DALI Thermal Surveillance System Offers Complete Solution in Security Observation Day and Night

Editor / Provider: the Editorial Team | Updated: 8/19/2012 | Article type: China Corner

DALI provides 20 years of great experience in offering complete high-performance, cost-effective solutions of thermal surveillance systems, which are based on its in-house infrared detector, high thermal imaging technology and quality production capacity.

Why Thermal Imaging?
Due to increasing security awareness of society, industry & individuals, modern security technology is widely implemented in many different applications. There is an increased need for security systems to take protective measures against illegal entry, sabotage, theft and vandalism.

In order to achieve effective perimeter security at critical locations; airports, sea ports, electrical utilities, industry, rail facilities, data centers, etc, you need excellent detection accuracy. There are a few options for but thermal cameras become more and more the preferred solution as developments in thermal image processing take automated perimeter security to a new level with fully automated day & night surveillance systems. Dali Thermal imagers produce clearer images at larger distances, have unparalleled intruder detection capabilities, can be used day & night and overall cost is close or lower compared to traditional approaches which make thermal imaging the favorable solution. The Dali Thermal Guard has clear advantages over other security systems.

Security 24 Hours
Thermal cameras need no light whatsoever as they measure very small differences in radiation to produce high contrast thermal images in total darkness despite the harsh scenarios. More product information, please log on www.dali-tech.com.

Nigerian Mall Draws on IndigoVision Retail Expertise

Editor / Provider: IndigoVision | Updated: 8/10/2012 | Article type: Security 50

West Africa's biggest shopping mall, the 22,000 sqm Ikeja City Mall in Lagos, Nigeria has called in IndigoVision to provide a reliable surveillance system for its extensive retail operations, which include a cinema and supermarket, banks, cafes, bars, restaurants, smaller stores, and hairdressing and beauty salons. IndigoVision was chosen because of its flexible solution able to meet the different client requirements and specifications.

Steve Idornigie, Operations Manager at Broll Property Service Nigeria, states: “We needed a reliable, high-quality security system for a development of this size and importance. The IndigoVision solution makes it easy for us to monitor all areas, quickly identify incidents and review recordings whenever we need to.”

IndigoVision has built up considerable international retail surveillance experience, with clients that include John Lewis stores in the UK, IKEA France, Sears in Canada and many malls across the US. IndigoVision's retail solution integrates with electronic point of sale (EPOS) systems, giving retailers options to flag certain transactions, for example transactions over certain monetary values. In such cases video can be bookmarked or alarms can be raised to allow retailers to review transactions easily, identify individuals and analyse events at point of sale.

Working with consultants CKR Consulting Engineers and contractor Cappa d'Alberto, IndigoVision and its local partner Onesource Nigeria, the lead company for the installation and maintenance of solutions, established an integrated IP Video surveillance system, using IndigoVision's Security Management Solution SMS4, with vandal-resistant fixed dome cameras, PTZ cameras and HD fixed domes. Operators continually monitor cameras using Control Center, the user interface to IndigoVision's SMS4. Four Control Center workstations have been set up within the Mall's control room, and IndigoVision Network Video Recorders (NVRs) provide a recording capability with 14 days storage duration. A protect facility on the NVR segments removes the risk of events being recorded over at the end of the 14 day period.

IndigoVision's distributed architecture allows any system component to be located at any point on the IP network, including cameras, NVRs and video workstations. NVRs can be sited at the edge of the network to minimize bandwidth usage, which creates a fault tolerant solution. The architecture removes the need for a central server, which in turn eliminates the risk of a central point of failure. Any of the Control Center workstations can view live footage from any camera on the network as well as recorded footage from any NVR.

IndigoVision's Security Management Solution, SMS4, is also installed globally for projects in airports, ports, rail, traffic, cities, banking, mining, education, casinos, police, prisons and government.

Is 3-D for Security?

Editor / Provider: Alyssa Fann | Updated: 8/7/2012 | Article type: Tech Corner

Currently, 3-D technology is used in the security industry to create virtual 3-D environments — 3-D mapping — which is then integrated with a number of third party security systems, such as video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection and fire safety into a PSIM platform. Most of the companies currently providing this solution have partnered with a number of manufacturers in the security industry for the integration of hardware and software in order to exploit the benefits of 3-D. Fortem, for example, has listed its integration partners on its website.

Termed as a tool to gain situational awareness, 3-D can be beneficial in helping to mitigate false alarms, improve detection, reduce training time, increase speed of competency and finally, reduce search times in case of an event. Currently, it is mostly utilized in large facilities such as universities, airports or city surveillance projects. According to Debjit Das, VP of Global Marketing for Video Intelligence Solutions at Verint Systems, a 3-D model is created in PSIM using a layered approach. "The first layer is created using publicly available images and information about the areas, such as satellite images. Next, CAD drawings of floor plans and structures for the facilities are incorporated into the 3-D model."

At the same time, Rémi Bréval, Associate Director of Product Technologies at Genetec, pointed out that the “implementation of 3-D in security environments is leading, and in some cases bleeding edge technology that requires specialized knowledge and 3-D modeling expertise that may not exist in-house with integrators and end users. This is largely due to requirement for specialized knowledge of modeling and visualization tools and complex work involved in development of high fidelity 3-D environments."

“This expertise is not something common to the security industry, although there may be cases in which an integrator has nurtured in-house capabilities to support delivery of this functionality to its customers. In all cases, maintenance and updating of the 3-D environment will be an ongoing requirement that organizations need to factor into their implementation plan,” added Bréval.

2-D versus 3-D
What are the major differences between 2-D and 3-D when it comes to surveillance? Starting with the designing process, 3-D technology can maximize security budgets and provide what Cynthia Woo, Marketing Coordinator at Fortem, called “unparalleled situation awareness” that enables you to “see things that a 2-D design might have missed.” Woo provided the example of Fortem's 3-D simulation tool that allows users to try out camera and lens type on a 3-D simulated virtual map to visualize what the camera will see and at what resolution. Ultimately, Woo said, “prior to the purchase or installation of any camera, a 3-D map will allow you to effectively plan out your security design, reduce costs and meet all design requirements.” Similarly, Das agreed, “We offer 3-D to improve planning and response, ensure that the appropriate coverage of a facility is achieved. A 3-D model in PSIM provides better visualization and heightened situational awareness compared to a 2-D model, and in the planning and response process, it allows you to increase the effectiveness of your security operations."

Next, when it comes to the actual surveillance, 3-D technology promises to transform the experience. Accordingly, Woo said, “The major difference between 2-D and 3-D is the visualization aspect. With 3-D you are able to distinguish height and depth of a given area.” Similarly, Das summarized, “3-D provides better planning, easier visualization and hence a higher level of situational awareness for more effective response.”

Enhanced Visualization
A number of 3-D technology providers have partnered with PSIM service providers to provide an enhanced integrated security model. Accordingly, Ted Ingalsbe, CTO at Bridgeborn, said, “The 3-D environment is becoming the center piece of PSIM software. It provides the mashed up view of all the security system information integrated into PSIM software so an operator is provided better situational awareness.”

Benoit Georis, Analytics Expert at Digital Barriers, listed four benefits of 3-D technology in PSIM security platforms. First, 3-D technology provides consistency checks by removing false alarms that might arise from a lack of perspective management present in 2-D technology, such as showing that a person cannot jump over a high wall. Second, in what Gerois termed as “redeployable cameras,” a 3-D system is parameterized with real world 3-D parameters so that camera locations can be changed without the need to readjust settings, unlike a 2-D system which requires re-parameterizing. Third, industry experts all agree that 3-D technology can be integrated seamlessly with existing systems. Finally, a 3-D enabled security system can locate a suspicious person on a 3-D map of a site or building through information of the X, Y, Z location. In other words and as Woo said, “simply click on the 3-D map and you will be redirected to the appropriate video feeds, saving valuable time in critical situations.” For example, a 3-D PSIM platform such as Fortem's central command enables security staff to instantly view the site of concern when an alarm is triggered, alongside the corresponding video feeds. Next, as third party security systems can easily be integrated into the 3-D PSIM, security staff can easily “fly over an entire city or area for a full visualization of the surroundings” and alter the settings of third party security systems as required, such as unlocking or locking a door from an access control system that is connected to the PSIM. Furthermore, Woo added, “an investigator will be able to visualize possible routes that a suspect may have taken.”

Static and Immersive
Before getting into the nicks and crooks of investing in a 3-D PSIM system, it is necessary to differentiate between static and immersive 3-D technology. Keith Bloodworth, CEO of CNL Software, explained, “Static 3-D visualization is where a company is contracted to render a 3-D image, which is displayed within the PSIM software to which camera locations and fire points are added.” For example, an old CCTV system with multiple DVRs and a NVR can be modernized into 3-D by placing it upon a Google Map or SketchUp in a 3-D representation of the exterior/interior. While the improvement in quality will not be drastic, the integration of it into a PSIM system can be vastly beneficial to management and operation.

On the other hand, Bloodworth said, “immersive 3-D interacts with hardware to render the virtual environment and process the user input to provide a real sense of walking through a building. When cameras are overlaid on this, it creates a much richer user experience, allowing them to see more contextual information. The 3-D rendering is very process heavy, so requires lots of processor power. This adds significant costs to any deployment.” Hence, security budgets should be a factor in the process of adopting a 3-D PSIM system.

Vivotek Launches 5-Megapixel Fisheye Camera

Editor / Provider: Vivotek | Updated: 7/26/2012 | Article type: Security 50

Vivotek is launching the FE8172/72V, its first 5-Megapixel fisheye camera, for both indoor and outdoor applications.

Equipped with 5-Megapixel CMOS sensor enabling viewing resolution of 1920x1920 or 1080p up to 30 fps and a 1.05 mm fisheye lens for 180 degrees panoramic view or 360 degrees surround view, Vivotek FE8172/72V camera is able to not only eliminate blind spots but also provide the greatest coverage with the finest details.

"We are launching a series of 5-Megapixel solutions this year, starting with the FD8372 designed for demanding outdoor environments," said William Ku, Director of Brand Business at Vivotek. "The 5-Megapixel fixed dome has received tremendous positive feedback from the industry and we are confident that the fisheye camera will, too."

Vivotek FE8172/72V boasts a numerous advanced features in addition to what is readily available on the award-winning FE8171V, the 3.1-Megapixel first generation fisheye camera. This celebrity product of Vivotek has enjoyed its fame as since its launch in Q3 2011.

The FE8172V, the outdoor model, is EN-50155 certified and proven capable of performing in a railway application as the EN-50155 standard is used to regulate electronic equipment on rolling stock. The IP66-rated design, on the other hand, protects the camera against water and dust intrusion. The vandal-proof IK10-rated housing allows for robust protection from vandalism. As for the FE8172, the indoor model, it is designed to be installation-friendly and thus comes with a dimension smaller than the FE8172V.

According to Ku, Vivotek FE8172/72V is designed for open areas such as airports, shopping malls, parking lots, retail stores and offices.

Promising Verticals Fuel Bullish Growth in Turkey

Editor / Provider: a&s Turkiye | Updated: 7/19/2012 | Article type: Hot Topics

Vibrant Verticals
The pick-up in the construction sector accelerated growth in the private sector with new residential, retail and health care projects. There were also many security projects in finance and education.

However, the largest budgets this year came from the public sector. Projects at the fore were city surveillance, transportation projects (airports, undergrounds, tunnels, et cetera.) and public buildings.

Major Projects
The most attractive projects of 2011 were for Turk Telekom, Zorlu Center, Sabiha Goksen Airport, and the National Archives.

In addition to the large projects, there were also many medium scale projects, which were mostly integrated projects that include fire detection and extinguishing systems, video surveillance, access control and intrusion detection.

In 2011, an increased number of projects required IP-based HD video surveillance systems and card access systems, and demanded integration between the systems, said Bilgecanan Bilgis, Marketing Manager at Ateksis. “Antalya Airport, Medipol Hospital, Bursa Hilton and Hampton by Hilton, and Fenerbah?e Ulker Arena are projects in Turkey which we would like to be part of and concentrate on, and Malabo Congress Center Haydar Aliyev Center abroad.”

Levent Yildir?m, Director of Siemens Substructure and Cities Sector Building Technologies, said that Siemens surpassed their goals in 2011, citing numerous projects that are worth more than $100,000 in value: Buyaka Complex (shopping center, residence, office), Hilton Hotels, Erdemir, Sandoz, Magnesia Shopping Center, Tarsu Shopping Center, Habom (Aviation Maintenance Center), Marmara Park, Zorlu, Safir, Aliaga Prison, Bodrum Airport, Izmir Special Provincial Directorate of Administration KGM. He also stresses the contributed part of the accomplishment to foreign projects, most of which are located in neighboring countries like Iraq, Russia, Algeria, et cetera.

Gurani Kilic, Country Sales Director for Bosch Security Systems, mentions projects that were conducted in collaboration with their partners and are worth more than $500,000 in value: Sorgun, Soke, Didim Surveillance Cameras Projects, Highway Tunnels Projects, Turkiye, Kirazli – Olimpiyatkoy Subway Line Project, Istanbul, Antalya Airport Domestic and International Lines Terminal 2.Section, Antalya, Republic of Turkiye Central Bank, Bursa, BSH Factory, Istanbul, Bagc?lar Medipol Hospital, Istanbul, Hilton Hotel, Bursa, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Archaeology Museum, Hatay, Ma?ka Residence, Istanbul, European Residences, Istanbul, Terrcity Shopping Center, Antalya.

Bulent Cobanoglu, GM of Senkron Guvenlik, mentioned two important bank projects by Honeywell: Standardizing systems for the merged Fortis and Turkiye Ekonomi Bank, as well as a card access system for Garanti Bank that covered 50 management buildings.

2012 and Crystal Ball
Although 2012 will be a difficult year, the consensus is that growth in the security industry will continue despite the economic slowdown, said Tarkan Tuncel, GM of Kekova.

The recession prospect in the world economy in 2012 weakens the prospect for growth in Turkey, Kilic said. “In 2012, there is a 4-5 percent growth prospect in the general economy and 6-7 percent in the construction sector. We can say that the security systems sector will indirectly be affected by this conjuncture in 2012."

“In addition, the pick-up in Libya and the neighboring countries in the last quarter of the year is good news for our sector,” Kilic continued, saying that the continuation of public investments and the mega projects into 2012 suggests that the security industry will continue to grow, albeit at a slower pace.

Yusuf Ziya Oncel, Sales Manager at Pelco Turkey, predicts that 2012 will be a year when no one will be able to conduct aggressive enterprises, but that “we will keep a wary eye so that we can maintain our stability.” According to Oncel, the next 10 percent of growth will be achieved via digesting the growth that occurred in 2010 and 2011, while also stabilizing the total sales at the same levels.

Hidayet Yilmaz of NFS Guvenlik also agrees that the security market will continue growing in 2012, although at a slower pace. According to Yilmaz, the city transformation that will be carried out in 2012, especially in big cities, will have a positive impact on the market.

Cobanoglu shares the consensus. “If there is a crisis, we have to conduct business is different ways. We have to hold fairs and seminars to continue to educate the market. Otherwise, it is hard to hold on.”

In terms of products, industry experts agree that sales for IP-based systems and megapixel cameras will continue to grow. Yildiz has high hopes for network cameras and regularly expands their IP-based product groups. IR cameras and mobile DVR's also show similar potential.

Green buildings will play a key role for the security industry in 2012. Green buildings make extensive use of automation technologies to make them easily manageable, traceable and intelligent, and are great investments in terms of ROI. Especially big cities, green buildings will begin to flourish and; companies that operate and develop products in this field will be able to perform well even in bad economies, according to Kilic."

Additionally, Profilo Security Systems Sales Manager, Ertan Gedik predicts that the alarm system projects will increase for gas leak, fire and flood detection.

Lingering Problems
Although 2011 evaluations and 2012 predictions point to growth and development for the security industry, there are a few problems that need to be solved.

Products and companies must form and adhere to standards. “Although Turkey is among the few countries that will grow, compared to other nations in Europe and the Middle East, regulations and standards are still not what they should be,” Ozan Demirel, Region Manager, Controls and Security Systems, UTC Climatel said.

Cobanoglu believes that the lack of certification for security companies is a problem, saying that there is no selection process or evaluation even though there are more and more companies entering the market.

Cobanoglu continues to talk about another issue: there is no specialty customs for the security sector in Turkey. “Unfortunately, we still pay Special Consumption Tax (SCT). Video surveillance cameras are taxed as luxury items, following the footsteps of the digital camera found in everyone's pocket. However, these systems are not luxury — they are a necessity. Cancelling the SCT and lowering VAT would directly affect the end user and increase our sale, while also preventing illegal activities regarding security equipment, such as counterfeiting and bootlegging."

HID Global Ships More Than 150 Million e-ID Solutions

Editor / Provider: HID Global | Updated: 7/11/2012 | Article type: Security 50

HID Global announced the company has shipped over 150 million high-technology eID (electronic ID) solutions to governments for citizen IDs around the world. The company's management team and employees, along with local political and business officials, are celebrating this milestone in a special ceremony today in Ireland. HID Global's Ireland center is a high security, state-of-the-art eID credential facility that creates products for access and identification-related applications such as electronic passports and contactless swipe ID/access cards.

“We are proud to be a key provider of secure contactless technology to governments for eIDs worldwide,” said Anthony Ball, senior vice president, Identity and Access Management (IAM) with HID Global. “More than 150 million people worldwide, almost a third of all citizens using high-security electronic passports and identity credentials, carry our technology with them. We are exporting technology and know-how to every continent, and our local workforce and the entire community can be very proud of this milestone, as well as our contribution to a critical aspect of the world's security.”

HID Global has shipped over 100 million components used in e-passports by travelers in 30 countries, which comprises approximately 28 percent of the world's market. According to the International Civil Aviation Association, as of December 2011, a total of 355 million e-passports have been issued globally. The vast majority of EU countries, as well as numerous countries outside of Europe, are now issuing machine-readable electronic passports. The company has also shipped over 50 million microchip-based inlays used in eIDs by citizens in 22 countries. Other notable achievements include providing tens of millions of units for a variety of European e-passports.

Originally established 15 years ago, the Ireland facility was acquired in 2007 by HID Global. In 2010, the operation was expanded and engineered into one of Ireland's most advanced secure technology facilities to accommodate the growing global trend toward eIDs and e-passports. Now one of Connemara Gaeltacht's largest employers, the operation is dedicated to e-government product research, development and manufacturing, and includes a world competence center for HID Global's high technology RFID-enabled components.

By 2015, it is estimated that worldwide, 85% of all credentials issued annually will be eIDs, according to a recent Acuity Market Intelligence report. The number of countries issuing eIDs is expected to exceed the number of countries issuing traditional national IDs by 4 to 1. With more and more airports deploying Automated Border Control schemes (e.g. Helsinki, Frankfurt, London, Munich, Paris, Portugal and others), HID Global's e-passport and eID technology allows the possibility for travelers to cross borders quickly, enabling them to avoid long immigration queues while providing highly secure ID authentication and validation.

“HID Global is at the center of an important global trend,” said Craig Sandness, vice president of sales with HID Global's Government ID Solutions. “Governments worldwide are shifting to eIDs to dramatically improve the security, privacy, convenience and confident authentication needed in border and access control, and other important identification-related applications such as national IDs, driver licenses, electronic voting, and health care. As a leading high security e-passport and eID component producer, we are able to provide the complete assembly of these critical components from one source.”

The company's secure contactless technology inlays and prelaminates allow governments worldwide to make e-passports and other electronic documents more secure. HID Global's microchip-based inlays are tamper-proof and highly secure, and reduce authentication error and documentation falsification. The company's products are designed to extend the life of e-documents, while withstanding daily wear and reducing incidents of tampering and fraud.

2012 Africa Cup of Nations Security Project

Editor / Provider: Magal Security Systems | Updated: 7/10/2012 | Article type: Security 50

The Africa Cup of Nations is the main International Football Association competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and was first held in 1957. Since 1968, it has been held every two years.

The 2012 Games will be held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

It was announced on May 31st 2011 that Magal S3 has signed a $35.5 Million Dollar contract for a turnkey project, to provide the fully integrated security system, covering multiple sites, for these games. Magal has been chosen as the main contractor to implement the security and safety solution for this prestigious and globally recognized event.

Magal S3 is a leading international provider of security, safety and site management solutions and products. Over the past forty years, Magal S3 has designed and installed thousands of customized installations for satisfied customers in over eighty countries around the world, including those situated in the most threatening environments. Magal S3 has leveraged its experience in the defense industry in Israel and abroad to develop a unique set of cutting-edge security and safety products.

Sporting Event Safety and Security Planning Considerations

Terrorism
Sporting events, particularly those with global appeal, are an obvious target for terrorists, as such attacks will attract the attention of the world to the particular terrorist cause.

The darkest day in sporting history was the at the 1972 Olympic games in Munich where terrorists took the Israeli national team hostage, eventually slaughtering eleven athletes and coaches and one German police officer after a 16-hour standoff.

Other major terrorist attacks at sporting events were the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan Cricket team in Pakistan, the bomb explosions in Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park in lieu of the 1996 Olympics, the

2002 car bomb that donated adjacent to the Bernabau Stadium in Barcelona, a terrorist bomb that severely damaged the Olympic stadium in Stockholm In 1997, and the murder of Colombian player Andrés Escobar, during the 1994 World Cup.

More recently and closer to home was the deadly terrorist attack during the 2010 African Cup of Nations. The Togolese National Football team was ambushed by terrorists as they travelled by bus from Congo-Brazzaville, where they had been training, to the neighboring Angolan province of Cabinda. Three people—the team's assistant coach, their spokesman and their Angolan driver—were killed. Another nine members of Togo's party were wounded including Togo's reserve goalkeeper.

Crowd Control
Crowd control and related issues have long been a topic of concern for sport facility managers as crowd related tragedies have plagued the industry over the years. The design and implementation of sound crowd control policies, limiting access to the sporting venues, crowd monitoring and gate control can help prevent these crowd related accidents.

Two main catastrophes that come to mind are the the Hillsborough disaster, a human crush that occurred on April 15th 1989 at Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield, England in a FA Cup semi-final, resulting in the deaths of 96 people and 766 being injured, and The Heysel Stadium disaster which occurred on the 29th of May 1985 when escaping fans were pressed against a wall in the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, as a result of rioting before the start of the 1985 European Cup. Thirty-nine fans died and 600 were injured.

Other major European Tragedies were the 1971 Ibrox Stadium disaster in Scotland when 66 people were killed and 140 are injured when barriers collapsed near the end of a match between Celtic and Rangers and the 1982 Luzhniki disaster that took place at Lenin stadium in Moscow were a deadly human crush took the lives of at least 67 fans.

Definitely not limited to the UK, or Europe, there have been many major crowd control related disasters in sporting events: Abidjan, Ivory Coast (30/3 2009) at a World Cup qualifying match between Ivory Coast and Malawi leaving 22 dead and 132 wounded, Ghana, West Africa (9/5/2001) as a stampede at a packed soccer match between two of Ghana's leading teams killed at least 100 people, Harare, Zimbabwe (8/7/2000) twelve people died after a stampede at a World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Zimbabwe, Buenos Aires, Argentina (23/6/1968) 74 people are killed and over 150 injured following a first-division game between River Plate and Boca Juniors when fans trying to leave the stadium mistakenly head toward a closed exit and are crushed against the doors by other fans unaware of the closed passageway and the Ellis Park Stadium disaster (11/4/2001), the worst sporting accident in South African history as 43 people were crushed to death by a crowd stampede.

Hooliganism and Violence
Football hooliganism is unruly and destructive behavior—such as brawls, vandalism and intimidation— by club fans, sometimes alcohol induced. Football hooliganism can range from shouts and small-scale fistfights and disturbances to huge riots where rival fans attack each other with deadly weapons. In some cases, stadium brawls have caused fans to flee in panic; some being injured when fences or walls collapsed. In the most extreme cases, hooligans, police, and bystanders have been killed, and riot police have intervened with tear gas, armored vehicles and water cannons.

Two tragedies associated with sport hooliganism are the 1967 Kayseri Ataturk Stadium disaster, resulting in 40 deaths and at least 300 injuries during the football match held on September 17, 1967 between the clubs of Kayserispor and Sivasspor at the Atatürk Stadium of Kayse i in Turkey. It was the worst sports-related violence to occur in Turkey. The other is the The 1964 Lima football riot of May 24, 1964, to-date, the worst riot in association football history. Violence erupted at a qualifying match for the Tokyo Olympics, leaving 318 fans dead and many more injured.

Not limited to soccer Hooliganism and violence is regularly reported at other sporting events like baseball, golf, cricket, Australian rules, Basketball, Football, Rugby and others.

Criminal Activity
Some of the most serious impacts of hosting sporting events arise from an increase in crime and adverse behavior. Studies have shown that during sporting events there is a rise in (1) opportunistic crimes of theft from visitors and from their vehicles, crime of sexual nature, common assault, robbery, traffic infringements, drunkenness and disorderly behavior and (2) organized criminal activities to target visitors.

Authorities must take great lengths to make sure such sporting events are safe, that crowds remain in check, and that any threat of criminal activity is thwarted. Video surveillance is an invaluable tool in helping to ensure the safety of the fans, players, employees, and the facilities themselves.

Limited Duration of Event
Unlike other critical infrastructure sites (like airports, power stations, oil and gas sites etc), mega sporting events are very duration limited. Once the Gold medal is given to the winning team, all the athletes and visitors travel back to their home countries and the event venues (Olympic parks, training grounds, stadiums) remain deserted in many instances.

The diligent designer of sporting event security must come up with creative ideas so as to exploit the investment of security and safety systems for the days and years after the event.

The Ins and Outs of Buying and Using Biometrics

Editor / Provider: Submitted by TDSi | Updated: 7/12/2012 | Article type: Tech Corner

Finding the Right Biometrics Solution
Initially the options for Biometrics were fairly limited, with fingerprint readers being a popular choice. However, the market has expanded rapidly in recent years to offer other choices or combinations of choices that ensure that the highest levels of security can be maintained, keeping a step ahead of efforts designed to beat the security protocols.

Finding the right Biometric solution for the job should involve careful planning and advice from expert installers. A combination of different methods can offer the best solution across a site, making the most of different locations and being well suited to the traffic likely to use them. Traditional fingerprint readers should not be discounted, they still offer a cost-effective, secure and reliable access control, however they may not be suitable for all conditions (places that are dirty, wet or harsh and restrict physical contact for example). Some of the rising stars and future options of Biometric control include:
● Facial Recognition – Using the unique shape and rendering of the human face, these are already becoming a popular and easy-to-use option. Modern readers can operate in virtually all light conditions (including the dark by use of an inbuilt light) with a False Acceptance Rate (FAR) of less than 0.0001% - offering great flexibility combined with impressively high levels of reliability and security. Facial recognition is ideal for most situations, generally a user's face is highly visible and there is no need to touch the unit which makes it ideal for clean rooms, operating theatres or anywhere else that contamination (from key cards for example) would be undesirable.

● Sub-dermal Recognition – Building upon the fingerprint idea, these readers ignore the top layer of skin and instead focus on lower levels to make their assessment of authentication. This is an ideal solution in environments where harsh weather or other issues may damage or in some way change the fingerprint and make it difficult to read. Examples of possible locations include heavy industry plants, aggregate works and quarries, off-shore oil rigs and building sites.

● Vein Recognition - Taking the idea of internal Biometrics scanning a step further, these readers look at the unique pattern of veins and blood vessels (within a user's finger for example) to provide highly reliable authentication. Because the size and shape of circulatory system doesn't change (in adults), Vein Recognition avoids the potential problems of scanning external features, which can change due to environmental, aging or even health issues.

● Hand Geometry – Another take on the unique dimensions of a user's hand, the technology ascertains the size of the fingers, thumb and palm for authentication – providing an alternative to a fingerprint reader.

● Iris Scanning – Unlike facial recognition, these scanners concentrate specifically on a single point, using the complex shape of the eye's iris to authorise access. Because of its complex nature, Retina Scanning is mostly employed in specialist, high security applications that demand specialized security – such as national defense installations for example.

● Heart Recognition – An upcoming Biometrics technology based upon the unique results of an individual's ECG reading, this is ideal for high security environments. There are also different options for readers, from finger scanners to contactless chest mounted straps with wireless connectivity to access control systems. Heart Recognition offers a highly secure, reliable and user-friendly solution that is convenient even in harsh or remote environments and ideal for military deployment for example.

● Walking Gait Analysis – Another upcoming Biometrics technology that analyses the way an individual walks to ascertain identity and authorization. Unobtrusive, Walking Gait Analysis does however require the space for the user to be able to walk within the authentication zone and is therefore better suited to open environments or large interior spaces – but could find favour in large public areas such as airports of sports venues for example.

Integrating Systems to Realize Benefits Beyond Security
As already mentioned biometrics readers are a useful tool when it comes to compliance and measuring the flow of people in relation to productivity. It is also a very good way of accounting for staff movements in regards to Time & Attendance records. Whereas a tokenbased clocking in system can potentially be abused (for instance; ‘buddy' use, whereby employees fraudulently clock in for another employee), Biometrics readers require the individual in question to be present to clock in. In instances of high security (such as a bank) or environmental sensitivity or danger (such as a laboratory or nuclear installation for example) it is advantageous to be clear if individuals were indeed present at key times.

In facilities that cater for children, the elderly or other vulnerable people Biometrics can be used not only to stop unauthorized individuals from entering but also to stop vulnerable individuals from entering dangerous areas or leaving the security of the site unattended.

The accuracy of Biometrics systems can also be very useful for use with building fire and evacuation systems. In the event of a fire or similar emergency, knowing exactly which people are where, can be a crucial in evacuation or rescue situations. It is also very easy to ‘lock down' certain areas to prevent people wandering into dangerous parts of the building (through fire or even into contaminated sectors).

Different Biometrics systems can also be integrated together to offer the best solution. For example a bank may only need simple MIFARE card readers or fingerprint readers for lowlevel secure areas (such as meeting rooms) but will definitely want to increase the security of access control (perhaps using facial recognition) around any areas containing money or records. Using lower cost options alongside cutting edge solutions can be an excellent way to make the most of the access security budget.

Potential Issues with Biometrics
Inevitably there can be sensitivities from some sectors on the issue of holding private Biometric data, which is akin to medical records. Whilst the benefits of using Biometric readers are undeniable, any data that is collected has to be carefully and securely stored to prevent any loss, theft or other potential misuses which will contravene UK and EU data privacy laws. Local laws can also affect the ways in which data is stored - in France for instance, security data has to be stored on a card which is then kept by the user. There are also obvious ethical issues on holding data that could be used, or misused, in other circumstances where somebody's identity or location at a certain time is in question. Any organization that uses Biometric readers and stores the information from them needs to be fully aware of the legal and ethical obligations from doing so and to be sensitive to any potential objections or anxieties that could surface from it.

As mentioned earlier in this paper, Biometric access control needs to offer a worthwhile return on investment. If an older token-based system provides a reliable service that works well in the context it is used then the expense of upgrading to a Biometric alternative may not be worthwhile. Similarly, for lower security situations it may be prudent to avoid any potential ethical problems (as above) and to use a token-based system which is cost-effective and simple to use.

There may also be some situations where it simply isn't practical to install an expensive and relatively fragile detector – perhaps due to very extreme environmental conditions or even the threat of vandalism in some urban areas. However, used effectively Biometrics are a highly valuable tool in providing excellent access control.

Conclusion
Whilst Biometrics access control may, at first glance, appear to be revolutionary (and no doubt some solutions are avant-garde in their approach) essentially they simply offer new, highly secure and convenient ways to stop unauthorized individuals or groups entering restricted areas.

The choices and their benefits are numerous, so any organization considering them should look closely at their overall access control needs before deciding if Biometrics will offer a sound return on investment. For high security needs, Biometrics systems offer very attractive False Acceptance Rates and by doing away with keycards and tokens give users greater freedom.

Whilst there are drawbacks (for some access control situations Biometrics may be too expensive or even too fragile), these new systems are shaping the direction and the future of the access control market.

Sunell's Cameras Help to Improve the Security of MMIA

Editor / Provider: Sunell | Updated: 7/3/2012 | Article type: China Corner

The Sunell cameras include motion detection, alarms, and automatic zoom functions, allowing the MMIA security team to instantly focus on a scene of interest or concern.

Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) is an international airport located in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria, and is the major airport serving the city of Lagos, southwestern Nigeria and the entire nation.

Following the 1999 election, the security situation at Lagos began to improve. In 2009, the airport served 5,644,572 passengers, and the amount is increasing by ten percent or so in these 2 years. The airport authority shall continue to improve their services for both domestic and international passengers, especially the security and surveillance to bring the airport to meet the international standard.

Faced with the challenge of such a place with massive people gathering, the airport authority replaced its old low resolution cameras with 80 network high speed PTZ cameras (SN-IPS54/70DN) from Sunell. They were installed in locations including the airport hall, arrival/departure gates, passenger check-in, baggage handling, employee areas and external areas such as the parking lots, areas around the airport, etc.

Coming to the highlights of the product, it is suitable for monitoring in large-scale scenes, like airport, stadiums, sea ports and banks, etc. It adopts advances ARM ISP and FPGA platform, equipped with Hitachi HD zoom camera, the highest resolution is 1280×960. It supports Onvif and PSIA conformance. Also with the open SDK, it is compatible with over 40 national mainstream platforms. The positioning is very precise with a ±0.02 degree, accuracy, even at very low speed.

The Sunell cameras include motion detection, alarms, and automatic zoom functions, allowing the MMIA security team to instantly focus on a scene of interest or concern, whether it's a suspicious person walking through the airport hall or a suspicious piece of luggage in baggage claim or in one of the airport's restaurants.

PTZ cameras, MMIA has established a centrally controlled system that is capable of 7×24 real-time viewing and monitoring to boost effectiveness.

Trying Times, Prettier Prices

Editor / Provider: Hayden Hsu | Updated: 7/3/2012 | Article type: Hot Topics

Cost-effectiveness sells, especially during financially trying times. With government spending cuts slowing down infrastructural development and the private sector strapped for cash, security solution providers of all sizes are busy seeking and identifying the next “blue sea.” In the meantime, small-and medium-size end users are in for a treat, as more affordable and efficient solution offerings are made available.

Axis Communications
Phil Doyle, Regional Director of Northern Europe
With our cloud, more cost-effective and low-light offerings, we are better enabled to reach partners and installers with smaller business operations. We've been “cloud-friendly” for more than nine years, so it just shows we were right all along. Globally, we will continue to invest in technology and innovation; as proof, 13.6 percent of our revenue last year was earmarked for such efforts.

Canon
Julian Rutland, Director of Visual Communication Products and Solutions for Europe
General economy is quite hard, and people are taking the time to evaluate new brands and alternatives. We're a relatively new kid on the block, so that helps. Compared to last year, we're enjoying an upward trajectory of 800percent. With the shift to IP, the channel is learning, and we're also learning, to work hand in hand and move in the right direction. System integrators usually don't have the time to test everything, so we test and integrate for them to make sure everything is compatible. Thanks to our consumer electronics, we have the upper hand in image processors (with analytics) and lens specs in terms of overall pricing. We are a full member of ONVIF, working with more and more VMS brands, and incredibly committed to delivering the kind of promise, quality and training that our channel partners and end clients expect of us.

Honeywell Security
Tony Makosinski, Head of Marketing for the U.K. and Ireland
We're seeing growth in residential burglar alarm products, due to higher crime rates. The fact that Honeywell has a myriad of solutions across the board does help. Mirroring what has spiked demand in the IT market, we now provide DVR-like cloud storage with user-friendly interfaces, making it easy for our partners to sell monthly plans rather than big, initial investments. Storing and managing on the cloud has also helped shorten time to market and further green initiatives. System checks and maintenance are done automatically. If there's something wrong, an email will be generated and sent to the responsible technician automatically, minimizing unnecessary truck rolls. For certain legally mandated system checks and tests, the cloud saves the trouble of emptying out the entire building during such procedures.

Navtech Radar
Philip Avery, MD
Single-unit prices of radar systems cannot be compared to regular surveillance cameras. But, think holistically. Radar provides 360-degree coverage and significantly cuts down numbers and costs of guards, tours/patrols, trip wires, intrusion detectors and cameras. There's no trenching required, further reducing installation time, service disruptions and related expenses. We own all the key technologies (hardware, software algorithms, signal processing) and can tailor to specific system integrator requirements. For example, we managed to cover an airfield in Romania with just two radars. This is the kind of message that needs to be heard when people are scrambling to find the next best, more affordable alternative.

Opgal
Yair Sakov, VP of Security Business
Thermal cameras are not security cameras. Helping our partners understand the technology — the breadth of our offerings, picture quality, innovation — and transforming them into our extensions in the field do take a lot of resources. A lot of security solution providers sell on fear, uncertainty and doubt; we sell on the value of being able to see clearly and cost-effectively what's going on at critical locations like airports, seaports, railways and energy plants in challenging environmental and lighting conditions. Five years of market education and evangelization are really paying off: the company was ranked No. 2 in market share by the latest IMS Research report on thermal cameras. Although there's a lot of cautiousness in the market at the moment, the private sector and emerging markets in Asia and Latin America are luckily still buying. Examples include interesting flame detection applications from garbage disposal sites and commercial buildings. We will continue to preach about security being like insurance and make sure our partners will never lose any project to the No. 1 in this market on price.

Panogenics (AMG Group)
David Myers, MD
This business unit was founded by the founder of Grandeye and is a sister company of AMG Systems (fiber transmission). Our new product is nicknamed the “time machine.” With just one unit, there are 14 streaming possibilities, and you can go back to any recorded, HD, 360-degree footage to zoom in and dewarp, easily replacing four to eight traditional cameras. The management software was developed in-house, and we are integrating with Wavestore, Axxonsoft, Xtralis and more to target verticals like retail, transportation, education and health care. Our new firmware that's coming up will also be ONVIF-compliant, opening up even more possibilities and cost savings.

 Texecom (Halma Group)
Clym Brown, Marketing Director
Our business is about solving problems. Right now, it's about getting more than 1,000 installers across Europe up to speed on the new confirmed alarm standard, via road shows and workshops. We have new, conformant equipment for different market sectors: small to medium residential units, medium commercial establishments, and high-end infrastructure projects. One common characteristic of our new solutions is getting more done with less devices (and money). The home automation media server, for example, controls lighting, entertainment units and the alarm system all on one panel. Our top-end, self-healing, auto-rerouting mesh system gets signals across industrial or commercial sites with changing and challenging environments, which reduces false alarms and related penalties. And yet we keep everything simple, to minimize installation time/cost and maximize user enjoyment and energy savings. For instance, our dual-detection system of 32 devices can be set up and activated with just one touch and within two seconds.

Time and Data Systems International
John Davies, MD
The UK and European access control market is growing at about 4 percent; we are growing at about 15 percent in this market as well as overseas in the Middle East and Asia. We compete with different Tier-1 brands in different regions, but all at a lower, mid-point price, in verticals like education, finance/banking, health care, telecommunications and commercial buildings. Our cost-effective solutions provide reliable features, tailored functions with adjustable Web interfaces and add-on software and database tools; the flexible look and feel enhance user experience considerably. It's critical for access control solution providers like us to be able to work with specialists in architectural design, audio/visual, structural cabling and IT/IP infrastructure early on in any given project; it's our reputation on the line, so we need to make sure there are no surprises down the line. We already have video integration capabilities and are looking to biometrics, NFC and the cloud for new possibilities and opportunities.

Tyco Security Products
Leon Langlais, Product Management Director for Residential and Small Business, Tyco Security Products
Everyone is affected by the economy, but our intrusion detection business has had three straight years of double-digit growth. Our unified, all-in-one-box server solution was designed specifically for the small- to medium-size market, with an average application requiring 20 to 100 readers and 8 to 32 IP cameras. At aggressive price points, we address all the issues that installers care about: speed of installation, quality, reliability and third-party integration, so that they can continue to grow with us even in difficult times. For example, the fact that no wireless repeaters are needed (thanks to the Visonic acquisition and complementary market synergy) and installation time is cut from two weeks to two days makes it rather easy to sell, even to the cost-conscious bunch. Battery life of wireless products is also extended to five to eight years with corporate-grade reliability, eliminating unnecessary installer dispatch and user headaches.