ANPR

Videonetics, the Visual Computing Platform Development Company, launches world’s first safety & security solution for Safer Workforce, Safer Workplace and Industrial Township Monitoring, powered by its patented DeeperLook - Artificial Intelligence & Deep Learning platform for critical infrastructure, heavy industries, manufacturing plants, factories, construction sites and warehouses to name a few. Indigenously developed on AI & DL DeeperLook platform, Videonetics Industrial solution is designed with emphasis on preventive security, centralised visibility along with efficiently complying to Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) standard. The industrial security & safety solution ensures safer workforce and safer workplace and help optimise business operations. Challenges faced by organisations Organisations are facing challenges such as violence, terrorism, worker agitations, disgruntled employees, theft and pilferageAs per the International Labour Organization (ILO), nearly 2.8 million workers die each year from occupational hazards and work-related diseases. An additional 374 million workers suffer from non-fatal occupational accidents. The workdays lost because of accidents cost as much as 4% of the world GDP. Apart from the OSH related concerns, organisations are facing other challenges such as violence, terrorism, worker agitations, disgruntled employees, theft and pilferage. It is the moral and legal responsibility of businesses to provide safe and secure workplaces. The solution suite has manifold applications including Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Detection such as safety helmets, safety jackets/aprons, safety glasses, safety boots etc., Production/Manufacturing Floor Area Monitoring, Worker Behaviour Monitoring, Person Slip & Fall Detection, Oil/Water Spillage Detection, Worker Head Count & Zone Monitoring, Person Occupancy & Heatmap, Fire & Smoke Detection, Graffiti and Vandalism Detection, Property Cleanliness Detection & Garbage Management, Crowd Formation Detection, Perimeter Protection, Object Classification, Theft & Pilferage Detection, Movement of Fork Lifts or other machinery inside shop floors, Vehicle Entry-Exit Monitoring Using ANPR for Effective Gate Management, Vehicle Movement Inside Plant Area Monitoring using ANPR, Parking Zone Monitoring and Speed Detection, Facial Recognition, Employee Management, etc. to name a few. Supports integration with third party systems There are many other use cases which can be developed to meet specific needs of an industry vertical. The solution also supports open framework for integration with third party systems such as SCADA, IBMS, HRMS, ERP, Emergency Evacuation Systems, Fire Alarm and Access Control Systems, etc. The platform can also integrate and communicate with external law enforcement and emergency service management systems like Dial 100, 102, Medical Services, etc. Mitigating safety & security risks Our solutions are well-competent to solve industry’s day-to-day challenges as well as address critical needs"Expressing on the launch, Dr Tinku Acharya, Fellow IEEE, Founder & MD stated, “I am proud to announce that Videonetics is the first company to introduce end-to-end AI & DL powered Safety & Security Solution for industries." “Field-proven and tested with real-time video data of varied environment, our solutions are well-competent to solve industry’s day-to-day challenges as well as address critical needs such as mitigating safety & security risks, improving work environment, reducing production loss and improving profitability, improve workers/employees occupational safety, create situational awareness, maintaining business continuity and optimising operations for organisations, assets and infrastructure.” With Videonetics industrial solution, the stake holders are empowered to stay one step ahead of security breaches for timely interventions, improving operational efficiency while keeping property and people safe.

Pelco, Inc., a provider of intelligent video surveillance solutions, releases the Sarix Professional (Pro) Series 3 Fixed IP cameras. Offered in mini-dome, bullet, box, and wedge configurations, these IP cameras deliver a balanced set of features and performance at affordable price points that allow for deployment across a wide range of indoor and outdoor applications, including low light and wide dynamic range capabilities with options of 1MP, 2MP, 3MP, and 5MP resolutions. Bi-directional audio communication Sarix Pro 3 cameras are ideal for industries such as commercial, government, healthcare, and education that demand a robust set of features, superior performance, and image clarity in an easily installed and maintained camera system. The Sarix Pro 3 Series delivers cost-savings with less bandwidth and storage requirements" “The Sarix Pro 3 IP Camera Series solves real security video challenges in a broad range of industries by providing more security detail in challenging scenes with excellent low light and wide dynamic range performance,” said Kevin Saldanha, Principal Product Manager. “In Healthcare and Education verticals, where vandalism and bi-directional audio communication is required, this camera series has models with IK10 vandal resistance and built-in microphones that can meet those requirements seamlessly. For Commercial industry-related needs that require several hundreds to thousands of high-resolution cameras with 24/7 monitoring on a limited budget, the Sarix Pro 3 Series delivers cost-savings with less bandwidth and storage requirements supported by h.265 video encoding and Pelco Smart Compression,” he concluded. Video compression standard Sarix Pro 3 IP camera series offers these key features: Clear detail in low light conditions with Up to 120dB True Wide Dynamic Range: These cameras can bring out detail in both very bright and dark areas to maximise visibility and are especially useful in environments that have both dark and light areas in one scene, such as entrances. Adaptive IR Illumination (Up to 50m for dome cameras and up to 80m for bullet cameras): With capabilities that produce detailed images in zero light, the adaptive IR Illuminator avoids overexposure that can hinder detection as objects approach the camera. One camera can provide wide, yet detailed coverage with resolutions up to 5MP at 30 FPS. This level of clarity allows customers to view license plate numbers and faces. Capture fast moving objects in Traffic, Gaming, Banking, and Commercial industries: 5MP camera models can stream 60 FPS for up to 4MP resolution. Conserve/minimise bandwidth and storage costs via h.265, the highest video compression standard, and Pelco smart compression technology. Flexible recording and viewing of video with three streams and optimised streams to save on costs. All three independent streams are configurable with video encoding (H.265/H.264/MJEPG), resolution, and frame rate. Enhanced detection and faster response ability by way of bi-directional audio with audio line-in and line-out. A built-in microphone is also included in the indoor dome camera. Flexible deployment in challenging environments with IK10, IP66, and IP67 ratings and a wide operating temperature. The cameras’ housings are built using metal construction and select camera models are ideal for areas prone to tampering and vandalism, like correctional facilities, hospitals, and schools. IP66 and IP67-rated models are available for water and dust protection, while environmental models can operate in extreme temperature environments (between –40° to 60°C). Faster, easier, and lower-cost installation with a single-wire PoE connection. 24VAC and 12VDC power options are also available for flexibility in installation. Integrated and industry standard compliant. These cameras work with VideoXpert on both H.264/H.265 and with Endura and Digital Sentry along with VxToolbox. They are also ONVIF Profile S, G, Q, and T compliant and work with well with third-party video management systems that conform to these ONVIF Profiles. Sarix Pro Series 3 cameras are available to be ordered now. Dome and bullet models ship in August, box cameras ship in September, and wedge models ship in October.

According to a recent report published by business intelligence provider IHS Markit, Genetec Inc., a technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, has become one of the fastest growing providers of access control software in the world. The IHS report showed Genetec rising to the number 3 position in the Americas region (with a 45% growth in business in the region), and to the number 6 position globally in 2018. According to the report Access Control Intelligence Service Annual Update for Global and Regional Databases 2019, “The advanced analytical capabilities of Genetec Security Center software have led Genetec to take market share from competitors, and several traditional access control equipment manufacturers have partnered with Genetec to take advantage of their superior software capabilities. As a result, the Genetec software business grew nearly 45% in the Americas in 2018 to reach a 7.8% market share in the region.” Unified access control platform “Broad adoption of Genetec Synergis demonstrates that our focus on offering a unified enterprise-class access control platform is putting us in a strong, leadership position. Genetec is capturing market share based on innovative technology and this is resulting in strong organic growth of our access control business worldwide,” said Thibaut Louvet, Product Group Director, Access Control. According to IHS Markit (2017 Video Surveillance Market Share Database, 2017 Access Control Intelligence Database, and 2018 ANPR & Detection Sensors Report), Genetec is the only security and public safety solutions developer to hold top-10 global rankings across all physical security industry sectors including video management software (VMS), access control software, and automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) software.

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.

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.

According to a recent report published by business intelligence provider IHS Markit, Genetec Inc., a technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, was named the world’s number one vendor of Video Management Systems (VMS). IHS-reported results from 2015-2018 also point to the company sustaining a 24.1% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) for the past 3 years in this category. In the Americas, Genetec remains the leading VMS manufacturer by a wide margin for eight consecutive years, with an 18.3% share of this $4.1 billion market. Genetec has also taken the number one position in the $1.7 billion market for back-end video surveillance equipment in the Americas. In the rest of the world, Genetec grew its VMS revenue at a fast rate: In EMEA, Genetec revenues grew by 20.5% in 2018, while in APAC (excluding China), Genetec grew its revenues by 22.5%. IP-based physical security solutions Our independence and single-mindedness have helped us earn the trust of enterprise and government users"“As a privately owned, independent manufacturer of IP-based physical security solutions, we reinvest a much higher proportion of our annual top-line revenue into R&D than most,” states Pierre Racz, President, Genetec Inc. “Our independence and single-mindedness have helped us earn the trust of enterprise and government users. We want to delight the customer. Circumstances have propelled us to be outspoken about privacy and cyber-security.” “These factors, along with good-fortune, strong partnerships and a great team, are some of the factors that explain the appeal of our solutions,” explains Racz. "We will continue to lower the friction with which our customers integrate new sensors and other systems into the decision-making of their operations.” According to IHS Markit (2017 Video Surveillance Market Share Database, 2017 Access Control Intelligence Database, and 2018 ANPR & Detection Sensors Report), Genetec is the only security and public safety solutions developer to hold top-10 global rankings across all physical security industry sectors including video management software (VMS), access control software, and automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) software.

It amazes me how in a few short years security systems have gone from simple, dumb cameras witnessing events to intelligent eyes, ears, speech and touch solutions that boost situational awareness far beyond human capabilities. It seems the only senses missing from the equation now are smell and taste. And who knows, someone might be working on those in a lab somewhere right now. But what’s really fascinating to me is how the Internet of Things (IoT) has opened a world of possibilities for transforming security technology into something new yet again. With IoT we’re able to push and pull nuggets of intelligence from sources we never considered before: environmental sensors, pressure plates, door lock timers and much more. It’s helped us break through the constraining mindset that security systems are strictly single-purpose. With interconnectivity at the core, we’re starting to imagine myriad ways to apply these tools to challenges outside the realm of security. Here are just a few examples. Flood management assistance Network camera adds another dimension and timeliness to flood management by helping responders investigate remotely As recent hurricanes and floods have shown, water damage can be devastating to a community. That’s why some municipalities are using their city surveillance cameras in conjunction with water sensor to proactively address the problem. Water sensors collect data from multiple sources such as rain gutters, sewer systems and pump stations, in order to monitor fluctuations in water levels and water quality. If an alert triggers, having a network camera in proximity to visually verify the situation helps responders determine the best course of action. For instance, if multiple water detection sensors trigger alerts simultaneously or sequentially over a large area it’s probably due to natural runoff from recent rainfall. But without eyes on the scene, how can you be sure? Network camera adds another dimension and timeliness to flood management by helping responders investigate and identify the cause of a trigger remotely. It might be a fire hydrant spewing water, a water main break or even a chemical spill. With video streaming live to the command center, staff can remotely inspect the area, determine the cause of the trigger and decide whether remediation is required, thus avoiding the expense of dispatching an investigative crew to a non-event. Some municipalities are using their city surveillance cameras in conjunction with water sensor to proactively address the problem Environmental control assistance Data centers house the lifeblood of a business so it’s no wonder why companies work hard to protect them. We’re all familiar with the integration of network cameras with access control systems to visually verify who is actually using the credentials. Network camera adds another dimension and timeliness to flood management by helping responders investigate and identify the cause of a trigger remotely But there’s another aspect to protecting data centers and that’s environment control. Data centers need to maintain optimum humidity and temperature for the racks of electronics. When environmental sensors in the facility detect out-of-norm ranges technicians can remotely command a network camera to zoom in on the gauges and help them determine whether remediation might be necessary.  Coupling network cameras with other sensors in the data center can provide visual confirmation of other conditions as well. For instance, every time a data rack door-open-close sensor detects an event it can trigger the camera to pan to the location and stream video to security. Some data centers employ weight sensors at the doorway to weigh personnel and equipment as they enter the room and when they exit to ensure no additional hardware is being taken out of the facility or left inside without permission. Any discrepancy would trigger the camera to zoom in for a close-up of the individual’s face and send a visual alert and ID information to security. Roadway management and parking assistance Network cameras have long played a part in city-wide traffic management. Adding video analytics and integration with network sensors, makes those cameras that much smarter and versatile. They can detect cars driving in bike lanes or driving in the wrong direction and capture license plates of offenders. Their ability to detect anomalous traffic flow patterns can be integrated with car counting sensors, networked electronic road signs and traffic light systems to automatically redirect vehicles to alternate routes. They make great, intelligent parking lot attendants, too. Working in conjunction with weight sensors network cameras can count vehicles coming into and leaving a lot or garage and verify when the facility has reached capacity. License plate recognition and video analytics can be used to ascertain that a vehicle entering a reserved parking space doesn’t match the credentials and vehicle attributes in the database. With the addition of noise sensors and audio analytics, network cameras can improve roadway and parking facility safety by detecting and identifying specific sounds – breaking glass, car alarms, gun shots, and aggressive speech – and triggering a visual alert to first responders. Network cameras can improve roadway and parking facility safety by detecting and identifying specific sounds and triggering a visual alert to first responders Shopper experience assistance In the early days of online shopping, e-tailers designed their sites to replicate the in-store customer experience. In an ironic turn of events, today brick-and-mortar stores are trying to mirror the online shopping experience. To do so, they’re turning their security systems into adjunct sales assistance. With network video and audio system automation they can recognise and acknowledge loyal customers with personal greetings. Retailers are applying people counting video analytics to checkout activity to create rules-based consistency in customer service With heatmapping analytics they can measure how much time a customer spends in a specific department or observe how they walk through the aisles of the store. They can track shopping behaviors such as items looked at that made it into the cart or didn’t, or whether a customer actually checked out or left the merchandise behind. By capturing these shopping patterns and trends retailers can shape a more positive, more profitable customer shopping experience. For instance, integrating video analytics with point of sale systems and RFID sensors on merchandise tags can result in timely alerts to sales associates to recommend additional merchandise. This is a case of emulating how e-tailers let the customer know that other customers who bought X often also purchased items Y and Z. Or to avoid disappointing customers due to stock outages, retailers are linking weight sensors and video analytics to make sure their shelves are well-stocked and if not, quickly alert associates to what items need to be restocked. Capturing business intelligence Retailers are also using video cameras to monitor checkout queues and trigger automated announcements over the public-address system, closed system such as smartphones or other wireless communications devices that checkers are needed rather wait for a person to call for backup. IoT laid the groundwork for network security solutions to seamlessly integrate with other IP-based technologies, sensors and programs They’re applying people counting video analytics to checkout activity to create rules-based consistency in customer service. While retailers will always use their surveillance camera for loss prevention, they’re finding that integrating traditional technology in new ways can yield even bigger returns. Linking network video surveillance, video analytics, network communications system and sensors with point-of-sale systems and customer loyalty databases, retailers are capturing the business intelligence they need to get back in the game and make brick-and-mortar a greater overall experience than online shopping. A natural cross-over technology This trend towards integration has forever changed how organisations view their investment in security technology. The intelligence and versatility of a tool that can see, verify and analyse what’s happening in real-time is spurring users to tap its cross-over potential for a host of other tasks that could benefit from more astute situational awareness – everything from manufacturing and equipment maintenance to logistics, inventory control and beyond. IoT laid the groundwork for network security solutions to seamlessly integrate with other IP-based technologies, sensors and programs. How we capitalise on that connection is only limited by our imagination.

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.

As police use of live facial recognition (LFR) is called into question in the United Kingdom, the concerns can overshadow another use of facial recognition by police officers. Facial recognition is incorporated into day-to-day police operations to identify an individual standing in front of them. This more common usage should not be called into question, says Simon Hall, CEO of Coeus Software, which developed PoliceBox, a software that enables police officers to complete the majority of their daily tasks from an app operating on a smart phone. Time-consuming process There are two different use cases for facial recognition in the context of law enforcement" “Verifying the identity of an individual standing in front of you via facial recognition should be no more controversial than taking a fingerprint for the same purpose,” says Hall. “We are not talking about mass surveillance here, but the opportunity to use technology to make an officer’s day more efficient. Verifying a person’s ID is a time-consuming process if you have to take them to the station, so being able to do this more quickly should be welcomed as a positive step to modernise policing.” Because the use of facial recognition by police has proven to be a divisive topic, Simon is eager to highlight the distinction between the use of facial recognition for ID verification and the more controversial mass surveillance that some police forces have trialed. “There are two different use cases for facial recognition in the context of law enforcement,” says Hall. Number-plate recognition “Firstly, there is facial recognition to verify a person’s identity (typically done face-to-face with the individual concerned and using the Police National Computer [PNC] database). This is no more controversial than taking an individual’s fingerprint to verify their ID but can be conducted more quickly if the officer has the capability on their smart phone. The second common use of facial recognition is to identify suspects quickly via mass surveillance. This is more controversial.” The focus for PoliceBox is ID verification only, he adds. The focus of facial recognition for PoliceBox is ID verification only First, there is the matter of consent. In the context of facial recognition in public situations, it is very difficult to inform everyone that they are being observed, so they cannot give their informed consent, says Hall. Then there is the inability for people to ‘opt out’ of the process. Unlike with driving a car, where one can technically opt-out of the rules of the road (and avoid technologies like number-plate recognition) by choosing not to drive, there is no such option for facial recognition. National surveillance system Secondly, many-to-many matching (matching lots of images to lots of database records) is more likely to produce false matches, resulting in possible perceived harassment of individuals who happen to match a person of interest, notes Hall. The government is openly exploring plans to develop a national surveillance system using facial recognition Lastly, Hall says there are legitimate concerns that the technology could be misused for discrimination or exerting control over populations. In China, for example, where facial recognition technology is already widely used in the commercial sector, the government is openly exploring plans to develop a national surveillance system using facial recognition. “Mass surveillance can be used in two ways; real-time, whereby ‘people of interest’ are flagged up as soon as a match is detected, and historical, where the movements of individuals around the time of a reported crime are established after the event,” says Hall. Repeated false matches “These two modes probably require different types of safeguards. For example, it may be appropriate to obtain a warrant to search historical data, to prevent Cambridge-Analytica style mining of personal data. For real time data, safeguards against repeated false matches are needed to prevent harassment of falsely matched individuals.” Properly implemented, facial recognition can be consistent with the GDPR. The principles are no different from obtaining a fingerprint to confirm identity, where consent would normally be given. For PoliceBox, using fingerprint or facial identification is typically a time-saving solution, benefitting both parties, instead of going to the police station and establishing identity there. Signed consent can be obtained on the spot using a secure on-screen signature. The PoliceBox solution is based on the UK legal framework and would also be appropriate for countries whose laws are similar to the UK Facial recognition algorithms Fingerprints and facial images can be automatically deleted once used to establish identity. There are special provisions for the collection of personal data for law enforcement purposes without consent, and some test cases for mass surveillance could go through the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). This is particularly significant where private operators are concerned. PoliceBox solution is also internationalised and can be used in different languages The PoliceBox solution is based on the UK legal framework and would also be appropriate for countries whose laws are similar to the UK. It is also internationalised and can be used in different languages. Facial recognition algorithms and databases are typically implemented by the relevant law enforcement body (such as the Home Office) and not directly within the product, which acts as a front-end to those systems. Public sector organisations Hall sees several remaining challenges related to police use of facial recognition: The adoption of cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions within the public sector. The existing infrastructure in the public sector has evolved over a number of years and there are significant legacy systems in place that need to be refreshed/replaced; Need for proven technology. Public sector organisations are risk-averse and often insist on being able to reference existing installations, which creates a Catch 22 problem when introducing new technology as someone has to be first; Interrupting business-as-usual. Most organisations already have some form of an existing solution. Even if this system provides poor ROI and is extremely dated, one must still overcome ‘the better the devil you know’ policy; A reluctance by some suppliers to share information with other solutions via APIs. This has stifled innovation for some time. Improving officers’ wellbeing These challenges are slowly being overcome. “I am confident we will soon see an accelerated adoption of platforms such as ours to deliver the financial and efficiency savings that are needed to bring the public sector into the 21st century,” says Hall. One of the biggest themes to come out of the recent Home Office Review into frontline policing was the need to improve officers’ wellbeing. Law enforcement has to deal with some of the most difficult and harrowing situations on an almost daily basis. The administrative burden can also be problematic, says Hall. “If we can help to reduce the administrative burden placed on officers – even by a little bit – the overall improvements in effectiveness and well-being when magnified across a whole force will be significant.”

Artificial intelligence (AI) is expanding the capabilities of license plate readers and vehicle identification systems. Within a smart/safe city scenario, automatic license plate reader solutions are used to help analyse real-time video streams for site surveillance, inspection and public safety, and to offer actional information through a network of connected camera systems. Outside of law enforcement, this can include other public safety initiatives such as traffic tolls, car counting, and parking security. Vehicle recognition systems Rekor Systems is a provider of vehicle recognition systems in more than 60 countries Using AI to enable video cameras, Rekor Systems is a provider of vehicle recognition systems in more than 60 countries. Applications include security and surveillance, public safety, electronic toll collection, brand loyalty, parking operations, banking and insurance, logistics, and traffic management. AI allows Rekor’s products to recognise and read license plates, while also providing information about each vehicle, including colour, make, year, and model. Rekor’s products are powered by OpenALPR software, an AI-based solution that enables any IP (internet protocol) surveillance camera to scan license plates and provide vehicle data including tag number, make, model, and colour in real time with 99% accuracy, according to the company. Rekor’s products are powered by OpenALPR software Integrated solutions “Rekor's software started as an open source project, and we have done our best to keep the commercial software as open as possible,” says Rod Hillman, Chief Operating Officer, Rekor Systems. “One of the challenges we see with others in our space is a tendency to ‘close off’ and ‘silo’ their solutions. Our goal is to make it as simple as possible to deploy, integrate, and ultimately use.” Rekor has numerous application programming interfaces (APIs) and ways the solution can be integrated into partners' solutions with a software development kit (SDK). Rekor solutions can be purchased directly or through a worldwide partner network of integrators, wholesalers, and within integrated solutions such as Nokia's smart city platform. Electronic toll collection Rekor’s solutions have viable applications within multiple markets While many systems are hardware-based, Rekor’s software-as-a-solution offering can turn an IP camera into an automatic license plate reader. Rekor’s solutions have viable applications within multiple markets, including law enforcement, security and surveillance, electronic toll collection, parking operations, banking and insurance, logistics, traffic management, and customer experience. “Rekor offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional LPR systems with a much higher accuracy rate at 99% allowing more cameras to be present and active at any given time,” says Hillman. “Traditional LPRs need someone to go through hours of footage to find what they are looking for while Rekor’s technology will send alerts in real time, resulting in much quicker response times.” Move Over Camera mounts onto roadside worker’s vehicles to capture ‘Move Over’ violations Two-part authentication Rekor’s products include: NUMERUS, a cloud-based solution for high-volume vehicle recognition, designed to reduce costs and increase efficiencies for the electronic toll collecting industry. Two-part authentication instantly identifies the vehicle’s make, model, colour and body type along with the license plate read. Machine-learning-enabled software recognises license plates from all 50 U.S. states, in addition to plates from more than 70 countries on six continents. Edge, an all-in-one camera and vehicle recognition system that instantly reads vehicle license plates, along with the vehicle’s make, model, colour and body type. Move Over Camera, which mounts onto roadside worker’s vehicles (police, tow truck, etc.) to capture ‘Move Over’ violations. ‘Move Over’ laws state that vehicles must move over one lane and/or slow down if they cannot move over to avoid incident while roadside workers are in the shoulder lane. The camera can detect what lane vehicles are in and how fast they are moving. Violators are flagged in the system for law enforcement’s review.

The basic need for public safety is one of the biggest forces driving the adoption of smart city solutions: approaches that 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. However, just adding more technology is not the whole answer. 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. Cities need solutions that help find what you need and convert the ‘too much information’ into ‘actionable intelligence’ Some of those initiatives, however, like red light cameras or computerised flight passenger screening systems, have amounted to little more than ‘security theater’, 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’. Data capture form to appear here! Better connectivity promotes safety There is a growing shift towards younger generations wanting to live in the city where they have access to public transportation, restaurants and entertainment. They also expect to live in a safer environment, and this is where the smart city approach comes into play with the introduction of WiFi in parks and public spaces, along with surveillance systems. These two solutions and services can now sit on the same network, thanks to better connectivity options and interference free solutions, such as mmWave wireless radios. Younger generations expect to live in a safer environment, and this is where the smart city approach comes into play with the introduction of WiFi in parks and public spaces, along with surveillance systems For example, Siklu Inc., a provider of mmWave wireless solutions, announces Smart City deployments based on Siklu’s broad E-band and V-band product portfolio previously reached, and now have likely surpassed, a milestone of 100 cities installed. Smart Cities, which were initially defined as municipalities connecting low data rate sensors for water, gas and more, have been evolving to demand high-capacity connectivity at gigabit-per-second speed. This high-bandwidth network infrastructure is needed to support new applications such as video security, public Wi-Fi backhaul, and private city network deployments. Linking AI and smart cities Dubai is an example of 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 has launched a range of public safety initiatives including Smart Police iOS apps, traffic accident and location systems, and SOS apps for wearable devices. Dubai Police shows how artificial intelligence can power new Robocop prototypes – unarmed, life-sized patrolling robots carrying facial recognition software and automatic license plate recognition (ALPR). Authorities in Dubai have set out to “make Dubai the happiest city on Earth” by adopting cutting-edge smart city initiatives NVIDIA’s Metropolis™ intelligent video analytics platform is paving the way for the creation of AI cities. Metropolis Deep Learning makes cities safer and smarter by applying deep learning to video streams for applications such as public safety, traffic management and resource optimisation. More than 50 NVIDIA AI city partner companies are already providing products and applications that use deep learning on GPUs. “Deep learning is enabling powerful intelligent video analytics that turn anonymised video into real-time valuable insights, enhancing safety and improving lives,” said Deepu Talla, vice president and general manager of the Tegra business at NVIDIA. “The NVIDIA Metropolis platform enables customers to put AI behind every video stream to create smarter cities.” Smarter access control in cities Advanced software suites can provide access to all operations performed by users A smart city is one that uses information and communication technologies to increase operational efficiency, share information with the public and improve both the quality of government services and resident welfare. Smart access control is an important step forward in providing technologically advanced security management and access solutions to support the ambitions of smart cities and their respectively smart industries. With high volumes of people entering and exiting different areas of the city, it is important to be able to trace who has been where, when and for how long. Advanced software suites can provide access to all operations performed by users, including a complete audit trail. This information is often used by business owners or managers for audits, improvements or compliance.

BI-City Tokyo is located in Nur-Sultan (Astana), the capital city of Kazakhstan. It is a high-end residential complex of BI Group – a renowned construction holding company in the Kazakhstan real estate market. At present, three apartment buildings with public areas and more than 400 apartment units have been completed. Aiming to create modern high-end intelligent buildings and residential areas, the BI Group wanted to upgrade the existing analog video intercom system of BI-City Tokyo. Replacing analog intercom system The original analog intercom system in this community is outdated and cannot meet the diverse security requirements of high-end residential areas. First, the original analog intercom does not support retaining images and leaving messages. Second, this system only supports access cards to open doors, which is inconvenient for residents in case they forgot their card. Third, the original system cannot add IP cameras to monitor public areas such as children's playground, fitness areas, etc. Fourth, the cold winter temperature in Nur-Sultan requires high-performance equipment capable of operating in extreme environments. Faced with the abovementioned challenges, BI Group was also looking for a trustworthy brand that can provide not only modern smart system but also technical support and reliable after-sales service. Meeting all the above requirements, Dahua smart residential solution was chosen to be the security solution provider of BI-City Tokyo. Dahua Smart Residential Security Solution The complete solution deployed more than 300 pieces of Dahua equipment, including IP cameras The complete solution deployed more than 300 pieces of Dahua equipment, including Indoor Monitor, Apartment Outdoor Station, IP Camera, Access ANPR Camera, Video Recorder, etc. The solution supports two-way audio intercom, real-time video and messaging feature. In addition, a variety of door opening methods were also implemented: door opening via remote calling, door opening using access card, and remote door opening via APP. Additionally, all the equipment can be visualised and integrated in the Dahua DSS platform for centralised management, operation and maintenance. Moreover, the temperature in Nur-Sultan can reach up to negative 40 degrees in winter season. This requires high-performance outdoor devices featuring dust and water resistance, and explosion-roof capability. In response to this pressing challenge, Dahua apartment outdoor station VTO1210C-X-S1 and access ANPR camera ITC237-PW1B-IRZ that support wide working temperature were installed at the entrance of the apartment building for a more effective visitor and vehicle management. ANPR and IP cameras installed When a visitor arrives at the entrance of the apartment building and dials a resident’s room number through the Dahua apartment outdoor station, the camera installed at the entrance will synchronise the video with the visitor’s image captured in the resident’s indoor monitor. Once the visitor’s identity is confirmed, the resident just needs to press the button on the indoor monitor to open the door remotely. With Dahua app, users can even answer calls and open doors remotely when they are out for work or traveling. As for vehicles, Dahua access ANPR camera ITC237-PW1B-IRZ is designed for extreme temperature environments (temperature range of -40°C to +60°C). With built-in intelligent video analytics, the camera has the ability to detect and recognise moving vehicle's plate number within low speed. Vehicle tracking and identification For both approaching and departing vehicles, the access ANPR camera takes a snapshot of the number plate and vehicle overview picture, as well as records corresponding surveillance videos. By setting a whitelist, the camera can automatically control the barrier or gate to open if a plate number recorded in the whitelist has been recognised. The public areas including children's playground, fitness areas, as well as the lobby are covered by 2MP IR Mini Dome Network Camera IPC-HDBW4231E-ASE, 2MP and 3MP IR Mini-Bullet Network Camera. The Starlight Ultra-low Light Technology of IPC-HDBW4231E-ASE offers industry-leading light sensitivity, capturing colour details under low light condition up to 0.002lux. The camera uses a set of optical features to balance light throughout the scene, resulting in clear images in dark environments. Integrated management platform Dahua smart residential solution provides an integrated management platform for the personnel of BI-City Tokyo Dahua smart residential solution provides an integrated management platform for the management personnel of BI-City Tokyo. It assists in the remote and visual management of the property and improves the services and facilities they offer. Security guard at the entrance is not needed anymore to manage entering and exiting vehicles, which saves labor costs, reduces the waiting time of vehicles and improves traffic efficiency. In addition, the all-round monitoring of the public areas within BI-City Tokyo greatly improves the safety level of the entire community. The video intercom system of the building provides a variety of convenient door opening methods, enhancing the resident’s living experience. IP video intercom solution “We adopted analog solution in the first phase. From the second phase, we replaced all of analog system with Dahua’s IP video intercom solution. We hope that Dahua will help us complete the solution planning of the three, four, five, and six phases,” said Arman Lesbekov, General Manager of BI Group. Dahua Technology is an internationally renowned video surveillance and security solutions provider with more than 6000 professionals in their R&D team, dedicated to providing cutting-edge products in technologies like AI, IoT, Cloud services, video, cyber security, and software reliability with high quality and performance. Video surveillance systems expert Since 2014, Dahua has ranked second in the global video surveillance equipment market according to an IHS report, and in 2017 Dahua ranked third in the A&S International "Security 50". The company believes in investing and building strong R&D capabilities for new technology and innovation.

Videonetics has supported Nagpur in achieving the Smart City status, under the Smart City Mission of Government of India, by securing its roads with an AI & DL powered Intelligent Traffic Management Solution. The solution has helped the city to solve its traffic enforcement problems such as red light jumping, zebra crossing/ stop line violations, over speeding violations, tracking of suspect/ stolen vehicle, and generating e- challan/ e ticket for violators as per the Motor Vehicles Act. It includes applications like Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), Red Light Violation Detection (RLVD), Integrated eChallan Management Software. With the successful implementation of the solution, Nagpur has witnessed greater traffic discipline and substantial decrease in traffic violations. More efficient traffic management has helped the city achieve its Smart City objectives. Intelligent Traffic Management System Nagpur has witnessed a rapid rise in the number of vehicles, and also in traffic violations and road accidents Over the last few years, Nagpur has witnessed a rapid rise in the number of vehicles, and also in traffic violations and road accidents. The city administration recognized the need to enhance road safety, and the traffic police department sought a solution that would act as a true decision support system to regulate and analyze vehicle movement on roads. In addition, the police expected the solution to assist them in maintaining law and order, to identify frequent offenders as well as stolen/ suspect vehicles, as and when they enter the city. With the city needing to enhance its road safety even as it was expanding, Videonetics designed a solution based on its Intelligent Traffic Management System that provides continuous monitoring of the traffic situation, records traffic violations at intersections, and triggers necessary penal action against violators. Manage real-time alerts 24x7 real-time monitoring: Today, the city has ANPR and RLVD systems spread across 120 traffic junctions, to track and record license plate of any type of vehicle, as well as detect red light or stop line violation at intersections. Nearly 1,300 IP cameras have been deployed, to monitor vehicle movement and detect suspect vehicles simultaneously. Violation prosecution: Videonetics’s Integrated e-Challan/e-Ticket Management Software has been assimilated with Regional Transport Office database, to fetch the details of a vehicle and its owner. Once a violation is detected, an e-challan is issued to the offender. The e-challan also maintains a record of all payments, both received and pending. A centralized security view: The solution provides the police a bird’s eye view of the traffic junctions and city’s roads, from the Command & Control Centre. From the unified interface, security operators can view, manage real-time alerts and respond them swiftly. City surveillance system Prior to the installation of Videonetics’s Smart City solution, Nagpur city relied on on-site traffic monitors/ police to catch offending vehicles. However, the recent implementation of the solution has eliminated the need for physical deployment of traffic police at each junction. Videonetics’s solution helps maintain the security on city’s roads by detecting and recording traffic violations with accuracy, resulting in irrefutable evidence for local authorities. In addition, citizens have started obeying traffic rules, resulting in an over 50% reduction in traffic violations. The open architecture of the solution not only allows the city to continue adding more applications to make its traffic management more robust, but also integrate with the city surveillance system in a single unified interface, to address security concerns with a holistic approach.

Haier Group, China’s home appliance manufacturer, has built a new industrial park in Russia to cope with the growing demand in Europe. Covering a total area of about 124.9 hectares, the new site is located in Naberezhnye Chelny, an important industrial city in Tatarstan, Russia. With the gradual completion of its factories in the industrial park, Haier is looking for an intelligent system to realise multiple tasks within the whole industrial park. First, to prevent theft and timely detect people climbing over the perimeter fence. Second, to provide comprehensive monitoring in the whole industrial park and inside the factory which includes: monitoring of production line and employees’ smoking behaviour during working hours at office areas; efficient employee attendance; vehicle identification at the entrance and exit areas of the industrial park; and the overall management of all devices, data report output, etc. Intrusion detection The Dahua Russia team designed a complete smart solution incorporating AI cameras, perimeter cameras, ANPR system, access control, time attendance system, face recognition barrier, DSS PRO platform and EVS storage for Haier’s industrial park. Notably, all of the devices were integrated in one central management platform, making it easier for operators to control and manage the system. In addition, the system also supports further device upgrade based on customer’s future plan for the next several years. AI-powered perimeter protection function can greatly reduce false alarms caused by irrelevant objects To help Haier solve the first problem, Dahua 5MP WDR IR Bullet AI Network Cameras were chosen to safeguard the perimeter of the Haier industrial park. Featuring active deterrence, the cameras are able to proactively warn intruders to leave before users take action. Once an intrusion is detected, a white light will turn on, accompanied by a buzzer to warn off the intruder. Additionally, its AI-powered perimeter protection function can greatly reduce false alarms caused by irrelevant objects. The combination of advanced AI analytics and real-time alerts to a desktop or mobile clients reduces system requirements and resources, thereby improving the efficiency of the surveillance system. Smart IR technology The office areas and the interior of the washing machine factory are covered with Dahua 4MP WDR IR Dome Network Cameras, while public areas are monitored by 2MP 25x Starlight IR PTZ Network Cameras. As a member of Dahua Eco-savvy product family, the Dahua 4MP WDR IR Dome Network Cameras adopt upgraded H.265 encoding technology to provide starlight, Smart IR technology, as well as intelligent image analysis techniques. It saves bandwidth and storage, with energy-saving design to enhance monitoring performance of the system. With built-in Intelligent Video System (IVS) analytic algorithm, these dome cameras also support intelligent functions to monitor a scene for tripwire violations, intrusion detection, and abandoned or missing objects. In the future, it can respond quickly and accurately to events in the monitored areas. These cameras are equipped with smooth control, high quality image and good protection As for public areas, Dahua 2MP 25x Starlight IR PTZ Network Cameras have powerful optical zoom and accurate pan/tilt/zoom performance that can provide a large monitoring range and rich details. Through the latest Starlight technology, the cameras can achieve excellent low-light performance. In addition, these cameras are equipped with smooth control, high quality image and good protection, which meet the requirements of most industrial parks. Face recognition Dahua face recognition barriers were deployed at the entrance of the Haier industrial park and its office building, allowing quick and touchless passage of registered Haier employees without using employee cards or other identification documents. The system is based on a deep learning algorithm powered by AI, which compares facial images captured by the camera with those stored in the library to verify a person’s identity and grant permission. Access will be denied for unregistered people. The industrial park’s entrance and exit use 2 Megapixel Full HD AI Access ANPR Cameras to identify entering and exiting vehicles. Boasting a capture rate of over 99%, the cameras can automatically recognise the number plate of a vehicle in low speed less than 40 kmph, and capture vehicle data such as vehicle direction, vehicle size and vehicle colour detection (in daytime) based on deep learning algorithm. Aside from these capabilities, the cameras can also control the barrier according to the whitelist set by users and let registered vehicles pass without stopping. The Dahua DSS PRO management platform integrates all cameras and the aforementioned devices At the management centre, all the information collected by font-end cameras will be transferred to a 16-HDD Enterprise Video Storage. With Seagate HDD, the device offers unparalleled capacity performance for users to store massive videos and obtain evidence when needed. The Dahua DSS PRO management platform integrates all cameras and the aforementioned devices, allowing operators to easily control and manage the system. Up-to-date Dahua AI equipment Dahua Technology’s smart industrial park solution has assisted Haier in creating a modern intelligent industrial park in Russia. The up-to-date Dahua AI equipment provides Haier a long-term smart security system with upgraded security level and enhanced management efficiency. “The traditional personnel management system requires manual registering of employee information and cards to enter and exit office areas, which is inefficient and difficult to manage, and often high in cost. Upgrading the access verification system is crucial for modern companies like Haier in order to increase the security level of its industrial park and office building. We look forward to our future cooperation,” said Zhao Shengbo, Regional Director of Dahua CIS. “During the requirement discussion, solution design, and engineering survey, Dahua shows professionalism and excellent communication skills. Haier is satisfied with the first step cooperation and looking forward to the second step of the project,” said Liu Wei, Overseas Regional Project Manager of Haier Group.  

BI-City Tokyo is located in Nur-Sultan (Astana), the capital city of Kazakhstan. It is a high-end residential complex of BI Group – a construction holding company in the Kazakhstan real estate market. At present, three apartment buildings with public areas and more than 400 apartment units have been completed. Aiming to create modern high-end intelligent buildings and residential areas, the BI Group wanted to upgrade the existing analogue video intercom system of BI-City Tokyo. Analogue intercom system The original analogue intercom system in this community is outdated and cannot meet the diverse security requirements of high-end residential areas. First, the original analogue intercom does not support retaining images and leaving messages. Second, this system only supports access cards to open doors, which is inconvenient for residents in case they forgot their card. Third, the original system cannot add IP cameras to monitor public areas such as children's playground, fitness areas, etc. Fourth, the cold winter temperature in Nur-Sultan requires high-performance equipment capable of operating in extreme environments. Cold winter temperature requires high-performance equipment capable of operating in extreme environments Faced with the abovementioned challenges, BI Group was also looking for a trustworthy brand that can provide not only modern smart system but also technical support and reliable after-sales service. Meeting all the above requirements, Dahua smart residential solution was chosen to be the security solution provider of BI-City Tokyo. Access ANPR Camera The complete solution deployed more than 300 pieces of Dahua equipment, including Indoor Monitor, Apartment Outdoor Station, IP Camera, Access ANPR Camera, Video Recorder, etc. The solution supports two-way audio intercom, real-time video and messaging feature. In addition, a variety of door opening methods were also implemented: door opening via remote calling, door opening using access card, and remote door opening via APP. Additionally, all the equipment can be visualised and integrated in the Dahua DSS platform for centralised management, operation and maintenance. Moreover, the temperature in Nur-Sultan can reach up to negative 40 degrees in winter season. This requires high-performance outdoor devices featuring dust and water resistance, and explosion-roof capability. In response to this pressing challenge, Dahua apartment outdoor station VTO1210C-X-S1 and access ANPR camera ITC237-PW1B-IRZ that support wide working temperature were installed at the entrance of the apartment building for a more effective visitor and vehicle management. Built-in intelligent video analytics When a visitor arrives at the entrance of the apartment building and dials a resident’s room number through the Dahua apartment outdoor station, the camera installed at the entrance will synchronise the video with the visitor’s image captured in the resident’s indoor monitor. Once the visitor’s identity is confirmed, the resident just needs to press the button on the indoor monitor to open the door remotely. With Dahua app, users can even answer calls and open doors remotely when they are out for work or travelling. As for vehicles, Dahua access ANPR camera ITC237-PW1B-IRZ is designed for extreme temperature environments (temperature range of -40°C to +60°C). With built-in intelligent video analytics, the camera has the ability to detect and recognise moving vehicle's plate number within low speed. IR Mini-Bullet Network Camera The camera uses a set of optical features to balance light throughout the sceneFor both approaching and departing vehicles, the access ANPR camera takes a snapshot of the number plate and vehicle overview picture, as well as records corresponding surveillance videos. By setting a whitelist, the camera can automatically control the barrier or gate to open if a plate number recorded in the whitelist has been recognised. The public areas including children's playground, fitness areas, as well as the lobby are covered by 2MP IR Mini Dome Network Camera IPC-HDBW4231E-ASE, 2MP and 3MP IR Mini-Bullet Network Camera. The Starlight Ultra-low Light Technology of IPC-HDBW4231E-ASE offers light sensitivity, capturing colour details under low light condition up to 0.002lux. The camera uses a set of optical features to balance light throughout the scene, resulting in clear images in dark environments. Smart residential solution Dahua smart residential solution provides an integrated management platform for the management personnel of BI-City Tokyo. It assists in the remote and visual management of the property and improves the services and facilities they offer. Security guard at the entrance is not needed anymore to manage entering and exiting vehicles, which saves labour costs, reduces the waiting time of vehicles and improves traffic efficiency. In addition, the all-round monitoring of the public areas within BI-City Tokyo greatly improves the safety level of the entire community. The video intercom system of the building provides a variety of convenient door opening methods, enhancing the resident’s living experience. "We adopted analog solution in the first phase. From the second phase, we replaced all of analogue system with Dahua’s IP video intercom solution. We hope that Dahua will help us complete the solution planning of the three, four, five, and six phases”, said Arman, General Manager of BI Group.

Brienon-sur-Armançon is a city in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region of north-central France, with a population of about 3,300. Located at the intersection of two rivers – Créanton and 'Armançon, Brienon-sur-Armançon enjoys an advanced road network which is vulnerable to illegal activities. To make the city safer, the local government, with far less than sufficient police force at hand, chose to secure its city and residents with Dahua Safe City Solution. There were two main pressing issues that needed to be addressed. Firstly, the city had far less than insufficient police force, only one policeman was supposed to look after the whole 3,300 dwellers. Secondly, Brienon-sur-Armançon had not prepared itself with necessary cables needed for modern surveillance systems, requiring the Dahua Team to design a tailored solution according to the unique local environment and limited human resources of this city. Wireless transmission device This solution aids them in obtaining video recordings that can be used as evidence in case of an incident To make up for the shortage of police force and network cables, Dahua Technology delivered a customised solution covering the whole city with various kinds of video surveillance devices. These equipment are linked by a wireless device combining PTZ camera and antenna that transmits all the collected information to the highest point in the city center. These data are then transmitted to the control center, making it easy for the police to achieve round-the-clock monitoring. To monitor major sections of the city, an array of modern devices were utilised including Starlight IR PTZ AI Network Camera, Multi-Sensor Panoramic Camera, Eyeball Camera, Thermal Camera, ANPR Camera, Wireless transmission device, keyboard, etc. From the control center in the police station, the police can check real-time situation and decide whether to take action. This solution also aids them in obtaining video recordings that can be used as evidence in case of an incident. Vehicles trigger detection In addition, the combined strength of the Dahua general camera and PTZ camera created a smart capture mechanism for the police. General cameras were installed to monitor fixed scenes, once human or vehicles trigger detection rules set by the operator (like tripwire and intrusion), the PTZ camera will automatically zoom-in and start tracking. For low-light applications, the Dahua Starlight Technology of the PTZ camera also offers outstanding light sensitivity, capturing color details even under ultra-low light condition. Moreover, ANPR Cameras were deployed for road safety enforcement on main roads. Embedded with License Plate Recognition (LPR) algorithm, the cameras have the ability to detect and recognise moving vehicle's plate number within low speed. Furthermore, installing Thermal Cameras took care of the job of monitoring the BBQ sites in the park with their built-in fire detection functionality that can detect fires even at long range distance. Effectively monitor major areas The police has solved a cemetery theft case with evidence recorded by the Dahua PTZ cameraWireless transmission device made it possible for all cameras in all locations to connect to the control center without the cost and trouble of wiring. NKB 5000 HD Network Control Keyboard was installed in the control center to help the police achieve split screen operation of both general and PTZ cameras. Some Seagate hard disks were also used to store recorded videos for future use. The Brienon-sur-Armançon police can now sit remotely in the control room and operate in an efficient way with the help of Dahua Safe City Solution, which allows them to effectively monitor major areas in the city and respond in time when an incident takes place. Dahua PTZ camera The recorded videos also serve as crucial evidence and help the police to crack a case with much less effort. In the first week of the test run of this smart system, the police has already solved a cemetery theft case with evidence recorded by the Dahua PTZ camera. “The origin of our cooperation with Dahua dates back to the visit to China a year ago. This visit to the Dahua headquarters in Hangzhou concluded with a reciprocal commitment – to equip the city of Brienon with video surveillance. We welcomed this agreement, which allowed the installation of the system and improved the daily life of our residents.” said Mr. Jean-Claude M.CARRA, Mayor of Brienon-sur-Armançon.

Established in 1976, Meghna Group of Industries (MGI) is a conglomerate in Bangladesh. MGI operates out of a large campus in Dhaka that houses its head office, 45 different manufacturing plants, and maintenance workshops, all under one roof. MGI has a turnover of over USD 3 billion, and an employee strength of over 30,000. Being an established and trusted group, it required operations to be suitably monitored, in order to ensure uninterrupted production, adherence to quality standards, and timely delivery of supplies to customers. So far, it had been monitored by manned security, with accompanying risks ranging from damage to assets, misuse of equipment, thefts, leakage of confidential information, employees’ safety, poor record keeping for vehicles entering or exiting the premises, and more. Providing investigation-friendly monitoring software Enabling IVA at various locations has helped in the monitoring of infrastructure Designing of the solution started with a joint site survey by Videonetics, MGI IT heads, and the system integrator. After extensive research, Videonetics developed a unified solution encompassing Intelligent Video Management Software (IVMS), Intelligent Video Analytics (IVA), and a customised ANPR system to read and capture licence plates in Bengali language. Key aspects of the solution included the following: Videonetics’s IVMS has been deployed to help in viewing and recording feeds from over 500 cameras installed in multiple factory locations. This is enabled over IP network in an efficient and elegant way. In addition, the solution provides investigation-friendly monitoring software at the front-end, while relegating all the complexity of the server software to the back-end. Enabling IVA at various locations has helped in the monitoring of infrastructure, vehicles, people, crowds and objects, for automatic detection and analysis of events of interest. Manned security to address safety The operators get a bird’s eye view of various sites from their centralised location, enabling them to respond quickly and effectively when an incident occurs. The solution has been installed on Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® which makes the overall system more secure and maintainable. Videonetics’s Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system has been customised to read license plates in Bengali. Regardless of the lighting conditions, the Bengali ANPR accurately captures with timestamp the licence plate of any vehicle as it appears in the camera’s field of view (FoV). The new implementation enables security operators to be deployed at the unified interface In addition, the system is integrated with the IVMS at the command and control centre, for viewing and analysing vehicular movements, and taking action, if required. THE IMPACT Prior to the installation of Videonetics’s solution, MGI used to rely on manned security to address safety, security and operational risks. However, the new implementation enables security operators to be deployed at the unified interface, for monitoring multiple sites such as assembly plant, warehouse, process, dispatch area, vehicle movement, and so on. Personal protection equipment detection So now, MGI operators can handle incidents of thefts, potential break-ins, unauthorised intrusions, and conduct investigations, without having to leave their desks. This has helped MGI in maximising resources and significantly reducing costs. But the biggest benefit has been to be able to provide a safer environment to its employees, and to secure its workplaces with optimisation in day-to-day operations. The open architecture of the solution allows MGI to continue adding, in a single interface, more AI & DL powered applications such as personal protection equipment detection, facial recognition, fire & smoke detection, workers slip/ fall detection, workers head count, vehicle movement management, to name a few. This makes it possible for the company to address all its security concerns with a holistic approach.

The new school year is a good time to reflect on the role of security in protecting our schools. From video to access control to some newer technologies, our Expert Panel Roundtable found plenty to talk about when we asked this week’s question: How does security technology make our schools safer?

By definition, an edge device is an entry point to a network. In the physical security industry, edge devices are the cameras, sensors, access controllers, readers and other equipment that provide information to the IP networks that drive today’s systems. In the Internet of Things (IoT), edge computing refers to an increasing role of edge devices to process data where it is created instead of sending it across a network to a data center or the cloud. In our market, edge computing takes the form of smarter video cameras and other devices that store and/or process data locally. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What’s new “on the edge” of security and video surveillance systems? 

It seems there are more “bad things” happening than ever before. We hear news every day of workplace shootings and terrorist attacks, of smash-and-grab thefts and child abductions. Beyond the possible human tragedy involved, such events pose a persistent question to anyone involved in the realm of security: Could we have prevented it? The first step toward prevention is to predict or foresee an event before it happens. Too often, technology enters the picture after the fact, most commonly the use of forensic video. Isn’t there more our industry can do before such events occur? We put the question to this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How can security systems be used to predict bad things before they happen?