Video surveillance - Expert commentary

Thermal cameras provide images that reliably show the presence of people in any lighting situation FLIR Systems broke a historic threshold in thermal camera pricing when it announced a thermal camera for $499 at the ISC West show in April. Before that announcement, the lowest-price thermal camera was $2,000, which was itself much lower than the $10,000 price just a few years ago in 2005. The price decrease resulted from FLIR’s R&D efforts specifically aimed at loweri...

Pelco is making its big comeback with renewed vigor and new lines of surveillance products to set it apart from the rest Working to Regain Momentum in a Changing Market: Most observers agree that Pelco lost momentum in the video surveillance market after the acquisition by Schneider Electric in 2007. Hervé Fages, senior vice president of Schneider Electric's video business, is looking to regain that momentum, guiding the surveillance giant in new directions as the marke...

IP surveillance cameras used in conjunction with VMS systems offer the best level of security for schools Campus security is a top priority in schools throughout the country and the capabilities of IP video surveillance systems make them one of the most popular and effective security tools available. In this article, Gadi Piran, President, OnSSI defines scope and structure of IP video and its advantages in a number of ways including: superior image quality, ease of manipulatio...

In China and Russia ONVIF Profile S compliance is becoming mandatory for smaller systems The familiarity and widespread use of ONVIF interfaces in the market are evidence of the success of ONVIF, which was created in 2008 by three manufacturers, Axis, Sony and Bosch. More evidence of success is a growing number of new members and compliant products. All over the world, ONVIF is being embraced – in China and Russia, as examples, ONVIF Profile S compliance is becoming mand...

Genetec promotes “hybridisation”, a combination of on-premises components and cloud services The impact of the IT department on physical security has been a source of discussion for years. Generally, the influence of IT on purchasing and technology decisions related to physical security systems has been seen as increasing with no end in sight. One industry leader thinks otherwise. Pierre Racz, president, CEO and founder of Genetec, sees the clout of the IT departm...

PPVAR is working with police and sheriff's departments throughout the United States to drive new standards of video verified alarms In practice, 90 percent or more of burglar alarms are false, and studies have estimated the related arrest rate at about 0.02 percent. No wonder law enforcement responds as a low priority, if at all. In contrast, a video-verified security alarm provides the virtual equivalent of an eye-witness to a crime in progress, and responding to video alarms...

 H.265/HEVC coding format will bring major benefits to IP video cameras offering a new level of video quality at an economic price The emergence last year of a new format for High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) is poised to have a huge impact on IP video surveillance cameras over the next few years. Among the benefits of the new H.265/HEVC coding format over the legacy H.264/MPEG-4 is a 40 percent or more bit rate reduction at the same visual quality. Therefore, a camera...

Panoramic view megapixel cameras simplify and lower overall video surveillance cost High definition megapixel cameras can cover larger areas with fewer surveillance cameras while delivering superior detail and improving overall security operations. This translates into lower security infrastructure costs and improved overall return on investment (ROI), enabling users to deploy less expensive video surveillance systems with megapixel cameras while achieving better performance...

Project productivity improves when systems integrator and client personalities “integrate” Long-term business relationships can be a win-win proposition for integrators and customers alike. In this article, Jason Oakley, CEO of North American Video (NAV), explains that compared to simply transactional relationships that are typically short-term projects, long-term relationships generally provide better working relationships, increased satisfaction, reduced costs, a...

Video surveillance software now allows retailers to monitor a location from anywhere Video surveillance has a lot more applications in the retail sector than mere loss prevention.  It can serve as an important management tool to boost operations and business intelligence. In this article, Gadi Piran of OnSSI, describes how surveillance video can be effectively used by retailers to improve their operating efficiencies and save costs by combining remote monitoring with...

One alternative purpose for a 360-degree camera is the ability to provide a panoramic view in a wall-mounted orientation Changing security requirements have necessitated rapid advances in video surveillance technologies.  With the ability to retrospectively track incidents of security breaches, 360-degree cameras provide a much clearer perspective into such events. Here, Richard Pineau of Oncam explains the many facets of this technology and its impact on improv...

Thermal video analytics identify intruders despite background water movement or glare off the water There are more than 300 ports in the U.S. maritime system, representing a major point of vulnerability that could have potentially devastating effects on the US economy. Securing the nation's ports is essential, and port perimeter security is the first line of defense against disruption to global commerce. In this article, SightLogix CEO, John Romanowich, explains how therma...

IT networks are expanding to include more users and applications The use of corporate IT network infrastructure for physical security applications such as video surveillance presents unique challenges. Jack Fernandes, President & CEO of American Fibertek, makes a case for separate networks using specialized equipment and technologies specifically designed for video surveillance which could also integrate other physical security functions. In today’s business world, c...

As per DHS, Tier 1 facilities will go through a preliminary round of site inspections called pre-authorisation inspections (PAI) In October 2006, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007 became law in the US. Section 550 of the Act ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to “...issue interim final regulations establishing risk-based performance standards for security of chemical facilities and requiring security vulnerability assessments a...

Choosing between "bleeding edge" and leading edge technology is critical when deploying a security system The choice of the right security technology is one of the primary considerations for implementation or upgrade of a video surveillance system or other security system. Industry professionals making this critical decision often have to choose between a ‘bleeding edge’ technology, i.e. one that is in its infancy but offers great potential, and a leading edge prov...

An integrated security system needs to fulfill user's security objectives and needs To meet a user’s specific needs, a truly integrated security solution must include video surveillance and other security systems on a single platform. Although this is a high criteria for any system designer to meet, it is now becoming increasingly possible. Integration solutions require a commitment and expertise on the part of systems integrators as well as security product manufacturer...

Ambient lighting in hospitality environments pose major challenges for video surveillance Variable lighting conditions pose a persistent challenge in video surveillance applications such as large retail locations, banks and financial institutions, and hospitality environments.Challenges to lighting quality Typically, retail locations, banks and hospitality venues include an abundance of windows. The resulting excessive light can damage video image quality, by flooding the ima...

Innovative surveillance technology, relaxation in UK Data Protection Laws and shared resources are key to curb rural crimes The significant rise in crime in rural areas in recent times in the UK has led to growing calls from security and crime prevention experts for government to make it easier for communities and law enforcement to fight back. “In our areas, every farm within a 5 mile radius has had trespass, some kind of theft of property, plant or livestock in the las...

Networking is a powerful way to effectively converge and integrate security In an ever-changing world, business organizations require efficient security partners in order to focus their expansion towards growing economies. This physical expansion leads to a need for expanded and enhanced security programs to protect a growing network of people and facilities. In this article, Renae Leary, Senior Director, Global Accounts, at ADT Worldwide, provides an insight into cost-effecti...

Fiber optic technology offers the most efficient means of transmitting video in the digital environment In Part II of this article on the role of fiber optic transmission in network IP video surveillance systems Jack Fernandes, President and CEO of American Fibertek takes a deeper look at the critical needs of a reliable transmission system in the evolving age of digitalization. There is no doubt that fiber optics will play an even bigger role in modern security...

Fiber optic transmission has played a crucial role in the rise of IP video surveillance The advances in video surveillance technology have seen the increased adoption of network IP products over analog systems. A key constant to this shift has been the critical need for reliable transmission of video signal. As the transition to network IP video continues, the need for the widely used coaxial cable is wavering in favour of Cat-5/ UTP cable and high-speed Ethernet connections u...

 Selecting the optimum power supply for a system is critical to an installation  When it comes to selecting power supplies, knowledge is power. Determining the power requirements of every systems product, taking into account their integration with one another is critical to ensure that you are selecting and installing the power solutions most appropriate for your installation. Such information will enable you to select the power supplies that will be required to keep your security sys...

Video surveillance systems can be used in a variety of ways within the mining industry The development of specialized, integrated video security systems for specific environments has vastly increased the benefits they deliver to users. However, the mining industry has considerable scope for exploiting the more sophisticated functions provided by integrated systems with data mining techniques which have added significant value in other business environments. In this article Jan de Be...

  Migrate to a better system by adopting an all-IP video surveillance solution With declining prices for IP cameras and advancements in video compression technology such as the latest H.264 compression standard, IP video surveillance is increasingly becoming the preferred security solution. The convergence of voice, video and data in the world of surveillance has truly  arrived, a fact amply highlighted by the projected growth of the network video market to over $2.6...

Environmental implications are important considerations in surveillance system designs Rising energy costs are compelling many organizations to optimize their computing environments. In fact, energy costs have quickly become the fastest growing operating cost, propelling many corporations to embark on new conservation and "green" initiatives. Marc Holtenhoff, CEO of Aimetis, explores ways to reduce energy consumption within video surveillance applications, that could pave the...

Thermal surveillance cameras have numerous security benefits All network cameras have a basic physical limitation: they need light to work. Phil Doyle, Regional Director, Northern Europe at Axis Communications examines the key benefits of thermal imaging cameras in surveillance.  Some network cameras have night and day vision capability that allows them to operate in very poor lighting conditions, down to fractions of a lux. And of course, if natural light is not availab...

  Cutting costs on security investments puts small businesses at the risk of criminal activity During tough economic times, many small businesses can be found guilty of neglecting investment in their on-going security protection.  Naturally, this can prove to be problematic as the impact of break-ins and criminal activity greatly affect the accounts and day-to-day running of the business. Luke Martyn, SMB specialist at ADT Fire and Security provides practical, cost-ef...

High Definition technology - leading the way for new video security innovations With new technological developments and innovations constantly being made, consumers are able to enjoy the benefits of higher quality products. Better technology means better gadgets and appliances for entertainment such as televisions but more importantly, it also means better security.  Simon Nash, Senior European Marketing Manager, Video Security for Sony Professional presents the case for...

  Resolution quality must be considered when assessing surveillance effectiveness Surveillance cameras are becoming more and more commonplace, especially in busy metropolitan locales. Police and detectives hope to reduce crime rates by keeping a watchful eye on civilians but CCTV has only been helpful in solving a small percentage of crimes. Mike Lewis, Country Manager UK for CCTV manufacturer MOBOTIX AG, highlights key considerations for improving the efficiency of ex...

   XML, API and web server offer the ability for interoperability between proprietary software Today's facility executive wants to purchase systems and components from various manufacturers and have those components work together as one system. They want "open systems" that allow the manufacturers to offer new features and add value without locking the owner into a single vendor's proprietary protocols. In short, they want Interoperability.Hirsch Electronics...