Surveillance software

It is generally understood that Video Management Software (VMS) is able to put operators firmly in control of a video surveillance system by allowing any combination of camera types and images to be displayed on control room screens and recorded at the same time. These include HD, 4K and ultra-high definition cameras, as well as 360° fisheye, thermal imaging and what may be legacy analogue cameras. The latest generation of open-platform VMS, however, is functionally able to deliver so much more than just the efficient management of cameras and the recording and storage of data. The contribution it can make in terms of delivering added value and business benefits, as well as the future-proofing and reduction in the total cost of ownership of a security system, is being understood and deployed by a growing number of security professionals and savvy end-users alike. VMS from manufacturers such as Wavestore, has the potential to be at the heart of a comprehensive electronic security solution End-to-end security management system Unlike end-to-end security systems or those that have very limited upgrade path opportunities, using an open-platform VMS enables integration with a host of technologies from any number of the world’s leading brands, as well as the opportunity to provide development services for specific requirements which can incorporate legacy or specialist technology into the solution. VMS from manufacturers such as Wavestore, has the potential to be at the heart of a comprehensive electronic security solution by providing a platform which makes integration between disparate third-party technologies simple and creates a total solution that is much more powerful than the sum of its parts. These not only include technologies from camera manufacturers but also from access control, intelligent video analytics, intruder detection, point of sale, and other sensors and devices making it possible for users to effortlessly operate, monitor, control and manage a best-in-breed total security solution from a single screen. Network video recorders There is certainly no shortage of manufacturers producing traditional network video recorders (NVRs) and for many projects these will offer an effective method of recording and storing video, audio and associated data. However, even if these recording devices work on an open platform, and many do not, users will very much be in the hands of the manufacturer in terms of what cameras they would be able to use with their receptive NVRs and integration with other third-party technology will be limited, if at all available. If they have not already integrated the preferred manufacturer, users may have to wait in a queue until they do! With VMS at the heart of an electronic security system, there is the flexibility to integrate with video surveillance cameras Video surveillance system With VMS at the heart of an electronic security system, there is the flexibility to integrate with video surveillance cameras from any manufacturer and have them interacting with virtually any third-party integration both today and as technology continues to move on. You are protected with a future-proof platform that allows you to take advantage of the technologies that will solve your specific problems. Plus, there is the freedom and scalability, subject to just a minimum specification, to run the VMS on a broad range of Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) hardware, reducing costs and having the freedom to choose exactly what works. Future-proof security solutions Moore’s Law can loosely be applied to video surveillance solutions. More and more data needs to be securely recorded and stored and actions triggered when an incident or pre-defined event occurs. As new threats emerge and new opportunities arise from the development of new innovative applications, the ability of a hard based solution to keep up with ever changing market demands, will be limited. A one-off investment in an open-platform VMS will offer system integrators the opportunity to deliver a bespoke solution to their end-user client Annual budget cycles and limitations may initially restrict users from buying everything on their wish list and their requirements will inevitably evolve over time. This may be because their day-to-day operational requirements have changed, their business has expanded or diversified, or simply because users’ expectations as to what can be achieved continues to increase as they gain some experience of operating a security solution and become more aware of the latest innovations.  One-off security investment A one-off investment in an open-platform VMS will offer system integrators the opportunity to deliver a bespoke solution to their end-user client which provides flexible storage as their requirements change. It will also allow them to continue to use legacy cameras alongside current and future generations of products, systems and software. Most importantly, it will allow them to adopt a ‘can do’ attitude when the client says “wouldn’t it be nice if…?’ to the idea of integrating an additional third-party system or incorporating some future technology, without having to suggest an entire existing system needs to be replaced.

In their commitment to continuous improvement, Pyronix are delighted to add voice push notifications to both iOS and Android versions of ProControl+. This feature is available now; users may have even already received them for events on their systems. Integrated life safety devices “We’ve listened to market demands and this is a feature that was very much sought, so we are very pleased to implement this,” Laurence Kenny, Pyronix Marketing Manager, said. If there is an alarm, or when the system is set or unset, or an event is triggered by any Pyronix life safety devices integrated into the system, such as the SMOKE-WE, CO-WE or the HUD/MED-WE, the user will receive a voice push notification that will get their attention. “This feature adds value to ProControl+, without any additional cost or action required,” Laurence said. Voice push notifications deliver a unique selling point that differentiates your business from any other on the intruder market" Voice push notifications “Voice push notifications deliver a unique selling point that differentiates your business from any other on the intruder market.” “Whether it is a panic alarm, a smoke detector, a break in or as simple as children coming home from school, ProControl+ now audibly keeps the user informed, so that they can remain in complete control.” ProControl+ video verification This feature, combined with Pyronix's range of Full-HD Wi-Fi cameras for video verification, allows users to be told what is happening, see what is happening and take appropriate action. If users do not currently receive push notifications and would like to start receiving them with an audible voice, simply enable them in the PyronixCloud account.

Redvision’s X-SERIES, RV30 rugged PTZ dome cameras now fully integrate with the Xtralis ADPRO XOa convergence software platform. The ADPRO XOa delivers revolutionary detection, verification and response services for remote guarding and general security applications. It provides remote, multi-site management of the company’s renowned, FastTrace, Remotely Managed Multi-Service Gateways (RMG) and iFT and iFT-E, NVR+ platforms.  RV30 PTZ dome cameras Stephen Lightfoot, technical director at Redvision, explained, “Operators can take full advantage of advanced RV30 washer, wiper, IR and white light illumination switching and scheduling, with multiple pre-sets. Further, RV30 camera functionality includes variable speed PTZ operation, with minimal joy-stick latency; Full HD video stream recording, with lower resolution sub-streams; and efficient, remote control, display and transmission.” “Xtralis ADPRO XOa and iFT NVR+ platforms provide customers with a robust recording and control platform for the X-SERIES. ADPRO XOa platforms are already well established and extensively used in local authority and public space applications, where Redvision’s rugged PTZ cameras are also extremely popular.” Long-range people detection Redvision produces 1080p and 720p resolution models of the RV30 X-SERIES rugged, PTZ camera range. The 1080p model will view events at distances of 120 metres, with operators identifying people at 40m. The 720p model, although lower resolution, has a 150m range, with operators identifying people at an incredible 60 metres.

MOBOTIX has announced the launch of MOBOTIX MOVE, a video surveillance camera family that supplements its current portfolio allowing end customers to benefit from additional features to meet a wider range of indoor and outdoor use cases. Customers can now obtain MOBOTIX MOVE products as they provide standards-based technology as well as products with unique MOBOTIX features from a single trusted source backed by industry leading quality and reliability. Supporting ONVIF S and G profiles The new MOBOTIX MOVE series are the first MOBOTIX cameras to support both the ONVIF S and G profiles with video streaming at 3 and 4 MP resolutions up to 30 frames per second. Available in 4 models including bullet, vandal proof bullet and fixed dome and two speed domes; all models are PoE powered and IP66/IK10 rated for flexible deployment. “MOBOTIX MOVE is a recognition that we need to bring the same level of MOBOTIX expertise to a wider range of projects that have a specific requirement,” explains Thomas Lausten, Chief Executive Officer of MOBOTIX. “We listened to our global customers and integrators and created a new product family that delivers standards-based features while retaining the build quality, reliability and innovation that MOBOTIX is renowned for within the security and access control market.” MOBOTIX MOVE is also the first MOBOTIX camera range with motorised varifocal lenses MOBOTIX MOVE features ONVIF support MOBOTIX MOVE is also the first MOBOTIX camera range with motorised varifocal lenses, high speed mechanical Pan-Tilt-Zoom, Speed Domes and Wide Dynamic Range sensors at up to 4MP resolution. The built-in software offers Smart Event functions, remote zoom and focus plus iris control on Autofocus Lens. Each device includes a built-in SD card slot and certain models have integrated IR LED illumination. The true day/night feature with integrated movable IR cut filter technology provides colour images at day time and monochrome infrared sensitive images at night. With full ONVIF support, MOBOTIX MOVE cameras can natively support the widest range of video management software and NVR devices including PTZ control, audio, multicasting and relay outputs. Integrated web GUI “With the addition of MOBOTIX MOVE, our customers now have more choice without compromising on quality,” says Lausten, “All MOBOTIX MOVE products are specified and tested by MOBOTIX in Germany and manufactured under supervision. Our customers can be sure that we won’t lose our product DNA and all MOBOTIX MOVE branded devices are delivered and supported according to the same high-quality standards our customers expect,” Lausten adds. All MOBOTIX MOVE devices can be controlled via integrated web GUI using PC based browsers and will also be natively supported in the upcoming 2.0 version of MOBOTIX Management Center due for release in Q4 of 2018. MOBOTIX MOVE will be available from MOBOTIX distributors at the end of July and will be supported by technical training events for registered partners.

The latest Device Pack 9.8 update for hardware support in Milestone XProtect Video Management Software implements local storage for body-worn cameras and adds support for SRTP (Secure Real-time Transport Protocol) on Axis devices. Milestone Systems, the premier global provider of open platform networked video management system (VMS), has released Device Pack 9.8 for partners and customers using Milestone XProtect video solutions. The bi-monthly device packs contain software updates for XProtect video management to support new hardware. Support for body-worn cameras Use of body-worn cameras enables wireless documentation of events not totally covered by fixed cameras. This can not only improve situational awareness for safety related incidents, but also increase safety for lone workers or document maintenance and construction work, since the camera sends a real-time video feed to the Milestone VMS giving instant alert on a situation. However, bandwidth restrictions can affect the quality of the transmitted video, limiting the investigational possibilities. Internal storage in the cameras can be a way to bypass this restriction as high-quality video can be recorded internally while lower quality video is transmitted in real time to the Milestone software. When the body-worn camera is later connected to a higher bandwidth network, the recording on the device will be transferred to the XProtect System and synchronised with the recording sent in real-time. The ONVIF profile G standard enables this and has now been implemented in XProtect in Device Pack 9.8 for selected models from the Milestone Camera Partners Edesix and Zepcam. Secure Real-Time Protocol (Secure RTP or SRTP) is an extension of the RTP protocol with an enhanced security mechanism Increased cyber security Support for SRTP has been added for selected Axis cameras. Secure Real-Time Protocol (Secure RTP or SRTP) is an extension of the RTP protocol with an enhanced security mechanism. It provides encryption, authentication and integrity verification of data and messages passed through the RTP-based communication protocol. The possibility to use SRTP has been implemented across all Axis drivers for Milestone XProtect. The implementation utilises the smart configuration abilities of the supported Axis cameras to make it easy to activate the extra level of security. Integrated Mobotix & Hanwha cameras XProtect support for Bosch cameras with edge storage has been increased: media status can now be accessed by the VMS.Support for Mobotix MxActivitySensor in camera analytics has also been added to handle alarms like motion detection from the intelligent cameras. Several models of Hanwha thermal cameras are now fully supported as well, providing the Milestone community with the broadest range of thermal cameras to use.

Vicon Industries, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of video surveillance and access control software, hardware and components, announced the release of VAX Access Control, version 2.9.60. This latest VAX version includes powerful feature enhancements to software as well as new hardware options that offer cost savings and programming flexibility. VAX now offers a Master Multi-Door Controller for 2 to 8 doors. Compact and powerful, the new panel is designed for mounting in equipment rooms and for seamless conversion to VAX in retrofit projects, where it will significantly reduce labor and hardware costs. The Multi-Door Controllers offer all the same functionality as VAX over-the-door controllers, including the new ability to program and store customised actions at the door level. These can be executed from inputs, triple swipes or user credential presentations and require no connection to the server. In addition, all new VAX controllers now support live firmware updates that can be automatically pushed to them from the VAX server, ensuring that entire networks stay current with minimal to no down time. VAX’s software interface VAX’s updated software interface offers a new monitoring layout that clearly displays easy-to-view tiles for each of the last 12-16 reader events, including users’ names and photos. System operators can customise the layout of the tile display depending on their monitoring preferences. In addition, administrators can receive an immediate, pop-up notification for specified events. These notifications may include custom text, images and even display corresponding video from a surveillance camera. VAX 2.9.60 also provides enhanced monitoring capabilities for unmanaged doors. Doors without access readers can now be monitored for door strikes and operators can easily call up associated cameras. This provides security teams with important visibility into the access of unsecured areas within facilities. Mobile credentialing offers a new level of convenience for VAX customers who prefer to use their smartphones instead of cards or fobs Specialised access controls Mobile credentialing offers a new level of convenience for VAX customers who prefer to use their smartphones instead of cards or fobs. Upon installing a special smartphone app, users can scan their own, unique VAX credentials into their phones, allowing them to communicate via Bluetooth with specialised door readers. When users come within a few feet of a reader, the door will unlock, without any need to remove their phones from pockets or purses. Other new features include enhanced controls for time zones and holiday schedules, more complex logic-based programming at the door level, and the ability to support installations where site codes are not available or are inconsistent. Bret McGowan, Vicon’s V.P. of Sales and Marketing, explains, “In the past two years, VAX has proven to be popular with our customers both as a stand-alone solution and for its built-in integration with Vicon’s Valerus VMS. With the launch of our new Master Door Controller, as well as many new software features, we expect to see continued strong market growth, particularly from retrofit projects.”

According to Save The Rhino statistics, over 1000 rhinos are killed annually in South Africa. These harrowing poaching statistics display a gloomy future for survival of this beautiful species. While many attempts have been undertaken over the past ten years to combat the devastating results of poaching, the country has not yet seen a steady decline in numbers year-on-year. It is with this knowledge that AxxonSoft’s Global Marketing Director, Colleen Glaeser, who is based in South Africa, decided to create a strategical and proactive anti-poaching approach, utilising the tools at her disposal, assisting a country in dire need of assistance. While Deep Learning, using Artificial Intelligence and neural network analytics in its algorithm, is not new to the security and surveillance industry, Colleen and the team at AxxonSoft global took the technology a step further, developing and implementing the software to help differentiate between humans and animals. Identifying actual poaching threats AxxonSoft’s surveillance software, which leverages Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning technology now alerts the operators in the control room to an immediate poaching threat The implementation of this technology in game reserves and parks across South Africa has certainly been a game-changer regarding the war against poaching. For two reasons namely; this neural network solution can identify actual poaching threats (distinguishing poachers from their prey) while providing a proactive surveillance solution as opposed to a reactive one. Predominately utilised for face and license plate recognition, Deep Learning technology has never been adapted to tell the difference between humans and animals. Prior to the incorporation of Deep Learning in anti-poaching surveillance, software often failed control rooms and response units in that false alarms were on many occasions, set off by animals, insects and weather. Control rooms were not able to tell the difference between an actual threat and a false alarm, which often resulted in exhausting resources as teams were dispatched for animals who had touched the fence while grazing in their natural habitat. AxxonSoft’s leading surveillance software, which leverages Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning technology now alerts the operators in the control room to an immediate poaching threat as poachers try and breach the fence perimeter to enter the reserve or park. Proactive surveillance solution AxxonSoft’s Deep Learning technology provides a proactive solution to surveillance whereas previous systems were somewhat archaic and reactive in their response to real threats Global Marketing Director for AxxonSoft, Colleen Glaeser says, “Our Deep Learning technology has been extremely successful thus far in telling the difference between animals and humans as the neural network algorithm can identify, through certain indicators, whether a human or animal has set off the alarm. If the software detects a human, the operations team is immediately notified and a dispatch team is sent to the scene in question.” Furthermore, AxxonSoft’s Deep Learning technology provides a proactive solution to surveillance whereas previous systems were somewhat archaic and reactive in their response to real threats. Due to expansive terrain and limited resources, rangers and antipoaching units often get to the scene of the crime too late. With the AxxonSoft technology, as soon as the breach occurs, cameras will identify if the breach has been caused by an animal or human, and the control room is immediately notified as to where the occurrence has taken place in the reserve or park. The dispatch team is given the necessary information and they head to the site where the occurrence has taken place. Real-time identification of threats By utilising this technology, we have been able to take a proactive approach, identifying the threat in a real time situation" The beauty about Deep Learning and Neural Network analysis is in its ability to learn and understand the conditions which lead up to an event, and that ultimately allows us to prepare for threats or potential breaches when the known conditions are met. “AxxonSoft’s technology has proved very successful in preventing killings as the team is able to get to the scene of the crime quickly. “By utilising this technology, we have been able to take a proactive approach, identifying the threat in a real time situation. The AxxonSoft team and I really believe this anti-poaching solution can aid in the war against poaching and drastically bring down the upsetting statistics. I can attest to the fact that we have seen great success in curbing poaching,” concludes Glaeser.

Ulaanbaatar is the capital and the largest city of Mongolia, with a population of over 1.3 million, which is almost half of the country's total population. Over the past decade, the number of vehicles in Ulaanbaatar has risen by more than 300,000. As the political and cultural center of Mongolia, the increasing number of inhabitants and vehicles within the city has caused a series of social, environmental, and transportation problems. Dahua’s sophisticated ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) solution has integrated advanced software and hardware including sensors, information and data processing and physical electronics and communication technologies to assist the transportation department of Ulaanbaatar, in enhancing the safety and efficiency of its transportation system. Intelligent Transportation System In recent years, the government of Ulaanbaatar has prioritised the improvement of traffic management and has identified the need of a cost-effective solution towards speeding, traffic light violations and other road safety related issues, to create a more secure environment for citizens. Due to the high-latitude geography of the city, this project is particularly demanding on the monitoring equipment withstanding harsh environments. Based on advanced intelligent algorithms, Dahua has provided the city with its cutting-edge ITS solution consisting of the ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) system for 28 main roads, the E-police system for 8 junctions, 2 mobile speed measurement systems as well as 15 high spot PTZ surveillance units. The project took only three months from the initial analysis of the client’s demands and solution design to, the final delivery, overcoming various tough issues along the way. The Dahua team worked in collaboration with a partner to customise a Mongolian license plate recognition algorithm ANPR system As there are no current systems for license plate recognition in Mongolia, the Dahua team worked in collaboration with a partner to customise a Mongolian license plate recognition algorithm. This was then integrated into Dahua’s traffic cameras, achieving a reliable recognition rate, much to the satisfaction of the client. Dahua’s traffic cameras installed at the significant main roads of the city, are able to function between a temperature of - 40 ℃ ~ + 80 ℃ and a 10%~90% humidity environment. The cameras will actively monitor and inspect each suspicious vehicle, and automatically capture their license plates in real time, sending out an automatic alert when blacklisted vehicles pass by. E-police monitoring system The monitoring equipment set up at the eight junctions can help the Ulaanbaatar transportation authorities in making quick responses to traffic accidents that are caused by running red lights. When a violation occurs, the Dahua all-in-one capture camera takes a series of images of the vehicle’s license plate number, along with the status of the traffic signal and an aerial image of the scene as evidence. Afterwards, the DSS management and storage platform collects the data from each camera and distributes it to operators for further processing. The mobile speed measuring system detects vehicles that surpass the speed limit in all weather conditions Mobile speed measuring system The mobile speed measuring system detects vehicles that surpass the speed limit in all weather conditions. The system features an all-in-one design, making it easy to use and install at different locations at a moment’s notice. This portability allows traffic police to move the system to different places whenever necessary. It consists of an 8MP CCD camera with a multi-target tracking radar, allowing for an accurate instant speed measurement of each passing vehicle and crystal-clear imaging. The IR flash lamp also ensures excellent imaging capabilities even during the dark of night. Technical security training To better serve the client, Dahua’s team has provided the operators of the local transportation department, with relevant technical training and demonstrated to them, the installation and deployment of devices. Additionally, all three systems are unified on a single platform within the control center, further enabling the end user to more efficiently monitor and manage road safety. Dahua’s ITS solution facilitates road safety and keeps the traffic flowing smoothly, raising the safety awareness of drivers, resulting in a more pleasant journey for drivers.  Advanced technologies such as LPR and fuzzy search, actively reduces manpower demands on the police force, while increasing the efficiency of current enforcement. Furthermore, Dahua’s solution has assisted the government of Ulaanbaatar to finance a sustainable, growing, and well-maintained system of security and safety.

One of Fortaleza's largest hotels, the Gran Marquise Hotel, which hosts thousands of people each year and holds hundreds of events, has reinvented itself and converted analog technology to IP surveillance. Upon project completion, it is expected that the Gran Marquise will have 250 VIVOTEK network cameras installed, integrated and linked with all other hotel devices under Genetec’s cloud-based video-surveillance-as-a-service (VSaaS) solution, Stratocast. About Gran Marquise The Gran Marquise is a five-star hotel of 18 thousand square meters located on the seafront of Fortaleza (Ceará). With a 23 year history, the hotel has a large infrastructure of 230 apartments ranging in size from 29 to 131 square meters, two presidential suites and 21 floors in total, of which 14 are dedicated to guest rooms 7 are retained for events, recreation and administration. The Gran Marquise realised that its security system needed to be renewed It is one of the most in-demand destinations among national and international authorities, artists and athletes, such as Bill Clinton, former president of the United States, Vladimir Putin, current president of Russia, singer Paul McCartney, rapper Snoop Dogg, as well as the fighters of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. In addition, the Gran Marquise was the first hotel in Brazil to achieve the ISO 22000, certificate that ensures adherence to extremely high standards of food quality and safety. Unified security and operations The Gran Marquise realised that its security system needed to be renewed. The hotel had 500 analog cameras and 22 digital video recorders installed – an extensive system, but one which only provided low-quality images and demanded heavy workload when it was necessary to locate and retrieve footage of a recorded event. "We looked at the hotel and realised that we had good internet, excellent rooms, perfect service, but if a customer asked for footage from security cameras, the only thing we could offer were noisy images," said Jussieudo Gomes, Security and Information Technology Division chief of the Hotel Grand Marquise Fortaleza. To solve this dilemma and improve the management and security of the hotel, a plan was formulated to develop a pilot project with VIVOTEK – a global provider of network cameras, PoE switches, and network video recorders, and Genetec, a global provider of IP surveillance software, access control and license plate recognition solutions. Installing VIVOTEK network cameras Divided into four stages, the goal of the project was to enable the total unification of management, security, marketing and commercial operations Divided into four stages, the goal of the project was to enable the total unification of management, security, marketing and commercial operations. In the first phase, 250 analogue cameras were replaced by a mere 48 VIVOTEK network cameras. Also installed was the Genetec Stratocast software, a cloud-based video recorder tool that eliminates the need for any local server, making it possible to monitor and share images with fully encrypted data. Two models of network cameras were installed throughout the hotel: one is the IB8369A, a 2-megapixel camera capable of capturing high quality video, with IR illuminators effective up to 30 meters for superior image quality throughout the day and night. The camera also features Smart Stream II technology, which optimises image quality for the most important regions in any scene; in doing so it can reduce network bandwidth consumption and storage requirements by up to 50%. The other camera installed was the small-scale, but big-featured FD8166, an ultra-mini fixed dome network camera with a tiny diameter of only 90mm. Genetec Security Center solution "Because of the ‘L’ shaped layout of the hotel, we previously had five analog cameras installed on each floor: two in the corridor, because the distance from one side to the other was too long to be monitored by a single analog camera; one in front of the elevator; another covering the 'L' and one more covering the maid’s service area. "Now, each floor has only three cameras: one camera that serves the 'L' and the elevator; another that serves the corridor and one more observing the service area. At the reception area, the same thing happens, we put a different camera on the ceiling, and with just that solution we managed to cover the lobby, the bar, a part of the reception and the stairs of the restaurant, "explained Gomes. The Genetec Security Center solution was implemented for the internal parts of the hotel In the second phase, the Genetec Security Center solution was implemented for the internal parts of the hotel. With this platform, Gran Marquise can unify operations by combining all IP surveillance systems into one interface. Now all access control and video surveillance are connected to, and accessible through, the cloud. Unified access control and fire security The third and fourth stages are still in progress. The goal is to install 250 network cameras in total and unify the security system with access controls and the fire alarm system. In addition, the KiwiVision analytical software was also installed, a system which counts people automatically through cameras and 3D sensors and detects objects added or removed from a scene. This way it is possible to automatically detect if a dangerous object has left behind or if something has been stolen from a particular area. "The new security system has come to improve the image quality of surveillance, the layout of the hotel and the promptness of response to the customer. In the past, if we needed an image we had to expend great effort in searching whole files and spend hours watching videos to be able to select and retrieve the relevant event - not to mention the impact power failures, and malfunctions issues in power supplies, recorders and hard disk drives. ", said Gomes.            Video security integration The new IP surveillance infrastructure has already proven effective during a wedding held at the hotel The new IP surveillance infrastructure has already proven effective during a wedding held at the hotel. The bride had been in the spa area enjoying the luxurious Day of the Bride service. However, when she went to dress up for the ceremony, she did not find the jewelry she had prepared for the wedding. Security staffs were triggered to investigate the occurrence. “Through descriptions of the bag that carried the jewelry and the time when the bride last saw it, we were able to locate the footage though the synergy of VIVOTEK’s camera and the Genetec system, and then proceed to point of precise relevance in the video. We noticed that the bride carried the purse into the car, but on exiting the car she was no longer carrying it. When we showed her the pictures, she went to the car and the purse was there. If it wasn’t for the new IP surveillance solution, we would not have been able to ascertain what had happened, the bride would remember and find the jewelry only after the ceremony, and her day would have been ruined. This entire investigation process, finding the images and resolve the case, took only 15 minutes, but saved a very important day" said the security chief. Genetec public-private partnership The Hotel Gran Marquise’s new security system is part of Genetec's private-public sharing initiative The Hotel Gran Marquise’s new security system is part of Genetec's private-public sharing initiative, which enables the sharing of certain cloud-recorded images with police forces. The Military Police, the Ceará State Government and the ABIH (Brazilian Hotels Industry Association in Ceará) are partners in this project along with the hotel. The purpose of this private-public partnership is that, with the monitoring carried out by private companies, the public sector can achieve a more effective action, speedily curbing the action of criminals in monitored places. The private-public partnership is founded on the belief that such sharing of private company surveillance with the public sector will enable a more expedient and effective curbing of criminal activity in such monitored areas. In this way, it is possible to expand monitored areas and reduce crime without direct public sector investment. Recorded images are transmitted in real time to the police, and a two-way relationship benefits both sectors. "The goal of projects with public-private partnerships is prevention. It is possible to increase public safety with little investment from the private sector," explained Country Manager of Genetec Brazil, Denis André Côté. With such initiatives, we are beginning to see the benefits of advances in total surveillance systems expand beyond those companies who take the initiative to invest in them and begin to serve the broader public.

Technology is front and center at a beautiful new City Hall in the Northwest U.S., where community members will find local government offices, city council chambers and the department of economic development. The building’s tightly integrated electrical, lighting, fire protection, telecommunications and security solutions is the work of Coffman Engineers. Ben Helms was project manager responsible for specifying Vicon’s Valerus VMS and VAX Access Control security solutions into the facility and credits Vicon’s A&E tools and support services with helping him to get the job done right. Access control and VMS solutions Ben says that his firm has a long history with Vicon through Vicon’s dedicated A&E outreach programs Ben says that his firm has a long history with Vicon through Vicon’s dedicated A&E outreach programs. In the past, he has attended Vicon’s annual A&E Summit, a 2 ½ day educational event filled with seminars and interactive learning for the specifying community on topics related to surveillance technologies and solutions. It was at one of these seminars that he was first shown a beta version of Valerus, Vicon’s new VMS that was still under development. “I thought it was really cool,” he says. “It’s a big jump to go to an all browser-based system and adds a lot of advantages over a hard system.” As for the VAX Access Control solution, Ben appreciated the over-the-door controllers, which he says, from his standpoint, “made the system a lot less work to design.” He says that “Normally, controllers are all lined up in an IT room and you have masses of wiring going out to the doors, so you have to worry about voltage drop and a lot of other factors. With the VAX controller, you just put it out there, connect it to a PoE drop, and you’re done.” VAX-Valerus integration With the built-in integration between Valerus and VAX, it just made sense to go that way" When Ben began work on the brand-new City Hall, which required a unified access control and VMS solution, he saw a perfect match. “With the built-in integration between Valerus and VAX, it just made sense to go that way.” Steve Helms, Ben’s father and the Principal in Charge of the project, had also attended Vicon’s A&E Summits in the past and had seen what Valerus and VAX could do. He agreed with Ben’s recommendation. For putting together specifications for the security portion of the City Hall project, Ben relied on ARCAT SpecWizard, a free online tool that automates the spec building process. Vicon is one of only a few VMS manufacturers who have invested in providing this resource to the A&E community. SpecWizard is particularly helpful for solutions that include a wide range of components and require a degree of customisation for each project. Ben says that he found SpecWizard really easy to use. “I just went in and checked the boxes for the cameras, servers and software that I wanted, and downloaded the completed spec in Word format. All I had to do was edit it a bit to cut out a few things I didn’t need. It made it really simple to grab all the parts and pieces and make sure that everything was covered.” High megapixel cameras The entire City Hall project was built in AutoDesk REVIT software for BIM (building information modeling) The entire City Hall project was built in AutoDesk REVIT software for BIM (building information modeling), allowing the architecture and engineering teams to collaboratively model the building’s components and simulate its systems and structures. Ben was able to access REVIT models of all of Vicon’s camera models, available through the AutoCAD360 library, drag them into the project and pop them right into place. “This part of the project was really fun,” say Ben. The models clearly showed the mechanicals for the cameras as well as their field of view. When presenting the drawings to the clients, it was easy to explain what could be seen from each camera and how they would all work together as a system to provide coverage of all critical areas. The City Hall project used several different camera models, with resolutions ranging from 2MP to 12MP. High megapixel cameras generate a tremendous amount of data and calculating bandwidth and storage requirements are complicated by factors such as frame rates, video quality, lighting, the types of images being recorded, and use of settings like motion activated recording. To guide him through this evaluation process, Ben says he relied on Vicon’s free calculator tools, which simplified the challenge of determining the system’s server and storage needs. Video-access control integration The City Hall project used several different camera models, with resolutions ranging from 2MP to 12MP While Ben greatly appreciated the many tools that Vicon offers to make his job easier, he says that the biggest reason he would absolutely use VAX and Valerus again is the support he received from the Vicon team. “I have a local Vicon rep here I can call, and I know their entire technical team is always available to help me if I have any sort of issue.” Ben says that it’s also very important to specify solutions that deliver value to his clients. It’s nice to be able to say to them, “Here’s a system that is not going to cost you a ton to install, you can have unlimited user groups, unlimited users, the video and access control will completely integrate with each other, it has all these features included that a lot of systems charge extra for, and the licensing cost is pretty low. From a consulting and specifying standpoint, it checks a lot of the boxes that we really like.”

Pulse Secure, a provider of Secure Access solutions to both enterprises and service providers, has announced that Entegrus has successfully deployed Pulse Policy Secure advanced network access control (NAC), to strengthen overall visibility and access security across their hybrid IT infrastructure. Entegrus, a Canadian energy company, leveraged their existing Pulse Secure virtual private network (VPN) implementation to expedite NAC deployment and fortify their infrastructure in accordance with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) guidelines. As a result, their security organisation extended visibility for remote and on-premise users and devices, as well as enhanced endpoint compliance and Internet of Things (IoT) risk mitigation. We have increased our security posture, and for the most part, there has been zero impact on our end users" Pulse Secure-Entegrus collaboration Entegrus serves over 58,000 customers throughout Ontario. They bring electricity, renewable energy and water across three large regions, with a workforce spread out over 2,300 square miles. Entegrus’ objective is to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective provision of energy and related billing services, while providing high levels of service to its customers, partners and the communities it serves. IT security plays a critical role in protecting their delivery of energy and data services.  “The threat landscape is constantly evolving, forcing us to always consider how we can go one step further. With a widely distributed IT infrastructure, we considered NAC as an effective way to improve our security posture without dramatically altering how we operate,” said Dave Cullen, manager of information systems for Entegrus. “We have a long-standing relationship with Pulse Secure. The level of integration between Pulse Secure secure sockets layer (SSL) and NAC, as well as the extended feature set, made it a straightforward choice for us. Perhaps, the two most important things are that we have increased our security posture, and for the most part, there has been zero impact on our end users.”  Active control with seamless network access Ensuring always active control while maintaining flexible, seamless access to network and application resources is an essential requirement for utility providers. Within such highly regulated industries, best practices dictate a constant cycle of security readiness review and improvement to meet an increasingly potent threat posed by cyber threat actors. NAC provides foundational endpoint intelligence, resource access enforcement and IoT defences that support industry and regulatory compliance guidelines. These compliance requisites apply to both regional and large national critical infrastructure providers.  For stretched IT departments, Pulse Secure’s Secure Access solutions are designed to streamline deployment and on-going administration using an easy, integrated, policy-driven platform that works with a customer’s existing installed base and network infrastructure. In addition, Pulse Secure’s VPN solution utilises the same endpoint client, policy engine and appliance management as the NAC solution. Entegrus took advantage of this platform capability to rapidly implement NAC. As a result, they gained dynamic intelligence, unified policy management, automated enforcement and threat response through a single management console. We needed to make sure our secure access technologies could adapt to new regulatory requirements and new business needs" Secure access solutions Cullen highlights numerous benefits, including a simplified method of managing complex policies and user access rights, as well as an enforceable method of checking end-point devices to ensure that only properly patched operating systems can connect to the network. Another advantage of Pulse Policy Secure was evident after Entegrus recently merged with London, Ontario-based St. Thomas Energy. “We needed to make sure our secure access technologies could adapt to new regulatory requirements and new business needs, as the recent merger added new, unqualified infrastructure and grew our customer base by around a third, which also led to the hiring of 28 new staff members,” Cullen added.

To improve safety and instil a tranquil environment for citizens of Lagos de Carrasco (Carrasco Lakes), this residential community in Uruguay invested in a new monitoring system based on video management software from Milestone Systems. Milestone Systems open platform IP video management software (VMS), is helping the lakeside community of Carrasco Lakes in Uruguay to benefit from better security control. Previous multiple standalone systems were not efficient enough. The new networked solution allows ongoing expansions with more cameras and video analytics. Located to the east of Uruguay’s capital Montevideo, Lagos de Carrasco stretches across two islands, and is known for its beautiful houses perched on the lakes’ shores. However, because the semi-private residential community can be freely accessed through city streets, the topic of security is of keen interest to its residents. A few years ago, as the neighbourhood began to grow, the area’s residents decided to invest in updating its video surveillance. Considering its location and conditions, with certain factors like humidity, electrical currents and the physical difficulties surrounding cable extensions, the system that was formerly installed deteriorated over time. This lead to a negative impact on the quality of the surveillance images, as well as to the stability of the system in general. We installed an IP network system that connected to several of the power supply points and featured a wireless connection that stretched across both islands" Installation of IP cameras and XProtect VMS Lagos de Carrasco worked with Milestone Partner Foxsys to execute the modernisation project. Its commercial director, Juan Martín González, explained: “In light of the situational requirements, we installed an IP network system that connected to several of the power supply points and featured a wireless connection that stretched across both islands. This was in addition to acquiring new cameras and a video control system in the height of the project.” The previous system’s cameras, roughly five years old, were removed and replaced with about 34 IP cameras manufactured by HikVision and Arecont Vision. With the goal of combining each of these technologies and their new functions, Lagos de Carrasco chose the video management software XProtect Professional from Milestone Systems. Reduced bandwidth González manages the system bandwidth with the software configuration. “All the security cameras are IP based, and we depend on failover redundancy with the video. It’s a big challenge to work with restricted bandwidth, and XProtect Professional allows us to optimise it, lower our consumption in real time and maintain the best recording resolution possible.” Surveillance is performed in two ways: from the central neighbourhood security office and remotely, from security company BLITZ’s main headquarters. Jaime Márquez, director of BLITZ and manager of security at Lagos de Carrasco, adds that the previously implemented systems were a complex challenge for the operators. “With the introduction of Milestone Systems software, we could optimise the concentration of CCTV personnel, immediately observe different incidents and qualify the seriousness of them. What’s more, we’re now able to conduct pre-analyses to prevent potential crime through the identification of people and/or actions,” says Márquez. This is a complicated situation, seeing as there have been several intrusions specific to the area" Video analytics for tresspasser identification The initial investment is the first of three stages that the Lagos de Carrasco community has planned – another stage focuses on expanding to the farther most western perimeters of the neighbourhood, potentially adding 20-25 additional cameras. “This is a complicated situation, seeing as there have been several intrusions specific to the area. Due to a lot of vegetation and precarious conditions, it faces some larger technical challenges,” González explains. The third and final stage involves integrating different video analytics through Milestone Solution Partners. These include prowling detection methods, identifying trespassers in restricted areas and registering them, identifying and recognising license plates, as well as establishing alerts for license plates not belonging to any of the residents that enters the neighbourhood.