CCTV surveillance

Videonetics, an international provider of AI & DL powered Unified Video Computing Platform development company, has announced a distribution partnership with Spectra Innovations Pte Ltd, Singapore, to offer their complete array of products and solutions across the South East Asia and ASEAN region. Headquartered in Singapore, Spectra Innovations Pte Ltd has an established network of certified channel partners, system integrators, training and support specialists in South East Asia and ASEAN countries. Through this partnership, Spectra is all set to offer Videonetics AI & DL powered Unified Video Computing Platform encompasses Intelligent VMS, Artificial Intelligence & Deep Learning Video Analytics, Intelligent Traffic Management System and Facial Recognition Software. Video Analytics solutions We are pleased to enter into this value-added distribution relationship with Spectra" On the appointment, Avinash Trivedi, VP – Business Development, Videonetics expressed, “We are pleased to enter into this value-added distribution relationship with Spectra and introduce our indigenous offerings in the ever-growing markets of SEA and ASEAN region. As ranked amongst the top 5 VMS providers in Asia, Videonetics continues to increase focus and investment globally." "I am assured that Spectra’s remarkable management capabilities and extensive partner network, combined with Videonetics’s state-of-the-art solutions will cater to growing demand for truly unified solutions in different verticals such as safe & smart city, aviation, transportation, critical infrastructures, heavy engineering, healthcare, education and retail to name a few.” Affordable and deployable “Spectra is pleased to be appointed as a Regional Distributor of Videonetics. With the adoption of CCTV gaining acceptance beyond just surveillance into sectors such as garbage management under Smart City initiative, loss prevention applications in retail, logistics and warehouses, productivity improvements in factories to name a few, the need for VMS and Video Analytics solutions are becoming affordable and deployable in mass scale today” said Kanwal Sahney, Managing Director, Spectra Innovations Pte Ltd.

Tavcom Training, globally renowned provider of accredited security systems training courses and part of the Linx International Group - is celebrating its 25-year anniversary with the opening of a state-of-the-art training center of excellence. Developed in partnership with CrossConnect Training, the center in Shipley, West Yorkshire is ideally located to meet all the training needs of the many security professionals in the North of England. Security systems training courses Expansion of Tavcom is in response to unprecedented demand for our accredited courses" With two world-class teaching facilities in the UK (Hampshire and West Yorkshire) and a growing portfolio of bitesize and online interactive courses, Tavcom is making it easier for security professionals at all levels, to access its award-winning and internationally recognized security systems training courses. Managing Director of the Linx International Group, David Gill, said, “This significant investment and expansion of Tavcom is in response to unprecedented demand for our accredited courses, by installers the length and breadth of England.” The new center boasts excellent road and public transport links to and from Liverpool, Manchester, Warrington, Huddersfield, Bradford, Leeds, Harrogate, Doncaster, Darlington and Middlesbrough. Technical security training expert David Gill adds, “As part of Linx’s commitment to professionalism and the raising of standards across the industry, we need to make the right training available, accessible and affordable to all. This important new center replicates the class-leading facilities at our facility in Hampshire that has established Tavcom as the premier provider of technical security training in the UK, for more than 25 years.” Technical Director at CrossConnect Training, Geoff Crossley commented, “We at CrossConnect Training are really looking forward to the opening of our new training center, and excited by the opportunity to work closely with Tavcom Training to provide a high quality learning experience to delegates from across the Northern Britain.” BTEC Level 3 courses Practical CCTV installation Both future-proofed centers are fully equipped with all the technical infrastructure and equipment (Tavcom is vendor agnostic) required to deliver Tavcom’s portfolio of more than 100 training courses. The new center will welcome students in June and July, when it runs its hugely popular BTEC Level 3 courses Practical CCTV installation and Practical Intruder Alarms. In addition to its extensive facilities and training programmes in the UK, Tavcom also operates internationally through a purpose-built training center in Singapore and courses hosted in Africa and the Middle East.

St Albans based Sandringham School has recently spent nearly £8m in new build and renovation of existing accommodation to create a world class learning campus. As an outstanding rated school, its aim is to become a world class educational facility where students receive the best possible education. Amthal partners Sandringham school to maintain its high profile intruder alarm systems and secure the entire campus site. Former pupil Luke Allam, is now responsible for his old school to carry out necessary testing, while ensuring no disruption to learning timetables. Develop and enhance campus site Says Paul Chandler, Campus Manager at Sandringham School: “We are very proud of our learning environment and are constantly looking at ways to develop and enhance our campus site. At all times, we are very conscious of our duty of care in safeguarding our students, and staff to ensure they can learn and teach in a safe environment.” “Site security is constantly under review and firmly based on the principles of risk assessment. Here, Amthal has proven themselves as an ideal partner, always available to offer advice and proactive in arranging work and maintenance schedules around school learning. Of course, we were delighted to welcome back Luke and to see his career progression.” Intruder alarm systems Our long-term relationship with Sandringham School demonstrates our preferred approach to working with clients" Luke Allam, Apprentice Engineer at Amthal Fire & Security added: “It was great to be back at Sandringham, a school that I enjoyed attending and provided me with so many critical skills to take into my adult life. Now working there as an Apprentice and putting into practice all that I have learned as an Engineer to maintain the intruder alarm systems, means so much, knowing I am helping to protect what’s precious to so many students and staff on site.” Paul Rosenthal, Amthal Sales Director added: “What our long-term relationship with Sandringham School demonstrates is our preferred approach to working with our clients, in true partnership. Nowhere is this more important than in the education sector, where security is critical to maintain as a duty of care to all who attend, whether to teach, learn or visit.” Electronic fire & security solutions “As a special factor for Sandringham, is our ability to showcase our core belief in Apprenticeship schemes, to nurture talent and allow each individual the responsibility to develop their own job-specific skills. Luke has settled into his role and works alongside our more experienced staff, out on sites such as his old school, as often as possible to put his learning skills into practice.”  Independently owned, Amthal Fire & Security is dedicated to satisfying end user needs for security safety and convenience offering design, installation, service and remote monitoring of advanced electronic fire & security solutions, including intruder, fire, access and CCTV systems. Amthal Fire & Security is accredited by the Security Systems and Alarm Inspection Board (SSAIB) United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS) and British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE).

Smart R Distribution has announced it will be exhibiting at The Security Event which takes place at the NEC Birmingham on 28-30 April 2020. Simon Shawley, who recently joined Smart R Distribution in a business development role, says the exhibition will provide an ideal opportunity for the company to formally launch its new CCTV division. “Many of the visitors to The Security Event will know of Smart R Distribution as a specialist distributor of Access Control, with specialist knowledge in cards and reader technology, but we have in fact been supporting CCTV products for some time.” “However, with both product sets now almost routinely being specified for the same projects, we believe the time is right for us to significantly increase our CCTV activities and work with installers and system integrators to generate new sales opportunities.” Value-added distributor We are looking forward to presenting many of these products to existing and potential new customers" Smart R Distribution is confident that by combining the industry knowledge of founding directors, Derek Clenshaw and Neill Williams with Simon’s extensive CCTV expertise, it will establish clear blue water between itself and other distributors by adding real value to the supply chain. The company takes pride in having built an enormously talented and highly trained pre and post sales team who are just one phone call away when installers and system integrators are looking for objective, professional advice on how to ‘put the right pieces together’ in terms of integrating Access Control and CCTV. Hanwha Wisenet L camera range In addition to distributing and offering first line technical support for an extensive range of door entry and access control solutions from many of the electronic security industry’s manufacturers, Smart R Distribution is a distributor of Vivotek CCTV products. It is also one of just two UK distributors who are able to supply the keenly priced Wisenet L camera range manufactured by Hanwha Techwin. “We are looking forward to presenting many of these products to existing and potential new customers who visit stand G70,” said Simon. “We will also take the opportunity to raise awareness of the new range of CCTV products from Comelit.”

Dahua Technology, a video-centric smart IoT solution and service provider, successfully launched its brand new solution for smart night surveillance, the WizSense Full-Color Series Network Camera. Unparalleled night surveillance This new camera series embraces Dahua Technology’s four major technological innovations: Large Aperture Lens - Features F1.0 super large aperture that collects 2.5 times amount of light compared with F1.6 aperture, creating brighter image. High-Performance Sensor - Offers 30% photosensitive capacity increase through its larger sensors. Advanced ISP - Dahua ISP 4.0 greatly improves Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and color reproduction. Warm Light - The weighted radiance of blue light is 40% below European Union standards, which presents lower light pollution and less harm to human eyes. With these four technological advancement, Dahua Full-Color Camera delivers unparalleled performance at night. It achieves 24/7 monitoring by capturing vivid details and presenting colored images in low light conditions. General IR Camera vs. Full-Color Camera At the same time, it provides warm and smart auxiliary light to guarantee image clarity and quality even in total darkness. Thanks to its built-in AI functions, higher monitoring accuracy at night is guaranteed. Dahua Technology delivers both SMD and Full-Color for night surveillance advantages to its customers. On one side, SMD can easily process visual information collected by Full-Color Camera. On the other side, the Full-Color Camera significantly increases the accuracy of SMD at night (see table below). SMD Accuracy In addition, Dahua SMD has the ability to effectively filter false alarms triggered by pets, leaves, branches, raindrops, lights and other irrelevant objects, and only focus on real threats, human and vehicle. SMD Accuracy at Night Product Human Accuracy Vehicle Accuracy Traditional Camera ≥90%  ≥90% Full-Colour Camera ≥98% ≥98% *Figures are affected by different lab conditions. Utilizing the two advanced technologies, Dahua WizSense Full-Color Camera can accommodate a wide range of application scenarios, such as museums, cinemas, factories, villas, schools, etc. Users no longer need to worry about the high cost of patrolling or leaving their property unguarded at night. This solution is fully capable of meeting the demands of ordinary users, delivering a safer and cost-effective solution for night surveillance.

The new open and modular video system platform MOBOTIX 7 changes the way video surveillance and video analytics are used. With an ever increasing portfolio of hardware, software and intelligent solutions, MOBOTIX applications are not only solutions for current requirements but also scalable for the future needs of various industries. MOBOTIX 7 video system platform The main areas of focus are the utilities, energy and mining industries. MOBOTIX 7 is the latest addition to the MOBOTIX family and enables deep learning and AI tools in addition to the standard for which MOBOTIX is known; reliability and performance. MOBOTIX sets new standards in the market - Extremely robust, extremely sensitive, and incredibly secure  The MOVE models, the proven Mx6 and the new MOBOTIX 7 series cover all industry requirements, from high-quality industry standard to AI-based IoT video systems developed for innovative and future applications. MOBOTIX sets new standards in the market - Extremely robust, extremely sensitive, and incredibly secure - Beyond Human Vision. Need for reliable, sustainable solutions With complex applications needed in utilities, mining, energy and treatment plants not to mention oil and gas, the need for powerful, reliable and sustainable solutions is more important than ever. Whether it is due to Health and Safety, cost management, efficiency, asset recovery or just simply security MOBOTIX can deliver in any environment to any standard. The robust MOBOTIX video systems 'Made in Germany' are designed to reliably cope with the extremely demanding external influences in the energy, utility and mining sectors: they can withstand even the most extreme conditions over a long period of time. Highly sensitive optics, thermal sensors, infrared emitters and intelligent apps master the most difficult optical conditions, such as fog, haze and darkness. Preventing unauthorized access and elementary damage "The cameras' Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) average service life is 80,000 hours (> 9 years)," explains Hartmut Sprave, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of MOBOTIX AG. "We offer exactly the right overall solutions that are tailored to the respective company in the industry." Critical infrastructure must be secured at all times. Intelligent MOBOTIX video systems recognize dangers before they can spread and with their early fire detection Thermographic solutions, preventative measures can be taken. Cybersecure video surveillance solutions For MOBOTIX, a complete solution does not only mean covering today's needs" "For MOBOTIX, a complete solution does not only mean covering today's needs. We demand that our solutions are future-proof and offer our customers from the utilities, energy and mining industries comprehensive, robust and at the same time sensitive and cybersecure video surveillance solutions that help them to protect their systems, their employees and the environment and to meet future requirements," emphasizes Thomas Lausten, Chief Executive Officcer (CEO) of MOBOTIX AG. All industries and verticals have been subject to cyber-attacks. This is why MOBOTIX solutions, which are as robust as they are intelligent, have strict cyber security protocols which are constantly being increased to maintain the highest level of security we can offer. MOBOTIX only uses powerful and high-quality electronic components. This principle is consistently applied right into the digital world. Cyber security is a top priority at MOBOTIX and is strictly adhered and maintained through the MOBOTIX Cactus Concept. MOBOTIX IoT cameras for enhanced data security MOBOTIX cameras are high-performance computers with eyes and focus on data security and protection. The entire video analysis - and optionally also the recording - takes place in the camera. The self-sufficient IoT cameras transmit images - securely encrypted end-to-end to the highest standards The self-sufficient IoT cameras transmit images - securely encrypted end-to-end to the highest standards - to the network only when relevant events occur. Transmitting less data also means fewer opportunities for cyber-attacks. Edge computing eliminates the need for central video servers and recording devices. CNPP certification for enhanced cyber security MOBOTIX has been certified for cyber security by the internationally renowned French testing institute CNPP (Centre National de Prévention et de Protection) as the first European manufacturer in CCTV as well as Secure by Default from the UK and also penetration tested by SYSS in Germany. MOBOTIX is also committed to data security in compliance with the German Data Protection Act (DSGVO). Both access rights and camera settings can be adjusted according to the application and sensitivity. MOBOTIX cameras are 100% ‘Made in Germany’ for the highest possible cyber security reliability.

ISC West, the world's largest security industry trade show, is just around the corner. This in-person show gathered more than 1,000 manufacturers and over 30,000 visitors from all over the world in 2019. On top of that, more than 200 brands exhibited at ISC West for the first time. This year's event promises to be just as exciting, if not more so. Let’s overview some leading security trends in video management systems development, and what's worth your time and attention at ISC West 2020. AI analytics Emerging two or three years ago, the AI-based video analytics market is experiencing a boom in growth. The prototypes and ideas displayed at ISC West 2019 could This year's event promises to be just as exciting, if not more soalready be part of a functioning system today. There's a lot of hype around this new trend. So, if you're looking for solutions for your needs, it is important to be able to tell the difference between technologies that work and marketing bluster. To do that, you have to understand what today's AI-based analytics (also often referred to as a neural network, deep learning, or machine learning) can and can't do. Let's start with what AI can't do in video surveillance. It can't analyze the sequence in which events occur or understand the 'logic' of what's happening in the scene. In other words, there's no such thing as a 'suspicious behavior detection tool'. Nevertheless, neural networks are really good at recognizing and classifying objects. For instance, they can distinguish humans from vehicles, vehicles from other moving objects, and cyclists from pedestrians. Neural network trackers This technology is primarily used as a neural network tracker or object tracker that can identify and track objects of a specific type. Usually, it's applied to complex scenes with a large amount of non-relevant details where a classic tracker would drown in false alarms. The neural tracker can be used to detect people in dangerous areas at production facilities, cyclists riding on pedestrian lanes, or poachers trying to sneak into a nature preserve. Neural networks are really good at recognizing and classifying objectsObject identification function can be used for other site-specific tasks, such as detecting people without a helmet or a high-visibility vest at facilities where those are required by safety regulations. It can also be used to detect fire and smoke in open spaces, or at big premises with high ceilings or active air circulation, where common fire alarm systems can't be used or may go off too late. Behavior analytics  Behavior analytics is another field of analytics based on artificial neural networks. Even if recognizing suspicious or inappropriate behavior is nearly impossible, it can detect risky situations based on human postures, such as an active shooter pose, raised arms, crouching, or man down. In addition to that, AI has been successfully used to perform facial and license plate recognition for quite some time now. Although these systems aren't new, their recognition quality improves each year. Looking for solutions? You'll definitely find some interesting and new options from developers specializing in VMS and modular AI analytics at ISC West 2020. Even if recognizing suspicious or inappropriate behavior is nearly impossible, AI can detect risky situations based on human postures Smart search The ability to perform a quick, flexible search in a video archive is one of the most important features of a video surveillance system. In many ways, it's even more AI has been successfully used to perform facial and licence plate recognition for quite some time nowimportant than real-time monitoring itself. Constantly keeping an eye out for what's happening onsite is the security service's job. Medium- to large-sized companies usually have that kind of department. Meanwhile, lots of small businesses and households use video footage to investigate accidents, resolve conflicts, or analyze employee's work. They generally don't need real-time monitoring, but video search is a crucial element. The most basic search tools offer an interface that enables easy access to recorded video and event-based search (from video analytics, detectors, etc.). Smart systems with forensic search features that allow the user to set criteria enhance the system's search capabilities even more. How it works  VMS analyzes the video as it is recorded and saves the resulting metadata to a database. In the most basic case, the metadata contains information about motion in the scene as well as the moving object's coordinates. When searching, you can select an area of interest within the frame and take a quick look at all video segments containing motion in this area. More advanced systems save the parameters of moving objects, such as their size, color, motion speed and direction. TThe ability to perform a quick, flexible search in a video archive is one of the most important features of a video surveillance systemYou'll quickly find what you're looking for by setting more precise criteria. The first VMS with forensic search features appeared in the early 2010s. Since then, a growing number of users and VMS developers have recognized the importance of these tools. More and more manufacturers enrich their products with forensic search features, starting from basic search by motion detection. Integrating search functions with AI Recently, search technologies have gone even further by integrating search functions with AI analytics. Some systems are capable to recognize all faces and number plates captured by cameras and save them to the database. You can quickly find all videos containing an image of a person or a car just by searching a photo or a number plate across multiple camera archives at a time. One usage scenario for these systems can be seen in law enforcement deploying them to find suspects using CCTV cameras around the city. Another option for integrating smart search and AI is searching by criteria based on a neural network tracker. When you use it, you can set object's size, color, motion speed and direction in the scene, as well as object's type (such as a human or a vehicle). So, if you need to find out when a red car appeared in the surveillance area, the system will show you only red cars while ignoring other objects like people in red clothes. This technology lets you find what you're looking for even faster. If you or your clients use VMS primarily to record video, be sure to ask the manufacturers you'll talk to at the show what search capabilities they offer. More advanced systems save the parameters of moving objects, such as their size, color, motion speed and direction Hardware AI acceleration High CPU resource consumption is one of the hardest challenges that stem from implementing a neural network–based video analytics system. This significantly decreases the number of cameras that can be connected to a server that hosts AI analytics. It also makes the system much more expensive. AI technology lets you find what you're looking for even fasterThe solution is to use AI accelerators. GPUs and dedicated accelerator cards are used on servers to provide hardware acceleration for the neural networks' workload. These devices are mostly manufactured by Intel and NVIDIA. Intel also offers the OpenVINO™ toolkit, a software package for developers that helps distribute workload between CPU, GPU, and accelerators as effectively as possible using all available resources. New solutions Due to AI's growing popularity, lots of minor microchip manufacturers became interested in developing neural accelerator chips. The healthy competition will work in the market's favor, serving to stimulate tech development and cut prices. New solutions in the field were on display at ISC West 2019; they'll definitely be present at ISC West again in 2020. Developers specializing in VMS and modular AI video analytics should absolutely check these out. But users should understand that it's impossible to build a cost-effective video surveillance system with significant number (10–20 and more) of AI analytics channels without using neural accelerators. That said, various accelerator models may significantly differ in price and power consumption. So, when you talk to developers specializing in VMS and AI analytics modules, ask what accelerator makes and models they support. In conclusion Whether you're an integrator looking for interesting VMS offers for clients or an end-user searching for solutions to your own tasks, check out what AI analytics can do. This sector is developing very fast and is continuously introducing new features that may be just what you're looking for. Incorporating forensic search in recorded video footage is key to building an effective video surveillance system for users, and important to creating a unique product offering for integrators. Needless to say, you can't build a cost-effective video surveillance system without using CPU resources wisely. If a system's functionality completely aligns with what you're looking for, ask what neural accelerator hardware it supports to correctly estimate the cost of your video servers.

Security managers, installers and integrators look into a wide variety of factors when selecting a remote video monitoring receiving center to provide continued real-time surveillance of their sites. But there’s one factor which isn’t often taken into consideration, when it really should be. That’s the welfare of the video surveillance operators who are tasked with responding to alarms and ensuring on-site incidents are dealt with appropriately. The fact is, in most UK monitoring center those operators are working extremely long hours: typically 12-hour shifts, often four days in a row. The cumulative effect of that regular extreme shift pattern can be a level of fatigue which is detrimental to the performance of the operators, as well as to their own physical health and mental wellbeing. The result is a reduction in effectiveness of client video security systems. If the operators are compromised when it comes to clear decision-making, the entire monitoring operation suffers. The central aspects of concentration and alertness I’ve worked in monitoring centers for most of my adult life, starting just out of school. When I had the opportunity to begin my own video surveillance and security alarm most In UK monitoring centers, those operators are working extremely long hours: typically 12-hour shifts, often four days in a rowmonitoring center with my business partner Andy Saile, we were clear that operator welfare was a priority. After all, the operator’s job is literally to be alert and responsive, so why would we want to do anything to detract from that? That’s certainly not the case at all remote monitoring centers, though. The vast majority follow the 12-hour shift template, usually in four days on, four off patterns. Anyone who has done any job knows that at the end of a 12-hour shift, fatigue kicks in, and the ability to focus diminishes. That’s particularly the case in roles where concentration and alertness are central to the job. For a video surveillance operator in a monitoring center, fatigue starts to affect the ability to work effectively during the stretch between 9 and 12 hours. That’s the danger period. If an operator misses a criminal incident because of fatigue, that means the security system the client is relying on is not working. The operator is the link between the technology and the police. They are a key component of the whole system.   If an operator misses a criminal incident because of fatigue, that means the security system the client is relying on is not working Government guidance After working in remote video monitoring centers and experiencing what we considered both good and bad practice, when Andy and I established our business, we were clear that our operators would work in shifts that were no longer than nine hours at most. This delivers the best results for our customers and our staff. Our feeling was backed up by UK government guidance on designing video surveillance control rooms. The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure has produced a detailed publication called 'Human factors in video surveillance control rooms: A best practice guide'. This publication says: “12-hour shifts, although common in many settings, rIf the operators are compromised when it comes to clear decision-making, the entire monitoring operation suffersepresent a greater risk to health and performance than 8 hour shifts in terms of higher perceptions of workload, fatigue and stress, risk of more errors and accidents, and higher health risks.” Negative impacts on health and wellbeing It further says: “Research confirms that the interruption of circadian rhythms (the 24 hour natural bodily cycle) by shift work can have a negative impact on both general wellbeing and physical health (short and long term), as well as on performance due to general fatigue (i.e. an increased likelihood of errors). Shift-patterns are often designed to meet commercial and operational requirements, but serious consideration should be given to minimizing negative effects on health and well-being by the use of appropriate shift patterns.” The majority of our shifts cover seven or eight hours, and our operators never work more than four in a row. That allows for an average of three or four days between each batch of shifts. The idea is to avoid running staff into the ground, and that in turn makes our company more efficient and effective in the service of our clients. We’ve seen the results in practice: our operators only took four sick days in the past year. That’s four sick days in total, not per operator. It’s a Video surveillance operators have intense jobs, responsible for monitoring and responding to video surveillance and intruder alarm events from commercial and domestic propertiesremarkably low figure in the remote video monitoring industry. Full readiness Video surveillance operators have intense jobs, responsible for monitoring and responding to video surveillance and intruder alarm events from commercial and domestic properties. They liaise with the police, the customer keyholder, end users and any relevant authorities as required. Our customers are equipped with both cameras and motion sensors, which generate alarms on movement. When a movement in a specified zone occurs, the alarm is raised directly with the operator responsible for that site. The response differs from customer to customer depending on their own protocols. If there are dome cameras in place, for instance, they can be utilised to provide additional situational awareness. Escalating risks Traditional intruder alarm monitoring centers required the operator to react to an alarm by calling a keyholder, who would then respond to the incident. But remote monitoring requires concentration, focus, and deductive skills. The information required to make an informed decision isn’t immediately obvious – the The operator must be able to snap to full focus at any point over the course of their shift, and it’s tiringoperator must work out what has moved and establish its cause. There’s no one to provide extra detail. The operator’s art is in working out for themselves what is relevant information in a scene and what isn’t. That requires their full attention. When operators work four days of 12-hour shifts in a row, risks escalate as a result. The risk that the wrong decision can be made. The risk that customers or police are not notified when they should be. There is a real-world cost associated with those decisions. The operator must be able to snap to full focus at any point over the course of their shift, and it’s tiring, whether there’s an incident to respond to or whether the operator is simply prepared to act. Operator skills are diluted if their shift patterns are not considered. Why would you hire someone based on their skillset, and then work them into the ground until they’re too tired to execute those skills? Choosing a monitoring center Security systems and modern technology are crucial ingredients in protecting people and property, but they also require interpretation. A video surveillance operator is an Security systems and modern technology are crucial ingredients in protecting people and property, but they also require interpretationinvestigator and a conduit, bridging the divide between images, alarms and authorities, be they police, security guarding operations or keyholders. To run them into the ground is to diminish their ability to make intelligent decisions. It makes sense, then, to opt to work with a monitoring center which puts the welfare of its operators at the forefront of its business. Start by asking your prospective RVRC about their shift patterns. A monitoring center with respected and happy staff is a monitoring center best able to provide a fully effective service, optimising your security systems and maximizing your investment.

Protecting against fire and security risks is an essential aspect of life for people and across all sectors. However, there is an increasing expectation and demand on fire and security providers, in areas such as education. The securitisation of our world paired with the rapid speed of communication and news updates means that young people especially have the potential to be more aware of potential dangers and threats to their own safety and the safety of those around them. Education institutions are large and sometimes sprawling sites that present considerable fire and security challenges. From Kindergartens to Colleges Each education site brings distinct challenges, with differing facilities and specialties, as well as the need to maintain the capacity of students, teachers and lecturers to study, learn and teach at the high level expected.Each education site brings distinct challenges, with differing facilities and specialties While some schools and universities are based in urban areas with a mix of heritage and high rise buildings, others are sprawled across green open spaces. Some of these sites have specialised sporting facilities, while others may be focused on engineering or scientific study, with costly technical equipment. Kindergartens and primary schools have their own unique requirements. Parents expect the highest safety standards, while schools require safety in addition to efficient facilities management. The demographic of these institutions is predominantly young children, who are often unaware of or only just learning about fire safety and personal safety. This creates a huge vulnerability and an added onus on teachers to keep their students safe. Facial recognition at West Academy of Beijing In response to this need, Chubb China upgraded the closed-circuit television (CCTV) system for Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) focusing on elevating video content analytic features, including maximised CCTV monitoring, automatic police calling, and a smart search solution. Complementing this, a facial recognition system capable of finding the exact location of a student on campus within 30 seconds was added, aided by real-time remote gate operation. This integrated and advanced system resulted won the "High Quality Educational Technology Suppliers for School" award for the WAB project at the 2019 BEED Asia Future Oriented Construction of Universities and Schools Seminar. This award recognizes outstanding solution design and project execution. Parents expect the highest safety standards, while schools require safety in addition to efficient facilities management Awareness remains important at university As students graduate from kindergarten, primary school, junior and senior school, they become more aware of fire safety, relevant dangers and how to protect themselves. Unfortunately, external dangers remain. There are particularly high stakes for university campus facilities managers The safety of students in a university environment is also critical. It is often the first time young people live away from their family home and have the independence of adulthood. For this reason, there are particularly high stakes for university campus facilities managers. In the eventuality of a fire, students could be at great risk and, beyond the immediacy of physical harm, this can have serious ramifications for the reputation of an educational institution. Integrated solutions Integrated solutions must be nimble and adapted to a range of site types including campus residences, recreational areas, open spaces and lecture theatres. Chubb Sicli recently identified and overcame these challenges through the installation of a full suite of fire safety and security equipment and services at Webster University Geneva. Established in Switzerland in 1978, Webster University Geneva is an accredited American university campus that offers programs in English to students interested in undergraduate or graduate-level education.  Located in the Commune of Bellevue, just a few kilometres from Geneva's central station, the campus of Webster University Geneva includes five buildings in a park-style atmosphere. Full fire and security audit Chubb Sicli provided Webster’s fire extinguisher maintenance for over 25 years. This business relationship led to a full fire and security audit that identified the need for updates to the university’s security installation. The initial audit showed several improvements to the university’s security profile were needed.The challenge was to create and provide an effective and interconnected fire and security solution The challenge was to create and provide an effective and interconnected fire and security solution, enhancing the security of the student population and its ever-evolving needs. This included complete fire detection and intruder alarms for all five buildings, upgrades to existing CCTV systems, new video surveillance equipment and an automated fire extinguishing system in the kitchen areas. In addition to this integrated system solution, Webster University required access control for all main entrances, with the requirement that all documentation to be made available in English, because Webster is an American company. Customized solution Chubb Sicli’s quality, capability, and security expertise provided a customized solution for the unique educational establishment. Not only was the solution both tailored and integrated, the approach and planning were based on audit, fire extinguisher and emergency light maintenance, fire detection, intrusion detection, access control, video surveillance and Fire Detection. Through dedicated and integrated fire safety support, Chubb provides students and families peace of mind and security. From the moment a young child enters the education system, Chubb’s diligent and effective surveillance and fire safety systems work to prevent and protect, offering a new kind of ‘end-to-end’ service for education systems around the world.

Security’s intersection with consumer electronics is on view at CES 2020, the world’s largest technology event, Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas. The giant show features more than 170,000 attendees, 4,500 exhibitors and 1,100 industry thought-leaders featured on the CES stage. A range of technologies will be on display, from artificial intelligence (AI) to 5G, vehicle technology to AR/VR (augmented and virtual reality), robotics to home automation. Security plays a prominent role, too.The impact of this event for the smart home could be about delivering home analytics and enhancing privacy" Smart home market on the forefront The smart home market is a major focus. “For the smart home market at CES this year, we expect to see numerous announcements regarding home awareness,” says Blake Kozak, Senior Principal Analyst at IHS Markit. “This will include brands offering up additional analytics for consumer security cameras with a focus on edge-based solutions.” “The impact of this [event] for the smart home could be about delivering home analytics and enhancing privacy through cloudless architectures and new electronic door lock approaches,” he adds. An example of cloud analytics is the Resideo Home app, introduced in December, which will make whole-home monitoring possible for four critical networks of the home – water, air, energy and security. Resideo promises a “simplified and integrated smart home experience.” Video is also prominent at the show. “For cameras, we can expect to see more cameras focused on the outdoor space and possibly new form factors for video doorbells,” says Kozak. Familiar security industry brands exhibiting at CES 2020 include ADT, Ring, August Home and Yale (both part of ASSA ABLOY), Bosch and Alarm.com. Focus on Cybersecurity In 2020, companies will continue to focus on solutions for protecting consumer data" Cybersecurity is an aspect of many of the devices on display at CES. “Device security and data privacy play a key role in the adoption of connected devices,” says Elizabeth Parks, President, Parks Associates. “Consumer security concerns for smart home products will continue to be a barrier to adoption in the U.S. and Europe, and these concerns can actually intensify with device adoption-71% of U.S. smart home households are concerned about cybersecurity. In 2020, companies will continue to focus on solutions for protecting consumer data. One big area of interest is protection on the network router, providing whole home solutions, which are very appealing to consumers.” “At CES we will see the traditional players introducing new DIY (do-it-yourself) products, as well as new players announcing new product features, services, and partnerships,” Parks adds. Smart access control Smart locks will be among the security products at CES 2020. For example, PassiveBolt, a lock company, will show the Shepherd Lock, a touch-enabled smart lock with enhanced security through sensors and AI. The add-on lock converts existing locksets into touch-activated devices. Another lock manufacturer is Kwikset, whose door locks and door hardware include Wi-Fi-enabled smart locks, Bluetooth-enabled smart locks, keyless and keyway-less locks and connected home technology. Video doorbells, including industry-innovator Ring, have been a hit in the consumer market. At CES, Ring will expand the mission to make neighborhoods safer by creating a “Ring of Security” around homes and communities with a suite of home security products and services. The “Neighbors by Ring” app enables affordable, complete, proactive home and neighborhood security. Homeguard offers a range of affordable CCTV solutions for home and small business DIY CCTV demonstrations DIY security systems are another market. Homeguard is a leading DIY consumer brand offering a range of affordable CCTV solutions for home and small business, including wired and wireless CCTV kits, smart cameras, home alarm systems and wire-free HD CCTV kits. Swann Communications is also at the forefront of surveillance and monitoring with new products developments including wire-free HD cameras and doorbells, professional CCTV video surveillance systems, and 1080p full HD systems with “True Detect” heat and motion sensing. AVTECH, and subsidiary YesGo Tech, will demonstrate a compact Wi-Fi home security set, a series of special cameras with face recognition, thermal detection and license plate recognition, customized central management software and a university ID tag that is compatible with access control, OEM and ODM opportunities. Security and automation solutions D-Link’s home networking, security and automation solutions will help consumers connect, view, share, entertain, work and play. SECO-LARM, manufacturer of a Room Occupancy Monitor that shows whether a room is in use, has a line of keypads and proximity readers with built-in Bluetooth for convenient access. Another smart home security solutions provider, Climax Technology, integrates wireless security, home automation, energy management, home emergency monitoring and live visual monitoring. Personal safety mobile application Manufacturers are positioning outdoor cameras as deterrents to theft before a burglary happens" WaryMe designs and develops a personal safety mobile application to improve a user’s security in public places, schools, transports and companies by addressing major risks such as terrorism attacks, intrusion, fire and even industrial accidents. An all-in-one mobile application integrates alerting, crisis management and mass notification features. “Market players are looking to expand beyond established smart home devices like smart thermostats and networked cameras to products like smart water leak detectors, smart pet feeders, and smart air purifiers,” says Elizabeth Parks. “Manufacturers are positioning outdoor cameras as deterrents to theft before a burglary happens. This trend is part of a broader security marketing effort to extend the perimeter of home security beyond traditional home access points.” “Familiarity with smart home devices lags behind familiarity with smart entertainment products; it even lags that of smart speakers, which are quite new in the market,” adds Parks. “In 2020, we will see players working to advance the visibility and marketing around device integration, and specifically focus on use case scenarios around safety, security, and convenience, which have always been the primary drivers of adoption of these types of products.”

The healthcare market is rife with opportunity for security systems integrators. Hospitals have a continuous need for security, to update their systems, to make repairs, says David Alessandrini, Vice President, Pasek Corp., a systems integrator. “It’s cyclical. Funding for large projects might span one to two years, and then they go into a maintenance mode. Departments are changing constantly, and they need us to maintain the equipment to make sure it’s operating to its full potential.” The experience of Pasek Corp. is typical of the opportunities available for security integrator companies in the healthcare vertical. A single large hospital system can supply a dependable ongoing source of revenue to integrator companies, says Alessandrini. Hospitals are “usually large enough to provide enough work for several people for an extended length of time.”  Healthcare customers in Pasek’s service area around Boston provide the potential for plenty of work. “We have four major hospitals, each with in excess of 250 card readers and 200 cameras, in the Boston area,” Alessandrini says. One appeal of the healthcare market for North Carolina Sound, an integrator covering central North Carolina, is the breadth of possible equipment they can sell into the healthcare market, including access control and video, of course, but also other technologies, such as audio-video systems in a dining room. North Carolina Sound has also installed sound masking in some areas with waiting rooms to protect private patient information from being overheard. Locking systems on pharmaceutical doors are another opportunity. Data capture form to appear here! IP based networked video systems A facility’s IT folks must be convinced an IP solution will function seamlessly on their network Among North Carolina Sound’s customers is Wayne Memorial Hospital, Goldsboro, N.C., which uses about 340 video cameras, with 80 percent or more of them converted to IP. The hospital is replacing analog with IP cameras as budget allows, building network infrastructure to support the system. The healthcare market tends to have a long sales cycle; in general, sales don’t happen overnight or even within a month or two. In fact, the period between an initial meeting with a healthcare facility and installation of a system could stretch to a year or longer. A lot happens during that time. Healthcare systems involve extensive planning, engineering, and meetings among various departments. Physical security systems that involve the information technology (IT) department, as do most systems today, can be especially complex. Installation of networked video systems based on Internet protocol (IP) requires deep and probing discussions with the IT team about how a system fits into the facility’s network infrastructure. A facility’s IT folks must be convinced an IP solution will function seamlessly on their network. Compatible with the network They must vet the technology to ensure the devices and solutions will be compatible with the network, and must sign off on technology choices. And even more important is determining if the security system will adhere to cybersecurity requirements of the facility. A complete solution that integrates nearly any system that lives on or uses a facility’s network is ultimately what the healthcare vertical is moving toward, says Jason Ouellette, General Manager – Enterprise Access Control & Video, Johnson Controls. Healthcare security professionals are early adopters of technology, implementing the best technology available”“We are hearing more and more from customers across industries that they want to be able to use their security systems and devices for more than just security: they want added value,” says Ouellette. Many want to use access control, video surveillance and other data sources to assess their business operations and/or workflows with the goal of improving efficiency. Upgrade cost-effectively Historically, three factors have prevented many organizations from moving forward with new technologies: lack of money, proprietary systems, and the need to “rip and replace” large parts of the installed systems, says Robert Laughlin, CEO and Chairman, Galaxy Control Systems. "Today, while funding is almost always a limiting factor at some level, the progression of industry standards and ‘open’ systems has made a big positive impact on the ability of organizations to upgrade cost-effectively,” he says. Despite any obstacles, healthcare customers generally welcome new innovations. “I would say healthcare security professionals in general are early adopters of technology and like to implement the best technology available,” says Jim Stankevich, Global Manager – Healthcare Security, Johnson Controls/Tyco Security Products. “For most, rapid implementation is limited by budgets and available funding." Read parts one and three of our healthcare mini series here and here.

Hikvision and Dahua have been added to a U.S. government list of entities “reasonably believed to be involved, or to pose significant risk of being or becoming involved, in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.” In effect, inclusion on the list restricts the export of equipment to the two companies because of their alleged involvement in “human rights violations and abuses” related to a Chinese government campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, and high-technology surveillance against minority groups. Hikvision and Dahua have contracts to sell equipment that provides video surveillance capabilities in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China. The minority groups targeted are Uighurs, Kazakhs and other Muslim minorities. Hikvision and Dahua have contracts to sell equipment that provides video surveillance capabilities in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of China The decision to add Hikvision and Dahua, among 26 other “entities,” to the list was made by the United States End-User Review Committee (ERC), composed of representatives of the Departments of Commerce, State, Defense, Energy and (where appropriate) Treasury. A majority vote of the panel is required to add an entity to the list, and a unanimous vote is required to remove or modify an entity. The 26 other entities include the Chinese government’s bureau in XUAR, 18 subordinate municipal and county public security bureaus and one other subordinate institute. Specific licenses (government approval) are required for any transaction in which items are exported, reexported, or transferred (in country) to any of the entities on the list; or in which the entities act as purchaser, consignee or end user. Loosely speaking, inclusion on the list prevents Hikvision and/or Dahua from buying any component parts from U.S. manufacturers. Indirectly and more broadly speaking, the measure affords a new downside to the Dahua and Hikvision brands in the U.S. market. Anyone concerned about human rights abuses might hesitate to buy from the two companies, although the entity list does nothing to prohibit sales of the company’s products. Dahua and Hikvision statements  In a company statement, Dahua has “express[ed] strong protest to such decision, which lacks any factual basis, and call[ed] on the U.S. government to reconsider on it.”’ Indirectly and more broadly speaking, the measure affords a new downside to the Dahua and Hikvision brands in the U.S. marketThe Dahua statement continues: “As a global business entity, Dahua adheres to the business code of conduct, and follows market rules as well as international rules. Dahua is actively working to ensure our investment and business operations around the world comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Regarding the decision of U.S. government, we have actively taken various measures, and we will continue providing outstanding products and services to our customers.” Hikvision has released the following statement: “Hikvision strongly opposes [the] decision by the U.S. Government and it will hamper efforts by global companies to improve human rights around the world. Hikvision, as the security industry’s global leader, respects human rights and takes our responsibility to protect people in the U.S. and the world seriously. Anyone concerned about human rights abuses might hesitate to buy from the two companies "Hikvision has been engaging with Administration officials over the past 12 months to clarify misunderstandings about the company and address their concerns. In January 2019, Hikvision retained human rights expert and former U.S. Ambassador Pierre-Richard Prosper to advise the company on human rights compliance. Punishing Hikvision, despite these engagements, will deter global companies from communicating with the U.S. Government, hurt Hikvision’s U.S. businesses partners and negatively impact the U.S. economy.” “The U.S. Government and Department of Commerce cannot and will not tolerate the brutal suppression of ethnic minorities within China,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross in making the announcement. “This action will ensure that our technologies, fostered in an environment of individual liberty and free enterprise, are not used to repress defenseless minority populations.”

Intelligent Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors from OPTEX, global sensor manufacturer and supplier, are at the heart of a new security access control solution that is helping to protect endangered elephants at the Mount Kenya National Park in Kenya, Africa. Countering the threat of poaching Mount Kenya is the second largest mountain in Africa, and the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) listed National Park was established to protect the mountain, which is a water tower for the surrounding area and whose forest reserves and surrounding areas provide refuge for a vast array of wildlife, of which there is a large population of elephants, estimated at around 2,500. Despite the numbers, the animals are under constant threat from poachers Despite the numbers, the animals are under constant threat from poachers. The changing geography of the region and the proliferation of agricultural farms have also resulted in increased incidences of human-elephant conflict, with the elephants causing damage to the fencing and property that surround these farms when trying to re-enter the park. Elephants' access control system Instarect Limited, a security fencing solutions provider based in Nairobi, was approached by the Mount Kenya Trust – a non-profit organization running conservation projects for the forests and wildlife of Mount Kenya – to design and install a new elephant access control system within the three elephant ‘corridors’. The corridors are designed not only to keep the elephants protected but also allow them to re-enter the park safely and securely, without causing any damage to the fencing or farmland. Instarect selected OPTEX’s intelligent RLS-2020 LIDAR sensors as an integral part of the project. Solar powered gates and CCTV cameras installed In conjunction with new solar powered gates and CCTV cameras that have been installed, the RLS-2020 sensors, with a 20x20m detection range, are being utilised to detect the elephants as they approach and automatically open the gate for them. The sensors have been programmed to only detect elephants and will not open for smaller animals or humans. When the elephants trigger a gate to be opened, authorized park rangers are immediately notified via an SMS and are then able to view the CCTV cameras on their phone to check whole herd of elephants have re-entered the park safely. The rangers then send an SMS to close the gate. REDSCAN RLS-2020 sensors The new system is working well, the elephants are very intelligent and have quickly adapted to these new gates" Ebrahim Nyali, Security Solutions Designer at Instarect Limited, says “the new system is working well, the elephants are very intelligent and have quickly adapted to these new gates. They have learned to wait for the gates to open for them to re-enter the park and do not try to enter with force.” Masaya Kida, Managing Director of OPTEX EMEA, says “the REDSCAN RLS-2020 Series provides enhanced detection in even the most challenging environments and easy integration with any video security solution. These sensors are intentionally designed to create customized detection area and set a wide range of target sizes. This flexibility allows it to be used for many different and sometimes unusual applications; the elephant detection is a perfect illustration of that.” Advanced sensor technology Masaya adds, “We are pleased and proud to be chosen to work with Instarect Ltd. on this important project and that our leading sensor technology is helping to protect the elephants & reducing human wildlife conflict around the Mount Kenya National Park”. OPTEX Co., Ltd is a globally renowned manufacturer of sensing technologies for a number of sectors, ranging from security, entrance systems and factory automation to measuring instruments and transportation safety.

Revader Security has supplied a fleet of rapid redeployable CCTV cameras to Merthyr Valleys Homes, a housing association which owns and manages over 4,200 homes across Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. The Transit range of mobile cameras are ruggedized outdoor surveillance solutions which have been proven over many years to deter crime and secure the vital video evidence necessary for prosecution. The CCTV team at Merthyr Valley Homes are able to regularly reposition each camera around the locality to respond to the movement of crime hotspots, antisocial behavior, burglary and vandalism. As the units can be installed in virtually any location within minutes, only minimal planning and notice is required. Tackling issues of crime and antisocial behavior Each unit delivers live and recorded footage to the Merthyr Valley Homes control center Each unit delivers live and recorded footage to the Merthyr Valley Homes control center over a combination of wired, wireless and mobile networks and are powered by a variety of sources, including mains and battery. The mobile CCTV products were provided through Caerphilly-based Seren Fire & Security Solutions, an established supplier and installer operating across the region. Merthyr Valley Homes has gradually expanded its stock of Transit redeployable cameras following consistently positive results in tackling long-running issues of crime and antisocial behavior within local neighborhoods. Great build quality and performance Huw Powell, Anti-Social Behavior Officer at Merthyr Valley Homes said: “We have been delighted by our new mobile CCTV capability. The redeployable cameras from Revader Security really are great in terms of build quality and performance – and they have proven to be an invaluable investment.” Revader Security continue to work in partnership with Seren Fire & Security Solutions to support Merthyr Valley Homes and a variety of other clients in the public and private sector.

Revader Security has supplied its Transit mobile CCTV cameras to Argoed Community Council in Flintshire, North Wales. The cameras are operated on a daily basis by the local police, primarily for the purposes of tackling antisocial behavior and street crime. The Transit range of mobile cameras are ruggedized outdoor surveillance solutions which have been proven over many years to deter crime and secure the vital video evidence necessary for prosecution. Local police forces are actively using the fleet of mobile cameras in the Argoed and surrounding area to combat long-running issues of antisocial behavior and criminality in the community. Mobile CCTV cameras combat crime Police are able to regularly reposition each camera around the locality to respond to the movement of crime hotspots, and only minimal planning is required prior to deployment, since the units can be installed in virtually any location within minutes. Rhodri Hampson-Jones, Clerk to the Council, said, “The mobile CCTV cameras supplied by Revader Security have proven to be highly effective. I would have no hesitation in recommending them to CCTV operators seeking to combat antisocial behavior and criminality in the community.” Following successful results in the local area, Argoed Council placed repeat orders to increase their stock of mobile cameras. The council is fully supported by Revader Security’s technical team throughout the life cycle of the products.

The Links is an exclusive design twin 34-story residential construction that features great views across Emirates Golf Club. The Links residential project’s details include: Number of homes/users: 645 Number of accesses: 8 Country: United Arab Emirates End date: 2020 Promoter: Emaar CCTV surveillance and video door entry This project combines high and low rise living in the form of the East and West Towers along with three smaller buildings: Canal Apartments, Golf Apartments, and Golf Villas. There are 645 apartments in total. The amenities of the residential complex include concierge service 24/7, avant-garde video door entry and access control systems, CCTV system, swimming pools, gym, barbecue areas, playgrounds for children and parking for visitors among other facilities. DUOX 2-wires video door entry system Fermax installation at The Links is mainly composed by a complete range of DUOX 2-wires video door entry, including 8 digital video panels with extra display and keypad, a MARINE outdoor panel (1/W), 6 DUOX audio guard units, 660 VEO monitors (DUOX monitor with handset) and 1 VEO-XS monitor (DUOX hands-free monitor). The installation of FERMAX intercom solution was successfully completed by Regal Technologies Co. LLC, Fermax distributor and systems integration in the UAE.

La Cité, Ontario’s largest French-language college, recently upgraded parking lot security on its main Ottawa campus with the installation of 15 IX Series 2 video intercom assistance (or emergency) towers from Aiphone, the international manufacturer of intercom and security communication products. With the press of a button, the towers enable students, staff, and visitors to directly communicate with the campus security staff. The towers’ embedded megapixel cameras provide security officers with live video to more accurately assess and respond to a situation. The Aiphone towers are topped with bright blue lights making them easy to spot at night. They are always on and officers immediately know the location of any calls for assistance. The IX Series 2 intercoms and towers replaced units that could no longer be repaired, and that downtime could potentially endanger students or staff, said Rock Levesque, Project Manager for Ottawa-based project integrator, ComNet Networks and Security Inc. Outdoor mass notification system ComNet created an outdoor mass notification system by adding amplified horns to each Aiphone tower" “Pressing the old units’ call buttons initiated a siren that made it virtually impossible for students to hear instructions from the security staff,” he said. “Campus administrators place a very high priority on the safety of their students and staff, so the decision was made to upgrade the entire system.” To replace the sirens, ComNet created an outdoor mass notification system by adding amplified horns to each Aiphone tower. The IX Series 2 towers include embedded megapixel cameras providing sharp closeup video. Levesque said the towers’ optional CCTV arms will enable the campus to add cameras for wider parking lot views. Emergency assistance system The three-module towers feature built-in mounting hardware for power supplies or accessories and rear access panels to easily pull wire from top to bottom. The towers also feature built-in UL-Listed electrical boxes to satisfy local electrical codes. Upgrades to the emergency assistance system on the La Cite Ottawa campus will set minds at ease and help protect the thousands of students and staff who call this campus home. La Cité, opened in 1995, offers its 5,200 students 140 postsecondary programs with degrees ranging from architecture to security management. The college has its main Ottawa campus, a satellite campus in Hawkesbury, a site dedicated to constructions trades in Orleans, and a business office with classrooms in Toronto.

After seeing a continued rise in anti-social behavior, littering and dog fouling, North Tyneside Council decided to invest in a mobile CCTV van, which along with extra wardens has been used to tackle environmental offenses in public places as well as in communities and schools. The service was launched last winter by Mayor Norma Redfearn CBE, and a new team was introduced to work throughout the day, including weekends, to help catch offenders in the act. Staff are able to enforce anti-social behavior legislation, which includes issuing those who break the law with community protection notices, issue fixed penalty notices, eviction orders, and injunctions to those who are going against what the community is trying to achieve. Traveling CCTV cameras Six businesses have also been challenged about the way they dispose of their waste The traveling CCTV cameras, as supplied by vehicle safety specialists Sentinel Systems, have led to a number of successes including identifying a suspected repeat fly-tipper and uncovering 14 areas being regularly used to fly-tip. By installing a PTZ camera (pan–tilt–zoom camera), the team has been able to use the remote directional and zoom control to stop and advise 120 people about keeping their dogs on leads in designated areas and issued several fixed penalty notices to people littering or not picking up after their dogs. Six businesses have also been challenged about the way they dispose of their waste, with two of them being subsequently fined £400 each. Tackling crime hotspots Richie Mitchell, Community and Public Spaces Protection Manager at North Tyneside Council, commented, “North Tyneside is a great place to live and we have seen noticeable results since introducing the CCTV van and environmental team to the borough. The council takes issues in the community extremely seriously and is always looking to do more to tackle any crime hotspots.” Installing the cameras has benefited the community in many ways and we are very pleased" He continued, “Residents had lots of concerns around littering and dog fouling, so the new service providing on-the-spot fines and CCTV footage that can be used to help with prosecutions has really made a difference. Installing the cameras has benefited the community in many ways and we are very pleased with what we have achieved for our residents so far.” Safety camera package Sentinel’s 360-degree camera system offers drivers an enhanced view around the outside of a vehicle and can be combined with Sentinel’s four or eight-channel DVRs, allowing for up to 30 days of footage to be recorded. Inside the vehicle, a seven inch in-cab monitor is installed with high image clarity so that anything around the vehicle is always visible to the drivers. Sentinel Systems’ safety camera package can be customized to meet the individual requirements of each fleet, depending on the size and operations of each vehicle. The camera system can be created using any number of Sentinel’s systems, including forward, rear and side facing cameras for a 360° view of the vehicle’s surroundings.

2019 was a big year for the Expert Panel Roundtable. The range of topics expanded, and we had more participation from more contributors than ever before. In closing out the year of contemplative discussions, we came across some final observations to share. They can serve both as a postscript for 2019 and a teaser for a whole new year of industry conversations in our Expert Panel Roundtable in 2020.  

Public spaces provide soft targets and are often the sites of terrorist or active shooter attacks. Public spaces, by definition, require easy accessibility and unrestricted movement. Given that openness, what security technologies can provide real results? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How is technology innovation impacting the security of public spaces?

When it comes to security and to ensuring the integrity of gaming operations, today’s casino market is risk-averse. Regulations direct the required surveillance of table games and slot machines, while modern casinos are often sprawling complexes that have a variety of other risks to be addressed, too. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the challenges of the casino market relating to security and surveillance technology?