Construction security systems
BSRIA, the research and information membership body for the built environment, has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer, Lisa Ashworth, who is tasked with furthering BSRIA's impressive growth ambitions. Lisa Ashworth Ashworth joins BSRIA with a wealth of experience in pioneering technology-based data and information businesses. With an illustrious career marked by her tenure at organisations such as the Financial Times, PR Newswire, Frost and Sullivan, and Reevoo/Feefo, Ashworth brings a su...
For K12 education pioneers, embarking on a journey to upgrade security controls can present a myriad of questions about finding the best-fit solutions and overcoming funding hurdles. A majority of public-school districts today are faced with outdated infrastructure and security controls, requiring necessary upgrades. By addressing these concerns head on, schools will ensure a safer environment for both students and staff, mitigating risks posed by unforeseen physical and digital threats. Common...
Kidde Commercial, an industry renowned company in fire and life safety for over a century, announces the launch of the Optica Duct Smoke Detector, which features a revolutionary new design, specifically created to address unique HVAC System smoke detection challenges, while reducing nuisance alarms. Optica’s new Duct Smoke Detector design is built to address the moisture and dust challenges found in the HVAC environment, and provide best-in-class detection that customers can trust. Optic...
Tamworth-based trade association, the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF), has announced that from 1st April 2024, it will be subsidising ABBE Accreditation fees for all courses, with Level 2 Awards costing £40 instead of £50, and Level 4 Awards costing £50, reduced from £60. As the Building Safety Act comes into effect, and the demand for a skilled workforce increases, individuals will be required to prove that they are competent to do their job on-site. DHF is urgin...
Mayflex, the distributor of Converged IP Solutions, has appointed Francesco Bellavia in the role of Director of Sales for Security. Francesco (or Frankie as he prefers to be called) brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in the distribution of security products having worked for several distributors in his career, more recently as the Divisional Director for Nimans in the South. Mayflex leadership team Frankie has a charismatic personality, has lots of good ideas and the drive a...
Genetec Inc., a pioneering technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, announced the opening of a state-of-the-art experience centre in the UAE and the relocation of its Dubai office to accommodate continuous growth in the region. Named DBXC, the new experience centre and office is strategically located at One Central in the Dubai World Trade Centre and features innovative solutions from Genetec and its large ecosystem of industry-pio...
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Port Glasgow-based site security firm Safer Scotland has secured its first international partnership deal amid substantial business growth and rebranded as Safer Group. Founded in 2016 by Greenock entrepreneur Ryan Clark, the business specialises in protecting construction sites, infrastructure, and assets with its high-tech intruder detection system, known as Safer Pod. Safer Pod S1 intruder detection system The business has grown strongly since its inception roughly doubling in size every 18 months. It has recorded its best year to date, which saw annual turnover soar from £5m to £12m and staff headcount exceed 60. “Our growth over the past year has been largely due to the launch of our Safer Pod S1 intruder detection system,” said CEO Ryan Clark. “We’ve built and deployed 1000 units in the past 12 months. In all my years working in security, I’ve never known a product to be adopted so quickly." International partnership Our first international partnership, with VPS Group, will bring our pods to new markets in France, Germany, and Spain" “This success led us directly to our first international partnership, with VPS Group, which will bring our pods to new markets in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, and the Netherlands, as well as the rest of the UK." “In addition, our framework deal with infrastructure group Balfour Beatty agreed in June 2022, has also contributed to this year’s achievements.” Additional property The company’s rapid growth trajectory has seen it outgrow its current HQ at Kelburn Business Park, Port Glasgow, and its sales and marketing office in Paisley. Clark recently doubled the firm’s footprint by signing a lease on a second 6,000 sq ft unit at the Inverclyde industrial estate. “This additional property will become a home for our support staff, allowing our current unit to become a dedicated research and testing facility for our new products,” he explained. “As the team grows further, I hope to be able to recruit locally wherever possible to give the Inverclyde jobs market a boost.” Improving opportunities for local people Clark has further ambitions for the company, which prompted the rebrand to Safer Group A Greenock resident, Clark is passionate about improving opportunities for local people and sponsors several young sportspeople and clubs, including MMA fighter Reece McEwan, Greenock Boxing Club, Greenock Juniors FC, and the local Jiu-Jitzu club. Clark has further ambitions for the company, which prompted the rebrand to Safer Group. “When we started seven years ago as a small security equipment hire business, ‘Safer Scotland’ reflected our local emphasis,” he explained. Next goal “But as we branch out into new markets across the UK and internationally via our new partnership with VPS Group, it is time to change our focus." “Our next goal is to partner with more organisations internationally and keep growing, the USA would be the dream market for us to crack next.”
OPTEX, the pioneering sensor manufacturer, has launched FlipX Professional, a new range of grade 2 indoor sensors, which, in a single sensor, can provide highly accurate and reliable detection for both large spaces and narrow spaces, making it the ideal solution for commercial and professional sites. The latest addition to the FlipX series, the new FlipX Professional protects narrow corridors or long areas, such as supermarket aisles up to 24 m, or wide, open areas like classrooms, retail stores and open plan offices up to 15 m at 85°. By simply ‘flipping’ the lens through 180°, the sensors can be utilised to provide both narrow and wide detection in the same unit, delivering enhanced flexibility for installer and end-user alike. FlipX Professional sensors To detect intruders accurately, the bespoke pyro-electric sensors have a human-catch element, which improves the device’s detection performance because the sensor adapts to the human shape. Also, the specially designed spherical lens (a common feature of all models in the FlipX Series) provides consistency across the whole detection field, eliminating weak points for potential intruders to exploit. FlipX Professional sensors have double conductive shielding to prevent nuisance alarms caused by strong lighting and Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). Author's quote Flipped’ lens is a time-saving and cost-effective solution that provides two sensors in one to provide" Masaya Kida, Managing Director for OPTEX EMEA, says the new FlipX Professional sensors offer the ultimate flexibility: “High street retail outlets, offices and schools can now have a more accurate intruder-detection capability, giving them greater peace of mind that any intrusion will be accurately detected and false alarms will not disrupt their customers, employees, or students.” “For the installer, the ‘flipped’ lens is a time-saving and cost-effective solution that provides two sensors in one to provide both wide and narrow detection within any environments, and the large detection range makes it suitable for a wide range of applications." Range of FlipX Professional FlipX Professional range is available in two models: FLX-P-ST (PIR only) and FLX-P-DT (dual-technology with PIR and microwave). They are sleek and compact in design, enabling them to blend seamlessly into the aesthetics of commercial and professional environments. The sensors can be installed at 2-3 m heights, so they are ‘hidden’ from view in office buildings or lecture theatres with high ceilings and are kept safe from vandalism. Installation has been made easy thanks to an end-of-line (EOL) resistor socket and the support of a redesigned LED indicator. Following the launch of the FlipX Standard (grade 2) and FlipX Advanced (grade 3) models, the FlipX Professional is the last model in the indoor series.
RGB Spectrum®, an industry pioneer in mission-critical video for real-time decision support, shares new features of its QuadView® IPX and SuperView® IPX multiviewers designed to revolutionise how industries handle data visualisation and decision-making. Multiviewers have become indispensable tools for consolidating diverse data sources onto a single screen, variously used for enhancing situational awareness and improving workflow efficiency. RGB Spectrum's latest offerings increase flexibility by addressing both local and remote video sources, by their ability to access both local HDMI and remote IP signals. QuadView IPX and SuperView IPX The SuperView IPX offers similar capabilities, enabling users to display up to seven video signals The QuadView IPX is a high-performance 4K multiviewer that allows users to display up to four video signals in customisable layouts on a single screen, aka “single pane of glass.” The SuperView IPX offers similar capabilities, enabling users to display up to seven video signals on a single screen. It shares all the advanced features of the QuadView IPX, making it ideal for demanding mission-critical applications. Key features Their key features include: 4K 60 Hz input and output resolutions Flexible image resizing and placement options Customisable display layouts and presets Four HDMI 2.0 I/O ports H.264 and H.265 decoding and display capabilities Embedded architecture for heightened security Multiple control options, including browser-based GUI, Telnet, and RS-232 TAA and BAA compliance HDMI and LAN/WAN connections The QuadView IPX and SuperView IPX provide users the flexibility to mix and match input resolutions The QuadView IPX and SuperView IPX provide users the flexibility to mix and match input resolutions, scale any input up to 4K resolution, and route any input to any window in customisable layouts. This unparalleled flexibility makes them perfect for 24/7 operations where reliability, security, and ruggedness are paramount. The new multiviewers are unique in their ability to display a combination of local baseband and remote IP video, with access over HDMI and LAN/WAN connections. Data visualisation RGB Spectrum manufactures these multiviewers in the USA, ensuring the highest quality and performance standards. Whether in command and control, security and surveillance, or any mission-critical operation, the QuadView IPX and SuperView IPX are poised to take data visualisation to the next level.
The cooperation between MOBOTIX AG and Kepler Vision Technologies has brought together two of the world's pioneering IT experts in the healthcare industry. Dutch computer vision and machine learning powerhouse Kepler Vision Technologies combines deep healthcare and nursing-specific expertise with profound artificial intelligence (AI)-based in human activity recognition know-how. MOBOTIX has focused on the healthcare industry for many years and has already implemented numerous projects for hospitals, retirement, and nursing homes. In this context, the optical sensors from MOBOTIX and the solutions developed with them benefit above all from their outstanding data protection and cyber security properties. These competencies are indispensable in the highly personality-sensitive area of healthcare. The two companies launch their first joint solution on the market before the end of this year. Author's quote That is the sick person being cared for, the patient’s family, and the caregivers who urgently need relief "MOBOTIX healthcare solutions focus on people. MOBOTIX promotes recovery, and well-being with its video technology. This led MOBOTIX to be the market pioneer in health care sensors," said Harro Stokman, CEO of Kepler Vision Technologies, during his visit to the MOBOTIX headquarters in Langmeil. "This is what convinced us of the cooperation because to have economic success in healthcare, people must benefit. That is the sick person being cared for, the patient’s family, and the caregivers who urgently need relief. Last but not least, the operators of the facility must benefit from the solution-in terms of personnel, finances, and time," explains Stokman. Combination of Kepler's AI "With Kepler Vision Technologies, we have found a partner that shares our values in the sensitive area of healthcare," added Christian Cabirol, CTO of MOBOTIX AG. Combination of Kepler's AI expertise in the nursing and care sector and our data- and cyber-secure "Today, we were once again able to convince ourselves that our joint solution-the combination of Kepler's AI expertise in the nursing and care sector and our data- and cyber-secure, qualitatively and technologically pioneering hardware and software-will be an enormous asset for the nursing and care market," Cabirol is convinced. Future joint solutions For the joint solution to be launched this year, Stokman and Cabirol have been discussing final technical details with their teams and finalising the launch. There are already ideas for expanding the cooperation in the interest of both companies, but above all, for the people to be cared for, the caregivers and the operators of the facilities, who MOBOTIX and Kepler assure that they will be able to benefit from this and future joint solutions in terms of care quality, time and financial expenditure.
Freevolt Technologies Limited a London, UK-based developer of biometric smart card products for access control, cryptocurrency wallets, payments and healthcare, has launched the second generation of its flagship access control card, S-Key. The new battery-less biometric access card featuring Freevolt’s patented energy harvesting technology has been upgraded to embed Fingerprints’ world-pioneering ‘T2’ biometric sensors. S-Key biometric cards are bringing stronger authentication to access control, offering new levels of security, convenience, and reduced environmental impact on the road to eliminating PINs and passwords. Collaboration with Freevolt Technologies S-key card featuring the FPC 1323 sensor enriches security while also improving comfort “The world has changed and approaches to security must also evolve. With our collaboration with Freevolt Technologies, we are proud to see that Freevolt have combined their highly efficient power harvesting innovations with Fingerprints’ FPC 1323 sensor providing ultra-low power consumption, to create a world-pioneering battery-less biometric smart access card." "The S-key card featuring the FPC 1323 sensor enhances security while also enhancing convenience and reducing environmental impact, targeting the physical access market of several hundred million smart cards per year, it’s a logical and exciting evolution in organisational and personal security,” Michel Roig, President of Payment and Access, Fingerprints. Sensor module features Fingerprints’ ‘T2’ sensors, known as FPC 1323, deliver increased image quality and processing speed as well as improved power efficiency for biometric smart cards. S-Key featuring the FPC 1323 sensor makes the end user journey frictionless and personalised To further fortify the security of the card, the sensor module features advanced encryption and additional privacy layers for the storage and communication of biometric data. S-Key featuring the FPC 1323 sensor makes the end user journey frictionless and personalised by the touch of a fingertip to access desired areas reliably, hygienically and securely, while still being convenient and easy to use. Author's quote “We are delighted by the performance of our new S-Key biometric access card featuring a state-of-the-art T2 biometric fingerprint sensor from Fingerprints. S-Key works seamlessly, providing advanced biometric security when used with a wide range of access control readers and without the hassle, cost and environmental damage of batteries." "Fingerprints have been excellent in supporting the development of S-Key and we are excited about the commercial potential of S-Key and the further innovations that we have in the pipeline, leveraging the excellent performance, security and energy efficiency of the latest FPC 1323 sensor,” Gonzalo de Gisbert, Head of Product & Business Development, Freevolt Technologies. Both Fingerprints and Freevolt Technologies will be exhibiting the latest S-Key card featuring the FPC 1323 sensor at SecTech 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden on the 24-25 October.
From 10 to 13 October, the global airport community will gather for the 24th edition of inter airport Europe at the Munich Trade Fair Centre in Germany. The event returns with an impressive line-up of well over 400 airport suppliers from 37 countries, including seven national pavilions and more than 100 new exhibitors. Live exhibits Visitors can look forward to plenty of live exhibits in the halls and Outdoor Area and a new 600 square metre GSE Experience Area. An exciting event programme including Technical Seminars, Innovation Awards, and the co-located inter airport FOCUS, The Sustainability Summit provides interesting opportunities to further engage with new technologies and suppliers, all dedicated to improving airport performance while delivering a return on investment. New economic importance inter airport Europe has developed into the most senior gathering of global airport operators, airlines, CAAs, service suppliers The Munich Trade Fair Centre will once again turn into the world’s biggest hub for exploring and sourcing new technology, equipment, and services for better airports. Over nearly 50 years, inter airport Europe has developed into the most senior gathering of global airport operators, airlines, CAAs, service suppliers, investors, and other experts in this sector. The upcoming event marks another milestone for the airport industry which is currently rising to new economic importance with a multitude of opportunities and challenges. Airport professionals Airport professionals from more than 100 countries have already registered as visitors, including key representatives from AENA, Air France, Deutsche Lufthansa, Fraport AG, Heathrow Airport, İGA Istanbul Airport, Oman Airports, Shell Aviation, WISAG, and many more. Over four exhibition days, they can explore an excellent cross-section of technologies and services for the entire airport supply chain, including airside operations, terminal management, passenger services, baggage handling, safety and security, airport IT, air traffic control, airport maintenance, and environmental management. Insights into technology innovations Networking and knowledge platform on how to develop, embed, and integrate sustainability strategies An impressive programme of accompanying events offers additional insights into technology innovations about wider market trends. These include Technical Seminars, Innovation Insight Sessions, the prestigious Innovation Awards, and the co-located inter airport FOCUS Sustainability Summit, a two-day, high-profile networking and knowledge platform on how to develop, embed, and integrate sustainability strategies into every aspect of airport life. Roadmap to airport operations “Co-locating exhibition and summit is an exciting opportunity for us to provide more value to the global airport community. Both events naturally complement each other, providing attendees with a great roadmap to future-proof their airport operations,” says Olaf Freier, Portfolio Director Transport of inter airport Europe, on behalf of show organiser RX. “The co-location offers new and encouraging perspectives that will help pave the way for innovation, resilience, and sustainability at future airports.” inter airport Europe at a glance: Indoor and outdoor stands with live equipment Over 30% of exhibitors are newcomers on the inter airport show floor, forming an impressive line-up A large show floor in halls B5, and B6, and the adjacent outdoor area invite visitors to discover more than 400 suppliers who deliver advanced airport equipment, technology, and services across the globe. The top five exhibitor countries are Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands, with 37 countries represented in total. Over 30% of exhibitors are newcomers on the inter airport show floor, forming an impressive line-up of well-known international brands alongside promising startups and scaleups. A new 600 square metre GSE Experience Area, sponsored by Weihai Guangtai Airport Equipment, will offer visitors the opportunity to see the latest equipment for aprons and runways live and in action. National Pavilions and First-time Exhibitors Several National Pavilions will feature this year – Italy, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Finland, and newcomer Spain, all showcasing some of their countries’ finest tech companies and products. Long-term show partner GATE (The Airport Technology Network) will be hosting a number of its members at their dedicated GATE Pavilion again. In addition, there will be two First-time Exhibitor pavilions specifically dedicated to companies new to inter airport Europe. Opening and Innovations Awards Ceremony The spotlight on best practices, technologies, and partnerships that drive innovation and excellence The inter airport Europe Innovation Awards celebrate the achievements of the many inventors and technical pioneers within the exhibitor community, putting the spotlight on best practices, technologies, and partnerships that drive innovation and excellence for better airports. The winners will be announced at the Opening and Innovation Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, 10th October, 11:00 - 12:00, at the Seminar Theatre in Hall B5. Welcoming presentations include speeches from Nicola Hamann, Managing Director at RX, Kay Bärenfänger, President at GATE Alliance, and Jost Lammers, CEO at Munich Airport. Seminar Programme: Three days of expert talks The free-to-attend inter airport Europe Seminar features a selection of technical talks on pioneering solutions and approaches to pressing airport issues, including the Innovation Insight Sessions featuring participants of the Innovation Awards. The 15-to-30-minute sessions will touch on key aspects of the passenger experience and passenger journey, baggage handling, security systems, as well as ramp and terminal management. The technical seminars will run between 10 - 12 October at the Seminar Theatre in Hall B5, stand B5-1580. Visit the show website for the full seminar agenda. inter airport FOCUS – The Sustainability Summit The Sustainability Summit offers two days of top-tier education, networking, and collaboration opportunities The co-located inter airport FOCUS – The Sustainability Summit offers two days of top-tier education, networking, and collaboration opportunities for aviation stakeholders looking to develop, discuss, or initiate sustainability measures required to reach their net zero commitments, including sustainable airport operations, net-zero infrastructure, and new mobility concepts. inter airport FOCUS takes place on 11 and 12 October at the Press Centre East Entrance (Rooms 1A, 1B, 2). The Summit tickets can be purchased online or on-site and also include free entry to the inter airport Europe exhibition and seminars. For the full summit programme, please visit inter airport FOCUS. Visitor tools, Matchmaking Visitors are invited to use the Exhibitor List Tool and Online Show Preview to search for products and companies that are of particular interest to them. Once registered, visitors have access to the inter airport Europe Matchmaking Platform, allowing them to send or receive meeting invitations based on their business requirements. Meetings can be arranged at the exhibitor’s stand or in the dedicated meeting lounge in Hall B6, stand B6-590. Hosted Buyer Programme The Hosted Buyer Programme offers a tailored networking experience with industry pioneers The Hosted Buyer Programme offers a tailored networking experience with industry pioneers from airfield construction, ground handling, ground support equipment, interior design, hardware and software solutions, terminal infrastructure, and operations in the 2023 group. It focuses on growing markets and emerging regions, with buyers from UAE, India, Kenya, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Ghana, and it is an excellent opportunity to open up new markets for exhibitors. Venue, tickets, and opening times inter airport Europe 2023, the 24th International Exhibition for Airport Equipment, Technology, Design, and Services, takes place in halls B5, B6, and the adjacent outdoor area at the Munich Trade Fair Centre in Germany. Access to the exhibition halls is via Entrance East. Please visit the Online Travel Hub for further information on transport, accommodation, and visa. Show opening hours are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (10 to 12 October), and from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Friday (13 October). Visitors can register via the Online Ticket Shop and benefit from a reduced price when purchasing their ticket in advance. Day tickets cost €42 online or €52 on-site; season tickets cost €62 online or €72 on-site.
Expert commentary
The average business owner or investor has some kind of security precaution in place, especially in the after-hours when there are fewer deterrents to inhibit criminal activity. Security guards, video surveillance systems, motion sensor lights, or even just fake cameras placed around the property are some of the common options people choose. Future of overnight security Smart business owners are starting to realise, however, that some of these traditional security measures are becoming antiquated and no longer cutting. The now and future of overnight security is in remote guarding. Pioneered by companies like Los Angeles-based Elite Interactive Solutions, which was founded back in 2007, remote guarding is revolutionising the overnight security business. Minimising criminal activity Remote guarding is fast becoming the most popular choice among commercial end-user property owners Remote guarding utilises a combination of cutting-edge technology, “digital guards,” highly trained security agents, and local law enforcement if and when necessary to minimise the potential of criminal activity. For those adequately enlightened to its overwhelmingly impressive crime prevention capabilities, remote guarding is fast becoming the most popular choice among commercial end-user property owners to secure and protect their investments. What Is remote guarding? Remote guarding is a revolutionary concept and increasing trend in security systems that utilises a combination of methods to effectively analyse potential threats to property. Cameras and/or other monitoring devices running highly advanced algorithmic software are installed in strategic areas or vulnerable places onsite and remotely located security agents are immediately notified of any activity within a designated perimeter of the property. A blend of AI, cybersecurity, and video analytics When properly deployed by an expert provider, the technology stack includes a proprietary blend of video analytics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more. Done right, “noise” is effectively filtered out, allowing agents to act on legitimate alerts and achieve zero false alarms communicated to first responders. Today, there are a lot of terms and descriptions tossed around about remote guarding, remote video, virtual guarding, etc., but those attributes must be present to represent the true definition of the offering and its many virtues. Realtime situational awareness Many systems have a two-way speaker that allows the security agent to give a verbal warning When specially trained security agents are alerted to trespassers, possible intruders, or other suspicious activity, they analyse the situation in real-time and determine the necessary level of action. Many systems have a two-way speaker that allows the security agent to give a verbal warning, known as a voice-down, to the individual(s) that they are being watched. Most perpetrators, often believing the response is emanating directly from security personnel on the property itself rather than from a remote command centre, flee immediately. However, if the threat persists, the security agent enlists local law enforcement to get on the scene. Customised remote guarding When properly deployed, remote guarding systems are also customised to specific properties. A team of consultants visits the client’s property to evaluate its vulnerabilities and where to best place cameras and/or other monitoring devices for system efficacy. Traditional security shortfalls According to Keith Bushey, a retired commander for the Los Angeles Police Department, there is much frustration between law enforcement officers and potential victims of crime due to the historically unreliable performance of traditional burglar alarm systems and central monitoring stations. He states about 90% of security-related calls are false alarms, a problem that has been well-documented through the years. Onsite challenges When a legitimate emergency does occur, the perpetrators have often already done their damage When a legitimate emergency does occur, the perpetrators have often already done their damage and/or escaped by the time law enforcement arrives. Onsite security guards are not the remedy either as they bring their own set of issues and challenges. Unexpected costs Traditional security systems can also have unexpected costs. The cost is not only in the security guards’ paycheck or the cost of the equipment itself. The cost comes when an actual incident occurs. In worst-case scenarios, the security guard(s) are injured, the business suffers inventory loss, and/or damage is sustained to the property. The medical and other costs for the security guard(s), the loss of inventory, property damage, deployment of law enforcement resources, and possible fallout of legal expenses all add up. Even in the best-case scenario, false alarm expenses incur if law enforcement is dispatched. These, among many others, are some of the primary issues that remote guarding resoundingly answers as a superior alternative. A bounty of benefits Remote guarding systems have been proven to cut costs and be more effective than traditional security systems. Even though the monthly monitoring costs of remote guarding are significantly higher than traditional intrusion detection system monitoring, the much higher effectiveness in crime reduction, elimination of false alarms, and augmenting or replacement of manned guards result in a substantially higher return on investment (ROI) to the end user. Easy tracking of threats The security cameras already have their image captured on record, making them easier to track down For example, case studies have demonstrated reduced security costs for clients by 60%, on average. These reductions have come from the costs of security staff, inventory, or property loss, plus saving money on insurance premiums and deductibles. The nature of remote guarding reduces the risk and costs of false alarms, with professional security agents able to determine an actual threat before law enforcement is called. In a rare instance when a perpetrator escapes before law enforcement arrives or can detain the individual(s), the security cameras already have their image captured on record, making them easier to track down and identify. Reduction of false alarms The significant reduction in false alarms is greatly appreciated by law enforcement, as it allows them to focus on real emergencies or crises. Better relationships are also developed between clients and law enforcement, as remote guarding systems are highly reliable in providing accurate and real-time information to officers as they approach the scene. In short, it assists law enforcement in doing their job more effectively, as well as more safely thanks to having eyewitness information before engaging in an active crime scene. Partnership When you combine the decreased cost with the increased efficiency and success rate, it is easy to see why many commercial end-user property owners across the country are making the shift to remote guarding. It’s also an outstanding opportunity for professional security dealers and integrators to partner with a remote guarding services provider to bring a superior solution to their end customers and pick up a recurring monthly revenue stream in the process.
The autumn equinox, which marks the start of autumn, occurs this weekend on Saturday, September 23. With darker evenings ahead, the experts at ADT have shared five ways to maximise your home's security. Author's quote Michele Bennett, General Manager at ADT UK&I comments: “Opportunistic thieves use darkness to their advantage, so it’s no surprise that the number of burglaries committed increases when the darker nights draw in." He adds, "Our 2022 burglary report found that burglaries are most common at night, with 58% of burglaries occurring between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Taking steps to optimise your home’s security before the clocks go back this year will provide reassurance that your property is as secure as possible.” Five ways to secure your property: Get a monitored alarm installed: A visible alarm system is a strong deterrent to potential burglars, as criminals are less likely to target a home that is protected. In the event of a break-in, a monitored alarm will alert you, your keyholders and depending on the package you take out, the police, ensuring a swift response to an alarm activation. Light up the dark: Well-lit exteriors make your home less appealing to potential intruders. Install motion-activated lights around any entry points, particularly porches and gardens, which alert you to movement on your property. This will also prevent burglars from operating under the cloak of darkness and increase the chance of a passerby spotting suspicious activity. Trim your garden landscape: Thieves look for escape routes and hiding spots when deciding which homes to break into, making gardens with high, overgrown hedges more likely to be targeted. This is especially true in the darker evenings, so be sure to give your garden a thorough tidy-up to make your property less likely to be targeted. It’s also advisable to ensure any tools are locked away in sheds and garages that could assist a burglar such as ladders, or a garden spade to force entry. Be smart with your lights: Using smart plugs allows you to turn on a few well-appointed lights and radios or televisions from any location from your phone. Used in conjunction with an outdoor camera or video doorbell, you can have lamps plugged into smart plugs come on when motion is detected. Programming lights to come on at different times throughout the night will help to deter burglars by making your property look occupied. Purchase a smart doorbell or outdoor camera: Smart doorbells are an effective way to deter burglars as they provide evidence in the event of a break-in, package theft, or other suspicious activity around your home. They also notify you when someone is at your door reducing the chance of you being caught out by a late evening or early morning robbery. Further encroachment Smart doorbells also act as a deterrent to unscrupulous door-to-door sellers and con artists, as video footage is recorded. In the event of a late-night door knock, you can see and speak to whoever is at your front door, without having to open the door. ADT’s new outdoor camera also has two-way audio and a high-pitch deterrent siren so you can warn off anyone from your property to deter any further encroachment.
It’s no secret that the data security sector is constantly changing. It has an annual CGR of about 12.3%. Future trends in data security Much of this has to do with the rise of cybercrime in recent years, with reports showing that cyberattacks happen as often as every 39 seconds. To combat the growing rate of cybercrime, data security has been on the rise. As we journey further into this era, it becomes evident that a spectrum of significant trends is molding the future of data security. This exploration delves into a selection of these trends, unraveling their importance and the potential implications they carry 1. AI security tools will increase Artificial Intelligence is also being used in the development of smart attacks and malware The introduction of Artificial Intelligence in the data security industry brought significant changes, especially in cybersecurity. AI has been the golden standard for face detection, natural language processing, automated threat detection, and automated security systems. Additionally, Artificial Intelligence is also being used in the development of smart attacks and malware, bypassing even the latest security protocols in data control. And as time progresses, AI security tools will flourish and dominate the scene. Let’s take a more in-depth look at three of the top AI security tools. Targeted attack analysis tool Manufacturers utilise targeted attack analysis tools to uncover targeted and stealthy attacks. Artificial Intelligence can be applied to the program’s capabilities, processes, and knowledge. For instance, Symantec launched this tool to combat the Dragon 2.0 attack in 2022. The phishing attack reprimanded multiple energy companies while trying to gain access to their operational networks. Targeted Attack Analysis Tools can analyse incidents and look for similarities from previous situations. They also help detect suspicious activities and collect all the necessary data to determine whether a specific action is malicious. Intercept X tool Results from the Intercept X Tool feature high accuracy and a low false positive rate Sophos, a British security hardware and software company, launched the Intercept X Tool. It engages a neural network that records and analyses data like a human brain. Sophos’ Intercept X Tool can extract features from a single file and perform a deep analysis. It detects malicious activities within 20 milliseconds. Plus, it’s also trained to work on bi-directional sharing and real-world feedback of threat intelligence. Results from the Intercept X Tool feature high accuracy and a low false positive rate. IBM Watson Technology IBM’s QRadar Advisor uses IBM Watson Technology, a unique AI tool for fighting cyber attacks. Artificial Intelligence can auto-investigate activities and indicators for potential exploitation or compromise. With cognitive reasoning, IBM Watson Technology can present critical insights to accelerate the response cycle. Security analysts can utilise this technology to search for threat incidents, reducing the risk of letting them fly under the radar. 2. Blockchain as a security solution It guarantees no points of failure or hackable entrances that can expose datasets inside the system Blockchain is a type of distributed ledger technology (DLT) that aims to establish trust within an untrusting ecosystem. Today it’s one of the most robust cybersecurity technologies in the industry. Blockchain utilises a decentralised ledger system, but your team members can still gain access to transparent information in the cloud. Members can also record, pass along, and view necessary transactional data in the blockchain. The entire blockchain process maintains data integrity within the system while establishing trust among team members. It guarantees no points of failure or hackable entrances that can expose datasets inside the system. Cybersecurity, biometrics Cybersecurity primarily benefits from these features because blockchain can create a secure and robust wall between data and hackers. On top of that, blockchain ledgers can include biometrics like fingerprints and retina scans. These prevent hackers from accessing any private data. Because blockchain is decentralised, it also limits hackable data. Together with the technology’s record-keeping system, each node is provided insight into data manipulation exposing real-time cybercrime attempts. 3. Increased and widened access control Without access control, expect your company to be open to security issues, including theft, data loss, and breach of data Access control is critical in data security. More than a valuable security tool, business leaders can use access control to regulate people accessing any given resource. A company with an IT security setting can control who has the liberty to edit certain files. One of the primary goals of access control is to minimise threats or attacks to organisations and businesses to keep people and data secure. Without access control, expect your company to be open to security issues, including theft, data loss, and breach of data protection laws. Benefits The benefits of increased and widened access control include: Identifying who can access and control your data at specific time intervals. Protecting data from overwriting, accidental deletion, and malicious intent. User permissions that can be readily changed. Compliance and regulation with data privacy laws. Central management of access to data through a reporting portal or a dashboard. Multi-factor authentication Access control comes in various types and systems, so it’s critical to know the features of what you’re looking for. The most common type is multi-factor authentication or MFA. It involves multiple steps before logging in, requiring the user to enter other relevant information besides the password. Some other examples of information include biometrics, answering a security question, or entering a code sent to the user’s email address. Two-factor authentication, role-based access control Two-factor authentication further prevents unauthorised entries that can result in unnecessary data possession Two-factor authentication further prevents unauthorised entries that can result in unnecessary data possession. Another type of access control is role-based access control. In this setup, only one individual can set up access guidelines and grant permissions to specific team members within an organisation. 4. Greater use of the zero-trust security model The zero-trust security model is a framework that requires every user within and outside the organisation to undergo authentication, authorisation, and validation. These are all essential to ensure proper security configuration before access is granted to the company’s applications and data. A zero-trust model assumes that anyone can cause data breaches and that a traditional network edge is not taken into effect. Moreover, it addresses the following modern-day challenges: Hybrid cloud environments. Security of remote workers. Ransomware threats. This framework utilises the combination of multiple advanced technologies, including: A risk-based multi-factor authentication. Endpoint security. Identity protection. Cloud workload technology. The zero-trust model uses all these innovative tools for system identification, user verification, access consideration, and system security maintenance. Constant validation and monitoring Enforcing strict policies and compliance with data privacy laws are also essential Additionally, it also considers data encryption, email security, and asset verification before establishing connections with applications. The architecture of a zero-trust framework requires constant validation and monitoring of the users and the devices they are using. Enforcing strict policies and compliance with data privacy laws are also essential. More importantly, the zero trust architecture requires all organisations to be aware of all their available services and accounts to gain complete control of data handling and manipulation. 5. Increased privacy regulations Privacy regulations and policies guide organisations in proper data control, handling, and security. These policies guide organisations in proper data control, handling, and security. As a responsible business owner, you must comply with these regulations to avoid legal issues. With cybersecurity attacks becoming common, expect increased and stricter privacy regulations to be released in the next few years. While current policies are still taken into effect, various modifications and adjustments will occur to compete with the rising numbers of data breaches, thefts, data loss, and more. California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) Currently, the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) is the most comprehensive legislation on state data privacy. It only started to take effect on January 1, 2023. The CPRA introduces the following principles: Broad individual consumer rights. Significant duties of people who need to collect sensitive and personal information. Additional definitions of data privacy and security. An individual’s duties include releasing information about data collection to concerned data subjects and proper access, correction, and deletion of information. Final thoughts 2023 is a big year for data security. Trends such as increased adoption of zero-trust policies, a greater reliance on AI security tools, and the implementation of blockchain as a security solution are all things we expect to see shortly. Staying up-to-date with these trends is important for keeping your business current and ensuring that you’re adhering to new and changing regulations. Doing so can give you an edge over the competition and keep you out of legal hot water.
Security beat
When it comes to security cameras, the end user always wants more—more resolution, more artificial intelligence (AI), and more sensors. However, the cameras themselves do not change much from generation to generation; that is, they have the same power budgets, form factors and price. To achieve “more,” the systems-on-chips (SoCs) inside the video cameras must pack more features and integrate systems that would have been separate components in the past. For an update on the latest capabilities of SoCs inside video cameras, we turned to Jérôme Gigot, Senior Director of Marketing for AIoT at Ambarella, a manufacturer of SOCs. AIoT refers to the artificial intelligence of things, the combination of AI and IoT. Author's quote “The AI performance on today’s cameras matches what was typically done on a server just a generation ago,” says Gigot. “And, doing AI on-camera provides the threefold benefits of being able to run algorithms on a higher-resolution input before the video is encoded and transferred to a server, with a faster response time, and with complete privacy.” Added features of the new SOC Ambarella expects the first cameras with the SoC to emerge on the market during early part of 2024 Ambarella’s latest System on Chip (SOC) is the CV72S, which provides 6× the AI performance of the previous generation and supports the newer transformer neural networks. Even with its extra features, the CV72S maintains the same power envelope as the previous-generation SoCs. The CV72S is now available, sampling is underway by camera manufacturers, and Ambarella expects the first cameras with the SoC to emerge on the market during the early part of 2024. Examples of the added features of the new SOC include image processing, video encoders, AI engines, de-warpers for fisheye lenses, general compute cores, along with functions such as processing multiple imagers on a single SoC, fusion among different types of sensors, and the list goes on. This article will summarise new AI capabilities based on information provided by Ambarella. AI inside the cameras Gigot says AI is by far the most in-demand feature of new security camera SoCs. Customers want to run the latest neural network architectures; run more of them in parallel to achieve more functions (e.g., identifying pedestrians while simultaneously flagging suspicious behavior); run them at higher resolutions in order to pick out objects that are farther away from the camera. And they want to do it all faster. Most AI tasks can be split between object detection, object recognition, segmentation and higher-level “scene understanding” types of functions, he says. The latest AI engines support transformer network architectures (versus currently used convolutional neural networks). With enough AI horsepower, all objects in a scene can be uniquely identified and classified with a set of attributes, tracked across time and space, and fed into higher-level AI algorithms that can detect and flag anomalies. However, everything depends on which scene is within the camera’s field of view. “It might be an easy task for a camera in an office corridor to track a person passing by every couple of minutes; while a ceiling camera in an airport might be looking at thousands of people, all constantly moving in different directions and carrying a wide variety of bags,” Gigot says. Changing the configuration of video systems Low-level AI number crunching would typically be done on camera (at the source of the data) Even with more computing capability inside the camera, central video servers still have their place in the overall AI deployment, as they can more easily aggregate and understand information across multiple cameras. Additionally, low-level AI number crunching would typically be done on camera (at the source of the data). However, the increasing performance capabilities of transformer neural network AI inside the camera will reduce the need for a central video server over time. Even so, a server could still be used for higher-level decisions and to provide a representation of the world; along with a user interface for the user to make sense of all the data. Overall, AI-enabled security cameras with transformer network-based functionality will greatly reduce the use of central servers in security systems. This trend will contribute to a reduction in the greenhouse gases produced by data centres. These server farms consume a lot of energy, due to their power-hungry GPU and CPU chips, and those server processors also need to be cooled using air conditioning that emits additional greenhouse gases. New capabilities of transformer neural networks New kinds of AI architectures are being deployed inside cameras. Newer SoCs can accommodate the latest transformer neural networks (NNs), which now outperform currently used convolutional NNs for many vision tasks. Transformer neural networks require more AI processing power to run, compared to most convolutional NNs. Transformers are great for Natural Language Processing (NLP) as they have mechanisms to “make sense” of a seemingly random arrangement of words. Those same properties, when applied to video, make transformers very efficient at understanding the world in 3D. Transformer NNs require more AI processing power to run, compared to most convolutional NNs For example, imagine a multi-imager camera where an object needs to be tracked from one camera to the next. Transformer networks are also great at focussing their attention on specific parts of the scene—just as some words are more important than others in a sentence, some parts of a scene might be more significant from a security perspective. “I believe that we are currently just scratching the surface of what can be done with transformer networks in video security applications,” says Gigot. The first use cases are mainly for object detection and recognition. However, research in neural networks is focussing on these new transformer architectures and their applications. Expanded use cases for multi-image and fisheye cameras For multi-image cameras, again, the strategy is “less is more.” For example, if you need to build a multi-imager with four 4K sensors, then, in essence, you need to have four cameras in one. That means you need four imaging pipelines, four encoders, four AI engines, and four sets of CPUs to run the higher-level software and streaming. Of course, for cost, size, and power reasons, it would be extremely inefficient to have four SoCs to do all this processing. Therefore, the latest SoCs for security need to integrate four times the performance of the last generation’s single-imager 4K cameras, in order to process four sensors on a single SoC with all the associated AI algorithms. And they need to do this within a reasonable size and power budget. The challenge is very similar for fisheye cameras, where the SoC needs to be able to accept very high-resolution sensors (i.e., 12MP, 16MP and higher), in order to be able to maintain high resolution after de-warping. Additionally, that same SoC must create all the virtual views needed to make one fisheye camera look like multiple physical cameras, and it has to do all of this while running the AI algorithms on every one of those virtual streams at high resolution. The power of ‘sensor fusion’ Sensor fusion is the ability to process multiple sensor types at the same time and correlate all that information Sensor fusion is the ability to process multiple sensor types at the same time (e.g., visual, radar, thermal and time of flight) and correlate all that information. Performing sensor fusion provides an understanding of the world that is greater than the information that could be obtained from any one sensor type in isolation. In terms of chip design, this means that SoCs must be able to interface with, and natively process, inputs from multiple sensor types. Additionally, they must have the AI and CPU performance required to do either object-level fusion (i.e., matching the different objects identified through the different sensors), or even deep-level fusion. This deep fusion takes the raw data from each sensor and runs AI on that unprocessed data. The result is machine-level insights that are richer than those provided by systems that must first go through an intermediate object representation. In other words, deep fusion eliminates the information loss that comes from preprocessing each individual sensor’s data before fusing it with the data from other sensors, which is what happens in object-level fusion. Better image quality AI can be trained to dramatically improve the quality of images captured by camera sensors in low-light conditions, as well as high dynamic range (HDR) scenes with widely contrasting dark and light areas. Typical image sensors are very noisy at night, and AI algorithms can be trained to perform excellently at removing this noise to provide a clear colour picture—even down to 0.1 lux or below. This is called neural network-based image signal processing, or AISP for short. AI can be trained to perform all these functions with much better results than traditional video methods Achieving high image quality under difficult lighting conditions is always a balance among removing noise, not introducing excessive motion blur, and recovering colours. AI can be trained to perform all these functions with much better results than traditional video processing methods can achieve. A key point for video security is that these types of AI algorithms do not “create” data, they just remove noise and clean up the signal. This process allows AI to provide clearer video, even in challenging lighting conditions. The results are better footage for the humans monitoring video security systems, as well as better input for the AI algorithms analysing those systems, particularly at night and under high dynamic range conditions. A typical example would be a camera that needs to switch to night mode (black and white) when the environmental light falls below a certain lux level. By applying these specially trained AI algorithms, that same camera would be able to stay in colour mode and at full frame rate--even at night. This has many advantages, including the ability to see much farther than a typical external illuminator would normally allow, and reduced power consumption. ‘Straight to cloud’ architecture For the cameras themselves, going to the cloud or to a video management system (VMS) might seem like it doesn’t matter, as this is all just streaming video. However, the reality is more complex; especially for cameras going directly to the cloud. When cameras stream to the cloud, there is usually a mix of local, on-camera storage and streaming, in order to save on bandwidth and cloud storage costs. To accomplish this hybrid approach, multiple video-encoding qualities/resolutions are being produced and sent to different places at the same time; and the camera’s AI algorithms are constantly running to optimise bitrates and orchestrate those different video streams. The ability to support all these different streams, in parallel, and to encode them at the lowest bitrate possible, is usually guided by AI algorithms that are constantly analyzing the video feeds. These are just some of the key components needed to accommodate this “straight to cloud” architecture. Keeping cybersecurity top-of-mind Ambarella’s SoCs always implement the latest security mechanisms, both hardware and software Ambarella’s SoCs always implement the latest security mechanisms, both in hardware and software. They accomplish this through a mix of well-known security features, such as ARM trust zones and encryption algorithms, and also by adding another layer of proprietary mechanisms with things like dynamic random access memory (DRAM) scrambling and key management policies. “We take these measures because cybersecurity is of utmost importance when you design an SoC targeted to go into millions of security cameras across the globe,” says Gigot. ‘Eyes of the world’ – and more brains Cameras are “the eyes of the world,” and visual sensors provide the largest portion of that information, by far, compared to other types of sensors. With AI, most security cameras now have a brain behind those eyes. As such, security cameras have the ability to morph from just a reactive and security-focused apparatus to a global sensing infrastructure that can do everything from regulating the AC in offices based on occupancy, to detecting forest fires before anyone sees them, to following weather and world events. AI is the essential ingredient for the innovation that is bringing all those new applications to life, and hopefully leading to a safer and better world.
Case studies
As the UAE's economy progressed, its territory became the world's experimental zone for pioneering construction technologies. The continuous rise of the construction industry has introduced a large number of labourers to stations on construction sites. How to systematically manage workers under regulations, while ensuring the rights and interests of both workers and enterprises is the main problem currently faced by NGC on its way forward. The customer Nael General Contracting (NGC), founded in 1998, is one of the UAE's premier construction companies. Its core areas of expertise include the Design and Execution of Turnkey Construction Projects, Steel Structures, Aluminum & Glassworks, Interior Fit-out, Hard & Soft landscapes, MEP infrastructure, and Facilities Management. Based on 25 years of safe working life, NGC currently has more than 9,000 employees and has successfully contracted not limited to 250 projects. “NGC is seeking the best intelligent attendance solution for one of its construction sites with nearly a thousand workers.” To this end, NGC consulted Anviz's long-term partner Xedos. The challenge Workers' attendance management on and off work is bitterly chaotic without intelligent attendance Workers' attendance management on and off work is bitterly chaotic without intelligent attendance equipment. Workers' shifts are unreasonable and shift coordination is formidable. There are even abundant irregularities such as punching in on behalf of others and tampering with attendance data without permission. So labourers take the fairness of wage calculations with a grain of salt. Need for an intelligent and complete attendance solution “At the same time, the human resources department spends at least 10 hours per month sorting out the clock data of nearly a thousand employees to output monthly results reports." "The financial department also demands to settle workers' compensation based on attendance reports. It leads to continuous delays in salary payments. It is urgent to seek an intelligent and complete attendance solution." The solution Simplify attendance while outputting cloud reports FaceDeep 3 & CrossChex Cloud can cover the above needs and submit a satisfactory solution to NGC Based on ensuring the attendance management of nearly a thousand labourers, while also meeting the output of centralised visual reports and reducing labour costs, FaceDeep 3 & CrossChex Cloud can cover the above needs and submit a satisfactory solution to NGC. NGC's site manager said, "Attendance at the construction site is not transparent, and most workers are often worried about whether their salary for the next month will be recorded in their accounts. There has even been chaos in paid attendance, which has brought a lot of trouble to the normal operation of construction." FaceDeep 3, CrossChex Cloud Based on high-precision liveness face detection and dual-camera lenses, FaceDeep 3 can accurately identify workers and complete personal attendance verification under any environmental conditions, preventing the use of fake faces such as videos and pictures to check in. The CrossChex Cloud implements hierarchical management and designs administrator operation logs to record their action lines, effectively eliminating the unhealthy trend of tampering with records for personal gain. Attendance visualisation reports Integrate through CrosssChex Cloud and SQL DATABASE to synchronise each employee's attendance records NGC's Finance Minister said, "Every month some workers appeal against errors in attendance records, but there is nothing we can do about the large amount of confusing data records." Integrate through CrosssChex Cloud and SQL DATABASE to synchronise each employee's attendance records, and automatically generate attendance visualisation reports. Real-time updates Administrators and employees can make attendance management transparent by viewing reports at any time. The cloud system is equipped with shift and schedule management functions that administrators can adjust in real time according to the construction progress. Workers can apply for make-up attendance to achieve flexible management. Key benefits Convenient and worry-free attendance experience The efficient attendance system ensures a quick clock-in experience and simplifies the attendance process. Cloud visual reports make it easy to calculate workers' salaries. Reduced human resource costs Cloud visual reports make it easy to calculate workers' salaries. For the HR department, there's no longer a need to manually sort out large amounts of attendance data. Client's quote “The person in charge of NGC said, "The attendance plan tailored by Anviz for us has received unanimous praise from all employees." "It reduced more than 85% of the labour costs spent on worker attendance management and saved the company nearly 60,000 dirhams per month."
Boosting its safety credentials in the French market, global wireless solutions provider Ramtech has successfully helped safeguard La Tour Pleyel – a 129 m skyscraper undergoing major restructuring ahead of the Paris Olympic Games. The iconic venue, which is due to complete in spring 2024, is being turned into a multi-purpose complex in the Plaine Saint-Denis and Greater Paris area – requiring a comprehensive fire safety solution to protect workers and site assets during the construction phase. Event of a fire incident The WES3 Wireless Fire Safety and Evacuation System is being used throughout the 39 floors of the site, providing an automatic 24/7 smoke and heat detection system that helps coordinate emergency response in the event of a fire incident. Fire safety should be the top priority at any construction site to keep workers safe" Stephane Stoesser, business development manager – France at Ramtech, said: "Fire safety should be the top priority at any construction site in order to keep workers safe, as well as project timelines and finances in check, and the WES3 system is the perfect choice for protection against potential hazards. This was a significant project, across a huge number of floors, so traditional methods of incident response, such as air horns or walking patrols, would only pose long delays between detection and emergency response. A forward-thinking, digital solution was needed, and we were delighted that our system was chosen to help keep people safe ahead of the Olympic Games.” WES3 wireless fire system The extensive renovation process at La Tour Pleyel has seen the construction of a hotel, conference centre and additional towers. The adaptability and ease of installation of the WES3 system were crucial in providing effective fire detection to an ever-evolving construction site. The WES3 wireless fire system proved the ideal choice for the large-scale project Ramtech’s role in safeguarding La Tour Pleyel comes off the back of further success in Paris, including protecting The Arboretum – a 125,000 sq ft tertiary campus on the banks of the river Seine. The solid wood structure of the building put it at particular risk of fire damage, and the WES3 wireless fire system proved the ideal choice for the large-scale project, as chosen by contractor GCC Groupe thanks to the system’s scalability and efficiency. Author's quote Adam Kovics, sales manager at Ramtech, said: “Right now we’re experiencing an accelerated growth period in the French market, which shows contractors are putting safety first and investing in technology to help futureproof construction sites." “Our aim at Ramtech is to help increase fire safety education across Europe and beyond, and these recent projects show we’re well on our way to achieving that. We’re pleased with the presence we’re building in the French region and look forward to working with even more contractors and fire safety professionals in 2024.”
St Mary and St Ethelburga Church, a cherished Catholic establishment in Barking, has recently completed a transformative project to enhance its visual appeal and security measures. For more than a century and a half, this parish, home to two churches, has remained a steadfast pillar of faith and community within Barking and Ilford. Evolving needs of its congregation In 1869, the original church, an architectural marvel designed by E.W. Pugin, graced the landscape with its iconic wooden spired bellcote. In 1979, to meet the evolving needs of its congregation, the old church gracefully gave way to a modern brick structure featuring varied window openings, low-pitched rooves, and artificial slate. Old church gracefully gave way to a modern brick form featuring varied window openingsA homage to its roots, a large round window containing glass from the original Pugin church now adorns one wall of the new structure. Notably, 2002 saw the approval of an application to erect a freestanding bell frame, an architectural gem that has since become a local landmark, standing tall and proud. Forward-thinking design: The New Presbytery In 2018, a new chapter began with the granting of planning permission for a state-of-the-art Presbytery on the premises, meticulously designed by LAP Architects & Interior Designers. With a focus on creating a simple, energy-efficient building tailored to the parish's future needs, the Presbytery stands as a testament to forward-thinking design. The Barbican Imperial Solution Addition of the new residential building, a more robust perimeter indicator became vital At first, there was no demarcation fencing around the front of the site, making it easy for individuals to pass through the church and car park area. Implementing measures to deter casual passersby from entering is a standard recommendation by local law enforcement's Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCOs). This approach has been shown to effectively curtail impromptu criminal activities, such as theft of items left on the grounds, vandalism, and unsightly graffiti. With the addition of the new residential building, a more robust perimeter indicator became necessary. To enhance both security and aesthetics of the frontage, and to complement the new Presbytery structure, the installation of demarcation fencing and gates was deemed essential. Barbican Imperial fencing Recognising the importance of safeguarding the premises and creating an inviting atmosphere, St Mary and St Ethelburga Church opted for Jacksons Fencing’s Barbican Imperial fencing, with a double leaf and single leaf gate for access, was chosen for an elegant demarcation solution. The fence, with its classic appearance that mimics wrought iron railings, combined with modern construction, not only exudes timeless charm but also offers enhanced security and durability. Theft-proofing for peace of mind The galvanised and powder-coated black finish not only adds a touch of tradition but also ensures longevity In a bid to thwart theft, a common concern for churches (particularly scrap metal pilfering), the vertical bar railings boast a welded pale-through-rail construction with concealed bolts and tamper-proof panel-to-post connectors, making theft a near-impossibility. The galvanised and powder-coated black finish not only adds a touch of tradition but also ensures longevity, promising years of unblemished aesthetics. Backed by a 25-year guarantee, this sustainable solution serves as a testament to the church's commitment to prudent investments. The 1.2-metre-high black railings strike a harmonious balance, providing a welcoming environment while preserving an open atmosphere. This design choice also allows the picturesque bell tower to be admired from the road, safeguarded from unintended contact. Furthermore, the strategically placed gates can be secured, preventing any unauthorised access to the church's premises. Author's quote Commenting on the successful project, Peter Jackson, Managing Director at Jacksons Fencing, expressed, “Unfortunately, places of worship across the UK grapple with a broad spectrum of crimes on a daily basis. As a result, our commitment to providing robust security solutions for these sites remains a primary focus. In our places of worship report, we discovered that the perception of visitors as they approach and enter a place of worship was critical. While the design of on-site security measures should effectively deter trespassers and prevent crimes, it should also create a welcoming atmosphere and instil a sense of safety." "Striking a delicate balance between effective security and aesthetics is paramount. In this instance, the installation of our Barbican Imperial fencing not only elevates the church's security but also provide a timeless elegance upon its surroundings. It has been an honour to contribute to the preservation of this esteemed historic institution.”
Newport Aquarium is located in Newport, Kentucky. The aquarium is home to thousands of the world’s most exotic aquatic creatures, including playful penguins, rare white alligators, and smiling sharks and stingrays. To keep the animals, visitors, and staff safe, Newport Aquarium wanted to replace their old security system with an easy-to-use and high-security access control solution. Sec-Tron, an experienced access control integrator, recommended Paxton’s flagship access control system Net2 to provide a simple and scalable security solution. Net2 is an advanced PC-based access control system that offers centralised administration. It is also designed to easily integrate with other access control systems, so site managers can enjoy more streamlined security for their building. Requirements The indisputable aquarium is encompassed by pipes and tanks, some full of chemicals With over 35 years of security industry experience, Sec-Tron specialises in providing custom access control solutions to commercial and industrial sites. Tom Riegler, Sales and Project Manager at Sec-Tron, said: “The whole aquarium is surrounded by pipes and tanks, some full of chemicals. They really needed access control at each area containing dangerous infrastructure to make sure only experienced employees could gain access and prohibiting visitors from accessing those sensitive areas.” The IT team at Newport Aquarium also wanted a system that utilised access cards, allowing them to customise employee ID cards as access cards and increasing access convenience. Author's quote David Fortunato, Senior Regional IT Manager at the Newport Aquarium, said: “Most of our doors used locks and keys, and some had swipe card readers. At the aquarium we have a lot of doors and a lot of employees who need to carry equipment up and down stairs, so looking for keys in front of a door is not ideal. We really wanted to have one system on our exterior and critical safety doors, and also make access convenient for our employees.” When sourcing a security system, the Newport Aquarium needed durable hardware because of its unique environment. David explains: “Even though the products are installed and secured in cases and locked rooms, being an aquarium, we have heavy amounts of moisture and salt in the air. It can chew up the products.” Net2 product demonstration We told them we could use all the existing cabling, readers, door handles and panels" Another factor that needed consideration when designing the installation was the possibility of integrating the aquarium’s existing wired infrastructure and security products with the new system. Tom said: “We did a Net2 product demonstration to Newport Aquarium’s IT team. We told them we could use all the existing cabling, readers, door handles and panels. We said we could retrofit the existing hardware with the Net2 door controllers and make it a clean installation.” Solution Tom and his team at Sec-Tron installed Net2 at the aquarium. Tom said: “The expandability of the new system was the customer’s main concern. They also liked Net2’s pricing structure.” The Net2 software can manage up to 1,000 doors and 50,000 users and requires no licence fees, making it a cost-effective and scalable security solution. The Newport Aquarium now uses employee ID cards as Net2’s access tokens. The employees scan their IDs at the staff entrance and go through physical screening to enter the aquarium. Once they are in the park, they need to present badges at each door to be given access for a certain number of hours, based on their role and duties. Features of Net2 It is one of the biggest benefits that Net2 has brought, that we could replace all those keys" David said: “With our old lock-and-key doors, it was hard to keep track of keys. It is one of the biggest benefits that Net2 has brought, that we could replace all those keys with badges and just keep a few keys for emergencies. It provides better tracking, higher security, and greater convenience for our employees.” David further explains how they maximise the features of Net2: “We use the timeline feature to tailor access hours and levels of each door. When it’s after the aquarium’s opening time, we lock the doors to prevent unauthorised access. Another feature we use a lot is the intruder alarm relay. If someone accidentally goes through our emergency exit, it will sound the horn through the relay and alert our staff to go check and make sure no one has gone to an area that they are not supposed to.” Result David manages the security systems for three theme parks under Herschend Family Entertainment Corp, the other two are Kentucky Kingdom & Hurricane Bay and Adventure Aquarium. The Newport Aquarium is their first Net2 installation, and they have plans to expand Net2 to their other sites. David said: “We are doing the installation in phases. We started with 15 doors at the Newport Aquarium and now it’s fitted across 53 doors. We have a plan to put Net2 on every possible door as it is just much more convenient and safer than keys, and everything is documented. We have also started putting Net2 in the Kentucky Kingdom, which is currently at its phase 1 with around 20 doors. Our other Adventure Aquarium in Philadelphia, the existing security system doesn’t offer great access convenience while maintaining the security level that we require, so we have a plan to install Net2 there as well.”
i-PRO Co., Ltd., a pioneer in professional security solutions for surveillance and public safety, announced that the Grimaldi Forum Monaco (GFM) has chosen i-PRO multi-sensor and Fisheye security cameras with advanced AI-based analytics to enhance visitor safety, protect priceless artworks, and ensure a seamless and secure experience during high-profile events. Grimaldi Forum Located in the city-state of Monaco, the Grimaldi Forum, serves as a prominent venue for conferences, conventions, cultural events, and world-class art exhibitions. With a commitment to visitor safety and the preservation of priceless artworks, this state-of-the-art facility hosts over 100 diverse events annually, attracting more than 250,000 people a year. In the summer of 2023, the Grimaldi Forum showcased the prestigious "Monet in Full Light" exhibition, welcoming 120,000 visitors in two months and featuring nearly 100 of Claude Monet's masterpieces, including rare and previously unseen works. Advanced AI-based analytics When the Forum re-opened its doors to the public after a shutdown period due to COVID When faced with the challenge of enhancing security infrastructure while supporting organisational processes, Philippe Martin, Director of Safety, Fire, and Risk Prevention at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco, turned to Monaco-based system integrator MES I2S Security to install over 100 i-PRO cameras, including fisheye and multi-sensors with advanced AI-based analytics. “When the Forum re-opened its doors to the public after a shutdown period due to COVID, we were looking for a solution that would help us manage the number and flow of visitors while ensuring the security of the premises. At the time, we were also planning for the much-anticipated Monet exhibition, so we wanted to find the best possible technology to protect these unique masterpieces without interfering with the visitor experience or compromising with the venue’s aesthetic values,” says Philippe Martin, Director of Safety, Fire and Risk Prevention at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco. Wide-range coverage without blind spots Combining exceptional imaging performance with wide-area surveillance and IR LED lighting, i-PRO’s multi-sensor cameras allow the Grimaldi Forum security teams to monitor the activity across a large room while also enabling them to focus with great precision on a precise area of interest, at any time of day or night. Grimaldi Forum was able to considerably reduce the number of cameras required, thereby saving money. “If it wasn’t for the wide range of coverage offered by i-PRO’s multi-sensor cameras, we would have had to add another 77 cameras,” said Martin. "Not only do they offer wider coverage capabilities with a larger tilt range than other multi-sensor cameras on the market, but they are small and discreet so they can blend into the design of our beautiful facility.” Protecting valuable artworks AI-based object detection minimises false alarms due to changes in light or passing shadows Grimaldi Forum implemented i-PRO’s Scene Change Detection, an AI-based analytic application that alerts security teams to anomalies within the camera’s field of view. This technology safeguards artworks by identifying unusual behaviour or unauthorised proximity to valuable pieces. The Scene Change Detection app is operated simultaneously with other apps such as AI Video Motion Detection (VMD) of objects, allowing the security team to conduct multiple detections with one camera. i-PRO’s AI VMD can send security guards an alarm when an intruder enters a specified area or if that person loiters in an area where they are not supposed to be. It can also trigger an alarm if a specific threshold is crossed. AI-based object detection minimises false alarms due to changes of light or passing shadows. Real-time, proactive monitoring Using the i-PRO Active Guard plug-in, the Grimaldi Forum security team can quickly conduct real-time searches during an incident or deep forensic analysis post-event. They no longer have to spend time looking at multiple screens for persons of interest or watch hours of recorded video to search for important events. Operators can identify specific attributes in their watch lists (for instance “male wearing a red shirt and blue pants”), and the plug-in will send them a real-time alarm whenever a match is identified, a feature that is unique to i-PRO. This enhances real-time situational awareness and enables proactive security. The same process can be set up for fast data mining of events during forensic investigations. The same process can be set up for fast data mining of events during forensic investigations Managing Occupancy and Visitor Flow i-PRO fisheye cameras were strategically positioned at entrances and major axes to monitor large areas. The advanced AI analytics in these cameras enable Grimaldi Forum to detect congestion, manage visitor traffic flow, and count the number of people in specific areas. Heat maps provide statistical insights into traffic flow. Deployment of i-PRO's security systems Philippe Martin expressed his satisfaction with the implemented technology: “The technology we have implemented has precisely met the objectives we set at the beginning of this project,” says Martin. “But the human aspect cannot be understated; the teams at i-PRO, and MES i2S have been amazing to work with.” The successful deployment of i-PRO's security systems has not only ensured visitor safety during high-profile events like the Monet exhibition but has also strengthened the Grimaldi Forum Monaco’s security posture to handle a variety of upcoming events and support future expansion plans.
Alarming increases in vehicle thefts, unsolved traffic collisions, and stolen cargo in the Mexican State of Tlaxcala, motivated the Executive Commission of the State Public Security System (CESESP) to expand and upgrade its video security system. To counter the rise in crime, the CESESP sought a flexible, scalable, open-platform video management system (VMS) that could seamlessly incorporate existing cameras as well as over 800 new cameras and edge devices from a range of hardware and software providers. Tlaxcala Located in East-Central Mexico, Tlaxcala is one of 32 states within the Federal Entities of Mexico. With a population of approximately 1,343,000, based on the 2020 census, Tlaxcala is the smallest yet one of the most densely populated states in Mexico. The CESESP of Tlaxcala is tasked with safeguarding residents across the state's 60 municipalities. C4 centre C4 centre has multiple teams of six security professionals who monitor the system around the clock At the core of all security operations, including the 911 emergency response and 089 confidential tip line, is the CESESP's Control, Command, Communications, and Computing centre (C4). The state’s C4 centre has multiple teams of six security professionals who monitor the system around the clock on a large, 24-screen video wall. The C4 also houses the system’s HP and Lenovo servers. Flexibility, scalability, and budget “Flexibility, scalability, and strictly adhering to the budget were top requirements for this critical, state-wide project,” said Maximino Hernández Pulido, Executive Commissioner of the State Public Security System. “We considered a variety of proposals and providers, but we ultimately followed the advice of our integrator, Digital Information Systems, and selected XProtect Corporate from Milestone Systems.” XProtect Corporate The new system includes cameras from Hanwha Vision, Bosch Security and Safety Systems, Hikvision, and Pelco The new system includes cameras from Hanwha Vision, Bosch Security and Safety Systems, Hikvision, and Pelco, all integrated within the system and managed by XProtect Corporate VMS from Milestone Systems. The system is also fully integrated with the BriefCam Video Analytics Platform, delivering video intelligence for system managers to identify, monitor, investigate, and visualise incidents plus video data to make smarter decisions. Efficient and cost-effective integration “Because state officials rely on their video system 24/7, the update needed to be gradual with no downtime. As new cameras were integrated into the Milestone platform, the previous system slowly disappeared,” said Isaac Sánchez Morales, an engineer at Digital Information Systems (SDI), an integrating company. “The XProtect Corporate open platform VMS allowed us to leverage our existing cameras and servers, integrate new equipment and devices, making the process very efficient and cost-effective, and we never had a gap in service.” Data-driven video for fast response times BriefCam video analytics technology The solution detects, identifies, and classifies video metadata to drive more efficient investigations The BriefCam video analytics technology seamlessly integrates into Milestone’s XProtect Smart Client. The solution detects, identifies, and classifies video metadata to drive more efficient investigations and business decisions, such as finding missing persons, investigating the vandalism, theft, assaults, accidents, injuries, or acts of violence, as well as extracting and analysing through heatmaps, dashboards, and visualisations. The analytics have proven beneficial in accelerating investigations, attaining situational awareness, and optimising operational intelligence for enhanced video search, alerting, and data visualisation. Real-time alerts, situational awareness “We installed the BriefCam Insights and Investigator products, and regularly use the platform’s RESPOND and RESEARCH capabilities. One of the advantages of all these XProtect-integrated analytics is that operators do not have to open additional windows or enter new credentials to access them,” said Sánchez. “With this integration of technologies, operators can trigger real-time alerts based on complex object classifications and filter combinations to increase situational awareness meaning authorities can react to events as they unfold.” Proactive policing with LPR With the BriefCam RESPOND solution, object characteristics and licence plate recognition tools can be used" Sánchez added, "With the BriefCam RESPOND solution, object characteristics such as a vehicle, person, or animal, and licence plate recognition tools can be used to trigger rule-based alerts." "These tools can help overcome the challenges of urban video surveillance and drive proactive policing in Tlaxcala." Video technologies reduce state crime rates Following the comprehensive expansion of the security infrastructure, statistics from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security Systems revealed Tlaxcala boasted the lowest crime rate nationwide. With the modernised system in place, officials documented a 93% reduction in pilfered freight from transport companies. Similarly, vehicle theft declined by 22.5%. A cost-efficient and flexible way Milestone Interconnect provides a cost-efficient and flexible way to gain central surveillance According to Sánchez and the SDI team, it is expected that each municipality within the territory will soon have its own locally focused VMS. With the use of Milestone Interconnect, all the municipality subsystems will integrate directly with the state-wide platform. Milestone Interconnect provides a cost-efficient and flexible way to gain central surveillance of multiple sites spread across a region. C4 video surveillance operation “The integrated solution delivered through Milestone is a robust, efficient, and secure system that provides all the necessary tools for the C4 video surveillance operation,” added Executive Commissioner Hernández-Pulido. “In addition, the excellent technical and post-sales support from Milestone and SDI has led us to meet the system and performance goals we set for ourselves.”
Round table discussion
Headlines of violence in our schools are a reminder of the need to keep educational institutions safe. In fact, if there is a positive aspect to the constant bombardment of headlines, it is that it keeps our attention perpetually focused on how to improve school security. But what is the role of physical security systems? As the new school year begins, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Are schools safer because of physical security systems? Why or why not?
As physical security technologies become more complex, it is incumbent on the dealer/integrator to have the skills and expertise needed to ensure that a system operates smoothly. The value of integrators increasingly rests on the skill sets they bring to bear when installing a system. If the skills are missing, there is a problem. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What missing skills among security integrators can cause problems for customers?
Driving the smart homes market is the convenience of simple technology solutions. Almost every home now has a “smart speaker” that makes it easier than ever for homeowners to interface and control their technology. But where does security fit into the new landscape of smart home systems? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What’s new in smart homes and residential security systems?
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