Traffic surveillance

Check Point announces the availability of its complete Quantum Security Gateways series, which deliver unprecedented protection, scalability, and ease of deployment and control for enterprises, from their branch offices to corporate data centers. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has forced enterprises to quickly expand support for remote connectivity and home working at an unprecedented scale. Recent research by Check Point showed that 71% of enterprise IT and security professionals globally reported an increase in security threats and attacks since the pandemic started, as criminals seek to exploit the remote working explosion, and 95% of respondents said they are facing added IT security challenges related to these changes. Advanced security protections Organisations are focused on three key network and security requirements: Preventing even advanced, zero-day cyber-attacks before they impact the organisation The ability to secure any type of network expansion or changes on demand Unified solutions that speed up operations and automate protection Check Point’s range of new Quantum Security Gateways deliver a combination of advanced security protections, with over 2x the performance and half the energy consumption of rival high-end appliances. All of the Quantum Security Gateway models are now bundled with Check Point’s award-winning SandBlast Zero Day Protection with more than 60 security services focused on threat prevention, out of the box. SSL-encrypted traffic inspection This includes a 100% block score for malware prevention for email and web, exploit resistance and post-infection catch rate, as seen in the NSS Labs’ recent Breach Prevention Systems (BPS) Group Test. They also feature lightning-fast SSL-encrypted traffic inspection for maximum security. Key highlights of the Quantum Security Gateway range include: Hyperscale-ready with up to 1.5 Tera-bps of Threat Prevention Performance Latest CPU models Modularity and easy customisation through multiple expansion slots 100% Enterprise Solid State Drives (SSD), second power supply unit, and lights-out management for optimum reliability and availability. Reducing complexity and improve efficiency Enterprises today require cybersecurity solutions that provide strong threat prevention" “Enterprises today require cybersecurity solutions that provide strong threat prevention to stop sophisticated multi-vector attacks, on-demand scalability to keep pace with changing network traffic requirements including an increase in remote workers, and centralised management to reduce complexity and improve efficiency,” said John Grady Analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG). “Check Point’s new Quantum Security Gateways ™ address these IT challenges through high performance SandBlast Network threat prevention, security capacity expansion on-demand, and a unified security management platform that can reduce operational costs. These innovations enable enterprises to stay ahead of the attack landscape while meeting the changing needs of the business.” Critical network security challenges “Addressing our customers’ critical network security challenges is what we do at Check Point every day, and today, enterprises need industry-leading threat prevention capabilities at all points of their infrastructure, and the ability to quickly adapt and scale their security almost infinitely,” said Itai Greenberg, VP Product Management and Product Marketing at Check Point. “With the new Quantum Security Gateway series we are uniquely delivering to market uncompromised security and performance with the most advanced threat prevention. This enables enterprises of all sizes to achieve the highest calibre of protection and resiliency while cutting their operational costs by up to 80%.” Quantum Security Gateway range The Quantum Security Gateway range: supporting enterprises of all sizes Quantum 3600 and 3800 Gateways secure branch offices with up to 1.5 Gbps performance against zero-day attacks, in a desktop form factor with power supply redundancy and enterprise grade SSDs. Quantum 6200 and 6400 Gateways secure small enterprises with up to 2.5 Gbps performance against zero-day attacks. Quantum 6600 and 6700 Gateways secure mid-sized enterprises with up to 7.6 Gbps performance against zero-day attacks. These models offer modular customisable connectivity options with up to 40 GbE fiber interfaces. Quantum 7000 and 16200 Gateways secure large enterprises with up to 15 Gbps performance against zero-day attacks. These models deliver modular customisable connectivity options with up to 100 GbE fiber interfaces. Quantum 26000 and 28000 Gateways secure data centres against zero-day attacks, with up to 30 Gbps of threat prevention These models deliver the industry’s highest port density with up to 16 100 GbE fibre interfaces. Quantum 16600 Quantum Hyperscale Gateway is purpose built for Maestro, in a condensed 1RU form factor enabling customers to create cloud-grade security systems with up to 850 Gbps performance against zero-day attacks.

Video surveillance company Ocucon launches a new technology that cleverly monitors the number of people going in and out of a store, automatically shutting the entrance when the occupancy threshold is met. Occupi by Ocucon is a response to a growing need for controlled entry to retail stores during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing has meant many retailers are spending thousands of pounds a week per store on extra security personnel to manage store entrances and exits. Occupi by Ocucon presents an opportunity for retailers to save millions of pounds per year and provides a return on investment that can be achieved within weeks. Deep learning technology The technology works on an automated traffic light system. Managers can set a maximum number of customers in their store, and when that is met, the traffic light system, visible to customers, at the entrance will turn red and the automatic doors will not open. Using Deep Learning technology to identify people and count them entering and exiting the store, the system allows for a fully-automated, unmanned control over the store occupancy level. Ocucon are providing a ‘Rapid Deployment’ solution that will be easy to install and configure. Occupi is controlled through a remote connection via the cloud, which allows individual store managers to change the occupancy level at any time, to respond to events on site and control the flow of customers. Signage will be provided to inform customers of the store and make them aware of how the system works. Guided installation process Our guided installation process means that Occupi will be remotely configured, monitored and controlled" Gary Trotter, Co-Founder of Ocucon, says, “I am thrilled to bring a truly innovative and beneficial product like Occupi by Ocucon to the market during this difficult time. We know that the crowd control measures in place in stores around the country will not go away any time soon, so this newly developed technology will help both customers and staff stay safe by adhering to social distancing guidelines, as well as helping save retailers millions of pounds for years to come.” “It is our goal to help retailers in these challenging times to reduce costs and improve customer safety. Our guided installation process means that Occupi will be remotely configured, monitored and controlled so managers can instantly set occupancy levels and start saving money straight away.” Crowd control measures The technology will be welcomed by retailers in the UK as they continue to manage the sale of food and essential supplies to the public while keeping customers and staff safe. Most stores that are still trading have crowd control measures in place, mainly in the form of manned entrances and exits, which increases the costs for retailers. Occupi by Ocucon will reduce the need for staff to maintain access to the store, thus removing human error from occupancy levels. Occupi by Ocucon is available now.

C-suite executives will increasingly be targeted by cyber criminals looking for ways of extorting money from large corporations. According to a new report from cyber analytics provider CyberCube, organised criminals and hackers are moving away from ‘high volume, low-value’ methods of attack to, instead, carefully selecting senior managers who have access to organisations’ bank accounts and are in a position to authorise payments. Maximum degree of compliance Criminals are also predicted to use artificial intelligence to construct algorithms that will ‘hunt’ for individual targets while deciding which of their ‘buttons to press’ in order to obtain the maximum degree of compliance. The report, Understanding Ransomware Trends, predicts that criminals will more closely calibrate their ransom demands to an organisation’s financial performance, data assets and other measurables. This includes appetite and ability to pay ransoms. Aggressive organised criminal groups Overall, the report contends, the nature of ransomware attacks is changing with greater focus on organisations rather than private individuals. According to figures from cyber security specialist Symantec, the volume of cyber attacks focusing on consumers has fallen from 69% in 2016 to 19% in 2018. In hand with this, payment demands are increasing, rising to millions of dollars in some instances. The nature of ransomware attacks is changing with greater focus on organisations Oliver Brew, CyberCube’s Head of Client Services and one of the report’s authors, said: “The business model for cyber crime is evolving rapidly. Threat actor groups are conducting campaigns and adjusting their models to extract greater value from a smaller number of attacks. Recently, we’ve seen some very sophisticated and aggressive organised criminal groups conduct carefully targeted ransomware attacks, which mark a move away from the traditional high volume, low-value approach.” Forward-looking view of cyber threats Yvette Essen, CyberCube’s Head of Content, added: “Criminals are realising that ransom demands of millions of dollars are achievable when the target becomes a corporation rather than lots of consumers. The danger now is that the Coronavirus outbreak is creating the ideal conditions for ransomware attacks to flourish. With widespread working from home, increased internet traffic, increasing use of technology for what were face-to-face transactions, corporations must increase their vigilance.” Darren Thomson, Head of Cyber Security Strategy for CyberCube, said: “Insurers need to take a forward-looking view of cyber threats like ransomware. That’s why CyberCube is investing in research and development necessary to help the insurance industry anticipate how these attacks are evolving. It’s important to remember that the amount of ransomware attacks like Travelex which have gone public are just the tip of the iceberg.”

In response to the continuing COVID-19 issue, Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) has launched its digital training facility, enabling its audience to purchase training courses, online. Following government recommendations, DHF ceased its face-to-face training the week commencing 23rd March and has responded swiftly to a continuing need to provide training to its members and the wider public. With training very much the ‘backbone’ of DHF’s function, it has been essential to adapt to changing circumstances, as Head of Commercial Operations, Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens, explains: “We have been working extremely hard behind the scenes to successfully bring online courses to the outside world and are now delighted to be able to offer these.” she says. Rewarding learning experience “Although not a total substitute for the face-to-face training courses, we are confident that the online courses will provide knowledge from all elements of the complete course and a positive, rewarding learning experience.” There are five modules in each course and these can be viewed as many times as is necessary" In particular, the one-day, Level 2 Award courses in Automated Gate & Traffic Barrier Safety and Industrial & Garage Door Safety, ideal for installers, have been filmed and edited to enable DHF to share knowledge with its learners. Once purchased, each candidate will be able to view the units at their leisure over a 14-day access period starting from the purchase date. There are five modules in each course and these can be viewed as many times as is necessary. Enables safe and compliant products “In recent weeks, businesses and organisations, UK-wide, have had to adjust to a new way of operating, and for many, other than lockdown restrictions, it is very much ‘business as usual’” concludes Patricia. “DHF prides itself on keeping the industry informed by delivering training that enables safe and compliant products to be put on the market. These trying times will not compromise our offering of advice and guidance and the federation’s employees remain committed to helping its members as much as possible during this time.” The cost of courses are £230 plus VAT for members and £330 plus VAT for non-members. The purchase of any online course also includes a free face-to-face ‘recap’ day, to include an overview of the course and all tests, (which can be accredited), at a later date, post-lockdown (to be confirmed).

Dahua Technology, a video-centric smart IoT solution and service provider, recently ranked 1st in the MIT Scene Parsing Benchmark. Based on deep learning algorithms, Dahua Technology’s Scene Segmentation Technology tops the world's best results in Scene Parsing, surpassing other major AI companies and academic research institutions, and exceeding scene parsing research results in relevant papers of ICCV, ECCV, and CVPR. This achievement marks Dahua Technology’s position in the field of scene parsing. Computer vision technologies ADE20K_MIT is an evaluation dataset for MIT Scene Parsing Benchmark released and maintained by the MIT CSAIL research group. It is one of the internationally authoritative computer vision semantic segmentation algorithm evaluation datasets. The dataset is used to evaluate the performance of computer vision technologies such as Scene Perception, Scene Parsing, Instance Segmentation, and Semantic Segmentation. The challenging evaluation attracts participants from hundreds of well-known AI laboratories With a wide range of targets and a large range of target scales, the challenging evaluation attracts participants from hundreds of well-known domestic and foreign AI laboratories and top academic research institutions, including MIT, Microsoft, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Alibaba, etc. Scene parsing is to segment and parse an image into different image regions associated with semantic categories, such as sky, road, person, and bed. It is one of the core technologies in the segmentation field, which solves problems such as occlusion, unclear categories, and easy confusion in complex scene parsing. Self-developed deep learning platform In this international evaluation, Dahua Technology innovatively utilised its algorithm advantages in Semantic Segmentation and Panoptic Segmentation based on its self-developed deep learning platform, and developed a set of Semantic Segmentation frameworks based on Graph Convolutional Neural Networks(GCN). Through multi-scale features fusion, adaptive IoU Loss Function on the frequency domain, and by taking advantage of Multi-model Feature Fusion Technology, the Dahua framework effectively improves the mean of the Pixel-wise Accuracy and Class-wise IoU of Scene Segmentation, which ultimately tops the evaluation records of scene parsing dataset. Dahua Technology continues to cultivate and innovate in the field of AI technology, and constantly improves the core competitiveness of its algorithms and computing power. In 2018, Dahua Technology ranked first in 12 global AI rankings including road segmentation, vehicle tracking, multiple object tracking, 3D object detection, human detection, vehicle detection, scene flow, optical flow, and person re-identification. Setting complex configurations Dahua Scene Parsing Technology can automatically identify traffic sign information In the succeeding year, 2019, Dahua Technology ranked first in 10 global AI rankings including person re-identification, instance segmentation, semantic segmentation, gait recognition, and remote sensing image analysis. Dahua Technology actively accelerates the transformation of AI technology achievements into real productivity and empowers the intelligent upgrade of the industry. In the field of smart traffic management, Dahua Scene Parsing Technology can automatically identify traffic sign information including lane lines, turning arrows, stop lines, pedestrian crossings, etc. For example, in a violation preliminary trial, this technology can be used to achieve automatic analysis of the target’s trajectory and illegal behaviour without manually setting complex configurations, which improves work efficiency, eases the use of the product, and continuously expands the application of solutions related to traffic scene parsing. Improving road safety and travel efficiency At the same time, with AI enforcement camera, e-police system, dual-lens enforcement camera, smart traffic signal control and other deployments to maximise the advantages of AI technology, it can also improve road safety and travel efficiency, providing a powerful technical engine for intelligent traffic management. In the future, Dahua Technology will provide key technical support for the expansion and application of smart logistics, smart water services, smart farming, and smart retail through the accumulation and breakthroughs in AI technology, aiding the industry's innovation and development.

Antaira Technologies, globally renowned developer and manufacturer of industrial networking devices and communication solutions for harsh environment applications, is proud to announce the expansion of its industrial networking infrastructure family with the introduction of the LNX-C800 and LNX-C800G Series. LNX-C800 and LNX-C800G series Antaira Technologies’ LNX-C800 and LNX-C800G series are 8- port industrial compact unmanaged Ethernet switches embedded with 8*10/100Tx RJ45 ports (8*10/100/1000 for LNX-C800G series). The compact form of the IP30 metal casing switch is significantly smaller than our LNX-800A and LNX-800AG series, which allows for a more versatile implementation. Devices like security cameras, wireless access points, alarms, traffic controllers, sensors and tracking devices found in traffic management, oil and gas pipelines, and weather tracking could benefit from this compact version when space is limited. These compact switches also come with Antaira Technologies’ 5-year warranty.

Artificial Intelligence. You’ve heard the words in just about every facet of our lives, just two words, and they’re quite possibly the most moving, life-changing words employed in everyday conversations. So what exactly is AI, who currently uses it and should be using it? What is AI? AI is a powerful way of collecting, qualifying and quantifying data toward a meaningful conclusion to help us reach decisions more quickly or automate processes which could be considered mundane or repetitive. AI in its previous state was known as “machine learning” or “machine processing” which has evolved into “deep learning” or, here in the present, Artificial Intelligence. AI as it applies to the security and surveillance industry provides us the ability to discover and process meaningful information more quickly than at any other time in modern history. Flashback - VCR tapes, blurred images, fast-forward, rewind and repeat. This process became digital, though continued to be very time-consuming. Today’s surveillance video management systems have automated many of these processes with features like “museum search” seeking an object removed from a camera view or “motion detection” to create alerts when objects move through a selected viewpoint. These features are often confused with AI, and are really supportive analytics of the Artificial Intelligence, not AI themselves. Machine Learning Fully appreciating AI means employment of a machine or series of machines to collect, process and produce information obtained from basic video features or analytics. What the machines learn depends on what is asked of them. The truth is, the only way the AI can become meaningful is if there is enough information learned to provide the results desired. If there isn’t enough info, then we must dig deeper for information or learn more, properly described as “deep-learning” AI. Translated, this means that we need to learn more on a deeper level in order to obtain the collaborative combined information necessary to produce the desired result. Deep learning AI Deep learning AI can afford us the ability to understand more about person characteristic traits & behaviors. Applying this information can then further be applied to understand how to interpret patterns of behavior with the end goal of predictable behavior. This prediction requires some degree of human interpretation so that we are able to position ourselves to disrupt patterns of negative behavior or simply look for persons of interest based on these patterns of behavior. These same patterns evolve into intelligence which over time increases the machine’s ability to more accurately predict patterns that could allow for actions to be taken as a result. This intelligence which is now actionable could translate to life safety such as stopping a production manufacturing process, if a person were to move into an area where they shouldn’t be which might put them in danger. Useful applications of intelligence  Informative knowledge or intelligence gathered could be useful in retail applications as well by simply collecting traffic patterns as patrons enter a showroom. This is often displayed in the form of heat mapping of the most commonly traveled paths or determining choke points that detract from a shopper’s experience within the retail establishment. It could also mean relocating signage to more heavily traveled foot-paths to gain the highest possible exposure to communicating a sale or similar notice, perhaps lending itself to driving higher interest to a sale or product capability. Some of this signage or direction could even translate to increased revenues by realigning the customer engagement and purchasing points. Actionable Intelligence From a surveillance perspective, AI could be retranslated to actionable intelligence by providing behavioral data to allow law enforcement to engage individuals with malicious intent earlier, thus preventing crimes in whole or in part based on previously learned data. The data collection points now begin to depart from a more benign, passive role into an actionable role. As a result, new questions are being asked regarding the cameras intended purpose or role of its viewpoint such as detection, observation, recognition or identification. Detecting human presence By way of example, a camera or data collector may need to detect human presence, as well as positively identify who the person is. So the analytic trip line is crossed or motion box activated or counter-flow is detected which then creates an alert for a guard or observer to take action. Further up the food chain, a supervisor is also notified and the facial characteristics are captured. These remain camera analytics, but now we feed this collected facial information to a graphic processing unit (GPU) which could be employed to compare captured characteristics with pre-loaded facial characteristics. When the two sources are compared and a match produced, an alert could be generated which results in an intervention or other similar action with the effort of preventing a further action. This process- detect, disrupt, deter or detain could be considered life-saving by predictably displaying possible outcomes in advance of the intended actions. The next level is deep-learning AI which employs the same characteristics to determine where else within the CCTV ecosystem the individual may have been previously by comparatively analyzing other collected video data. This becomes deep-learning AI when the GPU machine is able to learn from user-tagged positive identification, which the machine learns and begins to further reprocess its own data to further understand where else the person of interest (POI) may have existed on the ecosystem and more correctly improve its own predictive capabilities, thus becoming faster at displaying alerts and better at the discovery of previously archived video data. The future In conclusion, the future of these “predictables” wholly rests in the hands of the purchasing end-user. Our job is to help everyone understand the capabilities and theirs is to continue to make the investment so that the research perpetuates upon itself. Just think where we’d be if purchasers didn’t invest in the smartphone?    

The ease of getting from point A to point B, the effective movement of goods and services, and the flexibility and integration of various modes of transportation are key aspects of mobility today. Smart Mobility has been a key theme in the transportation industry for a while. The idea is to keep traffic flowing and help people to get where they need to be, in a smarter way. To this end, industry players are now innovating and introducing advanced technologies and solutions. Examples include intelligent traffic management systems, free-flow tolls, autonomous driving, smart location solutions, and more. At the same time, traffic congestion, aging infrastructure, rapid urbanisation, and increasing sustainability demands are also intensifying the need for smart mobility solutions. One way to overcome these obstacles is to use intelligent video surveillance technology for improved traffic management, making the roads safer and more efficient for every user, while also reducing emissions. Perceptive intersections Relying on intelligent video analytics, traffic video cameras identify traffic build ups at intersections by counting numbers of vehicles crossing an intersection and detecting their speed, while also counting the number of vehicles queueing in real-time. Aggregated data informs the system when to switch traffic lights to red or green. Intelligent optimisation for traffic signals ensures more effective traffic flow.Aggregated data informs the system when to switch traffic lights to red or green The benefits? Improved safety on the roadways; intersection reconstruction can be avoided; drivers can be advised about the speed of their route, forecasted by traffic signals; reduced wait times and stress for commuters; reduction of harmful emissions; and positive impact on public satisfaction. Road safety Traffic incidents can be disastrous, not merely for causing congestion on the roads but sometimes far worse – resulting in injuries and even fatalities. These incidents have many causes, not the least of which is drivers willfully violating traffic laws. Video technology can aid in detecting all kinds of events – for example, illegal parking, running a red light, wrong-way driving, speeding, and making illegal U-turns can all be detected by smart camera technology. By using deep learning technology, cameras can recognise these events and traffic authorities can be immediately notified and take necessary actions even before traffic incidents occur. Scenarios include stopping a driver who is occupying an emergency lane, or notifying a driver who parked their car illegally. Furthermore, ticketing systems can be incorporated to further regulate driving behaviors. Benefits here include incident prevention, better driver performance, and increased safety on the roads and streets, to name just a few. Scenarios include stopping a driver who is occupying an emergency lane, or notifying a driver who parked their car illegally Public information Sharing information is key to keeping city drivers and travelers informed. Intelligent communication about warnings and updates helps everyone save time, avoid frustration, and simplify everyday mobility. This can be done via traffic guidance screens displayed at highly visible locationsThis can be done via traffic guidance screens displayed at highly visible locations, such as congested areas, transportation hubs, shopping malls, and city plazas – or even at your fingertips on your favorite mobile apps! Traffic video cameras generate real-time data of traffic flow and incidents, sending it to a central platform to further fuse with data from third-party systems such as radar and GPS systems. They also disseminate traffic information, including traffic status, warning and advisory notices, as well as parking status.  The benefits are improved public awareness of traffic information, improved travel convenience, overall enhancement of mobility in the city, and more. The Hikvision practice Hikvision has accumulated sophisticated experience in traffic management both at home and abroad. Product lines offer versatile solutions to resolve multitudes of problems in urban traffic management, traffic incident management, highway management, and more. Going deeper, it’s essential to note that efficient signal control management is dependent on the quality of traffic data, system algorithms, and the hardware devices in use; it is also closely related to the mobile environment, such as road conditions, historical traffic conditions, and urban infrastructure. Because of this, no single solution solves traffic congestion everywhere. Hikvision believes that only by working closely with city authorities, public safety organisations, consultants, even academia and other relevant stakeholders, can applications and operational processes be developed to achieve the best possible outcomes. The possibilities for traffic video data are endless, especially now that it can employ artificial intelligence for advanced functionality. Harnessing its power will make all the difference, but the ultimate goal remains the same: safe and smooth traffic, smart mobility, and improved quality of human life.

The statistics are staggering. The death tolls are rising. And those who now fear environments that were once thought to be safe zones like school campuses, factories, commercial businesses and government facilities, find themselves having to add the routine of active-shooter drills into their traditional fire drill protocols. The latest active shooter statistics released by the FBI earlier this year in their annual active-shooter report designated 27 events as active shooter incidents in 2018. The report reveals that 16 of the 27 incidents occurred in areas of commerce, seven incidents occurred in business environments, and five incidents occurred in education environments. Deadly active-shooter events Six of the 12 deadliest shootings in the country have taken place in the past five years Six of the 12 deadliest shootings in the country have taken place in the past five years, including Sutherland Springs church, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the San Bernardino regional center, the Walmart in El Paso and the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, which have all occurred since 2015. Although these incidents occurred in facilities with designated entry points common to churches, schools and businesses, the two most deadly active-shooter events since 2015 were the Route 91 Harvest music festival shooting in Las Vegas that left 58 dead and the Pulse nightclub killings in Orlando where 49 perished. As Christopher Combs, special agent in charge of the FBI field office in San Antonio, Texas, said during a news conference following the August 31 mass shooting in Odessa, Texas that claimed seven lives: “We are now at almost every two weeks seeing an active shooter in this country." Active shooter incidents Between December 2000 and December 2018, the FBI’s distribution of active shooter incidents by location looks like this: Businesses Open to Pedestrian Traffic (74) Businesses Closed to Pedestrian Traffic (43) K-12 Schools (39) Institutions of Higher Learning (16) Non-Military Government Properties (28) Military Properties—Restricted (5) Healthcare Facilities (11) Houses of Worship (10) Private Properties (12) Malls (6) What the majority of these venues have in common is they all have a front entrance or chokepoint for anyone entering the facilities, which is why any active-shooter plan must include a strategy to secure that entry point. Situational awareness in perimeter and door security Preventing people with the wrong intentions from entering the space is the goal" According to Paul Franco, an A&E with more than 28 years of experience as a consultant and systems integrator focusing on schools, healthcare and large public and private facilities, that while active shooter incidents continue to rise, the residual effect has been an increase in situational awareness in perimeter and door security. “Certainly, protecting people and assets is the number one goal of all our clients. There are multiple considerations in facilities like K-12 and Healthcare. Preventing people with the wrong intentions from entering the space is the goal. But a critical consideration to emphasise to your client is getting that person out of your facility and not creating a more dangerous situation by locking the person in your facility,” says Franco. High-security turnstiles “Schools today are creating a space for vetting visitors prior to allowing access into the main facility. Using technology properly like high-security turnstiles offer great benefits in existing schools where space constraints and renovation costs can be impractical.” What steps should they be taken when recommending the proper door security to ensure the building is safe As a consultant/integrator, when discussions are had with a client that has a facility in a public space like a corporate building, government centre or industrial facility, what steps should they be taken when recommending the proper door security to ensure the building is safe and can protect its people and assets? For Frank Pisciotta, President and CEO of Business Protection Specialists, Inc. in Raleigh, North Carolina, a fundamental element of his security strategy is making appropriate recommendations that are broad-based and proactive. Properly identifying the adversaries “As a consultant, my recommendations must include properly identifying the adversaries who may show up at a client’s door, the likelihood of that event occurring, the consequences of that event occurring, determining if there are tripwires that can be set so an organisation can move their line of defence away from the door, educating employees to report potential threats and creating real-time actionable plans to respond to threats. A more reactionary posture might include such thing as target hardening such as ballistic resistant materials at entry access points to a facility,” Pisciotta says. Veteran consultant David Aggleton of Aggleton & Associates of Mission Viejo, California recommends that clients compartmentalise their higher security areas for limited access by adding multiple credential controls (card + keypad + biometric), along with ‘positive’ access systems that inhibit tailgating/piggybacking such as secure turnstiles, revolving door and mantrap if your entrances and security needs meet the required space and access throughput rates. Integrated solution of electronic access control Defining a single point of entry in some public facilities is becoming the new standard of care according to many A&Es and security consultants, especially in a school environment. This approach allows a concerted effort when it comes to staffing, visitor monitoring and an integrated technology solution. The bottom line remains: most buildings are vulnerable to a security breach A proactive stance to securing a door entryway will use an integrated solution of electronic access control, turnstiles, revolving doors and mantraps that can substantially improve a facility’s security profile. The bottom line remains: most buildings are vulnerable to a security breach, so it’s not a matter of if there will be a next active shooter tragedy, it’s only a matter of where. Enhancing access control assurance “There is no easy answer to this question,” says Pisciotta referring to how a secured entrance can deter an active shooter. “There have been at least two high-profile incidents of adversaries shooting their way into a facility through access control barriers. So, if the threat so dictates, a ballistic resistant might be required.” He concludes: “There is obviously no question that turnstiles, revolving doors and man traps enhance access control assurance. Electronic access control is easy to integrate with these devices and providing that credentials are secure, approval processes are in place, change management is properly managed and the appropriate auditing measures in place, access control objectives can be met.”

The UK Government has been working to reduce the risks associated with illegal drone use since a high-profile incident at UK’s Gatwick Airport in December 2018, when a drone sighting triggered a three-day shutdown of the UK’s second busiest airport, disrupting the travel plans of 140,000 people and affecting 1,000 flights. To address growing security threats by drones, the UK Government has released its ‘Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Strategy’. ‘Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Strategy’ This strategy sets out our approach to countering the threat the malicious or negligent use of drones can bring" “This strategy sets out our approach to countering the threat the malicious or negligent use of drones can bring,” says Brandon Lewis, the U.K. Minister of State for Security. “It will provide the security the public and drone users require to continue to enjoy the benefits of leisure and commercial drone use and facilitate the growth of the drone industry.” “Given the challenge posed by rapid advances in drone technology and the potential threat, the strategy will provide overarching direction to our efforts,” says Lewis. The strategy focuses on ‘small drones’, those weighing less than 20 kg (44 pounds). Countering malicious use of aerial drones The UK Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Strategy centres on mitigating the highest-harm domestic risks resulting from malicious use of aerial drones. They are: Facilitating terrorist attacks, such as modifying commercially-available drones to conduct reconnaissance or attacks. Facilitating crime, especially in prisons, where drones are currently used to deliver contraband. Disrupting critical national infrastructure, such as airports, where a malicious incursion using a drone can have serious safety, security and economic consequences. Potential use by hostile state actors. Maximising benefits of drone technology The initiative will also look to build strong relationships with industry to ensure high security standards Over the next three years, the strategy will seek to reduce the risks posed by the highest-harm use of drones while maximising the benefits of drone technology. It will develop a comprehensive understanding of evolving risks and take a “full spectrum” approach to deter, detect and disrupt the misuse of drones. The initiative will also look to build strong relationships with industry to ensure high security standards. Further, promoting access to counter-drone capabilities and effective legislation, training and guidance will empower the police and other operational responders. Tactical response to drone-based threats Because technology is rapidly evolving, the response needs to keep pace, according to the strategy document. Lewis adds, “We will therefore work to understand how drone-based threats might evolve in the future, both at the tactical and strategic levels.”  The strategy will be to build an end-to-end approach to tackling the highest-harm criminal use of drones. It will also work to make it easier to identify malicious drone use against a backdrop of increased legitimate use. Legal drone operators will be required to register with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and to pass an online competency test before flying a drone. Retailers who follow a specific set of safety guidelines when selling drones will be designated ‘DroneSafe’. Unmanned traffic management system The government is working toward future implementation of an unmanned traffic management (UTM) system, which provides a means of preventing collisions between unmanned aircraft and other manned or unmanned aircraft. The current strategy includes early planning for the system. An Industry Action Group will ensure a continuing relationship with the drone industry and help to improve existing counter-drone measures and identify new opportunities, such as use of ‘Geo-Fencing’ to restrict drones from flying in certain areas. Regulating commercial and domestic drones The UK Department of Transport is responsible for safe and lawful use of drones within the UK airspace The strategy will seek to communicate the UK’s security requirements to the counter-drone industry and to encourage a thriving sector that is aware of, and responsive to, the needs of government. Regulating drones is the responsibility of two UK government departments. The UK Department of Transport is responsible for safe and lawful use of drones within the UK airspace, while the Home Office has overall responsibility for domestic counter-drone activity. Fast-evolving drone and counter-drone technology Also, the Center for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) has been involved in reducing the vulnerability of sensitive sites, including airports. New performance measures will track the strategy’s success. Due to the fast-evolving nature of drone and counter-drone technology, the intent is to review and, if necessary, refresh the strategy in three years.

Video, access control and visitor management are among the technologies that are enabling greater safety and security at hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Video surveillance systems enable hospital management and security professionals to know what goes on in and around a medical facility. Recording images in high resolutions (megapixels and gigapixels) is becoming more and more important in healthcare, says Jason Ouellette, Product Line Director – Access Control, Tyco Security Products. Video event management software Video analytics are now being leveraged for patient tracking, asset tracking, and operational purposes If an incident occurs in a medical facility, the security staff has to be able to identify faces easily and accurately. Storage and costs have to be considered, of course. With technology improving and prices decreasing, video solutions can even be used for purposes beyond traditional security. For example, video analytics are now being leveraged for patient tracking, asset tracking, and operational purposes, and captured video can be used to defend against liability claims. What’s next? Video analytics will continue to be a valuable addition to any surveillance infrastructure due to its ability to address patient needs, operational efficiencies and early risk detection, says Brandon Reich, Senior Director of Surveillance Solutions, Pivot3. Through video event management software (VEMS), hospitals can customise the statistics that are relevant to their individual buildings or campuses without having to spend extra time or money on rigorous employee training. Data capture form to appear here! Real-time access control security updates Furthermore, once healthcare facilities are able to digitise all of their patient records, secure any of their ingress and egress points with real-time access control security updates, and fully transition from analogue to IP video surveillance cameras, VEMS systems that house analytical software will be able to multiply the benefits offered to hospitals, not just in real time, but in planning ahead for future risk, expansion and safety protocols. It is vital to implement integrated and innovative access control solutions With large, complex facilities, directors of security at hospitals struggle with controlling access to various levels of the facility, according to Eric Widlitz of Vanderbilt Industries. To manage the risks that hospitals face and ensure a comprehensively protected atmosphere for patients and staff, it is vital to implement integrated and innovative access control solutions. For example, ease of access with controlled entrances is vital to medical crash teams, as is the need for a zonal access control lockdown in the event of a contagious disease outbreak. Strict access limitations Different hallways, rooms, floors and waiting areas within a hospital require different amounts of restriction, and sensitive materials, such as medical files, controlled substances and sterile environments (such as operating and procedure rooms) all necessitate an additional layer of protection. Access control in particular has advanced significantly to offer healthcare facilities the ability to control access remotely, through mobile applications, confirm identity quickly and easily and program varying levels of access for visitors, patients, doctors and staff. One area that is recently experiencing rapid growth – and drastic change – is the securing of narcotics within healthcare facilities, says Robert Laughlin, CEO and Chairman, Galaxy Control Systems. In the past, all medicine was controlled in a central pharmacy located somewhere in the hospital or health facility. These pharmacies were highly secured areas, with strict access limitations; only authorised staff could get near the medicine stocks. Fiber optic communication lines For vehicle access control, medical centers and hospitals prefer beam barricades and shallow foundation barriers To improve the speed of delivery, and to have the necessary medicines ready at hand for in-patients without retaining a large delivery staff, the current trend is to have distributed pharmaceutical closets or carts that hold medicines much closer to the intended patients. For vehicle access control, medical centers and hospitals prefer beam barricades and shallow foundation barriers, according to Gregg Hamm of Delta Scientific. Manual beam barricades are installed at the Fort Bragg Veterans Administration Hospital in North Carolina to shut down certain areas of the facility when a higher alert is sounded. They will stop a 15,000-pound vehicle traveling 50 mph. The Navy Hospital in San Diego uses high speed, high security and very shallow foundation barricades to control all vehicles going in and out of the facility. With their extremely shallow foundation, they obviate the concerns of interference with buried pipes, power lines and fiber optic communication lines. They will stop a 15,000-pound vehicle traveling 50 mph. At the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, even stronger shallow foundation barriers are used for traffic control and protection. These barriers will destroy a 65,000-pound (5.4 million foot-pounds) dump truck traveling 50 mph and continue to stand. Physical access control systems Controlling visitors to hospitals and healthcare facilities can directly impact security Controlling visitors to hospitals and healthcare facilities can directly impact security. Traditional methods of visitor management, such as paper visitor logs and handwritten badges are insufficient given today’s variety of security challenges. A hospital using paper-based systems cannot easily cross-check information, confirm patient information, check visitor names against up-to-date watch lists, or visually confirm identity. An increasingly popular and important application is secure and simplified visitor management, integrated with the physical access control systems (PACS). Today’s visitor management systems enable the screening, badging and tracking all visitors or, at a minimum, those visiting critical areas or during ‘after hours’ periods, Quickly identify inappropriate visitors One other growing technology is the ability to link to internal or governmental watch lists, to quickly identify inappropriate visitors before they gain access to the facilities. For example, Visitor Management systems can be configured to perform a Sex Offender search in both Children’s Hospitals and Pediatric areas, further decreasing the likelihood that someone of the list could gain access. Wayfinding is indoor navigation to guide a person step-by-step on the way to a desired destination HID Global and Phunware Inc. are addressing the need of healthcare institutions to deploy standardised technology to provide a better wayfinding and visitor engagement experience inside the hospital, across campus and even in parking lots. The companies are collaborating to improve the experience for hospital patients and visitors to find their way within medical facilities, using wayfinding on their mobile phones. Wayfinding is indoor navigation to guide a person step-by-step on the way to a desired destination. Enterprise-level mobile wayfinding “It’s easy for visitors and patients to get lost in hospitals, and every time they do it puts appointment times and patient satisfaction at risk,” says Rom Eizenberg, Vice President of Sales, Bluvision, part of HID Global “With our location-aware app on a mobile device, we equip the visitor to get instant, turn-by-turn navigation that creates a better experience than that which is currently available on the market.” HID’s healthcare IoT solution-enablement platform simplifies the delivery of real-time location of clinicians, patients and devices. The platform is enabled by Bluvision (part of HID Global). Phunware’s Multiscreen-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform also provides enterprise-level mobile wayfinding, engagement, data and more for other vertical markets, including retail, residential, hospitality, media and entertainment and more. Missed the rest our healthcare mini series? Read part one here and part two here.

Many exhibitors at GSX 2019 saw the show as a success, despite slower booth traffic on the second and third days. According to show sponsor ASIS International, there were more than 20,000 registrants from 125 countries around the world, including those who attended the conference as well as the exhibition. Exhibitors definitely put their best feet forward, enthusiastically promoting their technology breakthroughs, but how convincing were they? The comments from at least one attendee – a large corporate end user who represents a key demographic for show organisers – bluntly suggest that healthy scepticism was on display side-by-side with the promotional energy in play.On this floor, there are some lies being given out. Ask the tough questions, make the exhibitors show you" “On this floor, there are some lies being given out,” said Rudy A. Wolter, CTO, Security and Investigative Services for Citigroup, a financial services corporation. He advised fellow attendees to “listen for them, ferret them out, ask the tough questions. Make [the exhibitors] show you.” “Don’t be afraid to ask these men and women questions,” added Wolter. “Don’t be afraid to challenge them. If you don’t challenge them, they’re not getting any better which means we aren’t getting any better. At the end of the day, they’re the leaders; they’re the ones making change; they’re the ones touching systems; they’re the ones helping integration.” Banking security with Verint At Citigroup, Wolter oversees 1,300 bank branches in North America that use Verint systems, including 23,000 cameras tied into a single command centre. Skepticism aside, Wolter also provided evidence that even tough customers can be brought around. Specifically, he is sold on Verint: “When you have a problem, this company listens,” he told attendees at a Verint gathering on the show floor. New at GSX 2019 is the Verint Video Investigator, which is software that empowers investigators to quickly find the data they need to identify security threats in near real-time. In all, Verint serves in excess of 2,300 individual financial institutions, with tens of thousands of branches. Wolter was one of several end users willing to sing their praises publicly. Other GSX exhibitors were also proud to have their own real-world success stories. Placing the emphasis on outcomes At GSX, I heard more than once that outcomes are more important than technologies. Customers don’t want to hear about technologies, but rather about what those technologies can do for them. Avigilon, now a subsidiary of Motorola Solutions, is another company that is focused on outcomes rather than technology per se. “Instead of focusing on megapixels and terabytes, the end user is focused on perimeter security, loss prevention and risk management,” says John Kedzierski, Sr. VP of Video Solutions at Motorola Solutions. “We are working to provide that outcome." The end user is focused on perimeter security, loss prevention and risk management" How operators work to ensure outcomes is another aspect that is changing, says Kedzierski. “Watching video is obsolete,” he says. Using Avigilon’s new system, the operator instead is looking at colour-coded hexagons; one color means motion, another means an analytic event. Operators click on various hexagons to view video. Also at GSX 2019, Avigilon featured its new H5A camera line, with expanded object classification analytics, detailed object detection, and tracking in crowded scenes; and focused on the Avigilon Blue cloud system. They are working to make every camera capable of detecting faces, which can be matched to a watch list. How technology addresses marketplace changes Addressing the changing marketplace was another GSX theme. As the workplace changes, ASSA ABLOY Americas is adapting its technology to address new employment practices such as "hot-desking", and remote and mobile workers, says Peter Boriskin, Chief Technology Officer. Systems have to be able both to protect assets and also to provide flexibility to accommodate the changing workforce, he said. Corporate acquisitions are directly expanding the capabilities that ASSA ABLOY brings to the market. For example, they recently acquired Luxer One, a locker company that enables secure delivery of packages without customers needing to stand in line or wait for service. Deliveries can be made in seconds. Peter Boriskin of ASSA ABLOY Americas led a booth tour, including new power capabilities gained in the acquisition of LifeSafety Power Another recent ASSA ABLOY acquisition is LifeSafety Power, which is expanding the company’s capability to provide proactive data on wired systems by tracking power usage. For example, a spike in current might mean a problem with a component. Compiling “intelligent triggers” enables creation of a dashboard to provide analytics of wired systems. ASSA ABLOY has also been devising predictive analytics of wireless locks to predict battery life, for instance, and to address other maintenance challenges. “We want to know what’s going on at a door without visiting it,” says Boriskin. New exhibitors make their mark New exhibitors were part of the GSX mix. One new exhibitor was Vaion. It’s their first trade show after launching at IFSEC in London in June. Vaion combines a small camera portfolio with on-premise servers and software managed through the cloud for an end-to-end solution. Tormod Ree, co-founder and CEO, calls it a “hybrid cloud delivery model”. Vaion is also a “more proactive security model”, said Ree. Video is analysed for anomalies, and the server “learns” what is normal and not normal. The system provides alerts and notifications, occupancy counting and traffic control, among other features. And “overlays” are employed to present information on a map. Vaion can highlight video that is more likely to be relevant and prioritise feeds that have more activity. Vaion designs the hardware, which is manufactured in Taiwan. Vaion was a first-time exhibitor at GSX 2019 with their end-to-end video system; Tomod Ree is co-founder and CEO Gunshot detection technology EAGL Technology displayed their “Firefly” gunshot detection technology at GSX 2019. Based on technology originally developed for use in the military for sniper detection, the U.S. Department of Energy adapted it to civilian uses after the Sandy Hook School shooting. Boaz Raz, CEO, said the technology is the “most advanced and affordable, wireless for use indoors or outdoors, and it can control doors and cameras”. It doesn’t “listen” for gunshots like some competitors; rather it measures energy for “6 sigma” accuracy (almost 100%). Defining, and redefining, end-to-end solutions End-to-end solutions were all the rage at GSX 2019, but Allied Universal was one exhibitor that pondered what, exactly, is an end-to-end solution? It means different things to different people. For example, a video company’s end-to-end solution would not include access control. When Allied Universal claims to offer an end-to-end solution, they mean it in the broadest definition of the term, including all security systems deployed for a customer as well as the important human element (i.e., manguarding). “The industry’s emphasis on ‘end-to-end’ doesn’t encompass a full solution,” says Mike Mullison, Allied Universal’s Chief Information Officer. “When somebody uses the term end-to-end, you have to ask: What’s at both ends?” The lines between cyber and physical threats are blurring. Clients want full-service solutions" “The lines between cyber and physical threats are blurring,” adds Mullison. “Clients want full-service solutions.” Allied Universal is adding new technology elements to its offering, and Mullison says “the next phase of growth will be fueled by technology.” Allied Universal recently introduced the Heliaus product, a smart phone app that accesses an analytics engine to predict outcomes and prescribe optimum responses. It literally puts technology in a security guard’s hand. One customer has found that use of the technology resulted in a 20% reduction in safety and security incidents. The latest in access control among exhibitors In addition to video, access control had a big profile at GSX 2019, as evidenced by ASSA ABLOY America and many other companies. Another example is SALTO Systems, featuring its new NEO cylinder for wireless access control and the SALTO Virtual Network (SVN); the SVN-Flex extends and increases the number of updating points directly to the door. The SVN-Flex extends and increases the number of updating points directly to the door The compact SALTO NEO Cylinder is designed for doors where fitting an electronic escutcheon is not possible or required and can be installed on standard doors, server racks, gates, cabinets, electric switches, or sliding doors. Low energy consumption results in 110,000 cycles with just one set of batteries. Other SALTO products are SALTO KS (Keys as a Service); SALTO BLUEnet Wireless for Bluetooth RF-driven real-time control of doors; the XS4 One Deadlatch stand-alone electronic lock; and JustIN Mobile, which replaces the need for an access card by securely sending a mobile key Over the Air (OTA) to an iOS or Android device from SALTO’s ProAccess SPACE management software. The next step in integration A new company reflecting the GSX emphasis on integration is Security and Safety Things (SAST), which is still in launch mode but expects to have its first pilot customers in the Q4. The first camera vendors embracing the SAST platform will have cameras for sale at ISC West in the spring. SAST is creating an Internet of Things (IoT) platform for the next generation of security cameras. The SAST App Store will allow developers to build and market new applications, similar to today’s app stores for smartphones.SAST is creating an IoT platform for the next generation of security cameras “SAST is a technology platform, but it is also a business platform and a relationship platform,” said Emmanuel Ventadour, VP Sales and Marketing. For app developers, SAST also provides non-technical commercial services (i.e., easing their route to market.) Hartmut Schaper, CEO, emphasises the “openness” of the company. Even though they are a spinoff of Bosch, they are treating every camera manufacturer equally, he says. For integrators, the use of apps can expand their field of play. Apps will empower integrators to use video for more business processes – not just security – and expand their reach with customers, says Schaper. From scepticism to sales There were plenty of product claims at GSX to feed the skepticism of even the toughest of potential customers. Fortunately, product claims were only the beginning of conversations with attendees at this year’s show. No doubt manufacturers were put through their paces more than once, and a few of them even came out on the other side with potential new business to show for their efforts. That’s the true measure of success at GSX 2019, or any trade show.  Click here to read our reviews from Day One and Day Two of the show.

viisights, the developer of innovative behavioural understanding systems for real-time video intelligence based on AI, announced that it has deployed a smart city traffic monitoring system in the city of Ashdod, leveraging the NVIDIA Metropolis intelligent video analytics framework. “This project signifies how smart cities like Ashdod increase safety, mobility and quality of life by state-of-the-art traffic monitoring driven by computer vision-based on AI,” said Asaf Birenzvieg, co-founder and CEO of viisights. “viisights traffic monitoring capabilities are based on our revolutionary video understanding technology that helps in analysing hundreds to thousands of real-time traffic video streams and alerting on complex traffic situations, including accidents, hazards and predicting and managing traffic congestion. We see this project as an example of how a city can be really smart and as a validation of the growing demand for our behavioural understanding solutions.” Intersection blocked Using NVIDIA GPUs and the DeepStream SDK within NVIDIA Metropolis, viisights’ innovative traffic monitoring system provides highly scalable and cost-effective solutions for real-time analysis of thousands of video streams. viisights video intelligence system deployed in Ashdod provides real-time advanced behavioural understanding of traffic actions and events in live video streams by monitoring intersections, crossroads, roads and streets. This enables municipalities to quickly address events of interest such as accidents, disturbances to traffic (for example, vehicles stopping in a junction or on a sidewalk), road hazards (for example, people getting in and out of vehicles in dangerous areas) and monitor traffic flows and report on various statistics. viisights technology protects public privacy by only analysing general behaviour patterns of individuals, groups, vehicles and traffic-flows. It does not identify faces or licence plates. Car collision information This cutting-edge, first-of-its-kind technology from viisights assists municipalities to secure traffic flow, prevent blockage and attend to road hazards, while also enhancing their essential role in securing the life and safety of inhabitants; first responders can arrive faster at scenes of life-threatening situations, minimise injuries, and attend to dangers in traffic and more. “We are extremely proud to be at the forefront of smart city technology by being the first city in Israel to define and use this behaviour recognition technology for the benefit of Ashdod citizens,” said Gamliel Edri, technologies & CCTV control room department manager for the city of Ashdod Municipality. “The viisights’ system strengthens our ability to ensure the safety and security of our citizens and even save lives. We look forward to broadening our successful collaboration with viisights to other parts of the city.”

The Smart Cities Mission is an innovative initiative by the Government of India to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life of people. It aims to achieve this by enabling local development and harnessing technology as a means to create smart outcomes for citizens. A hundred cities across the country were shortlisted by the government, which were to be promoted as ‘Smart Cities’. Based on an all-India competition, Bhopal was selected in the first round of 20 smart cities, to transform the city into a leading destination for smart, connected and eco-friendly communities focused on education, research, entrepreneurship and tourism. End-to-end video surveillance system Known as the ‘City of Lakes’, Bhopal is a historic city with a population of over 2.5 million. With the expanded planning area of 463 square kilometres, Bhopal is among the 16 largest cities in India. In view of its growing population, the city leaders wanted to upgrade the security of its residents, migrants and visitors, by ensuring diligent monitoring across the city. Also, Bhopal faced chaotic traffic flows and repeated violations, causing traffic jams, accidents and fatalities. Also, Bhopal faced chaotic traffic flows and repeated violations, causing traffic jams, accidents and fatalities This not only made everyday life uncomfortable but also increased transport time with a negative effect on economic activity. The stakeholders wanted to implement an end-to-end video surveillance system to support law enforcement, to build a secure environment for citizens, and to also ensure road safety across the city. Regional vehicle database After rigorous evaluation, a panel of city leaders, stakeholders and industry leaders selected Videonetics for this project. Videonetics designed a solution based on its AI & DL powered Unified Video Computing Platform (UVCP) encompassing Intelligent VMS, Intelligent Video Analytics and Intelligent Traffic Management System. 24x7 city-wide surveillance: Today, over 350 IP cameras are deployed in Bhopal, covering major entry and exit points from the city, places of strategic importance, locations of public gatherings, traffic junctions and business districts etc. Operators are quickly responding to any incident from petty theft to more serious offenses. To monitor urban operations round-the-clock, Intelligent VMS provides continuous viewing and recordings of these cameras, in a user-friendly interface. Specifically, the authorities can also detect overcrowding, unattended baggage, break-in prediction, counting people and traffic violations in a single interface. Round-the-clock traffic monitoring: Today, the city has an Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) suite covering 23 junctions across the city. The suite encompasses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), Red Light Violation Detection (RLVD), Over-speeding Detection, No Helmet Detection and Triple Riding detection. In addition to intersections, the ANPR solution has been integrated with IP cameras at entry-exit points in tourist spots and other places, helping law enforcement to identify non-standardised/ duplicate licence plates, blacklisted and stolen vehicles, and much more. Automated violation prosecution management: The ITMS solution not only enables monitoring of the traffic situation 24x7, but also records traffic violations in real time. Videonetics Integrated e-Challan Management Software (ICMS) has been integrated with regional vehicle database to generate e-challan along with incident evidence and violator’s address – all in a transparent manner and with the audit trail of all transactions with evidence. With the help of ICMS, traffic personnel can easily maintain record of all payments, both received and pending. Centralised city view: Combining Intelligent VMS and ITMS into the unified interface empowers city management officials and traffic police to view real-time alerts, manage them, and respond to them swiftly, from the Integrated Command & Control Centre (ICCC). Consolidated monitoring and reporting The Bhopal Smart City project has proven to be a great success and has become an exemplary model for other cities. Today, operators have become more efficient and make better decisions by having consolidated monitoring and reporting in the single interface. From helping law enforcement authorities in apprehending vandals to addressing instances of theft, physical confrontations and street crimes, now authorities have critical video evidence available to aid in the investigation of crimes and other incidents. Also, with citizens becoming more sensitised to traffic rules and beginning to follow them, violations have come down rapidly. Manage chaotic traffic conditions Thanks to Videonetics team for their constant support and untiring efforts for making this project successful" The traffic data of each junction now provides insights to the administration, which is helping to manage chaotic traffic conditions and create situational awareness at the levels of local and central authorities. “As challans were dispatched to the residence address, people had to pay, and it was quite strict,” says Nitin Dave, Media Manager, Bhopal Smart City. “Now people are more aware about traffic rules, leading to a reduction in the number of e-challans.” “We are proud to be associated with Bhopal Smart City project. Videonetics unified solution is not only monitoring the entire city but also helped in reducing road fatalities. Now law enforcement is further equipped to make decisions faster and respond towards any incidents or threat. Thanks to Videonetics team for their constant support and untiring efforts for making this project successful. The implementation of this solution has made the city smarter as well as safer for the citizens”, expressed Mr. Neeraj Kushwaha, Founder and Director at Technosys. Key results areas Increased security with 24x7 monitoring of city area More alert and ready operators, from traffic control to citizen security Reduction in traffic rule violations by 80% and improved traffic discipline among people Drastic reduction in incidents involving stolen vehicles, duplicate license plates etc. Minimisation of human intervention and elimination of biases in decision making The open and modular architecture of the solution not only allows the city to continue adding more applications to make its traffic management more robust, but also integrate with the city surveillance system in a single unified interface, to address overall security concerns with a holistic approach. Awards and recognitions The Bhopal Smart City has received various awards from the government and industry bodies: Project Awards: The Innovative Idea Award for Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) by India Smart Cities Awards The Urban Mobility Award for Security Integration & Intelligent Traffic Management System Best Smart City of the Year by Smart Cities Conclave CSR Smart Cities Leadership Award for Security Integration in Traffic Management (No Helmet Detection) Technology Awards: SECONA Innovation of the Year 2018 for ‘No Helmet Detection System’ Finest India Skills & Talent Award (FIST) Best Innovation in Security 2018 for ‘No Helmet Detection System’ NASSCOM Technology Excellence Award 2019 Rising Star in AI & DL for ‘No Helmet & Triple Riding Detection System’

Boon Edam Inc., a provider of security entrances and architectural revolving doors, announces that Devon House at St. Katharine Docks, an office building in London’s East Side, has installed a unique TQM manual revolving door at the main entrance, in addition to two arrays of Speedlane Swing optical turnstiles, to increase lobby security. Devon House is an exceptional riverside workspace. Originally built in 1989 as part of an historic redevelopment by an Act of Parliament, Devon House has over 48,000 sq. ft. of office space, as well as a dedicated on-site café, co-working hub, riverside courtyard and 97 bike spaces. The building is surrounded by shops, restaurants and bars, and has direct transport links close by. Merging characteristics of two doors In the spring of 2019, a full refurbishment was completed, both internally and externally, that included a brand new reception space. The new lobby is now an open social space, echoing the relaxed atmosphere of a coffee shop while taking in the expansive views of the riverside. It also serves as a coworking hub outfitted with several tables and chairs to be easily accessible to both employees and visitors. The door’s sidewalls and wings would be metal-framed with aluminumThe renowned architect working on the Devon House project, Stiff and Trevillion, specified a manual revolving door for the main entrance, but requested a special design: they chose to merge the characteristics of two doors – the Boon Edam TQM and the all-glass Crystal TQ. The door’s sidewalls and wings would be metal-framed with aluminum, but there would be no metal canopy: only an 18mm thick, slender and transparent all-glass ceiling, allowing light to flow in through the entrance unimpeded. Optical turnstiles to control access Designers for Devon House decided on optical turnstiles to control access in the lobby and deter tailgating attempts. They allowed building capacity to dictate the number of lanes that would be needed, using a calculation that considered both the total capacity and traffic changes during peak times of the day, such as the morning and evening rushes, and bi-directional traffic during lunchtime. In addition, wide lanes were placed on each side of the reception desk to accommodate disabled access. Once the quantity was decided, focus shifted to design. The Speedlane Swing optical turnstiles were chosen for their slim cabinet design and swinging barriers and customised with a black powder coated finish to match the lobby’s décor. Today the building is fully operational and Boon Edam looks forward to working with Stiff and Trevillion on future projects.

Around 7,000 people pass through the Luminy faculty’s suburban campus every day. As part of a major project to modernise two buildings, university managers sought a retrofit-ready access control solution to upgrade security. University administrators selected Aperio locks to secure doors in the new buildings. With Aperio, facilities staff deal with lost keys more efficiently. The laborious process of changing locks and reissuing keys, part of the daily workload with mechanical locking, vanishes. The Luminy campus is now equipped with 372 Aperio Electronic Cylinders and 42 Aperio Electronic Handles with built-in RFID readers. Locks are integrated seamlessly, wirelessly and online with Luminy’s ARD access control system. One key goal was to deter theft, which was becoming a problem in teaching areas, especially those with computers. “Since we installed Aperio, we have not had a break-in,” says Cedric Lopez, Maintenance Manager at Luminy. Access smart-cards In addition to theft deterrence, Aperio met broad, stringent criteria for the security upgrade. Staff and students carry individual access smart-cards. Doors and credentials are easily programmed and reprogrammed to accommodate everyone’s changing access needs. Luminy’s security team has complete control over access permissions and campus traffic, in real time. Because their new Aperio devices are integrated online, staff see a “live” overview of the campus and respond proactively to incidents. Aperio is trusted to protect the most sensitive areas of the campus. “We have critical premises, including for the storage of chemicals, some with radioactive properties,” adds Lopez. The benefits of Aperio extend beyond just enhanced campus safety and student security Real-time access control upgrades Aperio locks are built on an open platform, so they are flexible enough to integrate with the university’s room scheduling system. “Teachers are able to reserve their rooms. Students no longer have to wait for the teacher’s arrival, because they have access to the right rooms in defined time slots,” says Cedric Lopez. The credential students already carry automatically opens classroom doors, if they have pre-authorised access rights. For the facilities team, the ARD interface displays scheduling for all relevant rooms in real time. Luminy site managers have already scheduled further real-time access control upgrades built around award-winning Aperio wireless technology. As Luminy staff discovered, the benefits of Aperio extend beyond just enhanced campus safety and student security. The Aperio for Universities Solution Guide explains how you can upgrade and streamline security at your campus.

A grocery chain was experiencing a shoplifting problem at several of its locations. The shrinkage loss was significant and was impacting store profitability. Having worked with Alvarado in the past, the chain reached out to Garda Construction and Dale Staton at Alvarado to help craft a solution. The store had an open layout, and while visually appealing, shoppers could easily walk out without passing through a checkstand. EAS equipment would periodically alarm when a patron or thief walked out the door, but because alarms were common, they were generally ignored. Monitored checkstand area Dale explained that the optimum solution would be a barrier that allows patrons to easily enter the shopping floor For purposes of theft control, Dale explained that the optimum solution would be a barrier that allows patrons to easily enter the shopping floor, while providing a physical deterrent from exiting the store without first passing through a monitored checkstand area. Acting on Dale’s suggestion, the store installed Alvarado’s SW500 motorised gate with camera-based detection and presence technology, along with Alvarado’s modular post and railing. After patrons pass through the exterior bi-parting doors, they approach the gate to enter the merchandise area. The gate opens automatically, allowing access. When the gate is closed, if a patron (or thief) walks up to the gate to exit, a pulsing alarm sound warns the patron and alerts store personnel. If the patron backs out of the detection area, the alarm stops. If the patron continues and attempts to push or pull the gate open, a sustained alarm provides additional notification. Fewer false openings and unwanted alarms The use of camera-based detection provides significant benefits. Traditional detection technologies, such as microwave or PIR, make it very difficult (and sometimes impossible) to accurately define motion and presence sensing detection areas, resulting in unwanted openings and false alarms caused simply by normal store traffic patterns. After installation of Alvarado’s products, the traffic pattern into and out of the stores changed dramatically Alvarado’s camera-based detection technology, which is installed in the top cap of the gate, allows both the entry and exit sensing areas of the SW500 to be accurately defined using an included software application. An accurate detection pattern results in substantially greater application flexibility and far fewer false openings and unwanted alarms. After installation of Alvarado’s products, the traffic pattern into and out of the stores changed dramatically. Camera-based motion detection Store personnel also commented that numerous patrons suspected of being shoplifters stopped coming to the stores. The overall result was a significant decrease in theft and improved profitability that more than justified the equipment purchase and installation expense. From traditional retail turnstiles and gates, to the innovative SW500 motorised pedestrian gate with camera-based motion detection, Alvarado provides an array of entry control solutions to retail customers – as it has done since 1956. Our full product portfolio offers inexpensive and effective methods of controlling pedestrian traffic and shopping cart flow patterns and reducing shoplifting and shrinkage in retail and grocery stores.

Highways England is the government company charged with operating, maintaining and improving England’s motorways and major A roads. In total they manage over 4,300 miles of road, carrying a third of all traffic by mileage and two thirds of all heavy goods traffic. Traffic Officers have a responsibility to help the company keep major roads free-flowing, safe and serviceable. Their ability to communicate with other patrols and back to one of the seven control rooms, using the UK’s nationwide Airwave network, is therefore crucial to their operations across the country. IP68 environmental protection The organisation’s traffic officers have been long time Sepura users, and took the opportunity to upgrade to the new SC20 devices to take advantage of the loud, clear audio, essential in the noisy roadside environments that officers often work in. The rugged radio is well-equipped to deal with the challenges of daily operations; the SC20’s IP68 environmental protection ensures that the radio remains operational in wet, dirty or dusty conditions. Meanwhile the tough, large screen remains visible in all weather conditions, enabling the user to always be aware of critical messages or information being displayed. In total over 700 SC20 radios have been purchased to support operations. Product quality and customer service “It is a pleasure to further our working relationship with Highways England. As long time Sepura users, they are aware that the company prides itself on product quality and customer service. The SC20, with its rugged design and clear audio, coupled with its ability to run intelligent applications, will ensure that Highways England’s officers will be well protected and always in touch with their control centre.” Says Andy Gregory, Business Development Director for Sepura. “The SC20 had a number of features that will undoubtedly enhance the safety of our officers when on patrol or attending incidents. The loud, clear audio is a key factor, ensuring that even when large goods vehicles are passing close by, critical messages can still be heard. In addition to this the rugged design of the radio ensures that even in wet, dirty conditions, our staff will be able to rely on their radio to continue working for them.” Says Al Edwards, technology operations manager for Highways England.

The new year is several weeks old, so it is safe to say that many of our New Year resolutions have fallen by the wayside. Despite the limited success of our personal resolutions, the new year is a great time to take stock, look ahead, and plan to make 2020 the best year yet. Thinking about our industry as a whole, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What should be the security industry’s “New Year’s resolution?” 

Public spaces provide soft targets and are often the sites of terrorist or active shooter attacks. Public spaces, by definition, require easy accessibility and unrestricted movement. Given that openness, what security technologies can provide real results? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How is technology innovation impacting the security of public spaces?

Artificial intelligence is on the verge of changing the face of multiple industries – from healthcare to entertainment to finance, from data security to manufacturing to the cars we drive (or that will drive themselves!) In the physical security market, AI has garnered a lot of attention as a buzzword and as a harbinger of things to come. We asked this week's Expert Panel Roundtable: What security markets are most likely to embrace artificial intelligence (AI)?