Next-gen entrance control

Editor / Provider: Submitted by Barbecan Security Systems | Updated: 1/25/2013 | Article type: Tech Corner

How to stop a determined gunman or suicide bomber? A robotic entrance portal or linear revolving door (LRD) could come in handy.

Recently patented by Barbecan Security Systems, the LRD is a series of parallel hallways positioned at the entrance of a building. Each passage has two doors that move with you as you walk, temporarily closing both in front of and behind you — similar to a revolving door. The portals are equipped with sensors to track the position and movement of people walking through. The portal robotically follows their pace as they walk; if the pedestrian walks quickly, the portal door panels move quickly; if they walk slowly, the portal operates slowly; if they stop, the portal stops. If the sensors detect a threat, like a hidden bomb or firearm, the doors move in reverse and push you out.

Operation is completely safe, and by adapting to the pace of pedestrian traffic, LRD portals can be used at high-traffic entrances, such as schools, malls, theaters, stadiums and factories. Portals can be stacked to offer even higher traffic rates, and direction is programmable to adjust to times when entrance or exit activity dominates.

Applications include:

● Schools, colleges and universities

● Shopping malls and theaters

● Banks
● Embassies, consulates and military bases
● Stadiums and conference halls
● Courthouses and government buildings
● Transportation (trains, underground/metro, buses and ferries)
● Airport entrances, customs and immigration checkpoints
● Airport Exit Lane Breach Control (one-way door without threat sensors)
● Hotels and Office Buildings
● Factories

 

Both US and international patent applications (PCT) have been filed for the LRD technology.

Magal acquires WebSilicon to expand into cyber security

Editor / Provider: Magal Security Systems | Updated: 1/24/2013 | Article type: Security 50

Magal Security Systems announced that it is expanding its business proposition with integrated physical-cyber protection solutions.

As part of this strategy Magal acquires Websilicon - an Israeli-based company in the rapidly growing network management and monitoring markets.

Magal's new cyber security solutions will monitor, detect and protect against abnormal network activity, both landline and wireless, within and close to protected sites. Cyber and physical events will be managed by the same platform - the Fortis4G, which is already installed in hundreds of sites.

The cyber security market
Since digital electronic technology has permeated every aspect of the business, critical sites are now exposed to new threats. The core production technology within sites, utilities, the information systems and even the security system itself - everything is now connected to the cyber world, and thus exposed to cyber threats due the bad and old motivations – terror, crime, hooliganism, espionage, etc. Therefore critical sites can no longer suffice in physical security and IT firewalls; essentially everything has to be protected.

Magal's cyber solution
The core solution will be based on advanced communication monitoring – wire-line, mobile wireless and satellite – which will intercept and alert for attacks, worms and other threats. The "sensors" will report into a unified Security Operation Center (SOC) into Fortis4G – a top notch centralized threat command and control platform. The unified SOC will eliminate the current silo approach which artificially disconnect the network security from the physical security and thus save resources and strengthen the overall security.

Since every site is different Magal will use its homegrown products as well as 3rd party products and tailor a turnkey solution for each site, supported by the full span of services: cyber risk and threat analysis, site survey, holistic cyber security Solution design, integration and post sales cyber monitoring, reviews and upgrades.

"The traditional physical threats to sensitive sites are now exacerbated by cyber threats, which have the potential to jeopardize the mission of our customers. Unlike the physical space, deterrence barely exists in cyberspace, and therefore in this cyber decade, seaports, airports, power utilities, cities and in fact, any business cannot be left protected with only physical security." said Eitan Livneh, President and CEO of Magal S3.

"Magal chose WebSilicon due its strong executive and development team, as well as its successful product sales to intelligence and other cyber protection players. Together, we are now positioned to lead the convergence of the physical-cyber security for critical sites."  Livneh said.

How to scale access projects

Editor / Provider: Tevin Wang, a&s International | Updated: 1/18/2013 | Article type: Tech Corner

Access control is customization-intensive. The scale of a project is not only measured by the number of doors to be secured, but also the level of integration and customization required. a&s explores what role project scale plays when it comes to access integration and management.

In access control, project scale is often measured by a variety of variables, according to Harry Mai, Assistant VP of Hundure Technology. “The number of readers, the number of locations, the complexity of multilayered security, and how many subsystems are to be integrated are just some of the key factors.”

Scale can also be measured in terms of integration and customization required, echoed Oonagh Fearon, Marketing Communications Manager, CEM Systems (a Tyco International company). “A project with a small to medium number of doors may have additional requirements, such as integrations or customization, that will make it a much larger project.” Another way to define project scale is how the system is used. “When looking at small or midsized implementations, the vast majority are being utilized forensically, specifically running reports on information after the fact and searching for video,” said Eric Joseph, Solutions Engineering Manager, S2 Security. “In larger implementations, the user is usually monitoring the system in real time, and reacting accordingly to situations as they arise. The advanced integrations used by different system users are usually dictated by their application. For example, infant abduction and patient wandering integrations are very common in health care; and in the federal government space, integrating with government watch lists is usually required.”

Small Scale
Projects in this category tend to be single buildings, such as SMB/Es, residential complexes, retail outlets and elementary schools. With access control at the core, security management can include subsystems such as time and attendance/HR, logical access, intercoms, parking lots, elevator controls, intrusion alarms, visitor management and surveillance.

Ease of installation and usage is essential; cost-effectiveness is another important factor, said John Davies, MD of Time and Data Systems International (TDSi). Web-based software is an important prerequisite as well, as customers access the majority of their other business systems through the Internet, such as email, CRM and HR systems.

Low TCO is another popular requirement, said Holger Maier, PM for Security Systems, Bosch Security Systems.

“When using a fully integrated access and video system, video can be easily searched by selecting the cardholder and searching for all instances of video containing that cardholder,” Joseph said. “Most of these types of users are not very familiar with security management, so making a system easy to understand and operate is paramount,” Joseph said.

Events such as a door forced open can be attached to the associated video for quick playback, while images and associated audio from cameras are recorded and stored, said Steven Lewis, Senior PM at Tyco Security Products. Such integration provides the benefits of operational efficiency and simplicity, and removes the need for multiple servers as well as the need for separate management applications.

Delays — as a result of paper- or email-based interactions between the IT and physical security teams — are eliminated, said Ajay Jain, CEO and President, Quantum Secure. Human errors are minimized and the manual effort for assigning condition-based access is automated.

Medium Scale
Midsized projects can include several buildings on a single campus, site or complex, such as K-12 school districts, municipal governments, libraries, museums, cultural centers, factories, small hospitals, data centers and banks, encompassing systems for time and attendance/HR, logical access, intercoms, parking lots, elevator controls, intrusion alarms, visitor management, surveillance, cashless payment, library management and mass notification.

Required features for integrated access control typically include customizations, system interoperability and scalability (with basic building automation), and future-proof yet cost-effective high security. “When the operator sits down at their workstation, they expect to view access control, intrusion and video information through one single user interface,” Joseph said. “The focus of the management is information from a variety of different sources, all tied into a single application, ideally providing a central repository for running reports on all of the stored data.”

Operational efficiency, enhanced security and convenience are obvious benefits. A comprehensive platform should reduce the cost of physical security operations by offloading the process of access requisition to end users, while increasing end-user satisfaction with physical security services by providing visibility into the status of their requests, Jain said.

Large Scale
Large-scale projects cover a significant area and have the highest security needs, such as federal agencies, utility companies, oil and gas, airports and transportation, universities and research institutions, and large MNCs with multiple sites (hospitals and banks). Key features can span across time and attendance/HR, logical access (active directory and lightweight directory access protocol ), intercoms, parking lots, elevator controls, intrusion alarms, visitor management, surveillance, cashless payment, library and data management, mass notification, real-time locations, asset management, additional building management, and other vertical-specific requirements.

End users need scalable subsystems that can grow as their organization grows, as well as a well-integrated system that can be easily managed as it grows. Ease of customization, management and integration of business and building systems is a top priority for many. “Many operate on multiple sites, and their primary goal is to have all sites act autonomously, without a single point of failure,” Joseph said.

The focus of the management platform is visibility into each of the sites and locations displayed on a single application. Another priority is the overall security of the building and maximum utilization of the card, said Wei Jin Lee, Sales Director for ASEAN, HID Global (an Assa Abloy company).

“Open to third-party systems, highly customizable, reliable and robust 24/7/365 operation are common demands as well,” Maier said.

The benefits of a single solution connecting multiple sites include enhanced security, central management (SCADA, ERP and PSIM), data tracking and backup. Other advantages include multiple applications on a single card, cost and manpower reduction, operational efficiency and the avoidance of single points of failure, eliminating the manual effort involved in collecting and reporting on compliance-related data, Jain said.

Creating Opportunities
The number of devices connected to the Internet passed the 5-billion mark in 2010 and is expected to reach 22 billion by 2020, according to IMS Research (an IHS company). With the proliferation of IP-enabled smartphones, tablets, cameras, sensors and other devices, impact on physical security and IT departments in terms of network design, bandwidth optimization, and most important of all, the safety and security of an organization can be significant.

IP connectivity speeds the migration of legacy sensors and appliances to networks, highlighting the importance of physical and logical security integration. “As long as organizations treat their physical and cyber domains as separate, there is little hope of securing either one,” said Scott Borg, Director of the US Cyber Consequences Unit. "The convergence of cyber and physical security has already occurred at the technical level. It is long overdue at the organizational level."

Identity management requires modifying identity in both the physical and virtual worlds. “Synchronization of an identity between the access control management system and the logical system, whether that be AD, LDAP or some other system, is the most important aspect of the integration,” Joseph said. “It allows for the capability to limit a user's ability to log on to a system based on their physical presence and activity.”

Utilization of a single credential for both physical access into a facility as well as logical access at a workstation is usually requested, Lewis said. Integration with other business systems, such HR, student enrollment or network printers, is common as well. “For instance, the addition of access card readers on network printers allows the user-requested print job to be accessed and printed when physically at the printer. This prevents wasteful use of ink and paper and also eliminates unauthorized viewing of any document.”

Stay tuned for more development!

French hotel chain in Lithuania upgrades security system for enhanced customer experience

Editor / Provider: Salto Systems | Updated: 1/16/2013 | Article type: Residential & Consumer

Customer
The brand new Ibis Kaunas Center hotel (IKCT)in Kaunas, Lithuania, has installed a bespoke electronic access control solution from Salto.

Located within walking distance of the historic old town, close to both railway and bus stations and with easy highway access to Kaunas International Airport, Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania. The country is the largest of the three Baltic States, and is situated along the south-eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, to the east of Sweden and Denmark.

The new hotel features 125 air conditioned guest rooms and, as the latest addition to the Ibis chain, is part of Accor's leading economy hotel brand. Ibis has expanded continuously and is now Europe's largest economy hotel chain and the world's fourth largest in its category with 933 hotels and more than 113,000 rooms across 53 countries in all five continents.

Challenge
Safety and security is very much a focus for hotels, so with specific regard to its guest room security the challenge for the Ibis Kaunas Centre hotel was to find a reliable security system that would not only complement the modern aesthetics of the building and its design, but operate seamlessly and discreetly in the background while giving guests reliable, unobtrusive 24/7 protection.

Agnieszka Filipowicz, Salto Business Development Manager Eastern Europe, says "Hotels probably have one of the toughest security tasks of all. On the one hand they have their own guests staying in the building but added to this are lots of other people they don't know including delivery people, maintenance people and non-residents coming in to use bars, restaurants, conference rooms, business services, sporting facilities and more.

So working in consultation with the hotel's owner Donetas Karciauskas and local Salto business partner Eurospynos, we designed a highly secure and flexible electronic access control system for all of their guest room needs installing 125 Aelement locks, 125 Energy Saving Devices, 4 XS4 locks, 4 online wall readers and our HAMS 100 software synchronized to their OPERA PMS system."

Solution
Tadas Cepulis of Salto partner Eurospynos says "Aelement has been developed with the needs of hotels in mind and features a range of hospitality-specific applications including the ability to control the security of the entire hotel from a single location. This includes granting access privileges to individual guest rooms and gathering audit trail data from every door in real time – all without leaving the front desk. Other benefits for the hotel include instant room move and instant extended stay abilities as well as lost card cancellation, intrusion alarm, door ajar alarm, remote opening, real time audit trail, passage mode activation for meeting rooms and automated low battery reporting."

And not only that but Aelement is also NFC enabled. So when this technology becomes standard on smartphones in the near future guests will be able to use their NFC enabled smartphones to emulate a normal Mifare smart card turning it into their hotel room key. 

Result
Filipowicz comments, "After a considerable period researching the available applications and products that he thought may be suitable, the owner of the hotel chose Salto Systems for their reputation as manufacturers of advanced technology security solutions to the hotel and hospitality industry and the Aelement product in particular for its sleek looks and cutting edge design. He knows it to be the best on the market and, as he says himself, I've opened Ibis Hotel and my main priorities were uncompromised security and maximum convenience to hotel guests. Also maximum energy saving. And I was able to achieve this by choosing Salto."

Finally Aiste Cistoviene, Front Desk Manager of the ibis Kaunas Center hotel, says "To ensure our guests are secure during their stay with us, we wanted a stylish high performance locking system that not only looked good, but also offered us the latest technology and was capable of growing with us in the future. Salto has provided us with all of this and more."

VCA revisited

Editor / Provider: Wavestore | Updated: 1/16/2013 | Article type: Hot Topics

So, the ObjectVideo “patent agreement seeking” rampage seems to have come to an end for now, with Panasonic System Networks being the latest to be added to the global, portfolio-wide patent license wish list (others include Tyco Security Products, Sony, Vivotek, Pelco by Schneider and Bosch Security Systems, for anyone who is keeping score). More solution providers are revisiting the technology side of things this year, with more concrete deployment scenarios and ROI agreement, such as this one from Axis Communications, a similar one from AMG Systems, and the one below from Wavestore.

Recent advances have helped overcome many of the problems previously associated with VCA tools, and 2013 will therefore see more powerful and tangible performance in real-life action, predicted Phil Ewers, Business Development Manager at Wavestore. His extensive experience includes playing a key role in a successful bid to deliver and supply Westfield London Shopping Centre with Europe's largest people-counting solution. Ewers is confident that VCA will be requested more in the list of features when video management systems are being designed.

First, there are a number of manufacturers who have increased the processing power of the DSP chipsets incorporated into their video surveillance cameras, highlighted Ewers. “These cameras, therefore, have the potential to be able to perform all their standard functions, while at the same time being able to efficiently handle analytics software.” Second, a tough economic environment is inevitably encouraging end users to demand a higher ROI in a video system solution. Last but not least is the fact that forward thinking video solution providers, such as Wavestore, have incorporated into their VMS the facility for leading technologies, such as video analytics in all its various forms, to work in harmony and interact with each other using a metadata engine. “This enables to offer customers an effective single-source solution.”

VCA is proving to be extremely valuable to the retail sector, but there are many opportunities in environments such as sports stadiums, airports, train stations and so on — any area where there is people movement.

People-counting capability deserves to be near or at the top of the list, as it can provide highly valuable data to allow a business to become more efficient, increase sales or just simply make their premises a safe place to visit or work in, Ewers said. “A hot spot identified by the use of analytics could perhaps generate an alert that there is an escalating risk of people being crushed.”

ALPR has obvious benefits to those involved in traffic management and parking enforcement, as well as verifying that a driver/vehicle is authorized to enter a restricted area. Biometrics in the form of facial recognition deserves a mention as well, as it can be a very powerful tool to identify specific individuals. “When analyzing what may have been thousands of hours of prerecorded video, facial recognition offers the possibility of matching against what could be a large database of undesirable visitors,” Ewers shared. New developments are seeing facial recognition providing invaluable statistics for retailers as to who is checking out a particular product stand, visiting a store or a defined area within a store or shopping complex.

Safran MorphoTrust to screen US airport employees and provide secure badges

Editor / Provider: Safran MorphoTrust | Updated: 1/16/2013 | Article type: Security 50

MorphoTrust USA (Safran) received authorization from the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to support employee screening and badging at US airports under its other transaction agreement with TSA. MorphoTrust is one of three organizations authorized by TSA to offer Designated Aviation Channeling (DAC) services, following a thorough review to validate the company's security systems and procedures.

TSA checks the background of airport and airline employees with access to the secure areas of airports, including baggage workers, ground maintenance workers and restaurant and retail employees. Through the DAC services, MorphoTrust will aggregate the necessary employee data and submit it to TSA, which conducts the employee threat assessments required for work in the aviation environment.

TSA previously had sole-sourced with a single organization for aviation channeling. Following requests for additional service providers from airport operators who were seeking competitive options, TSA announced additional agreements with MorphoTrust and another vendor selected through competition.

MorphoTrust has many years of experience delivering successful systems where there is a need for the vetting of individuals and where multiple biometrics such as face, fingerprints and iris are required. MorphoTrust's DAC offers modernized screening and badging services for airports, air carriers and aviation support vendors. MorphoTrust's one-stop-shop offering to the aviation community goes beyond DAC services, to include fingerprinting and badging, with other identity-related services being added. MorphoTrust is the leading U.S. provider of identity solutions for federal, state and local government and has worked with TSA for over seven years. Most recently, TSA selected MorphoTrust as the prime contractor for its new Universal Enrollment Service (UES), which consolidates multiple transportation security programs, including Transportation Worker Identity Credential (TWIC) and Hazardous Materials Endorsement Threat Assessment Program (HTAP), into a single service with convenient enrollment and registration locations.

"Through contracts like UES, MorphoTrust has been supporting the security of our nation's transportation infrastructure since 2005," said Bob Eckel, CEO of MorphoTrust. "MorphoTrust is well-positioned to deliver solutions of this significance and sensitivity, having enrolled nearly two million individuals to date for the current TWIC and HTAP programs. We are happy to use that experience to make screening and badging easier for airports and aviation workers while making the American public safer."

MorphoTrust also provides biometrics for the US Department of Defense and Federal Bureau of Investigation. MorphoTrust employs approximately 1,300 people, operates over 1,200 ID service centers across the U.S. and provides driver license issuance solutions to 41 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Thai university conference center boosts sound and video via IP-based system

Editor / Provider: Bosch Security Systems | Updated: 1/7/2013 | Article type: Education

End User
Prince of Songkla University International Conference Center (PSUICC) was established in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne. PSUICC is Thailand's newest convention center in this vein and the largest in the country's southern region. It is situated within the Hatyai campus of Prince of Songkla University and located just nine kilometers from Hatyai International Airport. The conventional center is also in close proximity to the full spectrum of modern amenities and features splendid southern style architecture.

PSUICC is equipped with state-of-the-art multi-media technology. Thus, this excellent convention center is the pride of the south.

Business Objective:
The southern star convention center provides an international scale convention center which is capable of hosting the full range of leading-edge local and international events. Hence, high quality as well as technology products including outstanding security and communication systems were required to be installed within the center.

Solution:
In conjunction with the Bosch partner Libra Network and Security, the persons in charge of the PSUICC decided to rely on Bosch Security & Communication Systems. Thus, CCTV, Congress and Prosound systems were installed around the center.

The purpose of the CCTV system is to observe, recognize and identify everybody sojourning in the area. Therefore, recorded images are relayed to the control room, where they are finally shown on the video wall for the people who are in charge of the technology. The system provides a complete overview of what is going on in the center with the help of 19 Dinion IP cameras, 27 Dome cameras as well as 47 other cameras which are supported by two DiBos DVR and two AutoDome controllers, Moreover, it makes possible to zoom in on specific situations or areas in order to discuss what measures should be taken.

Full control of meetings and discussions without being dependent on any operator is provided by DCN wireless systems consisting of 8 basic central control units, 80 concentus basicunits as well as 8 concentus chairman units in every conference room. The system can be easily extended and provides ease of use for every of its various functions, its unique features as well as its state-of-the-art system.

With the help of Electro Voice (EV) Prosound systems the ideal solution for each required situation is provided. Thus, PSUICC could benefit from EV's technical expertise and long years of experience in this area yielding a product portfolio that is at the same time comprehensive and of uniform excellence.

Result:
PSUICC is very pleased with the benefits of this flexible and easy-to-use conference and CCTV system. Hence, it helps a lot to facilitate the numerous meetings taking place in the center nowadays.

Once more PSUICC trusted in Bosch's high quality products, its experience and competence. Thanks to the reliability of the products and the excellent work of the Bosch dealer Libra Network and Security.

Scoping out Southeast Asia in 2013

Editor / Provider: By Alyssa Fann, a&s International | Updated: 12/25/2012 | Article type: Hot Topics

The International Monetary Fund has cut global growth forecasts twice since April 2012. Despite widespread economic woes, security is keeping its momentum in certain regions, with Southeast Asia being particularly noteworthy given its game-changing population, rich natural resources and urgent needs for both public and private infrastructures.

The American Chamber of Commerce estimated that close to US$1 trillion worth of infrastructure projects will be opened to foreign investment in Asia over the next 10 years. "As APAC continues to attract investments from IT companies, we are expecting to see advanced electronic requirements from such companies in 2013," said Alan Parker, Director of Global Accounts and Vertical Markets for Asia, Tyco International.

Indonesia and Thailand, in particular, should not be overlooked. “Government expenditure in security is unlikely to decrease,” said Patrick Lim, Director of Sales and Marketing for Ademco Security Group. “Businesses that have done well will continue to spend on security, especially the ones dealing with expensive parts and high-value goods.”

Terrorist attacks, large-scale natural disasters and rising crime rates have raised the general public's security awareness; government initiatives are also helping fuel the demand and market for security systems and services.

Indonesia
In Indonesia, the demand for security equipment stems from the growing needs of various verticals, which range from the government sector to the booming construction, commercial, industrial and residential sectors. In particular, demand for security and safety equipment in industrial plants, commercial buildings, public facilities, oil/gas facilities, mining operations, airports and seaports has increased substantially.

On May 27, 2012, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced the country's Master Plan for Acceleration and Expansion of Indoneisa's Economic Development (MP3EI), which will carry the country through to 2025. The MP3EI aims to make Indonesia, the 17th largest economy in the world, one of the world's 10 biggest economies by 2025, by taking GDP to $4.5 trillion and increasing the per capita income from the current $3000 to $15,000. In 2012, for example, the Indonesian government planned for 110 projects worth almost $41 billion for the eight designated sectors in MP3EI — agriculture, mining, energy, industrial, marine, tourism, telecommunications and the development of strategic areas. This creates a pressing need for infrastructure development and a huge potential market for the security industry to tap into.

Thailand
Having recovered from the devastating floods of 2011, the Thai economy is expected to grow 6 to 8 percent in 2013, estimated US Commercial Service. Not just another high-growth market in Asia, Thailand is also the largest security market in Asia with plenty of security opportunities. The Thai security market was expected to grow 30 percent by the end of 2012; the Thai government would account for 70 percent of this growth.

Government needs for security stem from a recent counternarcotics drive; border tensions with Cambodia that require higher technology in surveillance and transport infrastructure; a general increase in security expenditure for Bangkok and the south due to ongoing violence since 2004; and rising crime rates. According to US Commercial Service estimates, government verticals account for a large share of the security market at 50 percent, while retail and office complexes account for 30 percent, and industrial facilities and universities take the remaining 20 percent.

Over the last two years, growth in the adoption of IP-based security technology has been phenomenal. This trend is expected to continue, especially with a nationwide fiber-to- the-home project that will rev up data speeds to 100 Mbps. Hence, the IP market is expected to grow 30 to 40 percent; not only are private sectors seeing more IP-based product adoptions, but government projects are also specifying IP-based systems.

In the following year, major projects that will bring opportunities to the security industry include the following. The Thai government has pledged up to $5.6 billion over the next five years for the development of its railway systems. There are also plans to expand the Bangkok Mass Transit, the Laem Chabang Port, the Suvarnabhumi Airport, and to invest in high-speed train networks, along with two new prison facilities. In the prison vertical, the government is planning to introduce electronic prisoner monitoring and combat the smuggling of contrabands such as mobile phones.

Commercially, industry experts estimate that the completion of four large shopping complexes in Bangkok, namely Central Plaza Rama IX, Terminal 21, Mega Bangna and Central Embassy, will generate 750,000 square meters of additional retail space in need of security systems and services.

State of video affairs in 2013

Editor / Provider: Schneider Electric | Updated: 12/20/2012 | Article type: Hot Topics

As we finish out the year, it seems the worst of the global downturn is finally behind us. The security market is energized and upbeat, and there is a lot of positive momentum happening within the Schneider Electric buildings business, especially with Pelco video surveillance products. Now more than ever, the market is demanding technologies and solutions that will take security and building management to the next level.

With video being integrated with access control and other building management functions, the industry is looking for the ability to blend multiple tools and technologies into powerful integrated solutions, and this is where the strengths of the Schneider Electric buildings business really shine.

We have had many video security accomplishments this year. As always, we keep our focus on delivering to security professionals the best image quality possible. In support of this focus, we have delivered a number of technological advancements and product updates and releases. Just to name one, we now offer powerful thermal imaging systems at an affordable price for mainstream security applications. The added business potential of this new product is huge, especially with its ease of integration, advanced image quality and affordability.

Breakthroughs
There are many significant new product technologies on the horizon that will have a large impact on our industry. Most notably, we are now working diligently to design the next generation of video management systems, which will also involve cloud-based services for public and private video security networks.

A big issue for the future design of VMS's is scalability. Where we used to worry almost exclusively about the number of cameras and monitors within a system, we now see scalability in terms of the number of simultaneous (and separate) operators interacting with the system. Video system users no longer reside exclusively within the security department. Other business functions are requiring system access as well. And while this expansion of users and stakeholders helps make the ROI case for video systems more attractive, the number of users, their familiarity with the system, and their unique needs introduce new challenges for system architecture and secure administration.

Another motivating factor for our industry is the increased demand for mobile access. For the first time this year, iPads outshipped laptops. As the tablet sector continues to grow and dominate the market, more of the applications we use daily are moving onto these mobile devices. We are challenged to design mobile apps that can do much more than simply view video from a camera on an iPad. The challenge is in how will we incorporate mobile technologies to solve real security problems. Over the next couple of years, we will see VMS systems become more intuitive and easier to use, and we'll see the designations between hardware, software, mobile apps and the cloud blur into comprehensive systems.

And no doubt a new generation of intelligent video and video analytics products will add additional capabilities. Designed to help security professionals do more with less, intelligent video systems are evolving into powerful tools that can be relied upon for providing continuous monitoring of scenes and assets 24/7. The next generation of intelligent video systems will exhibit significant advancements in accuracy, reliability and usability. From tracking and counting behaviors, to character and object recognition, these powerful tools will continue to become more closely integrated into cameras, edge devices and VMS's.

Increasing Commoditization
Commoditization is indeed a trend. As products continue to become smaller, more powerful, and less expensive, we will continue to provide competitively priced, feature-rich products that meet the needs of security professionals. I am proud to say that in early 2013, we will introduce a couple new families of general purpose, IP-based cameras. We wll share more information when the time is right, but these new, general purpose IP cameras are based on our popular Sarix camera technology, and bring a very unique new function and form to this segment of affordable cameras.

And yes, as touched on above in the VMS discussion, cloud recording is an upcoming trend. Cloud recording, cloud-based storage, cloud-based video management and SaaS applications are all tools that will no doubt have much influence on the future of our industry. Cloud products will certainly address the needs of some of our customers, will enhance the systems of others, and may not be appropriate for the security needs of others, but it is our goal to utilize these powerful new capabilities to provide the best, most flexible, and most secure end-to-end solutions possible.

It is easy to get swept up into the possibilities of technology, but no matter how smart or advanced a security system may be, without excellent image quality, it is almost useless. From continuing to offer the best in analog camera performance, to digital systems that perform with excellent bandwidth efficiency, to now-affordable thermal imaging that brings a completely new dimension of video system possibilities, we must stay true to what security professionals really need, a great image to make good decisions.

Growth Pockets
As you know, video security applies to all vertical markets, all around the world. And with the explosion of new digital and IP-based technologies, and a migration toward network integration systems, we have seen big interest in all areas. As products become smaller, less expensive and easier to use, their implementation continues to rise. But there are a number of vertical market hot spots, if you will, that we seem to be continuously working within and developing new business.

With that said, we continue to see excellent growth in key regions such as China, India, and South America. North America is now making a positive turn, and it has been interesting to watch how fully EMEA has embraced IP video and has really become a leading region for deploying sophisticated IP-based video systems.

To focus on one topic of significant interest, much is happening within the area of “smart cities”. Cities currently house 50 percent of the world's population, and more than 300 million people are predicted to move to cities over the next 10 years. This explosive growth will place great demands on resources and mobility. Video security offers a unique solution for protecting people and property within countless applications – from bridges to airports, refineries to pipelines, seaports to highways, city centers to country borders, schools to prisons.

Advances in technology are driving dramatic change, as video platforms migrate from analog to digital and to network-based solutions. IP-based video surveillance has made it cost-effective to deploy video cameras and recording solutions in more places than ever before, while allowing the integration of video security systems with access control and other building automation systems.

Customers First
As segments of the video security market continue to become more commoditized, it is important that integrators work to differentiate themselves and add customer value by offering unique services and expertise. As successful integrators know, the revenue from the product sale is just one part of the entire “sale” and the long-term service and support for that client is very important. Pre- and post-sale activities are critical. Integrators have experience, knowledge and expertise that are very valuable. From technical system design and security consulting, to updates and expansion, and service and support, there are many ways for integrators to extend their customer relationships, and provide long-term services that are beneficial to all involved.

Being the manufacturer, we go to great lengths to make sure we understand our customers' business challenges and opportunities. As markets and technologies evolve, so should our services and policies. It is our mission to provide technology innovations, a wide range of products, and service and support for our customers, who in turn can leverage our products and services for the advancement of their business.

For example, there is nothing more important for security installers and integrators than being able to accurately plan and manage their business while having the confidence to provide solid commitments to their customers. With our new 24/90 guarantees, we are helping our customers do just that. On-demand product availability is critical for security professionals. Understanding their need to accurately plan and control inventory, and react to changing business demands at a moment's notice, we have made significant investments in our supply chain to ensure that our top-selling and most popular Pelco products and systems are always available for shipment within one business day of order confirmation.

We have a long history of offering high-quality, innovative video security products and exceptional customer service. Immediate availability of products and no-questions-asked returns provides a real business advantage for our dealers, integrators, and distributors. We have made significant investments in order to meet our customers' needs and to get Pelco products into their hands quickly.

Products and technologies are extremely important, and so are the policies, services and support systems that stand behind the products. We very much keep in mind that our customers have business of their own to manage, and we do everything we can to help make that business a success.

Vivotek fisheye camera compatible with Qnap VMS

Editor / Provider: Vivotek | Updated: 11/30/2012 | Article type: Security 50

Qnap Security announced that its VioStor NVR series is among the first VMS platforms to support FE8172/72V, Vivotek's 5-megapixel fisheye camera. The NVR's institutive navigation tool allows users to digitally zoom into areas of a hemispheric image in both live or playback view. Users can also view a complete scene unfold without obstruction while -simultaneously displaying multiple independent dewarped views from a FE8172/72V camera.

The NVR is a professional surveillance system featuring cutting-edge hardware and software designs that deliver remarkable monitoring and recording performance in real-time video. With a powerful Quad-core Intel Xeon E3 Processor, the high-end VioStor model delivers superb performance at a throughput rate of 450 Mbps to ensure stable recording of multiple megapixel cameras, with RAID storage to secure mission critical data. The Vivotek FE8172/72V camera comes with a 5-megapixel CMOS sensor which enables viewing resolution of 1920x1920 or 1080p at up to 30 fps via a 1.05 mm fisheye lens for 180 degrees panoramic view or 360 degrees surround view. The camera is able to provide the greatest coverage with the finest details for excellent surveillance footage. Vivotek IP8172P is also supported for those looking for box camera with focus assist button to allow users to precisely adjust the camera focus. The combination of Vivotek and Qnap not only provides dependable RAID storage and supreme megapixel processing power, but also enables 360-degree viewing and significantly expands field-of-views without blind spots.

"There is massive potential for 360-degree solutions to cover open areas such as airports, shopping malls, parking lots, retail stores and offices," said Harry Hu, President of Vivotek USA. "Qnap's deep integration has allowed impressive viewing capabilities with Vivotek's fisheye technology, and also helps capture HD videos with robust and reliable storage, delivering effective solutions proven to support medium to large scale surveillance projects."

"In security applications and solutions today, 360-degree solutions are becoming a critical component. People want to see their surroundings without any obstructions or blind spots," said Shawn Chu, Product Manager at QNAP Security. "Combined with the VioStor NVR's intuitive interface, the Vivotek FE8172/72V camera delivers total situational awareness."