Stephan Kaiser

When the University of Arizona (UA) was chosen as a COVID-19 vaccine point of dispensing (POD), they wanted to put in place a distribution process to get the vaccines out to as many people as possible as quickly and efficiently as possible. To do this, they turned to Genetec Inc., a technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, and Route1 Inc., a data-centric systems integrator. ALPR technology “We had already heard about how ALPR (Automatic License Plate Recognition) could be used for tolls and monitoring traffic flow, and we were eager to see if the ALPR cameras could help us automatically track vehicles entering and exiting our POD,” said Jim Sayre, Director of Operations – Parking and Transportation Services at the University of Arizona. Cloud-based service solutions To build a solution that would not only offer valuable insights about their POD operations but would also be affordable and easy to set up, UA chose to implement the Genetec AutoVu™ Managed Services (AMS) solution with four ALPR cameras installed throughout the POD. This was paired up with the Genetec Traffic Sense™ Travel Times module within Security Center for added insight and functionality. Since the entire solution is hosted in the cloud, the university can use the software for as long as the POD remains open  Having mounted the poles and set up the cameras beforehand, the actual setup was completed in under two hours on opening day. Because the entire Genetec solution is hosted in the cloud, the university can use the software for as long as the POD remains open without draining budgets. Reliable data management   Using AutoVu, the UA operations team can see exactly how long it’s taking vehicles to get through the POD and for people to get vaccinated, and then identify what they can do to get them through faster. All ALPR data is sent back to Security Center, where the Travel Times module automatically analyses data and delivers insights the UA team can act on. This helps them immediately identify if there are random delays or potential issues that need to be further investigated. The solution complies with HIPAA As a healthcare-related operation, UA made sure the Genetec solution complies with all Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements. According to Sayre, “The cameras don't know who the driver is, or the people in the vehicle. And we’ve made it clear that we're not running this against a motor vehicle database or anything like that, so we’re ensuring privacy.” Due to the Genetec solution, the UA team discovered early on that various team leaders had different processes for appointment check-ins. When UA standardized those processes, they could consistently get vehicles through the POD faster and maximize the number of vaccinations. Adaptability  The team also noticed that on certain days of the week, cars were taking longer to get through certain points in the POD. After an initial inquiry, they realized those days often had mostly new volunteers who were still learning the ropes. The UA team was then able to adapt the volunteer schedule to ensure experienced personnel was always onsite to assist newbies and keep the throughput of vehicles high.  Easy to deploy modules “This AutoVu™ and Traffic Sense™ Travel Times module within Security Center built by Genetec and Route1 has helped us make the vaccination process more efficient and was so easy to deploy. We’ve been able to increase the number of vehicles through the POD in the same amount of time, and consequently, we've given out more vaccinations. And that’s what this is all about— helping our community get vaccinated against COVID-19,” concluded Sayre. Resourceful security systems  “We never cease to be impressed by our customers’ ingenuity, resilience, and resourcefulness,” said Stephan Kaiser, AutoVu™ General Manager at Genetec, Inc. “The University of Arizona is another shining example of how our customers are using their security systems as strategic tools to fight against the pandemic and go beyond traditional applications to deliver more value.”  

Genetec Inc., a renowned technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions announced the immediate availability of its next-generation mobile license plate recognition system. The new AutoVu SharpZ3 goes beyond traditional license plate identification and brings new levels of insight in vehicle analytics, situational awareness, and accuracy. Mobile ANPR Ideally suited to meet the needs of parking managers who use mobile ANPR as part of their enforcement activities, the new SharpZ3 can help them track the types of vehicle (car, van, truck, bus, motorcycle) in parking lots or around the city, and analyze the evolution of the mix of vehicle types over time. SharpZ3 allows patrols to flag vehicles based on vehicle type and color For law enforcement officers who use mobile ANPR to aid investigations, the SharpZ3 allows patrols to flag vehicles based on vehicle type and color where no license plate was identified by a witness. Computer vision technology “Traditional ANPR systems solve traditional parking and law enforcement challenges, like finding vehicles of interest and parking violators,” said Stephan Kaiser, AutoVu General Manager at Genetec. “The SharpZ3 tackles emerging problems that are not served by current technology, helping customers gain new insights into the types of vehicles in their city and how their streets and curbs are used.” The AutoVu™ SharpZ3 is among the first specialized in-vehicle ANPR systems in the world to use Intel’s latest machine learning and computer vision technology to unlock new insights through innovative analytics. The AutoVu SharpZ3 system will not only be able to improve the accuracy of license plate reads in difficult environments (such as bad weather, heavy traffic, and fast speeds), but will also be able to record additional vehicle characteristics such as, vehicle type, color, and more, in real-time, and without requiring large amounts of bandwidth. ANPR-equipped vehicles With its modular design, SharpZ3 gives users the flexibility to add new functionalities over time Designed with a third optical sensor, the AutoVu SharpZ3 can accurately capture multiple plate designs in complex urban environments. These include flat, embossed, reflective and non-reflective license plates. The extra sensor will also allow more precise positioning of vehicle data on maps to provide more precise occupancy data than before. With its modular design, the SharpZ3 gives users the flexibility to add new functionalities over time. This reduces the complication and cost of hardware replacement. With future releases, the machine learning capabilities in the AutoVu SharpZ3 will enable a number of new potential applications such as enabling cities to use their ANPR-equipped vehicles to address other operational issues including detecting unpermitted road construction, discovering abandoned e-scooters or bikes in unauthorized zones, and more. Operations and intelligence solutions The AutoVu SharpZ3, and the complete portfolio of Genetec security, operations and intelligence solutions will be on display April 20-22, 2020 at Genetec Connect’DX (#GenetecConnectDX), the company’s three-day, live, virtual tradeshow.

Genetec Inc. (‘Genetec’), a technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence will unveil its next-generation mobile ALPR (automatic license plate recognition) system at IACP (Chicago, October 26-29, 2019) on booth #5218. Powered by Intel® Movidius™ Myriad™ X VPU (Vision processing unit), the new Genetec AutoVu™ SharpZ3 is among the first specialized in-vehicle ALPR systems in the world to use Intel’s latest deep learning and computer vision technology. The deep learning capabilities in the AutoVu SharpZ3 system will enable advanced levels of innovation in in-vehicle analytics, situational awareness, and accuracy. Vehicle-Based ALPR technology With the AutoVu SharpZ3, vehicle-based ALPR technology is about to enter a new phase in its evolution" “With the AutoVu SharpZ3, vehicle-based ALPR technology is about to enter a new phase in its evolution, made possible by Intel’s high-performance, low-power, deep learning VPU. By bringing powerful deep learning processing into the device itself, we are no longer limited by the constraints of traditional computer vision techniques or server post-processing.” “The new AutoVu SharpZ3 system will enable cities and law enforcement organizations to go far beyond simple license plate character recognition,” said Stephan Kaiser, General Manager of AutoVu at Genetec. The AutoVu SharpZ3 system will not only be able to improve the accuracy of license plate reads in difficult environments (such as bad weather, heavy traffic, and fast speeds) but will also be able to instantly recognize additional analytics such as vehicle type, color, and more. Detecting unpermitted road construction With future releases, the deep learning capabilities in the AutoVu SharpZ3 will enable cities to use their ALPR equipped vehicles to address other operational issues such as detecting unpermitted road construction, discovering abandoned e-scooters or bikes in unauthorized zones, and more. Forward-thinking companies like Genetec are fulfilling the true promise of IoT in smart cities “AI is driving a powerful digital transformation in cities around the world – enabling them to be more efficient, livable and secure for their citizens. By pushing AI-powered devices and solutions to the edge, forward-thinking companies like Genetec are fulfilling the true promise of IoT in smart cities,” said Jonathan Ballon, Intel vice president and general manager, Internet of Things Group. Providing additional analytics The AutoVu SharpZ3 system also features three optical sensors in the camera to provide additional analytics such as the precise positioning of detected objects, and a modular chassis to allow users to easily add new functionalities in the field without the complication and costs of hardware replacement. The new Genetec AutoVu SharpZ3 system is expected to become available by early 2020. For more information, please visit the Genetec booth #5218 at IACP.

Genetec Inc. (Genetec), a provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence will unveil its next generation mobile ALPR (automatic license plate recognition) system at IACP 2019 on booth #5218. Powered by Intel® Movidius™ Myriad™ X VPU (Vision processing unit), the new Genetec AutoVu™ SharpZ3 is among the first specialized in-vehicle ALPR systems in the world to use Intel’s latest deep learning and computer vision technology. The deep learning capabilities in the AutoVu SharpZ3 system will enable advanced levels of innovation in in-vehicle analytics, situational awareness, and accuracy. License plate character recognition “With the AutoVu SharpZ3, vehicle-based ALPR technology is about to enter a new phase in its evolution, made possible by Intel’s high-performance, low-power, deep learning VPU. By bringing powerful deep learning processing into the device itself, we are no longer limited by the constraints of traditional computer vision techniques or server post processing.” The AutoVu SharpZ3 system will not only be able to improve the accuracy of license plate reads in difficult environments “The new AutoVu SharpZ3 system will enable cities and law enforcement organizations to go far beyond simple license plate character recognition,” said Stephan Kaiser, General Manager of AutoVu at Genetec. The AutoVu SharpZ3 system will not only be able to improve the accuracy of license plate reads in difficult environments (such as bad weather, heavy traffic, and fast speeds) but will also be able to instantly recognize additional analytics such as, vehicle type, color, and more. Powerful digital transformation With future releases, the deep learning capabilities in the AutoVu SharpZ3 will enable cities to use their ALPR equipped vehicles to address other operational issues such as detecting unpermitted road construction, discovering abandoned e-scooters or bikes in unauthorized zones, and more. “AI is driving a powerful digital transformation in cities around the world – enabling them to be more efficient, liveable and secure for their citizens. By pushing AI-powered devices and solutions to the edge, forward-thinking companies like Genetec are fulfilling the true promise of IoT in smart cities,” said Jonathan Ballon, Intel vice president and general manager, Internet of Things Group. The AutoVu SharpZ3 system also features three optical sensors in the camera to provide additional analytics such as the precise positioning of detected objects, and a modular chassis to allow users to easily add new functionalities in the field without the complication and costs of hardware replacement. The new Genetec AutoVu SharpZ3 system is expected to become available by early 2020.

Genetec Inc, a technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions has become the fastest growing providers of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, according to a recently-released report by IHS Markit. According to the report ‘ANPR and Detector Sensors Report – 2018’, Genetec has now become a top 5 global provider of ANPR technology for surveillance applications (which includes ANPR for access control, travel time information, parking time management, tolling and law enforcement), climbing from 10th place in 2016 to 4th place in this $453 M market. Increased Commercial Focus Genetec has put a lot of effort into growing its global ANPR business through substantial R&D investment and in increased commercial focus" In the Americas region—a market estimated to be worth $196.4 M in 2018 for all ANPR solutions—Genetec has jumped to second place with a 9.1% market share (moving from 7th place in 2016). This includes both sales of enforcement ANPR technology (for red light, speed and bus lane enforcement applications) and ANPR technology for surveillance. Genetec also gained the most share of the market for ANPR surveillance equipment in the Americas, climbing to second position with an 11.5% market share of this $154.3 M industry. “Over the last few years, Genetec has put a lot of effort into growing its global ANPR business through substantial R&D investment and in increased commercial focus. This has resulted in our Security Center AutoVu system becoming one of the most advanced ANPR solutions on the market,” said Stephan Kaiser, General Manager, AutoVu at Genetec. Access Control Technology “The global market revenues from sales of intelligent ANPR devices are forecast to reach $800 million by 2022 and increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.4%. Some of the key factors that will affect market growth include the need for increased privacy and strong data protection and an increased demand for ANPR solutions that integrate with access control technology,” said Anna Sliwon Research Analyst at IHS. Security Center AutoVu is designed to help end users enforce local privacy laws as a default Genetec is well poised to meet these market challenges. The company takes privacy extremely seriously and follows Privacy-by-design principles, an engineering approach that calls for privacy to be taken into account throughout the whole engineering process. Security Center AutoVu is designed to help end users enforce local privacy laws as a default, helping protect the identities of all monitored vehicles and persons in live and recorded video—with data being immediately encrypted or deleted, as mandated by law. Unified Security System Security Center AutoVu is also designed to be used as part of a unified security system including access control and video surveillance, allowing customer to use ANPR events to trigger actions and alarms across their entire security system. The Security Center platform allows them to investigate events across systems and provides unparalleled reporting capabilities. According to IHS Markit (2017 Video Surveillance Market Share Database, 2017 Access Control Intelligence Database, and 2018 ANPR & Detection Sensors Report) Genetec is the only security and public safety solutions developer to hold a top-10 global rankings across all physical security industry sectors including video management software (VMS), access control software, and automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) software.

Genetec™, a manufacturer of unified IP security solutions, recently announced AutoVu Free-Flow, a new parking enforcement module for the Genetec AutoVu automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) solution. The new AutoVu Free-Flow module will help increase parking enforcement efficiency by providing a real-time inventory of vehicles parked illegally in monitored parking lots. Genetec will demonstrate the AutoVu Free-Flow module at the International Parking Institute (IPI) Conference & Expo in Las Vegas, June 29th–July 2nd in Booth # 151. Helping Organizations Violation capture is clearly a challenge for many parking organizations, with parking managers estimating that they apprehend less than a quarter of parking violators. With AutoVu Free-Flow, parking officers will be able to easily identify lots with unenforced violations and dynamically adjust their patrol routes to maximize violation capture rates. As a growing number of parking owners turn to gateless parking systems to reduce vehicle congestion and provide a superior parking experience, the AutoVu Free-Flow module will help organizations ensure high compliance with parking rules. Notification And Other Features AutoVu Free-Flow will record the license plate of vehicles entering and leaving each parking lot, and compare them to the list of payments received from connected pay-by-plate-enabled pay stations, permit management systems, and mobile apps. Vehicles that stay beyond their purchased parking period are flagged in a live report highlighting violations awaiting enforcement. AutoVu Free-Flow also automatically identifies returning scofflaws as they enter a parking lot, and notifies parking enforcement officers of their arrival and location. AutoVu Free-Flow can also be used in conjunction with mobile ALPR vehicles. Vehicles placed on the AutoVu Free-Flow violations list will be available through the back-office interface in AutoVu, or synchronized dynamically with parking enforcement vehicles using AutoVu Patroller to maximize enforcement efficiency. "AutoVu Free-Flow represents a new trend in parking that will benefit businesses with real-time details of where violations are taking place, how many of those violations are caught, and the ability to measure the impact of policy changes and investments on these key performance indicators,” said Stephan Kaiser, General Manager, AutoVu. “On a ‘green’ note, customers will benefit from less wait-time when entering or exiting a parking facility, helping reduce motor idling and emissions to the environment,” added Kaiser.

Genetec™, a manufacturer of unified IP security solutions, recently announced AutoVu Plate Reader Cloud, a new software-based license plate recognition solution for its AutoVu Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system. This new module will allow customers to enhance standard IP video surveillance cameras with ALPR capabilities instead of requiring a specialised license plate recognition unit. AutoVu Plate Reader Cloud is expected to be available in the United States early summer 2015, with other regions to follow. Recognising High-Speed Vehicles AutoVu Plate Reader Cloud will offer an accessible solution that provides the same high accuracy delivered by AutoVu specialised units in situations where vehicles are moving at speeds of up to 15 MPH (25 km/h), such as parking lot monitoring, automatic gate or garage door operations and data mining, to name a few. The AutoVu Plate Reader Cloud ALPR engine will be hosted in the cloud, making it easy to deploy and maintain. Engine updates containing the latest improvements and support for new license plate models will be automatically applied without requiring customer intervention or system downtime. AutoVu Plate Reader Cloud connects to cameras managed by Genetec Security Center software, the company’s flagship unified video surveillance, access control and ALPR platform. Quick Identification: Using either software triggers, such as motion or cross-line detection, or hardware triggers, including in-ground loop and IR sensors, AutoVu Plate Reader Cloud will detect vehicles and upload a short encrypted video feed to its cloud-based engine, where the image analysis is performed.  The data will be sent back to the local Genetec Security Center system, usually in less than one second, to be compared to vehicle lists and used to document arrival/ departure credentials, open gates, or trigger alerts. With AutoVu Plate Reader Cloud, customers can benefit from the extensive set of ALPR features in AutoVu, and its full unification with Security Center.  Building on the company’s long experience with ALPR, Genetec AutoVu Plate Reader Cloud customers can leverage a flexible list management system, intuitive user interface and advanced reporting engine for a complete ALPR experience. Third-Party Camera Compatibility: To ensure customers get a high level of accuracy and choice, AutoVu Plate Reader Cloud will work with cameras tested by Genetec in-house experts. At launch, customers will be able to select cameras from three initial manufacturers who have completed certification, including: Axis Communications, Panasonic and Sony. More camera manufacturers are currently undergoing certification. “The Genetec AutoVu product line has always offered superior accuracy and advanced features. AutoVu Plate Reader Cloud will allow us to leverage our years of ALPR experience and leadership and offer customers an easy-to-deploy, accessible ALPR solution for applications where vehicle speed is controlled, such as parking or gate access, without sacrificing the industry-respected AutoVu quality and precision,” said Stephan Kaiser, General Manager, AutoVu. “We’re excited to offer these extended options to existing-and-new customers in addition to our line of specialised Genetec AutoVu Sharp and AutoVu SharpX ALPR units, designed to provide superior camera accuracy in any type of weather condition or speed of moving traffic,” added Kaiser.

Genetec™, developer of unified IP security solutions recently announced the next generation of its IP-based automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras, the AutoVu Sharp and AutoVu SharpX. The new cameras enable the concurrent detection of license plates from a greater variety of models, capturing license plates from different states or countries on the same system. Customers can also benefit from access to new vehicle behavior and characteristic analytics, and the ability to deploy up to four high-resolution ALPR cameras on a vehicle, for near-360° capture. The new AutoVu Sharp and SharpX cameras are available immediately via the Genetec global network of certified integrators and channel partners. The latest Sharp and SharpX go beyond ALPR to offer advanced vehicle characteristic and behavioral analytics, and can analyze a scanned vehicle to identify its make and the license plate state or country of origin. The direction and speed of vehicles can also be detected with a single ALPR camera, allowing end-users to collect and review trends over time and automatically detect suspicious behaviours. "We believe that the value of ALPR extends beyond license plate analysis, and our latest generation of AutoVu Sharp and SharpX cameras is a gateway that offers those extended features for identifying vehicle trends and patterns,” said Stephan Kaiser, AutoVu General Manager, Genetec. “Whether in a city setting or on a private property, the advanced analytics in the Sharp and SharpX introduce important new methodologies for detecting complex automotive behaviours, along with powerful new data mining possibilities," added Kaiser. The AutoVu SharpX also leverages additional available processing power that offers new configuration options. Customers can now deploy up to four high-resolution SharpX camera units on a single processing unit, decreasing equipment costs and simplifying installation and maintenance. Mobile users can achieve near-360° ALPR coverage, to capture more license plates located around the patrol vehicle. The SharpX is also now available in a new portable mobile kit, containing up to four cameras, a pre-wired processing unit and all necessary cables, allowing users to move their ALPR equipment rapidly from one vehicle to another as required.