Vehicle security

The 2019 editions of Shanghai Intelligent Building Technology (SIBT) and Shanghai Smart Home Technology (SSHT) will be held from 3 ‒ 5 September at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). Spurred by the fast development of China’s intelligent building, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) sectors, the two exhibitions are close to capacity as there has been strong demand from exhibitors to participate at the shows. Smart neighbourhoods The total exhibition space is also expected to reach a record of over 28,750 sqm The concurrently held trade fairs are expected to attract over 280 renowned businesses from China and overseas, and welcome a similar number to last year’s 29,423 professional visitors. The total exhibition space is also expected to reach a record of over 28,750 sqm. Fairgoers to SIBT and SSHT will not only be treated to the usual array of smart home and building technologies and solutions, but will once again be able to visit the returning Parking China fair, while a debut ‘Shanghai Smart Office Technology’ (SSOT) feature zone will add yet another element to these growing group of exhibitions. Covering key topics such as IoT, AI, big data, robots, smart offices, smart parking, home security, HVAC, energy conservation, 5G, smart neighbourhoods and smart cities, fairgoers and exhibitors alike can benefit from a one-stop market and purchasing platform which positively bring together multiple different industries. Smart parking industries On the development of SIBT, Ms Lucia Wong, Deputy General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Co Ltd said: “As SIBT welcomes its 13th edition, I must express my sincere gratitude for the unwavering support from the industry. Devoted to demonstrating cutting-edge technology and innovative products, we are looking forward to highlighting new market trends and welcoming fairgoers this September.” Ms Wong also shared her optimism on the fifth edition of SSHT, stating: “The fairs have grown alongside the market. By exploring advanced technology and top-tier products, we strive to promote the widespread implementation of smart homes.” In line with recent policies implemented by China, green building and renewable energy initiatives are being promoted in different parts of the country, while intelligent buildings have also become a common sight across cities. China’s IoT capabilities are also developing rapidly which extends to the smart building, smart office and smart parking industries. Cross-industry cooperation Over 280 exhibitors from multiple sectors will congregate at the shows As 5G and AI technology continue to improve, smart home is now more than a fictional concept but a lifestyle that is gradually taking over traditional homes. Full smart home implementation are expected to soar in popularity with sensors becoming the epicentre of smart homes. With the rapid development of 5G technology and the enhanced applicability of AIoT and IoT operation systems, the future of home industry will be brimming with exciting possibilities. With both fairs placing a strong emphasis on ‘AI+IoT’, SIBT and SSHT will work in synergy to bring together IoT and smart building suppliers, encouraging cross-industry cooperation and communication. Over 280 exhibitors from multiple sectors will congregate at the shows including Schneider, Hisense, Ezviz, Ave Leelen, ANJUBAO, Dnake, Legrand China, SUREN, ORVIBO, Baiwei, FANTEM, HaiLin, Shuncom, KNX, EnOcean, Crodigy, A-OK, wistarmotor, HDL, Grandland, Daming Laffey, UIOT, Eastsoft, Savekey, Wintom Sun-shade, Auxdio, Sonos, aminasound, D&M, Cinemaster, Levoice, Elite, Changsha Yidai, Ningbo Hope, Bao Feng Cinema, WTi Group, ALCATEL, Dongguan Taitron, and more. Smart control systems Selected exhibitors and their innovations include: HDL - HDL showcases integrated smart control systems, one-stop solutions and equipment. New products on display include the multipurpose S10 touch screen and other smart panels. Ezviz - Concentrating on the safety-related aspects of smart living and technology, the company will demonstrate its intelligent air quality sensor with remote access and history function, as well as its video recorder with internet-connection, 360° high-speed rotation, intelligent human detection, acoustic location, and other functions. Legrand China - Legrand China will offer visitors a multitude of new smart home appliances and systems, including intelligent switches for window blinds, switch modules, gateways, smart plugs, wireless IR transmitters, controllers, and door and window detectors. FANTEM - The latest upgrade to its home system, OOMI3.0, is a stability solution for wireless connections in mansions and duplexes. Targeting the needs of families and those that require large-scale systems, it supports scenario settings with the use of multiple gateways. CTTL-Terminal Labs summit forum envisions smart living Every edition of SIBT and SSHT introduces cutting-edge industry technology through a diverse programme of concurrent events. This year, SIBT will be collaborating with CTTL-Terminal Lab under the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) to present forums on smart cities, neighbourhoods and buildings. Under CAICT, CTTL-Terminals Lab specialises in ICT development research, product standards and testing, and new ICT development research, offering all-round support for related industries. Led by the lab, this year’s forum will introduce a number of renowned speakers to discuss their latest research on industry trends and innovative new technology. Smart office solutions A new ‘Smart Office’ zone will debut this year to explore the growing market demand for smart office solutions. The zone will highlight a number of technologies and solutions that provide optimal performance for office facilities using IoT and connected technology. The show will explore improved urban parking resource management and better parking eco-systems in buildings The smart parking sector will also be under the spotlight as the Parking China fair will once again be held concurrently to provide a high-level international platform for smart parking solutions in cities. To help the industry thrive, the show will explore improved urban parking resource management and better parking eco-systems in buildings. SIBT is organised by Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt Co Ltd, Shanghai Hongshan Exhibition Service Co Ltd, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade – Shanghai Pudong Sub-Branch, and The Intelligent Engineering Branch of China Exploration & Design Association. Building technology exhibitions The organisers of SSHT are Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt Co Ltd, Shanghai Hongshan Exhibition Service Co Ltd, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade – Shanghai Pudong Sub-Branch, and China Smart Home Industry Alliance. The two fairs will be held from 3 – 5 September 2019 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre in China. SIBT and SSHT are both headed by the biennial Light + Building event in Frankfurt, Germany. The fair will be held once every two years. The next edition will be held from 8 -13 March, 2020. Messe Frankfurt also organises a series of light and building technology exhibitions in Asia including Guangzhou Electrical Building Technology, Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition and Shanghai International Lighting Fair. The company's light and building technology fairs also extend to markets in Argentina, India, Thailand, Russia, the UAE and other countries and regions.

Taking video analytics to the next level, VIVOTEK, globally renowned IP surveillance solution provider, has introduced a brand new license plate recognition camera, the IB9387-LPR. Featuring a built-in license plate recognition software and edge-computing capability without additional server, the IB9387-LPR can identify license plates of vehicles from over 70 countries around the world. These and other features make it one of the most powerful License Plate Recognition (LPR) system and a cost-effective all-in-one device applied for condominiums, parking access control and Stop & Go toll systems. VIVOTEK IB9387-LPR camera VIVOTEK’s IB9387-LPR offers efficient access control management through black & white lists VIVOTEK’s IB9387-LPR also offers efficient access control management through black & white lists and multi-site camera centralised maintenance. With a black & white list embedded inside the IB9387-LPR, the control barrier will open the gate when a white list vehicle is detected. On the other hand, a blacklist vehicle will trigger an alarm and a notification will be sent to security staff. With VIVOTEK’s IB9387-LPR, security staffs of parking lots with multiple entry points no longer need to upgrade system one after another. They can simply upload these lists to a single centralised LPR camera and all the other LPR cameras will download the master list, thus significantly reducing both installation time and maintenance efforts. Application Programming Interfaces Thanks to its various Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), third-party systems such as parking management, toll collection, and weighbridge systems are able to receive live LPR images with specific country, state, date, time, and confidence level from IB9387-LPR. Additionally, the sophisticated camera is safeguarded by Trend Micro IoT Security, providing proactive protection in cybersecurity. Combining recognition and security management technology, VIVOTEK’s IB9387-LPR offers an intelligent, scalable and highly secure standalone LPR system.

Marking its European debut, Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Firebird product line will be showcased at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, in the United Kingdom, July 19-21. The company is also announcing signed agreements with Tenax Aerospace and Grand Sky Development Company, LLC (‘Grand Sky’) for rights to purchase Firebird, the company’s new, optionally piloted intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft system. Unmanned aerial vehicle Firebird is designed to deliver critical ISR capability to meet customer mission needs “Flexibility, whether in cockpit configuration, payloads, or in owning and purchasing Firebird, is at the core of what makes this aircraft such an attractive ISR option for government partners and private industry,” said Brian Chappel, vice president, autonomous systems, Northrop Grumman. “Having flown over two dozen sensors on Firebird’s proven architecture, we are ready to offer Firebird to a wide range of nations, U.S. government and civilian agencies, and businesses with critical data collection needs.” Northrop Grumman’s Firebird product line delivers medium altitude, long endurance multi-mission flexibility and an unbeatable value. Available in manned, autonomous and optionally piloted configurations, Firebird is designed to deliver critical ISR capability to meet customer mission needs. Grand Sky is the nation’s first commercial unmanned aerial vehicle testing and training center. Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Grand Sky is home to one of Northrop Grumman’s North Dakota locations. Meeting critical information Tenax Aerospace is a provider of special mission aircraft and related aviation services to the U.S. government and commercial customers. Both companies see Firebird as meeting critical information gaps for their businesses. “We are excited to bring Firebird to Grand Sky and to utilise its long-endurance and variable payload capabilities for commercial customers. Our goal is to support energy infrastructure monitoring and humanitarian and disaster relief operations by leveraging Firebird’s range, altitude and endurance,” said Thomas Swoyer Jr., president and partner with Grand Sky. “We see the incredible efficiencies to be gained in the market with technology like Firebird, enabling affordable data gathering on a scale not previously available to the commercial market space.” Extremely affordable price Firebird provides a unique flexibility and responsiveness that we feel is essential for the critical missions" “Firebird allows Tenax Aerospace to bring industry leading adaptability and flexibility in data collection at an extremely affordable price point to meet the needs of our sophisticated U.S. government and global security customers,” said Tom Foley, chairman, Tenax Aerospace. “Firebird provides a unique flexibility and responsiveness that we feel is essential for the critical missions we support today and in the future.” Firebird is equipped with wide band Line-of-Sight (LoS) and/or Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLoS) data links, onboard storage and accessible processing for rapid data exploitation to ensure timely completion of missions for industry and government customers. Tailored mission suitability The system’s unique design allows sensors to be changed rapidly as plug-and-play devices, reducing first time payload integration time from months to days and enabling rapid field changes in less than an hour to increase operational availability and tailored mission suitability. Firebird delivers 30-plus hours of endurance and up to 25,000 feet, providing customers near real-time actionable intelligence. Northrop Grumman is a global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, space, strike, and logistics and modernisation to customers worldwide.

After entering into partnerships with Australian, Italian and Chinese trade fairs, the Deutsche Messe group of companies is now launching its own, fully proprietary INTERSCHUTZ trade fair in a foreign market: ‘INTERSCHUTZ USA’ is the name of the new event devoted to the North American firefighting equipment and safety/security sector. "Our new commitment in the U.S. represents an expansion of INTERSCHUTZ's worldwide network and allows us to occupy a key market with our strong brand," reported Dr. Andreas Gruchow, member of Deutsche Messe's Managing Board, adding: "While our foreign trade fairs are closely aligned with regional market conditions and needs, our Hannover-based INTERSCHUTZ – the world's flagship fair – focusses on the entire spectrum of global sales markets, supporting partnerships as well as business cooperation in the field of fire brigades, rescue services, civil protection and safety/security at the international level." Security solutions for fire brigades Firefighters in the U.S. have a great deal of respect for the INTERSCHUTZ brand as well as its size and scope"The first edition of INTERSCHUTZ USA will take place from 13 to 17 October 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The American subsidiary of Deutsche Messe, Hannover Fairs USA, is responsible for organising the event. INTERSCHUTZ USA focusses on safety and security solutions, new technologies and the latest strategies for sustainable American fire brigades. "Firefighters in the U.S. have a great deal of respect for the INTERSCHUTZ brand as well as its size and scope," said Larry Turner, President and CEO of Hannover Fairs USA. "Many of the industry representatives we've met with are incredibly excited about the launch of our new show in America." Focussing on management of fire brigades INTERSCHUTZ USA will focus on the requirements of fire departments in the 21st century, focussing, in particular, on the management level of American fire brigades. But vehicles, technologies and strategy aren't the only topic: At the same time, the new Philadelphia-based trade fair will also feature a supporting program designed to appeal to interested parties and fire department enthusiasts, as well as to families and potential young recruits from the east coast of the United States. INTERSCHUTZ USA enjoys the support of key local partners: "Members of the Philadelphia Fire Department are excited about welcoming the whole firefighting world to Philadelphia," said Adam Thiel, Fire Commissioner of the Philadelphia Fire Department and Director of the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management, adding: "Since 1736, the Philadelphia Fire Department has been dedicated to safety, innovation, and best practices." Helping companies to exhibit in the US An additional partner for the event will be Local 22 IAFF of the Philadelphia Firefighters and Paramedics UnionAn additional partner for the event will be Local 22 IAFF of the Philadelphia Firefighters and Paramedics Union. "Local 22 IAFF is delighted that a prestigious event like INTERSCHUTZ, with such a diverse array of exhibitors, is coming to Philadelphia under the name of INTERSCHUTZ USA," remarked Mike Bresnan, President of Local 22 IAFF. The aim is to help companies from around the world – and particularly companies exhibiting at INTERSCHUTZ in Hannover – to get active on the American market, either as individual exhibitors or as members of a group pavilion. This has already been successfully practiced at the other INTERSCHUTZ events staged outside of Germany. These are currently ‘AFAC powered by INTERSCHUTZ’ (27–30 August 2019 in Melbourne, Australia), ‘REAS powered by INTERSCHUTZ’ (4–6 October 2019 in Montichiari, Italy) and ‘CEFE powered by INTERSCHUTZ’ (5–7 November 2019 in Shanghai, China).

NELA Locksmith, a Los Angeles locksmith, announces that it has expanded into serving residential and commercial markets. Previously, they had been primarily focused on emergency services that are available 24/7. This expansion means that their residential services will include 24-hour locksmith services. Additionally, their services will include broken key extraction, lock changing and re-keying, as well as cabinet and mailbox lock services. They’ll even be able to install and provide any subsequent maintenance for electric and smart locks. Vehicular lockouts Commercial services will include many of the same services mentioned above. However, the commercial services will be scaled to the size of the location. Despite being a newer company, NELA Locksmith has professionals who have experience in the locksmith industry. “We’ve been helping people in Los Angeles with their locks for a long time. When we started this company, the goal was to be able to offer people a better price on their residential and commercial locks. We’re not just locksmiths; we’re part of this community. So, we wanted to be able to give the community a bit more,” said Luis Bravo from NELA Locksmith. In addition to the residential locksmith and commercial services, NELA Locksmith offers automotive locksmith services as well. Those include vehicular lockouts, lock changing and others.

With the release of the Volvo XC90 Armoured, Volvo Cars takes another step as a manufacturer of armoured vehicles. The cars are designed and built to provide safe and comfortable travel with a high level of personal protection for the occupants. "We are proud to be able to offer these armoured cars. With our armoured cars, we can provide vehicles with a high level of personal security for individuals who require heightened protection," says Stephan Green, Marketing Director at Volvo Cars Special Vehicles. Volvo XC90 Armoured XC90 Armoured (heavy) with VR8* protection rating is a car that provides a high level of protection There is a growing global market for armoured vehicles at present, and a large number are manufactured with various protection ratings. Volvo Cars has received numerous requests over the past few years to develop an armoured XC90. Volvo Cars has extensive experience of building police cars, fire engines and diverse special vehicles with high requirements in terms of function, drivability and safety. In fact, the first Volvo police car was delivered back in 1929. "The XC90 Armoured (heavy) with VR8* protection rating (VPAM BRV 2009/ERV 2010) enables us to offer a car that provides a high level of protection while retaining the car's fundamental properties. Potential customers include security services who would use the car to transport high-profile individuals," says Green. Armoured vehicles Work to develop a car with a VPAM VR8 protection rating commenced just over two years ago. A certified VPAM VR8 rating means the car has 360-degree ballistic resistance as well as explosive resistance. The armoured car is built on the Inscription version of the Volvo XC90 T6 AWD, which is manufactured at the Torslanda plant in Sweden. The size and nature of the model make it the most suitable vehicle in Volvo Cars' product portfolio for armouring. From Torslanda, the car is sent to TRASCO Bremen GmbH in Germany, a company which has specialised for many years in building high-quality vehicles with high protection ratings. High-strength steel armour Production is classified, with stringent procedures and oversight in place to attain the stipulated ballistic requirements" "Production is classified, with stringent procedures and oversight in place in order to attain the stipulated ballistic requirements," says Green. The high-strength steel armour is 10 millimetres thick, while the thickness of the glass can be up to 50 millimetres. The armour adds approximately 1,400 kilograms to the XC90, which brings the total weight of the car up to 4,490kg (including five occupants). To cope with the increased weight, the car is fitted with uprated suspension and new brakes. High protection ratings "Production is carried out with extreme diligence, which is imperative in order to fulfil the exceptionally high requirements placed on this class of security product. We strive to ensure that the car retains its properties despite the extensive armouring. The armour is fitted discreetly to make the car barely distinguishable from a standard XC90. Every customer also has their own unique requirements, which we satisfy by means of customised production," says Green. The Volvo XC90 Armoured (heavy) is available to order now and the first customer deliveries will be made at the end of 2019. Volvo Cars also develops another version of the armoured car (light). This means that Volvo Cars has a full portfolio of cars able to offer high personal protection. These cars are built on the XC60 T6 AWD Inscription or XC90 T6 AWD Inscription. VIP security These versions are geared towards different clientele than the XC90 Armoured (heavy). Users could be individuals or companies requiring a car with a higher level of protection due to a geographical risk or a heightened personal threat. A market for these types of protective vehicles also exists among security services, the police, the diplomatic corps and private individuals. The cars will undergo a battery of ballistic tests to ensure the required protection rating is fulfilled The cars are intended for Latin America and Europe. After construction, they are retrofitted in Brazil, where there is considerable demand for these types of cars as well as substantial experience of building them. These vehicles are designed to offer lighter protection compared with the XC90 Armoured (heavy). Protection in active shooter situations The cars will undergo a battery of ballistic tests to ensure the required protection rating is fulfilled. They primarily provide protection against handguns. The weight of the car is increased by around 250 kilograms, which is compensated for by upgrading the brakes and suspension. This means that the fundamental properties remain largely unchanged compared to the standard car.

Artificial intelligence allows machines to do jobs previously done by people. When it comes to security and surveillance, this technology allows cameras and control room equipment to identify a wide range of threats automatically and in real time across hundreds or even thousands of cameras – allowing security teams to take immediate action to protect people and assets. AI technology and surveillance solutions Artificial Intelligence technology built into surveillance solutions help organisations optimise their security Video surveillance cameras are the electronic eyes of any security operation. In the past, human supervision was needed to make sense of the images captured, and to assess whether certain events posed a security risk or not. With some organisations using hundreds or even thousands of cameras to protect their people and assets, manual review of footage is simply impossible – potentially leaving them vulnerable to security breaches. Advanced Artificial Intelligence technology built into surveillance solutions can help organisations overcome this challenge and optimise their security. This means cameras, control-room equipment and back-end infrastructure can now ‘learn’ about potential threats for themselves by recognising people, vehicles and even behaviours. Detection and prevention The manual interventions needed with traditional security systems mean that teams were frequently reacting to breaches that had already happened. Artificial Intelligence changes all this by recognising potential threats before they impact company’s people or assets – allowing security teams to react immediately to neutralise any potential threat. Artificial intelligence solutions can automatically trigger alerts when a person appears in a restricted area For example, artificial Intelligence solutions can automatically trigger alerts when a person appears in a restricted area, or when a vehicle with a blacklisted number plate enters a site. With alerts delivered in real time, teams can identify and react to security threats and protect people and assets more effectively. And because alerts are automated, potential threats are hardly missed or overlooked. How does artificial intelligence work? Artificial Intelligence systems become more intelligent over time, building databases of potential threats and reacting to new events accordingly. This allows systems to ‘think for themselves’ and to alert teams of any suspicious events or people who are caught on camera. Artificial intelligence technologies use advanced algorithms based on Deep Learning to distinguish between different kinds of security events and threats. Technologies incorporated into the Hikvision portfolio include: Facial recognition which allows law enforcement personnel to identify suspects and commercial teams to identify VIP customers in real time. Vehicle identification which can be used to identify vehicle number plates and recognise different types of vehicles (even down to make and model), or to trigger alerts when vehicles enter restricted areas. Perimeter protection which helps organisations to identify real threats by distinguishing people and vehicles from other moving objects and keeping false alarms to a minimum. Business intelligence which employs people counting, queue detection, and heat mapping technologies, so that organisations can enhance operational efficiency by making use of the data report. Increasing commercial success  Artificial intelligence isn’t just useful for identifying security threats – although this is a key strength of the technology. It can also help organisations increase their competitiveness and commercial success. For example, VIP customers who opt to participate in special marketing promotions or other incentives can be identified so staff can provide the right kind of service at the right time. This gives organisations the opportunity to personalise the service experience, foster loyalty and maximise customer lifetime revenues. Artificial Intelligence can help organisations to better understand customers and meet their needs more effectively In the same way, artificial Intelligence can help organisations to better understand customers and meet their needs more effectively – leading to more commercial opportunities. One feature – called People Counting – allows stores and commercial centres to map footfall at peak times, ensuring that staffing is optimised to meet demand. At the same time, stores can see which areas of the building customers visit most and adjust their merchandising and product positioning accordingly to maximise the sales opportunities. Artificial intelligence at Hikvision Hikvision’s family of artificial intelligence products include the DeepinView network cameras and DeepinMind NVRs. The products help to tackle security with facial recognition; monitoring and counting of people; and recognition and detection of vehicles, to name a few. These features all depend on artificial intelligence technology to recognise, classify and respond to security threats. This article was written by Hikvision.

Public spaces in cities and suburbs are important places for community development and promoting outdoor recreation. These areas may include main streets, parks, promenades, band shells and fields. Such locations are often utilised by public event planners for community activities, including summer festivals, wintertime ice skating rink installations, music concerts and art fairs. As the year drew to a close, holiday and Christmas markets as well as major New Year’s Eve events, presented cities with constant public event security needs. The public nature of these events increases risks of incidents with high-speed vehicles that put attendees in danger. Fortunately, there are three ways for public space managers to prevent casualty-causing collisions and further promote the use of local public areas. Developing an effective action plan    When strategising how to react to an alert, think about what time of the year and time of day the event is occurring It is important to have a plan developed before an incident or accident occurs. Warning systems, utilising doppler radar and digital loop technologies, alert guards to abnormal vehicle velocity changes in the surrounding area. Managers of public areas should organise a meeting with public safety authorities and local agencies to discuss what must immediately occur when a high-speed vehicle is approaching a public event. When strategising how to react to an alert, think about what time of the year and time of day the event is occurring. Having such a reaction plan in place combines technology and strategic planning to ensure everyone is on the same page to effectively target a threat and promote overall event safety. Securing public areas  Ideally, there will be no need to implement a well-conceived action plan. After all, taking preventive measures to secure public areas where events take place is important to keep people safe from accidental vehicle collisions and intentional attacks. Protect attendees by clearly separating pedestrian and vehicle locations using security devices such as – Barricades Portable barriers Bollards Install guard booths  Avoid the risk of vandalism and theft, making sure people are safe when walking back to the cars at night by keeping parking areas illuminated with flood lights. Install guard booths with employees who monitor activity in the parking area and who are prepared to react if an alert is triggered. Furthermore, prevent accidental collisions by clearly marking the parking area with informative warning signs and using barricades to direct traffic. These three tips can be used by public area managers to promote security at the next community event. Additionally, the technologies used to secure an event can also be used as infrastructure for year-round security. Installing gates that shut when the public space is closed or using aesthetically pleasing bollards are steps any public area manager can take to promote community safety.

In my coverage of China Tariffs impacting the security industry over four recent articles, products on the tariff schedules routinely integrated into security solutions included burglar and fire alarm control and transmission panels, video surveillance lenses, HDTV cameras used for broadcast use cases and fiber optic media converters. The general ‘callout’ of ADP (Automatic Data Processing) devices and peripherals technically includes servers, workstations and microcomputers, all of which are commonly used to support security solutions. The underperformance, from June 15 to August 24, of U.S. stocks with high revenue-exposure to China, and that of Chinese stocks with high revenue-exposure to the United States was significant and almost identical at 3.2%, significant losses to some investors already involved in security industry M&A activity. Significant public safety Facial Recognition (FR) vendors leveraging AI expanded their market focus to retail and public safety While it was not apparent that practitioners’ security program budgets kept pace with the growth of the more popular solution providers like video surveillance and cyber security, the ICT industries supporting the security economy continued to expand, especially in wireless and wired infrastructure, including preparations for 5G wireless rollouts. These omnipresent technologies drove significant public safety, smart city and public venue projects in 2018. Facial Recognition (FR) vendors leveraging AI expanded their market focus to retail and public safety. In 2018, virtually every public presentation, webinar and published Q&A on social media monitoring and facial recognition technologies I worked on, involved significant pushback from privacy advocates, almost to the point of alarmism. Massive risk reduction Several solution providers in these areas have made significant strides on data protection, accuracy, powered by AI and documented crime reduction cases; however, this real news is quickly shadowed by privacy advocates, seemingly ignoring massive risk reduction, especially in the case of active assailants and gang-related crime. Will FR become mainstream? The cautious security industry may take a cue from the maverick retail industry, sports venue and VIP verification solution providers that grew in 2018. 2019 trends: presupposition or repudiation; winners and losers. Chinese tariffs have had a huge impact on the security industry, which can be seen from changes to U.S and Chinese stocks  Although technology adoption forecasting is inexact, there are definitive opportunities in the security industry born on necessity. With the widespread problem of false alarm transmission and inability for first responders to ‘be everywhere,’ developers of solutions that provide automated verification and alternative security incident detection are expected to become mainstream. Promising detection systems The use of AI, NLP, LiDAR, UAS (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles aka drones) with surveillance and thermal imaging will grow, mostly due to higher acceptance in other industries like autonomous vehicles, rail safety, terrain and post devastation mapping/rescue. However, legacy ‘listing’ or certification organisations will be forced to make an important decision for their own survival: work toward integrating these promising detection systems into acceptance by insurance, licensing and standards development organisations. 2019’s ‘true’ Industrial Philanthropists will be needed to fund early warning tech for firefighters and the presence of active assailants 2019’s ‘true’ industrial philanthropists will be needed to fund early warning tech for firefighters and the presence of active assailants. For these use cases, 5G infrastructure rollouts, FR acceptance, lower cost perimeter detection and long range object and fire recognition by LiDAR and Thermal imaging will all be watched closely by investors. Should public agencies and philanthropical solution providers in the security industry cross paths, we may just yet see a successful, lifesaving impact. Cyber risk profile The ‘Digital twin’ refers to a digital replica of physical assets (physical twin), processes, people, places, systems and devices that can be used for various purposes. Your ‘Security Digital Twin’ has a similar physical and cyber risk profile, either through common threats, similar assets or both. Good news: managing your risk, protecting assets and securing your facilities in 2019 will get easier as security digital twin profiles will grow in maturity, while keeping their data sources private. This will be accelerated by the maturity of AI-based, auto-generated visualisations and image recognition, that happens to also drive the FR solutions. The 5G wireless infrastructure market is emerging as far more of a quantum leap in connectivity, like ‘wireless fiber optics’ performance, than an upgrade to 4G LTE. The 5G infrastructure market will be worth $2.86 billion by 2020 and $33.72 billion by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 50.9%. Intelligent applications The explosion of ingested voice, video, and meta-data, the interconnectivity of devices, people and places, and the integration of intelligent applications into expanding ecosystems all require faster communications. To be more accurate, 5G rollouts will accelerate in 2019; however, current project funding will include and be impacted by future enterprise security connectivity: 5G and FWA (Fixed Wireless Access). 5G rollouts will accelerate in 2019; however, current project funding will include and be impacted by future enterprise security connectivity Quite simply put, larger solution providers are gently coaxing practitioners into seemingly ‘open systems;’ the negative discovery during an M&A process, audit or integration with a smart city’s public/private partnerships will continue to be revealed, and related industries will force reform. Autonomous things will be enabled by AI and image recognition. With few affordable rollouts of security robots and outdoor unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) that leveraged platforms popular with research and even NASA, the autonomous security robot was mostly MIA from a security practitioner’s program in 2018. Perimeter intrusion detection One platform was even accused of intimidating homeless people in a public place, at a major city. Industries mutually beneficial are often unaware of each other; this will change gradually: one major domestic airport is currently evaluating a UGV platform performing perimeter intrusion detection, runway weather conditions and potential aircraft taxiing dangers. The platform is being used largely in transportation research, yet offers significant opportunities to the security industry. Research firm Gartner estimates that 70% of today’s technology products and services can be enhanced with ‘multi-experience’-based VR/AR/MR The ‘immersive experience’ of virtually any security or threat detection is a twist on virtual/augmented/mixed reality (VR/AR/MR) with additional sensory features. Although VR/AR/MR is well underway in other industries, there are several companies with solutions like VR-based active assailant training that could provide a fighting chance for practitioners, employees, visitors, faculty and children. Research firm Gartner estimates that 70% of today’s technology products and services can be enhanced with ‘multi-experience’-based VR/AR/MR. Security ecosystem members Not necessarily MIA, but of special mention is the need of security and safety practitioners to prioritise communications systems over ‘nice to have’ expansive video surveillance systems for mass casualty threats. This will eventually improve with 5G for Enterprise solution rollouts. At the past GSX and upcoming CES Technology trade shows, a new roundup of technologies is discovered: a wider diversity of protection promise to save ASIS members on their technical security program is realised. With each of the ‘winners,’ (5G, AI, NLP, LiDAR, UAS [Unmanned Aerial Vehicles aka drones], thermal imaging, digital security twins and smart-city-friendly technologies) it is both exciting and challenging work for both security practitioners and solution providers. All things equal and with the necessary technology acceptance testing processes, this is a truly great time for security ecosystem members.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is expanding the capabilities of license plate readers and vehicle identification systems. Within a smart/safe city scenario, automatic license plate reader solutions are used to help analyse real-time video streams for site surveillance, inspection and public safety, and to offer actional information through a network of connected camera systems. Outside of law enforcement, this can include other public safety initiatives such as traffic tolls, car counting, and parking security. Vehicle recognition systems Rekor Systems is a provider of vehicle recognition systems in more than 60 countries Using AI to enable video cameras, Rekor Systems is a provider of vehicle recognition systems in more than 60 countries. Applications include security and surveillance, public safety, electronic toll collection, brand loyalty, parking operations, banking and insurance, logistics, and traffic management. AI allows Rekor’s products to recognise and read license plates, while also providing information about each vehicle, including colour, make, year, and model. Rekor’s products are powered by OpenALPR software, an AI-based solution that enables any IP (internet protocol) surveillance camera to scan license plates and provide vehicle data including tag number, make, model, and colour in real time with 99% accuracy, according to the company. Rekor’s products are powered by OpenALPR software Integrated solutions “Rekor's software started as an open source project, and we have done our best to keep the commercial software as open as possible,” says Rod Hillman, Chief Operating Officer, Rekor Systems. “One of the challenges we see with others in our space is a tendency to ‘close off’ and ‘silo’ their solutions. Our goal is to make it as simple as possible to deploy, integrate, and ultimately use.” Rekor has numerous application programming interfaces (APIs) and ways the solution can be integrated into partners' solutions with a software development kit (SDK). Rekor solutions can be purchased directly or through a worldwide partner network of integrators, wholesalers, and within integrated solutions such as Nokia's smart city platform. Electronic toll collection Rekor’s solutions have viable applications within multiple markets While many systems are hardware-based, Rekor’s software-as-a-solution offering can turn an IP camera into an automatic license plate reader. Rekor’s solutions have viable applications within multiple markets, including law enforcement, security and surveillance, electronic toll collection, parking operations, banking and insurance, logistics, traffic management, and customer experience. “Rekor offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional LPR systems with a much higher accuracy rate at 99% allowing more cameras to be present and active at any given time,” says Hillman. “Traditional LPRs need someone to go through hours of footage to find what they are looking for while Rekor’s technology will send alerts in real time, resulting in much quicker response times.” Move Over Camera mounts onto roadside worker’s vehicles to capture ‘Move Over’ violations Two-part authentication Rekor’s products include: NUMERUS, a cloud-based solution for high-volume vehicle recognition, designed to reduce costs and increase efficiencies for the electronic toll collecting industry. Two-part authentication instantly identifies the vehicle’s make, model, colour and body type along with the license plate read. Machine-learning-enabled software recognises license plates from all 50 U.S. states, in addition to plates from more than 70 countries on six continents. Edge, an all-in-one camera and vehicle recognition system that instantly reads vehicle license plates, along with the vehicle’s make, model, colour and body type. Move Over Camera, which mounts onto roadside worker’s vehicles (police, tow truck, etc.) to capture ‘Move Over’ violations. ‘Move Over’ laws state that vehicles must move over one lane and/or slow down if they cannot move over to avoid incident while roadside workers are in the shoulder lane. The camera can detect what lane vehicles are in and how fast they are moving. Violators are flagged in the system for law enforcement’s review.

An area of technology that is shifting how we interact with our cities is the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT already accounts for swathes of technology and devices operating in the background. However, we’re increasingly seeing these come to the forefront of everyday life, as data becomes critical. The decisions that this critical data is attached to must be made quickly. A living, breathing city must constantly be monitoring, assessing and utilising data in order to ensure it keeps people safe and mobile. Delivering exciting opportunities Much like the arrival of Uber and Airbnb, the Internet of Things will deliver exciting opportunities The search for an answer to the challenges of growing human urbanisation is believed to exist in the smarter application of new technologies. Where once, electricity and the arrival of the elevator gave us vertical cities, today, we have the promise of the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, micro-controllers (MEMS) and new materials to help manage a very crowded future. Data capture form to appear here! We are confronted with a perfect storm of risk factors and potential vulnerabilities as each of these connection points is potentially a source for a security breach. Much like the arrival of Uber and Airbnb, the Internet of Things will deliver exciting opportunities and new kinds of services, many of which we have yet to imagine. Priority control solutions However, there will be equally unimagined and unintended consequences, if only because, in highly complex systems with many connected and tightly linked elements, accidents are inevitable. “The journey to a smart city is incremental—you can’t flip a switch or force it. It requires complex integration and relentless innovation,” says Global Traffic Technologies (GTT) product manager Chad Mack. GTT provides priority control solutions that use analytics GTT provides priority control solutions that use analytics, cloud-based computing to link connected devices to improve mobility, public safety and transportation in cities around the world. GTT’s Opticom Priority Control mobility solution allows transit and public safety vehicles to request a green light at intersections, dramatically reducing the potential for intersection crashes and improving travel times and reliability. Increased connectivity “These intelligent priority management systems allow users to oversee and control the movement of vehicles that operate on a city’s streets,” Mack explained. The rise of urban centres and ‘Smart City’ initiatives enabled by big data, network of sensors and the Internet of Things bring a new set of challenges to future policing. There is now a growing consensus that technology transformation must be part of the overall solution While digital technologies have helped compress the reaction time of police all over the world, the increased connectivity can similarly be leveraged by criminals to carry out increasingly sophisticated crimes. There is now a growing consensus that technology transformation must be part of the overall solution. To keep cities and citizens safe, law enforcement must be armed with the right technology, tools, and processes to solve – or even prevent – the toughest crimes at faster rates. Proven criminal theories Many law enforcement agencies such as LAPD, Seattle and Florida Police Departments are using cutting-edge cloud-based crime prediction software to predict drug crime, gang crime, anti-social behaviour and gun violence. Such crime prediction software works by analysing data through a sophisticated algorithm that applies proven criminal theories to predict the top 10 to 20 spots where crime is most likely to occur over the next few hours. To do so, it leverages on a variety of factors, such as historical and recent crime data, real-time activity, weather forecasts, locations and other information. Once these ‘hot spots’ are identified, police officers can adapt their patrol schedule and frequency at these locations, making their presence felt in the area and thereby prevent crime from taking place.

Whether it is video analytic platforms to monitor traffic patterns or cameras deployed to help law enforcement ensure public safety, many cities are looking at advancements in video technology. Upgrade costs and technology compatibility issues are often front-and-centre when it comes to blending new technology with existing infrastructure. For example, if the city law enforcement officials want to improve video camera image quality, which can improve the evidentiary value of footage in prosecutions, they may look at newer HD or IP-based video systems. Upgrading to a hybrid DVR system Applications include perimeter monitoring, public parking, city transportation, square/town safety To stretch a tight budget, a migration plan to an IP-based camera system could be phased in over time by centering the upgrade on a new hybrid DVR system. This way, both existing analogue and newer IP-based cameras can be hooked into the system. For example, Hikvision’s Smart City Solutions include systems for government services, transportation and traffic management, or any combinations of these. Applications include perimeter monitoring, public parking, city transportation, square/town safety and temporary surveillance. Data capture form to appear here! Heart of City strategy Dahua Technology, a video-centric smart IoT solution and service provider, has introduced its ‘Heart of City (HOC)’ strategy, which is in line with the top-level design experience from hundreds of city projects. The strategy is based on the maturity of five technologies – artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cloud computing, IoT and 5G. The combination will enable the evolution of smart city 3.0 and bring great changes to our life, according to Dahua. A 300-plus camera city centre video surveillance scheme in the UK city of Lincoln has been installed and commissioned using Dahua's cameras, monitors and switching equipment A 300-plus camera city centre video surveillance scheme in the UK city of Lincoln has been installed and commissioned using cameras, monitors and switching equipment from Dahua Technology. The design of the new all-wireless encrypted system was based around delivering flexible technology, reducing the total cost of ownership, ease of installation, lower maintenance requirements, smart edge analytics and remote connectivity. Future-proof radio network design Environmentally friendly aspects of the project included specifying lower-energy equipment, integrating remote support and recycling hardware wherever possible. The council employed independent consultants Lever Technology Group to help them ensure they had a robust and future-proof radio network design. The installation of the new IP full HD system and network is part of Lincoln’s smart city strategy – Vision 2020 – which seeks to drive innovation in the city and harness new technologies to improve the lives of citizens. One of the results is the provision of free Wi-Fi in the city, working alongside the Dahua cameras using the same IP wireless network. Wearables for city surveillance Wearables are another new aspect of city surveillance system. For example, FLIR Systems, Inc. has announced FLIR TruWITNESS, a wearable sensor platform designed for city-level security and public safety operations. TruWITNESS combines video, audio, location data, Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities, and cloud and management software in one solution, allowing organisations to reach a new level of situational awareness. TruWITNESS is worn on an individual’s body or mounted inside vehicles and is designed for any public safety organisation that requires on-scene, real-time mobile surveillance TruWITNESS is designed for any public safety organisation that requires on-scene, real-time mobile surveillance. Worn on an individual’s body or mounted inside vehicles, TruWITNESS includes visible-video, audio, global navigation satellite system (GNSS), gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetometer sensors. These sensors combine to send alerts and stream data to a central command centre in real-time to ensure full situational awareness and global event handling. Featuring FLIR Neighbor Aware inter-device connectivity, TruWITNESS acts as an IoT device, triggering nearby TruWITNESS devices, fixed and motorised Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) security cameras, and other connected sensors to act upon an alarm event. TruWITNESS becomes a key component of FLIR Systems’ Video Management System, United VMS, which command centres use to manage video surveillance. United VMS combines video, audio, and other related data and makes it available for real-time situation management and forensic purposes. Video analytics for crowd monitoring Crowd monitoring video analytics solutions monitor vast areas instantly alerting police of any overcrowding areasCrowd monitoring video analytics solutions continuously monitor vast areas instantly alerting police of any overcrowding areas. Qognify’s crowd monitoring video analytics solution was successfully used during the Maratha Morcha in the city of Kolhapur, India, on October 15th, 2016. The system monitored approximately one million protestors through 165 cameras installed across city. Smart threshold alerts were streamed directly into the control room while the crowd was building up, so that action could be taken before the crowd density reached dangerous levels, alleviating crowd safety and stability. At the core of the solution is Situator, Qognify’s advanced PSIM/Situation Management solution, which manages a myriad of security systems and sensors, including Qognify’s video management solution, from a newly built state-of-the-art Command and Control Center. Security operators and officials have advanced situational awareness of what is happening in their city and where. Automated, pre-defined Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were designed, in the local language Marathi, for handling routine security incidents as well as disaster management, ensuring that the most effective response is initiated, and procedures are executed in a consistent manner. Maintaining law, order and safety Qognify also implemented its Safe City solution in Navi Mumbai, a planned township that was established to handle the population overflow from the overcrowded and ever-growing city of Mumbai, India. Together with CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation, the agency established for managing the new city) and system integrator WIPRO, Qognify designed an integrated and holistic solution that helps Navi police to maintain law, order and safety.  Qognify’s Video Management Solution controls hundreds of surveillance cameras As a planned township, Navi Mumbai officials have the benefit of operating in a modern environment, allowing them to maximise Qognify’s Safe City solution. The Qognify Situator is an advanced Situation Management platform, and Qognify’s Video Management Solution controls the hundreds of surveillance cameras throughout the city. Role of standards in smart cities “Standards can assist in successfully deploying a comprehensive [safe cities] system with multiple technologies into a single, cohesive entity,” said Per Björkdahl, Chair of the ONVIF Steering Committee. “With the ability to integrate various sensors and data from many different devices synthesised through one interface, government officials and law enforcement are afforded a more complete picture of their city’s security.” Deployment of facial recognition technology Live video streaming within the smart and safe city’s infrastructure means video’s capabilities can go beyond simple evidence recording and evolve into a tool that allows operations teams to monitor and remediate against incidents as they are happening. Facial recognition technology can be added on to any video surveillance camera that is recording at a high quality This can be taken one step further with the deployment of facial recognition via live streaming video. Facial recognition technology can be added on to any video surveillance camera that is recording at a high enough quality to identify faces. The technology works by capturing video, streaming the live video back to a control centre and matching faces against any watch lists that the control centre owns. Importantly, the data of people who aren’t on watch lists is not stored by the technology. This technology can work to make the city safer in a number of ways. For example, facial recognition could spot a known drug dealer in a city centre where they weren’t supposed to be, or facial recognition could identify if a group of known terror suspects were visiting the same location at the same time, and this would send an alert to the police.

Over 1,600 Wisenet cameras manufactured by Hanwha Techwin have been installed at Asia’s largest mega hub terminal in order to help operators monitor the movement of parcels and vehicles, as well as keep employees and visitors safe. With its nine decades of endless innovation, Korea’s logistics service provider, CJ Logistics, is leaping forward to become a pioneer by expanding its global networks to over 94 locations and entering the Thailand, Malaysia, China and Philippines markets. Video surveillance solution In June 2018, CJ Logistics opened Asia’s largest mega hub terminal in Gonjiam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. The terminal, which comprises two buildings with four floors above ground and two underground, occupies approximately 300,000sq metres, almost the size of 40 football stadiums. The total length of the facility’s conveyer belts is almost 43km, long as a full-course marathon The total length of the facility’s conveyer belts is almost 43km, which is as long as a full-course marathon. The terminal also has a state-of-the-art automation system, the first of its kind in Korea, which has increased the company’s daily handling capacity to 1.72 million parcels, four times higher than its competitors. CJ Logistics looked for a top-notch video surveillance solution which could match the terminal’s grand scale and the technically advanced automated facilities. Providing periphery monitoring After testing cameras from different manufacturers in the market, CJ Logistics chose Hanwha Techwin as its supply partner and have subsequently installed around 1,660 Wisenet cameras throughout the terminal. Wisenet X series IR PTZ cameras have been installed along the building exteriors, providing periphery monitoring 24/7 and auto tracking that enables precise monitoring across long distances, while IR illumination provides visibility even at night. Inside the buildings, around 1,400 Hanwha Techwin’s Wisenet Q series cameras were installed on the terminal’s ceilings and walls. The cameras are able to help detect any problems occurring to the automated conveyer systems which have a constant flow of parcels on them. They also oversee the movement of over 1,500 vehicles in and around the terminal and help create a safe working environment. Highly accurate recognition Wisenet X series bullet cameras, running license plate recognition (ANPR) software onboard, have been installed at the main gate of the terminal to enhance security at the entrances and exits, providing highly accurate recognition of license plates. These cameras enable effective vehicle monitoring within the terminal where cargo moves in and out around the clock, and are particularly useful in monitoring the main entrance. Both camera types are equipped with 12x optical zoom and 150dB WDR Wisenet X series bullet and PTZ cameras have been installed at indoor staircases and corridors of the office building. Both camera types are equipped with 12x optical zoom and the World’s best 150dB Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) which ensures clear images are captured from scenes that contain a challenging mix of bright and dark areas, normally causing overexposed or underexposed images. Intelligent video analytics As part of the Wisenet X series, these cameras feature intelligent video analytics and offer movement, loitering and intrusion detection. They are also equipped with audio analysis functionality which recognises critical sounds such as gunshots, explosions, screams and broken glass. “Thanks to the Hanwha Techwin’s Wisenet security solution, we were able to build a safe video surveillance system that can match the size and the cutting edge facilities of Asia’s largest logistics terminal,” said an official at CJ Logistics. “Now we can safeguard every corner of our terminal including vehicles, parcels, and personnel, not to mention indoor and outdoor spaces.”

It is one of Moscow’s most ambitious building projects: the VTB Arena Park was built on the site of the old Dynamo Stadium and revitalises the entire surrounding area with a multi-purpose concept. At an estimated cost of US$ 1.5 billion, the modern VTB Arena Park combines sports, entertainment, commercial and residential facilities. A first challenge arises from the sheer size of the project: The football stadium, known as Dynamo Central Stadium and home to FC Dynamo Moscow football club, hosts league matches with a capacity of over 26,000 spectators. The park’s indoor arena holds more than 12,000 guests during ice hockey matches, basketball games and rock concerts, while the 300,000 square-meter park area also offers retail facilities, a five-star hotel and 1,600-car parking garage. Protecting residential areas Considering the wide range of very different purposes served by these various buildings, it was clear from the project’s inception that a multitude of vendors and providers would be needed to cover all security needs. VTB Arena Park was looking for a partner able to tackle that key challenge From the security manager’s perspective, the main challenge was to ensure that these disparate systems would function together and allowed for central management of a wide array of functions such as: access control for tens of thousands of football fans entering the stadium on match days, monitoring the vast perimeter with its park zones, and protecting residential areas against intrusion. VTB Arena Park was looking for a partner able to tackle that key challenge – integration of all parts into one platform – and chose Bosch as its provider of end-to-end video security and access control. Intelligent video analytics Aside from the project’s complex technical ramifications, there was a particular system design challenge: Residents of the Arena Park should feel at home enjoying the highest quality of living, while the area also needs to accommodate for the influx of thousands of visitors within short periods. As the Bosch experts learned, the multi-purpose character of VTB Park leads to an equally wide range of different security needs among its users. Catering to the video security needs, Bosch installed a total of more than 2,000 video cameras, fixed as well as moving cameras, both indoors and outdoors, to safeguard the vast perimeter of the Arena Park premises and secure the homes and offices. One of the camera types installed for perimeter protection is the AUTODOME IP starlight 7000 HD. This high-definition camera offers excellent low-light performance thanks to starlight technology and also features built-in Intelligent video analytics. Access control systems The video analytics function automatically detects deviations from standard moving patterns The video analytics function automatically detects deviations from standard moving patterns, like a person entering a restricted area, and triggers an alarm that is sent to the control rooms where security staff can then zoom into a scene for closer investigation. As required by VTB Arena, all 2,000 cameras and connected video storage on Bosch recording units are managed centrally via the Bosch Video Management System (BVMS). Another particular challenge consisted of aligning the three different access control systems of the stadium running at the same time. The ticketing system is the first layer of access control, managing the turnstiles that permit entry of thousands of visitors during events with paper tickets. This access control system needed to integrate with the employee access control system that relies on proximity cards (the Access Engine provided by Bosch), as well as a third, offline access control system used at specific stadium facilities. Integrated security system As the Bosch experts in Moscow found out, such an integration was without historic precedent. Because no standard solution existed, the team devised a highly customised set-up managed centrally on the Building Integration System (BIS) from Bosch. “We were fully aware that the multifunctional character of the VTB Arena Park would lead to complexity that could hardly be topped. We needed integration power, a partner who knew how to bind all loose ends into one solution that had never existed before. Creating this one integrated security system catering to all the various purposes has made Bosch our main security partner,” said Alexander Kravchenkov, Deputy Head of Security Systems Maintenance Group IT Department at VTB Arena.

Wintec (The Waikato Institute of Technology), established in 1924 is a major New Zealand Government-funded tertiary institution, which has three Hamilton campuses; a city site overlooking the central business district, Avalon campus on the northern outskirts of the city, and a horticultural campus at Hamilton Gardens. In addition, it has regional operations at Te Kuiti and Thames and also an office in Beijing. The Avalon campus, a ten-minute drive from the city, is home to specialist trades training facilities, a state-of the-art sport and exercise complex and custom designed facilities for the School of International Tourism, Hospitality and Events. The third Hamilton campus, the Horticultural Education Centre, is situated amidst the 58 hectares of Hamilton Gardens. On-line distance education Wintec’s programmes and qualifications are nationally and internationally recognised Wintec is one of the largest institutes of technology in New Zealand, and has more than 35,000 full-time and part-time students, more than 500 full and part time staff and eleven schools within its academic faculty. International enrolments exceed 1000 from 47 countries. A range of student services provide its domestic and international students with a high level of support so they enjoy a positive, safe and secure study experience. Wintec’s programmes and qualifications are nationally and internationally recognised and its degrees have equal status to those from universities. The degree programmes include Media Arts, Midwifery, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Early Childhood Education, Business Studies, Engineering, Technology, Information Technology, and Sport and Exercise Science and a wide range of full and part time courses for those already in the workforce. Wintec is also recognised nationally in the delivery of on-line distance education for those unable to attend regular classes for reasons of geographical access or other constraints. Electronically controlled doors Wintec strives for a balance of unobtrusive yet robust control of site activity, essential for maintaining an open campus environment. Shane Goodall, Security Manager at Wintec, describes the approach to security as highly proactive and collaborative: “by focusing on preventing issues arising, we now have a minimal policing role and the crime resolution rate is high”. This environment is underpinned by Gallagher’s security system, a core access control, intruder alarms and integration platform. Wintec first installed the Gallagher system (formerly Cardax FT) in 1999 and has since migrated this legacy system to Gallagher’s latest security technology platform. Security for the entire organisation, including satellite sites, is managed and monitored centrally from Wintec’s single Gallagher security system. Since initial installation, Wintec’s Gallagher access control system has grown from 7 to 240 electronically controlled doors in 2009, with another 40 planned - testimony to the scalability and flexibility of the system. Network friendly system communications The organisation first installed 6 cameras in 2004 which has increased to 7 DVRs and 85 cameras Wintec has integrated its imaging system to the Gallagher system delivering a visual record which can be matched to the audit trail of events in Gallagher Command Centre software. The organisation first installed 6 cameras in 2004 which has increased to 7 DVRs and 85 cameras (both analogue and IP). Another compelling aspect of the system for Wintec is the scalability and TCP/IP network friendly system communications. As well as monitoring and controlling staff and student access, equipment including computers, TVs, printers, audio visual resources at Wintec are also monitored through the Gallagher system. The ‘Gallagher Hub’, a new computer laboratory offering comprehensive IT resources is open 24 hours. The Hub contains 125 workstations, and there are plans to extend that number. Active monitoring of equipment though the Gallagher system has significantly reduced theft. Students and staff have scheduled access to shared IT resources, classrooms and lecture theatres. Manage cardholder data ‘Cardholder Import’, an XML Interface, supports the importation of cardholder data including course enrolments from their student record system to Gallagher Command Centre. Shane comments, “Student card issuing is an automated process which is enrolment-driven – a student’s access privileges are assigned according to their enrolled courses.” “To implement this, we defined a rules-based allocation of access groups in the Gallagher system using the XML interface. The interface is ‘live’ so that changes in the student enrolments database are immediately reflected in the Gallagher system. The student’s updated access privileges come into effect without delay.” Staff that interact directly with students are now empowered to manage cardholder data enabling the security team to focus on security. Students and staff utilise Mifare SmartCard functionality extensively, embracing them as an integral multiapplication tool in their modern educational environment – SmartCards are used to issue resources from the library and as pre-stored value cards enabling prepaid printing and photocopying. In the near future they will also be used in Wintec’s Pay and Display car-park and potentially as passes onto city council buses. Electronic access control At Wintec, security is not viewed as a discrete functional activity relegated to security staff only Stewart Brougham, Director of Internationalisation at Wintec, says students have given very positive feedback about their ID cards. In particular, the ability to verify the identity of staff members from their ID access cards provides peace of mind for students. The end result is a people-friendly campus. Future enhancements of Wintec’s security may include the utilisation of the CommCard solution from Gallagher to manage and monitor access to student accommodation. CommCard is a unique high level integration between the Gallagher Command Centre software and Salto off-line readers, delivering offline, non-monitored electronic access control for lower security doors. An overriding philosophy of collaboration has seen Wintec take a lateral approach to security, the value of which many organisations have yet to realise. At Wintec, security is not viewed as a discrete functional activity relegated to security staff only. The ongoing management of security is a joint effort between the security services team and the information services team. Increasing operational security The security services team manages the Gallagher system while IT looks after back end functions such as installation on the network and backup. Wintec has leveraged the convergence of security (access control) and other operational business functions recognising the tremendous potential for reducing risk and increasing operational security, safety, performance and efficiency. Looking beyond simply controlling and monitoring who goes where and when on site, Wintec is harnessing the reporting capabilities of Gallagher Command Centre to meet regulatory requirements. The Gallagher system enables the institution to report on actual space utilisation (not just space booking). Decisions are made for best use, and also to substantiate funding, based on these reports. “The key to space utilisation reporting are the frequency of reporting and the integrity and reliability of information,” states Stewart Brougham. It’s a national issue for educational institutes in New Zealand. Extending external partnerships “For Wintec, reporting is about ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and is also a staff time management issue – reducing the administration load on lecturers, who would otherwise have to track student attendance manually.” Brian Fleming, Director of Gallagher Channel Partner, Concord Technologies, sites this lateral application of a security system as key to maximising the value of Gallagher to Wintec. Wintec has a strong relationship with Gallagher in the ongoing development of its technologies This collaborative philosophy extends to proactive external partnerships with their Gallagher Channel Partner, Concord Technologies, for the installation and maintenance of the Gallagher system, and with system designer and manufacturer, Gallagher. Having signed an agreement to continue in the capacity of a Gallagher field test site, Wintec has a strong relationship with Gallagher in the ongoing development of its technologies. Wintec’s success, in the last 5 years, as a test site reflects the competence of both its IT and security staff and the institute’s commitment to edge student services. Minimal training has been required. Software maintenance agreement There is open communication and information sharing between all internal and external parties involved, which means any issues that arise can be quickly addressed. Wintec has committed to a site maintenance plan with their security partner, Concord Technologies. The plan incorporates both software and hardware maintenance to ensure the system is maintained on the latest operating platforms within a known cost structure. A Software Maintenance Agreement also ensures enhanced ongoing system performance and reliability of the Gallagher system. Acknowledgements Gallagher would like to acknowledge the support of Wintec and security partner, Concord, with the development of this in-site study. Gallagher would also like to particularly acknowledge and thank Shane Goodall for the pivotal role he plays in championing the collaboration of these parties and for his outstanding support of the Northern Region Cardax User Group (NZ) in the capacity of Chairman of the group.

There is a saying that ‘Everything is Bigger in Texas’, and the Dallas, Texas police department is no exception. The city of Dallas is ranked in the top 10 cities in the U.S. in terms of population, at 1.2 million people. The Dallas Police Department is the ninth largest municipal police force in the U.S., based on 3,012 sworn officers. It is led by Chief of Police, U. Reneé Hall. The department is located in the Jack Evans Police Headquarters building, which was built in 2003. It is 358,000 square feet, has six floors, is spread over a three-acre site, has a separate 1,200 car parking garage and a two-acre, open parking lot for additional visitor parking. Prior to 2003, the department was housed in the circa 1914 former City Hall Building. Preventing terrorist attack and hazards Police officials worked with a Police Design Consultant to help design the building to resist terrorist attacksThe Jack Evans Police Headquarters building was under construction when 9/11 terrorists flew airplanes into the World Trade Buildings in New York. That event was preceded by the Oklahoma City Murrah Federal Building bombing in April 1995. Therefore, security was a concern in its design. Police officials worked with a Police Design Consultant – McClaren, Wilson, and Lawrie Architects of Phoenix – to help design the building to resist a terrorist attack and isolate potential hazards. The building also needed to control visitor traffic and access. On an average month, there are 5,000 public visitors to the Jack Evans building. In addition, shots fired at police buildings nationally are not uncommon, says Paul M. Schuster, Senior Corporal/Facilities Management for the Dallas Police Department. Ready to anticipate dangerous crimes “For the most part they are random, single shot drive-by shootings. Often, the officers are unaware that the building has been shot at, until they find a bullet hole in the brick or glass. Increasingly, police tend to be a symbol of government and some citizens see that as a visible target to lash out at. Police officers are trained to expect the routine types of calls, such as domestic violence, traffic accidents, and other crimes. Yet they must be flexible to anticipate the non-routine that can be dangerous and change in a heartbeat.”   On June 13, 2015, after midnight, a 35-year-old male placed a duffle bag with a remote-controlled bomb to detonate later between cars in the parking lot of the headquarters building. The suspect then began shooting continuously at the lobby windows. Officers responded to the scene, a vehicle chase began, and the incident ended outside the city. Luckily officers in the lobby took cover and were not injured. Conducting building security assessment The assessment included testing various construction materials for bullet resistance to various types of weaponsFollowing that incident, the Dallas Police Department conducted a security assessment of the building and also at seven patrol stations throughout the city. The assessment included testing various construction materials for bullet resistance to various types of weapons. Gensler Architects and Guidepost Solutions, LLC developed the solutions and plans. “Yesterday we were concerned about handguns, today we are worried about rifles, and the idea of terrorism is always present with outright attack or bombs,” Schuster notes. “The police officers and police staff only want a place that is safe and where they can do their good work.” Funding of $1.3 million was approved to upgrade the lobbies of the seven patrol stations to withstand rifle rounds, and $1.9 million to improve headquarters lobby security, and to upgrade an aging security system. Turner Construction Company and Convergint Technologies, LLC conducted the renovations and security technology integration. Challenges in upgrading lobby security Visitors were allowed free entry into the lobby and were only screened in an open area to the side if going to other floorsThe headquarters’ lobby was initially designed as a two-storey glass-walled structure, with an information desk and public records service windows. Visitors were allowed free entry into the lobby and were only screened in an open area to the side if going to other floors. “The challenge in upgrading lobby security was the two-storey lobby entrance glass. The glass was not bullet rated, due to budget constraints. Changing the front of the building to support ballistic rifle-rated glass would have caused extensive time, exposed the inside of the lobby to weather, and would not have solved all of the security issues,” Schuster says. “In addition, there were concerns about keeping an ‘open’ and friendly service concept in mind and ensuring that the lobby would not resemble a ‘fortress’,” Schuster notes. Bullet-rated glass and bullet resistant wall The solution was to keep the existing exterior unchanged and focus on adding a layer of security once a person enters the lobby. Visitors now enter the headquarters and immediately proceed to a side room where security screening is conducted. Once inside the screening room, the visitor has belongings x-rayed, and they walk through a metal detector A new secondary wall with bullet-rated glass and solid bullet resistant wall materials was constructed inside the lobby to channel visitors to the room. Once inside the screening room, which also has bullet resistant walls, the visitor has belongings x-rayed, and they walk through a metal detector. In the event that anyone was to produce a gun and begin shooting, the incident could be contained inside that room. Tourlock 180+90 security revolving door Once a visitor has been cleared, they proceed into the main lobby via a Boon Edam Tourlock 180+90 security revolving door. This automatic, four-wing door is the most advanced, security revolving door in the Boon Edam product range that offers maximum throughput, allowing users to enter and leave the building simultaneously. In the event that a large number of persons try to force their way into the facility, the Tourlock 180+90 will determine that more than one person is trying to enter and will reject the person and lock out any others from entering. Once a visitor is ready to leave the lobby and exit the building, they pass through another Boon Edam Tourlock 180+90 that leads to a vestibule with exterior swinging doors. In the event that someone tries to go back into the lobby from the front vestibule area, without going through the security screening room, the Tourlock security revolving door will reject their entry. Preventing tailgating and piggybacking The Boon Edam security revolving doors accurately prevent both tailgating and piggybackingThe Jack Evans Headquarters security upgrades for the lobby improved security and still kept the best aspects of the lobby design, including the antique police car, and the overhead police helicopter. The Boon Edam security revolving doors accurately prevent both tailgating and piggybacking, and provide the department with maximum security while controlling traffic flow. “While it would be great to have a building totally open to the public and then add security as needed, such is not the world we live in anymore,” Schuster adds. Future security plans include exterior site security upgrades to the patrol stations and the headquarters to include security fencing with card access controls for fleet and employee vehicles at each of the sites.

Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA), is one of North America’s leading salvage auto auctions companies with the largest facility footprint, strong buyer base, and high auction returns. The exclusive focus is on the automotive total-loss industry with over 160 corporate owned facilities across the United States and Canada. IAA provides sellers and buyers with the best solutions to process and acquire total-loss, recovered-theft, fleet lease, dealer trade-in and collision damaged rental vehicles. Holding a variety of automobiles from cars, trucks, SUV’s, and motorcycles on site - the highest property protection measures must be taken. When IAA felt it needed a more robust security system along with unsurpassed service to protect its business, they chose Gallagher’s perimeter security solution. Over 12 strong years, Gallagher is now much more than a security solutions vendor to IAA. Gallagher is a long-term partner. Reduction in theft and vandalism The quality of the fence is rigid, and wires are closer together and tighter, not loose and easily movable"Covering auction site sizes up to and over 70 facility acres, Gallagher’s networked perimeter fencing is in use and continually being rolled out into new IAA sites across various geographical regions. IAA staff believe that the threat of theft, vandalism and damage has been significantly reduced thanks to the deterrence and detection features of Gallagher’s networked perimeter security. Compared to other electric fences on the market, IAA chose Gallagher after they tested it and found it to be the best product available. Eric Zurawski, Director of Security, said “The quality of the fence is rigid, and wires are closer together and tighter, not loose and easily movable, as we’ve found with other products. All these attractive features are what sets Gallagher’s electric fencing apart.” Monitoring perimeter security With Gallagher’s latest software system Command Centre v7.10 and Trophy FT Fence Controllers, IAA monitors and controls perimeter security by sending a regulated electrical pulse around the high voltage fence zones and sections of the perimeter fence. IAA has the ability to configure, control and monitor between 3-12 fence zones at one time giving a thorough overlay of the entire yard, zone by zone, region by region. The integration features of Gallagher Command Centre have enabled IAA to streamline and improve all operations from the head office in Chicago. By remotely monitoring all sites they can see when fences go offline and where from a central control room. Protecting assets of customers Gallagher’s electric fences are our number one perimeter security choice to protect our assets and the assets of our customers"“The interface is far better than anything on the market. It is a very powerful tool, particularly great for monitoring. We’re able to monitor sites that turn on their electric fences and the ones that don’t from a remote location. It’s really helped boost our security measures. “Gallagher’s system has grown with us as we continue to expand by opening new sites and overflow lots, and acquiring existing businesses. Gallagher’s electric fences are our number one perimeter security choice to protect our assets and the assets of our customers. It is the number one security solution on the market that deters, detects, and delays.” Gallagher perimeter electric fencing is IAA’s primary line of defence, enabling IAA to enhance the security of its facilities while at the same time reducing its security costs. IAA has integrated Gallagher’s Command Centre with third party alarm systems offering regional alarm companies advanced installation help and support.

The FeeMaster Smart Console from people and vehicle access control specialist Nortech provides a simple and cost-effective way of managing access to car parks and facilities for vehicles and pedestrians. All the access control data is encoded onto a Mifare card using the FeeMaster Smart Console. As a standalone system, there is no wiring between the access control point and the console, making it easy and cost effective to install. Parking management system The console can print customer receipts and/or barcode exit tokens Part of the popular FeeMaster range, the FeeMaster Smart attendant console is a compact, elegant and easy-to-install device that reads barcode tickets issued at an entry station, calculates the fees payable based on pre-programmed tariff details, and encodes reusable Mifare access control cards with validity data. If necessary, the console can print customer receipts and/or barcode exit tokens. It is also able to control a till drawer and can optionally provide a relay output signal which can be used by third equipment i.e. barrier control whenever a card has been encoded or an exit ticket printed. The FeeMaster Smart time-based parking management system is designed to provide information about the initial arrival time of each visitor and uses cards to strictly control customers’ access rights to car parks and facilities as well as the validity period. Fee calculation system Popular applications that have used the FeeMaster attendant’s console to control visitor access include Bristol Aquarium and Edinburgh Castle, where an easy to install and operate and an automatic fee calculation system with tariff and grace period settings included was required. Bristol Aquarium required a cost-effective and efficient product that would not only save money but would also make the constant stream of visitors easy to monitor. The barcode reader connects to a barrier/turnstile/gate at each site and opens once a valid barcode has been scanned by a visitor using easy to programme modes of operation. New security products Nortech has supplied products and solutions to the security industry for over 25 years The simple to use design makes the console ideal for reducing queues and keeping the flow of people moving during busy periods, is extremely versatile and can simultaneously support several methods of revenue generation. Edinburgh Castle has been benefiting from the FeeMaster system for a number of years, using it to control and manage the strict parking at its site. The console allows the staff to control any misuse of the car park and ensures that there are enough parking spaces without the need for expensive cabling or disruption. Nortech has supplied products and solutions to the security industry for over 25 years as an independent British company. The company uses extensive experience and expertise to create new security products to fit their clients’ needs and designs everything with the customer in mind.  

The ability to treat patients in a secure environment is a base requirement of hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Whether facilities are large or small, security challenges abound, including perimeter security, access control of sensitive areas, video surveillance, and even a long list of cyber-risks. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the security challenges of hospitals and the healthcare industry?

ISC West 2019 is in the industry’s rear-view mirror, and what a show it was! The busy three days in April offered a preview of exciting technologies and industry trends for the coming year. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What was the big news at ISC West 2019?

When a big security breach occurs, the phones start ringing at security companies, or so the expectation goes. The nature of security is that it takes a security breach, or even a high-profile tragedy, to convince managers of the need for security technology. When a school shooting occurs, schools take note. When terrorism strikes a soft target, other vulnerable institutions notice. Same for hospitals and airports and even nightclubs. When an event occurs, it gets attention that could translate into business for security companies of various types. But should security companies seek to capitalise on these opportunities? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Is it fair game for manufacturers or marketers to leverage recent violent incidents or terrorist attacks to promote sales of security systems or products?