Crowd Management

Eagle Eye Networks, the globally renowned company in cloud video surveillance solutions, has announced a new Vehicle Surveillance Package for the Eagle Eye Cloud VMS. Vehicle Surveillance Package (VSP) The Vehicle Surveillance Package (VSP) captures licence plate and vehicle information, received from distributed cameras and sends it to the Cloud, where it’s analysed, compared, alerted upon, and searched, to deliver business intelligence that improves efficiency, effectiveness, and safety. The solution includes Eagle Eye Time Watch, the industry’s first time-bound watchlist management tool, for loss prevention and operational efficiency. VSP detects and captures licence plate, and other vehicle information, triggering real-time alerts, making decisions to grant or deny access, and making other operational judgments. True cloud platform Users can search for vehicles across multiple sites and quickly review, using the video playback function. Eagle Eye Networks’ true cloud platform provides unlimited recording, unlimited camera support, global access and reliability. Vehicle detection, identification and tracking is important for businesses that manage fleets, track vehicles" “Vehicle detection, identification and tracking is important for businesses that manage fleets, track vehicles, or generate revenue from parking, to prevent loss and improve the customer experience,” said Dean Drako, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eagle Eye Networks. Dean Darko adds, “With Eagle Eye VSP, large- and small-scale businesses can take advantage of the Eagle Eye Cloud, to generate more revenue, improve traffic flow and efficiency, reduce loss, and make businesses and communities safer.” Eagle Eye Time Watch Eagle Eye Time Watch enables a business to timestamp a vehicle’s departure and return time, and alerts management or supervisors if a vehicle is outside a pre-determined time frame. This feature increases employee efficiency and protects against theft, resulting in a rapid return on investment. Customers across multiple industries use the Vehicle Surveillance Package (VSP) to: Reduce loss and increase profits, Improve fleet tracking/management, Improve garage/parking lot management Improve efficiency and safety for businesses with drive-in/drive-through and other access control and notification needs  Improve traffic flow The new solution initially enables multi-site management and search of licence plate data for U.S. and Canadian plate libraries, with other regions to come.

Allegion US, a provider of security products and solutions, and BadgePass, Inc., an industry pioneer for secure credential management systems announced the integration of the Schlage RC reader controller into the TotalCard software platform.   IP access solution with integrated reader Schlage RC offers customers the latest in IP access solutions with an integrated reader controller that is scalable for small, medium, and large institutions. The new system is designed to lower hardware costs, make installation easier, and reduce the time needed to complete projects. The reader controller replaces two pieces of hardware and wiring, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional centralised control panels.   Credential management system TotalCard’s access control software allows for easy assignment of credentials and access privileges The integration of Schlage RC with the BadgePass TotalCard software platform represents an innovative step forward in the way that campuses and universities with a complete credential management system can offer additional value to the student ID badge.  TotalCard’s access control software allows for easy assignment of credentials and access privileges that can be customised to meet each campus’s unique security needs—all while reducing the amount of hardware needed.  Seamless and modern access control solutions “Institutions of all sizes demand modern access control solutions while remaining mindful of budgets and resources for installation and routine maintenance. The integration of Schlage RC with BadgePass provides a robust solution that increases efficiencies while decreasing short and long-term costs,” said Brian Marris, product manager at Allegion. “We look forward to building upon our strong relationship with BadgePass to bring a new wave of technology and software to campuses, ultimately providing seamless access.”   Affordable and scalable access control solutions BadgePass eliminates the need for a costly and unnecessary access control panel BadgePass is the first independent PACS partner to complete the Schlage RC reader controller integration, which eliminates the need for a costly and unnecessary access control panel.    “BadgePass is a long-standing supporter of Allegion and ISONAS. We’re thrilled to roll out this integration to provide institutions with more affordable and scalable access control solutions,” said Lindsay Martin-Nez, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at BadgePass, Inc. “We’re committed to developing best-in-class solutions for our customers so they can provide a secure and convenient student experience.” 

Evolv Technology, the provider of weapons detection security screening, announces it has created Give Evolv LLC, (‘GiveEvolv’). GiveEvolv was established to help accelerate Evolv’s mission of making people and public venues safer. By providing need-based, free-of-charge donations of Evolv weapons screening systems to schools that would not otherwise be able to afford them, GiveEvolv seeks to offer parents, students, and teachers confidence and peace of mind that schools are a safe place to learn. On-campus incidents Since the Columbine High School shooting in April 1999, more than 256,000 students have been victims of gun violence during school hours. In 2018, 113 people were killed in 29 school shootings. In 2019 there were 45 school shootings, an average of nearly one school shooting per week. Despite COVID-19 school closings, there have been at least 14 school shootings since March 2020 and 2021 is currently on track to be the United States’ deadliest year for gun violence, with 296 mass shootings thus far. On-campus incidents have occurred in rural towns, cities, and suburbs, affecting poor, middle-class and affluent communities - proving that no location is immune to gun violence. “At Evolv, our vision is a safer world for people to work, learn and play. We are committed to democratising security and GiveEvolv does just that,” said Peter George, CEO, Evolv Technology. Appropriate educational institutions Evolv’s sponsor in its recent SPAC transaction, and is expected to receive future funding “By granting state-of-the-art technology to schools that cannot otherwise afford it GiveEvolv will help keep students and educators in areas most affected by gun violence safe and focused on teaching and learning, as they should be.” GiveEvolv will initially be funded by NewHold Investment Corp. (‘NewHold’), Evolv’s sponsor in its recent SPAC transaction, and is expected to receive future funding from Evolv and its employees, as well as other donors. In connection with GiveEvolv, Evolv has formed an advisory board composed of Evolv and NewHold Senior Executives and Directors and other experts to ensure the grants reach the appropriate educational institutions, based on their pressing needs. Providing initial funding The initial advisory board comprises seven members, including Peter George, Evolv CEO; Kevin Charlton, NewHold CEO and Evolv Technology Board Member; Clarence Anthony, CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities; Brian Mathis, NewHold board member; Colleen McCarthy, Founder of McCarthy Strategies; Chris Singleton, Inspirational Speaker and Former Professional Baseball Player; and Michael Tubbs, Former Mayor of Stockton, California. “Evolv is paving the way for the entire industry, proving that companies can do well by doing good,” said Kevin Charlton, CEO of NewHold Investment Corp. and member of the Board of Directors of Evolv and the advisory board of GiveEvolv. “As part of our SPAC merger with Evolv, NewHold is proud to be able to contribute to this very important mission and provide initial funding for GiveEvolv.”

New dates for the 4th edition of Intersec Saudi Arabia have been confirmed, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s largest trade fair for security, safety and fire protection, now scheduled to take place from September 13 to September 15, 2022, at the Riyadh Exhibition Center, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Intersec Saudi Arabia 2022 The annual three-day event is organised by Saudi-based Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions (ACE Exhibitions) Group, under licence from UAE-headquartered Messe Frankfurt Middle East, which organises Intersec, the world’s renowned exhibition for security, safety, and fire protection. Alexandria Robinson, Intersec Saudi Arabia’s Show Director at Messe Franfurt, said “We’re pleased to lock in the dates for Intersec Saudi Arabia 2022 at the Riyadh Exhibition Center, and can now look forward to a successful edition with our government partners and international exhibitors." She adds, "Planning is already underway and we’re expecting a sell-out show, with plenty of new updates and business connections, in the Middle East’s largest and fastest growing market for security, safety, and fire protection.” Support from key government entites More than 120 exhibitors from 20 countries are expected to participate next year Intersec Saudi Arabia is supported by key government entities, including the Saudi Ministry of Interior, Saudi Civil Defense, and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), together with the industry at large. More than 120 exhibitors from 20 countries are expected to participate next year, while the customary wide range of value-added conferences covering much-needed discussions and topics will also return. Saudi Arabia's security market to grow exponentially According to analysts - 6WResearch, Saudi Arabia’s market for video surveillance, access control and intrusion detection, along with fire safety equipment, is estimated to be worth US$ 906 million in 2021, a seven percent increase over the previous year (US$ 846.6 million). The market is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.3 percent, over the next five years, and is estimated to reach up to US$ 1.2 billion in 2026. 

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has announced the agenda, speaker line-up and programme for Part 3 of the 2021 SIA GovSummit, its annual public policy and government security technology conference. SIA GovSummit 2021 is being held as a three-part conference, the first and second of which took place on April 28 and June 9, 2021, and the third part is scheduled for Sept 21, 2021.   SIA GovSummit Part 3 Each year, SIA GovSummit brings together government security leaders with private industry technologists for top-quality information sharing and education, on security topics affecting federal, state and local agencies. The 2021 conference explores emerging policy trends, the government’s technology needs and changes in the risk environment that shape the development of products and advanced systems integration. Hybrid conference Part 3 of the 2021 GovSummit will take place as a hybrid conference Part 3 of the 2021 GovSummit will take place as a hybrid conference, with attendees having the option to join in person or participate virtually via Zoom. The in-person component of the event will be held at SIA member company (and GovSummit sponsor), CertiPath’s facility at 1900 Reston Station Boulevard, in Reston, Virginia, USA. On-site attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a SIAThere! Networking reception and can even schedule tours of the GSA testing lab, in addition to attending the full schedule of seminars. Strict health and safety protocols enforced Health and safety precautions will be in place, at the in-person event, including physical distancing, and attendees will be required to provide proof of full vaccination. Masking will be strongly encouraged indoors, as per the recent recommendations from the Fairfax County Health Department. “In this final event of the 2021 SIA GovSummit, SIA will build on the top-quality programming from Parts 1 and 2, with a full agenda highlighting the most essential topics connecting government, security and technology,” said Jake Parker, Senior Director of Government Relations at SIA. Sharing updates on federal physical access control systems We look forward to bringing government and industry together in person, at our live event" Jake Parker adds, “We look forward to bringing government and industry together in person, at our live event, to network and explore critical issues, ranging from the latest updates on federal physical access control systems and infrastructure modernisation laws, to how government can leverage cutting-edge technologies, like artificial intelligence and 3D visualisation, to secure their facilities.” Part 3 of the 2021 conference will be held as a full-day session on Tuesday, Sept 21, kicking off at 11 a.m. EDT. Attendees will enjoy a key-note presentation from Dr. David Mussington, Executive Assistant Director of the Infrastructure Security Division, at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), on security challenges and how to address them as a nation. Additional session topics will include: The latest on Federal Identity, Credential and Access Management (FICAM) and the GSA test laboratory for physical access control systems Trends and best practices in credential management, in order to help reduce vulnerabilities in access control New technologies for securing government facilities, including game-changing artificial intelligence (AI), 3D facility visualisation and a new framework for insider threat mitigation How government agencies can leverage the growth in video data, in order to support their missions Infrastructure modernisation legislation and the role of safety, and security solutions 2021 Women in Biometrics Awards At the GovSummit, SIA will also present the 2021 SIA Industry Advocate Award, presented to an individual making an extraordinary contribution of professional time, leadership and resources to position SIA and its members, to address public policies impacting the security industry. SIA will also present the 2021 Women in Biometrics Awards, a globally recognised programme, co-founded by SIA and SecureIDNews, and co-presented with sponsors, IDEMIA, Biometric Update and the SIA Women in Security Forum, which recognises innovative women creating a more secure world by guiding the biometrics technology market. Speakers for the event include: Keynote: David Mussington, Executive Assistant Director, Infrastructure Security Division, CISA, Clayton Brown, Executive Vice President, Smarter Security William Charlton, Director, Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory and John J. McKetta Energy Professor, the University of Texas at Austin Michael Chiocca, Customer Success Manager, Public Sector, Genetec Lance Harper, Solutions Marketing Manager, HID Global Dustin Kisling, Vice President, Business Development and Partnerships, ZeroEyes Shaun Moore, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Trueface Jeff Nigriny, Founder and CEO, CertiPath Jake Parker, Senior Director, Government Relations, SIA Eric Rojo, Managing Director, Magination Consulting International Kelly Watt, CEO and Founder, Visual Plan This event is free for all government employees, including U.S. and international federal, state, county and municipal-level staff, plus all military, law enforcement and public safety personnel. SIA GovSummit is considered a ‘widely-attended gathering’ and complies with all relevant event guidelines.

TDS (Time Data Security Ltd.), a globally renowned provider of smart workplace products, including visitor management, life safety and access control software solutions, has announced the release of V-Receptionist, a virtual-receptionist solution for more safely and efficiently managing visitors, to multiple locations across a super enterprise. TDS V-Receptionist TDS V-Receptionist enhances the visitor experience, reduces administrative burden and costs, and future proofs and standardises an organisation’s approach to front-of-house reception, across all of its global locations. With TDS V-Receptionist, users access assistance from a receptionist or their host via video chat, at a self-service kiosk and the receptionist or host is notified via SMS/email notification or desktop, or mobile application. Streamlined visitor management Visitor check-in processes are streamlined to only seconds, improving the overall experience for visitors and hosts alike. Multiple enterprise locations can be served by a single receptionist, perhaps even working from home. TDS V-Receptionist helps large enterprises: Adapt for unstaffed receptions/lobbies Avoid crowd bottlenecking during peak visitor periods Manage visits outside of traditional working hours Ensure only authorised guests gain entry to any of their locations Make more informed decisions about visitor activity and facility management Facial recognition and identification scanning Features such as a sign-language speaker, automated sign-in, photo capture, facial recognition, beacon tracking, identification scanning, watch lists, temporary badge replacement and legal document signing can be tailored for the needs of a particular enterprise user. The trend towards digitised safety and security procedures continues to intensify across markets" “We work closely with more than 300 clients worldwide, many of them multinationals, across technology finance, aviation, government, pharmaceuticals and other industries to understand their particular requirements for an innovative workplace. We work to improve their working environments and cater to their needs to build steadily safer, more reliable and efficient workplaces,” said Frank Hart, the Chief Executive Officer for TDS. Frank Hart adds, “The trend towards digitised safety and security procedures continues to intensify across markets, and that makes V-Receptionist the next logical step in our expansion of flexible, customisable solutions for visitor management, access control, workplace safeguarding, emergency evacuation and student attendance. With TDS V-Receptionist, organisations cost-effectively progress toward a digital integrated workplace.” Powered by TDS Visitor V-Receptionist is powered by TDS Visitor, an industry-renowned solution for managing the full visitor lifecycle end-to-end, from pre-registration and self-service check-in, to notification of hosts of visitor arrivals and checkout. TDS Visitor ensures all appropriate health, safety and legal requirements are met and all visitors are accounted for. The solution has deep integration capabilities with existing systems for security, human resources (HR), building management and customer relationship management (CRM).

The evolution of smart video technology continues at pace. As in many other industries, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic expedited timelines and the artificial intelligence (AI) video world is continuing its rapid evolution in 2021. As video demand and the use of AI to make sense of the visual data increase, the number of cameras and subsequent data produced are growing rapidly, and these are forcing the creation of new edge architectures. Cameras and AI in traffic management ‘Smart factories’ can leverage AI to detect flaws or deviations in the production line in real time In addition, a new generation of ‘smart’ use cases has developed. For example, in ‘smart cities’, cameras and AI analyse traffic patterns and adjust traffic lights, in order to improve vehicle flow, reduce congestion and pollution, and increase pedestrian safety. ‘Smart factories’ can leverage AI to detect flaws or deviations in the production line in real time, adjusting to reduce errors and implement effective quality assurance measures. As a result, costs can be greatly reduced through automation and earlier fault detection. Evolution of smart video The evolution of smart video is also happening alongside other technological and data infrastructure advancements, such as 5G. As these technologies come together, they’re impacting how we architect the edge. And, they’re driving a demand for specialised storage. Listed below are some of the biggest trends that we’re seeing: Greater volume means greater quality The volume and variety of cameras continue to increase with each new advancement, bringing new capabilities. Having more cameras allow more to be seen and captured. This could mean having more coverage or more angles. It also means more real-time video can be captured and used to train AI.  Quality also continues to improve with higher resolutions (4K video and above) Quality also continues to improve with higher resolutions (4K video and above). The more detailed the video, the more insights can be extracted from it. And, the more effective the AI algorithms can become. In addition, new cameras transmit not just one video stream, but also additional low-bitrate streams used for low-bandwidth monitoring and AI pattern matching. Smart cameras operate 24/7 Whether used for traffic management, security or manufacturing, many of these smart cameras operate 24/7, 365 days a year, which poses a unique challenge. Storage technology must be able to keep up. For one thing, storage has evolved to deliver high-performance data transfer speeds and data writing speeds, to ensure high quality video capture. And, actual on-camera storage technology must deliver longevity and reliability, critical to any workflow. Real world context is vital to understanding endpoints Whether used for business, in scientific research or in our personal lives, we’re seeing new types of cameras that can capture new types of data. With the potential benefits of utilising and analysing this data, the importance of reliable data storage has never been more apparent. Considering context when designing storage technology As we design storage technology, we must take the context into consideration, such as location and form factor. We need to think of the accessibility of cameras (or lack thereof), are they atop a tall building or maybe amid a remote jungle? Such locations might also need to withstand extreme temperature variations. All of these possibilities need to be taken into account, so as to ensure long-lasting, reliable continuous recording of critical video data.  Chipsets are improving artificial intelligence (AI) capability Improved compute capabilities in cameras means processing happens at the device level, enabling real-time decisions at the edge. New camera chipsets deliver enhanced AI capability We’re seeing new chipsets arrive for cameras that deliver improved AI capability, and more advanced chipsets add deep neural network processing for on-camera deep learning analytics. AI keeps getting smarter and more capable.  Cloud must support deep learning technology Just as camera and recorder chipsets are coming with more compute power, in today’s smart video solutions most of the video analytics and deep learning is still done with discrete video analytics appliances or in the Cloud. To support these new AI workloads, the Cloud has gone through some transformation. Neural network processors within the Cloud have adopted the use of massive GPU clusters or custom FPGAs. They’re being fed thousands of hours of training video, and petabytes of data. These workloads depend on the high-capacity capabilities of enterprise-class hard drives (HDDs), which can already support 20TB per drive and high-performance enterprise SSD flash devices, platforms or arrays.  Reliance on the network Wired and wireless internet have enabled the scalability and ease of installation that has fuelled the explosive adoption of security cameras, but it could only do so where LAN and WAN infrastructures already exist. 5G technology aids camera installations Emerging cameras that are 5G-ready are being designed to load and run 3rd party applications 5G removes many barriers to deployment, allowing expansive options for placement and ease of installation of cameras at a metropolitan level. With this ease of deployment comes new greater scalability, which drives use cases and further advancements in both camera and cloud design. For example, cameras can now be standalone, with direct connectivity to a centralised cloud, as they’re no longer dependent on a local network. Emerging cameras that are 5G-ready are being designed to load and run 3rd party applications, which can bring broader capabilities. Yet with greater autonomy, these cameras will need even more dynamic storage. They will require new combinations of endurance, capacity, performance, and power efficiency, to be able to optimally handle the variability of new app-driven functions. Paving the way for the edge storage revolution It’s a brave new world for smart video, and it is as complex as it is exciting. Architectural changes are being made to handle new workloads and prepare for even more dynamic capabilities at the edge and at end points. At the same time, deep learning analytics continue to evolve at the back end and the Cloud. Understanding workload changes, whether at the camera, recorder, or the Cloud level, is critical to ensuring that new architectural changes are augmented by continuous innovation in storage technology.

The UK government recently announced a doubling of the Safer Streets Fund to £45 million, as it seeks to reassure the public that safety is a top priority, as the night-time economy makes a return. More than just surveillance While this funding increase is much needed, it’s vital that the government and local councils use the money strategically, or risk missing out on a great opportunity to deliver real change and enhance safety across the United Kingdom. One of the main strategies cited by the government is to increase the current vast number of CCTV cameras installed across the country, despite the fact that the UK is already one of the most surveilled nations in the world. Investing in video analytics London alone has around 700,000 cameras, but to effectively monitor them all would be an incredibly inefficient use of manpower and require a huge number of staff. Therefore, I believe the clearest and most cost-effective way for this project to succeed in its overall mission, is by investing in smarter technology, such as video analytics. Incorporating video analytics into existing infrastructure is the clear solution This technology offers a more efficient use of resources, faster response times and enables more informed, time-critical decision making, when reacting to unfolding events in real time. Incorporating video analytics into existing infrastructure is the clear solution, as the technology enables legacy assets, such as analogue CCTV cameras, to become more than just after the fact evidence gathering tools and instead be used to help enhance real-time responses to unfolding incidents. Artificial intelligence-enabled solutions Artificial intelligence-enabled solutions are trained using vast datasets of images and video footage, in order to better understand people, objects and vehicles that are captured on film, and they continue ‘learning’ and improving, while in use. The system’s algorithms analyse and prioritise input from video data to decide which inputs are of value, automatically classifying the footage and notifying security personnel accordingly. This reduces response times by notifying CCTV operators of an incident, as it happens, meaning law enforcement and security personnel can react faster and intervene in an ongoing situation. Edge technology and real-time video streaming A key consideration should be choosing a technology that can operate at the edge and deliver real-time video streaming, even at the lowest bandwidths, so it isn’t limited to use in areas with good connectivity, which would exclude most remote areas. Quality really does matter and technology that can operate over low bandwidths is crucial for allowing operators to zoom in on areas of interest, such as a car number plate or face, and retrieve full-resolution images that can make a real difference in ongoing investigations. Analytics-based security approach Introducing an analytics-based security approach would also help curtail the rising cost of tackling crime Introducing an analytics-based security approach would also help curtail the rising cost of tackling crime. Research conducted by the UK’s Labour Party recently found that the annual cost of crime reached a staggering £100 billion. While statistics show that crime rates in general have been fairly stable over recent years, experts point to the increase in specific types of violent crime, such as knife crime which rose by over 20% during 2020. Implementing smart analytics-based technology Implementing smart analytics-based technology would help maintain staffing costs, as the system can identify incidents without an operator’s input, as well as reducing the cost of managing crime, as more incidents will be intervened in before they escalate too far. This dramatically reduces the burden on staff and allows a single surveillance operator to monitor many more cameras. On the other hand, this level of automation also reduces false alarm fatigue and operator overload, which can quickly sap efficiencies and reduce operator alertness, if left unchecked. Data driven problem-solving approach to crime prevention Procurement officials should avoid the common mistake of simply doubling down and throwing more staff and security assets at the problem to bring results. Instead, they should take a more data driven problem-solving approach to crime prevention by leveraging technologies that can enhance response and preserve their existing investments in cameras. The smart use of real-time video analytics could make the difference by preventing dangerous situations from escalating into serious incidents.

Urban populations are expanding rapidly around the globe, with an expected growth of 1.56 billion by 2040. As the number of people living and working in cities continues to grow, the ability to keep everyone safe is an increasing challenge. However, technology companies are developing products and solutions with these futuristic cities in mind, as the reality is closer than you may think. Solutions that can help to watch over public places and share data insights with city workers and officials are increasingly enabling smart cities to improve the experience and safety of the people who reside there. Rising scope of 5G, AI, IoT and the Cloud The main foundations that underpin smart cities are 5G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Cloud. Each is equally important, and together, these technologies enable city officials to gather and analyse more detailed insights than ever before. For public safety in particular, having IoT and cloud systems in place will be one of the biggest factors to improving the quality of life for citizens. Smart cities have come a long way in the last few decades, but to truly make a smart city safe, real-time situational awareness and cross-agency collaboration are key areas which must be developed as a priority. Innovative surveillance cameras with integrated IoT Public places need to be safe, whether that is an open park, shopping centre, or the main roads through towns Public places need to be safe, whether that is an open park, shopping centre, or the main roads through towns. From dangerous drivers to terrorist attacks, petty crime on the streets to high profile bank robberies, innovative surveillance cameras with integrated IoT and cloud technologies can go some way to helping respond quickly to, and in some cases even prevent, the most serious incidents. Many existing safety systems in cities rely on aging and in some places legacy technology, such as video surveillance cameras. Many of these also use on-premises systems rather than utilising the benefits of the cloud. Smart programming to deliver greater insights These issues, though not creating a major problem today, do make it more challenging for governments and councils to update their security. Changing every camera in a city is a huge undertaking, but in turn, doing so would enable all cameras to be connected to the cloud, and provide more detailed information which can be analysed by smart programming to deliver greater insights. The physical technologies that are currently present in most urban areas lack the intelligent connectivity, interoperability and integration interfaces that smart cities need. Adopting digital technologies isn’t a luxury, but a necessity. Smart surveillance systems It enables teams to gather data from multiple sources throughout the city in real-time, and be alerted to incidents as soon as they occur. Increased connectivity and collaboration ensures that all teams that need to be aware of a situation are informed instantly. For example, a smart surveillance system can identify when a road accident has occurred. It can not only alert the nearest ambulance to attend the scene, but also the local police force to dispatch officers. An advanced system that can implement road diversions could also close roads around the incident immediately and divert traffic to other routes, keeping everyone moving and avoiding a build-up of vehicles. This is just one example: without digital systems, analysing patterns of vehicle movements to address congestion issues could be compromised, as would the ability to build real-time crime maps and deploy data analytics which make predictive policing and more effective crowd management possible. Cloud-based technologies Cloud-based technologies provide the interoperability, scalability and automation Cloud-based technologies provide the interoperability, scalability and automation that is needed to overcome the limitations of traditional security systems. Using these, smart cities can develop a fully open systems architecture that delivers interoperation with both local and other remote open systems. The intelligence of cloud systems can not only continue to allow for greater insights as technology develops over time, but it can do so with minimal additional infrastructure investment. Smart surveillance in the real world Mexico City has a population of almost 9 million people, but if you include the whole metropolitan area, this number rises sharply to over 21 million in total, making it one of the largest cities on the planet. Seven years ago, the city first introduced its Safe City initiative, and ever since has been developing newer and smarter ways to keep its citizens safe. In particular, its cloud-based security initiative is making a huge impact. Over the past three years, Mexico City has installed 58,000 new video surveillance cameras throughout the city, in public spaces and on transport, all of which are connected to the City’s C5 (Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Citizen Contact) facility. Smart Cities operations The solution enables officers as well as the general public to upload videos via a mobile app to share information quickly, fixed, body-worn and vehicle cameras can also be integrated to provide exceptional insight into the city’s operations. The cloud-based platform can easily be upgraded to include the latest technology innovations such as licence plate reading, behavioural analysis software, video analytics and facial recognition software, which will all continue to bring down crime rates and boost response times to incidents. The right cloud approach Making the shift to cloud-based systems enables smart cities to eliminate dependence on fibre-optic connectivity and take advantage of a variety of Internet and wireless connectivity options that can significantly reduce application and communication infrastructure costs. Smart cities need to be effective in years to come, not just in the present day, or else officials have missed one of the key aspects of a truly smart city. System designers must build technology foundations now that can be easily adapted in the future to support new infrastructure as it becomes available. Open system architecture An open system architecture will also be vital for smart cities to enhance their operations For example, this could include opting for a true cloud application that can support cloud-managed local devices and automate their management. An open system architecture will also be vital for smart cities to enhance their operations and deliver additional value-add services to citizens as greater capabilities become possible in the years to come. The advances today in cloud and IoT technologies are rapid, and city officials and authorities have more options now to develop their smart cities than ever before and crucially, to use these innovations to improve public safety. New safety features Though implementing these cloud-based systems now requires investment, as new safety features are designed, there will be lower costs and challenges associated with introducing these because the basic infrastructure will already exist. Whether that’s gunshot detection or enabling the sharing of video infrastructure and data across multiple agencies in real time, smart video surveillance on cloud-based systems can bring a wealth of the new opportunities.

A new generation of video cameras is poised to boost capabilities dramatically at the edge of the IP network, including more powerful artificial intelligence (AI) and higher resolutions, and paving the way for new applications that would have previously been too expensive or complex. Technologies at the heart of the coming new generation of video cameras are Ambarella’s newest systems on chips (SoCs). Ambarella’s CV5S and CV52S product families are bringing a new level of on-camera AI performance and integration to multi-imager and single-imager IP cameras. Both of these SoCs are manufactured in the ‘5 nm’ manufacturing process, bringing performance improvements and power savings, compared to the previous generation of SoCs manufactured at ‘10nm’. CV5S and CV52S AI-powered SoCs The CV5S, designed for multi-imager cameras, is able to process, encode and perform advanced AI on up to four imagers at 4Kp30 resolution, simultaneously and at less than 5 watts. This enables multi-headed camera designs with up to four 4K imagers looking at different portions of a scene, as well as very high-resolution, single-imager cameras of up to 32 MP resolution and beyond. The CV52S, designed for single-imager cameras with very powerful onboard AI, is the next-generation of the company’s successful CV22S mainstream 4K camera AI chip. This new SoC family quadruples the AI processing performance, while keeping the same low power consumption of less than 3 watts for 4Kp60 encoding with advanced AI processing. Faster and ubiquitous AI capabilities Ambarella’s newest AI vision SoCs for security, the CV5S and CV52S, are competitive solutions" “Security system designers desire higher resolutions, increasing channel counts, and ever faster and more ubiquitous AI capabilities,” explains John Lorenz, Senior Technology and Market Analyst, Computing, at Yole Développement (Yole), a French market research firm. John Lorenz adds, “Ambarella’s newest AI vision SoCs for security, the CV5S and CV52S, are competitive solutions for meeting the growing demands of the security IC (integrated circuit) sector, which our latest report forecasts to exceed US$ 4 billion by 2025, with two-thirds of that being chips with AI capabilities.” Edge AI vision processors Ambarella’s new CV5S and CV52S edge AI vision processors enable new classes of cameras that would not have been possible in the past, with a single SoC architecture. For example, implementing a 4x 4K multi-imager with AI would have traditionally required at least two SoCs (at least one for encoding and one for AI), and the overall power consumption would have made those designs bulky and prohibitively expensive. By reducing the number of required SoCs, the CV5S enables advanced camera designs such as AI-enabled 4x 4K imagers at price points much lower than would have previously been possible. “What we are usually trying to do with our SoCs is to keep the price points similar to the previous generations, given that camera retail prices tend to be fairly fixed,” said Jerome Gigot, Ambarella's Senior Director of Marketing. 4K multi-imager cameras “However, higher-end 4K multi-imager cameras tend to retail for thousands of dollars, and so even though there will be a small premium on the SoC for the 2X improvement in performance, this will not make a significant impact to the final MSRP of the camera,” adds Jerome Gigot. In addition, the overall system cost might go down, Gigot notes, compared to what could be built today because there is no longer a need for external chips to perform AI, or extra components for power dissipation. The new chips will be available in the second half of 2021, and it typically takes about 12 to 18 months for Ambarella’s customers (camera manufacturers) to produce final cameras. Therefore, the first cameras, based on these new SoCs, should hit the market sometime in the second half of 2022. Reference boards for camera manufacturers The software on these new SoCs is an evolution of our unified Linux SDK" As with Ambarella’s previous generations of edge AI vision SoCs for security, the company will make available reference boards to camera manufacturers soon, allowing them to develop their cameras based on the new CV5S and CV52S SoC families. “The software on these new SoCs is an evolution of our unified Linux SDK that is already available on our previous generations SoCs, which makes the transition easy for our customers,” said Jerome Gigot. Better crime detection Detecting criminals in a crowd, using face recognition and/or licence plate recognition, has been a daunting challenge for security, and one the new chips will help to address. “Actually, these applications are one of the main reasons why Ambarella is introducing these two new SoC families,” said Jerome Gigot. Typically, resolutions of 4K and higher have been a smaller portion of the security market, given that they came at a premium price tag for the high-end optics, image sensor and SoC. Also, the cost and extra bandwidth of storing and streaming 4K video were not always worth it for the benefit of just viewing video at higher resolution. 4K AI processing on-camera The advent of on-camera AI at 4K changes the paradigm. By enabling 4K AI processing on-camera, smaller objects at longer distances can now be detected and analysed without having to go to a server, and with much higher detail and accuracy compared to what can be done on a 2 MP or 5 MP cameras. This means that fewer false alarms will be generated, and each camera will now be able to cover a longer distance and wider area, offering more meaningful insights without necessarily having to stream and store that 4K video to a back-end server. “This is valuable, for example, for traffic cameras mounted on top of high poles, which need to be able to see very far out and identify cars and licence plates that are hundreds of meters away,” said Jerome Gigot. The advent of on-camera AI at 4K changes the paradigm Enhanced video analytics and wider coverage “Ambarella’s new CV5S and CV52S SoCs truly allow the industry to take advantage of higher resolution on-camera for better analytics and wider coverage, but without all the costs typically incurred by having to stream high-quality 4K video out 24/7 to a remote server for offline analytics,” said Jerome Gigot. He adds, “So, next-generation cameras will now be able to identify more criminals, faces and licence plates, at longer distances, for an overall lower cost and with faster response times by doing it all locally on-camera.” Deployment in retail applications Retail environments can be some of the toughest, as the cameras may be looking at hundreds of people at once Retail applications are another big selling point. Retail environments can be some of the toughest, as the cameras may be looking at hundreds of people at once (e.g., in a mall), to provide not only security features, but also other business analytics, such as foot traffic and occupancy maps that can be used later to improve product placement. The higher resolution and higher AI performance, enabled by the new Ambarella SoCs, provide a leap forward in addressing those scenarios. In a store setup, a ceiling-mounted camera with four 4K imagers can simultaneously look at the cashier line on one side of the store, sending alerts when a line is getting too long and a new cashier needs to be deployed, while at the same time looking at the entrance on the other side of the store, to count the people coming in and out. This leaves two additional 4K imagers for monitoring specific product aisles and generating real-time business analytics. Use in cashier-less stores Another retail application is a cashier-less store. Here, a CV5S or CV52S-based camera mounted on the ceiling will have enough resolution and AI performance to track goods, while the customer grabs them and puts them in their cart, as well as to automatically track which customer is purchasing which item. In a warehouse scenario, items and boxes moving across the floor could also be followed locally, on a single ceiling-mounted camera that covers a wide area of the warehouse. Additionally, these items and boxes could be tracked across the different imagers in a multi-headed camera setup, without the video having to be sent to a server to perform the tracking. Updating on-camera AI networks Another feature of Ambarella’s SoCs is that their on-camera AI networks can be updated on-the-fly, without having to stop the video recording and without losing any video frames. So, for example in the case of a search for a missing vehicle, the characteristics of that missing vehicle (make, model, colour, licence plate) can be sent to a cluster of cameras in the general area, where the vehicle is thought to be missing, and all those cameras can be automatically updated to run a live search on that specific vehicle. If any of the cameras gets a match, a remote operator can be notified and receive a picture, or even a live video feed of the scene. Efficient traffic management With the CV52S edge AI vision SoC, those decisions can be made locally at each intersection by the camera itself Relating to traffic congestion, most big cities have thousands of intersections that they need to monitor and manage. Trying to do this from one central location is costly and difficult, as there is so much video data to process and analyse, in order to make those traffic decisions (to control the traffic lights, reverse lanes, etc.). With the CV52S edge AI vision SoC, those decisions can be made locally at each intersection by the camera itself. The camera would then take actions autonomously (for example, adjust traffic-light timing) and only report a status update to the main traffic control centre. So now, instead of having one central location trying to manage 1,000 intersections, a city can have 1,000 smart AI cameras, each managing its own location and providing updates and metadata to a central server. Superior privacy Privacy is always a concern with video. In this case, doing AI on-camera is inherently more private than streaming the video to a server for analysis. Less data transmission means fewer points of entry for a hacker trying to access the video. On Ambarella’s CV5S and CV52S SoCs, the video can be analysed locally and then discarded, with just a signature or metadata of the face being used to find a match. No actual video needs to be stored or transmitted, which ensures total privacy. In addition, the chips contain a very secure hardware cyber security block, including OTP memory, Arm TrustZones, DRAM scrambling and I/O virtualisation. This makes it very difficult for a hacker to replace the firmware on the camera, providing another level of security and privacy at the system level. Privacy Masking Another privacy feature is the concept of privacy masking. This feature enables portions of the video (say a door or a window) to be blocked out, before being encoded in the video stream. The blocked portions of the scene are not present in the recorded video, thus providing a privacy option for cameras that are facing private areas. “With on-camera AI, each device becomes its own smart endpoint, and can be reconfigured at will to serve the specific physical security needs of its installation,” said Jerome Gigot, adding “The possibilities are endless, and our mission as an SoC maker is really to provide a powerful and easy-to-use platform, complete with computer-vision tools, that enable our customers and their partners to easily deploy their own AI software on-camera.” Physical security in parking lots With a CV5S or CV52S AI-enabled camera, the camera will be able to cover a much wider portion of the parking lot One example is physical security in a parking lot. A camera today might be used to just record part of the parking lot, so that an operator can go back and look at the video if a car were broken into or some other incident occurred. With a CV5S or CV52S AI-enabled camera, first of all, the camera will be able to cover a much wider portion of the parking lot. Additionally, it will be able to detect the licence plates of all the cars going in and out, to automatically bill the owners. If there is a special event, the camera can be reprogrammed to identify VIP vehicles and automatically redirect them to the VIP portion of the lot, while reporting to the entrance station or sign how many parking spots are available. It can even tell the cars approaching the lot where to go. Advantages of using edge AI vision SoCs Jerome Gigot said, “The possibilities are endless and they span across many verticals. The market is primed to embrace these new capabilities. Recent advances in edge AI vision SoCs have brought about a period of change in the physical security space. Companies that would have, historically, only provided security cameras, are now getting into adjacent verticals such as smart retail, smart cities and smart buildings.” He adds, “These changes are providing a great opportunity for all the camera makers and software providers to really differentiate themselves by providing full systems that offer a new level of insights and efficiencies to, not only the physical security manager, but now also the store owner and the building manager.” He adds, “All of these new applications are extremely healthy for the industry, as they are growing the available market for cameras, while also increasing their value and the economies of scale they can provide. Ambarella is looking forward to seeing all the innovative products that our customers will build with this new generation of SoCs.”

The general public doesn’t give much thought to the important role of security officers in creating and promoting safer environments. The low-profile work of security officers is vital to protecting people, places and property. During the pandemic, newer aspects to that role have emerged. Security personnel have been called on to perform diverse tasks such as managing queues at the supermarket, safeguarding testing centres and hospitals, ensuring food deliveries, and supporting police patrols. The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) and two other organisations in the United Kingdom are joining forces to raise awareness of the work of security officers and to recognise the vital importance of the duties they perform. BSIA, a trade association, includes members who are responsible for 70% of privately provided UK security products and services, including security guarding, consultancy services, and distribution and installation of electronic and physical security equipment. BSIA, the Security Institute and the Security Commonwealth Joining BSIA in the awareness campaign are the Security Institute, a professional security membership body; and the Security Commonwealth, which is comprised of 40 organisations from across the security landscape with common objectives to build professionalism, raise standards and share best practices. “The recognition of security officers as key workers is the start of a re-appraisal of what service they provide to the community in keeping the public safe and secure,” says Mike Reddington, BSIA Chief Executive. “As we exit lockdown and have to navigate public spaces again, [security officers] will have a crucial role in supporting public confidence. We are working closely with the Police and all other public bodies to find the best way to achieve this.” Security officers acknowledged as key workers The campaign will showcase security professionals as a respected, valued, professional service provider and a key worker that is acknowledged and embedded in daily lives. The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) and two other organisations in the United Kingdom are joining forces to raise awareness of the work of security officers “Great effort has been invested in the professional standards and capabilities of frontline [security] officers, and they have proven their worth during the coronavirus crisis in the UK,” says Rick Mounfield, Chief Executive, the Security Institute. “They, along with the wider security sector, deserve to be recognized, respected and appreciated for the safety and security they provide across the United Kingdom.” “[We are working to] build professionalism, raise standards and share best practices, and I hope this campaign can make more people recognise the changes we have all made and continue to make,” says Guy Matthias, Chairman of the Security Commonwealth (SyCom). The industry will be reaching out to companies, professionals, and organisations in the sector to participate in the campaign. The hope is that, over the coming weeks as lockdown is eased, the industry can play its part to ensure that the country emerges with confidence to start to recover and build for the future. Private security more important than ever The campaign will showcase security professionals as a respected, valued, professional service provider Across the pond in the United States, law enforcement professionals are facing a crisis of confidence during a time of civil unrest as protestors call to “defund the police” and to otherwise undermine and/or recast law enforcement’s role in preserving the peace and ensuring public safety. If an upshot is that public policing is starved of resources, the role of private security to supplement their mission is likely to increase. In short, the role of private security is more important than ever on both sides of the Atlantic. Public recognition of that role is welcome, obviously. In any case, the importance of their role protecting people, places and property has never been greater.

Many venues are using access control, video surveillance systems, sensors, and additional hardware solutions as part of a broader security strategy. By utilising so many disparate systems, corporate security teams are left with information “silos” that create inefficiencies and hamper communication. This abundance of hardware has left teams with too much data or too many tools, to manage effectively. Armored Things offers a software solution. The company’s “spatial intelligence platform” currently collects more data than other security intelligence solutions, utilising a broader range of sources and fusing data together rather than integrating it. The platform currently focuses on taking in data from WiFi, access control, and video surveillance systems and applying machine learning to deliver customers features such as real-time predictive analytics to prevent incidents like bottlenecks or overcrowding. Spatial Intelligence is an approach to physical security that enables users to collect, manage, and interpret data in a single platform. Combine machine learning with data The term can best be used to describe how digital transformation has affected physical security. Spatial Intelligence in its infancy looked like video surveillance data combined with machine learning to produce video analytics. The spatial intelligence solutions of today can combine machine learning with data of any source, type, and size to deliver value across a large organisation, not just the security team, says the company. Armored Things’ Spatial Intelligence platform unifies data from information silos to support data-driven decisions around operations and security. By fusing data from multiple sources, we can produce more consistent and useful insights for our customers” A suite of analytics, reporting and visualisation tools helps customers gain a real-time understanding of people and flow in their space. By removing the guesswork of everyday decisions, the product enables customers to make data-driven decisions at a moment’s notice, according to the company. Armored Things is more than a data management tool. “By fusing data from multiple sources (rather than only cameras or only WiFi), we can produce more consistent, accurate, and useful insights for our customers,” says Kevin Davis, Chief Security Officer at Armored Things. "Being able to collect the data is the first step, but turning it into actionable intelligence is where Armored Things excels.” IP cameras and other IoT-enabled devices The range of data sources includes IP cameras and other IoT-enabled devices and even outside data sources like bus schedules and weather reports. Armored Things has built a team of public safety and technical experts with the mission to keep people safe where they live, work, and play. By leveraging emerging technology to enhance physical security, the company built the software-centric Spatial Intelligence Platform for large organisations to enhance the safety and operations of their space. Schools and education facilities are among the customers that can benefit. The leadership at Armored Things cares deeply about school safety, so the recent epidemic of campus violence has definitely been a large topic of conversation, according to the company. “By delivering our products to a greater number of customers, Armored Things hopes to continue making schools a safe place to learn and gather,” says Davis. Recently, there was a significant bottleneck lasting nearly 30 minutes at the Syracuse-Clemson football game. Unifying data into one platform Digital transformation is disrupting the way our customers think about physical security,” Using Armored Things technology and providing real-time data to security and operations personnel could have identified the bottleneck as it began to form. This would have notified relevant personnel, who could have taken steps to mitigate the problem before it turned into a security risk. Keeping the security infrastructure simple is imperative to success. Integrating a software solution into the security strategy shouldn’t complicate existing operations, says the company. “Armored Things Spatial Intelligence Platform can bring your security and operations into focus by unifying all of your data into one platform for ease of use,” says Davis. For this reason, the team chose to integrate not only with customers’ existing security infrastructure but with non-traditional data sources (e.g. WiFi, event schedules, ticketing) as well. “By combining and analysing a more diverse dataset, Armored Things can help our customers make better decisions with deeper data-driven insights,” says Davis. "Digital transformation is disrupting the way our customers think about physical security,” says Davis. “As a team, our aim is to help our customers adapt to the digital age, as they transition from hardware to software-centric security solutions. Fostering organisational change is difficult, and our team hopes to make the transition process easier for our customers.”

MT Educare, a coaching institute since 1988, is a trusted brand in-classroom coaching and e-learning across India. With multiple locations and substantial growth, timely processing of staff and faculty payroll is crucial for MT Educare. With teaching faculty working at different locations for a varied time duration, capturing this diverse input correctly was a challenge. Besides, the confidentiality of payouts has been a major concern for MT Educare. Also, their HR team spent considerable time collating and checking the payroll input data. Streamlining entire process Capturing online attendance was considered however because the attendance input was not linked to payroll input, the HR team's involvement remained high. The output of the payroll was not shared with the business heads and hence they had to seek the information each month from the finance team. TopSource Worldwide streamlined the entire process and offered automation at various levels Given this scenario, MT Educare was looking out for an outsourced provider to offer a solution that will tackle all the above pain points. TopSource Worldwide streamlined the entire process and offered automation at various levels. For faculty payroll, TopSource Worldwide designed a timesheet and established a process of proactively sending those to all centers at the beginning of the month to capture the input. This gave great results in terms of timeliness and correctness. Getting clear visibility TopSource Worldwide also developed programs to check input at the source. This resulted in less time in the collation of input. Portico became the suite of choice for MT Educare from where their employees could view, download and print payslips. Business heads received reports for their business lines. Linking of online attendance and leave to payroll eased the input generation load of the HR team. Portico has taken over from the HR team thus the HR team is free to focus on the core HR function. The business heads are getting clear visibility of their own business line. MT Educare and TopSource relationship has changed from client-vendor to business partners.

Being isolated on the edge of wilderness means there’s a need for a video system that is both reliable and flexible. For that reason, the team at Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), since 2009, has relied on video management software (VMS) from Milestone Systems, to enhance security, safety, and efficiency at the airport. Milestone XProtect VMS installed At the edge of the frontier, Jackson Hole Airport has experienced considerable growth over the years. Significant capital investments in expansions have made new video system integrations possible several times and Milestone XProtect VMS has supported the airport’s needs along the way. As of 2020, over 220 cameras are in use, but the airport shows no signs of slowing down As of 2020, over 220 cameras are in use, but the airport shows no signs of slowing down. New projects will include building a fuel farm, a car wash, and expanded parking facilities. As the need to increase security continues, XProtect open platform software will enable IT team growth and the seamless integration of new cameras, and data storage capabilities. Enhanced situational awareness All video is kept for up to a full year, with most of the system’s cameras set for motion recording, around the clock. As a result, administrators achieve greater situational awareness and better security. The video system has enabled improvements throughout the entire airport. For example, Jackson Hole Airport contends with a great deal of plane de-icing, for several months each year. The process occurs at a distance from the main buildings. Thanks to the video expansion, each airline is now able to monitor the de-icing of their planes. Allowing airline personnel to monitor progress on their own has saved airport staff time and resources. Monitoring security In addition, the airport uses the system to closely monitor the security checkpoint, to capture video documentation, in case of an incident. By monitoring baggage areas, it’s possible to investigate lost bags and left-behind items, by reviewing recorded video. New 4K multi-sensor cameras support an investigatory system, helping staff see previously uncovered areas. The cameras capture high-resolution video and provide enough data to zoom in, after the fact. Deployed Agent Vi’s video analytics Milestone Systems’ XProtect Smart Client has improved general situational awareness in the airport Additionally, the team has deployed video analytics from Agent Vi, to provide a layer of automated alarms, for flagging abnormal occurrences. For example, video analytics can detect travellers moving against the foot traffic flow and crossing into restricted areas. Milestone Systems’ XProtect Smart Client has improved general situational awareness in the airport. Authorised users now have a new standard for accessing surveillance remotely. It provides seamless viewing of live and recorded video, instant control of cameras and connected security devices, and a comprehensive activity overview. Force multiplication using advanced technology The ongoing use of Milestone’s VMS makes it possible to maintain the independence and efficiency of a small team of personnel, delivering maximum security at the edge of a wild frontier. Andrew Wells, IT Manager for the Jackson Hole Airport, said “Situational awareness for our team and our clients allow us to be as secure and efficient as possible, with our small team. The flexibility of the open platform VMS allows us to scale our system and add the features we need now and in the future.” Jackson Hole Airport Jackson Hole Airport lies seven miles north of Jackson, Wyoming, at the base of the Teton Mountains, in the USA. It is unique for being entirely within the Grand Teton National Park limits. It is the busiest airport in the state of Wyoming, with nearly 500,000 in-bound passengers welcomed annually. The Jackson Hole Airport covers over 500 acres of land area and has one runway, nine boarding gates, and three baggage carousels.

The Prague city administration together with the Criminal Investigation Department relies on security technology from Germany-based Dallmeier in Prague's Wenceslas Square, one of the largest city squares in Europe with an area of 45,000 square metres, and the Old Town Square. Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square in Prague are both steeped in history, and now as ever before remaining important hubs for tourism and traffic. To ensure the safety of the streams of people and vehicles in these places, when it comes to security equipment the Prague city administration relies on a combination of conventional cameras and a solution from the Regensburg company Dallmeier. From horse market to commercial thoroughfare Wenceslas Square in Prague was created in the 14th century and originally served as a horse market, as was reflected in its name. It was renamed "Wenceslas Square" in 1848 in tribute to Saint Wenceslas of Bohemia. Since the 19th century, the function of the square has evolved from that of a place for trading horses to a busy commercial district. The function of the square has evolved from that of a place for trading horses to a busy commercial district It is used by pedestrians, cyclists, motor vehicles, and local public transport alike, and so constitutes a major confluence point in Prague's New City. The city administration attaches great importance to ensuring that all these traffic elements can coexist in harmony, and to have a general overview of what is happening, the administration together with the police criminal investigation department rely on the sharp "eyes" of the Panomera®. Tourist magnet Old Town Square Panomera® also provides security in the 9000 square metre Prague Old Town Square. The Old Town Square is the historic heart of the city and attracts thousands of tourists every year with its atmosphere, sights, and markets. Its history dates to the 11th century, and it has always been a crossroads for commerce and a marketplace.  It is a magnet for tourists and its borders abound with restaurants, museums, galleries, and shops. The astronomical clock on the tower of the Old Town Hall is one of the most well-known sights in Europe. Advantages of Panomera® technology for monitoring The solution for both Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square consists of Panomera® models from the Topline series. The Panomera® multifocal sensor system can provide coverage for vast expanses and areas. Infrastructure costs are also lower since a single Panomera® captures a much larger area and fewer installation points The advantage: The combination of general overview with the highest possible resolution of details is very important, particularly for large squares, and with this camera technology more remote objects can also be displayed with the same resolution as objects in the image foreground. Several operators can zoom into the same image at the same time. Even then, the overall scene always remains in view and the recording continues. Where previously several megapixel cameras would have been needed, the users' workload has been reduced significantly, because fewer images must be captured. Infrastructure costs are also lower since a single Panomera® captures a much larger area and fewer installation points are needed. For customers, this means savings not only in terms of infrastructure but also regarding operation and management, so total operating costs are reduced. Planning that delivers  In the project planning phase, the Dallmeier 3D specialist team consisting of engineers and graphic designers created a three-dimensional simulation of the customer's environment. In the 3D model, the team simulated the real camera models and locations/installation sites, and thus also angles of vision and ranges. The completed 3D model was presented to the customer jointly with integration partner KH Servis in Prague and comprised the entire solution including the cameras and other essential components. The city administration and police authorities were delighted by this manner of project visualisation because this approach also allowed an accurate calculation of costs to be made, giving the customer certainty regarding the cost and scope of the project. "What we plan is what you get" 3D planning also guarantees that there are no surprises either on the technical or financial level 3D planning also guarantees that there are no surprises either on the technical or financial level during or after the installation. Dallmeier calls this approach "What we plan is what you get". Besides the technical advantages delivered by Panomera®, the customers were also impressed by the planning certainty they were given by the 3D visualisation, and, at the end of 2017, Dallmeier won the order to put the project into practice. Test run at the Dallmeier FAT Centre Before it was installed, the planned solution underwent a Dallmeier Factory Acceptance Test at the FAT Centre in Regensburg. All components were assembled there, and the final environment was tested in live operation. While testing was proceeding in the FAT Centre, KH Servis was also attending training in Regensburg so they would be ready for the on-site installation and so they could see the system operating flawlessly for themselves. Observation and intervention With the installation of the multifocal sensor systems, the desire for increased security and more effective intervention capabilities was realised. The cameras are used to observe situations and when necessary, enable rapid countermeasures or also a rapid investigation of incidents. In the event of criminal offences, the video material can be stored separately as evidence. Special challenge: Protection of historic monuments Permission had to be obtained from the building owners before the cameras could be mounted Both squares are bordered by buildings with historic monument status, the Panomera® cameras could not always be mounted where single sensor cameras had hung previously, enabling the "old" installation points to be used. Permission had to be obtained from the building owners before the cameras could be mounted, but this was managed successfully for all the new installation points. Conclusion The conclusion by KH Servis, Dallmeier's integration partner in Prague, "We worked together with extreme professionalism, the city administration and police authorities were ultimately convinced, not only by the quality of the systems and the image material but also the impressive planning phase and planning certainty it gave them."

Atos announces its new partnership to integrate viisights software into its Atos Computer Vision Platform. Atos is a pioneer in global Edge AI. This collaboration will allow viisights’ powerful behavioural video analytics to run on Atos Computer Vision Platform, providing users with unique insight and therefore to immediately detect and predict violent activity, suspicious activity, crowd behaviour, traffic monitoring, and much more to help authorities prevent harmful activities from escalating. AI-based behavioural video analytics viisights is a developer of advanced AI-powered behavioural video analytics software. viisights will integrate its AI models to VISuite, these models are specifically designed for security and safety applications, targeting transportation hubs, smart cities, critical infrastructure, and various kind of campuses. They leverage viisights’ unique video understanding technology capabilities. Computer vision platform Atos Computer Vision Platform enables users to reduce error rates, guarantee people and asset safety Atos Computer Vision Platform, launched in July 2021, is a unique end-to-end computer vision platform providing pre-trained & customisable AI models powered by the BullSequana server range and enriched by a partner ecosystem and Atos computer vision experts through worldwide expert’s labs. It enables users to identify events and behaviours, reduce error rates, guarantee people and asset safety, deliver the highest quality, and offer frictionless and personalised customer experiences. Delivering advanced solutions Atos Computer Vision Platform offers full compatibility with Atos BullSequana server range designed for AI applications, Atos data science services and leverages Atos’ established global presence in the public safety space. “We’re very excited to partner with Atos. This strategic partnership will help deliver highly advanced and valuable solutions that leverage our respective core areas of expertise,” said Asaf Birenzvieg, CEO of viisights. Easy and cost-effective solutions “Integrating Atos Computer Vision Platform as a partner makes it easier and more cost-effective to offer municipalities and other customer’s turnkey solutions that deliver proactive safety and security.” “We are proud to announce viisights integrates Atos Computer Vision Platform as a partner, integrating VISuite, the software toolbox. This partnership will harness the reach of Atos Computer Vision Platform to make public transports and public areas across the globe safer, smarter, and more secure,” said Jérôme Sandrini, Head of Big Data solutions, Atos.

Foreign embassies are an essential part of establishing and maintaining peaceful cooperation, and collaboration between countries all over the world. They can also be the focus of tensions, peaceful and violent protests, terrorism, and many other risks, which mean that thorough and effective security solutions are essential to keep people, property and sensitive documents safe. Foreign embassies Usually located in capital cities, each foreign embassy is the workplace and often residence, of a Country Ambassador. They are used for important diplomatic meetings, holding events, hosting VIPs, and a range of other activities that focus on the political, cultural and social relationships with the host nation. In some instances, foreign embassies even provide sanctuary to their nationals and individuals from other nations In some instances, foreign embassies even provide sanctuary to their nationals and individuals from other nations, during times of trouble. G4S security services in Jordan “Anywhere in Amman, where a foreign embassy has outsourced their security, you can be certain that G4S is the company they have come to,” said Ashraf Abul-Hajj, the Managing Director of G4S in Jordan. Ashraf Abul-Hajj adds, “We’ve been doing this for decades and have excellent, long-standing relationships providing security for many embassies in the capital city. We secure over 30 embassies at the moment, and we’ve been working with some of them for over 20 years.” In fact, it was a small Jordanian security company, called Safe and Sound (now under G4S), which started to provide embassy security in Amman, Jordan, all those years ago, before it became a part of G4S, in 2004. Embassy security services G4S now provides a wide range of services to the embassies that it secures in Jordan. These include manned guarding, installing and maintaining security systems, such as CCTV, access control and alarms, secure escorting for VIPs, during their visits, with G4S vehicles and highly-trained drivers, and coordinating security for events, which are being hosted at the embassy. “The main purpose of most of our security solutions is to ensure that nobody gains access to an embassy, who shouldn’t be there,” said Ashraf Abul-Hajj, adding “There are a lot of different risks that embassies face - big and small. Terrorist incidents, while very rare, remain a threat, so our security teams are trained to be vigilant and notice any suspicious behaviour.” Securing embassies during protests Protests at embassies are more common, when people disagree with the actions of a specific country" Ashraf Abul-Hajj adds, “Protests at embassies are more common, when people disagree with the actions of a specific country. Protests, even peaceful ones, are volatile and have the potential to turn violent, so our security officers and systems are there to monitor tensions, continuously assess the risk levels and prevent breaches.” Terrorism and protests are the more extreme examples of security threats, but day-to-day G4S security teams also deal with lower level threats that still need to be managed sensitively and professionally. Preventing breaches Ashraf Abul-Hajj stated, “People try to access their foreign embassies for a variety of reasons, often at times of personal stress or hardship, and can become distressed, and even aggressive, if they are not permitted to enter.” He adds, “Sometimes, we have to deal with very unusual scenarios. At one embassy, a man turned up saying that he had been informed by the embassy that he had won a competition and he was visiting the embassy to collect his cash prize. It was obvious to the team that he was the victim of a con, but his behaviour became very challenging, when he realised this and could not gain entry. Our security officers had to try to calm him down, while stopping him from entering the embassy, without consent.” Ashraf Abul-Hajj concludes, “This shows how varied the challenges facing our teams at foreign embassies can be. An embassy can be peaceful for a long time, but it can only take one negative news story or a single social media post, to spark a significant protest. With our security systems, highly trained security officers and extensive experience, G4S is more than prepared to meet those risks. We are proud to deliver such an important service, keeping foreign embassies safe and secure in Jordan.”

Ipsotek, an Atos company and a pioneer in Artificial Intelligence-powered video analytics, has announced the fulfillment of its contract with Sydney Trains, the operator of rail services across the metropolitan Sydney area, to increase security capabilities at 13 railway stations. Following a competitive tendering process, Ipsotek was selected by Sydney Trains, to deliver an AI-based video analytics solution. This has seen the train operator, Sydney Trains, integrate a range of Ipsotek’s AI-powered video analytics solutions with its security cameras, to identify incidences of tunnel and track intrusion at its 13 stations, located across the metropolitan Sydney area. AI-based video analytics solution Ipsotek’s AI solutions are at the core of Atos Computer Vision Platform, a unique end-to-end computer vision platform that offers pre-trained & customisable AI models, powered by the BullSequana server range, enabled by NVIDIA GPUs and enriched by worldwide expert labs. Mark Edmonds, the Manager of Security Capability for Transport at Sydney Trains, commented “Sydney Trains chose Ipsotek, after an extensive comparison of a number of products. Ipsotek’s proven track record in the AI Video Analytics space, its partnership with Genetec and its work with Innovate UK’s Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) for railway-focused AI applications, made it a well-deserved choice.” Enhancing security at Sydney Trains’ stations The project with Sydney Trains is the second transportation project in the region for Ipsotek Chris Bishop, Sales Director APAC & Marketing Director at Ipsotek, said “As a British SME, competing against some of the industry’s big-named companies, we are delighted to have been chosen by Sydney Trains, to deliver this project. It represents a welcome validation of our expertise within the transportation and more specifically, the rail sector and we are proud to have supported Sydney Trains with its commitment, to delivering enhanced security practices across its network.” The project with Sydney Trains is the second transportation project in the region for Ipsotek, which is working with accelerated computing solutions firm, NVIDIA on implementation. Ipsotek, member of NVIDIA Metropolis partner group Ipsotek is a member of the NVIDIA Metropolis partner programme, which brings together a computing platform and extensive ecosystem of specialists, to help create smarter spaces and solve some of the world’s most pressing problems, which involve operational efficiency and public safety. Sudarshan Ramachandran, the Country Manager, Enterprise, ANZ at NVIDIA, commented “As an NVIDIA Metropolis partner, Ipsotek delivers incredibly valuable capabilities, solving deeply challenging video-analytics problems using AI and the NVIDIA GPU accelerated computing stack.” AI video analytics for public transport Ipsotek’s project with Sydney Trains follows the company’s previous success in delivering an initial programme of work via the Innovate UK SBRI initiative, for the development of AI video analytics, to enhance the rail experience for passengers and staff in the UK.

There is a broad appeal to the idea of using a smartphone or wearable device as a credential for physical access control systems. Smartphones already perform a range of tasks that extend beyond making a phone call. Shouldn’t opening the door at a workplace be among them? It’s a simple idea, but there are obstacles for the industry to get there from here. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the challenges and benefits of mobile access control solutions? 

In the past few weeks, the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel has brightened, providing new levels of hope that the worst of the pandemic is behind us. Dare we now consider what life will be like after the pandemic is over? Considering the possible impact on our industry, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Which security technologies will be most useful in a post-pandemic world?

Public spaces provide soft targets and are often the sites of terrorist or active shooter attacks. Public spaces, by definition, require easy accessibility and unrestricted movement. Given that openness, what security technologies can provide real results? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How is technology innovation impacting the security of public spaces?