Vehicle security

Security at educational institutions is a highly sensitive issue. No matter whether it is a kindergarten, school, university or private learning institute, concentrated learning requires a harmonious environment to focus on the essentials. High-end video technology can make a decisive contribution to protecting students from any kind of disturbance or untoward incident. Safeguarding schools In the past, schools and universities have repeatedly been the target of active shooter and terrorist attacks. The primary goal of educational institutions, owing to this constant threat, is to prevent ‘unauthorized access’ to the school grounds and to allow only authorized visitors. Further potential danger exists internally, such as cases of vandalism, bullying and violence by or among students, which are issues that may arise sometimes in school life. Of course, early smoke and fire detection are also important components for a safe learning and living environment. MOBOTIX video security solutions MOBOTIX has video security solutions for the education & science sector in its portfolio" In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought new health protection requirements into focus. Video technology can provide reliable support in all these scenarios. "MOBOTIX has video security solutions for the education & science sector in its portfolio that makes school, learning and studying safe. These solutions are already in use around the world and have proven themselves to be very effective," said Thomas Lausten, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MOBOTIX AG. With its unique product portfolio consisting of hardware, software, services and intelligent partner solutions, MOBOTIX can precisely map the requirements of various industries. The latest technologies can be used to protect people, facilities and infrastructure in schools, universities or private educational institutions. Access and entry control Video technology from MOBOTIX helps to prevent unauthorized access and regulate access to buildings, or individual areas in a targeted manner. In addition, doors can be opened totally contactlessly, for example using RFID chip cards, access codes and identification of authorized personnel, based on face recognition technology. An overview in real time is possible and also helps in emergency situations, e.g. during evacuations to find out whether and which persons are where. At entrances and parking lots, vehicles can be automatically registered via the license plate and compared with databases. The identifying video technology can thus, efficiently restrict access to authorized vehicles or persons. MOBOTIX 7 open video system platform Using the new open video system platform, MOBOTIX 7, numerous camera apps can be used for intelligent video analysis. Among other things, the applications can register, for example, ownerless luggage, stolen furnishings, can track down suspicious persons, count people, recognize overcrowding situations or alert when one or more virtual blocking lines are crossed for burglary protection. The robustness of the MOBOTIX hardware also protects the video technology of MOBOTIX itself against vandalism. The use of thermal imaging cameras is also recommended in special areas. For example, an email can be sent to the building maintenance department if the system, which reacts to invisible heat radiation, detects increasing overheating in an IT server room before a dangerous fire breaks out. Campus security and perimeter protection The MOBOTIX M16 and M73 offer several simultaneous sensors in a robust, weatherproof design For outdoor applications, the MOBOTIX M16 and M73 offer several simultaneous sensors in a robust, weatherproof design. The wide range of interchangeable sensor modules can be configured to meet the exact requirements of the educational institution in question, with the aim to detect danger or any untoward incident in time and thus, effectively thwart them. For example, a floodlight could automatically shine if an unauthorized person enters the campus outside of opening hours. If desired, this could also be combined with an acoustic warning. Cyber-secure MOBOTIX video technology While the communication infrastructure in the education sector constantly improving, there are usually few resources (personnel, know-how) available for the maintenance of the technology. For this reason, the systems used must be stable and, if possible, maintenance-free and also protected against physical and digital attacks. MOBOTIX video systems are made in Germany. With an above-average ‘Mean Time Between Failures’ (MTBF) of more than 80,000 hours, the follow-up costs of a MOBOTIX system are reduced to a minimum. Resources for technology support can be saved. Due to their durability and robustness, they are predestined for use in education and science. "Particularly in the educational sector, the security of pupils, students, teaching staff, but also of equipment and facilities is of particular importance, real and digital. MOBOTIX has optimal solutions that are robust, reliable and cyber-secure. Solutions that help to make our educational institutions more convenient and secure," concludes Thomas Lausten.

SMART SHOOTER, a designer, developer, and manufacturer of innovative fire control systems that significantly increase the accuracy and lethality of small arms, announces that it has successfully completed another step in testing the SMASH Hopper in different configurations. SMASH Hopper, SMART SHOOTER's Light Remote-Controlled Weapon Station (LRCWS), was mounted on Plasan Re’em’s Armoured Toyota Hilux and successfully shot and hit several moving ground and air targets from more than 300 meters. Mounting on vehicles Weighing approximately 15 Kg, SMASH Hopper is a modular and rapidly deployable LRCWS that provides “One Shot – One Hit” capability while controlled by an operator from a safe distance or from inside a protected vehicle. SMASH Hopper is ideal for deployment on various lightweight manned and unmanned vehicles & platforms, with a wide range of applications. Offering day and night capability with automatic scanning and target detection, SMASH Hopper is ideal for multiple mission scenarios including force protection, border security, anti-drone, remote ambush, as well as low profile operations at complex urban environments. Increased accuracy Michal Mor, Smart Shooter CEO: "We were happy to collaborate with Plasan Re’em for the development of capabilities in this market segment, and appreciate the professional work they did in the integration and installation of the SMASH Hopper on their modified armored 4x4 vehicle. This is another step in a series of trials for different configurations and applications of the SMASH Hopper, and once again, we were thrilled to see how every bullet finds its target.” Yaakov Ben-Ari, Plasan Re’em CEO: "Integrating SMART SHOOTER's SMASH Hopper lightweight RCWS that provides “One Shot – One Hit” capability on Plasan Re’em modified armored 4X4 vehicle creates a tiebreaker solution that dramatically increases accuracy, lethality, and survivability of small arms. Ideal for special forces, law enforcement units, and border security, this integrated solution brings essential added value to its users, especially in scenarios where weight, time, and precision play an indispensable role."

Similar to a human fingerprint, every vehicle has its own unique identity - a "fingerprint" unlike any other car or truck in the world. UVeye, a renowned developer of vehicle threat-detection systems for the security industry, is introducing technology that can create a virtual "fingerprint" for any vehicle after a UVeye underbody scan. The company will host a free SIA (Security Industry Association) webinar on "How to Fingerprint Vehicles Using Computer Vision" at 12:00 p.m. EDT. The company's CEO Amir Hever and Chief Marketing Officer Yaron Saghiv plan to discuss how computer-learning and artificial-intelligence technology can be used to identify vehicle fraud and security threats based on underbody scans. Digital fingerprints "A vehicle with stolen license plates, for example, could easily be identified in the future with a UVeye underbody scan," Hever notes. "We'll also be discussing how digital fingerprints can be used at data centers, correctional facilities, airports, border crossings, hotel entrances and seaports to name just a few potential use cases." The company earlier this year introduced UV Inspect-technology that for the first time can instantly identify bombs, weapons, drugs and other security threats concealed in the undercarriage of new or unfamiliar vehicles. Threat-Detection systems First introduced in 2016, UVeye undercarriage threat-detection systems can scan vehicles traveling up to 25 mph The company's mobile and stationary Helios underbody scanning systems when equipped with UV Inspect software now can provide law enforcement agencies and security professionals with the ability to automatically pinpoint threats on vehicles that are not in security databases, offering an entirely new level of protection. UVeye's Helios inspection systems currently are deployed at hundreds of high-security locations throughout the world and have generated millions of vehicle scans. The company's proprietary algorithms, cloud architecture, sensor fusion, artificial intelligence and machine-learning technologies complete necessary vehicle checks within seconds. First introduced in 2016, UVeye undercarriage threat-detection systems can scan vehicles traveling up to 25 mph (35 km/h), helping to improve traffic flow at check points and border crossings even under extreme weather conditions. license plate recognition Stationary Helios systems utilize five high-resolution multi-directional cameras, which work under extreme weather conditions, support single and multi-lane traffic configurations and can support vehicle weights of up to 20 tons per axle. In addition to Helios and UV Inspect, the company's arsenal of detection technologies includes UV Compare, a deep-learning system that monitors traffic trends to identify changes that might signal safety concerns and license plate recognition (LPR) software to assist with vehicle fingerprinting.

As the application scenarios are becoming more and more demanding, traditional security systems are having problems catching up and often face issues such as: too much false alarms triggered by pets, insects, leaves and other non-target objects; can only rely on video playback for confirmation after an event; and difficult evidence retrieval due to uncolored images at night with Black/White monitoring. What’s worse, for a relatively comprehensive system, the user will need to spend more money on additional accessories like external mic, speaker, detector, and alarm light, not to mention the extra time and costs on installation. To address the above-mentioned issues once and for all, Dahua Technology launches its innovative and powerful Three-in-One Camera solution, also known as the TiOC. Powerful AI algorithms This automated and comprehensive security solution effectively solves the aforementioned problems with the following key features: Accurate Alarm: False alarm is always considered a headache for users. With AI-powered perimeter protection and SMD Plus, the Dahua TiOC offers accurate alarm function by precisely targeting people and vehicles, while filtering out non-target objects such as animals, leaves and car headlights. While keeping false alarm rate under 2%, its powerful AI algorithms also delivers a quicker, more accurate and longer range motion detection (detection distance is increased by more than 185%), considerably improving the efficiency of the whole TiOC solution. Real-time alarm functions Active Deterrence and Real-time Alarm: Instead of only relying on the recorded videos as evidence after an event, the TiOC makes it possible to respond during the event with its Active Deterrence and Real-time Alarm functions that can significantly prevent such event from happening. Active deterrence is more effective with red and blue light, which is more eye-catching than white light, and is also visible even in dense fog and heavy rain. An enhanced speaker delivers up to 110 dB, featuring a wailing siren or a recorded voice. APP Alarm Push provides alarm notifications in real-time, allowing users to respond in time such as sending a voice alarm using the two-way talk function. In addition, the system also allows pre-recorded announcements or customized recordings, which enables users to realize content customization and language localization. The cellphone APP also supports one-tap arming/disarming function that brings great convenience to users. Full-color technology Full-color: Enough reliable information is key during evidence retrieval. With industry-renowned full-color technology, the Dahua TiOC delivers color images day and night, considerably enhancing the ability to identify suspects, while increasing the quality of video evidence. Three-in-One: TiOC integrates 24/7 full-color monitoring, active deterrence and AI into one smart, innovative solution, greatly saving time and financial costs for distributors and installers. Enhance public security TiOC works like a responsible guardian to enhance public security TiOC is suitable for private places that need to maintain orderliness and warn off intruders, such as villas, shops, warehouses, etc. TiOC can accurately identify real targets with accurate alarm, effectively warn them off with active deterrence, and notify the user with real-time alarm. The full-color image that the camera records provides more useful human/vehicle evidence for future checking and analysis, offering an enhanced protection to residents, shop owners and warehouse managers. TiOC is also ideal for outdoor scenarios such as fire lanes, which need to be always free of obstructions, in most cases vehicles. Give it a try, and you’ll see that the TiOC can effectively maintain emergency lanes clear, working like a responsible guardian that fulfills its duty to enhance public security. Upcoming PTZ cameras The powerful Dahua TiOC Solution offers 24/7 full-color monitoring, active deterrence and AI with WizSense IP cameras, HDCVI 6.0 cameras and XVRs, and upcoming PTZ cameras, making it ideally applicable to villas, shops, warehouses, fire lanes, and places alike. With its mission of “Enabling a safer society and smarter living”, Dahua Technology will continue to focus on “Innovation, Quality and Service” to serve its partners and customers around the world.

AxxonSoft has launched version 4.4 of the Axxon Next intelligent VMS. This version includes new functions of neural analytics and camera management, enhanced GUI and Web Client, and many other enhancements and improvements. Supported body temperature measurement with a number of thermographic camera models. Measurement results appear as captions over video and are saved to an archive. Upon discovering an individual with abnormal body temperature, the camera creates an alarm event, and sends it to Axxon Next. The user can set up an auto response scenario to notify operators or responsible staff, start video recording, etc. Based on alarm events, the user can quickly find videos of individuals with elevated body temperature. Mask detection - Based on neural network algorithm for facial recognition, this tool detects the presence or absence of a mask on a face. Social distancing violation detection - Based on Behavior Analytics, close-standing people detection helps in social distancing enforcement. Along with non-contact body temperature measurement and mask detection, this function is included in a dedicated anti-pandemic solution. Video analytics The neural network analyses video and generates data on the postures of people in the FOV AI analytics - Neural tracker recognizes and tracks moving objects of a specified type, e.g., individuals or vehicles. The user can further apply Scene Analytics to recognized objects to detect their motion, stopping or lingering in an area, crossing a line, etc. Detection based on the neural tracker can be applied to complex scenes with a large amount of non-relevant detail, whereas classic motion detection would be drowned out by numerous false alarms. In a specified time interval, the neural tracker counts objects of a specified type within a pre-defined area, and generates an alarm event upon reaching/exceeding a specified limit. Posture detection The neural network analyses video and generates data on the postures of people in the FOV. This data is processed by analytical algorithms which are capable of detecting specified postures, such as crouching, man-down, shooting, or raised arms. Posture detection helps recognize potentially dangerous scenarios, such as: an individual crouched down next to an ATM could be a burglar an individual(s) in a shooting position and other(s) with raised arms - could be an armed robbery Handrail holding detection helps in labor safety enforcement at production facilities, construction sites, working at height, etc. Posture detection–based counter tracks the total number of individuals within a specified area, and notifies staff upon reaching/exceeding the pre-defined limit. Update required analytics Network hardware acceleration - Added support for neural network acceleration in NVIDIA and Intel GPUs, including Mustang-V100-MX8 (HDDL), Neural Compute Stick 2 and Intel HD Graphics Water level detection - This tool reads water level values from measurement scale video. Its output is represented in the Camera window with a color-coded level indicator and, as an option, a numerical value. The user can use water level detection to monitor levels of any liquid in any basin or container. Facial recognition - Facial recognition now operates in real-time. Use the AxxonNet cloud service to create lists of Facial Templates and synchronize them across all Servers connected to the user’s AxxonNet account. Upon detecting a face, a list-specific response scenario is launched. The user can use this option to create lists of VIP and/or unwanted visitors, and automatically notify retail and security staff on their entry. DetectorPack - Axxon Next detection tools are now grouped by type (core, AI, facial, LPR) and compiled into a separate DetectorPack module, subject to independent continuous development and delivery. This makes it possible to download and update required analytics between point releases of VMS. Axxon Next 4.4 includes DetectorPack 3.4.0. Web client The new Web Client functions include: Simultaneous search on multiple camera channels for specified faces, vehicle numbers, detection events, or time interval Criteria- (MomentQuest) and time-based (TimeSlice) search Building a motion heat map Alarms panel displays all active alarms across the Axxon domain H.265 playback is supported (in the Edge browser with hardware acceleration set to on) The user can select one of the two H.264 display modes: all frames, or I-frames only Select the default layout to be displayed after the Web Client launch The user can now group cameras, create camera lists and sort cameras within a list by their names or IDs Camera management Recording on motion from embedded VMD - When the user adds a camera to their system, they can now quickly set up motion-based recording from on-board Video Motion Detection. For each added camera, the system automatically creates a VMD tool and a rule for automated recording to the specified file. When VMD triggering ends, video recording stops. Adding links to other cameras - Users can now include links to other cameras in a camera window. Clicking a link brings the user to the linked camera. This function facilitates object tracking between different camera FOVs. User Interface Videowall Management - A video wall is a set of display monitors physically and logically connected to act as a single screen. A video wall may include any monitor connected to any Client within the Axxon domain. In Axxon Next 4.4, the users can set up a video wall via a WYSIWYG GUI: monitor images on screen now match their physical layout. User rights now include an option to manage other Clients' monitors, not only local ones. On each monitor, users can set up layouts and quickly add cameras by dragging their icons from the Objects panel (Devices tree) or interactive Map. Hot keys for video walls control were added as well. Geo Map management - The user can specify coordinates of a camera: latitude, longitude, and bearing. When they add a camera to a geo map, its icon appears in a location that corresponds to its coordinates. On the map, the user can now search geo objects by their names. These functions will be useful for large-scale and distributed systems, including Safe City projects. Temporary layout in archive mode - The user can now create a temporary layout that includes cameras selected for Archive (video footage) viewing. This is a convenient tool for simultaneous viewing of multiple camera feeds for event analysis. When another layout is selected, the temporary layout is automatically deleted. Fast access to detection triggering events - The users can now quickly access detection triggering events on any layout with the newly introduced events panel to the right of the camera window. The panel contains the list of most recent detection events from tools created for this particular camera.

As part of the German Army's "qualified air defense" drone defense program, sensor specialist HENSOLDT is supplying the latest version of its "Spexer 2000 3D" radar to system integrator Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. Spexer will be part of the C-UAS system (Counter-Unmanned Aerial System), which is based on Kongsberg's remote-controlled "Protector" weapon station, both mounted on an armored GTK "Boxer" vehicle. Initially 10 systems are under contract. Radar deliveries will start at the end of this year to meet the requirements of NATO VJTF (Very High Readiness Joint Task Force) 2023. The contract was awarded after a test firing at the Baumholder military training area. The third generation of HENSOLDT's "Spexer 2000 3D" radar demonstrated outstanding classification performance of small targets in very demanding scenarios. Ground-based air defense Due to the small radar cross section, high maneuverability and high optical reconnaissance performance of these micro-drones, they pose a particular threat to mobile land forces. The new Spexer radar generation additionally closes the gap in the reconnaissance capability of close-range small targets within ground-based air defense. Parallel to drones, the classic air and ground target catalog - such as helicopters, combat aircraft, armored vehicles etc. - can also be detected and classified. These capabilities set new standards in the field of radar-based self-protection. Of the previous generations of Spexer radar, over 150 systems have already been delivered to customers and are in operational use worldwide.

COVID-19 has sparked a flurry of criminal activity across the country, with a particular increase in petty crimes perpetrated against UK healthcare facilities. Bike theft, slashed ambulance tyres and stolen oxygen canisters are just some of the misdemeanours which have significantly grown in frequency since the coronavirus lockdown began in March 2020.  Given the constant, essential work carried out by health services, it’s clear the utmost must be done to protect its physical assets, and staff, from physical attack. Fundamentally, it’s the responsibility of the facilities managers and specifiers to incorporate and carefully balance physical security strategies around healthcare sites to protect patients, visitors, property and assets. The challenge is that many of these sites are continually increasing in size and complexity to meet the higher demand from the population. Fencing, gates, storage enclosures and access control are part of a solution in securing this service sector to enable it to operate effectively 365 days a year. Effective access control Hospitals are fast-paced environments where life and death outcomes often hang in the balance of only a couple of minutes. Efficient, seamless access is therefore key. All gates and access points around the perimeter must be assessed and considered and these access points should be installed and controlled centrally, or regularly monitored. Fencing, gates, storage enclosures and access control are part of a solution in securing this service sector Consider the types of vehicles that require access; the appropriate solution should ensure that, where necessary, emergency vehicles can get in and out of the site unhindered. Effective design for maximum security If automated gates are specified, underground operators are highly recommended to remove any visible signs of surveillance on display. When designing pedestrian and vehicular access: gates should be DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliant. Crucially, the design of fencing and gates must accommodate rapid evacuation and access for emergency services. With regards to the car park, it may require rising arm barriers or bollards to secure it. These solutions control access and separate pedestrians from vehicle traffic whilst protecting different buildings, such as specialist units and emergency wards. Promoting wellness through aesthetics Creating a welcoming environment is a core priority when specifying security options for hospitals. Razor or barbed wire may be effective deterrents to potential trespassers, but they create an intimidating and unwelcoming aesthetic, far removed from the sense of wellbeing these developments should promote. A solution that offers both visual appeal and high levels of security is vertical bar security fencing or welded mesh panels. Both provide strong boundary protection and excellent visibility for surveillance, while offering greater protection than other alternatives. Recreational areas  For areas requiring a 'softer' appearance, such as gardens and outdoor recreational areas, timber fencing is an ideal option. Timber has a natural, welcoming appearance and promotes a sense of wellbeing and privacy. As well as offering a pleasing aesthetic, it can also provide a high level of noise protection. This makes it well suited for acoustic fencing, which can improve recreational and recovery areas by protecting them from high levels of noise, transforming them into little oases of calm ideal for recuperation. Outdoor storage areas Hospitals and other medical facilities produce a large amount of medical waste which requires secure outdoor areas and bin stores to hold hazardous materials on-site before they're taken away. Hospitals have a responsibility to ensure these areas are secured using risk-appropriate fencing to avoid potentially dangerous materials getting into the wrong hands. Risk assessments Creating a welcoming environment is a core priority when specifying security options for hospitals Risk assessments are key to ensuring a risk-appropriate solution is installed. For facilities at risk of criminal activity, products accredited by standards including Secured by Design or the Loss Prevention Standards Board’s LPS 1175 are proven to reduce the likelihood of crime. It’s also best practice to locate storage areas in areas away from climbing aids such as lamp posts or trees. The fence should also be high enough to deter attempts at climbing. There are many effective and easy-to-install options on offer when it comes to specifying security for healthcare infrastructures. It is important that each site is judged individually. Every institution is different and will require a unique plan of security structures to ensure it is safe for all personnel.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is improving everyday solutions, driving efficiency in ways we never imagined possible. From self-driving cars to intelligent analytics, the far-reaching impacts of Deep Learning-based technology empower human operators to achieve results more effectively while investing fewer resources and less time. By introducing AI, solutions are not merely powered by data, but they also generate valuable intelligence. Systems which were once leveraged for a narrow, dedicated purpose, can suddenly be engaged broadly across an organization, because the previously under-utilized data can be harnessed for enhancing productivity and performance. Video Analytics Software When it comes to physical security, for instance, video surveillance is a standard solution. Yet, by introducing AI-driven video analytics software, video data can be leveraged as intelligence in previously inaccessible ways. Here are some examples of how diverse organizations are using AI-based video intelligence solutions to enhance security and performance with searchable, actionable and quantifiable insights. The video intelligence software processes and analyses video to detect all the people and objects that appear Law enforcement relies on video surveillance infrastructure for extracting investigation evidence and monitoring people and spaces. Instead of manual video review and live surveillance – which is prone to human error and distraction – police can harness video content analysis to accelerate video investigations, enhance situational awareness, streamline real-time response, identify suspicious individuals and recognize patterns and anomalies in video. The video intelligence software processes and analyses video to detect all the people and objects that appear; identify, extract and classify them; and then index them as metadata that can be searched and referenced. Maintaining Public Safety For law enforcement, the ability to dynamically search video based on granular criteria is critical for filtering out irrelevant details and pinpointing objects of interest, such as suspicious persons or vehicles. Beyond accelerating video evidence review and extraction, police can leverage video analysis to configure sophisticated real-time alerts when people, vehicles or behaviors of interest are detected in video. Instead of actively monitoring video feeds, law enforcement can assess triggered alerts and decide how to respond. In this way, officers can also react faster to emergencies, threats and suspicious activity as it develops. Video analysis empowers cities to harness their video surveillance data as operational intelligence Empowering law enforcement to maintain public safety is important beyond the benefit of increasing security: A city with a reputation for effective, reliable law enforcement and enhanced safety is more likely to attract residents, visitors and new businesses, exponentially driving its economic development. Furthermore, in cities where law enforcement can work productively and quickly, time and human resources can be reallocated to fostering growth and building community. Video Surveillance Data Video analysis empowers cities to harness their video surveillance data as operational intelligence for optimizing city management and infrastructure. When video data is aggregated over time, it can be visualized into dashboards, heatmaps and reports, so operators can identify patterns and more seamlessly detect anomalous. A city could, for instance, analyze the most accident-prone local intersection and assess the traffic patterns to reveal details such as where cars are dwelling and pedestrians are walking; the directional flows of traffic; and the demographic segmentations of the objects detected: Are cars lingering in no-parking zones? Are pedestrians using designated crosswalks – is there a more logical location for the crosswalk or traffic light? Do vehicles tend to make illegal turns – should police proactively deter this behavior, or should the city plan new infrastructure that enables vehicles to safely perform these turns? Finally, does the rise in bike traffic warrant implementing dedicated biking lanes? With video intelligence, urban planners can answer these and other questions to facilitate local improvements and high quality of life. Video analysis empowers cities to harness their video surveillance data as operational intelligence   Enhancing Situational Awareness Insight into traffic trends is also critical for transport companies, from public transit services to transportation hubs and airports. By leveraging the video insights about citywide traffic, public transit organizations can make data-driven decisions about scheduling and services. Analyzing video surveillance around bus stops, for instance, can help these companies understand the specific hours per day people tend to dwell around bus stops. Correlating this information with transactional data for each bus line, bus schedules can be optimized based on demand for individual bus lines, shortening waiting times for the most popular routes. Similarly, the traffic visualisations and activity heatmaps derived from the video of major transit hubs, such as international airports and central stations, can be beneficial for increasing security, enhancing situational awareness, identifying causes of congestion, improving throughput and efficiency and, ultimately, solving these inefficiencies to provide a streamlined customer experience for travellers. Large Education Campuses Much like a city, large education campuses have internal transportation services, residential facilities, businesses and law enforcement, and video content analysis can support the campus in intelligently managing each of those business units, while also providing video intelligence to these individual groups. Campus law enforcement can leverage video data to increase situational awareness and public safety Campus law enforcement can leverage video data to increase situational awareness and public safety, driving real-time responses with the ability to make informed assessments and accelerating post-event investigations with access to easily extractable video data.   When campuses are expanding or developing additional infrastructure, they can plan new crosswalks, traffic lights, roads, buildings and entrances and exits based on comprehensive video intelligence. By understanding where pedestrians and vehicles dwell, walk, cross or even violate traffic laws, the campus can inform construction projects and traffic optimization. Countless Business Operations Finally, the campus can leverage video business intelligence to justify leasing pricing for different retailers across campus, demonstrating property values based on traffic trends that can be correlated with retailer point of sale data. Whether its empowering security, productivity or decision-making, the insights generated by AI-based technology can drive significant optimization – especially when data is fused and cross-referenced across smart sensors and systems for even deeper intelligence. The campus can leverage video business intelligence to justify leasing pricing for different retailers across campus In the case of AI-backed video analytics, diverse organizations can harness video surveillance impactfully and dynamically. Whereas once video technology investments could be justified for their security value – with the introduction of AI capabilities – procurement teams can evaluate these solutions for countless business operations, because they offer broadly valuable intelligence. And video surveillance and analytics is merely one example of AI-driven solutions’ potential to disrupt business as we know it.

Artificial intelligence allows machines to do jobs previously done by people. When it comes to security and surveillance, this technology allows cameras and control room equipment to identify a wide range of threats automatically and in real time across hundreds or even thousands of cameras. What does this do? It allows security teams to take immediate action to protect people and assets.   AI Technology And Surveillance Solutions Artificial Intelligence technology built into surveillance solutions help organizations optimize their security Video surveillance cameras are the electronic eyes of any security operation. In the past, human supervision was needed to make sense of the images captured, and to assess whether certain events posed a security risk or not. With some organizations using hundreds or even thousands of cameras to protect their people and assets, manual review of footage is simply impossible – potentially leaving them vulnerable to security breaches. Advanced Artificial Intelligence technology built into surveillance solutions can help organizations overcome this challenge and optimize their security. This means cameras, control-room equipment and back-end infrastructure can now ‘learn’ about potential threats for themselves by recognizing people, vehicles and even behaviors. Detection And Prevention The manual interventions needed with traditional security systems mean that teams were frequently reacting to breaches that had already happened. Artificial intelligence changes all this by recognizing potential threats before they impact company’s people or assets – allowing security teams to react immediately to neutralise any potential threat. Artificial intelligence solutions can automatically trigger alerts when a person appears in a restricted area For example, artificial Intelligence solutions can automatically trigger alerts when a person appears in a restricted area, or when a vehicle with a blacklisted number plate enters a site. With alerts delivered in real time, teams can identify and react to security threats and protect people and assets more effectively. And because alerts are automated, potential threats are hardly missed or overlooked. How Does Artificial Intelligence Work? Artificial intelligence systems become more intelligent over time, building databases of potential threats and reacting to new events accordingly. This allows systems to ‘think for themselves’ and to alert teams of any suspicious events or people who are caught on camera. Artificial intelligence technologies use advanced algorithms based on Deep Learning to distinguish between different kinds of security events and threats. Technologies incorporated into the Hikvision portfolio include: Facial recognition which allows law enforcement personnel to identify suspects and commercial teams to identify VIP customers in real time. Vehicle identification which can be used to identify vehicle number plates and recognize different types of vehicles (even down to make and model), or to trigger alerts when vehicles enter restricted areas. Perimeter protection which helps organizations to identify real threats by distinguishing people and vehicles from other moving objects and keeping false alarms to a minimum. Business intelligence which employs people counting, queue detection, and heat mapping technologies, so that organizations can enhance operational efficiency by making use of the data report.   Increasing Commercial Success  Artificial intelligence isn’t just useful for identifying security threats – although this is a key strength of the technology. It can also help organizations increase their competitiveness and commercial success. For example, VIP customers who opt to participate in special marketing promotions or other incentives can be identified so staff can provide the right kind of service at the right time. This gives organizations the opportunity to personalize the service experience, foster loyalty and maximize customer lifetime revenues. Artificial Intelligence can help organizations to better understand customers and meet their needs more effectively In the same way, artificial Intelligence can help organizations to better understand customers and meet their needs more effectively – leading to more commercial opportunities. One feature – called People Counting – allows stores and commercial centers to map footfall at peak times, ensuring that staffing is optimized to meet demand. At the same time, stores can see which areas of the building customers visit most and adjust their merchandising and product positioning accordingly to maximize the sales opportunities. Artificial Intelligence At Hikvision Hikvision’s family of artificial intelligence products include the DeepinView network cameras and DeepinMind NVRs. The products help to tackle security with facial recognition; monitoring and counting of people; and recognition and detection of vehicles, to name a few. These features all depend on artificial intelligence technology to recognize, classify and respond to security threats. This article was written by Hikvision.

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.”

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.

Some of the electronic features we all love in our new cars depend on a connection to the Internet. But what are the cybersecurity risks involved in that connection? Could a widespread cyberattack turn our cars into deathtraps and create a traffic catastrophe on the scale of 9/11? That’s the scenario described in a report from the nonprofit group Consumer Watchdog, which warns that a fleet-wide cyberattack at rush hour could result in a 9/11-style catastrophe with approximately 3,000 deaths. The organization recommends that automobile manufacturers install a ‘kill switch’ that would disconnect a vehicle from the Internet in an emergency to mitigate the threat. Protecting transportation system Automakers are keeping the public in the dark as they market new features based on Internet connections"Consumer Watchdog contends that the vulnerability of automotive computer systems, and the possibility of a cyberattack, has been communicated privately to investors but not widely to consumers. “Automakers are keeping the public in the dark as they market new features based on Internet connections,” says Consumer Watchdog. “Connecting safety-critical systems to the Internet is an inherently dangerous design,” says Jamie Court, President of Consumer Watchdog. “American car makers need to end the practice or Congress must step in to protect our transportation system and national security.” Future designs should completely isolate safety-critical systems from infotainment systems connected to the Internet or other networks, according to Consumer Watchdog. By 2022, at least two-thirds of new cars on American roads will have online connections to the cars’ safety-critical systems, putting them at risk of deadly hacks. Updating vehicle software over-The-Air One economic motive of connecting vehicles to the Internet is the ability of car manufacturers to update vehicle software over-the-air rather than having to recall a vehicle. Systems also enable collection of valuable data on how fast a car owner drives or where he/she shops. Security-critical components inside cars are driven by ‘black boxes’ that may contain software of questionable origin Security-critical components inside cars are driven by ‘black boxes’ that may contain software of questionable origin. Software may be written by third parties and/or include contributions from hundreds or thousands of different authors around the world, with little accountability for flaws. The ability to update software ‘over the air’ without touching the vehicles lets automakers cover up safety problems and sloppy testing practices, contends Consumer Watchdog. “Allowing consumers to physically disconnect their cars from the Internet and other wide-area networks should be a national security priority,” says Court. “If a 9/11-like cyber-attack on American cars were to occur, recovery would be difficult because there is currently no way to disconnect our cars quickly and safely. The nation’s transportation infrastructure could be gridlocked for weeks or months. Mandatory ‘kill switches’ would solve the problem.” Understanding the risks of connected cars In addition to more attention to cybersecurity, there also needs to be more transparency to enable consumers to understand what is at risk and the choices they make. For example, a group of more than 20 car industry engineers and insiders helped to prepare the Consumer Watchdog report, but many of them remained anonymous for fear of losing their jobs. Consumers have a right to understand the risks they are taking and how they can minimize them. In the Internet of things, cybersecurity dangers extend to almost every device in the connected world, from cars to smartphones to medical devices. Increasingly, we will be asked to weigh the convenience of cranking our car with a smartphone, for example, against the possible risk in the form of vulnerability to cyberattack.

Birmingham’s hospitality businesses have benefited from significantly increased outdoor dining space, following the deployment of ATG Access’ Surface Guard system at a number of locations around Hurst Street. With many businesses struggling as a result of the restrictions placed on public venues by the government, Birmingham City Council was keen to make it possible for people to return to the city’s usually bustling bars and restaurants in a safe, socially distanced way. It recognized that pedestrianizing key areas would significantly increase capacity and enable venues to take advantage of the government’s sidewalk license scheme. However, the council also wanted to keep the roads open to normal traffic between Monday and Friday to minimize disruption, while allowing bars and restaurants to use the carriageway for outside dining space at the weekend. Vehicle access extension plates Requiring an innovative, flexible solution in order to achieve this temporary pedestrianisation, Birmingham City Council contacted renowned event-protection business, Crowdguard. With less than 24 hours’ notice, Crowdguard deployed 65 metres of ATG Access’s hugely sought-after Surface Guard barrier system in five different locations across the city center, with four locations having Vehicle Access Units. Surface Guard is a completely surface-mounted system, meaning that there is no damage to the underlying road Thanks to the specialist vehicle access extension plates, the barriers provide access to normal traffic from Monday to Friday, while also creating safe, pedestrianized areas with no unauthorized vehicle access on Saturdays and Sundays. Surface Guard is a completely surface-mounted system, meaning that there is no damage to the underlying road, with a lightweight and modular design that makes it quick and easy to deploy with no machinery required. Crash test standard Without appropriate security measures in place, pedestrianizing busy city center can render the public more vulnerable to hostile vehicle attacks, thanks to greater numbers of people gathered in outside areas. A Surface Guard barrier can withstand the impact of a 7,200kg vehicle traveling at 32kph and has been tested twice in accordance to the IWA 14 crash test standard, providing world renowned protection against such attacks. The barriers are also designed to allow people to flow in and out of an area with minimal disruption, preventing the unnecessary build-up of crowds. This makes them ideal for facilitating social distancing, while also providing further protection from vehicle as a weapon attacks. The temporary pedestrianization of Hurst Street was hailed a success after its first weekend of operation, which saw an estimated increase in trading of up to 50% for participating venues. Offering flexible solution Iain Moran, Director at ATG Access, commented: “Birmingham City Council has done a brilliant job supporting its hospitality businesses, recognizing very quickly the value that pedestrianization could bring to the sector. Increasing capacity in this way has only become more important in light of the new 10pm curfew, so we hope to see more councils and local authorities following suit to give venues the best chance of survival." In this situation, Surface Guard offered the perfect flexible solution, ensuring all needs can be met" "However, it’s also vital to keep public safety and security front and centers when making any changes to our urban landscapes, as well as bearing in mind the impact that pedestrianization can have on other businesses in the area. In this situation, Surface Guard offered the perfect flexible solution, ensuring all needs can be met.” Support hospitality businesses Deborah Ainscough, Operations Director at Crowdguard, said: “We are proud that, through innovations such as Surface Guard, we have been able to make a real difference to Birmingham’s hospitality sector, helping as many people as possible to show their support for local businesses in a safe and secure way.” James Betjemann, Head of Enterprise Zone and Curzon Delivery at Birmingham City Council, commented: “Crowdguard provided the council with a number of temporary barriers to facilitate a series of weekend road closures to help support hospitality businesses deal with the impact of COVID-19. Deborah and the team were able to mobilize and install the barriers at very short notice and provided excellent customer service throughout the scheme.”

The sailings may take as little as 22 minutes, but carrying almost 4.5 million holidaymakers and Islanders to and from the Isle of Wight every year is a huge challenge. It is perhaps not surprising therefore to discover that Wightlink has invested in the latest video security technology to help them do so safely and efficiently. The team at award-winning ferry operator Wightlink knows more than a thing or two about giving Islanders a frequent and punctual service to mainland Hampshire, as well as offering visitors an easy way to enjoy a taste of Island life. Providing ferry services Through its forerunners, Wightlink has been providing ferry services to and from the Isle of Wight for more than 160 years. As the cross-Solent ferry operator, Wightlink in a normal year would complete approximately 45,000 sailings over three routes with the help of a fleet of ships which includes six vehicle and passenger ferries and two passenger-only FastCats. Hanwha Techwin Europe’s Managing Director Bob (H.Y.) Hwang Ph.D., recently traveled to Portsmouth to see first-hand how Wisenet cameras are being used to assist Wightlink in almost every aspect of their day-to-day operations. Bob was accompanied by Jeff (Chae Won) Lee, the company’s Sales Director and Senior Strategic Sales Manager, Jon Hill. High definition images Wightlink’s crew are also making good use of the high definition images captured by the weather-proof cameras Over 260 Wisenet cameras have already been installed around Wightlink’s Portsmouth and Lymington facilities, as well as on three of the company’s ships. With safety of paramount importance, some of the cameras are being used to help verify any health & safety incidents which might occur in one of the terminals or onboard the ships. On the bridge, Wightlink’s crew are also making good use of the high definition images captured by the weather-proof cameras mounted at the bow and stern of the ships, which are assisting them with great precision to dock safely and efficiently. In addition, cameras supporting ANPR have also been deployed at various locations to ensure the smooth flow, identification and tracking of vehicles through every stage of their journey. IP network video surveillance The day was organized by Jim Kernahan, Managing Director of Trellisworks, a system integrator with extensive experience of designing, installing and maintaining IP network video surveillance, wireless and mobile network solutions. “The visit provided an excellent opportunity for Bob (H.Y.) Hwang and his colleagues to see how the Wisenet cameras were being put to good use,” said Jim. “However, our prime objective was to meet with members of the Wightlink team to explore how Trellisworks and Hanwha Techwin can continue to work in partnership to assist them in capitalizing on the latest advances in technology.” Hybrid energy ferry Stuart James, Wightlink’s Marketing and Innovation Director, who has the task of devising and driving the company’s strategy of continual improvement by wisely investing in new technologies and systems, provided a guided tour of the company’s Portsmouth harbor facilities and its newest and environmentally-friendly hybrid energy ferry, Victoria of Wight. We were able to generate a number of good ideas on how we can build on the success of the existing cameras" “I was pleased to host the visit and take the opportunity to express our appreciation and satisfaction with how well Trellisworks and Hanwha Techwin have been working together for our benefit,” said Stuart. “Most importantly, we were able to generate a number of good ideas on how we can build on the success of the existing cameras.” The discussions which followed on from the tour focused on how the latest technology might assist Wightlink to further enhance safety and security by supporting on shore staff and the ships’ crews, as well as ensuring every passenger has the best possible customer experience. Video security solutions Among the options considered were specialist video applications, such as passenger counting and queue management which can be run on-board Wisenet cameras and AI Deep Learning solutions. Commenting on the visit, Bob (H.Y.) Hwang said: “We are very grateful to Stuart for providing us with a great insight into Wightlink operational requirements and also to the company’s CEO, Keith Greenfield, who kindly took the time to greet us.” “We are understandably delighted that a prestigious and superbly well-run company such as Wightlink has placed its trust in Hanwha Techwin to provide effective and future proof video security solutions. We are looking forward to working ever more closely with Trellisworks, which is a member of our STEP partnership program, to ensure together we are always able to exceed Wightlink’s expectations.”

RCP21, a pioneering Community Interest Company (CIC), has used SmartTask to help set up and manage an in-house security operation at Langthwaite Business Park in South Kirkby, West Yorkshire. The workforce management software was adopted to coordinate a full-time team of officers, tasked with protecting 120 businesses located at the site, without the need to increase management and administrative resource within the organization. SmartTask has since enabled RCP21 to deliver a superior security service in the most reliable and efficient manner. Workforce management solution “As managing agents of Langthwaite Business Park, we had previously outsourced the security requirements, but we took the decision to bring the service in-house,” explains Nicola Parker, Operations Manager at RCP21. “We recognized the need for a proven workforce management solution that would underpin our security solution moving forward. SmartTask has given us the visibility and control needed to deliver our service and provide customers with complete peace of mind.” SmartTask is used to manage RCP21’s full-time team at Langthwaite Business Park that provides a range of security services including CCTV monitoring, mobile patrols and keyholding and alarm response. SmartTask-enabled smartphones are used to scan 32 checkpoint tags around the site, so RCP21 has full visibility of mobile patrols that take place. Submit incident reports SmartTask has proved to be a hugely useful tool that is delivering value across our security operation" The software’s SmartForm functionality also enables security officers to electronically view their daily tasks; complete vehicle safety checks; and submit incident reports. In particular, the incident reporting tool allows a security officers on patrol or responding to an alarm response to capture all essential information, including any photo evidence, via a smartphone. This means RCP21 has an electronic record of any incident in real-time, so it can take immediate and appropriate action as well as share relevant details to the customer. Monthly performance reports can be taken from SmartTask, while incident data is included within the business park’s newsletter to provide information in relation to crimes and incidents on the park. Mobile workforce management  “SmartTask has proved to be a hugely useful tool that is delivering value across our security operation. The software is simple and easy to use by all staff involved and is effective in enabling us to monitor and deliver our security services to a very high standard,” concludes Parker. Paul Ridden, CEO of SmartTask: “Our cloud-based employee scheduling and mobile workforce management software is highly configurable and scalable, making it an ideal solution for any security operation. Whether you are a top 30 security company or a small in-house team, it is possible to take advantage of SmartTask’s user-friendly, feature-rich functionality to better plan, manage, deliver and report on your security services.”

Protecting commercial properties is complicated and goes beyond safeguarding people and property. Security professionals respond to the needs of the business, staff, contractors, and visitors and deal with the realities of property damage, theft, and disgruntled employees. Ava helps the team react to anomalies and policy enforcement in real-time. Instead of merely investigating incidents, organizations can take the necessary steps to prevent them. Spotlight brings relevant feeds to the operator’s attention and triggers real-time alerts to address threats before they escalate. Leverage integrated video and audio analytics to give an enhanced understanding of the camera feeds. Respond to loitering challenges, access anomalies, theft incidents, fires, and more. Identifying suspicious people Smart Search allows operators to search by appearance, events, objects, similarity, or image. Recovering lost or stolen objects, identifying suspicious people like unescorted visitors, investigating health incidents or damage to the property, performing cleaning crew inspections now take minutes instead of hours. Combine with access control to identify tailgating or fire or active shooter scenarios To gain occupancy insights, operators can leverage Ava Aware’s unique Map view with Smart Presence. By adding floor plans and maps of premises, people and vehicles appear as dots in their precise on-site locations. Operators can see live footage as they move on the cameras’ fields of view. Combine with access control to identify tailgating or fire or active shooter scenarios. Connect Ava Aware to the cloud to achieve easy and simple deployment and access from anywhere in the world. Share links of recorded video with team members, claim investigators, and law enforcement, regardless of whether they have admin access to Aware or not. Get a secure download of video files in a standard mp4 format with digital watermarking for authenticity. Key benefits delivered are as follows: Integrate with existing cameras Hundreds of hours saved in forensic searches Add access control to extend capabilities Video & metadata storage remain on-premises Full site survivability and local access Increase operational productivity and reduce facility costs Distribute heat and cooling efficiently, optimize cleaning and workplace productivity through hot-desking insights Use people flow insights to manage people and vehicle queues efficiently Automatically decrease storage demands from all the recordings Reduce bandwidth consumption on critical links with AI-based optimization Pay for what is needed, when it is needed, without the hassle of complicated licensing Up to 200 cameras per Ava appliance— small footprint support for larger facilities One-click Ava Dome and Ava 360 camera configuration Encrypted media at rest and in transit Automatic firmware updates Digital watermarking to prevent tampering Simple subscription model without hidden costs or analytics add-ons With a simple licensing model, Vaion always includes services and software upgrades. They no longer have to worry about integration charges, operator charges, API fees, or the complexity between small, medium, large, and enterprise services.

Retailers face complex challenges that range from loss prevention and maintaining a safe environment for both customers and staff to improving customer experience and operational productivity. Choose Ava Unified Security (formerly Vaion) to ensure security operators can tap into advanced analytics to detect and react to anomalies in real-time. Additionally, store managers can use Ava’s customer intelligence insights to increase profits and meet the customers’ needs. Leverage Ava’s machine learning anomaly detection to get alerts on people and vehicles loitering or cars present out of hours. Facilitating advanced analysis Get a clear understanding of activity at rear entrances, aisles, or end-caps by counting people who congregate in certain areas. Track cash register points to minimize thefts and identify return frauds. Authorized users can share links of recorded video securely with team members, claim investigators, and law enforcement. Monitor queues and the number of employees behind counters to ensure minimal waiting time Use counting of people and vehicles entering and exiting to analyze store performance, footfall, queues, and allocate more staff during busy periods. Download and share historical data of occupancy information with store managers to facilitate advanced analysis. Improve store safety by detecting verbal aggression, robberies, and vandalism, and empower security operators to act before incidents escalate. Track goods and control access as vehicles are entering your warehouses. Get notifications in real-time when trucks are approaching loading docks and prevent the damage of fleet and storage areas. Monitor queues and the number of employees behind counters to ensure minimal waiting time. Use Ava’s powerful search features to investigate across all stores, warehouses, and distribution centers and identify repeat offenders or suspects. Enhanced overview of operational insights Increase operational productivity and reduce store and warehouse costs Distribute air efficiently to match economics and customer comfort Use people flow insights to manage queues efficiently Understand the customers’ in-store activity and which are the least and most visited areas Enhanced customer experience Get insights on the customers’ in-store traffic patterns Instant notification when queues are detected to allocate staff according to the busiest business hours Find out which of the locations perform the best and why Saving storage and money Automatically decrease storage demands from all the recordings Reduce bandwidth consumption on critical links with AI-based optimization Pay for what is needed, when it is needed, without the hassle of complicated licensing Up to 200 cameras per Ava vserver appliance—small footprint support for larger facilities Simplicity and compliance One-click Ava vcam configuration Encrypted media at rest and in transit Automatic firmware updates Digital watermarking to prevent tampering Simple subscription model without hidden costs or analytics add-ons With a simple licensing model, Ava always includes services and software upgrades. One no longer has to worry about integration charges, operator charges, API fees, or the complexity between small, medium, large, and enterprise services.

JEWISH CARE has placed its trust in the latest access control, door entry and CCTV technology, to help create a safe and secure environment for residents living in Anita Dorfman House, a new 64-bed care home facility recently erected at its Sandringham care and community hub in Stanmore. Phase 1 of the project has seen the MEPH contractor Harvey Group, award a contract to South London system integrator WLS, to install a Paxton Net2 access control and door entry system with the objective of ensuring that JEWISH CARE has strict control as to who is able to enter the accommodation block or gain access to its sensitive areas. Home management control Paxton proximity card readers and door entry panels have been installed at the new care home’s 5 entrances which, together with 55 door entry handsets deployed throughout the building, allow JEWISH CARE reception and security personnel monitor all access control events. They are able to do so with the help of Paxton’s user-friendly Net2 software platform run on a desktop PC. WLS has also installed over 60 high definition 4-megapixel network dome cameras manufactured by Dahua at carefully chosen locations both within and around the building, to help detect intruders, as well as visually verify access control activity. In addition, automated barriers will shortly be installed at the site’s entrance. Linked to the CCTV system and triggered by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) analytics, the barriers help care home management control vehicle access to the site. Smooth implementation of the access control JEWISH CARE is the largest health and social care organization serving the Jewish community in London With over 70 centers and services touching the lives of 10,000 people every week, JEWISH CARE is the largest health and social care organization serving the Jewish community in London and the South East. “We go to great lengths to ensure our clients feel safe and this is particularly important as many of them have disabilities, mental health needs or live with dementia,” said Lindsay Long, Facilities Manager at JEWISH CARE. “Investing in the latest generation of access control, door entry and CCTV solutions was therefore considered to be an essential requirement and we have been delighted with how Harvey Group, WLS and the various manufacturers involved in the project, have worked closely together to ensure a smooth implementation of the access control, door entry and CCTV systems.” Stopping unwanted visitors “The combined solution is enabling us to deter and stop any unwanted visitors from entering the building, as well as track and record people as they move around the building, without causing any inconvenience or disruption to colleagues, clients and genuine visitors.” A second phase of the project which is due to be completed by the end of 2020, will see WLS expand the security systems to cover the care home’s new independent living and communal facilities. As was the case during phase 1, WLS has also been tasked to install a TRIAX satellite TV system throughout new facilities, to enable to clients watch British and Israeli TV.

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?” 

The ability to treat patients in a secure environment is a base requirement of hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Whether facilities are large or small, security challenges abound, including perimeter security, access control of sensitive areas, video surveillance, and even a long list of cyber-risks. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the security challenges of hospitals and the healthcare industry?

ISC West 2019 is in the industry’s rear-view mirror, and what a show it was! The busy three days in April offered a preview of exciting technologies and industry trends for the coming year. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What was the big news at ISC West 2019?