ANPR

Located in the middle of the deep forests of Småland in the south of Sweden, the Strandudden Gated Community has been designed to provide a safe environment for homeowners who wish to enjoy a high quality of life. The first phase of the development has seen the construction of 18 apartments which have stunning lake views. The materials and features of each apartment have been carefully selected to ensure sustainable energy consumption. When the development is completed, over 100 Wisenet cameras manufactured by Hanwha Techwin, will enable security personnel to closely monitor the movements of people and vehicles as they enter and move around the public areas of the gated community. Ensure strict compliance Equally important, the massive processing power of the chipsets of the open platform cameras means that our client is able to run specialist applications" 6 Wisenet cameras were initially installed during the construction of the apartments. These have been used to ensure strict compliance with the site’s healthy & safety regulations and to keep a close eye on valuable plant and machinery. “We evaluated products from a number of different manufacturers, but the superb quality of the images captured by the Wisenet cameras made it a very easy decision for us to recommend that they should be deployed throughout the Community,” said Henrik Carlsson, CCTV Product Manager for Elajo, one of Sweden’s electrical, mechanical, engineering and energy installation companies who were awarded the contract to manage the project. “Equally important, the massive processing power of the chipsets of the open platform cameras means that our client is able to run specialist applications, such as licence plate recognition (ANPR), in order to control vehicle access to the Community.” High quality images The Hanwha Techwin Europe pre-sales and technical teams have worked closely with Elajo to ensure the best camera types have been specified for each of the carefully chosen camera locations. 6 different Wisenet models have been selected to ensure high quality images can be captured day or night and that there are no blind spots. Among these is the Wisenet IP network PNP-9200RH 4K PTZ dome which has built-in IR illumination. The PNP-9200RH, which is IP66 and IK10 rated for vandal-resistance and outdoor use in the harshest environments, utilises Progressive Scan technology to provide sharp edges on moving subjects and vehicles. The PNP-9200RHs which have been installed at the entrance to the Community are equipped with the Wisenet Group ANPR solution which provides the opportunity to automatically control the movement of white listed cars through barriers via camera relay outputs. Drag and drop tool Images from all 100 cameras will be displayed in the Community’s control room via Wisenet WAVE video management software (VMS) Developed by Hanwha Techwin in partnership with analytics experts, FF Group, the solution uses camera-to-camera IP communication technology to enable up to 4 Wisenet Group ANPR cameras to work together, with data from each simultaneously transmitted to a single web based display. Images from all 100 cameras will be displayed in the Community’s control room via Wisenet WAVE video management software (VMS). An intuitive ‘drag & drop’ tool makes it extremely easy for operators to set up a display of live and recorded images on a single screen or video wall, with customisable layouts and sizes. Other key features include a virtual PTZ which, with just simple clicks of a mouse, enables operators to zoom in to see close up detail of any suspicious activity, whilst motion detection and video analytics support can be configured to generate alerts when user defined incidents occur. Auto-discover feature “Wisenet WAVE has proved to be extremely easy to use and it is a significant bonus that, with minimal training, operators are able to take maximum advantage of its wide range of innovative features,” said Henrik Carlsson. “It has also helped reduce installation costs as it has an auto-discover feature which means connected cameras can be addressed and set up within just minutes.” In addition to the images being displayed in the Community’s control room, should an incident occur that needs a rapid response, security personnel on patrol will be able to remotely view any activity via a smartphone or tablet with the help of the secure Wisenet Mobile App. PNP-9200RH: Wisenet P 4K PTZ IR dome camera PNM-9020V: Wisenet P 7.3 megapixel multi-sensor 180˚ Panoramic camera PNV-9080R: Wisenet P 4K Vandal-Resistant IR dome camera PNO-9080R: Wisenet P 4K IR Bullet Camera QND-7080R: Wisenet Q 4 megapixel IR dome camera XNO-6120R/FNP: Wisenet X ANPR camera

Vigilant Solutions - an AI and data analytics company that provides technology to public safety - announced it has entered the body worn camera market by acquiring Edesix Ltd, a global provider of wearable security hardware and software, and the United Kingdom's number one manufacturer of body worn cameras. The acquisition strengthens Vigilant's position as a market leader in image capture solutions by adding body worn camera images via hardware and software and in-car camera technology to its existing suite of automated license plate recognition (ALPR), facial recognition, ballistics analysis and gun crime mapping hardware and software solutions. Expanding public safety customer base This acquisition puts Vigilant in the position to offer public safety a full suite of image capture solutions including the ability to integrate our suite of technologies with in-car cameras""Vigilant Solutions is excited to enter the body worn and in-car camera markets," said Shawn Smith, Founder and President of Vigilant Solutions. "This acquisition puts Vigilant in the position to offer public safety a full suite of image capture solutions - both in the U.S. and internationally - including the ability to integrate our suite of technologies with in-car cameras. Edesix has a strong global footprint, which includes more than 20,000 body camera deployments across several industries and five continents. This acquisition allows us to continue to build Vigilant's global brand. In addition, Edesix also enhances Vigilant's hardware and software engineering capabilities." With the acquisition of Edesix, Vigilant is not only entering the body worn and in-car camera markets but is also expanding its presence beyond its traditional public safety customer base and will serve a broad range of commercial industries. Video evidence management system Body worn camera and in-car camera footage obtained via Vigilant's hardware, is stored in VideoManager, a robust video evidence management system. VideoManager is a component of Vigilant's cloud-based investigative platform, which includes image capture data and analytics for ALPR, facial recognition, ballistics and gun crime mapping. "The Edesix team is thrilled with the acquisition by Vigilant Solutions, which has been at the forefront of machine vision and machine learning technology innovation in the public safety community for years," said Richie McBride, CEO of Edesix. "The combination of Vigilant's image analytics solutions and our body worn and in-car camera products is truly exciting. When you consider that our solutions seamlessly integrate into Vigilant's investigative platform, the global public safety community has some incredibly powerful tools to keep them and their communities safe."

Vaxtor Technologies has acquired RoadPixel and is relocating its international headquarters from Spain to the UK. Together, the companies will become Vaxtor Recognition Technologies Ltd. The Vaxtor family of companies in the USA, Singapore, and Spain will continue to service their respective territories. Juan Vercher, CEO of Vaxtor Technologies stated: “I really feel honoured leading Vaxtor Recognition Technologies and bringing on board recognised experts in the ANPR industry including Frank Thomson, Lawson Noble and their entire team. This will enhance and strengthen the relationship with our current technology partners and customers and will allow us to deliver next generation disruptive products thanks to our enhanced capabilities. The relationship and quality of service we provide to our customers and partners will remain the cornerstone of our values.” Joining forces with Vaxtor means that we will become a very significant player in the ANPR market" Camera and recognition technology Frank Thomson, CEO of RoadPixel added: “Joining forces with Vaxtor means that we will become a very significant player in the ANPR market with the combination of RoadPixel’s advanced camera technology and Vaxtor’s world class recognition software. We have been working closely with Juan Vercher and his very talented people for some time and we have great synergy and company cultures that are already very much aligned. In addition to our best of breed technologies, our combined personnel will be one of the most experienced and capable teams in the ANPR market.” Strategic markets for the combined operations are security, parking, traffic, safe cities, and critical infrastructure. These markets will enjoy a full family of video analytics products including license plate recognition (LPR/ANPR/ALPR), USDOT, railway vehicles, and container code recognition technology chosen by 3 of the Top-5 USA ports.

According to Save The Rhino statistics, over 1000 rhinos are killed annually in South Africa. These harrowing poaching statistics display a gloomy future for survival of this beautiful species. While many attempts have been undertaken over the past ten years to combat the devastating results of poaching, the country has not yet seen a steady decline in numbers year-on-year. It is with this knowledge that AxxonSoft’s Global Marketing Director, Colleen Glaeser, who is based in South Africa, decided to create a strategical and proactive anti-poaching approach, utilising the tools at her disposal, assisting a country in dire need of assistance. While Deep Learning, using Artificial Intelligence and neural network analytics in its algorithm, is not new to the security and surveillance industry, Colleen and the team at AxxonSoft global took the technology a step further, developing and implementing the software to help differentiate between humans and animals. Identifying actual poaching threats AxxonSoft’s surveillance software, which leverages Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning technology now alerts the operators in the control room to an immediate poaching threat The implementation of this technology in game reserves and parks across South Africa has certainly been a game-changer regarding the war against poaching. For two reasons namely; this neural network solution can identify actual poaching threats (distinguishing poachers from their prey) while providing a proactive surveillance solution as opposed to a reactive one. Predominately utilised for face and license plate recognition, Deep Learning technology has never been adapted to tell the difference between humans and animals. Prior to the incorporation of Deep Learning in anti-poaching surveillance, software often failed control rooms and response units in that false alarms were on many occasions, set off by animals, insects and weather. Control rooms were not able to tell the difference between an actual threat and a false alarm, which often resulted in exhausting resources as teams were dispatched for animals who had touched the fence while grazing in their natural habitat. AxxonSoft’s leading surveillance software, which leverages Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning technology now alerts the operators in the control room to an immediate poaching threat as poachers try and breach the fence perimeter to enter the reserve or park. Proactive surveillance solution AxxonSoft’s Deep Learning technology provides a proactive solution to surveillance whereas previous systems were somewhat archaic and reactive in their response to real threats Global Marketing Director for AxxonSoft, Colleen Glaeser says, “Our Deep Learning technology has been extremely successful thus far in telling the difference between animals and humans as the neural network algorithm can identify, through certain indicators, whether a human or animal has set off the alarm. If the software detects a human, the operations team is immediately notified and a dispatch team is sent to the scene in question.” Furthermore, AxxonSoft’s Deep Learning technology provides a proactive solution to surveillance whereas previous systems were somewhat archaic and reactive in their response to real threats. Due to expansive terrain and limited resources, rangers and antipoaching units often get to the scene of the crime too late. With the AxxonSoft technology, as soon as the breach occurs, cameras will identify if the breach has been caused by an animal or human, and the control room is immediately notified as to where the occurrence has taken place in the reserve or park. The dispatch team is given the necessary information and they head to the site where the occurrence has taken place. Real-time identification of threats By utilising this technology, we have been able to take a proactive approach, identifying the threat in a real time situation" The beauty about Deep Learning and Neural Network analysis is in its ability to learn and understand the conditions which lead up to an event, and that ultimately allows us to prepare for threats or potential breaches when the known conditions are met. “AxxonSoft’s technology has proved very successful in preventing killings as the team is able to get to the scene of the crime quickly. “By utilising this technology, we have been able to take a proactive approach, identifying the threat in a real time situation. The AxxonSoft team and I really believe this anti-poaching solution can aid in the war against poaching and drastically bring down the upsetting statistics. I can attest to the fact that we have seen great success in curbing poaching,” concludes Glaeser.

Spearheaded by the newly appointed Global Marketing Director Colleen Glaeser, the powerhouse AxxonSoft team will be exhibiting at Security Essen in Germany, one of Europe’s largest security and surveillance exhibitions, between 25 and 28 September 2018. Cutting-edge technology They will be demonstrating the company’s cutting-edge technology in a real-world environmentWhile AxxonSoft, a global provider of security and surveillance for over 15 years, is no stranger to Security Essen, having had a presence at the expo for the past few years, the team look forward to making this year’s show the most successful one yet. They will be demonstrating the company’s cutting-edge technology in a real-world environment, giving visitors the opportunity to experience some of AxxonSoft’s award winning solutions such as the company’s AI and neural network analytics in action — deep learning-based face and license plate recognition, fire and smoke detection, and an object classification algorithm that identifies people among moving objects. Showcasing HD cameras and cloud service Furthermore, AxxonSoft will be showcasing an array of cutting-edge technology namely; The powerful capabilities of instant intelligent search in recorded video 100 Full HD cameras on one client in best quality The TimeCompressor which packs all motion events from a 1-hour video into a short video clip with patented scene synopsis The new AxxonNet cloud service AxxonSoft believes in harnessing their expertise in the industry to build personalised business relationships with their clientsApart from AxxonSoft’s revolutionary solutions, which are available in over 100 countries through over 5,800 partners, the global team will be focussing their attention on creating solid relationships with their European clientele, both old and new, while in Germany. The team believes in taking their offering a step further by harnessing their expertise in the industry to build personalised business relationships with their clients. Building long-lasting relationships with partners “Our presence at Security Essen will afford us the opportunity to cement long lasting relationships with our valued European partners on a one-to-one basis. We believe in taking a personalised approach to meeting the needs of both our clients and partners globally,” says Glaeser Given that Security Essen attracts visitors from all over Europe, the AxxonSoft stand will be home to the Business Development Managers from all regions represented, and will be available to engage with the visitors in their chosen language. “We really believe that in order to compete and drive impact in Europe while maintaining our ethos of ‘personalised service’, there is a need to conduct business in our clients’ official languages,” concludes Glaeser.

ISS - Intelligent Security Systems, a global provider of intelligent VMS and analytics, announces the latest release of the company’s renowned SecurOS Video Management System at GSX 2018. The new SecurOS v.10 features an updated, highly intuitive GUI designed to accommodate multiple clients and the ability to easily manage large systems with infinite scalability. Additional enhancements include a new web client for remote access, robust cyber security updates, 64-bit edition for faster throughput and larger capacity, enhanced native failover operations, H.265 Intel QSV support and a brand-new Evidence Manager. Seamless integration SecurOS v.10 is designed to seamlessly integrate with a host of powerful analytics developed by ISS. This unique combination allows ISS to offer a wide range of specialised packages to fulfill users’ specific physical security and business intelligence needs. The release of SecurOS v.10 builds upon our powerful open platform with numerous enhancements designed to further facilitate ease of use" “ISS provides a more holistic approach to camera management and control by seamlessly integrating native analytics with our VMS platform, enabling us to provide users with truly innovative and unique solutions for their specific security challenges,” said Cody Flood, Vice President of North American Sales, ISS. “The release of SecurOS v.10 builds upon our powerful open platform with numerous enhancements designed to further facilitate ease of use for today’s more advanced and larger surveillance installations.” SecurOS v.10 new enhancements SecurOS v.10 features a long list of new enhancements that increase ease of operation, performance and functionality, system scalability and security, including: An updated Client and Administrator GUI featuring new Operator Workstation Profiles to manage large numbers of clients on a unified platform along with new object groups/categories for more intuitive, customised system configuration. A new web client, SecurOS WebConnect to facilitate seamless remote access and operation. New Cyber Security enhancements including: secure HTTPS connection to all cameras with tunneling of both video and audio; digital signature of all exported files using digital certificates to verify the authenticity and source of exported files; and encryption of all data stored on ISS server HDDs. New Native Failover Cluster capabilities including: native cluster failover of many or 1-1 cameras using as few as 2 servers; failover of all features including analytics modules; failover operation within 30 seconds and the ability to manually assign any video server to any workstation. New Evidence Manager with many new features to manage exported video. 265 Intel Quick Sync decompression support. Decompression of H.265 on Intel HD Graphics adapters to concurrently view large amounts of cameras on client workstations. 64-bit Server Edition to increase the number of cameras and throughput per server. Innovative VMS solution SecurOS v.10 is also available pre-bundled with ISS’ native analytics ISS SecurOS v.10 is available in five configurations: MCC (Monitoring Control Center), Enterprise, Premium, Professional, and Xpress to deliver the perfect balance of functionality and cost-efficiency for every size and level of application. SecurOS v.10 is also available pre-bundled with ISS’ native analytics to provide VMS solutions for specific applications. Some of the SecurOS v.10 analytic modules include: SecurOS Auto which provides license plate recognition (ANPR) and comparative analysis for all types of vehicles. SecurOS Auto works in a wide range of internal/external conditions and delivers recognition accuracy for US and international locations. SecurOS Face captures and recognises faces from a video stream. SecurOS Face is a solution with active recognition where subjects know their image is being captured or passively, where they do not have knowledge of such surveillance. SecurOS Cargo provides recognition of cargo container ISO codes in a variety of applications. It implements the most advanced native image processing software, the ISS SecurOS framework, and advanced algorithms for the recognition of codes on cargo containers. SecurOS Tracking Kit provides a suite of situational awareness detectors such as loitering, crowd detection, object left behind, object counting, etc. Integrated hardware-software solutions ISS is a true provider of intelligent surveillance solutions that we refer to it as ‘intelligent video defined'" Additional specialised SecurOS v.10 hardware and software solutions include: SecurOS UVSS, an integrated hardware-software based solution for remote under-vehicle surveillance. SecurOS Velox, to detect speeding violations with automatic license plate recognition (ANPR) of all passing vehicles. SecurOS Motus, an IP-camera designed with integrated ALPR for high-speed and high accuracy commercial and law enforcement applications. SecurOS Cargo Terminal, which provides remote visual inspection of cargo containers and control of vehicles which carry them. SecurOS Crossroad combines specifically engineered hardware and software to provide real-time detection of complex types of traffic violations. “ISS is a true provider of intelligent surveillance solutions that not only sees and documents events but provides the rich data necessary to analyze what may otherwise be perceived as disparate events, and alerts management of impending threats. We refer to it as ‘intelligent video defined,” concluded Mr. Flood.

A deep native integration of Bosch cameras with software from ISS proactively catalyses the best in security and surveillance, while providing advanced intelligent video tools. ISS SecurOS provides intelligent enterprise video management solutions with emphasis on providing scalability and flexibility to meet the customer’s needs. Deeply integrating built-in video analytics from Bosch cameras improves operator efficiency and situational awareness to manage complex environments. ISS SecurOS maximises camera performance for license plate recognition, face recognition, and container/train carriages recognition. The cameras meet the performance needs for advanced analytics, ensuring the success of projects and saving time, resources, and cost. The partnership has delivered multi-thousand-camera safe city deployments, industrial analytics solutions, and systems for large-scale transport providers. The usage of roads and parking lots can be managed more effectively by knowing the whereabouts of each vehicle License plate capture The usage of roads and parking lots can be managed more effectively by knowing the whereabouts of each and every vehicle. Operations managers are accountable for efficient logistical flows and effective use of roads and parking lots. Knowing the ins and outs of the transport infrastructure and what’s going on at all times provides the knowledge required to ensure operations are running safely, efficiently and in compliance with the rules and laws. An important part of this comes from monitoring which vehicles are entering an area and ensuring they are allowed to be there. Capturing license plates of every vehicle moving in an area provides knowledge of traffic flows and usage patterns. Such a solution should also allow a customer to easily configure and manage monitoring preferences and permit easy data exchanges with other operational management systems and services to manage an infrastructure and logistics as a whole. Reliable license plate data Robust mechanical design of cameras ensures reliable 24/7 operation for many years even in harsh environments As transportation infrastructures are often operating around the clock, reliable vehicle identification data is required 24/7. This means that the cameras capturing this data should work in all lighting and weather conditions, for both slow- and fast-moving vehicles. Cameras must be built to produce usable images 24/7 in all weather conditions. For quality license plate recognition in both day and night, the cameras make use of supplementary infrared light. A special License Plate Recognition (LPR) mode, developed in collaboration with LPR software, delivers readable license plates even with glaring headlights and with fast moving vehicles. Robust mechanical design of cameras ensures reliable 24/7 operation for many years even in harsh environments. License Plate Capture solution The SecurOSTM AUTO system of ISS, when used with Bosch cameras, provides easy to deploy solutions for all of these requirements. It recognises license plates from many countries, manages and matches white, hot and blacklists and notifies the operator either in the GUI or through a messaging interface to other management systems. Additionally, the system can be used and managed as a standalone or embedded in other management systems on the premises.

Most cities have at very least a plan and in most cases an existing program to make themselves safe cities. Increasingly, cities around the world are transitioning to become smart cities: urban areas where security solutions work in unison with other systems, extending the benefits of technology beyond security and into other city operations. Whilst this transformation has yet to become a widespread the next crucial transition—from smart city to cognitive city—is already appearing on the horizon. Three years ago, the United Nations reported that 54% of the world’s population lived in cities and projected that by 2050 it would reach 66%. There are many reasons for this: cities tend to provide more opportunities for jobs and education, as well as greater access to amenities such as public transportation, sports, and cultural events. These factors result in growth which consequently places a strain on existing public services, infrastructure and resources. Not to mention keeping the city’s residents safe by preventing crime from growing with—or even outpacing—the population.Although technology is necessary for an urban area to transition in to a safe and smart city, it alone isn’t sufficient Smart city solutions for public safety This basic need for public safety is one of the biggest forces driving the adoption of smart city solutions: approaches which seek to solve urban challenges through technological means. The thinking behind these initiatives is that with enough Internet connectivity and real-time data, surely environmental, social, economic, and public health issues should become more manageable. If technology can transform entire industries, why can’t it also make power grids more resilient, transportation systems efficient and municipal water supplies more sustainable? Surely, more data can only lead to better outcomes, right? To quote the American journalist and satirist H. L. Mencken, “For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.” In this context, you’d think the answer would be ‘just add more technology’, right? 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. Truly smart cities are savvy cities including how they employ software, sensing, communications and other technologies to meet their needs  Using data and software with connected sensors There are types of problems which connected sensors, data and software can provide straightforward and effective solutions. For example, network-connected traffic cameras which can relay real-time traffic conditions to both city managers and the public at large, data which morning commuters can then access from a mobile app and adjust their route accordingly. There are types of problems which connected sensors, data and software can provide straightforward and effective solutions Smart electricity meters provide another example, whereby monitoring and reporting energy usage in real-time, enables residents to get instant feedback on how their lifestyle choices impact their energy consumption and monthly bill. Utilities can also benefit from such data, as it could highlight specific times and areas of high demand, as well as identify sections of the distribution network that are under heavy strain. Creating actionable intelligence Both examples highlight the clear need to collect the relevant data first, and thus explain why smart city initiatives have focused on the widespread collection of data (especially video) through the deployment of large numbers of monitoring and recording devices, such as surveillance cameras and ANPR. Some of those initiatives, however, like red light cameras or computerised flight passenger screening systems, have amounted to little more than ‘security theatre’, which might waste limited resources and further delay the smart city transition due to over-hyped solutions and unrealistic projected return on investment. In other words, technology doesn’t necessarily result in more safety. But does this mean we are also more likely to quickly find what we need? Cities need solutions that help find what you need (e.g. a missing child or a suspect) and convert the ‘too much information’ into ‘actionable intelligence’. This new era of surveillance technologies can also assist law enforcement in maintaining public order and safety. The thought is the more areas we observe, the longer we observe them, and the more surveillance data we store and index, the more likely we are to be in possession of the information we need. Even in smart cities, dialogue, public input, careful analysis, and consensus are still more critical than any technology Looking beyond technology for smart surveillance There is one major caveat to smart city solutions. The data tends to flow in one direction from what are ultimately surveillance devices to government officials, leading to tensions between personal privacy and government goals of safety and higher efficiency. Without a clear understanding and buy-in from all stakeholders (especially the citizens, law enforcement, and city management), those tensions will only escalate as wireless broadband connectivity becomes cheaper and faster, sensor and processing technologies get even more miniaturised and affordable, and big data tools like cloud resources and storage technology grow even more robust as they catalogue more and more digital breadcrumbs of our physical lives. Here’s the takeaway. Even in smart cities, dialogue, public input, careful analysis, and consensus are still more critical than any technology. This is because city residents are not only consumers of public services and amenities, but also citizens with legal rights.

Until recently, data laws have differed from one country to the next. This meant that for those organisations conducting business or protecting assets abroad, they needed to localise both their infrastructure and policies dependant on the country they were operating in. However, with the impending arrival of the EU GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), which comes in to force on the 25th May this year, all of that will need to change. Data management in CCTV surveillance Surprisingly, despite the fact that much has been written about the impending EU GDPR, very little attention has been devoted to the process of ensuring compliance for the operation of video surveillance, access control and other physical security systems. The EU GDPR dictates that businesses adhere to specific governance and accountability standards with regards to the processing of all data. As this includes such a large scope of data, any public or even private organisation using CCTV to monitor publicly-accessible areas must pay attention, as monitoring the public on a large scale is by default considered a high-risk activity. This includes information that shows who a person is, where they are and any other specifics about them.We have seen organisations defining corporate standards for their physical security systems based around IT standards and technologies According to numerous market research studies, many organisations are yet to take the necessary steps in order to review the new regulations and ensure the necessary changes are made to meet these obligations. To date, we have seen organisations defining corporate standards for their physical security systems based around IT standards and technologies. With the implementation deadline of the new regulations fast approaching, these should be in a better state of readiness, with standardised processes, common organisational approach and technology. Enhancing industry awareness of compliance  What’s more, a lot of legacy systems or disparate systems are still out there, and these may still have been entirely commissioned and operated by location-specific security teams. Regardless as to where your organisation stands in terms of technology, it is important to participate in the GDPR review with a greater sense of urgency.  The EU GDPR dictates that businesses adhere to specific governance and accountability standards with regards to the processing of all data Tony Porter, the UK’s Surveillance Camera Commissioner, has been incredibly vocal in recent months with regards to making security system operators aware that their activities will be subject to the GDPR and to signpost them to relevant guidance from the ICO. For those actively seeking to ensure their businesses are compliant, his organisation’s independent third-party certification is a great place to start. However, with just a few months until the regulation comes into force, it is unfortunate that his organisation is not yet in a position to confirm this will be sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the EU GDPR. Ensuring regulatory preparedness With this being said, there are still a number of steps organisations can take to ensure they are well-prepared when the law comes into play: Get involved in the GDPR discussion If you haven’t already, proactively initiate a GDPR discussion with your legal team and ask for their guidance. Conduct a gap analysis to identify what works and what might require improvement in accordance with the new regulation. Then engage your consultants, integrators and manufacturers who should be able to advise on appropriate solutions. In the vast majority of cases, it should be possible to upgrade the existing system rather than ‘rip out and replace’.The appropriate use of encryption and automated privacy tools is a logical step Adopt privacy by design Under the terms of the EU GDPR, data that is anonymised or pseudonymised is likely to be low-risk. The appropriate use of encryption and automated privacy tools is therefore a logical step. For example, video redaction that blurs out people’s faces in video unless there is a legitimate reason to reveal their identity can minimise the dangers of having security cameras deployed in public spaces. Seek out certified and sanctioned organisations, such as the European Privacy Seal group ‘EuroPriSe’, a professional organisation whose purpose is to ensure companies meet the ‘GDPR-ready’ privacy compliance standards. Consider cloud-based services Owners of on-premises video surveillance, access control or ANPR systems are responsible for all aspects of EU GDPR compliance, including securing access to the systems and servers storing the information. However, by working with an approved cloud provider it is possible to offload some of these responsibilities. For example, we partner with Microsoft Azure to offer these systems ‘as a service’. This pathway significantly reduces the customer’s scope of activities required to ensure compliance and is highly cost-effective. Yet it is important to realise it isn’t a full abdication of responsibility. You remain accountable for ensuring data is classified correctly and share responsibility for managing users and end-point devices.  With data laws changing around the world, businesses need to seriously consider how their security technology investments will help them manage risks in order to keep pace. With the GDPR deadline approaching, it is the ideal time to re-evaluate practices, partner with forward-thinking vendors and adopt technologies that will help meet privacy and data protection laws. This way, businesses can minimise risk, avoid costly penalties and be ready for anything.

Security solutions today do more than merely observe and prevent criminal activity. Systems are increasingly tasked with making sense of the world around us. At Intersec 2018, which took place 21st - 23rd January in Dubai, manufacturers set out to show how predictive analytics and artificial intelligence are already being used in real world applications: predicting criminal behaviour, managing traffic, and streamlining smart city operations. Dubai smart city initiatives Dubai is a particularly appropriate location to showcase how artificial intelligence and smart city projects have become intrinsically linked. Under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, authorities in Dubai have set out to “make Dubai the happiest city on Earth” by adopting cutting-edge smart city initiatives. Dubai Police, a longstanding partner of Intersec, has launched a range of public safety initiatives including Smart Police IOS apps, traffic accident and location systems, and SOS apps for wearable devices. At the show, Dubai Police showcased how artificial intelligence can power new Robocop prototypes – unarmed, life-sized patrolling robots carrying facial recognition software and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology for evidence collection.Dubai Police, a longstanding partner of Intersec, has launched a range of public safety initiatives including Smart Police IOS apps Hikvision AI+ forum At the busy Hikvision stand, visitors were presented with the company’s latest AI-powered products, including DeepinView Series IP cameras and DeepinMind Series NVRs. Hikvision demonstrated its commitment to artificial intelligence with the global launch of its AI+ strategy, giving partners an exclusive insight into the company’s latest solutions. The event proved popular, with over 250 guests showing an interest in the latest surveillance applications for deep learning technology. Key figures in attendance were Hikvision President Mr. Yangzhong Hu, and Hikvision General Manager of MENA Mr. Binson Xu, who outlined how the company is leveraging AI and cloud technology to move beyond traditional surveillance systems and make sense of video data. Hikvision compounded its commitment to artificial intelligence with the global launch of its AI+ strategy Artificial Intelligence at the edge The key question, according to Hikvision, is whether cloud-based AI is the ultimate solution, and how we can solve the intrinsic problems of cloud-based analytics. For Hikvision, the answer is a multi-layered solution bringing AI-powered analytics from the cloud to the edge device. In the AI-Cloud framework, data is collected and analysed at the edge using deep learning technology, before target information is transmitted to the network and ultimately deployed to the cloud. According to Hikvision, the system classifies and recognises features more accurately than traditional analytics, making it perfect for facial recognition, people counting and traffic management. This is because raw data is analysed before compression occurs, preventing data loss and providing more essential detail. The framework ultimately reduces the burden placed on the data centre, as only relevant target information is transmitted via the network.The framework ultimately reduces the burden placed on the data centre, as only relevant target information is transmitted The Chinese manufacturer was keen to stress that Hikvision’s AI technology is already proving effective in real-world applications, citing use cases in law enforcement, traffic management and smart cities. The AI+ cloud solution takes this technology to the next stage. Video data for smarter cities Hikvision was not the only video manufacturer to focus on intelligent city surveillance. For Stuart Rawling, Pelco’s Director of Global Business Development, the big question for smart cities is how we can capture as much data as possible – from weather information to traffic data – to provide wholistic surveillance that allows for truly actionable insights. Pelco’s stand demonstrated how this vision is fast becoming a reality. The IP video manufacturer showcased its latest Optera™ Panoramic multi-sensor camera offering, targeting large outdoor areas such as parks and traffic intersections. According to Rawling, the solution is already improving response times for police departments in cities like Fresno, California, where 24/7 real-time monitoring and event management have contributed to increased public and officer safety. Genetec Security Center integrates video surveillance footage, ANPR data, record management systems and gunshot detection Automated intelligence for law enforcement Pelco partners Genetec placed a similar emphasis on actionable video intelligence. Genetec's intelligent automation means moving beyond image capture to make sense of video data and provide critical insights to security professionals.Genetec’s Citigraf technology has already been deployed by Chicago Police Department to predict potential criminal activity Key technologies on display included the latest version of Genetec Security Center. The solution integrates video surveillance footage, ANPR data, record management systems and gunshot detection to provide actionable insights to law enforcement professionals. Genetec’s Citigraf technology, built on the Security Center interface, has already been deployed by Chicago Police Department to predict potential criminal activity, improving response times and reducing gun crime in the city. Intersec 2018 was an opportunity for manufacturers and authorities to demonstrate that intelligent analytics and AI can no longer be considered concepts for the distant future: In the Middle East and globally, public safety is getting smarter.

A technology poised to transform the physical security market is deep learning, which is a neural network approach to machine learning, differentiated by an ability to train using large data sets for greater accuracy. In effect, the system “learns” by looking at lots of data to achieve artificial intelligence (AI). Phases of deep learning I heard a lot about AI, including how it can transform the physical security marketplace, when I attended NVIDIA’s GPU Technology Conference (GTC) in San Jose recently.   Recognising images, including video images, is a big focus of AI. In the past, you needed programmers to spend months telling a computer how to recognise an image. In deep learning, instead of programming the computer, you just show it many different images and it "learns" to distinguish the differences. This is the "training" phase. After the neural network learns about the data, it can then use "inference" to interpret new data based on what it has learned. In effect, if it has seen enough cats before, it will know when a new image is a cat. Factors enabling AI Deep learning and AI are fast-growing areas for a wide range of uses – physical security is just one. It is all made possible by the coming together of three factors. One is the availability of lots of data. This is the “big data” we have been hearing about; in effect, a proliferation of sensors (including video cameras) has produced a large enough mass of data to enable systems to be trained effectively. The second factor is the development of new algorithms to train neural networks faster, and the third is the availability of computer hardware (specifically GPUs, graphics processing units), that is capable of rapidly completing the involved calculations. NVIDIA manufactures those GPUs and sponsors the annual GTC conference, all about how they can be used more effectively. “Deep learning is about teaching technology to understand the world around us in a way that is similar to how we understand it” Deep learning and neural network computing is everywhere. It is now widely available in on-premises computers, in systems embedded in edge devices, and even in the cloud. The edge is particularly important in the video surveillance market, enabling systems to function despite any bandwidth or latency issues that would limit the effectiveness of a central server-based system. Edge-based functionality also limits concerns about the privacy of information, and eliminates dependence on the availability of 3G connectivity. NVIDIA AI City initiative Video analytics applications fall under NVIDIA's “AI City” initiative, which they describe as a combination of "safe cities" (video surveillance, law enforcement, forensics) and "smart cities" (traffic management, retail analytics, resource optimisation). Depending on the application, AI City technology must function in the cloud, on premises and/or at the edge. NVIDIA’s new Metropolis initiative offers AI at every system level, from the Jetson TX2 "embedded supercomputer" available at the edge, to on-premises servers (using NVIDIA’s Tesla and Quadro) to cloud systems (using NVIDIA’s DGX). “AI City applications need an edge-to-cloud architecture,” says Jesse Clayton, Senior Manager, Product Management, Intelligent Machines, at NVIDIA. “Some applications, such as body cameras and parking entrance applications, have to have AI at the edge. But for other problems, you need to aggregate multiple sources of information, such as using AI on an on-premises server for hundreds of video cameras.” The sheer volume of installed cameras in the world makes video an AI problem – more than 1 billion cameras worldwide by 2020 will provide 30 billion frames of video per day. The existing limitations of current video systems to adapt and function well in real-world conditions point to a need for better technology, as do the traditional shortcomings of video analytics systems. Video systems can achieve "super-human" results, identifying and classifying images using artificial intelligence. NVIDIA’s GPU Technology Conference offered a chance for Avigilon to interact with others focused on AI AI in video surveillance AI is steadily making its way into video surveillance. Multiple security industry partners are using NVIDIA GPUs to boost the effectiveness of their systems. Many companies highlighted their initiatives at ISC West in April and again at NVIDIA’s GPU Technology Conference. Among them are Avigilon’s Appearance Search and BriefCam’s real-time video synopsis system. Hikvision uses the technology for a six-fold improvement detecting pedestrians in the rain, while Dahua is speeding up its licence plate recognition system by five times. Other companies using the technology are UNV Uniview (vehicle classification), SeeQuestor (investigations), Xjera Labs (people and attribute detection) and Sensetime (object detection). NVIDIA’s Quadro GPU system enables Avigilon network video recorders (NVRs) to search simultaneously across hundreds of cameras to find images that are similar in appearance, such as faces that match an example. The GPU’s fast and efficient processing power, available in a small and affordable form factor, provides a system that is scalable and cost-effective but can run complex algorithms to provide rapid results. Beyond recognising objects, the system can also learn about how objects interact in the environment, and look for anomalies “Deep learning is about teaching technology to understand the world around us in a way that is similar to how we understand it,” says Willem Ryan, Senior Director, Global Marketing at Avigilon. “What seem simple to us in terms of how we perceive the world is complex for a machine to do, but a machine learns faster. Deep learning allows you to teach a machine how to make connections that we make every day. Using GPUs, a system can make assumptions and calculations instantaneously.” Beyond recognising objects, the system can also learn about how objects interact in the environment, and look for anomalies or non-typical events. For example, if the system sees a car go onto a pavement, it could provide an alert. How will AI develop? NVIDIA’s GTC conference offered a chance for Avigilon to interact with others focused on AI, and to share Avigilon’s knowledge of the unique AI challenges of the video surveillance market. “This is the heart of the development of AI and deep learning,” said Ryan at the GTC conference. “To be involved and part of this is exciting to Avigilon, and we can expose people here to how AI can be used in a way they may not be familiar with. We have talked to people who didn’t realise how video surveillance happens currently, and how AI is changing it. “ “We want to continue to support the idea of GPU processing and how using it can make video surveillance solutions more effective, and change how people interact with video,” he added. “That’s where we see the impact. There have been challenges we have struggled to overcome in the security industry, and these are the breakthroughs that will help us overcome those challenges. So, we want to be at the forefront and involved in those discussions.” The impact of AI and deep learning on the physical security industry is only beginning. The full realisation of that impact over the next few years will be fascinating to watch.

ISC West in Las Vegas kicked off Wednesday with an expanding focus on new technologies and new applications, including some that go beyond any narrow definition of “the security industry.” Qognify QBlock and Cloudscann “Technology is disrupting the market and executives are taking our solutions beyond security,” says Moti Shabtai, CEO and President of Qognify. “They are starting with security and quickly moving to other risk and business continuity issues in the organisations. They want a clear return on investment (ROI), which we can deliver if we move from covering a limited island of ‘security’ issues and give them the value of also managing risk, safety, and operations.” Among Qognify’s products at the show is QBLOCK, a turnkey network attached storage (NAS) video management system that guarantees no loss of video; Qognify is partnering with Dell EMC. Another product is Qognify Cloudscann, a mobile application that enables a mobile phone to be used as a CCTV camera to provide video live. Citizens can live-stream what is happening in real time to the cloud. There is a public version (for citizens) and a private version (for employees). NVIDIA smart cities and safe cities Graphics processor manufacturer NVIDIA is attracting a lot of attention at the show. Its booth is a microcosm of the new hot topics we are hearing about in the market, including deep learning, machine learning, robotics, and video analytics with new levels of accuracy. The processing power of NVIDIA’s GPUs enable higher levels of resolution, faster image processing and compression, larger camera counts and smarter systems with greatly expanded capabilities. Thirteen partner companies are exhibiting products that leverage NVIDIA technology. NVIDIA is focusing on applications that combine smart cities and safe cities. Examples are realtime video analytics and licence plate recognition (ANPR) using cameras mounted in police cars. Qognify Cloudscann is a mobile application that enables a mobile phone to be used as a CCTV camera to provide video live Aqueti, one company exhibiting in the NVIDIA booth, offers the 100-megapixel Mantis Camera, a “super camera” array of 19 cameras that are combined into a single view of a large area. The images are stitched together in real-time, and the user can zoom in and see an impressive level of detail. The system is capable of face recognition over a 70-degree field at 75 metres. Axis Communications press conference Axis Communications kicked off ISC West with its press conference, a tradition on the first day. A magic show was part of the presentation highlighting the continuing transformation of Axis from primarily an IP camera company to a manufacturer of a variety of IP devices to function (often alongside Axis cameras) as part of the Internet of Things (IoT). New devices in their portfolio include all-in-one music and audio speakers, intercom door stations and a new radar detector. They further expand Axis’ entrance into new categories, which began several years ago with the introduction of IP access control devices. “The camera market is still growing, but no longer at a rate of 40 percent,” said Fredrik Nilsson, General Manager of Axis Communications in the U.S. “The conversion to IP cameras is coming to an end, but the value is really in integrating other systems together. The camera is the basis for larger systems.” Axis acquisitions Axis increased its presence in the IP intercom market last year with the acquisition of Czech company 2N. Another recent acquisition, Swedish image analysis company Cognimatics, is boosting the use of Axis video analytics in retail markets. A new introduction at ISC West is a dual-image (“stereoscopic”) sensor that improves analytics accuracy. Using two image views allows 3D depth perception that eliminates the possibility of false alarms caused by shadows (which are two-dimensional but might otherwise trigger a false alert.) The new Axis radar detector provides reliable detection of approaching trespassers in a perimeter security application, even in adverse conditions. The IP-based detector can be coupled with a pan-tilt-zoom camera to direct a video view of the area where motion was detected. Cybersecurity: Politics and education Cybersecurity is an oft-heard topic of discussion at the show: Axis emphasised that cybersecurity is not just a product issue, but also encompasses policies and education. Axis emphasised the cybersecurity benefits of “knowing what’s inside the camera.” In the case of Axis, all the technology is manufactured by Axis. Combining the elements together provides a pre-integrated, easy-to-install system for integrators, and greater dependability for end users Another cybersecurity view came from Pelco. “The business case for cybersecurity will be turned on its head when we start valuing cybersecurity in terms of the potential liability of a cybersecurity failure rather than the cost of developing a cybersecurity solution,” said Sharad Shekhar, Pelco CEO. Fully considering the possibly catastrophic costs of a cybersecurity failure would motivate the market to do even more in the interest of ensuring cybersecure systems, he said. Addressing liability will also likely involve greater use of insurance in the future, he noted. Pelco’s big message at the show is “we have it all covered,” a reference to the company’s broad product portfolio and emphasis on customer service, a tradition for Pelco. The company has narrowed its focus to fewer vertical markets and geographic areas, but it has not narrowed its product scope. Pelco’s VideoXpert software offers unlimited scalability and provides an innovative user interface that enables intuitive navigation of even complex systems. FLIR thermal cameras FLIR is typical of companies that have transformed from a product-focused strategy to an end-to-end systems approach. You’re seeing it more often in the market. FLIR’s acquisition of DVTEL in 2015, including video management systems and cameras with edge analytics, provided the missing piece of a total system. The DVTEL capabilities have since been combined seamlessly with FLIR’s historic strength in thermal cameras, also previously expanded to include visible cameras. Combining the elements together provides a pre-integrated, easy-to-install system for integrators, and greater dependability for end users. “For integrators, time is money, and there is a premium on making sure everything can interoperate easily,” says John Distelzweig, General Manager of FLIR Security. “Now we control all the elements, from the sensors to the back-end software.” (Even so, FLIR products are open architecture and can be integrated individually into other systems as needed.)

Located in the middle of the deep forests of Småland in the south of Sweden, the Strandudden Gated Community has been designed to provide a safe environment for homeowners who wish to enjoy a high quality of life. The first phase of the development has seen the construction of 18 apartments which have stunning lake views. The materials and features of each apartment have been carefully selected to ensure sustainable energy consumption. When the development is completed, over 100 Wisenet cameras manufactured by Hanwha Techwin, will enable security personnel to closely monitor the movements of people and vehicles as they enter and move around the public areas of the gated community. Ensure strict compliance Equally important, the massive processing power of the chipsets of the open platform cameras means that our client is able to run specialist applications" 6 Wisenet cameras were initially installed during the construction of the apartments. These have been used to ensure strict compliance with the site’s healthy & safety regulations and to keep a close eye on valuable plant and machinery. “We evaluated products from a number of different manufacturers, but the superb quality of the images captured by the Wisenet cameras made it a very easy decision for us to recommend that they should be deployed throughout the Community,” said Henrik Carlsson, CCTV Product Manager for Elajo, one of Sweden’s electrical, mechanical, engineering and energy installation companies who were awarded the contract to manage the project. “Equally important, the massive processing power of the chipsets of the open platform cameras means that our client is able to run specialist applications, such as licence plate recognition (ANPR), in order to control vehicle access to the Community.” High quality images The Hanwha Techwin Europe pre-sales and technical teams have worked closely with Elajo to ensure the best camera types have been specified for each of the carefully chosen camera locations. 6 different Wisenet models have been selected to ensure high quality images can be captured day or night and that there are no blind spots. Among these is the Wisenet IP network PNP-9200RH 4K PTZ dome which has built-in IR illumination. The PNP-9200RH, which is IP66 and IK10 rated for vandal-resistance and outdoor use in the harshest environments, utilises Progressive Scan technology to provide sharp edges on moving subjects and vehicles. The PNP-9200RHs which have been installed at the entrance to the Community are equipped with the Wisenet Group ANPR solution which provides the opportunity to automatically control the movement of white listed cars through barriers via camera relay outputs. Drag and drop tool Images from all 100 cameras will be displayed in the Community’s control room via Wisenet WAVE video management software (VMS) Developed by Hanwha Techwin in partnership with analytics experts, FF Group, the solution uses camera-to-camera IP communication technology to enable up to 4 Wisenet Group ANPR cameras to work together, with data from each simultaneously transmitted to a single web based display. Images from all 100 cameras will be displayed in the Community’s control room via Wisenet WAVE video management software (VMS). An intuitive ‘drag & drop’ tool makes it extremely easy for operators to set up a display of live and recorded images on a single screen or video wall, with customisable layouts and sizes. Other key features include a virtual PTZ which, with just simple clicks of a mouse, enables operators to zoom in to see close up detail of any suspicious activity, whilst motion detection and video analytics support can be configured to generate alerts when user defined incidents occur. Auto-discover feature “Wisenet WAVE has proved to be extremely easy to use and it is a significant bonus that, with minimal training, operators are able to take maximum advantage of its wide range of innovative features,” said Henrik Carlsson. “It has also helped reduce installation costs as it has an auto-discover feature which means connected cameras can be addressed and set up within just minutes.” In addition to the images being displayed in the Community’s control room, should an incident occur that needs a rapid response, security personnel on patrol will be able to remotely view any activity via a smartphone or tablet with the help of the secure Wisenet Mobile App. PNP-9200RH: Wisenet P 4K PTZ IR dome camera PNM-9020V: Wisenet P 7.3 megapixel multi-sensor 180˚ Panoramic camera PNV-9080R: Wisenet P 4K Vandal-Resistant IR dome camera PNO-9080R: Wisenet P 4K IR Bullet Camera QND-7080R: Wisenet Q 4 megapixel IR dome camera XNO-6120R/FNP: Wisenet X ANPR camera

According to Save The Rhino statistics, over 1000 rhinos are killed annually in South Africa. These harrowing poaching statistics display a gloomy future for survival of this beautiful species. While many attempts have been undertaken over the past ten years to combat the devastating results of poaching, the country has not yet seen a steady decline in numbers year-on-year. It is with this knowledge that AxxonSoft’s Global Marketing Director, Colleen Glaeser, who is based in South Africa, decided to create a strategical and proactive anti-poaching approach, utilising the tools at her disposal, assisting a country in dire need of assistance. While Deep Learning, using Artificial Intelligence and neural network analytics in its algorithm, is not new to the security and surveillance industry, Colleen and the team at AxxonSoft global took the technology a step further, developing and implementing the software to help differentiate between humans and animals. Identifying actual poaching threats AxxonSoft’s surveillance software, which leverages Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning technology now alerts the operators in the control room to an immediate poaching threat The implementation of this technology in game reserves and parks across South Africa has certainly been a game-changer regarding the war against poaching. For two reasons namely; this neural network solution can identify actual poaching threats (distinguishing poachers from their prey) while providing a proactive surveillance solution as opposed to a reactive one. Predominately utilised for face and license plate recognition, Deep Learning technology has never been adapted to tell the difference between humans and animals. Prior to the incorporation of Deep Learning in anti-poaching surveillance, software often failed control rooms and response units in that false alarms were on many occasions, set off by animals, insects and weather. Control rooms were not able to tell the difference between an actual threat and a false alarm, which often resulted in exhausting resources as teams were dispatched for animals who had touched the fence while grazing in their natural habitat. AxxonSoft’s leading surveillance software, which leverages Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning technology now alerts the operators in the control room to an immediate poaching threat as poachers try and breach the fence perimeter to enter the reserve or park. Proactive surveillance solution AxxonSoft’s Deep Learning technology provides a proactive solution to surveillance whereas previous systems were somewhat archaic and reactive in their response to real threats Global Marketing Director for AxxonSoft, Colleen Glaeser says, “Our Deep Learning technology has been extremely successful thus far in telling the difference between animals and humans as the neural network algorithm can identify, through certain indicators, whether a human or animal has set off the alarm. If the software detects a human, the operations team is immediately notified and a dispatch team is sent to the scene in question.” Furthermore, AxxonSoft’s Deep Learning technology provides a proactive solution to surveillance whereas previous systems were somewhat archaic and reactive in their response to real threats. Due to expansive terrain and limited resources, rangers and antipoaching units often get to the scene of the crime too late. With the AxxonSoft technology, as soon as the breach occurs, cameras will identify if the breach has been caused by an animal or human, and the control room is immediately notified as to where the occurrence has taken place in the reserve or park. The dispatch team is given the necessary information and they head to the site where the occurrence has taken place. Real-time identification of threats By utilising this technology, we have been able to take a proactive approach, identifying the threat in a real time situation" The beauty about Deep Learning and Neural Network analysis is in its ability to learn and understand the conditions which lead up to an event, and that ultimately allows us to prepare for threats or potential breaches when the known conditions are met. “AxxonSoft’s technology has proved very successful in preventing killings as the team is able to get to the scene of the crime quickly. “By utilising this technology, we have been able to take a proactive approach, identifying the threat in a real time situation. The AxxonSoft team and I really believe this anti-poaching solution can aid in the war against poaching and drastically bring down the upsetting statistics. I can attest to the fact that we have seen great success in curbing poaching,” concludes Glaeser.

Ulaanbaatar is the capital and the largest city of Mongolia, with a population of over 1.3 million, which is almost half of the country's total population. Over the past decade, the number of vehicles in Ulaanbaatar has risen by more than 300,000. As the political and cultural center of Mongolia, the increasing number of inhabitants and vehicles within the city has caused a series of social, environmental, and transportation problems. Dahua’s sophisticated ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) solution has integrated advanced software and hardware including sensors, information and data processing and physical electronics and communication technologies to assist the transportation department of Ulaanbaatar, in enhancing the safety and efficiency of its transportation system. Intelligent Transportation System In recent years, the government of Ulaanbaatar has prioritised the improvement of traffic management and has identified the need of a cost-effective solution towards speeding, traffic light violations and other road safety related issues, to create a more secure environment for citizens. Due to the high-latitude geography of the city, this project is particularly demanding on the monitoring equipment withstanding harsh environments. Based on advanced intelligent algorithms, Dahua has provided the city with its cutting-edge ITS solution consisting of the ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) system for 28 main roads, the E-police system for 8 junctions, 2 mobile speed measurement systems as well as 15 high spot PTZ surveillance units. The project took only three months from the initial analysis of the client’s demands and solution design to, the final delivery, overcoming various tough issues along the way. The Dahua team worked in collaboration with a partner to customise a Mongolian license plate recognition algorithm ANPR system As there are no current systems for license plate recognition in Mongolia, the Dahua team worked in collaboration with a partner to customise a Mongolian license plate recognition algorithm. This was then integrated into Dahua’s traffic cameras, achieving a reliable recognition rate, much to the satisfaction of the client. Dahua’s traffic cameras installed at the significant main roads of the city, are able to function between a temperature of - 40 ℃ ~ + 80 ℃ and a 10%~90% humidity environment. The cameras will actively monitor and inspect each suspicious vehicle, and automatically capture their license plates in real time, sending out an automatic alert when blacklisted vehicles pass by. E-police monitoring system The monitoring equipment set up at the eight junctions can help the Ulaanbaatar transportation authorities in making quick responses to traffic accidents that are caused by running red lights. When a violation occurs, the Dahua all-in-one capture camera takes a series of images of the vehicle’s license plate number, along with the status of the traffic signal and an aerial image of the scene as evidence. Afterwards, the DSS management and storage platform collects the data from each camera and distributes it to operators for further processing. The mobile speed measuring system detects vehicles that surpass the speed limit in all weather conditions Mobile speed measuring system The mobile speed measuring system detects vehicles that surpass the speed limit in all weather conditions. The system features an all-in-one design, making it easy to use and install at different locations at a moment’s notice. This portability allows traffic police to move the system to different places whenever necessary. It consists of an 8MP CCD camera with a multi-target tracking radar, allowing for an accurate instant speed measurement of each passing vehicle and crystal-clear imaging. The IR flash lamp also ensures excellent imaging capabilities even during the dark of night. Technical security training To better serve the client, Dahua’s team has provided the operators of the local transportation department, with relevant technical training and demonstrated to them, the installation and deployment of devices. Additionally, all three systems are unified on a single platform within the control center, further enabling the end user to more efficiently monitor and manage road safety. Dahua’s ITS solution facilitates road safety and keeps the traffic flowing smoothly, raising the safety awareness of drivers, resulting in a more pleasant journey for drivers.  Advanced technologies such as LPR and fuzzy search, actively reduces manpower demands on the police force, while increasing the efficiency of current enforcement. Furthermore, Dahua’s solution has assisted the government of Ulaanbaatar to finance a sustainable, growing, and well-maintained system of security and safety.

Covering hundreds of acres, Dunsfold Park near Guildford began life as a military airfield in 1942, before making its mark in aviation history for multiple innovations as part of BAe Systems until 1960. Later, the estate was acquired by the award-winning Rutland Group, who continue to manage the site, now in partnership with owners, Trinity College Cambridge. Today, in addition to its private airfield and motor test track, the estate has a thriving business park where over 100 companies employ 700 people. As a popular film location, it is home to the BBC’s Top Gear team and the backdrop to TV and Hollywood blockbusters from Casino Royale to Come Fly With Me. The continued rejuvenation of Dunsfold Park includes investment in sustainable new infrastructure, with plans to further develop the estate amenities and community. And every year, thousands of people celebrate the site’s illustrious history at its air and motoring show, Wings & Wheels. IDIS HD IP video solution To support the continued development of the high-profile, multi-use estate, the management team wanted to replace the legacy security system with an HD IP infrastructure to increase capacity, image quality and flexibility to scale. Although the estate is secured by a physical perimeter fence, 24/7 surveillance is a pre-requisite to ensure robust protection for the growing number of people working on site, the businesses and many high-value assets. With so many diverse uses – from landing jumbo jets and testing high-performance cars to housing high-tech businesses and hosting public events – upholding health, safety and security in all eventualities is vitally important. The customised design was built with state-of-the-art IDIS equipment to deliver seamless plug-and-play ease of useThe solution had to be easy to use and operate, extremely resilient and offer good value. A key objective was to improve 24/7 visibility of hard-to-reach locations in all weather conditions, like remote entrance gates, with the flexibility for operators to easily zone in on specific areas as required. Integrated fibre optic-wireless IP HD surveillance  Following a successful pilot trial, the contract was awarded to expert security integrators ISD-Tech to deliver a comprehensive HD surveillance solution running on an integrated fibre optic and wireless IP network. The customised design was built with state-of-the-art IDIS equipment to deliver seamless plug-and-play ease of use, high-quality real-time images with no visible latency and industry-leading resilience, all from a single provider. Comprising hardware, software and peripherals from the IDIS DirectIP suite, the solution includes a mix of seamlessly integrated ruggedised infra-red PTZ from Redvision as well as static cameras, HD network video recorders (NVRs) and cost-free IDIS Centre video management software. The versatile IDIS equipment ensured that challenges in the site environment could be easily overcome to provide complete 24/7 coverage, including long-range night-time visibility of previously hard-to-reach areas. The innovative solution is optimised to meet Dunsfold Park’s current surveillance requirements while providing the foundations to scale across the wider Dunsfold Park portfolio and add new technologies, such as ANPR, as its needs evolve.

One of the UK’s largest video surveillance projects in recent years involving the deployment of 845 Wisenet cameras manufactured by Hanwha Techwin, is nearing completion. The video surveillance system, which is designed to play an important role in helping ensure the safe and reliable delivery of public transport across the West Midlands, is being used to monitor activity at over 50 railway stations, 11 bus stations, 3 Midland Metro park and ride sites, as well as the main Number 11 bus route around the City of Birmingham. Live and recorded images from all cameras are being monitored at an advanced control room, located in central Birmingham Wisenet HD IP camera integration The project which is targeted for completion in July 2018 has so far seen approximately 845 Wisenet cameras installed by Total Integrated Solutions Ltd. (TIS) on behalf of Transport for West Midlands which was set up by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to co-ordinate investment needed to improve the region’s transport infrastructure. The remaining work includes the deployment of the latest generation of Wisenet high definition IP cameras at a number of car parks, together with significant camera upgrades in Walsall and Solihull, two of four Local Authority public space CCTV systems are already monitored by WMCA. Live and recorded images from all the cameras are being monitored at a £1.2M state-of-the-art control room located in central Birmingham. “Our approach to this very large, complex project was not simply one of agreeing to meet exacting KPI’s from a performance perspective,” said Eamonn Murphy, Coleshill based TIS’s key account manager. “We felt the route to success would be to adopt a more partnership type approach, where we were not only the provider of technical solutions but were also involved at a strategic level in identifying with Transport for West Midlands a pathway of system upgrade, improved efficiency, cost reduction, innovation and utilising latest technology such as video analytics to the best advantage.” TIS is assured seamless integration between Wisenet cameras and Veracity Coldstore ‘direct to storage’ solution Wisenet cameras & Veracity Coldstore solutions Transport for West Midlands evaluated cameras available from 9 different manufacturers. The subsequent decision to source all the cameras from Hanwha Techwin, (previously known as Samsung Techwin), was partly due to the price/performance ratio of its cameras, but there were two other important factors which were taken into consideration. Firstly, Hanwha Techwin has a close working relationship with its technology partner, Veracity. This meant TIS could be assured that there would be seamless integration between Wisenet cameras and the Veracity Coldstore ‘direct to storage’ solution. This negates the need for Network Video Recorders (NVRs) and thereby substantially reduces capital costs, as well as minimising setup and maintenance requirements. Open Platform cameras The Veracity Coldstore recording solution is unique in the linear way that data is written to the hard drives. Only 2 hard drives are spinning at any one time, meaning a significant reduction in power consumption, lower heat generation and greater longevity of the hard drives, reducing the overall cost of ownership. When drive failures do occur, the faulty drive can be swapped with a new drive allowing uninterrupted use. The second important factor was the capability of the Wisenet open platform cameras to accommodate a variety of edge-based analytics such as ANPR and heat mapping, should Transport for West Midlands wish to deploy these at some point in the future. Trials of the Wisenet People Counting application are currently being carried out. This utilises the analytics software developed by Facit Data Systems, another Hanwha Techwin technology partner. Wisenet SNP-6320H cameras are configured for the transmission of 25 images per second (ips) at 1080p resolution Intelligent Day/Night cameras A large percentage of the cameras installed are Wisenet SNP-6320H 2 Megapixel Full HD network PTZ dome cameras. In addition to being a true Day/Night camera which is able to capture high quality images in low light, the SNP-6320H’s powerful 32 x zoom capability enables operators to observe the close-up detail of any activity. Trials were conducted where the cameras were capped at 2 Mbps and configured for the transmission of 25 images per second (ips) at 1080p resolution. The performance at this low bandwidth level was impressive and further contributed to the selection of the Wisenet SNP-6320H, which are also equipped with intelligent auto-tracking capability to ensure a greater level of detail can be captured when no operator is present. Other Wisenet cameras deployed as part of the project include the SNV-6084R vandal-resistant IR dome and the SNB-6004 fixed camera, both of which are able to capture Full HD 2 Megapixel images. Video Surveillance Technology “Working on rail, Metro and bus station sites spread across the wider West Midlands area is a complex and challenging operation and the TIS team deserve recognition for its expertise and diligence,” said Mark Babington, Safety & Security Manager for Transport for West Midlands. Suppliers such as Hanwha Techwin and Veracity have also worked extremely well in partnership with us to ensure we could achieve maximum benefit from this substantial investment" “TIS’s engineers were qualified to the highest degree to support the latest video surveillance technology, as well as being experienced to cope with older legacy systems. Both were needed within the unique environment of a busy integrated transportation network which brings its own exceptional requirements of compliance with bespoke health and safety legislation.” “Suppliers such as Hanwha Techwin and Veracity have also worked extremely well in partnership with us to ensure we could achieve maximum benefit from this substantial investment in the West Midlands transport infrastructure.” Commenting on the success of the project, Bob (H.Y.) Hwang Ph.D., Managing Director, Hanwha Techwin Europe, said: “We greatly value the opportunity to have been involved in this project. It is a excellent example of the benefit of all stakeholders interacting with each other in partnership at an early stage of a project to ensure the most suitable products are specified and subsequently installed to the client’s satisfaction.”

To provide a practical solution to the monitoring of transportation infrastructure, where maximum situational awareness is paramount, Bosch Building Technologies has combined the innovation behind its video security cameras with the video management expertise of Intelligent Security Systems (ISS).  ISS is a global developer of video management and video intelligence solutions. The video management platform, SecurOS, focuses on securing large mission-critical applications, such as industrial and manufacturing sites, transportation systems, banks, sports arenas, retail locations, and campuses and office complexes. ISS’ differentiating video intelligence and image analytics solutions, whether it is Face Capture & Recognition (SecurOS FACE), License Plate Recognition (SecurOS AUTO License Plate Recognition), or Container Character Recognition (SecurOS CARGO), provide effective monitoring solutions to the transportation sector. The capabilities stretch to large-scale entry and exit points such as ports, borders and airport car parks  Surveillance challenges Transportation security provides surveillance challenges in varying degrees of situation and scale, so effective license plate recognition is crucial. From tunnels and bridges, where a situation can change in seconds, to regulating traffic flow into a city and capturing a profile of each vehicle, Bosch and ISS can provide answers to the questions that matter. Has a particular vehicle been permitted access to a specific area? Has that vehicle been stolen? What’s the insurance or toll subscription status? Has that vehicle been authorised to operate as a taxi? The capabilities even stretch to large-scale entry and exit points such as ports, borders and airport car parks.  Vehicle monitoring Monitoring which vehicles are entering an area, and checking their legitimacy to be there, has never been more critical. Having the capability to capture license plates of every vehicle moving in the designated area gives users complete awareness of traffic flows and usage patterns, allowing them to configure and manage their monitoring preferences efficiently and permit secure data exchanges with other operational management systems and services for efficient infrastructure alignment.  If driving conditions were perfect all-year round, the job of an operations manager, for example, would be quite straightforward. But the reality is quite the opposite. That is why the ISS certified Bosch cameras responsible for capturing this data are incredibly robust and built to produce usable images 24/7 in the harshest conditions, including after dark by employing a supplementary infrared light. The selected cameras have a special License Plate Recognition (LPR) mode which is developed in collaboration with ISS to deliver accurate information even when faced with the challenges of glaring headlights and fast-moving vehicles. Interpreting video data directly at source helps to improve levels of security substantially and can also offer clear business advantages  SecurOS AUTO license plate recognition High standards are applied to the quality of the images captured. By incorporating the SecurOS AUTO License Plate Recognition (LPR/ANPR) solution, Bosch and ISS can provide several unique benefits for users, including the ability to accurately capture license plate information at 210 km/h (130 mph) in all kinds of weather conditions, including light fog, rain, and snow. Furthermore, utilising advanced algorithms results in a level of accuracy that can distinguish letters from numbers (so an “8” is not mistaken for a “B,” for example) which is a crucial advantage, particularly in emergency situations. The partnership with ISS supports Bosch’s belief that the logical next-step for security is to enable customers to repurpose the vast amounts of video data that they now can capture. Interpreting video data directly at source helps to improve levels of security substantially and can also offer clear business advantages.