Transportation security applications

With increased demands being placed on safety and security globally, and supported by advancements in IP cameras and 360-degree camera technology, the video surveillance industry is growing steadily. Market research indicates that this worldwide industry is expected to reach an estimated $39.3 billion in revenue by 2023, driven by a CAGR of 9.3 percent from 2018 to 2023. Video surveillance is not just about capturing footage (to review an event or incident when it occurs), but also about data analysis delivering actionable insights that can improve operational efficiencies, better understand customer buying behaviors, or simply just provide added value and intelligence. Growth of Ultra-HD Surveillance To ensure that the quality of the data is good enough to extract the details required to drive these insights, surveillance cameras are technologically evolving as well, not only with expanded capabilities surrounding optical zoom and motion range,4K Ultra HD-compliant networked cameras are expected to grow from 0.4 percent shipped in 2017, to 28 percent in 2021 but also relating to improvements in signal-to-noise (S2N) ratios, light sensitivities (and the minimum illumination needed to produce usable images), wide dynamic ranges (WDR) for varying foreground and background illumination requirements, and of course, higher quality resolutions. As such, 4K Ultra HD-compliant networked cameras are expected to grow from 0.4 percent shipped in 2017, to 28 percent in 2021, representing an astonishing 170 percent growth per year, and will require three to six times the storage space of 1080p video dependent on the compression technology used. Surveillance cameras are typically connected to a networked video recorder (NVR) that acts as a gateway or local server, collecting data from the cameras and running video management software (VMS), as well as analytics. Capturing this data is dependent on the communications path between individual cameras and the NVR. If this connection is lost, whether intentional, unintentional, or a simple malfunction, surveillance video will no longer be captured and the system will cease operations. Therefore, it has become common to use microSD cards in surveillance cameras as a failsafe mechanism. Despite lost connectivity to the NVR, the camera can still record and capture raw footage locally until the network is restored, which in itself, could take a long time depending on maintenance staff or equipment availability, weather conditions, or other unplanned issues. Since microSD cards play a critical role as a failsafe mechanism to ensure service availability, it is important to choose the right card for capturing video footage.  It has become common to use microSD cards in surveillance cameras as a failsafe mechanism if an NVR breaks Key Characteristics Of microSDs There are many different microSD cards to choose from for video capture at the network’s edge, and they range from industrial grade capabilities to commercial or retail grade, and everything in-between. To help make some of these uncertainties a little more certain, here are the key microSD card characteristics for video camera capture. Designed For Surveillance As the market enjoys steady growth, storage vendors want to participate and have done so with a number of repurposed, repackaged, remarketed microSD cards targeted for video surveillance but with not much robustness, performance or capabilities specific to the application. Adding the absence of mean-time between failure (MTBF) specifications to the equation, microSD card reliability is typically a perceived measurement -- measured in hours of operation and relatively vague and hidden under metrics associated with the camera’s resolution and compression ratio. Therefore, when selecting a microSD card for surveillance cams at the edge, the choice should include a vendor that is trusted, has experience and a proven storage portfolio in video surveillance, and in microSD card technologies. Endurance, as it relates to microSD cards, represents the number of rewrites possible before the card can no longer store data correctly  High Endurance Endurance, as it relates to microSD cards, represents the number of rewrites (program/erase cycles) that are possible before the card can no longer store data correctly. The rewrite operation is cyclical whereby a new stream of footage replaces older content by writing over it until the card is full, and the cycle repeats. The higher the endurance, the longer the card will perform before it needs to be replaced. Endurance is also referred to in terabytes written (TBW) or by the number of hours that the card can record continuously (while overwriting data) before a failure will occur. Health Monitoring Health monitoring is a desired capability that not many microSD cards currently support and enables the host system to check when the endurance levels of a card are low and needs to be replaced. Having a card that supports this capability enables system integrators and operators with the ability to perform preemptive maintenance that will help to reduce system failures, as well as associated maintenance costs. Performance To capture continuous streams of raw footage, microSD cards within surveillance cams perform write operations about seventy to ninety percent of the time, whereas reading captured footage is performed about ten to thirty percent. The difference in read/write performance is dependent on whether the card is used in an artificial intelligent (AI) capable camera, or a standard one.   microSD cards deployed within surveillance cameras should support temperature ranges from -25 degrees Celsius to 85 degrees Celsius Finding a card that is write-friendly, and can provide enough bandwidth to properly capture streamed data, and is cost-effective, requires one that falls between fast industrial card capabilities and slower commercial ones. Bandwidth in the range of 50 MB/sec for writes and 80 MB/sec for reads are typical and sufficient for microSD cards deployed within surveillance cameras. Temperature Ranges Lower capacity support of 32GB can provide room to attract the smaller or entry-level video surveillance deployments As microSD cards must be designed for continuous operation in extreme weather conditions and a variety of climates, whether located indoors or out, support for various temperature ranges are another consideration. Given the wide spectrum of temperatures required by the camera makers, microSD cards deployed within surveillance cameras should support temperature ranges from -25 degrees Celsius to 85 degrees Celsius, or in extreme cases, as low as -40 degrees Celsius. Capacity Selecting the right-sized capacity is also very important as there needs to be a minimum level to ensure that there is enough room to hold footage for a number of days or weeks before it is overwritten or the connectivity to the NVR is restored. Though 64GB is considered the capacity sweet spot for microSD cards deployed within surveillance cameras today, lower capacity support of 32GB can provide room to attract the smaller or entry-level video surveillance deployments. In the future, even higher capacities will be important for specific use cases and will potentially become standard capacities as the market evolves. When choosing the right storage microSD card to implement into your video surveillance system, make sure the card is designed specifically for the application – does it include the right levels of endurance and performance to capture continuous streams – can it withstand environmental challenges and wide temperature extremes – will it enable preventative and preemptive maintenance to provide years of service? It is critical for the surveillance system to be able to collect video footage whether the camera is connected to an NVR or is a standalone camera as collecting footage at the base of the surveillance system is the most crucial point of failure. As such, failsafe mechanisms are required to keep the camera recording until the network is restored.

By definition, an edge device is an entry point to a network. In the physical security industry, edge devices are the cameras, sensors, access controllers, readers and other equipment that provide information to the IP networks that drive today’s systems. In the Internet of Things (IoT), edge computing refers to an increasing role of edge devices to process data where it is created instead of sending it across a network to a data center or the cloud. In our market, edge computing takes the form of smarter video cameras and other devices that store and/or process data locally. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What’s new “on the edge” of security and video surveillance systems? 

A complex set of biological, psychological, sociological, contextual and environmental factors are involved when a perpetrator decides to commit an act of workplace violence. In many cases, the perpetrator doesn’t really want to become violent; rather, they are seeking to achieve an outcome and mistakenly believe violence is their only option. An underused approach to preventing workplace violence is to consider the issue from the perspective of the instigator, to seek to understand their grievances, and to suggest alternative solutions, says James Cawood, President of Factor One Inc. “It’s helpful to consider their perspective at a point of time, and how do I use that information in a way that explores the issues and influences them to seek other means of achieving their goals without violence?” suggests Cawood. Preventing Workplace Violence An underused approach to preventing workplace violence is to consider the issue from the perspective of the instigator Factor One specialises in violence risk management, threat assessment, behavioural analysis, security consulting and investigations. Cawood will present his insights into preventing workplace violence in a session titled “Workplace Violence Interventions: The Instigator’s Perception Matters” during GSX 2018 in Las Vegas, September 23-27. Intervening and seeking to understand the instigator’s viewpoint can direct them away from violence. Often, diffusing a situation can prevent tragedy. Delaying a violent act is a means of prevention, given that the instigator might not reach the same level of stress again. Cawood says several recent examples of workplace violence illustrate the importance of identifying behavioural precursors and intervening. It is difficult to quantify the benefits of such an approach, since no one is keeping statistics on incident that were successfully diverted, he says. Reaching A Mutually Agreeable Solution “Accommodation and appeasement often won’t serve the problem,” says Cawood. “Instead of projecting our needs on what would be effective for us, we must really understand what matters to them and what we are able to do to solve the problem. “It’s about listening and reflecting back to reach a mutual agreement of their perspective of what matters,” he says. “Now we can talk about what’s possible or not. Is there something concrete I can do that is within the rules? Just being heard in depth is a de-escalator of violence.” It’s the same methodology used by hostage negotiators: Listen, reflect back, and come to a mutually agreeable solution. Giving a troubled employee a severance package – money – might not address their underlying complaints For example, giving a troubled employee a severance package – money – might not address their underlying complaints. “We may not have solved the underlying problem as they perceive it,” says Cawood. “They may feel disrespected or picked on. There may be an underlying mental condition, such as paranoia, or a grandiose sense of self-worth, underlying filters that have nothing to do with money.” GSX Networking And Education GSX is the new branding for ASIS International’s trade show, attended by more than 22,000 worldwide security professionals  Global Security Exchange (GSX) is the new branding for ASIS International’s annual conference and trade show, attended by more than 22,000 security professionals from 100-plus countries. Cawood’s session will be September 24 from 2:15 to 3:30 p.m. “My purpose is to hone in on an area of workplace violence that is often ignored,” says Cawood. Cawood started out in law enforcement in the 1970s and transitioned to security in the 1980s. His credentials are typical of the high level of speakers presenting at GSX 2018: He holds a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology, and a Doctorate in Psychology, is a Certified Threat Manager (CTM), and has successfully assessed and managed more than 5,000 violence-related cases. He is the former Association President of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP) and currently the Vice-Chair of the Certified Threat Manager program for ATAP. Cawood has written extensively on the topic of violence risk assessment, and co-authored a book, Violence Assessment and Intervention: The Practitioner's Handbook. Cawood has been active in ASIS International since the 1980s and sees value in attending GSX 2018. “People from all over the world are coming and being exposed to a common set of topics to use as jump-off points for additional conversations. People from all types of experiences and exposures will be providing information through those lenses.” Knowledge gained from GSX provides a “real chance to drink from a fire hose” and get a deeper understanding of a range of topics. The relationships and networking are another benefit: “Nothing is more powerful than knowing someone face-to-face,” he adds.

As technology advances, the world is becoming increasingly connected, changing the way users think about and interact with security systems, which continue to evolve across all verticals and applications. With this change comes new opportunity for security integrators; security systems are advancing, creating new needs for products and services — some of which can be met through the adoption of cloud-based service systems. Cloud technology is no longer a dreamt-up version of the future of security — it’s here. If you’re hesitant to make the move to the cloud, consider these six reasons to embrace this new technology now. Cloud technology has created an opportunity for integrators to offer managed services to their customers Increased RMR Cloud technology has created an opportunity for integrators to offer managed services to their customers, producing a new business model that generates more stable and predictable income streams. By offering managed services on a subscription basis, integrators can build a part of their business to provide recurring monthly revenue (RMR), allowing them to scale faster. This business model is especially beneficial for customers who prefer to pay a fixed monthly or yearly rate for services rather than a large upfront fee, which can help attract new business while growing revenue from current customers. Stickier Customers Providing managed services fosters a more involved relationship between integrators and their customers, which can help boost customer retention. This is primarily the result of three factors. Firstly, customers who buy managed services are committed for a specified term, which helps develop an ongoing business relationship between them and the integrator. Secondly, providing managed services creates an opportunity for more customer contact — each interaction is an opportunity to build rapport and monitor customer satisfaction.While the functionalities of each system vary, their potential is evident in the cloud-based services available Third, customers who purchase managed services generally tend to do business longer than customers who purchase products or services individually; with the monthly purchase of their services on autopilot, customers get into the habit of receiving these services, which helps reduce the chance that they’ll cancel their subscription while also building customer loyalty. High Gross Profit Margins Cloud managed services create an opportunity for a service and technology to be purchased together, helping to generate a higher gross profit margin from the beginning of the customer relationship. On an ongoing basis, cloud service platforms offer a new level of accessibility to integrators, helping to provide better insight on activity trends to identify opportunities to continuously grow their revenue through subscription-based streams. Easier To Provide Managed Services Traditionally, serving more sites required integrators to hire more technicians to meet the needs of their growing customer base, but the cloud has helped overcome this demand. While the functionalities of each system vary, their potential is evident in the cloud-based service platforms that are available today. When a problem occurs on a site that is managed by a cloud-based system, the integrator can receive a real-time notification regarding the issue The Avigilon Blue™ platform, for example, is a powerful new cloud service platform that helps integrators address the needs of their customer sites using fewer resources by offering the ability to administer system upgrades, fixes, health checks, and camera or system settings adjustments remotely. The Avigilon Blue platform automatically sends, and stores video analytics highlights in the cloud, which can easily be accessed from any PC browser or mobile device. This data can be used to efficiently manage customer sites and maintain the health of those sites, helping to increase speed of service and expand the capacity to have more sites up and running.Cloud service platforms have the potential to revolutionize the security industry by providing new opportunities for integrators Not only does this help integrators scale their business faster, it creates an opportunity to provide added value to the customer at a lower cost as new upgrades and services come out. Proactively Fix Problems Before They Occur In addition to automating notifications and tedious maintenance tasks, cloud service platforms help provide integrators with the information and abilities they need to keep their customer sites running smoothly. When a problem occurs on a site that is managed by a cloud-based system, the integrator can receive a real-time notification regarding the issue — possibly before the customer even notices a disruption in service. They can then identify the problem and determine whether it can be resolved remotely or requires a technician to be deployed. By having the capacity to pinpoint service needs and make certain adjustments via the cloud, integrators can streamline their customer service processes and lower their response times to provide better, more efficient service. Increased Valuation Of Business Companies that utilize cloud technologies are experiencing as much as 53 percent higher revenue growth rates The ability of cloud service platforms to help integrators manage more sites remotely and expand their revenue through subscription-based streams offers a competitive business advantage. Security innovators have harnessed the power of the cloud to enhance integrator efficiency so that they can spare their attention, resources and effort for where it’s needed most. As a service that helps offer scalability and a high gross profit margin while requiring fewer resources to maintain customer sites, cloud service platforms have the potential to revolutionize the security industry by providing new opportunities for integrators that may ultimately increase their business valuation. According to a study by Dell, companies that utilize cloud, mobility, and security technologies are experiencing as much as 53 percent higher revenue growth rates compared to those who do not such technologies. Integrators who adopt cloud service platforms can benefit from numerous advantages — cost-saving maintenance capabilities, the potential to generate new monthly recurring revenue, and user-friendly design and data security — which make them a significant development within the industry as well as a potential lucrative new business model. The dream of cloud technology is no longer a distant idea of the future, it can become a present reality — and integrators who harness its power can reap its business benefits now.

One factor aggravating concerns about workplace violence in corporate America is the easy availability of firearms. In many states, citizens, including employees, have the right to carry firearms onto a company’s property even though firearms are prohibited in the workplace. In effect, an employee prone to violence may have a firearm as near as their vehicle in the company parking lot. Currently, 23 states in the U.S. have so-called “parking lot storage” laws, which enable employees to store firearms in their vehicle’s trunk or glove compartment despite any corporate ban on weaponry. The laws have evolved as an expression of the Second Amendment “Right to Bear Arms” in the last decade or so. There is some variance in the laws from state to state, but they generally allow a citizen to carry a gun to and from work and keep it stored out of sight in their vehicle.Global Security Exchange (GSX) is the new branding for ASIS International’s annual conference and trade show  Employee Second Amendment Rights “The laws contend that employees should not have to give up their Second Amendment rights between home and the workplace and should be able to have a gun with them for protection from their front door at home to the front door of the workplace,” says Eddie Sorrells, Chief Operating Office/General Council of DSI Security Services. Sorrells will speak about the current state of the laws, how they came about, the nuances of state-to-state differences, and the possible impact on overall corporate security in a session titled “Employees Who Carry: Preventing Workplace Violence” at the upcoming GSX conference in Las Vegas, September 23-27. Global Security Exchange (GSX) is the new branding for ASIS International’s annual conference and trade show, attended by more than 22,000 security professionals from 100-plus countries. Sorrells’ session will be Sept. 24 from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Restrictions On Gun Visibility Employees may think the “right to carry” extends to the workplace, but the right only extends to the parking lot. The company still has the right to ban guns inside the premises. However, it is unlawful in some states for companies to search vehicles in parking lots, and companies who do so are violating the law, says Sorrells. Among the various state laws, some exempt public education institutions and other public venues. Depending on how the laws are written, there may be other exemptions, too. In Florida, for example, the law exempts any organizations that have explosives on site. With weapons on a company's property, a high-risk termination could potentially become violent Most laws require weapons to be stored securely out of sight. However, in Alabama, for example, it is legal to store validly permitted guns in full view during hunting season, Sorrells says. A resident of Alabama himself, Sorrells has been in the contract security business for 27 years, working mostly in multi-state operations. He has worked for 500 or so corporate security organizations throughout the country and is a practicing attorney who has studied issues of workplace violence and active shooters. “There is a political element to these laws, which were created with the goal of protecting Second Amendment rights,” says Sorrells, who says he sees arguments on both sides of the issue. However, political opinions aside, “if you’re a business owner, you have to contend with dozens of weapons on a company’s property,” he adds. “That could be an issue if a high-risk termination could potentially become violent. You have to assume there is a weapon in that person’s vehicle.” Sorrells' session will dive into the case law and illuminate some of the legal issues and how courts have addressed them GSX Education Program After the session, Sorrells hopes attendees will take away a good working knowledge of the state of the laws, how to comply with the laws, and issues such as posting of signs. The session will dive into the case law and illuminate some of the legal issues and how courts have addressed them. The timely session is an example of the valuable information attendees can gain by attending GSX. Sorrells has been attending the yearly ASIS International Conference and Exhibits for more than 20 years, at least since the mid-1990s. As the pre-eminent security organization around the world, ASIS International provides unrivalled educational and networking opportunities at the yearly conference, he says. “There is a vast amount of networking and educational offerings on a wide variety of topics, including technology, legal issues, risk management, workplace violence, consulting, and anything under the sun,” says Sorrells. The newly branded GSX education program is led by subject matter experts from ASIS International, InfraGard (a public-private partnership between U.S. businesses and the Federal Bureau of Investigation), and ISSA (Information Systems Security Association). Sessions will deliver valuable, actionable takeaways to help attendees shape their security strategies. There will also be an exhibition of 550-plus suppliers and manufacturers highlighting the latest security solutions.

What happens after the sale is complete, after the contracts are all signed and sealed? That’s when an abundance of variables can kick in – variables that can mean the difference between a successful security system or a case of buyer’s remorse. The features and value of equipment involved in a security system are well known before the sale closes, as hopefully are the integrator’s and end-user’s expectations about after-sale service. But what is the reality of after-sale service, and how can manufacturer’s make it better? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How can security system manufacturers improve their after-sale service for integrators and end users?

Critical Infrastructure In Transportation Transportation is a complex world.  City streets, bridges, highways, tunnels, seaports, airports, and rail systems all offer different challenges to the security professional seeking to protect people, cargo, commodities, and critical infrastructure.  Customers around the world rely on Arecont Vision as a key part of that protection. Arecont Vision Megapixel Camera Benefits Made in USA quality, advanced technology, and field upgradable features/capabilities Deter and detect threats and document activities Maintain situational awareness and security with fewer cameras Improve staff productivity Low profile/discreet surveillance or high visibility camera choices Resolve security/staff and customer disputes Protect staff, travelers, customers, equipment, and goods Increased detail equals better forensics and reduced time from police, 1st responders and security professionals in immediate response and for post-event investigations Monitor daily business and document activities and patterns Forensic documentation Provide enhanced security, situational awareness, life safety Prevent or disprove fraudulent claims Tight integration beyond ONVIF certification with hundreds of security vendor applications jointly tested via the Arecont Vision MegaLab™ Arecont Vision's megapixel cameras have been deployed at highways and cruise ship terminals Transportation Applications Remote surveillance Live monitoring and forensic viewing Monitoring of airports, ports and harbors, railway stations, roads and railways, bridges and tunnels, vehicles Passenger, luggage, freight, storage, and cargo areas Open spaces, indoors and out Parking lots/structures/rail yards/runways Concourses and corridors People/vehicle counting/monitoring License plate/facial recognition What Arecont Vision’s Customers Say “We selected Arecont Vision cameras because of their proven performance for the last year and a half on another Malaysian highway application,” comments Norisham Abdul Majid, CQR Digital Solutions, integrator for the Malaysian Highway Tollgate System.  “Arecont Vision’s megapixel cameras fit perfectly into our technology-centric approach to the market, as demonstrated by their performance in our installation at the cruise ship terminal in Valletta,” adds Karim Cassar, Alberta Group, Malta. “Ease of installation, compatibility with our current VMS, and the new features [including] Wide Dynamic Range. Our experience has been great," states Safraz Samad, TPA Operations – Security Administration, Tampa International Airport. "Our organization requires high levels of security and with Arecont Vision’s updates to firmware we can maintain our internal network security policies.” Save Save Save Save

Customer Jebel Ali Port is the flagship port of DP World, a leader in international marine terminal operations and development, logistics and related services. The port is the world's largest man-made harbor and the largest container port between Rotterdam and Singapore. Located 35 kilometers to the southwest of Dubai on the United Arab Emirates Arabian Gulf coast, the port’s strategic geographic location has enabled it to act as a maritime link between the Middle East and the western hemisphere. It is a technologically advanced facility, employing state-of-the-art equipment and is a model for the industry and the region in everything from size to efficiency and security. Challenge The DP World marine control tower at Jebel Ali is an important facility for monitoring and controlling the movement of vessels in and out of the port. Physical security at the control tower was in need of upgrading and, in keeping with requirements mandated by Jebel Ali Port Security, DP World conducted a security risk assessment to determine how best to improve security at the site. Based on the assessment, DP World recommended an external video surveillance system. A basic design was developed that included 13 analog day/night box cameras and two outdoor pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras. Upon review, DP World concluded that the installation of this analog video surveillance system would also require the services of civil and electrical personnel for cabling and power needs. These additional services would add to the overall system costs as well as potentially increase the time frame for completion. DP World shelved the analog proposal and initiated a search for a more technically advanced video surveillance solution. They needed a camera system that would thoroughly cover the designated areas; require little or no external services or personnel for installation/maintenance; offer features and functionality that would enhance monitoring and operational control; be reasonably priced and ultimately provide greater detail and picture quality than would a typical analog system. Megapixel Solution DP World moved forward on the project with a new solution featuring megapixel cameras from Arecont Vision. When comparing the Arecont Vision megapixel system to the original analog system, it was evident that while the analog cameras were priced less than megapixel cameras on a per camera basis, they deliver less value when a total system cost was evaluated. The new design included two AV8185DN 180° day/night panoramic 8-megapixel dome cameras, two AV10005DN day/night 10-megapixel MegaVideo® Compact box cameras and four AV2105DN day/night 2- megapixel MegaVideo® Compact box cameras. Compared to the original design that included 13 analog cameras, the six-camera Arecont Vision megapixel system provided greater coverage with fewer cameras and significantly higher resolution images. The ability to digitally zoom into live scenes and recorded video while maintaining high resolution and wide area coverage also eliminated the need for PTZ cameras. And with Moonlight™ mode, the cameras automatically shift from color to black and white as ambient light diminishes. Megapixel Benefits Because the megapixel network cameras are PoE (Power over Ethernet) capable, the need for separate electrical cables to provide power was eliminated. Power and data is conveyed over a single network cable per camera. Using fewer cameras to effectively cover the same area also translated into infrastructure cost savings in containment works, cables and installations, which actually brought down the original cost of the system by nearly 20%, easily reflecting an improved return on investment (ROI). In addition to these advantages, the megapixel solution also contributed towards a greener environment because of fewer cables and less hardware that was needed. The Arecont Vision megapixel camera system provides superior performance and imaging capabilities than the analog system and most importantly, proved to deliver the most cost-effective video surveillance solution with tangible benefits and ROI.

"It is important that our security system fulfills our customers' extremely high safety requirements." - Jens C. Andersen, IT Manager, DAN'X DAN'X (Day And Night eXpress distribution) is a private transport and logistics company that specializes in night distribution of reserve parts for the IT industry. DAN'X provides 24-hour express delivery of components and accessories for a wide variety of businesses within the IT sector. With three large locations in Denmark, they can ensure that their customers get fast and professional service. The Challenge At DAN'X the customer is the central focus, and no two customers are alike. This presents tough demands for DAN'X on all fronts – also pertaining to security. The customers have strict security requirements to be fulfilled, and with the three widespread locations, DAN'X has more complex security issues to resolve. The Solution AC Sikring A/S has put together a solution that is totally network based, which provides DAN'X central management and coordination along with the option for eventual integration with other security devices and systems. For the solution, they chose the newest Milestone XProtect® Enterprise software, which is based on an open platform. The camera choices are a mix of different models relevant for where and what each individual camera has to monitor. The Advantages DAN'X has chosen a security solution that is future-safe and very flexible. The system has many development options, which make it possible to add new cameras anytime – quickly and easily. At the same time, the solution allows users to find evidence of any incidents through searching the images by date and time. The DAN'X customers themselves check that their high security demands are being upheld by regularly visiting the company locations. This naturally makes security a success criterion at DAN'X that has the highest priority. It is also the reason that DAN'X has chosen to build up their existing security system with a thorough upgrading to the newest technology and equipment. This dedication also shines through in the DAN'X choice of an IP video surveillance system for their security monitoring, designed to work now and in the future – only the best is good enough. The Partner Of Choice When it was decided at DAN'X to upgrade the old security system, there was no doubt for them that AC Sikring A/S would be their trusted supplier. They gathered offers from other installers, and received many good suggestions, but AC Sikring was chosen for the great flexibility and future-safe technology of their solution. "We were allowed to choose our own server, and this was one of the determining factors that settled our decision to use AC Sikring" says Jens C. Andersen, IT Manager at DAN'X. "AC Sikring uses solutions that are user friendly, which is a big plus for me, and they gave me the ability to put together the elements and take part in the installation and setup itself. I also knew AC Sikring well, as they were our previous security installer!" The New Solution "I knew about Milestone already, and was well aware that the software provides great flexibility, which means that we get things exactly as we want them." explains Jens C. Andersen, IT Manager, DAN'X The very high security requirements from the customer side made it especially important to choose the right solution from the start. "There has been no compromise – we have chosen the best of the best," states Jens C. Andersen. Every location had to be secured individually with an eye to building the system for a centralized management approach. An important feature for all the locations was that there should be the ability to monitor specific areas depending on each situation. In general, DAN'X demanded that the system perform with more images – in color – and more options for setting up the system. Flexibility was a critical parameter, which is exactly why Milestone XProtect Enterprise software was chosen. "I knew about Milestone already, and was well aware that the software provides great flexibility, which means that we get things exactly as we want them." explains Jens C. Andersen. "Furthermore, the system has many expansion possibilities that allow us to add new cameras whenever we want. It can also handle more than 1,000 images per second – fast and easy." Many Benefits The new software has given DAN'X the ability to work faster, more precisely and more effectively. They can find specific incidences by searching the archived image database by time and date. "This makes the daily work so much easier for me: I just search for a particular time or location, and can find the particular event quickly. With the help of megapixel cameras, I can now also see the smallest details, if necessary," adds Jens C. Andersen. "We had a really good dialog with AC Sikring, and they have been very flexible regarding all of our changes and customizations," reports Jens C. Andersen, who is looking forward to using the new security system as part of the company's daily procedures. Future Developments Since DAN'X is a company in constant growth, they already have plans for continual expansion of their surveillance system, including integration with their alarm system. In addition, there are plans in the near future to move the monitoring to a central video and guard service called Security Point from AC Sikring, in order to achieve an even higher level of security round the clock, 365 days a year, with visual verification. The result of their customers' high demands for security and their regular security checks at the locations is that DAN'X has put their security in the driver's seat, and established the best possible security system that can be found, installing a top professional surveillance system for today – and tomorrow!

Customer Malta's Grand Harbor into Valletta provides access to cruise ships. Passengers are greeted in this group of islands in the central Mediterranean with a view of ancient cream-colored buildings along twisting streets and hillsides, with limestone battlements, crenellated castles and ancient forts still guarding the harbor entrance, all reflecting 7,000 years of the islands' sometimes turbulent history. Today, the Valletta waterfront combines state-of-the-art sea passenger terminal facilities with shopping, dining and entertainment venues. It's a 24-hour destination that is consistently teeming with activity, and hundreds of thousands of cruise passengers from around the world visit every year. Challenge The complexity of the existing infrastructure, weather conditions and sheer scale of the overall installation were a significant challenge for securing the port and its surrounding areas. A facility big enough to accommodate large ocean liners obviously needs expansive video coverage, but the superior resolution provided by Arecont Vision cameras enables fewer cameras to cover very large areas. Surveillance operators at the cruise terminal can zoom in – live or even on archived video – and see the details of various areas in an image while still preserving the full image. Megapixel Solution A recent upgrade to the terminal's surveillance system included installation of 50 megapixel cameras from Arecont Vision, the first and largest installation of 5 Megapixel cameras in the Maltese Islands. The 3.0 megapixel cameras utilized in this installation send video along an information network providing greater resolution than images from conventional network cameras. In fact, the 3.0 megapixel cameras provide images with 10 times the resolution of standard VGA network cameras. Full-motion high-definition digital video combines superior image quality with manageable bandwidth and storage requirements. The system was installed by Alberta Group, Malta's leading provider of fire, safety and security systems. Alberta specializes in custom solutions to resolve their customers' specific problems and to decrease customers' exposure to risk. The Arecont Vision AV3100 provides image processing at billions of operations per second and can output multiple image formats to allow simultaneous viewing of the full resolution field of view and regions of interest Arecont Vision's MegaVideo technology enables coverage of large areas with extreme detail. The Arecont Vision AV3100 provides image processing at billions of operations per second and can output multiple image formats to allow simultaneous viewing of the full resolution field of view and regions of interest. The cameras provide four times the resolution of standard IP cameras with the ability to output full real-time frame rates. The 3 megapixel Arecont Vision AV3100 cameras used at the cruise ship terminal in Malta provide 2048x1536-pixel progressive scan images at 15 frames per second. "Alberta invests a great deal of money and resources into developing and evaluating the best technological advances to provide superior performance to our customers," said Karim Cassar, Alberta's Technical Research Executive. "Arecont Vision's megapixel cameras fit perfectly into our technology-centric approach to the market, as demonstrated by their performance in our installation at the cruise ship terminal in Valletta." Megapixel Benefits: The cruise ship at Valletta deployed the latest megapixel camera technology from Arecont Vision to secure its port and surrounding tourist areas. The system deployed delivers wide area video coverage with superior resolution and cost-efficiency. With the new system, surveillance operators can zoom in on live or recorded video to see detailed images of any scene."Arecont Vision cameras provide unparalleled image quality and resolution for applications world-wide, and their ability to boost image resolution without taxing bandwidth or storage resources is documented at the cruise terminal in Malta," said Steven Sarfati, Senior Vice President of International Sales at Arecont Vision. "As throngs of passengers travel through the terminal on their way to an historic experience in Malta, Arecont Vision cameras will be keeping a watchful eye with HD resolution."

With successful installations already in full operation on Shanghai Metro's Line 6 and Line 9, access control specialist TDSi, in partnership with its distribution partner in China, ZDX, has now begun work on the system installation for Line 7. Shanghai Metro is one of the newest and fastest growing rapid transit systems in the world, with 162 stations and over 225km of track running both above and underground. On average, well over two million passengers use the system everyday - with future expansion set to see that number increase to over three million.  The latest addition to the network, Line 7 is scheduled to be commissioned into service at the end of 2008, and will connect the Baoshan District with the city center and Pudong District. Significantly, it will also provide a vital link to the site of the World Expo, which is being hosted by Shanghai in 2010. Over the last three years, TDSi and ZDX have developed and supplied fully integrated access control solutions for Lines 6 and 9. Each Line is served by over 40 stations as well as its own Operational Control Centre (OCC), with around 2,000 doors secured and controlled by TDSi's systems on each line. Commenting on the programme, TDSi's Managing Director, John Davies, said: "The Shanghai Metro is a very significant and high profile infrastructure programme, representing one of the largest access control projects across the whole of China. With two lines having been in operation for over a year, we were delighted to be awarded the contract for Line 7 - a real demonstration of the performance and quality of our systems, in very demanding conditions." The access control solution for the project features TDSi's EXpert controllers, EXgarde Enterprise software platform and MIFARE® smart card readers. Specified for their proven performance in high capacity applications, EXpert delivers a fully featured and networkable system. Each controller has a capacity of up to 48,000 cards and provides fast and effective access control to projects such as the Shanghai Metro, which has consistently high volumes of users passing through multiple access points. The OCC and each station's controllers are programmed via EXgarde Enterprise, TDSi's latest advanced access management software application. Each station is capable of operating independently of the server in cases where communications are lost - a key requirement in the specification for this particular project. Featuring database replication for powerful disaster recovery capabilities and total peace of mind, EXgarde Enterprise allows all real-time events and system parameters to be stored both at the main server in the local OCC and at each individual station.  However should communications be lost between the center and any of the individual stations, changes and events are stored at the local stations until communications to the main server are re-established, at which point, the databases are re-synchronised. EXgarde Enterprise allows the system to be managed centrally, even where the Wide Area Network (WAN) may be of variable quality, effectively removing the risk of single point failure. TDSi MIFARE®smart card readers are employed throughout each Line. Providing true contactless technology, the readers provide an extremely cost efficient, highly reliable solution that also allows for straightforward expansion in the future - for example, allowing the same access control card to be used for cashless vending and car park management, offering users a true, one-card solution. Finally, the system provides both security and facilities managers with complete control and reporting capability for each line - both centrally and locally.

Metro São Paulo, consisting of five different lines, 55 stations and extending to over 60 kilometers of rail networks, was looking for a sophisticated electronic monitoring solution to increase the security of its passengers -in a city where violence rates are very high. In order to assure higher security levels, Metro SP decided to increase the number of cameras installed in a widely spread network of locations.In addition the customer wanted to introduce digital video recording technology which they had not been using before. In locations were human security is critical, Bosch solutions are the first choice for customers. Bosch monitoring solutions set new standards in performance, quality and state-of-the-art technology. Metro São Paulo’s new monitoring system is equipped with a Bosch CCTV system including 138 cameras, whereof 121 are fixed and 17 are dome cameras. The solution provides high levels of technology and system integration, offering an excellent monitoring solution for Metro São Paulo. They are managed by ten DiBOS Digital Video Recorders and a BIS Video Engine. Built-in scripting and application programmer's interface (APIs) allow easy enhancement with the existing monitoring system. The highly efficient video management system is monitored via the Security Control Center of the subway, which now serves as a model for transport monitoring in the region. The Control Center monitors almost 200 cameras, using a ring gigabyte network. Two control posts are constantly monitoring the five metro lines via six monitors and two plasma screens. Using state of the art digital recording and communication technology, Metro staff can now retrieve vital images and share information faster than ever before! They can better access critical situations and take appropriate actions immediately. The solution provides high levels of technology and system integration, offering an excellent monitoring solution for Metro São Paulo. The principal customer need - to increase the security of its passengers - has been fully met. The Metro Security Control Center now serves as a model for state-of-the-art transport monitoring solutions in Brazil.