Intrusion detection

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

HGH Infrared Systems has won a multi-million contract from a shipyard, to equip three new warships with the latest generation of SPYNEL panoramic thermal cameras. In a context of maritimization of the global economy, HGH Infrared Systems affirms its position in the field of security optronics for wide area surveillance. Edouard Campana, Sales Director at HGH Infrared Systems, said: "We are proud to have been selected as the preferred wide area surveillance sensor manufacturer by an African navy. SPYNEL 360° has become part of the must-have security equipment based on thermal imaging technology to detect asymmetric threats. We have been equipping ports and military ships for many years now, and this significant contract demonstrates the leadership of HGH Infrared Systems in panoramic imaging sensors. We are committed to providing the best situational awareness whether at sea or along the coast." Complete surveillance equipment These warships will be built during the next five years and will be equipped with the latest maritime technologies. Part of the complete surveillance equipment of the vessel, Spynel 360° InfraRed Search & Track System provides the highest image resolution in the world. With its 24/7 wide area surveillance capabilities, SPYNEL-X can detect, track and record an unlimited number of threats from a distance of 15km With its 24/7 wide area surveillance capabilities, SPYNEL-X can detect, track and record an unlimited number of threats from a distance of 15km, night and day, even in adverse weather conditions. The new V-LRF technology features a visible channel to enhance threat identification as well as a Laser Range Finder to measure the threat distance while keeping continuous tracking. Hence, Spynel ensures the best of visual identification of potential threats within the air and sea zone. Panoramic thermal imaging HGH’s surveillance systems have been selected for their ability to maintain a high detection rate without false positives, to resist all the vibrations that affect ships and to be stabilized at sea state level 6, with 4 to 6-meter waves. Built up to military standards, the SPYNEL sensors were already chosen by several Navies and installed on multiple war frigates and maritime platforms around the world. Always focused on being one step ahead in panoramic thermal imaging technology, HGH Infrared Systems is committed to serving the naval industry with the most advanced and reliable 360° IRST systems. Meet the experts at the HGH Infrared Systems booth (C37 HALL 2B) at Paris Le Bourget, Parc des Expositions to discover the complete range of SPYNEL thermal imaging cameras.

Johnson Controls has introduced exacqVision video management system (9.6), which empowers users to gain unprecedented insight into their VMS data, while leveraging powerful integrations and essential recording features during network loss. exacqVision VMS 9.6 With massive amounts of data continuously being generated by security cameras, access control, intrusion systems and other integrations, exacqVision 9.6 lets users analyze their data to make better business decisions. For example, security operators in any business can evaluate aberrant “door open” events in restricted areas with greater granularity to mitigate potentially dangerous trends. Maintaining system uptime is of paramount importance to keep people safe and meet compliance requirements. To help achieve this, exacqVision 9.6 includes support for direct SD video recording capabilities with Axis cameras. When connectivity between supported cameras and an exacqVision NVR fails, video records directly onto the camera’s SD card. Once connectivity is reestablished, recorded video transfers back to the exacqVision NVR and is automatically stored at the correct date and time. Integration With DMP Intrusion Panels This commitment to continuous uptime and complete security is also reflected in the latest integration with the popular DMP intrusion panels. The integration lets users receive events, and arm/disarm the system directly from exacqVision, providing a more intuitive and streamlined security solution.

Video analytics capabilities and privacy protection enhancements are among several highlights that Honeywell has added to its equIP® Series Cameras line, and MAXPRO® network video recorders (NVR) and video management system (VMS). The expanded capabilities are designed to help protect complex building environments, while improving user friendliness for operators and reducing overall cost of operation.  The updated camera technology and new analytic features include Tripwire, Intrusion, and Abandoned Object and Missing Object Notification on all models. Low-light models will also include automatic behavioral detection, analysis, tracking and classification of people and vehicles as they move through a scene with Xtralis LoiterTrace, Smart Impressions and People Counter. The new cameras, NVRs and VMS help customers meet General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements from product perspective. Updated video management system Both MAXPRO NVR and MAXPRO VMS have been updated to support the latest equIP camerasBoth MAXPRO NVR and MAXPRO VMS have been updated to support the latest equIP cameras and new features for broader applications. Updates include: New POE switch (HPOE3X) and AUX ports to reduce maintenance, installation storage costs, and resources for providing lower total cost of ownership Storage overheads and required bandwidth is also reduced (by up to 40%) by the adoption and use of H.265 video compression For MAXPRO VMS R500 specifically, body pixelation and blurring in live view from the new equIP models for enhanced privacy protection The new editions enhance Honeywell’s growing line of IP video technologies to deliver scalable high-quality video solutions for any business need. In addition, the equIP Series and MAXPRO solutions integrate with a variety of Honeywell products, including Pro-Watch® access systems, to provide a comprehensive connected building platform.  

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge relies on customized security solutions from Bosch to ensure safe operations. The world’s largest sea-crossing bridge was opened by Chinese officials late October 2018. Spanning 55 kilometres in length, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge directly connects Hong Kong to Macao and then to the Chinese city of Zhuhai for the first time. At a total cost of USD 20 billion, it is a major boost for China’s Greater Bay Area, an emerging industrial and technological hotbed that is home to 68 million people and a showcase project for Bosch Building Technologies. Equipping Critical Infrastructures The large-scale project was built over the course of eight years using 400,000 tons of steel and includes underwater tunnels and two artificial islands that serve as customs ports. Ensuring the security of these two islands, where drivers need to present special permits to use the new bridge and pass customs checkpoints, was a priority from the start. Bosch Building Technologies won the contract to provide the artificial islands with video surveillance, intrusion alarms With a proven track record of equipping critical infrastructures such as airports, hotels, commercial buildings and underground metros, Bosch Building Technologies won the contract to provide the artificial islands with video surveillance, intrusion alarms, as well as public address and voice evacuation systems. On the island between Zhuhai and Macao, the Bosch partner Shanghai SAGA Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. installed more than 5,700 Bosch loudspeakers and over 260 amplifiers which are all managed via the PRAESIDEO Digital Public Address and Emergency Sound system. Custom-Ordering Solutions Fulfilling a key customer request, the installation incorporates 15 different models of ceiling, wall mount, and line array speakers to blend in with the facility’s modern interior. Furthermore, Bosch was able to match Macao’s local standards by custom-ordering solutions with British power cord, programmed with graphic interfaces in traditional Chinese lettering. On the island outside of Hong Kong, which is home to a customs clearance port, Bosch partner Pro-United Co., Ltd. installed 2,200 public address speakers of various models, including outdoor speakers for the travel inspection building. Experts also adjusted 200 vari-directional array loudspeakers to balance sound variations from different building materials. Live Voice Announcements “The Bosch technical team and partners used professional software to simulate the sound pressure level of a specific area and comprehensively simulate the entire project to ensure that the selected products can meet the requirements of different areas in the actual application,” said Lin Lizhi, Bosch Building Technologies. Bosch also covered the island with more than 2,000 HD cameras including the FLEXIDOME, DINION, and AUTODOME series. The PRAESIDEO systems on both islands enable security staff to broadcast live voice announcements via security call points Monitored from a security control center on the Hong Kong-side of the island, these cameras support 24/7 surveillance of the customs clearance port, travel inspection building, Immigration Department and Hong Kong Customs Office. The PRAESIDEO systems on both islands enable security staff to broadcast live voice announcements via security call points, while multiple sets of intrusion alarm systems protect personnel and property. Broad Customization Options “We added the supporting intelligent call station PRAESIDEO, which is usually used for airport projects, in order to ensure that the staff can directly perform voice broadcasts throughout the call station during operation, thus making the security management more convenient,” said Wang Yiping, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai SAGA Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. The high-profile infrastructure project highlights the flexibility and broad customization options offered by Bosch Building Technologies as a one-stop solutions provider. Now that it is fully operational, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is already considered a key asset in the Greater Bay Area, also known as ‘China’s Silicon Valley’. The bridge reduces the travel time between Zhuhai and Hong Kong from four hours to a mere 30 minutes. It also creates a new gateway for travellers between vital transportation hubs such as Shenzhen and Hong Kong airports with the integrated Bosch security solutions ensuring a safe passage.

A concierge orders a taxi for an employee or takes his shirts to be cleaned, then greets a visitor and escorts her to an elevator. And these are just a few of countless possible examples of the NOVE office complex’s unique, multifaceted service culture. It attains the standard of security, efficiency and comfort of a five-star international hotel in a state-of-the-art facility where 1,300 people work for no fewer than eight different companies in the heart of Munich. The NOVE has even been honored with platinum certification from LEED (‘Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’, a program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council to encourage the construction of energy- and resource-efficient, healthy buildings). Completely Integrated Solution Tim Wiesener therefore went looking for a reliable and experienced partner, and found it in Bosch’s building experts “We wanted an office building that felt like a five-star designer hotel,” says Tim Wiesener, the CEO of Salvis Consulting AG. The company envisaged a high standard of security backed by smart networked solutions that blended smoothly and esthetically with the architecture and interior decorating. “We certainly didn’t want employees and other users of the building to feel bothered or overwhelmed by its technology.” Tim Wiesener therefore went looking for a reliable and experienced partner, and found it in Bosch’s building experts. “Bosch applies both experience and foresight to its projects, and its specialists immediately grasped our vision.” Video surveillance, access control and intrusion alarm systems, fire protection, visitor management: Bosch planned and implemented a completely integrated solution that harmonised with NOVE’s character and personality. Its leading-edge technology and software are distributed and networked across six stories, a 23-meter-high atrium, and a nine-floor tower. Manage Video Surveillance The concierges working shifts at the 24-hour reception play an important role in the overall concept, since they are also trained security experts. Among other things, monitors behind the counter let them keep a watchful eye on images from over a hundred surveillance cameras that can be remotely controlled, zoomed and pointed as required, all courtesy of the Bosch Building Integration System. The software lets them efficiently manage video surveillance as well as fire and intrusion alarms. Around-the-clock assistance is also available to the 300 or so visitors that enter the NOVE each day, aided by the dedicated BoVisit visitor management system. The software’s functionality includes announcing guests, printing name tags for them, and assigning them to employees. Thanks to a centralized solution, the concierges always know who is where inside the building. Visually Integrating This is especially important in case a critical situation ever arises. At the press of a button, the system generates a vitally important overview of how many people need to be evacuated from each area. Not everything the concierges do is high-tech, of course; they are devoted to helping both tenants and visitors with a smile. “Our receptionists are efficient but not nameless. We combine security with personal service,” says Tim Wiesener. Tenants can naturally access the NOVE any time of the day or night Italian star architect Antonio Citterio designed the complex, which spans roughly 27,500 square meters of gross floor space. He paid especially great attention to visually integrating the security equipment so it wouldn’t stand out. “This called for a certain finesse,” explains Tim Wiesener. Networked Solutions Tim Kosok, a sales representative with Bosch Energy and Building Solutions in Munich, worked hard to find out exactly what the customer wanted, explaining that “we painted installations the same color as the ceilings or walls and positioned them just right so they would be practically invisible. Even the door intercoms are designed to be inconspicuous.” Tenants can naturally access the NOVE any time of the day or night. Tim Wiesener is confident that everyone consistently feels safe there, thanks to the networked solutions. “Our collaboration for implementing the complex was excellent and collegial. We worked closely with the Bosch experts to create a solution that’s geared to people and their needs.”

Senstar, a global provider of video management and perimeter intrusion detection solutions, announces that its Symphony video management software and Face Recognition video analytic are helping to protect Cosmo Music. Working with integrator Northern Alarm Protection (NAP) Ltd., Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada-based Cosmo Music selected Senstar after comprehensive research and testing to replace its 20-year-old analog video system. “Senstar Symphony delivers an all-in-one solution for video management, video analytics, perimeter intrusion detection system integration, and alarm management for deployments of all sizes,” said Justin Shorn, Senstar’s Vice-President of Product Management. “We are glad that Symphony’s core features and ease-of-use, along with our Face Recognition analytic, were able to meet Cosmo Music’s needs.” Flag Suspicious Customers Senstar’s Face Recognition analytic adds an additional layer of security to any video surveillance deployment and is a powerful tool for retail loss prevention. At Cosmo Music, the analytic is used to identify and flag suspicious customers and provide real-time alerts if a flagged individual enters the store, with the goal to prevent theft. “(During testing) one of our staff had a full beard one day and it was shaved off the next day and the system still picked him up,” said Rudi Brouwers, Vice-President and COO of Cosmo Music. “That’s what sold me on it.”

Vega Systems Inc. has announced that their Redundancy Management Framework (RMF) software has begun operations at a prominent airport in the Middle East. The airport surveillance software plugin for Milestone XProtect enhances video security. Typically, without the software system, video surveillance down-times at critical infrastructure locations have the potential to create security loopholes. Vega Systems' RMF reduces live video disruption to milliseconds during server failure episodes while simultaneously providing uninterrupted access to all archived footage. This, along with other beneficial features, mitigates the impact of server failures on security overall. Vega Systems' RMF RMF is a novel, few-to-all approach towards enhancing XProtect Recording Server Redundancy through dual recording. A few redundant servers can handle concurrent failures of all primary servers. Offering a live view recovery almost instantaneously following the recording server failure, the system works two orders of magnitude faster than fail-over recording. RMF is a result of collaboration between Vega Systems Inc in San Jose, California, Sunjin Infotech based in Seoul, South Korea, and Milestone Systems' Middle East offices. The product is a plug-in framework for the Canon subsidiary Milestone Systems' XProtect software.

We are living in the age of Big Data, and businesses are inundated with large volumes of data every day. Success depends on capturing, analyzing and ultimately transforming that data into information and intelligence that can be used to improve the business. So, it is with today's physical access control and video systems, too, which also generate unprecedented levels of data. But how can we make the data useful to end users and how can they realize its full value? We asked this week's Expert Panel Roundtable: Relating to physical security systems, what is the value of data and how can that value be measured?

Video systems today offer more capabilities than ever. Consequently, the systems can be used in new ways. For a variety of reasons, however, many customers don’t take full advantage of the capabilities of their video systems and therefore are leaving value on the table. Education and training are tools to alleviate the situation, but the first step is to identify the new ways that video can be used. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How do customers under-utilize their video systems, and what should they do differently?

Companies in fast-moving industries tend to want half or more of their revenue to come from products released in the last three or so years. The logical extension of that philosophy is the demise of product "cash cows" that remain in a company's portfolio for many years. Where better to witness the shortening life cycles of technology products than in the smart phone market, where most of us buy into the hype of the "latest and greatest?" But does acceleration of new product introductions translate into shorter product life cycles in the field? We asked this week's Expert Panel Roundtable: What is an acceptable life cycle for a physical security system? Is there a trend toward systems being replaced more, or less, often?