Video management software

FLIR Systems, Inc. announces three dome-shaped, Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) security cameras, including two dual-sensor camera series for critical infrastructure locations, the FLIR Elara™ DX-Series and the FLIR Saros™ DM-Series, and a high-resolution visible camera for safe city deployments, the FLIR Quasar™ 4K IR PTZ. The latest FLIR security products offer multiple lens options for long- and short-range needs to enable accurate perimeter protection of critical infrastructure, remote facilities, and in urban city environments, day or night. Superior perimeter security protection Both series offer eight lens options, enabling customers to choose the most appropriate lens for their application Critical infrastructure sites, such as utility substations and transportation centres, have significant and often increased security requirements. The latest FLIR Systems cameras featuring thermal imaging and 4K high-resolution sensors, the Elara DX-Series and Saros DM-Series, help deliver superior perimeter security protection where it matters most. With the ability to see through fog, rain, sun glare, and snow, both series provide the ability to spot heat signatures at all hours. The FLIR Elara DX-Series features longer viewing range capabilities, infrared illumination, and a wiper blade that can be remotely operated for use in harsh conditions to ensure a clear view. The more compact Saros DM-Series provides shorter viewing range capabilities in a weatherised housing. Both series offer eight lens options, enabling customers to choose the most appropriate lens for their application. Complementary solution with integration The Quasar 4K IR PTZ delivers high-resolution visible video quality with the best-in-class low light capabilities For the growing metropolitan city safety and security market, the Quasar 4K IR PTZ delivers high-resolution visible video quality with the best-in-class low light capabilities to give operators superior monitoring in large coverage areas. Providing VMS integration with FLIR United VMS and all major platforms, these latest FLIR security cameras can provide a comprehensive end-to-end experience with a seamless integration to the FLIR United VMS platform or a complementary solution with integration available to all major platforms. Perimeter protection cameras “With our latest products, FLIR is delivering advanced cameras purpose-built for perimeter protection and the evolving security needs of critical infrastructure sites and cities,” said Travis Merrill, President of the Commercial Business Unit at FLIR. “For surveillance in critical environments, including utility substations, airports, train stations, or stadiums, these perimeter protection cameras are designed to withstand harsh environments to help keep sites secure and people safe.” The Saros DM-Series is available for purchase immediately while both the Elara DX and Quasar IR PTZ will be available in the first half of fiscal 2020, all through FLIR Systems’ network of established dealers and integrators.

The Boring Labs has announced that it has achieved the designation of Gold Technology Partner by Milestone Systems. The Boring Toolbox is a series of functional tools that help enterprises and integrators more efficiently manage medium-to-large distributed video surveillance/security networks using Milestone Systems XProtect Express+, Pro+, Expert and Corporate. Managing large, complex systems In March of this year, The Boring Toolbox received accolades from Milestone as the Solution Partner of the Year, North America for being a as a key community member that allows systems integrators and self-maintaining end-users to more efficiently and effectively manage large and complex Milestone installations. “In just over a year, the Boring Lab has been integrated in to key Milestone installations all over the world. Customers include both large enterprise installation and key Milestone Channel Partners who have been able to simplify tedious camera management and reporting that previously took hours out of a system administrator’s time,” said Ronen Isaac, CEO of The Boring Lab. “Our Gold Technology Partner relationship validates our integration and ensures that our customers will get the best possible solutions that have been built and verified to Milestone’s strict standards.” Boring Toolbox, Windows-based application The Boring Toolbox is a Windows-based application that delivers more efficient password, device group, device naming and reporting functions, saving administrators of medium to large scale Milestone Systems and Siemens Building deployments hundreds of hours every year.

Pivot3, a provider of intelligent infrastructure solutions, announced the addition of new artificial intelligence (AI) and automation features to its Acuity software to address the data protection challenges often faced in large-scale hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) deployments. These capabilities provide unprecedented resilience for large multi-petabyte environments, allowing customers who experience catastrophic hardware failures to quickly recover while ensuring high-availability with auto-healing, quick node rebuild and intelligent monitoring and analytics. “Customers are increasingly required to manage massive amounts of data generated by video surveillance, both for long term retention and for analysis with video analytics,” said Ben Bolles, Vice President of Product Management, Pivot3. Business Policy Management Pivot3 uses AI and machine learning to understand application performance" “The sheer scale of the infrastructure needed to support these use cases presents new resilience challenges, and organisations are increasingly concerned about capturing, protecting and capitalising on this mission-critical data. Pivot3 is meeting this growing challenge with new automation and intelligence capabilities to provide customers with peace of mind, knowing their system is resilient, secure and always available.” At the core of Pivot3’s Acuity software platform is the Pivot3 Intelligence Engine. The Intelligence Engine comprises many advanced data- and performance-management capabilities, including its market leading Business Policy Management feature. This enables customers to map business objectives to resource management through simple policies. Pivot3 uses AI and machine learning to understand application performance, protection and security requirements and to make real-time system changes so SLAs are met. The Intelligence Engine also monitors system health and performs predictive maintenance to ensure maximum system availability. Improved system health This automates time consuming systems administration and maintenance tasks to reduce operating expenses and to allow organisations to scale without adding additional IT resources. Pivot3’s Intelligence Engine now includes a suite of new auto-healing capabilities. Designed to automate human decisions and tasks, the new features replace manual recovery processes by automatically adding a node back to a cluster once it has recovered from a failure. Pivot3 has also introduced a quick node rebuild feature to reduce repair times up to 90 percent and to eliminate the need for a time-consuming full node rebuild. New AI and machine learning techniques analyse phone-home data and alert the customer This significantly lowers the risk of a second failure. Other enhancements to the Intelligence Engine include intelligent automation, AI and analytics for proactive system health, configuration optimisation and support. These additional system analytics and diagnostics provide customers with improved system health and performance and the ability to automatically share information to Pivot3’s Support Cloud. AI and machine learning Proactive system monitoring flags events in real-time with on-alarm dispatch to Pivot3 Support and provides daily status reports. New AI and machine learning techniques analyse phone-home data and alert the customer to options if a system is not in compliance with best practices. “With the real-time system monitoring, Pivot3 Support now alerts my team to unforeseen failures and provides remediation,” said Jeremiah Francis, Director of Information Technology at Financial Advocates. “Additionally, receiving daily system health and configuration status reports allows us to ensure our system is running at peak performance; we can now more easily resolve potential points of failure and optimise for success.”

Established in 1950 in a small chapel in downtown San Diego to serve San Diegans experiencing homelessness and poverty, Father Joe’s Villages has since grown to include a comprehensive campus and scattered-site programs that provide comprehensive housing and services to people struggling with homelessness in San Diego. The organisation provides housing to over 2,000 people every night and serves more than one million warm, nutritious meals annually. In addition to offering hope to those experiencing homelessness in San Diego, President and CEO, Deacon Jim Vargas, and the organisation’s senior leadership team made a commitment to provide a safe and secure environment for program participants, volunteers, and employees. Video Management System We selected Hanwha due to the innovation of their cameras and its overall solution being very cost-effective"  “The safety of our staff, volunteers and clients is one of our top priorities, so we initiated a new surveillance project as soon as we had someone on the team who had the experience to help with this type of project,” said Deacon Jim Vargas. In 2016, shortly after Frank Paredes joined Father Joe’s Villages as Director of Information Technology, the organisation evaluated their physical security solution to determine how they could upgrade their existing collection of mix-and-match analogue cameras to achieve an overall improved video surveillance system. After an RFP process and with input from security integrators JMG Security Systems and American Security Group, Paredes and his team chose to replace their existing solution with Hanwha video surveillance cameras managed by Hanwha’s Wisenet WAVE Video Management System (VMS). Network IR Bullet Camera “Our cameras were the best in class when they were purchased years ago, but we had an aging, disparate analogue system and it was time to step up to a platform that was innovative and would bring us the latest in technology,” said Paredes. “We did our research and looked at several manufacturers. Ultimately, we selected Hanwha due to the innovation of their cameras which provide crystal clear images, but more importantly, Hanwha’s overall solution is very cost-effective.” For the Father Joe’s Villages deployment, they installed cameras from the Hanwha Wisenet Q series – including the QNO-7080R 4MP Network IR Bullet Camera, QNV-7010R 4MP Network IR vandal-resistant camera, PND-9080R 4K IR dome camera– as well as IP PTZ cameras including the SNP-6320RH. Father Joe’s Villages currently operates more than 400 video surveillance cameras across their facilities including housing, program, administrative, retail and warehouse space. Manage video surveillance The ability to customise WAVE to your liking with all of the different building layouts is also impressive" Paredes said they are very pleased with the WAVE VMS because it is so easy to use. Additionally, it has given them the capability to consolidate operations and easily manage video surveillance across the different locations. Even though blocks of cameras at each different facility might have a separate NVR, they unified the system via WAVE, enabling them to call up cameras from any of the locations throughout their campus and scattered site locations. “Wisenet WAVE has an outstanding user interface which makes it extremely easy to operate for all our users. We are all very happy with it,” said Paredes. “Whether they’re beginners, intermediate, or advanced users, it’s just as easy to manage because it’s all drag and drop. The ability to customise WAVE to your liking with all of the different building layouts is also impressive. It’s just a well-thought-out video management system.” Video surveillance cameras Paredes said in addition to ease of use, cost was a determining factor in choosing WAVE to manage their video surveillance cameras. “We like that with our Hanwha camera solution we only pay a one-time license fee per camera for the WAVE VMS,” he said. “I’ve had experiences with other VMS providers that require users to pay an annual licensing fee every year or have astronomical recurring costs—that made those types of solutions unaffordable for us.” Paredes and his team installed and maintain the system, while security personnel view the cameras from an upgraded 24/7 control center outfitted with several large monitors. If the surveillance team sees something of concern in a certain location, they dispatch security personnel to investigate. Security solution The Hanwha camera and WAVE VMS solution have provided us both outstanding quality and affordability Father Joe’s Villages developed a CCTV policy for governance, which allows their security department – along with the legal department – to manage requests from throughout the organisation to review footage in the event of an incident. Because they have been so impressed with the Hanwha solution, Paredes and his IT team completed the Hanwha training and earned certification. As a result, they can design, implement and support Hanwha cameras internally which means they do not have to rely on the cost and time associated with depending on a third party. “Earning Hanwha certification was a great move that we made to be more efficient in the operations of our security solution and to show our commitment to Hanwha and to the product we’ve invested in,” he said. Quality and affordability Father Joe’s Villages will soon break ground on an exciting addition – a high rise building that will double their affordable housing inventory by adding 407 units and additional program and administrative offices. This expansion will call for the addition of 250-plus cameras to their existing video surveillance system. Paredes said they plan to add Hanwha cameras that feature analytics as they expand the system to the new facility. “Being a nonprofit organisation, cost is very important, but we can’t sacrifice quality when it comes to security,” said Paredes. “The Hanwha camera and WAVE VMS solution we have installed have provided us both outstanding quality and affordability. The pictures we get from the cameras – the vividness and the colors – are just phenomenal. We are grateful to have a solution that provides our community with a top-notch security solution.”

Digital Watchdog (DW), globally renowned provider of digital recorders, surveillance cameras and related management software, is pleased to announce its seamless integration between BriefCam’s comprehensive Video Content Analytics platform and DW Spectrum IPVMS, enabling users to gain exponential value from surveillance system deployments by making video searchable, actionable and quantifiable. “We are excited to add Briefcam to the DW Spectrum ecosystem,” said Patrick Kelly, Director of IP Video Solutions, DW. “This integration opens a world of possibilities for DW Spectrum users.” VIDEO SYNOPSIS solution BriefCam’s real-time alerting capabilities enable organisations to proactively respond to situational changes BriefCam’s unique fusion of computer vision and technologies, together with its patented VIDEO SYNOPSIS solution enables users to quickly search and filter objects and events of interest by men, women, children, vehicles, and lighting changes with speed and precision, using 27 classes and attributes, in addition to face recognition, appearance similarity, color, size, speed, path, direction, and dwell time, providing an ever-increasing and powerful set of distinct search combinations. BriefCam’s real-time alerting capabilities enable organisations to proactively respond to situational changes in their environment, while effectively balancing sensitivity, accuracy, and efficiency. Video Content Analytics platform Additionally, BriefCam’s embedded operational intelligence platform utilises the extracted and aggregated video metadata such as men, women, children, vehicles, size, color, speed, path, direction, and dwell time, enabling users to quantitatively analyse their video, derive actionable insights for data-driven safety, security, and operational decision making. “We are pleased to further enhance our partnership with Digital Watchdog,” said Brian Baker, Americas VP Sales, BriefCam.” “The integration enables real-time and on-demand analytics capabilities, delivering cutting-edge video analytics technology to enable organisations to realise the benefits of effective and efficient video use.” DW Spectrum IPVMS The DW Spectrum IPVMS is accessed with the freely distributed DW Spectrum client software (Windows/Linux/Mac), the DW Spectrum IPVMS can be accessed with the web client from all leading web browsers (Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari and Opera), as well as the free DW Spectrum mobile app for iOS and Android devices. The VMS software is included with pre-configured DW Blackjack NVR servers or it can be installed on third-party Windows or Ubuntu Linux-based systems. DW Cloud, a service powered by AWS is included to enable simple remote connectivity, streaming and management of one or an unlimited number of DW Spectrum IPVM Systems.

Rekor Systems, Inc., a NASDAQ company focused on bringing smarter, faster, cost-competitive solutions to the worlds of public safety and customer experience, announced the launch of its vehicle recognition software donation program to provide eligible municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and educational facilities with free access to its Watchman vehicle recognition software. Rekor has already received applications from organisations across 31 states to provide vehicle recognition solutions. Security IP cameras Eligible organisations can apply to receive two software licenses for Rekor's Watchman software, which can be integrated into either new or existing traffic or security IP cameras for real-time alerting of known license plates. Watchman will enable the uploading of AMBER Alerts, hotlists, manual entry, and forensic searching for up to 30 days. The initiative was designed to provide organisations with valuable data to reduce crime and increase public safety. Crucial programs are cast aside because of large, upfront capital costs that can't be met with current resources" "One of the biggest barriers to implementing new technologies at the municipal, law enforcement and school district level is budget. Oftentimes crucial programs are cast aside because of large, upfront capital costs that can't be met with current resources - something we're learning quickly by the early enthusiasm from applying organisations across the country," said Robert A. Berman, CEO, Rekor. Licence plate reading cameras "Our new vehicle recognition software donation program is already a success as law enforcement agencies that have signed up are placing orders to purchase additional licenses. This program is demonstrating that public safety officials can have affordable access to this powerful crime-stopping technology." By participating in the donation program, organisations will contribute their data to the Rekor Public Safety Network (RPSN), as well as gain access to the nationwide, comprehensive law enforcement partnership. Available to any customer that opts-in, the RPSN aggregates vehicle data from customers in more than 30 states. With thousands of automatic license plate reading cameras currently in service that capture approximately 150 million plate-reads per month, the network is expected to be live by the first quarter of 2020.

Video surveillance is commonly associated with security. But in most cases, it's used to record incidents and assist in investigations after the fact rather than prevent undesirable events. Artificial intelligence–powered video analytics is a highly promising trend that fundamentally changes the way things work. Extracting manageable data from a video stream can help recognise risky situations early on, minimising damage and, ideally, completely avoid emergencies. At the same time, AI significantly expands the areas of application of video surveillance beyond security systems. AI significantly expands the areas of application of video surveillance beyond security systems However, the hype around this new, trendy technology prevents the potential user from choosing quality solutions in a wide variety of products. This often leads to over-expectation, followed by a complete let-down. Can AI-powered video analytics really be the key to a technological breakthrough in video surveillance? We'll take a look at what the technology can do, what it can't, and where it can go from here. Technological breakthrough or just another bubble? It's often said that the video management software (VMS) market is becoming increasingly commoditised and widely available. A lot of products with similar features (or, at least, similar promises from the manufacturer) make it hard to choose. As a result, vendor names and reputations are turning into one of their primary selling points. Manufacturers have two choices available: get wrapped up in a price war and rely on cutting expenses, or offer a product that's truly innovative and revolutionary. Manufacturers have two choices available: get wrapped up in a price war, or offer a product that's truly innovative and revolutionary VMS developers who choose the second route are gravitating towards creating products that use artificial intelligence based on neural networks and deep learning. Emerging two or three years ago, the AI video analytics market is experiencing a boom in growth. This new tech wave has stirred the still, stagnant backwaters of the VMS world and gave small, ambitious developers something to be optimistic about. It seems they now have a chance to emerge as market leaders in the next few years. However, the hype around this popular trend is raising reasonable concerns among experienced security industry professionals. These concerns come from clients looking for a solution to their problems, and from suppliers building a long-term development strategy. This largely resembles another tech bubble, like the one built up around pre-AI video analytics and burst when it became clear that the sensational promises around it were pure marketing hype (and rather unscrupulously so). However, there are a lot of factors that indicate that AI-powered video surveillance systems aren't another bubble. The three factors The first — and the main one — comes from systems already in place on customers' sites. They fulfill the same promises made during the previous bubble by hotheads in a rush to teach the computer to analyse events in real time using a classical algorithmic approach. The second is the fact that this new technology has seen investment from not only software and cloud startups, but also established VMS developers. Even giants like Intel, which has presented a full line of neural network accelerator hardware and a set of software tools that streamlines working with them, specifically in the field of computer vision. This new technology has seen investment from not only software and cloud startups, but also established VMS developers The third factor lies in artificial intelligence's abilities. AI plays chess, drives cars, and works wonders in many other fields. Why shouldn't it be applied to video monitoring and analysis? What AI can do Just what can artificial intelligence do in video surveillance systems at this stage of development? It can't quite analyse a sequence of events and understand the "logic" of what's happening in the cameras' field of view. At least not yet. But it's probable that AI will learn to do this in the next few years. But neural network analytics can already detect, classify, and track objects very well, providing high accuracy even in busy scenes. Artificial intelligence can be used in the real world to: Detect smoke and flames for early fire warning at open areas (forest, open warehouse, parking lot, etc.) Distinguish people/vehicles from animals and other moving objects, e.g. to protect the perimeter of a nature park from poachers Distinguish a person in a helmet and protective clothing from a person without them to prevent accidents at a dangerous production facility or construction site Count objects of a specific type, e.g. cars in a parking lot, people in the sales floor, wares moving on a conveyor belt, etc. in non-security-related solutions Those are just a few examples. After training a neural network, it can tackle other, similar tasks, too. Generally, a neural network trained in specific conditions isn't replicable. In other words, it won't work as well under different conditions. On the other hand, developers have learned how to quickly train AI for the needs of a specific project. The most important requirement is having enough video footage. Somewhat apart from that is the use of neural networks in facial and automatic number-plate recognition. This is an example of reproducible neural networks (train once, deploy everywhere), which makes them more appealing commercially. If non-reproducible neural networks have only recently become economically feasible due to the rapid evolution of specialised hardware (aforementioned Intel's product, for example), then the use of AI in facial recognition and ANPR has been well established for a long time. The use of AI in facial recognition and ANPR has been well established for a long time Another kind of AI analytics that we'll explore is behaviour analytics. This function, probably more than any other, is bringing video surveillance systems closer to understanding what's happening on camera. Its potential is vast. How behaviour analytics works From a technical point of view, behaviour analytics combines artificial intelligence with a classic algorithmic approach. A neural network trained on a multitude of scenarios can determine the position of the bodies, heads, and limbs of humans in the camera's field of view. The algorithm outputs an array of data containing descriptions of their poses. Conditions can be set for data to detect a specific pose, such as raised hands, prostrated or crouching persons. Developers can use this to quickly create new detection tools to identify potentially dangerous behavior specified by a government or business client. There's no need for additional training of the neural network. How behaviour analytics can be deployed Someone crouched down next to an ATM could be a technician, CIT guard, or burglar. Bank security should be notified in any of the cases. A person in shooter position, together with a bank employee or cashier with their hands raised could indicate a robbery. The system can be configured to automatically send alerts with a surveillance snapshot to the police so they can assess the threat and take action if needed. It's vital that the police receive the alert, even if the employee is unable to activate the alarm. In many cases, attention should be directed to a prostrate individual. This could be somebody who needs immediate help, or it could be someone sleeping in an inappropriate public place, for example, a 24/7 ATM space. Behavioural analytics can also be used to ensure workplace safety. For example, tracking whether employees are holding the handrails when using the stairs at a manufacturing facility or a construction site. What now? Behaviour analytics can be deployed wherever your clients' imagination takes them. With this feature, practically any pose that indicates potentially dangerous behaviour can be detected. Timely response to an alarm helps avoid material damages or, in other situations, casualties. Practically any pose that indicates potentially dangerous behaviour can be detected An area of potential development for behaviour analytics is the ability to analyse a sequence of poses by the same person or a combination of poses and relative positions of several individuals. That will be the next level of evolution in AI's use in video surveillance: moving from "detecting" to "understanding" behaviour in real time. In its most basic form, this type of analytics can be deployed to detect deviations from the search procedure in correctional facilities when a person being inspected must assume a pre-defined sequence of poses. A more advanced form allows it to detect any kind of abnormal behaviour, such as a brawl breaking out in a public space. Ideally, behaviour analytics can predict dangerous situations based on nearly imperceptible cues gleaned from collected statistics and a Big Data analysis. At the moment, this sounds like pure fantasy, but what seemed like whimsy not too long ago is now a reality with AI. It's already beaten humans in chess and the game of Go (Weiqi). Will artificial intelligence be able to outplay humans at charades one day? It's entirely possible that we'll soon see for ourselves.

There’s almost no installation that goes 100-percent smoothly in the field of video surveillance. Unexpected issues routinely arise that can increase time on the job, cost of the project and frustration. Manufacturers work on the product side to help ensure their products are easy to install and – when troublesome situations do arise – are flexible enough for installers to quickly find a remedy. Importance of ease of installation Ease of installation is a very important part of the project to the system integrator because the cost of labour is variable  Ease of installation is a very important part of the project to the system integrator because the cost of labour is variable and can be very expensive. In some cases, the cost of labour to install a camera can be more than the cost of the camera! If labour costs are high – or are more expensive than a system integrator planned – they can lose a great deal of money on a project. If a cautious system integrator includes too high of an estimate for labour in a project bid, his overall bid will to high and it could cost him the project. The easier the camera is to install, the lower the labour cost, subsequently achieving higher savings for end-users. Hence it is essential that camera manufacturers develop products that are easy to install or are flexible in the field for system integrators and installers who know that time is money. Enterprise projects can involve thousands of cameras installed Simplifying installation of cameras Camera installation typically involves an electrician, the camera installer and the person who configures the VMS (Video Management Software). Of course, one person can play all three roles, and in many cases, does, but enterprise projects can involve dozens, hundreds or even thousands of cameras with teams of individuals involved in an installation. The electrician runs conduit with an electrical or PoE (Power over Ethernet) connection to the housing or the backplate of the camera; the installer then installs the camera at that location, hooking it up to power; and then a configurator adds cameras to the network and makes adjustments – renaming the camera, setting the frame rate, enabling WDR (Wide Dynamic Range), and the like. When it’s a project that involves different players for any of these functions, there is the potential for a bottleneck and delay in project completion. And if a system integrator is paying an electrician, installer and software configurator – and they are all three on site waiting for each other to finish – that’s a system integrator’s worst-case scenario. Enhancement through modular cameras Video surveillance camera manufacturers like Hanwha Techwin are producing products that take different roles Video surveillance camera manufacturers like Hanwha Techwin are producing products that take the different roles of electrician, installer and configurator into consideration, allowing them to complete their tasks independently. With a focus on modular design which includes a USB dongle, a device manager, magnetic module and included accessories, the Wisenet X series Plus is one of the fastest cameras to install, service and upgrade – saving installers time and money. Wisenet X series Plus cameras have a detachable camera module that utilise magnets to lock into the housing for instant configuration. Electricians can run conduit with a single PoE connection to the back plate/housing while the configurator is working on configuring the camera module, allowing security professionals to later snap the camera into place in just minutes. The VMS configurator can then come and add the cameras to the network and program their functionality. Modular cameras offer flexibility  In the past, an end user might determine after the camera is installed that there aren’t enough pixels on target, or they need certain different functions like video analytics for example, resulting in the time-consuming replacement of the entire camera. With modular-designed cameras, the camera module can be swapped with a new one without having to focus or replace the camera – even to change the resolution or field of view, also Wisenet X series Plus has optional PTRZ modules that can be remotely adjusted to the field of view and the position of the camera lens. Making camera adjustments in the field is also now easier and perhaps even safer. Installers have been known to climb a ladder and juggle a bulky laptop to access the network to be able to see video of how the camera is positioned. Or they’ve had to use analogue video output to view the video feed on a separate monitor which provides the field of view, but not megapixel quality. Using a smartphone, the installer can wirelessly see full and not cropped quality video directly from the camera Wisenet X series Plus cameras have a USB port that allows installers to connect it to a small dongle that converts the camera to a Wi-Fi device. Using a smartphone, the installer can wirelessly see full and not cropped quality video directly from the camera. It’s a much easier way to evaluate video while at the camera. Eliminating the second person looking at live view on a computer guiding through a cellphone to the installer to accurately point the camera to the proper position. If system integrators can do some of the legwork prior to even getting on site, it can reduce cost and improve efficiency. Imagine having 300 cameras ready to send to a project site. To configure those cameras, a system integrator has to take each camera out of the box, plug each into a switch, configure it, take it off of the switch and put it back in the box. To improve this process, camera manufacturers have now developed packaging that provides access to the camera port without even having to remove it from the box. It’s an innovative solution that saves time. Modular cameras have optional PTRZ modules that can be remotely adjusted to the field of view Software programs help in enhancing installation Whether it’s a one-man show or a team of electricians, installers and configurators, software programs can greatly enhance the installation process. Device managers are important tools in adding multiple cameras to a project. Using that 300-camera project, for example, it’s easier when a manufacturer has a device manager that allows the mass programming and configuration of cameras. Adding 300 cameras one by one is time consuming and leaves room for error when making so many multiple entries. A device manager should be able to scan the network and locate its devices, allowing them to be grouped, configured and much more. Every video surveillance camera project is going to have its ups and downs. But camera manufacturers can do their part in the production process to address the many issues known to slow down progress. It’s impressive that many are taking the lead in producing innovations like modular camera design, flexibility in the field and accessible packaging that can truly reduce installation cost and improve efficiency.

For those of you old enough to remember, video matrix switchers were once the heyday of surveillance camera control. These cumbersome antiques were at the heart of every major video surveillance system (CCTV at the time) in premier gaming properties, government installations and corporate industrial complexes. They required more physical labour to construct and configure than perhaps the pyramids – maybe not – but you get the picture. And then digital video made its way in to the market and everything changed, transforming the physical demands for camera control and management from a hardware-centric to a software driven process. We’ve come a long way in a few short years, and the borders that once defined IT and security continue to diminish, if not disappear completely There’s no doubt that this migration also presented significant challenges as many security professionals often struggled with all things IT and software programming being one of the industry’s soft spots. Fortunately, we’ve come a long way in a few short years, and the borders that once defined IT and security continue to diminish, if not disappear completely. However, the complexities of today’s VMS functionality can be intimidating for anyone tasked with installing one of these systems given all of the user-defined options available from the simplest camera sequencing and bandwidth allocations to mobile management and enterprise level integration. This is where truly advanced VMS solutions need to shine on both the operations and the design/build sides of the equation. Smart VMS design There are more solutions products labelled “VMS solutions” out there than ever before. The issue is the fact that many of these “solutions” really don’t fall into the category of a true VMS by today’s standards but offer basic camera and NVR control. No doubt that there is a place for such software programs in the market. However, VMS solutions from the likes of OnSSI and other industry-leading companies offer distinct and superior management and control capabilities for demanding security and business intelligence applications. Perhaps of equal importance, these top-tier VMS solutions incorporate provisions for installers, so they have a clear and easier implementation path. OnSSI offers VMS solutions with smart camera drivers Here are seven attributes that can assist with the design and implementation of an advanced VMS solution: 1) Open architecture platform We need the ability to easily integrate with other systems and scale for future developments and physical system growth The ability to easily integrate with other systems and scale for future developments and physical system growth is largely dependent on a systems platform architecture. Here’s where VMS solutions with open architecture provide a distinct advantage. Open-architecture solutions expand functionality by facilitating greater integration between multiple systems and components. This not only makes VMS solutions with open architecture easier to implement, it makes them extremely cost-efficient by eliminating the need for proprietary solutions. Open architecture systems also provide adherence to industry standards such as ONVIF and PSIA, as well as compression formats such as H.265 and MJPEG, and help ensure system integration and support of an extensive range of manufacturers’ cameras and off-the-shelf hardware. Be wary of VMS solutions with limited camera manufacturer support. 2) Simple licensing processes and pricing Camera licenses and pricing is always a touchy subject, as any misunderstanding of a specific VMS solutions’ licensing terms can prove to be costly after the fact. And it often seems that some VMS suppliers have gone to great lengths to complicate the process as to obscure actual Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Perhaps the most direct, simple and straightforward camera licensing and pricing method is to have one license per IP address used by each camera/encoder on multi-channel devices. These should be perpetual licenses with no required annual fees or subscriptions. Additionally, the licensing agreement should be all inclusive without added fees for multiple clients, failover servers, active directory support, I/O devices, redundant management servers, technical support or security patches and updates. 3) Mixing and matching camera license types The ability to mix and match different camera license types within the same system helps facilitate a seamless and simple migration of new and pre-existing systems with minimal downtime or interruption in operation. The ability to mix and match camera licenses not only saves valuable design and installation time, it can provide considerable savings when integrating large, multi-tenant systems. Mix and match capabilities also allow system designers to apply specific feature sets to specific groups of cameras to best leverage functionality and budgets, as well as providing the flexibility to implement an on-site, virtual, or cloud-based VMS solution, without any additional cost. 4) Auto camera detection and configuration Another VMS set-up feature that eases the install process is the ability to forego device registrations or MAC address requirements Another VMS set-up feature that eases the install process is the ability to forego device registrations or MAC address requirements. This functionality allows installers to instantly locate cameras on the network and configure them centrally so they can easily replace older cameras while seamlessly retaining video recorded from them. The auto detection capability should also include the ability to detect and import CSV files, which can then be stored and used to configure camera templates for future camera installation profiles. 5) Smart camera driver technology VMS solutions with smart camera drivers offer valuable assistance during system implementation, and any time new cameras are added to the network or replace older models. Manufacturer-specific smart camera drivers expand the range of model-specific static drivers. Instead of storing the device’s information (codecs, resolutions, frame rates, etc.) statically, a VMS with smart camera drivers queries devices for their capabilities using the manufacturers’ proprietary protocol. All that is required for configuration is that the camera is available on the network. Smart camera drivers eliminate the need to wait for model-specific drivers or installation of driver packs, allowing for newly released cameras to be used immediately. Network security is an area where leading VMS suppliers like OnSSI have ramped up development efforts to stay ahead of hackers  6) Importance of network security Network Security is perhaps the greatest challenge faced by industry professionals today Network security is perhaps the greatest challenge faced by industry professionals today. This is an area where leading VMS suppliers like OnSSI have ramped up development efforts to stay ahead of hackers. New security developments to look for include TLS 1.2 encryption protocols for camera-to-server communications (SSL 3.0 supported for older cameras), as well as server-to-server communications. Additional safeguards to consider include: randomised video databases with no camera identification information to secure recorded data; support for Active Directory authentication; AES encryption between servers and clients; and AES encrypted exporting. 7) Automatic updates Regardless of the supplier you select for your VMS solution, they should be consistently providing new updates and security patches on a frequent if not regular basis. Keeping up with these updates can be a burden and are often overlooked leading to system failures and breeches. Advanced VMS solutions now feature automatic update service checks on a system-wide basis, eliminating the need to manually update individual servers and devices. This ensures that your VMS system always has the latest drivers, fixes and updates which assures overall security while reducing TCO. So next time you’re getting a demo of the latest and greatest VMS solution, remember to ask what it offers in terms of design and implementation tools. Half the battle with new technologies is getting them installed and working properly. Without the right tools to accomplish these critical first steps, all the functionality in the world will do you little good.

Many venues are using access control, video surveillance systems, sensors, and additional hardware solutions as part of a broader security strategy. By utilising so many disparate systems, corporate security teams are left with information “silos” that create inefficiencies and hamper communication. This abundance of hardware has left teams with too much data or too many tools, to manage effectively. Armored Things offers a software solution. The company’s “spatial intelligence platform” currently collects more data than other security intelligence solutions, utilising a broader range of sources and fusing data together rather than integrating it. The platform currently focuses on taking in data from WiFi, access control, and video surveillance systems and applying machine learning to deliver customers features such as real-time predictive analytics to prevent incidents like bottlenecks or overcrowding. Spatial Intelligence is an approach to physical security that enables users to collect, manage, and interpret data in a single platform. Combine machine learning with data The term can best be used to describe how digital transformation has affected physical security. Spatial Intelligence in its infancy looked like video surveillance data combined with machine learning to produce video analytics. The spatial intelligence solutions of today can combine machine learning with data of any source, type, and size to deliver value across a large organisation, not just the security team, says the company. Armored Things’ Spatial Intelligence platform unifies data from information silos to support data-driven decisions around operations and security. By fusing data from multiple sources, we can produce more consistent and useful insights for our customers” A suite of analytics, reporting and visualisation tools helps customers gain a real-time understanding of people and flow in their space. By removing the guesswork of everyday decisions, the product enables customers to make data-driven decisions at a moment’s notice, according to the company. Armored Things is more than a data management tool. “By fusing data from multiple sources (rather than only cameras or only WiFi), we can produce more consistent, accurate, and useful insights for our customers,” says Kevin Davis, Chief Security Officer at Armored Things. "Being able to collect the data is the first step, but turning it into actionable intelligence is where Armored Things excels.” IP cameras and other IoT-enabled devices The range of data sources includes IP cameras and other IoT-enabled devices and even outside data sources like bus schedules and weather reports. Armored Things has built a team of public safety and technical experts with the mission to keep people safe where they live, work, and play. By leveraging emerging technology to enhance physical security, the company built the software-centric Spatial Intelligence Platform for large organisations to enhance the safety and operations of their space. Schools and education facilities are among the customers that can benefit. The leadership at Armored Things cares deeply about school safety, so the recent epidemic of campus violence has definitely been a large topic of conversation, according to the company. “By delivering our products to a greater number of customers, Armored Things hopes to continue making schools a safe place to learn and gather,” says Davis. Recently, there was a significant bottleneck lasting nearly 30 minutes at the Syracuse-Clemson football game. Unifying data into one platform Digital transformation is disrupting the way our customers think about physical security,” Using Armored Things technology and providing real-time data to security and operations personnel could have identified the bottleneck as it began to form. This would have notified relevant personnel, who could have taken steps to mitigate the problem before it turned into a security risk. Keeping the security infrastructure simple is imperative to success. Integrating a software solution into the security strategy shouldn’t complicate existing operations, says the company. “Armored Things Spatial Intelligence Platform can bring your security and operations into focus by unifying all of your data into one platform for ease of use,” says Davis. For this reason, the team chose to integrate not only with customers’ existing security infrastructure but with non-traditional data sources (e.g. WiFi, event schedules, ticketing) as well. “By combining and analysing a more diverse dataset, Armored Things can help our customers make better decisions with deeper data-driven insights,” says Davis. "Digital transformation is disrupting the way our customers think about physical security,” says Davis. “As a team, our aim is to help our customers adapt to the digital age, as they transition from hardware to software-centric security solutions. Fostering organisational change is difficult, and our team hopes to make the transition process easier for our customers.”

ADT Commercial have grown organically in double digits since 2016, in addition to growing through 15 acquisitions completed since the merger of ADT and Protection One. Acquisition of integrator companies such as Red Hawk Fire and Security and Aronson Security Group have expanded ADT Commercial’s presence geographically to more areas of the country. Most of the employees of the acquired companies have stayed with ADT and “helped to create a corporate culture and a good place for employees to work,” says Dan Bresingham, Executive Vice President of ADT Commercial. Happy employees ensure good customer service. Enterprise resource planning Bresingham will lead ADT Commercial as it becomes a separate business unit in 2020 “We adapt to where our clients want us to be,” adds Joe Sanchez, Senior Vice President of Customer Operations of ADT Commercial National Accounts. “We take a strategic approach as we determine how adaptive our customers are going to be to the new technology.” I caught up with ADT Commercial at the GSX trade show in Chicago. Bresingham tells me ADT Commercial has benefitted from the calibre and breadth of leadership talent that have come along with the various acquisitions, including Mike McWilliams of Red Hawk, Bob Dale of Protection One, and Phil Aronson of Aronson Security. The transitioning of internal systems such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), billing and customer repair software will further steamline the ADT Commercial operation in the next several months. Bresingham will lead ADT Commercial as it becomes a separate business unit in 2020. We caught up with ADT at the GSX trade show in Chicago Providing new opportunities for regional integrators Additional acquisitions are also likely; in fact, growth is likely to accelerate. ADT Commercial offers a national footprint that can provide new opportunities for regional integrators it brings into the fold. New acquisitions will continue to fill out ADT’s skillset requirements in specific geographic areas where more expertise is needed. Security directors have a small staff and we help them know what they should be looking at in terms of data" “The industry doesn’t change a lot,” says Bresingham. “The technology just gets better, faster, and cheaper. As a service provider we take the best technology and combine it to provide the best solutions. We’re product-agnostic. Most of our jobs are down-and-dirty, doing the same things, but we’re pushing ourselves to be the best every day at the basics.” An emphasis at ADT is to provide customers ‘actionable’ data compiled from their various security systems. “We have a range of customers,” says Sanchez. Managing networks and video remotely “From small businesses to large data centers, there is no electronic system we cannot do. We are adaptable, from providing basic intrusion all the way to more sophisticated elements. Security directors have a small staff and we help them know what they should be looking at in terms of data.” “Our customers are our ‘true north’,” says Sanchez. A strong relationship with clients forms the basis for ADT Commercial’s success. Helping customers track data utilises ADT Commercial’s eSuite account management system, homegrown software that compiles and analyses various customer data inputs. It also allows the ability to manage networks and video remotely. “We built it from scratch for customers. It’s a web-based system that helps them manage their business,” says Bresingham. “We hold ourselves accountable. We don’t hide from data, we encourage it.” Monitoring refrigeration units The solution is different in every case, just as every customer is uniqueIn addition to data from customer systems, eSuite can compile local weather information, crime statistics and other information that can help provide trending information to guide a customer’s business. The system’s flexibility enables ADT to provide the data each customer needs. ADT helps customers manage their business beyond the security department, too. “We do a lot of things in environmental control, monitoring refrigeration units and making sure humidity and temperature readings are correct,” says Sanchez. Leaving a door open could cause product loss at a pharmaceutical company, for example. In the food industry, a freezer malfunction could cause huge losses. In either case, an alarm can draw attention to the problem in a timely manner. Other customers face regulatory requirements that demand an audit trail of compliance, which ADT’s systems can provide. At the end of the day, ADT asks customers ‘What’s your security need?’ The company then adapts and assembles its solutions using internal resources and outside vendors, to meet that need. The solution is different in every case, just as every customer is unique.

GSX 2019 got off to a jaunty start Tuesday. The show was humming with activity much of the day, and most exhibitors said they were pleased with the numbers and types of potential customers visiting their booths. There seemed to be less emphasis on product introductions than at the ISC West show in the spring (although there is much that is on the new side), while the trend toward system sales is continuing. Here's a review of Day 1 from the show floor. Dahua continues to educate market  “Traffic-wise, the show is better than last year,” observed Tim Shen, Director of Marketing at Dahua Technology USA, at midday on Tuesday. “We met more people from Latin America,” he added. Shen theorised that Chicago is at the center of a larger territory of customers than last year’s location (Las Vegas). Dahua’s presence at the show makes a statement: We’re still here" Dahua has faced some negative publicity in the last year since they were banned from procurement by U.S. government customers by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Dahua’s presence at the show makes a statement, says Shen. The statement is “We’re still here.” Shen said only one visitor to the Dahua booth even mentioned the NDAA on the first day of the show, and the visitor was misinformed about the provisions and implications of the law. “There is a lot of misinformation,” he says. “We need to continue to educate the market.” Facial recognition, video metadata, and people counting New at the show is the Dahua Analytics+ line of cameras that feature more in-depth analysis of data such as facial attributes, video metadata, and people counting. For example, the cameras can identify 128 points in a face, with an additional 256 attributes analysed by the back-end recorder. Analysis can provide information such as age and gender, which can help a retailer analyse the demographics of their customers, for instance. Dahua is also adopting some of its consumer line of products for sale through the commercial channel. These include a flood light camera, a 2-megapixel WiFi camera and a doorbell camera. The products might be used outside of a retail store, for example, to complement Dahua commercial cameras that are used inside the store, says Shen. Dahua previewed a new multi-sensor camera that also includes a speed dome. The multi-sensor component combines eight views, each 2 megapixels, for a total of 16 megapixels. Below the multi-sensor camera is mounted a speed dome that can zoom in on regions of interest in the larger multisensor view. The camera will be launched in the fourth quarter. The show was humming with activity much of the day, and most exhibitors said they were pleased with the numbers and types of potential customers visiting their exhibits ACRE report continued North American growth “The industry’s momentum will continue to grow,” predicted Joe Grillo, Principal of ACRE. New areas such as cloud and mobile credentialing have the fastest growth rate, but are starting from a much smaller base, he said, so momentum in those categories will take time. ACRE sees continued rapid growth with no slowdown in the North American market Grillo noticed the first morning of GSX was busy, although there was a bit of a lull at midday. In terms of the business outlook, Grillo sees continued rapid growth with no slowdown in the North American market, although there have been some negative elements creeping into the outlook in Europe. Cybersecurity concerns in access control I caught up with Grillo at the booth promoting RS2, a Munster, Ind., access control company that Acre acquired last May. It is the only Acre company that is exhibiting at GSX. RS2 is one of two access control companies acquired by Acre in the last year — the other was Open Options, Addison, Texas. Grillo said the two acquired companies are complementary, especially in terms of their sales channels and geographic strengths. Although both are national companies, RS2 tends to be stronger in the Midwest, while Open Options sales emphasis is centered in Texas and emanates to the rest of the country. Concerns about vulnerabilities are a growing issue in access control, said Grillo, and more large endusers are conducting penetration testing of systems. The industry should welcome the scrutiny, he added. Cybersecurity also represents an business opportunity in access control, noted Grillo. Concerns about the vulnerabilities of legacy technologies such as 125Khz proximity cards and the Wiegand protocol will likely accelerate the pace of companies upgrading their access control systems There seemed to be less emphasis on product introductions than at the ISC West show in the spring (although there is much that is on the new side) Eagle Eye Networks and cloud-based VMS Ken Francis of Eagle Eye Networks had already realised some new client opportunities during the first day of the show, although he was not optimistic at the outset. In contacting potential clients to meet at the show, he had heard that many were not attending. Among Eagle Eye Networks’ news at the show is full integration of body-cams into their cloud-based video management system. “It’s the most unique thing happening from a video management perspective,” Francis said. Previously, if someone needed a video clip from a body cam, they had to use a separate software system.Five years from now, at least 80 percent of all VMS systems will be cloud-managed" Francis continues to be bullish on the subject of cloud adoption of video management and made a bold prediction: “Five years from now, at least 80 percent of all VMS systems will be cloud-managed.” Eagle Eye Networks is doing its part with “rocket growth” that is reflected in an increase of company employees from 27 to 165 or so. Economies of scale have enabled Eagle Eye Networks to lower subscription prices by up to 45 percent. Genetec's release self-service PIAM system Many of the “new” products at GSX 2019 are slight variations on what was introduced at ISC West last spring. An exception is Genetec’s introduction of ClearID, a self-service physical identity and access management (PIAM) system that enforces security policies while improving the flow of people within the organisation. The new system is integrated with the Genetec's Security Center Synergis access control system. PIAM systems have historically been customisable, complex to install and costly, which is why a lot of companies have not used a system. Genetec’s differentiator is that it is an off-the-shelf, out-of-the-box solution for a broader base of customers. “We scanned the market and found a lack of off-the-shelf identity management systems,” said Derek Arcuri, Product Marketing Manager, Genetec. “Targeting the mid-market, we are providing an accessible, ready-to-go cloud-based system that is ‘baked’ for the average company but can be integrated and expanded to include other systems.” The trend toward system sales at the show is continuing ClearID will simplify operation for the security department, which was previously tasked with a lot of administrative work in response to various departments. ClearID “pushes down” the authority to use the system to stakeholders (such as IT and/or facilities directors) and provides  a system they can use themselves without involving security. “It empowers stakeholders and employees to work directly through the system rather than going through security,” says Arcuri. “It gives employees access based on stakeholder policies and improves the flow of people through an organisation. The security director is relieved of administrative work and can work on ‘real’ security.” I saw some other things today, too, which I will share in a future GSX article... And more about the show tomorrow.

One of Europe’s largest architectural and commercial projects, Port Praski occupies an area of 38 hectares that overlooks the Vistula River in the heart of Poland's capital city, Warsaw. Likened to a ‘city inside a city’, this ambitious European multi-stage development project provides more than 160,000 sq. meters of residential accommodation space, along with 190,000 sq. meters of corporate office space. Areas for retail establishments, hotels and restaurants, extensive green spaces and a purpose-built media park are also on offer for the Port Praski project. Enhanced video security Creating a safe and secure environment to live, work and relax in was a priority for Port Praski’s developers Creating a safe and secure environment to live, work and relax in was a priority for Port Praski’s developers. To achieve this, Bosch Building Technologies was selected to provide an integrated solution that spans fire detection systems, video security and a site-wide building management platform. So why choose Bosch? First and foremost, Port Praski’s developers needed a trusted partner with the scale, technical expertise, resources and track record to provide support through all phases of such a large, multi-stage project over an extended period of time. Recognition and trust of the Bosch name was also a big advantage for the port, reflecting the high expectations of residential and commercial clients for the quality and exclusivity of their environment. Bosch Video Management System Round the clock security is provided by a blend of bullet-, dome- and PTZ moving IP cameras by Bosch that keep watch over outdoor and underground areas, building entrances, garages and elevators. Centralised control of cameras, storage and recording systems is streamlined by the intuitive, easy to use Bosch Video Management System (BVMS) that can scale as needed to accommodate video, audio and data from thousands of cameras. Port Praski required a video security solution that would ensure privacy and discretion for its up-scale residents who include VIPs and celebrities. To achieve this, camera images are carried over a totally private IP network that’s isolated from the Internet to prevent hacking or interception of sensitive data. Extra peace of mind for occupants is assured by the video management platform’s masking function that obscures apartment windows and other ‘private’ areas from the outdoor cameras’ field of view. Fire detection and alarm system deployed They have chosen the Modular Fire Panel 5000 Series from Bosch, which meets latest legislative requirements The developers of Port Praski also demanded a state-of-the-art fire alarm system to maintain round-the-clock safety of residents, businesses and visitors. Therefore, they have chosen the Modular Fire Panel 5000 Series from Bosch, which meets latest legislative requirements. What’s more, it gives occupants and tenants the assurance of a reliable solution to minimise false alarms, together with effective redundancy across the system to avoid any single point of failure. Protection of at-risk areas includes optical and optical-thermal detectors in garages and smoke aspiration system in lift shafts, plus further detectors in inter-ceiling spaces. Building Integration Platform BIS The system is complemented by the Building Integration Platform BIS, which supports centralised management and monitoring of distributed security systems across the entire site. Port Praski is growing all the time. That is why site developers required a future-proof solution with the capacity, bandwidth and flexibility to scale smoothly with plans for the port’s further expansion. As an illustration of this, video security systems can be upgraded as required by adding higher resolution cameras, without requiring replacement of the current IP network infrastructure and BVMS. Similarly, further phases of construction may see the number of installed security cameras – already numbering in the hundreds – increase significantly over the next few years.

Protecting assets and people has always been a top priority for Kirkland’s, a global home décor retailer. With over 400 stores in 37 states, Kirkland’s is a go-to spot for a broad selection of distinctive merchandise: art, mirrors, candles, lamps, frames, accent rugs, furniture and more. When they evaluated their security solutions in 2016, they determined they needed to upgrade the analogue video surveillance systems in use at their existing locations and plan for new stores. Analogue video surveillance cameras Management wanted a camera that provided a clear picture, while minimising bandwidth usage Saraya Charlton, Kirkland’s Loss Prevention Investigator, said the analogue video surveillance cameras they had in place were acceptable, but they desired cameras with wider coverage and better resolution. The department was also frustrated with the amount of time it took to investigate incidents for loss prevention and personal injury claims. Each time they were called to investigate an incident – vandalism, theft, employee misconduct, a slip and fall, or a cut from broken merchandise – each individual store had to extract the footage from the analogue DVR at that location and send it to loss prevention at Kirkland’s headquarters. Charlton said Kirkland’s sought an IP-based solution that could be accessed remotely, that would make the loss prevention investigation process more efficient and would provide additional benefits. Management wanted a camera that provided a clear picture, while minimising bandwidth usage and had analytics capability. IP video surveillance solution Working with several systems integrators, Kirkland’s chose to deploy an IP video surveillance solution consisting of Hanwha video surveillance cameras managed by Salient enterprise Video Management Software (VMS). The first phase of the security upgrade has included the deployment of 1,800 Hanwha Wisenet X series XNV-6011 2 megapixel HD dome cameras and Wisenet Lite vandal-resistant dome cameras at 200 Kirkland’s locations, as well as the distribution centre and the e-commerce building. As new stores are built by this growing retailer, they will also include the Hanwha-Salient security solution. They expect to have a full migration to IP at all locations by 2021. Kirkland’s chose to deploy an IP video surveillance solution consisting of Hanwha video surveillance cameras managed by Salient enterprise VMS Perfect fit for the retail environment The wide-angle 2.8 mm lens captures a 112-degree horizontal field of view, for a retailer that means doing more with less Each Kirkland’s location is outfitted with approximately eight cameras that are positioned to capture the entrance, the sales floor and the back of house operations. Charlton said Hanwha’s cameras provide the most comprehensive view of the store possible. “The wide-angle capability – as well as the quality of the camera – is really what sold us on Hanwha,” said Charlton. “We are getting the best views possible and they are allowing us to see the entire sales floor which is exactly what we wanted and needed.” Hanwha’s Wisenet X series of cameras is a perfect fit for the retail environment. The wide-angle 2.8 mm lens captures a 112-degree horizontal field of view, for a retailer that means doing more with less. Pulling recorded video Charlton said the Hanwha cameras are particularly useful at store entrances because, thanks to the WDR feature, video images are not affected by the bright sunlight that often shines through the windows and they can still see faces clearly. And because many of Hanwha’s cameras offer license free analytics, Kirkland’s will begin exploring that capability in the future to gain information on people counting, heat mapping and dwell time. They also appreciate being able to use Hanwha’s Device Manager to troubleshoot The Hanwha-Salient solution has improved Kirkland’s loss prevention investigation efficiency since the team is able to pull recorded video from any camera via the Salient VMS rather than wait for information to be extracted from an analogue DVR. They also appreciate being able to use Hanwha’s Device Manager to troubleshoot and resolve any camera issues remotely first rather than unnecessarily sending out a service technician. Video surveillance and security bandwidth In addition to offering quality images, improved field of view and more efficient operations, the Hanwha solution has also helped Kirkland’s conserve valuable bandwidth with Hanwha WiseStream II compression technology, said Charlton. WiseStream II dynamically controls encoding, balancing quality and compression according to movement of the image. Combined with H.265 compression, bandwidth efficiency can be improved by up to 75 percent compared to current H.264 technology. “We share our video surveillance and security bandwidth with our Point of Sale system and we don’t ever want to take away from the bandwidth of POS transactions or impact the speed at which they go through,” said Charlton. “Hanwha’s Wisestream compression technology fits our business model and along with Salient helps preserve and efficiently manage bandwidth. It’s really helpful to have a camera that’s smart enough to be able to tweak and regulate itself.”

The experience of high-quality, high-performance automotive engineering and the sleek lines and signature beauty of luxury auto brands like Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, and more are investments worth protecting. When damage to these vehicles occurs and body work is required, only the work of attentive, highly trained, and craftsman technicians owners can trust, will do. Phoenix-area Autobahn Collision serves the region’s owners of luxury European automobiles with precisely such expertise they can trust, and when the time came to upgrade the premier body shop’s security infrastructure, they looked for a surveillance solution able to meet the same high standards of performance they meet every day. Seamless Integration  Autobahn Collision provides customers with a service and repair experience, well-crafted to be as high-end, responsive, and trustworthy as the luxury vehicles they work on. The body shop’s expectations were no less for their surveillance solution, which needed to seamlessly integrate new and existing technologies in a way that was both easy to use and maintain, allowing for monitoring and documentation, as needed, without distracting from the team members core priority: optimising customer experiences and quality body work for their customers. Scottsdale based integrator SARC Monitoring answered Autobahn’s call with an upgraded virtual guarding solution DirectIP NVR Surveillance Solution Scottsdale based integrator SARC Monitoring answered Autobahn’s call with an upgraded virtual guarding solution with IDIS DirectIP network video recorders (NVRs) at the heart, addressing all issues of compatibility and operational concerns. IDIS NVRs, specifically designed to reduce (if not eliminate) compatibility issues, support multiple industry standards and 3rd party protocols. At Autobahn Collision, SARC integrated multiple IDIS DR-8364(F) NVRs in designing a user-friendly surveillance solution that enhanced and fully supporting the shop’s existing IP camera infrastructure. IDIS DR-8364(F) series of NVRs The IDIS DR-8364(F) series of NVRs have multiple features that enhance the overall ease-of-use and maintainability. The DR-8364(F) supports 64 IP channels of 4K UHD with a maximum incoming throughput of 900Mbps, which means fewer NVRs are needed to support a large installation of cameras. Fewer devices reduce the overall complexity of any solution, by definition, and mean less time spent on installation and maintenance. The intuitive DR-8364(F) NVR interface, common to all IDIS products, also means that training and transition investment is minimised. IDIS’s license free software model, which also includes free software updates, further minimises the cost and complexity of owning and maintaining an IDIS solution. Enhanced protection for luxury vehicles The upgraded solution allows Autobahn Collision and a team of remote monitors to keep the premises—and the concentration of luxury vehicles, parts, and accessories—secure 24 hours a day / 7 days a week, enabled by the enhanced recording, storage, and failover benefits of the IDIS DirectIP NVRs and IDIS’s modular IDIS Solution Suite VMS. Data can be transferred on existing cabling and saved in existing storage space The IDIS DirectIP DR-8364 NVR’s support for H.265 with IDIS Intelligent Codec and Motion Adaptive Transmission (MAT) reduces the need for additional bandwidth and storage upgrades, providing up to a 90% reduction in both bandwidth and storage utilisation. IDIS SmartFailover Additional data can be transferred on existing cabling and saved in existing storage space. Multi-layered data protection through IDIS SmartFailover features include RAID 5 storage redundancy, dual power supply redundancy, and NVR failover, which provides support for a standby NVR that continually monitors the primary NVR (taking over recording if the primary hardware fails). IDIS SmartFailover ensures that data integrity and system operation are automatically monitored and maintained, simplifying system support and maintenance tasks. Real-time monitoring, playback and review, high-quality imagery for reference and documentation purposes, and more are now seamlessly empowered by the new system, allowing Autobahn to continue doing what it does best of all, meeting and exceeding the needs of the region’s most discerning vehicle owners.

March Networks, a video security and video-based business intelligence provider, announces that the rapidly growing U.S. convenience store chain Yesway has selected its Searchlight for Retail solution for advanced video surveillance and analytics. Yesway is currently deploying March Networks Searchlight for Retail in 136 locations across Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota and Wyoming. The c-store chain, which is operated by an affiliate of Brookwood Financial Partners, LLC, is expanding across the U.S. and plans to standardise on March Networks as it moves forward. Asset protection investigations Brandon Pohlman, Yesway Safety & Asset Protection Manager, said the company selected Searchlight for its scalability and centralised management features as well as its powerful exception-based reporting capabilities. Through its combination of high-quality video surveillance, point-of-sale (POS) transaction data and analytics, Searchlight helps Yesway visually monitor operations at all of its sites and quickly analyse transaction data for anomalies. “Having our video surveillance, POS data and analytics together on one easy-to-use platform is a huge advantage for Yesway,” said Pohlman. Using the software, the c-store can rapidly search and sort all of its transactions and match them with corresponding video clips. The company can also group higher-risk transaction types like refunds and assign risk factors to its stores based on the number of these transactions. “The insights uncovered by Searchlight have helped Yesway reduce its shrink levels and improve the speed and efficiency of asset protection investigations,” Pohlman said. Advanced system management software Yesway is also deploying March Networks 8000 Series Hybrid NVRs for reliable video recording In addition to asset protection, Searchlight also delivers valuable business intelligence through the integration of video analytics including people counting, queue length and dwell time. Several different Yesway departments use Searchlight’s information to monitor operations, merchandising and customer service across the organisation. Iverify, a full-service interactive security company and March Networks certified partner, managed the Yesway installation. Marty Brakel, Iverify National Account Manager, said March Networks’ products are ideal for the c-store market. “March Networks Searchlight is a professional-grade solution for customers like Yesway that need robust loss prevention tools and the ability to manage hundreds of locations simultaneously,” said Brakel. In addition to Searchlight, Yesway is also deploying March Networks 8000 Series Hybrid NVRs for reliable video recording, and March Networks SE2 Series IP Cameras for high-quality video capture. It is managing the solution with March Networks Command Enterprise, advanced system management software that simplifies multi-site video management. Improve customer satisfaction “With March Networks’ complete solution for c-stores, organisations like Yesway can cut losses and improve customer satisfaction as well as operational efficiency,” said Net Payne, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, March Networks. "Because Searchlight is also available as a hosted service, c-stores and other retailers can enjoy all the benefits of this powerful solution for a low monthly fee. They can have peace of mind knowing that March Networks’ trained professionals are monitoring and maintaining the health of the video system on their behalf.”

Sitting on the banks of the river Niger in West Africa is Niamey, Niger’s capital city. The capital city faces some unique challenges to the safety of its local residents and visitors. To help tackle these issues, the government of Niger is working with Hikvision’s West Africa team to install a state-of-the-art, cutting-edge video surveillance solution across the region. Niamey has a history of trade and commerce. Its large and bustling open air market – the Grand Marché – sells everything from clothes, to jewelry, to food, and attracts an estimated 20,000 tourists a year. But while the city has long been known as one of the more relaxed capitals of West Africa, in recent years Niamey has received high profile attention due to criminal incidents in and around the capital city. African Union Summit The city would also receive high profile guests from around the world, including key personnel from the UN and WTO When it was announced that Niamey would host the 33rd Session of the African Union (AU) Summit for the very first time, the Government of Niger decided to seize the opportunity to establish a complete urban video surveillance network. It was vital that this high profile event could run for the full five days without any disruption or untoward incidents, as Niamey would attract visitors and heads of states from across the continent. The city would also receive high profile guests from around the world, including key personnel from the United Nations and World Trade Organisation. Complete video surveillance solution Vincent Wang, Technical Support Engineer for Hikvision West Africa, says, “The AU Summit is a key event in Africa’s diary, and always requires a high security presence. It gave us the ideal springboard for launching a complete surveillance solution that would provide security to those in attendance, while giving the city a robust set of tools to help prevent and manage security incidents long into the future.” When seeking out the ideal surveillance solution for this project, the Government of Niger learned about several similar projects that Hikvision had already completed in African cities and was impressed how well the solution is running. “They wanted to emulate a project, so that’s what we set about doing.” says Vincent. Hikvision high resolution cameras Vincent and the team worked with technology partners, ITS Solutions to design a complete urban surveillance network in Niamey, which would protect residents and visitors across the whole city during the summit and beyond. Central to the solution was the installation of more than 100 Hikvision high resolution cameras for 24-hour monitoring of the city. Along the 12 main roads, and at key intersections throughout the city, the government’s security team installed the Hikvision DarkFighter 2 MP Speed Dome Cameras (DS-2DF8225IX-AEL). These cameras are designed to deliver high quality images in low light or dark environments. They are also equipped with license plate recognition technology so as to effectively identify vehicle violations, such as over speeding or other traffic rules violations, even at midnight with no light. Hikvision PanoVu Series 180° Panoramic + PTZ Cameras Security personnel can also know close-up details of the scene with the 180 degree panoramic PTZ cameras Meanwhile, Hikvision PanoVu Series 180° Panoramic + PTZ Cameras (DS-2DP0818ZIX-D/236) were installed at the entrances and exits of the main government offices and hotels, for reliable surveillance and overall protection of all visitors with panoramic view at the time of the summit event. Security personnel can also know close-up details of the scene with the 180 degree panoramic PTZ cameras. And the high speed PTZ also offers the function of fast detail positioning over the panoramic area. In the control center, security teams were given Hikvision iVMS-8600 video management software (VMS) in conjunction with large LCD monitor screens, to display a live stream from all the city’s surveillance cameras. Hikvision’s urban video security solution also includes mobile surveillance, allowing law enforcement or government officials to use a mobile device to see a live stream from any Hikvision camera installed in the city, even while on the move. Enhancing network infrastructure The installation was thoroughly planned. “The existing local infrastructure provided some challenges,” says Vincent. “But we investigated it fully during our test phase, so we could design a surveillance network to suit”. “For instance, we found a few potential issues with the local power supply, but to remedy this we installed a UPS network to guarantee power to the cameras for at least 2 hours should the grid fail. We also assessed the local network infrastructure, and the ambient lighting at night. This work was fully completed during our proof of concept several months before the summit.” Hikvision surveillance solution for smart city The African Union Summit was well received and passed without event. The Hikvision surveillance solution undoubtedly played a key role. “The people of Niger feel a certain confidence when talking about the summit,” says S.E Brigi Rafini, the Premier Ministre, at the government of Niger. “It couldn’t have happened without the support of Hikvision technology. The comprehensive security solution was central to the event’s success.” Counseil de Bureau de Securité at the Government of Niger kept positive attitude towards the future potential of this solution. “Thanks to Hikvision technology, Niamey now has a comprehensive city safety solution that will help us to both prevent crime, and respond in real time when incidents do occur. It’s a landmark project for our country and the region as a whole, and we are very interested to see how this innovative technology can help our city and our people to be safer.”

Bluebird House is a specialist UK inpatient facility, providing treatment and care for young people with complex mental health problems which mean they pose a risk to themselves or others. Run by Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, the centre also houses adolescents detained under the Mental Health Act, so the highest standards of care, protection and security are required. As part of a wider review of security and safety across the trust, Bluebird House was earmarked for a comprehensive video surveillance upgrade and IDIS technology was chosen as the best-fit for this major project. Providing comprehensive coverage All IDIS equipment uses true plug-and-play set up, which minimises disruption and disturbance to patients Galeco engineers installed 110 IDIS 12MP Super Fisheye cameras in communal and therapeutic areas inside the facility and over 40 bullets and 13 PTZ cameras cover the exterior. All the cameras are connected to six 32-channel NVRs and managed via IDIS Center video management software (VMS). All IDIS equipment uses true plug-and-play set up, which minimises disruption and disturbance to patients, while protection against gaps in footage is provided by IDIS Smart Failover ensuring 24/7 continued recording even during network instability or drop-out. Implemented across three secure wards and two high care units, the 12MP IR Super Fisheyes provide comprehensive coverage much more affordably than two or more fixed lens cameras. Advanced IDIS video capture technology delivers complete high-definition scene coverage in all lighting conditions and allows staff to de-warp in live view as well as playback. Automatic object detection The 5MP bullet cameras, deployed around the building exteriors provide coverage of gardens, courtyards and car parks. IR LED that allows night-time image capture at distances up to 30m and includes intelligent functions such as active tampering alarms and trip zones and will notify the security team to any breach. Each camera is set to perform virtual guard tours at specific times throughout the day and night IDIS 31x Zoom IR PTZ cameras are installed along the perimeter to provide clear night-time image capture at distances up to 200m. Each camera is set to perform virtual guard tours at specific times throughout the day and night. Featuring automatic object detection, the cameras recognise and automatically track objects, people or cars capturing useful footage and alert operators of any suspicious activity. To meet patient privacy requirements, access to live and recorded footage, is limited to staff according to their ward and role. Access to advanced features and functionality Staff can only view and review footage from their area of responsibility at designated monitoring stations using specialist IDIS monitors designed for high-performance surveillance operations. To meet future requirements, the new IDIS solution can be linked to the trust’s local area networks (LANs) without increasing cyber- security concerns, thanks to IDIS’s use of proprietary software which is inherently resilient. The totally cost-free IDIS Center video management software (VMS) gives security managers and senior staff a complete overview of the entire site from a 24/7 manned and centralised control room. Using the intuitive IDIS Center interface, operators have complete command and control of each camera and access to advanced features and functionality to ensure the secure and smooth day-to-day running of the site. Authorised monitoring and access of footage IDIS technology made this easy, and it was also the quickest and least disruptive to install Video surveillance is a key resource for clinicians, Sr. managers and security staff at Bluebird House as they need to work closely together to deal with incidents and reduce risks of harm. Improved video coverage was needed as it would allow ongoing review of care standards and full investigation of any alleged incidents. Patient privacy is also of paramount importance, so specialist integrator Galeco Communications was selected to implement a solution that would allow authorised monitoring and access of footage for specific rooms and wards. IDIS technology made this easy, and it was also the quickest and least disruptive to install, the most secure against cyber-attacks - in compliance with NHS requirements – and yet would deliver the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO). Ensuring better safety and security Replacing the centre’s ageing camera system, the IDIS solution would give complete coverage of corridors, wards and other high-risk areas in all lighting conditions. The IDIS solution has improved security, safety and care at Bluebird House by providing a complete video record of events. Exterior cameras ensure better safety and security in outdoor communal areas Footage from the 12MP Super Fisheye cameras give a full 360 view without any blind spots with a choice of 6 view modes and crucially provides staff with the ability to de-warp footage retrospectively. Now, if incidents need to be investigated it’s a simple task to retrieve video and provide any high-definition evidence required. Exterior cameras ensure better safety and security in outdoor communal areas, while security operators can quickly detect and respond to any suspicious activity on the perimeter. Access and review recordings "A key benefit for us is that this new system is so easy to use, and particularly for our clinical staff who can now access and review recordings to help them improve patient care. This video technology gives us extra confidence that our patients and staff are safe and protected” said Tracey Edwards, Head of Security at Southern Health NHS Trust. With minimal disruption, and working in this sensitive location, Galeco engineers were able to replace an outdated system with an affordable, high-performance, cybersecure solution that is easy to maintain and operate without any ongoing license fees.

While unpacking our bags from a trade show, it is interesting to consider the dominant themes and trends we heard and saw at the show. So it is with the recently concluded Global Security Exchange (GSX) show in Chicago, presented by ASIS International. Amid all the product promotion, training sessions, networking and tired feet at the show, what really stood out? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What was the big news at the GSX 2019 trade show in Chicago?

Fire and security systems are two elements of the same mission: To keep buildings and their occupants safe. However, the two systems often operate independently and may not be integrated. Should there be more integration and what are the pitfalls? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the challenges and opportunities of integrating security and fire systems?

One impact of Chinese companies entering the physical security market has been an erosion in product pricing, creating what has been called the "race to the bottom". However, political forces and cybersecurity concerns have presented new challenges for Chinese companies. Adding cybersecurity increases costs, and the addition of more functionality to edge devices is another trend that has impacted product pricing. We asked this week's Expert Panel Roundtable: Has price erosion ended (or slowed down) in the security market?