Green security

Dortronics Systems Inc., an industry-renowned company in off-the-shelf and customised door control solutions, is featuring its new 9-door controller for affordable multi-door interlocks and mantrap applications, from 2 to 9 doors, as well as its complete line-up of touchless door control solutions, at ISC East 2021 exhibition, in booth #1030. All of Dortronics’ product design and manufacturing operations are located at the company’s Sag Harbor, New York headquarters, which gives the company a unique ability to offer custom-fabricate a wide range of door control products, with fast turnaround times. Dortronics’ products at ISC East 2021 Bryan Sanderford, National Sales Manager of Dortronics Systems, Inc., said “Our new 48900 Series PLC interlock Controller answers users’ demand for a cost-effective and easy to install mantrap solution for specialised retail environments, with high-value merchandise, like jewelry, in cannabis dispensaries, or in clean room environments, at bio-tech labs or pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.” Bryan Sanderford adds, “It’s a product developed in response to market demand, which has continued to differentiate Dortronics from the big box houses and offshore suppliers. At Dortronics, we specialise in delivering door control solutions with the performance, quality, and often customised features and aesthetics that installers need with fast turnaround times and at the right price.” Dortronics’ 48900 PLC Interlock Controller Dortronics’ 48900 PLC Interlock Controller is a cost-effective solution for implementing door interlock and mantrap systems Dortronics’ 48900 PLC Interlock Controller is a cost-effective solution for implementing door interlock and mantrap systems, with up to nine doors. Under standard operating conditions, unlocking or opening one door automatically secures other designated doors, within the Interlock group. The fully integrated single-board solution provides installers with complete control of all operating and configuration options, without the need for and expense of, complex software. The 48900 Series PLC Interlock Controller integrates with virtually any access control system, utilising dry contacts. Dortronics 5278 Touchless Proximity Switch Dortronics 5278 Touchless Proximity Switch utilises optical infrared technology with embedded sensors to pick up motion within a 4-inch range with an illuminated LED ring for visibility under low-light conditions. A simple wave of the hand activates the touchless switch. The Dortronics 5278 Touchless Proximity Switch greatly decreases the potential to spread contagious diseases, since no actual hand contact is required to activate. These switches are often utilised with electronic locks and automatic door operators. The 5278 switch’s illuminated LED ring allows for visibility under low-light conditions. Dortronics’ 6612 Request to Exit Motion Sensing Door Release Dortronics’ 6612 Request to Exit Motion Sensing Door Release provides safe and immediate hands-free door release, and reliable fail-safe operation. It offers fast and accurate detection, with easy field adjustments, plus range and sensitivity controls, in order to assure maximum reliability. Dual relay outputs are available to redundantly cut power to the electromagnetic lock, while simultaneously signaling an access control system to unlock the door. The 6612’s attractive, slim housing is ideal for mounting the unit inconspicuously above any door.

Ava Security has launched the ability to use third-party sensors with Ava Aware Cloud, the open data platform for building and facilities intelligence. By merging video security with sensor technology, organisations can unlock the enhanced situational awareness of security along with facility management, staff well-being, and productivity.  Open Ava Aware data platform Siloed unconnected systems are a big challenge for organisations seeking greater insights and better building security. Integrations either require heavy, custom development, or organisations are often forced into a single vendor lock-in when moving to certain cloud vendors.   Organisations can now use the open Ava Aware data platform with third-party sensors to capture insights into their sites' activities and environmental conditions. Users can set rules for real-time notifications and alerts for readings such as abnormal noise levels, temperature, proximity, touch, humidity, smoke, vape, chemicals, and gas, allowing organisations to act quickly on environmental incidents. Integrating data with video footage Sensor data combined with video security footage through a single interface allows getting a clearer picture Sensor data is combined with video security footage through a single interface, allowing organisations to get a clearer picture of the security incidents that could impact their facilities, assets, and people. For example, by associating a sensor with a camera, facility operators and IT would immediately see the sensor alarm and the real-time video associated with that sensor (e.g. an open emergency door). Businesses derive value beyond security; gathering data that can help achieve greater efficiency and improve operations.  Initial sensor integration rollout Ava Security is initially launching these quarter integrations with the Halo smart sensor from IPVideo Technology and the tiny wireless sensors from Disruptive Technologies. Customers also have the option to integrate with other sensor providers of their choice through Ava’s open API platform. As a cloud-native and open platform, Ava Aware customers benefit immediately from new features and value as they are delivered over time.  Features of Ava Aware Cloud The Ava Aware Cloud is also incredibly flexible, allowing customers to:  Connect sensors in minutes, set up rules, and notify users in real-time View sensors on intuitive floorplan maps Associate sensors with cameras with simple drag and drop Remotely monitor sensors from anywhere in the world Secure sensor data through end-to-end encryption, SSO, and 2-factor authentication Cost-effective and flexible solution Ava’s open architecture solves provides a cost-effective and flexible solution on the market" Sam Lancia, Head of Video Engineering & Co-Founder of Ava Security commented, “There is immense power in the visibility gained by combining the data from sensors with intelligent video security systems as it creates a far clearer picture for an organisation. Historically, this wasn’t possible because systems were too difficult to set up, often disconnected from one another, and organisations had to rip and replace existing investments to install software and devices from a single provider.” “Ava’s open architecture solves this problem for organisations, providing them with a cost-effective and flexible solution that utilises the best technology on the market. We already have keen interest from a range of customers across different verticals such as real estate, education, and retail.” Physical security Bengt Lundberg, CEO of Disruptive Technologies commented, “Ava Security is at the forefront of physical security. We are looking forward to seeing customers unlock the value from our combined products and services through this partnership.” “The Ava Aware system, enhanced by the DT sensors, unlocks huge potential for real-time insights for organisations to inform their security and facility management.”

Hanwha Techwin announced a new intercom product, the TID-600R, that brings together the company’s high-quality camera functionality with audio features and analytics. The new intercom has multiple applications, from acting as a help point for queries and emergencies, to access control or seamless communication with a control room or a front desk reception. The SIP compliant TID-600R features a 2MP fisheye lens with a wide horizontal 180° field of view (114° vertical), low light performance (IR provides 16 feet/5 metres of infra-red illumination), and Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) for challenging lighting scenes. Additionally, the intercom is NDAA compliant. TID-600R uses The intercom is applicable across many different sectors, notably healthcare settings (where touchless access control is prioritised); car parks and transport settings (to improve visibility and communication); and office locations and residential settings (for a seamless entry and exit experience). The product goes beyond a simple intercom system to offer surveillance features that improve security, integration with VMS and NVRs and can act as part of wider video surveillance and access control setup. TID-600R offers a touchless call system, allowing individuals to simply raise their hand towards the device to initiate a call Easy touchless control In addition to the intercom’s push-button, the TID-600R offers a touchless call system, allowing individuals to simply raise their hand towards the device to initiate a call. Touchless entry and exit solutions have become increasingly important post-COVID, reducing the risk of infection and cleaning needs. The touchless option can be easily switched on and off via the intercom’s intuitive user interface. Visual features The cameras within the intercom can also hand over events to other cameras in a security system to boost security and safety - for example during nighttime or when a building is unattended. This feature can be used to move a PTZ camera to point automatically at an entrance if someone is detected in front of it by the intercom camera. Similarly, intelligent analytics such as line crossing, loitering, object classification, and more can add further insights for operators. All camera footage can be stored in a VMS or NVR for easy retrieval and analysis post-event. Along with edge storage available in the device itself through a Micro SD card slot. This makes the TID-600R more flexible and useful than a traditional intercom device as it provides additional entry/exit data and automation. Audio features Sound classification analytics offers extra situational awareness to operators The intercom’s built-in speaker and microphone provide excellent call clarity with up to 85dB of volume at 0.5m, echo cancellation and noise reduction. Users can program audio messages to automatically play when a call is initiated or someone enters the field of view. Sound classification analytics (detecting glass breakage, screen explosion, and gunshots) offers extra situational awareness to operators. SIP 2.0 support The TID-600R offers full SIP 2.0 support making it easy to integrate with existing VoIP systems. When a person interacts with the intercom, multiple phones at any location can be contacted simultaneously through the VoIP system, so the intercom will always be answered. It can also easily integrate with PBX servers. Environmental protection With an attractive metal casing in white or dark grey, the TID-600R is externally robust and utilises tamper and shock detection analytics and alarms to notify operators of any potential tampering. To fit in with a building’s aesthetics, the intercom comes with an additional range of mounts and other accessories Its IP65 and IK08 classifications and NEMA 4 X enclosures fully protect the device from dust, water, and other potential environmental damage, prolonging the lifetime and quality of the intercom. To fit in with a building’s aesthetics, the intercom comes with an additional range of mounts and other accessories. Compatibility and security The TID-600R intercom facilitates an open platform that can support edge-based third-party applications. There is additional API support with the Hanwha SUNAPI SDK and it supports ONVIF Profile S. Additionally it can be used with the Wisenet PoE extender camera range reducing the need for additional network cabling and LAN ports. Uri Guterman, Head of Product & Marketing at Hanwha Techwin Europe, “The TID-600R intercom is the first product of its kind in the Hanwha Techwin portfolio bringing our market-leading camera and video analytics technologies to an intercom product. We’re excited to be able to offer customers a more extended solution that spans across video surveillance, access control, and communication, and benefits from Hanwha Techwin’s extensive industry experience.”

The 23rd edition of inter airport Europe, the International Exhibition for Airport Equipment, Technology, Design & Services, ended at the Munich Trade Fair Centre in Germany after four show days. A total of 10,000 attendees from the global airport industry met this week to network, discover the latest trends and developments, and source innovative equipment and systems, of which 5,100 were trade visitors. Visitors have come from 79 countries to visit inter airport Europe this year; the most important visitor countries, apart from Germany, were France, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Spain, Poland, Norway, and Turkey. Feedback from the event The effort to offer this market and meeting place for the airport industry to support their runway to recovery has paid off" Olaf Freier, Portfolio Director of inter airport Europe at the organisers Mack-Brooks Exhibitions, commented, "We are more than happy that we have been able to bring the entire airport industry together successfully for the first time since the start of the pandemic, and this has been extremely valued by all our customers. Unfortunately, not everyone was able to join us this week in sunny Munich to share this experience.” “We spoke to many exhibitors and visitors and the feedback we have received was exceptionally positive. A vast majority of exhibitors were able to reach their target groups and they praised the high quality of trade visitors. All in all, our effort to offer this market and meeting place for the airport industry to support their runway to recovery has paid off!” Developments in the airport industry Nicola Hamann, Managing Director of the organisers, Mack-Brooks Exhibitions, opened the exhibition and greeted the speakers at the ceremony: Kay Bärenfänger, President GATE - German Airport Technology & Equipment e.V. and Ralph Beisel, General Manager ADV e.V. In her speech, Nicola Hamann mentioned the recent developments in the industry and thanked all participants, “For manufacturers and providers of airport equipment and services at this year’s show, all these challenges and opportunities are drivers for innovation and further technical development. Thus, many of the new products and systems here at the show focus upon cost-efficiency, low or zero-emission, enhanced passenger experience, automation, and digitalisation.” “I would like to thank all exhibitors, partners, and visitors for their contribution and loyalty to the success of inter airport Europe. Everyone involved has been going the extra mile this year to make this event possible”, said Nicola Hamann further. Importance of airport industry Regardless of how passenger volumes will develop, People want to and will continue to travel the world by air" Kay Bärenfänger, president of GATE, German Airport Technology & Equipment e.V., spoke about the importance of the airport industry, “The challenges are great - but as the association of the supply industry, we know that hand in hand, together with the airports, we are in a position to make a difference - whether it is the topic of "Green Airport" and the associated demands of politics, or passenger safety. Both are driving our industry to top performances.” “These are just a few of the issues that will keep us busy in the future - regardless of how passenger volumes will develop. One thing is certain, however. People want to and will continue to travel the world by air.” Challenges of the airport industry Ralph Beisel, General Manager ADV e.V. was talking about the airport industry returning to growth: “We want to look forward and overcome COVID, stay together as an industry, believe in our passion for the aviation field, and try to get over this pandemic to restart our business. And that is why we are here and that is why I would like to say thank you to all of you for coming here.” “We are also here to discuss two main challenges; the first challenge is to restart our industry. And ‘Runway to recovery’ is an excellent title for this inter airport because we want to become profitable again. For that, we need strong markets, good products, and innovation.” “The other big challenge is bringing our industry to a growth path which is in line with the sustainability requirements. We have a clear commitment as airports, airlines, and the whole industry to bring CO2 emissions down to net zero”, Ralph Beisel concluded. The inter airport Europe 2021 Innovation Awards Winners After the opening ceremony, the inter airport Europe Innovation Award winners were announced and handed over to the winning companies. The Award winners were once again selected via an online voting system on the inter airport Europe show website. Exhibitors submitted their entries in the four categories Terminal, Data/Digitalisation, GSE, and Sustainability. Dynell introduced a new benchmark for green ground power units delivering efficiency values of up to 96% 1) Award winner 2021 in the Terminal category was Dynell from Austria. Dynell introduced a new benchmark for green ground power units with an innovative 400Hz solid-state concept, delivering efficiency values of up to 96% besides other advantages such as modularity, reliability, and best voltage quality values. 2) The winner in the category Data/Digitalisation was MC Solutions from Italy for their MIA System: The ALCMS of the future based on a PC logic and available on portable devices for maintenance operations and remote towers. The system is also tailored from the layout up to the alarm management and the integration of other systems. 3) The winning company in the category GSE was S.C. ELECTRO MAX S.R.L. from Romania. They received the award for VISTA. The system includes all required LED lights for marking and guidance, powered and controlled in a 1.4ADC constant current. The controller can switch the circuits ON/OFF, change brightness & check failures. 4) Midstream Lighting Ltd from the United Kingdom won the Sustainability Award. They have received this award for their apron floodlighting. Airports typically use generators and high-power lights to deliver the lux levels. The Midstream solution, using high efficiency LED projectors with proprietary asymmetric optics can reduce the typical energy consumption by 70% and is now available in Hybrid. inter airport Europe Runway to recovery seminars At this year’s show, visitors were able to join a comprehensive seminar programme which was organised in partnership with SMART Airports for the first time. The seminars took place on all four exhibition days and were very well visited across all sessions. They covered the following topics: Smart Airports: Design, Development & New Opportunities Building back Operational Efficiency: Ramp & GSE Innovations Sustainable Airports: Greener & Cleaner Solutions Airport IT & Passenger Processing The digital platform offered networking options   An AI-powered matchmaking service offered one-to-one business networking by suggesting relevant people meet Once registered, all participants enjoyed full access to the entire inter airport Europe digital platform and had the option to contact everyone exhibiting at inter airport Europe 2021. This option allowed them to research for products and services, and to directly speak with suppliers and peers. An AI-powered matchmaking service offered one-to-one business networking, helping suppliers and buyers make smarter networking decisions by suggesting relevant people meet. The feedback from participants on the matchmaking and meeting options was very positive. All seminar sessions were live-streamed and will remain available on-demand for two more weeks via the platform. About inter airport Europe inter airport Europe is part of the Global Reach Airport Shows initiative. For further information on the Reed Exhibitions’ airport shows, which pool together inter airport Europe, inter airport China, inter airport South East Asia, NAIS Moscow, and the Airport Show Dubai as the world’s leading exhibitions for airport equipment, infrastructure, and design. inter airport Europe will return to the Munich Trade Fair Centre in Germany for its 24th edition in the usual event slot. The date for the next event is 10 – 13 October 2023.

ADT Inc., a pioneer brand in smart home and small business security, announced an agreement to acquire Sunpro Solar (Sunpro), ranked #2 for 2021 Top Residential Rooftop Solar Contractors in the U.S., for $160 million in cash plus approximately 77.8 million shares of ADT common stock, implying a total enterprise value of approximately $825 million, subject to certain adjustments. ADT will rebrand Sunpro to “ADT Solar™” and enter the rooftop solar business to offer ADT customers a protected, connected, and now powered home. Integrated home experience “With its strong focus on the customer, Sunpro is the perfect partner for ADT and a logical extension of our ecosystem, unlocking an integrated home experience that includes security, automation, and energy management,” said Jim DeVries, ADT President, and Chief Executive Officer. “By combining a cash-flow-positive company in the high-growth solar space with ADT’s trusted brand, national footprint, and cross-sell potential, we can expand offerings to our customers and accelerate growth for both ADT and ADT Solar.” Sustainable solar energy We offer consumers peace of mind by powering their homes with sustainable and affordable solar energy" “We’re excited to offer consumers even more peace of mind by allowing them to power their homes with sustainable and affordable solar energy. Residential solar represents a $15 billion annual market, but still only in 3 percent of all U.S. homes,” DeVries continued. “With more than 6 million ADT customers and our best-in-class sales force and marketing channels, we will be well-positioned to further scale ADT Solar while lowering customer acquisition costs and accelerating overall solar adoption. We believe we have the potential to grow ADT Solar into a multi-billion-dollar business over time as we meaningfully increase the accessibility and penetration of residential solar across America.” Solar power systems Founded in 2008, Sunpro is a provider of rooftop solar systems in the United States. Sunpro markets, designs, sells, installs, and maintains solar power systems on residential and commercial properties through their 3,600-person, full-time workforce of solar energy professionals with 56 locations in 22 states. The company has been growing quickly, with a 90 percent year-over-year increase in installs in 2020, and has a cash-flow-positive, asset-light business model with more than four consecutive years of positive EBITDA. Building ADT’s future The transaction price represents 10x the estimated standalone next twelve months’ EBITDA. The cash portion of the proceeds is expected to be used for debt reduction and sellers’ taxes. Nearly all of the sellers’ consideration is in ADT stock, reflecting their conviction in ADT’s future growth. Sunpro founder Marc Jones and the Sunpro management team are expected to join ADT to help build ADT Solar into the U.S. rooftop solar industry leader. Renewable energy solutions ADT will help accelerate our ability to bring residential and commercial rooftop solar to more customers" “Becoming part of the ADT family will accelerate our ability to bring residential and commercial rooftop solar to more customers, helping them save money and also become more energy independent,” Marc Jones said. “With our shared mission to further advance smart home technologies and renewable energy solutions for customers, our expansion will make a meaningful difference in how our customers live daily.” Strategic and financial benefits of the transaction Increasing total addressable market: With a larger presence in the home automation and energy management markets, ADT to expand its consumer offerings, leading to an increase in its total addressable market. Immediate brand and market leadership position: Residential solar is a highly fragmented industry without a clear and trusted brand leader, such as ADT. ADT Solar will immediately become a leading national residential solar installer. Superior customer acquisition and cross-selling: ADT’s trusted brand, national footprint, and reach into 6 million homes should enable strong, efficient solar customer lead generation and low-cost acquisition relative to competitors. ADT’s field team visits 10,000 households per day and has a salesforce of more than 3,000 people, creating the opportunity for substantial cross-selling between security and solar customers. Leverage the national network of strong partnerships: ADT Solar should also benefit from ADT’s broad, national network of homebuilders, ADT Authorised Dealers, and retailers, and will have new opportunities to create additional mutually beneficial relationships to expand its distribution network. Expands ADT’s presence in the home: Customers will benefit from a single, trusted supplier that can offer a complementary suite of security, smart home, and solar products and services. Earnings and cash flow positive: Transaction is expected to be positive to EBITDA and free cash flow immediately and accretive to EPS within the first 12 months, before any synergy realisation. Limited balance sheet impact: As part of the acquisition, ADT will assume approximately $20 million in vehicle loans and leases; all other existing Sunpro debt will be retired with the cash proceeds received from ADT at closing. The completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close by year-end 2021. Transaction advisors Citi is serving as financial advisors to ADT, and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius is serving as legal advisor to ADT. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. is serving as a financial advisor to Sunpro, and Vinson & Elkins is serving as a legal advisor to Sunpro.

STANLEY Security, a global provider of integrated security, health, and safety solutions announced its investment In Nexkey, Inc., an innovator in mobile-first, cloud-based access control solutions. This investment backed by STANLEY Ventures, the venture capital arm of Stanley Black & Decker is the start of a strategic partnership between the two companies.   “We are committed to building safer, healthier, and more efficient environments, to help the world progress," said STANLEY Security Global President Matthew Kushner. "Nexkey's innovative technology helps provide a seamless access control experience with the added value of data insights. When paired with the expertise from STANLEY Security, this solution will provide even more value to organisations as we all adapt to our evolving world." Affordable, integrated security solutions Nexkey's wireless access control platform allows businesses to manage access with a mobile app or web portal Nexkey launched in 2018 to provide businesses with an easier way to unlock and manage door access. The company's wireless access control platform enables smart entry to any door, which allows businesses to manage access with a mobile app or web portal, simplifying installation and delivering valuable spatial intelligence to help optimise operations.  STANLEY Security's investment in and partnership with Nexkey provides new opportunities for small- and medium-sized businesses to adopt affordable, integrated security solutions.   Versatile solution “Nexkey unlocks more value beyond what traditional access control can offer, as our solutions are so versatile and simple to install that we can deploy them on any door at a fraction of the cost of today’s  systems,” says Eric Trabold, CEO of Nexkey. “And with organisations increasingly turning to the cloud and mobile solutions, this partnership offers STANLEY Security’s customers a convenient solution for enhancing their access control, creating seamless on-site experiences, and providing intelligent insights throughout the entire building.” 

In the field of access control, face recognition has come a long way. Once considered too slow to authenticate people's identities and credentials in high traffic conditions, face recognition technology has evolved to become one of the quickest, most effective access control identity authentication solutions across all industries. Advancements in artificial intelligence and advanced neural network (ANN) technology from industry leaders like Intel have improved the accuracy and efficiency of face recognition. However, another reason the technology is gaining traction is due to the swiftly rising demand for touchless access control solutions that can help mitigate the spread of disease in public spaces. Effective for high volumes Face recognition eliminates security risks and is also virtually impossible to counterfeit Modern face recognition technology meets all the criteria for becoming the go-to solution for frictionless access control. It provides an accurate, non-invasive means of authenticating people's identities in high-traffic areas, including multi-tenant office buildings, industrial sites, and factories where multiple shifts per day are common. Typical electronic access control systems rely on people providing physical credentials, such as proximity cards, key fobs, or Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, all of which can be misplaced, lost, or stolen. Face recognition eliminates these security risks and is also virtually impossible to counterfeit. Affordable biometric option Although there are other biometric tools available, face recognition offers significant advantages. Some technologies use hand geometry or iris scans, for example, but these options are generally slower and more expensive. This makes face recognition a natural application for day-to-day access control activities, including chronicling time and attendance for large workforces at construction sites, warehouses, and agricultural and mining operations. In addition to verifying personal credentials, face recognition can also identify whether an individual is wearing a facial covering in compliance with government or corporate mandates regarding health safety protocols. Beyond securing physical locations, face recognition can also be used to manage access to computers, as well as specialised equipment and devices. Overcoming challenges with AI So how did face recognition become so reliable when the technology was once dogged by many challenges, including difficulties with camera angles, certain types of facial expressions, and diverse lighting conditions? Thanks to the emergence of so-called "convolutional" neural network-based algorithms, engineers have been able to overcome these roadblocks. SecurOS FaceX face recognition solution FaceX is powered by neural networks and machine learning which makes it capable of authenticating a wide range of faces One joint effort between New Jersey-based Intelligent Security Systems (ISS) and tech giant Intel has created the SecurOS FaceX face recognition solution. FaceX is powered by neural networks and machine learning which makes it capable of authenticating a wide range of faces and facial expressions, including those captured under changing light, at different resolution levels, and varying distances from the video camera. Secure video management system A common face recognition system deployment begins with IP video cameras that feed footage into a secure video management system connected to a video archive. When the software initially enrolls a person’s face, it creates a "digital descriptor" that is stored as a numeric code that will forever be associated with one identity. The system encrypts and stores these numeric codes in a SQL database. For the sake of convenience and cost savings, the video server CPU performs all neural network processes without requiring any special GPU cards. Unique digital identifiers The next step involves correlating faces captured in a video recording with their unique digital descriptors on file. The system can compare newly captured images against large databases of known individuals or faces captured from video streams. Face recognition technology can provide multi-factor authentication, searching watchlists for specific types of features, such as age, hair colour, gender, ethnicity, facial hair, glasses, headwear, and other identifying characteristics including bald spots. Robust encryption SED-compatible drives rely on dedicated chips that encrypt data with AES-128 or AES-256 To support privacy concerns, the entire system features an encrypted and secure login process that prevents unauthorized access to both the database and the archive. An additional layer of encryption is available through the use of Self-Encrypting Drives (SEDs) that hold video recordings and metadata. SED-compatible drives rely on dedicated chips that encrypt data with AES-128 or AES-256 (short for Advanced Encryption Standard). Anti-spoofing safeguards How do face recognition systems handle people who try to trick the system by wearing a costume mask or holding up a picture to hide their faces? FaceX from ISS, for example, includes anti-spoofing capabilities that essentially check for the "liveliness" of a given face. The algorithm can easily flag the flat, two-dimensional nature of a face mask, printed photo, or image on a mobile phone and issue a "spoof" alarm. Increased speed of entry Incorporating facial recognition into existing access control systems is straightforward and cost-effective Incorporating facial recognition into existing access control systems is straightforward and cost-effective. Systems can operate with off-the-shelf security cameras and computers. Users can also leverage existing infrastructure to maintain building aesthetics. A face recognition system can complete the process of detection and recognition in an instant, opening a door or turnstile in less than 500ms. Such efficiency can eliminate hours associated with security personnel checking and managing credentials manually. A vital tool Modern face recognition solutions are infinitely scalable to accommodate global enterprises. As a result, face recognition as a credential is increasingly being implemented for a wide range of applications that transcend traditional access control and physical security to include health safety and workforce management. All these capabilities make face recognition a natural, frictionless solution for managing access control, both in terms of performance and cost.

Gregor Schlechtriem has worked in the access control market for over 20 years and is now responsible for the Access & Intrusion Business Unit at Bosch Building Technologies. In this interview, the expert talks about key industry trends, the impact of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, technical innovations and his company’s strategy. Mr. Schlechtriem, you have many years of experience in the security technology market. What is your background and what are your responsibilities as Senior Vice President at Bosch Building Technologies? Gregor Schlechtriem: I am a trained engineer and electrical technician, and have been involved with access control in the broadest sense, since I started my career in the late 1980s. I started in the field of parking garage technology and then switched to security technology in 2001, as Managing Director of micos GmbH, which specialised in traditional access control. micos GmbH was known for its highly available and highly secure access control systems, for critical infrastructure and government applications. Many systems from that time are still in use today and continue to be supported and upgraded. Bosch is continuing micos’ business here? Gregor Schlechtriem: Exactly, micos was taken over in 2004 by Bosch Security Systems, now known as Bosch Building Technologies. Since then, we have continuously been developing the access control business. Being part of the Bosch Building Technologies division, we benefit a lot from international cooperation with colleagues Being part of the Bosch Building Technologies division, we benefit a lot from international cooperation with colleagues and from overlap with other product lines, such as intrusion detection technology and video security. This gives us the opportunity to implement outstanding project solutions for demanding customers in an international environment. In developing this business, I rely on my experience from other interesting roles at Bosch that I took on, after micos was bought in 2004. For a time, I worked in the European System Integrator Business, which I also had the privilege of managing for several years, as well as being directly responsible for business units. In Fairport, USA, I had the overall responsibility for intrusion detection technology for many years, as I later did in Eindhoven for video systems. Since 2018, the global access control and intrusion detection business has once again been my direct responsibility. At Bosch Building Technologies, we have in the meantime assigned sales to the respective business units, so that we can develop our product and solution portfolio, in close cooperation with sales and our regular customers. Our main task now is to make our access control portfolio accessible to a broader market. We want to make Bosch much better known, as an access control provider, in the international market. After all, with our own access product portfolio, the power of the Bosch Group and over 40 years of experience in this sector, we have a lot to offer. As an expert in access control, how do you see the industry developing? In which direction is it currently evolving? Gregor Schlechtriem: First of all, I see that security requirements are constantly increasing. Whereas there are currently still simple ‘key replacement systems’ that merely record card numbers, such an approach, to a large extent, no longer meets today’s security and user experience requirements.The core task of access control has not changed over the years In the beginning, access control was more or less a kind of key replacement. Later, there was the possibility of increasing security via a pin code, i.e., via verification through simple data inputs. The next step in this direction was biometrics, which is another key step up, because it allows verification by means of unmistakable characteristics. However, the core task of access control has not changed over all the years and has basically always remained the same: access control means determining who has an access request and checking whether this request can be fulfilled. What’s next on this path to greater security? Gregor Schlechtriem: Biometrics-based access control is becoming increasingly powerful and user-friendly through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Here, data protection plays a major role, as wherever identities are established and movement data is recorded, it is necessary to reconcile the evolving technology with data protection.Biometrics-based access control is becoming increasingly powerful and user-friendly through the use of artificial intelligence The question of data protection is becoming even more significant, as systems increasingly migrate to the Cloud. Bosch puts particular emphasis on ensuring that, even in the cloud, the data generated in access control is always in line with data protection rules, regardless of where it is located. In my opinion, this trend towards the Cloud will continue, because companies are increasingly looking for complete service offerings, so that they can focus on their core business. Also, a system in the Cloud is easier to maintain and always up-to-date with the latest software, which makes cloud solutions even more attractive for providers and users. How can higher security be reconciled with a good user experience? Gregor Schlechtriem: Today, the card still plays a central role in the user experience, as the essential credential. Another current trend is ‘one card for everything’: with the increasing availability of secure multi-function smart cards, the possibility arises to use cards beyond the pure access function, for example, for payment in the canteen, at the catering and coffee machines, and in the parking garage, as well as simple access to other properties and so on.The security of cards has evolved significantly and kept pace with requirements The security of the cards, the reading and encryption processes, has evolved significantly and kept pace with requirements, although we are also facing an installed base that no longer meets these requirements, due to outdated systems. Today, it is standard for communications between reader and card to be encrypted. In some cases, the keys are also only held centrally to further increase security. The security systems industry was also affected by the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. How do you think the industry has changed? What technical solutions have emerged during this time? Gregor Schlechtriem: First of all, there is a certain need for retrofitting in the industry due to changes in how buildings are used. For example, American retailers used to be open around the clock and always had staff on site. Now, due to COVID-19, stores are also closed, and this results in a whole new need for intrusion detection and access control systems to protect the buildings. For access control, an obvious task has arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, namely to track contacts, as far as this is compatible with data protection. We actually expected more to happen here, but in our observation, many companies did quite little, despite clear and simple steps that could have been implemented relatively quickly. The installed access control systems clearly lag behind the technical possibilities. Another topic that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus is hygiene Another topic that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus is hygiene. Companies should actually have invested in contactless systems here and retrofitted speed gates or motorised doors. But in many cases this was not put into practice. The door opener is still often used, which has to be operated manually and therefore, is touched multiple times. But, if everyone presses the same button, that doesn't help hygiene. Surprisingly, this is different in North America. Here, ‘request-to-exit’ proximity detectors are used almost everywhere, which avoids this problem completely and releases the door, when an authorised person approaches it. Mobile access and smartphone-based access control are also growing markets. What kind of developments do you see in these areas? Gregor Schlechtriem: I already mentioned that users increasingly want to be able to use one card for several applications. But, what we are seeing here is that even with the most modern cards, which have a lot of applications loaded on them, we are reaching performance limits and the user experience suffers. If you compare the card with the smartphone as a credential, you have a much more attractive integration platform there, which is significantly faster and delivers much better performance. For us, the mobile credential or the smartphone is the future, because it simply offers more possibilities that the card will not be able to provide in the long term. What is the specific direction Bosch is taking here? Gregor Schlechtriem: We are currently working on a broad implementation. A whole team is working on the user experience around the smartphone, because it’s understood that smartphone-based access has to work just as easily, as it currently does with a card.A whole team is working on the user experience around the smartphone In theory it does, but if you look at some of the actual implementations, this topic is still relatively complex. In terms of user experience and automation, we still have quite a way to go, and we are working hard on that at the moment. The user experience is one side of the coin, the other side concerns establishing security in the smartphone as a whole. In other words: How do I make the smartphone secure enough as a mobile credential, to meet my access control requirements? We are also working intensively on this. That's actually an IT task. Do you do this yourself at Bosch or do you work with external experts here? Gregor Schlechtriem: We have our own powerful Bosch IT, which also manages our company smartphones. If our company smartphones are lost, the data on them is automatically deleted. The devices use biometrics to identify users, before they can access the data. It is a sound security concept that a card cannot offer. Moreover, we are working with other partners in the IDunion project, to create the additional infrastructure around mobile credentials as well. What exactly is the IDunion and what role does Bosch play? Gregor Schlechtriem: Digital identities must be openly accessible, widely usable, interoperable, and secure. This applies not only to access control, but to the digitised economy in general. The IDunion project has set itself the task of creating the infrastructure for this, in the form of an independent wallet, i.e., secure identity storage on smart devices. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWI), because digitisation is also a critical social issue. We are intensively involved in the ‘Physical access to the building’ work package in this consortium. Through this involvement, we want to ensure that our access control systems benefit from this infrastructure and are open to future digital business models. Does ‘digital identity management’, which includes biometrics and mobile access, also play a role for Bosch? Yes, it plays an important role for us, and I wouldn’t consider these topics separate Gregor Schlechtriem: Yes, it plays an important role for us, and I wouldn’t consider these topics separate. For me, a mobile device has the advantage that it has already ensured and verified my identity from the moment of interaction. That’s the fascinating thing about it. If I only allow the device to communicate with the access control system, if I have identified myself first, I have implemented biometrics and access control together in a widely accepted process. From my point of view, this is a very interesting perspective, in terms of security and user experience, because the biometrics procedures in smartphones are, I think, the best currently available. In my view, the smartphone has the potential to take over central functions in access control in the future. What are your goals for the access control business of Bosch Building Technologies in the near future? Gregor Schlechtriem: We will continue to focus on specific solutions for large customers. That is the continuation of our current strategy. In these projects, we will introduce new topics as I have just described, i.e., primarily new technology elements. I believe that, precisely because of the longevity of access control, a long-term migration capability is also of particular importance. We want to reach out to the broader market and make more widely available, what we have developed in terms of technology and innovation. We are currently in the process of setting up and optimising our sales organisation, so that it becomes much more widely known that we at Bosch have our own powerful access control portfolio, which can be used for all kinds of applications. In addition, we want to differentiate ourselves in the market with our systems, in line with the motto of our founder, Robert Bosch: ‘Technology for life’. The user experience with Mobile Access should be simple, straightforward, and secure: You hold your smartphone in front of the reader and the door opens.

How AI and humans can work together is a longstanding debate. As society progresses technologically, there’s always the worry of robots taking over jobs. Self-checkout tills, automated factory machines, and video analytics are all improving efficiency and productivity, but they can still work in tandem with humans, and in most cases, they need to. Video analytics in particular is one impressively intelligent piece of technology that security guards can utilise. How can video analytics help with certain security scenarios? Video analytics tools Before video analytics or even CCTV in general, if a child went missing in a shopping centre, we could only rely on humans. Take a crowded Saturday shopping centre, a complex one with a multitude of shops and eateries, you’d have to alert the security personnel, rely on a tannoy and search party, and hope for a lockdown to find a lost or kidnapped child. With video analytics, how would this scenario play out? It’s pretty mind-blowing. As soon as security is alerted, they can work with the video analytics tools to instruct it precisely With the same scenario, you now have the help of many different cameras, but then there’s the task of searching through all the CCTV resources and footage. That’s where complex search functions come in. As soon as security is alerted, they can work with the video analytics tools to instruct it precisely on what footage to narrow down, and there’s a lot of filters and functions to use. Expected movement direction For instance, they can tick a ‘human’ field, so the AI can track and filter out vehicles, objects etc., and then they can input height, clothing colours, time the child went missing, and last known location. There’s a complex event to check too, under ‘child kidnap’. For a more accurate search, security guards can then add in a searching criterion by drawing the child’s expected movement direction using a visual query function. A unique function like this enables visual criteria-based searches rather than text-based ones. The tech will then narrow down to the images/videos showing the criteria they’ve inputted, showing the object/child that matches the data and filter input. Detecting facial data There are illegal demonstrations and troublesome interferences that police have to deal with A white-list face recognition function is then used to track the child’s route which means the AI can detect facial data that has not been previously saved in the database, allowing it to track the route of a target entity, all in real time. Then, security guards can confirm the child’s route and current location. All up-to-date info can then be transferred to an onsite guard’s mobile phone for them to confirm the missing child’s movement route, face, and current location, helping to find them as quickly as possible. Often, there are illegal demonstrations and troublesome interferences that police have to deal with. Video analytics and surveillance can not only capture these, but they can be used to predict when they may happen, providing a more efficient process in dealing with these types of situations and gathering resources. Event processing functions Picture a public square with a number of entries into the main area, and at each entry point or path, there is CCTV. Those in the control room can set two events for each camera: a grouping event and a path-passing event. These are pretty self-explanatory. A grouping event covers images of seeing people gathering in close proximity and a path-passing event will show when people are passing through or entering. The video analytics tool can look out for large gatherings and increased footfall to alert security By setting these two events, the video analytics tool can look out for large gatherings and increased footfall to alert security or whoever is monitoring to be cautious of protests, demonstrations or any commotion. Using complex event processing functions, over-detection of alarms can also be prevented, especially if there’s a busy day with many passing through. Reducing false alarms By combining the two events, that filters down the triggers for alarms for better accuracy to predict certain situations, like a demonstration. The AI can also be set to only trigger an alarm when the two events are happening simultaneously on all the cameras of each entry to reduce false alarms. There are so many situations and events that video analytics can be programmed to monitor. You can tick fields to monitor any objects that have appeared, disappeared, or been abandoned. You can also check events like path-passing to monitor traffic, as well as loitering, fighting, grouping, a sudden scene change, smoke, flames, falling, unsafe crossing, traffic jams and car accidents etc. Preventing unsafe situations Complex events can include violations of one-way systems, blacklist-detected vehicles Complex events can include violations of one-way systems, blacklist-detected vehicles, person and vehicle tracking, child kidnaps, waste collection, over-speed vehicles, and demonstration detections. The use of video analytics expands our capabilities tremendously, working in real time to detect and help predict security-related situations. Together with security agents, guards and operatives, AI in CCTV means resources can be better prepared, and that the likelihood of preventing unsafe situations can be greatly improved. It’s a winning team, as AI won’t always get it right but it’s there to be the advanced eyes we need to help keep businesses, premises and areas safer.

It’s been almost exactly a decade since HID Global launched the world's first university pilot of smartphones carrying secure mobile IDs. A lot has changed in the following 10 years. Today’s technology has matured, advanced, and proliferated across a variety of high-value use cases. To catch up on the latest developments in mobile access, we contacted Luc Merredew, Product Marketing Director, Physical Access Control, at HID Global.   Q: What has changed since the first pilot implementation of smartphones used for secure mobile identification? Merredew: One of the biggest milestones several years ago was when mobile access solutions achieved certification to the ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System (ISMS) standard. With increasing awareness of cloud-based security threats and resulting high expectations from a solution, today’s system owners, operators, and users insist on companies being able to demonstrate that they have had their services vetted by independent laboratories and/or agencies. When adopting mobile access solutions that maximise convenience and efficiency, and deliver dramatically improved user experiences, it is neither necessary nor acceptable to compromise security in either the physical or digital domains. Q: Do universities continue to be the biggest users? Mobile IDs on devices eliminate person-to-person credentials when accessing secured areas Merredew: The use cases have grown dramatically, spread evenly across all types of organisations in locations ranging from high-rise buildings to multi-campus global enterprises. But yes, universities continue to be big adopters, and they were among those most eager to leverage the technology so they could bring people back to campus in person during the pandemic. In this environment, mobile IDs on smartphones and other devices eliminate person-to-person credential (e.g., badge or ID card) issuance or revocation, as well as the need to physically touch cards, readers, or keypads when accessing secured areas.   Q: How were mobile IDs employed by your customers as they brought people back to physical locations after the pandemic shutdown? Merredew: One example is Vanderbilt University, where the challenges of COVID-19 brought renewed attention to the importance of a modern system for identity management and access control that was compatible with Near Field Communication (NFC) and Bluetooth technologies. Members of the campus community could more conveniently access buildings and services with their mobile devices, and the university could efficiently provision and de-provision credentials remotely without person-to-person contact. More recently, Vanderbilt leveraged HID Mobile Access® to deploy campus IDs on iPhone and Apple Watch through Apple Wallet. Q: Is there another example outside the university vertical? Merredew: Another example is the iconic tower Arcos Bosques Torre 1 in Mexico City, where the owners and tenants enjoy the simplicity of using their trusted mobile devices to seamlessly access their spaces. As with the Vanderbilt deployment, the drive for operational efficiency and convenience in the tower was combined with a desire to minimise the need for users to come in physical contact with the system. Having a solution like HID Mobile Access that delivers touchless entry and increased safety and security is important.  Q: What have been the biggest mobile access advancements? The mobile credential provides contactless, seamless access to a wide range of devices and services Merredew: One of the most important advancements was simplifying upgrade paths to mobile access. In the Vanderbilt example, our HID Reader Manager was used to upgrade the firmware on the university’s physical access control readers and extend support for NFC-based credentials in Apple Wallet. The university uses the HID Origo™ Mobile Identities API integrated with CS Gold®, a higher education transaction system from CBORD, for credential lifecycle management. Another significant enhancement has been the expanded range of uses cases for the mobile credential, going beyond simply opening doors to include providing contactless, seamless access to a wide range of devices and services such as time-and-attendance terminals, cashless vending machines, printers, computers, workstations, and many other applications. Q: Wearables are also having an impact. Merredew: Contactless mobile experiences are also delivered through wearable wristbands. One example is the Nymi band which, once authenticated, continuously authenticates the identity of the user until it’s removed from the wrist. This delivers zero-trust security principles and access control using convenient fingerprint and heartbeat biometrics to users seeking touchless authentication. Q: What is the impact of the cloud? Merredew: The move to a cloud-based system to issue and manage mobile identity credentials has unified, automated, and simplified identity issuance at a single facility or across any number of distributed office or remote work locations. Q: What should end users look for in a mobile access solution? Look for solutions that use a secure element in the reader as well as cloud certificates, to ensure security and data privacy Merredew: Solutions should support the largest possible number of popular mobile devices – in HID’s case, this includes more than 250. Look for solutions that use a secure element in the reader, and a secure key management process, as well as cloud certificates, to ensure both security and data privacy. Make sure the solution supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near Field Communication (NFC), and both iOS and Android operating systems. Solutions that provide Application Programming Interface (API) and Software Development Kit (SDK) support offer direct access to the solution’s access control hardware, speeding deployment while enabling integration partners to continue innovating products that deliver even better user experiences. Q: Wonder what this market will look like in 10 more years. What’s next for mobile access? Merredew: Future innovations are on the horizon with technologies such as Ultra-Wideband (UWB) wireless connectivity, which HID expects will become ubiquitous on mobile devices. It provides unprecedented accuracy and security when measuring the distance or determining the relative position of a target. It is not HID’s expectation that UWB will replace Near Field Communication (NFC) or Bluetooth, but rather supplement Bluetooth and other technologies to provide the assurance, reliability, and granularity of device position that enables truly seamless experiences. 

Vehicle barriers first rose to the forefront of public attention after 9/11. The focus from 2001 to 2010 was on anti-terrorism, and vehicle barriers appeared at military and government facilities around the world. The U.S. Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021, brought heightened attention to the risks in a society that is increasingly fractured and volatile. Various protest events in recent months have made customers more aware of possible threats and prompted many to proactively install vehicle barriers and other systems to protect their premises. Shifting market focus Since 2010, and with the anti-terrorism market mostly saturated, the market focus for vehicle barriers shifted to public safety applications such as stadiums, schools, universities, large tech companies, and data centres. It’s an example of deploying technology developed in “wartime” to the broader public good, says Keith Bobrosky, the new president of vehicle barrier company Delta Scientific Corporation. Withstanding the pandemic The only remaining hurdle for Delta Scientific is to deal with continuing uncertainty going forward Like many in the security market, Delta Scientific has withstood a tumultuous two years during the duration of the novel coronavirus pandemic. They have “come through with flying colours,” says Bobrosky. The company never closed down, and its vaccination rate is high. The only remaining hurdle is to deal with continuing uncertainty going forward. Delta Scientific’s commitment Bobrosky began working in sales at Delta Scientific in 2007. Along the way, he has expanded into management, production, and engineering management. Through it all, he has seen a company that provides employees the autonomy to do their jobs and who have a strong commitment to customers, he says. The privately-owned company is nimble; decisions can be made quickly to respond to market changes, adds Bobrosky. Addressing needs during a pandemic The company was concerned about lower demand when the economy shut down, says Bobrosky, but they did not see an impact. The business was steady as a result of government entities and other organisations taking advantage of being closed to evaluate and address security needs. “We saw a decent flow of government business because of the shutdown,” says Bobrosky. Delta Scientific focuses on the domestic U.S. market but also has a presence selling to partners in the Middle East and Europe, where the equipment is known for its ability to take multiple hits. Even after withstanding an impact according to ASTM standards, their barrier is still operational. Increased steel purchased Delta Scientific ramped up its purchasing power, staving off any shortages and striving to keep lead times short As material shortages have spread through the industry, Delta Scientific has ramped up its purchasing power, staving off any shortages and striving to keep lead times short. Steel is their major component – literally, 98% of the weight of the products is steel, and there are 5,000 pounds of steel per barrier. The price of steel has gone up and there have been shortages. The company has maintained supply by leveraging its reputation and purchasing power. Most of their components are made in the USA, which has helped them dodge the recent challenges of the global supply chain.  Application of barriers and bollards Automotive dealerships are another market for Delta Scientific; their bollards and barriers are used as anti-theft devices to keep vehicles from being stolen from a sales lot. Delta Scientific’s products can foil car thieves who might otherwise use a large vehicle to plow through a barrier and then enable a parade of accomplices to drive away in additional vehicles. Auto resellers buy anti-terrorism products to protect their inventories. DSC550 Open Frame vehicle barrier Delta Scientific’s products have evolved from push buttons and relay to touch screens and microprocessors New efficient product designs enable Delta Scientific to use less steel while keeping prices competitive and maintaining crash ratings. The products are more innovative, says Bobrosky. New barriers include the DSC550 Open Frame vehicle barrier, which does not block the view as solid barriers do. During the last decade control systems for Delta Scientific’s products have evolved from push buttons and relays to touch screens and microprocessors, although some customers still prefer the simplicity of the older approach. Portable crash barriers The equipment can also be controlled remotely and integrated with PSIM-type systems. Although the systems are stand-alone, some clients have been toying with the idea of controlling them through the internet, emphasising the importance of appropriate cybersecurity. A separate line of portable crash barriers can be towed into place in 15 minutes by a vehicle or even a golf cart. They are used for events such as the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, the Oscars, music festivals, etc. There are hundreds of units in the field, available as needed for various events and rented out to event management companies and other organisers. Improving customer relations  As the president of Delta Scientific, Bobrosky says his biggest opportunity is to continue improving customer relations – a never-ending goal. He will also strive to increase communication. Looking ahead, additional crash tests are scheduled for 2022, and the company will continue to look for ways to “do more with less.”

Growth is accelerating in the smart cities market, which will quadruple in the next four years based on 2020 numbers. Top priorities are resilient energy and infrastructure projects, followed by data-driven public safety and intelligent transportation. Innovation in smart cities will come from the continual maturation of relevant technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), fifth-generation telecommunications (5G) and edge-to-cloud networking. AI and computer vision (video analytics) are driving challenges in security and safety, in particular, with video management systems (VMSs) capturing video streams and exposing them to various AI analytics. Adoption of disruptive technologies “Cities are entering the critical part of the adoption curve,” said Kasia Hanson, Global Director, Partner Sales, IOT Video, Safe Cities, Intel Corp. “They are beginning to cross the chasm to realise their smart city vision. Cities are taking notice and have new incentives to push harder than before. They are in a better position to innovate.” “Safety and security were already important market drivers responsible for adoption of AI, computer vision and edge computing scenarios,” commented Hanson, in a presentation at the Milestone Integration Platform Symposium (MIPS) 2021. She added: “2020 was an inflection point when technology and the market were ripe for disruption. COVID has accelerated the adoption of disruptive technologies in ways we could not have predicted last year.” Challenges faced by cities Spending in the European Union on public order and safety alone stood at 1.7% of GDP in 2018 Providing wide-ranging services is an expanding need in cities of all sizes. There are currently 33 megacities globally with populations over 10 million. There are also another 4,000 cities with populations over 100,000 inhabitants. Challenges for all cities include improving public health and safety, addressing environmental pressures, enabling mobility, improving quality of life, promoting economic competitiveness and reducing costs. Spending in the European Union on public order and safety alone stood at 1.7% of GDP in 2018. Other challenges include air quality – 80% of those living in urban areas are exposed to air quality levels that exceed World Health Organization (WHO) limits. Highlighting mobility concerns is an eye-opening statistic from Los Angeles in 2017: Residents spent an average of 102 hours sitting in traffic. Smart technology “The Smart City of Today can enable rich and diverse use cases,” says Hanson. Examples include AI-enabled traffic signals to help reduce air pollution, and machine learning for public safety such as real-time visualisation and emergency response. Public safety use cases include smart and connected outdoor lighting, smart buildings, crime prevention, video wearables for field agents, smart kiosks and detection of noise level, glass breaks and gunshots. Smart technology will make indoor spaces safer by controlling access to a building with keyless and touchless entry. In the age of COVID, systems can also detect face mask compliance, screen for fever and ensure physical distancing. 2020 was an inflection point when technology and the smart cities market were ripe for disruption, Kasia Hanson told the MIPS 2021 audience. Video solutions Video workloads will provide core capabilities as entertainment venues reopen after the pandemic. When audiences attend an event at a city stadium, deep learning and AI capabilities analyse customer behaviours to create new routes, pathways, signage and to optimise cleaning operations. Personalised digital experiences will add to the overall entertainment value. In the public safety arena, video enables core capabilities such as protection of people, assets and property, emergency response, and real-time visualisation and increased situational awareness. Video also provides intelligent incident management, better operational efficiency and faster information sharing and collaboration. Smart video strategy Intel and Milestone provide video solutions across many use cases, including safety and security Video at the edge is a key element in end-to-end solutions. Transforming data from various point solutions into insights is complicated, time-consuming and costly. Cities and public venues are looking for hardware, software and industry expertise to provide the right mix of performance, capabilities and cost-effectiveness. Intel’s smart video strategy focuses around its OpenVINO toolkit. OpenVINO, which is short for Open Visual Inference and Neural network Optimisation, enables customers to build and deploy high-performing computer vision and deep learning inference applications. Intel and Milestone partnership – Video solutions “Our customers are asking for choice and flexibility at the edge, on-premises and in the cloud,” said Hansen in her presentation at the virtual conference. “They want the choice to integrate with large-scale software packages to speed deployment and ensure consistency over time. They need to be able to scale computer vision. Resolutions are increasing alongside growth in sensor installations themselves. They have to be able to accommodate that volume, no matter what causes it to grow.” As partners, Intel and Milestone provide video solutions across many use cases, including safety and security. In effect, the partnership combines Intel’s portfolio of video, computer vision, inferencing and AI capabilities with Milestone’s video management software and community of analytics partners. Given its complex needs, the smart cities market is particularly inviting for these technologies.

Immervision, the pioneering developer of advanced vision systems combining optics, image processing, and sensor fusion technology announced its ultra-wide lenses will be integrated into IONODES’ PERCEPT body camera. This collaboration will give businesses and the general public greater peace of mind, by providing physical security workers with a body camera that can effectively capture in real-time any potential security threats or issues in high resolution and never miss a detail through a Panomorph lens with 180° field of view. Improving safety “In the physical security industry, the challenge that most companies face with body-worn cameras is that the video fails to effectively capture what’s occurring due to narrow field-of-view and poor image resolution,” said Eric Tasso, President at IONODES. “By selecting Immervision technology and their team of experts, we are providing security, industrial and commercial organisations with the highest-quality wearable cameras to improve safety, enhance security, optimise business processes and provide transparency.” IONODES’ device integrates seamlessly with a GPS receiver and 9-axis motion sensor to stabilise the image  Integration with body-worn IoT device IONODES’ body-worn IoT device is the first of a series of products that combines Immervision’s ultra-wide-angle lens, image processing, and sensor technology with IONODES 4K camera, and connects to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and LTE. IONODES’ device integrates seamlessly with a GPS receiver and 9-axis motion sensor, allowing users to closely follow the field of view in real-time, to stabilise the image and provide location tracking to users, whether for security, prevention, monitoring, or entertainment applications. Advanced vision systems “Over the last 20 years, Immervision has focused on cultivating and perfecting its expertise in advanced vision systems, giving devices in industries such as physical security the ability to truly perceive the world around them,” said Pascale Nini, President, and CEO at Immervision. “Immervision and IONODES are deeply committed to offering the best vision systems in the market for security and surveillance, and we look forward to continuing to make more innovative strides in developing high-quality wearable camera devices and AI-based vision systems.”

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.

Salient Systems, a pioneer in open architecture video management systems, has announced that its CompleteView VMS, an open platform video management system has been selected by Maine-based Brigid Farm for a multi-state video upgrade project for the company’s cannabis facilities. With headquarters in Saco, Maine, Brigid Farm is a vertically integrated cannabis firm that has been providing cannabis products for more than a decade. The company has recently expanded its operations to include multiple grow fields, an edible manufacturing facility, and two retail stores – a total of eight locations in Maine and one in Massachusetts. Remote and centralised monitoring As each location poses its security challenges, Brigid Farm chose the robust, open platform CompleteView VMS to enable remote access to and centralised management of video from all the company’s locations, including its retail operations, The Farm Stand, and The House of Hash. We were looking for a robust VMS that could help us easily monitor all of our operations from anywhere" “Given the heightened security concerns in the cannabis industry, and the unique security needs for our different locations, we were looking for a robust VMS that could help us easily monitor all of our operations from anywhere,” said Brett Messer, owner, and general manager of Brigid Farm. “It was vital for us to have an open system that can accommodate our future technology needs and expand as our company grows.” Integration software and LPR Brigid Farm also selected CompleteView for its ability to integrate with several other key operational technologies, including license plate recognition (LPR) to monitor daily incoming and outgoing deliveries, point of sale software for retail transactions, and the cannabis industry seed-to-sale tracking software, which cannabis businesses use for regulatory compliance. “Our CompleteView VMS is widely used in the cannabis market as it is uniquely positioned to solve pain points for cannabis operators,” said Sanjay Challa, chief product officer, Salient Systems. “We’re excited to work with Brigid Farm to fulfill their integrated video management needs and provide them with operational visibility across their enterprise.”

IOTICS is creating a digital twin of Portsmouth International Port as part of an ambitious 1.5m project to demonstrate an achievable modular green hydrogen generation system within the Port. The Shipping, Hydrogen & Port Ecosystems UK (SHAPE UK) project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, funded by the Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. Carbon neutral port Portsmouth International Port is the UK's largest and most successful municipal port, operated by Portsmouth City Council, and is one of the sites of the new Solent Freeport. It is committed to becoming the first carbon-neutral UK port by 2030 and the first zero-emission port by 2050.  “As a port operating in the heart of a major city, and that is owned by the people of Portsmouth, we must do everything we can to minimise our impact as we continue to grow in the coming years,” said Jerry Clarke, Senior Project Manager at Portsmouth International Port. Virtualising activities  Connected Places Catapult and Portsmouth University will leverage data to enhance and optimise operations IOTICS and its partners will create a digital twin of the port, interoperating with existing and emerging data from the port infrastructure and its activities as well as gathering data from the working hydrogen electrolyser. The IOTICS-enabled semantically defined digital twins, interoperating with data sources uncovered by KnowNow and deployed by Barter4Things will be an amalgamation to virtualise both dockside and offshore activities.  Connected Places Catapult and Portsmouth University will leverage data from the digital twins within the port ecosystem to enhance and optimise operations with decision-support tools. Digital twin approach The digital twin approach will create a scalable model that is translatable for other ecosystems, use cases, and locations, offering a flexible foundation for further development.  Sophie Peachey, Head of Customer Success at IOTICS said, “This project gives us many options to showcase the value of a digital twin approach by reusing data across different use cases." We will be looking at the business benefits for deploying renewable and clean fuels" "We will be looking at the business benefits for deploying renewable and clean fuels as well as the logistics of refuelling onshore equipment and sea-going vessels in a busy port. We’ll also be setting up the foundations of ways to look at environmental impacts of switching to clean fuel sources." Reducing carbon emissions Dr. David Hutchinson, a Reader in Environmental Innovation and Innovation and Impact Development Manager for the Faculty of Technology at the University of Portsmouth, said, “The Government has a very ambitious environmental target within the maritime sector." "SHAPE UK represents a milestone in the move to innovative low-cost green hydrogen generation and storage systems that bring significant reduction in carbon emissions and air pollution in and around Portsmouth and other UK ports.” He added, “The port is keen to act as a living lab so there will be a great student experience element, which will be particularly relevant for students in our Faculty of Technology, such as those on the renewable energy degree.”

Cumbria Police have refreshed their fleet of frontline TETRA radios, deploying Sepura SC21 hand-portable radios to police officer roles and SCG22 mobile radios in vehicles. In total over 1,400 radios have been deployed to enable the force to upgrade to the latest standard of TETRA radio capability. Enhanced mobile communication Aware of the need to refresh their radio fleet, the force organised field trials for new radios. Feedback from officers using the new Sepura SC21 TETRA radio was overwhelmingly positive. A vital advantage for the SC21 over the previous Airwave estate being the powerful TETRA engine and receive sensitivity. These combine to allow Cumbria Police officers to maintain Airwave coverage and keep communicating in the county’s many rural locations, where less powerful handsets frequently lose coverage. This deployment was further supported by the ability of the SCG22 to act as a Gateway, extending Airwave coverage where it might not otherwise reach and further enhancing the overall critical communications solution. Minimised training required The radios were programmed with a bespoke user interface designed to offer officers a familiar user experience The mobile radio was chosen as it has comprehensive deployment options, including car, van, motorcycle, and desk mount options, and shares a common interface to the SC21 meaning officer training is minimised. The transition to the new Sepura devices was undertaken during the COVID pandemic in the UK, with the Sepura team working with Cumbria Police to identify safe and effective ways to support an accelerated transition. This included Sepura supporting the force with a provisioning service, meaning the radios were pre-programmed and delivered to force headquarters ready to deploy. In addition, the radios were programmed with a bespoke user interface designed to offer Cumbria Police officers a familiar user experience, minimising officer training. Secure communication solution Adrian Johnson, ICT Operational Change Business Lead at Cumbria Police said, “Our officers require reliable secure communications with the easy-to-handle, reliable kit. Our old terminals were no longer supported by the manufacturer and were starting to fail. Our officers have been providing Policing services to our citizens and visitors to Cumbria throughout the COVID pandemic.” “The Sepura rollout has occurred during this global pandemic, during which the team had to learn new ways of doing things safely. The project team worked effectively with Sepura’s support teams to successfully deliver this new equipment to our teams.” “It is imperative in a mission-critical environment that we have excellent relationships with suppliers and immediate access to subject matter experts when our technicians need help or advice. Sepura understands Cumbria Police’ requirements and willingness to work together was key to achieving the agreed solution.” Providing effective solutions Dawn Griffiths, Business Development Manager for Sepura said, “We are delighted to support Cumbria Police in upgrading their hand-portable radios to the SC21.” “The expectation for modern radios is much greater than it was previously, and Sepura’s SC range can support these demands with powerful data applications, intelligent connectivity, and advanced features such as wireless Over The Air Programming which will enable the force to keep evolving their TETRA solution for many years to come.”

Here East is an innovation and technology campus located at the heart of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, UK. Once the Press and Broadcast Centre for the 2012 Olympic Games, it is home to a thriving community of over 4,500 creative, academics, and innovators. Designed as a mini-city, the campus is a mixed-use development that houses offices, retail units, university facilities, cultural exhibitions, and public spaces. Notable tenants include BT Sport, the V&A Museum, Sports Interactive, and the studios of noted choreographer Wayne McGregor. In total, the site offers 1.2 million square feet of flexible space and caters to a wide range of visitors. Modernising data The previous video management system was still functioning. Yet, Here East’s Head of Security, Leighton Jones, was familiar with the Genetec unified platform and was confident it could deliver more. The advanced capabilities of the Genetec system would enable his team to gain a deeper understanding of the environment, resolve incidents in real-time and ensure a positive user experience. “Here East is a truly iconic location with a diverse list of high calibre visitors and tenants,” explains Jones. “I wanted to be able to say we use the best technology available and in my experience that is Genetec.” Here East has begun a multi-year phased adoption of Genetec solutions, starting with the deployment of Genetec Clearance to modernise data handling and the secure sharing of digital evidence. GDPR compliance Implementation of the EU GDPR has led Here East to revisit its processes for the sharing of video surveillance footage Like many organisations, the implementation of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has led Here East to revisit its processes for the sharing of video surveillance footage. Each time Here East received a validated evidence request, operators burned footage onto physical storage media such as a CD or a USB stick. The process was time-consuming and also created chain-of-custody issues. Here East had no control over how that footage was stored and shared by others. “It wasn’t a situation I was comfortable with,” explains Jones. “We find ourselves needing to share footage internally and externally. We need to retain controls on our data.” Clearance simplifies evidence sharing All digital evidence is now collected, shared, and distributed through Genetec Clearance. The team at Here East can put appropriate safeguards in place to minimise the risk of footage being inappropriately shared or lost. For example, it can specify viewing rights for specific users, set time limits, and revoke access to previously shared footage. The automatic redaction features available within Genetec Clearance have also streamlined the processing of requests for video evidence. Under the terms of the EU GDPR, any citizen can submit a subject access request, with Article 15 of the legislation presenting specific challenges concerning video surveillance. Article 15 states “the right to obtain a copy… shall not adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others. Video surveillance operators must redact the identities of multiple other third parties in relevant frames of video before footage can be shared. On a busy night, the canalside restaurants and bars on the Here East site can contain 1,000 people in a single camera’s field of view. Before the user had to spend significant time manually redacting the identifies of innocent parties in the footage. With Genetec Clearance, that task is instant and automated. Improved incident reporting capabilities Genetec Clearance has bolstered Here East’s incident analysis capabilities, simplifying the process of reporting back Genetec Clearance has bolstered Here East’s incident analysis capabilities, simplifying the process of reporting back to the senior management. Each month the Here East team runs an automated report breaking down incidents by time, date, and location. It then uses this data to make recommendations surrounding security operations and the deployment of resources. Where it’s applicable they run educational workshops for tenants. For example, phone snatching and bike theft are two of the most common crimes in their London borough. By closely monitoring the data, Here East can take proactive steps to detect, deter, and discourage perpetrators from operating on the Here East site. “It’s all well and good having the data but the most important thing is being able to visualise it, spot the meaningful patterns, and take the right preventative actions,” explains Jones. “Genetec Clearance makes this seamless”. The foundations for future growth Here East is still in the early phases of a long-term rollout with Genetec but is already benefitting from a unified approach to security, digital evidence-sharing, and operations. Further deployments will see the innovative site continue to work closely with Genetec to maximise value, push the boundaries of the technology and exceed the expectations of its tenants. “We’re continuing the legacy of the 2012 Olympics and have ambitious plans for the day-to-day management of this iconic site,” concludes Jones. “Our tenants expect a gold medal standard service and we have no intentions to disappoint”.

Perimeter security is the first line of defence against intruders entering a business or premises. Traditionally associated with low-tech options such as fencing, the field of perimeter security has expanded in recent years and now encompasses a range of high-tech options. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the latest trends in perimeter security technology?

2019 was a big year for the Expert Panel Roundtable. The range of topics expanded, and we had more participation from more contributors than ever before. In closing out the year of contemplative discussions, we came across some final observations to share. They can serve both as a postscript for 2019 and a teaser for a whole new year of industry conversations in our Expert Panel Roundtable in 2020.  

Environmentalism is a universal consideration in most business sectors in 2016. Whether seeking to provide greener products, or looking for new ways to minimise waste of manufacturing processes, most companies are involved to some degree with environmental concerns. Green has not traditionally been a big driver in the security industry, but there are indications the profile of environmentalism is increasing. We asked this week's Expert Panel: How green (environmentally friendly) is the security industry? How should the industry as a whole (integrators and manufacturers) work to improve the industry’s environmental record?