Explosives detection

Audio is often overlooked in the security and video surveillance industry. There are some intercom installations where audio plays a key role, but it’s not typically thought about when it comes to security and event management. Audio takes a back seat in many security systems because audio captured from a surveillance camera can have a different impact on the privacy of those being monitored. Audio surveillance is therefore subject to strict laws that vary from state to state. Many states require a clearly posted sign indicating audio recording is taking place in an area before a person enters. Analytic information derived from audio can be a useful tool and when implemented correctly, removes any concerns over privacy or legal compliance. Audio analytics on the edge overcomes legal challenges as it never passes audio outside of the camera Focused responses to events Audio analytics processed in the camera, has been a niche and specialised area for many installers and end users. This could be due to state laws governing audio recording, however, audio analytics on the edge overcomes legal challenges as it never passes audio outside of the camera Processing audio analytics in-camera provides excellent privacy since audio data is analysed internally with a set of algorithms that only compare and assess the audio content. Processing audio analytics on the edge also reduces latency compared with any system that needs to send the raw audio to an on-premises or cloud server for analysis. Audio analytics can quickly pinpoint zones that security staff should focus on, which can dramatically shorten response times to incidents. Audio-derived data also provides a secondary layer of verification that an event is taking place which can help prioritise responses from police and emergency personnel. Having a SoC allows a manufacturer to reserve space for specialised features, and for audio analytics, a database of reference sounds is needed for comparison Microphones and algorithms Many IP-based cameras have small microphones embedded in the housing while some have a jack for connecting external microphones to the camera. Microphones on indoor cameras work well since the housing allows for a small hole to permit sound waves to reach the microphone. Outdoor cameras that are IP66 certified against water and dust ingress will typically have less sensitivity since the microphone is not exposed. In cases like these, an outdoor microphone, strategically placed, can significantly improve outdoor analytic accuracy. There are several companies that make excellent directional microphones for outdoor use, some of which can also combat wind noise. Any high-quality external microphone should easily outperform a camera’s internal microphone in terms of analytic accuracy, so it is worth considering in areas where audio information gathering is deemed most important. In-built audio-video analytics Surveillance cameras with a dedicated SoC (System on Chip) have become available in recent years with in-built video and audio analytics that can detect and classify audio events and send alerts to staff and emergency for sounds such as gunshots, screams, glass breaks and explosions. Having a SoC allows a manufacturer to reserve space for specialised features. For audio analytics, a database of reference sounds is needed for comparison. The camera extracts the characteristics of the audio source collected using the camera's internal or externally connected microphone and calculates its likelihood based on the pre-defined database. If a match is found for a known sound, e.g., gunshot, explosion, glass break, or scream, an event is triggered, and the message is passed to the VMS. If a match is found for a known sound, e.g., gunshot, explosion, glass break, or scream, an event is triggered, and the message is passed to the VMS Configuring a camera for audio analytics Audio detectionThe first job of a well-configured camera or camera/mic pair is to detect sounds of interest while rejecting ancillary sounds and noise below a preset threshold. Each camera must be custom configured for its particular environment to detect audio levels which exceed a user-defined level. Since audio levels are typically greater in abnormal situations, any audio levels exceeding the baseline set levels are detected as being a potential security event. Operators can be notified of any abnormal situations via event signals allowing the operator to take suitable measures. Finding a baseline of background noise and setting an appropriate threshold level is the first step. Installers should be able to enable or disable the noise reduction function and view the results to validate the optimum configuration during setup Noise reductionA simple threshold level may not be adequate enough to reduce false alarms depending on the environment where a camera or microphone is installed. Noise reduction is a feature on cameras that can reduce background noise greater than 55dB-65dB for increased detection accuracy. Installers should be able to enable or disable the noise reduction function and view the results to validate the optimum configuration during setup. With noise reduction enabled, the system analyses the attenuated audio source. As such, the audio source classification performance may be hindered or generate errors, so it is important to use noise reduction technology sparingly. Audio source classificationIt’s important to supply the analytic algorithm with a good audio level and a high signal-to-noise ratio to reduce the chance of generating false alarms under normal circumstances. Installers should experiment with ideal placement for both video as well as audio. While a ceiling corner might seem an ideal location for a camera, it might also cause background audio noise to be artificially amplified. Many cameras provide a graph which visualises audio source levels to allow for the intuitive checking of noise cancellation and detection levels. Analytics take privacy concerns out of the equation and allow installers and end users to use camera audio responsibly Messages and eventsIt’s important to choose a VMS that has correctly integrated the camera’s API (application programming interface) in order to receive comprehensive audio analytic events that include the classification ID (explosion, glass break, gunshot, scream). A standard VMS that only supports generic alarms, may not be able to resolve all of the information. More advanced VMS solutions can identify different messages from the camera. Well configured audio analytics can deliver critical information about a security event, accelerating response times and providing timely details beyond video-only surveillance. Analytics take privacy concerns out of the equation and allow installers and end users to use camera audio responsibly. Hanwha Techwin's audio source classification technology, available in its X Series cameras, features three customisable settings for category, noise cancellation and detection level for optimum performance in a variety of installation environments.

The 5 new vandal-resistant thermal cameras in the Wisenet T series are able to capture images at up to 640 x 480 resolution and are designed to detect objects and people in difficult environmental conditions such as through smoke, snow, heavy rain and fog, which traditional video surveillance cameras may not be able to do. They also offer an effective solution for projects where there are concerns about light pollution. “Wisenet cameras are increasingly being specified for multi-sited, high security and mission critical projects across Europe and these new thermal cameras will enhance our ability to provide robust solutions, regardless of the operating conditions,” said Bob (H.Y.) Hwang Ph.D., Managing Director of Hanwha Techwin Europe. “Our camera line-up is now even more formidable with the introduction of the Wisenet T series. Together with our Wisenet P, Q, X and HD+ cameras, they place us in a very strong position to meet the demanding requirements of airport, bus & railway stations, city surveillance, solar farm and traffic monitoring type applications.” Built-in Gyro sensors offer accurate stabilisation, while audio analysis recognises critical sounds Feature rich thermal camera All models in the Wisenet T series are equipped with audio analysis functionality which recognises critical sounds such as gunshots, explosions, screams and broken glass. Additional features include temperature change, shock, object/people direction, loitering and camera tampering detection. Built-in Gyro sensors offer accurate stabilisation which comes into effect when a camera is disturbed by wind or vibrations, resulting in more stable images. Bi-directional audio, motion detection and handover are also offered as standard, as is the ability to store up to 256GB of data via an SD/SDHC/SDXC memory slot to ensure video is automatically recorded in the event of network disruption. There is also a choice of H.265, H.264 or MJPEG compression and feature WiseStream II, a complementary compression technology which dynamically controls encoding, balancing quality and compression according to movement in the image. Bandwidth efficiency is improved by up to 99% compared to current H.264 technology when WiseStream II is combined with H.265 compression. Wisenet VGA camera range Wisenet TNO-4030T:  13mm fixed lens. 5m minimum object distance Wisenet TNO-4040T:  19mm fixed lens. 11m minimum object distance Wisenet TNO-4041T: 19mm fixed lens. 11m minimum object distance. Pan/Tilt mount Wisenet TNO-4050T:  36mm fixed lens. 36m minimum object distance Wisenet TNO-4051T: 19mm fixed lens. 36m minimum object distance Pan/Tilt mount

The 5 vandal-resistant thermal cameras in the Wisenet T series, which are able to capture images at up to 640 x 480 resolution, are designed to detect objects and people in difficult environmental conditions such as through smoke, snow, heavy rain and fog, which traditional video surveillance cameras may not be able to do. They also offer a solution for projects where there are concerns about light pollution. “Wisenet cameras are increasingly being specified for multi-sited, high security and mission critical projects across Europe and these new thermal cameras will enhance our ability to provide robust solutions, regardless of the operating conditions,” said Bob (H.Y.) Hwang Ph.D., Managing Director of Hanwha Techwin Europe. All models in the Wisenet T series are equipped with audio analysis functionality which recognises critical sounds such as gunshots, explosions, screams and broken glass Equipped with audio analysis functionality “Our camera line-up is now even more formidable with the introduction of the Wisenet T series. Together with our Wisenet P, Q, X and HD+ cameras, they place us in a very strong position to meet the demanding requirements of airport, bus & railway stations, city surveillance, solar farm and traffic monitoring type applications.” All models in the Wisenet T series are equipped with audio analysis functionality which recognises critical sounds such as gunshots, explosions, screams and broken glass. Additional features include temperature change, shock, object/people direction, loitering and camera tampering detection. Storage capacity up to 256GB   Built-in Gyro sensors offer accurate stabilisation which comes into effect when a camera is disturbed by wind or vibrations, resulting in more stable images. Bandwidth efficiency is improved by up to 99% compared to current H.264 technology when WiseStream II is combined with H.265 compression Bi-directional audio, motion detection and handover are also offered as standard, as is the ability to store up to 256GB of data via an SD/SDHC/SDXC memory slot to ensure video is automatically recorded in the event of network disruption. There is also a choice of H.265, H.264 or MJPEG compression and feature WiseStream II, a complementary compression technology which dynamically controls encoding, balancing quality and compression according to movement in the image. Bandwidth efficiency is improved by up to 99% compared to current H.264 technology when WiseStream II is combined with H.265 compression. The 5 thermal cameras in the T series range are: Wisenet TNO-4030T: 13mm fixed lens. 5m minimum object distance Wisenet TNO-4040T: 19mm fixed lens. 11m minimum object distance Wisenet TNO-4041T: 19mm fixed lens. 11m minimum object distance. Pan/Tilt mount Wisenet TNO-4050T: 36mm fixed lens. 36m minimum object distance Wisenet TNO-4051T: 19mm fixed lens. 36m minimum object distance. Pan/Tilt mount

Several recent terrorist and mass violence attacks have been directed at soft targets, or relatively unprotected locations where people gather such as outside a music venue or in the unscreened passenger areas at airports. Attacks in public areas have led to the development of new security technologies aimed at protecting soft targets. One company addressing the challenges is Evolv Technology and its Edge automated high-speed personnel screening solution. The system integrates walkthrough firearm and explosive detection for high-throughput protection of events and soft targets.The Edge system has multiple detection sensitivity settings to respond to various threat scenarios Enhanced visitor experience The system seeks to increase security without compromising the ‘customer experience’. People simply walk through single-file – between two 5-foot-tall stanchions. One lane can screen up to 800 people per hour, and the system detects explosives or metallic objects without the need for pat-downs or wands or other invasive procedures. Any personal belongings can remain in visitors’ pockets. A single security guard is needed for each lane to verify any detected threats. “The system combines an improved security posture with a better visitor experience,” says Mike Ellenbogen, CEO of Evolv Technology. “We need to fly and have been trained to be screened at the airport, but we don’t expect to be screened going to see a ball game or a Mozart concert. Evolv recognised a need for a new way to inspect people before they enter these types of facilities. It’s a seamless system that pulls various technologies together. We want to feel safe but without having to sacrifice the quality of the experience.”Screening analytics provide data on the numbers of people screened by time of day and by result The system combines millimetre wave and magnetic field sensors, along with artificial intelligence (AI)/ machine learning and can incorporate additional data such as biometrics. Known bad actors can be identified using facial recognition. The system has multiple detection sensitivity settings to respond to various threat scenarios. Expanding perimeter protection A security guard provides the human touch by verifying any threats detected by the system. The locations of concealed items are displayed on a photo of the individual using a color-coded box overlay. Screening analytics provide data on the numbers of people screened by time of day and by result. Ellenbogen says the company is working to have the system adopted at entertainment venues, performing arts centres, sports centres, for air and rail transportation, and to protect high-profile government buildings. The Edge system can expand the protected perimeter to a wider area that was previously unprotected. The Edge system can expand the protected perimeter to a wider area that was previously unprotected For example, concert-goers exited the arena of an Ariana Grande concert May 22, 2017, in Manchester, U.K., and entered the surrounding area that was unscreened and unsecured. Placing a user-friendly screening system around a wider perimeter outside the concert venue might have prevented the use of an improvised explosive device in the terrorist attack.Placing a user-friendly screening system around a wider perimeter outside the concert venue might have prevented the use of an improvised explosive device in the terrorist attack Threat mitigation with soft target approach Likewise, a 2016 bombing at the Brussels Airport occurred in the departure hall outside the passenger screening areas. Securing a wider perimeter – for example, screening customers discreetly as they enter the airport building from a parking area – could have provided additional security against such an attack. Ellenbogen confirms Evolv has sold a number of systems to major European airports to screen visitors and passengers as they enter the front door. “Addressing the threat to an airport or train system is different than screening passengers; we are looking for different types of objects and different types of materials. The idea is to be able to detect threats to a venue before they get into the venue.” The soft target approach can also be applied to public buildings, such as courthouses, and used in lieu of more invasive metal detectors and x-ray machines. The portability of the Edge system enables a ‘pop-up’ approach to security – i.e., to relocate the system to address specific or changing security threats easily. The self-contained system only requires a wall plug. Labour reduction (because of faster throughput) can help offset the system costs but it’s difficult to quantify the improvement in the visitor experienceImproving security posture at event venues “It’s surprising the level of importance [venue owners] put on the visitor experience,” says Ellenbogen. “They see that their brand starts at the front door. They are eager to find alternative security solutions that come across as more inviting, less imposing, less closed down, less invasive than the solutions they have been using,” he says. “They are driven by a desire to improve the visitor experience as they improve the security posture.” He says current events, including terrorist attacks and mass shootings, drive awareness among venue owners to improve the security of soft targets. “The level of interest is high, and it spikes somewhat when there is a big headline,” Ellenbogen says. He notes that the system is more expensive than a metal detector, but about a third the cost of familiar airport body scanners. Labour reduction (because of faster throughput) can help offset the system costs, but “it’s difficult to quantify the improvement in the visitor experience,” Ellenbogen says.

PerpetuityARC Training (Perpetuity Training Ltd.), part of the Linx International Group has announced the launch of its Essential Security Practices (ESP) online learning programme. The modular online programme provides non-security personnel and those for whom corporate security is one of several responsibilities, with a strong working knowledge of the fundamentals needed to help safeguard an organisation, its people and assets. The ESP course is the first-of-its-kind and has been devised by global provider of security management training - PerpetuityARC Training. Learners can choose their own path through the course, electing pace and order in which they take each of the 12 modules. It is ideally suited to professionals in facilities and HR management positions or multi-tasked managers, as well as those seeking to develop a career in security. The ESP programme delivers the right amount of knowledge to be effective, without trying to make them fully-fledged security practitioners" Impact on security status Managing Director of the Linx International Group, David Gill states, “There is not an area of business that security does not touch, meaning an organisation is only as strong as its weakest link. Increasingly, we have experienced a large upswing of interest in our courses from ‘non-security’ professionals, who are expected to make informed decisions that could have a direct impact on the security status of the organisation.” Gill adds: “The ESP programme specifically caters for these demands, delivering the right amount of knowledge to be effective, without trying to make them fully-fledged security practitioners.” The 12 Essential Security Practices course modules are as follows – Security Risk Management Security Surveys Perimeter Security Building Security Access Management Video Surveillance Systems Security Lighting Protection Against Explosive Devices Procuring Security and Managing Guarding Cyber Security Crisis Management and Business Continuity Workplace Investigations

After the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, Jody Allen Crowe set out to develop a threat suppression tool to address school violence. Five years later, the result of that effort is the Crotega Threat Suppression System, displayed this year at ISC West. The remotely-deployed threat suppression system drenches a perpetrator with a repulsive water-based solution, thus impairing their ability to enact violence. The solution irritates eyes, throat, lungs and skin, but does not cause permanent injury. Cleanup is easy using water and detergent. The solution is manually deployed in predetermined zones, which limits the affected areas in a building. Touch-screen control enables rapid deployment, which can also be integrated with Threat Alert buttons and/or gunshot detection. Benefits of suppression systems The Crotega Threat Suppression System is designed to deter workplace violence, disrupt active shooters, and delay threats until help can arrive. Introduction of the system is timely given the unrelenting sequence of school shootings and workplace violence that dominate the news. The system uses a “Repuls” solution sprayed from the ceiling in 5-, 10-  or 15-second bursts.We did the industry standard testing to make sure we had a product that wouldn’t harm anybody” Crowe started the company in 2013 after Sandy Hook, doing research in his garage for the first couple of years. Investors joined and, in 2014, the long journey began to bring the system to market. The process involved obtaining multiple patents, testing the product, and addressing any fire code or other regulatory issues surrounding its use. Crotega has been working with fire marshals in their home state of Minnesota for three years to address fire code issues and has determined that there are no concerns. There are only 30 seconds of spray in the tank, so it does not delay building egress and doesn’t conceal or shroud an egress. “We did the industry standard testing to make sure we had a product that wouldn’t harm anybody,” says Crowe, Crotega Founder and President. “It’s intensely irritating, but it doesn’t do any irreparable harm to anybody.” Since last August, the company has moved from product development into full-scale marketing. An in-house sales team locates end user customers, and then puts them in touch with a local integrator in the area. Crowe started the company in 2013 after Sandy Hook, doing research in his garage for the first couple of years Exhibiting to integrators “We’re pulling the sales through integrators to train them to become a self-sustaining integrator for us,” says Crowe. “There are a couple of integrators we are training, and then we are finding other integrators that are meeting our requirements. “They can’t just do surveillance because there is a mechanical install involved, too. They have to be able to handle the mechanical install and then link it to surveillance.” As an exhibitor in the Emerging Technology Zone at ISC West, Crotega showed the product off to integrators and consultants. “This year our ISC West schedule filled up,” says Crowe. “We are lining up consultants to work with us, and we had some people bringing customers to see us at ISC.”Violence, especially in the back-of-the-house in Indian casinos, is a big issue. And that has energised that vertical for us" Current events tend to keep active shooter incidents and workplace violence top-of-mind. For example, the Las Vegas shooting in October energised awareness about the possibility of casino violence throughout the gaming industry, Crowe says. “It got people thinking,” he comments. “We don’t hear much about violence in casinos – especially Indian casinos, which are very quiet about what happens there. But violence, especially in the back-of-the-house in Indian casinos, is a big issue. And that has energised that vertical for us.” Other vertical markets include government buildings, military buildings, commercial buildings and religious buildings. Before founding Crotega, Jody Allen Crowe spent 18 years on Native American reservations as a teacher, principal and superintendent, where he observed the effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol. He developed school programs designed around the research of brain damage from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Crowe is also the founder of Healthy Brains for Children, a non-profit organisation focused on lowering the incidence of prenatal exposure to alcohol. Crowe has written a book, “The Fatal Link,” that posits a connection between perpetrators of school violence and pre-natal exposure to alcohol.

Located in the Northern Italian town of La Spezia, the Biblioteca Civica Pietro Mario Beghi is a state-of-the-art public library with an extensive collection of books and media across three floors. The 1,560-square meter facility with its bright, modern interior architecture was completed in April 2017 in a historic building remodeled by the architect’s firm 5+1AA. It continues the region’s long literary tradition: The harbor town is situated on the “Golfo dei Poeti” (meaning “Poet’s Golf”), named for the many writers and poets who have lauded the coastal area throughout history.   EN 54 fire detection and alarm system standard Aside from a self-service book lending station, a child reading room and a 72-seat auditorium, the Beghi library is also home to the La Spezia Institute for the History of the Resistance and the Contemporary Age. With so many valuable books and original documents under one roof, end-to-end fire protection according to the high demands of the European Union’s EN 54 fire detection and fire alarm system standard – plus demands by the local fire brigade – was a prime requisite from the start. Choosing a fire alarm and evacuation solution for the library in an open tender, the municipality of La Spezia had an open ear when local system integrator Bagnone SNC proposed a comprehensive solution: An interface between a high-end fire alarm system and evacuation system delivered by Bosch as the single provider. Convincing the officials, the Bosch system could be installed discretely without disturbing the library’s upscale interior design. Addressable Fire Panel 1200 Series The comprehensive solution enables automated alarm messages and public addresses over wall-mounted speakers After receiving the contract, Bagnone SNC installed the Addressable Fire Panel 1200 Series from Bosch interfaced via a serial connection with the Plena Voice Alarm System, supporting also multi-stage evacuation. The comprehensive solution enables automated alarm messages and public addresses over wall-mounted speakers from Bosch that match the library’s color palette. The system accurately detects fires via automatic optical fire detectors and three beam smoke detectors strategically placed across the building. Alarms can also be triggered via manual call points, while in the case of an emergency, pre-recorded messages, sounders and strobes direct building occupants to safety. As a result of the interfaced solution, the Biblioteca Civica Pietro Mario Beghi benefits from highly accurate fire detection and efficient evacuation in an aesthetically pleasing package from Bosch as the single provider. “Our expectations have been exceeded in a major way. Everything went as planned from both a technical and a management point of view,” said Claudio Canneti, Technical Public Works Manager, La Spezia Municipality.

ThruVis is used operationally in US during Christmas 2016 travel surge period and at National Security Special Events Digital Barriers plc, the specialist provider of visually intelligent solutions to the global surveillance, security and safety markets, confirms today that its ThruVis public safety solution has been used successfully in the US by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to help protect high profile events. These operational deployments follow the award of a $1.65m contract with the TSA in September 2016 to begin the implementation of ThruVis to help protect mass transit systems and other public spaces across the US against 'soft target' terrorist attacks. ThruVis is a unique camera technology that can detect objects such as weapons and explosives concealed under clothing. The technology is mobile, rapidly deployed, and operates without compromising passenger throughput, safety or privacy. High performance in extreme operational environments ThruVis was used operationally in the US during the Christmas 2016 travel surge period and as part of security measures at specific locations during National Security Special Events (NSSE's) in early 2017. In these extreme operational environments, ThruVis performed to expectations and its use was operationally successful. End-user feedback from this period and input from TSA's own extensive testing is being used to enhance ThruVis's operational capabilities. Digital Barriers is ready to support ongoing US Government operational deployments of ThruVis to enhance overall security effectiveness. Zak Doffman, CEO of Digital Barriers, said, "The fact that ThruVis has now been deployed successfully in the US to help protect high profile events, as part of the preparation for wider deployments, is a real game changer for this unique solution. In total, more than $100m of public and private money has now been invested in developing ThruVis. For the first time, it's possible to successfully detect body-worn concealed weapons and explosives being carried into public spaces, hardening soft targets against terrorist attacks."

IPSecurityCenter PSIM allows the intelligent integration of the widest range of security CNL Software, a provider of Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) software, announced that its award-winning technology will be utilised as part of the multi-agency security programme at the 2017 presidential inauguration. The company’s IPSecurityCenter PSIM solution is deployed in Washington, DC to help secure the city, keep its transportation facilities and networks operational, and the people that rely on them safe, as well as to make sense of the huge volume of data and video intelligence generated during inaugural activities. IPSecurityCenter will be used to help ensure inaugural events run smoothly. Situational awareness Event security agencies are responsible for the safety of the public, security and law enforcement and counter terrorism activities during what may be the most dynamic threat environment in history of the U.S. “The swearing-in of a new President is a momentous occasion in our nation’s capital, and we will see huge numbers of people coming from across and beyond the U.S. to witness the inauguration. As with all major events, security is a huge concern,” comments Mike Mostow, General Manager at CNL Software Americas. “IPSecurityCenter is deployed in Washington, DC, providing real-time situational awareness and decision support to security and law enforcement personnel during large scale special security events like the inauguration. One of IPSecurityCenter’s key capabilities is allowing multi-level collaboration between and across the various safety, security, law enforcement and emergency management agencies working to protect the President and others attending inaugural activities, its spectators, and the wider public.” Incident detection “IPSecurityCenter offers comprehensive situational awareness and intelligence to bolster security” “Aside from the threat of a major incident, there are more frequent public safety and security incidents to consider. From monitoring crowds and the accurate and early detection of incidents, to enabling rapid post event forensics, IPSecurityCenter offers comprehensive situational awareness and intelligence to bolster security. Having more digital eyes on the ground becomes a force multiplier to help identify and resolve security incidents faster and more incisively.” IPSecurityCenter PSIM is deployed in some of the largest public security programs today in global cities supporting the safety and security of citizens, visitors, commerce, and infrastructure. IPSecurityCenter PSIM allows the intelligent integration of the widest range of security and homeland defence technologies such as video surveillance and analytics, facial recognition, license plate recognition, crowd monitoring, gunshot detection, chemical, biological, radiological/nuclear and explosives detection, geospatial mapping, and asset tracking.

“Mode 5” employs highly sophisticated encryption techniques to avoid hostile signal manipulation Airbus DS Electronics and Border Security (EBS), future HENSOLDT, equips the recently ordered A330 MRTT multirole tanker aircraft of the South Korean armed forces with cryptographic technology employing the latest “Mode 5” NATO standard. Under a contract awarded by Airbus Defence and Space, the future HENSOLDT will deliver until beginning of 2018 eight cryptographic computers which will protect the MRTT’s identification systems against hostile spoofing and jamming. Identification-friend-foe systems The European-manufactured and US-certified QRTK-crypto computers are the key element of the identification-friend-foe (IFF) systems of armed forces which use the automatic exchange of encrypted signals between ground stations and aircraft to distinguish friendly from hostile forces. Effective identification is necessary to avoid own or allied forces being attacked erroneously by friendly forces. Unlike the “Mode 4” standard used in western armies hitherto, “Mode 5” employs highly sophisticated encryption techniques to avoid hostile signal manipulation, thus ensuring that the identification process is absolutely reliable and secure. By 2019, “Mode 5” will be introduced in all western armies, then being a precondition of joint operations of allied forces. Ground and naval applications The future HENSOLDT is under contract to upgrade German, French, and UK armed forces’ IFF systems to the “Mode 5” standard. It has already delivered IFF systems – including crypto devices - to several NATO nations, for ground and naval applications. Among others, the company’s equipment is deployed on all German Navy ships as well as several UK Royal Navy ships. In Germany, the company has established the air traffic control/IFF network of the German Air Force covering an airspace of 1,700 x 1,500 kilometres. In total, HENSOLDT has more than 400 IFF systems under contract in 42 nations. In the Republic of Korea, Airbus DS EBS has already equipped Korean Air Force and Army’s Low Altitude Radars with its IFF Mode 5 Technology in cooperation with local Korean defence industries.

The NET system is capable of detecting safety situations, by using big data, to make the city safer The great explosion that happened on midnight of August 12th, 2015, in Tianjin harbour killed 165 people in total and caught everyone’s eyeball in and out of China. That tragedy lead people to think: How did it happen? How could it happen? Detecting safety situations Tianjin government took this painful experience as a warning for the future, and put together a NET of prevention and control to monitor and audit the compliance to safety regulation in the city. Dahua technology helped Tianjin Safety Supervision Bureau establish the Major Hazard Sources Monitoring and Production Safety Prevention & Control System. The system is capable of detecting safety situations, by using big data, to make the city safer. Preventing chemical accidents The application of the system greatly improved the online monitoring of the companies responsible for the production, transportation and storage of dangerous chemical products. It serves to prevent dangerous chemical accidents and ensure thorough clean-up of hidden danger in production sites by building intelligence into the security control system. Real-time monitoring By the beginning of 2016, 1446 sites that produce or deal with dangerous chemical had been connected to the NET, including 891 gas stations. All information from above sites is real time monitored.

  Scan-X Security solutions will help protect high profile patrons and visitors to the National Assembly Scan-X Security, specialists in security screening, security x-ray machines and metal detection archways, landed a deal to secure the National Assembly of Wales in order to protect high profile patrons and visitors to their main site. The Aldridge based security firm operates globally and has invested over £250,000 over the last twelve months following year on year growth with turnover increasing by 30% in the last year. Complete security solution Rob Wallader, Managing Director at Scan-X Security said, "We are very proud to have been contracted to secure such a high profile site as the National Assembly of Wales. We were chosen due to the high quality of x-ray machines and metal detection archways we provide and also because our experience enables us to provide a complete solution that also makes life easy for both our client and site users. For example, in addition to installing security equipment, we also provided a tray return system to save our clients work and also put in place wheelchair access through the security screening area for those visitors who require it. "Although we are well placed in our market and regularly supply security machinery for the likes of: government contracts, facilities management, asset protection & large scale events, we pride ourselves on delivering a personal service to all of our clients - something which is making us stand out in our market". Nuctech 6040 x-ray machines To secure the Welsh Assembly site, Scan-X Security installed three Nuctech 6040 x-ray machines. These are dual view machines, which take images of whatever is being screened in two different directions. Providing two views of items that are being screened gives the security operatives a better picture of what's inside and therefore a greater chance of spotting potential threats. In addition to installing x-ray machines, Scan-X also supplied three metal detection archways from leading brand Ceia, whose products you would normally see in airports. As well as priding themselves on their extensive range of security products, the Scan-X team boast a wealth of experience in the security industry as a whole, and have supplied machines to some of the UK's largest sporting events, AGM's, facilities and conferences.