License plate recognition

LocoMobi World introduces PassagePass powered by LPR Express, the next generation of parking payments. Parking facility owners and managers can secure their revenue and differentiate their lots/garages by offering the simplest and most convenient parking experience. LPR Express allows customers to opt-in to LPR Express on the PassagePay app. When a customer drives to a LPR Express powered parking lot, the gate scans their license plate and allows them access - no tickets, fobs, or QR codes required. The touchless system is completely frictionless with no need to fumble around with the app during the customer’s parking experience. Accessible anywhere anytime With video evidence and date and time authentication, owners and managers are able to resolve potential disputes Upon exit, the LPR Express system reads the vehicle’s license plate and the customer drives out with no interaction required. Customers will be notified of the session ending via SMS and the amount they were billed. The system is perfect for parking facility owners and managers as it can serve both monthly users and infrequent transient users. The system provides a comprehensive audit trail to track usage and payment. With video evidence and date and time authentication, owners and managers are able to resolve potential disputes. LocoMobi World offers flexible pricing and payment options and versatile applications for all gated and ungated garages and lots with just two simple steps to upgrade any parking facility: Upgrade any existing infrastructure with LPR Express - the most reliable and highest LPR read rate. Add existing customers/transients into LocoMobi World’s cloud portal which is accessible anywhere anytime. Contactless integrated system Enrollment is quick and simple for users. All they have to do is opt-in to PassagePass on the PassagePass app, enroll, and then drive to any LPR Express lot/garage. All transactions are secure and users pay by use with no deposit or virtual wallet required. The system eliminates user errors as there is no need to enter a lot number, vehicle plate, or duration each time they enter a lot. It also eliminates the stress of the need to extend parking time. Parking facility managers and owners, as well as their customers, benefit from this seamless and contactless integrated system.

LocoMobi World is pleased to introduce BriskPark, their new parking access and revenue control solution that offers ten new innovative products. First up is the BriskPark Smart Gate. Most parking applications start with a simple gate. As a recognized company in LPR (License Plate Recognition) and Payment Technology, they decided to make the gate as smart as all of their products at the best value in the market. BriskPark smart gate solution BriskPark is a slick & quick access gate is ideal for toll and parking applications. It has advanced safety features with many smart options as it is embedded with the WorldStream Cloud Management Portal, giving users the power to know and control from anywhere in the world. BriskPark is a slick & quick access gate is ideal for toll and parking applications The durable, slim, and lightweight BriskPark Smart Gate can withstand years of weathering blackouts and rebounds, and can be customized to users’ needs with a standard folding arm gate or fence gate that reaches up to 23’. Best of all it is easy to install and set up. Benefits & Features Ultra-responsive collision detection – Gate goes back up as soon as the arm touches any object. Extremely fast with adjustable directional speed. Easy to manually override with built-in hand crank. Never trap people inside – Battery backup to keep operating with an option to stay open when battery power is low. Remote sites have ability to charge on solar power or use the backup charger. Automatic open on power loss – Eliminates 24 hour on-site personnel for emergency override. Optional feature: Telescopic arm with adjustable length. Smart Options Embedded with WorldStream Cloud Portal: The power to know and control from anywhere in the world. Current status of gates (open/close) with report of all opening/closing. Remote control from anywhere in the world with the option to remotely lock position. Use caller ID and a dedicated phone number to allow approved phone numbers to open the gate. Connect to fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and more – Automatic open and control lights and other electronic devices. Gate will send commands if needed when opening or closing. Alert when the gate is open for more than a set period of time or other issues. Camera to show the view from the gate and record image each time gate is opened.

During the global COVID-19 pandemic spread, businesses have completely shifted their practices with curbside pick-up and drive-thru becoming increasingly essential. Even with the slow opening of brick and mortar retail shops and in-restaurant dining, curbside pick-up and drive-thru remains favorable among consumers and will continue to be as the pandemic rages on. Contactless payment  According to Hal Lawton, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tractor Supply Company, “Consumers will likely stick to shopping habits picked up during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic well into the future.” Lawton emphasizes that things like contactless payment and curbside pick-up will be important and that his business model has shifted to favor these new consumer habits. As shops have started to open up, The New York Times reported that retail sales have rebounded in May 2020. Small shops have seen success with steady sales through curbside pick-up only. Smart city technology The New York Times also stated that stand-alone retailers and other open-air retail spaces (as opposed to enclosed shopping malls) are seeing favorable results as people are shifting to the new norms of shopping and the curbside pick-up model. LocoMobi World’s mission is to move the world forward with the latest smart city technology LocoMobi World’s mission is to move the world forward with the latest smart city technology and the recently released Arrival Alarm helps businesses introduce or improve their curbside pick-up or drive-thru system. Arrival Alarm, powered by LPR Express, notifies establishments in real-time when customers arrive on-site, vastly speeding up the pick-up process. Arrival Alarm by LPR Express Arrival Alarm eliminates long lines and frustrated customers and instead, streamlines the order & pick-up process, thereby helping save time and money. Customers are asked to input their license plate number when ordering online or through a business’s mobile app. When they arrive for pick-up, LPR cameras scan their license plates and the establishment is notified instantly of their arrival. LPR Express’s multi-step scanning process uses advanced artificial intelligence to ensure extreme accuracy. Specially built recognition cameras with AI exposure control guarantees the best image possible for the license plate recognition and multiple license plate scans further increases accuracy. Customers no longer have to phone in or scroll through their email inbox when they arrive, thus creating a truly frictionless experience for all parties involved.

With the ever-changing world, one can see condominiums, apartments, and gated communities becoming a hub of activity. People are establishing home offices, deliveries are increasing and security becomes more important than ever. Condo living is resort-style living at its best. CondoPark becomes an automated transportation and parking manager while ensuring unwanted people and vehicles are not accessing the user’s garages. CondoPark has unlimited potential and has the flexibility to adapt to the best features for the user’s operation. Tenants and/or Concierges can: Manage deliveries of all types of vendors in a secure and efficient manner. Manage parking of tenants and ensure they and their cars and bikes are secure. Manage visitors - no passes or cards - on-demand in real-time. Manage reservations - parking can be managed in advance as non-tenant parking becomes more and more valuable. Security - provide tenants assurance that parking areas are tracked and protected of vandalism, tailgating, car theft, and any other infractions. Real-time monitoring - from anywhere. Compatible with the user’s current systems and upgradable. Optional License Plate Recognition. The future of Condo living is changing and CONDOPARK takes care of these parking needs. Software is a small monthly fee so it is very affordable for all environments.

Theft and burglaries are on the rise in condo parking garages across North America amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Ottawa Police see a 70% spike in break and enter calls during the COVID-19 pandemic including a string of several occurring in parking garages in commercial or residential buildings. In Toronto, more than 20 vehicles were broken into overnight at an underground parking garage this past March. Safe and secure housing CNN recently stated that since the beginning of the pandemic, major US cities have reported increased car thefts with the New York Police Department reporting a 53% increase over last year and the Los Angeles Police Department reporting an 11.3% increase in March and April over the previous month. Tenants of condominiums are seeking safe and secure housing, and that includes the parking garage. With continuous traffic coming in and out throughout the day, parking garages are often an easy target for those looking to break in… but not with CondoPark and Added Awareness! Parking management software The front desk and security teams are aware of who is in the parking garage at all times LocoMobi World’s CondoPark Parking Management Software is a web-based parking system that uses License Plate Recognition technology to instantly give access to registered tenants and guests by reading their license plates in seconds! All guests are securely registered through an encrypted online portal, providing both convenience and the highest level of security. This eliminates the need for fobs or access keys, which can easily be stolen and used by potential burglars. That’s not all, the added Awareness & Interactive Feedback add-on provides an extra level of security that focuses on keeping tenants safe and intruders out. The front desk and security teams are aware of who is in the parking garage at all times including vehicles tailgating inside, vehicles with unauthorized access, and non-vehicles such as persons, skateboards, and bicycles. Advanced vision intelligence Using artificial intelligence to monitor the property via the entry and exit garage doors, the front desk/concierge is alerted in real-time of all unauthorized vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians attempting to access the building through the garage. Simultaneously, the alert activates a loudspeaker in the on-ramp area, notifying the trespassers that they have not been granted access. It can also warn drivers to slow down when speeding. Using advanced vision intelligence, the system can identify characteristics of intruders such as vehicle color, make, and model. A photo is also taken of the vehicle along with the license plate number so that the proper action can be taken to remove the intruder. Additionally, property managers can customize and configure the alerts that best suit their needs of security to give them peace of mind.

Geoff Slagle, a globally-known patron and spokesperson for mobile driver’s license (mDL) technology, has been appointed as President and Chief Business Development Officer of Scytáles AB. The former director of Identity Management for the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) will help guide both Scytáles and its global mDL partner, GET Group, in establishing a position for ISO-compliant mobile driver’s licenses and mobile IDs. Mobile identity technology Geoff Slagle has more than 23 years of identity management experience. Since 2008 he has been directing AAMVA’s identity management program, including its mDL activities and managing its Electronic Identity and Joint mDL working groups. Mr. Slagle coordinated with the DMV of the Netherlands; the National Police Agency of Japan; and AAMVA (including seven of its jurisdictions) on mDL proof-of-concept. For the past four years he has also chaired the ANSI committee (INCITS DL) responsible for driver license standardization, including mDL. GET Group, together with its affiliate GET Group North America, and Scytáles AB partnered to develop a mobile identity technology platform that is fully compliant with the 18013-5 standard, which specifies technical and interoperability requirements for mDLs. Highly-Regarded champions Mr. Slagle is one of the most recognized and highly-regarded champions of mobile driver’s license adoption" The companies work in close collaboration to make this technology available across the world and to educate the market on the importance of the cryptographic proof of ID provided by ISO 18013-5. “Mr. Slagle is one of the most recognized and highly-regarded champions of mobile driver’s license adoption and has been instrumental in coordinating and publishing AAMVA’s guidelines and model legislation around the subject,” said Alex Kambanis, president and managing director, GET Group North America. Global identification standards “We are thrilled to have him supporting our efforts in North America in particularly, via his new role with our partner Scytáles. Like us, Geoff recognizes the importance of 18013-5 standardization for mDLs to be truly trusted around the world and appreciates that GET and Scytales are the experts in ISO 18013-5 implementation.” “I am optimistic about the future of digital identity and impressed by the global partnership Scytáles and GET Group have formed to produce mDLs that can be issued and used everywhere thanks to compliance with global identification standards,” said Geoff. Significant financial investment “I have spent the last decade assisting with the creation and shaping of policies and standards that make possible the implementation of mDL. I now want to apply myself and invest in the execution of those in a practical way and know that Scytáles and GET Group are poised to accomplish this better than anyone to the benefit of billions of individuals that currently hold a driver license and the potential to possess a mDL.” “The two companies have made significant financial investment into the technology and are ready to go right now with standing up mDL capabilities for issuing authorities. I look forward to working together with GET in my new capacity as President and Chief Business Development Officer of Scytáles AB to make the promise of efficient, secure, and affordable mDLs possible for everyone.”

On November 2019 in Stockton, California, surveillance footage found that vandals shot out glass windows and doors in many places in a small business complex (FOX40). The intruders broke in only to leave with nothing, proving their intent was solely to vandalize the property. Meanwhile, it was reported that a trio of ATM thieves struck around 9 times across many different locations inside Brooklyn and Queens within just over a month in fall 2019 (ATM Marketplace). On average, the cost of vandalism to SMB is around $3,370 per incident (US Small Business Administration), including a staggering 692 vehicle vandalism claims per day. Likewise, the average cost of theft to SMB is about $300 per shoplifting incident and $1,500 per employee theft incident, which accounts for 38% and 34.5% of all theft instances, respectively (National Retail Security Survey). High-performance artificial intelligent systems can automate the monitoring tasks Vandalism and theft have proven time and time again to be inconvenient and deconstructively harmful towards SMB. However, these financial burdens can be prevented with the use of the right security system. AI-based security systems with Deep Learning contain many features that many SMB owners find advantageous in their pursuit to stop unwarranted and unwanted money loss.   Intrusion And Loitering Detection The first of many features that can help with vandalism and theft prevention is Intrusion Detection. High-performance artificial intelligent systems can automate the monitoring tasks for high-risk sites to provide a high level of security and security personnel monitoring efficiency. Traditional intrusion detection systems detect objects based on size and location, but they do not recognize the type of objects. Now, Intrusion Detection (Perimeter Protection) systems with cutting-edge, built-in AI algorithms to recognize a plethora of different object types, can distinguish objects of interest, thus significantly decreases the false-positive intrusion rate. The more advanced AI-based systems, like those we offered at IronYun, enable the users to draw ROIs based on break-in points, areas of high-valuables, and any other preference to where alerts may be beneficial. Similarly, AI Loitering Detection can be used to receive alerts on suspicious activity outside any given store. The loitering time and region of interest are customizable in particular systems, which allows for a range of detection options. Advanced loitering detection software as such can detect and trigger real-time alerts for both people loitering and/or vehicles that are illegally parked in certain areas of interest. A benefit, which only certain advanced systems contain, is the ability to send trigger actions to 3rd-party systems in reaction to receiving an alert of loitering and/or intrusion detection. These trigger actions can be set to contact authorities immediately and/or trigger a scare tactic alarm or announcement to intruder/loiterer. Certain Face Recognition and License Plate Recognition software can record individual people/vehicles Face And License Plate Recognition In addition to the activity detection solutions, certain Face Recognition and License Plate Recognition software can record individual people/vehicles and use pre-configured lists to identify particular faces or plates that may be of interest, such as those in watchlists. These systems can also enable the users to upload images of faces not in the lists and search for them in the camera recording. For instance, if a person is detected several times loitering outside a store, one may save one of the detection photos into the watchlist, and set up an alert when said face is recognized again outside the building in the future. The alerts will help to deter and prevent vandalism or theft, and notify the authorities to the scene before the troublemaker completes the act. The main attributes of high-performance Face Recognition systems which maximize assistance with vandalism and theft management include: Face match rate > 90% with good camera angles and lighting. Processing multiple streams and multiple faces per image. Live face extraction and matching to databases of thousands of faces within 3 seconds.                                                                                                                State-of-the-art AI security software with Deep Learning allows the user to no longer need to install special LPR cameras If the watchlist individual is wearing a mask or their face is not in view of the camera, their license plate may be a good indicator. If a particular car is detected several times loitering in the parking lot or street outside a store, the user can set the alerts for such car to get notified in the future. With an AI solution like this, common street cameras should be equipped with LPR capabilities. So, state-of-the-art AI security software with Deep Learning allows the user to no longer need to install special LPR cameras.   High-Performance Alert Mechanisms A high-performance AI solution, in addition to having high accuracy, should be able to: Easily integrate with 3rd-party systems Work well with all ONVIF IP cameras including infrared and thermal ones (for Intrusion detection) Analyzes video streams in real time and trigger alerts within a few seconds Send alerts to multiple VMSs, connect with signaling devices such as loud speakers or flashing lights Send email notifications to security staff and police departments Send notification on mobile device using AI NVR mobile app Maintains a record of all alerts to provide evidence of intrusion and loitering instances for police and insurance agencies. To assist in theft and vandalism prevention, AI-based security systems with deep learning will do all of the tedious work for you. Their low cost and high performance also make them the most accessible security solutions in the market with large return on investment. Stopping crimes is a difficult, ongoing challenge, but with the right AI software, business vendors and police departments can do so with more ease.

Video surveillance is commonly associated with security. But in most cases, it's used to record incidents and assist in investigations after the fact rather than prevent undesirable events. Artificial intelligence–powered video analytics is a highly promising trend that fundamentally changes the way things work. Extracting manageable data from a video stream can help recognize risky situations early on, minimizing damage and, ideally, completely avoid emergencies. At the same time, AI significantly expands the areas of application of video surveillance beyond security systems. AI significantly expands the areas of application of video surveillance beyond security system   However, the hype around this new, trendy technology prevents the potential user from choosing quality solutions in a wide variety of products. This often leads to over-expectation, followed by a complete let-down. Can AI-powered video analytics really be the key to a technological breakthrough in video surveillance? We'll take a look at what the technology can do, what it can't, and where it can go from here. Technological Breakthrough Or Just Another Bubble? It's often said that the video management software (VMS) market is becoming increasingly commoditized and widely available. A lot of products with similar features (or, at least, similar promises from the manufacturer) make it hard to choose. As a result, vendor names and reputations are turning into one of their primary selling points. Manufacturers have two choices available: get wrapped up in a price war and rely on cutting expenses, or offer a product that's truly innovative and revolutionary. Manufacturers have two choices available: get wrapped up in a price war, or offer a product that's truly innovative and revolutionary VMS developers who choose the second route are gravitating towards creating products that use artificial intelligence based on neural networks and deep learning. Emerging two or three years ago, the AI video analytics market is experiencing a boom in growth. This new tech wave has stirred the still, stagnant backwaters of the VMS world and gave small, ambitious developers something to be optimistic about. It seems they now have a chance to emerge as market leaders in the next few years. However, the hype around this popular trend is raising reasonable concerns among experienced security industry professionals. These concerns come from clients looking for a solution to their problems, and from suppliers building a long-term development strategy. This largely resembles another tech bubble, like the one built up around pre-AI video analytics and burst when it became clear that the promises around it were pure marketing hype. However, there are factors that indicate that AI-powered video surveillance systems aren't another bubble. The Three Factors The first — and the main one — comes from systems already in place on customers' sites. They fulfill the same promises made during the previous bubble by hotheads in a rush to teach the computer to analyze events in real time using a classical algorithmic approach. The second is the fact that this new technology has seen investment from not only software and cloud startups, but also established VMS developers. Even giants like Intel, which has presented a full line of neural network accelerator hardware and a set of software tools that streamlines working with them, specifically in the field of computer vision. This new technology has seen investment from not only software and cloud startups, but also established VMS developers The third factor lies in artificial intelligence's abilities. AI plays chess, drives cars, and works wonders in many other fields. Why shouldn't it be applied to video monitoring and analysis? What AI Can Do Just what can artificial intelligence do in video surveillance systems at this stage of development? It can't quite analyze a sequence of events and understand the "logic" of what's happening in the cameras' field of view. At least not yet. But it's probable that AI will learn to do this in the next few years. But neural network analytics can already detect, classify, and track objects very well, providing high accuracy even in busy scenes.   Artificial intelligence can be used in the real world to: Detect smoke and flames for early fire warning at open areas (forest, open warehouse, parking lot, etc.); Distinguish people/vehicles from animals and other moving objects, e.g. to protect the perimeter of a nature park from poachers; Distinguish a person in a helmet and protective clothing from a person without them to prevent accidents at a dangerous production facility or construction site; Count objects of a specific type, e.g. cars in a parking lot, people in the sales floor, wares moving on a conveyor belt, etc. in non-security-related solutions. Those are just a few examples. After training a neural network, it can tackle other, similar tasks, too. Generally, a neural network trained in specific conditions isn't replicable. In other words, it won't work as well under different conditions. On the other hand, developers have learned how to quickly train AI for the needs of a specific project. The most important requirement is having enough video footage. Somewhat apart from that is the use of neural networks in facial and automatic number-plate recognition. This is an example of reproducible neural networks (train once, deploy everywhere), which makes them more appealing commercially. If non-reproducible neural networks have only recently become economically feasible due to the rapid evolution of specialized hardware (aforementioned Intel's product, for example), then the use of AI in facial recognition and ANPR has been well established for a long time. The use of AI in facial recognition and ANPR has been well established for a long time Another kind of AI analytics that we'll explore is behavior analytics. This function, probably more than any other, is bringing video surveillance systems closer to understanding what's happening on camera. Its potential is vast. How Behavior Analytics Works From a technical point of view, behavior analytics combines artificial intelligence with a classic algorithmic approach. A neural network trained on a multitude of scenarios can determine the position of the bodies, heads, and limbs of humans in the camera's field of view. The algorithm outputs an array of data containing descriptions of their poses. Conditions can be set for data to detect a specific pose, such as raised hands, prostrated or crouching persons. Developers can use this to quickly create new detection tools to identify potentially dangerous behavior specified by a government or business client. There's no need for additional training of the neural network. How Behavior Analytics Can Be Deployed Someone crouched down next to an ATM could be a technician, CIT guard, or burglar. Bank security should be notified in any of the cases. A person in shooter position, together with a bank employee or cashier with their hands raised could indicate a robbery. The system can be configured to automatically send alerts with a surveillance snapshot to the police so they can assess the threat and take action if needed. It's vital that the police receive the alert, even if the employee is unable to activate the alarm. In many cases, attention should be directed to a prostrate individual. This could be somebody who needs immediate help, or it could be someone sleeping in an inappropriate public place, for example, a 24/7 ATM space. Behavioral analytics can also be used to ensure workplace safety. For example, tracking whether employees are holding the handrails when using the stairs at a manufacturing facility or a construction site. What Now? Behavior analytics can be deployed wherever your clients' imagination takes them. With this feature, practically any pose that indicates potentially dangerous behavior can be detected. Timely response to an alarm helps avoid material damages or, in other situations, casualties. Practically any pose that indicates potentially dangerous behavior can be detected An area of potential development for behavior analytics is the ability to analyze a sequence of poses by the same person or a combination of poses and relative positions of several individuals. That will be the next level of evolution in AI's use in video surveillance: moving from "detecting" to "understanding" behavior in real time. In its most basic form, this type of analytics can be deployed to detect deviations from the search procedure in correctional facilities when a person being inspected must assume a pre-defined sequence of poses. A more advanced form allows it to detect any kind of abnormal behavior, such as a brawl breaking out in a public space. Ideally, behavior analytics can predict dangerous situations based on nearly imperceptible cues gleaned from collected statistics and a Big Data analysis. At the moment, this sounds like pure fantasy, but what seemed like whimsy not too long ago is now a reality with AI. It's already beaten humans in chess and the game of Go (Weiqi). Will artificial intelligence be able to outplay humans at charades one day? It's entirely possible that we'll soon see for ourselves.

According to the reports of not-for-profit organization Gun Violence Archive, the year 2018 has seen 323 mass shooting incidents as of November 28 in the United States. This number is 346 for the year 2017 and 382 for 2016 (more statistics are available here), with “mass shooting” defined as cases where four or more people are shot or killed in the same time period and location. While definitions of mass shooting vary with organizations in the US, the count of over 300 incidents per year, or about once per day on average, is simply alarming. It raises public safety concerns, ignites debates and protests, which in turn lead to public unrest and potentially more violence, and increases costs for governments from the regional to federal level. Most importantly, the loss of lives demands not only improvement in post-incident handling and investigation, but also new prevention technologies. Gunshot Detection Solutions AI weapon detection offers a more efficient alternative to prevent active shooting There are several gunshot detection solutions in the security market, commonly used by law enforcement agencies to detect and locate gun fires. These systems function based on acoustic recordings and analyses and often in combination with signals detected by sensors of the optical flash and shockwave when a gun is fired. However, gunshot detection by nature dictates that the law enforcement can only react to a shooting incident that has occurred. With fast action, law enforcement can prevent the incident from escalating, but lives that are lost cannot be recovered. With the development of artificial intelligence in object recognition, AI weapon detection offers a more efficient alternative to prevent active shooting: AI can visually detect guns based on their shapes before they are fired. The AI is trained to recognize firearms in different shapes, sizes, colors, and at different angles in videos, so that the AI weapon detector can be deployed with existing cameras systems, analyze the video feeds, and instantly notify security staff when a gun is spotted. Comparison of the advantages for law enforcement and public security agencies Legacy gunshot detection using sensors AI weapon detection Reactive measure: detect after guns have been fired Proactive measure: detect before guns are fired Time to action: within 1 second Time to action: within 1 second Unable to provide visual data about shooter(s) Can provide data about shooter(s) based on the camera recording: clothing, luggage (backpack, handbag, etc.), facial features, vehicle Unable to track the location of the shooter(s) before and after shooting because of the lack of sound Can track the shooter(s) using AI Person & Vehicle Tracking, AI Face Recognition, and AI License Plate Recognition False detection caused by similar sound such as fireworks and cars backfiring Minimal to no false detection, as AI can distinguish different types of handguns and rifles from normal objects (umbrella, cellphone, etc.) Require physical deployment of gunshot detection sensors Can be used with existing camera systems, do not require special hardware Complicated to deploy, require highly trained professional Easy to deploy as an add-on to existing video surveillance system - Can integrate with gun-shot detection to create a “double knock” audio and video active shooter alert system Gun-Shot Detection Advantages In addition to advantages for law enforcement and public security agencies, this type of visual-based pre-incident detector has three-fold advantages for the public: Save lives by spotting the shooter before the shooting event. Minimize the chaos entailing an incident: panic and chaos caused by a shooting incident often adds to injury, as people run, fall, trample on others… With an AI weapon detector, when a gun is spotted, the system sends an alert to security staff, who can quickly control the situation in an organized manner and apprehend the intending shooter. Can be added as a SaaS (Security as a Service) component to small business and home surveillance systems, e.g., intrusion detection alerts (home invasion incidents with firearms number over 2500 per year nationwide). For a complete active shooter detection system, video-based AI detector can operate in conjunction with gunshot detectors for enhanced security. Traditional X-ray based weapon detection or metal detection entrance systems are complicated and expensive; with AI video technology, active shooter detection system can be cost-effective, and after all, what price tag can one put on a life? Written by Paul Sun and Mai Truong, IronYun

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

Artificial intelligence (AI) is expanding the capabilities of license plate readers and vehicle identification systems. Within a smart/safe city scenario, automatic license plate reader solutions are used to help analyze real-time video streams for site surveillance, inspection and public safety, and to offer actional information through a network of connected camera systems. Outside of law enforcement, this can include other public safety initiatives such as traffic tolls, car counting, and parking security. Vehicle recognition systems Rekor Systems is a provider of vehicle recognition systems in more than 60 countries Using AI to enable video cameras, Rekor Systems is a provider of vehicle recognition systems in more than 60 countries. Applications include security and surveillance, public safety, electronic toll collection, brand loyalty, parking operations, banking and insurance, logistics, and traffic management. AI allows Rekor’s products to recognize and read license plates, while also providing information about each vehicle, including color, make, year, and model. Rekor’s products are powered by OpenALPR software, an AI-based solution that enables any IP (internet protocol) surveillance camera to scan license plates and provide vehicle data including tag number, make, model, and color in real time with 99% accuracy, according to the company. Rekor’s products are powered by OpenALPR software Integrated solutions “Rekor's software started as an open source project, and we have done our best to keep the commercial software as open as possible,” says Rod Hillman, Chief Operating Officer, Rekor Systems. “One of the challenges we see with others in our space is a tendency to ‘close off’ and ‘silo’ their solutions. Our goal is to make it as simple as possible to deploy, integrate, and ultimately use.” Rekor has numerous application programming interfaces (APIs) and ways the solution can be integrated into partners' solutions with a software development kit (SDK). Rekor solutions can be purchased directly or through a worldwide partner network of integrators, wholesalers, and within integrated solutions such as Nokia's smart city platform. Electronic toll collection Rekor’s solutions have viable applications within multiple markets While many systems are hardware-based, Rekor’s software-as-a-solution offering can turn an IP camera into an automatic license plate reader. Rekor’s solutions have viable applications within multiple markets, including law enforcement, security and surveillance, electronic toll collection, parking operations, banking and insurance, logistics, traffic management, and customer experience. “Rekor offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional LPR systems with a much higher accuracy rate at 99% allowing more cameras to be present and active at any given time,” says Hillman. “Traditional LPRs need someone to go through hours of footage to find what they are looking for while Rekor’s technology will send alerts in real time, resulting in much quicker response times.” Move Over Camera mounts onto roadside worker’s vehicles to capture ‘Move Over’ violations Two-Part authentication Rekor’s products include: NUMERUS, a cloud-based solution for high-volume vehicle recognition, designed to reduce costs and increase efficiencies for the electronic toll collecting industry. Two-part authentication instantly identifies the vehicle’s make, model, color and body type along with the license plate read. Machine-learning-enabled software recognizes license plates from all 50 U.S. states, in addition to plates from more than 70 countries on six continents. Edge, an all-in-one camera and vehicle recognition system that instantly reads vehicle license plates, along with the vehicle’s make, model, color and body type. Move Over Camera, which mounts onto roadside worker’s vehicles (police, tow truck, etc.) to capture ‘Move Over’ violations. ‘Move Over’ laws state that vehicles must move over one lane and/or slow down if they cannot move over to avoid incident while roadside workers are in the shoulder lane. The camera can detect what lane vehicles are in and how fast they are moving. Violators are flagged in the system for law enforcement’s review.

The basic need for public safety is one of the biggest forces driving the adoption of smart city solutions: approaches that seek to solve urban challenges through technological means. The thinking behind these initiatives is that with enough internet connectivity and real-time data, surely environmental, social, economic, and public health issues should become more manageable. However, just adding more technology is not the whole answer. 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. Cities need solutions that help find what you need and convert the ‘too much information’ into ‘actionable intelligence’ Some of those initiatives, however, like red light cameras or computerized flight passenger screening systems, have amounted to little more than ‘security theater’, which might waste limited resources and further delay the smart city transition due to over-hyped solutions and unrealistic projected return on investment. In other words, technology doesn’t necessarily result in more safety. But does this mean we are also more likely to quickly find what we need? Cities need solutions that help find what you need (e.g. a missing child or a suspect) and convert the ‘too much information’ into ‘actionable intelligence’. Data capture form to appear here! Better connectivity promotes safety There is a growing shift towards younger generations wanting to live in the city where they have access to public transportation, restaurants and entertainment. They also expect to live in a safer environment, and this is where the smart city approach comes into play with the introduction of WiFi in parks and public spaces, along with surveillance systems. These two solutions and services can now sit on the same network, thanks to better connectivity options and interference free solutions, such as mmWave wireless radios. Younger generations expect to live in a safer environment, and this is where the smart city approach comes into play with the introduction of WiFi in parks and public spaces, along with surveillance systems For example, Siklu Inc., a provider of mmWave wireless solutions, announces Smart City deployments based on Siklu’s broad E-band and V-band product portfolio previously reached, and now have likely surpassed, a milestone of 100 cities installed. Smart Cities, which were initially defined as municipalities connecting low data rate sensors for water, gas and more, have been evolving to demand high-capacity connectivity at gigabit-per-second speed. This high-bandwidth network infrastructure is needed to support new applications such as video security, public Wi-Fi backhaul, and private city network deployments. Linking AI and smart cities Dubai is an example of how artificial intelligence and smart city projects have become intrinsically linked. Under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, authorities in Dubai have set out to “make Dubai the happiest city on Earth” by adopting cutting-edge smart city initiatives. Dubai Police has launched a range of public safety initiatives including Smart Police iOS apps, traffic accident and location systems, and SOS apps for wearable devices. Dubai Police shows how artificial intelligence can power new Robocop prototypes – unarmed, life-sized patrolling robots carrying facial recognition software and automatic license plate recognition (ALPR). Authorities in Dubai have set out to “make Dubai the happiest city on Earth” by adopting cutting-edge smart city initiatives NVIDIA’s Metropolis™ intelligent video analytics platform is paving the way for the creation of AI cities. Metropolis Deep Learning makes cities safer and smarter by applying deep learning to video streams for applications such as public safety, traffic management and resource optimization. More than 50 NVIDIA AI city partner companies are already providing products and applications that use deep learning on GPUs. “Deep learning is enabling powerful intelligent video analytics that turn anonymized video into real-time valuable insights, enhancing safety and improving lives,” said Deepu Talla, vice president and general manager of the Tegra business at NVIDIA. “The NVIDIA Metropolis platform enables customers to put AI behind every video stream to create smarter cities.” Smarter access control in cities Advanced software suites can provide access to all operations performed by users A smart city is one that uses information and communication technologies to increase operational efficiency, share information with the public and improve both the quality of government services and resident welfare. Smart access control is an important step forward in providing technologically advanced security management and access solutions to support the ambitions of smart cities and their respectively smart industries. With high volumes of people entering and exiting different areas of the city, it is important to be able to trace who has been where, when and for how long. Advanced software suites can provide access to all operations performed by users, including a complete audit trail. This information is often used by business owners or managers for audits, improvements or compliance. Read parts two and three of our Smart Cities miniseries.

With traffic levels constantly rising, cities around the world are looking for ways to manage the sheer number of traffic on their roads. The city of Chorzow in southern Poland wanted to go a step further and provide information to streamline their public transport on the roads, as well as regular vehicles. They approached Sprint, a systems integrator in Poland, who delivered an intelligent traffic management solution using Hikvision technology. City municipal Board of Streets and Bridges in Chorzów (MZUiM – Miejski Zarząd Ulic i Mostów) an organizational unit of the city is responsible for the management of public roads in Chorzów. Offering image stabilisation The Road Engineering Department within MZUiM is responsible for the city’s Traffic Management System. The department had extensive requirements for this complex system to truly meet its needs. Firstly, they needed to be able to recognize number plates efficiently, even at high speeds of up to 250 km/h. Further the system needed to be able to classify the vehicles. The Road Engineering Department within MZUiM is responsible for the city’s Traffic Management System Secondly, the cameras used needed to have a high image quality and also to have some aesthetic quality, as they would be mounted all over the city, sometimes in prominent places. The ability of the cameras to maintain a high image quality in low light conditions, and to offer image stabilisation were also important for this project. Traffic management system The system needed to effectively monitor traffic on major roads and intersections throughout the city. It would be used for a variety of activities – from verifying accidents to tracking truck routes. A high priority for the solution was to create a traffic management system in the city, taking into account relevant data submitted to the Traffic Control Centre. With this, the MZUiM could optimize signaling work and create priority for public transport vehicles. Chorzów’s Traffic Management System using Hikvision ANPR intelligent cameras other supporting CCTV was installed by Sprint in 2019. The system used the DarkFighter Network Speed Dome PTZ camera (DS-2DF6A236X-AEL) in key areas. This camera has high sensitivity in low light levels, image stabilisation and rapid focus, making it ideal for the position. Client-server system platform They also used 4-Directional Multi-sensor Network PanoVu cameras (DS-2CD6D24FWD) at key intersections They also used 4-Directional Multi-sensor Network PanoVu cameras (DS-2CD6D24FWD) at key intersections, to capture all the access roads to the intersection. These also come with lower infrastructure costs, since they combine four cameras into one. They also look pretty good! Footage from the cameras was recorded using 5 4K NVRs (DS-9632NI-I16) and it was all brought together using the HikCentral client-server system platform. But perhaps the real hero in the system was the ANPR technology. ANPR data from the ANPR Checkpoint Capture Unit (iDS-TCV300) provided key data to meet the project’s needs. This included recognition of registration numbers up to a speed of 250 km/h, recognition of overloaded vehicles, and vehicle classification. The system was also designed to integrate the information transmitted from induction loops embedded in the roads, which register a vehicle as it drives over them. Intelligent management software Łukasz Cysewski, Project Manager at Sprint, says: “Hikvision’s solutions in the field of intelligent ANPR cameras and CCTV best corresponded to the project requirements. Specifically, we were impressed with the scope of implemented functions and effectiveness of the ANPR cameras, image quality and overall management of the CCTV system. Hikvision also offered a high level of support to integrate the smart cameras with our intelligent management software.” The system gave Chorzów the ability to monitor their traffic in one place. This brought a raft of benefits, like automatic detection of road offenses, and allowing the department to prioritise public transport for a quicker journey. It also allowed Police to track suspicious vehicles, with integration into their Smart City platform.

In the fast-growing legalized cannabis industry, extensive security measures are a necessity. VIVOTEK, the pioneering IP surveillance provider has collaborated with Existo, a collective of cannabis industry professionals, to establish an IP surveillance solution for a cannabis cultivation facility in Northern Michigan, the United States. The results not only exceeded the state of Michigan’s expectations to allow for licensing at the state level but are also user friendly and add a level of comfort concerning building security to the owners. Why VIVOTEK? The state of Michigan has placed stringed demands on-camera coverage and recording quality for this industry, so a camera system is essential for the licensing of this business. Challenges in the project were related to distances within the building, coverage in unique spaces, and varying climates and light exposure within indoor grow rooms. Existo chose VIVOTEK and a total of 70 of its indoor and outdoor security solutions, network video recorders (NVR), and video management software (VMS) to monitor the cannabis cultivation facility. CC9381-HV Panoramic network camera In the grow room, which includes a long hallway with tight spaces and climate concerns, 7 VIVOTEK 180-degree panoramic network cameras, the CC9381-HV were installed to combat high contrast lighting environments and armed with WDR Pro function to ensure 24/7 surveillance coverage. SD9364-EHL Speed dome camera For exterior corners, 4 VIVOTEK SD9364-EHL speed dome cameras were utilized. The camera is adopted VIVOTEK's Smart IR II technology which is specifically designed to provide a superb low light image in the most challenging situations. FE9181-H Fisheye and FD9380-H Fixed dome cameras Due to its high-quality imagery at a cost-effective perspective, 14 FE9181-H fisheye cameras and 40 FD9380-H cameras were installed throughout the rest of the indoor and outdoor facility. ND9541 NVR and apps VIVOCloud and iViewer app provide users with an open, flexible, and intelligent NVR for video surveillance applications The facility is also utilizing VIVOTEK’s 16-CH ND9541 Linux-based embedded standalone NVR to set up and manage advanced IP surveillance systems with ease. It also supports remote and mobile access, via VIVOCloud and iViewer app, for both iOS and Android handheld devices, providing users with an open, flexible, and intelligent NVR for seamless use in small to medium-sized video surveillance applications. Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) acclamation In the end, the outcome not only met but surpassed all expectations and goals. The system was complimented as the highest quality in terms of coverage and camera quality by the Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) enforcement agent during the state licensing walkthrough. Surpass expectations “The flexibility we gain from the quality and variety that VIVOTEK offers pays off tenfold in our business because there is no standard building design for cannabis businesses,” said Chris Hernandez, Existo director of operations. “Unique buildings with unique layouts but with highly standardized expectations put forward by state licensing expectations can be a stumbling block for many cannabis businesses. Our ability to utilize VIVOTEK’s solutions allows us to create systems that exceed state expectations while still being used to achieve safety goals set internally by our customers.”

The Flemish Government has chosen AEOS access control by Nedap to secure its sites across Belgium and other European countries. It’s awarded a 6-year framework contract, beginning in September 2020, to Nedap channel partner G4S. This will involve G4S replacing the technology for more than 4,000 doors with AEOS. The new AEOS system will accommodate up to 50 software users and will feature various integrations, including visitor management, automatic number plate recognition, mobile readers, and QR code readers. Freedom from lock-ins This agreement with G4S replaces an incumbent supplier that had served consecutive framework contracts and whose technology was installed on more than 2,000 doors. The Flemish Government was looking for an open system that provides the freedom to select which technology it integrates and which installers it works with. Standardization across Europe The Government also wants to streamline its systems and processes. It currently has a wide mix of access control systems at its premises in various locations and wants to introduce more standardization through AEOS. Including the use of standard identifiers that are common across Europe. Service and scalability  As a large firm with teams of project managers, technicians, programmers, and more, G4S has the capability to handle such a big, multi-faceted project. And to provide the great-quality, responsive service and scalability the Flemish Government is looking for. Flexibility to manage complexity Tom van de Moerat the Flemish Government says “We’re looking forward to working with G4S and Nedap on this project. The detailed conversations they conducted during the tender process reassured us that we’ll receive a high-quality system and service.” “AEOS has the flexibility to adapt to our needs at each location, however, intricate the demands, while standardizing our processes nationally and internationally.”

Security and surveillance systems have become a vital component of a casino management system enabling gaming club operators to monitor and manage security threats in real time. Apart from the original purpose of security measures, it helps raising concerns over card counting, advantage playing, and various other suspicious or prohibited activities. However, a typical casino atmosphere often involves great complexity in its environmental lighting, leading to high noise level in captured video images. Challenges: Inadequate lighting in casino making it difficult for cameras to distinguish colors and movement, resulting in blurry images. Lack of advanced video analytic functions in traditional surveillance systems presents difficulties to an effective monitoring process, with high labor cost needed for scanning live views and recorded footages manually. Access control system Different casino areas require different solutions to fulfill its demand. At gaming tables, it’s critical to capture the subtle movements of each players and dealers. Cameras with higher FPS, 3D DNR and super low lux image sensor gives a neater and brighter image under dim lighting, while 2-way audio provides additional audio information. Casino operations involve a multitude of monetary transactions in critical areas including cages, vaults and offices where cash, chips, and other valuables are circulated. An access control system integrated with facial recognition functions helps operators in strengthening the security level. Exceptional customer experience is the key to good customer loyalty. Facial recognition system Video analytics allows operators to filter videos recording smartly with object attributes With ANPR (Automated Number Plate Recognition) and facial recognition embedded into the management system of carparks and VIP lounges, customer entry and exit can be streamlined minimal interruptions. A modern video surveillance system complemented by top notch IP cameras can improve and simplify the entire operation. Modern video management software possesses features that are not offered by traditional systems. Video analytics such as human object detection allows operators to filter videos recording smartly with object attributes, e.g. colors of customer clothes. The architecture of modern video management provides scalability to accommodate the growing amount of video sources during business expansion. Standardized protocol offers higher interoperability in terms of 3rd party system integration with access control or alarm system. Cameras for centralized management Thanks to the internet, control center is now able to receive and group videos from dispersed cameras for a centralized management. The operators could access to the live views of different casino affiliates and receive real-time notification on cellphone devices when specific events are in action.

The Headquarters Business Park developed by Adeem Al-Watania is a 52 story office building located on the coast site of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. When completed in 2012, it became the tallest building in Jeddah and is served by a large 11-story parking garage. Nedap’s Long-Range Identification solutions provide seamless vehicle access to employees and long-term tenants. The devices were successful installed and integrated with Lenel access control system OnGuard by Idex Services. The Headquarters Business Park Tower This tallest skyscraper, towering above Jeddah’s North Corniche and with a unique “Sail of a dhow” design, is an iconic structure in the commercial hub of Saudi Arabia. The iconic business park consists of offices, clinics, restaurants, entertainment facilities and a luxurious hotel. It has three main sections, the West tower housing 52 floors, East tower housing a luxurious hotel with 16 floors and a mid-section with 11 story parking facility comprising of 2.000 parking spots which connects the West and East towers. Need for hands-free vehicle access Multiple entry and exit points to the vehicle parking facility had to be provided with an automated system With the exemplary design of the tower, there was a need for an all-in-one innovative vehicle and driver access control solution which can provide seamless integration with best performance which is in line with the state-of-art services to tenants in one of the most sophisticated buildings in Jeddah. Multiple entry and exit points to the vehicle parking facility had to be provided with an automated system, for convenient, hands-free access to authorized vehicles of office employees and long-term tenants.  An efficient solution was identified, with a combination of Automatic Number Plate Recognition and Long-Range RFID (Radiofrequency Identification for Automatic Vehicle Identification). Touchless vehicle access to employees Nedap’s uPASS Reach, based on passive UHF technology read-range up to 5 meters in combination with UHF Windshield tags Nedap’s uPASS Reach, based on passive UHF technology read-range up to 5 meters in combination with UHF Windshield tags is used to provide convenient vehicle access to employees. UHF Tags, which are thin, flexible, tamper resistant and maintenance free are assigned to vehicles of employees who work in the 256 office units. When the registered vehicle with UHF tag installed approaches the long-range UHF RFID reader installed near the barrier, the vehicle is automatically identified and access is granted for authorized vehicles to the parking facility. Parking access to tenants based on LPR Nedap’s ANPR series – License plate recognition camera with an accurate read-range at several metres The iconic tower with sea-view includes a luxurious hotel and it is observed that tenants stay for a longer duration or prefer coming back on regular basis. To provide a seamless experience to tenants and ensure smooth flow of vehicles and drivers into the parking facility, there was a need for a solution which could grant tenant vehicles access temporarily or incidentally. Nedap’s ANPR series – License plate recognition camera with an accurate read-range at several metres – ensures tenant number plates are registered and required access rights can be easily granted in the backend application. Securing the 11 floor parking facility With the parking facility being the main entry point to both the West and East tower, it was very necessary to meet high-security standards and control the flow of vehicles. The proposed solution required to have seamless integration with the existing Lenel access control system OnGuard. The open architecture of Lenel and Nedap supporting variety of industry-standard communication interfaces, enabled seamless integration and successful implementation of the products by Idex services. Customized reports with the required log were easily accessible after the successful integration.

In an age where touchless is preferred for a number of reasons, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Tampa International Airport (TPA) is using new credential authentication technology both to improve checkpoint screening capabilities and the passenger experience. The TSA at Tampa International Airport has nine credential authentication technology (CAT) units in use, at least one at each airside, in operation. Enhancing detection capabilities “This state-of-the-art technology improves upon TSA’s real time detection of fraudulent identification documents such as driver’s licenses and passports at checkpoints and increases efficiency by automatically verifying passenger identification,” said Kirk Skinner, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Tampa International Airport. The credential system is able to confirm a passenger’s flight status through a secured connection In addition to enhancing detection capabilities for identifying fraudulent IDs, the credential system is able to confirm a passenger’s flight status through a secured connection. "This new technology will further enhance the guest experience while ensuring the safety of all," said John Tiliacos, Executive Vice President of Operations and Customer Service at TPA. "We are grateful for our partners at TSA and the exceptional job they do in keeping all of our passengers, guests and employees safe on a daily basis." Document checking podium At TPA, travelers insert their ID in the CAT unit. The unit scans the ID and informs the officer whether the ID is valid. In most cases, travelers who approach the TSA travel document checking podium do not have to show their boarding pass because the CAT unit verifies that the traveler is ticketed to travel out of the airport for a flight that day; however, one may be requested for travelers under the age of 18 and/or those with ID issues. Even with TSA’s use of CAT, travelers still need to check-in with their airline in advance and bring their boarding pass to their gate agent to show the airline representative before boarding their flight. Common access cards CAT units authenticate several thousand types of IDs including passports, military common access cards, retired military ID cards, Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler ID cards, uniformed services ID cards, permanent resident cards, U.S. visas and driver’s licenses and photo IDs issued by state motor vehicle departments. A CAT unit reads a driver’s license that was inserted into the unit and indicates that this license has expired A CAT unit consists of the passport reader, an ID card reader, a Federal personal identity verification ID card reader, a monitor, a stand and a UV light. Each unit costs a little less than $30,000. A CAT unit reads a driver’s license that was inserted into the unit and indicates that this license has expired and is no longer valid for passage through the checkpoint. Minimum security standards In addition, it is critical that travelers have their REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or other acceptable form of identification by the October 1, 2021, deadline. The CAT units will not accept a driver’s license after October 1, 2021, if it is not REAL ID-compliant. Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission's recommendation that the federal government ‘set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.’ The Act and implementing regulations establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards and prohibits federal agencies, like TSA, from accepting driver’s licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards for official purposes, such as getting through the airport security checkpoint to board a plane.

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

The new school year is a good time to reflect on the role of security in protecting our schools. From video to access control to some newer technologies, our Expert Panel Roundtable found plenty to talk about when we asked this week’s question: How does security technology make our schools safer?

Artificial intelligence is on the verge of changing the face of multiple industries – from healthcare to entertainment to finance, from data security to manufacturing to the cars we drive (or that will drive themselves!) In the physical security market, AI has garnered a lot of attention as a buzzword and as a harbinger of things to come. We asked this week's Expert Panel Roundtable: What security markets are most likely to embrace artificial intelligence (AI)?