Intrusion detection

OpenEye, a provider of cloud managed video surveillance solutions, announces a new integration between OpenEye Web Services (OWS) and Connect ONE. Connect ONE by Connected Technologies is a cloud-hosted integrated security management platform which provides a single user interface to control intrusion, access control, critical environmental monitoring, energy management and video surveillance. OpenEye OWS is an online video management solution that combines the performance and reliability of local recording with the convenience and flexibility of the cloud. Now, OpenEye recorders and the Connect ONE cloud platform are accessible directly through the OWS cloud. Easy configuration of OpenEye cameras Once connected, Connect ONE users can quickly retrieve and easily configure OpenEye cameras, view live videoThe integration eliminates the need to connect to an IP address or to open an inbound port on the end-user’s network firewall. Once connected, Connect ONE users can quickly retrieve and easily configure OpenEye cameras, view live video, record snapshots upon an event from the Intrusion/Access System for video verification or review a 10-second Pre-Event and up to 45-second Post-Event video clip. Another future feature release will include the ability to receive OpenEye NVR health status reporting as well as motion or input trigger events through Connect ONE. “We’re excited to offer this capability to OpenEye and Connect ONE users,” said Rick Sheppard, Chief Executive Officer of OpenEye. “OpenEye is committed to offering integrated solutions that add value and enhance functionality for our customers through strategic partnerships such as this one.” Adding new capabilities and services Dan Simon, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Connected Technologies, said technology partnerships with industry leaders such as OpenEye allow dealers to add new capabilities and services to their customer’s systems. “Connected Technologies is founded on delivering the timeliest solutions to security dealers. In fact, this integration was created due to dealer’s requests. The OpenEye integration adds value to their projects, brings exciting capabilities through a single user interface and helps them differentiate their service offerings.”

Integrated security manufacturer TDSi is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Money as Distribution Channel Manager. In his new role, Richard will be a central point of contact for TDSi’s Distribution Partners including ADI, Norbain, EET Europarts, Advanced Access, Enterprise Security Distribution and Anixter. Reflecting upon his new role, Richard commented, “I am excited to be joining the TDSi team. The company has a fantastic range of products that will suit any environment, and all budgets so there is tremendous scope to work with our distributors and grow our mutual business.” John Davies, Managing Director of TDSi also commented, “We are delighted to welcome Richard to this highly pivotal role. TDSi’s products are exclusively sold through our partners and we are committed to ensuring we offer the best support and assistance to facilitate this. Richard is the prime point of contact for our distribution partners - be it for stock enquires, pricing or connecting them with our vast network of expert installer customers.” Richard has over 20 years’ worth of security experience, having joined the industry in 1997 Veteran in the security industry Richard has over 20 years’ worth of security experience, having joined the industry in 1997 working at Clarke Instruments Ltd promoting and selling medium to high security electric strikes, turnstiles and barriers. In 2001, he joined Gardiner Security in its access control division and stayed there for 10 years, during which time the company was bought out by ADI Global (part of Honeywell) and Richard became an Account Manager selling access control, intruder and CCTV products. In 2011, Richard moved to ACT (Access Control Technology), an Irish manufacturer of access products, as a Senior Account Manager. He worked with ACT for seven years until he made the move to Inner Range before joining TDSi. Richard concluded, “I have gained a broad experience of the security sales industry during my career and look forward to sharing my expertise that with TDSi’s distribution partners. The UK market is an energetic one, so I am available to help our distributors fully meet the demands and needs of our customers from TDSi’s extensive range of products.” 

The new IndigoVision TDSi EXgarde Integration allows alarms from TDSi systems to be seamlessly combined with IndigoVision’s security management solution, control centre, giving complete video and alarm management in a single user interface. IndigoVision's safe integration All of IndigoVision’s integrations are designed with your safety in mind and the TDSi EXgarde Integration is no different. For over 30 years TDSi have successfully supplied systems to over 100,000 installations across the world, making TDSi one of UK’s leading access control system providers. With the TDSi EXgarde Integration, you can trigger live video, move PTZ cameras and start recordings, while also having the ability to acknowledge, action or delete any relevant EXgarde alarms and send notification emails automatically which dramatically decreases operator response time. TDSi EXgrade Integration The TDSi EXgarde Integration can receive alarms from access control units, doors and readers The TDSi EXgarde Integration can receive alarms from access control units, doors and readers. Control centre operators acknowledging or clearing alarms in a control centre will acknowledge or delete the corresponding alarms in the TDSi EXgarde system. The TDSi EXgarde Integration enables operators to respond to incidents from the familiar control centre user interface. Commenting on the TDSi EXgarde Integration, IndigoVision’s Software Product Manager Giles Raine said, “This new integration strengthens our existing integration portfolio by adding support for one of the most reputed access control systems in the industry, underlining once again the openness of the IndigoVision platform.” IndigoVision provides the flexibility and choice to create a customised, reliable and future-proof security management solution.

For over a century, IEEE's mission has been to advance technology for the benefit of humanity. As the world’s largest technical professional organisation, IEEE’s global community includes over 420,000 members in engineering, computing and technology, collaborating on communications, consumer electronics, robotics, sustainable energy, aerospace, life sciences, and many other critical initiatives. Dave George felicitated with IEEE Life Membership Dave George has been an active IEEE member for over 40 years As the Chief Technologist behind Pryme Radio’s communications innovations, Dave George has been an active IEEE member for over 40 years. Recently, Mr. George was honoured with IEEE Life Membership, a top echelon designation reserved only for those individuals demonstrating long-standing leadership, dedication, and who have made a significant impact on the development of technology. “I’m grateful for IEEE’s recognition, but it’s my job to find ways to better the lives and professions of Pryme’s customers through communications,” said George. “The fact that technologies have become ever more exotic and exciting is a bonus.” Never comfortable tooting his own horn, George’s demure demeanor belies the important role he’s played in moving the communication industry forward. In fact, George credits IEEE as being his primary source for leading edge electronic science data, which often help lead him to develop ground-breaking new products at Pryme. Pryme's future product line in sync with IoT George is a regional member of the IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc), Robotics & Automation Society (RAS), Intelligent Transportation Systems Society (ITS), and the Vehicular Technology Society (VTS.) His involvement has given rise to future product developments at Pryme that support emerging networks such as IoT, mesh, 5G, soon to be 6G, as well as intelligent vehicle to vehicle communications. George may shy away from the spotlight, but he is fearless when it comes to entering unexplored technological territories. The reward Dave George reveres most is creating products that make a difference.  George’s philosophy mirrors the IEEE’s mission and is also reflected in Pryme’s guiding principle — Invent communications technologies that benefit public safety, security, government, education, transit, utilities, construction, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, field services, facilities, healthcare, professionals and humanity as a whole.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge relies on customised security solutions from Bosch to ensure safe operations. The world’s largest sea-crossing bridge was opened by Chinese officials late October 2018. Spanning 55 kilometres in length, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge directly connects Hong Kong to Macao and then to the Chinese city of Zhuhai for the first time. At a total cost of USD 20 billion, it is a major boost for China’s Greater Bay Area, an emerging industrial and technological hotbed that is home to 68 million people and a showcase project for Bosch Building Technologies. Equipping critical infrastructures The large-scale project was built over the course of eight years using 400,000 tons of steel and includes underwater tunnels and two artificial islands that serve as customs ports. Ensuring the security of these two islands, where drivers need to present special permits to use the new bridge and pass customs checkpoints, was a priority from the start. Bosch Building Technologies won the contract to provide the artificial islands with video surveillance, intrusion alarms With a proven track record of equipping critical infrastructures such as airports, hotels, commercial buildings and underground metros, Bosch Building Technologies won the contract to provide the artificial islands with video surveillance, intrusion alarms, as well as public address and voice evacuation systems. On the island between Zhuhai and Macao, the Bosch partner Shanghai SAGA Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. installed more than 5,700 Bosch loudspeakers and over 260 amplifiers which are all managed via the PRAESIDEO Digital Public Address and Emergency Sound system. Custom-ordering solutions Fulfilling a key customer request, the installation incorporates 15 different models of ceiling, wall mount, and line array speakers to blend in with the facility’s modern interior. Furthermore, Bosch was able to match Macao’s local standards by custom-ordering solutions with British power cord, programmed with graphic interfaces in traditional Chinese lettering. On the island outside of Hong Kong, which is home to a customs clearance port, Bosch partner Pro-United Co., Ltd. installed 2,200 public address speakers of various models, including outdoor speakers for the travel inspection building. Experts also adjusted 200 vari-directional array loudspeakers to balance sound variations from different building materials. Live voice announcements “The Bosch technical team and partners used professional software to simulate the sound pressure level of a specific area and comprehensively simulate the entire project to ensure that the selected products can meet the requirements of different areas in the actual application,” said Lin Lizhi, Bosch Building Technologies. Bosch also covered the island with more than 2,000 HD cameras including the FLEXIDOME, DINION, and AUTODOME series. The PRAESIDEO systems on both islands enable security staff to broadcast live voice announcements via security call points Monitored from a security control center on the Hong Kong-side of the island, these cameras support 24/7 surveillance of the customs clearance port, travel inspection building, Immigration Department and Hong Kong Customs Office. The PRAESIDEO systems on both islands enable security staff to broadcast live voice announcements via security call points, while multiple sets of intrusion alarm systems protect personnel and property. Broad customisation options “We added the supporting intelligent call station PRAESIDEO, which is usually used for airport projects, in order to ensure that the staff can directly perform voice broadcasts throughout the call station during operation, thus making the security management more convenient,” said Wang Yiping, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai SAGA Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. The high-profile infrastructure project highlights the flexibility and broad customisation options offered by Bosch Building Technologies as a one-stop solutions provider. Now that it is fully operational, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is already considered a key asset in the Greater Bay Area, also known as ‘China’s Silicon Valley’. The bridge reduces the travel time between Zhuhai and Hong Kong from four hours to a mere 30 minutes. It also creates a new gateway for travellers between vital transportation hubs such as Shenzhen and Hong Kong airports with the integrated Bosch security solutions ensuring a safe passage.

A concierge orders a taxi for an employee or takes his shirts to be cleaned, then greets a visitor and escorts her to an elevator. And these are just a few of countless possible examples of the NOVE office complex’s unique, multifaceted service culture. It attains the standard of security, efficiency and comfort of a five-star international hotel in a state-of-the-art facility where 1,300 people work for no fewer than eight different companies in the heart of Munich. The NOVE has even been honoured with platinum certification from LEED (‘Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’, a program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council to encourage the construction of energy- and resource-efficient, healthy buildings). Completely integrated solution Tim Wiesener therefore went looking for a reliable and experienced partner, and found it in Bosch’s building experts “We wanted an office building that felt like a five-star designer hotel,” says Tim Wiesener, the CEO of Salvis Consulting AG. The company envisaged a high standard of security backed by smart networked solutions that blended smoothly and esthetically with the architecture and interior decorating. “We certainly didn’t want employees and other users of the building to feel bothered or overwhelmed by its technology.” Tim Wiesener therefore went looking for a reliable and experienced partner, and found it in Bosch’s building experts. “Bosch applies both experience and foresight to its projects, and its specialists immediately grasped our vision.” Video surveillance, access control and intrusion alarm systems, fire protection, visitor management: Bosch planned and implemented a completely integrated solution that harmonised with NOVE’s character and personality. Its leading-edge technology and software are distributed and networked across six stories, a 23-meter-high atrium, and a nine-floor tower. Manage video surveillance The concierges working shifts at the 24-hour reception play an important role in the overall concept, since they are also trained security experts. Among other things, monitors behind the counter let them keep a watchful eye on images from over a hundred surveillance cameras that can be remotely controlled, zoomed and pointed as required, all courtesy of the Bosch Building Integration System. The software lets them efficiently manage video surveillance as well as fire and intrusion alarms. Around-the-clock assistance is also available to the 300 or so visitors that enter the NOVE each day, aided by the dedicated BoVisit visitor management system. The software’s functionality includes announcing guests, printing name tags for them, and assigning them to employees. Thanks to a centralised solution, the concierges always know who is where inside the building. Visually integrating This is especially important in case a critical situation ever arises. At the press of a button, the system generates a vitally important overview of how many people need to be evacuated from each area. Not everything the concierges do is high-tech, of course; they are devoted to helping both tenants and visitors with a smile. “Our receptionists are efficient but not nameless. We combine security with personal service,” says Tim Wiesener. Tenants can naturally access the NOVE any time of the day or night Italian star architect Antonio Citterio designed the complex, which spans roughly 27,500 square meters of gross floor space. He paid especially great attention to visually integrating the security equipment so it wouldn’t stand out. “This called for a certain finesse,” explains Tim Wiesener. Networked solutions Tim Kosok, a sales representative with Bosch Energy and Building Solutions in Munich, worked hard to find out exactly what the customer wanted, explaining that “we painted installations the same color as the ceilings or walls and positioned them just right so they would be practically invisible. Even the door intercoms are designed to be inconspicuous.” Tenants can naturally access the NOVE any time of the day or night. Tim Wiesener is confident that everyone consistently feels safe there, thanks to the networked solutions. “Our collaboration for implementing the complex was excellent and collegial. We worked closely with the Bosch experts to create a solution that’s geared to people and their needs.”

Senstar, a global provider of video management and perimeter intrusion detection solutions, announces that its Symphony video management software and Face Recognition video analytic are helping to protect Cosmo Music. Working with integrator Northern Alarm Protection (NAP) Ltd., Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada-based Cosmo Music selected Senstar after comprehensive research and testing to replace its 20-year-old analog video system. “Senstar Symphony delivers an all-in-one solution for video management, video analytics, perimeter intrusion detection system integration, and alarm management for deployments of all sizes,” said Justin Shorn, Senstar’s Vice-President of Product Management. “We are glad that Symphony’s core features and ease-of-use, along with our Face Recognition analytic, were able to meet Cosmo Music’s needs.” Flag suspicious customers Senstar’s Face Recognition analytic adds an additional layer of security to any video surveillance deployment and is a powerful tool for retail loss prevention. At Cosmo Music, the analytic is used to identify and flag suspicious customers and provide real-time alerts if a flagged individual enters the store, with the goal to prevent theft. “(During testing) one of our staff had a full beard one day and it was shaved off the next day and the system still picked him up,” said Rudi Brouwers, Vice-President and COO of Cosmo Music. “That’s what sold me on it.”

Vega Systems Inc. has announced that their Redundancy Management Framework (RMF) software has begun operations at a prominent airport in the Middle East. The airport surveillance software plugin for Milestone XProtect enhances video security. Typically, without the software system, video surveillance down-times at critical infrastructure locations have the potential to create security loopholes. Vega Systems' RMF reduces live video disruption to milliseconds during server failure episodes while simultaneously providing uninterrupted access to all archived footage. This, along with other beneficial features, mitigates the impact of server failures on security. Vega Systems' RMF RMF is a novel, few-to-all approach towards enhancing XProtect Recording Server Redundancy through dual recording. A few redundant servers can handle concurrent failures of all primary servers. Offering a live view recovery almost instantaneously following the recording server failure, the system works two orders of magnitude faster than fail-over recording. RMF is a result of collaboration between Vega Systems Inc in San Jose, California, Sunjin Infotech based in Seoul, South Korea, and Milestone Systems' Middle East offices. The product is a plug-in framework for the Canon subsidiary Milestone Systems' XProtect software.

We are living in the age of Big Data, and businesses are inundated with large volumes of data every day. Success depends on capturing, analysing and ultimately transforming that data into information and intelligence that can be used to improve the business. So, it is with today's physical access control and video systems, too, which also generate unprecedented levels of data. But how can we make the data useful to end users and how can they realise its full value? We asked this week's Expert Panel Roundtable: Relating to physical security systems, what is the value of data and how can that value be measured?

The end of the year is a great time to take stock of one’s accomplishments during the year, and to reflect on successes and failures, where we are and where we’re going. 2017 brought a lot of change to the physical security market, but were the changes positive or negative? Our Expert Panelists tend to be a thoughtful and reflective group, so we wanted to get their thoughts and insights at year-end about 2017 in the security market. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Was 2017 a good year or bad year for the physical security industry -and why?

Video systems today offer more capabilities than ever. Consequently, the systems can be used in new ways. For a variety of reasons, however, many customers don’t take full advantage of the capabilities of their video systems and therefore are leaving value on the table. Education and training are tools to alleviate the situation, but the first step is to identify the new ways that video can be used. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How do customers under-utilise their video systems, and what should they do differently?