HD CCTV

Integrated security manufacturer TDSi is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Money as Distribution Channel Manager. In his new role, Richard will be a central point of contact for TDSi’s Distribution Partners including ADI, Norbain, EET Europarts, Advanced Access, Enterprise Security Distribution and Anixter. Reflecting upon his new role, Richard commented, “I am excited to be joining the TDSi team. The company has a fantastic range of products that will suit any environment, and all budgets so there is tremendous scope to work with our distributors and grow our mutual business.” John Davies, Managing Director of TDSi also commented, “We are delighted to welcome Richard to this highly pivotal role. TDSi’s products are exclusively sold through our partners and we are committed to ensuring we offer the best support and assistance to facilitate this. Richard is the prime point of contact for our distribution partners - be it for stock enquires, pricing or connecting them with our vast network of expert installer customers.” Richard has over 20 years’ worth of security experience, having joined the industry in 1997 Veteran In The Security Industry Richard has over 20 years’ worth of security experience, having joined the industry in 1997 working at Clarke Instruments Ltd promoting and selling medium to high security electric strikes, turnstiles and barriers. In 2001, he joined Gardiner Security in its access control division and stayed there for 10 years, during which time the company was bought out by ADI Global (part of Honeywell) and Richard became an Account Manager selling access control, intruder and CCTV products. In 2011, Richard moved to ACT (Access Control Technology), an Irish manufacturer of access products, as a Senior Account Manager. He worked with ACT for seven years until he made the move to Inner Range before joining TDSi. Richard concluded, “I have gained a broad experience of the security sales industry during my career and look forward to sharing my expertise that with TDSi’s distribution partners. The UK market is an energetic one, so I am available to help our distributors fully meet the demands and needs of our customers from TDSi’s extensive range of products.” 

ONVIF, the global standardization initiative for IP-based physical security products, has announced the final release of Profile T, a new specification with advanced video streaming capabilities and an expanded feature set for metadata streaming and analytics. Profile T also offers support for H.265 video compression, which more efficiently handles image streams from high-definition cameras. With Profile T, ONVIF will employ a new media service that offers support for both H.265 and H.264 video codecs. The media service gives ONVIF the ability to more easily incorporate new video and audio codecs as needed as the industry continues to advance. By supporting H.265, Profile T supports more efficient compression rates, which translates into decreased storage requirements on hard drives and less bandwidth usage – reducing the overall costs of system ownership. Features Bidirectional Audio Streaming The new Profile T features bidirectional audio streaming, supporting audio input as well as output from the camera “Profile T is an excellent example of how ONVIF has embraced technological advancements within its specifications to serve the changing requirements of this industry,” said Per Björkdahl, chairman of the ONVIF Steering Committee. “In addition to the H.265 support, Profile T standardises analytics, metadata streaming and other important features to satisfy current and future market requirements for end users, systems integrators and consultants.” The new Profile T features bidirectional audio streaming, supporting audio input as well as output from the camera. Using standardized event types, Profile T ensures that video management systems and other software clients use one set of events to support all cameras, regardless of manufacturer. This includes alerts such as tampering, digital input and relay output. Profile T also enables a specific area of an image to be selected for analysis, using the conditional motion region detector configuration through the analytics service. Profile T also covers the streaming of metadata, including analytics and events.

At IACP 2018, Genetec Inc., a technology provider of security, law enforcement, and analytics solutions will showcase a comprehensive portfolio of products designed to enable communities and law enforcement agencies to foster greater collaboration through technology and to build-out Strategic Decision Support Centers (SDSC) uniquely designed to meet local neighborhood requirements. “Genetec is working successfully with cities like Chicago to provide a powerful and accessible decision support system as the foundation of their SDSC strategies. Empowered by our technology it is now also for small metro areas to cost-effectively deploy an SDSC to target unique neighborhood challenges and investigations,” said Giovanni Gaccione, Law Enforcement Practice Lead at Genetec. “This new approach to edge-based policing, public safety and community service has yielded excellent results. Our law enforcement customers are seeing crime statistics fall and public trust in their policing improve.” Crime Reduction Strategies SDSC strategies are being actively rolled out by law enforcement agencies in cities around the world. The goal is to empower police leadership in both small and large metro areas to better direct resources and be more responsive to specific community needs. These localized decision support centers allow for the creation of targeted crime reduction strategies and improved investigations through data analysis, human intelligence and community input. IACP visitors will also be able to get hands-on demos of Genetec Citigraf, a public safety decision support system IACP visitors will also be able to get hands-on demos of Genetec Citigraf, a public safety decision support system, Genetec Clearance, a digital evidence management system, and find out how Genetec Community Connect is helping cities build ties between local public and private sectors. Public Safety Support System Genetec will demonstrate Genetec Citigraf, a public safety decision support system that unifies operations across city departments, disseminates timely information, and provides greater situational awareness. Citigraf is the foundation technology behind the SDSC approach to policing and features a powerful correlation and analytics engine that instantly detects and displays relevant information from disparate sources for officers and responders to act on; such as CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) systems, CCTV footage, ALPR data, and RMS (Record Management Systems). It enables a fast ‘on-scene’ response with highly-accurate GIS location and visual information, ensuring officers and emergency responders can make safe and effective decisions for situations in progress. Digital Evidence Management System The amount of evidence available to investigators is increasing dramatically, supported by growth in surveillance systems, increased use of body-worn cameras and the omnipresence of smartphones. This helps public safety agencies solve crimes but presents new logistics and privacy challenges. To help address these challenges, Genetec has developed Genetec Clearance, a digital evidence management system that strengthens the cooperation between security departments, outside agencies, and the public. It speeds up investigations by allowing police officers, investigators and security managers to collect, manage, and share evidence from different sources. With Clearance, agencies can reach out to the general public and private businesses and involve them in crime-solving efforts With Clearance, agencies can reach out to the general public and private businesses and involve them in crime-solving efforts. It provides a new, simplified sharing process, which will be showcased for the first time at IACP. Investigators can now instantly create a link for the public to share relevant video and photos from their cell phones and surveillance systems with law enforcement agencies. This link and custom QR code can be shared using social media, traditional media, the web or on the news. Anyone can then easily upload videos, photos, and other evidence directly from their phones or PCs into Clearance for police officers, investigators and security managers to review and use as part of their investigation. Cloud-Based Video Monitoring At IACP, Genetec will also highlight Community Connect, an initiative designed to build safer communities through greater cooperation between public and private organizations. Community Connect connects law enforcement to privately owned cameras, connected to Stratocast or other third-party technology, from participating businesses and organizations throughout their city. This initiative helps cities create their own public-private partnership program with business owners, and work towards lowering crime, promoting economic growth and operating more efficiently, even with constrained budgets. Stratocast is a cloud-based video monitoring service from Genetec. Easy to deploy, it offers greater security through HD video surveillance and allows owners to keep an eye on their business from anywhere using their laptop, smartphone or tablet. As part of a city’s Community Connect program, business owners can connect their cameras to the city’s Genetec video surveillance network, expanding its reach and directly contributing to their neighborhood’s safety.

Hikvision USA Inc., the global supplier of video surveillance products and solutions, will showcase new technology and its extensive integration capabilities at the GSX 2018. Central Management System To highlight unique features and demonstrate how products can be combined to address the specific needs of end users, HikCentral—Hikvision's Central Management System (CMS)—will be the centerpiece of the Hikvision showroom. "End users and integrators come to GSX to figure out how to solve security problems and run businesses more efficiently. For integrators, building a solution that addresses customers' specific pain points has never been easier," said Eric Chen, general manager, Hikvision North America. "Our video wall display will provide a live demo including remote monitoring outside of the conference center, showing how HikCentral provides a totally integrated solution for all Hikvision and partner products." TurboHD 4.0 Cameras Well suited for complex projects in a variety of vertical markets, HikCentral is easy to use and configure. New products in several categories will be on display including: Value Express Series entry level IP and Turbo cameras, access control with UL294 certification, residential two-wire intercom and multiple PanoVu cameras including the new 32 MP 180° Panoramic, PanoVu 180°/360° IR PTZ, and PanoVu mini cameras. TurboHD 4.0 cameras enhanced with power-over-coax (PoC), panoramic view camera, and higher 5MP/8MP image resolution will be showcased, along with Hikvision's PTZs, ranging from 1” or 2.5” mini DE series to the advanced DF series. In addition to cameras, Hikvision’s access control product line will be demoed with HikCentral. The Hikvision showroom is located at the Westgate Las Vegas Pavilion #9 and will be open during exhibit hall hours.

Eagle Eye Networks, the global provider of cloud-based video surveillance solutions, and Arecont Vision Costar, the IP-based megapixel camera and video surveillance solutions, announced a partnership for supporting next generation Arecont Vision MegaIP cameras on the Eagle Eye Cloud VMS.   “Many of Arecont Vision’s customers have long been demanding a secure and robust commercial cloud solution for their VMS,” stated Dean Drako, CEO of Eagle Eye Networks. “Our partnership with Arecont Vision now provides these customers with the solution they’ve been waiting for.” The following series of Arecont Vision MegaIP megapixel camera families are supported: MegaDome G3 MicroDome G2 MicroDome Duo Eagle Eye Cloud VMS “We are excited to partner with Eagle Eye Networks and expand cloud video management system options for our customers around the globe,” stated Jeff Whitney, Vice President of Marketing, Arecont Vision Costar. “A strong Cloud video management system that supports our popular MegaDome G3, MicroDome G2, and MicroDome Duo cameras from the Made in USA MegaIP series will be well received.” Additional Arecont Vision camera families will be added per customer requests going forward. The Eagle Eye Cloud VMS supports a wide variety of IP, Analog, and HD-TVI cameras from hundreds of manufacturers.

Eagle Eye Networks, the global provider of cloud-based video surveillance solutions, and Arecont Vision Costar, the pioneer in IP-based megapixel camera and video surveillance solutions, announced a partnership for supporting next generation Arecont Vision MegaIP cameras on the Eagle Eye Cloud VMS.   “Many of Arecont Vision’s customers have long been demanding a secure and robust commercial cloud solution for their VMS,” stated Dean Drako, CEO of Eagle Eye Networks. “Our partnership with Arecont Vision now provides these customers with the solution they’ve been waiting for.” The following series of Arecont Vision MegaIP megapixel camera families are supported: MegaDome G3 MicroDome G2 MicroDome Duo Expanding Cloud VMS Options “We are excited to partner with Eagle Eye Networks and expand cloud video management system options for our customers around the globe,” stated Jeff Whitney, Vice President of Marketing, Arecont Vision Costar. “A strong Cloud video management system that supports our popular MegaDome G3, MicroDome G2, and MicroDome Duo cameras from the Made in USA MegaIP series will be well received.” Additional Arecont Vision camera families will be added per customer requests going forward. The Eagle Eye Cloud VMS supports a wide variety of IP, Analog, and HD-TVI cameras from hundreds of manufacturers.

Timely and important issues in the security marketplace dominated our list of most-clicked-upon articles in 2018. Looking back at the top articles of the year provides a decent summary of how our industry evolved this year, and even offers clues to where we’re headed in 2019. In the world of digital publishing, it’s easy to know what content resonates with the security market: Our readers tell us with their actions; i.e., where they click. Let’s look back at the Top 10 articles we posted in 2018 that generated the most page views. They are listed in order here with a brief excerpt. 1. U.S. President Signs Government Ban On Hikvision and Dahua Video Surveillance The ban on government uses, which takes effect ‘not later than one year after … enactment,’ applies not only to future uses of Dahua and Hikvision equipment but also to legacy installations. The bill calls for an assessment of the current presence of the banned technologies and development of a ‘phase-out plan’ to eliminate the equipment from government uses. 2. Motorola Makes A Splash With Avigilon Video Surveillance Acquisition Early clues point to Motorola positioning Avigilon as part of a broader solution, especially in the municipal/safe cities market. The company says the acquisition will enable more safe cities projects and more public-private partnerships between local communities and law enforcement. Motorola sees Avigilon as ‘a natural extension to global public safety and U.S. federal and military’ applications, according to the company. 3. Impact Of Data-Driven Smart Cities On Video Surveillance One of the major areas of technology that is going to shift how we interact with our cities is the Internet of Things (IoT). One benefit will be the ability to use video surveillance to analyze data on large crowds at sporting events The IoT already accounts for swaths of technology and devices operating in the background. However, we’re increasingly seeing these come to the forefront of everyday life, as data becomes increasingly critical. Bosch is highlighting its “Simply. Connected” portfolio of smart city technology to transform security as well as urban mobility, air quality and energy efficiency 4. CES 2018: Security Technologies Influencing The Consumer Electronics Market Familiar players at security shows also have a presence at the Consumer Electronics Show (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? 5. SIA Predicts Top Physical Security Trends For 2018 Traditional security providers will focus more on deepening the customer experience and enhancing convenience and service. The rise of IoT also places an emphasis on cybersecurity, and security dealers will react by seeking manufacturers and technology partners with cyber-hardened network-connected devices. 6. High-Speed Visitor Screening Systems Will Improve Soft Target Security The system is more expensive than a metal detector, but about a third the cost of familiar airport body scanners. Labor reduction (because of faster throughput) can help offset the system costs, but “it’s difficult to quantify the improvement in the visitor experience,” says Mike Ellenbogen, CEO of Evolv Technology. 7. How To Prevent ATM Jackpotting With Physical And Cyber Security A new crime wave is hitting automated teller machines (ATMs); the common banking appliances are being rigged to spit out their entire cash supplies into a criminal’s waiting hands. The crime is called “ATM jackpotting” and has targeted banking machines located in grocery shops, pharmacies and other locations in Taiwan, Europe, Latin America and, in the last several months, the United States. Rough estimates place the total amount of global losses at up to $60 million. The safety and security world bring a complex problem to solve how to pick out a face in a moving and changing environment and compare it to several faces of interest 8. Why We Need To Look Beyond Technology For Smart City Security Solutions Although technology is necessary for an urban area to transition in to a safe and smart city, technology alone isn’t sufficient. Truly smart cities are savvy cities and that includes how they employ software, sensing, communications and other technologies to meet their needs. 9. How New Video Surveillance Technology Boosts Airport Security and Operations Employing airport security solutions is a complex situation with myriad government, state and local rules and regulations that need to be addressed while ensuring the comfort needs of passengers. Airport security is further challenged with improving and increasing operational efficiencies, as budgets are always an issue. As an example, security and operational data must be easily shared with other airport departments and local agencies such as police, customs, emergency response and airport operations to drive a more proactive approach across the organization. 10. The Evolution Of Facial Recognition From Body-Cams To Video Surveillance The safety and security world bring a complex problem to solve how to pick out a face in a moving and changing environment and compare it to several faces of interest. “One-to-many” facial recognition is a much harder problem to solve.

By 2020, video surveillance using fixed, body and mobile cameras is expected to capture an astounding 859 PB of video daily. Increasing retention regulations and higher resolution cameras, are forcing the video surveillance industry to reassess its approach to data storage. Large capacity primary storage tends to be expensive to procure and costly to implement – especially without a sound architecture that can balance storage performance levels with the speed of access needed to recall video footage. Active Archive Strategy These challenges are thrusting storage tiers to the forefront of system design. Storage tiers in video surveillance had previously meant simply using a separate archive or attaching add-on capacity directly to network video recorders. Many of the new storage options designed for video surveillance are pulling together different storage tiers into a single storage architecture Many of the new storage options designed for video surveillance are pulling together different storage tiers (and in some cases storage media) into a single storage architecture, such as an active archive solution. This balance can be achieved with an active archive strategy that automates migration of data between different storage types, to ensure the data is on the correct storage type at the correct time to meet performance and retention requirements without blowing the budget. This approach also ensures ease of access while automatically moving content from more expensive tiers of storage to more cost-effective long-term tiers of storage. This allows for greater efficiencies in how recorded footage is treated throughout its lifecycle. In some cases, it includes moving data from edge devices to centralized storage, and then to the public cloud. Scalable Video Storage Solutions As storage demands have increased, video management vendors have turned to storage specialists for solutions that can accommodate large numbers of high-resolution video files, metadata associated with the footage for easy searching, along with much needed scalable solutions. In terms of video management software, this means the integration of video content from different storage types, tiers and physical locations is required, and which considers the performance profile of each storage type. With an active archive solution, video content is searchable and accessible directly by the end users regardless of where it is stored. Deploying an active archive solution enables surveillance users to reduce the complexity and costs of managing data for long term retention As seen in many product categories, camera and storage vendors continue to provide extremely competitive offerings. But, storage-specific solutions for video surveillance have lagged behind the roadmaps for video equipment and, as more and more cameras have entered the market, less attention has been placed on video storage capacities. Tiered Storage Strategy The surveillance industry has evolved considerably from the days of the 8mm video recorder; however, enterprise storage solutions will be forced to evolve further to cope with changing storage retention requirements. Video storage is quickly becoming one of the most expensive parts in a surveillance solution, but there is hope. Deploying an active archive solution will enable surveillance users to reduce the complexity and costs of managing from terabytes to petabytes of data for long term retention. By finding a storage solution that delivers the ability to implement a tiered storage strategy, users can adhere to regulation requirements to retain video footage and meet their safety and security objectives, while also significantly reducing storage costs and operational expenses.

According to IHS Market, it is estimated that there are over 60 million security cameras in the United States, and other reports say these cameras capture more than four billion hours of footage per week. Over the last decade, IP camera technology has dominated the conversation as it has provided users with a broad offering of enhanced image quality and features. With a large percentage of existing security systems relying on analog, many end users looking for high definition (HD) video quality have been forced to take on a complete system overhaul. Infrastructure Overhaul For HD Video To make the switch, customers would need to change everything, from cameras to hardware to wiring– not to mention the lengthy installation process that would ensue. IP cameras also require higher Internet speeds and more cloud space. Whether constrained by budget, bandwidth or storage, many end users have been unable to adopt this new video surveillance method.Thanks to technological advancements within the security industry, HD over Coax offers a viable solution for integrators and end users alike Thanks to technological advancements within the security industry, HD over Coax offers a viable solution for integrators and end users alike. By utilising the current Coaxial cables, this offering yields high definition video, while requiring minimal infrastructure changes and is an optimal surveillance choice for security customers. Plus, with new advancements and updates being made frequently to this technology, there is a solution for every security need. The enhanced alternative of HD over Coax has been warmly welcomed in the security industry, thanks to its simple solutions and ever-evolving features. Many new analog HD cameras are “plug and play,” able to connect directly to existing Coaxial cables. This eliminates the need for a complete system change, creating cost-savings for the end user and an enhanced video quality offering. Easy Solutions For HD Video As a result, integrators can cost-effectively upgrade their customer’s surveillance solution while using their legacy infrastructure, making it an attractive option for end users and an easy sell for dealers. Latency in video is another common issue with network-based camera systems, where even the slightest delay in video surveillance can hinder security response HD over Coax cameras themselves are always expanding and evolving to meet a wide array of security needs. With the introduction of fisheye and multi-sensor cameras, users now have a multitude of coverage options, not to mention the introduction of 4K bringing resolution options to the same level as IP. Some newer technologies are even touting 4K cameras paired with 4K digital video recorders (DVRs) made specifically for analog systems. Longer cables grant transmission for up to 1600 feet, double the distance of standard analog solutions, and triple that of IP systems. This single cable is able to transmit both HD video and audio. Recently, broadcast quality audio over Coax has become available in limited models, a substantial improvement over older analog technology, which was unable to transmit audio. Stopping Video Delay Latency in video is another common issue with network-based camera systems. Even the slightest delay in video surveillance can hinder security response. IP cameras are forced to compress and packetize their video for transmission. The outcome of this is a reduced number of images per video, which in turn causes delay. HD over Coax on the other hand, delivers an unlimited amount of HD images in real time, with smooth motion and impressive clarity. Additionally, the point-to-point transmission delivers uncompressed video free of lag. Another touted benefit is that, unlike IP networked cameras, analog systems provide a more secure video transmission. With so much sensitive information housed on a businesses’ network, adding another point of network access through an IP camera can create concerns for cyber security risks. HD over Coax delivers an unlimited amount of HD images in real time, with smooth motion and impressive clarity Preventing Network Hacking With HD over Coax, the physical connections between the camera and DVR prevent network hacking. By keeping the video surveillance system offline, security professionals are able to direct their attention to the physical threats at hand, rather than having to focus on deterring cyber security risks. One of the primary difficulties of deploying HD video solutions is the fact that many older systems utilize a wide variety of HD standards and platforms. To make matters more complicated, after HD over Coax was brought to market, manufacturers raced to create their own version of this technology. Today, the most popular proprietary standards are HD-CVI, HD-TVI and AHD. However, integrators and customers found that attempting to manage multiple HD technologies proved to be near impossible.Integrators and customers found that attempting to manage multiple HD technologies proved to be near impossible Diversifying Surveillance Through One DVR To combat these issues, manufacturers have introduced products with more flexibility to their portfolios. One example of this is the penta-brid DVR which grants the ability to seamlessly integrate multiple technologies deployed across one application. This means that systems with diverse camera brands and technologies, such as a mix of HD-CVI, HD-TVI, AHD, analog or IP, can be connected through one DVR. For many end users with legacy analog systems, penta-brid DVRs give them greater freedom to choose between a variety of solutions, rather than being limited to one option. With video resolution increasing, the space needed to store the footage is similarly rising. Penta-brid technology has been able to adapt to these evolving needs, giving users ample storage space to house the HD and 4K surveillance video with some of the newest models including H.265 compression.  HD Casino Surveillance Made Simple For casinos, HD images are critical for identifying unauthorized personnel and unlawful behaviours to create a safe environment for guests and staff While HD over Coax is beneficial to many end users and integrators, those in the casino and hospitality markets find it crucial. With a combination of high profile guests, large amounts of cash on hand, constant crowds and strict industry regulations, reliable video surveillance is a must. Deploying new IP systems comes at a stiff price. When looking to upgrade their video surveillance, casinos must also be mindful of the installation process. When moving to an IP-based system, ripping out old wires and replacing them with new is the standard practice. This practice can be both disruptive and costly, not to mention gaming regulations require casino activities be monitored at all times so a complete system shutdown would result in revenue loss. This cost can be hard to justify, especially when the current legacy analog system remains in working condition with only the lower image resolution to date it. For these scenarios, the most cost-effective option is to leverage the legacy infrastructure, replace the existing cameras with new devices, and reap the benefits that HD video has to offer without any lapse in security. For casinos, HD images are critical for identifying unauthorized personnel and unlawful behaviours to create a safe environment for guests and staff. HD over Coax cameras now offer the same resolution as IP cameras with a plug and play approach, that cuts down on expense without sacrificing quality. For businesses and applications that are unable to adopt IP technology, whether it be cost or time prohibitive, HD over Coax now features most of the same benefits IP has to offer without breaking the bank. By providing clear images in real time, maximizing existing infrastructure, and affording cyber security benefits, HD over Coax provides an attractive solution for many end users and integrators.

Avigilon Corp. is a relatively young company in the security market and has come a long way since it was founded in 2004. From an early focus on high-megapixel imaging, the company’s end-to-end solutions have evolved to include access control, video analytics and now artificial intelligence (AI). A reflection of how far Avigilon has come in a short time is the recent $1 billion acquisition of the Canadian company by Motorola Solutions. Avigilon’s President and COO, James Henderson, is also on the young side – age 39 to be exact. He has been recognized as recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Award for 2018. Henderson has also been a key figure in the transition to ownership by Motorola.Motorola has been an amazing partner and lived up to what they said. You will see an incredible growth trajectory for our organization.” Partnership With Motorola Yields Growth That transition was completed in March. “There’s a million ways these types of transitions could go,” says Henderson. “Motorola has been an amazing partner and lived up to what they said. You will see an incredible growth trajectory for our organization.” “Motorola likes to push the pace of technology,” adds Henderson, “and they have allowed us to continue as an independent business, focusing on sales, synergies and growth. They have given us the resources we need to make it happen even faster.” With the acquisition, Avigilon is also well positioned to benefit from Motorola’s larger global presence and familiar brand name. Specifically, Motorola has already been able to propose Avigilon systems for some larger citywide solutions and government projects.Henderson was selected for the honor from more than 800 nominees by an independent, cross-national Advisory Board Henderson says the Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Award reflects Avigilon’s accomplishments as well as his own. “It’s a huge honor to be selected as part of the 40 Under 40 group,” said Henderson. “From my perspective, I think of it as a tribute to the hard work of the Avigilon team. I haven’t done it on my own, but as part of working with and leading a world-class business.” The award shines light on how Avigilon is pushing technology to its limits, says Henderson. “It will help the world take notice of what we are doing and what we can accomplish,” he says. “It also brings positive attention to the great things we are doing in the security industry as a whole.” Canada's Top 40 Under 40 Henderson was selected for the honor from more than 800 nominees, all aged under 40, by an independent, cross-national Advisory Board based on four criteria: vision and innovation; leadership; impact and influence; and social responsibility. The award recognises Henderson’s strategic vision that has successfully driven Avigilon’s top-line revenue growth and profitability. Henderson says the security industry too often is associated with negative events in the public’s mind. Negative events are when discussions of security systems often come into play. “We want to shine a positive light on the industry as a whole, and the things we are doing to make people safer in the world,” he says. Avigilon’s fast growth has been built on creating new technologies and presenting them to customers as end-to-end solutions Henderson says Avigilon’s fast growth has been built on creating new technologies and presenting them to customers as end-to-end solutions. “We have developed a culture at Avigilon of people who want to be the best, who are proud of the company, and the things we are doing,” he says. “That pride helps them be motivated even further.” “Whether it’s operational challenges or security and safety, we provide end users with the result they need,” says Henderson. “We want to continue to own the customer experience as a complete solutions provider and to build on that with additional services and technologies, ranging from devices to decisions to actions.” [Avigilon] want to continue to own the customer experience as a complete solutions provider" Utilizing Integrator Partnerships A key component of the “customer experience” is the Avigilon integrator channel. “We have been selective with who we partner with and support them through training, sales and engineering support,” Henderson says. “We can be right there by their side with large projects, and also support them and ensure that their brand promotes the customer experience.” As Avigilon’s technologies are deployed to address a broader spectrum of customer challenges – operational applications as well as security and safety – the integrator community has helped to lead the way. “We are already seeing integrators start to evolve and develop these new uses cases, such as increasing operational efficiencies, and to optimize solutions for various vertical markets,” Henderson says. Avigilon has consistently emphasized an end-to-end solution approach, even as others in the industry opted for a more product-centric approach and depending on open systems to create solutions using components from multiple manufacturers. Although open systems are still dominant, there has been a noticeable trend of more companies in recent years adopting Avigilon’s end-to-end approach.Among the challenges, Henderson says meeting the customer’s need to manage an overload of information is the largest What Next For Avigilon? Like other companies, Avigilon faces several challenges in the market, including a need to ensure their solutions are compatible with customers’ information technology (IT) environments, and to provide encryption and address other cybersecurity needs. But among the challenges, Henderson says meeting the customer’s need to manage an overload of information is the largest. Avigilon addresses that challenge with newer AI and deep learning systems in addition to video analytics that sift through the overabundance of data and direct the operator’s focus to what they need to know. What’s next for Avigilon? “We will be looking to expand our devices that digitize the physical world,” says Henderson. “Cameras are one way to digitise the physical world, but there can be a multitude of other devices, too. We will also be looking at more cloud solutions, more AI and analytics and new tools to dive through that mountain of information. And it will all be bundled into end-to-end solutions.”

IFSEC International 2018 kicked off last week at London’s ExCel Centre. Visitors were lucky enough to experience a rare three days of British sunshine as they came together to discuss the latest trends and technologies in the physical security industry. Many exhibitors commented on how the show seemed smaller than previous years, with stands more spread out, and fewer ‘double-decker’ offerings than earlier shows. Although exhibitors represented all aspects of physical security, including access control and intrusion detection, the show was largely dominated by video surveillance. Video manufacturers Avigilon and Dahua were key sponsors, while the largest stand by far was occupied by Hikvision. Rather than hosting large product portfolios, exhibitors chose to demonstrate how integrated solutions could provide a more holistic solution If stands seemed more modest than in previous years, this may be a reflection of the industry shifting away from its long-standing product focus. Displaying large product portfolios takes more exhibit space. In an increasingly commoditized market, security integrators are combatting price erosion by emphasizing holistic solutions rather than products and features. While some manufacturers have responded by collaborating with partners to offer a broader portfolio of solutions, others have invested in building end-to-end systems. Both these trends were reflected at the show; rather than hosting large product portfolios with a wide range of features, exhibitors chose to demonstrate how integrated solutions could provide a more holistic solution to end users’ challenges. Integrated Systems Approach One manufacturer opting for a solutions focus was security, access control and door entry systems provider STANLEY Product and Technology. The stand was represented by a range of STANLEY brands including PACOM and PAC GDX, as well as technology from recent acquisition 3xLOGIC. The PACOM team was on hand to demonstrate integrations of PACOM’s Graphical Management System (GMS) with workflow management software from RightCrowd, and biometric authentication products from EyeLock. PACOM Systems’ Commercial Director Gary Rowden explained that the stand was designed specifically to showcase all of STANLEY’s brands and partners in one place, encouraging customers to buy into the STANLEY solutions approach, rather than focusing on specific products. The show was largely dominated by video surveillance, with video manufacturer Avigilon a key sponsor Connecting With Partners Another company emphasizing partner solutions was Milestone Systems. Milestone’s Vice President for EMEA, Malou Mousten Dyhr Toft, who joined the company in March, explained how IFSEC International continues to be a key show. It was an opportunity to meet with Milestone’s expansive community of existing partners, as well as connecting with new partners and end users. Milestone hopes to enable community customers to process more video data with fewer servers, increasing scalabilityIn February this year, the company launched the Milestone System Builder initiative, allowing partners to optimize their hardware to pre-load Milestone’s XProtect VMS software. Several system builder partners were present at the Milestone stand. By collaborating with NVIDIA, Milestone hopes to enable community customers to process more video data with fewer servers, increasing scalability and reducing the total cost of ownership of its partner solutions. The stand showcased Milestone’s latest XProtect 2018 R2 VMS that leverages NVIDIA’s high-powered graphics processing units (GPUs), which can handle up to 2,000 video streams on one single server. Commitment To Open Systems MOBOTIX took this year’s IFSEC International as an opportunity to spread the word about its increased commitment to open systems. Since the company’s majority acquisition by Konica Minolta in 2016, and the subsequent addition of CEO Thomas Lausten last year, the company has undergone a significant change in approach, all-the-while guarding its core decentralized IP video product offering and made-in-Germany DNA. Lausten was previously a key figure at Milestone Systems and has brought to MOBOTIX a new approach focused on collaboration. Partners present at the MOBOTIX stand included Milestone, Kentix and Wavestore. The company also demonstrated its commitment to open systems by unveiling MOBOTIX MOVE, the manufacturer’s first line of ONVIF G compliant cameras. Visitors were lucky enough to experience a rare three days of British sunshine at IFSEC International this year Security system provider Vanderbilt had many new developments on show, including integrations both within Vanderbilt systems and with partner systems. The company’s SPC intrusion detection system now integrates with Milestone software, allowing SPC users to trigger events and control alarm systems from within the Milestone platform. A further highlight was Vanderbilt’s ACTEnterprise access control system, which now integrates with ASSA ABLOY’s Aperio wireless locking solution. Vanderbilt hopes that the integration will provide customers with faster, more cost-effective access control installations.Vanderbilt hopes that the integration will provide customers with faster, more cost-effective access control installations Reducing Costs, Increasing Ease-Of-Use Many exhibitors were keen to demonstrate how integrated solutions could reduce costs for integrators by unifying systems on one easy-to-use platform. Arecont Vision unveiled its new Contera cloud-based video management solution at ISC West in April, making IFSEC the technology’s first outing in the European market. Contera is Arecont’s first video management offering and will allow customers to benefit from end-to-end solutions from the US-based company. Since the Contera system is designed to be web-based from the start, integrators will not be faced with the additional cost of adapting a legacy VMS system to the cloud. IDIS was another manufacturer highlighting their enhanced user experience and reduced cost offered by end-to-end systems. Visitors experienced demonstrations of the IDIS Center video management software, which is designed to offer smart user experience controls, and a user-friendly interface. Also on display were the company’s latest ranges of analog and IP cameras. The IDIS system allows users to ‘mix-and-match’ HD analog and IP video depending on the requirements of the project, with all surveillance operated from the same IDIS software interface. The mix-and-match approach avoids the additional cost of unnecessarily ripping and replacing legacy analog systems. IFSEC 2018 presented a snapshot of how manufacturers from across video, access control and intrusion detection are continuing to innovate and collaborate to stay competitive in an increasingly challenging market, without losing sight of the most pressing needs of end users and integrators.

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

Grafisch Lyceum Utrecht (GLU) is a creative and safe school that specializes in various multi-media disciplines as well as communications, media management and marketing. With approximately 2,100 students, GLU is located in Utrecht, The Netherlands and as at any education establishment the protection of its staff and students is of paramount importance, which saw the school first implement a surveillance system in its new main building in 1998. Unobtrusive Video Surveillance In 2004, following several burglaries over the previous four years, Sead Hafizovic, GLU’s Safety and Security Supervisor identified the need to upgrade security provisions. The current surveillance systems consisted of five analog cameras connected to a video recorder that required the changing of video tapes daily, and Hafizovic recognized this was no longer fit for purpose. Located across two facilities in Utrecht, GLU’s the main building in Vondellaan features glass walls and multiple access points giving the school an open and creative feel that Hafizovic wanted to maintain, making the need for unobtrusive security measures an important factor. Following a thorough assessment by both GLU and Trigion, a mix of 30 IDIS analog cameras together with motion detectors were implemented Hafizovic turned to trusted partner Trigion, a systems integrator responsible for all the school’s security measures encompassing intruder, access control and video surveillance. Acting as an advisor, Trigion was tasked to find the most effective surveillance solution that would meet the security and performance needs of the school, while having the flexibility to scale and adapt as security and operational requirements changed.  Migration From Analog To HD IP Surveillance Following a thorough assessment by both GLU and Trigion, a mix of 30 IDIS analog cameras together with motion detectors were implemented. The new security system proved incredibly effective in reducing crime as well as health and safety incidents and was gradually extended over the next ten years to include cameras in all strategic locations. In 2013, the GLU went about updating the school’s security policy to include the use of cameras and their related images. While working alongside Trigion to develop the policy, Trigion advised GLU to make the move from analog to high-definition IP to vastly improve performance and thereby further increase safety and security. Since the existing IDIS system was still reliably operating, GLU needed to be convinced of the investment. IDIS HD IP Cameras And NVRs GLU was operating a mix of IDIS analogue and HD networked cameras connected to IDIS NVRs all seamlessly managed through IDIS Center Trigion first installed two networked HD cameras next to the existing surveillance system. Both systems could be viewed easily through IDIS Center, totally cost-free video management software (VMS). The improved performance in terms of crisp picture quality, fast retrieval of footage and the easy and rapid installation quickly convinced GLU to implement a phased upgrade from analog to IP. By 2014, GLU was operating a mix of IDIS analog and HD networked cameras connected to IDIS network video recorders (NVRs) all seamlessly managed through IDIS Center, providing a high performance, centralized monitoring capability.  Since implementation the number incidents of internal theft, harassment, fighting and drug taking has reduced to almost zero—a measurable result Hafizovic is very proud of. The security policy has been shared with students and they fully understand their rights and obligations when it comes to the use of surveillance in the school and the importance of personal safety. Adapting To Safety And Security Provisions The innate flexibility and backward compatibility of the IDIS solution allows GLU to continuously improve and adapt safety and security provisions, effectively enabling the school to upgrade to next generation IDIS technology when it comes online and integrate with other systems as required. In 2015, GLU was voted the third best school in a nationwide survey, in which GLU scored top in the areas of safety and security. Later the same year, the King of The Netherlands, Willem Alexander and Jet Bussemaker, the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science visited GLU to witness its achievements for themselves, proving a proud day for GLU staff and students.

Police in the Belgian city of Lokeren can now respond more effectively to criminal incidents – thanks to an upgraded video surveillance solution that features 120 Sony security cameras, including the rugged SNC-VM772R 4K minidome camera. Lokeren Video Security System Like all urban centers, Lokeren faces the challenges of crime, vandalism and antisocial behavior in its streets, public buildings and open areas. Until recently, the municipal police force relied on analog security cameras to assist with detecting and responding promptly to incidents. However, these cameras’ limited resolution and image quality often prevented efforts to prosecute individuals as they could not be successfully identified. In response to requests from citizens to maximize their safety, Lokeren police chiefs and city politicians pledged to upgrade their video surveillance capabilities. In particular, the urgent need was identified to improve the accurate recognition of suspects caught on camera – an even greater challenge at night or on dull, poorly-lit days. Full HD And 4K Network Surveillance Cameras  Security specialists DS-Consulting therefore recommended upgrading Lokeren’s video security to a combination of Full HD and 4K network surveillance cameras. A competitive comparison by DS-Consulting saw Sony’s outdoor minidome and fixed box-type cameras compare favorably with other brands. The rugged SNC-VM772R 4K minidome camera delivered significantly better images in tough low-light conditions “There was only one choice when we compared the image quality of Sony’s security cameras against other market-leading brands” states Emiel De Smet of security specialist DS-Consulting. “They offer so much more detail and clarity – and that makes all the difference in critical surveillance applications.” SNC-VM772R 4K Minidome Camera In particular, the rugged SNC-VM772R 4K minidome camera delivered significantly better images in tough low-light conditions. The camera’s large-sized Exmor R CMOS image sensor allows it to capture more light than ordinary sensors. This allows it to ‘see’ suspicious activity clearly in conditions of almost complete darkness, where less sensitive cameras struggle. Installed by Belgian integrator Seris Technology, the complete surveillance solution features a video management platform by Genetec Security Center plus 120 strategically located Sony cameras, providing 24/7 coverage of city center streets as well as public buildings, including Lokeren’s police station, central library and city hall. Crime Prevention And 24/7 Video Monitoring The new cameras give police a clearer picture of criminal activity in the city streets, assisting with the positive identification of suspicious persons even at night and in low light conditions. Round-the-clock video footage is routed via an optical fiber network, where images are monitored in the central dispatch office at police headquarters. Since the cameras’ installation, city police have seen a reduction in crime levels, accompanied by greater peace of mind for residents and visitors.

On his 2018 two-day visit to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families, Pope Francis’s scheduled activity was protected by high-performance Predator and Invictus cameras from UK CCTV design and manufacturing company, 360 Vision Technology. Specialists in a wide range of leading-edge CCTV, Access Control, PA, AV and radio communications, County Kildare-based Mongey Communications was chosen to provide the additional security surveillance protection measures necessary to secure the Pope’s visit to Dublin. With the massive crowds expected to see the pontiff, the temporary surveillance installation needed to be minimally disruptive and use mobile radio to provide the multi-scene coverage required during the two-day visit. Multi-Site CCTV Surveillance The camera images were to be used for co-ordination and management by multiple agencies To support an existing small-scale CCTV installation at the Pope’s final venue of Phoenix Park (the largest enclosed city park in Europe), there was a need for further camera coverage along the park’s approach routes, entrance/exit gates, search areas and general areas of crowd movement and congregation. A similar solution was also required for the Pope’s visit to the Knock Shrine pilgrimage site and the Capuchin Day Center, where public space CCTV was again already in place but of limited overall coverage. Full integration with the existing CCTV system at the 82,300 capacity Croke Park stadium for a papal address to the Festival of Families extravaganza was also required, with communications and CCTV feeds from all locations required to be transmitted back to local on-site control rooms at each location, and additionally to a central Command and Control room at Dublin Castle. At the main Command and Control Center, the camera images were to be used for co-ordination and management by multiple agencies, including the Office of Public works (OPW), Garda Síochána, Defense Forces Ireland, Dublin Fire Brigade, HSE / Ambulance Services and Civil Defense. High-Definition Video Security To Secure Phoenix Park  “With 300,000 people expected to attend a papal mass at Phoenix Park to close the World Meeting of Families, we were briefed to provide the very best possible reliability and imaging performance from the additional cameras we employed,” explains Kevin McGrath of Mongey Communications. We needed to be confident of camera reliability straight out of the box, along with simple and fast set-up" He further added, “With this in mind, we needed to be confident of camera reliability straight out of the box, along with simple and fast set-up, and quality high-definition video for forward transmission to the various control rooms. Our very positive experience of employing 360 Vision Technology cameras on many high-security installations in the past led us to be confident about the image and build quality of the manufacturer’s cameras, and product support.” “So, to fulfill the challenges we faced for this high-profile project, we specified the latest version of 360 Vision’s Predator camera, and also their new cost-effective and ruggedized Invictus Hybrid HD PTZ camera.” 360 Vision Invictus Hybrid HD PTZ Camera The new 360 Vision Invictus cameras specified for the project employ the latest compact camera modules with a choice of 20:1 or 30:1 zoom and are available with 1/2.8” Sony StarVis or 1/1.9” Sony Exmor (Ultra) sensor packages. Bridging the divide between analog and IP technology, all Invictus cameras are equipped with Hybrid functionality enabling installation in existing analog systems and also in full 1080P HD IP video streaming networks. Alongside ONVIF 2.4 Profile S compatibility, this means the Invictus range is not only economical, but simple to install, providing Mongey Communications engineers with a reliable, flexible and high- performance solution with which to enhance the existing electronic surveillance measures for the Pope’s 2018 visit. HD IP Video Streaming Networks An upright camera mount design allows full 360-degree continuous pan and unobstructed field of view Further enhancing camera reliability for this important event, the new Invictus camera range design draws cost-effectively on features usually associated with very high-end cameras, including construction from high grade, hardened aluminum and stainless steel, to ensure a rugged, durable and compact camera. An upright camera mount design allows full 360-degree continuous pan and unobstructed field of view, plus the ability to tilt above the horizon – enabling operators to view targets above camera installation height (i.e. up hills) – an invaluable asset where cameras were being installed in the difficult installation and operational conditions of Phoenix Park. Technical Relationship With 360 Vision Technology “Our decision to once again entrust the provision of the best technology available for the project to 360 Vision Technology was proven correct, and we had no issues of consequence with the installation, commissioning and performance of all the cameras - straight out of the box,” explains Kevin. “Because of the condensed set-up period available and challenging terrain of some of the installation areas, we had to act fast to ensure the successful inclusion and full control of the cameras for the multi-agency command and control room,” adds Kevin. “Here our technical relationship with 360 Vision Technology really paid dividends throughout this time-critical project, affording easy integration of all the additional cameras into the control room’s Cathexis VMS. Cathexis VMS Images from the cameras were relayed back to the various event control centres In all, over 60 additional 360 Vision Technology cameras were employed over the various sites throughout the Pope’s visit. With extensive digging and cabling not a practical option, images from the cameras were relayed back to the various event control centers via a network of reliable and secure microwave transmission links, powered by temporary generators and back-up batteries. “The new Invictus cameras were perfect for the role thanks to their low power consumption compared to other similar specification PTZ cameras,” explains Kevin. “Low power consumption really helps when adding multiple cameras to a network with a temporary power system - and meant we could add more cameras for the benefit of maximum scene coverage.” High-Speed Fiber-Optic Connectivity High-speed fiber-optic connectivity between the various remote sites and Dublin Castle was installed, together with video walls at the various control rooms. “The Pope’s visit was a great success with no security issues reported,” says Kevin. “Images relayed to the control room from the additional 360 Vision Technology cameras were vital in the smooth running of the visit and allowed all of the state agencies involved to keep a constant update on the movements of the vast crowds drawn over the pontiff’s two-day visit.” “Our long-term technical partnership with 360 Vision Technology and our direct input in to the development of their new products really pays off with high-profile projects like this,” concludes Kevin. “We have many new and exciting installation challenges on the horizon and I’m confident that 360 Vision Technology camera products will continue to be an integral part of those future projects.”

TCA, the provider of security services for North Lanarkshire Council, has seen savings of around £50,000 a year, after installing 300 Panasonic CCTV cameras, waterproofed with a unique ClearSight coating. Located east of Glasgow, North Lanarkshire has challenging weather conditions for any technology, which has previously hindered the provision of cost-effective security in the area. High levels of rain resulted in water marks, dust spots and condensation, which meant heavy maintenance burdens and the potential for missing incidents. When considering an upgrade to the system, TCA needed to combat these issues with a security system that remained affordable in an era of local authority austerity. Implementing PTZ Cameras For Cost Reduction The ClearSight coating forms an invisible layer over the surface of the dome preventing water droplets from obscuring footageTCA secured the lower total cost of ownership they were seeking by implementing Panasonic PTZ cameras. The ClearSight coating forms an invisible layer over the surface of the dome preventing water droplets from obscuring footage, while also eliminating dirt and dust build-up on the dome cover. "On many models, when the rain stops, you tend to get a coating of dust on the dome, which the camera then focuses on," says Nikola Graham, Operations Manager. "We just haven't seen that with the Panasonic cameras. In fact, we have actually halved the number of maintenance visits, which we think probably equates to a £50,000 annual saving.” The initial installation took place over two years with the bulk of the cameras installed on 27 high rise blocks, identified as having problems with crime and antisocial behavior. Reduction In Criminal Incidents "The result has been impressive. The council has seen a reduction in the number of criminal and anti-social incidents within the residential blocks, the cameras have contributed greatly to this. The people living in the blocks feel safer as a result,” said Graeme Good, Business Manager at TCA. In total, 875 cameras are monitored round the clock, while a further 300 cameras are linked in and monitored out of hours if an alarm is triggered “A camera in the Motherwell area has on several occasions been used to catch vehicles that were used in some pretty serious crime. The quality of the footage and the evidence packs that we are giving the police is exactly what they are looking for.” Round The Clock Monitoring Utilizing tours and salvos, the control room in Coatbridge has eyes trained on 21 Full HD monitors. In total, 875 cameras are monitored round the clock, while a further 300 cameras are linked in and monitored out of hours, if an alarm is triggered. Various triggers, such as alarms within the lifts, will show as priorities for the operators. "It's great credit to our integration partners that some of the cameras we monitor are 16 years old," adds Graeme Good. "Every time we have a fault, we will appraise whether it's cost-effective to repair the unit. If not, we'll continue with the roll out of Panasonic, which have been virtually faultless thus far."

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

Videowall technology supplied by Ultimate Visual Solutions (formerly eyevis UK) is at the heart of a new customer experience center unveiled by independent system integrator Capula. UVS Videowall Technology  The installation allows Capula to showcase a wide range of software technologies, including the latest IoT solutions, to clients from within the energy, manufacturing and utilities sectors at its headquarters in Stone, Staffordshire. Ultimate Visual Solutions (UVS) installed four eyevis EYE-LCD-5500-XSN-LD-FX 55-inch LCD displays to make up the videowall, along with a custom-made sound bar and a Netpix 4900 video wall controller. Netpix 4900 Videowall Controller We are delighted to have been chosen to complete such an important project for Capula" The installation also includes two 65-inch Samsung DM-65E touch interactive whiteboards; which give the Capula team the ability to show content from the Netpix videowall controller and allow them to annotate over it mid-discussion and feed content back to any display. UVS managing director Steve Murphy said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to complete such an important project for Capula, which will showcase the solutions we provide to visitors to their headquarters.”  Capula Business Manager, Neil White commented: “We are very pleased with the service provided by Ultimate Visual Solutions. The expertise, guidance and follow on support was second to none. The technology installed in our prestigious customer experience center has provided an excellent showcase for our business’ solutions.” Video Wall And Audio-Visual Solutions Burnley-based UVS, formerly eyevis UK, provides video wall displays and audio-visual solutions to a range of clients across the UK. Capula specializes in industrial control, instrumentation and automation and has decades of expertise, having worked in some of the most complex and demanding industrial environments. The Netpix 4900 is a network-based graphic controller for the management of video wall systems, single displays or projectors. The controller creates a big joined desktop for network-applications, video and graphic sources.