Retail surveillance

Hanwha Techwin America, a global supplier of IP and analogue video surveillance solutions, has announced that Jordan Rivchun has joined the company to drive its most important retail projects and to lead solutions and strategy in the retail vertical and other related customer segments. In his business development role, Rivchun will be instrumental in increasing retail end users’ awareness of Hanwha’s leading security products. Security and loss prevention expert “Jordan is a dynamic leader and is well respected within the loss prevention industry. His extensive experience as a loss prevention executive and practitioner fully supports Hanwha’s mission to engage and listen to our end users to envision the solutions our customers trust us to build,” said Ray Cooke, Vice President of Business Development, Hanwha Techwin America. “He will be influential in making an even stronger connection between our end users and product development team. We are thrilled to have him on board.” Rivchun brings more than 15 years of security and loss prevention experience. Most recently, Rivchun was director of loss prevention with DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse), where he was responsible for all facets of the Loss Prevention program including physical security, internal investigations, loss prevention systems and data analytics, as well as the field organisation. Rivchun was also an active member of RILA’s Asset Protection Leaders Council (APLC). Prior to his 8-year career at DSW, he worked for Security Risk Management Consultants, Target, and Nordstrom in both security and loss prevention capacities.

The International Fire & Security Exhibition and Conference (IFSEC) India Expo, South Asia's largest security, civil protection and fire safety show by UBM India, is gearing up for its 12th edition which is slated for December 5th - 7th, 2018 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Supported by the Asian Professional Security Association (APSA), American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), Electronic Security Association of India (ESAI), Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) among others, the show will see participation from over 20 countries such as UK, USA, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Korea, Russia and will bring together over 300 domestic and globally renowned brands, key government officials, consultants and business experts. Prioritising security and surveillance The Government of India recognises this vulnerability and has introduced strict regulations and guidelines" The visitor profile of the expo will include professionals such as CSOs, Admin Heads, CIOs, CTOs, Facility Heads, Purchase Managers, System Integrators and Dealers & Distributors of organisations. Speaking on the announcement of the 12th edition of the IFSEC India Show, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India said. "The South Asia region, which the IFSEC India Expo brings within its radar, is a vulnerable as well as a progressive zone with ongoing threats to homeland security, rising urbanisation, proliferating crimes, and low people-to-police ratio being some of the most significant factors. The Government of India recognises this vulnerability and has introduced strict regulations and guidelines that promote the use of security and surveillance in the country -- the security of children within school premises, and the growing need for women's safety being noteworthy instances.” Electronic security market “Besides, in a bid to make the country truly modern and secure, it has till date invested around ₹ 48,000 crores for its Smart City initiative that aims to create at least 100 smart cities in India. Owing to these factors, it comes as no surprise that the electronic security market in India is expected to witness a tremendous growth with a projected CAGR of nearly 13 per cent over the next decade." "IFSEC India 2018 aims to act as a catalyst for the progress and vision of this proliferating industry, as it provides a platform for industry players to collectively ideate, innovate, spot trends and enable the shift in India's security paradigm from a defensive approach to a monitoring and responsive one," he further added. Ever-evolving industry The IFSEC India Expo provides high-impact, informative demos and a wealth of opportunities for the visitors IFSEC India will include in its already formidable repertoire, products and technologies pertaining to CCTV & Surveillance, Biometrics & RFID, Integrated Systems, Access Control, GPS Systems, Video Management, Parking Automation, Transport, Perimeter Protection, IoT, Smart Homes, Security & Safe Cities in addition to surveillance for the knowledge of end users and providers. Key global brands & distributors include Premier Plus Partners: Aditya Infotech, Advik, Dahua, eSSL, Globus, Hikvision, Mark, Nuctech, Realtime, TVT and Zkteco; Premier Partners such as Axestrack, Biomax, Honeywell, Mantra, Panasonic, Road Point, Seagate, Timewatch, Unique Electrovision, Vantage, and Western Digital, among others. Significantly, in an industry where upgradation of technology is the very key to surviving the competition, IFSEC India Expo provides high-impact, informative demos and a wealth of opportunities for the visitors to network and learn about new technologies, industry best practices and trends, challenges, market insights and discover the best solutions to keep their business and clients secured. High octane business One of the novel ways by which the expo this year is encouraging this vital interaction between key exhibitors with cutting-edge innovations to offer and big-ticket buyers is through the creation of the Regalia Lounge, an exclusive, private 5 star lounge, meant solely for one-on-one interactions and high octane business on a 'By Invitation Only' basis. IFSEC India 2018 has decided to proactively decipher relevant insights gained in the global security market as well as latest technology With security in India continuing to be an onerous task, IFSEC India 2018 has decided to proactively decipher relevant insights gained in the global security market as well as latest technology such as aerial vehicles and drones by conducting a two-day conference with the theme 'Unraveling the Evolution in Security Tech' alongside the exhibition. Security veterans The conference will witness the presence and participation of eminent industry personalities including Shri D.R. Karthikeyan, Chairman, Assocham Homeland Security Council; Capt. Raghu Raman, President - Risk, Security and New Ventures, Reliance Industries Ltd.; Shri M.S. Upadhye, IPS, Chief Security Commissioner, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation; Lt. and Gen. Sudhir Sharma, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, VSM, Former Quartermaster General, Indian Army, among others. Some of the trending topics scheduled to be discussed at the conference are - 'Corporate Risk Management: Integrating Standards and BeSomst Practices into Operations' , 'The Evolving Role of a CSO in Crisis Management and in Ensuring Business Continuity', 'Regulatory Compliance Requirements Related to Corporate Security', 'Industry Best Practices in the Manufacture of Security Products by Bureau of Indian Standards', 'Technology-Enabled Disruptions', 'Emerging Paradigms in Security Architecture', 'How AI & IoT Add Value to Video Surveillance Systems', 'The Threat of Cyber Attacks on Security & Surveillance Systems', and 'How Drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Can be Effectively Used to Enforce Homeland Security'. Impressive industry growth The awards will recognise the excellence and innovations of CSOs & Security officers who continuously work behind the scenes This year, IFSEC India is all set to host the 3rd edition of the IFSEC India Awards. With the impressive growth of the Electronic Security Industry in India, the awards have been crafted to specially get the minds behind electronic security in various industry verticals like BFSI, Retail, Manufacturing, Energy, Healthcare, PSUs, IT & ITES and Infrastructure in the limelight. The awards will recognise the excellence and innovations of CSOs & Security officers who continuously work behind the scenes to ensure robust security. The process advisors for the IFSEC India Awards will be Ernst and Young. IFSEC India owes its rich legacy to the 40-year-old IFSEC Global and success to the way the Indian edition has modified itself to suit the specific needs of this region. Recommended by industry experts as the pre-eminent authority on the global security and fire industry, the expo has nudged the industry on the path to a completely secure, smart and digitally enhanced world.

Intelligent Retail is a real buzz word at the moment. The video enabling transaction plays a key role in intelligent retail surveillance. Surveon Technology, the end-to-end video surveillance solutions provider, introduced Surveon POS Solution which can extract transactional data from point-of-sale (POS) system and pair the data with video from the time of the transaction, supporting partners to investigate criminal behaviour such as stealing money, address product shrinkage, record shipments and track parcels, enhancing their business profits. Surveon POS Solution provides partners transaction data with surveillance video to clarify the responsibility when transaction errors happened, supporting 1/2/4/6 transactions live view and 1/2/4 transactions playback on the same screen. Quick monitoring with multiple filters Surveon POS Solution allows partners to set the filters through control buttons to get valuable part information of transactionsFinding the useful information from thousands of transaction data is waste of time, especially for chain stores. Surveon POS Solution allows partners to set the filters through control buttons to get valuable part information of transactions, enhancing their working efficiency. To search a specific transaction from tons of data, Surveon POS Solution provides log search function. Just enter the time, camera and keyword in VMS, the system will find the transaction and its corresponding video for partners, helping them to save lots of time. Remote monitoring for store/retail chain Surveon POS Solution supports multiple architectures and local/remote monitoring for single store or retail chain operation, providing partners a flexible and scalable option to manage their system. Besides, Surveon product line, including camera, NVR and VMS, is compatible with major 3rd party POS systems, saving partners' time and efforts to integrate the system. Surveon POS Solution initial shipment is scheduled at the end of November.

Hikvision’s PanoVu products are essential components of solutions in retail, hospitality, transportation and education Hikvision USA Inc., global supplier of security equipment and solutions, will provide training and demos of its multi-sensor camera technology at ISC East 2018, slated to take place at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City on Nov. 14 and 15. Product showcase and training session Hikvision will exhibit from Booth 324 on the show floor on both the days. In addition to multi-sensor cameras, Hikvision will also showcase access control and intercom solutions. On Wednesday, Nov. 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room 1A23, Hikvision will offer a free training session: ‘PanoVu Overview: Innovative Systems for Retail, Education, Hospitality and more’. "Ideal for retail, hospitality, transportation and education applications, Hikvision's PanoVu products offer multi-camera technology in one easy-to-install device," said Eric Chen, general manager, Hikvision North America. "We're excited to discuss and demo this key technology for integrators and end users at ISC East this year." Hikvision PanoVu cameras product line Hikvision provides a wide variety of PanoVu products to meet every installer's needs: Everything from 180- and 360-degree view in a stitched image from multiple cameras, to cameras with adjustable gimbals for optimal views. A wide selection of cameras is available for both indoor applications or outdoor, longer-range viewing. Common applications include warehouses, large open spaces, lobbies, city centers, park entertainment venues, and harbors.

Opening up new possibilities for competitive video surveillance deployments in retail, restaurant and small business applications, IDIS has launched a compact range of robust, high performance cameras and recorders. The IDIS Compact Solutions series is designed for rapid installations and both single and multi-site roll outs, allowing for the mixing and matching of analogue and IP technologies, making upgrades and system extensions more affordable than ever. IDIS Compact Solutions The new line includes a choice of network and HD-TVI cameras and recorders, all of which are easy to install through one-click network configuration. A highly competitive price point comes without any compromise on IDIS’s signature reliability and performance, while hardened network security protocols provide complete reassurance against hacking risks. The new Compact Solutions line features 4-channel compact recorders that can be conveniently desktop or wall mounted, and for end-users and operators - including branch managers, small business owners and security personnel – the line combines high performance features with simple operation and a choice of client software. The IDIS Compact Solutions range is hard-wearing, making it particularly durable and perfectly suited for busy environments where reliable capture of high definition video images is important. IDIS dome and bullet PoE cameras IDIS’s DC-D4212R dome and DC-E4212WR bullet PoE cameras are perfect for confined spaces yet deliver full-HD performance IDIS’s DC-D4212R dome and DC-E4212WR bullet PoE cameras are perfect for confined spaces yet deliver full-HD performance in live view and playback (including on remote devices such as smartphones) and come with motion detection, tamper alarms, zoned privacy masking, day and night ICR and IR LED up to 20m. A choice of four and eight channel IP or HD-TVI recorders allows fast and trouble-free installation and lets installers take advantage of existing coax cabling. The IP recorders also benefit from H.264 live view which eliminates the need to upgrade hardware peripherals. For highest performance streaming capacity, H.265 and IDIS Intelligent Codec compression deliver bandwidth savings of up to 90 percent, ensuring smoother real-time viewing and full evidence retention. “The new IDIS Compact Solutions line continues our longstanding tradition of market-responsive offerings, designed and developed in house to meet the real-world needs of our industry partners and end-users. This new line of fills an important need in the market, for high value, high performance technology from proven market leaders able to reliably meet highly specific requirements in vertical spaces, such as retail, and smaller business operations,” noted Keith Drummond, Senior Director, IDIS America. IDIS Total Solution As with all IDIS products the Compact Solutions range is backed by industry-lauded technical support and service, including the company’s global technical support operation, co-located with IDIS America’s regional headquarters near Dallas, Texas. The new IDIS Compact Solutions line is the latest offering in the powerful and award-winning IDIS Total Solution—an end-to-end, single sourced offering that delivers unrivalled plug-and-play simplicity (combined with highest-quality performance, compatibility, now featuring the longest recorder warranty in the industry), with a low total cost of ownership.

Audio over IP pioneer Barix announced that the company has promoted Reto Brader to CEO, following a highly successful tenure as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. The change in company leadership correlates with the availability of new products that Barix introduced in 2018, including its award-winning RetailPlayer platform for background music distribution. Barix appoints Reto as new CEO The remaining Barix management team, which has worked together effectively for the past several years, will continue in their established roles with full support from Brader. This includes company founder Johannes Rietschel as CTO, Joan Parrilla as VP Engineering, and Mario Almeida as VP Production. Rietschel founded Barix in 2001 upon anticipating the need to move audio and control signals over IP networks. The company has since shipped more than 450,000 Barix and private-labeled OEM hardware devices worldwide and has more recently evolved into SaaS and managed services for business music and advertising distribution for retail, hospitality and other location-based businesses. Enhancing IoT solutions portfolio Barix has invested heavily in the development of its next generation products that follow the latest IoT architecture Barix has invested heavily in the development of its next generation products that follow the latest IoT architecture, and that support the highest internet security standards.  With Rietschel behind product development and Brader driving marketing strategy, 2018 also saw the introduction of the IPAM 400, a quad-core Linux-based IP audio module for OEMs and developers; Instreamer ICE, Barix’s first AAC+ encoder with an integrated Icecast server; and AudioPoint 3.0, Barix’s low-latency audio-to-mobile streaming platform. Effective immediately, the Barix board has appointed Brader as CEO to seize the market opportunities afforded through these innovations. Before joining Barix as VP Sales and Marketing, Brader held key business and technical roles at Hewlett Packard and Alcatel. He has a degree in Electronical Engineering and an MBA. Audio and control over IP applications “Reto knows the market and has demonstrated his strength in building and managing the distribution channel and key customer relationships,” said Rietschel. “His many years at the frontline in the worldwide AV and broadcast markets are key assets to Barix.” In recent years, Barix has built up an agile organisation that can support both small businesses and enterprise-level customers for a wide area of audio and control over IP applications. Recent company milestones include ISO 9001 certification for quality management systems, and the introduction of double-sourcing with a new manufacturing partner in Europe. The latter adds redundancy to the company’s global supply chain. “It is now important that the entire company is focused on leveraging first market success of our new products to build on recent successes, and continue to drive global business growth,” says Brader. IP audio and control solutions Barix headquarters in Zurich remains the hub for further product development, marketing and support for its product line Barix headquarters in Zurich remains the hub for further product development, marketing and support for its product line. “A key area of our business is to help customers integrate our modules and solutions into their system,” says Rietschel. “This is very support-intensive, and we are proud to be recognised for excellence in that area,” says Rietschel. While Barix will continue to focus on its core markets, Rietschel and Brader’s leadership positions will play a central role in moving Barix forward into new areas of opportunity for IP audio and control solutions. Departing CEO Ivo Killer will leave Barix following a three-year tenure that laid the business foundation for Barix’s recent success. “We thank Ivo for his years of excellent service and wish him well in his future endeavors,” said Rietschel. “I’m excited about what we have achieved in the last three years, and I look forward to working closely with the new executive team in order to bring all our new and exciting innovations to market, as well as to better serve our global systems integration, end user and OEM customer base.”

It's no secret that one of the next market segments to see exceptional growth in the United States is somewhat non-traditional: cannabis. The global cannabis market is projected to reach $60 billion by 2024, according to Ameri Research, fueled by the increasing legalisation and decriminalisation across much of the United States. It is estimated that 22 million pounds of marijuana are grown each year in the United States, with 80 percent coming from California, Tennessee, Kentucky, Hawaii and Washington, according to Mother Jones. Unlike other products, this commodity is valuable from the moment the seeds go in the ground to the exchanging of money for end-user products - and at every point in between. Within large greenhouses, 360-degree cameras that show a wide field of view are essential for cannabis protection From seedlings to selling, securing every point within the supply chain is vital to the assets being distributed, and companies are now realising how lucrative this endeavour can be. Critical to the success of the industry is keeping the merchandise secure and the workers safe. In this article, we explore each part of the supply chain within the cannabis market and address ways of implementing robust security measures.  Plants, fields and greenhouses This is one industry where money actually grows on trees! When cannabis crops are planted either in greenhouses or in fields, security becomes critical, since the plants themselves are worth a significant amount of money. A single truckload can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, so securing the load is crucial to the process Producers don't want plants stolen – especially high-end varieties that garner a bigger profit when harvested and sold – and the size of the plants make theft a greater possibility. Video surveillance becomes vital at this point and can be used in a variety of ways. Within large greenhouses, single cameras that can cover a wide expanse of space, such as cameras that offer 360-degree views, are essential and can provide more coverage with less investment overall than traditional narrow field-of-view cameras. Advanced technology, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (or drones), are also being used in open fields in an effort to protect these plants.  Comprehensive video surveillance becomes the main tool for thwarting cannabis theft and addressing incidents as they arise Transportation and protection Once the plants are mature enough to be harvested, they must be transported to a production facility where they are either dried or cured based on the needs of the grower, as well as processed and transformed into edible products to be sold at retail locations. There are already a range of companies that specialise in keeping these crop yields safe while they are transported: think Brinks armoured transportation used for cash, but for cannabis. A single truckload can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars – if not more – so securing the load is crucial to the process. Losing one of these loads can lead to large-scale losses for a producer. Surveillance equipment that can withstand sanitation standards and power-washing is paramount for effective protection After being transported, cannabis must be processed. In these environments, where strict handling processes are in place, surveillance equipment that can withstand sanitation standards and power-washing is paramount. This requires camera enclosures that are rated for resistance to high-pressure water jets, dust and vandalism/tampering. Since edible processing requires stringent regulations be followed, it becomes more critical for security managers to identify solutions that carry the NSF Mark, making them compliant with standards set forth for commercial food equipment in North America, or the HCV EU, the equivalent in Europe.  Many of these locations handle and store large amounts of cash since customers have to pay with cash Retail protection As the final products come out of processing and go into storefronts to be sold by retailers in States that have recreational or medical facilities, there's another level of security that must be in place to protect these transactions. But careful considerations must be made. Traditional security tags cannot generally be used because of the small size of many of the end products, making it more difficult to track with tracking devices.Traditional security tags cannot generally be used because of the small size of many of the end products In this instance, comprehensive video surveillance becomes the main tool for thwarting theft and addressing incidents as they arise. In these locations, a loss prevention or security officer has to be an integral part of the team. Another consideration is the careful screening of the potential employees.  Since the federal government doesn't recognise cannabis producers and retailers, banks that are federally insured through the FDIC don't accept money from these establishments, meaning that many of these locations handle and store large amounts of cash since customers have to pay with cash. There must be security measures in place for these kinds of transactions, including the ability for video surveillance to be played back instantaneously in the event of an incident at a cash register. The cannabis market comes with a variety of challenges at each and every step of the operation, from growing to transport to production and sales. Video surveillance and business intelligence solutions are ideal for these applications, and as the market grows, more and more security companies will look to cater to the market. 

The term “smart city” gets thrown around a lot nowadays, but as different technologies that strive to be defined in this way are adopted by different countries globally, the meaning of this phrase gets lost in translation. The simplest way to define a “smart city” is that it is an urban area that uses different types of data collecting sensors to manage assets and resources efficiently. One of the most obvious types of “data collecting sensor” is the video camera, whether that camera is part of a city’s existing CCTV infrastructure, a camera in a shopping centre or even a police car’s dash camera. The information gathered by video cameras can be used with two purposes in mind, firstly: making people’s lives more efficient, for example by managing traffic, and secondly (and arguably more importantly): making people’s lives safer. Live streaming video all the time, everywhere In the smart and safe city, traditional record-only video cameras are of limited use. Yes, they can be used to collect video which can be used for evidence after a crime has taken place, but there is no way that this technology could help divert cars away from an accident to avoid traffic building up, or prevent a crime from taking place in the first place. However, streaming live video from a camera that isn’t connected to an infrastructure via costly fibre optic cabling has proven challenging for security professionals, law enforcement and city planners alike. This is because it isn’t viable to transmit video reliably over cellular networks, in contrast to simply receiving it. Video transmission challenges Transmitting video normally results in freezing and buffering issues which can hinder efforts to fight crime and enable flow within a city, as these services require real-time, zero latency video without delays. Therefore, special technology is required that copes with poor and varying bandwidths to allow a real-time view of any scene where cameras are present to support immediate decision making and smart city processes. The information gatheredby video cameras can beused to make people’s lives more efficient, and to make people’s lives safer There are many approaches to transmitting video over cellular. We’ve developed a specialist codec (encoding and decoding algorithm) that can provide secure and reliable video over ultra-low bandwidths and can therefore cope when networks become constrained. Another technique, which is particularly useful if streaming video from police body worn cameras or dash cams that move around, is to create a local wireless “bubble” at the scene, using Wi-Fi or mesh radio systems to provide local high-bandwidth communications that can communicate with a central location via cellular or even satellite communications. Enhanced city surveillance Live video streaming within the smart and safe city’s infrastructure means that video’s capabilities can go beyond simple evidence recording and evolve into a tool that allows operations teams to monitor and remediate against incidents as they are happening. This can be taken one step further with the deployment of facial recognition via live streaming video. Facial recognition technology can be added on to any video surveillance camera that is recording at a high enough quality to identify faces. The technology works by capturing video, streaming the live video back to a control centre and matching faces against any watch lists that the control centre owns. Importantly, the data of people who aren’t on watch lists is not stored by the technology. Identifying known criminals This technology can work to make the city safer in a number of ways. For example, facial recognition could spot a known drug dealer in a city centre where they weren’t supposed to be, or facial recognition could identify if a group of known terror suspects were visiting the same location at the same time, and this would send an alert to the police. Facial recognition technology captures and streams live back to a control centre, matching faces against any watch lists that the control centre owns In an ideal world where the police had an automated, electronic workflow, the police officer nearest to the location of the incident would be identified by GPS and would be told by the control room where to go and what to do. Most police forces aren’t quite at this technological level yet, and would probably rely on communicating via radio in order to send the nearest response team to the scene. As well as this, shopping centres could create a database from analogue records of known shoplifters to identify criminals as soon as they entered the building. This would be even more effective if run co-operatively between all shopping centres and local businesses in an area, and would not only catch any known shoplifters acting suspiciously, but would act as a deterrent from shoplifting in the first place. Live streaming for police As mentioned above, live streaming video from CCTV cameras can help the police fight crime more proactively rather than reactively. This can be enhanced even further if combined with live streaming video from police car dash cams and police body worn cameras. If video was streamed from all of these sources to a central HQ, such as a police operations centre, the force would be able to have full situational awareness throughout an incident. This would mean that, if need be, officers could be advised on the best course of action, and additional police or other emergency services could be deployed instantly if needed. Incorporated with facial recognition, this would also mean that police could instantly identify if they were dealing with known criminals or terrorists. Whilst they would still have to confirm the identity of the person with questioning or by checking their identification, this is still more streamlined than describing what a person looks like over a radio and then ops trying to manually identify if the person is on a watch list. The smart, safe city is possible today – for one, if live video streaming capabilities are deployed they can enable new levels of flow in the city. With the addition of facial recognition, cities will be safer than ever before and law enforcement and security teams will be able to proactively stop crime before it happens by deterring criminal activity from taking place at all.

Nowadays, there is a lot of hype around data and its utility for almost any industry – from security and law enforcement to business operations and retail. While we are inundated with information about data and its significance to business success, technological development and fulfilling the promise of the Internet of Things, we don’t always get practical feedback as to how to obtain this valuable data from the resources available to us. Security teams feel this challenge acutely. As an industry that depends on accurate intelligence and real-time information, data is vital for preventing breaches, reacting to threats, and maintaining public safety. Obstacles in video surveillance monitoring One of the primary resources at the disposal of security teams is video, yet extracting insights from this medium has never been particularly efficient. Monitoring video feeds takes time and – even if security teams have sufficient resources – after twenty minutes of reviewing surveillance footage, 95% percent of incidents are likely to be missed and 98% of recorded video is never even watched (source: Accenture. New developments in video analytics are revolutionising this reality. Video analytics based on Video Synopsis technology makes it possible to review hours of video in minutes and easily extract actionable data from video, enabling immediate and effective response. To fully understand how this works and how to retrieve these insights, we need to break down what actionable data means, how it is extracted from video and how to interpret the data output and results.  Video Synopsis technology Simply put, actionable data is information that can be easily and effectively utilised. Regardless of the business sector or market, actionable video data refers to information about who and what is being viewed, as well as quantitative statistics about these elements, enabling the detection of anomalous behaviour. Using the who and what data, viewers now have statistical data about the video content Video Synopsis technology analyses the video and determines all the objects in the video. It then classifies this data to make it easier for the viewer to understand who is in the video. Objects are evaluated and indexed based on factors such as size and appearance, enabling the technology to filter them into categories, such as person or vehicle. Smart Video Synopsis can deliver rich classification, drilling down to categories such as gender and vehicle type, from buses to bicycles and everything in between. The technology also determines what the objects are doing: where and how fast they are moving, – noting any lack of movement, as well – and how long the behaviour persists. Using the who and what data, viewers now have statistical data about the video content. Having these statistics is key for understanding the baseline of activity in a video feed. Once normative behaviour has been analysed and established, the viewer can be alerted in the case of abnormal behaviour, which, for instance, could be used to indicate a security threat. Extracting of actionable data Ironically enough, the only way to extract actionable data is possessing plenty of video data. Today, there are various video analytics technologies that can extract and identify objects with deep learning techniques, using deep neural networks (DNNs) that imitate the way humans are taught and learn. Processing multiple videos and through deep learning techniques, these technologies can detect, classify, and recognise features and objects in video better and faster. Using video data, retail businesses can decide where to display expensive products, prevent shop lifting, and enhance the overall customer experience By processing more video and aggregating more metadata, the right system becomes increasingly efficient at searching, tracking, and understanding object behaviour in videos. It can be used to learn and monitor activity, closely analyse complex scenes, and present object behaviours in a detailed and organised fashion that makes it easier to evaluate. For example, increased scene coverage for occupancy, crowd and queue control, cross camera search and, recently, metadata aggregation over time trending. Metadata is also easier to store and save than the actual video footage, because it takes up less bandwidth. Effective video analytics solutions can extract information from video in the form of metadata, quickly and cost-effectively upload the metadata to the cloud and aggregate it to generate reports and identify developing trends. Interpretation of video data results Metadata is the key for further unlocking the potential of video analytics, but, for the data to be useful, it must be presented to the user in conducive ways: Each vertical has its own requirements for ingesting and applying data from video, and video analytics offers solutions for the varying needs of every business type. For law enforcement and safety organisations, for instance, the ability to review large volumes of video quickly is important. Video analytics based on Video Synopsis enables security teams to watch hours of video in minutes, by simultaneously presenting objects that appeared at different times in the original video. This helps investigators quickly identify threats and find targets in recorded video. Video analytics based on Video Synopsis enables security teams to watch hours of video in minutes Uses for data in retail applications Enterprise businesses, such as retailers, have different needs and are more reliant on statistical data derived from video than from watching the actual video footage. Video data can be presented in easily readable dashboards, and reports and business intelligence can effectively be disseminated throughout the organisation. As a result, businesses can understand where customers tend to linger in stores and which displays are most popular: Information which can then be used to decide where to display expensive products, how to optimise staffing, convert wavering shoppers, prevent shop lifting, and enhance the overall customer experience by understanding and meeting their preferences, habits and needs. From security teams to corporate businesses to municipal bodies, having actionable data helps all organisations streamline their operations, recognise inefficient work flows and understand which behaviours and activities are most effective. The technology is developing in a direction where business intelligence offered by video analytics is becoming predictive, opening doors to more efficient business practices, from enabling faster response to prevent terror to validating investment in video across verticals and use cases.

The Middle East security market provides a healthy opportunity for manufacturers who can capitalise on the region’s key verticals. Intersec’s 20th edition show focused more on solutions than on products, including solutions for the growing retail sector and an infrastructure market requiring ruggedised equipment to stand up to harsh environments. Intersec hosted security, safety and fire protection exhibitors from over fifty countries at Dubai’s spacious International Convention and Exhibition Centre on 21st - 23rd January. For the security market, the show was an opportunity to demonstrate how the industry’s latest technologies can benefit end-users in the UAE and globally. While the show hosted many impressively-sized stands from key security players, these tended to reflect the ongoing shift from a product-centric market to a focus on customer problems and solutions. Rather than filling the floorspace with an abundance of products, many brands chose to showcase how their flagship solutions could function in real-world applications. Retail surveillance delivers ROI Numerous companies opted to highlight their retail solutions – a key vertical for Dubai, which is known for its elaborate city shopping hubs. The Axis Communications stand allowed visitors to experience its network video offerings for the retail sector, including integrations with Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) and Point of Sale (POS) technologies. Solutions on show reflected how security systems are increasingly expected to provide a tangible return on investment: With options for queue management and people counting, Axis video technology can be used to provide business intelligence and improve the customer experience, as well as enhancing safety. IP video manufacturer Vivotek also showcased its latest retail offering, including fisheye cameras with built-in crowd detection and heatmap technology, which can help retail managers analyse customer traffic patterns and highly frequented areas. The panoramic nature of Vivotek’s IP cameras makes them ideal for collecting comprehensive data from retail stores.    MOBOTIX CEO Thomas Lausten demonstrates how the company’s dual modular camera delivers high-quality images in extreme weather conditions IP video in extreme conditions The MOBOTIX stand was also less product-driven than at past shows. Instead, the focus was on how the manufacturer combines intelligent IoT technology and robust materials to address real end-user needs. CEO Thomas Lausten, who joined the company in June 2017, was on-hand to demonstrate how the company’s dual modular camera continues to deliver high-quality images in extreme weather conditions including ice, rain and sand. Rugged solutions were a big theme across the show floor. This is unsurprising given Intersec’s location in Dubai – the Middle East provides ample opportunity for the security market to capitalise on large outdoor projects, including the oil and gas industry. Video surveillance manufacturer Videotec showcased its latest HD PTZ cameras built to withstand harsh outdoor environments. The stand hosted an immersive ‘Experience Centre’, where the company’s flagship PTZ cameras moved in sync to a rolling video, demonstrating their use in vertical markets including oil and gas, marine surveillance, and critical infrastructure. Video surveillance manufacturer Videotec showcased its latest HD PTZ cameras built to withstand harsh outdoor environments MENA security market requirements Storage provider Promise Technology showcased its latest portfolio of surveillance solutions, including a cloud-based infrastructure optimised for growing IP video requirements. The manufacturer also introduced its new Vess A700 network video recorder series. This latest NVR offering specifically targets medium- to large-scale applications such as banking and industry. Such a solution is ideal for the growing Dubai market, where strict legislation requires a video retention time of 180 days. Intersec is set to return to Dubai from 20th - 22nd January 2019. Organisers expect over 1,300 exhibitors from across to globe to come together for a bigger, wider ranging and more innovative show.

Despite the increasing popularity of body-worn cameras, the technology has its detractors. For example, this month Big Brother Watch, a British civil liberties and privacy organisation, is raising new questions about the effectiveness of body-worn cameras. Specifically, Big Brother Watch found that 32 of the 45 police forces that have adopted body-cams in the United Kingdom were “unable to say” how often the footage was used in courts. To be clear, being “unable to say” doesn’t equate to the cameras not being useful, and using video as evidence in court is just one of the possible ways the cameras could be beneficial. Even so, point taken. Adoption of the body-worn cameras continues full speed ahead despite lack of empirical evidence of their effectiveness. Studies in the United States and Canada on the effectiveness of the cameras have also often been inconclusive. Big Brother Watch warns: “The value of technology must be proven and not just assumed. It is not enough to tell the public they are essential policing tools if the benefits cannot be shown.” In addition to seeking more data on camera effectiveness, the organisation urges police forces to publish regular “transparency reports” to show how body worn cameras are used in day-to-day policing. Cameras should also have a screen to display when citizens are being recorded. Does video surveillance prevent crime? In some instances, police forces have embraced the cameras on the assertion that the police and/or the public believe they are beneficial. But believing something doesn’t make it true. Body-worn cameras are not the first video systems whose effectiveness has been questioned. There have also been repeated challenges over the years to the effectiveness of video or CCTV cameras in preventing crime. For example, one report in Chicago placed the number of crimes solved by video evidence between the years 2006 and 2013 at 4,500. Not bad, except when you consider there were more than a million incidents during the time period, and surveillance cameras helped solve less than 0.5 percent of them. Looking at it another way, the numbers work out to one crime solved for every five cameras; i.e., the average camera never solves a crime -and then there were the British Home Office studies in 2002 and 2005 that questioned the impact of CCTV cameras on crime. [Jeremy Reddington / Shutterstock.com] British Home Office studies have questioned the impact of CCTV cameras on crime Quantifiable benefits of security products Again, however, solving crime is only one aspect of the benefits of video. There is also a “halo effect” when cameras are installed. That is, the areas where cameras are deployed tend to be more secure, even outside the immediate view of cameras. There is a diffusion of crime prevention benefits to surrounding areas. Questioning the effectiveness of body-worn cameras, CCTV or any other technology, is a necessary exercise. Real answers may be hard to come by, but we shouldn’t be discouraged in making the effort. The technology capabilities of our industry’s products should be able to withstand scrutiny and, in the end, provide verifiable and quantifiable benefits. Public scrutiny of security systems Public scrutiny is an important aspect of technology implementation, especially in the public sector. For private companies, there is another, even more potent force at work that focuses attention on the effectiveness of technology – the bottom line. Spending money on video (or other technologies) is viewed unforgivingly through a lens of return on investment (ROI) by managers and accountants of customer companies. Fortunately, in this environment, video systems more than justify their existence every day. It only takes avoidance of a single multi-million-dollar personal injury lawsuit to cost-justify a whole system of video cameras. The impact of video to deter shoplifting or other crimes, and the resulting extra value to an enterprise, is sufficiently demonstrated every day. We as an industry should welcome any questions about the effectiveness of our products. Their value can speak for itself, and can stand up to any questioning or research projects. If it doesn’t, then we must be willing to let the chips fall where they may.

With global events putting security at the forefront of everyone’s minds, IFSEC International 2017 was a chance for the industry to come out in force. Over 600 exhibitors and numerous seminars kept visitors informed on the latest innovations in security products, solutions and best practice. Despite the challenging heatwave, exhibitors were raring to go for the three mercifully air-conditioned days of the exhibition. SourceSecurity.com took to the show floor to check out what exhibitors were talking about. [Pictured: Nedap Security Management welcomes new Managing Director Fokko van der Zee] Increasing ROI in vertical markets Sustainable partnerships overtake integrations Power in the hands of the customer Adding value in vertical markets The big question for many exhibitors was how to stand out on a show floor (and in a market) dominated by larger commoditised brands. Manufacturers rose to the challenge by deliberately positioning themselves as solutions providers within specific vertical markets, rather than trying to compete on low cost products. For Vivotek, the Taiwanese IP surveillance specialists, the emphasis was on adding value in particular markets such as transport and retail. Alongside a lineup of 180° and 360° solutions, the manufacturer debuted its 12-megapixel fisheye camera, FE9391-EV, whose 360° lens technology makes it ideal for crowd detection and loitering-time analysis in the retail sector, in addition to traditional security applications. Vivotek’s vertical market focus was further reinforced by demonstrations of its integrations with SeeTec and Wavestore. This collaboration forms part of the company’s Solution Integration Alliance programme, which aims to create better end-user solutions through integration of Vivotek products with partner technologies. Collaborating on technology and customer support This was a theme which resonated across the show floor. The Promise Technology stand firmly emphasised collaboration, with presentations from the storage provider’s IP camera partners including IronYun and Axis Communications. Particular importance was given to education and training for partners and end users to get the most out of integrated solutions. The emphasis for Promise Technology was on education and training for partners and end users Similarly, for Nedap Security Management, the increasing demand for connected systems means that open platform solutions are essential to excel within the security industry. As well as welcoming new Managing Director Fokko van der Zee, Nedap used its presence at the show to inform visitors about new and ongoing partnerships with key players in the industry. These partnerships include ASSA ABLOY, Touchless Biometric Systems and Milestone Systems. According to Jeroen Harmsen, Nedap’s Director of Product Management, the ability to provide collaborative solutions is becoming a key differentiator in the security sector and beyond. While many companies pursue product integrations, what makes sustainable partnerships stand out is ongoing cooperation on issues such as customer support. This, according to Harmsen, is why the deep integration of Milestone’s XProtect VMS and Nedap’s AEOS access control system has been so successful. Making customers’ lives easier This insistence on customer service as a differentiating factor also extended to video surveillance manufacturers. However, not all exhibitors were aiming to achieve this through increased integration. Cisco Meraki, whose cloud-managed video system is relatively new to the security market, deliberately steers clear of the market trend for integration in favour of the ‘Apple’ approach, aiming to provide a comprehensive solution on one easy-to-use platform. The architecture is intended to make customers’ lives easier by removing the NVR from the equation - video is stored on the edge and managed via the cloud, eliminating the ongoing costs and maintenance associated with traditional hardware solutions. Eagle Eye Networks president Ken Francis was also hoping to highlight the benefits of customer-friendly cloud surveillance at the show. The acquisition of Panasonic's Cameramanager has allowed Eagle Eye Networks to cater to smaller businesses with cameras connected directly to the internet. The company’s cloud storage solution also includes Remote Power Cycling via an integrated PoE switch, allowing users to remotely repower cameras themselves with no training or expertise. Crucial to Eagle Eye Networks' customer-friendly outlook is the possession of its own local data centres worldwide, reducing cloud storage costs and allowing customers to choose where their video is stored. Making your security products stand out on a crowded show floor is no easy task, but IFSEC 2017 saw plenty of innovation from video surveillance, access control and intrusion providers alike. As competition increases, added value solutions, collaboration and ease-of-use are sure to help manufacturers make a splash at future shows!  

Most retailers invest in a video surveillance solution to improve security. Many also use it as an investigation tool to help resolve customer disputes, liability claims and reduce losses from theft and fraud.  Intelligent video solutions Complete Releaf relies on its intelligent video solution for all of those reasons, however compliance with state regulations was the primary objective when CEO and owner Eric Ryant started looking for a video system for his new, 3,000 square foot cannabis dispensary in Lafayette, Colorado. Unlike many other types of retail environments, cannabis dispensaries must comply with strict rules governing the type of video surveillance equipment used, where cameras and equipment are placed, and how long video evidence must be retained.  Already familiar with the regulations based on his experience operating a second dispensary and a cultivation centre in Lafayette, Colorado, Ryant sourced multiple bids for his new video solution. In the end, I selected the March Networks proposal. It had everything I was looking for, including POS integration, and additional capabilities" POS integration “Once all the bids were in, I went through the process of analysing each one and ended up narrowing the contenders down to two,” said Ryant. “In the end, I selected the March Networks proposal from our systems integrator, Falcon Networks. The solution had everything I was looking for, including POS integration, and additional capabilities I thought might be useful down the road. It met all of the compliance criteria, and the price was comparable.” Prior to opening the boutique dispensary in January 2018, Ryant worked with its system integrator to design and install a fully-compliant video solution.  IR dome cameras Today, IR dome cameras mounted inside the dispensary capture clear 4MP video of all activity at entrances and exits, in storage and equipment rooms, and at each point-of-sale (POS) system. In addition, 360° cameras are installed above the sales floor and in every corner to provide further panoramic coverage. The 360° cameras are also installed on the dispensary’s exterior to capture people entering and exiting, as well as any activity in the surrounding parking lot and back loading area.  The cameras were selected and placed strategically to ensure that the system meets multiple legislated requirements, such as recording all activity occurring within 20 feet of any ingress/egress point, capturing clear video in all lighting conditions, and making sure that the recorded video is sharp enough to identify customer and employee facial features at each POS. Hybrid network video recorder At the centre of Complete Releaf’s video solution is a hybrid network video recorder (NVR) At the centre of Complete Releaf’s video solution is a hybrid network video recorder (NVR). The recorder provides IP and analog video capture and unparalleled reliability through features such as diagnostic LEDs, an internal battery backup, and a customised embedded Linux operating system. All IP channel licenses are included with the recorder, making it a convenient and cost-effective option for the dispensary.  Equally important, the recorder provides Complete Releaf with 32TB of internal storage, so it is compliant with the state’s 40-day video retention requirement. “Essentially, we need 100 percent coverage with no ‘blind spots’ on our retail floor, and a clear picture of people’s faces. It’s a truly reliable product, and we’ve had no difficulties achieving our 40 days of archived video,” said Ryant. Searchlight intelligent software While security and compliance were both top priorities for Ryant, finding a video solution that would also help him run Complete Releaf more efficiently – and profitably – was also important. That’s why he’s so pleased with the March Networks Searchlight for Retail application software he is also using.  The intelligent software enables Ryant and his team to proactively identify and review suspect transactions using integrated video and transaction data pulled from the dispensary’s Green Bits POS system. It provides them with an easy-to-use loss prevention tool that reduces the time it takes to investigate incidents from hours to minutes. It also arms them with strong video and data evidence to support successful prosecutions or recoveries. Ryant is also testing the Searchlight application in his cultivation facility “Having video surveillance in our dispensary definitely deters theft,” said Ryant. “Combining the video with transaction data goes a step further and really causes people to think twice before they do something they’ll probably regret.” Radio Frequency Identification tags   Ryant is also testing the Searchlight application in his cultivation facility, taking advantage of the software’s ability to integrate with data from the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags he is required to add to each plant through the cultivation process as part of Colorado’s Inventory Tracking System (Metrc). The software would enable Ryant to leverage his RFID investment by making the data searchable in the dashboard and tying it to recorded video. If there’s ever an incident during the cultivation process, Ryant could use the software to easily locate the video footage to see what actually happened and who was involved.

Traditionally, many stores have used an assortment of tags and labels on a diverse range of merchandise, most of which were designed for an entirely different set of products. As a result, many apparel retailers have recognised that in some instances merchandise and textiles are being damaged. Checkpoint Systems, renowned supplier of source-to-shopper solutions, has therefore developed an innovative new anti-theft solution to meet their specific requirements – Mini NeedleLok. Mini NeedleLok anti-theft solution Designed to protect all types of garments, including very thin fabric, the one-piece solution deters thieves while preventing damage that would usually occur on application of pinned security tags. Whilst other products on the market feature a hinged mechanism which can snag and rip textiles, Mini NeedleLok uses a needle in place of a separate pin, which separates the fibres rather than breaking through them. This allows store assistants to gently spread fabric threads on application to avoid leaving a visible hole after removal. In order to reduce time spent on in-store tagging labour, the Mini NeedleLok mechanical design allows quick and easy application, whilst the solution’s wide opening also allows freedom of placement anywhere on the garment. Minimum product damage risk The Mini NeedleLok speeds up the self-checkout process The Mini NeedleLok also speeds up the self-checkout process. It can be removed quickly and efficiently at the point-of-sale, thanks to its single-piece design and wide opening, enabling store associates to assist with other enquiries, improving the in-store customer experience. It also eliminates the risk of damage to the merchandise, or injury to the customer, as the needle is never exposed. Not only that, with 70% of purchase decisions made at the shelf, Mini NeedleLok has been designed with display in mind. Its sleek look and smart black colour ensures it doesn’t impede on the garment’s aesthetics in order to help turn a browser to a buyer. For those retailers wishing to take their visual merchandising a step further, the solution can also be customised, from adding a logo to a bespoke colourway that matches the company’s branding. Anti-theft retail solution Irene Fernandez, Product Management Europe at Checkpoint Systems, commented:  “We’re more customer focused than we have ever been in our history, which is demonstrated through the diverse range of solutions that we now offer retailers across a variety of markets. With the Mini NeedleLok, we took our existing technologies and created a product that fits our apparel customers’ requirements - an effective anti-theft solution that protects merchandise, with the added benefit of being customisable. This is ideal for fashion brands where aesthetic is crucial to their identity.”

Bosch experts for building safety are networking the IKEA MAR Shopping mall in the Algarve, Portugal with trendsetting solutions. They make sure everybody can feel at ease and safe during their shopping experience. Scores of tourists are attracted every year to the Algarve, Portugal’s most southerly region where vacationers enjoy the sun and beaches and descend on popular seaside resorts like Lagos or Albufeira. However, whenever people have had enough of sunbathing, the Algarve also offers a multitude of other things to do – whether it is hiking or shopping, there is something for everybody. Those fancying a spot of the last mentioned have every opportunity to do just that in “IKEA MAR Shopping” – an IKEA-run mall in the Algarve that is home to about 100 other brand shops. Every day numerous visitors frequent the mall and they not only present a challenge to the staff at the checkouts. The safety technology in such a mall also has to work smoothly and on the dot. It is why the architects and planners of the IKEA MAR Shopping mall decided to use a connected, smart safety solution from Bosch Building Technologies. Intuitive and fully-integrated security solution “Our customer wanted a fully-integrated solution whose systems could be controlled via a single management system,” is how Luis Gomes, Bosch Building Technologies Sales Manager Iberia, describes the remit. Networked systems that communicate with each other have to facilitate quick and precise measures in emergencies. The customer also requested a means by which they could schedule the deployment of security personnel more efficiently plus intuitive-to-operate and clearly-structured systems to make their jobs easier. The Bosch Intelligent Video Analytics software which is installed in each and every camera processes the image data in real time  Together with the customer and partners, Bosch has created a harmonious overall picture consisting of a video and public address system, a fire and intrusion detection system and access control within the space of two years. It includes 1,100 loudspeakers inserted in the ceiling and 390 video cameras. The mall is equipped with a total of 4,000 fire detectors and 520 sensors for both intrusion alert and controlling access to IKEA MAR Shopping. Bosch Intelligent Video Analytics The Bosch Intelligent Video Analytics software which is installed in each and every camera processes the image data in real time and recognises suspicious activities by means of an algorithm. Whenever there is danger, it can make all the information available to the staff who need it as quickly as possible to initiate appropriate measures. For a person, it is virtually impossible to continuously retain an overview of the images provided by 390 cameras. “Intelligent Video Analytics and the complete solution make the security personnel’s everyday jobs significantly easier,” says Luis Gomes. “At the same time, the customer has lower costs – and every shopaholic can feel safe.”

Edesix, a provider of Body Worn Cameras (BWC), announces that it has teamed up with retailer Asda to enhance in-store security. After a successful trial, which began in 2016, there are now over 900 Edesix VideoBadges being utilised in over 250 sites nationwide, with more growth expected in the near future. Edesix collaborated with CBES, Asda's preferred security installer, to design and install a tailored wearable CCTV deployment system perfectly suited to the retail giant's needs. Edesix and CBES worked closely at Asda's national security centre and across four store deployments to provide them with the knowledge and expertise so the cameras could be rolled out in the remaining stores with minimum impact on store efficiency. Improved colleague security Asda has been able to improve colleague security, diffuse aggressive and volatile situations and reduce valued investigation time This system, which is intuitive to use and requires minimum training, has enabled staff to integrate the cameras into their daily working processes with minimal fuss. As a result of this partnering strategy, which relied on both the innovative nature of Edesix's technology and communication between all parties, Asda has been able to improve colleague security, diffuse aggressive and volatile situations and reduce valued investigation time, thus reducing costs. Since the deployment, Asda has proven the viability of these cameras by securing numerous convictions relating to theft and violence against staff. Confrontation preventer Richie McBride, managing director of Edesix, explains: "Asda, along with CBES, identified the need to re-think its key security policy around challenging aggressive behaviour towards staff. In searching for a technology partner, CBES chose Edesix as their BWC provider, to deploy initially to the most affected stores, eventually rolling out to over 250 sites across the UK. The aim was to improve the safety of colleagues in public facing roles and shoppers within the stores, whilst producing compelling evidence when needed." The Body Worn Cameras act as a confrontation preventer, as it is proven that members of the public are far less aggressive to staff members" McBride adds: "The Body Worn Cameras act as a confrontation preventer, as it is proven that members of the public are far less aggressive to staff members if they know they are being filmed." Winning major contracts Edesix, which was recently acquired by US-based security specialists Vigilant Solutions, has enjoyed a great deal of success lately, ranging from winning some major contracts with the likes of UK prisons, Scotrail and South Australian Police, to being named in the Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track 100 league table. Edesix currently supplies markets across the globe, through direct sales and international partners, to geographies including the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, the Middle East and Australasia.

Videowall technology supplied by Ultimate Visual Solutions (UVS) is at the heart of a new security control room at iNTU Trafford Centre. High-end videowall technology The new facility helps ensure 30 million annual visitors have a safe and enjoyable time at what is the single best-known and most iconic retail and leisure destination in the UK. Burnley-based UVS, formerly eyevis UK, provides video wall displays and audio-visual solutions to a range of clients across the UK. UVS Full HD Videowall As part of the new state-of-the-art facility, UVS installed a 7.2m wide by 2.7m high videowall As part of the new state-of-the-art facility, UVS installed a 7.2m wide by 2.7m high videowall, made up of 24 eyevis 55-inch XSN extremely narrow bezel LCD screens with Full HD resolution. The displays offer 1920 × 1080 pixels, direct-LED backlight technology, a mechanical bezel width of only 3.5 mm between two displays and a brightness of 500 cd/m2. The installation also includes a control room meeting space featuring a videowall made up of four eyevis 46-inch XSN screens with 3.5mm bezel. Netpix 4900 videowall controller Both videowalls connect to a Netpix 4900 videowall controller configured for multiple analogue video feeds, IP video feeds, graphic PC data and web browsers. iNTU security staff, who monitor the centre and liaise with visitors, will be able to send live videos from their tablets directly back to the video wall to share incident video with security staff. Video monitoring and visitor management iNTU Trafford Centre is a retail and leisure destination and it is important that the control room has the latest videowall technology" UVS managing director Steve Murphy said: “iNTU Trafford Centre is a retail and leisure destination enjoyed by millions of people each year and it is important that the control room has the latest videowall technology.” He adds, “We are delighted to have been involved in such a prestigious and important project.” Lee Barlow, Security Manager, iNTU Trafford Centre said “The security and safety of our customers, retailers and staff is our number one priority so having a control room that allows us to keep them safe is really important. The new videowall and meeting room screens allows us to do just that and we are really happy with them.” New control room with videowall The new control room was designed and refurbished by Intech Solutions, which specialise in technical and control room furniture including full control room fit-outs in the UK and worldwide. UVS also worked to deliver the videowall with its security integrator partner, Nottinghamshire-based Quadrant Security Group.

Lodge Security is to provide protection for Poundland stores and distribution centres throughout the UK. Over the past two years Lodge Security has been operating its Elite Store Detective programme from the LodgIC Intelligence Centre, where national and local data on crime incidents is analysed and used to deploy protection to produce the maximum return on security investment. Sarah Frain, Profit Protection & Assurance manager, Distribution and CSC at Poundland, says: "Lodge Security has worked with Poundland for more than 5 years and has provided a great service which has now developed with technology additions to achieve an even more effective solution. The operatives we receive from Lodge are always highly trained and professional when dealing with day-to-day issues and figures are reported back clearly to management. Furthermore, they provide confidence to our staff whilst making them feel safe and secure in the workplace.” Analysing the patterns of criminal activity Poundland and Lodge are now examining new opportunities to deploy other technology that is available from the intelligence centre. This includes the capability to analyse retail transactions through the use of Transpeye for data mining of EPoS, online transactions and other store systems, to then identify any sources of loss in real time and the relationships between apparently isolated incidents. Lodge can analyse and track any patterns of criminal activity to enable the investigative team to attribute recurring losses to known criminals and gangs Lodge can then analyse and track any patterns of criminal activity, to enable the investigative team to attribute recurring losses to known criminals and gangs, who can be identified from in-store CCTV recordings. Perpetrators are then stopped in-store by Lodge Security detectives. Preventing organised retail crime In many instances Lodge has been able to track a gang’s activity around the UK and assess the probability of where and when they might strike next. “Retailers are increasingly alert to the scale of the threat from Organised Retail Crime. A string of small, seemingly unrelated criminal acts are often committed by the same gang; if they think they can get away undetected each time they will keep coming back. “Through the blended use of our specialist teams in the field and technology, our intelligence centre is quickly able to map related losses and then stop them fast,” says Stuart Lodge, CEO of Lodge Service International, a third generation family-run business that celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2019.

Does seeing video cameras at a location make you feel safer or less safe? Do you feel better to know that video surveillance is capturing everything that happens, thus discouraging crime? Or do you think: What kind of neighbourhood (or store) is this that needs a CCTV camera watching everything? Do you feel more secure when the security guard at the hotel elevator asks to see your room key? Do airport screenings ease your mind about getting on an airplane with 100 strangers? The “perception of safety” is a tricky thing, and presence (or absence) of security systems can play a role. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the impact of promoting a "perception of safety" when choosing and/or installing physical security systems? How might perception influence the choice of systems (e.g., more overt)?

A major benefit of technology innovation is more application opportunities. As video cameras become better and more versatile, new uses are emerging that extend the benefits of video surveillance, often outside tried-and-true parameters. Sometimes security camera manufacturers are on the front lines to see new ways video is contributing value to integrators and end user customers. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable participants: What is the most unusual application of surveillance cameras you have seen recently?

We asked this week’s Expert Panel: What are the limitations on where video cameras can be placed because of privacy? With hundreds of new cameras installed every day, the likelihood increases exponentially that a camera will be placed in a location where it violates privacy. In fact, threats to privacy are often among the largest objections when video surveillance is proposed, whether in a public area or in the workplace. Allaying fears about undermining privacy is a basic requirement to make such systems acceptable to the public. It’s a touchy subject, but one our Expert Panel is willing to address.