Canon Europe Ltd - Experts & Thought Leaders

Axis Communications will be using its presence at Smart City Expo World Congress 2019 to showcase solutions in public safety, mobility and environmental monitoring. Alongside key partners, Axis will demonstrate several real-world examples in the three areas, regarded as key pillars in city liveability and desirability. Axis will be exhibiting in Pabellón 2, Stand B215 at the event, which takes place at Fira Barcelona Gran Via, November 19-21 2019. Real-world examples Andrea Sorri, Director, Business Development, Government, City Surveillance and Critical Infrastructures at Axis, commented: “Smart City Expo World Conference is a chance for global businesses working toward a smarter, safer future to come together and share ideas and insight on the key challenges faced by modern cities, and the solutions available to address these issues." Axis will be joined by partners to demonstrate how these three pillars can be addressed "This year we will focus on three key areas of paramount importance: public safety, mobility and environmental monitoring. These three factors can have a substantial effect of a city’s desirability, which in turn is linked to economic prosperity and growth.” Axis will be joined by partners to demonstrate how these three pillars can be addressed by exhibiting a range of solutions, along with live presentations throughout the event featuring real-world examples of how the solutions are already being used. Single command centre The use of a unified security, connected data and intelligence approach between public and private organisations can help make cities safer. For example, the City of Atlanta, Georgia’s Police Department has launched Operation Shield, a video integration initiative that pulls video resources from private and public entities into a single command centre. The City of New Orleans is also taking a similar approach, using smart sharing and integration of data – from cameras, licence plate readers and the 911 dispatch centre – to help the Police to more efficiently prevent, detect and investigate crime. Traffic management solutions Cities not only benefit from improved mobility, but also safer roads and happier commuters A city’s traffic massively impacts the environment, which in turn affects the perception of quality of life. Video-based traffic management solutions, such as smart traffic cameras, can analyse traffic patterns so authorities can optimise traffic flow in real-time and gather data that can be used as the basis of long-term improvements. By deploying such solutions, cities not only benefit from improved mobility, but also safer roads and happier commuters. Understanding the effect city initiatives have on the environment means authorities can ensure the well-being of their residents and the global impact they are having. Further, environmental monitoring can lead to better planning. Smart city technologies Using solutions such as smart cameras and sensors, authorities can gather data on their city’s environment for a range of applications, from detecting weather changes to predicting potential issues that could be caused by the storms, right through to air quality analysis to reduce pollution. Axis partners with a range of specialist companies to bring future smart city technologies to life. Axis will be joined by 12 partners so visitors can visit the booth to hear more about integrated solutions for safe cities, mobility and the environment. Unified security platform We are in a robust position to jointly lead cities towards a safer and smarter future" Christian Chenard-Lemire, Team Lead for Intelligent Transport Systems at one of the key Axis partners, Genetec Inc., explained why and how Genetec and Axis are working together to create smart, safe road solutions: “In order for citizens to benefit from a ‘Smart City’, it must also be a ‘Safe City’. For any urban environment, safety, security, and the flow of people and goods have always been a critical factor, driving the need for new, innovative technology.” “Through the open-architecture, unified security platform in Genetec™ Security Center and the full integration with Axis Communications sensors and cameras, we are in a robust position to jointly lead cities towards a safer and smarter future.” This year Eric Toffin, CEO of Citilog, and Axis company, will be speaking on ‘Intelligent Transport Systems: Towards Less Congested and Safer Cities’. Eric’s talk will take place on Wednesday, November 20 at 12:20-13:10. Other companies who can be found at the Axis booth are: Canon, BriefCam, Tenevia, WaterView, Siklu, Parquery, Libelium, ViNotion, 2N, Aximum, SAP and Signify.

nuPSYS—a pioneer in Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for physical security, infrastructure, and networks—is pleased to announce its 3D-Advanced Mapping integrated with the Milestone-Canon Video Management System as a plug-&-play 3D-plugin, which was shown live at Intersec 2019. nuSIM is a visual 3D-mapping solution that allows assets, cameras, sensors, alarms, partitions, and critical points to be accurately plotted onto a 3D mapping surface. This integration will enable operators to graphically view multilayer live video overlays within the Milestone-Canon VMS user interface. Key features include: 3D advanced mapping Integrated 3D view 3D representation of assets, cameras, sensors, & access control Generates a real-perspective view for operators – enhances efficiency manifold Interactive and dynamic operations Pragmatic 3D virtual presence Customisation dashboard per use case Dashboard provides simultaneous 3D view, streaming view and sensor view CONTEXT AWARE: immersed in the 3D physical environment SCALE: Single light pole (or single smart infrastructure) to a full smart city-scape SPEED: Real-time KPI IMPROVEMENTS: Enhanced efficiencies compared to maps and icons overlay nuPSYS' 3D-Advanced Mapping functionality provides system operators with a unique experience for viewing video and managing devices within the Milestone-Canon Video Management System. Operators can navigate to see cameras and sensors using a 3D model of the facility and grounds, providing a unique simple-to-deploy 3D-plugin for Milestone-Canon VMS.

Agent Video Intelligence (Agent Vi), a global provider of video analytics solutions, has announced the signing of a Value-Added Distributor (VAD) agreement with Canon Marketing Japan, the marketer and provider of Canon Inc. products and solutions in Japan. Canon Marketing Japan will operate as a VAD throughout Japan for Agent Vi’s savVi on-premise video analytics platform, which features real-time event detection, video search and business intelligence applications. Already representing other leading vendors in the Japanese market, Canon Marketing Japan will be able to offer a best-in-class solution by combining savVi video analytics, Axis Communications IP cameras, and the Milestone XProtect video management system (VMS). Agent Vi’s savVi video analytics platformEnd-users will benefit from automated video analysis tools to get the most out of their video" savVi allows users to achieve optimal value from their video surveillance networks by automating video analysis to detect and alert for events of interest, expedite search in recorded video and extract statistical data from the footage captured by surveillance cameras. Mr. Ariel Frischoff, VP Sales EMEA & APAC, Agent Vi, said, “It’s our honour to be working with an illustrious partner like Canon Marketing Japan. Adding Agent Vi’s comprehensive video analytics capabilities to their current offering will allow Canon Marketing Japan to promote an end-to-end solution that suits a wide range of vertical markets. End-users will benefit from automated video analysis tools that really leverage the surveillance system to get the most out of their video.” “Canon Marketing Japan is excited about establishing a partnership with Agent Vi, which is a leading global provider of video analysis solutions, and about adding savVi to our portfolio,” said Koichi Mikami, Vice President and Group Executive for Visual Solutions Headquarters for Canon Marketing Japan. “We believe savVi can be offered to various industries and meet various customers’ needs. Having such a comprehensive portfolio of video analysis capabilities enables us to provide more innovative solutions to end-users.”

A bright, high quality lens, a responsive high sensitivity sensor and great imageprocessing produce a good low light performance  If you’ve been to any surveillance trade show, or picked up an industry magazine in the past few years, you will have noticed that almost every camera manufacturer seems to be talking about low light. Some have specific, dedicated low light products with named technologies, while others claim low light capabilities across their whole product range. Either way, camera performance in low light is a focus for all manufacturers, including Canon. The challenges with low light technology In the days of analogue cameras, there was a clear and understood method for judging low light performance but in the move to IP, something appears to have got lost in translation. Now, two cameras may be specified to offer colour images at 0.5 lux at 50 IRE, but the images produced may be very different. As a result, there is confusion amongst installers and end users who are directly comparing camera performance on specification alone. At the same time, customers seem to be expecting a camera that can deliver exceptional low light performance and high resolution. It’s only when it comes to trying out their preferred solution in situ that they realise that it’s not possible to maximise these two capabilities in one camera. Because of this confusion customers are losing trust in the market. But there is a simple fix. Installers and customers need to test products in their actual installation environment to find the best fit. Many manufacturers offer loan schemes where customers can test a camera before making a final decision to check that it is the best possible solution for them. We believe this is an absolute must. Uses for low light cameras One example of a low light installation is the British Library. Due to the building’s architecture, the museum needed an effective monitoring system that would work in a low light environment. By selecting the Canon VB-H610D, the security team is able to capture an image and zoom in up to four times whilst still maintaining image detail. The Smart Shade Control (SSC) function helps to optimise exposure, improving highlights and correcting dark areas in backlit scenes. It also converts hard-to-see silhouettes into clearly identifiable objects. The Library’s Magna Carta exhibition in particular benefits from Canon’s low light performance. As one of the most famous documents in the world, it has to be kept in an environment with carefully controlled lighting due to its age and fragility. This is a common problem with older texts and artefacts, making low light capabilities essential in museum and library environments for protecting valuable assets. Due to the carefully controlled lighting of the Magna Carta exhibition in theBritish Library, low light performance cameras were a must The technology behind great low light performance Great low light performance comes from a combination of using a bright, high quality lens, a responsive high sensitivity sensor and great image processing. Nevertheless whilst many companies may promote their image processing it really is almost impossible to have good low light performance without first having a good lens. A lens with a wide aperture lets more light into the camera and on to the sensor. Cameras also need to use high quality lenses that use ultra-low dispersion (UD) glass. UD marks a huge step forward in lens technology, as it reduces colour flaws, minimises blurring at the edge of images and compensates for any astigmatism in the lens. The sensors used are also important. Each sensor is made up of individual pixels, and for the best response or sensitivity, as much light as possible is needed to hit each pixel. Clearly the bigger the pixel the better the low-light performance of the sensor and hence the camera. However, the physical size of the sensor needs to be considered in the design and cost of the product, so in general a sensor with bigger pixels is a sensor with lower resolution. The future of low and difficult light imaging High quality lenses and developments in UD technology are already pushing low light development forward, but there’s still room for improvement. Sensor sensitivities will increase which will take low light performance to new levels – and we will see the high-resolution products of tomorrow delivering the low light performance we see from lower resolution cameras today. At Canon we’re also working on delivering low light performance which is more “useable”. In zoom lenses, low light performance changes as the lens zooms in on an object, moving from its wide-angle to its telephoto position. Canon has recently announced that it is developing a high-sensitivity network camera equipped with a fast high-magnification lens, capable of long-range image capture in ultra-low light conditions. While on paper the specifications will remain very similar to other models, the performance will be 8x as bright at distance. The most important thing for installers and customers to remember is always to test to find the best solution. Specifications alone will not define the best network camera when it comes to low light performance. Technology in this area will continue to progress in leaps and bounds and I’m excited to see how low light performance will develop across the industry.

For the second year in a row, Canon made the biggest M&A move in the security marketplace in 2015. How could Canon top the industry shockwaves it created in 2014 when the Japanese giant acquired VMS company Milestone Systems? That’s easy: They bought Axis Communications for $2.8 billion in 2015.   Although the Canon-Axis deal grabbed the most headlines and was easily the most shocking M&A announcement of 2015, it was certainly not the only big news on the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) front. Consolidation seemed to be breaking out all over, although the announcements were generally positioned as “strategic” rather than in response to market forces. Here’s a look at the Top 10 M&A stories in 2015, as covered by SourceSecurity.com: 1. Canon buys Axis Canon Inc. made a public offer to the shareholders of Axis Communications to transfer all of their shares in Axis to Canon. The total value of the offer was approximately $2.8 billion – Canon’s biggest acquisition to date. The move was further evidence of Canon’s confidence in the video surveillance market – and its intent to be a big player in the market. 2. Phybridge buys NVT Phybridge made its mark in the communications industry as a manufacturer of long-reach transmission technology. Looking to target the security industry as a lucrative new market for that technology, Phybridge agreed to purchase NVT, a well-known supplier of IP and PoE transmission. Phybridge is looking to leverage NVT’s position and reputation in the security market to boost its sales of long-reach PoE and Ethernet over new or legacy coax and UTP cable. 3. 3xLOGIC buys infinias Cloud-based integrated security solutions provider 3xLOGIC saw how well its products fit with those of infinias and announced acquisition of the cloud access control company. Adding access control is a natural extension of 3xLOGIC’s video products, including the VIGIL VMS and business intelligence, data management and cloud-based services. Access control was the “missing piece” in their overall product offering. FLIR Systems and DVTEL were late additions to our Top 10 M&As, with a $92 million acquisition in late November 2015  4. ASSA ABLOY acquires Quantum Secure ASSA ABLOY has made hundreds of acquisitions since 1994, and continued the pattern this year. Given ASSA ABLOY business unit HID Global’s focus on identity, it makes perfect sense they would acquire Quantum Secure, whose SAFE software suite is a robust, policy-driven application to will help enterprise customers achieve their identity management goals. The SAFE software suite allows organisations to manage identities across multiple sites for employees, visitors, vendors, and contractors. 5. OnSSI acquires SeeTec AG Video management software (VMS) company On-Net Surveillance Systems, Inc. (OnSSI) announced a definitive agreement to acquire SeeTec AG, a privately held German-based company providing VMS solutions to European markets. As one of the first providers of network-based video management applications, SeeTec provides offers targeted solutions aligned with customer requirements and industry-specific processes. Among other factors, the acquisition supplies OnSSI a new software recorder and ended their longtime OEM agreement with Milestone. 6. NICE Systems sells Physical Security unit (now Qognify) NICE Systems entered into an agreement to sell its Physical Security business unit to Battery Ventures, a technology investment firm. NICE’s Physical Security business unit provides video surveillance technologies and capabilities to help organisations be more security-aware. The NICE security business later announced its new name – Qognify. 7. Entrepreneur Dean Drako acquires Brivo Brivo announced that the cloud-based access control company had been wholly acquired by Dean Drako, entrepreneur, president and CEO of Eagle Eye Networks. With this acquisition, Drako pledged to apply the strategy and execution processes he used at his other successful companies, including Barracuda Networks, to leverage Brivo’s technology lead and growth trajectory. Combining Brivo’s cloud access control with Drako’s cloud video surveillance company Eagle Eye Networks seems to make a lot of sense. Consolidation was a recurring theme of 2015, and seems to be poised to continue in 2016  8. Panasonic buys Video Insight Panasonic Corporation of North America entered into an agreement to acquire all shares of Houston, Texas-based Video Insight, Inc., a developer of video management software, as part of its strategy to expand business opportunities for both companies in the education market in North America. Founded in 2002, Video Insight provides enterprise-class video management solutions for security systems to over 25,000 customers in the financial, government, retail and transportation sectors as well as 6,500 K-12 school and college customers. 9. Securitas buys Diebold Security business Consolidation extended to the integrator market, too, as evidenced by this large deal. Securitas agreed to acquire the commercial contracts and operational assets of Diebold Incorporated’s Electronic Security business in North America, and will operate as Securitas Electronic Security Inc. Diebold´s North American Electronic Security business, based in Green, Ohio, USA, is the third largest commercial electronic security provider in North America. 10. FLIR acquires DVTEL Late in 2015, FLIR Systems, Inc., announced that it had acquired DVTEL, Inc., specialising in software and hardware technologies for advanced video surveillance, for approximately $92 million in cash. DVTEL develops and distributes integrated video management system (VMS) software, advanced video analytics software, visible and thermal security cameras, and related servers and encoders. The combination enables FLIR to be a full-spectrum end-to-end security system provider, serving the consumer, small and medium business, enterprise, and infrastructure-level markets.   See the full coverage of 2015/2016 Review and Forecast articles here

Physical and cyber security convergence, perimeter intrusion detection systems and fibre optic-based sensors were some of the security trends that picked up pace in 2015 and will continue to grow in the coming year as well. The beginning of 2015 started out slowly as the implementation of security projects by a number of organisations was postponed for various reasons. Mid-year picked up momentum, and the year is ending on a strong note. A significant trend was the gradual progression of convergence of physical and cyber security. I believe this is an area where technology is ahead of the market. No doubt it is only a matter of time before holistic security strategies will be more fully embraced, as the risk and actual incidents of cyber attacks increase. The market is now starting to require that penetration tests be conducted on perimeter intrusion detection systems. The video market continued on solid growth, while M&A activities such as Canon’s acquisition of Axis and Milestone and the formation of Qognify, formerly NICE Systems, signify continuing consolidation in this space. Drone detection systems – a rising need Drones continue to be an emerging security risk. Fortune magazine recently stated that as many as one million drones will be sold this holiday season in the USA. This presents a new form of security threat that organisations are challenged to mitigate, as most traditional security systems do not provide an adequate defence. Forward-looking trends Looking forward to 2016, many trends from 2015 will continue; namely the convergence of physical and cyber security as well as the growth and consolidation of the video/intelligent video analytics (IVA) market. The rising drone threat will bolster development of low-cost radar and other solutions. However, the industry will still need to resolve the issue of safe and effective interception. Specific to perimeter intrusion detection, the demand for fibre optic-based sensors will increase as a growing number of specifiers perceive them as the preferred method for securing long perimeters. The oil and gas industry will be using more fibre optic technology for pipeline security and leak detection.  Perimeter security sensors Senstar is well-positioned to address the paradigm of precise location of intrusions and events, not only in perimeter protection, but also life safety applications and illicit use of mobile devices, such as in correctional facilities. I’m optimistic about 2016 as we continue to lead the market in introducing new security innovations. See the full coverage of 2015/2016 Review and Forecast articles here