Traffic surveillance

Coronavirus (Covid19) pandemic has hit the world unprepared for its consequences on the healthcare system and economic life. As a result, the number one priority for countries and states is to flatten the infection curve and provide them with time. Essential policies adopted to achieve this are directed at changing and controlling human daily behavior. AI-Based solutions viisights has Artificial Intelligence-based solutions to help authorities enforce those policies, help prevent the virus spread and save lives while keeping their citizens' privacy intact. Covid19 is extremely contagious, recent statistics outline 1:2 ratio, plus the majority of the people that carry the virus don’t have any symptoms. Those two factors cause the virus to spread extremely quickly. The most effective way to-date to stop Covid19 from spreading is to limit and monitor people’s movement. Social distancing, key to containing Covid19 spread Guiding the public to avoid crowding, standing close to each other, shaking hands or hugging, using public transportation, sitting in restaurants or coffee shops, has played a key role in slowing down the Covid19 infection curve. However, for reducing significantly the number of infections and control the spread, citizens are required to cooperate in full with authorities’ guidelines, which include complete lock-down or other extreme measures to control people and vehicle movement. viisights can help authorities to fight the widespread of Covid19 by making sure people and individuals using vehicles  viisights can help authorities to fight the widespread of Covid19 by making sure people and individuals using vehicles are acting in public according to authorities’ guidelines that are essential for controlling the virus spread. Moreover, viisights can help maintain public safety and security in the face of continued economic constraints when necessities are harder to obtain or afford, resulting in intrusion, vandalism, robbery and violence. Identifying general behavioral pattern of individuals viisights products don’t recognize a person’s identity or the car’s license plate, but rather the general behavioral pattern of that specific person or group, and as such keep high level of privacy. Product category and sample functionality Context Crowd and Group Monitoring Crowding, crowd activity Grouping, group activity Que monitoring with proximity distance between people Carpool alert - More than 2 people getting in/out of a car Suspicious Activity Recognition Person with/ without mask Person falls / lies on the ground Person in an area for more than specified time Person to Person proximity Person walking /running Person with/ without hazmat suit Violence Recognition Vandalism People Fighting Person With Weapon Perimeter Protection Person or Vehicle is entering /exiting a pre-defined area Traffic Monitoring Abnormal road situations (Vehicle Collisions, Vehicle Stops on road/junction) Data for statistics and heat maps Prediction of possible outbreak areas Crowded Areas High Traffic or person movement areas

Hanwha Techwin America, global supplier of IP and analog video surveillance solutions, has announced that Hanwha’s Wisenet L series cameras are now compatible with the Genetec Stratocast cloud-based video surveillance-as-a-service (VSaaS). Through this technology partnership, customers across a broad range of industries will now be able to reap the benefits of an easy to install true-cloud solution whether they want to support hybrid-cloud deployments, add new cameras in remote locations, or serve the needs of small and mid-sized installations in a cost-effective way.  Integration with Stratocast cloud-based VSaaS Stratocast cloud-based video surveillance-as-a-service (VSaaS) requires no software installation, port forwarding or network setup, and allows organizations to significantly reduce installation and on-going maintenance costs, making it an ideal solution for sites where IT staff, resources, and budget are limited. To make the enrolment process easier than ever before, customers can simply scan a QR code to bring L series cameras into the Stratocast portal in one simple step instead of logging into multiple webpages. Enhanced cyber security We are offering a solution that is cyber secure, cost-effective and easy to install" "We are pleased that Hanwha is first to market with a Stratocast-ready QR code enrollment option,” said Oktay Yildiz, Product Line Manager for Genetec Stratocast. “At Genetec, we believe strongly in building a network of trusted partners that have our customers’ cyber security best interests at heart. By extending our deep strategic partnership with Hanwha into the cloud, we are offering a solution that is cyber secure, cost-effective and easy to install.” Wisenet L series cameras The Wisenet L series cameras are very affordable surveillance cameras with essential features ideally suited for the needs of small and mid-size installations. The broad line-up includes fixed and varifocal lens, and bullet, dome and vandal-resistant dome cameras that are designed for both indoor and outdoor use. “With the L series now Stratocast-ready, and other camera families soon to follow, we will be offering our joint customers a comprehensive line-up of video surveillance solutions, that satisfy the needs of projects across a wide range of market sectors, from small/medium businesses and retail chains to city-wide surveillance,” said Ray Cooke, Vice President – Products, Solutions and Integrations at Hanwha Techwin America.

Antaira Technologies is a developer and manufacturer of industrial networking devices and communication solutions for harsh environment applications and is proud to announce the expansion of its industrial networking infrastructure family with the introduction of the LEP-301M-KIT. Antaira Technologies’ LEP-301M-KIT was designed to overcome the 100meter limitation of Ethernet. This kit comes with both the near end (LEP-301M-TX) and the far end (LEP-301M-RX) for a complete set. The LEP-301M-KIT goes beyond simply extending Ethernet by also extending Power over Ethernet (PoE) with distances up to 1000 meters. This makes installing and powering remote PoE/PD devices simple. Devices such as security cameras, wireless access points, alarms, traffic controllers, sensors and tracking devices that are found in traffic management, oil and gas pipelines, and weather tracking could benefit from this technology.

Allot Ltd., the global provider of innovative network intelligence and security-as-a-service (SECaaS) solutions for communication service providers and enterprises, announced that it was chosen by Broadcom as the recommended vendor to offer a transition path from the discontinued PacketShaper line of products to the Allot Secure Service Gateway (SSG).   Following their Broadcom acquisition, the Symantec Enterprise Division has chosen to End of Sale the PacketShaper line of products to concentrate their investment in the Enterprise Security Software market.   Consequently, they’ve announced that the PacketShaper products are designated as End of Life (EoL) as of 31 March, 2020. As part of the partnering agreement, Allot is offering attractive financial terms and discounts for product replacements to help customers transition from Symantec PacketShaper to equivalent Allot products. These terms will be offered throughout 2020.  Allot Traffic Intelligence  The Allot SSG, running the Allot Traffic Intelligence and Assurance Platform, offers similar network efficiency with network visibility and control, plus additional capabilities, which include: up to 150Gbps throughput and 600,000 policies on a single device, centralized management, TCP optimization, inbound and outbound DDoS and Anti-bot protection and Web Security including URL Filtering and Anti-malware protection.  I’ve been impressed by their commitment to the Traffic Management market" “In multiple meetings with the Allot team I’ve been impressed by their commitment to the Traffic Management market and developing best-of-breed technology for their customers,” said Kevin O’Leary, VP of R&D for the Symantec Enterprise Division of Broadcom.   “Their dedication to customer service is equally impressive. I’m quite confident that any Symantec customers that takes advantage of their rich offer will quickly learn why I think this is right for them.”  Network management   “We consider it a privilege to have been selected by Broadcom to offer our high-quality, feature-rich Traffic Intelligence and Assurance solutions to PacketShaper customers. We look at this partnership as a great opportunity for Symantec customers who need continuity in their network management. I hope that we can make them feel at home at Allot,” said Tomer Egozi, VP Sales, Global Enterprise at Allot.  Broadcom customers and partners who would like more information about the transition are encouraged to visit Allot’s website, and register to qualify for special terms and discounts.

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

Videalert, one of the UK’s suppliers of intelligent traffic enforcement and management solutions, announces the immediate availability of Stingray, a new modular ANPR camera solution. Designed for use with Videalert’s expanding range of multi-purpose Mobile Enforcement Vehicles (MEV), this modular solution features the latest generation of HD cameras with upgraded infra-red lighting to deliver enhanced capture rates and increased productivity in all parking and traffic management applications. Delivering higher productivity According to Tim Daniels, Sales and Marketing Director of Videalert: “This innovative new camera solution will be fitted to all our new MEV platforms and can be retrofitted to existing vehicles. It can deliver higher productivity as number plate read rates of over 98% can be achieved in a wide range of applications with vehicles being driven at normal road speeds.” Stingray includes the latest generation HD ONVIF-compliant cameras Stingray includes the latest generation HD ONVIF-compliant cameras and all networking components in a simply styled roof-mounted pod that is easier to install as well as being less obtrusive than individual roof-rack mounted units. It features integrated, upgraded infra-red lighting which accurately captures crisp images of reflective number plates at distances of up to 40 metres. A full color overview module also captures contextual images of vehicles in both daylight and challenging light conditions. Rapid deployment in different enforcement “Maintenance is also simplified as the complete housing can be quickly replaced in the event of a parts failure,” continued Daniels. “This minimizes down time for MEVs and to further increase productivity.” Videalert also provides a complete suite of software for rapid deployment in different enforcement and monitoring applications. The MEVs are fully compatible with Videalert’s hosted Digital Video Platform, allowing councils to quickly extend enforcement to other areas without having to make further investment in IT infrastructure.

Artificial Intelligence. You’ve heard the words in just about every facet of our lives, just two words, and they’re quite possibly the most moving, life-changing words employed in everyday conversations. So what exactly is AI, who currently uses it and should be using it? What is AI? AI is a powerful way of collecting, qualifying and quantifying data toward a meaningful conclusion to help us reach decisions more quickly or automate processes which could be considered mundane or repetitive. AI in its previous state was known as “machine learning” or “machine processing” which has evolved into “deep learning” or, here in the present, Artificial Intelligence. AI as it applies to the security and surveillance industry provides us the ability to discover and process meaningful information more quickly than at any other time in modern history. Flashback - VCR tapes, blurred images, fast-forward, rewind and repeat. This process became digital, though continued to be very time-consuming. Today’s surveillance video management systems have automated many of these processes with features like “museum search” seeking an object removed from a camera view or “motion detection” to create alerts when objects move through a selected viewpoint. These features are often confused with AI, and are really supportive analytics of the Artificial Intelligence, not AI themselves. Machine Learning Fully appreciating AI means employment of a machine or series of machines to collect, process and produce information obtained from basic video features or analytics. What the machines learn depends on what is asked of them. The truth is, the only way the AI can become meaningful is if there is enough information learned to provide the results desired. If there isn’t enough info, then we must dig deeper for information or learn more, properly described as “deep-learning” AI. Translated, this means that we need to learn more on a deeper level in order to obtain the collaborative combined information necessary to produce the desired result. Deep learning AI Deep learning AI can afford us the ability to understand more about person characteristic traits & behaviors. Applying this information can then further be applied to understand how to interpret patterns of behavior with the end goal of predictable behavior. This prediction requires some degree of human interpretation so that we are able to position ourselves to disrupt patterns of negative behavior or simply look for persons of interest based on these patterns of behavior. These same patterns evolve into intelligence which over time increases the machine’s ability to more accurately predict patterns that could allow for actions to be taken as a result. This intelligence which is now actionable could translate to life safety such as stopping a production manufacturing process, if a person were to move into an area where they shouldn’t be which might put them in danger. Useful applications of intelligence  Informative knowledge or intelligence gathered could be useful in retail applications as well by simply collecting traffic patterns as patrons enter a showroom. This is often displayed in the form of heat mapping of the most commonly traveled paths or determining choke points that detract from a shopper’s experience within the retail establishment. It could also mean relocating signage to more heavily traveled foot-paths to gain the highest possible exposure to communicating a sale or similar notice, perhaps lending itself to driving higher interest to a sale or product capability. Some of this signage or direction could even translate to increased revenues by realigning the customer engagement and purchasing points. Actionable Intelligence From a surveillance perspective, AI could be retranslated to actionable intelligence by providing behavioral data to allow law enforcement to engage individuals with malicious intent earlier, thus preventing crimes in whole or in part based on previously learned data. The data collection points now begin to depart from a more benign, passive role into an actionable role. As a result, new questions are being asked regarding the cameras intended purpose or role of its viewpoint such as detection, observation, recognition or identification. Detecting human presence By way of example, a camera or data collector may need to detect human presence, as well as positively identify who the person is. So the analytic trip line is crossed or motion box activated or counter-flow is detected which then creates an alert for a guard or observer to take action. Further up the food chain, a supervisor is also notified and the facial characteristics are captured. These remain camera analytics, but now we feed this collected facial information to a graphic processing unit (GPU) which could be employed to compare captured characteristics with pre-loaded facial characteristics. When the two sources are compared and a match produced, an alert could be generated which results in an intervention or other similar action with the effort of preventing a further action. This process- detect, disrupt, deter or detain could be considered life-saving by predictably displaying possible outcomes in advance of the intended actions. The next level is deep-learning AI which employs the same characteristics to determine where else within the CCTV ecosystem the individual may have been previously by comparatively analyzing other collected video data. This becomes deep-learning AI when the GPU machine is able to learn from user-tagged positive identification, which the machine learns and begins to further reprocess its own data to further understand where else the person of interest (POI) may have existed on the ecosystem and more correctly improve its own predictive capabilities, thus becoming faster at displaying alerts and better at the discovery of previously archived video data. The future In conclusion, the future of these “predictables” wholly rests in the hands of the purchasing end-user. Our job is to help everyone understand the capabilities and theirs is to continue to make the investment so that the research perpetuates upon itself. Just think where we’d be if purchasers didn’t invest in the smartphone?    

The ease of getting from point A to point B, the effective movement of goods and services, and the flexibility and integration of various modes of transportation are key aspects of mobility today. Smart Mobility has been a key theme in the transportation industry for a while. The idea is to keep traffic flowing and help people to get where they need to be, in a smarter way. To this end, industry players are now innovating and introducing advanced technologies and solutions. Examples include intelligent traffic management systems, free-flow tolls, autonomous driving, smart location solutions, and more. At the same time, traffic congestion, aging infrastructure, rapid urbanization, and increasing sustainability demands are also intensifying the need for smart mobility solutions. One way to overcome these obstacles is to use intelligent video surveillance technology for improved traffic management, making the roads safer and more efficient for every user, while also reducing emissions. Perceptive intersections Relying on intelligent video analytics, traffic video cameras identify traffic build ups at intersections by counting numbers of vehicles crossing an intersection and detecting their speed, while also counting the number of vehicles queueing in real-time. Aggregated data informs the system when to switch traffic lights to red or green. Intelligent optimization for traffic signals ensures more effective traffic flow.Aggregated data informs the system when to switch traffic lights to red or green The benefits? Improved safety on the roadways; intersection reconstruction can be avoided; drivers can be advised about the speed of their route, forecasted by traffic signals; reduced wait times and stress for commuters; reduction of harmful emissions; and positive impact on public satisfaction. Road safety Traffic incidents can be disastrous, not merely for causing congestion on the roads but sometimes far worse – resulting in injuries and even fatalities. These incidents have many causes, not the least of which is drivers willfully violating traffic laws. Video technology can aid in detecting all kinds of events – for example, illegal parking, running a red light, wrong-way driving, speeding, and making illegal U-turns can all be detected by smart camera technology. By using deep learning technology, cameras can recognize these events and traffic authorities can be immediately notified and take necessary actions even before traffic incidents occur. Scenarios include stopping a driver who is occupying an emergency lane, or notifying a driver who parked their car illegally. Furthermore, ticketing systems can be incorporated to further regulate driving behaviors. Benefits here include incident prevention, better driver performance, and increased safety on the roads and streets, to name just a few. Scenarios include stopping a driver who is occupying an emergency lane, or notifying a driver who parked their car illegally Public information Sharing information is key to keeping city drivers and travelers informed. Intelligent communication about warnings and updates helps everyone save time, avoid frustration, and simplify everyday mobility. This can be done via traffic guidance screens displayed at highly visible locationsThis can be done via traffic guidance screens displayed at highly visible locations, such as congested areas, transportation hubs, shopping malls, and city plazas – or even at your fingertips on your favorite mobile apps! Traffic video cameras generate real-time data of traffic flow and incidents, sending it to a central platform to further fuse with data from third-party systems such as radar and GPS systems. They also disseminate traffic information, including traffic status, warning and advisory notices, as well as parking status.  The benefits are improved public awareness of traffic information, improved travel convenience, overall enhancement of mobility in the city, and more. The Hikvision practice Hikvision has accumulated sophisticated experience in traffic management both at home and abroad. Product lines offer versatile solutions to resolve multitudes of problems in urban traffic management, traffic incident management, highway management, and more. Going deeper, it’s essential to note that efficient signal control management is dependent on the quality of traffic data, system algorithms, and the hardware devices in use; it is also closely related to the mobile environment, such as road conditions, historical traffic conditions, and urban infrastructure. Because of this, no single solution solves traffic congestion everywhere. Hikvision believes that only by working closely with city authorities, public safety organizations, consultants, even academia and other relevant stakeholders, can applications and operational processes be developed to achieve the best possible outcomes. The possibilities for traffic video data are endless, especially now that it can employ artificial intelligence for advanced functionality. Harnessing its power will make all the difference, but the ultimate goal remains the same: safe and smooth traffic, smart mobility, and improved quality of human life.

The statistics are staggering. The death tolls are rising. And those who now fear environments that were once thought to be safe zones like school campuses, factories, commercial businesses and government facilities, find themselves having to add the routine of active-shooter drills into their traditional fire drill protocols. The latest active shooter statistics released by the FBI earlier this year in their annual active-shooter report designated 27 events as active shooter incidents in 2018. The report reveals that 16 of the 27 incidents occurred in areas of commerce, seven incidents occurred in business environments, and five incidents occurred in education environments. Deadly active-shooter events Six of the 12 deadliest shootings in the country have taken place in the past five years Six of the 12 deadliest shootings in the country have taken place in the past five years, including Sutherland Springs church, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the San Bernardino regional center, the Walmart in El Paso and the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, which have all occurred since 2015. Although these incidents occurred in facilities with designated entry points common to churches, schools and businesses, the two most deadly active-shooter events since 2015 were the Route 91 Harvest music festival shooting in Las Vegas that left 58 dead and the Pulse nightclub killings in Orlando where 49 perished. As Christopher Combs, special agent in charge of the FBI field office in San Antonio, Texas, said during a news conference following the August 31 mass shooting in Odessa, Texas that claimed seven lives: “We are now at almost every two weeks seeing an active shooter in this country." Active shooter incidents Between December 2000 and December 2018, the FBI’s distribution of active shooter incidents by location looks like this: Businesses Open to Pedestrian Traffic (74) Businesses Closed to Pedestrian Traffic (43) K-12 Schools (39) Institutions of Higher Learning (16) Non-Military Government Properties (28) Military Properties—Restricted (5) Healthcare Facilities (11) Houses of Worship (10) Private Properties (12) Malls (6) What the majority of these venues have in common is they all have a front entrance or chokepoint for anyone entering the facilities, which is why any active-shooter plan must include a strategy to secure that entry point. Situational awareness in perimeter and door security Preventing people with the wrong intentions from entering the space is the goal" According to Paul Franco, an A&E with more than 28 years of experience as a consultant and systems integrator focusing on schools, healthcare and large public and private facilities, that while active shooter incidents continue to rise, the residual effect has been an increase in situational awareness in perimeter and door security. “Certainly, protecting people and assets is the number one goal of all our clients. There are multiple considerations in facilities like K-12 and Healthcare. Preventing people with the wrong intentions from entering the space is the goal. But a critical consideration to emphasize to your client is getting that person out of your facility and not creating a more dangerous situation by locking the person in your facility,” says Franco. High-security turnstiles “Schools today are creating a space for vetting visitors prior to allowing access into the main facility. Using technology properly like high-security turnstiles offer great benefits in existing schools where space constraints and renovation costs can be impractical.” What steps should they be taken when recommending the proper door security to ensure the building is safe As a consultant/integrator, when discussions are had with a client that has a facility in a public space like a corporate building, government center or industrial facility, what steps should they be taken when recommending the proper door security to ensure the building is safe and can protect its people and assets? For Frank Pisciotta, President and CEO of Business Protection Specialists, Inc. in Raleigh, North Carolina, a fundamental element of his security strategy is making appropriate recommendations that are broad-based and proactive. Properly identifying the adversaries “As a consultant, my recommendations must include properly identifying the adversaries who may show up at a client’s door, the likelihood of that event occurring, the consequences of that event occurring, determining if there are tripwires that can be set so an organization can move their line of defense away from the door, educating employees to report potential threats and creating real-time actionable plans to respond to threats. A more reactionary posture might include such thing as target hardening such as ballistic resistant materials at entry access points to a facility,” Pisciotta says. Veteran consultant David Aggleton of Aggleton & Associates of Mission Viejo, California recommends that clients compartmentalize their higher security areas for limited access by adding multiple credential controls (card + keypad + biometric), along with ‘positive’ access systems that inhibit tailgating/piggybacking such as secure turnstiles, revolving door and mantrap if your entrances and security needs meet the required space and access throughput rates. Integrated solution of electronic access control Defining a single point of entry in some public facilities is becoming the new standard of care according to many A&Es and security consultants, especially in a school environment. This approach allows a concerted effort when it comes to staffing, visitor monitoring and an integrated technology solution. The bottom line remains: most buildings are vulnerable to a security breach A proactive stance to securing a door entryway will use an integrated solution of electronic access control, turnstiles, revolving doors and mantraps that can substantially improve a facility’s security profile. The bottom line remains: most buildings are vulnerable to a security breach, so it’s not a matter of if there will be a next active shooter tragedy, it’s only a matter of where. Enhancing access control assurance “There is no easy answer to this question,” says Pisciotta referring to how a secured entrance can deter an active shooter. “There have been at least two high-profile incidents of adversaries shooting their way into a facility through access control barriers. So, if the threat so dictates, a ballistic resistant might be required.” He concludes: “There is obviously no question that turnstiles, revolving doors and man traps enhance access control assurance. Electronic access control is easy to integrate with these devices and providing that credentials are secure, approval processes are in place, change management is properly managed and the appropriate auditing measures in place, access control objectives can be met.”

The UK Government has been working to reduce the risks associated with illegal drone use since a high-profile incident at UK’s Gatwick Airport in December 2018, when a drone sighting triggered a three-day shutdown of the UK’s second busiest airport, disrupting the travel plans of 140,000 people and affecting 1,000 flights. To address growing security threats by drones, the UK Government has released its ‘Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Strategy’. ‘Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Strategy’ This strategy sets out our approach to countering the threat the malicious or negligent use of drones can bring" “This strategy sets out our approach to countering the threat the malicious or negligent use of drones can bring,” says Brandon Lewis, the U.K. Minister of State for Security. “It will provide the security the public and drone users require to continue to enjoy the benefits of leisure and commercial drone use and facilitate the growth of the drone industry.” “Given the challenge posed by rapid advances in drone technology and the potential threat, the strategy will provide overarching direction to our efforts,” says Lewis. The strategy focuses on ‘small drones’, those weighing less than 20 kg (44 pounds). Countering malicious use of aerial drones The UK Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Strategy centers on mitigating the highest-harm domestic risks resulting from malicious use of aerial drones. They are: Facilitating terrorist attacks, such as modifying commercially-available drones to conduct reconnaissance or attacks. Facilitating crime, especially in prisons, where drones are currently used to deliver contraband. Disrupting critical national infrastructure, such as airports, where a malicious incursion using a drone can have serious safety, security and economic consequences. Potential use by hostile state actors. Maximizing benefits of drone technology The initiative will also look to build strong relationships with industry to ensure high security standards Over the next three years, the strategy will seek to reduce the risks posed by the highest-harm use of drones while maximizing the benefits of drone technology. It will develop a comprehensive understanding of evolving risks and take a “full spectrum” approach to deter, detect and disrupt the misuse of drones. The initiative will also look to build strong relationships with industry to ensure high security standards. Further, promoting access to counter-drone capabilities and effective legislation, training and guidance will empower the police and other operational responders. Tactical response to drone-based threats Because technology is rapidly evolving, the response needs to keep pace, according to the strategy document. Lewis adds, “We will therefore work to understand how drone-based threats might evolve in the future, both at the tactical and strategic levels.”  The strategy will be to build an end-to-end approach to tackling the highest-harm criminal use of drones. It will also work to make it easier to identify malicious drone use against a backdrop of increased legitimate use. Legal drone operators will be required to register with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and to pass an online competency test before flying a drone. Retailers who follow a specific set of safety guidelines when selling drones will be designated ‘DroneSafe’. Unmanned traffic management system The government is working toward future implementation of an unmanned traffic management (UTM) system, which provides a means of preventing collisions between unmanned aircraft and other manned or unmanned aircraft. The current strategy includes early planning for the system. An Industry Action Group will ensure a continuing relationship with the drone industry and help to improve existing counter-drone measures and identify new opportunities, such as use of ‘Geo-Fencing’ to restrict drones from flying in certain areas. Regulating commercial and domestic drones The UK Department of Transport is responsible for safe and lawful use of drones within the UK airspace The strategy will seek to communicate the UK’s security requirements to the counter-drone industry and to encourage a thriving sector that is aware of, and responsive to, the needs of government. Regulating drones is the responsibility of two UK government departments. The UK Department of Transport is responsible for safe and lawful use of drones within the UK airspace, while the Home Office has overall responsibility for domestic counter-drone activity. Fast-evolving drone and counter-drone technology Also, the Center for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) has been involved in reducing the vulnerability of sensitive sites, including airports. New performance measures will track the strategy’s success. Due to the fast-evolving nature of drone and counter-drone technology, the intent is to review and, if necessary, refresh the strategy in three years.

Video, access control and visitor management are among the technologies that are enabling greater safety and security at hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Video surveillance systems enable hospital management and security professionals to know what goes on in and around a medical facility. Recording images in high resolutions (megapixels and gigapixels) is becoming more and more important in healthcare, says Jason Ouellette, Product Line Director – Access Control, Tyco Security Products. Video event management software Video analytics are now being leveraged for patient tracking, asset tracking, and operational purposes If an incident occurs in a medical facility, the security staff has to be able to identify faces easily and accurately. Storage and costs have to be considered, of course. With technology improving and prices decreasing, video solutions can even be used for purposes beyond traditional security. For example, video analytics are now being leveraged for patient tracking, asset tracking, and operational purposes, and captured video can be used to defend against liability claims. What’s next? Video analytics will continue to be a valuable addition to any surveillance infrastructure due to its ability to address patient needs, operational efficiencies and early risk detection, says Brandon Reich, Senior Director of Surveillance Solutions, Pivot3. Through video event management software (VEMS), hospitals can customize the statistics that are relevant to their individual buildings or campuses without having to spend extra time or money on rigorous employee training. Data capture form to appear here! Real-Time access control security updates Furthermore, once healthcare facilities are able to digitize all of their patient records, secure any of their ingress and egress points with real-time access control security updates, and fully transition from analog to IP video surveillance cameras, VEMS systems that house analytical software will be able to multiply the benefits offered to hospitals, not just in real time, but in planning ahead for future risk, expansion and safety protocols. It is vital to implement integrated and innovative access control solutions With large, complex facilities, directors of security at hospitals struggle with controlling access to various levels of the facility, according to Eric Widlitz of Vanderbilt Industries. To manage the risks that hospitals face and ensure a comprehensively protected atmosphere for patients and staff, it is vital to implement integrated and innovative access control solutions. For example, ease of access with controlled entrances is vital to medical crash teams, as is the need for a zonal access control lockdown in the event of a contagious disease outbreak. Strict access limitations Different hallways, rooms, floors and waiting areas within a hospital require different amounts of restriction, and sensitive materials, such as medical files, controlled substances and sterile environments (such as operating and procedure rooms) all necessitate an additional layer of protection. Access control in particular has advanced significantly to offer healthcare facilities the ability to control access remotely, through mobile applications, confirm identity quickly and easily and program varying levels of access for visitors, patients, doctors and staff. One area that is recently experiencing rapid growth – and drastic change  –is the securing of narcotics within healthcare facilities, says Robert Laughlin, CEO and Chairman, Galaxy Control Systems. In the past, all medicine was controlled in a central pharmacy located somewhere in the hospital or health facility. These pharmacies were highly secured areas, with strict access limitations; only authorized staff could get near the medicine stocks. Fiber optic communication lines For vehicle access control, medical centers and hospitals prefer beam barricades and shallow foundation barriers To improve the speed of delivery, and to have the necessary medicines ready at hand for in-patients without retaining a large delivery staff, the current trend is to have distributed pharmaceutical closets or carts that hold medicines much closer to the intended patients. For vehicle access control, medical centers and hospitals prefer beam barricades and shallow foundation barriers, according to Gregg Hamm of Delta Scientific. Manual beam barricades are installed at the Fort Bragg Veterans Administration Hospital in North Carolina to shut down certain areas of the facility when a higher alert is sounded. They will stop a 15,000-pound vehicle traveling 50 mph. The Navy Hospital in San Diego uses high speed, high security and very shallow foundation barricades to control all vehicles going in and out of the facility. With their extremely shallow foundation, they obviate the concerns of interference with buried pipes, power lines and fiber optic communication lines. They will stop a 15,000-pound vehicle traveling 50 mph. At the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, even stronger shallow foundation barriers are used for traffic control and protection. These barriers will destroy a 65,000-pound (5.4 million foot-pounds) dump truck traveling 50 mph and continue to stand. Physical access control systems Controlling visitors to hospitals and healthcare facilities can directly impact security Controlling visitors to hospitals and healthcare facilities can directly impact security. Traditional methods of visitor management, such as paper visitor logs and handwritten badges are insufficient given today’s variety of security challenges. A hospital using paper-based systems cannot easily cross-check information, confirm patient information, check visitor names against up-to-date watch lists, or visually confirm identity. An increasingly popular and important application is secure and simplified visitor management, integrated with the physical access control systems (PACS). Today’s visitor management systems enable the screening, badging and tracking all visitors or, at a minimum, those visiting critical areas or during ‘after hours’ periods, Quickly identify inappropriate visitors One other growing technology is the ability to link to internal or governmental watch lists, to quickly identify inappropriate visitors before they gain access to the facilities. For example, Visitor Management systems can be configured to perform a Sex Offender search in both Children’s Hospitals and Pediatric areas, further decreasing the likelihood that someone of the list could gain access. Wayfinding is indoor navigation to guide a person step-by-step on the way to a desired destination HID Global and Phunware Inc. are addressing the need of healthcare institutions to deploy standardized technology to provide a better wayfinding and visitor engagement experience inside the hospital, across campus and even in parking lots. The companies are collaborating to improve the experience for hospital patients and visitors to find their way within medical facilities, using wayfinding on their mobile phones. Wayfinding is indoor navigation to guide a person step-by-step on the way to a desired destination. Enterprise-Level mobile wayfinding “It’s easy for visitors and patients to get lost in hospitals, and every time they do it puts appointment times and patient satisfaction at risk,” says Rom Eizenberg, Vice President of Sales, Bluvision, part of HID Global “With our location-aware app on a mobile device, we equip the visitor to get instant, turn-by-turn navigation that creates a better experience than that which is currently available on the market.” HID’s healthcare IoT solution-enablement platform simplifies the delivery of real-time location of clinicians, patients and devices. The platform is enabled by Bluvision (part of HID Global). Phunware’s Multiscreen-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform also provides enterprise-level mobile wayfinding, engagement, data and more for other vertical markets, including retail, residential, hospitality, media and entertainment and more .Missed the rest our healthcare mini series? Read part one here and part two here.

Many exhibitors at GSX 2019 saw the show as a success, despite slower booth traffic on the second and third days. According to show sponsor ASIS International, there were more than 20,000 registrants from 125 countries around the world, including those who attended the conference as well as the exhibition. Exhibitors definitely put their best feet forward, enthusiastically promoting their technology breakthroughs, but how convincing were they? The comments from at least one attendee – a large corporate end user who represents a key demographic for show organizers – bluntly suggest that healthy skepticism was on display side-by-side with the promotional energy in play.On this floor, there are some lies being given out. Ask the tough questions, make the exhibitors show you" “On this floor, there are some lies being given out,” said Rudy A. Wolter, CTO, Security and Investigative Services for Citigroup, a financial services corporation. He advised fellow attendees to “listen for them, ferret them out, ask the tough questions. Make [the exhibitors] show you.” “Don’t be afraid to ask these men and women questions,” added Wolter. “Don’t be afraid to challenge them. If you don’t challenge them, they’re not getting any better which means we aren’t getting any better. At the end of the day, they’re the leaders; they’re the ones making change; they’re the ones touching systems; they’re the ones helping integration.” Banking security with Verint At Citigroup, Wolter oversees 1,300 bank branches in North America that use Verint systems, including 23,000 cameras tied into a single command center. Skepticism aside, Wolter also provided evidence that even tough customers can be brought around. Specifically, he is sold on Verint: “When you have a problem, this company listens,” he told attendees at a Verint gathering on the show floor. New at GSX 2019 is the Verint Video Investigator, which is software that empowers investigators to quickly find the data they need to identify security threats in near real-time. In all, Verint serves in excess of 2,300 individual financial institutions, with tens of thousands of branches. Wolter was one of several end users willing to sing their praises publicly. Other GSX exhibitors were also proud to have their own real-world success stories. Placing the emphasis on outcomes At GSX, I heard more than once that outcomes are more important than technologies. Customers don’t want to hear about technologies, but rather about what those technologies can do for them. Avigilon, now a subsidiary of Motorola Solutions, is another company that is focused on outcomes rather than technology per se. “Instead of focusing on megapixels and terabytes, the end user is focused on perimeter security, loss prevention and risk management,” says John Kedzierski, Sr. VP of Video Solutions at Motorola Solutions. “We are working to provide that outcome." The end user is focused on perimeter security, loss prevention and risk management" How operators work to ensure outcomes is another aspect that is changing, says Kedzierski. “Watching video is obsolete,” he says. Using Avigilon’s new system, the operator instead is looking at color-coded hexagons; one color means motion, another means an analytic event. Operators click on various hexagons to view video. Also at GSX 2019, Avigilon featured its new H5A camera line, with expanded object classification analytics, detailed object detection, and tracking in crowded scenes; and focused on the Avigilon Blue cloud system. They are working to make every camera capable of detecting faces, which can be matched to a watch list. How technology addresses marketplace changes Addressing the changing marketplace was another GSX theme. As the workplace changes, ASSA ABLOY Americas is adapting its technology to address new employment practices such as "hot-desking," and remote and mobile workers, says Peter Boriskin, Chief Technology Officer. Systems have to be able both to protect assets and also to provide flexibility to accommodate the changing workforce, he said. Corporate acquisitions are directly expanding the capabilities that ASSA ABLOY brings to the market. For example, they recently acquired Luxer One, a locker company that enables secure delivery of packages without customers needing to stand in line or wait for service. Deliveries can be made in seconds. Peter Boriskin of ASSA ABLOY Americas led a booth tour, including new power capabilities gained in the acquisition of LifeSafety Power Another recent ASSA ABLOY acquisition is LifeSafety Power, which is expanding the company’s capability to provide proactive data on wired systems by tracking power usage. For example, a spike in current might mean a problem with a component. Compiling “intelligent triggers” enables creation of a dashboard to provide analytics of wired systems. ASSA ABLOY has also been devising predictive analytics of wireless locks to predict battery life, for instance, and to address other maintenance challenges. “We want to know what’s going on at a door without visiting it,” says Boriskin. New exhibitors make their mark New exhibitors were part of the GSX mix. One new exhibitor was Vaion. It’s their first trade show after launching at IFSEC in London in June. Vaion combines a small camera portfolio with on-premise servers and software managed through the cloud for an end-to-end solution. Tormod Ree, co-founder and CEO, calls it a “hybrid cloud delivery model”. Vaion is also a “more proactive security model,” said Ree. Video is analyzed for anomalies, and the server “learns” what is normal and not normal. The system provides alerts and notifications, occupancy counting and traffic control, among other features. And “overlays” are employed to present information on a map. Vaion can highlight video that is more likely to be relevant and prioritize feeds that have more activity. Vaion designs the hardware, which is manufactured in Taiwan. Vaion was a first-time exhibitor at GSX 2019 with their end-to-end video system; Tomod Ree is co-founder and CEO Gunshot detection technology EAGL Technology displayed their “Firefly” gunshot detection technology at GSX 2019. Based on technology originally developed for use in the military for sniper detection, the U.S. Department of Energy adapted it to civilian uses after the Sandy Hook School shooting. Boaz Raz, CEO, said the technology is the “most advanced and affordable, wireless for use indoors or outdoors, and it can control doors and cameras”. It doesn’t “listen” for gunshots like some competitors; rather it measures energy for “6 sigma” accuracy (almost 100%). Defining, and redefining, end-to-end solutions End-to-end solutions were all the rage at GSX 2019, but Allied Universal was one exhibitor that pondered what, exactly, is an end-to-end solution? It means different things to different people. For example, a video company’s end-to-end solution would not include access control. When Allied Universal claims to offer an end-to-end solution, they mean it in the broadest definition of the term, including all security systems deployed for a customer as well as the important human element (i.e., manguarding). “The industry’s emphasis on ‘end-to-end’ doesn’t encompass a full solution,” says Mike Mullison, Allied Universal’s Chief Information Officer. “When somebody uses the term end-to-end, you have to ask: What’s at both ends?” The lines between cyber and physical threats are blurring. Clients want full-service solutions" “The lines between cyber and physical threats are blurring,” adds Mullison. “Clients want full-service solutions.” Allied Universal is adding new technology elements to its offering, and Mullison says “the next phase of growth will be fueled by technology.” Allied Universal recently introduced the Heliaus product, a smart phone app that accesses an analytics engine to predict outcomes and prescribe optimum responses. It literally puts technology in a security guard’s hand. One customer has found that use of the technology resulted in a 20% reduction in safety and security incidents. The latest in access control among exhibitors In addition to video, access control had a big profile at GSX 2019, as evidenced by ASSA ABLOY America and many other companies. Another example is SALTO Systems, featuring its new NEO cylinder for wireless access control and the SALTO Virtual Network (SVN); the SVN-Flex extends and increases the number of updating points directly to the door. The SVN-Flex extends and increases the number of updating points directly to the door The compact SALTO NEO Cylinder is designed for doors where fitting an electronic escutcheon is not possible or required and can be installed on standard doors, server racks, gates, cabinets, electric switches, or sliding doors. Low energy consumption results in 110,000 cycles with just one set of batteries. Other SALTO products are SALTO KS (Keys as a Service); SALTO BLUEnet Wireless for Bluetooth RF-driven real-time control of doors; the XS4 One Deadlatch stand-alone electronic lock; and JustIN Mobile, which replaces the need for an access card by securely sending a mobile key Over the Air (OTA) to an iOS or Android device from SALTO’s ProAccess SPACE management software. The next step in integration A new company reflecting the GSX emphasis on integration is Security and Safety Things (SAST), which is still in launch mode but expects to have its first pilot customers in the Q4. The first camera vendors embracing the SAST platform will have cameras for sale at ISC West in the spring. SAST is creating an Internet of Things (IoT) platform for the next generation of security cameras. The SAST App Store will allow developers to build and market new applications, similar to today’s app stores for smartphones.SAST is creating an IoT platform for the next generation of security cameras “SAST is a technology platform, but it is also a business platform and a relationship platform,” said Emmanuel Ventadour, VP Sales and Marketing. For app developers, SAST also provides non-technical commercial services (i.e., easing their route to market.) Hartmut Schaper, CEO, emphasizes the “openness” of the company. Even though they are a spinoff of Bosch, they are treating every camera manufacturer equally, he says. For integrators, the use of apps can expand their field of play. Apps will empower integrators to use video for more business processes – not just security – and expand their reach with customers, says Schaper. From skepticism to sales There were plenty of product claims at GSX to feed the skepticism of even the toughest of potential customers. Fortunately, product claims were only the beginning of conversations with attendees at this year’s show. No doubt manufacturers were put through their paces more than once, and a few of them even came out on the other side with potential new business to show for their efforts. That’s the true measure of success at GSX 2019, or any trade show.  Click here to read our reviews from Day One and Day Two of the show.

The Smart Cities Mission is an innovative initiative by the Government of India to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life of people. It aims to achieve this by enabling local development and harnessing technology as a means to create smart outcomes for citizens. A hundred cities across the country were shortlisted by the government, which were to be promoted as ‘Smart Cities’. Based on an all-India competition, Bhopal was selected in the first round of 20 smart cities, to transform the city into a leading destination for smart, connected and eco-friendly communities focused on education, research, entrepreneurship and tourism. End-to-end video surveillance system Known as the ‘City of Lakes’, Bhopal is a historic city with a population of over 2.5 million. With the expanded planning area of 463 square kilometres, Bhopal is among the 16 largest cities in India. In view of its growing population, the city leaders wanted to upgrade the security of its residents, migrants and visitors, by ensuring diligent monitoring across the city. Also, Bhopal faced chaotic traffic flows and repeated violations, causing traffic jams, accidents and fatalities. Also, Bhopal faced chaotic traffic flows and repeated violations, causing traffic jams, accidents and fatalities This not only made everyday life uncomfortable but also increased transport time with a negative effect on economic activity. The stakeholders wanted to implement an end-to-end video surveillance system to support law enforcement, to build a secure environment for citizens, and to also ensure road safety across the city. Regional vehicle database After rigorous evaluation, a panel of city leaders, stakeholders and industry leaders selected Videonetics for this project. Videonetics designed a solution based on its AI & DL powered Unified Video Computing Platform (UVCP) encompassing Intelligent VMS, Intelligent Video Analytics and Intelligent Traffic Management System. 24x7 city-wide surveillance: Today, over 350 IP cameras are deployed in Bhopal, covering major entry and exit points from the city, places of strategic importance, locations of public gatherings, traffic junctions and business districts etc. Operators are quickly responding to any incident from petty theft to more serious offenses. To monitor urban operations round-the-clock, Intelligent VMS provides continuous viewing and recordings of these cameras, in a user-friendly interface. Specifically, the authorities can also detect overcrowding, unattended baggage, break-in prediction, counting people and traffic violations in a single interface. Round-the-clock traffic monitoring: Today, the city has an Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) suite covering 23 junctions across the city. The suite encompasses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), Red Light Violation Detection (RLVD), Over-speeding Detection, No Helmet Detection and Triple Riding detection. In addition to intersections, the ANPR solution has been integrated with IP cameras at entry-exit points in tourist spots and other places, helping law enforcement to identify non-standardized/ duplicate license plates, blacklisted and stolen vehicles, and much more. Automated violation prosecution management: The ITMS solution not only enables monitoring of the traffic situation 24x7, but also records traffic violations in real time. Videonetics Integrated e-Challan Management Software (ICMS) has been integrated with regional vehicle database to generate e-challan along with incident evidence and violator’s address – all in a transparent manner and with the audit trail of all transactions with evidence. With the help of ICMS, traffic personnel can easily maintain record of all payments, both received and pending. Centralized city view: Combining Intelligent VMS and ITMS into the unified interface empowers city management officials and traffic police to view real-time alerts, manage them, and respond to them swiftly, from the Integrated Command & Control Center (ICCC). Consolidated monitoring and reporting The Bhopal Smart City project has proven to be a great success and has become an exemplary model for other cities. Today, operators have become more efficient and make better decisions by having consolidated monitoring and reporting in the single interface. From helping law enforcement authorities in apprehending vandals to addressing instances of theft, physical confrontations and street crimes, now authorities have critical video evidence available to aid in the investigation of crimes and other incidents. Also, with citizens becoming more sensitised to traffic rules and beginning to follow them, violations have come down rapidly. Manage chaotic traffic conditions Thanks to Videonetics team for their constant support and untiring efforts for making this project successful" The traffic data of each junction now provides insights to the administration, which is helping to manage chaotic traffic conditions and create situational awareness at the levels of local and central authorities. “As challans were dispatched to the residence address, people had to pay, and it was quite strict,” says Nitin Dave, Media Manager, Bhopal Smart City. “Now people are more aware about traffic rules, leading to a reduction in the number of e-challans.” “We are proud to be associated with Bhopal Smart City project. Videonetics unified solution is not only monitoring the entire city but also helped in reducing road fatalities. Now law enforcement is further equipped to make decisions faster and respond towards any incidents or threat. Thanks to Videonetics team for their constant support and untiring efforts for making this project successful. The implementation of this solution has made the city smarter as well as safer for the citizens”, expressed Mr. Neeraj Kushwaha, Founder and Director at Technosys. Key results areas Increased security with 24x7 monitoring of city area More alert and ready operators, from traffic control to citizen security Reduction in traffic rule violations by 80% and improved traffic discipline among people Drastic reduction in incidents involving stolen vehicles, duplicate license plates etc. Minimisation of human intervention and elimination of biases in decision making The open and modular architecture of the solution not only allows the city to continue adding more applications to make its traffic management more robust, but also integrate with the city surveillance system in a single unified interface, to address overall security concerns with a holistic approach. Awards and recognitions The Bhopal Smart City has received various awards from the government and industry bodies: Project Awards: The Innovative Idea Award for Integrated Command and Control Center (ICCC) by India Smart Cities Awards The Urban Mobility Award for Security Integration & Intelligent Traffic Management System Best Smart City of the Year by Smart Cities Conclave CSR Smart Cities Leadership Award for Security Integration in Traffic Management (No Helmet Detection) Technology Awards: SECONA Innovation of the Year 2018 for ‘No Helmet Detection System’ Finest India Skills & Talent Award (FIST) Best Innovation in Security 2018 for ‘No Helmet Detection System’ NASSCOM Technology Excellence Award 2019 Rising Star in AI & DL for ‘No Helmet & Triple Riding Detection System’

Boon Edam Inc., a provider of security entrances and architectural revolving doors, announces that Devon House at St. Katharine Docks, an office building in London’s East Side, has installed a unique TQM manual revolving door at the main entrance, in addition to two arrays of Speedlane Swing optical turnstiles, to increase lobby security. Devon House is an exceptional riverside workspace. Originally built in 1989 as part of an historic redevelopment by an Act of Parliament, Devon House has over 48,000 sq. ft. of office space, as well as a dedicated on-site café, co-working hub, riverside courtyard and 97 bike spaces. The building is surrounded by shops, restaurants and bars, and has direct transport links close by. Merging characteristics of two doors In the spring of 2019, a full refurbishment was completed, both internally and externally, that included a brand new reception space. The new lobby is now an open social space, echoing the relaxed atmosphere of a coffee shop while taking in the expansive views of the riverside. It also serves as a coworking hub outfitted with several tables and chairs to be easily accessible to both employees and visitors. The door’s sidewalls and wings would be metal-framed with aluminumThe renowned architect working on the Devon House project, Stiff and Trevillion, specified a manual revolving door for the main entrance, but requested a special design: they chose to merge the characteristics of two doors – the Boon Edam TQM and the all-glass Crystal TQ. The door’s sidewalls and wings would be metal-framed with aluminum, but there would be no metal canopy: only an 18mm thick, slender and transparent all-glass ceiling, allowing light to flow in through the entrance unimpeded. Optical turnstiles to control access Designers for Devon House decided on optical turnstiles to control access in the lobby and deter tailgating attempts. They allowed building capacity to dictate the number of lanes that would be needed, using a calculation that considered both the total capacity and traffic changes during peak times of the day, such as the morning and evening rushes, and bi-directional traffic during lunchtime. In addition, wide lanes were placed on each side of the reception desk to accommodate disabled access. Once the quantity was decided, focus shifted to design. The Speedlane Swing optical turnstiles were chosen for their slim cabinet design and swinging barriers and customized with a black powder coated finish to match the lobby’s décor. Today the building is fully operational and Boon Edam looks forward to working with Stiff and Trevillion on future projects.

Around 7,000 people pass through the Luminy faculty’s suburban campus every day. As part of a major project to modernize two buildings, university managers sought a retrofit-ready access control solution to upgrade security. University administrators selected Aperio locks to secure doors in the new buildings. With Aperio, facilities staff deal with lost keys more efficiently. The laborious process of changing locks and reissuing keys, part of the daily workload with mechanical locking, vanishes. The Luminy campus is now equipped with 372 Aperio Electronic Cylinders and 42 Aperio Electronic Handles with built-in RFID readers. Locks are integrated seamlessly, wirelessly and online with Luminy’s ARD access control system. One key goal was to deter theft, which was becoming a problem in teaching areas, especially those with computers. “Since we installed Aperio, we have not had a break-in,” says Cedric Lopez, Maintenance Manager at Luminy. Access smart-cards In addition to theft deterrence, Aperio met broad, stringent criteria for the security upgrade. Staff and students carry individual access smart-cards. Doors and credentials are easily programmed and reprogrammed to accommodate everyone’s changing access needs. Luminy’s security team has complete control over access permissions and campus traffic, in real time. Because their new Aperio devices are integrated online, staff see a “live” overview of the campus and respond proactively to incidents. Aperio is trusted to protect the most sensitive areas of the campus. “We have critical premises, including for the storage of chemicals, some with radioactive properties,” adds Lopez. The benefits of Aperio extend beyond just enhanced campus safety and student security Real-time access control upgrades Aperio locks are built on an open platform, so they are flexible enough to integrate with the university’s room scheduling system. “Teachers are able to reserve their rooms. Students no longer have to wait for the teacher’s arrival, because they have access to the right rooms in defined time slots,” says Cedric Lopez. The credential students already carry automatically opens classroom doors, if they have pre-authorized access rights. For the facilities team, the ARD interface displays scheduling for all relevant rooms in real time. Luminy site managers have already scheduled further real-time access control upgrades built around award-winning Aperio wireless technology. As Luminy staff discovered, the benefits of Aperio extend beyond just enhanced campus safety and student security. The Aperio for Universities Solution Guide explains how you can upgrade and streamline security at your campus.

A grocery chain was experiencing a shoplifting problem at several of its locations. The shrinkage loss was significant and was impacting store profitability. Having worked with Alvarado in the past, the chain reached out to Garda Construction and Dale Staton at Alvarado to help craft a solution. The store had an open layout, and while visually appealing, shoppers could easily walk out without passing through a checkstand. EAS equipment would periodically alarm when a patron or thief walked out the door, but because alarms were common, they were generally ignored. Monitored checkstand area Dale explained that the optimum solution would be a barrier that allows patrons to easily enter the shopping floor For purposes of theft control, Dale explained that the optimum solution would be a barrier that allows patrons to easily enter the shopping floor, while providing a physical deterrent from exiting the store without first passing through a monitored checkstand area. Acting on Dale’s suggestion, the store installed Alvarado’s SW500 motorized gate with camera-based detection and presence technology, along with Alvarado’s modular post and railing. After patrons pass through the exterior bi-parting doors, they approach the gate to enter the merchandise area. The gate opens automatically, allowing access. When the gate is closed, if a patron (or thief) walks up to the gate to exit, a pulsing alarm sound warns the patron and alerts store personnel. If the patron backs out of the detection area, the alarm stops. If the patron continues and attempts to push or pull the gate open, a sustained alarm provides additional notification. Fewer false openings and unwanted alarms The use of camera-based detection provides significant benefits. Traditional detection technologies, such as microwave or PIR, make it very difficult (and sometimes impossible) to accurately define motion and presence sensing detection areas, resulting in unwanted openings and false alarms caused simply by normal store traffic patterns. After installation of Alvarado’s products, the traffic pattern into and out of the stores changed dramatically Alvarado’s camera-based detection technology, which is installed in the top cap of the gate, allows both the entry and exit sensing areas of the SW500 to be accurately defined using an included software application. An accurate detection pattern results in substantially greater application flexibility and far fewer false openings and unwanted alarms. After installation of Alvarado’s products, the traffic pattern into and out of the stores changed dramatically. Camera-Based motion detection Store personnel also commented that numerous patrons suspected of being shoplifters stopped coming to the stores. The overall result was a significant decrease in theft and improved profitability that more than justified the equipment purchase and installation expense. From traditional retail turnstiles and gates, to the innovative SW500 motorized pedestrian gate with camera-based motion detection, Alvarado provides an array of entry control solutions to retail customers – as it has done since 1956. Our full product portfolio offers inexpensive and effective methods of controlling pedestrian traffic and shopping cart flow patterns and reducing shoplifting and shrinkage in retail and grocery stores.

Highways England is the government company charged with operating, maintaining and improving England’s motorways and major A roads. In total they manage over 4,300 miles of road, carrying a third of all traffic by mileage and two thirds of all heavy goods traffic. Traffic Officers have a responsibility to help the company keep major roads free-flowing, safe and serviceable. Their ability to communicate with other patrols and back to one of the seven control rooms, using the UK’s nationwide Airwave network, is therefore crucial to their operations across the country. IP68 environmental protection The organization’s traffic officers have been long time Sepura users, and took the opportunity to upgrade to the new SC20 devices to take advantage of the loud, clear audio, essential in the noisy roadside environments that officers often work in. The rugged radio is well-equipped to deal with the challenges of daily operations; the SC20’s IP68 environmental protection ensures that the radio remains operational in wet, dirty or dusty conditions. Meanwhile the tough, large screen remains visible in all weather conditions, enabling the user to always be aware of critical messages or information being displayed. In total over 700 SC20 radios have been purchased to support operations. Product quality and customer service “It is a pleasure to further our working relationship with Highways England. As long time Sepura users, they are aware that the company prides itself on product quality and customer service. The SC20, with its rugged design and clear audio, coupled with its ability to run intelligent applications, will ensure that Highways England’s officers will be well protected and always in touch with their control center.” Says Andy Gregory, Business Development Director for Sepura. “The SC20 had a number of features that will undoubtedly enhance the safety of our officers when on patrol or attending incidents. The loud, clear audio is a key factor, ensuring that even when large goods vehicles are passing close by, critical messages can still be heard. In addition to this the rugged design of the radio ensures that even in wet, dirty conditions, our staff will be able to rely on their radio to continue working for them.” Says Al Edwards, technology operations manager for Highways England.

LILIN announced that Aida traffic management solution will be released and unveiled at ISC West 2020. With the success of LILIN Aida number plate recognition (ANPR), LILIN Aida adds AI traffic management to Aida product line. LILIN Aida can be installed on the edge for traffic analysis where the metadata gets sent to remote Navigator Control Center. LILIN Aida ANPR and traffic management can integrate with LILIN Navigator VMS products including Navigator Control Center, Navigator Corporate, and Navigator Enterprise for event notifications, statistics, and system automation. Both LILIN Aida and LILIN Navigator products utilize Intel Media SDK for Windows and maximize the GPU processing power for video decoding and rendering. LILIN offer Aida ANPR, traffic management, VMS software, and AI recorders (NAV2000AI and NAV3000AI series) which can run on Intel CPU, GPU, VPU, and NVidia Cuda on Windows OS. LILIN Aida traffic management LILIN Aida software is able to run Multiple AI models on distributed AI CPU, GPU, and VPUs of a Server. LILIN Aida ANPR series and Aida traffic management use the latest deep learning technology. LILIN Aida traffic management by deep learning technology requires thousands of pictures for image labeling Aida traffic management can provide accurate AI traffic object recognition for parking spot detection, parking violation, turn left violation and turn right violation, wrong way detection with number plate recognition, truck, motorbike and pedestrian violations, queuing detection, average speed detection, and loitering detection. LILIN Aida traffic management by deep learning technology requires thousands of pictures for image labeling and machine training of object datasets. These processes are time consuming tasks. The datasets are then used for traffic managements. Intelligent video surveillance Image labeling needs more attention for inference accuracy. LILIN deep learning processes consist of image labeling, video recognition, and accuracy validation. LILIN design and developed AI-enhanced software combined with intelligent video surveillance edge devices can optimize traffic system. Mr. Steve Hu, Product Manager of LILIN, said, “We are very pleased to show Aida traffic management solution at ISC West 2020, since our development engineers focused on the AI development for years. Other than AI products, LILIN will demonstrate products for custom install, facial recognition system, QR code for B&B, campus solution, building automation, access control for hotel, and LILINHome app.”

The new year is several weeks old, so it is safe to say that many of our New Year resolutions have fallen by the wayside. Despite the limited success of our personal resolutions, the new year is a great time to take stock, look ahead, and plan to make 2020 the best year yet. Thinking about our industry as a whole, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What should be the security industry’s “New Year’s resolution?” 

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?

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)?