Physical Security Information Management (PSIM)

Advancis Software & Services UK opened a new showroom at Beaufort Court (Suite 32, Admirals Way) Canary Wharf in London. Located in the heart of the financial district the showroom is equipped with a control centre desk as well as four screen setup for an optimal demonstration of the vendor-neutral integration platform WinGuard. In addition, a meeting area is available too. Canary Wharf is one of the main financial centres of the United Kingdom. The location was chosen as it offers easy access from London City Airport as well as excellent road and train links.

Remote electronic signature specialist, Cryptomathic, announces that its popular e-signature solution, Signer, has been recognised as providing the highest possible level of security following its Common Criteria certification to the new eIDAS protection profile 419241-2 for remote Qualified Electronic Signatures. Signer’s Common Criteria certification significantly raises the bar. Not only does Signer join an elite few remote Qualified Signature Creation Devices (QSCDs) to be certified against the new eIDAS protection profile, it is the first solution to place the Signature Activation Module (SAM) inside the Hardware Security Module (HSM). This means the signing payload can only be executed from inside the protected cryptographic environment, making it significantly more resistant to attack, including from insiders. Protected cryptographic environment Common Criteria certification is expected to become a mandatory requirement under the eIDAS regulation Signer also offers What You See Is What You Sign (WYSIWYS) functionality, which provides strong non-repudiation and addresses long term validation signature profiles for XML or PDF documents. The combination of these factors elevates Signer to a high-assurance level that is unmatched anywhere else in the e-signature industry. “Common Criteria certification to this new protection profile is widely expected to become a mandatory requirement under the terms of the eIDAS regulation, so we’re delighted to be this far ahead of the game,” comments Guillaume Forget, Managing Director, Cryptomathic GmbH. High security software “The governments, banks and other entities that use Signer rely on Cryptomathic to provide the highest possible assurance level in its remote qualified e-signature services. To meet these expectations, we have set up and enforced a secure development environment and procedures that meet the highest levels within Common Criteria." "Cryptomathic has demonstrated the ability to document and meet security properties, again, at the highest level. The certification has shown that our development team in Denmark is in full control of all tools and processes related to the complete product life cycle. It’s a terrific achievement and cements our position at the bleeding edge of high security software.” Electronically sign documents Cryptomathic is provider of e-signature technology and assists multiple trust services providers and banks to enable their customers to electronically sign documents and transactions at the highest assurance level.

Honeywell is expanding its OmniAssure access control reader product line with the launch of the OmniAssure Touch access control solution. OmniAssure Touch provides advanced security against credential cloning and reader tampering, increases operator productivity when deploying mobile credentials, and is interoperable with a range of credential technologies and panel communication protocols. The passive intent access control readers help people get into an area faster – just with the touch of a finger – no swiping of a card or a phone is necessary. “Our customers want the latest in security and protection against growing credential and identity attacks,” said Frédéric Haegeman, business leader for Honeywell Commercial Security, Europe and Novar GmbH. Access control solution  “With OmniAssure Touch, users benefit from advanced security and an adaptable platform that strengthens access control in their building. Our goal is to develop a comprehensive access control solution suite so that every user can identify a solution that works best for their business.” OmniAssure Touch provides: Ultra-secure protection: protects against credential cloning and replay attacks with technology that is fully compliant with OSDP Secure Channel Protocol (SCP) and the latest DESFire EV2 encryption standards; readers wipe encryption and certificate data when device tampering has been detected with all form factors available with a capacitive touch keypad for two-factor authentication Exceptional adaptability: features hassle-free, user-friendly mobile credential capabilities that eliminate the need to present a phone to the reader; easy migration from legacy prox to smart and mobile technologies; as well as configure reader settings in the field via mobile app Integrated security suites A comprehensive solution: saves time by deploying mobile credentials directly through Honeywell’s WIN-PAK, WINMAG and Pro-Watch integrated security suites, revokes mobile credentials in real-time, and transforms the way people interact with your building using the Honeywell Vector Occupant App Easy to configure: leverages the Honeywell Utility app which allows installers to configure the readers in the field or wherever they use the app making installation and configuration easier and faster Reliable read/write cards OmniAssure Touch is ideally suited for enterprise and critical infrastructure environments across a wide variety of industries including defense, education, pharma, utilities and financial. The Honeywell suite of OmniAssure readers incorporate smart card technology to manage access control, logical (PC) access, storage of biometric templates, parking, ePurse and many other applications requiring reliable read/write cards.

Qognify, the trusted advisor and provider of physical security and enterprise incident management software solutions will be present at Intersec 2020. The company will demonstrate the latest version of its state-of-the-art video management system, Cayuga as well as its newly released, web-based central management platform, Umbrella. Focusing on the outcomes of customers that place a premium on physical security, safety and operations, both products enable organisations especially in the logistics and retail sector to increase security and process transparency and derive valuable business insights. Cayuga (R14) video management system Qognify will showcase the current version of Cayuga (R14) and the new Umbrella software on booth SA-C41 at Intersec 2020, which takes place from 19 – 21 January 2020, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Dubai, UAE. The company will once again be joined by its representative in the region, Electronic Design. The presentation at Intersec will highlight new trends in security management and how Qognify’s portfolio of premium solutions provides a central hub, from which all company-wide security-related systems can be managed. Enhanced cyber security Being developed at Qognify’s technology hub in Bruchsal, Germany, Cayuga R14 was launched earlier this year, bringing to market a professional next-generation VMS that not only supports more than 5,000 different devices from more than 80 different hardware manufacturers, but also provides cyber security for the growing number of IP video surveillance systems in use. Intersec 2020 is the ideal place for Qognify to demonstrate its latest innovations to end customers, partners" It builds the basis for Umbrella, a ground-breaking platform that can be deployed securely in the cloud or on-premise to enable centralised system monitoring, administration and license management for distributed Cayuga video systems. Intersec 2020 Kaj Svenningson, Director of Sales for the Middle East and Africa at Qognify, explains, “Qognify is one of the most renowned VMS providers and has been developing solutions for more than 20 years. Cayuga – and recently also Umbrella – have attracted a lot of attention from organisations operating in a wide range of sectors throughout the Middle East, most notably in logistics and retail.” Svenningson adds, “As one of the world’s largest trade fairs for security, safety and fire protection, Intersec 2020 is the ideal place for Qognify to demonstrate its latest innovations to end customers, partners and interested parties in the region.”

Genetec Inc., a pioneer technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence announced strategic new initiatives to support its fast growth in Mexico. To spearhead these new initiatives, long time Genetec sales leader, Alain Bissada, who is currently Senior Director for Canada, is taking on a new expanded role to include Mexico as part of his responsibilities. In this new position, Alain Bissada will be responsible for supporting the company’s wide range of public safety, industrial, enterprise, retail and banking customers in Mexico, and put in place the necessary infrastructure to support its ambitious growth plans. Unified IP security solutions Genetec has been growing its market presence in Mexico at a very rapid pace Genetec is currently undertaking a recruitment campaign to support its growth in the region and is actively looking for a new country manager. The company will be moving to new, modern offices in the Polanco region of Mexico City, featuring a state-of-the-art experience center to showcase its entire range of unified IP security solutions, a sales engineering lab, training facilities, and additional space to accommodate new employees. As the vendor of video surveillance, access control and license plate recognition solutions, Genetec has been growing its market presence in Mexico at a very rapid pace. The company currently has public safety customers in 26 out of Mexico’s 32 states, and hundreds of private customers across a wide range of industries including, manufacturing, logistics, utilities, hospitality and more. Physical security infrastructure investment “Customers are looking for technology solutions that not only enable them to protect people and assets but also help them make the most of their video surveillance and physical security infrastructure investment to improve their operations,” said Alain Bissada, Senior Director, Canada and Mexico. “I look forward to working with our talented team and network of systems integrators in Mexico to support our ambitious plans in the region and to give our customers the support they need to meet their security and business operations needs.”

HID Global, a pioneer in trusted identity solutions, announced that it is collaborating with VMware to drive mass adoption of mobile access to digital and physical places by adding HID Mobile Access for opening buildings and doors to VMware Workspace ONE, an intelligence-driven digital workspace platform for managing any app on any device. The collaboration will make it possible for Workspace ONE users, for the first time, to more securely open doors with their smartphones as part of a unified mobile experience that also enables them to access applications, computers, networks, data and cloud-based services. Workspace ONE is an industry leader in unified endpoint management (UEM) and the collaboration with HID will fuel even broader interest and uptake by enterprise organisations focused on blending physical and digital employee experiences with technology.  Cloud-based access control platform “Adding physical access control capabilities to Workspace ONE will bring a unique element to our customers’ digital transformation journeys as we take yet another step in redefining what it means to provide empowering digital employee experiences across any application on any device,” said Tony Kueh, Vice President of Product Management, End User Computing, VMware. The platform streamlines mobile ID replenishment over the air when employees lose their smartphones  HID mobile credentials are delivered to Workspace ONE through the HID Origo cloud-based access control platform that provides a suite of integration, enablement and developer tools and services that simplify how HID partners and a growing community of new developers and resellers bring mobile access control solutions to market. The platform also streamlines mobile ID replenishment over the air when employees lose or must replace their smartphones and other mobile devices. Cyber security and physical security “The collaboration between two of the leading companies in the fields of cyber security and physical security will help accelerate the use of converged physical and logical access control on mobile devices,” said Hilding Arrehed, Vice President of Cloud Services, Physical Access Control, with HID Global. “The solution underscores HID’s and VMware’s shared commitment to bring to market one of the industry’s first unified access control solution for a user base of this size.” VMware recently completed a pilot of their platform integration at VMware facilities using Bluetooth-enabled HID iCLASS SE readers and mobile IDs. The HID Mobile Access application programming interfaces (APIs) and software developer kits (SDKs) provided VMware with direct access to HID access control hardware, speeding integration and pilot execution. Converged physical and logical access control The incubation of this technology partnership has validated the benefits of converged physical and logical access control on mobile devices including a more seamless, convenient and intuitive experience for users with improved security and administrative efficiency. Users accessed buildings, rooms and other spaces by tapping their mobile device to a reader at the door, and also unlocked doors from a distance using “twist and go” mobile gesture technology or by simply swiping to unlock their phones as they approached.

  2017 demonstrated the need for increased safety, security, and collaboration. We predicted that there would be an increase in the role of cybersecurity in 2017, and without a doubt there was great focus around the need for stronger network security protocols. Growing focus on cybersecurity Cybersecurity continues to be top of mind and organisations demand solutions that are cyber-secure. Manufacturers, integrators, and end-users must actively collaborate to develop policies and solutions that reduce exposure to cybersecurity challenges; this includes ensuring that all network devices are updated with the latest versions of software and firmware, and implementing best practices around things like password hygiene. One of the interesting benefits of the increased focus on cyber protection is the greater collaboration between our customers' physical security and cybersecurity teams. This approach will further propel stronger security measures across a business’ infrastructure. It is important to implement best practices around areas like password hygiene Additionally, as the growth of Big Data and the Internet of Things continues onward, a strong partnership between multiple departments allows for a quicker fusing of data sources, leading to streamlined investigations and more rapid response. Technology helping to troubleshoot Over the past year, the healthy economy has enabled Verint’s customers to continue to invest in projects that maintain and improve their security, reduce fraud, and enhance customer engagement. Companies are willing to invest in projects that fuse rich data sources to improve speed to resolution as well as long-term costs.  We see an overall trend of our customers being able to move from simply reacting, to proactively trying to identify the potential areas where fraud can occur, and address the exposure before it becomes a problem. From a technology perspective, deep-learning analytics are now replacing traditional video analytics in applications like face and licence-plate recognition. Over the next several years, we expect to continue to see this technology solve unique industry problems that are not currently possible with existing technology. Deep-learning analytics are now replacing traditional video analytics in facial recognition A fully cloud-enabled solution The continued evolution to more cloud-based solutions will impact our customers because they will be able to choose whatever architecture best suits their needs, whether it be a fully on-premise solution, fully cloud-enabled solution, or a hybrid architecture. With the further evolution of the cloud, end-users will be the winners as they adopt solutions that are easier to install and configure, as well as easier to manage, support, and use, resulting in a lower overall total cost of ownership and an improved customer experience. Verint’s business continues to grow because of our heavy focus on physical security, cybersecurity, and customer experience. This deep focus helps us develop solutions that mitigate problems in an easy, user-friendly manner. Looking forward to 2018, we will continue to invest in these areas and expect to continue to help our customers face challenges as an experienced and committed partner.

  The past year has proved to be a year full of many changes both within our industry and for Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD). While we have experienced increased adoption of artificial intelligence-based solutions, the industry has been challenged with an ever-evolving technology landscape. Protecting enterprise organisations from both cyber and physical security threats will be an ongoing challenge the industry must grapple with. Greater adoption of robotic solutions To address the physical security challenges, we saw a greater adoption of robotic solutions across the board. Our massive industry started to make the change: Shifting from an uneducated view of this advanced technology to increased interest about artificial intelligence across multiple markets including guarding companies, integrators and, most importantly, end-users. In 2017 there was a greater adoption of robotic solutions across the board With security-guard robots, security directors now have access to additional tools to meet their performance and budget goals. Currently, we see a great adoption with progressive guarding companies, which are signing up to have RAD as their robotic guarding partner. RAD deployed its first robot this year, and we look forward to deploying many more as we work with our customers to customise our robotic solution to their needs. Human collaboration with robotics I believe our industry is at the beginning stages of what could be a serious paradigm shift in how we rely on a combination of humans and technology to do a job. We've seen that in video analytics and the wide variety of solutions available on the market today. The trend has progressed beyond video analytics and into robotics, and that will continue to evolve into 2018 and beyond. As we continue to build on the success of our security guard robot solution, we look forward to expanding our product offerings to meet the security needs of our customers.

The security industry was strong and healthy in 2017. High-end security markets, such as the power distribution and critical infrastructure sectors, saw continued growth and opportunity for perimeter security technologies like thermal imaging, video analytics and radar. For the low-end security markets, there was significant competition from Chinese manufacturers. Despite this challenge, we saw continued growth from premium Western security manufacturers in 2017 in which many introduced cost-effective security solutions for the small to medium enterprise markets. Increased adoption of AI  In 2018, the increased adoption of artificial intelligence in the video surveillance sector will play an important role. As the demand for an ROI beyond the traditional security system increases, developing camera hardware that can support edge analytics will be essential. The brands that will succeed will be the ones that can provide end users with video solutions that not only provide intrusion detection with low false alarm rates, but also offer features such as equipment condition monitoring. As the demand for an ROI beyond the traditional security system increases, developing camera hardware that can support edge analytics will be essential Other technologies that will see continued performance enhancements and greater adoption in 2018 are cloud storage, advanced video management systems and physical security information management (PSIM) solutions. Demand for thermal imaging In 2017, we continued to see strong interest and demand for thermal as it remains the industry standard for 24/7 perimeter monitoring and protection. As the leader in thermal imaging, FLIR introduced several noteworthy solutions this year such as the FB-Series line of premier thermal security cameras for any size perimeter. The FB-Series brings state-of-the-art thermal imaging technology to small to medium enterprises where perimeter size is no longer a barrier for adoption. FLIR United VMS For our enterprise business, there was great success with new FLIR United VMS platform, which received praise and recognition across the marketplace. FLIR United VMS is an enterprise level video management solution scalable for any size deployment. At ISC West, it received the Security Industry Association New Product Showcase 2017 Award in the VMS category, which is one of the highest accolades in the industry. Receiving the award was a significant milestone for our enterprise business, validating the hard work the FLIR team has put into delivering exceptional solutions for video operations management.

During the Parkland, Florida, school shooting in 2018, the shooter was caught on a security camera pulling his rifle out of a duffle bag in the staircase 15 seconds before discharging the first round. However, the School Resource Officer didn’t enter the building because he wasn’t confident about the situation, and the Coral Springs Police Department had no idea what the shooter even looked like until 7 minutes and 30 seconds after the first round was fired. If the video system had included technology to recognise the gun threat in real time, alerts could have been sent to the security team. An announcement could have been made right away for all students and faculty in Building 12 to barricade their doors, and law enforcement could have responded a lot faster to a real-time feed of timely and accurate information. Automatically recognising gun threats The technology is centred around a CNN that aims to replicate how a human brain would process informationActuate offers such a technology, which the company says enables existing security cameras to automatically recognise gun threats and notify security in real-time. The technology is centred around a convolutional neural network (CNN) that aims to replicate how a human brain would process information. This neural network is trained to recognise what hands holding a firearm look like from hundreds of thousands of images in a proprietary data set. Over time, the system is able to mathematically calculate what a gun threat in a security camera feed looks like with a high degree of accuracy (well over 99% detection accuracy within the first 5 seconds), according to Actuate. “Active shooter situations are often marred by chaos and confusion,” says Sonny Tai, Chief Executive Officer of Actuate. “People are in fight-or-flight response and prioritise immediate survival instead of reaching for their phones and calling 911. When the 911 calls are made, callers often provide delayed, conflicting, and inaccurate information, inhibiting law enforcement’s ability to respond.” Enhances law enforcement response Tai says Actuate helps to clear up that chaos and confusion. “It provides visual intelligence of the location of the shooter, what they look like, what direction they’re heading, and what they’re armed with,” he says. “This real-time information enhances law enforcement response and enables building occupants to make critical decisions that maximise survivability." AI methods including deep learning enable high levels of accuracy in detecting weapons in real-time camera footage Tai is a Marine Corps veteran and a social entrepreneur who co-founded Actuate with the mission of addressing America’s gun violence epidemic. The start of the company stems from Tai’s upbringing in South Africa, where gun violence rates are some of the highest in the world. Growing up, several of his family friends were personally impacted, resulting in a lifelong passion for the issue of gun violence. In early 2018, Tai interviewed dozens of law enforcement leaders across the country and found that their biggest challenge in gun violence response was the lack of timely and accurate information. Actuate mitigates that challenge and enables both first responders and security staff to respond more rapidly, he says. More than 99% accuracy in detecting weapons Actuate is a software-only solution that plugs into security camera hardware and software, including VMSActuate's solution is completely AI-based, says Ben Ziomek, Chief Product Officer. AI methods including deep learning enable high levels of accuracy in detecting weapons in real-time camera footage. “Legacy, non-AI based solutions generally rely on older methods like motion detection, which is not reliable in differentiating between objects such as phones and firearms,” says Ziomek. “Our AI solution lets us achieve more than 99% accuracy in detecting weapons with an exceptionally low false-positive rate.” Ziomek runs engineering, data science, and operations for Actuate. Before joining the firm, he led teams of AI engineers and data scientists at Microsoft, leveraging AI to identify high-potential startups globally. Actuate is a software-only solution that plugs into existing security camera hardware and software, including video management systems (VMS). Existing capabilities of a customer’s VMS does initial, basic analysis and then routes the remaining video to Actuate’s processing units for AI analysis. Alerts can then be sent back however a customer wants, including through a VMS. Actuate can also feed information into a PSIM or command-and-control system if requested by a customer. Equipping customers with AI tools Our current focus for the company is to get our technology into the hands of as many customers as possible"As an early-stage company, Actuate is pursuing customers through multiple routes, including directly to end-users and via security integrators, distributors, and dealers. They are currently deployed at diverse customer sites including schools, office buildings, industrial facilities, and public buildings, says Ziomek. “Our current focus for the company is to get our technology into the hands of as many customers as possible,” says Ziomek. “We are working closely with customers across segments and industries to equip them with the tools they need to make their spaces safer. We’re currently working on educating the market on our offerings, as this technology is very new to many security organisations.” There are no privacy or compliance concerns because Actuate stores no customer data until a weapon is detected, and even then the data is not cross-indexed with any sensitive information, says Ziomek.

Whether it is video analytic platforms to monitor traffic patterns or cameras deployed to help law enforcement ensure public safety, many cities are looking at advancements in video technology. Upgrade costs and technology compatibility issues are often front-and-centre when it comes to blending new technology with existing infrastructure. For example, if the city law enforcement officials want to improve video camera image quality, which can improve the evidentiary value of footage in prosecutions, they may look at newer HD or IP-based video systems. Upgrading to a hybrid DVR system Applications include perimeter monitoring, public parking, city transportation, square/town safety To stretch a tight budget, a migration plan to an IP-based camera system could be phased in over time by centering the upgrade on a new hybrid DVR system. This way, both existing analogue and newer IP-based cameras can be hooked into the system. For example, Hikvision’s Smart City Solutions include systems for government services, transportation and traffic management, or any combinations of these. Applications include perimeter monitoring, public parking, city transportation, square/town safety and temporary surveillance. Data capture form to appear here! Heart of City strategy Dahua Technology, a video-centric smart IoT solution and service provider, has introduced its ‘Heart of City (HOC)’ strategy, which is in line with the top-level design experience from hundreds of city projects. The strategy is based on the maturity of five technologies – artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cloud computing, IoT and 5G. The combination will enable the evolution of smart city 3.0 and bring great changes to our life, according to Dahua. A 300-plus camera city centre video surveillance scheme in the UK city of Lincoln has been installed and commissioned using Dahua's cameras, monitors and switching equipment A 300-plus camera city centre video surveillance scheme in the UK city of Lincoln has been installed and commissioned using cameras, monitors and switching equipment from Dahua Technology. The design of the new all-wireless encrypted system was based around delivering flexible technology, reducing the total cost of ownership, ease of installation, lower maintenance requirements, smart edge analytics and remote connectivity. Future-proof radio network design Environmentally friendly aspects of the project included specifying lower-energy equipment, integrating remote support and recycling hardware wherever possible. The council employed independent consultants Lever Technology Group to help them ensure they had a robust and future-proof radio network design. The installation of the new IP full HD system and network is part of Lincoln’s smart city strategy – Vision 2020 – which seeks to drive innovation in the city and harness new technologies to improve the lives of citizens. One of the results is the provision of free Wi-Fi in the city, working alongside the Dahua cameras using the same IP wireless network. Wearables for city surveillance Wearables are another new aspect of city surveillance system. For example, FLIR Systems, Inc. has announced FLIR TruWITNESS, a wearable sensor platform designed for city-level security and public safety operations. TruWITNESS combines video, audio, location data, Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities, and cloud and management software in one solution, allowing organisations to reach a new level of situational awareness. TruWITNESS is worn on an individual’s body or mounted inside vehicles and is designed for any public safety organisation that requires on-scene, real-time mobile surveillance TruWITNESS is designed for any public safety organisation that requires on-scene, real-time mobile surveillance. Worn on an individual’s body or mounted inside vehicles, TruWITNESS includes visible-video, audio, global navigation satellite system (GNSS), gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetometer sensors. These sensors combine to send alerts and stream data to a central command centre in real-time to ensure full situational awareness and global event handling. Featuring FLIR Neighbor Aware inter-device connectivity, TruWITNESS acts as an IoT device, triggering nearby TruWITNESS devices, fixed and motorised Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) security cameras, and other connected sensors to act upon an alarm event. TruWITNESS becomes a key component of FLIR Systems’ Video Management System, United VMS, which command centres use to manage video surveillance. United VMS combines video, audio, and other related data and makes it available for real-time situation management and forensic purposes. Video analytics for crowd monitoring Crowd monitoring video analytics solutions monitor vast areas instantly alerting police of any overcrowding areasCrowd monitoring video analytics solutions continuously monitor vast areas instantly alerting police of any overcrowding areas. Qognify’s crowd monitoring video analytics solution was successfully used during the Maratha Morcha in the city of Kolhapur, India, on October 15th, 2016. The system monitored approximately one million protestors through 165 cameras installed across city. Smart threshold alerts were streamed directly into the control room while the crowd was building up, so that action could be taken before the crowd density reached dangerous levels, alleviating crowd safety and stability. At the core of the solution is Situator, Qognify’s advanced PSIM/Situation Management solution, which manages a myriad of security systems and sensors, including Qognify’s video management solution, from a newly built state-of-the-art Command and Control Center. Security operators and officials have advanced situational awareness of what is happening in their city and where. Automated, pre-defined Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were designed, in the local language Marathi, for handling routine security incidents as well as disaster management, ensuring that the most effective response is initiated, and procedures are executed in a consistent manner. Maintaining law, order and safety Qognify also implemented its Safe City solution in Navi Mumbai, a planned township that was established to handle the population overflow from the overcrowded and ever-growing city of Mumbai, India. Together with CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation, the agency established for managing the new city) and system integrator WIPRO, Qognify designed an integrated and holistic solution that helps Navi police to maintain law, order and safety.  Qognify’s Video Management Solution controls hundreds of surveillance cameras As a planned township, Navi Mumbai officials have the benefit of operating in a modern environment, allowing them to maximise Qognify’s Safe City solution. The Qognify Situator is an advanced Situation Management platform, and Qognify’s Video Management Solution controls the hundreds of surveillance cameras throughout the city. Role of standards in smart cities “Standards can assist in successfully deploying a comprehensive [safe cities] system with multiple technologies into a single, cohesive entity,” said Per Björkdahl, Chair of the ONVIF Steering Committee. “With the ability to integrate various sensors and data from many different devices synthesised through one interface, government officials and law enforcement are afforded a more complete picture of their city’s security.” Deployment of facial recognition technology Live video streaming within the smart and safe city’s infrastructure means video’s capabilities can go beyond simple evidence recording and evolve into a tool that allows operations teams to monitor and remediate against incidents as they are happening. Facial recognition technology can be added on to any video surveillance camera that is recording at a high quality This can be taken one step further with the deployment of facial recognition via live streaming video. Facial recognition technology can be added on to any video surveillance camera that is recording at a high enough quality to identify faces. The technology works by capturing video, streaming the live video back to a control centre and matching faces against any watch lists that the control centre owns. Importantly, the data of people who aren’t on watch lists is not stored by the technology. This technology can work to make the city safer in a number of ways. For example, facial recognition could spot a known drug dealer in a city centre where they weren’t supposed to be, or facial recognition could identify if a group of known terror suspects were visiting the same location at the same time, and this would send an alert to the police.

As the Internet of Things (IoT) and other trends drive the convergence of physical and information security, integrators and end users attending ISC West may be struggling to keep pace with new areas of responsibility and expanding roles in the larger security ecosystem. Help is here. The Connected Security Expo, co-locating with ISC West, focuses on building a holistic security strategy for the connected enterprise. Exhibitors will focus on how physical and information security can be used together to mitigate new and emerging cyber-threats in a hyper-connected world. Connected Security Expo provides attendees access to cutting-edge products and technology in both the physical and IT secure realms. It is clearly a growth factor in the market. Here’s a look at some of the companies on display in the 2019 Connected Security Expo: Integrated video cloud service The AI-powered video analysis software suite delivers high-speed object search and facial classification Arcules provides the Arcules integrated video cloud service, which combines untapped video and sensor data with the latest technologies in cloud, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to deliver actionable business and security intelligence for modern organisations. The cloud-based service is designed to ensure security, scalability, streamlined operations, and bandwidth management — all from a single, easy-to-use interface. Hardware-accelerated solutions BrainChip Inc. is a global developer of software and hardware-accelerated solutions for advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning applications. The AI-powered video analysis software suite delivers high-speed object search and facial classification for law enforcement, counter terrorism and intelligence agencies. PSIM software platform CNL Software Inc. is an open, adaptable, scalable and secure Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) solutions provider. The IPSecurity Center PSIM software platform helps law enforcement, government agencies, the military, public and private critical infrastructure, transportation networks, corporations and campuses to integrate, automate and manage systems, allowing better security intelligence and improved operational efficiency. Facial recognition software IOmniscient Corp. provides facial recognition software that can recognise multiple faces even in crowded and uncontrolled scenes IOmniscient Corp. provides facial recognition software that can recognise multiple faces even in crowded and uncontrolled scenes. Matching faces with an existing database, the system can detect an unauthorised person and track him or her across non-overlapping cameras. Enhance situational awareness Oncam offers 360 and 180-degree video technology. The company has the largest range of wide-angle cameras that are open platform and easy to integrate. Unique dewarping technology allows the creation of award-winning video solutions for stakeholders from the C-suite to the security officer in wide range of industry segments. Oncam’s products greatly enhance situational awareness. Enterprise-class security Pivot3 is a provider of intelligent solutions using hyperconverged infrastructure. Pivot3’s intelligent infrastructure is optimised to deliver performance, resilience, scalability and ease-of-use required for enterprise-class security, video surveillance and IoT deployments. Electronic physical security The UL 2900-1 standard offers general requirements for software cybersecurity for network-connectable productsUL LLC is working to increase the prominence of the Underwriter Laboratories brand in cybersecurity with the UL Cybersecurity Assurance Program (CAP). The UL 2900-1 standard, the standard that offers general requirements for software cybersecurity for network-connectable products, was published in 2016 and in July 2017 was published as an ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard. The standard was developed with cooperation from end users such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. National Laboratories, and other industry stakeholders. UL 2900-2-3 – the standard that focuses on electronic physical security/life safety & security industry, was published in September 2017. Proactive automated system Viakoo is a provider of the security industry’s first proactive automated system and data verification solution. Create significant value Vidsys is innovating and accelerating a transition to Converged Security and Information Management or CSIM. The company is committed to educating and supporting customers with their evolving needs to provide a more holistic view of risk and throughout the overall business process re-engineering necessary to create significant value across the entire organisation.

Abu Dhabi is a major cultural and commercial centre in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), accounting for roughly two-thirds of the UAE’s economy. While oil and natural gas make up a large portion of its GDP, Abu Dhabi has positioned itself as a premiere tourist destination, with major investments in luxury resorts and business hotels. Consequently, public safety is a top priority — and FLIR Systems is playing a critical role in the city’s long-term safe city initiative. Recently, the Abu Dhabi Monitoring and Control Center (ADMCC) was tasked with integrating all public access cameras onto a single platform to provide fully uninterrupted coverage of the city. This is in compliance with the Safe City 2030 vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and President of the UAE. As part of this initiative, ADMCC launched the Falcon Eye project, where surveillance cameras and sensors would be installed across the city to enable real-time situational awareness, threat detection, data collection, data sharing among public safety organisations, and crime prevention. Updating video management system To manage such an extensive system under the Falcon Eye project, ADMCC needed to update its VMS softwareFalcon Eye expands Abu Dhabi’s existing surveillance system to thousands of license plate recognition cameras and surveillance cameras, with cameras equipped with video analytics and/or facial recognition capabilities. To manage such an extensive system under the Falcon Eye project, ADMCC needed to update its video management system (VMS) software. ADMCC sought a VMS that would provide enhanced image quality, as well as increased storage and integrity of streamed video. The VMS also needed to be able to incorporate current, emerging and future technologies, such as Big Data, cyber protection, smart cameras, analytics at the edge, and automated camera management. Additionally, ADMCC required a cost-effective VMS that would seamlessly integrate with the existing physical security management information (PSIM) without compromising any data or operations from subsystems. Reliable software solution for video surveillance Previously, ADMCC had a strong relationship with FLIR, having deployed an older FLIR United VMS version for several years. After careful research and evaluation, ADMCC chose to continue partnering with FLIR as the industry leader in advanced video solutions in the safe city sector. ADMCC selected the most recent FLIR United VMS release as its VMS for the Falcon Eye initiative. FLIR United VMS is a reliable, enterprise-level software solution for video surveillance supporting an unlimited number of cameras over IP networks. Complying with ONVIF Profile S, Latitude ensures greater compatibility between cameras and the VMS Part of FLIR’s award-winning United VMS platform, Latitude features enhanced cyber security protocols. Its distributed server architecture enables unlimited scalability, multi-site deployments and sophisticated network topologies. Latitude’s open platform functionality provides advanced edge device integration, bringing together hundreds of third-party technologies. Complying with ONVIF Profile S, Latitude ensures greater compatibility between cameras and the VMS. Integrating Latitude and PSIM solution ADMCC upgraded to the recent United VMS version in June 2017. With special support from the FLIR team, the integration of Latitude and ADMCC’s in-house PSIM solution was successfully completed without any data loss. Adding value to the integration was the presence of an in-house FLIR engineer, who provided insight and guidance throughout the process. “FLIR is considered one of ADMCC’s trusted vendors, delivering regular upgrades and specialist support to our operations when needed,” said His Excellency Saeed Al-Neyadi, Director General at ADMCC. “The on-site FLIR engineer provided an immeasurable value to ADMCC.” Ensures maximum integrity and reliability One of the defining characteristics of United VMS is its simplicity and easy user interface. United VMS offers simplified access in managing and controlling video operations for the support staff. For all safe city projects, the preservation and availability of data is paramount. United VMS ensures maximum integrity and reliability with exceptional failover, disaster recovery capabilities" “The use of actionable information through data collection is vital in running such a huge scale operation such as Safe City initiatives,” Mr. Khalfan Al Hassani (ICT Director) said. “United VMS ensures maximum integrity and reliability with exceptional failover, disaster recovery capabilities, and 24/7 redundant recording.” Day/night safety of city and residents ADMCC oversees one of the world’s leading safe city solutions that utilises license plate recognition, facial recognition, video analytics and video management from over 45,000 sensors spread across the Emirate. United VMS serves as the central operational platform for all data of this unified platform, providing an efficient combination of video software and server hardware. By utilising the state-of-the-art technologies and subsystems brought together by United VMS, ADMCC ensures the safety of the city and its residents at all hours of the day and night. “United VMS has given ADMCC a reliable, stable, robust and secure platform for the past six years,” said Al Hassani. “It underpins a custom PSIM solution that supports various government agencies in Abu Dhabi helping the city to be ranked the ‘Safest City in the World.’”

CNL Software, a provider of Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) software, is pleased to announce that its award-winning PSIM technology was used to support a multiagency security program for Super Bowl LIII. The company’s IPSecurityCenter PSIM solution is installed in the Atlanta Police Department’s Video Integration Center (VIC) and helps secure the city and surrounding metro area, keep the metro area’s transportation networks and systems safe, and to help law enforcement personnel make sense of the huge volume of video intelligence that is generated day-to-day and during large-scale events like Super Bowl. Provide law enforcement Atlanta is no stranger to hosting large-scale events, which includes a previous Super Bowl, and has invested in a multitude of surveillance, analytic, data fusion, and communications systems and technologies in recent years. The City has also established an innovative public-private partnership, known as Operation Shield, that effectively leverages the surveillance assets and infrastructure of other participating Atlanta metro area departments and agencies, including the City’s Metro Atlanta Rail and Transit Authority (MARTA) and Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, and the City’s business community, while also bridging communication gaps between and across them. IPSecurityCenter by CNL Software integrates these disparate systems in the Atlanta Police Department’s VIC to provide law enforcement IPSecurityCenter by CNL Software integrates these disparate systems in the Atlanta Police Department’s VIC to provide law enforcement and other public safety professionals with the data and video intelligence they need to effectively respond to incidents before they arrive on scene. Crowd size monitoring “Estimates are that nearly one million people travelled to Atlanta for Super Bowl Week. As with all major events, ensuring public safety and security is a big job and huge concern,” comments Mike Mostow, General Manager – Americas at CNL Software. “IPSecurityCenter was installed in the VIC by the Atlanta Police Department to provide the real-time situational awareness and decision support they need to ensure public safety and security during large-scale special security events like Super Bowl LIII.” IPSecurityCenter PSIM is installed in some of the largest public safety and security programs in some of the world’s largest cities. The platform enables the most intelligent integration of the widest range of disparate public safety, security, emergency management, and homeland defence system and sensor technologies, including video and video analytics, facial recognition, license plate recognition, crowd size monitoring, gunshot detection, chemical, biological, radiological/nuclear and explosives detection, geospatial mapping, and asset tracking.

Maxxess eFusion technology is being used to provide seamless integration and easy management of security, safety and site management systems at Bluewaters Island, Dubai. Maxxess eFusion technology The region’s newest tourism hotspot, Bluewaters opened in November 2018 and is expected to attract more than 3 million visitors every year. The US$ 1.6bn project was completed by Meraas Holdings over five years and comprises four luxury residential complexes, a landmark Caesars Palace hotel, a shopping mall and the world’s largest observation wheel, Ain Dubai, as its centrepiece. Security and safety integration Bluewaters’ management wanted to find the most efficient way to integrate all security, safety and building management functions into one easy operating system Bluewaters’ management wanted to find the most efficient way to integrate all security, safety and building management functions into one easy operating system, with particular emphasis on a solution that would be efficient to use, inexpensive to maintain and robust going forwards Following a sector comparison, Maxxess eFusion technology was identified as providing the best fit. Security management platform The eFusion security management platform was chosen instead of a more costly or complex conventional PSIM solution, because it uses versatile, open-technology software. Omnix International, one of the leading integrators brought in for the project, says eFusion proved particularly straightforward to work with, offering the advantages of a modular, building block approach and allowing maximum freedom to integrate, customise and adapt to future needs. “Thanks to its compatibility with leading surveillance, intruder, access and fire detection systems, eFusion proved to be a highly efficient integration technology for the Bluewater project,” says Mr. Henry Azoury, Senior Security Design and Engineering Manager at Omnix International. ASSA ABLOY Hospitality system The eFusion platform at Bluewaters includes full integration with an ASSA ABLOY Hospitality system The eFusion platform at Bluewaters includes full integration with an ASSA ABLOY Hospitality system. It allows a unified system approach, with a single enrolment protocol for both front- and back-of-house access. The solution enables centralised management of room safes, mini-bars and cupboards, and for control of all alarm transactions. eFusion integration with the Zenitel Stantaphone IP Intercom System ensures that video and transaction data is called-up automatically in the Bluewaters control room as soon as any user press a call button. For maximum efficiency, the system allows the operator to unlock doors and communicate with the user remotely, with full activity logs kept for audit. With easy integration to the SeeTec Video Management System, eFusion also allows seamless control of all cameras. In addition, cameras are linked to the door access system, with video pop-up triggered by pre-defined events. The solution also gives the operators complete PTZ control, playback and video functionality. ID badging integration ID badging and building management systems are also fully integrated, allowing easy operation and control of a wide range of functions including heating, ventilation and air conditioning. The eFusion platform is based on technology that delivers robust, reliable performance" “For maximum efficiency there is no need to switch between different management systems and the eFusion platform is easy to work with, allowing full benefit from integration with individual systems,” says Lee Copland, Managing Director EMEA, Maxxess. eFusion at Intersec 2019  “The eFusion platform is based on technology that delivers robust, reliable performance, as well as being fully scalable as needs change the future. We look forward to our continued work with Omnix International, which is providing the world-class specialist engineering services combined with local, customised support that customers value.” To see Maxxess solutions in action come to Intersec 2019 on stand SA-H12.

Prison drone pioneers introduce Government to perimeter savings. The integrated security team behind a British prison’s pioneering war against drones is to share its innovative and cost-saving approach with the UK Government. Les Nicolles Prison on Guernsey became the first in the world to use a new system designed to stop drones smuggling drugs, weapons and other contraband over perimeter walls. A group of four collaborating British companies styling itself as The Perimeter Security Centre of Excellence (PSCoE) installed the comprehensive perimeter protection package, including the new ‘Sky Fence’ technology. Now PSCoE (stand Z35) is exhibiting at the official UK Government global security event, Security & Policing 2018, which takes place from 6 to 8 March at Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre. A group of four collaborating British companies styling itself as The Perimeter Security Centre of Excellence (PSCoE) installed the comprehensive perimeter protection Latest equipment, training and support The unique three-day event, established over 30 years ago, is the premier platform for UK suppliers to showcase the very latest equipment, training and support, to police services, Government departments, organisations and agencies from the UK and overseas. Binns Fencing, the leading fencing contractor for the Ministry of Justice, led the Guernsey project for the conglomerate, which offers the simplicity and efficiencies of a single line of communication and management from cradle to grave of high-security perimeters. Eclipse Digital Solutions is the second of the collaborators. It created Sky Fence with fellow British company Drone Defence and offers full turnkey security design through to installation. Eclipse’s Joe Vasso said: “Our proposition is all about seamless integration to offer the most cost-effective high-end security for perimeters – whether that be along a border, around a prison, airport or the Olympic Games, or even airborne above ground, on roofs and the like. The beauty of our conglomerate is that our relationships have been formed over years and we’re all friends, so the trust is absolute and we care about each other.” Our proposition is all about seamless integration to offer the most cost-effective high-end security for perimeters" Significant cost savings The other two members are Harper Chalice, an intrusion detection company providing PIDs, electric fencing and RADAR detection, and ISM, which offers integrated security systems, PSIM software and intercom security systems. Together, they believe the UK Government could make significant savings by adopting its proposed model for delivering perimeter security and PIDs procurement and delivery. Their single point of contact for the complete perimeter security package provides greater opportunity for innovation, reduced complexity and no need to manage multiple contractors. PSCoE believes this could offer significant cost savings on PIDs cable installation and contract and project management costs – as with Les Nicolles, where the State of Guernsey that runs the prison saved £1.3 million. The other two members are Harper Chalice, an intrusion detection company providing PIDs, electric fencing and RADAR detection, and ISM, which offers integrated security systems Trusted advice and design State Deputy Mary Lowe said: “The committee decided, following discussions with key staff, that it was possible to continue housing Category B prisoners at Les Nicolles without the installation, at significant expense, of a second fence. While the second fence is advised under UK guidelines for Category B prisons, the committee is comfortable that the current technological upgrade offers security that enables Guernsey to continue housing Category B prisoners. Sending such prisoners off island to serve their sentence comes at a significant cost of approximately £50,000 per year each. The committee decided that these upgrades, which will cost £1.3m less than a second fence, offered a Guernsey-appropriate solution.” Binns MD Adam Binns said: “We have devised this model in consultation with the Government, main contractors and suppliers, to deliver best value and a greater potential to innovate with a single point of contact throughout procurement, delivery and installation. The model will give them trusted advice on design, manufacturing and installation from exclusively British companies with British products from electronic systems of CCTV, detection, video management and access control to physical security fencing, gates and hostile vehicle mitigation.” We have devised this model in consultation with the Government, main contractors and suppliers, to deliver best value and a greater potential" Security & Policing Security & Policing provides a platform for professionals from the UK and across the world to engage with the very highest level of security expertise and the latest technology. It provides the level of industry engagement needed to enable UK Government to procure and deliver its national security priorities. Major specifiers and Government specified users can obtain reference to its products from the Home Office. Normal commercial users can obtain reference to its specialist electronic perimeter security systems on the police ‘Secured by Design’ website. Harper Chalice Group’s products and systems are sold, installed and maintained worldwide via a network of specialist accredited dealers. ISM (Intergrated Security Manufacturing) ISM (Intergrated Security Manufacturing) has been at the forefront of innovation, design and manufacturing excellence in integrated security systems for almost 30 years. ISM operates from an extensive manufacturing and design facility in the United Kingdom, close to Gatwick Airport. It is the UK’s leading developer of integrated security management, intercom and cell call systems.

To grasp the current manufacturing trends and seize the Zeitgeist of Industry 4.0, a new smart IoT industrial park in Hangzhou has been put to use by Dahua Technology, a video surveillance solution provider. Dahua Smart (IoT) Industrial Park occupies in total 512 acres in Fuyang district of Hangzhou, about 20 minutes’ drive from Dahua headquarters, designed to host 6000 staff (by 2017, 4500 people have been working/living in the 262 acres of phase one area). With topnotch technologies, personnel, materials and other benefits, Dahua’s smart industrial park will bring productivity and quality to a brand new level. Efficient information integration The automatic production solution based on integrated information system not only grants a higher productivity that significantly shortens the delivery cycle time for Dahua customers, but also a greater flexibility to specialised requests and ever-changing reality.The employment of software such as ERP, PLM, PDM, MES, APS and WMS helps to achieve information integration The employment of software such as ERP, PLM, PDM, MES, APS and WMS helps to achieve information integration, which, combined with industrial cameras, RFID sensory technologies and automation technologies, can integrate personnel, logistics, works, engineering projects and finance from respective sections of production(preparation, assembly, testing, packaging, inspection, shipment), rendering the whole process visible, traceable and digital. The mounter serves as a good synecdoche to illustrate the incredible efficiency of the whole production system. The concerning high-end devices (including mounter, printer, automated optical inspection equipment, Ersa reflow soldering tools, etc.) provided by ASM (originally Siemens) achieve a speed among the fastest in the world. Fast processing According to IPC standard, X4iS, the latest high-speed mounter can process 125,000 components per hour, or 35 per second. X35 multifunctional mounter can do 54000 components per hour, or 15 per second. A production line in X series can enhance the productivity by 2.7 times while reducing the consumption of energy by 52%, comparing to the original production line in D series under the same conditions. Dahua Smart Industrial Park provides the great benefit of internal synergy The faster speed also applies to the development of new molding, since Dahua Smart Industrial Park provides the great benefit of internal synergy, allowing the end-to-end vertical supply chain with marketing, R&D and manufacturing efficiently integrated. The advanced organising system is supported by topnotch equipment, such as MAKINO high-speed graphite processing machine, GF CNC, GF WEDM-LS machine, Hexagon 3D Nikon projectors and electronic displays. With a processing accuracy of +/-0.002 to +/-0.005MM, while also supporting CAD / CAM / CAE collaborative development and simultaneous manufacturing, these machines enable Dahua to develop new mechanical molding in as short as 7 days.Higher quality results in less likelihood for products to malfunction especially when they are used in critical situations Time- and cost-saving solution By far, this developing system has already produced high precision molding for Lechange Robots, monitoring cameras in TP1-TC6 series, G20 intelligent head-gears, smoke alarm for fire detectors, etc., all of which proving the effectiveness of the system in shortening the development cycle and keeping the competitive edge with new products in the business. Higher quality saves lots of time and economic costs for clients. Even more importantly, higher quality results in less likelihood for products to malfunction especially when they are used in critical, not-allowed-to-go-wrong situations. Dahua’s products are guaranteed with a higher quality for two reasons: first, Dahua has set a high standard of accuracy in production; second, with a reliability lab at the production end, Dahua has put together an effectively closed loop for quality control in the manufacturing process. Accuracy has always been one vital index defining the manufacturing ability because it directly sets the limit to quality and range of products to be produced. Again, take the mounter mentioned above for example: it can process components, in metric size, as small as 03015(0.3x0.15mm), with a +-0.025mm SMD precision (within the 3-stigma range), boasting world leading performance and capable of covering basically all types of components used in the industry.Dahua industrial camera plays an important role in IoT, providing a closed loop for quality control in the manufacturing process Enhanced vision and intelligent analytics Dahua industrial camera plays an important role in IoT, providing a closed loop for quality control in the manufacturing process, in which all materials, personnel and devices are connected and products are traceable to the specific production line and precise time it got made. Boasting a variety of functions, Dahua industrial cameras are used in different sections of production, enabling automatic assembly, high-precision graphic inspection and product flaw inspection. Through high-definition machine vision, Dahua industrial cameras automatically and precisely locate the components, limiting the assembly error to micron level. Equipped with enhanced vision and intelligent analytics algorithm, the industrial camera can spontaneously detect and recognise flaws in the performance and outlook of products, thus promising not only the volume of cameras production but also the steady quality of each and every one of them.In the future phase, this industrial park is expected to be more intelligent to enable a safer society and smarter living Safe society and smart living Reliability must be put to test, in R&D as well as in manufacturing process. The reliability lab at the production end serves to assure quality by randomly taking products from production lines and put them into reliability tests simulating falling, high/low temperature, worn-out conditions, which are conducted by industry leading testing equipment in the lab. Thus what’s conceived in R&D is confirmed from the production line, the synergy of both ends promising better products (for common use or specialised needs). This lab is also responsible for testing all the raw materials. Thanks to the aforementioned information integration, all tests are automatically conducted, recorded and traceable. In conclusion, Dahua Smart (IoT) Industrial Park is endowed with the latest and world leading manufacturing equipment/system boasting high level automation and intelligence, which is essential to satisfy the ever higher demands from clients in terms of delivery time, specialised use and quality. There is still great potential to this new smart industrial park. It is literally only in its phase one. And in the future phase, it is expected to be more intelligent, to realise client-centred flexible production and to enable a safer society and smarter living.

Genetec, a technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, introduced Genetec Airport Sense , part of the Genetec Airport Practice Group. This advanced operational analytics solution relies on data provided by an airport’s existing security infrastructure, including cameras, sensors, and various detection devices to produce actionable intelligence about airport security, operations, and passenger flow. By accessing and analysing both structured and unstructured data from these untapped security information sources, airports can extend their security investment. Airport Sense is available now from any Genetec certified channel partner. Until now, airports have traditionally relied on standalone, unconnected systems to manage passenger flow and security. By analysing and correlating data provided by multiple sensors such as video surveillance cameras, access control hardware, and IoT connected devices, Airport Sense gives airport security and operations managers, business analysts, and airport executives, a deeper understanding of what’s happening in their facilities. This allows them to make timely, informed decisions to improve the passenger experience and increase revenue for duty-free, retail, and food services in the airport terminal. Seamless, hassle-free traveler experience Essential elements for a safe, easy-to-navigate, and profitable airport include understanding how people flow from the parking areas, check-in, duty-free and retail shops, in-airport cafes and dining areas. Airport Sense combines and processes correlative data to help airport managers understand this traffic in order to design a seamless, hassle-free traveler experience resulting in increased brand attachment, venue and airline loyalty, and positive business growth. By relying on powerful analytics such as queue detection and delays, heat mapping, directional analysis, and people counting, Genetec Airport Sense pinpoints hindrances to the flow of passengers in ticketing, screening, and passport control—and can identify where wait lines build in areas such as duty free, dining, entertainment, and pre-boarding. Real-time activity uopdates Through intuitive web-based dashboards and dynamic maps, security personnel, operations and business analysts, and retailers stay informed of real-time activity and compare it against key performance indicators (KPI) or historical trends. With timely, relevant information on hand, they can take instant action to address a variety of situations, such as managing over-flowing queues, reallocating staff to deal with peak times, and more.   Airport Sense helps airports better understand passenger flow in retail and dining areas, leading to enhancements in terminal layout. By sharing insights such as traveler behavior and footfall with retailers, airports guide their customers on layout and product placement decisions. Advanced unified security management “Today, air travel is much more than just transporting a passenger from one place to another. Airports are now thought of as ‘small cities’, and must provide a safe and efficient experience, from parking, check-in, and exposure to world-class shopping and dining,” said David Lenot, Airport Practice Group Leader at Genetec. “The challenge for airports is to offer this amazing journey while delivering an environment that’s safe and secure, with operations that run like clockwork. That’s the guiding vision behind Airport Sense: to give airports the tools they need to get a clearer understanding of their business, and give passengers a seamless experience—from drop-off to take-off,” added Lenot. Airport Sense is one aspect of the larger Genetec airport portfolio of solutions. While Airport Sense delivers greater intelligence on passenger flow, the open-architecture Genetec Security Center platform delivers advanced unified security management, and Genetec Mission Control offers collaborative decision and event management. Combined, these three powerful Genetec systems allow airports to craft a flexible and comprehensive strategy for security, operations and commercial success—enabling different stakeholders to rely on a common set of tools and data.

Cloud computing has been around since the turn of the millennium. Over the years, the concept of storing and accessing programs over the Internet (instead of using an on-premises computer system) has grown in almost every realm of business. Some might say the physical security industry has come late to the party, delayed in some instances by (misguided?) concerns about cybersecurity of cloud systems. The bandwidth needed to transfer video to the cloud has also been a challenge. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What features of Cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) are the most valuable to the average user?

Body-worn cameras are becoming more common every day, driven both by needs of the marketplace and technology developments. However, questions remain about the usefulness of the devices, and their future role in promoting safety and security. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the challenges of body-worn cameras for the security industry?

In recent years, information technology (IT) departments at end user companies have often been seen as adversaries of traditional security departments – or, at least, as a thorn in their side. One of the issues is territorial: As physical security products have migrated to use of Internet protocols and the network infrastructure, the IT and security departments have clashed – erm… make that interacted – more and more often. New realities such as cybersecurity have made it critical that the two entities work in harmony, and IT professionals often provide useful insights into product selection, among other issues. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the influence of the IT department on security purchases at an end user company?