Security camera systems

Simon Shawley, Business Development Manager at Smart R Distribution, explains “How recent advances in video recording technology means that installers can help end-user clients to extend the life of their existing analogue CCTV systems, while enabling them to migrate to a full IP network based video surveillance system, at their own pace.” IP network-based video surveillance solutions offer users significant advantages over traditional analogue CCTV systems. These include the ability to benefit from the latest generation of multi-megapixel and ultra-high definition cameras, as well as the opportunity to monitor and manage the system from anywhere on the network. IP network-based video surveillance For mission-critical applications, IP network-based video surveillance provides a high level of resilience For mission-critical applications, IP network-based video surveillance provides a high level of resilience, as the captured images can be recorded and stored at any location on the network and retrieved via a PC or smart device. However, despite these benefits, it was not that long ago, when security managers agonised over whether they should attempt to persuade their financial masters and IT colleagues, to agree to the replacement of an existing analogue CCTV system with an IP network-based video surveillance solution. Need to deploy IP cameras and recorders The choice was either/or and although there was an understandable inclination to want to deploy cameras and recorders, which capitalise on the very latest technology, there was inevitably budgetary restrictions and ‘don’t even think about it’ resistance from technical colleagues, who were concerned about the impact on the company’s network infrastructure. In 2021, the question is no longer whether or not there is a justifiable need to immediately migrate to video over IP. Users can now choose from a range of fully functional hybrid solutions, which enable them to extend the life and cost-effectively enhance the performance of their existing analogue CCTV systems. This is because hybrid solutions allow users to benefit from the superb quality high definition images captured by IP cameras, without having to move to a complete IP network solution. Hybrid video surveillance For users, who want to immediately benefit from being able to capture and record high definition images, but are not yet ready or able to install an IP-based system, HD analogue cameras, which are able to capture and transmit images, and audio without any latency, at distances up to 500 metres, using standard coax, provide a cost-effective way to upgrade and extend the life of their existing analogue CCTV systems. Users can then migrate to an IP network-based video surveillance solution, at some point in the future and at their own pace. Hybrid XVR recorders Hybrid XVR recording devices, which are also known as Pentabrid video recorders, have been available for some time Hybrid XVR recording devices, which are also known as Pentabrid video recorders, have been available for some time. They facilitate the recording of images, captured by a mix of analogue and IP cameras, and this means that an existing analogue CCTV system can be significantly upgraded, with users able to benefit from the recording of images, which have a resolution of up to 4K. Until recently, the number of channels that could be allocated to IP cameras on a 16 channel machine was typically limited to just 2. The latest generation of hybrid XVR devices, however, now offers a far greater level of flexibility. With the use of a relatively low cost switch, the available number of channels on these NVRs can be configured to meet the users’ immediate needs, e.g. 4 channels allocated to IP cameras and the remainder for analogue cameras, but with the option to change the mix as and when requirements change. Transmission and power Traditionally, analogue cameras and recorders were installed with a coax cable between them, for the purposes of transmitting video data and they required the provision of a local power supply, in order to operate. When IP network-based cameras were first introduced, they worked in the same way, but a subsequent significant technological advance saw the development and introduction of Power over Ethernet (PoE). This allowed electrical power to be supplied via a network switch or a PoE-enabled network video recorder (NVR), and the power could be provided over the same cable carrying the video data. Development of Power over Coax (POC) Further advances in technology then saw the development of Power over Coax (POC), which offered the benefits of PoE, but over coax cabling to HD analogue cameras. It, therefore, became possible to power the cameras directly from an XVR recorder and most impressively, over distances of typically up to 500 metres, with at least one camera/recorder manufacturer able to achieve this over 800 metres. Now, with the latest generation of transmission products available, hybrid solutions are available, where PoE can be provided over coax to IP cameras and so whatever type of cabling is in place, users can benefit from this hybrid joint power and transmission option.  POC Ethernet Extender devices POC Ethernet Extender devices are readily available from distributors, such as Smart R Distribution POC Ethernet Extender devices are readily available from distributors, such as Smart R Distribution, which provide the flexibility to upgrade and/or expand an existing analogue based CCTV system over existing coax, e.g. by adding multiple new IP cameras to take advantage of Deep Learning AI or intelligent video analytics, as well as the cameras’ ability to capture high definition images. They can also be used to provide a data only connection for a myriad of other network devices.  It is worth noting that a 4-channel POC Ethernet Extender can enable the transmission of video and power to 4 cameras over a single cable, which makes it highly cost-effective to expand and upgrade a system, without having to install new network cabling. New surveillance systems based on IP network technology While the majority of new surveillance systems installed in the future are likely to be based on IP network technology, HD analogue cameras combined with XVRs, provide a significant opportunity to upgrade and extend the life of the countless number of existing analogue CCTV systems. However, they also provide a platform to add new IP cameras and other devices as well. The good news is that hybrid video surveillance solutions are very easy to implement, with the added bonus that there is no need to incur the cost and time of installing encoders or converters.

Video surveillance is by no means a new addition to the security market, and in fact, is one of the few solutions that almost every vertical requires. However, because so many VMS systems deployed today are outdated and utilise older technology, most businesses are not experiencing the full scope of security across their organisation as they could.  Containerised VMS v/s traditional VMS Containerised VMS systems have all the prerequisites pre-configured and installed for functionality and do not need any additional frameworks or database software, meaning they are ready to implement instantly. Because these systems do not have separate networks or recording servers, deployments are hassle-free and built with complex global situations in mind. “Containerised systems serve as a true enterprise solution that can scale regardless of an organisation’s unique requirements and are capable of fitting into any sized environment. From a small business with one camera stream to a multi-site deployment with thousands of IP camera systems globally, containerised VMS systems create a scalable, simple to use, and robust solution that can be tailored exactly to fit the organisation’s needs,” John Rezzonico, CEO, Edge360 & Surveill.

Herta launches a new version of its marketing solution that now displays a control panel with relevant information about the behaviour of visitors in a business. The new version of BioMarketing has a Dashboard that shows real-time information on the performance of a business and allows users to view online data on the number of visitors and their recurrence, the average dwell time, or the level of occupancy. ROI on analysis The information of the new product allows to have a deeper description of the different visitor profiles, as well as to be able to identify the ideal buyer in certain areas of interest. In addition, thanks to its statistics filter by dates, it also allows the user to measure the impact of the seasonal campaigns carried out in each centre, thus helping to maximise the return on investment with a detailed analysis even by the hour. Herta is currently in the most innovative stage in its history. With more than ten years of experience in the market and clients around the world, adapting both to the post-pandemic world and the new needs of its ecosystem of partners and users strengthens the company to continue leading the field of facial recognition and artificial intelligence.

Intersec, the globally renowned emergency services, security, and safety event, has announced that ex-MI6 Chief, Sir Alex Younger is one of the first announced international headliners, speaking for the first time in the UAE, as a guest speaker. Ex-MI6 Chief, Sir Alex Younger Alex Younger joined the United Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), also known as MI6, in 1991 and served as a Diplomat and Undercover Operative. He was appointed Chief or ‘C’ of MI6 in 2014 and retired in 2020, making him the longest-serving Chief in 50 years. Throughout his career, Alex was posted to the Middle East in highly sensitive roles Throughout his career, Alex was posted to the Middle East in highly sensitive roles. He also acted as the Senior SIS Officer in Afghanistan, a position that marks him out as one of the world’s top authorities, on matters related to human rights in the country. Intersec’s Global Security Leaders’ Summit He will be sharing his unique insights, as the best minds in the industry gather, between January 16-18, 2022, at Intersec’s Global Security Leaders’ Summit, one of six conferences at the event, with hard-hitting discussions featuring global leaders debating and exchanging perspectives on challenges, strategic initiatives and cooperation, to foster safety and security of all. The full programme features over 500 speakers, the largest conference platform for the sector on a world class stage. Commenting on his participation at the event, Sir Alex Younger said, “I am delighted to be speaking for the first time in the UAE at Intersec, and at a time when conversations for the Security and Safety industry has been thrust into the spotlight from recent global events.” He adds, “The Middle East has always fascinated me - the ever-shifting intricate dynamics of geopolitical relationships in the region and the impact they have internationally create a complex security landscape that I have been immersed in for much of my career.” Intersec 2022 For this industry, Intersec offers the most valuable platform for knowledge exchange" Alex Younger stated, “For this industry, Intersec offers the most valuable platform for knowledge exchange, on the protection of citizens from existing and future threats, and I look forward to sharing my perspective on a topic, which remains a global priority.” Sir Alex Younger is recognised for his unrivalled understanding of the region and has also spoken widely on matters pertaining to human rights in Afghanistan, academic freedom and the geopolitical nature of China’s digital and technological interests in western infrastructure. Intelligence and security community veteran Alex Nicholl, Messe Frankfurt Middle East’s Head of Intersec, said “Intersec’s commitment to bringing the brightest, most qualified experts to the stage in 2022 is at the forefront of our strategy, to deliver the most relevant content for our audience. Sir Alex Younger is undoubtedly a legend in the intelligence and security community, and his storied career in the Middle East makes him the perfect addition to our conference line-up.” Alex adds, “This is Mr. Younger’s first time speaking publicly in the UAE and his participation underscores the value Intersec is bringing to its visitors, with exclusive opportunities, to engage with and learn from the very best in the industry. We are delighted to have Sir Alex onboard and look forward to welcoming him at the show.” Safety and security of future generations The 23rd edition of the flagship event is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, at the Dubai World Trade Center, in Dubai, UAE and will be focused on the theme of ‘Uniting the world’s leading industry specialists for the safety & security of future generations.’  Demonstrating Intersec’s strategic importance to the UAE, Official Supporters include Dubai Police, Dubai Civil Defense, Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA), the UAE Cyber Security Council and Dubai Municipality.

Hikvision, a pioneer in delivering high-performance professional security solutions with tremendous value, announced it has elevated three sales engineers to expert level based on dedication in the field. These three professionals were designated from the company’s established team of engineers across the U.S. and reinforces Hikvision’s support for its extensive base of dealers and customers across North America. Possible security solutions “Our team of sales engineers help to ensure that the specification, sales and implementation processes of Hikvision security solutions progresses quickly and smoothly for both integrators and their customers.” Xiao also indicated that Hikvision is seeking to further expand its sales engineering team “These new designated products and solution experts embody Hikvision’s commitment to the North American market by helping our sales partners and end-users deliver the best possible security solutions with the best value propositions in the industry,” said John Xiao, Vice President Marketing, Hikvision USA. Xiao also indicated that Hikvision is seeking to further expand its sales engineering team in North America. The three Hikvision sales engineers now elevated to expert status include: Matt Cesareo, Sales Engineer representing the western Mid-Atlantic region, who spent more than 20 years in law enforcement and as a surveillance consultant before joining Hikvision. Versatile security challenges In his previous roles, Matt was a Special Agent in the Technical Operations Unit for the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations and was responsible for all of the electronic surveillance for his agency. He and his team also conducted all aspects of video surveillance for law enforcement agencies throughout Ohio. Matt focuses on Hikvision’s ColorVu G2 cameras, which showcase images in full colour without the need for additional configuration or added devices, even in total darkness. He also supports integrators with HikCentral Professional, integrated and modular security software designed to meet versatile security challenges in one intuitive platform. HikCentral manages individual systems such as video security, access control, intrusion alarms and more, and enables collaborating multiple systems under a unified architecture. Video security industry Walter is also a HikCentral Professional specialist, helping integrators transition to the new software Walter Santos, Sales Engineer representing the New York metro area, worked for more than 23 years providing technical and application support to customers in the video security industry, including training New York City police officers on video surveillance management and monitoring. He employs a hands-on approach to helping integrators design, installs and perfect security systems that exceed their customers’ expectations. Walter focuses on Hikvision’s 4 MP Radar PTZ cameras and Pro Series with AcuSense Network Speed Domes cameras. Like Matt Cesareo, Walter is also a HikCentral Professional specialist, helping integrators transition to the new software and educating them about Hikvision Optimus, a system-level middleware product for integration of events, alarms, and data synchronisation between HikCentral and other systems such as access control, building management systems, and IoT devices. Achieving numerous certifications Kevin Shumate, Sales Engineer representing south Florida and Puerto Rico, grew up in the security and surveillance business working at his parents’ security company from the time he was young. Because Hikvision solutions were their company’s go-to products for surveillance, Kevin attended many training courses, gained an extensive amount of product knowledge, and achieved numerous certifications. As a valued resource for integrators, Kevin excels at developing partnerships, helping to create effective security solutions for challenging applications, and educating integrators on unique and useful technologies. His focus is on Hikvision’s 4 MP ColorVu Solar-Powered Security Camera System, a standalone solution with a solar panel and a built-in battery, providing 24/7 colour images, which he describes as a perfect fit for his territory’s climate. Hikvision’s sales engineering team provides a tremendous resource for security integrators and dealers by delivering a superior level of product and systems expertise and exceptional customer support skills.

The new IDIS Intelligent Video Wall Station, designed as a simple plug-in for the cost and licence-free IDIS Center VMS, brings the benefits of video wall services to a wider market, including smaller and mid-sized customers. The new offering makes it easier for businesses to plan, design, configure, and use dynamic video walls. It lets them optimise safety and security, with centralised monitoring for single or multiple-sites, without the traditional price tag.  IDIS Intelligent Video Wall Station Integrating seamlessly with IDIS’ full line-up of network and analogue cameras and devices, as well as third-party technologies, the IDIS Intelligent Video Wall Station uses a single server and network wall controller, to manage up to 12 UHD monitors as standard. The station connects up to 4,096 cameras and lets operators monitor 64 panes simultaneously, including de-warped 360-degree fish-eye video. Now, users can easily customise their monitors to display the most critical video streams and event data, to provide a real-time visual overview. Fast and efficient incident response The new solution combines remote and straightforward configuration with batch firmware updates Advanced features enable a quicker and more efficient incident response, paired with smoother and more dynamic video search, playback, and forensic export. The new solution combines remote and straightforward configuration with batch firmware updates, simple role-based access management, audit trails, and device health monitoring. For customers, this results in increased efficiency and minimal maintenance, delivering on the IDIS promise of a low total cost of ownership (TCO). Designed for 24/7 video surveillance operations And with H.264 and H.265 dual codec fully supported, users can retain their existing and third-party screens, reducing waste and saving budgets, or for upgrades, they can also choose from the IDIS range of reliable, low power consumption monitors, designed for powerful, but economical 24/7 surveillance operations. The IDIS Intelligent Video Wall Station also integrates seamlessly with the enterprise-level IDIS Solution Suite VMS, making it easy to expand or adapt the system, as operational requirements change, giving customers the assurance of a future-proof investment. Dynamic video wall monitoring solution “It’s more important than ever for organisations to enhance situational awareness, while increasing efficiency,” said Andrew Myung, the President at IDIS America. He adds, “The addition of the IDIS Intelligent Video Wall Station delivers the benefits of advanced and dynamic video wall monitoring, without the need to design and build dedicated control rooms, or incur the costs of traditional VMS recurring maintenance agreements, or ongoing device connection fees.”

In the field of access control, face recognition has come a long way. Once considered too slow to authenticate people's identities and credentials in high traffic conditions, face recognition technology has evolved to become one of the quickest, most effective access control identity authentication solutions across all industries. Advancements in artificial intelligence and advanced neural network (ANN) technology from industry leaders like Intel have improved the accuracy and efficiency of face recognition. However, another reason the technology is gaining traction is due to the swiftly rising demand for touchless access control solutions that can help mitigate the spread of disease in public spaces. Effective for high volumes Face recognition eliminates security risks and is also virtually impossible to counterfeit Modern face recognition technology meets all the criteria for becoming the go-to solution for frictionless access control. It provides an accurate, non-invasive means of authenticating people's identities in high-traffic areas, including multi-tenant office buildings, industrial sites, and factories where multiple shifts per day are common. Typical electronic access control systems rely on people providing physical credentials, such as proximity cards, key fobs, or Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, all of which can be misplaced, lost, or stolen. Face recognition eliminates these security risks and is also virtually impossible to counterfeit. Affordable biometric option Although there are other biometric tools available, face recognition offers significant advantages. Some technologies use hand geometry or iris scans, for example, but these options are generally slower and more expensive. This makes face recognition a natural application for day-to-day access control activities, including chronicling time and attendance for large workforces at construction sites, warehouses, and agricultural and mining operations. In addition to verifying personal credentials, face recognition can also identify whether an individual is wearing a facial covering in compliance with government or corporate mandates regarding health safety protocols. Beyond securing physical locations, face recognition can also be used to manage access to computers, as well as specialised equipment and devices. Overcoming challenges with AI So how did face recognition become so reliable when the technology was once dogged by many challenges, including difficulties with camera angles, certain types of facial expressions, and diverse lighting conditions? Thanks to the emergence of so-called "convolutional" neural network-based algorithms, engineers have been able to overcome these roadblocks. SecurOS FaceX face recognition solution FaceX is powered by neural networks and machine learning which makes it capable of authenticating a wide range of faces One joint effort between New Jersey-based Intelligent Security Systems (ISS) and tech giant Intel has created the SecurOS FaceX face recognition solution. FaceX is powered by neural networks and machine learning which makes it capable of authenticating a wide range of faces and facial expressions, including those captured under changing light, at different resolution levels, and varying distances from the video camera. Secure video management system A common face recognition system deployment begins with IP video cameras that feed footage into a secure video management system connected to a video archive. When the software initially enrolls a person’s face, it creates a "digital descriptor" that is stored as a numeric code that will forever be associated with one identity. The system encrypts and stores these numeric codes in a SQL database. For the sake of convenience and cost savings, the video server CPU performs all neural network processes without requiring any special GPU cards. Unique digital identifiers The next step involves correlating faces captured in a video recording with their unique digital descriptors on file. The system can compare newly captured images against large databases of known individuals or faces captured from video streams. Face recognition technology can provide multi-factor authentication, searching watchlists for specific types of features, such as age, hair colour, gender, ethnicity, facial hair, glasses, headwear, and other identifying characteristics including bald spots. Robust encryption SED-compatible drives rely on dedicated chips that encrypt data with AES-128 or AES-256 To support privacy concerns, the entire system features an encrypted and secure login process that prevents unauthorized access to both the database and the archive. An additional layer of encryption is available through the use of Self-Encrypting Drives (SEDs) that hold video recordings and metadata. SED-compatible drives rely on dedicated chips that encrypt data with AES-128 or AES-256 (short for Advanced Encryption Standard). Anti-spoofing safeguards How do face recognition systems handle people who try to trick the system by wearing a costume mask or holding up a picture to hide their faces? FaceX from ISS, for example, includes anti-spoofing capabilities that essentially check for the "liveliness" of a given face. The algorithm can easily flag the flat, two-dimensional nature of a face mask, printed photo, or image on a mobile phone and issue a "spoof" alarm. Increased speed of entry Incorporating facial recognition into existing access control systems is straightforward and cost-effective Incorporating facial recognition into existing access control systems is straightforward and cost-effective. Systems can operate with off-the-shelf security cameras and computers. Users can also leverage existing infrastructure to maintain building aesthetics. A face recognition system can complete the process of detection and recognition in an instant, opening a door or turnstile in less than 500ms. Such efficiency can eliminate hours associated with security personnel checking and managing credentials manually. A vital tool Modern face recognition solutions are infinitely scalable to accommodate global enterprises. As a result, face recognition as a credential is increasingly being implemented for a wide range of applications that transcend traditional access control and physical security to include health safety and workforce management. All these capabilities make face recognition a natural, frictionless solution for managing access control, both in terms of performance and cost.

While the foundation of autonomous retail has been built up over the past few years, it is only now that retailers are beginning to fully experiment with the technology. There were an estimated 350 stores globally in 2018 offering a fully autonomous checkout process, yet this number is forecast to increase dramatically with 10,000 stores anticipated by 2024. This acceleration in the growth of unmanned retail stores has, in part, been boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic and a demand for a more contactless, socially distanced shopping experience. Physical security technologies Innovative physical security technologies can play a significant role in protecting a site while supporting its operation Many retailers are now exploring such solutions as a way to streamline their services and simplify store operations while reducing overheads. Of course, the security of unmanned sites is a concern, with many eager to embrace such a design, but wary about the prospect of leaving a store unguarded. This is where innovative physical security technologies can play a significant role in protecting a site while supporting its operation and also helping to improve customer experience. Comprehensive integrated solution To make the autonomous retail vision a reality, a comprehensive solution is needed that integrates network cameras, IP audio speakers, and access control devices. The cameras can be employed to monitor entrance points and sales areas, including checkout terminals, and can be monitored and operated remotely from a central control room. This offers management full visibility of operations, regardless of the number of stores. Recorded video material can be processed, packaged, and passed to authorities, when necessary, by applicable laws. Optimising operations As autonomous stores do not require staff to be present and run largely independently, managers can be notified automatically via mobile device if an event occurs that requires their attention. This could range from a simple need to restock popular items or clean the premises after a spillage, to a criminal break-in or attack. Again, network video surveillance cameras installed inside and outside of the premises provide high-quality video of any incident as it occurs, enabling immediate action to be taken. Improving customer experience Access control mechanisms at the entrance and exit points enable smooth, touch-free access to customers Access control mechanisms at the entrance and exit points enable smooth, touch-free access to customers, while IP audio speakers allow ambient music to be played, creating a relaxed in-store atmosphere and also offering the ability to play alerts or voice messages as required. Due to the automated nature of such audio broadcasting, consistency of brand can be created across multiple locations where playlists and pre-recorded voice messages are matched in terms of style and tone from store to store. Boosting profits The accessibility of premises 24/7 can ultimately lead to an increase in sales by simply allowing customers to enter the store and make a purchase at any time, rather than being restricted by designated retail hours. This also serves to improve customer loyalty through retail convenience. Utilising data from the access control system, managers can configure lights to turn on/off and ambient music to power down when the last person leaves the shop, to be reactivated the next time someone enters the premises. This approach can also conserve energy, leading to cost savings. Designing a future proof solution The threat of vandalism is greatly limited if everyone entering the shop can be identified, which is something that is already happening in Scandinavia using QR codes linked to an electronic identification system called BankID. This process involves a user being identified by their bank details, and their credentials checked upon entering the store. This not only streamlines the transaction process but vastly improves security because only those who want to legitimately use the services will go through the identification process, helping to deter antisocial or criminal behaviour. Physical security technology should be reliable and of high quality, without compromising the service to customers VMS-based network solution Both inside and outside of the premises, physical security technology should be reliable and of high quality, without compromising the service to customers, or hampering their experience. Door controls, network cameras, and loudspeakers, together with a comprehensive video management system (VMS), enable retailers to control every element of their store and remove any uncertainty around its management or security. Such a system, network-enabled and fully scalable to meet ongoing business requirements, can be offered using open APIs; this allows configuration and customisation while ensuring that the retailer is not limited by the technology or tied into any particular set-up or vendor as their requirements evolve. Additional security benefits As more businesses launch their unmanned stores, the benefits of such technology to streamline and improve every aspect of their operations become ever clearer. A comprehensive solution from a trusted security provider can bring complete peace of mind while offering additional benefits to support the retail business as it seeks a secure future.

How AI and humans can work together is a longstanding debate. As society progresses technologically, there’s always the worry of robots taking over jobs. Self-checkout tills, automated factory machines, and video analytics are all improving efficiency and productivity, but they can still work in tandem with humans, and in most cases, they need to. Video analytics in particular is one impressively intelligent piece of technology that security guards can utilise. How can video analytics help with certain security scenarios? Video analytics tools Before video analytics or even CCTV in general, if a child went missing in a shopping centre, we could only rely on humans. Take a crowded Saturday shopping centre, a complex one with a multitude of shops and eateries, you’d have to alert the security personnel, rely on a tannoy and search party, and hope for a lockdown to find a lost or kidnapped child. With video analytics, how would this scenario play out? It’s pretty mind-blowing. As soon as security is alerted, they can work with the video analytics tools to instruct it precisely With the same scenario, you now have the help of many different cameras, but then there’s the task of searching through all the CCTV resources and footage. That’s where complex search functions come in. As soon as security is alerted, they can work with the video analytics tools to instruct it precisely on what footage to narrow down, and there’s a lot of filters and functions to use. Expected movement direction For instance, they can tick a ‘human’ field, so the AI can track and filter out vehicles, objects etc., and then they can input height, clothing colours, time the child went missing, and last known location. There’s a complex event to check too, under ‘child kidnap’. For a more accurate search, security guards can then add in a searching criterion by drawing the child’s expected movement direction using a visual query function. A unique function like this enables visual criteria-based searches rather than text-based ones. The tech will then narrow down to the images/videos showing the criteria they’ve inputted, showing the object/child that matches the data and filter input. Detecting facial data There are illegal demonstrations and troublesome interferences that police have to deal with A white-list face recognition function is then used to track the child’s route which means the AI can detect facial data that has not been previously saved in the database, allowing it to track the route of a target entity, all in real time. Then, security guards can confirm the child’s route and current location. All up-to-date info can then be transferred to an onsite guard’s mobile phone for them to confirm the missing child’s movement route, face, and current location, helping to find them as quickly as possible. Often, there are illegal demonstrations and troublesome interferences that police have to deal with. Video analytics and surveillance can not only capture these, but they can be used to predict when they may happen, providing a more efficient process in dealing with these types of situations and gathering resources. Event processing functions Picture a public square with a number of entries into the main area, and at each entry point or path, there is CCTV. Those in the control room can set two events for each camera: a grouping event and a path-passing event. These are pretty self-explanatory. A grouping event covers images of seeing people gathering in close proximity and a path-passing event will show when people are passing through or entering. The video analytics tool can look out for large gatherings and increased footfall to alert security By setting these two events, the video analytics tool can look out for large gatherings and increased footfall to alert security or whoever is monitoring to be cautious of protests, demonstrations or any commotion. Using complex event processing functions, over-detection of alarms can also be prevented, especially if there’s a busy day with many passing through. Reducing false alarms By combining the two events, that filters down the triggers for alarms for better accuracy to predict certain situations, like a demonstration. The AI can also be set to only trigger an alarm when the two events are happening simultaneously on all the cameras of each entry to reduce false alarms. There are so many situations and events that video analytics can be programmed to monitor. You can tick fields to monitor any objects that have appeared, disappeared, or been abandoned. You can also check events like path-passing to monitor traffic, as well as loitering, fighting, grouping, a sudden scene change, smoke, flames, falling, unsafe crossing, traffic jams and car accidents etc. Preventing unsafe situations Complex events can include violations of one-way systems, blacklist-detected vehicles Complex events can include violations of one-way systems, blacklist-detected vehicles, person and vehicle tracking, child kidnaps, waste collection, over-speed vehicles, and demonstration detections. The use of video analytics expands our capabilities tremendously, working in real time to detect and help predict security-related situations. Together with security agents, guards and operatives, AI in CCTV means resources can be better prepared, and that the likelihood of preventing unsafe situations can be greatly improved. It’s a winning team, as AI won’t always get it right but it’s there to be the advanced eyes we need to help keep businesses, premises and areas safer.

The trend of video customers moving to the cloud has reached a tipping point. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) is being adopted on a massive scale. Combining the two trends adds a higher level of value than either component individually. Merging the power of AI and the cloud is a driving force behind cloud surveillance company Eagle Eye Networks’ acquisition of Uncanny Vision, an AI and video analytics company headquartered in Bangalore, India. Expensive AI resources Cloud systems empower customers to leverage AI without having to install and program complicated and expensive hardware, in effect stripping away the barriers to entry that customers face when seeking to embrace AI. The cloud also enables customers to share expensive AI resources. One of the key components is ease of deployment – click, click and turn on the AI for any camera" Simplicity of implementation is crucial to the combined value proposition of Eagle Eye Networks and Uncanny Vision. “One of the key components is ease of deployment – click, click and turn on the AI for any camera (in a cloud system),” says Dean Drako, Eagle Eye Networks CEO. There is also a benefit of having AI systems networked, enabling 25 banks to perform facial recognition of customers from a single cloud-based system, he adds. A transition is also under way in the perception of AI. Video surveillance applications While previously it was seen as an add-on to surveillance systems, now it is seen as a very desirable feature on any system. “Centralised management of the cloud benefits the AI database,” says Drako. “In a project built around licence plate recognition (LPR), for example, all the data goes up to the cloud into a single database, and the customer can get a mobile view of everything going on across the world. You can’t do that without the cloud. And AI for LPR is more accurate.” Uncanny Vision’s targeted focus on AI for video surveillance applications was one factor that attracted Eagle Eye Networks to make the acquisition, says Drako. In contrast, some other companies have embraced broader applications of video AI. Uncanny Vision also has more customers using their system in real-world applications than competitors. Finally, the acquisition will help to expand Eagle Eye Networks’ presence in the LPR market, where Uncanny Vision is especially strong. Improving business operations The 60 employees at Uncanny Vision are mostly engineers and programmers Uncanny Vision’s deep learning algorithms enable recognition, identification, and prediction, improving business operations, customer service, and site safety. Applications include smart parking, retail, smart cities, ATM monitoring, worker safety and perimeter security. The 60 employees at Uncanny Vision are mostly engineers and programmers. “These guys understand how to translate AI algorithms to run very efficiently on various types of hardware,” says Drako. “They optimise how they get the code to run so we can implement in the cloud cost-effectively. They do it at a modest cost to make it more accessible. They understand how to deploy software for high performance on low-cost hardware.” For Uncanny Vision, the new ownership provides more reach. “We have a huge channel and a huge brand,” says Drako. “They are strong technical guys who need a sales and solution channel.” Video analytics solutions Even in light of the acquisition, Eagle Eye Networks will continue to provide a selection of third-party AI and video analytics solutions to customers. Use of AI and video analytics is specific to the application and business needs of each customer. Use of AI and video analytics is specific to the application and business needs of each customer In addition to AI functionality, systems need a ‘business logic’ component that drives how that capability is integrated into a system. System needs vary widely by vertical market, and many third-party vendors are focused on a specific vertical and how AI can benefit that market. Recurring monthly revenue “Third parties can provide analytics and the business logic, which is different for a factory, an office building or for a drive-thru restaurant,” says Drako. “The market is looking for many solutions, and one company couldn’t own a majority of them.” To ensure flexibility, Eagle Eye Networks will accommodate third party solutions, deploy their own analytics, or leverage analytics embedded in cameras. For Eagle Eye Networks’ dealer and integrator customers, the expansion into AI presents a new opportunity for recurring monthly revenue (RMR) and provides greater value to customers. Drako says the impact of the acquisition will be global as AI applications grow in popularity worldwide.

Video is an enormous wellspring of unstructured data in the enterprise environment. Finding new ways to use video data requires easy access for analysis. Gone are the days when video was recorded just to be played back later. New computer capabilities can analyse video to provide business intelligence and trends, all of which requires that a lot of unstructured data be captured, stored and kept immediately accessible. It's a driving force for companies specialising in video storage such as Quantum, which is focused on storing and managing unstructured data, including video, photos, music and sound. Managing various analytics “Unstructured data is driving the massive growth in storage today, and video surveillance fits right in there,” says Jamie Lerner, CEO and President, Quantum. As data multiplies in business, matters of storing and accessing the data take on a larger profile. Especially challenging is meeting the need to store and access expanding amounts of unstructured data, such as video. Video is also part of a changing end-to-end architecture in the enterpriseWhereas 10 years ago, video surveillance was all about recording and playback, now the emphasis is much more on an end-to-end approach. In addition to capturing and playing back video, systems have to manage various analytics, archival and data retention aspects as well as recording. Video is also part of a changing end-to-end architecture in the enterprise, including hybrid, cloud and on-premise storage. Video surveillance industry Historically, structured data, such as financial information, was stored to allow future analytics. The same trend extends to unstructured data, such as video analytics. Quantum has expanded its video storage capabilities with acquisition this year of the video surveillance business of Pivot3, provider of a hyperconverged system that provides recording, analysis and seamlessly archives data on a converged platform that is less expensive and easier to manage. In acquiring Pivot3, Quantum is refocusing the smaller company on the video surveillance industry. “We are now focused 100% on surveillance and having the highest quality while being very cost-effective,” says Lerner. “The industry is ready for an IT-forward solution that is totally focused on surveillance. You can’t make a platform all things to all people.” Traditional security customers There is overlap in large stadiums and theme parks, where Lerner sees even more opportunity to expand Pivot3 will also help to expand Quantum’s customer base. The larger company has a history of serving customers in entertainment, movies, television and sports production. The addition of Pivot3’s 500 new customers in large surveillance, transportation and critical infrastructure markets will expand the mix. There is overlap in large stadiums and theme parks, where Lerner sees even more opportunity to expand. Pivot3 also helps to bridge the gap between traditional security customers and the information technology (IT) department. “Pivot3 has a reputation as simple to use,” says Lerner. “My belief is that physical security can run separately [from IT] until you reach a certain size, then IT has to be involved. Pivot3 gives IT people in the security space a product that is well formed and fits into an IT strategy. They are not undertaking a piece of equipment that will be a burden.” Physical security presence Customers expect their infrastructure vendors to provide systems that allow them to “Set it and forget it,” says Lerner. It’s one of the big advantages of cloud computing and also central to Quantum’s approach with their traditional products. “At the end of the day, you want to run a hospital, for example, so you want your systems to be easy to use,” says Lerner. The Pivot3 acquisition will also allow Quantum to expand their physical security presence more broadly and globally. Previously, the geographic reach of Pivot3 was limited by the high cost of placing personnel in diverse locations. Under Quantum, which has been serving global companies for 40 years, the problem disappears. “Quantum has global support on all continents and in more countries,” says Lerner. “It’s a higher level of support, given size and legacy of our organisation.”

A new generation of video cameras is poised to boost capabilities dramatically at the edge of the IP network, including more powerful artificial intelligence (AI) and higher resolutions, and paving the way for new applications that would have previously been too expensive or complex. Technologies at the heart of the coming new generation of video cameras are Ambarella’s newest systems on chips (SoCs). Ambarella’s CV5S and CV52S product families are bringing a new level of on-camera AI performance and integration to multi-imager and single-imager IP cameras. Both of these SoCs are manufactured in the ‘5 nm’ manufacturing process, bringing performance improvements and power savings, compared to the previous generation of SoCs manufactured at ‘10nm’. CV5S and CV52S AI-powered SoCs The CV5S, designed for multi-imager cameras, is able to process, encode and perform advanced AI on up to four imagers at 4Kp30 resolution, simultaneously and at less than 5 watts. This enables multi-headed camera designs with up to four 4K imagers looking at different portions of a scene, as well as very high-resolution, single-imager cameras of up to 32 MP resolution and beyond. The CV52S, designed for single-imager cameras with very powerful onboard AI, is the next-generation of the company’s successful CV22S mainstream 4K camera AI chip. This new SoC family quadruples the AI processing performance, while keeping the same low power consumption of less than 3 watts for 4Kp60 encoding with advanced AI processing. Faster and ubiquitous AI capabilities Ambarella’s newest AI vision SoCs for security, the CV5S and CV52S, are competitive solutions" “Security system designers desire higher resolutions, increasing channel counts, and ever faster and more ubiquitous AI capabilities,” explains John Lorenz, Senior Technology and Market Analyst, Computing, at Yole Développement (Yole), a French market research firm. John Lorenz adds, “Ambarella’s newest AI vision SoCs for security, the CV5S and CV52S, are competitive solutions for meeting the growing demands of the security IC (integrated circuit) sector, which our latest report forecasts to exceed US$ 4 billion by 2025, with two-thirds of that being chips with AI capabilities.” Edge AI vision processors Ambarella’s new CV5S and CV52S edge AI vision processors enable new classes of cameras that would not have been possible in the past, with a single SoC architecture. For example, implementing a 4x 4K multi-imager with AI would have traditionally required at least two SoCs (at least one for encoding and one for AI), and the overall power consumption would have made those designs bulky and prohibitively expensive. By reducing the number of required SoCs, the CV5S enables advanced camera designs such as AI-enabled 4x 4K imagers at price points much lower than would have previously been possible. “What we are usually trying to do with our SoCs is to keep the price points similar to the previous generations, given that camera retail prices tend to be fairly fixed,” said Jerome Gigot, Ambarella's Senior Director of Marketing. 4K multi-imager cameras “However, higher-end 4K multi-imager cameras tend to retail for thousands of dollars, and so even though there will be a small premium on the SoC for the 2X improvement in performance, this will not make a significant impact to the final MSRP of the camera,” adds Jerome Gigot. In addition, the overall system cost might go down, Gigot notes, compared to what could be built today because there is no longer a need for external chips to perform AI, or extra components for power dissipation. The new chips will be available in the second half of 2021, and it typically takes about 12 to 18 months for Ambarella’s customers (camera manufacturers) to produce final cameras. Therefore, the first cameras, based on these new SoCs, should hit the market sometime in the second half of 2022. Reference boards for camera manufacturers The software on these new SoCs is an evolution of our unified Linux SDK" As with Ambarella’s previous generations of edge AI vision SoCs for security, the company will make available reference boards to camera manufacturers soon, allowing them to develop their cameras based on the new CV5S and CV52S SoC families. “The software on these new SoCs is an evolution of our unified Linux SDK that is already available on our previous generations SoCs, which makes the transition easy for our customers,” said Jerome Gigot. Better crime detection Detecting criminals in a crowd, using face recognition and/or licence plate recognition, has been a daunting challenge for security, and one the new chips will help to address. “Actually, these applications are one of the main reasons why Ambarella is introducing these two new SoC families,” said Jerome Gigot. Typically, resolutions of 4K and higher have been a smaller portion of the security market, given that they came at a premium price tag for the high-end optics, image sensor and SoC. Also, the cost and extra bandwidth of storing and streaming 4K video were not always worth it for the benefit of just viewing video at higher resolution. 4K AI processing on-camera The advent of on-camera AI at 4K changes the paradigm. By enabling 4K AI processing on-camera, smaller objects at longer distances can now be detected and analysed without having to go to a server, and with much higher detail and accuracy compared to what can be done on a 2 MP or 5 MP cameras. This means that fewer false alarms will be generated, and each camera will now be able to cover a longer distance and wider area, offering more meaningful insights without necessarily having to stream and store that 4K video to a back-end server. “This is valuable, for example, for traffic cameras mounted on top of high poles, which need to be able to see very far out and identify cars and licence plates that are hundreds of meters away,” said Jerome Gigot. The advent of on-camera AI at 4K changes the paradigm Enhanced video analytics and wider coverage “Ambarella’s new CV5S and CV52S SoCs truly allow the industry to take advantage of higher resolution on-camera for better analytics and wider coverage, but without all the costs typically incurred by having to stream high-quality 4K video out 24/7 to a remote server for offline analytics,” said Jerome Gigot. He adds, “So, next-generation cameras will now be able to identify more criminals, faces and licence plates, at longer distances, for an overall lower cost and with faster response times by doing it all locally on-camera.” Deployment in retail applications Retail environments can be some of the toughest, as the cameras may be looking at hundreds of people at once Retail applications are another big selling point. Retail environments can be some of the toughest, as the cameras may be looking at hundreds of people at once (e.g., in a mall), to provide not only security features, but also other business analytics, such as foot traffic and occupancy maps that can be used later to improve product placement. The higher resolution and higher AI performance, enabled by the new Ambarella SoCs, provide a leap forward in addressing those scenarios. In a store setup, a ceiling-mounted camera with four 4K imagers can simultaneously look at the cashier line on one side of the store, sending alerts when a line is getting too long and a new cashier needs to be deployed, while at the same time looking at the entrance on the other side of the store, to count the people coming in and out. This leaves two additional 4K imagers for monitoring specific product aisles and generating real-time business analytics. Use in cashier-less stores Another retail application is a cashier-less store. Here, a CV5S or CV52S-based camera mounted on the ceiling will have enough resolution and AI performance to track goods, while the customer grabs them and puts them in their cart, as well as to automatically track which customer is purchasing which item. In a warehouse scenario, items and boxes moving across the floor could also be followed locally, on a single ceiling-mounted camera that covers a wide area of the warehouse. Additionally, these items and boxes could be tracked across the different imagers in a multi-headed camera setup, without the video having to be sent to a server to perform the tracking. Updating on-camera AI networks Another feature of Ambarella’s SoCs is that their on-camera AI networks can be updated on-the-fly, without having to stop the video recording and without losing any video frames. So, for example in the case of a search for a missing vehicle, the characteristics of that missing vehicle (make, model, colour, licence plate) can be sent to a cluster of cameras in the general area, where the vehicle is thought to be missing, and all those cameras can be automatically updated to run a live search on that specific vehicle. If any of the cameras gets a match, a remote operator can be notified and receive a picture, or even a live video feed of the scene. Efficient traffic management With the CV52S edge AI vision SoC, those decisions can be made locally at each intersection by the camera itself Relating to traffic congestion, most big cities have thousands of intersections that they need to monitor and manage. Trying to do this from one central location is costly and difficult, as there is so much video data to process and analyse, in order to make those traffic decisions (to control the traffic lights, reverse lanes, etc.). With the CV52S edge AI vision SoC, those decisions can be made locally at each intersection by the camera itself. The camera would then take actions autonomously (for example, adjust traffic-light timing) and only report a status update to the main traffic control centre. So now, instead of having one central location trying to manage 1,000 intersections, a city can have 1,000 smart AI cameras, each managing its own location and providing updates and metadata to a central server. Superior privacy Privacy is always a concern with video. In this case, doing AI on-camera is inherently more private than streaming the video to a server for analysis. Less data transmission means fewer points of entry for a hacker trying to access the video. On Ambarella’s CV5S and CV52S SoCs, the video can be analysed locally and then discarded, with just a signature or metadata of the face being used to find a match. No actual video needs to be stored or transmitted, which ensures total privacy. In addition, the chips contain a very secure hardware cyber security block, including OTP memory, Arm TrustZones, DRAM scrambling and I/O virtualisation. This makes it very difficult for a hacker to replace the firmware on the camera, providing another level of security and privacy at the system level. Privacy Masking Another privacy feature is the concept of privacy masking. This feature enables portions of the video (say a door or a window) to be blocked out, before being encoded in the video stream. The blocked portions of the scene are not present in the recorded video, thus providing a privacy option for cameras that are facing private areas. “With on-camera AI, each device becomes its own smart endpoint, and can be reconfigured at will to serve the specific physical security needs of its installation,” said Jerome Gigot, adding “The possibilities are endless, and our mission as an SoC maker is really to provide a powerful and easy-to-use platform, complete with computer-vision tools, that enable our customers and their partners to easily deploy their own AI software on-camera.” Physical security in parking lots With a CV5S or CV52S AI-enabled camera, the camera will be able to cover a much wider portion of the parking lot One example is physical security in a parking lot. A camera today might be used to just record part of the parking lot, so that an operator can go back and look at the video if a car were broken into or some other incident occurred. With a CV5S or CV52S AI-enabled camera, first of all, the camera will be able to cover a much wider portion of the parking lot. Additionally, it will be able to detect the licence plates of all the cars going in and out, to automatically bill the owners. If there is a special event, the camera can be reprogrammed to identify VIP vehicles and automatically redirect them to the VIP portion of the lot, while reporting to the entrance station or sign how many parking spots are available. It can even tell the cars approaching the lot where to go. Advantages of using edge AI vision SoCs Jerome Gigot said, “The possibilities are endless and they span across many verticals. The market is primed to embrace these new capabilities. Recent advances in edge AI vision SoCs have brought about a period of change in the physical security space. Companies that would have, historically, only provided security cameras, are now getting into adjacent verticals such as smart retail, smart cities and smart buildings.” He adds, “These changes are providing a great opportunity for all the camera makers and software providers to really differentiate themselves by providing full systems that offer a new level of insights and efficiencies to, not only the physical security manager, but now also the store owner and the building manager.” He adds, “All of these new applications are extremely healthy for the industry, as they are growing the available market for cameras, while also increasing their value and the economies of scale they can provide. Ambarella is looking forward to seeing all the innovative products that our customers will build with this new generation of SoCs.”

In the beautiful marina in the Danish city of Vejle, Vanderbilt’s ACT365, a cloud-based access control and video management system, was recently installed. The brief The marina wanted an access control system that could integrate with their booking system, Harba. Solutions provided There are 750 members with boats in the Vejle marina, and through the Harba booking system, they are issued a 6-digit personal PIN code or a tag. With this PIN code, they can then access and use the facilities of the marina, such as the toilets, showers, laundry rooms, and kitchen. This is done by simply typing their PIN into the ACT365 reader at each entry point of the marina facilities. All services are then automatically billed every month via the Harba booking system. This access control booking strategy ensures that the marina’s facilities are kept free for member use only. Why choose Vanderbilt? Vanderbilt’s ACT365 readers are made of robust polycarbonate housing and are suitable for both indoor and outdoor mounting. The reader controls a single door and uses a voltage-free relay contact. ACT365 has: A modern and user-friendly design A limitless number of users The possibility for short-term access Both RFID tags and smartphone access availability. Main takeaway For non-member boaters who are visiting the Vejle marina, a self-service terminal, the Harba Kiosk, is also available to use. This self-service terminal allows non-members to use their credit cards to pay for the use of the marina facilities.  Similar to the Harba app for members, non-members will receive a PIN code from the Harba kiosk via email or SMS which they can then input into the ACT365 readers.

Institución Ferial de Madrid (IFEMA) Exhibition Centre hosts over 100 events every year including trade shows and business meetings, but also large public events in the fields of sport, culture, and leisure. Boasting an exhibition area that covers 200,000 square metres of covered pavilions, 12 halls, two convention centres, and 14,000 parking spaces, the complex is operated by IFEMA Madrid and is one of the most up-to-date, technologically best equipped exhibition venues in Europe. Visitors from all over the world trust to be in a safe and pleasant environment, which is secured by systems that are state-of-the-art and cover the entire site – indoor and outdoor areas, parking garages and logistics zones. Analogue video system The sheer size of the exhibition grounds, the large number of events in a wide variety of very different setups and a large number of people on site – visitors, exhibitors, service providers, suppliers – require a high-performance, holistic physical security system. IFEMA MADRID required a solution to replace its analogue video system that had reached end-of-life IFEMA MADRID required a solution to replace its analogue video system that had reached end-of-life. It expected the new solution to provide substantial improvements in processing video footage and helping them resolve incidents quickly. Prerequisites included state-of-the-art technology, an open and integrated platform, with easy integration of third-party solutions such as video analytics, access control and LPR and event search. Physical security ecosystem As a public body, IFEMA MADRID launched a public tender for the update of their video system. Qognify together with Sicuralia System and video analytics partner Briefcam, presented the best overall solution, complying with all the customer needs, thus winning the contract. The powerful security functions of Qognify’s Cayuga VMS, as well as its openness to third party software integrations, especially with video analytics, tipped the scales and it was chosen to be at the core of its new video-based security system. To achieve overall surveillance for the entire complex within one system, Cayuga is used as a video surveillance platform to not only expand and upgrade the technology, but also offer complete integration with IFEMA’s physical security ecosystem. Responding to developing situations To date, more than 650 cameras – both fixed and PTZ models – have been installed to improve the security To date, more than 650 cameras – both fixed and PTZ models – have been installed to improve the security and safety on site and to allow for video analysis in critical areas, thus making the video system more efficient and actionable. The VMS’s reliability was key, to ensure the continuous protection of people and goods in coherence with the envisioned growth of the events that take place at the Madrid Exhibition Centre. At the heart of the installation sits a central control room that was designed from scratch. It is here where all information converges – allowing for immediate assessment and response to any developing situations. Video security system The implementation of Cayuga has improved the performance of the video security system, accelerated investigations, and is delivering improved situational awareness. It has helped to produce a better resolution on the video stream, combined with the ability to easily switch from live to recorded video for investigation. All this allows the security team to get a better overview of every situation, while at the same time reducing the number of people needed for monitoring or patrolling. The new system makes easier to provide a higher level of security for exhibitors and for the visitors to IFEMA MADRID.

Being isolated on the edge of wilderness means there’s a need for a video system that is both reliable and flexible. For that reason, the team at Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), since 2009, has relied on video management software (VMS) from Milestone Systems, to enhance security, safety, and efficiency at the airport. Milestone XProtect VMS installed At the edge of the frontier, Jackson Hole Airport has experienced considerable growth over the years. Significant capital investments in expansions have made new video system integrations possible several times and Milestone XProtect VMS has supported the airport’s needs along the way. As of 2020, over 220 cameras are in use, but the airport shows no signs of slowing down As of 2020, over 220 cameras are in use, but the airport shows no signs of slowing down. New projects will include building a fuel farm, a car wash, and expanded parking facilities. As the need to increase security continues, XProtect open platform software will enable IT team growth and the seamless integration of new cameras, and data storage capabilities. Enhanced situational awareness All video is kept for up to a full year, with most of the system’s cameras set for motion recording, around the clock. As a result, administrators achieve greater situational awareness and better security. The video system has enabled improvements throughout the entire airport. For example, Jackson Hole Airport contends with a great deal of plane de-icing, for several months each year. The process occurs at a distance from the main buildings. Thanks to the video expansion, each airline is now able to monitor the de-icing of their planes. Allowing airline personnel to monitor progress on their own has saved airport staff time and resources. Monitoring security In addition, the airport uses the system to closely monitor the security checkpoint, to capture video documentation, in case of an incident. By monitoring baggage areas, it’s possible to investigate lost bags and left-behind items, by reviewing recorded video. New 4K multi-sensor cameras support an investigatory system, helping staff see previously uncovered areas. The cameras capture high-resolution video and provide enough data to zoom in, after the fact. Deployed Agent Vi’s video analytics Milestone Systems’ XProtect Smart Client has improved general situational awareness in the airport Additionally, the team has deployed video analytics from Agent Vi, to provide a layer of automated alarms, for flagging abnormal occurrences. For example, video analytics can detect travellers moving against the foot traffic flow and crossing into restricted areas. Milestone Systems’ XProtect Smart Client has improved general situational awareness in the airport. Authorised users now have a new standard for accessing surveillance remotely. It provides seamless viewing of live and recorded video, instant control of cameras and connected security devices, and a comprehensive activity overview. Force multiplication using advanced technology The ongoing use of Milestone’s VMS makes it possible to maintain the independence and efficiency of a small team of personnel, delivering maximum security at the edge of a wild frontier. Andrew Wells, IT Manager for the Jackson Hole Airport, said “Situational awareness for our team and our clients allow us to be as secure and efficient as possible, with our small team. The flexibility of the open platform VMS allows us to scale our system and add the features we need now and in the future.” Jackson Hole Airport Jackson Hole Airport lies seven miles north of Jackson, Wyoming, at the base of the Teton Mountains, in the USA. It is unique for being entirely within the Grand Teton National Park limits. It is the busiest airport in the state of Wyoming, with nearly 500,000 in-bound passengers welcomed annually. The Jackson Hole Airport covers over 500 acres of land area and has one runway, nine boarding gates, and three baggage carousels.

Salient Systems, a pioneer in open architecture video management systems, has announced that its CompleteView VMS, an open platform video management system has been selected by Maine-based Brigid Farm for a multi-state video upgrade project for the company’s cannabis facilities. With headquarters in Saco, Maine, Brigid Farm is a vertically integrated cannabis firm that has been providing cannabis products for more than a decade. The company has recently expanded its operations to include multiple grow fields, an edible manufacturing facility, and two retail stores – a total of eight locations in Maine and one in Massachusetts. Remote and centralised monitoring As each location poses its security challenges, Brigid Farm chose the robust, open platform CompleteView VMS to enable remote access to and centralised management of video from all the company’s locations, including its retail operations, The Farm Stand, and The House of Hash. We were looking for a robust VMS that could help us easily monitor all of our operations from anywhere" “Given the heightened security concerns in the cannabis industry, and the unique security needs for our different locations, we were looking for a robust VMS that could help us easily monitor all of our operations from anywhere,” said Brett Messer, owner, and general manager of Brigid Farm. “It was vital for us to have an open system that can accommodate our future technology needs and expand as our company grows.” Integration software and LPR Brigid Farm also selected CompleteView for its ability to integrate with several other key operational technologies, including license plate recognition (LPR) to monitor daily incoming and outgoing deliveries, point of sale software for retail transactions, and the cannabis industry seed-to-sale tracking software, which cannabis businesses use for regulatory compliance. “Our CompleteView VMS is widely used in the cannabis market as it is uniquely positioned to solve pain points for cannabis operators,” said Sanjay Challa, chief product officer, Salient Systems. “We’re excited to work with Brigid Farm to fulfill their integrated video management needs and provide them with operational visibility across their enterprise.”

Mister Car Wash, Inc., North America’s largest car wash network, has chosen Interface Security Systems (Interface), a globally renowned managed service provider, to upgrade and optimise its video monitoring and alarm systems. With over 350 car washes nationwide, and rapid expansion plans, Mister Car Wash is committed to delivering a safe and consistent customer experience, across all its locations. Interface overhauls CCTV system To address their unique safety requirements, Mister Car Wash chose Interface Security Systems, to overhaul its CCTV and alarm installations, and create a foundation for consistently replicating safety and security best practices, across all future locations. As a part of the upgrade, Interface successfully integrated security camera feeds with a third-party vehicle anti-collision system, to increase efficiency and reduce the chances of accidents, inside the car wash tunnel. The solution tracks the flow of vehicles, inside the car wash tunnel and automatically stops the conveyor belt, if an imminent collision is detected. Integration of cameras and NVR with anti-collision system Interface was the only vendor, who was able to seamlessly integrate our cameras and NVR with the anti-collision system" “Interface’s consultative approach to identifying key problems and innovative solution design was a breath of fresh air for us,” said Jim Figueredo, Director of Asset Protection at Mister Car Wash. He adds, “Interface was the only vendor, who was able to seamlessly integrate our cameras and NVR with the anti-collision system. This has allowed us to reduce costs, while improving operations. The true benefit of using Interface is their ability to really understand our problems and go the extra mile to suggest future-proof solutions that can scale.” Expanding operations and enhancing customer safety With Interface Security Systems, Mister Car Wash is able to expand operations rapidly, while delivering a safe and consistent customer experience. By upgrading and optimising the video monitoring and alarm systems, Mister Car Wash has reduced false alarms, minimised instances of false vehicle damage claims, reduced general liability issues, and improved overall safety, at their locations. Having upgraded over 90 locations, Interface is collaborating with Mister Car Wash, to eventually bring most of its countrywide network of locations, to the new technology standard.

Dahua Technology is a globally renowned video-centric smart IoT solutions and services provider. Based on technological innovations, Dahua Technology offers end-to-end security solutions, systems, and services, in order to create value for city operations, corporate management, and consumers. Dahua Technology has designed a video surveillance and control solution for a popular Panamanian Food Company - Empresa Panamena de Alimentos (EPA). Dahua’s security solution Empresa Panamena de Alimentos is a renowned company in the processed food industry in Panama, Central America. It was founded in 2012 and owns production plants and warehouses in the capital city, as well as agencies around the country. EPA’s products, including all kinds of cookies, coffee, and pasta, are already important parts of consumers’ day-to-day life. With the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic risks, EPA needed a system to sustain efficient management and operation, over their staff and facilities. Implementing multiple access controls in the facilities As a food company, the operations of the company need to be under caution, especially during the pandemic As a food company, the operations of the company need to be under caution, especially during the pandemic. It was necessary to implement multiple access controls in the facilities. With multiple plants located around the nation and accelerated growth, a centralised monitoring system for all equipment, alert management and user reports was needed. The solution, applied at EPA’s facilities, integrates various electronic security systems under a single platform and was evaluated based on the company’s needs. ANPR, AI-based cameras and access control systems “Currently, 480 Dahua devices have been arranged. Among them are different models of cameras, access control systems, and automatic number plate recognition products. AI-based cameras enhance the level of personnel protection. Everything is monitored by a DSS Express server in the main plant,” said Luis Araujo, the Manager of Infrastructure and Telecommunications of the Secutec Panama. Every day, more than 800 employees enter EPA facilities nationwide, the access control system allows a faster and safer automated entry of the staff and their cars. Access controllers and Pro Network Video Recorders Besides, three Pro Network Video Recorders (NVR5864-4KS2) were also adopted Apart from automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) devices, more than 20 access controllers (ASI7213X-T1) were installed in main offices for temperature monitoring and attendance management. Besides, three Pro Network Video Recorders (NVR5864-4KS2) were also adopted. With a powerful processor, they have the capability of 4K resolution processing and high definition recording quality. Perimeter protection and access control In Dahua Technology’s security solution, perimeter protection and access control are both realised. “We have had Dahua equipment for 7 years. It is a brand that has been of great help to our safety. It has contributed to continuous and steady operations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Guillermo Figueroa, EPA’s Safety and Control Manager. Javier Rodríguez, Secutec Panama’s Operations Manager, valued the quality and technology of Dahua’s solution, which has been ‘key’ for the development of their projects, the support and accompaniment to the brands that are planned to be developed. Trust in Dahua Technology’s solution “We are very proud that our teams are here for EPA and that companies, like EPA and Secutec, trust Dahua Technology. We continue to innovate to offer solutions that help companies to work in a safer and smarter way,” said Fermín Osorio, an Engineer at Dahua Technology Ltd.

The death of Michael Brown at the hands of police in Ferguson, Missouri, in August 2014, highlighted to the public, the importance of body-worn cameras. There was no bodycam footage of the Ferguson tragedy. Arguably, it would have shed additional light on the shooting. Since then, body cameras have become a tangible legacy of Ferguson, Missouri. Bodycam footage is seen as providing greater accountability and ensuring an impartial record that can support, or debunk, any claims of police misconduct. Body-worn cameras are also finding their way into broader usage, even including customer service applications. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How important will body-worn cameras be moving forward? 

Keeping prisoners safely housed is among the biggest challenges the security industry faces. Correctional applications of security technology are often more extreme and require a specialised mix of technologies. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the video security and surveillance needs in prisons, and how well do technologies meet those needs? Are there any ethical qualms about selling to prisons?

A new generation of security professional is waiting in the wings. They will be faced with unprecedented challenges, as they seek to transform the security marketplace to the ‘next level’. Technology changes ensure the market will be very different 10 years from now and the fresh labour pool will need to be able to meet the host of new challenges. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What exciting career opportunities in the security industry await the next generation?