4K

Looking to aggressively extend their existing presence throughout the South-Central US, BCDVideo announced they are appointing Campion Sales to represent their product portfolio. Campion Sales, a ninety-year-old company, has spent the last twenty years focused on the security industry. BCDVideo’s products will interweave with Campion’s wide array of complementary products ranging from building automation, 4K IP cameras, detection systems, video walls, and dozens of other solutions for the security integrator. Promoting BCDVideo’s Products Campion Sales will promote the entire BCDVideo product line, including their access control and video surveillance recording servers“As well as what we have been doing in the region, what we have been lacking is feet on the street and more localized face-to-face training with our customer base. Campion delivers all of that for us with their proven sales force and sales strategies; plus, this gets the BCDVideo brand into new customer opportunities with the combined breadth of our two product lines,” states Jeff Burgess, President, and CEO of BCDVideo. Campion Sales will promote the entire BCDVideo product line, including their access control and video surveillance recording servers, environmentally hardened products, networking products, GPU servers, and workstations, as well as several private-label systems that BCDVideo builds for key original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers. “We are excited to be representing a top manufacturer with a focus on superior service and an innovative product offering,” said Lynn Dabney Vice President, National Accounts at Campion Sales. “We are looking forward to a long-term, successful partnership.”

HID Global®, a provider of identity solutions, announced it has dramatically elevated the machine learning capabilities in its HID Condition Monitoring solution through high-bandwidth vibration sensors that help manufacturing facilities employ AI-based technology to monitor the health and performance of motors, rotating equipment, and other assets.  The cost-effective solution makes it possible for plant managers to extend their predictive maintenance strategies to all factory assets that, until now, have typically been vulnerable to unexpected downtime and repairs.  HID Condition Monitoring Specification  ID Condition Monitoring, enabled by Bluvision™, features the new high-performance BEEKs™ Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons for on/off detection, duty cycles, temperature and vibration monitoring. Their enhanced measurement, edge computing and machine learning capabilities use high-speed vibration trend analytics and cloud-based AI to learn baseline pre-deployment behaviors to generate a model of normal activity. In addition to triggering real-time alerts immediately upon detecting a change in status, this data enables facilities to better establish proactive maintenance, inspection and operation strategies and drives more informed decision making. Edge computing and machine learning capabilities use high-speed vibration trend analytics “Our low-cost condition monitoring solution offers real-time, continuous visibility into the operating behavior of machines that were previously unmonitored due to cost restrictions, making it possible for smart manufacturing plants to address downtime beyond critical and semi-critical equipment,” said Brad Hopkins, Director of Condition Monitoring Product Management, HID Global. “Together with AI-driven cloud analytics, plant managers can now use historical trends and notifications to enhance their predictive maintenance approach throughout the entire factory or fleet, which helps reduce unplanned downtime across the board." Smarter Operations Installed in 15 facilities at global consumer goods manufacturer to integrate deep vibration analysis with programmable logic controller and computerized maintenance management system data to make better maintenance decisions. Major airports in the United States and Europe are using HID Condition Monitoring at baggage claim carousels, escalators and other “people mover” systems to reduce gate-to-curb times, while driving more predictive maintenance models. One of the world’s largest steel manufacturers uses HID’s solution to monitor temperature and vibration on motors in a 70 to 80 degrees Celsius environment. This enhances their predictive maintenance strategy and helps reduce the unplanned downtime of their equipment, which is responsible for an annual crude capacity of 25.3 million tons.  AI Driven Condition Monitoring Solution Our AI-driven condition monitoring solution provides a quick and easy way for these companies to gather and monitor actionable data" John Sailer, Chief Operating Officer of Bluvision added, “The combination of the beacon’s sophisticated features and our cloud processing engine enables companies to address real problems in a very different manner than traditional solutions that are predicated on manual machine monitoring and planned maintenance strategies.  Instead, our AI-driven condition monitoring solution provides a quick and easy way for these companies to gather and monitor actionable data needed for predictive maintenance programs, while also moving toward Industry 4.0 for smarter operations.” In addition to a range of manufacturing use cases, HID Condition Monitoring is ideal for cold chain supply management, where temperature-sensitive products (such as food, medicines and vaccines) can be monitored throughout production, storage and distribution. Major OEMs are also offering HID Condition Monitoring to smart manufacturing plants across a variety of industries around the world.

Matrox Graphics Inc. announces that the Matrox Maevex 6120 dual 4K enterprise encoder appliance is now shipping. Leveraging the same best-in-class capture and real-time encoding technology as the game-changing Matrox Maevex 6150 quad 4K encoder, Maevex 6120 delivers simultaneous dual 4K capture, stream, and record—with options to stream and record even more channels in different configurations—all on a standard one Gigabit Ethernet network. The powerful standalone appliance is ideal for a variety streaming and recording applications in corporate, education, digital signage, military, government, control rooms, and more. Packaged in a convenient, rack-ready, plug-and-play form factor, Maevex 6120 features ground-breaking encoding capabilities that can easily feed cloud-based servers to reach internet viewers, push many streams on-premises over the LAN for local audiences, and record to local or network storage for later editing and viewing—all concurrently. Secure Reliable Transport The appliance’s ability to also stream multiple resolutions, bitrates, and protocols—including Secure Reliable Transport (SRT)—at the same time, significantly offloads or eliminates cloud transcoding operations and costs for organizations. The included Maevex PowerStream Plus software management tool provides complete reach and control over the entire Maevex network—including all Maevex 6100 Series 4K enterprise encoders and Maevex 5100 Series Full HD encoders and decoders. PowerStream Plus API for Windows and Linux and lower-level REST API are also available for integrators and developers For rapid customization, the PowerStream Plus API for Windows and Linux and lower-level REST API are also available for integrators and developers looking to create personalized Maevex control applications. These APIs can be used to easily include Maevex functionality into existing or even third-party applications. 4K Enterprise Encoders “Maevex 6120 and 6150 dual and quad 4K enterprise encoders provide best-in-class high-performance, low-bitrate, low-latency encoding appliances interoperable with virtually any third-party hardware, software, or service,” says Ron Berty, business development manager, Matrox Graphics Inc. “And now with Maevex 6120, this provides customers with even greater flexibility to meet a wider range of requirements, either as a better fit for single- or dual-input streaming and recording applications, or by mixing and matching with Maevex 6150.”

Matrix Comsec is to participate in the NPPC (National Public Procurement Conclave) 2018 to be held in New Delhi from 30th to 31st October 2018. Matrix will be exhibiting their communication and security solutions along with other enterprise grade solutions. IP Solutions For Modern Enterprises From the Telecom domain, Matrix will be exhibiting the newly launched pure IP solutions for modern enterprises - PRASAR UCS and the smart video IP deskphone - SPARSH VP710 at the event. The company will also be exhibiting SARVAM UCS and Media Gateways. Solution experts for Matrix’s people mobility management solutions will be demonstrating the Aadhaar enabled biometric attendance system at the event. They will also be giving a brief on the well-engineered access control solutions to be displayed at the event. Company experts are to exhibit COSEC Panel Lite standalone access control solution, which is a site controller that implements advanced access control features and restricts unauthorized entry. Video Surveillance Solutions Matrix will also be discussing COSEC ARC - an I/O Controller which provides the flexibility to control and monitor a range of hardware devices that are integrated with the controller. Additionally, Matrix will be displaying the COSEC PATH series door controllers, which are fingerprint and RFID card-based devices. From the video surveillance domain, solution experts will be talking on the recently launched Extreme series of Network Video Recorders. These recorders are equipped with features like cascading, H.265 compression, 4K decoding, RAID 5, 10 support, high storage, and 512Mbps throughput. Matrix will also be exhibiting IP cameras that are furnished with Intelligent video analytics that enhance security of enterprises. Learn more about Matrix solutions by talking to company's solution experts at the NPPC (National Public Procurement Conclave) 2018 event, Stand No. 43-44 from 30th to 31st October 2018.

Panasonic System Solutions Company of North America will launch the first 4 x 4K Multi-Sensor video surveillance camera at Global Security Exchange (GSX) 2018 Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV, in booth 2737. Part of the new Panasonic i-PRO Extreme line of video surveillance cameras, the Multi-Sensor delivers extreme image quality – 4x4K (33 MP), 3840x2160, 15 FPS – for evidence capturing from any angle for use in safe city and traffic applications. The Multi-Sensor cameras have four repositionable lenses which reduce blind spots; four high image quality 4K image sensors; provide sharp and clear images of fast moving vehicles with iA (intelligent Auto) support; ClearSight Coating; environmental durability (IP66, IK 10 and Dehumidification); and deliver enhanced low light performance in true color with Super Dynamic 108dB for backlit situations and shadows. Multi-Sensor model WV-X8570N is now available. Enhance Security And Safety “The capability of the Multi-Sensor to deliver extreme image quality even in the most challenging conditions is what sets it apart from similar cameras in the market. Panasonic is pushing the limits of technology in video surveillance in an effort to help enhance security and safety,” said Domingo Martinez, Product Marketing, Panasonic System Solutions Company of North America. Our customers have been eagerly awaiting our Multi-Sensor camera and we are excited to officially launch it here at GSX" “Our customers have been eagerly awaiting our Multi-Sensor camera and we are excited to officially launch it here at GSX.” In addition to the Multi-Sensor, the line of i-PRO Extreme video surveillance cameras includes the 5 MP Fixed Camera. Reduce Transmitted Data The i-PRO Extreme 5 MP fixed camera line offers iA (intelligent Auto); Auto Shutter speed control for moving vehicles; image capture of a person walking in daylight or at night; optimum low light performance; and Super Dynamic 120dB for backlit situations including headlights or shadows on streets. With 5 megapixel images up to 30 FPS, efficient H.265 compression provides longer recording and less storage than other H.264 techniques. New self-learning ROI detects movement within an image and compresses areas with little motion to reduce transmitted data while maintaining the quality of the image. Complete end-to-end system encryption with supported i-PRO recorders and devices provides protection from IP snooping, IP spoofing, and data alteration. To demo the Panasonic i-PRO Extreme 4K Multi-Sensor camera and other security systems solutions, visit Panasonic Booth #2737 at GSX 2018 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV.

Quantum Corp announces significant enhancements to the Xcellis scale-out storage appliance portfolio: StorNext 6.2 bolsters performance for 4K and 8K video while enhancing integration with cloud-based workflows and global collaborative environments. NVM storage significantly accelerates ingest and other aspects of media workflows. These enhancements reinforce Xcellis as the solution of choice to ingest, edit, share and store rich media content for thousands of customers worldwide. Modern File Systems Quantum’s Xcellis scale-out appliances have long been trusted to deliver high performance to increasingly demanding applications and higher resolution content. The introduction of NVMe storage to the Xcellis appliances offers ultra-fast performance: 22 GB/s single-client, uncached streaming bandwidth. Leveraging Excelero’s NVMesh technology in combination with StorNext, all data is accessible by multiple clients in a global namespace, making it easy to access and cost-effectively share flash-based resources. As more organizations depend on broad collaboration among their staff to meet project deadlines, and workflows extend from on-premise into the cloud, being able to effectively manage and access data across complex, hybrid environments has become a requirement for modern file systems. Greater Flexibility StorNext 6.2, Quantum now offers an S3 interface to Xcellis appliances, enabling them to serve as targets for applications designed to write Now with the ability to provide cross protocol locking for shared access across SAN, NFS, and SMB, Xcellis is an optimal solution for organizations that need to share content across both Fibre Channel and Ethernet. With StorNext 6.2, Quantum now offers an S3 interface to Xcellis appliances, enabling them to serve as targets for applications designed to write to RESTful interfaces. Organizations gain greater flexibility to use Xcellis as either a gateway to the cloud or as an S3 target for web-based applications. With storage environments becoming increasingly complex, users need more powerful tools to proactively manage their storage resources. Adjust System Configuration Xcellis environments can now be managed with a new cloud monitoring tool that enables Quantum’s support team to monitor critical customer environmental factors, speed time to resolution, and ultimately increase uptime. When combined with Xcellis Web Services – a suite of services that enables users to set policies, adjust system configuration, and more – overall system management is simplified and streamlined. Available with StorNext 6.2, enhanced FlexSync replication capabilities enable users to create local or remote replicas of multi-tier file system content and metadata. With the ability to protect data for both high-performance systems as well as massive archives, users now have more flexibility to protect a single directory or an entire file system. Additional Management Tools StorNext 6.2 enables administrators to provide defined and enforceable quotas, implement quality of service levels for specific users Organizations that provide storage as a service to departmental users require additional management tools to support their business processes. StorNext 6.2 enables administrators to provide defined and enforceable quotas, implement quality of service levels for specific users, and allows for simplified reporting of used storage capacity. These new features make it easier for administrators to efficiently manage large-scale media archives. The new S3 interface and NVMe storage option are both available today. Other StorNext features and capabilities described in this release will be available by December 2018. Effective Foundation Tom Coughlin, President, The Coughlin Group commented “Across multiple industries, and especially in media and entertainment, organizations are continuing to move more workflows into the cloud, which requires storage solutions to efficiently ingest, and offload, data to and from the cloud.” “By building on the existing capabilities of StorNext, Quantum’s new release will help customers maximize the benefits of the cloud and provide a more effective foundation for the industry’s most modern workflows.” Demanding Workflows As 4K goes mainstream and adoption rates of 8K media continue to rise, the need for future-proof, high-performance storage is greater than ever before Lior Gal, CEO and co-founder, Excelero said “As 4K goes mainstream and adoption rates of 8K media continue to rise, the need for future-proof, high-performance storage is greater than ever before.” “Excelero and Quantum have partnered to build on the capability of StorNext, the industry’s number one choice for storage, and offer an appliance that can support the requirements of the most demanding workflows for years to come.” High-Resolution Content Molly Presley, Vice President, Product Management and Global Marketing, Quantum commented “The new economy increasingly requires the ability to manipulate and manage rapid real-time types of unstructured data.” “Whether editing multiple streams of high-resolution content in multiple formats, reams of information produced by commuters on their way to work, or the flood of data from hundreds of sensors on an autonomous vehicle, this broad Xcellis platform refresh provides the storage foundation to effectively preserve, manage, and protect this valuable data.”

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.

In the state of the residential security market today, we see many who are offering home security packages that rely on numerous sensors and multiple devices to provide a comprehensive coverage of the home and provide peace of mind. Each individual sensor or device within the package provides a specific functionality, and the user finds himself burdened by an overwhelming amount of sensors and devices. This overload is intensified by the penetration of additional IoT and smart devices into the home, such as pet-cams or smart speakers that add to the burden of installation and maintenance. In addition, we are witnessing the rise in popularity of DIY security devices, indicating that users are looking for models and technologies that provide both contract flexibility and simplicity of use. The past years have seen major advancements in radar technology, which have brought the formerly military technology into the consumer space. Radars provide interesting prospects for home security and smart homes due to several inherent characteristics which give it an advantage over existing technologies. The resolution of an advanced radar sensor enables not only presence detection, but also provides advanced features for security, automation and well-being Advanced Security And Automation Features Of primary importance, a consumer designed radar sensor provides the user with full privacy, but the use of radar is also beneficial because it is indifferent to environmental, temperature and lighting conditions. In addition, radar signals (at certain frequencies) are capable of penetrating through almost any type of material, enabling concealed installation, robust monitoring in cluttered spaces and even the coverage of several separate rooms with only one device. In terms of capabilities, simple time of flight 2-antenna radar sensors, which have been around for a while, do not provide much additional value in comparison to existing solutions and are not necessarily competitive in terms of pricing. However, the new generation of radar sensors are also opening up new capabilities previously achieved with optics only. Today, the resolution of an advanced radar sensor is high enough to enable not only presence detection, but also to provide advanced features for security, automation and well-being, all in one. Imagine for example, that the security sensor installed in your elderly parent’s home could also detect a fall having occurred, monitor the breathing of a baby or even leaks in your wall. Due to the unique field of view that radar provides as well as the multi-functional potential, this technology will be the key to the awaited convergence of smart home functionalities and minimization of home devices. The security sensor installed in your elderly parent’s home could also detect a fall having occurred Secret Of The Consumer Radar A radar sensor’s accuracy and its ability to support wide functionality and applications is determined initially by its resolution, which is based on two key factors: bandwidth and number of channels. The wider the bandwidth and the more channels the radar supports, the more accurate the data received. Imagine the difference between a 1990s television model and a 4K 2018 television model - As the resolution is ever improving, the sharper and more detailed is the image. When looking at the short-range radar sensor market, prominent companies such as Texas Instruments and NXP are offering radar-on-chip solutions supporting 2\3 transmitters (Tx) and 3\4 receivers (Rx), mainly utilizing frequency bands of 77-81GHz, as they target mostly automotive and autonomous driving applications. Another company that develops such radar-on-chip solution is Vayyar Imaging, an Israeli start-up, founded in 2011, that developed a radar sensor for 3D imaging. Vayyar Imaging directly targets the smart home and security markets with its radar-on-chip, developing modules and products for intruder detection, automation and elderly care (fall detection). Providing not only chips, but complete systems, the new model makes radar technology highly available and accessible. The radar-on-chip technology opens the door to installation of security and well-being devices in locations where privacy or environmental conditions pose an issue Radar-On-Chip Solution The radar-on-chip solution supports 72 full transceivers, an integrated DSP and radar bands between 3-81GHz. The resolution provided by this type of specification is high enough to provide subtle information about people’s real time location posture (lying down\falling\sitting\walking), and breathing, and enables to classify pets from humans, but it is low enough as to not compromise privacy. This type of technology opens the door to installation of security and well-being devices in locations where privacy or environmental conditions pose an issue, such as in bathrooms or heavily lit environments. Moreover, utilization of this technology allows to dramatically minimise the numbers of sensors installed in the home, as it provides full home coverage with just one or two sensors and enables using the same HW to support additional capabilities such as breath monitoring, fall detection and highly accurate automation. Using AI and machine learning, the data derived by these sensors can be leveraged to provide smarter, verified alerts on the one hand and whole new insights on the on the other. The sensor can be tuned to learn the location of the house entrances or boundaries, where the inhabitants are expected to be at night, or where they should be expected to enter from into the home, adding new logics to the traditional yes\no decision making. Home security is widely regarded as a necessity, provides peace of mind to people and is integral to people's day to day lives Additional Smart Home Services Among the evolving home technology verticals, security is by far the most relevant and integral to people’s day to day lives. Home security is widely regarded as a necessity and provides peace of mind to people. Being a legacy industry with many well-known and well-trusted brands, security players are well positioned to introduce new technology into the home and have the ability and credibility to expand their offerings to additional smart home services by utilizing existing infrastructure and channels. With technology giants entering the security arena through the smart home door the DIY security solution market expected to explode with a CAGR of 22.4% (according to a report by Persistence Market Research). Now that new pricing and service models offer minimal commitment, traditional security players will need to step up. Security companies will need to explore new technologies and expand their offering if they intend to stay relevant and competitive in a market trending on functionality converge and minimization of maintenance and installation costs.

One of the toughest business decisions companies need to make is when selecting a new video surveillance system, as it’s a rigorous process to compare camera offerings and technologies, and to evaluate price structures. With its proven performance over the last several years, IP surveillance systems have become the defacto standard for most professionals. Those experts typically cite the numerous benefits that IP cameras offer, including higher image resolution, ease of installation, scalability, and analytics as rationale – which are all valid. However, the biggest drawback is the high price tag when considering making the switch from an analog to a dedicated IP surveillance system. In reality, many end users don’t need networked IP cameras in every location throughout their facility, as the additional features and benefits IP cameras typically provide may not be necessary in every location. Ultimately, the decision to stick with analog or move to IP needs to be based on your surveillance objectives and future needs. Advantages Of 4K Consider this – you’re managing an analog surveillance system and your primary goal is to increase image resolution; 4K analog cameras may be your ideal solution. Advanced 4K analog surveillance cameras deliver a myriad of advantages, including: Superior resolution Lower cost and easy installation. Picture clarity even under changing or difficult lighting conditions Models with 2 and 4 megapixel resolution, such as Dahua’s HDCVI 4K cameras with scalable HD-over-coax technology, provide security professionals with greater situational awareness and are available in multiple form factors to provide exceptional quality video & audio for a wide range of surveillance applications.Since 4K analogue cameras are not connected to an IP network, they do not present the cybersecurity risks that are typically associated with IP cameras Greater Distance, Greater Definition Another benefit of 4K analog cameras is that their higher number of pixels provides increased digital zoom performance without pixilation versus traditional HD or 2K cameras. This allows security operators to see further into the distance with greater definition. The added resolution is especially important for popular applications that require higher levels of detail, such as face and license plate recognition or object analysis, as well as emerging video analytics and artificial intelligence applications for future system enhancements. 4K Analog Applications 4K analog cameras are also ideally suited to cover large fields of view such as in sports stadiums or airports with great detail and accurate color reproduction. Their superior digital zoom capabilities can allow 4K analog cameras to do the work of two cameras – one for a wide view and another for close-up – without sacrificing quality or compromising security. This can also help dramatically reduce hardware and installation cost, and simplify video monitoring. Finally, since 4K analog cameras are not connected to an IP network, they do not present the cybersecurity risks that are typically associated with IP cameras. With the ever-increasing amount of sensitive and personal information stored on networked drives at businesses of all types, the value of removing one more potential network entry point cannot be understated. Overall, with 4K analog cameras, security professionals can take advantage of higher resolution video on an existing, cost-effective platform that’s safe from network intruders with isolated and limited installation downtime and exceptional cost-efficiencies.

Ambarella is a big player in the video surveillance market, but not a familiar name to many buyers of security cameras. They don’t make cameras, but they make the computer chips inside. Founded in 2004, Ambarella began in the broadcast infrastructure encoders market and entered the market for professional security cameras in 2008. More recently, the company has also entered the market for automotive OEM solutions. Between 2005 and 2015, the company has produced a progression of advanced camera system on chips (SoCs) designed, developed and mass-produced for the consumer electronics, broadcast and IP camera markets. An SoC includes an image processor as well as capabilities to run software and provide computer vision (analytics). Development has been happening fast at Ambarella. In January, they introduced the CV22 camera SoC, combining image processing, 4K and 60fps video encoding and computer vision (video analytics) processing in a single, low-power-design chip. CVflow architecture provides DNN (deep neural network) processing required for the next generation of intelligent cameras. The even newer CV2 camera SoC, introduced in late-March, delivers up to 20 times the deep neural network performance of Ambarella's first generation CV1 chip, also with low power consumption. I caught up with Chris Day, Ambarella’s vice president of marketing and business development, at the ISC West show to find out more about the company. Q: Your company is not as well known in the industry as it should be, given its widespread impact on the market. Would you prefer otherwise? Day: I think we would prefer more visibility. If you talk to any camera maker, they know who we are. We do business with all the top-10 camera companies – Hikvision, Dahua, Avigilon, Pelco and the rest. Because we are a chip supplier, the end-customer deciding to buy a camera may not know what chip is inside. For that reason, we may not have the visibility. But if you are a camera maker, you know who we are. Typically, it takes nine months to develop a camera, longer with an intelligent camera because you are importing so much software Q: What are you hearing from your camera customers in terms of what they need, and how are they directing where you go with R&D? Day: We have become a major supplier to those companies based on years of developing image processing – wide dynamic range, low light, and similar features – as well as AVC (advanced) and HEVC (high-efficiency) video encoding. That’s the heritage of our company and why we do business with all these companies. The next treadmill is computer vision – adding the intelligence into the camera. The goal is still being best-in-class in imaging and encoding, but now being best-in-class in adding the intelligence and being able to do all those things with very low power, within the “thermal budget” of the camera. That’s the next big wave. Q: How far away is that in terms of the end-customer? How soon will he or she be able to reap the benefits? Day: By the end of 2018, or maybe next year. We’re just beginning to sample the CV22, for instance, which is the first SoC directed to security cameras. Typically, it takes nine months to develop a camera, maybe longer with an intelligent camera because you are importing so much software. So, we’re talking about the end of this year or next year. Q: Tell me about your current products and the next generation. Day: The CV22 is sampling this quarter. CV2 we announced [in late March], which is a high-performance chip. The idea is that we provide our customers with different price/performance points, so they can produce a family of cameras with different capabilities. They have the same basic software model, so someone can invest in software once and then have different performance points without completely rewriting the software. That’s key. They might have 100 software engineers developing neural networks and all the features, so if you have to recreate that at different price points, it’s a lot of work. Ambarella provides customers with different price/performance points, so they can produce a family of cameras with different capabilities Q: Historically, video analytics have over-promised and under-delivered. What would you say to a sceptical user in terms of how much confidence they should have in the next wave of products? Day: Ambarella has been in the security business for 10 years, and some of us have been in the business for 15 years. Every year I’ve been disappointed by the analytics I have seen at the ISC West show. Every year there are incremental improvements – 2 percent, 5 percent, whatever – but in general, I became a sceptic, as well. What is fundamentally different now is the neural network approach to computer vision. Even for us developing these chips: In CV1 we had a certain level of deep neural network performance. We produced CV22 in the same year with four times the performance, and then CV2 has 20 times the performance in the space of one year. That’s just at the chip level. But the neural network approach to analytics and computer vision is game changing if you look at the things you can do with it compared to traditional analytics approaches. If you look at what it’s doing in automotive and security, you will see significant development. I totally appreciate the scepticism, but I think it is completely game-changing at this point, based on the technology in the chips and based on what’s happening with neural networks. Q: What do you think the next big thing is? Day: I think the next big thing is the neural networks; it’s the intelligence in the camera. People have been pushing toward higher resolution, we’ve done 4K, we have incredible imaging even in really dark scenes. So we have been solving all those problems. And so now to add the computer vision and be able to do that in parallel with the image processing and high-resolution encoding, and all in a chip that is low-power. That’s the differentiator. Q: What else is happening? Jerome Gigot, Senior Director Marketing: There is a lot happening on the consumer side, too, with the home security market. You will see cameras in your home with more and more intelligence. Some are used for video doorbells. On some of the new cameras, we have package notification – you get notified if a package arrives, or if someone steals your package. And new battery-powered cameras are very easy to install with no wires.

Security is more-than-ever linked to consumer electronics, especially in the residential/smart home market. CES 2018 in Las Vegas is therefore brimming with news that will have a direct impact on the security market, today and especially looking into the future. Products for the future of security   CES is a giant trade show for consumer electronics with 2.75 million net square feet of exhibitor space and featuring more than 3,900 exhibitors, including 900 startups - in contrast, ISC West has some 1,000 exhibitors. During the week-long show welcoming 170,000-plus attendees from 150 countries, more than 20,000 new products are being launched. The products incorporate ingredient technologies such as artificial intelligence and 5G that will also be familiar elements as the future of the security industry unfolds. Familiar players at security shows also have a presence at CES, and many consumer technologies on display offer a glimpse of what’s ahead for security The areas of consumer electronics and security are closely intertwined. For example, Apple recently expanded near-field communication (NFC) support to include the NDEF (NFC Data Exchange Format), which will likely accelerate the adoption of smartphones for access control credentialing. In another recent development, Amazon acquired Blink, a home security camera startup that offers wireless home security systems. The acquisition aligns with Amazon’s effort to offer more home devices. Key Security Technologies At CES 2018 Familiar players at security shows also have a presence at CES. For example, Bosch is highlighting its “Simply. Connected” portfolio of smart city technology to transform security as well as urban mobility, air quality and energy efficiency. Many consumer technologies on display offer a glimpse of what’s ahead for security. Are Panasonic’s 4K OLEDs with HDR10+ format or Sony’s A8F OLED televisions a preview of the future of security control room monitors? At CES, Johnson Controls is announcing support for Apple HomeKit now offered in their DSC iotega wireless security and automation solution. Consumers can manage both their security system and also other home automation abilities using Apple’s Home app, or Siri on their iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. Interlogix is announcing new features and components of its UltraSync SmartHome system, including hands-free voice control, high-definition cameras, an LTE cellular module and soon-to-be-released doorbell camera. The areas of consumer electronics and security are closely intertwined Developments In Crime Awareness ADT has a high profile at CES, including the launch of its ADT Go mobile app, equipped with 24/7 emergency response from ADT’s live monitoring agents and backed by Life360’s location technology, providing emergency response, family connectivity, safety assistance and crime awareness.  ADT is also unveiling a video doorbell and expanding its monitoring to cybersecurity. IC Realtime is introducing Ella, a cloud-based deep-learning search engine that augments surveillance systems with natural language search capabilities across recorded video footage. Ella enables any surveillance or security cameras to recognise objects, colours, people, vehicles and animals. Ella was designed using the technology backbone of Camio, a startup founded by ex-Googlers who designed a simpler way to apply searching to streaming video feeds. It’s a “Google for video:” Users can type in queries such as “white truck” to find every relevant video clip. Smarter homes and smarter computers Do-it-yourself smart home security company Abode Systems announces iota, an all-in-one system giving customers more freedom and flexibility to build out and monitor their smart home. The new form factor has a built-in full-HD resolution camera enabling customers to see and hear what’s going on in their home 24/7 while a built-in gateway supports hundreds of devices to make homes more convenient, safer and more secure. There is also support for Apple HomeKit. Highly programmable and high-performance platforms will no doubt play a role in the future of video surveillance systems in our market  The Z-Wave Alliance will host 30-plus leading smart home brands in the Z-Wave pavilion at CES. A full walk-through home will demonstrate different brands working together to create one cohesive smart home experience. Sigma Designs unveils its 700-Series Z-Wave platform, including numerous performance and technology enhancements in energy-efficiency and RF performance. Personal protection in attendance Self-defence product company SABRE will debut a combination pepper spray with dual sound-effect personal alarm that “alternates between the traditional wailing sound and a primal scream, while a strobe blinks 19 times per second to disorient assailants.” SABRE’s Modern Fake Security Camera includes “sleek, realistic design to deter would-be thieves.” Chip maker Ambarella is introducing the CV1 4K Stereovision Processor with CFflow Computer Vision Architecture. The chip combines environmental perception with advances in deep neural network processing for a variety of applications, including video security cameras and fully autonomous drones. At CES, applications will focus on automotive uses, including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), self-driving, electronic mirror and surround view systems. The highly programmable and high-performance platform will no doubt play a role in the future of video surveillance systems in our market. A full walk-through home will demonstrate different brands working together to create one cohesive smart home experience Extending home security and efficiency  The Ring whole-house security ecosystem creates a “Ring of Security” around homes and neighbourhoods. Products include “Stick Up” indoor/outdoor security cameras, integrated LED lighting, a “Ring Alarm” integrated bundle for $199 including a base station, keypad, contact sensor, and Z-Wave extender. “Ring Protect Plans” include 24/7 professional monitoring. The “Streety” phone app, from Vivint Smart Home, extends home security into the neighbourhood. Streety makes it easy for neighbours to monitor neighbourhood activity through a network of shared residential cameras. They can keep an eye on kids, cars and property through live video feeds and use recorded video clips to investigate incidents. A new device making its debut at CES is the Walker “commercialised biped robot,” from UBTECH Robotics, which provides a complete home butler service and is designed to ease the day-to-day operations of a busy home or office. The varied of functions includes video surveillance monitoring, security patrol monitoring, motion detection and “instant alarm,” as well as dancing and playing games with children. The company says Walker will “bridge the gap between technologies that were once only available in scientific research institutions and everyday people.”

The enthusiasm of ISC West 2017 continued through to the final hours of Friday, reflective of a show jam-packed with new technologies to address industry trends. Exhibitors seemed happy enough with booth traffic, which held up even on the final day. Security Industry Trends Industry trends drove much of the technology. For example, cameras are getting less expensive, which means it’s more cost-effective to specify systems with higher camera counts. Also, cameras are providing more data than ever, including megapixel and 4K resolutions and retention times are getting longer, driven both by regulatory issues and the increasing use of video in operational functions beyond security. These trends point to a growing importance of video data storage systems. Themes at ISC West included the need for integrators to consider carefully system storage requirements, and that storage systems should be designed specifically for use with video. Seagate Technology Skyhawk Seagate Technology emphasized the importance of simplicity related to video storage, which should be easy to buy, to deploy and to upgrade. For systems up to 64 cameras and needing up to 10 terabytes of storage, Seagate offers the Skyhawk NVR/DVR-ready system, compatible with all the large video management system (VMS) partners. Image Perfect software optimizes the equipment for use with video, resulting in fewer dropped frames. Higher security smart cards such as MIFARE DESFire EV2 can provide additional security instead of prox cards Beyond 64 cameras, Seagate offers more sophisticated, customized systems; up to a petabyte of storage; and the ability to stack additional units for expansion. A common mistake when specifying storage is to underestimate capacity need. Because camera prices are coming down, it’s easy to add more cameras as a system plan evolves, but the additional cameras must also be considered in the storage equation. Promise Technology SmartBoost Promise Technology was another storage company with a high profile at ISC West, also highlighting products that are optimized and built specifically for the video market. The company’s SmartBoost technology refines how the system reads and writes data. It uses tools and algorithms such as Predictive Playback and a sequential pattern recording (Full Stripe) feature to reduce the CPU load and optimize performance. The result is more efficient and dependable operation – and no lost video frames. Quantum simplifies the complexity of storage for end users – unifying various tiers of storage and presenting it as a single “drive letter.” Invisible to the end user, Quantum’s system manages multiple tiers of storage, including high-performance primary, high-capacity secondary, less expensive file-based tape and even cloud storage. Cybersecurity In Access Control Attendees will have heard a lot about cybersecurity at ISC West, mostly as it relates to IP video systems, but it is also an issue for access control. Scott Lindley, president of Farpointe Data, says too many companies – including big corporations – are leaving their access control systems unnecessarily vulnerable to being hacked. Two points of vulnerability in particular are 125 kHz prox cards and the Wiegand interface. Both are older technologies that continue to be used although there are more secure choices easily available. Higher security smart cards such as MIFARE DESFire EV2 can provide additional security instead of prox cards, as can addition of two-factor authentication such as a keypad requiring a personal identification number (PIN). Alternatives to the Wiegand output include ABA Track 2, TCP/IP and the OSDP (Open Supervised Device Protocol) interfaces. Use of long-range readers can make systems more secure by enabling a reader to be located inside a secure area, up to 200 feet away and less susceptible to tampering.  Security Robotics At ISC West There were several security robot companies at ISC West, including a section called the “Unmanned Security Expo.” One robotic company on display was Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD). They are using a robot "base" from SMP Robotics and adding additional intelligence (from NVIDIA). The first products should be available in July, after which RAD looks to produce 25 to 50 robots per month The idea is a robot that can detect humans and vehicles (to take the place of guards). There is a sophisticated system for navigation and avoidance. The robot collects information along its route; takes snapshots of what it "sees,” and uses scene matching to interpret what it encounters. The "layered" visual navigation system has been in development for seven years. The first products should be available in July, after which Robotic Assistance Devices looks to produce 25 to 50 robots per month. They are taking "pre-orders” – $1,000 will reserve you a robot. Reportedly, “demand has been in the hundreds." They won't be selling the robots, but rather "renting” them at a rate that equates to around $7 per hour (24 hours a day/seven days a week). Critical infrastructure is one major market. All in all, it was a great show and it could have gone on for two more days at least. (For some of us, delayed by canceled Delta flights, it might as well have. I finally returned home on Monday morning after a “bonus” weekend in Vegas.)

Immersive Display Solutions, Inc. (IDSI) announced that it has selected the Barco F70 for its advanced dome display project. Using thirteen F70-4K6 projectors per dome and featuring the powerful Barco Pulse electronics processing platform and unique Single Step Processing (SSP) pixel-shifting technology, the integrated solution from IDSI will support high-performance fast jet pilot training. This selection continues the successful relationship which has been built between IDSI and Barco over many years and has produced some of the highest quality display systems in the industry. Barco F70-4K6 Display Projector The F70-4K6 is a high performance, robust laser-phosphor projector with sealed optics and minimal number of moving components inside. This construction enables rugged performance that ensures stability and predictability over the 60,000-hour lifetime of the product. 4K resolution is achieved using the high bandwidth Barco Pulse electronics platform and the proprietary SSP technology. All this leads to the delivery of exceptionally sharp and detailed dynamic imagery allowing trainees to detect moving objects at long distances and totally immersing them into the perfect simulation experience. The team at IDSI is well-respected throughout the industry for their precision, quality, and low-risk approach to program requirements “Our relationship with Barco is built on performance, support, and trust,” says George Forbes, President and founder of IDSI. “When we decide on which projector to use for a project, we consider much more than the technical performance- which has to be there. We know we can rely on Barco, and that the entire Barco Simulation team from top-down is behind us, and that is a big factor in who we choose to partner with.” IDSI-Barco Partnership “The team at IDSI is well-respected throughout the industry for their precision, quality, and low-risk approach to program requirements,” says Dave Fluegeman, VP, Simulation at Barco. “Our teams have always integrated very well, and when there is a seamless approach and singular focus to a project, the likelihood of success is always very high.” Recently IDSI won the ‘Small Business of the Year’ award after careful selection by the MS&T judging panel and votes by the simulation and training industry. The honor was awarded for their way of leveraging human capital, innovation and agility to grow and meet client needs, all while cultivating and growing technical and social influence in the community. The Barco F70-4K6 in turn received an honorable mention as an Outstanding Innovative Product that has positively impacted the client’s ‘way of doing business.’

Nestled on the banks of the river Thames, Kew Gardens in southwest London is home to the most diverse collection of living plants anywhere in the world. At 330 acres in size, it’s London’s largest UNESCO world heritage site, and has a history stretching back more than 250 years. The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, attracts more than 1.6 million visitors every year, coming to see the 30,000 different kinds of plants, and to visit the Herbarium, which has over seven million preserved plant specimens. As an internationally important botanical research and educational institution, Kew’s library contains more than three quarters of a million books, along with more than 175,000 prints and drawings of plant life. 24/7 Video Surveillance Coverage A need was identified to upgrade the existing legacy analog CCTV system to one capable of transmitting and recording in true HD Kew Gardens hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year, including festivals, concerts and art exhibitions, as well as learning experiences for all ages and interests, in addition to the garden attractions. The site is accessible via London Underground, Overground, buses and river services in summer, and the public can enter via four separate gates: the Elizabeth Gate, the Brentford Gate, Victoria Gate and the Lion Gate. There are also a number of other access gates to the gardens which are not open to the public. Because of the sheer volume of visitors and the multitude of public and trade entrances to Kew Gardens, the site requires around the clock video surveillance coverage, seven days a week. Analog To IP CCTV System Kew’s CCTV control room operations team works to monitor the safety and security of the park, but a need was identified to upgrade the existing legacy analog CCTV system to one capable of transmitting and recording in true High Definition. Security specialist firm The ITS Group was called in to help. The ITS Group is comprised of ITS Fire and Security, ITS Electrical, ITS Fire Training and ITS Building Services. The company has 20 years of experience within the fire and security industry, and provides CCTV, intruder alarms, barrier gates, security lighting, panic alarms, access control, and door and video entry, alongside a swathe of other services. The results were achieved in the process of implementing a Hikvision IP HD video surveillance system ITS Group Director Tim Dyer said the Kew project required upgrading equipment in the Gardens’ security control room and providing site-wide cameras which can be used to view all entrances for both public and trade, as well as various strategic locations throughout the Gardens. Challenges In Installing Surveillance System The massive 330-acre site is a huge area to monitor in itself, and Tim Dyer says the very public nature of the Gardens and its operations meant the actual video system installation posed some security continuity challenges. “Because the control room needed to be in operation 24/7, close co-ordination was required between ITS and the security team on-site,” he says. “We needed to maintain the CCTV in line with the changing site requirements on a daily basis. This, coupled with access issues and working in a public environment, was very challenging, and the fact that we were able to achieve such good results is testament to the close co-ordination between the site team and Kew security.” Those results were achieved in the process of implementing a Hikvision IP High Definition video surveillance system, which included new 43-inch and 22-inch HD monitors for the control room, along with new touchscreen network keyboards and joysticks. HD Images In Low Light When there’s no light at all, the Darkfighter cameras switch to IR mode and record black and white images at 0 LuxControl room operators monitor images from a number of different Hikvision cameras. These include an initial 48 DarkfighterX network speed domes, which provide color HD images in light levels as low as 0.001 Lux. That’s pretty dark. And when it gets darker still, they provide black and white images in light levels down to 0.0001 Lux. When there’s no light at all, the Darkfighter cameras switch to IR mode and record black and white images at 0 Lux. In addition, they offer 25x zoom capabilities and Deep Learning-powered target classification for automatic tracking and perimeter protection. They’re complemented by 29 Darkfighter 2 megapixel motorized varifocal lens cameras, 21 ultra-low light smart bullet cameras, and six low light smart cameras. Images are recorded to Hikvision 16-channel Turbo HD digital video recorders which support analog, HD-TVI, and IP cameras, H.264, H.264+ and dual-stream compression, and can output at up to 4K resolution. Improved Picture Quality The Gardens now have a full HD system which can be expanded with additional cameras in the future"The resulting system is not only powerful and effective in the short-term but is purposefully planned to incorporate forthcoming changes. “The Gardens now have a full HD system which can be expanded with additional cameras in the future,” Tim Dyer says. “It allows them to take advantage of technology advances and newly developed functionality on any cameras or devices they add to the system in future.” Tim Dyer says the Hikvision system has revolutionised Kew’s video picture quality and functionality. “Making the change from an old analog system to installing a new Hikvision IP system has transformed the Gardens’ picture quality, both during the day and at night,” he says. “The zoom facility is amazing and precise, and the reliability of them is second to none, making the work of the control room operatives a much easier role.” The HD surveillance system has been received exceptionally well by those whose opinion matters most: the security team at Kew Gardens. John Deer, Head of Security, said: “I am delighted with the installation of Hikvision cameras at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. They are of the highest quality, which has enhanced the overall security across the 330-acre site.”

New security and surveillance upgrades have been announced at Manchester Arena, with the first phase expected to be complete by mid-autumn. The system upgrade includes the installation of next generation camera technology combined with cutting-edge access control and is set to be rolled out ahead of a number of high-profile events that are being staged at the arena this autumn. Following the installation of the latest state-of-the-art security cameras, developments include super high definition 4K resolution images and enhanced video analytics with appearance search, plus self-learning analytics with presence/absence detection and the ability to detect unusual motion events. Similar Effective Solutions Reflex systems was chosen by SMG Europe having looked at similar effective solutions designed and installed by them at the award-winning Leeds The new facilities will also see an improvement in data management and delivery, and form part of an expanding security network which enables remote monitoring off-site at venues across the UK. The large-scale upgrade will be implemented by South Yorkshire-based firm Reflex Systems, a security system installer whose previous projects include providing deployable security systems for the G8 Summit, as well as work at off-park venues at the Olympics, Wimbledon, and Wembley Stadium. Reflex Systems will be leading on the Manchester Arena upgrades. The specialist firm was chosen by SMG Europe having looked at similar effective solutions designed and installed by them at the award-winning Leeds first direct Arena and other large capacity public venues. Intelligent Video Stream Lee Sinnott, senior facilities manager at SMG Europe, said: “The scope of the project was to deliver a powerful scalable end-to-end surveillance solution over an IP network, employing the latest HD/4K cameras, video analytics at the edge and through an intelligent video stream data management system.” Results allow us to actively monitor & effectively manage large crowds in differing light conditions both in real time and forensically “The challenge to find the right surveillance system with state-of-the-art technology that operates in a harsh light environment was realised through a detailed study and product testing with temporary camera deployments during Arena events. The results allow us to actively monitor & effectively manage large crowds in differing light conditions both in real time and forensically, post event. Providing video evidence of the highest quality was an important deliverable on the project.” Public Venue Applications “The planned installation of an expanded access control solution with system integration into the CCTV was a key part of the project. The electronic access control system will now provide us with the capability to respond to national threat levels and dynamically deploy a range of security measures through a powerful user interface.” John Pye, managing director of Reflex Systems, said: “Some of the technology involved in the upgrades at Manchester Arena is very new in terms of its features, and is a convergence of security with IT and advanced management software.” “We have significant experience in the area of public venue applications, and through our expertise and technology partners we deliver solutions which allow venue owners, whatever scale, to provide safer and more secure environments for everyone.”

With a heritage stretching back over 500 years, Gebrüder Weiss is one of Europe’s oldest transport and logistics companies. Based in Vorarlberg, Austria and with more than 7,000 employees in 150 locations around the world, it is also one of the largest. Sony Video Security In Logistics Centers Customers of all sizes trust Gebrüder Weiss to ship their consignments quickly, safely and undamaged to their destination Customers of all sizes trust Gebrüder Weiss to ship their consignments quickly, safely and undamaged to their destination. To guarantee this and make the entire logistics chain traceable, the service provider relies on comprehensive video surveillance in its logistics centers, which is regularly updated to reflect the latest state of the art. Gebrüder Weiss has now expanded its existing monitoring solution at the company’s largest distribution center in Maria Lanzendorf near Vienna that previously featured almost 500 Sony cameras and Milestone's video management software (VMS). This has been supplemented with the addition of 33 Sony SNC-VM772R 4K video security cameras. Sony 4K Cameras The upgrade ensures greater security, comprehensive package tracking and the ability to track any damage. The new Sony 4K cameras are used mainly to monitor reloading from larger trailers into smaller trucks. Their field of view covers the actual transfer area as well as the interior of the trailers and conveyor belts. The SNC-VM772R features a large CMOS sensor with 4K resolution that combines excellent image quality and large depth of field, even in difficult lighting conditions. The camera’s robust design with integrated image stabilization ensures smooth, clear video images despite vibration, dust and exhaust fumes from passing trucks. Video Monitoring The new 4K cameras can track several objects simultaneously with either VGA or Full HD resolution The cameras’ installation ensures that the entire transshipment area is monitored at all times, with no blind spots caused by vehicles or pallets. In addition, the new 4K cameras can track several objects simultaneously with either VGA or Full HD resolution. The SNC-VM772R's 20-megapixel image sensor also enables capture of high-resolution Evidence Shots – still images with greater than 4K resolution that allow even the smallest details to be viewed clearly. For Gebrüder Weiss, the Sony solution is thus an outstanding alternative to multiple PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) cameras or multi-sensor systems. Installation and integration into the existing environment were carried out by local Sony partner ÖWD Österreichischer Wachdienst Security & Services. With 2,800 employees, ÖWD is one of the largest security companies in Austria and maintains 24/7 technical teams in all Austrian states. "Since it opened in 2006 we have been using Sony cameras at our terminal in Maria Lanzendorf, which is our largest in the world" says Werner Drnec, Operations Manager at Gebrüder Weiss, Maria Lanzendorf. "Both the image quality and reliability – with failure rates close to zero – have always exceeded our expectations, and even in the current project they proved themselves in a direct comparison. Our confidence in the Sony brand plus easy, seamless integration into our existing environment added to this."

Having one of the world’s top predators take up residence in the middle of your town may not seem like a welcome surprise. But, when that predator is the world’s fastest bird and provides the chance to capture its behavior at its nest site, courtesy of a top 4K camera from Hikvision, it proved to be too good an opportunity for the people of Taunton and UK peregrine experts to miss. The Peregrine Falcon is a large, powerful, and breathtakingly fast bird – the fastest animal on the planet. In normal flight it cruises at 40 mph and can reach 65 mph in a chase. But, on the hunt, it can dive towards its prey at more than 200 mph. The peregrine has little to fear except man, being driven close to extinction in the 1960s due to human persecution and the impact of pesticides in the food chain Taunton Peregrine Project A top predator, the peregrine has little to fear except man, being driven close to extinction in the 1960s due to human persecution and the impact of pesticides in the food chain. With the benefit of stronger legislation and listed species protection, these birds have recovered in their natural strongholds and have now expanded into many urban areas. Just like the urban fox, the peregrine has found our built environment a perfect place to call home, lifelong pairs nesting in their eyries on tall structures and high-rise buildings and feeding predominantly on feral pigeons. St Mary Magdalene Church in Taunton, Somerset, found itself with a pair of peregrine falcons at the top of its 163-foot church tower earlier this year and quickly turned to naturalist and ecologist, Michael Leigh-Mallory, to lead the Taunton Peregrine Project. Monitor Birds Behavior Working with Coomber Security Systems, a total of five Hikvision cameras were installed to monitor the bird’s behavior, with all the video feeds wirelessly transmitted to a Hikvision NVR and 4K monitor within the church. Located in the heart of Somerset’s county town, St Mary Magdalene can trace its history to the early eighth century when Christianity was established in Taunton. Since the 12th century, the church has been built mainly of sandstone and this ancient structure provided the first challenge for the installation team as no drilling or permanent fixing to the listed building’s structure is now allowed. The second challenge to the team: placing all five cameras at a height of more than 160 feet within the confines of the church tower Highest Point Possible Naturally, the birds chose the highest point possible to establish their perch, providing the second challenge to the team: placing all five cameras at a height of more than 160 feet within the confines of the church tower and in positions that would allow the Peregrine Project to observe the widest possible range of behaviours, including in-flight as they arrived and departed the site. Finally, the ornithologists were determined that the monitoring activities should not disturb the birds. This meant locating the NVR and 4K monitor at ground level at the opposite end of the church. Comprehensive Coverage Coomber Security Systems took on the task of designing and installing the bespoke surveillance system, using Hikvision PoE Switches to provide power and data handling for all five IR-equipped cameras that were sited on the tower. The three 4K Vari-focal bullet cameras were mounted on wooden poles and then strapped to the tower to overcome the prohibition on making any permanent change to the church structure. Between the three feeds, the project team can see the birds in the air arriving at and departing from the tower, together with comprehensive coverage of the nest box that they installed in the hope that the birds would be encouraged to breed in the future. A Ubiquiti AC Nano wireless bridge was used to create a secure connection between the top of the tower and the far end of the church Impacting Natural Behavior The Project’s observation team also capture video and sound from a 4MP Mini Dome IP camera mounted within the nest box and a small 2MP PTZ camera mounted at the top of the tower to capture all round views, and to ensure the birds are not disturbed, a Ubiquiti AC Nano wireless bridge was used to create a secure connection between the top of the tower and the far end of the church. This means the video and sound from the cameras can be recorded and monitored 24/7 without impacting the natural behavior of the falcons. Providing Valuable Information According to Michael Leigh-Mallory, Project Leader of the Taunton Peregrine Project, “With two months of operation under its belt, the new system has been providing 24-hour coverage of the falcon pair, including highly-resolved images of the peregrines flying in to the perch with their prey.” “Despite the difficult and potentially hazardous installation on the ancient building, and the use of an unorthodox mounting system that puts the cameras in very exposed positions, the 4K video from the IP bullet cameras is of amazing quality both day and night. The Hikvision equipment has recorded ground-breaking images of a wide range of behaviours, including nocturnal hunting, and all in incredible definition. These 4K images are most probably a first for peregrine observation in the UK. What’s more, this unique 4K footage has been providing valuable information to external Peregrine experts, like Ed Drewitt, naturalist, broadcaster and writer of the book Urban Peregrines.” The team plan to raise more money so the views of the birds can be live streamed to the Internet via their web-site Ground-Breaking Images An Open Day was held at the end of March to allow the local community to see for themselves the result of their donations that fund the entire project. In addition, Somerset Ornithological Society and the BBC Springwatch team have shown great interest in the communities’ efforts and a large following is emerging on social media. Now, the team plan to raise more money so the views of the birds can be live streamed to the Internet via their web-site, which is currently under construction. Michael Leigh-Mallory, Project Leader of the Taunton Peregrine Project, said, “The Hikvision cameras have provided images of incredible definition! We have been able to record ground-breaking images of nocturnal hunting and a wide range of behavior. The 4K images are probably a first for peregrine observation in the UK and this unique 4K footage has been providing valuable information to Peregrine experts like Ed Drewitt, naturalist, broadcaster and writer of the book Urban Peregrines.” Results Ground-breaking 4K images of nocturnal hunting and a wide range of behavior for the first time. 2 months of uninterrupted operation with cameras operating in very exposed positions. Difficult and potentially hazardous installation on ancient building. Very satisfied End User. HIKVISION Equipment DS-2CD2685FWD-IZS - 8 MP WDR Vari-focal Network Bullet Camera 8MP Ultra HD high resolution 1/2.5" Progressive Scan CMOS Triple stream - Max. 3840 × 2160@20fps 2.8-12mm motorized vari-focal lens Up to 50m IR distance H.265+ compression IP67 weatherproof 120dB Wide Dynamic Range 3D Digital Noise Reduction Supports on board storage (up to 128GB)  DS-2CD2542FWD-IS - 4MP WDR Mini Dome Network Camera 4MP high resolution Full HD1080p video Dual stream 2.8mm/4mm/6mm fixed lens 120dB Wide Dynamic Range 3D Digital Noise Reduction 3-axis adjustment Up to 10m IR range H.264+ compression IP67 weather-proof protection DS-2DE4A220IW-DE - 2MP Network IR mini PTZ Camera 1/2.8" Progressive Scan CMOS 1920 x 1080 20X Optical Zoom WDR 3D intelligent positioning function Up to 50m IR range DS-7616NI-K2/16P NVR –Embedded Plug & Play 4K NVR Third-party network cameras supported Up to 8 Megapixels resolution recording Support 1-ch HDMI, 1-ch VGA, HMDI at up to 4K(3840x2160) resolution 8/16-ch network cameras can be connected with 80M/160M incoming bandwidth Up to 2 SATA interfaces Plug & Play with up to 16 independent PoE network interfaces Support dual-OS to ensure high reliability of system running Support various VCA detection alarm and VCA search Support H.265/H.264/MPEG4 video formats 4K Monitor

Five leading manufacturers specializing in secure technologies have teamed to provide safety and security at the 72nd Annual Little League Baseball World Series (LLBWS) for the players, coaches and fans. For the first time BriefCam and Ruckus Networks, an ARRIS Company are joining Axis Communications, Lenel and Milestone Systems to provide video surveillance systems, access control and network connectivity for the 10-day tournament. The five technology providers have come together to develop a comprehensive security strategy for the 16 Little League Baseball teams and worldwide fans participating in the World Series from August 16-26, 2018, in South Williamsport, Pa. The Little League International officials strive to promote a fun, exciting experience for players and fans, while ensuring the highest level of security during the games. BriefCam’s groundbreaking video content analytics platform detects, tracks, extracts and identifies people, objects, their attributes and behavior from raw video feedsProviding Safety And Security To Visitors “Each year, hundreds of thousands of people come out to Williamsport to enjoy their time at the Little League Baseball World Series,” said Jim Ferguson, Little League Assistant Director of Risk Management and Safety. “Along with the safety of all of 16 participating teams, our top priority during the Little League Baseball World Series is to provide a safe and secure facility for visitors from all over the world to enjoy. Thanks to these providers, we can continue to offer all of our fans, players, and volunteers a fun and safe location to create lifelong memories and exciting experiences during their visit.” BriefCam, one of the newest contributors, is providing the company’s latest video content analytics platform to this year’s Little League Baseball World Series state-of-the-art security solution. BriefCam’s groundbreaking video content analytics platform detects, tracks, extracts and identifies people, objects, their attributes and behavior from raw video feeds. By presenting objects that have appeared at different times within the video simultaneously, BriefCam enables security operators to review hours of video in minutes.  Comprehensive Video Surveillance And Analytics Solution For the LLBWS, this means if children and parents are accidentally separated during the event, the security team will be well equipped to potentially locate and reunite related parties more quickly. Additionally, BriefCam’s solution can be used to optimize operations such as attendee and vehicle traffic flows to ensure a safe and positive guest experience. The company’s video content analytics platform aligns with Axis IP-based digital video surveillance cameras and Milestone’s XProtect video management software for a comprehensive video surveillance, management and analytics solution. The T300s—the Ruckus flagship outdoor APs—ensure top-notch performance for high-definition video over Wi-Fi, enabling every video stream to be captured “As this global event draws families from far and wide, it is important to further enable comprehensive safety, security and operational efficiencies,” said Stephanie Weagle, CMO, BriefCam. “Our technology will be on-hand to support the Little League in their endeavor to extract actionable intelligence from their video surveillance in the event that parents or family members need assistance in finding each other or streamlining operations to ensure that all involved have a great experience.” Top-notch Performance For HD Video Over Wi-Fi Ruckus Networks, the second newest technology contributor, is providing a wireless mesh backhaul to deliver connectivity to both the scoreboards and surveillance cameras. Ruckus is deploying its T300 access points (APs), along with its SmartZone 100 management controller, to ensure seamless connectivity for the outdoor environment. The T300s—the Ruckus flagship outdoor APs—ensure top-notch performance for high-definition video over Wi-Fi, enabling every video stream to be captured. For the LLBWS, this capability allows all the video cameras in the stadium to be constantly streaming, ensuring maximum safety and security at all times. “In a digitally connected world, safety and security are critical elements that need to be part of every network,” said Bart Giordano, Vice President, Worldwide Business Development and Cloud, Ruckus Networks, an ARRIS company. “We are teaming with other companies to bring the most innovative security capabilities to the games so that every family can feel safer onsite. Our robust wireless technologies ensure every video stream is captured from all cameras, at all times, helping make this annual event fun and secure.” The 4K resolution provides four times as much detail as the standard HDTV 1080p resolution, improving the video quality significantly 4K Resolution For Improved Video Quality Axis Communications, the market leader in network video, has been a technology provider with Little League for nine years and is providing AXIS Q6128-E PTZ Network Camera, a compact, outdoor-ready PTZ dome, offering 4K resolution at 30 frames per second, 12x optical zoom and autofocus. The 4K resolution provides four times as much detail as the standard HDTV 1080p resolution, improving the video quality significantly. Both of these cameras will be integrated into the scoreboard in Lamade Stadium. "Each year we look forward to evolving the security system by leveraging the newest technology in the industry," said Robert Muehlbauer, Senior Manager, Business Development Partner Ecosystem, Axis Communications, Inc. "The total solution provides a comprehensive system to help keep players and fans safe so they can enjoy America’s favorite pastime, baseball. We are proud to collaborate with all of the companies involved and to continue our work with Little League Baseball.” OnGuard Access Control Platform And XProtect VMS For the 20th consecutive year, Lenel, a provider of advanced security systems, will provide its OnGuard access control platform. Players, coaches, officials, staff and vendors are all enrolled in the system and receive a photo identification badge providing access to predetermined areas. The system is integrated with the Axis surveillance cameras so when someone presents a badge at one of the access card readers, live video and the cardholder’s photo are displayed on a nearby monitor, allowing a guard to authenticate the identification. Technology provider Milestone is providing XProtect Corporate video management software, which is installed along with a Milestone Husky M500A NVR as one of the recording servers Technology provider Milestone is providing XProtect Corporate video management software, which is installed along with a Milestone Husky M500A NVR as one of the recording servers. The XProtect Smart Client interface includes advancements in system performance by leveraging the processing power of NVIDIA GPU cards for measurable hardware acceleration, enabling more concurrent High Definition or Ultra HD video streams on high-resolution monitors. Easy Access To Video The LLBWS is also using the XProtect Smart Wall for viewing and sending pertinent video to monitors around the facilities, including a mobile command center. BriefCam is embedded in the XProtect Smart Client with a dedicated screen tab for easy access to search hours of video in just minutes. “It’s truly inspiring to see the open platform community of partners coming together for this great international family event, ensuring safety through ongoing technology innovations,” said Jeremy Scott, Strategic Alliances Manager, Americas, Milestone Systems. “Every year brings new winners - on the field, in the stands and behind the scenes.”