solution will be integrated into the Dallmeier HEMISPHERE SeMSy® Video and Security Management Suite, as well as in other solution suites of the HEMISPHERE platform, such as the Situational Awareness / Incident Management or Data and Security Information Management. Video security technology “In today’s increasingly complex world, customers need solutions that can integrate powerful components from leading manufacturers within a single platform strategy. Partnerships like this with AnyVision ensure that our customers always have the optimal combination of leading technologies at their disposal,” said Dieter Dallmeier, Founder & CEO, Dallmeier. “Dallmeier’s solutions in sectors such as safe city, stadiums, airports, logistics, casinos but also in the processing industry cover more and more topics that go far beyond classic video security technology. This makes it all the more important to work together with the right partners for complementary technologies which, when combined, offer decisive added value.” The German manufacturer Dallmeier electronic has been manufacturing solutions for security applications and process optimisation for 35 years. The portfolio includes cameras, recording systems and software. Security and surveillance AnyVision currently develops technology for security and surveillance Dallmeier’s solutions are used worldwide by customers in areas such as safe city, stadiums, airports, logistics, casinos but also in the processing industry. The partnership is also part of AnyVision’s mission to make its innovative AI-powered technology available to more businesses and environments across the globe. Unlike other software solutions in the market, AnyVision’s software is plug-and-play for new and existing systems, and able to overcome challenges such as occlusions, different angles of view, and poor lighting conditions. AnyVision currently develops technology for security and surveillance, mobile authentication, access control, and real-world analytics. Boris Gokhman, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at AnyVision, commented: "Facial, body, and object recognition have real-world benefits right now. Collaborating with best-of-breed technology partners to help more organisations ‒ working across diverse sectors ‒ harness new capabilities and achieve those benefits is hugely important to us. We are delighted to be working with Dallmeier on this and look forward to expanding this partnership in the future.”

In my coverage of China Tariffs impacting the security industry over four recent articles, products on the tariff schedules routinely integrated into security solutions included burglar and fire alarm control and transmission panels, video surveillance lenses, HDTV cameras used for broadcast use cases and fiber optic media converters. The general ‘callout’ of ADP (Automatic Data Processing) devices and peripherals technically includes servers, workstations and microcomputers, all of which are commonly used to support security solutions. The underperformance, from June 15 to August 24, of U.S. stocks with high revenue-exposure to China, and that of Chinese stocks with high revenue-exposure to the United States was significant and almost identical at 3.2%, significant losses to some investors already involved in security industry M&A activity. Significant public safety Facial Recognition (FR) vendors leveraging AI expanded their market focus to retail and public safety While it was not apparent that practitioners’ security program budgets kept pace with the growth of the more popular solution providers like video surveillance and cyber security, the ICT industries supporting the security economy continued to expand, especially in wireless and wired infrastructure, including preparations for 5G wireless rollouts. These omnipresent technologies drove significant public safety, smart city and public venue projects in 2018. Facial Recognition (FR) vendors leveraging AI expanded their market focus to retail and public safety. In 2018, virtually every public presentation, webinar and published Q&A on social media monitoring and facial recognition technologies I worked on, involved significant pushback from privacy advocates, almost to the point of alarmism. Massive risk reduction Several solution providers in these areas have made significant strides on data protection, accuracy, powered by AI and documented crime reduction cases; however, this real news is quickly shadowed by privacy advocates, seemingly ignoring massive risk reduction, especially in the case of active assailants and gang-related crime. Will FR become mainstream? The cautious security industry may take a cue from the maverick retail industry, sports venue and VIP verification solution providers that grew in 2018. 2019 trends: presupposition or repudiation; winners and losers. Chinese tariffs have had a huge impact on the security industry, which can be seen from changes to U.S and Chinese stocks  Although technology adoption forecasting is inexact, there are definitive opportunities in the security industry born on necessity. With the widespread problem of false alarm transmission and inability for first responders to ‘be everywhere,’ developers of solutions that provide automated verification and alternative security incident detection are expected to become mainstream. Promising detection systems The use of AI, NLP, LiDAR, UAS (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles aka drones) with surveillance and thermal imaging will grow, mostly due to higher acceptance in other industries like autonomous vehicles, rail safety, terrain and post devastation mapping/rescue. However, legacy ‘listing’ or certification organisations will be forced to make an important decision for their own survival: work toward integrating these promising detection systems into acceptance by insurance, licensing and standards development organisations. 2019’s ‘true’ Industrial Philanthropists will be needed to fund early warning tech for firefighters and the presence of active assailants 2019’s ‘true’ industrial philanthropists will be needed to fund early warning tech for firefighters and the presence of active assailants. For these use cases, 5G infrastructure rollouts, FR acceptance, lower cost perimeter detection and long range object and fire recognition by LiDAR and Thermal imaging will all be watched closely by investors. Should public agencies and philanthropical solution providers in the security industry cross paths, we may just yet see a successful, lifesaving impact. Cyber risk profile The ‘Digital twin’ refers to a digital replica of physical assets (physical twin), processes, people, places, systems and devices that can be used for various purposes. Your ‘Security Digital Twin’ has a similar physical and cyber risk profile, either through common threats, similar assets or both. Good news: managing your risk, protecting assets and securing your facilities in 2019 will get easier as security digital twin profiles will grow in maturity, while keeping their data sources private. This will be accelerated by the maturity of AI-based, auto-generated visualisations and image recognition, that happens to also drive the FR solutions. The 5G wireless infrastructure market is emerging as far more of a quantum leap in connectivity, like ‘wireless fiber optics’ performance, than an upgrade to 4G LTE. The 5G infrastructure market will be worth $2.86 billion by 2020 and $33.72 billion by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 50.9%. Intelligent applications The explosion of ingested voice, video, and meta-data, the interconnectivity of devices, people and places, and the integration of intelligent applications into expanding ecosystems all require faster communications. To be more accurate, 5G rollouts will accelerate in 2019; however, current project funding will include and be impacted by future enterprise security connectivity: 5G and FWA (Fixed Wireless Access). 5G rollouts will accelerate in 2019; however, current project funding will include and be impacted by future enterprise security connectivity Quite simply put, larger solution providers are gently coaxing practitioners into seemingly ‘open systems;’ the negative discovery during an M&A process, audit or integration with a smart city’s public/private partnerships will continue to be revealed, and related industries will force reform. Autonomous things will be enabled by AI and image recognition. With few affordable rollouts of security robots and outdoor unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) that leveraged platforms popular with research and even NASA, the autonomous security robot was mostly MIA from a security practitioner’s program in 2018. Perimeter intrusion detection One platform was even accused of intimidating homeless people in a public place, at a major city. Industries mutually beneficial are often unaware of each other; this will change gradually: one major domestic airport is currently evaluating a UGV platform performing perimeter intrusion detection, runway weather conditions and potential aircraft taxiing dangers. The platform is being used largely in transportation research, yet offers significant opportunities to the security industry. Research firm Gartner estimates that 70% of today’s technology products and services can be enhanced with ‘multi-experience’-based VR/AR/MR The ‘immersive experience’ of virtually any security or threat detection is a twist on virtual/augmented/mixed reality (VR/AR/MR) with additional sensory features. Although VR/AR/MR is well underway in other industries, there are several companies with solutions like VR-based active assailant training that could provide a fighting chance for practitioners, employees, visitors, faculty and children. Research firm Gartner estimates that 70% of today’s technology products and services can be enhanced with ‘multi-experience’-based VR/AR/MR. Security ecosystem members Not necessarily MIA, but of special mention is the need of security and safety practitioners to prioritise communications systems over ‘nice to have’ expansive video surveillance systems for mass casualty threats. This will eventually improve with 5G for Enterprise solution rollouts. At the past GSX and upcoming CES Technology trade shows, a new roundup of technologies is discovered: a wider diversity of protection promise to save ASIS members on their technical security program is realised. With each of the ‘winners,’ (5G, AI, NLP, LiDAR, UAS [Unmanned Aerial Vehicles aka drones], thermal imaging, digital security twins and smart-city-friendly technologies) it is both exciting and challenging work for both security practitioners and solution providers. All things equal and with the necessary technology acceptance testing processes, this is a truly great time for security ecosystem members.

The use of facial recognition has become a highly debated topic recently, and has increasingly and misleadingly been criticised by some for being an unethical tool used to spy on the public. The reason for such criticism is however largely due to lack of information and regulation around the technology. Used proportionately and responsibly, facial recognition can and should be a force for good. It has the ability to do a lot more to increase security in the future – from street crime to airport security, all the way through to helping those battling addiction, the technology can take security and operations to new heights. These systems can memorise the faces of persons of interest, networks of gang members, wanted criminals and those suspected of involvement in serious violent crimes The rise in knife crime Knife crime has dominated the headlines in the UK throughout the year. Recent statistics show the number of people being admitted to emergency care due to attacks by a sharp object to be up by nearly 40 per cent from two years ago, whilst the number of children under the age of 18 being admitted to hospitals with stab wounds is up by 86 per cent in only four years. This recent surge in knife crime has put police forces under immense pressure, and the intelligent use of facial recognition has a role to play in enabling more informed stop & search interventions. Currently UK police can stop and search an individual they suspect to be carrying drugs or weapons or both, or they can stop and search a person in a location where there have been or are considered likely to be “incidents involving serious violence.” In both cases they must do so with access to limited information, leaving themselves open to accusations of bias or discrimination. Knife crime dominated the headlines in the UK throughout 2018 Police systems benefiting crime investigations This is where facial recognition can offer up additional intelligence. These systems can memorise the faces of persons of interest, networks of gang members, wanted criminals and those suspected of involvement in serious violent crimes. Furthermore, these systems don’t need prior personal engagement to recognise an individual and see only data, not gender, age or race. Facial recognition thus helps eliminate both weapons and criminals off the streets and potentially prevent crimes before they have a chance to take place. The technology doesn’t take the decision away from the human police officer. However, it does bring greater transparency and context to the decision-making process of whether a stop and search intervention is justified.  Similarly, the advanced technology can recognise and match an individual seen on a CCTV camera at a crime scene to someone the police encounters on the streets some time later, justifying a stop and search on that individual. Its ability to check in real time if a person is on a criminal watchlist adds an extra layer to the decision-making process prior to conducting a stop and search, lowering the likelihood of discrimination. Facial recognition thus helps eliminate both weapons and criminals off the streets and potentially prevent crimes before they have a chance to take place. Gambling addiction and how facial recognition can help There are an estimated 593,000 people in the UK currently battling a gambling problem, making it a serious public health issue in the country. Having understood the gravity of the issue, the UK gambling commission have set limits and advice in place to help those suffering this addiction; yet as with all addictions, gambling is a tough habit to beat. In order to put effective limitations in place and make a real difference, the gambling commission needs the right technology to protect those most vulnerable in the industry.   Facial recognition technology is able to keep track of customers and thus help gambling companies in protecting their customers Facial recognition technology is able to keep track of customers and thus help gambling companies in protecting their customers to a higher degree. Monitoring those entering and moving around gambling areas is an extremely difficult task for human staff to do alone, especially in large crowded areas such as casinos. Facial recognition technology installed around the premises would be able to help the company and the staff to identify people who have registered as gambling addicts, and keep record of their day’s play in order to inform staff if and when it was time for them to stop. It would also be able to ensure effective self-exclusion procedures, by identifying a self-excluded individual via CCTV as soon as they entered the venue to then allow security staff to respectfully escort them out. Utilising facial recognition at airport security Facial recognition has by now become a normal sight at many airports around the world. Several people today hold a so-called biometric passport, which allows them to skip the normally longer queues and instead walk through an automated ePassport control to proceed to the gate faster without having to deal with control officers. Facial recognition used in this way has managed to significantly cut waiting times at the passport control, but it also has the ability to enhance security in and around airports. Facial recognition uses algorithms to match physical characteristics against photos and videos of people's faces Earlier this year, facial recognition technology managed to catch an imposter trying to enter the US at the Washington Dulles Airport. The false passport may have been uncaught by the human eye, yet due to the accuracy of the facial recognition technology it managed to help officers catch the imposter and bring him to justice. Facial recognition thus allows officers to identify an individual faster and more accurately than the human eye. Facial recognition uses algorithms to match physical characteristics against photos and videos of people's faces, which have been collected from visas, passports and other sources.   Facial recognition allows officers to identify an individual faster and more accurately than the human eye At airports the use of facial recognition has proved to both enhance security as well as speed up processes such as check-inWhilst some critics may worry about issues of privacy related to the technology, at airports the use of facial recognition has proved to both enhance security as well as speed up processes such as check-in and, in the future, even boarding proceedings. If used correctly and proportionately, facial recognition can help safeguard the public and improve national security on several fronts. Whilst the many benefits of facial recognition are evident, the lack of regulation and understanding of the technology has led to misconception around how it works and what it is used for. Facial recognition technology can match faces in crowded public places against criminal watch lists, and register faces that match with those on criminal watch lists – whilst ignoring everyone else.

Timely and important issues in the security marketplace dominated our list of most-clicked-upon articles in 2018. Looking back at the top articles of the year provides a decent summary of how our industry evolved this year, and even offers clues to where we’re headed in 2019. In the world of digital publishing, it’s easy to know what content resonates with the security market: Our readers tell us with their actions; i.e., where they click. Let’s look back at the Top 10 articles we posted in 2018 that generated the most page views. They are listed in order here with a brief excerpt. 1. U.S. President Signs Government Ban on Hikvision and Dahua Video Surveillance The ban on government uses, which takes effect ‘not later than one year after … enactment,’ applies not only to future uses of Dahua and Hikvision equipment but also to legacy installations. The bill calls for an assessment of the current presence of the banned technologies and development of a ‘phase-out plan’ to eliminate the equipment from government uses. 2. Motorola Makes a Splash with Avigilon Video Surveillance Acquisition Early clues point to Motorola positioning Avigilon as part of a broader solution, especially in the municipal/safe cities market. The company says the acquisition will enable more safe cities projects and more public-private partnerships between local communities and law enforcement. Motorola sees Avigilon as ‘a natural extension to global public safety and U.S. federal and military’ applications, according to the company. 3. Impact of Data-Driven Smart Cities on Video Surveillance One of the major areas of technology that is going to shift how we interact with our cities is the Internet of Things (IoT). One benefit will be the ability to use video surveillance to analyse data on large crowds at sporting events The IoT already accounts for swaths of technology and devices operating in the background. However, we’re increasingly seeing these come to the forefront of everyday life, as data becomes increasingly critical. Bosch is highlighting its “Simply. Connected” portfolio of smart city technology to transform security as well as urban mobility, air quality and energy efficiency 4. CES 2018: Security Technologies Influencing the Consumer Electronics Market Familiar players at security shows also have a presence at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). For example, Bosch is highlighting its “Simply. Connected” portfolio of smart city technology to transform security as well as urban mobility, air quality and energy efficiency. Many consumer technologies on display offer a glimpse of what’s ahead for security. Are Panasonic’s 4K OLEDs with HDR10+ format or Sony’s A8F OLED televisions a preview of the future of security control room monitors? 5. SIA Predicts Top Physical Security Trends for 2018 Traditional security providers will focus more on deepening the customer experience and enhancing convenience and service. The rise of IoT also places an emphasis on cybersecurity, and security dealers will react by seeking manufacturers and technology partners with cyber-hardened network-connected devices. 6. High-Speed Visitor Screening Systems Will Improve Soft Target Security The system is more expensive than a metal detector, but about a third the cost of familiar airport body scanners. Labor reduction (because of faster throughput) can help offset the system costs, but “it’s difficult to quantify the improvement in the visitor experience,” says Mike Ellenbogen, CEO of Evolv Technology. 7. How to Prevent ATM Jackpotting with Physical and Cyber Security A new crime wave is hitting automated teller machines (ATMs); the common banking appliances are being rigged to spit out their entire cash supplies into a criminal’s waiting hands. The crime is called “ATM jackpotting” and has targeted banking machines located in grocery shops, pharmacies and other locations in Taiwan, Europe, Latin America and, in the last several months, the United States. Rough estimates place the total amount of global losses at up to $60 million. The safety and security world bring a complex problem to solve- how to pick out a face in a moving and changing environment and compare it to several faces of interest 8. Why We Need to Look Beyond Technology for Smart City Security Solutions Although technology is necessary for an urban area to transition in to a safe and smart city, technology alone isn’t sufficient. Truly smart cities are savvy cities and that includes how they employ software, sensing, communications and other technologies to meet their needs. 9. How New Video Surveillance Technology Boosts Airport Security and Operations Employing airport security solutions is a complex situation with myriad government, state and local rules and regulations that need to be addressed while ensuring the comfort needs of passengers. Airport security is further challenged with improving and increasing operational efficiencies, as budgets are always an issue. As an example, security and operational data must be easily shared with other airport departments and local agencies such as police, customs, emergency response and airport operations to drive a more proactive approach across the organisation. 10. The Evolution of Facial Recognition from Body-Cams to Video Surveillance The safety and security world bring a complex problem to solve how to pick out a face in a moving and changing environment and compare it to several faces of interest. “One-to-many” facial recognition is a much harder problem to solve.

The threat of drones is a growing concern around the perimeter and in the airspace surrounding airports. According to a UK Airprox Board report, the number of times a drone endangered the safety of an aircraft in the UK airspace rose more than a third in 2018 compared to the year before. The highest-profile recent drone incident was at UK’s Gatwick Airport, where a drone sighting last December triggered a three-day shutdown of the UK’s second busiest airport, disrupted the travel plans of 140,000 people and affected 1,000 flights. Unauthorised drone activity And there have been other recent incidents of drone disruptions at airports: At Heathrow Airport in January 2019, flights were temporarily stopped for about an hour ‘as a precautionary measure’ after a drone was reported. The UK Airprox Board recorded 39 dangerously close drone encounters at Heathrow in 2018. In the U.S., flights into Newark Liberty International Airport were disrupted for about 90 minutes in January after a drone sighting. Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, closed its airspace for about 30 minutes in February due to suspected unauthorised drone activity. In March and again in May, air traffic at Frankfurt Airport in Germany was grounded due to drone sightings – for about 30 minutes in the first instance and about an hour in the second. Drone detection systems Security has a role in preventing drone incidents, although pilots often report them Security has a role in preventing drone incidents, although pilots often report them. At Gatwick, the initial reports of a drone over the airfield came from airport security officers. After the incident, the UK government rushed through legislation to enlarge the drone exclusion zones around airports to a maximum of 5 km (up from the previous 1 km). In the U.S., the exclusion zone around airports is a radius of about 5 miles, and even more in sensitive areas such as the National Capital Region around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, where restrictions are 15 to 30 miles. Airports in the U.S. are allowed to deploy drone detection systems but may not use counterdrone technology (such as shooting down the drones), which is reserved for the Justice Department and Homeland Security. Dedicated new technology “News that drone threats to aircraft are increasing should come as no surprise,” says Simon Barnes, Business Development Manager – Airports Europe for Genetec. “Recent reported incidents are just the tip of the iceberg. As drones become increasingly ubiquitous – both from hobbyists and their growing use in professional arenas – we can expect to see many more incidents.” From speaking to airports across the world, Barnes has learned that two of the most pressing challenges they face are how they secure their perimeters (as intruders become increasingly sophisticated) and identifying ‘Friend from Foe’ as operational needs must be maintained. “When it specifically comes to drone detection, the short-term temptation can be to introduce a dedicated new technology to address this specific threat,” he commented. More comprehensive response We need to work with technology, not against it, in order to ensure public safety and security" “However, the last thing a functioning airport needs is an independent system that isn’t unified with all of the other security measures in place. Only when the data from all of these inputs is visualised in one place can an airport begin to make sense of its environment and enable a fast and efficient response to evolving challenges such as the insider threat and malicious drone activities. We fully expect airports to respond to this changing landscape, to help ensure a more comprehensive response.” Philip Avery, Managing Director of Navtech Radar, adds: “In today's current climate of increased national threats, we need to work fast to keep up with modern risks. However, creating new, complicated laws open to misinterpretation or enforcing a complete ban on privately owned drones seem like Luddite solutions that undermine the potential of innovative technology. We need to work with technology, not against it, in order to ensure public safety and security.” Help mitigate risk Navtech Radar sells the AdvanceGuard system for drone detection. Tavcom Training, part of the Linx International Group, has responded to requests from the security industry for expert training in order to be better prepared for and mitigate against the threat of Unmanned Aerial Systems (better known as drones). The company offers a two-day Drone Detection classroom-based course for £375+VAT. Our drone detection course gives security professionals advice from experts" “The responses to the [recent] airport drone attacks were played out in the spotlight, with much public debate regarding the seeming lack of a pre-defined plan of action to prevent or contain such an incident,” explains Sarah Hayward-Turton, Sales and Marketing Director at the Linx International Group. “Our drone detection course gives security professionals advice from experts in drone technology, to help mitigate risk and implement countermeasures to thwart unauthorised drone activity.” The course will be offered again in November 2019 and in February 2020.

Facial recognition has seen huge breakthroughs since the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) first began testing in 2010. Accuracy has seen massive gains, especially from 2013-2018. In the 2018 test, the most accurate algorithm was 20 times more accurate than the 2013 equivalent. Essentially, 95 percent of the matches that failed in 2013 now yield correct results. Compare that to 2010-2013, when the most accurate algorithm reduced its error rate by 30 percent. This reduction in error rates since 2013 is due to wholesale replacement of the old algorithms with new ones based on deep convolutional neural networks — completely revolutionising the technology. Optimal recognition results SAFR says it delivers optimal recognition results with 99.86 percent accuracy in under 100 milliseconds One entrant in the newly energised market is RealNetworks, whose SAFR for Security is an AI-based facial recognition solution for live video that integrates video management system (VMS) solutions. With 24/7 monitoring, SAFR detects and matches millions of faces accurately in real time, enabling teams to manage a watchlist across any number of video feeds. SAFR says it delivers optimal recognition results with 99.86 percent accuracy in under 100 milliseconds, even in real-world conditions where faces are in motion, at different angles, under poor lighting, or partially obscured. SAFR builds on RealNetworks’ 23-year history in video technologies. Launched in July 2018, SAFR — secure, accurate facial recognition — is enabling new applications for security, convenience, and analytics. Create security responses “We seek to be the world’s most trusted facial recognition platform and are delighted to partner with customers in the security industry and elsewhere to shape a more secure, convenient future worldwide,” says Dan Grimm, Vice President of Computer Vision and General Manager of SAFR at RealNetworks. “Security professionals are asked to keep us safe 24/7, monitoring a burgeoning number of cameras, and we help make them more effective.” SAFR targets facial recognition for live video, identifying camera-unaware faces moving in real-world conditions. In the April 2019 NIST results, SAFR tested as the fastest and most compact solution among algorithms with less than 0.022 False Non-Match Rate — 62 percent faster than the average speed, according to the company. SAFR now provides capabilities such as live video overlays alerting security professionals to events in real time, automatic bookmarks with rich metadata for investigative work, and alerts that can be customised to create security responses. SAFR uses one-sixth the compute power of competing facial recognition solutions Facial recognition algorithms Five years ago, facial recognition algorithms would struggle to match forward-facing people from still images, let alone camera-unaware moving faces from live video with variations in rotation and tilt. SAFR says they have achieved a balance of accuracy and performance for live video. A contributor to this accuracy is consistency across a range of skin tones. The algorithm was trained on a highly diverse global set of over 10 million non-simulated real-world faces. SAFR was optimised for speed and can sample a face multiple times during the same period of time as other algorithms, subsequently increasing its accuracy. SAFR achieves the performance through edge processing. Distributed architecture enables efficient bandwidth consumption, reducing the roundtrip latency of facial recognition speed to under 100 milliseconds. The savings lower total cost of ownership (TCO): SAFR uses one-sixth the compute power of competing facial recognition solutions, equating to $500,000 or so in savings on a 250-camera deployment. Integrated experience SAFR also uses off-the-shelf hardware and is optimised to leverage inexpensive GPUs SAFR also uses off-the-shelf hardware and is optimised to leverage inexpensive GPUs. SAFR can be deployed on premises or in the cloud, and supports Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android. When SAFR is paired with a VMS, such as Milestone XProtect or Genetec Security Center, the integrated experience includes 24/7 monitoring to detect and match faces in real-time. Features include live video overlays within the VMS to identify strangers, threats, concerns, unrecognised persons, VIPs, employees, or other tagged individuals in live video. Real-time alerts can be customised for when persons of interest appear on a video camera feed. Additionally, automatic bookmarks with rich metadata make for easier investigative review of security footage. Facial recognition technology is increasingly in demand to improve safety across various industry verticals. Better customer experience Large enterprises with high-visitor flows and heightened security — such as transportation hubs, stadiums, universities, and hospitals — need to know in real time when persons of interest or those on watchlists appear on camera. Sports stadiums could apply facial recognition to deny entry to banned patrons, locate lost children, or recognise VIPs to deliver a better customer experience. Hospitals need access control to restricted areas and pharmaceutical storage closets Hospitals need access control to restricted areas and pharmaceutical storage closets. Airports and transit centres value traffic flows, demographic composition, and dwell times to help improve scheduling. SAFR for Security is available worldwide, and the company partners with VMS providers such as Milestone, Genetec, Digifort, and IPConfigure by Paliton Networks. They are actively working to support additional VMS solutions and have sales teams located in major metropolitan cities around the world. Security professionals “The job of the security professional is critical in today’s world,” says Grimm. “SAFR for Security helps mitigate the challenges of the important work security professionals do to keep us all safe.” In designing and developing SAFR, RealNetworks considered diversity and the uniqueness of each person; Grimm says their massive global training data set is a competitive advantage. SAFR is designed with privacy in mind. All facial images and signatures are AES-256 encrypted in transit or at rest. “SAFR is powerful enterprise-grade software that is continuously improving through innovation and many years of expertise,” says Grimm.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, present a range of threats, from the careless and clueless to the criminal. While many incidents may seem harmless, the threat to any location at any time depends on a range of factors. Drones are inexpensive for criminals to buy or make, and there are continuously improving battery, airspeed, and payload capabilities. UAVs can also fly without an RF signal to jam or hack. Fortunately, sensor technologies including radar are available for security agencies and personnel to protect assets and the public. Radio-wave signals  Radar works as a deterrent by sending out a radio-wave signal using a transmitter antenna, and a small portion of that signal reflects off objects in its path and returns to a receiver antenna. The highest performing radars use an antenna technology called Active Electronically Scanning Array (AESA), which enables all-electronic reconfiguration of the antennas. When an AESA radar detects an object, it can ‘focus’ its antennas to track the object, in much the same way as the zoom on a camera does. Multiple objects can be tracked while continuing to scan. Kirkland, Washington-based Echodyne offers a radar product that brings these ESA capabilities to non-military security applications at commercial price points. Combining proprietary hardware with intelligent software, Echodyne produces a compact, solid-state, electronically scanning array Echodyne’s ESA radar Echodyne says they are reinventing radar price-performance for security applications in the ground (people, vehicles) or air (counter-UAS) domains. Combining proprietary hardware with intelligent software, Echodyne produces a compact, solid-state, electronically scanning array (ESA) radar that is affordable for commercial, law enforcement, and governmental customers. The company is backed by high profile investors, including Bill Gates, Madrona Venture Group, Vulcan Capital, NEA, and Lux Capital. “Radar is a sensor,” says Leo McCloskey, Echodyne VP Marketing. “It is most applicable when security professionals can both understand its capabilities and define risk assessment and deployment requirements that call for those capabilities. Our customers are primarily security system integrators and consultancies, which integrate the performance of radar into a sensor array that meets mission requirements.” Radar technology for border surveillance Echodyne was selected by the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for its Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) to demonstrate the performance of its radar technology for border surveillance applications. The radar was deployed both in fixed remote surveillance towers and as a lightweight rapid deployment kit for field agents. Able to surveil ground and air domains, the radar combines versatility and commercial price with surveillance capabilities. “We set out to build the world’s best compact, solid-state ESA radar sensor, and we are demonstrating that we’ve reached that objective,” says McCloskey. “We’re excited to introduce these capabilities for other security applications.” Able to surveil ground and air domains, the radar combines versatility and commercial price with surveillance capabilities MESA technology Echodyne’s proprietary technology provides a small true electronically scanning array (ESA) radar. Unlike expensive Active ESA (AESA) phased array radars, MESA requires no physical phase shifters, thus reducing the cost, size, weight, and power by several orders of magnitude while maintaining all the benefits of fast ESA radar. Echodyne combines its MESA technology with an intelligent software suite, Acuity, to produce a configurable, software-defined radar for commercial, law enforcement, and governmental security applications. The capability is also useful for temporary events such as rallies and marathons, and many other market applications “Technology seems to make everything more available to more people over time,” says McCloskey. “What is a retail product today will be a purchased self-assembly kit tomorrow and an improvised self-made drone the following day. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is diligently at work on creating rules for safe UAV operation, though any final rules remain some distance off. As drone volumes increase, delineating friend from foe in the airspace requires clear legal and regulatory frameworks, which are nascent but would help distinguish the threat of nuisance flyers from illegal overflight.” Radar sensor for security applications “Detecting and tracking airspace objects of interest is imperative for airports, chemical plants, oil and gas installations, refineries, water and energy utilities, stadiums and other public spaces”, says McCloskey. The capability is also useful for temporary events such as rallies and marathons, and many other market applications. “As with any product, our applicability will depend on variables like location, terrain, risk assessment, and existing security technologies,” says McCloskey. “Our mission is to deliver the very best radar sensor for security applications.”

EchoGuard receives FCC Equipment Authorisation allowing widespread deployment of the radar for security, surveillance, and airspace management applications. EchoGuard radar Echodyne, the manufacturer of innovative, high-performance radars for government and commercial markets, announces that it has received approval from the FCC for widespread deployment of its EchoGuard radar for radiolocation and radionavigation in the United States. FCC Equipment Authorisation allows the radar to be used throughout the US for ground, airspace surveillance The FCC Equipment Authorisation allows the radar to be used throughout the United States for ground and airspace surveillance applications that detect and track potential security threats with high accuracy and for ground-based airspace management applications that ensure safe navigation of commercial drone missions. Electronically Scanning Array radar Echodyne's innovative metamaterials technology and powerful software combine to create an electronically scanning array (ESA) radar in a compact, solid-state format at commercial price points for the very first time. The radar has been demonstrating award-winning performance for government, law enforcement, security, and UAS / UTM customers for some time via experimental licenses. "We are excited that EchoGuard has received this authorisation allowing its widespread adoption in the US," said Eben Frankenberg, CEO of Echodyne. "With the growing number of troubling drone incursions at airports, stadiums, and other facilities, there is tremendous demand for high-performance radar sensors. Tackling drone threats Eben adds, "Our innovative radar technology and software greatly increases the ability for security systems to accurately detect and track drone threats, as well as improves ground tracking of people, vehicles, and vessels. Our radar outperforms every other radar in its class, is priced for commercial markets, and has proven to be the best mid-range surveillance radar in the market." Features of the EchoGuard high-performance radar include: True electronic beam-steering with market-leading C-SWaP attributes; Long-range detection with high reliability and accurate tracking of multiple, concurrent air and ground targets; and Easy integration into sensor fusion and security systems for unmatched 3D situational awareness.

BIRD Aerosystems, globally renowned developer of Airborne Missile Protection Systems (AMPS) and Special Mission Aircraft Solutions (ASIO), has received an order for additional AMPS systems from the UN Air Operations. Airborne Missile Protection Systems Under the contract, BIRD will provide its AMPS-MV solution, which includes the MACS sensor, and install it on the UN Mi-17 helicopters, that are operating in the most dangerous and complicated areas in Africa. The UN is already using BIRD's AMPS systems, and this is a follow-on order that will allow the UN to install the systems on additional helicopters. AMPS missile protection system provides enhanced protection for military and civilian aircraft against MANPADS BIRD's AMPS missile protection system provides the most enhanced protection for military and civilian aircraft against the growing threat of ground to air missiles (MANPADS). Directional Infrared Countermeasures The system is designed to automatically detect, verify, and foil SAM attacks through the effective use of countermeasure decoys (Flares and Chaff) and by Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) that jam the missile's IR seeker and protects the aircraft. The AMPS-MV includes BIRD Aerosystems' patented Missile Approach Confirmation Sensor (MACS) sensor, which performs unique confirmation of suspected incoming missile threats detected by the main electro-optical passive sensors, and practically eliminates any false alarms. MACS ensures that only real missiles will be declared by the system and reacted upon. Missile Approach Confirmation Sensor Ronen Factor, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Founder at Bird Aerosystems, "The UN Air Operations teams are operating in the most dangerous areas and conflict zones in Africa, and therefore have to make sure that their helicopters are safe and protected against the constantly growing threat of MANPADS. As caring for its soldiers is a primary goal for the UN, we are honored that once again, they choose to do so using BIRD's AMPS-MV, the most advanced and cost-effective solution that is available today."

Faced with a number of security challenges and planned future expansion, a major airport decided it was time to implement a scalable security surveillance solution. Let’s take a look at how to manage such a scenario to ensure the selected solution provides scalability for growth. With the existing proprietary solution at the airport locked down to one manufacturer and littered with issues resulting in high maintenance and expansion costs, a new solution was required that would allow the airport to scale its surveillance solution in line with future expansion plans. Difficult in identifying people The low-resolution analogue cameras made it difficult to identify people during incidents Not only was the existing surveillance solution analogue and proprietary, it wasn’t intuitive and was difficult for operators to use. There were several ‘satellite’ security installations scattered in the various terminal buildings that weren’t viewable in the centralised Control Room which meant extra operators were required. The low-resolution analogue cameras made it difficult to identify people during incidents and coupled with the lack of video coverage, it gave operators poor situational awareness. Reviewing past events with the existing VMS was difficult as playback wasn’t synchronised and, without bookmarks, it was time-consuming to find important events. The combination of multiple terminal buildings and the Centralised Analogue Architecture resulted in bottlenecks and latency issues as all processing must pass through the centralised server. There was also no redundancy so if there was any failure in the system, the Control Room would no longer have the capability to view live or recorded video. Additionally, as the system was locked down to one manufacturer and the whole system had to be hardwired to the centralised server, there were very expensive expansion costs. Addressing security and scalability concerns New NVRs were specified to cope with the increase in camera streams and an extra NVR for redundancy and failoverThe required solution had multiple requirements to ensure that the existing issues were resolved and that the solution could scale with the planned expansion. With expansion planned to facilitate growing passenger numbers, an open IP based solution was specified to replace the existing analogue solution to improve situational awareness, provide scalability and integrate with a number of other systems operating in the airport. The architecture needed to limit bottlenecks, reduce latency issues, provide redundancy advantages and be scalable to allow for multiple new terminal buildings to be connected with ease. New HD cameras were specified to improve image quality and coverage, with a Video Wall required in order to view and manage the increase in video streams in the centralised Control Room. New large capacity NVRs were also specified to cope with the increase in camera streams and an extra NVR for redundancy and failover. Distributed Architecture reduces data bottlenecks A solution with Distributed Architecture was chosen as it solved multiple issues with the existing solution and facilitated future expansion without the need for a centralised server. Distributed Architecture allows data to be kept close to where it is produced or needed. When cameras, surveillance workstations, NVRs, alarm servers, integration gateways, all participate in a Distributed Architecture, data bottlenecks are minimised as all processing doesn’t need to pass through a centralised server. Distributed Architecture provides a truly unlimited and scalable solution that can easily accommodate the largest airports in the world. Enhancing situational awareness Distributed Architecture enables future expansion as it can support thousands of cameras, workstations and NVRsDistributed Architecture minimised the existing bottlenecks, reduced latency, and provided higher availability and faster access to data. It also allowed all ‘satellite’ security installations to be viewed in the centralised Control Room enhancing situational awareness. New HD cameras were installed and due to the scalability of Distributed Architecture, future cameras can easily be connected when needed. Furthermore, the scalability of Distributed Architecture enabled the airport to build new terminal buildings and connect with ease to the security solution when ready. Distributed Architecture enables planned future expansion as it can support thousands of cameras, workstations and NVRs, dramatically reducing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The scalability of Distributed Architecture allows the airport to continue with planned expansion and add a single camera/NVR or a whole new terminal when needed.

Progress is being made with the installation of HENSOLDT’s ASR-S (Aerodrome Surveillance Radar, Series) for air traffic control modernisation at German military airfields. ASR-S aerial surveillance radar With a further ASR-S system having recently been handed over to the German procurement authority BAAINBw and the Air Mobility Training Centre in Celle-Wietzenbruch, 17 of 20 radar systems in total have now been supplied to and accepted by the customer. Following the successful final acceptance test, programme manager Thomas Oswald handed the latest radar over to the training centre commander, Colonel Jörn Rohmann. The ASR-S aerial surveillance radar systems are being provided by sensor specialist HENSOLDT The ASR-S aerial surveillance radar systems are being provided by sensor specialist HENSOLDT under a 250-million-Euro contract awarded by the BAAINBw are intended to replace older radar systems that have been used to date for military air traffic control. Military airspace surveillance The new radars are being used for approach control at the airfields themselves and for airspace surveillance within a radius of more than 100 kilometres (60 NM) in order to safely coordinate military flight movements with civil air traffic. As a facility for all branches of the armed forces, the Air Mobility Training Centre, which is subordinate to the German Army Training Command in Leipzig, facilitates testing of and training in different methods and processes in cooperation between ground forces and aircraft. Air traffic control and identification system HENSOLDT provides air traffic control and identification systems for military and civilian applications on a global scale. For example, the company has received orders for a complete approach control system for the Swiss Air Force as well as for different ASR versions for the German civil air traffic control authority DFS, Australia, the UK and Canada. HENSOLDT’s ASR-S radar is improving air traffic control and air surveillance at the airfields of the German Armed Forces.

AlertEnterprise Inc., the physical-logical security convergence software company, announced that its Airport Guardian software has been selected by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) as the new Identity Management and Credentialing System (IMCS) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Airport Guardian cyber-physical security software will be deployed to deliver a new level of converged security, identity and access intelligence, and enhanced customer experience across IT, physical and OT systems. “At LAWA, we work hard to provide a high level of safety, security, and service for our customers, communities, and stakeholders,” said Aura Moore, Deputy Executive Director - CIO of LAX. “We’ve selected AlertEnterprise software as our new Identity Management and Credentialing System for its integrated, configurable, and futureproof design. This new system will enable us to improve security, enhance customer experience, minimise risk, and proactively enforce compliance for many years to come.” Ensuring real-time compliance With Airport Guardian software, LAX will be able to streamline and automate their entire badge lifecycle processWith Airport Guardian software, LAX will be able to streamline and automate their entire badge lifecycle process, from application to badge printing, and access provisioning. By automating core processes with role-based workflow and active policy enforcement, the airport can ensure compliance in real-time, which helps to eliminate costly auditing efforts. The deployment of Airport Guardian software will include a secure, web-based portal that will enable LAX personnel to manage employees, vendors, and visitors across their enterprise landscape. Applicants and Authorised Signatories will be able to start, save, and submit applications, including requesting access to critical areas that require additional approval. Streamline application processes With built-in schedule management, Airport Guardian software will help the LAWA Badge Office streamline application processes and enhance customer experience, including reduced wait times, and application status visibility to applicants and authorised signatories. The aviation content pack features DACS, STA, CHRC, Rap Back, and LMS integrations as part of the Airport Guardian software Airport Guardian software includes an aviation specific content pack comprised of Tenant Management, Incident Management, Asset Governance, built-in airport compliance, industry reporting, badge auditing, and process automation best practices. The aviation content pack features DACS, STA, CHRC, Rap Back, and Learning Management Systems (LMS) integrations as part of the Airport Guardian software. Airport Security Awareness training The Airport Guardian software’s powerful LMS integration feature is designed to assist LAX administration teams in tracking and enforcing mandatory training for personnel including active shooter, Airside Vehicle Operating Permit, and Airport Security Awareness training.  “LAX is one of world’s premier and busiest airports, and we are thrilled that they have selected AlertEnterprise as part of their security modernisation and digital transformation,” said Ruby Deol, AlertEnterprise Chief Operating Officer. “Our game-changing approach of converged cyber-physical security is helping to make airports and critical infrastructure around the world more secure while creating a positive workforce and customer experience.”

Christchurch International Airport is situated on the east coast of New Zealand and receives around six million passengers and 70,000 commercial flights per year. The airport is the main gateway for New Zealand’s South Island and is a busy hub for passenger and freight movement. In a legislation-driven airport environment, the airport is regulated by a number of Civil Aviation mandates and rules, which include the requirement to control and monitor all access to restricted landside and airside areas. In selecting Gallagher for the airport’s security solution, the airport company, Christchurch International Airport Limited (CIAL), found a vastly flexible system capable of withstanding extreme conditions when put to the test in a real-life emergency. Requirement of a flexible security system CIAL took the opportunity to review its security systems and look for solutions that afforded greater system flexibilityOriginally opened in 1959, the airport terminal has undergone a number of expansions and upgrades over time. With passenger numbers continuing to grow, a new $237 million terminal was designed and construction began in 2009. As a part of the new terminal design, CIAL took the opportunity to review its security systems and look for new and innovative solutions that afforded greater system flexibility. The airport’s previous security system was both analogue and digital and presented limitations on what a non-technical staff member could do within the system. “To make changes, for example, add a door to the access control system, we had to get specialists in,” said Ford Robertston, the airport’s Manager of Quality and Security. “Ultimately, our wish list included a system our own staff could configure, hardware that overcame the reliability issues we faced with cards not reading, as well as an open platform with a high degree of flexibility and reporting capabilities.” Monitored electric fencing The site’s perimeter security incorporates five vehicle auto-gates which allow authorised vehicles access to the airfieldOn the exterior, Gallagher’s perimeter security system provides monitored electric fencing for a small section of Christchurch Airport’s 16km fence line – which protects more than 300 hectares of land. The site’s perimeter security incorporates five vehicle auto-gates which allow authorised vehicles access to the airfield. When drivers badge their access card at an auto gate, a photo of the cardholder appears on the operator’s screen, along with competency information. If the driver’s Civil Aviation ID, airside driving permit or another competency is due to expire, the operator is notified on screen and can advise the driver. The main auto-gate is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If someone requests access at an unmanned auto-gate, their photo and competencies are channelled to the operator at the main auto-gate, reducing after hours staff and running costs. Gallagher security management platform Christchurch Airport is a multi-tenant site where several core organisations operate. A number of these organisations – including the national carrier, Air New Zealand – operate independent Gallagher security management platforms. This customisation provided the ability to move seamlessly between domestic and international airport operationsCardholder information can be enrolled between these platforms, enabling employees from each organisation to access multiple areas of the airport using a single access card. The multi-tenant functionality creates a flexible system that reduces the costs associated with issuing and managing multiple cards. As a domestic and international airport, CIAL, Gallagher and security partner ECL Group, together developed a customisation that would enable CIAL staff to manage airbridge configuration via the security management platform. This customisation provided the ability to move seamlessly between domestic and international airport operations. Airbridges and access controlled doors Using 14 fully-automated and motorised airbridges and access controlled doors, airport staff use workstations to configure the system and easily transition the airport from domestic to international operations – ensuring passengers are directed to secure zones including customs and immigration when appropriate. All doors are operated with an access card and once an area of the airport has been ‘sealed’ for security (for example, an international departure lounge), access to these areas is automatically denied and they become accessible only via a security clearance entryway.

There will be more artificial intelligence, more machine learning, video systems with more capabilities, and all of it will add greater value to our solutions. Those are among the expectations of our Expert Panel Roundtable as they collectively look ahead to the remainder of 2019. One unexpected prediction is that AI will not prove to be a game changer – at least not yet. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What will be the biggest surprise for security in the second half of 2019?

When security topics become a part of current events, it is usually in a negative light. Security generally only becomes news when it fails, sometimes in a dramatic, high profile and tragic way. However, security failures can also shed light on lessons learned and opportunities to improve. Working toward better security can translate into the purchase of more goods and equipment supplied by our market. For additional insights into the intersection of security and current events, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Good news or bad news? How do news reports and/or current events influence the general public’s opinion of physical security?

They call it “critical” for a reason. The so-called “critical infrastructure” is composed of the basic services that citizens have come to depend on, and which are necessary to support society and ensure national stability. The term includes high-visibility segments such as airports, refineries, transportation, wastewater, nuclear reactors, electric utilities, pipelines, and more. Because these functions are so critical, the stakes of providing security are higher than for any other market. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the security challenges of critical infrastructure facilities?