Remote video monitoring

Prysmian Group, pioneer in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, presents its latest innovations for high-value electrical assets monitoring systems at the Grid Asset Management conference that is taking place in London on May 14 to 16. More specifically Prysmian’s presence at the conference will be centred around PRY-CAM, the Group’s breakthrough technology for condition assessment and asset management of electrical systems and equipment from 3 kV to 600 kV. Artificial intelligence interface Collected data are stored via the cloud to be accessed remotely by ways of an AI interface Through a full range of electronics-based products PRY-CAM monitoring technology allows fast, accurate and reliable on-line measurements of Partial Discharge (PD) and key parameters of any electrical equipment for system diagnosis and defect localisation purposes, to helps electric assets owners to increase uptime, asset longevity and safety, while reducing maintenance costs and risks. The PRY-CAM technology does not require to switch off the monitored system, thus offering remarkable benefits in terms of associated costs. Collected data are stored via the cloud to be accessed remotely, shared and analysed by ways of an artificial intelligence interface that generates automated alarm signals if a critical situation is identified. Comprehensive condition assessment Prysmian will be in the spotlight at this year’s conference as Platinum Sponsor, having its representative, Roberto Candela, speaking about extended and comprehensive condition assessment and management of electrical systems to improve reliability and optimise performance and lifecycles, within the Day 1 programme session dedicated to Power Grids Asset Management & Advanced Diagnostics. Prysmian is the only player in the cable industry capable of providing turn-key supply" “Prysmian is the only player in the cable industry capable of providing turn-key supply of such and advanced monitoring solution fully integrated with any cable system“ says Roberto Candela, CEO of Prysmian Electronics, the Group’s fully owned subsidiary, entirely dedicated to Condition Assessment and Asset Monitoring systems and services. Cable system integrator “We are marking a turning point in the technology for power grids diagnostics, monitoring and maintenance systems and services and we are moving from the role of pure cable manufacturer to cable system integrator” he adds. Prysmian Electronics reported a significant growth in 2018 and was awarded important contracts for power grids monitoring systems by the main Utilities world-wide, including Italy, UK, Middle East, China, USA and Singapore.

Avigilon Corporation, a Motorola Solutions company, has announced that Avigilon Blue, its video security as a service platform, is now available in Australia and New Zealand. Avigilon Blue video SaaS platform Powered by Microsoft Azure, Avigilon Blue is a subscription-managed video security platform featuring self-learning video analytics technology that detects the presence and movement of people and vehicles. When a potentially critical event is detected, the Avigilon Blue platform generates a notification to help businessowners effectively self-monitor their security operations, while also offering the flexibility for users to contract a professional monitoring provider to efficiently verify and respond to events that may need further investigation.  The Avigilon Blue platform enables video monitoring providers and integrators to remotely manage and service more customer sites with fewer resources. End-users benefit from easy web and mobile-enabled secure access as well as system upgrades that are pushed directly from the cloud, which help ensure systems remain secure and up to date. The platform’s architecture saves on bandwidth while making sure important video verification clips are archived in the cloud and accessible from anywhere. Avigilon video analytics “The Avigilon Blue platform is designed to bring Avigilon analytics to virtually any security camera and help our customers simplify monitoring and event verification,” said James Henderson, Avigilon's president. “We are excited to expand our cloud platform in Australia and New Zealand, bringing added value to our Partners and their customers in the region.”

Hikvision, the supplier of innovative security products and solutions, launches the latest generation Turbo HD Series - Turbo HD X, which is a complete system to help stopping intruders in real-time, and avoiding damage and loss of property. The Hikvision Turbo HD X series of cameras has a built-in detector that captures infrared light emitted by human bodies, distinguishing it from other visual ‘noise’. Once the camera detects a potential intruder, its built-in siren flashes red and blue light and a loud sound with the aim of frightening the intruder away. Change perimeter protection Users can also receive alarm information remotely, via an application on their mobile devices The Turbo HD X series can support a broad range of perimeter protection and security system processes for in-process warning, and evidence collection after an event. It enables transformation of the traditional monitoring and post-event investigation approach, and helps to change perimeter protection from passive monitoring to active deterrence in order to protect people and assets. It can be used in warehouses, residences, jewellery stores and more. More importantly, the Turbo HD X is a complete and unified system, featuring front-end devices linking to back-end devices and a remote application. As the front-end alarm sends a warning to potential intruders, the system also triggers an alarm at the back-end, to notify security personnel. Users can also receive alarm information remotely, via an application on their mobile devices. False-alarm reduction technology Turbo HD X cameras can also be integrated with Hikvision’s cutting-edge AcuSense DVRs. The intelligent false-alarm reduction technology within these DVRs will disregard irrelevant movements picked up by the camera – such as rain, leaves and animals – and instead focus exclusively on human or vehicle movement. Together, this integrated solution dramatically reduces the number of false alarms, and ensures security staff focus on actual targets for greater efficiency. The last six years of Turbo HD products have delivered a wealth of innovations to the market All of this builds on the impressive functionality that has been delivered by Hikvision’s Turbo HD DVRs and cameras since their launch in 2013. In addition to impressive HD image clarity, the last six years of Turbo HD products have delivered a wealth of innovations to the market, including super-efficient bandwidth and storage usage and ultra-low-light video recording – all helping customers to enhance their security and perimeter protection. Video surveillance records Frank Zhang, the President of the International Product and Solution Center at Hikvision says, “Once again, we are bringing fresh ideas and new possibilities to the industry. Usually, video surveillance records are only searched for evidence after someone has suffered the consequences of an intrusion.” “However, criminals may give up further actions if they believe their behaviour has been detected. By stopping intruders in their tracks, the Hikvision Turbo HD X can help our customers to avoid costly damage and loss of property.”

Synesis introduced a high precision AI solution which enables regular CCTV cameras to count the number of available and occupied parking spots in the visible area in real time. Unlike existing analogues, the Smart Parking module based on the bound of deeply trained neural networks and computer vision allows to solve three major problems simultaneously: a real-time monitoring and notification, compatibility with parking lots of any scale and configuration, and minimisation of control resources. Synesis Smart Parking has a great potential for further use and is implemented both by parking space operators (city administrations, shopping and entertainment centres, hotels, parking lots, etc.) and drivers. Using computer vision, the module analyses the location and number of cars in the frame with a specified time span Accurately count parking spaces The solution works as follows: using a special software module, parking space operator allocate parking zones and their maximal capacity. Using computer vision, the module analyses the location and number of cars in the frame with a specified time span - for example, 5 or 600 seconds. The analysis performance by Synesis’ layers of deeply trained neural network and own dataset of multiple vehicle masks excludes scenario in which any other objects – people, tree crowns, etc. – can be falsely indicated as a car. Сomputer vision can accurately count parking spaces even when parking striping layout is covered with snow or when it’s absent at all. The accuracy rate of technology is significantly higher than that of similar solutions, reaching out to 95%. After testing the technology in real conditions at the streets of Minsk, Belarus, the developers’ team plan to continue the neural network training for further accuracy rate improvement. Integration into third-party services The module can be used both to improve the level of urban environmental comfort and safetyThe solution was developed as a part of Synesis’ Kipod Smart City platform. However, the software company does not exclude that in future the module can be integrated into third-party services for transmitting information to online maps, mobile applications, chatbots, etc. As a part of Kipod cloud platform, the module can be used both to improve the level of urban environmental comfort and safety. It allows parking operators and drivers to set special rules for recognising and notifying events such as a car’s unplanned departure from a parking spot, trespassing, suspicious crowding and even emergencies (smoke/fire, shooting sound, broken glass sound, etc.). Such Kipod module is widely used in the United Kingdom for autonomous management of filling station networks. Kipod’s ‘traffic’ module had also been trained to indicate parameters such as vehicle’s type, colour, speed, parking legitimacy. It allows to determinate parking and traffic violations, as well as to investigate traffic accidents as quickly as possible. It also simplifies the search of vehicles with missing or not readable license plates.

Dahua Technology, a video-centric smart IoT solution provider, has announced the addition of targeted vertical market solutions in the North American market. Vehicle inspection is one area where contemporary technology is rising to address a critical need. Preventing restricted items from entering high-security environments has traditionally been limited to the use of mirrors and police dogs, where blind spots and human error put detection at risk. In order to combat this problem, Dahua Technology offers two models of its Under Vehicle Surveillance System (UVSS). The system can provide license plate capture using a compatible LPC camera. The large field of view (approximately 180°) of the UVSS can capture the entire undercarriage of a vehicle when it’s driving through, which it then generates into an image in less than one second for immediate scrutiny. A portable version (DH-MV-VDM5021E-00) is built for ease of use, and an in-ground version is also available. Both options are well-suited for airports, prisons, and border control. IR License Plate Capture cameras Both LPC cameras have 1/2.8-in STARVIS CMOS sensors, dual-stream encoding, Ultra Wide Dynamic Range (140 dB) and True Day/Night (ICR)Two high-performing partners to the UVSS are Dahua Technology’s 2MP IR License Plate Capture (LPC) cameras. These cameras capture clear images of license plates from up to two lanes of traffic at once, providing 1080p resolution at 30 fps for users to discern plate numbers. Both LPC cameras have 1/2.8-in STARVIS CMOS sensors, dual-stream encoding, Ultra Wide Dynamic Range (140 dB) and True Day/Night (ICR). Model DHI-ITC237-PW1B-IRZ has a 2.7 mm to 12 mm motorized vari-focal lens and can capture images of license plates from vehicles traveling up to 12 MPH. Another model, DHI-ITC237-PU1B-IR, boasts a 5 mm to 50 mm vari-focal lens and can capture license plate images of vehicles travelling up to 25 MPH. Coupled with a Dahua NVR or Digital Surveillance Software (DSS) Video Management System (VMS), LPC cameras become a complete traffic management or parking solution. Remotely managing NVRs Dahua Technology’s enterprise-level DSS takes VMS to the next level. The all-in-one platform is preloaded with powerful software to improve system scalability. It lets users remotely manage off-site NVRs and other Dahua devices with real-time monitoring and playback. With a unified Dahua solution, integration worries are eliminated and installation and configuration become simpler. DSS offers a broad range of advanced features, including POS integration, Video analytics (IVS) and system redundancy DSS offers a broad range of advanced features, including POS integration, Video analytics (IVS) and system redundancy. The platform doesn’t require channel licensing, which is hard to find on other VMS systems. The DSS7016DR-S2 model is perfect for medium to large systems, with a variant that supports mobile recorders for fleet vehicle management, while the DSS4004-S2 is perfect for smaller systems. EVS for IP video surveillance Rounding out the latest additions to the Dahua portfolio is Enterprise Video Storage (EVS). Increasing the scale of storage, the high performance of EVS is ideal for medium-range to high-end IP video surveillance applications that demand flexibility, reliability, and centralised storage management. It is compatible with numerous third-party devices, making it the perfect solution for surveillance systems with or without a VMS. Its open architecture supports multi-user access and is compatible with ONVIF 2.4; it also uses Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) protocol for data transmission. It is available with 24 HDD (DHI-EVS7024S-R) and 16 HDD (DHI-EVS5016S-R) options: the former supports 768 IP camera channels with 1536 Mbps of incoming, recording, or forwarding bandwidth; the latter supports 512 IP camera channels with 1024 Mbps of bandwidth. Meeting specific vertical requirements Dahua’s capabilities are becoming wide-ranging in the US, especially when it comes to a complete end-to-end solution"“This expansion of our product portfolio demonstrates that Dahua Technology not only serves the general video surveillance market but also meets specific vertical requirements,” commented Tim Shen, director of marketing at Dahua Technology USA. “Dahua Technology’s capabilities are becoming wide-ranging in the US, especially when it comes to a complete end-to-end solution or vehicle-related security products.” These solutions, along with Dahua Technology’s other innovative video surveillance products, were featured last week at Dahua’s booth at ISC West, April 10-12, in Las Vegas.

The Enforcer on Tour is back and this time with its flexible perimeter protection that speaks for itself, delivering voice push notifications and Full-HD video verification. The company’s dedicated Account Managers will be hosting open days at various distributors across the UK throughout May and June, showcasing the full capabilities of the Enforcer system and how Pyronix perimeter protection can deliver a plethora of business growth opportunities. “Following on from last year’s tour, we’re really excited to bring the Enforcer on Tour back in 2019 across the UK, with all new offerings and features, including Full-HD video verification,” Laurence Kenny, Pyronix Marketing Manager, said. Voice notifications for intruder warning By adding the XDL12TT-WE, the system can now be configured to deliver voice push notifications for early warning of intrusionWith Account Managers on-hand at selected distributor outlets across the UK, professional security installers have the opportunity to see the multi-award-winning ‘installer’s choice’ Enforcer system for themselves and how their XDL12TT-WE wireless outdoor detector, sensors, contacts, Wi-Fi cameras and ProControl+ app can diversify their security offerings and add upselling opportunities. “We can’t wait to get back on the road and highlight the opportunities that our solutions now offer to businesses,” Laurence said. He continues: “By adding the XDL12TT-WE, the system can now be configured to deliver voice push notifications for early warning of intrusion, while adding and linking our cameras also provides Full-HD video verification. This provides professional installers with an added layer of security protection; detecting intruders before they can even have the opportunity to break in, while easily upselling to video monitoring and verification. Full-HD visualisation of the event The users are provided with an immediate voice push notification to alert them, with Full-HD visualisation of the event"“Now, installers leave nothing to the imagination of the user, by bridging the gap between assuming and knowing; so whether it’s their children coming home from school, an elderly relative activating a medical alert, or an intruder, they are provided with an immediate voice push notification to alert them, with Full-HD visualisation of the event, so that they can see exactly what’s happening. “By delivering this using the PyronixCloud and ProControl+ infrastructure, there is also a wealth of customisation, branding, recurring revenue and increased customer retention benefits to enjoy, with a flexible and easy to fit wireless system.” By registering and attending one of the tour dates, professional installers can also claim a FREE Pyronix XDL12TT-WE outdoor detector, which has multi-configuration options and is easy to setup. With 1,000 of the detectors available in the Enforcer on Tour national giveaway, demand will be high, so installers should book early to avoid disappointment.

Where are video surveillance cameras headed? At the core of next-generation Internet Protocol (IP) cameras are advanced chips with artificial intelligence (AI) at the edge, enabling cameras to gather valuable information about an incident: scanning shoppers at a department store, monitoring city streets, or checking on an elderly loved one at home. Thanks to advanced chip technology, complex analytics operations are becoming more affordable across the full spectrum of surveillance cameras —professional to consumer — fueling the democratisation of AI in the IP camera market. Complex analytics operations are becoming more affordable across the full spectrum of surveillance cameras Expanding the global IP camera market  The video surveillance equipment market grew to $18.5 billion in 2018 and is expected to increase this year, according to IHS Markit. The latest research points to video everywhere, edge computing, and AI as the top technologies that will have a major impact in both commercial and consumer markets in 2019. Computing at the edge means that the processors inside the camera are powerful enough to run AI processing locally, while still encoding and streaming video, and are able to do it all at the low-power required to fit into the limited thermal budget of an IP camera. New SoC chips will be able to perform all of the processing on camera and provide accurate AI information, with no need to send data to a server or the cloud for processing. Instead, data can be analysed right in the camera itself, offering high performance, real-time video analytics, and lower latency — all critical aspects of video surveillance. This new AI paradigm is made possible by a new generation of SoCs, a key driver behind the market growth of IP cameras. Complex analytics operations are becoming more affordable across the full spectrum of surveillance cameras to fuel the advent of AI in the IP camera market Micro-processor-enabled video analytics Next-generation video cameras will be able to create heat maps of stores to see where people spend the most time Microprocessor-enabled analytics allow users to more easily extract valuable data from video streams. How about an insider’s view into retail customer behavior? Consider video cameras at a department store, monitoring shoppers’ behavior, traffic patterns, and areas of interest. Next-generation cameras will recognise how long a shopper stays in front of a specific display, if the shopper leaves and returns, and if the shopper ultimately makes a purchase. Next-generation video cameras will be able to create heat maps of stores to see where people spend the most time, so retailers will be able to adjust product placement accordingly. Analytics will also help identify busy/quiet times of the day, so retailers can staff accordingly. By understanding customers’ behavior, retailers can determine the best way to interact with them, target specific campaigns, and tailor ads for them. Cue the coupons while the shopper is still onsite! Analytics will also help identify busy/quiet times of the day, so retailers can staff accordingly Fast processing for rapid response at city level City surveillance and smart cities are depending on advanced video surveillance and intelligence to keep an eye on people and vehicles, identify criminals, flag suspicious behavior, and identify potentially dangerous situations such as loitering, big crowds forming, or cars driving the wrong way.Quick local decisions on the video cameras are also used to help analyse traffic situations Quick local decisions on the video cameras are also used to help analyse traffic situations, adjust traffic lights, identify license plates, automatically charge cars for parking, find a missing car across a city, or create live and accurate traffic maps. Real-time HD video monitoring and recording When it comes to home monitoring, what will next-generation video surveillance cameras offer? Real-time monitoring and notification can detect if a person is in the back yard or approaching the door, if there’s a suspicious vehicle in the driveway, or if a package is being delivered (or stolen). Advanced video cameras can determine when notifications are and aren’t required, since users don’t want to be notified for false alerts such as rain, tree branches moving, bugs, etc. Next-generation video camera capabilities can also help monitor a loved one, person or pet, helping put families at ease if they are at work or on vacation. For example, helpful analytics may be used to detect if someone has fallen, hasn’t moved for a while, or does not appear for breakfast according to their typical schedule. City surveillance and smart cities are depending on advanced video surveillance and intelligence to keep an eye on people and vehicles, identify criminals, flag suspicious behavior, and identify potentially dangerous situations Next-gen IP cameras When evaluating next-generation IP cameras (cameras on the edge), look at the brains. These cameras will likely be powered by next-generation SoCs chips. Here is what this means to you:       Save on network bandwidth, cloud computing and storage costs. There is no need to constantly upload videos to a server for analysis. Analysis can be performed locally on the camera, with only relevant videos being uploaded. Faster reaction time. Decisions are made locally, with no network latency. This is critical if you need to sound an alarm on a specific event. Privacy. In the most extreme cases, no video needs to leave the camera. Only metadata needs to be sent to the cloud or server. For example, the faces of people can be recognised in the camera and acted upon, but the video never reaches the cloud. The cameras can just stream a description of the scene to the server “suspicious person with a red sweater walking in front of the train station, has been loitering for the last 10 minutes, suggest sending an agent to check it out.” This could become a requirement in some EU countries with GDPR rules. Easier search. Instead of having to look through hours of video content, the server can just store/analyse the metadata, and easily perform searches such as “find all people with a red sweater who stayed more than five minutes in front of the train station today.” Flexibility/personalisation. Each camera at the edge can be personalised to work better for the specific scene it is looking at, compared to a generic server. For example, “run a heat map algorithm on camera A (retail) as I want to know which sections of my store get the most traffic; and run a license plate recogniser on camera B (parking lot) as I want to be able to track the cars going in/out of my parking lot.” No cloud computing required. For cameras in remote locations or with limited network bandwidth, users have the ability to perform all analytics locally, without relying on uploading video to a server/cloud. Higher resolution/quality. When AI processing is performed locally, the full resolution of the sensor can be used (up to 4K or more), while typically the video streamed to a server will be lower resolution, 1080p or less. This means more pixels are available locally for the AI engine so that you will be able to detect a face from a higher distance than when the video is streamed off camera. AI at the edge Professional-level IP cameras capable of performing AI at the edge are coming soon with early offerings making their debut at this year’s ISC West. As we enter 2020, we will begin to see the availability of consumer-level cameras enabling real-time video analytics at the edge for home use. With rapid technology advancement and increased customer demand, AI is on the verge of exploding. When it comes to image quality and video analytics, IP cameras now in development will create a next-generation impact at department stores, above city streets, and keeping an eye on our loved ones.

There’s almost no installation that goes 100-percent smoothly in the field of video surveillance. Unexpected issues routinely arise that can increase time on the job, cost of the project and frustration. Manufacturers work on the product side to help ensure their products are easy to install and – when troublesome situations do arise – are flexible enough for installers to quickly find a remedy. Importance of ease of installation Ease of installation is a very important part of the project to the system integrator because the cost of labour is variable  Ease of installation is a very important part of the project to the system integrator because the cost of labour is variable and can be very expensive. In some cases, the cost of labour to install a camera can be more than the cost of the camera! If labour costs are high – or are more expensive than a system integrator planned – they can lose a great deal of money on a project. If a cautious system integrator includes too high of an estimate for labour in a project bid, his overall bid will to high and it could cost him the project. The easier the camera is to install, the lower the labour cost, subsequently achieving higher savings for end-users. Hence it is essential that camera manufacturers develop products that are easy to install or are flexible in the field for system integrators and installers who know that time is money. Enterprise projects can involve thousands of cameras installed Simplifying installation of cameras Camera installation typically involves an electrician, the camera installer and the person who configures the VMS (Video Management Software). Of course, one person can play all three roles, and in many cases, does, but enterprise projects can involve dozens, hundreds or even thousands of cameras with teams of individuals involved in an installation. The electrician runs conduit with an electrical or PoE (Power over Ethernet) connection to the housing or the backplate of the camera; the installer then installs the camera at that location, hooking it up to power; and then a configurator adds cameras to the network and makes adjustments – renaming the camera, setting the frame rate, enabling WDR (Wide Dynamic Range), and the like. When it’s a project that involves different players for any of these functions, there is the potential for a bottleneck and delay in project completion. And if a system integrator is paying an electrician, installer and software configurator – and they are all three on site waiting for each other to finish – that’s a system integrator’s worst-case scenario. Enhancement through modular cameras Video surveillance camera manufacturers like Hanwha Techwin are producing products that take different roles Video surveillance camera manufacturers like Hanwha Techwin are producing products that take the different roles of electrician, installer and configurator into consideration, allowing them to complete their tasks independently. With a focus on modular design which includes a USB dongle, a device manager, magnetic module and included accessories, the Wisenet X series Plus is one of the fastest cameras to install, service and upgrade – saving installers time and money. Wisenet X series Plus cameras have a detachable camera module that utilise magnets to lock into the housing for instant configuration. Electricians can run conduit with a single PoE connection to the back plate/housing while the configurator is working on configuring the camera module, allowing security professionals to later snap the camera into place in just minutes. The VMS configurator can then come and add the cameras to the network and program their functionality. Modular cameras offer flexibility  In the past, an end user might determine after the camera is installed that there aren’t enough pixels on target, or they need certain different functions like video analytics for example, resulting in the time-consuming replacement of the entire camera. With modular-designed cameras, the camera module can be swapped with a new one without having to focus or replace the camera – even to change the resolution or field of view, also Wisenet X series Plus has optional PTRZ modules that can be remotely adjusted to the field of view and the position of the camera lens. Making camera adjustments in the field is also now easier and perhaps even safer. Installers have been known to climb a ladder and juggle a bulky laptop to access the network to be able to see video of how the camera is positioned. Or they’ve had to use analogue video output to view the video feed on a separate monitor which provides the field of view, but not megapixel quality. Using a smartphone, the installer can wirelessly see full and not cropped quality video directly from the camera Wisenet X series Plus cameras have a USB port that allows installers to connect it to a small dongle that converts the camera to a Wi-Fi device. Using a smartphone, the installer can wirelessly see full and not cropped quality video directly from the camera. It’s a much easier way to evaluate video while at the camera. Eliminating the second person looking at live view on a computer guiding through a cellphone to the installer to accurately point the camera to the proper position. If system integrators can do some of the legwork prior to even getting on site, it can reduce cost and improve efficiency. Imagine having 300 cameras ready to send to a project site. To configure those cameras, a system integrator has to take each camera out of the box, plug each into a switch, configure it, take it off of the switch and put it back in the box. To improve this process, camera manufacturers have now developed packaging that provides access to the camera port without even having to remove it from the box. It’s an innovative solution that saves time. Modular cameras have optional PTRZ modules that can be remotely adjusted to the field of view Software programs help in enhancing installation Whether it’s a one-man show or a team of electricians, installers and configurators, software programs can greatly enhance the installation process. Device managers are important tools in adding multiple cameras to a project. Using that 300-camera project, for example, it’s easier when a manufacturer has a device manager that allows the mass programming and configuration of cameras. Adding 300 cameras one by one is time consuming and leaves room for error when making so many multiple entries. A device manager should be able to scan the network and locate its devices, allowing them to be grouped, configured and much more. Every video surveillance camera project is going to have its ups and downs. But camera manufacturers can do their part in the production process to address the many issues known to slow down progress. It’s impressive that many are taking the lead in producing innovations like modular camera design, flexibility in the field and accessible packaging that can truly reduce installation cost and improve efficiency.

Timely and important issues in the security marketplace dominated our list of most-clicked-upon articles in 2018. Looking back at the top articles of the year provides a decent summary of how our industry evolved this year, and even offers clues to where we’re headed in 2019. In the world of digital publishing, it’s easy to know what content resonates with the security market: Our readers tell us with their actions; i.e., where they click. Let’s look back at the Top 10 articles we posted in 2018 that generated the most page views. They are listed in order here with a brief excerpt. 1. U.S. President Signs Government Ban on Hikvision and Dahua Video Surveillance The ban on government uses, which takes effect ‘not later than one year after … enactment,’ applies not only to future uses of Dahua and Hikvision equipment but also to legacy installations. The bill calls for an assessment of the current presence of the banned technologies and development of a ‘phase-out plan’ to eliminate the equipment from government uses. 2. Motorola Makes a Splash with Avigilon Video Surveillance Acquisition Early clues point to Motorola positioning Avigilon as part of a broader solution, especially in the municipal/safe cities market. The company says the acquisition will enable more safe cities projects and more public-private partnerships between local communities and law enforcement. Motorola sees Avigilon as ‘a natural extension to global public safety and U.S. federal and military’ applications, according to the company. 3. Impact of Data-Driven Smart Cities on Video Surveillance One of the major areas of technology that is going to shift how we interact with our cities is the Internet of Things (IoT). One benefit will be the ability to use video surveillance to analyse data on large crowds at sporting events The IoT already accounts for swaths of technology and devices operating in the background. However, we’re increasingly seeing these come to the forefront of everyday life, as data becomes increasingly critical. Bosch is highlighting its “Simply. Connected” portfolio of smart city technology to transform security as well as urban mobility, air quality and energy efficiency 4. CES 2018: Security Technologies Influencing the Consumer Electronics Market Familiar players at security shows also have a presence at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). For example, Bosch is highlighting its “Simply. Connected” portfolio of smart city technology to transform security as well as urban mobility, air quality and energy efficiency. Many consumer technologies on display offer a glimpse of what’s ahead for security. Are Panasonic’s 4K OLEDs with HDR10+ format or Sony’s A8F OLED televisions a preview of the future of security control room monitors? 5. SIA Predicts Top Physical Security Trends for 2018 Traditional security providers will focus more on deepening the customer experience and enhancing convenience and service. The rise of IoT also places an emphasis on cybersecurity, and security dealers will react by seeking manufacturers and technology partners with cyber-hardened network-connected devices. 6. High-Speed Visitor Screening Systems Will Improve Soft Target Security The system is more expensive than a metal detector, but about a third the cost of familiar airport body scanners. Labor reduction (because of faster throughput) can help offset the system costs, but “it’s difficult to quantify the improvement in the visitor experience,” says Mike Ellenbogen, CEO of Evolv Technology. 7. How to Prevent ATM Jackpotting with Physical and Cyber Security A new crime wave is hitting automated teller machines (ATMs); the common banking appliances are being rigged to spit out their entire cash supplies into a criminal’s waiting hands. The crime is called “ATM jackpotting” and has targeted banking machines located in grocery shops, pharmacies and other locations in Taiwan, Europe, Latin America and, in the last several months, the United States. Rough estimates place the total amount of global losses at up to $60 million. The safety and security world bring a complex problem to solve- how to pick out a face in a moving and changing environment and compare it to several faces of interest 8. Why We Need to Look Beyond Technology for Smart City Security Solutions Although technology is necessary for an urban area to transition in to a safe and smart city, technology alone isn’t sufficient. Truly smart cities are savvy cities and that includes how they employ software, sensing, communications and other technologies to meet their needs. 9. How New Video Surveillance Technology Boosts Airport Security and Operations Employing airport security solutions is a complex situation with myriad government, state and local rules and regulations that need to be addressed while ensuring the comfort needs of passengers. Airport security is further challenged with improving and increasing operational efficiencies, as budgets are always an issue. As an example, security and operational data must be easily shared with other airport departments and local agencies such as police, customs, emergency response and airport operations to drive a more proactive approach across the organisation. 10. The Evolution of Facial Recognition from Body-Cams to Video Surveillance The safety and security world bring a complex problem to solve how to pick out a face in a moving and changing environment and compare it to several faces of interest. “One-to-many” facial recognition is a much harder problem to solve.

From robots to drones to counter-drone solutions, a range of new technologies will be displayed at ISC West 2019. The Unmanned Security Expo will return, including a dedicated complimentary education theater for attendees offering sessions on a range of topics. UAVs, UGVs and autonomous systems Also included will be demos of the best UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), UGVs (unmanned ground robotics and vehicles) and autonomous systems on the market. The market growth for unmanned technologies being used for security and safety benefits is progressing at a rapid pace. Let’s look at some of the exhibitors in the 2019 Unmanned Security Expo: Cobalt Robotics' robots are purpose-built for a specific use case, providing after-hours support and security for corporate locations Cobalt Robotics' robots are purpose-built for a specific use case, providing after-hours support and security for corporate locations. Indoor environments, which are confined and controlled, present fewer navigation challenges for robots, which can quickly become familiar with the surroundings and navigate easily through an office space. Indoor robots can provide benefits beyond security, too, such as facility management, promoting employee health and safety, and emergency response Compact surveillance radar (CSR) system SpotterRF provides the world’s most advanced compact surveillance radar (CSR) system for affordable wide-area, all-weather perimeter security and small force protection. Incorporated in 2009, the company attained profitability quickly and is ahead of forecasts. Dedrone has remained at the front of the issue of drone threats, integrating installations to military bases, stadiums, public events, and private individuals. The company has expanded its operations to include a new office in Washington, D.C, and has continued to upgrade its DroneTracker software. DroneTracker is the industry’s first airspace security solution that includes automated summary reporting for instant diagnosis of drone airspace activity. Airspace security and drone tracker Magos Systems is a state-of-the-art radar technology and perimeter protection solutions provider Magos Systems is a state-of-the-art radar technology and perimeter protection solutions provider. Founded in 2007 in Israel, Magos first specialised in advanced radar solutions for the military and defense markets. In 2015, Magos’ technology was declassified, allowing the company to focus on developing best-in-class systems for the commercial security market. Today, Magos radars are used in over 30 countries in critical infrastructure, data centers, electric utility sub stations, and oil refineries as well as in other commercial verticals like vineyards and car lots. Now, Magos is positioned to see increased adoption of its solutions in the U.S. Patriot One Technologies Inc. develops solutions to detect concealed weapons, utilising novel radar technologies. Their innovative radar technology provides first responders and security personnel valuable time in active threat scenarios. The technology offers stand-off detection of concealed threats typically employed in public locations. These are just a few of the exhibitors in the Unmanned Security Expo. They represent technologies that will help to shape the future of the security marketplace.

The last day of Global Security Exchange (GSX) in Las Vegas proved to be the calm after the storm. But a slower third day could not undermine a largely successful 2018 show for exhibitors and attendees. Sometimes the success of a trade show isn’t measured by numbers of attendees (which were reportedly down again this year). Sometimes it’s the individual successes that make an impression. “Just learning about this made the whole trip worthwhile,” said one GSX attendee at the Johnson Controls booth, referring to the company’s new PowerSeries Pro intrusion devices. It’s the kind of feedback that makes the expense of exhibiting at a big trade show worthwhile. The new PowerSeries Pro is an extension of Johnson Controls’ existing line that is expressly designed for the commercial security market. The ‘hybrid’ (wired or wireless) device offers ease of installation and full cybersecurity including 128bit AES encryption with spread spectrum for no jamming or interference. It employs frequency hopping technology first developed for the Israeli defence force. Wireless technology for cybersecurity PowerG eliminates the need for wires by providing ‘invisible wired technology’, a marketing term that emphasises the cybersecurity of the product PowerSeries Pro uses PowerG wireless technology and expands the portfolio of PowerG devices from residential through commercial. For use in a wired solution, the main advantage is ease of installation; terminal blocks ‘pop out’ easily and can be wired and plugged back in. Alternatively, PowerG eliminates the need for wires by providing ‘invisible wired technology’, a marketing term that emphasises the cybersecurity of the product – wireless at the same level of cybersecurity as wired. Johnson Controls addresses three big factors with the product line: cybersecurity, user control, and easy installation and dependability. It’s part of Johnson Controls’ broader approach to provide ‘one-stop shopping’, enabling an end user to control their environments, video and access, and protect their contents, according to the company. Need for more security in K-12 schools In addition to reaching end users, lock company Allegion sees the show as an opportunity to meet with technology partners. “It’s great to bring together a concentration of people in the industry,” said Brad Aikin, Channel Led Business Leader, Integrator Channel. “We have had good conversations with technology companies here at the show in terms of partnering, both physical access control and OEM partners. We have also had good conversations with the integrator channel.” From speaking with education end users at GSX, Aikin sees a large unmet need for security in K-12 schools, more so than in colleges and universities. “K-12 is underserved,” he says. “They need to identify their priority of needs, and now they can serve needs they couldn’t before, both layering levels of security and phasing in implementation over time. Now things can be applied and tried out without disrupting the environment.” An example is the Von Duprin RU RM (Remote Undogging and Remote Monitoring) door exit devices, which are being integrated by access control partners Sielox, IDenticard and Vanderbilt. Intelligence is added to the door exit device to enable inexpensive monitoring of secondary, previously unconnected doors. The doors can be monitored and locked or unlocked at various points in the day. Lock company Allegion sees the show as an opportunity to meet with technology partners Bridging the gap between IT and physical security One exhibitor – ADT – noticed more information technology (IT) professionals accompanying their physical security counterparts at this year’s GSX exhibition. “They come along to kill dreams on the spot,” said Morgan Harris, Senior Director Enterprise Solutions, noting the IT department’s frequent hesitancy to add untrustworthy elements to the network. ADT is looking to transform and expand its 144-year-old brand in the commercial security space and has completed eight acquisitions in the last year to accomplish the goal. Some of the acquisitions build on ADT’s expanding cybersecurity initiative, which is both a fully-functioning stand-alone business and an effort to bridge the divide between IT and physical security. ADT is positioning itself to manage enterprise risk in the broadest sense. Combining IT and cybersecurity The Internet of Things (IoT) is fuelling convergence but are we missing out on how to talk to each other and communicate effectively between IT and security?" “The Internet of Things (IoT) is fuelling convergence but are we missing out on how to talk to each other and communicate effectively between IT and security?” asked Harris. “Projects have failed because information was lost in translation.” ADT seeks to have skillsets, experience and certifications on both sides of the issue. “It enables us to be the in-between,” says Harris. “We can blend the two together and be the translator. It’s great for both sides, advocating for security counterparts and for the network simplifies deployment and processes.” Harris sees a trade-off between cybersecurity and convenience in the industry. For example, if a manufacturer says they have a simplified process and only offers firmware updates once a year, cybersecurity suffers, he said. Lack of third-party testing is another way that manufacturers sometimes trade cybersecurity for convenience, at heightened risk to integrators and end users. Training courses for integrators and partners Milestone Systems is expanding its level of involvement with integrator partners, and now provides Partner Business Reviews (PBR) to assess an integrator’s activities, sales and training, pipeline and marketing initiatives. The partner reviews often uncover issues that can be easily rectified through additional training, says Megan McHugh, Milestone’s Training Marketing Manager, Learning and Performance. Milestone uses a dashboard to track each integrator’s completed training courses and can point out additional courses needed to ensure an integrator partner’s success. Milestone offers a variety of in-person, e-learning and YouTube video courses to train installing partners, systems integrators and self-integrators on best practices Milestone offers a variety of in-person, e-learning and YouTube video courses (in 12 different languages) to train installing partners, systems integrators and self-integrators on best practices. ‘Cloud Labs’ are instructor-led online classes. All courses are linked to a variety of support resources. Sometimes a simple checklist accessed on a smart phone can ensure that every aspect of an install is performed and can instil added confidence in customers. The open platform company’s new agile development cycle – releasing multiple versions of XProtect software throughout the year – creates extra challenges to keep learning initiatives up to date. Along with each new release, various existing courses are updated. The concepts of “training and certification” are being replaced at Milestone with “learning and performance,” says McHugh. Milestone is also looking to hire 170 new R&D staff and open a new centre in Barcelona (in addition to current R&D centres in Copenhagen and Sofia, Bulgaria). Making camera installation easy Hanwha Techwin is another company that is seeing more interest in cybersecurity, as well as concern about whether a product is supported professionally. They have doubled-up production in South Korea and added capacity in Vietnam to avoid manufacturing in China. Thinking about their integrators, Hanwha Techwin is putting more emphasis on making installation easy. Installation costs may be up to 50 percent of a job, so easier installation frees up money to buy more or better cameras. With a new design of their cameras, an electrical contractor can now install the camera base and conduit, and then the integrator can easily plug in the camera later. Camera bases are common across multiple models, so a customer could switch out a 5-megapixel for a 2-megapixel camera later on if they want to (same housing plate). ‘Skins’ allow the colour of cameras to be changed to match surrounding décor. “We are changing the idea of how people approach selling a camera, and it’s a whole new idea of how to install cameras,” said Tom Cook, Senior Vice President, North American Sales, Hanwha Techwin. Hanwha cameras can include a sound classification analytic to detect sounds such as gunshots Cameras with sound detection technology Hanwha offers more flexibility in the field – interchangeable parts are packed together to enable configuration on site. And there is no need to stand on a ladder to position cameras; stepper motors help with remote camera positioning. Multi-sensor cameras have modules (combining lenses and sensors) that can be switched out at installation. Hanwha Techwin cameras can also include a sound classification analytic to detect sounds such as gunshots, screams or glass breaks, especially useful in K-12 education environments. Unification and the customer journey were a key emphasis for Genetec at GSX 2018. Unification for Genetec means combining multiple functions on one platform, from one vendor and using one source code. The company approaches the market by analysing each customer’s journey as it relates to Genetec products. A typical customer journey involves (1) a company looking for standalone systems; (2) the need to centralise systems through integration and unification; (3) increasing automation and workflow; and (4) adding intelligence for more informed decision-making. “Genetec wants to get more in-depth with customers, be more comfortable with their business, and understand their challenges,” said Derek Arcuri, Product Marketing Manager. “We want to get naked with our customers.” Machine learning engine for crime prevention In the city of Chicago, Citigraf detects patterns in crime behaviour and determines where a crime is likely to occur There was a big crowd at the Genetec booth, and not because the comment was applied literally. Genetec has divided itself into multiple parts, each focussed on a vertical market such as retail or transportation. The approach is to operate as a ‘federation of startups’, with each market sector accountable to fill in the gaps in the portfolio to meet the specific needs of each vertical. For example, Genetec’s Citigraf is an unsupervised machine learning engine with an algorithm to detect anomalies and trends from a large pool of data in a municipal environment. In the city of Chicago, Citigraf detects patterns in crime behaviour and determines where a crime is likely to occur. The system alerts operators in a bureau or area that has a higher risk level and should beef up the number of first responders. Chicago has seen a 39 percent decrease in average response time of first responders as a result. In the retail market, Genetec leverages the security infrastructure to analyse shopping trends and provide data for merchandising and operations. “Each customer is getting a portfolio of products tailored to the industry they are in,” says Arcuri. Demonstrating IoT devices Axis Communications displayed its range of products at GSX, demonstrating its almost total transformation from an IP camera company to a supplier of a full range of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. “Axis is broadening its portfolio to include more solutions,” said Scott Dunn, Senior Director, Business Development Systems and Solutions. “Our success is driven by continuing to innovate our portfolio. The market is continuing to grow, and Axis is continuing to expand its market share.” Eight ‘Axis Customer Experience Centers’ around the United States help Axis stay close to their integrators, customers, partners and prospects. IP addressable audio speakers from Axis can provide music as a service, and then can be interrupted for audio messages on behalf of physical security Axis has offered access control IP edge devices since 2013, and now has a new A1601 door controller being sold with partner-only software (no embedded Axis software like previous A1001 devices). In audio products, Axis has a portfolio of speakers, intercoms, and public address systems. Acquisition of IP door intercom company Enhancing the audio line was acquisition in 2016 of 2N, an IP door intercom company headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic. In North America, the 2N team is now fully part of Axis. The line emphasises simple architecture, programmability, and the ability to integrate widely. The products use Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to integrate through the cloud or peer-to-peer. IP addressable audio speakers from Axis can provide music as a service, and then can be interrupted for audio messages on behalf of physical security. Retail, education and enterprise customers are gravitating to IP audio. An IP bridge can tie existing analogue components into the IP system. For perimeter security, Axis offers a radar device to help eliminate false alarms, as well as thermal cameras.

The future of drones in the security and safety industry is sooner than you think. Tyco Integrated Security and Percepto offered a glimpse of that future at ASIS 2016: Autonomous drones that can patrol a perimeter 24 hours a day, seven days a week, managed remotely and able to perform multiple tasks on-site. The technology was developed by Israeli-based Percepto, based on innovation with roots in the Israeli military. Percepto has sharpened its focus on computer vision and applied it to allow drones to fly autonomously, using global positioning systems (GPS), vision sensors and algorithms to constantly analyse what the drone “sees” through an on-board camera. The system can work with any camera that provides an adequate image for real-time vision algorithms. Perimeter security at ASIS Tyco Integrated Security invited Percepto to display its technology in the large integrator’s booth at ASIS. “It was the first show where we targeted perimeter security,” says Ariel Avitan, Percepto’s Chief Commercial Officer. “Tyco took us under their wing. We had about 100 conversations at the show. After about 10 minutes everyone understands the business logic behind the solution. You have to talk to the end users to understand that your concept is validated.” Percepto is in the contractingphase with TycoIS and alsohas a number of other pilotprojects, including energycompanies in Europe TycoIS is also working with Percepto on several pilot projects to demonstrate and fine-tune the technology. Percepto is in the contracting phase with TycoIS and also has a number of other pilot projects, including energy companies in Europe. “Our challenge is robustness,” says Avitan. “The technology is trustworthy. We just need to make sure the system is. And the industry needs to identify applications where we can provide more value.” Autonomous drone performance  Percepto’s products include a hardware base station to control the drones, and the PerceptoCore module is installed on board the drone to allow it to interface with the base station. The core is pre-loaded with multiple task applications that enable the drone to perform tasks relevant to its purpose – autonomously. The “core” can be installed on almost any size or type of drone, whatever the manufacturer. In addition, Percepto provides an interface that integrates with existing systems in the security department’s control room. Cloud management software enables remote access and management of multiple drones. The software collects, analyses and presents data, while streaming live video on an ongoing basis. Perimeter security is just one application where drones will be deployed in the near future. Having a drone stationed on-site, charged and protected by its hub, enables fast reaction to any need in the field, day or night. Additional sensors and other equipment can be added to drones to detect gas leaks, thermal energy, or smoke, and even to provide life safety capabilities. Lighted drones with voice messaging could be used to direct employees or the public to the best exit route in case of a mass evacuation. 24/7 perimeter security Using drones to patrol 24/7 addresses the needs of perimeter security. Adding more sensors and providing additional data to operators helps expand the system’s utility and increase return on investment (ROI), says Avitan. “These applications are a tremendous benefit for security,” he says. “We actually find that adding safety and inspection applications is a good way to increase security. When you have a drone that knows how to provide ROI, it saves tons of money. It’s always about security, but above that we want to add value and increase ROI.” In addition to perimetersecurity, drones will soonbe used to inspect thethousands of solar panelsat solar energy sites In addition to perimeter security, drones will soon be used to inspect the thousands of solar panels at solar energy sites. Drones with cameras can detect the presence of dust or other factors that lower solar-panel efficiency, or cracks or malfunction of the actual panels. Thermal imaging on board a drone can detect which panels are under-performing. Drones could also be used to provide alerts if a transformer or cabling overheats in a power plant or critical infrastructure application. Restrictions on drones The U.S. Federal Aviation Commission is evolving its position on autonomous drones. Drones are restricted from populated areas, can only fly at certain altitudes, and must be equipped with lights if flying at night. Currently, applications require that there be an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) pilot on site, maintaining “line of sight” with the drone, who can take control if needed. However, the requirement for the UAV licence has been lowered to allow certification with an online course. There have also been some exemptions granted for the line-of-sight requirement (e.g., railroad inspections). “We include control mechanisms now to be compliant, and when the barriers come down, we are ready for that,” says Avitan. Many global jurisdictions are following the FAA’s lead, although some countries do not regulate drone traffic. Avitan says he expects regulators to allow drones to fly autonomously beyond line of sight in specific closed facilities in the next 12 months. Based on the pilot projects, Percepto will fine-tune the system, streamline manufacturing and launch a fully commercialised system by Q1 2017. Avitan expects to have up to 100 units deployed in 2017, and up to 1,000 units deployed in the next 18 to 24 months. Like I said: Sooner than you think.

3xLOGIC, Inc., a provider of integrated, intelligent security solutions, and a three-time Deloitte Technology Fast 500 winner, announces that the Bradley Business Center, located in Chicago, has installed a 3xLOGIC infinias CLOUD access control system throughout the redevelopment project. HTML Global, an IT Managed Services Provider (MSP), oversaw system installation and continues to provide remote system management. Bradley Business Center (BBC) is the largest redevelopment project on Chicago’s north side, comprising over 500,000 square feet, spread over 22 acres. The BBC offers a unique shared office environment for entrepreneurs and professionals and boasts a wide array of features and amenities. Controlling common areas Both organisations do the day-to-day administration of the system, with HTML Global providing back-up and higher-level functions At present, the 3xLOGIC infinias system manages a total of 43 internal doors throughout the complex, split between BBC-managed doors and those for a tenant company, Compass Health Center. The two organisations manage their own access separately but use some of the same network and PoE switches. BBC doors managed are mainly those controlling common areas and shared amenities— parking, fitness facility, rooftop terrace, and others—but also data rooms and other sensitive areas within the office space. Both organisations do the day-to-day administration of the system, with HTML Global providing back-up and higher-level functions when requested. “When we started with BBC, they were looking to us for our knowledge base, and we installed a few doors at that time. Then, we built out the system as they added new offices and common areas to be managed,” explained William Hunt, Managing Director, HTML Global. Cloud-based system “The distributed Ethernet network can easily handle all the doors and that simplified installation and on-going management. The BBC property management staff don’t want a server onsite, so a cloud solution nicely fits their needs. Another advantage for BBC is our RMR services and the fact that a cloud-based system is mainly operating expenses, not hardware capital expenses—that’s economically advantageous for a property management business.” “There are so many other advantages to a cloud-based system, especially our ability to add doors when any of the resident companies want to join the system, or to expand the number of doors for existing customers—we can add one door or hundreds of doors upon request,” said Hunt. “Compass likes the system functionality and ease-of-use so much, they recently expanded it to their Northbrook location, too. That way, when staff move between the two facilities, they only need one set of credentials.” Access control system Such high-level control and ease of use is accomplished with minimal hardware on site BBC controls access by zone and/or amenity for each credential holder, administrators can add zones and close access to other zones with a few keystrokes. Door control is granular, making it easy to provide all-areas access to senior staff and highly-limited access, for example, for contractors and temporary workers. Such high-level control and ease of use is accomplished with minimal hardware on site. Many administrators were up and running on the infinias system with very little training, if any. With a cloud-based access control system, new tenants can join the system with ease, or a tenant can be removed from the system in a matter of minutes. Fix things remotely Hunt again, “As an MSP, we are overseeing a system that updates itself automatically, and because BBC management doesn’t have a full-time IT person, that’s where we come in.” The future looks bright for HTML Global with the Bradley Business Center. Current office space is nearing fully-leased status, and BBC management is looking to expand their property offerings into additional buildings located on the same parcel. Hunt is impressed with another feature of the cloud-based system, “The network is set up on PoE switches, so if a door isn’t acting properly, we can fix things remotely, we don’t need to roll a truck—that’s very cost-effective.”

Kunsthalle Mannheim is a museum in Germany which contains a major collection of important art. Reliable technology, integrated in a networked solution from Bosch, ensures all-round protection on a total of 3,600 square meters of exhibition and storage space. A special focus of this is optimally safeguarding people and property without interfering with visitors’ encounters with priceless works of art. Customised security solution and integration Since its inauguration in 1909 over a century ago, Kunsthalle Mannheim has acquired a global reputation as a very special place to experience modern art. The complex comprises a building in Art Nouveau style dating from 1907, underground storage rooms, a main building, and the newer Hector Building, completed in 2018. Coinciding with the opening of the Hector Building, a customised security solution installed and integrated by Bosch experts also debuted. The system’s components are almost invisibly connected with the various exhibition areas. The modular alarm system UGM 2040 and around 260 state-of-the-art video cameras monitor the interiors of Kunsthalle Mannheim as well as the open areas around. Fire protection All of the security equipment is controlled by the Building Integration System from Bosch Comprehensive fire protection is provided by a fire alarm system spanning 700 detection points. There are 330 speakers in case it should ever be necessary to evacuate visitors and employees. All of the security equipment is controlled by the Building Integration System from Bosch. Modular alarm system Thanks to this new solution, Kunsthalle Mannheim is facing the future with confidence. The modularity of the alarm system UGM 2040 allows fast, cost-effective implementation of modifications and extensions. Professional service technicians from Bosch regularly maintain it and perform any required repairs to ensure highly reliable operation and low overhead.

Tottenham based Lancasterian Primary School is focused on the delivery of a safe and welcoming learning environment, ‘where everyone is included and creativity is valued.’ The school is persistently seeking new ways to enhance and improve its offer to the children and the local community. The school had an established high-profile intruder alarm system on site and consulted with Amthal to create a maintenance programme that could operate with no disruption to learning timetables. Safe learning and working environment Proactively worked with us to create a maintenance schedule for our intruder alarm" Says Sam Judge, Lancasterian Primary School’s Assistant Site Manager: “The security of our school is naturally a top priority, to ensure staff and pupils can work and learn in a safe environment. We see a careful balance to ensure our focus on creation of a welcoming and nurturing school for pupils and the local community is not overwhelmed.” “It’s something we are consistently reviewing and when we approached Amthal, we were instantly impressed with their understanding of our objectives. They proactively worked with us to create a maintenance schedule for our intruder alarms, to ensure they continue to operate to maximum capacity for the ultimate protection of all who learn with us, and provide total peace of mind and assurance to the site management team.” Well-maintained security system An effective school building security alarm system for which users are fully trained" Mark Golding, Amthal Account Manager added: “Ensuring that pupils, buildings and equipment are protected requires an effective school building security alarm system for which users are fully trained, alarm systems that are regularly maintained and service inspections that are logged and documented.”  A well-maintained system will ensure compliance with building safety regulations and also help to ensure the school passes OFSTED with flying colours. Amthal is thrilled to be working with schools such as Lancasterian Primary to ensure its security for the benefit of staff, pupils and visitors.” Satisfying user needs Independently owned, Amthal Fire & Security is dedicated to satisfying end user needs for security safety and convenience offering design, installation, service and remote monitoring of advanced electronic fire & security solutions, including intruder, Fire, Access and CCTV systems. Amthal Fire & Security is accredited by the Security Systems and Alarm Inspection Board (SSAIB) United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS) and British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE.)

Dundee’s rejuvenated waterfront has breathed new life into the city, and not far from the new V&A Museum building is Foxlake Dundee, an exciting new water sports facility. Taking advantage of the regenerated docks area, Foxlake Dundee offers cable wakeboarding – where boarders are propelled by an electric cable rather than a boat – paddle boarding and Scotland’s first urban Aqua Park. Hikvision thermal video solution Foxlake Dundee was the second Foxlake water park to open, following the very successful adventure park in Dunbar, East Lothian, on the Scottish coast. The Dundee facility, which opened fully in summer 2018, includes a large floating assault course, which has proven hugely popular with visitors, featuring huge obstacles, slides and rafts, and a giant 3.5m inflatable tower known as ‘the Mountain’. Unfortunately, due to its city centre location, the assault course and the wider facility was likely to be something of a magnet for unauthorised activity, primarily of the inebriated variety, explains Zak Hegarty, Foxlake Dundee’s manager. “Because of our location, right in the heart of Dundee city centre, we’re quite near a lot of pubs,” Hegarty adds. “And sometimes a 3.5m floating inflatable tower looks pretty inviting to someone with a quantity of ale in their system – it looks like an irresistible challenge.” Remote HD CCTV monitoringI introduced myself as I saw they were opening and was invited initially to look at a CCTV system" The concern was that accidental or deliberate damage or vandalism to the equipment was a real risk – and along with that came the danger of injury or worse to those attempting to exploit the park, at night, in the dark, unsupervised on the water. Hegarty’s first instinct was to investigate the option of manned guarding: having a security officer on-site during those out of hours periods overnight when the facility was at its most vulnerable. But an approach from Brian Davidson of Webster Security & Fire was to change his mind. Davidson had noticed the development in the docklands with interest. He approached Hegarty to see if Webster Security & Fire might be able to help with securing the site. “I introduced myself as I saw they were opening and was invited initially to look at a CCTV system,” Davidson says. “This then blossomed during further conversations into a proactive, remotely monitored CCTV solution. They were looking at going down the route of employing manned guarding for when the site was closed, but we thought this would provide a cost-effective and workable solution that offered the same level of protection.” GJD motion detectors The challenges presented by the Foxlake Dundee site were not insignificant. The system needed to be remotely monitored and based on some form of movement detection – on a site which itself was constantly moving, due to the changing tidal water levels. Davidson and Webster Security & Fire got in touch with Hikvision in Scotland and together they designed a solution to meet all of Foxlake’s needs. The centrepiece of the system proposed by Davidson and Webster Security & Fire was the use of Hikvision thermal cameras to detect activity on the jetties. This is complemented by the use of GJD motion detectors and Hikvision cameras to pick up movement on approach areas, further Hikvision cameras which monitor the internal office reception areas, and additional Hikvision cameras providing a security, health and safety and management overview of the both the assault course and the paddle and wakeboarding facility areas. A public address tannoy system is also connected to the surveillance solution. Hikvision thermal bullet cameras The Hikvision thermal bullet cameras highlight areas of heat difference in the field of view The Hikvision thermal bullet cameras highlight areas of heat difference in the field of view – so a human body is always visible as hotter than its surroundings, particularly in a marine or waterfront environment. Hikvision’s thermal cameras also utilise behaviour analysis technology, so figures moving into specific zones in the image can automatically generate alarms. The advantage of thermal cameras for a water-based site like Foxlake is that they can operate in all weather conditions – they’re not impeded by fog, mist, heavy rain, snow or other environmental factors, the sorts of conditions which could severely impede even the most advanced of conventional cameras. Hikvision 8-channel DeepinMind NVRs The other cameras in the Foxlake Dundee system benefit from Hikvision’s Darkfighter technology, allowing for video monitoring and recording in even the lowest of light conditions. And the whole solution records to a Hikvision 8-channel DeepinMind network video recorder, which utilises powerful AI technology to learn to filter out false alarms and accurately raise alerts. In the evening, after normal operating hours, the site is locked up and alarms are set. It’s then remotely monitored by the Corps of Commissioners, who are alerted when the thermal cameras or motion detectors pick up any movement on the site. Operators check the live cameras to confirm that intrusion has occurred. If an intruder is detected, they immediately contact Foxlake management via phone, and are also able to contact police if required. At the same time, the Corps operatives can use the PA system to issue warning announcements to allow the intruders to know they are being monitored. The effect is almost instantaneous, Hegarty says. Enhanced intrusion detectionThe overall reception for the video surveillance solution has been extremely positive “We’ve had three incidents since the system was installed,” he says, “and the response by the intruders is pretty remarkable. I’ve reviewed the footage and compared it to the time notification I’ve received a missed call on my phone: you can see the intruder on the video footage hear the warning, and then they’re off. They just leave straight away. It’s amazingly effective.” The overall reception for the video surveillance solution has been extremely positive. “We’re really happy with the system,” Hegarty says. “The video footage quality is very high and we’re glad we haven’t had to go down the manned guarding route, as similar facilities have done. We appreciate that Webster and Hikvision took the time and thought to design something that would work for us in our specific circumstances. Of course, the proof is in the performance, and the fact that a number of intruders have been quickly and effectively warned away is evidence that it is doing the job it was designed for.”

3xLOGIC, Inc., global provider of integrated, intelligent security solutions, and a three-time Deloitte Technology Fast 500 winner has announced that the Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA) is delighted with their recently-upgraded 3xLOGIC video surveillance system, installed and monitored by Sonitrol of Lexington.   3xLOGIC - Sonitrol collaboration The Kentucky School Boards Association was established in 1936 and represents 863 school board members from across the state to provide training, services, and collegiality to aid in the effort of providing the best education possible for public school students across Kentucky. KSBA is a long-time Sonitrol of Lexington customer, going on 25 years. Hence, Sonitrol and Danny Goodpaster, Security Consultant, were well positioned to understand KSBA’s situation and recommend the solution best suited for their needs. “About three years ago, during the budgeting process, we had an incident in our parking lot in which there was a minor fender bender,” related Jeff Million, Print Shop and Operations Manager for KSBA. “The camera watching the parking lot was only 30 feet away, but I could not even make out identifying writing on the car that struck the other car. On another occasion, we had a break-in and from three feet away I could not make a positive ID on the perpetrator. After these incidents, things got rolling and we soon embarked on upgrading our video surveillance capabilities.” Full HD IP video surveillance solution The multi-sensor device is a camera with a unique set of capabilities, it is also equipped with impact-activated audio, glass break, and motion detectionGoodpaster wrote the first upgrade proposal in 2016. After some discussion about installing a hybrid DVR, KSBA at Goodpaster’s urging decided to remove the analog cameras and go full IP. Now, the organisation has four static cameras and two 3xLOGIC multi-sensor devices, trained on the front door and the back door, loading dock, and parking lot. The multi-sensor device is a camera with a unique set of capabilities, it is also equipped with impact-activated audio, glass break, and motion detection along with video and audio verification of alarm activations. The multi-sensors are connected to an updated Sonitrol panel and they provide video feeds, as well as glass break and audio verification for both entrances. “With our former system, I’d get the first call on alarm, but often I did not have enough video information to make an informed decision. Now, I have the data and the images I need to deal quickly with any situation,” said Million. Goodpaster recalled that there was a lot of competition for this business—'KSBA really did their homework.’ At the end of the day, it was the multi-sensor’s video and audio verification that provided KSBA with real, tangible benefits they could feel. Further, between the Sonitrol app and VIGIL Client software installed on Million’s laptop, KSBA now has a fully-integrated solution, as opposed to the two separate systems they had before. The four non-monitored cameras are overseen by 3xLOGIC VIGIL Central Management software (VCM), so if any equipment issues arise, Sonitrol knows immediately and can act to proactively solve them. Multi-sensor devices The new cameras also provide a better field of view, I’m picking up my entire parking lot, before I could only see half of it"As noted earlier, the Multi-sensor devices monitor the front and back entrances, as well as the parking lot. The other four 3xLOGIC cameras are trained on the front door reception area and down the hallways away from the front and back entrances, to provide visibility on where any visitor or employee is going. These cameras are viewed live and used for incident review. The receptionist at the front desk has a dual screen that shows her the approach to the building and who is coming through the door before that person reaches her desk—this creates full situational awareness and keeps the receptionist safe. “We really do like our new cameras, and we are light years ahead of where we were as far as quality and ease of use with the 3xLOGIC system,” said Million. “We now have video verification capabilities. Before I’d get a phone call, while away from the office, providing video images but I couldn’t make anything out. I’d have to head home to view the video and I still didn’t have sufficient resolution to make out what was happening. The new cameras also provide a better field of view, I’m picking up my entire parking lot, before I could only see half of it.” IP HD cameras Million continued, “Recently, we had a forced entry attempt on the front door, and we went to the video. We could immediately resolve what had happened—that’s real peace of mind. We have to make quick decisions, and in the event of a real incident, we’re shaving at least 10 minutes off of police response times. Million can view all six cameras on his mobile app. We don’t want to call on false alarms, we want to make certain. Now we can and the video quality is about 10 times better.”

Located southeast of Los Angeles, California, the City of Whittier hosts a water pumping utility installation that provides water to the businesses and residents of the surrounding Gateway Cities Region. In recent years, the installation routinely suffered attacks by vandals and looters, resulting in regular defacement with graffiti and the theft of copper components from pumping stations. This caused interruptions in service to businesses and residents across the surrounding cities. To ensure the security of the water installation and avoid public health and safety concerns, the City of Whittier turned to a virtual guarding solution from iNet Security LLC. iNet Security leveraged comprehensive monitoring from the Surveillance Acquisition Response Center (SARC), powered in part by IDIS technology, for a high-performance video surveillance solution that has already shown powerful results. Enhancing multi-site security and safety The City of Whittier turned to a virtual guarding solution from iNet Security LLC With the health and safety of the City of Whittier and its surrounding region potentially at risk, it was essential that any security solution deployed by the city be dependable, effective, and capable of low-maintenance 24/7 monitoring. The system also required ease of remote use as the installation is located in a remote wildlife preservation area far from the city center. Any surveillance solution had to: Secure multiple locations within a remote wilderness location Manage authorised access to installation premises Maximise security of the installation with encryption speeds capable of constant live monitoring Provide compatibility and integrate seamlessly with SARC virtual guarding systems Enable the coordination of live responses to security events Feature intuitive software that is easy for users to operate and master. Representatives of the City of Whittier reviewed systems from several manufacturers before they determined that the virtual guarding solution from iNet Security, powered in part by IDIS, would best meet their requirements. DirectCX technology and Center VMS The industry’s most advanced analog HD solution, DirectCX, is based on High Definition Transfer Video Interface (HD-TVI) technology SARC and the City of Whittier leveraged technology from the high-performance and cost-effective IDIS DirectCX solution and IDIS Center video management software (VMS) to meet their remote monitoring needs. The industry’s most advanced analog HD solution, DirectCX, is based on High Definition Transfer Video Interface (HD-TVI) technology. IDIS incorporated its expertise in image processing to provide unrivaled HD recording performance at an affordable price point for the responsibly cost-conscious City of Whittier. Designed for simplicity, convenience, and performance, the DirectCX technology and the powerful, full-featured IDIS Center VMS incorporated by iNet Security have proved to be optimal components of the comprehensive solution, meeting the challenges faced by the City of Whittier. IDIS HD-TVI DVR The most powerful IDIS HD-TVI DVR, the TR-4116 16 Channel Full HD Recorder, offers: Support for HD-TVI, 960H, and analog cameras Up to 480ips Full HD recording Full HD display with HDMI and VGA output Support for CVBS spot monitor Long distance transmission over coaxial cable Support for HD-TVI camera OSD control over coaxial cable Expansion up to 32TB using 4 SATA interfaces and 1 eSATA storage interface One click network configuration using IDIS For Every Network (FEN) service Dependable security environment IDIS has helped to dramatically improve the security environment for the City of Whittier’s water installation and pumping stations In partnership with iNet Security and SARC, IDIS has helped to dramatically improve the security environment for the City of Whittier’s water installation and pumping stations. Within the first week of installation, a group of vandals was caught attempting to fault the installation fence and was successfully deterred remotely using SARC’s remote “voice-down” protocol. In a dramatic security and safety success, the system was used to coordinate a fast and effective response to two isolated fires as well as a dangerous wildfire that threatened both the utility and surrounding wildlife. SARC operatives utilised IDIS technology, in part, to accurately and quickly guide first-responders through the remote wilderness to the site of the fires, minimising damage and risk to the surrounding areas. Thanks to the power and performance provided by the iNet Security solution, including IDIS DirectCX technology, the City of Whittier is benefiting from: Low total cost of ownership Unparalleled ease of use through the IDIS Center VMS Complete dependability of system components Lower system maintenance requirements A scalable solution to allow for expansion to additional installation sites

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