PTZ cameras

As the industry looks for effective, integrated solutions that improve security and enhance business, Axis Communications, a provider in network video, plans to announce the debut of new products and solutions at ISC West 2019. These products include new developments in network audio, multidirectional and infrared (IR) camera capabilities, and access control technology, highlighting Axis’ commitment to taking a leading role in the security industry. “It is always a privilege to attend ISC West, and this year we look forward to showcasing a number of exciting new products and solutions,” said Fredrik Nilsson, VP, Americas, Axis Communications, Inc. “Building a smarter, more secure world--by providing all of our stakeholders with the solutions that they need to succeed--is our primary goal. We are eager for another opportunity to reach more people face-to-face while demonstrating some of the new security innovations that we’ll be releasing soon.” AXIS P3719-PLE is able to capture images with exceptional sharpness and clarity regardless of lighting conditions Multidirectional camera coverage The multidirectional, four-channel AXIS P3719-PLE Network Camera features Quad HD resolution and a 30 FPS framerate and is capable of providing 24/7, 360-degree coverage. This easy-to-install outdoor camera can be either recessed or corner mounted and comes with an integrated IP66/IP67-rated weather shield. Axis Lightfinder technology, WDR, and 360-degree IR illumination ensure that AXIS P3719-PLE is able to capture images with exceptional sharpness and clarity regardless of lighting conditions. AXIS P3719-PLE incorporates four varifocal camera heads, allowing the camera to easily monitor four different directions, and is able to provide high-quality 360-degree overviews or a combination of overviews and detailed close-ups. The AXIS P3719-PLE is highly cost effective, essentially providing the benefits of four cameras in one. Advancements in network audio Network audio is widely used for functions including security, announcements, and background music AXIS C8210 Network Audio Amplifier makes migration from traditional to network audio systems smart and easy by enabling any passive speaker to benefit from the same feature set as Axis network speakers. By pairing the AXIS C8210 with AXIS Audio Management Software, users can enjoy benefits that include flexible zoning, managing and monitoring all audio devices from a single interface and easy integration to systems like SIP, VoIP, and camera systems. Additional product benefits include an amplifier with built-in equalizer, 15W power output for up to eight speakers, support for health monitoring, and an I/O and SD-card slot. Network audio has extensive applications, and is widely used for functions including security, announcements, and background music. Heavy-duty IR capabilities In response to demand for more heavy-duty PTZ cameras with built-in IR illumination, Axis is launching the new AXIS Q6215-LE PTZ Network Camera. The camera comes with a half-inch sensor and combines high-quality imaging with fast pan, tilt, and zoom functionalities. AXIS Q6215-LE features long-range OptimizedIR technology alongside IR LEDs capable of adjusting to the camera’s zoom, enabling superior video quality at up to 1,300 ft., even in low light or complete darkness. AXIS Q6215-LE features a robust design capable of withstanding difficult weather conditions, including wind speeds of up to 150 MPH, making it ideal for open-area surveillance such as airports, harbors, and highways. AXIS A8207-VE integrates with other systems and solutions, including video management and access control Multifunction door security AXIS A8207-VE Network Video Door Station represents the evolution of the traditional door station, combining access control, two-way audio capabilities, and a 6 MP security camera in a single device. The station also includes an integrated RFID reader for easy employee access and enables remote entrance control using a computer, phone or mobile device. AXIS A8207-VE reduces the number of devices needed at the door while supporting analytics including motion and sound-based detection, which can be used to trigger events including verbal greetings or recordings. Additional benefits include a built-in keypad for dialling and PIN verification, acoustic echo cancellation and noise reduction, and SIP, VAPIX, and ONVIF compatibility. AXIS A8207-VE easily integrates with other systems and solutions, including video management, access control, and VoIP communications. These and other products and solutions will be showcased at ISC West 2019 in Axis’ booth #14051.

Hanwha Techwin Europe has further strengthened its Wisenet T Thermal camera range with the introduction of three new radiometric thermal models, each of which have a temperature measurement feature. The Wisenet TNO-4030TR, TNO-4040TR and TNO-4041TR are able to accurately detect if the air temperature is higher or lower than set parameters, e.g. above or below 40°C. They have been designed to help monitor areas which are vulnerable to fires, such as oil and chemical facilities, construction sites and forests, as well as recycling and waste management centres which can experience spontaneous combustion. The cameras are also ideal for monitoring poultry and livestock farms in order to detect temperature changes which could foster disease. Difficult environmental conditions The TNO-4030TR is equipped with a 13mm lens and has a maximum range of 1,173m for vehicle detection, whilst the TNO-4041TR, which is designed to be mounted onto a PTZ unit, and the TNO-4040TR, have a 19mm lens and a maximum range of 1,714m. The three new models are able to capture images at up to 640 x 480 resolution and are designed to detect objects and people As is the case with other Wisenet T Thermal cameras, the three new models are able to capture images at up to 640 x 480 resolution and are designed to detect objects and people in difficult environmental conditions such as through smoke, snow, heavy rain and fog, which traditional video surveillance cameras may not be able to do. They also offer an effective solution for projects where there are concerns about light pollution. The Wisenet TNO-4030TR, TNO-4040TR and TNO-4041TR are equipped with audio analysis functionality which recognise critical sounds such as gunshots, explosions, screams and broken glass. Complementary compression technology Additional features include temperature change, shock, object/people direction, loitering and camera tampering detection. Other key features include -20°C ~130°C temperature measurement. Built-in Gyro sensors offer accurate stabilisation which comes into effect when a camera is disturbed by wind or vibrations, resulting in more stable images. IP66 and IK10 ratings for protection against water, dust, and mechanical impact, making them an ideal choice for outdoor applications as well. A choice of H.265, H.264 or MJPEG compression. WiseStream II, a complementary compression technology which dynamically controls encoding, balancing quality and compression according to movement in the image. Bandwidth efficiency is improved by up to 99% compared to current H.264 technology when WiseStream II is combined with H.265 compression.

UK CCTV manufacturing company, 360 Vision Technology, has confirmed its participation in Network of UK Law Enforcement and Security (NUKLEAS). With a strong emphasis on the delivery of technical innovation and design, 360 Vision has forged many close working partnerships with an array of technology leaders. Now, with its membership of NUKLEAS, the company is providing a key to enable turnkey systems for a wide range of security surveillance applications. Integrated command and control solution NUKLEAS offers their combined powerful end-to-end field-proven integrated solutions, backed by customer support"“Supported by the UK Government’s Department for International Trade, the NUKLEAS consortium concept has been developed to offer discerning international customers a coordinated, and integrated command and control solution for any security, management or safety requirement,” explains Richard Freeman, NUKLEAS Director. “The highly reputable consortium of companies’ products and software solutions have all been developed and manufactured in the UK. Now, for the first time, NUKLEAS offers their combined powerful end-to-end field-proven integrated solutions, backed by long-term customer support, under one entity.” Providing surveillance imaging expertise Commenting on 360 Vision’s commitment to NUKLEAS in providing its surveillance imaging expertise, rugged and reliable product performance, and outstanding customer support, Mark Rees, Managing Director at 360 Vision Technology said: “For 360 Vision, the opportunity to work in collaboration with a mix of other leading British technology companies was an easy decision. 360 Vision’s security surveillance product range includes static and integrated PTZ analogue and HD cameras “NUKLEAS’ global approach offers a powerful route for business growth, particularly for Export markets, where we can capitalise on the combined consortium members’ presence in any particular region, to deliver our high-performance CCTV camera solutions to protect people and infrastructure.” 360 Vision Technology’s security surveillance product range includes static and integrated PTZ analogue and HD cameras, cooled & uncooled thermal, polished stainless steel and radar-controlled cameras, and patent pending, integrated and stand-alone SIRIUS white light and infrared LED illuminators.

Avigilon Corporation, a Motorola Solutions company, announced that it is launching a new partner loyalty program, Avigilon Plus.  Avigilon Plus will first be available in Canada and the United States and will feature a range of benefits that are designed to help further strengthen Avigilon’s partnerships and demonstrate its commitment to the success of its Partners. Through Avigilon Plus, Avigilon intends to offer its Partners competitive discounts, rebates, prioritised technical support, complimentary training certifications, premium marketing materials and much more. Increased support for partners We want our Partners to succeed, and we designed Avigilon Plus to grow both our Partners’ and our business together"“Avigilon will continue to invest in resources that supply our Partners with increased support, enabling them to offer their customers the very best,” said Ryan Nolan, senior vice president, commercial operations at Avigilon. “We want our Partners to succeed, and we designed Avigilon Plus to grow both our Partners’ and our business together. We care deeply about the relationships we have built with our Partners, and we are committed to offering tangible benefits and rewards through Avigilon Plus.” Avigilon Plus will be unveiled at ISC West 2019, Sands Expo and Convention Center booth 22031, in Las Vegas, USA, from April 9 to 12, 2019.

UK CCTV manufacturing company, 360 Vision Technology, announces the release of an upgraded Invictus ultra-low-light, high-performance, HD ruggedized PTZ camera. Bridging the divide between analogue and IP systems, and coupled to attractive pricing, the upgraded Invictus features a further reduction in power consumption, offering system operators even greater energy savings, allied to lower running costs. Lower carbon footprint On larger projects, the savings on energy and reduction in associated pollution offer significant advantages over Far East camera alternatives" Already a great success story for 360 Vision, the new upgraded Invictus camera builds upon the previous highly-competitive all-in-one PTZ package, to deliver a camera that is not only a viable alternative to other low-cost options, but has a lower carbon footprint too, helping end-users such as Local Authorities to meet their carbon footprint reduction goals. “On larger projects, the savings on energy and reduction in associated pollution offer significant advantages over Far East camera alternatives,” states Adrian Kirk, Strategic Account Director at 360 Vision. “With a host of performance and user centric operational benefits, the upgraded Invictus is well placed to feature extensively in future Local Authority upgrades, as customers look at total cost of ownership and the need to ensure CCTV equipment deployed road side is fit for purpose.” Automatic re-initialisation Encompassing an ultra-reliable and accurate self-calibrating Direct Drive pan & tilt mechanism, Invictus also features 360 Vision’s ‘Attack Detect’, that automatically responds to a detected increase in camera load (such as the camera being struck by an object). On detection, the camera’s direct-drive pan & tilt mechanism instantaneously disengages to prevent damage to the motor drive On detection, the camera’s direct-drive pan & tilt mechanism instantaneously disengages to prevent damage to the motor drive. A ‘self-check’ routine then establishes if the camera has altered its direction of view during the attack, and an automatic re-initialisation is triggered - returning the camera to its last known position prior to the impact. The benefits of Invictus’ Attack Detect response to system operators is that post-attack, the camera returns to its correct field of view, prior to being forcibly moved. Ensures continued performance This means that vital evidential footage will continue to be captured, and without the need for operator intervention. The feature also ensures that all camera-preset positions remain intact - which is vital to avoid disruption to the daily running of a surveillance system due to inaccurate preset positions. “Public space CCTV and cameras securing perimeters typically operate adjacent to roads, with a heightened risk of impact from vehicles, be it accidentally or maliciously,” Adrian continues. “Installing Invictus ruggedized cameras into these locations provides customers with a ‘fit for purpose’ rugged at the roadside solution, that ensures continued performance, even under attack.” Completing the upgraded Invictus’ camera package, high-quality paint finishes are available in black or white, or for operation within marine environments, a long-life paint option can be specified. In addition, Invictus is supported by 360 Vision’s UK based design and manufacturing resource, and a comprehensive 3-year warranty, or an enhanced optional 5-year full warranty on request.

Korea’s video surveillance provider, IDIS, will be connecting with installers and integrators at The Security Event (Birmingham NEC, 9-11 April, Stand SE68) to explore new opportunities for project partnerships. The company’s focus on working closely with installers delivering more profitable, advanced video surveillance projects has seen its UK sales grow by 78% over the last year. Easy-to-source video solutions IDIS is focusing on helping accredited, specialist video surveillance integrators to fight back" With major contract wins helping to build its reputation and market share, IDIS is concentrating on reducing TCS (Total Cost to Serve) for installers and giving them easy-to-source video solutions that offer more profitable implementations and predictable revenue streams. As security installers face fierce competition and too often cut profit margins to win projects, IDIS is focusing on helping accredited, specialist video surveillance integrators to fight back. Our approach is to partner with the professional installers, giving them superior technology so they can compete on quality and value and win both installs and maintenance contracts,” says James Min, Managing Director, IDIS Europe. Latest generation technology At The Security Event IDIS will focus on its latest generation tech – including its best-selling 12MP Super Fisheye camera, the new budget-beating range of cameras and NVRs, the company’s powerful camera technology comprising 5MP/12MP domes and bullets, the award-winning 8MP IR PTZ 31x zoom and DR-6300 and 8300 series of NVRs, the totally license free yet comprehensive IDIS Center VMS and IDIS Dynamic Privacy Masking and new IDIS Deep Learning Analytics. These innovations give customers impressive results and offers installers a real point of difference above cheap, low-spec systems. IDIS technology is forward and backward compatible, is faster to install and easier to maintain – but at the same time is more powerful and robust. Minimising risks With installers competing for the most profitable contracts, a major benefit of IDIS tech is that it minimises the risk of project over-runs adding to costs. For example, IDIS’s true plug-and-play cameras don’t require engineers to manually programme each unit with a password – that essential task happens automatically – resulting in a faster finish, no mistakes and no loopholes in network security. Protection against data loss IDIS cameras now protect against loss of video data due to network instabilityAnother great example is that all IDIS cameras now protect against loss of video data due to network instability, with IDIS’s Smart Failover technology now built-in as standard. This ensures that gaps in recording are automatically restored as soon as the connection is re-established, protecting customers in a way that low-quality kit doesn’t, and making maintenance contracts easier and more predictable for installers. IDIS’s industry-best 7-year Ultimate Warranty further cuts the risk of cost over-runs on maintenance contracts. “We are totally focused on helping our installer partners reduce operational costs while supporting them to compete and win new projects,” explains Jamie Barnfield, Sales Director, IDIS Europe. “We are giving them an advantage at every stage, from providing them with better tech to delivering more convenient training, from helping with lead generation to ensuring smooth project delivery and efficient technical support immediately when it is needed.”

With increased demands being placed on safety and security globally, and supported by advancements in IP cameras and 360-degree camera technology, the video surveillance industry is growing steadily. Market research indicates that this worldwide industry is expected to reach an estimated $39.3 billion in revenue by 2023, driven by a CAGR of 9.3 percent from 2018 to 2023. Video surveillance is not just about capturing footage (to review an event or incident when it occurs), but also about data analysis delivering actionable insights that can improve operational efficiencies, better understand customer buying behaviours, or simply just provide added value and intelligence. Growth of Ultra-HD surveillance To ensure that the quality of the data is good enough to extract the details required to drive these insights, surveillance cameras are technologically evolving as well, not only with expanded capabilities surrounding optical zoom and motion range,4K Ultra HD-compliant networked cameras are expected to grow from 0.4 percent shipped in 2017, to 28 percent in 2021 but also relating to improvements in signal-to-noise (S2N) ratios, light sensitivities (and the minimum illumination needed to produce usable images), wide dynamic ranges (WDR) for varying foreground and background illumination requirements, and of course, higher quality resolutions. As such, 4K Ultra HD-compliant networked cameras are expected to grow from 0.4 percent shipped in 2017, to 28 percent in 2021, representing an astonishing 170 percent growth per year, and will require three to six times the storage space of 1080p video dependent on the compression technology used. Surveillance cameras are typically connected to a networked video recorder (NVR) that acts as a gateway or local server, collecting data from the cameras and running video management software (VMS), as well as analytics. Capturing this data is dependent on the communications path between individual cameras and the NVR. If this connection is lost, whether intentional, unintentional, or a simple malfunction, surveillance video will no longer be captured and the system will cease operations. Therefore, it has become common to use microSD cards in surveillance cameras as a failsafe mechanism. Despite lost connectivity to the NVR, the camera can still record and capture raw footage locally until the network is restored, which in itself, could take a long time depending on maintenance staff or equipment availability, weather conditions, or other unplanned issues. Since microSD cards play a critical role as a failsafe mechanism to ensure service availability, it is important to choose the right card for capturing video footage.  It has become common to use microSD cards in surveillance cameras as a failsafe mechanism if an NVR breaks Key characteristics of microSDs There are many different microSD cards to choose from for video capture at the network’s edge, and they range from industrial grade capabilities to commercial or retail grade, and everything in-between. To help make some of these uncertainties a little more certain, here are the key microSD card characteristics for video camera capture. Designed for surveillance As the market enjoys steady growth, storage vendors want to participate and have done so with a number of repurposed, repackaged, remarketed microSD cards targeted for video surveillance but with not much robustness, performance or capabilities specific to the application. Adding the absence of mean-time between failure (MTBF) specifications to the equation, microSD card reliability is typically a perceived measurement -- measured in hours of operation and relatively vague and hidden under metrics associated with the camera’s resolution and compression ratio. Therefore, when selecting a microSD card for surveillance cams at the edge, the choice should include a vendor that is trusted, has experience and a proven storage portfolio in video surveillance, and in microSD card technologies. Endurance, as it relates to microSD cards, represents the number of rewrites possible before the card can no longer store data correctly  High endurance Endurance, as it relates to microSD cards, represents the number of rewrites (program/erase cycles) that are possible before the card can no longer store data correctly. The rewrite operation is cyclical whereby a new stream of footage replaces older content by writing over it until the card is full, and the cycle repeats. The higher the endurance, the longer the card will perform before it needs to be replaced. Endurance is also referred to in terabytes written (TBW) or by the number of hours that the card can record continuously (while overwriting data) before a failure will occur. Health monitoring Health monitoring is a desired capability that not many microSD cards currently support and enables the host system to check when the endurance levels of a card are low and needs to be replaced. Having a card that supports this capability enables system integrators and operators with the ability to perform preemptive maintenance that will help to reduce system failures, as well as associated maintenance costs. Performance To capture continuous streams of raw footage, microSD cards within surveillance cams perform write operations about seventy to ninety percent of the time, whereas reading captured footage is performed about ten to thirty percent. The difference in read/write performance is dependent on whether the card is used in an artificial intelligent (AI) capable camera, or a standard one.   microSD cards deployed within surveillance cameras should support temperature ranges from -25 degrees Celsius to 85 degrees Celsius Finding a card that is write-friendly, and can provide enough bandwidth to properly capture streamed data, and is cost-effective, requires one that falls between fast industrial card capabilities and slower commercial ones. Bandwidth in the range of 50 MB/sec for writes and 80 MB/sec for reads are typical and sufficient for microSD cards deployed within surveillance cameras. Temperature ranges Lower capacity support of 32GB can provide room to attract the smaller or entry-level video surveillance deployments As microSD cards must be designed for continuous operation in extreme weather conditions and a variety of climates, whether located indoors or out, support for various temperature ranges are another consideration. Given the wide spectrum of temperatures required by the camera makers, microSD cards deployed within surveillance cameras should support temperature ranges from -25 degrees Celsius to 85 degrees Celsius, or in extreme cases, as low as -40 degrees Celsius. Capacity Selecting the right-sized capacity is also very important as there needs to be a minimum level to ensure that there is enough room to hold footage for a number of days or weeks before it is overwritten or the connectivity to the NVR is restored. Though 64GB is considered the capacity sweet spot for microSD cards deployed within surveillance cameras today, lower capacity support of 32GB can provide room to attract the smaller or entry-level video surveillance deployments. In the future, even higher capacities will be important for specific use cases and will potentially become standard capacities as the market evolves. When choosing the right storage microSD card to implement into your video surveillance system, make sure the card is designed specifically for the application – does it include the right levels of endurance and performance to capture continuous streams – can it withstand environmental challenges and wide temperature extremes – will it enable preventative and preemptive maintenance to provide years of service? It is critical for the surveillance system to be able to collect video footage whether the camera is connected to an NVR or is a standalone camera as collecting footage at the base of the surveillance system is the most crucial point of failure. As such, failsafe mechanisms are required to keep the camera recording until the network is restored.

Schools today are charged to provide an environment that is both safe and conducive to learning, which can be difficult considering the range of security incidents and challenges they face, including bullying, fights, graffiti, theft and more. In addition to working within often tight budgetary constraints, a main challenge is to provide the highest level of security in an aesthetically pleasing way that doesn’t make students feel as if they are in prison. While these two needs may seem mutually exclusive to some degree, that doesn’t have to be the case. School security can be achieved without building 20-foot walls or putting barbed wire around the perimeter. The key to balancing the security and learning environment can be found in the four pillars of a good school security strategy, namely people, practices, technology and physical environment. A mobile app or text notification system could be used to alert students and staff of potential problems Situational awareness One of the most effective measures to take is to educate staff and even students to learn to be aware about their surroundings and adopt the 'If you see something, say something' mentality. In an emergency, time is of the essence, so the speed of response becomes critical. Educating staff and students to recognise potential problems and report them is a good first step. Augmenting this with mobile apps and/or texting capabilities, for example, that allow someone to send a photo to school security or law enforcement for quick assessment and evaluation, can speed response even more. A mobile app or text notification system could also be used to alert students and staff of potential problems and provide instructions on what steps to take in order to remain safe. By providing real-time situational awareness about potential responses, these types of technologies can reduce the number of armed guards or resource officers needed to patrol a school or campus, which also makes students more comfortable and able to learn in a non-prison-like environment. Security best practices Every school should establish a set of security policies and procedures and ensure that staff and students understand what to do if they suspect a problem or if an incident should unfold at the school. However, too often, schools may not know where to start when seeking out best practices. And once these policies are in place, there may be confusion about how to audit them to ensure people are properly educated. The NFPA has begun work on a school security standard that would address a range of issues schools face on a daily basis A number of organisations are available to aid with this process, such as the Partner Alliance for School Safety a group founded in cooperation with SIA (Security Industry Association), which provides resources and tools to help schools and security professionals evaluate and establish the best security protection for their buildings. These guidelines and best practices are designed to help schools spend their often limited funds on the right security solutions. Safe and Sound Schools provides downloadable school security toolkits, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has recently released the NFPA 3000 Active shooter response guidelines and has begun work on a school security standard that would address a range of issues schools face on a daily basis. The key takeaway is that the information is out there, and the organisations mentioned above are excellent resources for helping schools create safe, secure and learning-conducive environments. Technology in school security The second thing that needs to be considered is how technology can be brought to bear to contribute to school security. Video surveillance with video analytics can be deployed to monitor areas at certain times of day. For example, once school starts, there shouldn’t be a lot of activity in the parking lot or in particular areas around the school. For these situations, intelligent cameras with video analytics can be used to detect activity in those areas of interest to alert school security that something may need their attention. This might be a vehicle entering a lot or driving against the normal traffic flow, which may simply be a parent arriving to pick their child up early, or it could be something worth following up on. Radar detection is ideal for perimeters, where a device can be set up unobtrusively to alert when someone enters a particular area In any case, this is something that should be brought to the attention of someone who can quickly assess the situation and determine what, if any, response is needed. Because the goal in a potentially dangerous situation is speed response times. The faster you’re able to detect something using technology, the faster you’re able to respond. Therefore, being able to identify something happening in a parking lot and alert school resource officers could provide 30 seconds or a minute head start for response, which can get the school into a lockdown situation and get first responders on site more quickly.Facial recognition systems and providing access through smartphones could help create a more welcoming and secure environment for students, staff and parents After-hour monitoring solutions Monitoring buildings and facilities after hours presents a different set of challenges. For sporting events, the National Center for Spectator Sports and Security (NCS4) at the University of Southern Mississippi provides best practice guidance for sporting facilities and events not only just for universities but even including those at high schools. It’s been shown that using lighting at night can deter crime. However, it can be expensive to keep a building and grounds illuminated all night, every night. To mitigate these concerns and potential costs, there are video cameras available with extreme low-light capability that allows them to see in near-dark or in some cases complete darkness. This allows a school to save money by turning lights off while achieving a level of surveillance performance similar to daytime deployments. Radar detection Another technology for effective school security, both during and after school hours, is radar detection. This is ideal for perimeters, where a device can be set up unobtrusively to alert when someone enters a particular area. Radar can be deployed with a single PTZ camera, which can track whatever has been detected to provide real-time situational awareness for a school resource officer or law enforcement to investigate to determine the potential threat, if any, related to the perimeter breach.Following the four pillars of school security can ease the process while improving the effectiveness and efficiency of securing educational facilities More often than not, schools are faced with issues that are not necessarily the worst-case scenario everyone fears, such as how to identify parents and others who are authorised to pick a child up from school early. In this instance, facial recognition systems and providing access through smartphones could help create a more welcoming and secure environment for students, staff and parents. Lighting and landscaping In addition to technology, one of the things that can contribute to a safer school environment is environmental design. CPTED provides four basic principles, one of which is natural surveillance, which follows a 'see and be seen' philosophy. In other words, when people know they can be seen, they are less likely to commit a crime. The main points in this general principle are lighting and landscaping. For example, a school doesn’t want to block potentially vulnerable areas with landscaping, so the height and thickness of any potential landscaping elements should be carefully considered. In general, openness and visibility should be the guiding factors. Securing physical environment Another aspect of the physical environment is maintenance. If a window gets broken but isn’t fixed right away, that tends to invite vandalism. These are just two of the guidelines CPTED offers for creating a more secure environment that doesn’t feel like a prison. In general, finding the right mix between maintaining security and providing a welcoming, aesthetically pleasing and learning-conducive environment can seem like a difficult – if not impossible – task. Following the four pillars of school security can ease the process while improving the effectiveness and efficiency of securing educational facilities.

The term ‘marine’ comes from the Latin mare, meaning sea or ocean, and marine habitats can be divided into two categories: coastal and open ocean. Video surveillance (VS) applications can cover both types of marine environment with system for ships, maritime ports, onshore and offshore installations, etc. We should want to further analyse VS for ships and try to explain the types of ships on which it can be used, the ways in which VS can be used on ships, the typical certifications in use and what features a camera station must have to be installed on a ship. Starting with ships that have a minimum tonnage, around the world we have: liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers, passengers ships, chemical tankers, crude oil tankers, container ships, general cargo ships and bulk carriers.As the LNG market grows rapidly, the fleet of LNG carriers continues to experience tremendous growth, offering more opportunities for VS Video surveillance for all marine vessels An LNG carrier is a tank ship designed for transporting liquefied natural gas. As the LNG market grows rapidly, the fleet of LNG carriers continues to experience tremendous growth. A passenger ship is a merchant ship whose primary function is to carry passengers by sea. This category does not include cargo vessels which have accommodation for a limited number of passengers, but rather includes the likes of ferries, yachts, ocean liners and cruise ships. A chemical tanker is a type of tank ship designed to transport chemicals in bulk. These ships can also carry other types of sensitive cargo which require a high standard of tank cleaning, such as palm oil, vegetable oils, tallow, caustic soda and methanol. An oil tanker, also known as a petroleum tanker, is a merchant ship designed for the bulk transport of oil. There are two basic types of oil tankers: crude tankers and product tankers. Crude tankers move large quantities of unrefined crude oil from its point of extraction to refineries. Product tankers, generally much smaller, are designed to move refined products from refineries to points near consuming markets. Container ships are cargo ships that carry their entire load in truck-size intermodal containers: a technique called containerisation. They are a common means of commercial intermodal freight transport and now carry most seagoing non-bulk cargo. Today, about 90% of non-bulk cargo worldwide is transported by container. A cargo ship or freighter ship is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods and materials from one port to another. Cargo ships are specially designed for the task, often being equipped with cranes and other mechanisms to load and unload, and come in all sizes. Bulk carriers make up 15%–17% of the world's merchant ships and they are specially designed to transport unpackaged bulk cargo such as grains, coal, ore and cement in its cargo holds. For all these ships the protection of vessels, cargo and crew is a priority, that’s why the adoption of VS technology plays a key part in terms of security and safety. Human error is regularly named as a major factor in ship accidents, and one way to avoid it is to aid seafarers by providing them with technology and equipment that is reliable and easy to use in all weather and sea conditions. Marine VS encompasses liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers, passengers ships, chemical tankers, crude oil tankers, container ships, general cargo ships and bulk carriers Emergency security solutions on ship One of the most important applications for camera stations is during “docking”. Mooring is the securing or confining of a vessel in a particular location with a fixed or a floating object (jetty, pier, ship, barge, buoy, etc.) as various cargo operations are carried out. Docking is the final stage of mooring operations when the ship docks to the jetty. This is a very delicate operation and cameras are very helpful in making sure docking is done without accidents.'Man overboard’ is an emergency in which a person has fallen off a boat or ship into the water, and can happen at any time during the day or night Another important application for camera stations is the Man Overboard detection system (MOB). ‘Man overboard’ is an emergency in which a person has fallen off a boat or ship into the water. Man overboard events can happen at any time during the day or night, in all types of weather and sea conditions, and from almost any location on the ship, ranging from a few tens of feet above the water, to over 180 feet.  When these events occur, the immediate availability of important data is crucial. Accurate confirmation of the event including time of occurrence, location on the ship and location in the sea is critical. A proactive detection system must immediately and accurately detect man overboard events and provide prompt, actionable data to response personnel. A typical man overboard detection system can report a MOB event in under 1 second. VS on a vessel can also monitor the engine room at all times and provide a good view of people working on dock, machinery and stowed equipment. But what are the most important features that a camera station must have to work in one of the most aggressive environments in nature? Marine surveillance must operate in one of the most harsh environments in nature Ruggedised reliability in surveillance First of all, and perhaps it’s obvious, but it’s extremely important to have camera stations with amazing reliability. Housing units manufactured from AISI 316L stainless steel, passivated and electropolished, makes the cameras completely impervious to air, water, rusting and corrosion, therefore offering excellent weather protection and increased reliability. Housing units manufactured from AISI 316L stainless steel, passivated and electropolished, makes the cameras completely impervious to air, water, rusting and corrosion Sometimes ships also use cameras constructed entirely from technopolymer, which guarantees high impact resistance and superior protection from external weather agents. Keeping the camera glass clean at all times is another essential feature, and it can be done via a wiper/wash system that greatly reduces the need for maintenance. In the case of PTZ cameras, the best option would be a great pan and tilt speed (up to 100°/s). What is the operative temperature range for the cameras? Sea is everywhere and therefore ships go everywhere, from the Arctic Ocean to the Mediterranean, so we need cameras that have to be fully operational across a wide temperature range.  -40°C to +65°C covers almost all areas. Analogue or IP Cameras? Actually, both options can be used, especially for applications like docking where it’s important to avoid image delay (as can happen with IP cameras due to the natural latency of data communication over a network). Marine certifications Last but not least, the certifications: Certifications guarantee the quality and reliability of camera stations. There is no compromise! One important certification is the Lloyd’s Register Type Approval which subjects cameras to rigorous testing for performance, vibration (critical on ships), humidity, etc. The application field of the LR Type Approval is VS in public places (e.g. passenger ships), open decks, enclosed spaces that are subjected to heat generated from other equipment, and technical premises. Often, VS cameras used in specific areas of ships, such as hazardous areas, are required to have ATEX and IECEX certifications.

Delivering on high expectations, the first day of ISC West 2019 kicked off with a crowded Sands Expo Center and exhibitors putting forward their best new technologies. Developments seemed more evolutionary than revolutionary, but attendees quickly found plenty of interest. Thermal cameras Hanwha Techwin also showed off a new Android camera that can deploy new apps The largest booth at ISC West, Hanwha Techwin, remained crowded throughout the first day as attendees checked out the company’s eight new thermal cameras offering features such as pan-tilt-zoom, H.265 encoding to minimise storage needs, VGA resolution and detection of temperature changes, all built on Hanwha Techwin’s Wisenet chip. There is also a new 5-megapixel version of Hanwha’s popular 2-megapixel multi-sensor camera, and a new panoramic camera; multi-sensor panoramic cameras ‘stitch’ the images together rather than just aligning them. Hanwha Techwin also showed off a new Android camera that can deploy new apps developed as part of the Korean company’s role as a founding member of Open Security & Safety Alliance (OSSA). Avigilon's H5 series Avigilon is introducing a new line of cameras — the H5 series — with improved imaging and designed to provide deep learning/neural network processing at the edge. Improvements to video analytics will enable the cameras to track multiple moving objects simultaneously in a field of view and to track objects more accurately. More granularity enables better differentiation among types of vehicles, and the cameras enable more detailed data to be pulled from video. The improved analytics engine will also support better face detection and recognition. Operators can view the dashboard and react to information provided in a more digestible format The new version of Avigilon Control Center 7 (ACC7) software will apply principles of AI to enhance an operator’s ‘Focus of Attention’ when monitoring live video. Video is fed into an AI engine that determines which events in the live footage are most worthy of an operator’s attention. Monitoring live video can be a challenge for human operators, whose short attention spans undermine the best surveillance systems. Automation helps to direct that limited attention span to events most worthy of attention. A ‘dashboard’ displays clusters of cameras that are colour-coded to reflect the types of activity that are detected. Rather than watching video, operators can view the dashboard and react to information provided in a more digestible format. Clicking brings up the live video. Quantum Cloud Storage Platform Video storage is another area of innovation at ISC West. The Quantum Cloud Storage Platform is flexible for video surveillance and industrial IoT applications. The architecture is built from the ground up for video surveillance applications and can scale from five cameras to millions of cameras in a simple deployment model — no settings or configurations needed. Products range from a small ‘mini-tower’ configuration for a retail store or gas station up to rack-mount servers that can accommodate thousands of cameras. We make the storage piece so simple that you don’t have to think about it" Quantum introduced the VS-Series in a range of server choices at ISC West. The hyperconverged and software-defined environment will support a combination of video management systems (VMS), along with access control, HVAC and lighting controls. Quantum worked with Johnson Controls to develop the products. “It’s designed for an installer, not for an IT guru,” says Jamie Lerner, Quantum’s CEO, President and Chairman of the Board. “We make the storage piece so simple that you don’t have to think about it.” Quantum is showing its VS-Series publicly for the risk time at ISC West. S2’s Magic Monitor LenelS2 is a newly coined name in the industry — resulting from a recent acquisition. The combination of Lenel and the acquired S2 is playing out to the benefit of both product lines. For example, Lenel’s Blue Diamond mobile credentialing system can now be used along with the S2 Netbox hardware. Lenel’s OnGuard is being combined into S2’s Magic Monitor unified solution that combines video, access control, and digital messaging. OnGuard is also benefitting from Magic Monitor’s graphics maps. The S2 Cumulus cloud-based service, focused on system health monitoring, is being applied to OnGuard. LenelS2 is also developing a full commercial access control as a service (ACaaS) offering The combined LenelS2 is stepping up with new solutions for frictionless access control, too. A ‘phone as a badge’ approach enables a door to be unlocked by a smart phone, even if it is in a pocket, locked and/or the app has not been opened. Another alternative is a ‘shake to open’ action that sends the credential to the nearest reader. LenelS2 is also developing a full commercial access control as a service (ACaaS) offering, which is being previewed at ISC Show and will be released commercially later in the year. Video surveillance product line Mobotix is expanding its MOVE video surveillance product line with six new models announced at the show and broadening its reach into new vertical markets. A solutions approach offers both end-to-end Mobotix systems and other systems offered in conjunction with technology partnerships displayed in the Mobotix booth. Top of the list of new verticals is education, and Mobotix’s edge-based approach includes programmable logic built in so that ‘technology can take over when the human element is the weakest.’ Automated response is faster and ‘seconds equal lives’ during an emergency. In an education scenario, the Mobotix system acts as an Internet of Things (IoT) device that offers more functionality than other manufacturers’ ‘cameras.’ There are 22 steps involved to ensure the cybersecurity of Mobotix products, reflecting a higher level of cybersecurity commitment Mobotix has thermal products that are also finding uses in a variety of verticals, from oil and gas to manufacturing process control. Mobotix systems that can detect defects in products in the manufacturing process are expanding usage in applications beyond the traditional ‘security’ industry. Cybersecurity Commitment Mobotix is looking at the market in a completely different way, redefining how their products can fit into a variety of scenarios, and with a focus on cybersecurity. There are 22 steps involved to ensure the cybersecurity of Mobotix products, reflecting a higher level of cybersecurity commitment than some other manufacturers. “There are so many features within our solutions, and we want to get the word out to the end users, so they understand the features,” says Thomas Lausten, Mobotix CEO. “There is untapped potential.”

  The cloud and deep learning are two technologies on the verge of transforming the video surveillance market. You often hear the two technologies mentioned as separate trends, but lately, I have been hearing about how interdependent they are. Economies of scale provided by the Cloud (Software as a Service, or SaaS) are making the sophisticated capabilities of deep learning affordable to a wider audience. Meanwhile, deep learning augments cloud systems with capabilities that may not be available, or affordable, in on-premise systems, thus accelerating the broader move to cloud systems. A new era of autonomous video One company that is combining the cloud and deep learning in an end-to-end system is Umbo Computer Vision, an “autonomous video security technology” company built on its founders’ expertise in deep learning and machine vision. The company’s cameras are equipped with basic video analytics, and they are tied into a cloud infrastructure that provides additional deep learning algorithms. The cameras provide computer vision pre-processing, with the bulk of detailed analysis happening in a neural network in the cloud.One customer benefits from another customer and all the knowledge is aggregated together" “Having a SaaS model gives companies like ours the resources to improve the deep learning model,” says Shawn Guan, CEO and co-founder of Umbo Computer Vision. “We can make more accurate systems that scale better and faster. SaaS enables vendors to do something great with deep learning. You don’t have to redo it for everybody. One customer benefits from another customer and all the knowledge is aggregated together.” Adapting to a changing landscape Umbo’s deep learning analytics provide higher accuracy, says Guan. For example, the system can provide accurate alerts on people climbing a wall, and it can accommodate for elements such as shadows and adverse weather conditions. The cameras can also provide occupancy information from a video view of a room; unlike people-counting applications, the camera does not need to be mounted above the door. The algorithms can detect loitering and can track a subject even if he or she disappears briefly from view (such as walking behind a building). Umbo developed the algorithms from scratch using the company’s deep roots in technology. Guan says the company was “built on data and using data.”    The company’s cameras are equipped with basic video analytics, and they are tied into a cloud infrastructure that provides additional deep learning algorithms The cloud serves as a media gateway “Cybersecurity is ensured,” says Guan. The cloud provides built-in authentication with the camera; user names and passwords are handled in the cloud, so there is no manual reset of the password at the device level. The cloud serves as a media gateway, and two-way communication between the camera and the cloud addresses how much data is streamed. Data in the camera has 256-bit encryption, and there is a secure “tunnel” through which data moves in the Internet. In the cloud, the host provider, such as Google, Microsoft or Amazon, protects the data to their own high standards. Each camera has industrial grade SD providing 30 days’ storage of full frame rate, 30fps video at 1080p, with backup in the cloud. In effect, the camera operates in-lieu of a network video recorder.The end-to-end system is designed to handle an essentially-unlimited number of cameras and can also be integrated with other products Handling unlimited cameras Customers interface with the system through the cloud’s software user experience. The end-to-end system is designed to handle an essentially-unlimited number of cameras and can also be integrated with other products. Umbo targets the enterprise market and has around two-hundred enterprise customers in the United States - their biggest market - as well as offices in London and Taipei, and customers around the world. The cost structure involves an annual payment per camera, between $280 and $600 depending on features/capabilities. Umbo is introducing a new bullet camera with a zoom lens for exterior applications, incorporating a higher-end Sony sensor for good low-light performance and wide dynamic range (WDR). The camera’s modular design enables the addition of features such as longer-range infrared – increased from 100 to 160 feet – white-light LED to provide a colour image, and greater deterrence, at night, and a long-range microphone for audio. The company also offers a fixed-lens dome camera for indoor applications.

ASIS 2017 was off to a strong start on Tuesday, presenting a new wave of innovation to the U.S. security end user community. Many attendees to the Dallas show are well-placed in their companies to influence or direct the purchase of security products and equipment, and exhibitors sought to impress them with a range of new and enhanced options. Moving from integration to unification In general, the ASIS show has a quieter, less frantic feel than the spring ISC West show in Las Vegas. Conversations are more "intimate" than those common at integrator-focused shows. "End users are very honest about the challenges they are facing," observed Derek Arcuri, Product Marketing Manager of Genetec. "The challenges we are hearing are a symptom of similar problems we hear in conversations with other users. It's more than just technology, it's planning out the strategy and showing them how they can slowly inch toward their vision by investing in a platform that is open and unified." Unification is a buzzword you hear more and more often in the security industry, and unification means something beyond integration. In the case of Genetec, unification summarises a strategy that leverages an identical technology approach underlying every facet of a broad-based solution, including video, access control and other technologies. Arcuri says customers should commit to a unified platform and then use integration to accommodate existing installed products and enable a gradual transition to a systemwide unified system as costs allow. Among Genetec's current and future offerings highlighted at ASIS 2017 are vertical-focused product lines such as Airport Sense, Retail Sense and Traffic Sense, which offer specific capabilities and are all built on the Genetec unified platform. Johnson Controls accelerates product development A year after the headline-making acquisition of Tyco, Johnson Controls kicked off the first day of the ASIS 2017 exhibition with a press event revisiting the big story one year later. Johnson Controls says they are making significant investments in engineering to ensure accelerated introduction of products in the video, access control and intrusion categories – around 100 engineers have been added to the product development team, a 15 percent increase. A press conference by Johnson Controls kicked off the ASIS 2017 exhibition, about a year after their headline-making acquisition of Tyco "As we have come together, all the positives have been realised," said Brian Young, Johnson Controls Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing. The complementary nature of the two businesses -- a prime motivator promoted when the acquisition was announced last year -- has been realised in many ways, including how the technology platforms work together, and even the sales cycles (Johnson Controls typically has a longer sales cycle, while Tyco's business moves faster.) "We are starting to deliver real value," says David Grinstead, Global Vice President and General Manager of Security Products. Johnson Controls executives estimate the overlap of the two businesses is about 15 percent, which translates into 85 percent of new opportunity for crossover business to enhance both operations. March Networks transitions to video software Companies are changing as the market changes. March Networks is transitioning from being a hardware provider to developing software reporting tools that can increase the value of video and data by correlating the two. "Video is becoming more of an operational feature that every institution wants to have. We are more of an information company than ever, focused on software and services," says Peter Strom, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are seeing how video can play a role beyond security." For example, March Networks' new Searchlight for QSR (quick service restaurants) combines video with various data points, such as those provided by point of sale (POS) systems, to provide a "dashboard" to help a business owner track his business (with data tied into video to enhance the value). Video is stored locally, and data is stored in the cloud; the service is provided for a monthly fee. The company has similar data-driven products in other verticals: Searchlight for Retail and Searchlight for Banking, both providing a "360-degree view" of a business.  March Networks has historically emphasised the importance of cybersecurity - driven by demands of its financial and retail verticals Cybersecurity in the video surveillance market March Networks also has historically emphasised the importance of cybersecurity -- driven by demands of the financial and retail verticals they play in. Their cybersecurity approach predates by a decade or more the current concerns in the market, says Strom. March Networks is among the companies that see video taking a new, higher profile among customers -- and not just for security applications. Two verticals that March Networks is active in -- financial and retail -- have been especially impacted by the transition to broader use of video in a company. At ASIS 2017, March Networks is also announcing integration of Patriot One Technologies' covert weapons detection solution with video. The cognitive microwave radar technology detects concealed handguns and other types of weapon, and sends real-time alerts to security. The system is "trained" and continues to "learn" after deployment, getting better and smarter at detecting hidden weapons with each screening. Arecont Vision emphasises ease of use Arecont Vision continues on its theme of making it easier for integrators to install products. They have extended "no-touch" remote setup to the MegaDome G3 Series. A vari-focal motorised lens can be set up remotely in any position with pan, tilt, focus and zoom. The remote setup avoids a technician having to stand on a ladder to adjust and fine-tune the image, which takes extra time and can be hazardous. The MegaVideo 4K 8.3 megapixel camera also has multiple motorised lens options for remote setup. Arecont Vision plans to carry the approach through its entire product line over time, expanding ease of installation to an ever-broadening array of products. This is just a sampling of what I saw and heard on the first day of ASIS, with plenty more still to come. Read SourceSecurity.com's Day 2 coverage here

This year’s Super Bowl LIII American football game to determine the champions of the National Football League (NFL), has been protected by 360 Vision Technology’s ruggedised-Hybrid Invictus PTZ camera. The cameras were deployed as part of Security Centres International’s high-performance Mobile Advanced Safety Tower (MAST) rapid deployment camera solution. In all, 10 rapid deployment MAST units were deployed in various areas surrounding the brand new, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena in Atlanta Georgia. With over 1 million fans expected to participate in Super Bowl and the 10-day fan festival, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), was keen to complement the existing CCTV networks around the grounds and mass transit point footfall areas, such as bus and rail stations. HD surveillance imaging MAST is the only product of its kind that would readily integrate into the existing CCTV infrastructure" Stuart Bostock, Executive Group President at Security Centres International explains why the 360 Vision Invictus camera based MAST system was chosen by MARTA: “Featuring world-class HD surveillance imaging, leading-edge design, robustness, zero infrastructure requirements and seamless Video Management System (VMS) integration, MAST is the only product of its kind that would readily integrate into the existing CCTV infrastructure. Additionally, MAST benefits from a significantly smaller footprint than similar trailer based stand-alone surveillance systems.” “MAST has been developed to answer the need for a more sophisticated and flexible surveillance system for infrastructure and public space safety, including large crowd gatherings, as in this application. MAST is unique, as it combines a rapidly deployable unit with some of the most advanced safety and surveillance technology available – the very reason why we selected 360 Vision Technology’s Invictus camera for its core imaging technology.” Full 1080P HD PTZ camera Invictus’ low-power consumption greatly assists the longevity of critical battery power when deployed in the field" Mark Rees Managing Director of 360 Vision Technology added: “360 Vision Technology’s Invictus is a high-performance, ruggedized all-in-one PTZ camera with full 1080P HD and ultra low-light camera technology - making it the perfect choice for off-grid temporary/rapid deployment mobile surveillance rigs, such as MAST. Additionally, Invictus’ low-power consumption greatly assists the longevity of critical battery power when deployed in the field – extending MAST’s operational performance for deployment in more remote applications.” “The Invictus camera’s unparalleled mix of competitive cost and advanced Predator low-light camera imaging technology makes it the perfect imaging component for the innovative MAST system.” MAST units at Super Bowl LIII The use of the MAST units integrated to the existing fixed camera points during Super Bowl LIII week proved a huge success with high-definition images transmitted back to the MARTA Emergency Operations Centre via a mobile network. System operators were able to identify and tackle a number of incidents Thanks to the high quality of images received, system operators were able to identify and tackle a number of incidents, including a vehicle theft. Additionally, the images were also used to predict areas of dense footfall, tackle crowd control safety issues, and manage general health and safety concerns. The deployment of the Invictus based camera system at Super Bowl LIII proved such a success that plans are already in place for deployment at other large-scale US sporting events, including the NCAA Final Four Basketball Championship in 2020 and for city centre deployment across Atlanta.

A total overhaul of care and safeguarding measures at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust’s mental healthcare facilities was required following historic failures, including preventable deaths in 2012 and 2013. A root-and-branch reform programme was put in place to improve care, ensure transparency and cut risks. A comprehensive video surveillance solution was sought to underpin these efforts. The first phase project required complete video capture and recording at the Ravenswood House facility for children and adolescents, with further premises to follow in subsequent phases. Affordable surveillance system The surveillance system not only needed to cover all areas of the site but also needed to be affordable, secure against cyber-attacksSouthern Health had a critical need for continuous video evidence capture in all areas at Ravenswood House, in all lighting conditions, without blind-spots. The primary objective was to use the recordings of interactions with patients to improve standards of care, with clinical staff reviewing how incidents are handled, and protecting staff in the event of accusations of mistreatment. Because vulnerable young people are being cared for, any allegation of mistreatment requires that the staff involved are removed from front-line care duties pending investigations, therefore the ability to find and present video evidence quickly is vital. The surveillance system not only needed to cover all areas of the site but also needed to be affordable, secure against cyber-attacks in compliance with NHS requirements, quick to install – as the hospital had to remain in constant use – and easy for clinical staff to use as well as security specialists. Installation of 12MP Super Fisheye cameras The 12MP Super Fisheyes benefit from IDIS’s Smart Failover protection, which ensures continued recording even during network instability or drop-outHigh specification IDIS video technology was identified as the best for the project following a detailed on-site comparison which demonstrated its superior picture quality and ease-of-use. Specialist integrator ISD Tech was brought in to install more than a hundred IDIS 12MP Super Fisheye cameras. These units allow affordable, comprehensive area coverage, typically doing the equivalent job of three or four PTZ cameras. The result is lower installation fees, a reduced maintenance burden and affordable operation, recording the full scene without the need for an operator 24/7. The 12MP Super Fisheyes also benefit from IDIS’s Smart Failover protection, which ensures continued recording even during network instability or drop-out. And IDIS’s Korean-made technology uses proprietary protocols (not off-the-shelf) that makes it fully network-secure, allowing it to be linked to local LANs without the risk of system hacking, which is a key consideration for any IP surveillance solution. Easier and less costly installation The impact on staff is huge when they can’t work in the wards, so this speeded-up process is really valuable"The IDIS video solution was used to quickly and easily replace a previously-installed IP video system which comprised a mix of equipment from different manufacturers, and in comparison, it is easier and less costly to install, maintain and operate. “This will really assist us with evidence gathering and any criminal process. We can now look at the footage ourselves and quickly determine what happened. And we can email video links to the police and local authority designated officers. The impact on staff is huge when they can’t work in the wards, so this speeded-up process is really valuable,” said Tracey Edwards, Head of Security Southern Health NHS Trust. Following ISD Tech’s successful completion of the Ravenswood House upgrade, 250 more facilities across Hampshire are to follow, including clinics, medium secure units and admin centres.

A 300-plus camera city centre video surveillance scheme in Lincoln has been installed and commissioned using cameras, monitors and switching equipment from Dahua Technology. The previous analogue-based CCTV system was more than 20 years old and had become expensive to maintain, so City of Lincoln Council decided to replace the analogue cameras and transmission equipment with HD digital equipment. The total cost of ownership has been reduced by the savings made on legacy fibre lease costs, as well as reduced energy consumption and the ability to configure and maintain the cameras remotely. Installation of IP full HD system The installation of the new IP full HD system and network is part of Lincoln’s smart city strategy – Vision 2020 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. 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. Bandwidth efficiency using H.265 compression A combination of fixed and PTZ cameras were installed over a new 1GB duplex network. These include cameras from the Dahua Pro series, which features high image quality, bandwidth efficiency using H.265 compression and excellent low-light performance. Bullet cameras from the Ultra series – with powerful optical zoom, IR distances of up to 50 metres and software which supports people-counting and heat-mapping – were also installed. The design of the scheme incorporated both camera and server-side analytics with legacy motion and audio detection The bandwidth efficiency of the cameras meant that multiple cameras could be installed in any given position, providing 360° coverage of locations and up to 20 Megapixels of video capacity per location – compared with less than 400,000 pixels with the previous analogue cameras. The design of the scheme incorporated both camera and server-side analytics, including video content analytics, facial recognition, ANPR, heat maps and pedestrian counting, as well as legacy motion and audio detection. The objective of the facial recognition aspect is to support operators in areas such as the search for missing and vulnerable individuals. PoE switches for providing power The superior image quality of the new system is borne out in figures which show an increase in ‘actionable’ images from 5% with the previous system to 60% successful reviews with the new one. Dahua PoE switches were also installed to provide power to the cameras, which are then connected to a layer-2 network. A new video wall comprising ten Dahua DHL49-4K LED backlit 49-inch 4K Ultra HD video wall display units featuring industrial level wide-viewing LCD panels, was fitted into a newly refurbished control room in City Hall and connected to i-Comply wonderwall video display drivers. This is a great collaboration of key project partners that have a tried-and-tested pedigree and working relationship with Videcom Security" Supplied through authorised distributor Mayflex, the entire system was installed by public space CCTV specialists Videcom Security, which worked with other partners to provide a high-performance, efficient and feature-rich system. Cost-effective and reliable equipment Bill Mead, Managing Director at Videcom Security, said that working largely with Dahua video equipment meant it was easier for engineers in terms of configuration, as well as being cost-effective and representing good value for money. “Working with the Dahua product range has been great. The products have proved to be reliable and we experienced very few problems, from the initial configuration through to installation and commissioning. “This is a great collaboration of key project partners that have a tried-and-tested pedigree and working relationship with Videcom Security. We broke new ground with the development of 4K H.265 decoding, the support through Luxriot for camera-side analytics and edge recording, and the development by Dahua of camera-to-camera communication, allowing for non-connected systems to communicate locally.” Infinet 5GHz and Siklu E and V band radios Videcom Security is a certified Dahua Integration Partner, training for which was delivered both by Dahua and the Mayflex Academy Dahua is a solution provider in the global video surveillance industry and associated technology and has a keen focus on innovation by investing heavily in research and development. For the Lincoln city scheme, its products were selected based on their performance and cost-effectiveness to meet project budgets. Videcom Security is a certified Dahua Integration Partner, training for which was delivered both by Dahua and the Mayflex Academy. This helped Videcom negotiate key firmware enhancements, which added to many of the analytical features available in each of the cameras. The wireless network is built with Infinet 5GHz and Siklu E and V band radios. Resilience and diverse routing has been built into the network design, which supports video surveillance as well as public Wi-Fi and capacity for smart city services. Luxriot have worked closely with Dahua, supplying their Evo Global video management system and supporting edge analytics integration through their ‘events and actions’ management, which has also been integrated through to i-Comply’s VTAS CRVMS software (now rebranded as Viewscape). Real-time control and video streaming The Dahua system implemented by Videcom Security provides the main elements of our tier-1 solution" The introduction of H.265 compression was ground-breaking for such a project, with the system capable of displaying 4MP and 6MP H.265 to the operator’s spot monitor with real-time control and video streaming. “The Dahua system implemented by Videcom Security provides the main elements of our tier-1 solution,” said Martin Byrne, CCTV Team leader at Lincoln City Council. “The police are extremely pleased with the system and we’ve had very positive feedback from them. “There is really no comparison from how we operated previously to how we can now. It revolutionises how we manage the CCTV systems and data. The potential for what we can achieve going forward is remarkable. We have now started to get real results from the investment in analytics; in particular vehicle and people-counting has been deployed and data is used to enhance other city projects.” Martin added: “Dahua has taken time out to visit and discuss with us our ambitions for smart city services. We have adopted Dahua as our brand of choice for CCTV cameras and have so far been very pleased and impressed with their reliability, low-light performance and overall image quality.”

On December 11 to 16, 2018, the 14th FINA World Swimming Championships was held at the Olympic and International Expo Center in Hangzhou, China. Nearly 1,000 world swimming stars from 178 countries and regions competed here, creating a new glory with breaking 9 world records and 22 event records. The Chinese team won three gold medals, five silver medals and five bronze medals with the total medal number ranking the third in the world. The World Swimming Championships is one of the world's highest-level international swimming events. It is also the highest-standard individual international sporting event ever held in Hangzhou. For an international sporting event of this scale, the safety and security of the venues are of paramount importance. Security monitoring equipment As an important guarantee force for the security of the World Swimming Championships, Dahua Technology ensured the event’s safety with the host spirit and a great sense of responsibility. Dahua Technology once again shouldered the mission of guarding international events after successfully guaranteeing the G20 Hangzhou Summit. Dahua Technology provided a complete set of professional intelligent security monitoring equipment and system solutions In the periphery and outside of the venue, important entrances and exits, various passages and commanding points in the venues and security commanding headquarters, Dahua Technology provided a complete set of professional intelligent security monitoring equipment and system solutions, assisted the security department to establish security command headquarters, refined the security deployment of the venues and realized the full coverage of security monitoring from the periphery to the stadium and from the bottom to the commanding heights, facilitating the safe and smooth host of the 2018 Hangzhou FINA World Swimming Championships. Intelligence equipment At the venue of the 2018 Hangzhou FINA World Swimming Championships - the surrounding area and interior of the Hangzhou Olympic and International Expo Center, Dahua Technology has teamed up to deploy a number of professional intelligent HD PTZ cameras, fiber cameras, bullet cameras, domes, transmission and other intelligence equipment, covering all areas within the venue, which helped the security department to control all corners inside and outside the stadium in real time so that to ensure the safety of the venue and the event. Dahua Technology combined the requirements of ‘first-class venue facilities, first-class organization guarantee, first-class opening and closing ceremonies, and first-class city image’ in the Championships, focused on key links and built a set of intelligent security video management system with the support of advanced technology platform. Integrated control system It integrated control system, storage and management, and enjoyed the advantages of simple deployment and operation, flexible combination, excellent performance, and a high level of security and stability. It turned the cameras inside and outside the stadium into ‘smart brains’ to guarantee the safety of every corner of the Championships, meeting the high-level security needs of the event. Dahua Technology set the command and dispatch of the security department as the core At the security command headquarters of the site, Dahua Technology set the command and dispatch of the security department as the core, with high-definition tiled LCD screens as the display carriers and brought more intuitive and flexible display and control to the security management of the venues before and after the event to ensure the real-time handling, efficient command and visual control of the entire venues, thus winning the praise of the security department leaders. Display control equipment On the evening of December 16, the 2018 FINA Annual Awards Ceremony was held at the Hangzhou International Expo Center. As a ceremony of the most authoritative awards, with the largest scale and the greatest number of world-class swimming athletes in the global water sports field, Dahua Technology assisted the security units to reuse a large number of equipment around the venue, including intelligent cameras, storage, management platforms and display control equipment, making sure the ceremony was successfully being held. As an essential force in the escort 2018 World Swimming Championships, Dahua Technology actively devoted to the security work. Stationed professional and technical personnel were responsible for on-site equipment support, achieving zero failure of the equipment, successfully completion of the tasks, and winning the praise of the security department leaders.

Following the recent successful installation of 360 Vision Technology’s new Invictus ruggedised PTZ camera by a north London borough, the same borough has now rolled-out over 100 Invictus cameras across seven Greater London towns. With an early success in prosecuting serious crime following the deployment of Invictus, its highly effective night-time HD quality colour video footage proved to be just one of the useful attributes of the UK manufactured camera, when a recent significant impact by a vehicle to a camera column tested its suitability for roadside deployment. The Invictus camera took the high-speed impact in its stride and showcased its ‘Attack Detect’ feature, automatically resetting to the last viewing position prior to being forcibly moved from its previous viewing direction, and with no damage to the camera or its direct drive PTZ mechanism. Based on our experience, 360 Vision’s Invictus camera was the obvious choice for us to recommend to this important Local Authority customer" Importance of ruggedised cameras Commenting on the broader roll-out of Invictus cameras, DSSL Group’s Works Director, Aaron Stephens, who specified the 360 Vision Technology cameras confirmed: “The importance of selecting a product that is ‘fit for purpose’ when being deployed roadside in a town centre is often overlooked by some companies, who deploy non-ruggedised cameras purely on the basis of cost. If a PTZ camera were to fall from height following an impact, which is a real risk, there would be a substantial public health and safety incident. “At DSSL, we take a holistic view to consider the surveillance needs at each individual location, to ensure that all aspects of camera deployment are taken in to consideration. Based on our experience, 360 Vision’s Invictus camera was the obvious choice for us to recommend to this important Local Authority customer.” The expanded installation takes the total number of Invictus cameras to over 100; and allied to wireless links forming a major part of the system’s infrastructure, comment has been made regarding the superb quality of the Invictus camera video over wireless infrastructure. Simplified surveillance operation Our close technical partnership with 360 Vision Technology has enabled deep systems integration and control of the Invictus cameras"In a market often dominated by imported Far East products, the integration of Genetec Security Center and high-performance Invictus PTZ cameras has proven the effectiveness of two Commonwealth technology providers. Commenting on the camera/control technology collaboration, Genetec Country Manager, Paul Dodds said: “Our close technical partnership with 360 Vision Technology has enabled deep systems integration and control of the Invictus cameras. Genetec Security Center unified platform and Omnicast video surveillance has been used to seamlessly blend full Invictus camera menu control, within a single intuitive interface. 360 Vision cameras are a Genetec certified product on our supported device list. This successful deep integration has simplified the London borough’s surveillance operation and effective management. We value all of our technology partnerships, and especially with manufacturers such as 360 Vision Technology, who offer reliability with their Invictus PTZ cameras, as illustrated here across seven north London towns.” Reducing carbon footprint With a focus on reducing carbon footprint, we are continually working towards reductions in camera power consumption"Adrian Kirk, Strategic Account Director at 360 Vision commented on the green credentials of Invictus, which was a factor in the overall decision by DSSL to specify the camera: “With a focus on reducing carbon footprint, we are continually working towards reductions in camera power consumption. “On larger projects like this, the savings on energy and reduction in associated pollution offers significant advantages over Far East camera alternatives, helping Local Authority end-user system operators to meet their carbon footprint reduction goals. “With a host of performance and user centric operational benefits, Invictus is well placed to feature extensively in future Local Authority upgrades, as customers look at total cost of ownership and the need to ensure CCTV equipment deployed road side is fit for purpose.”    

Majmaah University is based in Al Majmaah, a city of 130,000 people located approximately 180km north of Riyadh. The university was founded in 2009 as part of a state-sponsored Ministry of Education initiative to expand university education and the number of graduates in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly outside the biggest cities. Key aims of the university include more provision for higher education, high quality scientific research and development, support for the regional economy and meeting the needs of local communities. The university serves a wide area including Majmaah city, Zulfi, Remah, Ghat and Hawtat Sudair. The main campus is situated in the southern part of Majmaah city, with teaching and research delivered through 13 academic schools. The university has around 20 buildings across its multiple sites which provide accommodation for the colleges, administration, deanships and medical services. Enhanced student and staff safety Today’s higher education sector is major business and maximising student safety is central to any university’s duty of care and reputation. With this in mind, the security team at Majmaah University wanted to upgrade protection for students, staff and visitors. To achieve this, they needed to identify a cost-effective HD surveillance system combining robust performance with state-of-the-art functionality. The team needed a solution to provide centralised control, reliable remote monitoring and full redundancy for key university facilities at multiple campus sites located almost 50km apart.  Digital Media installed a comprehensive mix of networked systems at campus sites in Majmaah, Hawtat Sudair and Alghat Additional requirements included innovative features guaranteed to deliver excellent image quality, rapid video retrieval and optimised use of network bandwidth. Other key priorities included compatibility of all surveillance systems; simple plug-and-play deployment; video management software; ease of use; live and simultaneous video playback; simultaneous map monitoring; minimal maintenance; plus, user-friendly diagnostic, administration and reporting capabilities. Integrated IP-enabled HD surveillance Assisted by expert regional security systems integrator Digital Media, Majmaah University chose a complete, integrated IDIS DirectIP solution that offered superior performance, dynamic multi-stream control and multi-view functionality to minimise bandwidth usage-all at a low total cost of ownership. Digital Media installed a comprehensive mix of networked systems at campus sites in Majmaah, Hawtat Sudair and Alghat. Equipment included: 336 pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ), box, dome and infra-red bullet cameras; 18 network video recorders (NVRs); a suite of ISS Expert servers and clients; and 16 DAS systems. The new command centre at Majmaah was fully equipped with control systems including an IDIS Software Solution (ISS) Video Wall and 512CH Federation server to provide centralised monitoring across multiple campus sites. Following a smooth, swift installation by Digital Media, IDIS DirectIPTM is providing cost-effective surveillance to improve campus safety and protection.

The minutes are counting down to one of the biggest security industry trade shows of the 2017 calendar. Expectations are high going into ISC West 2017 in Las Vegas: Last year’s show was very well attended and highlighted lots of new technologies. Looking ahead to this year’s show, we wanted to get the Expert Panel Roundtable’s take on what news will dominate the show. So we asked our panel: What do you expect to be the big news at ISC West 2017?

In a fast-moving market like physical security, sharing information is an essential component of growth. However, there often seems to be more information available than an integrator or end user could ever digest and put to use. How does one go about finding the information he or she needs in an environment that can seem to be drowning in information (sometimes the wrong information). We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable to share their strategies and suggestions. Specifically, we asked: What can integrators and/or end users do to stay informed about the fast-changing technology landscape?

The security market in the United States has been in a collective state of exhilaration since ISC West. The (possibly) unprecedented success of the big trade show has left us all feeling optimistic about the year ahead. Members of our Expert Panel Roundtable are joining the chorus of compliments for the show as they answer this week’s question: How successful was ISC West 2016? Did it meet your expectations?