Emergency lighting

IPVideo Corporation, globally renowned manufacturer of audio/video recording, passive weapons detection systems and IOT sensor technology, was selected as a 2019 Campus Safety Best BEST Award winner in two categories- Emergency Communication Safety and Security Applications and Inspection and Detection Equipment for their HALO IOT Smart Sensor. HALO IOT Smart Sensor HALOs have been installed in school bathrooms and locker rooms across the country in K-12 institutions The HALO IOT Smart Sensor has taken off this year in response to the nationwide youth vaping epidemic. It is the only product to detect vaping with Nicotine or Marijuana (THC oil). HALOs have been installed in school bathrooms and locker rooms across the country in K-12 institutions and is moving into college dormitories. In addition to vape and smoke detection, HALO has several safety features including abnormal sound detection, chemical detection and air quality monitoring. Campus Safety Magazine and Campus Safety Conference recognized the HALO IOT Smart Sensor as an outstanding campus security product in two categories: Emergency Communication Systems and Inspection and Detection Equipment. The award was presented at the Campus Safety Conference East, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Campus Safety “We are very proud of this award and the recognition of the Campus Safety judging panel for recognizing the game changing nature of HALO” states David Antar, President of IP Video Corporation who received the award. He adds, “HALO is the missing piece for campus environments as it provides security for bathrooms, locker rooms, patient rooms and dorm rooms where you cannot put a camera. For areas that have camera visibility, the real time integrated alerts provide campus security with the other missing senses of smell and hearing in those environments.” Security and safety solutions The 2019 Campus Safety BEST Awards recognize superlative security, law enforcement, emergency management and safety solutions for K-12 campuses, institutions of higher education and healthcare organizations. All entries were judged on all aspects involved such as innovation, functionality, competitive advantages, benefits to the installer or monitoring provider, and benefits to the end user. "Campus Safety Magazine takes pride in focusing on content that helps protection professionals in the healthcare and education markets keep their students, teachers, patients, visitors, and campuses safe and secure," says Robin Hattersley Gray, executive editor of Campus Safety. IoT sensing tecnology This has been a tremendous year for the HALO product and all of its award recognition" “This has been a tremendous year for the HALO product and all of its award recognition as an industry transforming product.” IPVideo Corporation Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Rick Cadiz stated about HALO. “However, the real win for us is the customer feedback we are hearing; including putting an end to youth vaping inside schools and aiding security teams in preventing dangerous events from escalating.” HALO IOT Smart Sensor has the unique ability to provide instant IoT sensing to event-based triggers and provide security in campus privacy concern areas where traditional security cameras and solutions are not practical. Event driven analytics HALO uses multiple sensors together in a single intelligent platform to learn, analyze and create event alerts. We follow the adage that in the world of safety ‘time equals life’. HALO uses real-time event driven analytics to respond while an event is happening, greatly reducing damage to property and loss of life.   HALO has advanced audio analytics to detect sound abnormalities like glass breaking, yelling and gunshots. The air quality sensors measure things like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, chemicals such as ammonia and oxidizers as well as gas leaks. HALO’s light detection sensors are utilized for room occupancy. These are coupled with built in temperature and humidity sensors. Integration with POE lighting The additional integration with POE lighting provides unique safety measures like providing emergency directional lighting for the hearing impaired. HALO goes to a whole new level as a campus security solution by providing advanced warning related to health issues including air quality, vape or smoke detection.

Legrand | AV Residential Solutions announced its lineup for CEDIA Expo 2019, taking place September 12-14 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. In Booth 905, Chief, Da-Lite, Luxul, Middle Atlantic Products, Nuvo, On-Q, QMotion, SANUS, and Vantage will come together with smart home AV systems, networking, and infrastructure solutions designed to help integrators create amazing AV experiences for their clients. "At CEDIA Expo 2019, visitors to our booth will see how all of our brands come together in solutions vignettes making the smart home a reality — from audio, human-centric lighting, and networking systems to mounts and enclosures," said Lauren Theobald, director of marketing at Legrand | AV. "In addition, we'll be presenting new products, services and show specials, and a variety of training courses integrators can attend. It's all happening in Denver, and we can't wait to see you there." Rack-Mount Professional Series Players Nuvo's rack-mount Professional Series Players deliver dynamic, high-fidelity sound to three listening zonesAudio solutions on display at CEDIA Expo 2019 will include Nuvo's rack-mount Professional Series Players, which deliver dynamic, high-fidelity sound to three listening zones, provide built-in access to a variety of music options, and can be easily integrated into automation systems. For small, medium, and large home theaters, Nuvo will introduce its new architectural passive subwoofers and subwoofer amplifiers. The three compact single and dual subwoofers deliver a powerful, low-frequency impact, while the wall- and rack-mount amplifiers are packed with convenient features for maximum versatility. Demonstration of human-Centric lighting For lighting control, Vantage brings lighting for life with an interactive human-centric lighting (HCL) demonstration. Vantage HCL systems deliver precision dimming, color control, and tunable lighting to achieve the perfect harmony of natural and artificial light. Vantage will also highlight partnerships with leading manufacturers aimed at creating end-to-end systems that combine its control solutions with tunable light fixtures utilizing the Lumenetix araya5 light engine. Additionally, the new EasyTouch Glass Keypad Station will debut featuring powerful functionality with a sleek, contemporary design. Other lighting solutions will include On-Q's RF Smart Lighting Control. This simple, scalable system is available in both the radiant and adorne collections for a coordinated look across traditional electrical devices and smart home controls. It's easy to install, simple to setup and the new pre-written IP drivers allow seamless integration with leading home control systems from Control4, Crestron, ELAN, RTI, and URC. Qbasic+ field-Upgradeable solution Qbasic+ can be upgraded from manual to motorized in minutes without needing to change fabricsFor shading, QMotion will display its Qbasic+ field-upgradeable solution. Offering integrators the ultimate in flexibility, Qbasic+ can be upgraded from manual to motorized in minutes without needing to change fabrics or reinstall brackets, and it offers all the exclusive innovations QMotion is known for — including manual override, internal batteries and motors, and a counterbalanced design. In addition, QMotion will showcase its new fabric style, texture, and color options, including decorative light-filtering and matching room-darkening collections. Luxul brings guaranteed network performance to CEDIA Expo 2019 and will introduce a new remote cloud management solution for integrators. This new solution will be a free service to integrators managing customers' systems remotely, freeing them up from rolling a truck to service a client. In addition, its full array of routers, wireless access points, managed Gigabit switches, latest controller, and its Easy Setup App will be demonstrated. Showcasing residential power solutions Highlighted projector mounts will include Chief's new VCT series, which offers a slim design for large projectorsInfrastructure solutions include Middle Atlantic's new Forward family for its BGR Series, which is the No. 1 AV enclosure on the market. Forward is designed around an innovative new rackrail and the brand's patented universal mounting pattern, which allow the family's blank and vent panels, cable management, lighting, and other rack solutions to be quickly installed without tools. Middle Atlantic will also showcase two residential power solutions, the Select Series PDU with Racklink and the High Power DC Power Distribution Series. For home theater projection, Da-Lite will be showcasing its Parallax Pure family of ambient light rejection (ALR) surfaces featuring a microlayered optical lens system, rejecting up to 96% of ambient light in a variety of gains for standard throw and ultra-short throw projectors. Also on display, the new Parallax Stratos 1.0 ALR surface rejects 80% of ambient light with 1.0 gain for standard throw projectors and scales as high as 16 feet in one seamless sheet of fabric. Highlighted projector mounts will include Chief's new VCT series, which offers a slim design for large projectors. VCT provides unrivaled micro adjustments using Chief's tool-free Microzone adjustment to ensure accurate and reliable image registration. Advanced Full-Motion Premium TV mounts For audio accessories, SANUS will highlight its line of wireless speaker mounts, stands, and basesFeatured TV mounts will include the debut of the new SANUS Advanced Full-Motion Premium TV mounts. Inspired by the sleek look of today's TVs and high-end kitchen appliances, the Premium mounts combine a brushed metal exterior with a solid steel frame, low profile, FluidMotion design, and Steady Set functionality. For audio accessories, SANUS will highlight its line of wireless speaker mounts, stands, and bases. Also on display will be the SANUS exclusive Black Series and Chief's outdoor mounts, in-wall storage and additional mounting accessories. On-Q will be exhibiting its latest enhanced, USA-made, WiFi-ready plastic enclosures, which offer a backbone for the modern connected home by consolidating and distributing foundational wired services for video, voice, and data, while also integrating smart hubs and wireless devices to meet current and future homeowner demands. In addition, On-Q's professional HDMI and AV In-Wall Power Kits, connectivity, and other home theater solutions will be on display. At CEDIA Expo 2019, Legrand | AV will award a variety of prizes and giveaways to integrators, who can take advantage of 10-minute training sessions covering AV systems, networking, infrastructure, and other partner integration topics.

The 2019 editions of Shanghai Intelligent Building Technology (SIBT) and Shanghai Smart Home Technology (SSHT) will be held from 3 ‒ 5 September at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). Spurred by the fast development of China’s intelligent building, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) sectors, the two exhibitions are close to capacity as there has been strong demand from exhibitors to participate at the shows. Smart neighborhoods The total exhibition space is also expected to reach a record of over 28,750 sqm The concurrently held trade fairs are expected to attract over 280 renowned businesses from China and overseas, and welcome a similar number to last year’s 29,423 professional visitors. The total exhibition space is also expected to reach a record of over 28,750 sqm. Fairgoers to SIBT and SSHT will not only be treated to the usual array of smart home and building technologies and solutions, but will once again be able to visit the returning Parking China fair, while a debut ‘Shanghai Smart Office Technology’ (SSOT) feature zone will add yet another element to these growing group of exhibitions. Covering key topics such as IoT, AI, big data, robots, smart offices, smart parking, home security, HVAC, energy conservation, 5G, smart neighborhoods and smart cities, fairgoers and exhibitors alike can benefit from a one-stop market and purchasing platform which positively bring together multiple different industries. Smart parking industries On the development of SIBT, Ms Lucia Wong, Deputy General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Co Ltd said: “As SIBT welcomes its 13th edition, I must express my sincere gratitude for the unwavering support from the industry. Devoted to demonstrating cutting-edge technology and innovative products, we are looking forward to highlighting new market trends and welcoming fairgoers this September.” Ms Wong also shared her optimism on the fifth edition of SSHT, stating: “The fairs have grown alongside the market. By exploring advanced technology and top-tier products, we strive to promote the widespread implementation of smart homes.” In line with recent policies implemented by China, green building and renewable energy initiatives are being promoted in different parts of the country, while intelligent buildings have also become a common sight across cities. China’s IoT capabilities are also developing rapidly which extends to the smart building, smart office and smart parking industries. Cross-Industry cooperation Over 280 exhibitors from multiple sectors will congregate at the shows As 5G and AI technology continue to improve, smart home is now more than a fictional concept but a lifestyle that is gradually taking over traditional homes. Full smart home implementation are expected to soar in popularity with sensors becoming the epicentre of smart homes. With the rapid development of 5G technology and the enhanced applicability of AIoT and IoT operation systems, the future of home industry will be brimming with exciting possibilities. With both fairs placing a strong emphasis on ‘AI+IoT’, SIBT and SSHT will work in synergy to bring together IoT and smart building suppliers, encouraging cross-industry cooperation and communication. Over 280 exhibitors from multiple sectors will congregate at the shows including Schneider, Hisense, Ezviz, Ave Leelen, ANJUBAO, Dnake, Legrand China, SUREN, ORVIBO, Baiwei, FANTEM, HaiLin, Shuncom, KNX, EnOcean, Crodigy, A-OK, wistarmotor, HDL, Grandland, Daming Laffey, UIOT, Eastsoft, Savekey, Wintom Sun-shade, Auxdio, Sonos, aminasound, D&M, Cinemaster, Levoice, Elite, Changsha Yidai, Ningbo Hope, Bao Feng Cinema, WTi Group, ALCATEL, Dongguan Taitron, and more. Smart control systems Selected exhibitors and their innovations include: HDL - HDL showcases integrated smart control systems, one-stop solutions and equipment. New products on display include the multipurpose S10 touch screen and other smart panels. Ezviz - Concentrating on the safety-related aspects of smart living and technology, the company will demonstrate its intelligent air quality sensor with remote access and history function, as well as its video recorder with internet-connection, 360° high-speed rotation, intelligent human detection, acoustic location, and other functions. Legrand China - Legrand China will offer visitors a multitude of new smart home appliances and systems, including intelligent switches for window blinds, switch modules, gateways, smart plugs, wireless IR transmitters, controllers, and door and window detectors. FANTEM - The latest upgrade to its home system, OOMI3.0, is a stability solution for wireless connections in mansions and duplexes. Targeting the needs of families and those that require large-scale systems, it supports scenario settings with the use of multiple gateways. CTTL-Terminal Labs summit forum envisions smart living Every edition of SIBT and SSHT introduces cutting-edge industry technology through a diverse program of concurrent events. This year, SIBT will be collaborating with CTTL-Terminal Lab under the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) to present forums on smart cities, neighborhoods and buildings. Under CAICT, CTTL-Terminals Lab specializes in ICT development research, product standards and testing, and new ICT development research, offering all-round support for related industries. Led by the lab, this year’s forum will introduce a number of renowned speakers to discuss their latest research on industry trends and innovative new technology. Smart office solutions A new ‘Smart Office’ zone will debut this year to explore the growing market demand for smart office solutions. The zone will highlight a number of technologies and solutions that provide optimal performance for office facilities using IoT and connected technology. The show will explore improved urban parking resource management and better parking eco-systems in buildings The smart parking sector will also be under the spotlight as the Parking China fair will once again be held concurrently to provide a high-level international platform for smart parking solutions in cities. To help the industry thrive, the show will explore improved urban parking resource management and better parking eco-systems in buildings. SIBT is organized by Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt Co Ltd, Shanghai Hongshan Exhibition Service Co Ltd, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade – Shanghai Pudong Sub-Branch, and The Intelligent Engineering Branch of China Exploration & Design Association. Building technology exhibitions The organizers of SSHT are Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt Co Ltd, Shanghai Hongshan Exhibition Service Co Ltd, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade – Shanghai Pudong Sub-Branch, and China Smart Home Industry Alliance. The two fairs will be held from 3 – 5 September 2019 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre in China. SIBT and SSHT are both headed by the biennial Light + Building event in Frankfurt, Germany. The fair will be held once every two years. The next edition will be held from 8 -13 March, 2020. Messe Frankfurt also organizes a series of light and building technology exhibitions in Asia including Guangzhou Electrical Building Technology, Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition and Shanghai International Lighting Fair. The company's light and building technology fairs also extend to markets in Argentina, India, Thailand, Russia, the UAE and other countries and regions.

ProSource, the audio, video, and integration buying group in the United States, has announced the addition of eight new Custom Integrator (CI) members and one new PRO level member in the second quarter of 2019. New members in Q2 represent $44 million in new revenue for the group. Networking and integration firm "ProSource continues to grow by welcoming outstanding operations into the organization," said Dave Workman, CEO and President of ProSource. "Members benefit from the excellent programs with our vendor partners, exceptional educational opportunities, and peer-to-peer networking." The new CI members are: Advanced Tech Systems, Inc., Greensboro, NC ATTYWON, Great Neck, NY Chameleon Technologies, Inc., Los Angeles, CA HD2020, Tampa, FL Force AV, West Palm Beach, FL Glabman Technology Solutions, Costa Mesa, CA Show and Tell AV Solutions, Bountiful, UT Untangled, LLC, Wilton, CT The new Power member approved by the ProSource board of directors is: Upscale Audio, La Verne, CA "We are excited to welcome all of our new members," said Sherry Dantonio, Director of Membership at ProSource. "We are proud to offer our members a vast array of resources to grow their businesses."

Larson Electronics, a Texas-based company with over 40 years of experience spearheading the industrial lighting and equipment sectors, announces the release of a battery-powered intrinsically safe digital camera for use in Class I, Division 1 and ATEX/IECEx rated work sites. This unit is powered by two AA batteries and offers audio and video recording at 3.1 megapixels (2048 x 1536 resolution). This camera is IP65 rated and features autofocus and USB connectivity. The ATX-EXPCMR-BP-HH-QXGA intrinsically safe digital camera is equipped with a 3.39mm lens with autofocus and produces up to 3.1 megapixels at 2048 x 1536 resolution images. Explosion proof camera This explosion proof camera is rated for use in Class I, Divisions 1 and 2, Groups A, B, C, and D hazardous locations. This camera features a two-element optical viewfinder and 68-degree diagonal field of view. The flash on this camera is powered by four LEDs providing 131 lux/seconds of energy at 67 ms exposure. Larson Electronics’ intrinsically safe digital camera handles .wav audio recording format and .jpeg image format. This camera is powered by two AA batteries and is connected using a USB 1.1 only in safe areas and certified for direct connection to a computer without an external protection barrier. This camera is made of anti-static plastic for the housing and anti-static silicone rubber and offers an operating temperature range of -20 degrees C to 60 degrees C. This unit is suitable for observation of external facilities, commercial buildings, hazardous locations and flammable work sites.

iluminar, a specialty security lighting manufacturer, is excited to announce its partnership with Professional Sales Representatives (PSR) to increase the company’s services and sales presence with customers across the western United States. PSR is an independent sales agency operating in the 13 western states and Guam. Their associates bring many years of field sales experience in the security marketplace as well as the audio/video, low voltage, fire and life safety industries. Since PSR’s founding in 2001, their fundamental principles are to represent quality products from quality manufacturers. Experienced representatives “Our partnership with PSR will allow us to bring the latest solutions in lighting technology to our customer base in the western U.S.,” said Eddie Reynolds, iluminar CEO. “A key part of iluminar’s growth is building a team of experienced representatives who know our products, our value and our industry.” "We are very proud to be a part of Eddie’s team,” said Scott Crown, PSR managing partner. “We have respected the accomplishments of this brand and have enjoyed our friendship with Eddie for years. We will do great things together.”

Johnson Controls recently unveiled the findings of its 2018 Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) survey that examined the current and planned investments and key drivers to improve energy efficiency and building systems integration in facilities. Systems integration was identified as one of the top technologies expected to have the biggest impact on the implementation in smart buildings over the next five years, with respondents planning to invest in security, fire and life-safety integrations more so than any other systems integration in the next year. As advanced, connected technologies drive the evolution of smart buildings, security and safety technologies are at the center of more intelligent strategies as they attribute to overall building operations and efficiencies. SecurityInformed.com spoke with Johnson Controls, Building Solutions, North America, VP of Marketing, Hank Monaco, and Senior National Director of Municipal Infrastructure and Smart Cities, Lisa Brown, about the results of the study, smart technology investments and the benefits of a holistic building strategy that integrates security and fire and life-safety systems with core building systems. Q: What is the most striking result from the survey, and what does it mean in the context of a building’s safety and security systems? The results show an increased understanding about the value of integrating safety and security systems with other building systems Hank Monaco: Investment in building system integration increased 23 percent in 2019 compared to 2018, the largest increase of any measure in the survey. When respondents were asked more specifically what systems they we planning to invest in over the next year, fire and life safety integration (61%) and security system integration (58%) were the top two priorities for organizations. The results show an increased understanding about the value of integrating safety and security systems with other building systems to improve overall operations and bolster capabilities beyond the intended function of an individual system. Q: The survey covers integration of fire, life safety and security systems as part of "smart building" systems. How do smarter buildings increase the effectiveness of security and life safety systems? Hank Monaco: A true “smart building” integrates all building systems – security, fire and life-safety, HVAC, lighting etc. – to create a connected, digital infrastructure that enables individual technologies to be more intelligent and perform more advanced functions beyond what they can do on their own. For example, when sensors and video surveillance are integrated with lighting systems, if abnormal activity is detected on the building premise, key stakeholders can be automatically alerted to increase emergency response time. With integrated video surveillance, they also gain the ability to access surveillance footage remotely to assess the situation. When sensors and video surveillance are integrated with lighting systems abnormal activity on the premise can automatically be detected Q: How can integrated security and life safety systems contribute to greater energy efficiency in a smart building environment? Hank Monaco: Security, fire and life-safety systems can help to inform other building systems about how a facility is used, high-trafficked areas and the flow of occupants within a building. Integrated building solutions produce a myriad of data that can be leveraged to increase operational efficiencies. From an energy efficiency standpoint, actionable insights are particularly useful for areas that are not frequently occupied or off-peak hours as you wouldn’t want to heat or cool an entire building for just one person coming in on the weekend. When video surveillance is integrated with HVAC and lighting systems, it can monitor occupancy in a room or hallway. The video analytics can then control the dimming of lights and the temperature depending on occupant levels in a specific vicinity. Similarly, when access control systems are integrated with these same systems, once a card is presented to the reader, it can signal the lights or HVAC system to turn on. In this example, systems integration can ultimately help enable energy savings in the long run. Security and life safety systems contribute to help enable greater energy efficiency and energy savings in the long run Q: What other benefits of integration are there (beyond the core security and life safety functions)? Hank Monaco: Beyond increased security, fire and life-safety functions, the benefits of systems integration include: Increased data and analytics to garner a holistic, streamlined understanding of how systems function and how to improve productivity Ability to track usage to increase efficiency and reduce operational costs Enhanced occupant experience and comfort Increased productivity and workflow to support business objectives Smart-ready, connected environment that can support future technology advancements Q: What lesson or action point should a building owner/operator take from the survey? How can the owner of an existing building leverage the benefits of the smart building environment incrementally and absent a complete overhaul? Lisa Brown: Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Indicator found that 77% of organizations plan to make investments in energy efficiency and smarter building technology this year. This percentage demonstrates an increased understanding of the benefits of smart buildings and highlights the proactive efforts building owners are taking to adopt advanced technologies. There is an increased understanding that buildings operate more effectively when different building systems are connected As smart buildings continue to evolve, more facilities are beginning to explore opportunities to advance their own spaces. A complete overhaul of legacy systems is not necessary as small investments today can help position a facility to more easily adopt technologies at scale in the future. As a first step, it’s important for building owners to conduct an assessment and establish a strategy that defines a comprehensive set of requirements and prioritizes use-cases and implementations. From there, incremental investments and updates can be made over a realistic timeline. Q: What is the ROI of smart buildings? Lisa Brown: As demonstrated by our survey, there is an increased understanding that buildings operate more effectively when different building systems are connected. The advanced analytics and more streamlined data that is gathered through systems integration can provide the building-performance metrics to help better understand the return on investment (ROI) of the building systems. This data is used to better understand the environment and make assessments and improvements overtime to increase efficiencies. Moreover, analytics and data provide valuable insights into where action is needed and what type of return can be expected from key investments.

As the world continues to become more connected, it’s becoming increasingly important to adjust security and safety procedures in the workplace. But today’s ever-evolving office environment can present unique safety and preparedness challenges. No two businesses are exactly alike, with some located in numerous buildings or spread out across campuses, while others have employees that frequently journey from different locations, work remotely or travel internationally. With this shifting environment, Rave Mobile Safety’s recent Workplace Safety and Preparedness survey asked over 500 full-time employees in various industries across the United States about their views on safety at work and emergency preparedness. Preferred Safety Measures Only 57 percent of respondents indicated that their workplace currently had preparedness drills in place for critical situationsThe survey looked at how employees and companies respond to various workplace emergencies: workplace violence, active shooter, medical emergency, fire, hazmat incidents, weather events and cyberattacks/system outages. Respondents provided insight on the current state of safety in their workplace, as well as how they want to be contacted when an emergency occurs. Though opinions on the preferred safety measures differed between generations and also between on-site and offsite workers, one fact remains consistent: there is much to be done to instill a better sense of safety in the workplace. While the findings show that employees feel safe in their workplace, only 57 percent of respondents indicated that their workplace currently had preparedness drills in place for critical situations. Quick Thinking Of the plans currently in place, excluding fire, 57 percent of the other major emergency plans were rarely or never tested. With so few drills in place, employees are left not knowing the best ways to respond to emergencies like weather events or hazmat incidents or if their employer recommends a certain response to situations like medical emergencies. Testing these plans is essential so that all employees, whether they are new to the company or not Even if plans are in place to begin with, not ensuring your employees understand and are comfortable with how to react to certain situations, can put the organization in harm’s way. Testing these plans is essential so that all employees, whether they are new to the company or not, have the appropriate response top of mind and their actions become second nature during a situation that will likely require quick thinking. Workplace Violence Instilling regular practices will only further ensure that responses will happen seamlessly, regardless of the emergency. Beyond the general awareness of drills and practices, most surprising in the responses was the fact that 34 percent of female respondents were unaware of workplace violence emergency plans. This is particularly shocking because workplace violence is the second leading cause of death for women in the workplace, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This shows an obvious lack of preparedness from organizations. It’s immensely important that employees to understand the relevant dangers of the workplace, especially when alternative could have a fatal result. The differences between baby boomers and millennials in the workplace is a common barometer showing how the workplace is continuing to change. Emergency Plans Workplace violence is the second leading cause of death for women in the workplace, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labour StatisticsWhat may have worked for previous generations must be reworked and adjusted so every generation is made aware of and understands the plans and procedures in place. These changes can help make workplace safety plans fresh and continuously relevant. With that in mind, millennials currently represent the largest segment of employees unaware of emergency plans for major workplace emergencies. 38 percent of this age group are unaware of existing emergency plans, compared to just a 28 percent average of employees over the age of 35. This could be associated with the fact that some organizations are not communicating plans with newer employees or even that organizations that employ a significant number of millennials might not have plans in place at all. Affecting Everyday Work If the newest generation is unaware of these plans, then it is only a matter of time before Generation Z enters the workforce and is in even worse position when it comes to emergency awareness. The survey results showed that on average, workplaces use two methods of communication for emergencies Feeling safe and secure at work should not be something that workers need to focus on, however more than a quarter of respondents that work remotely said that worrying about safety is exactly what is affecting their everyday work. With that in mind, it’s even more concerning to see that there seems to be a clear divide between current methods and preferred methods of communication during an emergency. The survey results showed that on average, workplaces use two methods of communication for emergencies, with the top two being intercom system announcement/building alarm (27 percent) and email (22 percent). Mass Text Messages At first, these methods seem to cover both remote and in-office employees, but survey results actually showed that both groups preferred and would be better reached during other methods. While email is the second most common emergency method currently in place by organizations, it actually ranks as the fourth most preferred method at a mere 11 percent. Even with a clear preference towards communication via mass text messages by respondents (39 percent of remote workers prefer this method), less than 20 percent of companies actually take advantage of this technology. This clear disconnect shows that organizations must find what works best for their employees instead of using methods that were previously established or that are just currently being used. Preparedness Plans What remains important for organizations, regardless of size or industry, is to keep emergency preparedness plans ever evolving Communication can not only be essential to alert employees to everyday situations, like office closures, but it is also imperative in preventing emergencies to escalate when they do occur. Although this survey discusses the current state of safety in the workplace, it’s that the disconnect between employee perceptions and employer polices that’s the most concerning. Companies need to take steps to understand how their employees would like to be reached during an emergency, as well as how employees would also like to reach out to management to report their own concerns. What remains important for organizations, regardless of size or industry, is to keep emergency preparedness plans ever evolving and well communicated, so your employees are confident in the emergency plans in place. By proactively planning and practicing for emergency events through table top exercises and drills, employers can demonstrate their commitment to employee safety and preparedness and build employee confidence.

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.

Intelligent solutions, such as those derived from artificial intelligence, help critical infrastructure organizations make sense of vast amounts of data. These integrated applications, such as advanced video analytics and facial recognition, can automatically pinpoint potential breaches and significant events, and send alerts to the appropriate personnel, departments, and agencies. These solutions can be powerful in unifying disparate command center technologies, fusing critical data input from emergency calls and responder activity to enhance situational awareness. Electrical substations are particularly vulnerable (and in need of extra security) due to their role in power distribution and the nature of their equipment. The challenge power utilities worldwide are facing is finding an affordable solution, which can help detect, deter and facilitate an informed response to a substation security event. Data capture form to appear here! U.S. regulations In the United States, this need is furthered by the physical security mandate CIP-014 issued by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), calling for identification of security issues, vulnerability assessments and deployment of appropriate processes and systems to address. CIP-014 identification of security issues, vulnerability assessments and deployment of appropriate processes and systems to address CIP-104 specifically calls for implemented security plans that include measures to deter, detect, delay, assess, communicate, coordinate and respond to potential physical threats and vulnerabilities. Manufacturers of video and other systems are designing products to serve the critical infrastructure market. For example, Dahua Technology offers explosion-proof cameras with a combination of rugged reliability and superior optics that is a fit for surveillance of explosive and corrosive environments, including chemical plants, refineries, and other facilities in the oil and gas industry. This explosion-proof series of cameras are housed in enclosures that are certified to the ATEX and IECEx standards for equipment in explosive atmospheres. Each explosion-proof camera features Dahua’s Starlight technology for ultra low-light sensitivity and high-definition sensors that deliver clear images in real-time. They are IP68-rated to prevent water and dust ingress. Each explosion-proof camera features Dahua’s Starlight technology for ultra low-light sensitivity and high-definition sensors that deliver clear images in real-time Video footage in extreme temperatures Another manufacturer, Videotec, offers a range of cameras and housings that provide video footage regardless of aggressive external factors, such as ice cold, scorching heat, desert sand, the force of sea or wind, total darkness, pollution, corrosion and even explosive agents. SightSensor thermal systems enable a utility to detect and respond to substation security incidents across multiple sitesSightLogix smart thermal camera systems have been deployed to protect substations for electric utilities and other critical infrastructure facilities. SightSensor thermal systems enable a utility to detect and respond to substation security incidents across multiple sites, ranging from copper theft to vandalism while also meeting regulatory compliance. At each substation facility, Thermal SightSensors are positioned along the perimeter, and are paired with a high-resolution pan-tilt-zoom camera for alarm assessment. When a Thermal SightSensor detects an intruder, the target’s location information is sent over the network to a SightTracker PTZ controller, which automatically zooms and steers PTZ cameras to follow the intruder. The target’s location is also displayed on a topology site map to provide real-time situational awareness. Alarms are sent to the utility’s 24-hour security operations center, which will contact law enforcement in real time when unauthorized intrusions are detected. Integrated intrusion detection and lighting systems The Senstar LM100 hybrid perimeter intrusion detection and intelligent lighting system is simplifying security at one U.S. electrical utility company. For years, the utility company had integrated its perimeter intrusion detection and lighting systems. The company has now installed the Senstar LM100 which provides detection and lighting in one product and saves them over $80,000 per site. The savings are a result of the reduction of electrical requirements, conduit, grounding, and associated labor, as well as the removal of certain equipment from project scope that are required for the two-system integration. The Senstar LM100’s perimeter LED-based lighting acts as an initial deterrent. If an intruder persists and an attempt to cut, climb or otherwise break through the fence is detected, the closest luminaire begins to strobe, and an alert is sent via a security management system. The intruder knows immediately they have been detected and that their exact location is known by security and others in the vicinity.

Video surveillance cannot address all the security challenges in education, but it is a valuable tool and among the least obtrusive options available. And the list of security challenges that video can address grows every day. Video systems can provide real-time monitoring of school premises and facilitate rapid response to incidents. New advances such as video analytics are currently underutilized in the education arena. Historically, video has been used as a forensic tool in the education market, providing critical information about an incident after the fact. But that generalization is changing. Today, networking enables video images to be shared throughout a school system, traveling over existing networks, empowering a more centralized security management structure, and making video more valuable. In particular, higher education institutions are more likely to view live video, given the larger campuses, greater number of buildings, and more public areas where staff and students congregate. Challenges for securing a school environment Panoramic cameras are one tool to address challenges, as a single 360-degree camera can replace between 4 and 5 PTZ camerasMultiple challenges in the education market for security goods and services (from a video perspective) include wide open spaces that make securing schools with video surveillance cameras difficult since the vast amount of coverage required can be cost-prohibitive. Second, state and federal regulations must be taken into account and balanced with the need to protect student privacy. Finally, schools and colleges face dwindling budgets, which means security solutions must deliver more coverage and functionality, while also being cost-effective to deploy. Panoramic cameras are one tool to address these challenges, as a single 360-degree camera can replace between four and five traditional pan-tilt-zoom cameras, resulting in fewer cameras and more coverage – all at a lower cost for hardware and licensing. Data capture form to appear here! Intelligent cameras with video analytics Video surveillance with video analytics can be deployed to monitor areas at certain times of day. For example, once school starts, there shouldn’t be a lot of activity in the parking lot or in particular areas around the school. For these situations, intelligent cameras with video analytics can be used to detect activity in those areas of interest to alert school security that something may need their attention. Radar detection is ideal for perimeters, where a device can be set up unobtrusively to alert when someone enters a particular area. ACC 6 video management software with Avigilon Appearance Search technology provides advanced video analytics search The goal in a potentially dangerous situation is to speed up response times. The faster you’re able to detect something using technology, the faster you’re able to respond. Therefore, being able to identify something happening in a parking lot and alert school resource officers could provide 30 seconds or a minute head start for response, which can get the school into a lockdown situation and get first responders on site more quickly. Video cameras with low-Light capability There are video cameras available with extreme low-light capability to see in near-dark or complete darknessIt’s been shown that using lighting at night can deter crime. However, it can be expensive to keep a building and grounds illuminated all night, every night. To mitigate these concerns and potential costs, there are video cameras available with extreme low-light capability that allows them to see in near-dark or in some cases complete darkness. This allows a school to save money by turning lights off while achieving a level of surveillance performance similar to daytime deployments. Facing above-average student incident rates and student disciplinary concerns at some schools, a school system in the United States sought to upgrade its video surveillance system to allow better local and remote monitoring in important areas. Avigilon high-definition cameras with self-learning video analytics and access control solutions were installed in 101 schools, and ACC 6 video management software with Avigilon Appearance Search technology provides advanced video analytics search. A deep learning artificial intelligence search engine can sort through hours of footage and allow operators to click on a button and search for all instances of a person or vehicle across all cameras on a site, quickly and efficiently.

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.”

Thermal imaging is a technology that can provide many benefits in a wide range of applications. In particular, thermal imaging cameras have been deployed successfully as highly affordable solutions in the security industry. Accepted throughout the industry as the best 24-hour visual surveillance imaging solutions available, thermal security cameras are vital tools in securing borders, airports, sea ports, nuclear facilities, and other critical infrastructure. Today these affordable solutions are also protecting homes, corporate campuses, industrial facilities and retail businesses. Infrared-Illuminated cameras They can easily detect intruders and other potential hazards in any weather Thermal security cameras let people see what their eyes can’t: invisible heat radiation either emitted or reflected by all objects, regardless of lighting conditions. Because they see heat, not light, thermal cameras are effective tools in any security setting. They can easily detect intruders and other potential hazards in any weather, as well as day and night. Cameras that create images based on visible light—such as conventional CCTV or infrared-illuminated cameras— have the advantage of creating images that are familiar and easy to interpret. Unfortunately, the ability of a given detector, whether the human eye or a camera sensor, to create these images relates directly to the amount of light available. At night, for instance, when there isn’t much visible light, objects appear faint, or not at all. Thermal imaging cameras In contrast, thermal cameras make pictures from heat, not light, having nothing whatsoever to do with reflected light energy. They see the heat given off by everything under the sun. Everything we encounter in daily life creates or reflects heat energy, called a ‘heat signature,’ which thermal cameras can see clearly. Another limitation of relying on visible-light detection is visual contrast. Regular cameras that capture only visible light can be fooled by visual camouflage, or situations where similar colors or patterns blend together and, thus, obscure objects or people that need to be detected. Thermal imaging cameras don’t suffer this same problem. For example, an intruder standing under a densely-branched tree may be hard to detect using an IR-illuminated camera, but with a thermal imaging camera, the intruder would be clearly visible. Providing constant protection One of the biggest benefits of thermal imaging comes in the domain of security These advantages over visible cameras have led to the wide spread use of thermal to detect the presence of people in restricted or suspect areas, assess the tactical situation, and respond accordingly. No one within the view of a thermal camera can hide their heat. Thermal security cameras are the best tool to determine how many intruders are present, and, consequently, how many officers or agents should respond to meet the threat. One of the biggest benefits of thermal imaging comes in the domain of security. Security cameras have become a staple of protection for many (if not all) major businesses across the globe. In such a domain, the need to produce images of surrounding perimeters is critical to providing constant protection against potential intruders. False alarms experienced No matter what you need to see, or what perimeter you need to protect, thermal security cameras let you see clearly, even in total darkness, and through camouflaging foliage, smoke, dust, and light fog. Another reason why thermal imaging cameras often prove cost-effective is that they help reduce the number of false alarms experienced in a business protection scenario. Visible light cameras can be easily fooled by many naturally-occurring phenomena, such as blowing trees, shadows, insects, birds, or oncoming cars. In terms of motion detection, microwave, fence sensors, motion sensors, RAFID, and radar can all detect a possible intrusion, but they are essentially ‘blind’ technologies compared to thermal imaging. When a motion sensor is triggered, a user still needs an additional method of assessing the nature of the alarm, in order to determine the most appropriate response. For example, is it a person climbing the fence or just a harmless squirrel? CCTV security system Because of thermal security cameras’ high-contrast video output, security professionals have found that they work very well with video analytics. They can provide more reliable alarming with fewer false reports than visible-light cameras, even during the day. Thermal imaging security cameras offer both alarming capabilities and reliable images – two solutions in one. Prices for thermal imaging cameras have come down substantially in recent years Thermal imaging cameras are an affordable option for many businesses that want to ensure they have the best security and protection available. Prices for thermal imaging cameras have come down substantially in recent years, to the point where they are on par with regular visible-light cameras, while providing the superior ability to capture images that in many situations regular cameras simply cannot match. In addition, the total cost of ownership of a security system with thermal imaging cameras is, in general, much lower than a CCTV security system, for two main reasons. Monitor multiple areas First, a business would require fewer thermal imaging cameras than if deploying CCTV cameras, thanks to the excellent range performance of thermal imaging cameras. Since each camera needs only a mast for mounting, power, and a video feedback connection, fewer cameras are required. Business can keep their infrastructure simple, minimizing maintenance costs. Another area of cost savings is that thermal imaging cameras work perfectly in complete darkness and don’t require any lighting to maintain security and protection. Not only is lighting expensive to install, it also requires a great deal of electricity to keep those lights on all night. Businesses that wish to monitor multiple areas of their premises would be wise to deploy one or more thermal imaging cameras to provide the best protection against potential intruders, especially at night, when visible light is either low or non-existent. In short, any business that wants to achieve the maximum level of security and protection of their intellectual and physical property should consider deploying a thermal imaging solution.

Senstar, a provider of perimeter intrusion detection systems and video management solutions, has published a case study detailing how the Senstar LM100 hybrid perimeter intrusion detection and intelligent lighting system is simplifying security for a US electrical utility company. For many years, the utility company has integrated its perimeter intrusion detection and lighting systems. Recently, the company has begun installing the Senstar LM100 which provides detection and lighting in one product, and saves them over $80,000 per site. The savings are a result of the reduction of electrical requirements, conduit, grounding, and associated labor, as well as the removal of certain equipment from project scope that are required for the two-system integration. Combining functions of two systems in one “The LM100 combines all of the functions the two systems provide and it saves us a lot of money,” said the utility company’s security administrator. “It is also simpler to integrate and has better functionality.” The Senstar LM100’s perimeter LED-based lighting acts as an initial deterrentThe Senstar LM100’s perimeter LED-based lighting acts as an initial deterrent. If an intruder persists and an attempt to cut, climb or otherwise break through the fence is detected, the closest luminaire begins to strobe, and an alert is sent via a security management system. The intruder knows immediately they have been detected and that their exact location is known by security and others in the vicinity. Protecting property and assets “Why use two systems when the same job can be done by one,” said Senstar Product Manager Todd Brisebois. “With the combined sensing and lighting capabilities of the LM100, this is the only system that has its lighting affected by its sensing all while reducing costs related to operation, theft, vandalism and electricity usage with minimal light pollution. Above all, the LM100 provides peace of mind for those who need to protect their property and assets.” Another key benefit the utility company is realizing from the LM100 is its high color rendering (CRI) index which maximizes camera performance, providing clear and concise images of the intrusion attempt, so the security personnel at the monitoring station can more effectively assess the situation and initiate an appropriate response. The Senstar LM100 is now installed at three of the utility company’s sites, with an additional 43 other sites planned.

Senstar, a global provider of perimeter intrusion detection systems and video management software, is pleased to announce its Senstar LM100 hybrid perimeter intrusion detection and intelligent lighting system is helping to prevent theft at AIM Marine, a boat and motor sales and repair shop near Ottawa, Canada. Perimeter Intrusion Detection After two thefts from the storage yard, Aim Marine owner David Scott looked to add a layer of security to his 235 m (771 ft) perimeter fence. “My initial impression was that these systems were cost-prohibitive for a business of my size,” Mr. Scott said. But after doing some research, he learned Senstar has simple and affordable options for small sites, including the Senstar LM100, which combines two key security features – lighting and perimeter intrusion detection. “The Senstar LM100 luminaires provide high quality, direct illumination along the fence line – deterring intruders and providing targeted illumination for video surveillance systems, all while monitoring the perimeter to detect any attempt to cut, climb or lift the fence fabric,” said Senstar Product Manager Todd Brisebois. Monitoring Perimeter “Fully programmable, the luminaires provide general security lighting and can inform intruders that you know where they are by flashing the light. The Senstar LM100 also minimizes light pollution and is energy efficient.” Following the thefts, Aim Marine was subjected to high repair costs and insurance deductible increases. With the LM100 now on the fence, no repairs are needed and insurance deductibles have been cut in half. The system has practically paid for itself. Since the Senstar LM100 was installed in spring 2018, there have been no attempted thefts at Aim Marine, and Mr. Scott is convinced having the LM100 lighting his fence has been key in deterring intruders. “Absolutely the LM100’s got something to do with it,” Mr. Scott said.

The Polizei Bayern successfully opened its first operations centre in mid-September at its Police Headquarters in Central Franconia in Nuremberg. At the heart of the communication system was the Frequentis 3020 LifeX platform including digital radio connections and the newly developed AudioHub. The headquarters in Nuremberg is the second largest operations centre in the German state of Bavaria. It comprises 21 operator working positions that receive and process between 800 and 1,200 police calls per day. In the event of an emergency, an additional 13 operator working positions can be activated. Dispatch Calls Successfully Within the first week of operation the system was put to the test during a storm which led to over 900 emergency calls in the space of seven hours Within the first week of operation the system was put to the test during a storm which led to over 900 emergency calls in the space of seven hours. The system proved its stability and operators were able to dispatch calls successfully without issue.  "The professionalism of Frequentis during the preparation, implementation and follow-up commissioning of the system gave us confidence in their abilities. All of the aspects important to us as customers were immediately considered and processed by the Frequentis team. Above all, the usability of the system was well received by the operators.", said Anton Beierweck, Head of State-wide IT Procedures at the Police Headquarters Upper Bavaria South. Provides Highest Protection LifeX was first deployed for Bavarian Police Force in 2015, ahead of the G7 summit. The system was adapted to the needs of the event which required 18,000 emergency services personal to protect government leaders and control demonstrations. The police headquarters of Mittelfranken is the pilot for the rollout of nine additional control rooms in Bavaria through October 2020 "What has been clear from the start of the project is the willingness of the Polizei Bayern to innovate. We are very proud to have met their high requirements in terms of technology and services and appreciate the professional cooperation with the organization who provides the highest protection and security in Bavaria.", Robert Nitsch, Frequentis Vice President Public Safety. The police headquarters of Mittelfranken is the pilot for the rollout of nine additional control rooms in Bavaria through October 2020. Two more operational centres are planned to be brought on line before the end of 2018.

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.”

Videowall technology supplied by Ultimate Visual Solutions (UVS) is at the heart of a new security control room at iNTU Trafford Center. High-End Videowall Technology The new facility helps ensure 30 million annual visitors have a safe and enjoyable time at what is the single best-known and most iconic retail and leisure destination in the UK. Burnley-based UVS, formerly eyevis UK, provides video wall displays and audio-visual solutions to a range of clients across the UK. UVS Full HD Videowall As part of the new state-of-the-art facility, UVS installed a 7.2m wide by 2.7m high videowall As part of the new state-of-the-art facility, UVS installed a 7.2m wide by 2.7m high videowall, made up of 24 eyevis 55-inch XSN extremely narrow bezel LCD screens with Full HD resolution. The displays offer 1920 × 1080 pixels, direct-LED backlight technology, a mechanical bezel width of only 3.5 mm between two displays and a brightness of 500 cd/m2. The installation also includes a control room meeting space featuring a videowall made up of four eyevis 46-inch XSN screens with 3.5mm bezel. Netpix 4900 Videowall Controller Both videowalls connect to a Netpix 4900 videowall controller configured for multiple analogue video feeds, IP video feeds, graphic PC data and web browsers. iNTU security staff, who monitor the center and liaise with visitors, will be able to send live videos from their tablets directly back to the video wall to share incident video with security staff. Video Monitoring And Visitor Management iNTU Trafford Center is a retail and leisure destination and it is important that the control room has the latest videowall technology" UVS managing director Steve Murphy said: “iNTU Trafford Center is a retail and leisure destination enjoyed by millions of people each year and it is important that the control room has the latest videowall technology.” He adds, “We are delighted to have been involved in such a prestigious and important project.” Lee Barlow, Security Manager, iNTU Trafford Center said “The security and safety of our customers, retailers and staff is our number one priority so having a control room that allows us to keep them safe is really important. The new videowall and meeting room screens allows us to do just that and we are really happy with them.” New Control Room With Videowall The new control room was designed and refurbished by Intech Solutions, which specialize in technical and control room furniture including full control room fit-outs in the UK and worldwide. UVS also worked to deliver the videowall with its security integrator partner, Nottinghamshire-based Quadrant Security Group.

Our Expert Panel is an opinionated group on a wide variety of topics, and we are dedicated to providing a useful and flexible forum to share those opinions. This week, our panelists address a range of opinions about several self-selected topics, culled from the large number of Expert Panelist responses we have collected in the last year. In this Expert Panel Roundtable article, we will share these varied and insightful responses to ensure they are not lost to posterity!

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

How much does a security system cost? We all know that total costs associated with systems are substantially higher than the “price tag.” There are many elements, tangible and intangible, that contribute to the costs of owning and operating a system. Taking a broad view and finding ways to measure these additional costs enables integrators and users to get the most value from a system at the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO). However, measuring TCO can be easier said than done. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable to share the benefit of their collective expertise on the subject. Specifically, we asked: How should integrators and/or end users measure total cost of ownership (TCO) when quantifying the value of security systems?