Italian Security Market Facing Flat Growth

Editor / Provider: Hayden Hsu | Updated: 3/9/2009 | Article type: Hot Topics

With its close proximity to Eastern Europe and Northern Africa, safety and security issues are not taken lightly in Italy. While the local industry (manufacturing) excels in research and development of video and intrusion detection technologies, players in the domestic market (suppliers, distributors, dealers, integrators, installers) are facing a tough battle — flat growth in the current economic climate, compounded by privacy concerns of the locals — where only the fittest will survive.


The overall European electronic security equipment market (including Eastern Europe) was estimated to be worth US$4.63 billion in 2008: video surveillance $1.95 billion, access control $1.03 billion and intrusion detection $1.65 billion, based on the research done by Archana Rao, Senior Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan (Europe). Annual growth rates were 5 percent (30 percent for IP-based solutions), 7 percent and 3 percent, respectively. Italy's high levels of corporate and personal taxation, public-debt over-GDP ratio of more than 100 percent, and political resistance to budget cuts make the short and medium-term fiscal outlook uncertain for the Italian economy, said Matia Grossi, Industry Analyst, Electronics and Security, Frost & Sullivan (Europe).


Its GDP growth is expected to be slightly negative this year, reflecting the impact of global financial uncertainty and the impact on exports from the strong Euro. “The Italian economy is expected to start picking up again in 2010, however, at about half the level of the pan-Europe average of about 2 percent,” said Grossi.


The Italian security market is the fifth largest in Europe, offering moderate growth prospects. The share of Italy in the total European market is, however, set to fall slightly in the period between 2007 and 2013. “The market is expected to grow from just over $400 million in 2007 to about 600 million in 2013, with an average annual growth rate between 8 and 9 percent,” said Grossi, rendering the total for 2009 at roughly $470 million. Grossi's numbers were seconded by Stefano Riboli, Product Marketing Manager for Video Systems and Products at Bosch Security Systems (Italy), who predicted flat growth (0 percent) for 2009.


There are, however, other more optimistic projections, indicated Andrea Ceppi, Media Specialist of local association ANCISS, as prospects have definitely improved from the past three years. David Benhammou, President of CDVI, estimated the Italian security market to be worth between $660 million and $800 million, with electronic access control accounting for at least 20 percent of the total. Jean-Christophe Boyer, Presales Manager for Xelios Security Solutions (Italy), concurred with this estimate, pegging the access control market at $160 million. With installation and guarding thrown in, the Italian security market would be at least $1.5 billion, said Luca Cappellini, Marketing Manager for ADT Fire & Security (Italy), “but growth would only be between 0 and 3 percent in 2009,” echoing Riboli's view.


Demand for security equipment significant and remains a primary area of focus for the Italian government, said a U.S. Commercial Service representative. The 2008 national budget contained an additional $270 million for security-related expenditures, including funding to expand the police force and $135 million for modernization of vehicles, infrastructure and technology.


In an effort to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in Italy, a program was established in 2007 for the development of “security pacts” in Rome and Milan between national and local authorities. Many other pacts have been signed subsequently in other cities. In response to insufficient funding available to the
Ministry of the Interior to combat crime, the objective of these pacts is to increase funding available through the participation of regional and municipal authorities, according to U.S. Commercial Service. “Resources from the municipal authorities and additional contributions on behalf of the provinces are gathered to create a special security fund that is transferred to the Ministry of the Interior and managed by the Prefecture,” said the same representative.


Verticals and Projects of Interest
In Italy and across Europe, emphasis has been placed on homeland security, transportation and critical infrastructure protection. "Transportation and city surveillance are the only verticals that will offer double-digit growth in the medium term,” said Grossi , and Riboli added that land borders and petrochemical plants will develop nicely, despite the financial difficulties. Additional areas of interest include utilities , energy facilities , rail networks, defense installations and other high-risk facilities, according to U.S. Commercial Service. Take transportation for example. The pan-Europe high-speed rail network aims to connect 65 cities by 2010. “Italy is on Corridor No. 5, linking Portugal to Russia,” said Salvatore Pastorello, Product Manager for ELMO.


Another good example, said Grossi, is the new agreement among IBM Italia, Thales Security Systems and Italian railway company Rete Ferroviaria Italiana for the deployment of video surveillance and analysis systems at 85 locations nationwide, for an overall cost of $110 million.


Opportunities should continue to arise in the aviation, maritime, supply chain and rail sectors as a result of security measures mandated by regulatory bodies. The air and maritime transportation sector, in particular, should continue to perform upgrades in order to fulfill the ICAO mandates regarding security standards. Take the port of San Giorgio di Nogaro for example. It is situated near the city of Udine and is one of the three active ports in the region, together with Trieste and Monfalcone. It is a river port, accessible from the Adriatic Sea. The port area houses a rail junction, covered warehouses and outdoor storage areas, handling approximately 1.6 million tons of various goods per year.


With one of the biggest market shares in the country, ADT's top verticals are retail, industry, traffic (especially tunnels), city surveillance and marine protection (ports and vessels), said Cappellini. “As the economy worsens and incidents of theft and crime increase, more attention would be given to loss prevention and public monitoring.”


Cieffe's top market segments in Italy include banking, transportation, critical infrastructure, town centers (fighting crime together via wireless connections) and national monuments. “Security in residential apartments is also becoming a must as break-ins continue to increase,” said Alberto Bruschi, VP of Sales for EMEA at Cieffe (a March Networks company). The 2015 World Expo in Milan appears to be very promising as well: The organizing committee is asking for everything to be manufactured in Italy.


All these tourist attractions, including the Vatican and its museums based in Rome, require top-notch security solutions. “Our Vatican installation took place at the end of 1999 and the beginning of 2000, making it one of the most secured places on earth,” said Antonella Sciortino, CCTV Product Manager for Panasonic Italia. Following the success of this installation was a second project: an analog video surveillance system
for the Vatican's museums. Both installations have the same products and technology, making the overall system compatible and easy-to-use. The continued improvement work done by Panasonic System Solutions has brought about 500 dome cameras in total, with 30X zoom.


While the retail and banking sectors are bearing the brunt of the current economic slowdown, Davide Monterisi, Business Development Manager for GE Security (Italy), believed that there will still be substantial growth “as more than 50 percent of all armed robberies in Europe take place in Italy.” Other verticals mentioned include logistics, stadiums and hotels/villas/resorts. Homeland security, schools and public offices are also high on the list, said Flavio Venz, MD of Nexxt. "Commercial buildings, however, are being postponed due to the credit crunch.”


Where Technology Meets Law
Solving privacy issues is the No. 1 priority for all solution providers. “Between France and Italy, we probably have the most strict privacy laws in Europe — if not the world — and are actively and routinely enforcing them,” said Boyer. This has, in turn, influenced the way in which products are developed and marketed. National certifications like the IMQ, on the other hand, do not seem to play that important a role as in countries like Germany.


Video Surveillance
There is a special commission in Italy that oversees privacy issues and laws, said Cappellini. “DVRs, for example, are only allowed to record for 24 to 36 hours in most cases; banks are allowed one week, maximum.” Such strict privacy laws govern how security systems are used and what features can be made available. “The authorities could switch off your surveillance equipment and keep it off indefinitely if you don't have clear warning signs or comply with recording restrictions,” cautioned Bruschi.


This is viewed positively by some, though. “Regulations help us grow and make us stronger,” said Monterisi.


In terms of technology uptake, adoption of IP-based solutions is on the rise. "Currently, the ratio between analog and IP installations is about 75:25, but by 2012, it could become 50:50,” said Bruschi. The latest figures from IMS Research show that 85 percent of the Italian integrators polled have more interest in IP than analog, compared to 54 percent in 2006. “This global transition actually enables better and easier long-distance, remote surveillance,” said Alessandro Berio, Sales Director for Pinkerton.


Competition appears to be fiercer than ever, with new companies entering the market on a regular basis. “The future sees a shift toward megapixel resolution and video analytics,” said Sciortino.


Access Control and Anti-Intrusion
Privacy concerns also affect the development of access control technology. Employee tracking is prohibited by law, said Cappellini, “and as such, time/attendance is not even a market in Italy.”


Highly sophisticated, accurate, dual-tech biometric authentication is thus called for, allowing cardholders to carry their access records and biometric templates at all times, explained Benhammou. Compounded by the pressure to comply with the amended Disability Discrimination Act, suppliers are pushed to devise creative solutions, such as user-friendly tags and automatic door openers.

"User perception also needs to be changed,” said Boyer, “as fingerprint registration and authentication used to have high false rates.” Now, 70 percent of the fingerprint biometric sensors used in Europe are from Sagem Sécurité, ensuring precise processing.


Although the negative impact from the global recession can already be felt in Italy, with many projects being put on hold, Boyer believed that projects with real access control needs — such as large corporations, industrial sites and air/seaports — will continue as planned. This was seconded by Pastorello, who is seeing growing needs for building management software.


As for anti-intrusion and perimeter, Gioacchino Tommaselli, Director of Sales and Marketing for GPS Standard, estimated the market to be worth $270 million. “With
ever-increasing unemployment rates and numbers of illegal immigrants, such solutions are in high demand in Italy and in neighboring countries.”

Playbook and Outlook
Thanks to its old banking structure, Italy is relatively cushioned in the current financial crisis, said Mario Dotti, Export Manager for HR Europe. “We don't have that many financial ‘tools,' and people are simply postponing projects to wait and see — the money is still there.” To Benhammou, 2009 is just a year for “self-cleaning,” which will ultimately leave the industry with only the strongest.


Due to slower adoption of IP at the distribution level, the market is still dominated by box movers with very little value-added services offered to end users at the moment, observed Grossi. Dominant regional players in the distribution channel are HESA, Sicurit Alarmitalia, Nexxt, Bettini Video and Videoline. “There are, however, many other tier-two players such as Sidin, Tech Data and Allnet, also playing a significant role and getting increasing importance in the market, thanks to their introduction of IP-based products.”


Few pan -European system integrators exist in Italy, apart from Niscayah (with the acquisition of CIS) and Siemens. “The largest participant in Italy is Finmeccanica,
which owns quite a few mediumsized system integrators specializing in specific vertical markets, with Elsag being an extremely important player in the Italian market,” said Grossi. “ADT, Gunnebo and Gruppo DAB are some other mid-sized
players on the system integration front.”


Outlook
The Italian market is relatively underdeveloped when compared to the rest of Europe, continued Grossi. Transportation is the only vertical which is expected to experience high growth, both in terms of quantity and complexity/functionality of the systems deployed. Banking is another vertical usually keen on deploying advanced systems, but the global financial turmoil is hindering security installations. Other verticals represent limited potential, and the overall economic situation is expected to further hinder the uptake of electronic security systems.


"We are experiencing what's known as the domino effect — it's really not as bad as what the media paints it out to be,” said Tommaselli. “Government projects such as utilities, airports and borders will go on as usual, and by the end of 2009, money for upgrades at banks and villas will return.”


Regardless of the strict privacy regulations, surveillance in public places continues to rise. “The federal, regional and municipal governments are also putting resources into enhancing public security, including increasing various police forces, in order to combat immigrant associated problems,” said Dotti. Due to Italy's conservative culture, awareness is still relatively low, observed Cappellini. “Most users would go to traditional electricians when thinking of security systems.” And one can find bad installations at many high-end places, said Berio, highlighting needs for continuous education and training.

Bosch Provides Network Surveillance at University of Sussex

Editor / Provider: Source: Bosch Security Systems | Updated: 3/4/2009 | Article type: Education

Bosch Security Systems is playing a principal role in a new surveillance installation at the University of Sussex as it extends the IP camera network to cover further areas of the university campus.

The University of Sussex is a single site campus covering 280 acres on the outskirts of Brighton. Its video system, specified originally in 2003 by the university in conjunction with specialist installers A.M Fire and Security, is a Bosch-based solution primarily based on dome cameras to cover critical areas across the entire site.


As Trevor Clifton-Sprigg of A.M Fire and Security said, “There are 120 cameras in total, with 35 external cameras, most of which are domes from Bosch's EnviroDome and FlexiDome series. The system runs over IP, with the use of Videojet 10, Vip X1, Vip X2 and Vip X1600 video servers which migrate the existing analog cameras to IP.”

EnviroDomes are an integral part of Bosch's AutoDome range, featuring its innovative motion tracking capability Auto Track. Rugged in design and ideally suited for perimeter surveillance, car parks, and other similar outdoor applications, EnviroDomes feature day and night cameras that automatically switch from colour to monochrome when light levels decrease to give extra sensitivity, whilst high-resolution cameras with optical zoom of up to 25x capture the finest details.

The cameras are controlled and monitored centrally at the university's security office in a building known as York House, with resilience monitoring at a separate location should a problem occur. “In addition, there are multiple client PCs at the individual buildings running VIDOS viewing software allowing each building user to view their own cameras and recordings,” Trevor continued.

"The recording equipment consists of two Dell servers (each capable of handling up to 64 cameras), which are connected to the University's Storage Attached Network (SAN), with Bosch VIDOS networked video recorder (NVR) software (which can handle an unlimited number of cameras and user) to manage the recordings,” Trevor said. “Each PC uses graphical maps for fast, simple, access to cameras around the site.”

The University of Sussex received its Royal Charter in August 1961 and 40 years on, the university is renowned for its research excellence. Situated on the edge of the Sussex Downs, the university campus is described as a large, self-contained village, with lecture theatres, seminar rooms, libraries, accommodation, restaurants, bars, shops and sports facilities all within easy walking distance.

The security challenges facing the university are not untypical of a campus site. Antisocial and criminal behavior is not uncommon and can take place in the car parks, within teaching buildings or the student union areas, and access to the campus is open to would-be thieves.

Roger Morgan, Head of Security at the University explained, “The university has a good rating for security in the National Student Survey and this will in part be due to the presence of our surveillance system, which is used very successfully in conjunction with security offices on the ground. It helps us to monitor activities on the campus and prevent incursion from unwanted visitors.”

"As an example of how beneficial the system is, recorded CCTV images (and work by our officers on patrol) led to the detention of some youths who were targeting our site and stealing bicycles from the cycle racks over a period of days,” Morgan said.

"We constantly review the system to ensure that we have the best coverage in all the key areas,” he said. “As a University, changes are often made to how the buildings are used, and new buildings being constructed always necessitate a review of internal and external surveillance. The latest change to the system involved the addition of cameras to extend surveillance to a newly-built student residence.”

"The new building is effectively a satellite site on the other side of the main road, on the boundary of the campus,” Morgan said. “Cameras will cover the internal and external areas of the new site, including the subway between the campus and the halls of residence.”

Morgan was previously Head of Operations for Gwent Police and has extensive experience of surveillance from his work with local authorities to establish and develop systems. “The university has a good system,” he said, “and technically we cannot get much better.

"The only way we can improve the system is to develop operationally — become more proactive in our approach to monitoring rather than reacting to an incident,” Morgan said. “There are many benefits of this system that I look forward to exploiting, like the possibility of facial recognition technology to spot known people who might target the university as walk-in thieves. The only limitations we might currently face come from not knowing what the system is capable of.”

Germany: Steady Flow of Opportunities

Editor / Provider: Hayden Hsu | Updated: 2/23/2009 | Article type: Hot Topics

In a highly regulated country like Germany, safety and security are not to be joked about. Although the electronic security market in Germany is only growing at a single-digit rate, the sheer size of the country and its infrastructure development can be easily translated into needs worth hundreds of millions that can only fulfilled by high-quality products and support services.


The German economy is the world's third largest (likely to be surpassed by China soon) and accounts for nearly one-fifth of the European Union's GDP. Germany is the United States' largest European trading partner, according to U.S. Commercial Service, and is the sixth largest market for U.S. exports. Germany's social-market economy largely follows free-market principles, but with a considerable degree of government regulation and generous social welfare programs and protection.


Overall, the European electronic security equipment market (including Eastern Europe) is estimated to be worth US$4.63 billion: video surveillance $1.95 billion, access control $1.03 billion and intrusion alarms $1.65 billion, based on research done by Archana Rao, Senior Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan (EMEA).


Annual growth rates are 5 percent (30 percent for IP-based solutions), 7 percent and 3 percent, respectively. "For Germany alone, the electronic security equipment market is pegged at $740 million, which can be broken down as: video surveillance $350 million, access control $140 million and intrusion alarms $250 million," Rao said. Annual growth rates are lower than the European averages, at 3 percent (25 percent for IP-based solutions), 5.9 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively.


Tyco Fire & Security, known as ADT/Total Walther in Germany, and ZVEI ( the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association) have different projections. "The video segment accounts for $700 million, whereas intrusion alarms are valued at $800 million," said Roland Billeter, General Manager of Tyco Fire & Security Germany. According to ZVEI, the video market in 2008 is estimated to be worth $540 million, access control $345 million and intrusion alarms $977 million.


"Of the total revenue, 40 percent is generated from video surveillance," said Felix Schrimpf, Manager of EMEA Sales Support, Bosch Security Systems. This year, 24 percent of all Bosch security systems sold are IP-based.


As the largest market in the European Union, Germany is not easy to break into, especially for foreign companies with no local, German-speaking partners or support systems. "The German market demands system-oriented solutions and readily available support," said Andrea Bergerhoff, EMEA Sales Director for Honeywell Security & Data Collection. "That's the reason why we only sell to and work with well-known, local value-added resellers and system integrators."


Growth Opportunities
For Bosch Security Systems, its top five European countries in terms of sales are Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Spain. "Bosch has been active in Germany, Austria and Switzerland for more than 100 years," said Hanno Vogels, VP of Sales for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Bosch Security Systems.


Transportation is currently the most dynamic vertical in Germany, with many subway systems and airports undergoing major upgrades, which require state-of-the-art safety and security solutions, said Vogels. "Given the current state of worldwide economy, Bosch remains optimistic as the basic need for security is still there; vertical markets with great potential may change slightly, but Bosch will shift its investments wisely and accordingly to sustain further growth.


Nice agreed with Bosch in saying that the public transport sector has the most potential, due to several bus bombing scares and violent incidents on metro lines. "Retail is another growing vertical, as incidents of shoplifting increase with tougher economic conditions," said Tim Giles, EMEA Product Marketing Manager, Nice Systems.


Other opportunities, brought up by Tyco and Honeywell, include banking, gaming, critical infrastructure, oil/gas/pipelines, land and sea borders, city surveillance, production plants and commercial buildings. "Vandalism at schools is also getting a lot of attention," said Fredi Reschke, CEO of FRS.


Legal Issues
Germany is a highly regulated market. "For example, both products and installers have to be certified to be used in commercial establishments or projects that require insurance," said Vogels.


There are also strict data security and privacy laws that call for development of unique access control products.


VdS is likely the biggest entry barrier for foreign companies to penetrate the German market. VdS guidelines and regulations are comprehensive, covering testing procedures and benchmarks for different product types and system integrators/installers, and different vertical markets also have different standards.


UVV Kassenzulassung is another legal requirement applicable to solution providers that sell into the banking sector. "No matter if it is for physical or logical security, all hardware and software must be UVV-certified before a bank opens for business," said Bruno Jentner, Head of Marketing and Product Management for Funkwerk.


Product Needs
The most successful market entrants are those that offer innovative products featuring high quality and modern styling. Germans are responsive to innovation and high technology, based on U.S. Commercial Service's observations.


Price is not necessarily the determining factor for the German buyer, given the German market's demand for quality. The German market is decentralized and diverse, with interests and tastes differing dramatically from one state to another. Successful market strategies take into account regional differences as part of a strong national market presence.


The country boasts one of the highest Internet access rates in the European Union, and this helps increase adoption rates of IP-based security solutions tremendously.


Video Surveillance
"In Germany, IP video is at least growing at 50 percent per year," said Michael Zabler, Marketing Director for ABUS Security-Center. On the other hand, most German users demand reliability and have strong doubts about open systems.


"Who will be held responsible when a system fails?" asked an industry source. "Analog systems still fare better in a typical system integrator's or installer's mind." As a result, he thinks that IP adoption is no more than 20 percent in video surveillance.


There is no doubt that Germans wanted high-quality, relatively expensive products five years ago. "Now, people are starting to feel the financial pinch and are accepting imports from Asia with open arms," said Bj?rn Westphal, Media Specialist at Monacor International.


Features in demand include high-definition resolution, analytics and management software that brings about geospatial, situational awareness.


Access Control
As employee tracking is legally prohibited in certain German industries (automotive, for example), access control and information management require advanced hardware engineering and software algorithms.


"Some customers ask for high-end solutions that allow for masking based on authorization levels," said Nicole Huffer, Corporate VP of Marketing Communications for SimonsVoss Technologies. "Sometimes, even time/attendance data can only be accessed by lawyers and courts."


Intrusion Alarms
Alarm systems are usually the first ones that go into a building before completion, said Bergerhoff, and these products are the most heavily policed by law in Germany.


"Currently, only 0.3 percent of German households are equipped with intrusion alarms," said Zabler, "so there is still plenty of potential for growth in the residential sector, a long with small-to-medium enterprises. Depending on insurance requirements, customers can choose approved products at different price levels."


One industry source pointed out, though, one noticeable change: the increased demand for wireless systems, requiring less expensive, labor-intensive installation work, and integrated intrusion/access/fire solutions.


Challenges and Outlook
Real German GDP expanded by 2.5 percent in 2007 despite the increase in value-added tax from 16 to 19 percent in January 2007, according to U.S. Commercial Service. Consumer demand, which had been sluggish for several years, is picking up. The economy continues to be strong on exports; consumption and investment have started to pick up since 2006 and are expected to compensate for some of the world economic slowdown.


Business confidence indices rose in early 2007 and show signs of optimism, despite uncertainty in financial markets. The German economy continues to suffer from structural problems, including over-regulation in labor markets, taxation and business establishment, as well as high social-insurance costs.


Experienced representation is a major asset to any market strategy, given that primary competitors are domestic firms with established presence. Firms can overcome such stiff competition, said a U.S. Commercial Service representative, by offering high-quality products, services at competitive prices, and sales backup, as well as establishing a local network of support. For investors, Germany's relatively high marginal tax rates and complicated tax laws may constitute an obstacle, although deductions, allowances and write-offs help move effective tax rates to internationally competitive levels.


The German government has recognized the need for reform and is pursuing a series of initiatives. "While many observers regard these programs as a useful start," one source said with caution, "most expect that additional reforms to enhance Germany's global competitiveness will be required while consensus will become more difficult in the run-up to federal elections in 2009."


German firms focusing on exports, especially in the automotive, chemical and high-tech sectors, recently have enjoyed healthy profits and have exported more goods and services than firms from any other country.


Persistent high unemployment, particularly long-term (longer than one year) unemployment, has long been among Germany's most serious political and economic problems. The economic growth Germany has experienced since 2006, however, has reduced in a rapid fall of unemployment to levels not seen since before the German unification.


Since the beginning of 2006, what had been an export –led recovery has begun to expand into the domestic economy. Investment in machinery and equipment has grown rapidly, and business confidence has risen.


The latest survey results from the Munich-based Ifo Institute show that optimism prevails despite the uncertainty resulting from the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the United States.


The strong revival of the German labor market continued in 2007. Registered unemployment fell by 15.7 percent to below 3.8 million on an annual average, according to U.S. Commercial Service. This corresponded to a decline in the unemployment rate from 10.8 percent in 2006 to 9 percent, the largest year- to - year decline in Germany's history.


In eastern Germany, the unemployment rate stood at 15 percent and was still twice as high as in the western part of the country, based on CIA's World Factbook research. The Federal Employment Agency's Institute for Labor Market Research has projected an average of 3.5 million unemployed for 2008, provided the current demand for labor continues. While much of the improvement has been the result of an expanding number of temporary or low-paid jobs, more significantly, the number of socially insured and self-employed jobs has risen, too.


Germany has pressed the new EU Commission to reduce regulatory burdens and promote innovation in order to increase the EU member states' competitiveness. The Merkel government has talked about the need of regulatory reform in Germany as well, said a U.S. Commercial Service representative. Germany's regulations and bureaucratic procedures can prove baffling. While not directly discriminatory, government regulation is often complex and may offer a degree of protection to established local suppliers.


Safety or environmental standards, not inherently discriminatory but sometimes zealously applied, can complicate access to the market for foreign products. Companies interested in exporting to Germany should make sure they know which standards apply to their products and obtain timely testing and certifications.


German standards are especially relevant to exporters because Europe-wide standards are often based on existing German ones.


Conservative buying behavior can still be regularly witnessed, said Billeter. This could present challenges to the transition to and adoption of converged hardware and software solutions.


The biggest challenge for promoting IP is the knowledge of the system integrators in IP technology, said Vogels. "But this has improved as a result of training over the last two years." All major players will continue to focus on partner training and user education.


Despite some of the challenges listed above, Germany continues to be attractive in numerous sectors and remains an important element of any comprehensive export strategy to Europe.


More information on VDS.

German, Eastern European Customers Remain Ambivalent about 'Made in China'

Editor / Provider: By Tim Shen | Updated: 2/12/2009 | Article type: China Corner

It is no secret that Germans are some of the toughest customers in the world when it comes to quality. Another characteristic is that they are often slow to adopt new technologies. All of this is bad news to Chinese electronic security manufacturers, which find to their dismay that most Germans prefer to go with tried and true names like Bosch and Siemens. Markets in Eastern Europe, most say, are proving more promising. That said, few intend to give up on Germany entirely.


One of the biggest problems that Chinese companies face in penetrating European markets, particularly Germany's, is the presence of old, well-established brands that possess top customers and technical service facilities. Given the long history of these companies, legacy products and systems present another formidable barrier.


Oliver Zhang, Europe Department Manager of the International Business Center at Hikvision, pointed to Bosch and Siemens as two of the strongest. "There are already too many big names in Germany. Certainly, Siemens and Bosch and the biggest," said Zhang. "These companies have top-level standards that make them a particularly hard act to follow, especially for smaller, younger Chinese companies."


If that were not bad enough, German customers are renowned for their conservative approaches to building relationships and their reluctance to go for the latest technology. "German users are more conservative," said Zhang. "The majority prefers to stick with the tried and true."


Most other Chinese manufacturers agreed, observing that this is one of the reasons why the German market contributes so little to their European revenue. "Everything in Germany is more professional," said Hwang
Zhongyuan, CEO of SOEST. "Customers, here, demand very high standards regardless of whether for design, structure or manufacturing. "That is why Poland and Turkey are much bigger markets for us."


"We are doing much better in East Europe, which is our biggest market in Europe," said Michael Chen, Overseas Market Director at Dahua Technology Co. Ltd. "We are doing especially well in Poland, Romania and Hungary; sales in Germany are still relatively limited."


"While 80 percent of our sales are now coming from overseas," said Hector Wang, General Manager of IR LAB, "most of this is going to East Europe, not Germany."


Alec Weingart, CEO and President of Actiontop Electronics, also sees greater potential in East Europe, including Romania, Croatia, Latvia and Lithuania. "Generally speaking," he said, "East Europe is more open to Asian products than Germany."


Financial Crisis, Global Recession
While most customers tend to look at the product, it is also important to scrutinize the company from its management to operations. This is doubly important as the current economic crisis snowballs, leading to more and more bankruptcies.


"The financial crisis," said Weingart, "has consumers much more conservative than before about purchasing electronic security products or system upgrades. They are also much more cautious about who they choose to work with. This may limit the opportunities for many Asian manufacturers, especially those from China."


Having a strong financial background, stressed Weingart, is the key to stay alive. He also recommended that international buyers select companies with good channel partners. "I have my own criteria of partner at the following four points: First, your partner must offer strong technical support to provide local backup and after-sales service; second, your partners need to have a strong financial background; third, they must have comprehensive sales and distribution channels in local markets; finally, looking for a partner with a lot of stamina."


Weingart's final advice to new Chinese electronic security players is to slow down. "This is a good time for them to review their operations. They may wish to reshuffle their management, look at fostering greater efficiency in administration and operations, and examine how to better integrate their resources. This will eventually prove most useful in convincing skeptical German customers that they will be around for the long haul."


Telling the Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth...
Having attended the Essen electronic security exhibition twice in a row, Weingart has a deep understanding of how Chinese products are viewed by most German customers. Weingart has been working in the electronic security industry for more than two decades; he has also spent the last 10 years in China.


"I hate to say it, but many of these Chinese players lie," said Weingart, "and that is definitely harming the Made in China reputation."


Several of Weingart's German customers told him that Chinese providers send samples, claiming that they are from their factory in China when, in reality, they are from someone else's factory or from a facility in an entirely different country. "You can imagine," he said, "that this does not do much for building trust in the relationship when they get caught in these lies."


While he bemoans this unprofessional behavior by a large percentage of Chinese companies, there are still several manufacturers with sterling reputations, such as Hikvision, Actiontop, Sunell, Dali, TVT, Coship and others.


For example, Hikvision has developed an enviable research and development base in Hangzhou with more than 300 engineers, which has made Hikvision become currently No. 1 when it comes to revenue among all Chinese suppliers.


Then there is Coship, which has the same number of engineers as Hikvision. The company also has an R&D institute to share and integrate all resources and achievements within the organization. So, clearly, there are a number of reputable Chinese companies and most international buyers understand this. That said, the old warning, caveat emptor, or let the buyer beware, should be in the back of every customer's mind, not just those in Germany.

H.264 Brings Better Image with Lower Overall Cost

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 2/10/2009 | Article type: Tech Corner

H.264 is the latest trend in video surveillance. While its advantages such as bit rate reduction, transmission resiliency and high video quality are demanded everywhere, a customized solution enables a more cost-effective and operationally efficient installation.


In 2009, the size of the global DVR market is projected to be US$2.5 billion, 31.3 percent of which would come from the EMEA region, said Raymond Weijts, EMEA Product Marketing Manager at Bosch Security Systems. The Americas and APAC account for the rest 30 and 40 percent, respectively, said Sven De Bie, Software Marketing Manager, Media Processing at NXP Semiconductors, predicting that from 2010 on growth will primarily be in network-based DVRs.


IMS Research forecasted that the global DVR market will grow at approximately 10 percent each year in terms of revenue over the next five years. The fastest growing region will be Asia, mainly due to the rapidly expanding Chinese market, said Alastair Hayfield, Market Research Analyst, Security and Fire, IMS Research.


H.264 DVRs are generally suitable for brand new sites, said James Lee, GM of International Marketing and Sales at Artnix. Popular applications include shopping centers, financial institutions, public monitoring, crowd surveillance, casinos and hotel complexes, Weijts said.


"Installations that require integration with PCs or other security systems could use PC-based DVRs," said Wells Shih, VP of Sales at Chateau Technical, "whereas embedded DVRs would be best for installations that require specific features."


Today, earlier versions of MPEG-4 are dominating the market because H.264 is still a relatively new compression standard. However, Tony Chiu, Director of R&D for iCatch, estimated for the second quarter of this year, the market size for H.264 will be as big as the one for MPEG-4, as its H.264 DVR sales increased to two times more than its MPEG-4 DVR's during the second half of 2008.


H.264 is the answer for efficient data transmission and high-quality video storage, said Shih. It is predicted to be the market trend for the next four to five years.


Latest Technology
IP surveillance, remote management and high-definition (HD) cameras are currently in demand in video surveillance, said Bie. Needs for H.264 products have increased because they support megapixel cameras and deliver the same or higher quality images as MPEG-4 or M-JPEG products while requiring less storage and bandwidth, said Mark Bowles, Project Development Manager at Quick Solutions.


Timestamp in DVRs is important, for forensic and evidentiary purposes. Implementing this feature into H.264 DVRs without compromising the overall stability and compatibility should be developed, said Steve Hu, DVR and Camera Development Manager at Merit LILIN.


Video analytics could be added to H.264 DVRs and cameras to improve highway management, enforcing traffic laws and analyzing traffic flows. "Ipsotek, a spin-off from the University of Kingston is a key player based in United Kingdom," said Bie.


DSP is currently the most widely used chipset by H.264 DVR manufacturers, as it is programmable (with easy CODEC configurations and updates) and suitable for those complicated, intelligent features that cannot be achieved through hardware compression, said Sunny Lee, Business Development Director, Catalog DSP/EEE Products, Asia SC Market Development, Texas Instruments.


While ASICs have lower power consumption that work well with small to medium-sized systems, DSP is flexible with improved interoperability that supports emerging standards of any image resolution, multichannel and CODECs . Although the R&D process is more complicated and of higher cost in the initial development period, implementing DSP-based solutions allows for shorter time to market and make products more competitive with differentiated features. When the system needs to support more than four channels, DSP would be a better choice because of its higher computing power, said Shih.


Some H.264 DVRs can only offer retrieval of images through management software. However, DVRs with dual CODECs can continue to support independent streaming of recordings and live transmissions. Remote surveillance is also available in some H.264 DVRs.


For storage, RAID can be optimized for better performance. "The parity drive in standard RAID setup would be a bottleneck in high I/O situations, but the optimized RAID setup could evenly spread workload on the disk and ensure smooth performance," Weijts said.


Selection Criteria
System stability, component quality and tailored features are the top considerations when integrators or installers choose H.264 DVRs. While users want high-quality images, low price with extended recording hours, storage redundancy and channel scalability are also on their wish list. Solutions need to be highly tailored to different needs. "DVRs should be tested at temperatures above 70 degrees Celsius, ensuring operation in harsh conditions," said Bowles.


A DVR's hard-drive disk must be able to read and write smoothly to ensure a longer lasting storage system, said Tony Yang, International Marketing Director for Hikvision. In order to keep the system stable, Hu said, power supplies, cable lines and motherboard layout should be designed such that electrical interference to the hard drive and video streaming is minimized.


How many channels an H.264 DVR supports is closely linked with how well its CODEC compresses video signals. "The higher number of channels the H.264 CODEC supports, the lower the cost and the easier the system design can be," said Tom Krause, VP of Business Development for Techwell.


Moreover, DVR platforms must be highly flexible for integration with access control, intrusion and fire detection systems, as a centralized control center can further help users manage security breaches more efficiently, said Weijts. The CODEC platform must be well designed and have high compatibility with both analog and network cameras to ensure smooth transition, said Yang.


Image processor's IC design should fit specific requirements of each installation, said Shih. Although manufacturers list their technical specifications, dealers and users should still verify and test the product's actual performance to avoid misinterpretation of technical descriptions.


Challenges
The biggest challenge in promoting H.264 is market adaptability. Users expect systems to be able to record high-quality video for a long time, but they are generally not very concerned about specific compression standards, said Bowles. Prices for storage devices have fallen rapidly in recent years, making it much cheaper for users to add additional storage than to improve compression efficiency.


User education is another challenge. Although H.264 is the current market trend, its image quality differs when H.264 algorithms are implemented differently in encoders. The myth that H.264 by definition stands for better image quality is not always true, Weijts said. What differentiates DVRs is the way in which the toolset of H.264 is implemented. "H.264, when compared to MPEG-2 and MPEG-4, has a more powerful toolset which can — when implemented correctly — offer better image quality at the same bit rate or offer the same quality at a lower bit rate," said Weijts. Systems are more efficient when compression toolsets are implemented better.


Determining the right feature sets at the right price to ensure a compelling and differentiated product offering is also a challenge, said Jorg Tilkin, Product Line Director at Xtralis Security Solutions. A full-featured base model with modular options could customize the system and make it more cost-effective.


Future Outlook
As needs for system integration and surveillance over IP increase, H.264 DVRs need to evolve to have onboard video analytics, the ability to support domestic DVD players and flexible IC design. The system must also be able to integrate with other physical security systems and support industry standards to ensure its long-term marketability.


Analytics in residential, industrial automation and automotive applications would increase, said Bie. Popular applications include door entry systems and presence detection for energy saving in home automation; gateless entry systems, presence detection and quality inspection for industrial automation; and lane departure detection, automated parking and collision avoidance for automotive. These all require HD video signals, which can be rendered by H.264 DVRs.


For viewing convenience, compatibility between H.264 and domestic DVD players might also be needed, Hu said. "MPEG-4 cannot be played by household DVD players like MPEG-2, but it doesn't mean users don't have such needs," said Hu. "Although MPEG-4 signals could be converted back to MPEG-2 and be played by domestic DVD players, such converters can be hard to find and cost a lot." A more cost-effective way is to develop standards, making it compatible with all video players.


Interoperability between streaming protocols and server file systems is another important factor to consider, said C. J. Liang, GM at Grain Media. "High-speed serial ports for video I/O and multichip linking are in demand as users are looking for systems that can support more camera channels of HD resolution, and keep chip power in reasonable order." Standardizing cameras, analytics and DVR/NVR protocols would help move the industry forward more rapidly, said Tilkin.


In terms of IC design, Joe Hanson, Director of Business Development for APAC at Stretch, sees low-cost, low-margin and low-channel count embedded DVRs using ASICs/SoCs to reduce the cost for D1 models, but sees programmable solutions forming the basis for products with higher channel counts and differentiated values. Michael Chiu, President at Genistech Solutions, suggested that ASICs and DSPs would coexist and process data interchangeably in the future.


More compression standards will definitely continue to emerge. A new standard, H.264 SVC, was set in the beginning of 2008, said Hanson, replacing dual streaming with a secondary stream that can be transmitted over the network for remote monitoring. Integrated mobile DVRs for car surveillance are going to be realized by Japanese automobile manufacturers in the near future to provide total proof for car accidents, said Chiu from Genistech Solutions.

The True Costs of IP Video Surveillance

Editor / Provider: Submitted by Bosch Security Systems | Updated: 2/3/2009 | Article type: Tech Corner

Dr. Bob Banerjee, Product Marketing Manager at Bosch Security Systems, examines the value of network video.


Cost is one of the primary factors that influence the selection of one integrator's bid over another in the purchasing process of a video surveillance system. While acquisition expense is significant, there are other factors that impact the system cost, which translate into total cost of ownership (TCO).


Estimating TCO involves understanding the initial acquisition cost, the operating requirements, labor for installation and maintenance, and exposure to risk or liability — such as fines for not complying with video regulations in certain industries. Time savings and efficiencies achieved must also be considered in the equation.


Some design choices only impact the acquisition and installation costs of a system, such as using Power over Ethernet instead of added power supplies for the cameras. However, the greatest impact to TCO in large video installations comes from recording and storage technology, which impacts maintenance costs over time.


There are three main reasons for high storage requirements for modern surveillance systems: a large quantity of cameras; recording at high video quality; and/or retaining video for a long period of time — months or even years.


Common Approaches to IP Video from the TCO Perspective
Digital video recorders (both embedded DVRs and PC-based DVRs) are designed as stand-alone systems. This means the hard drive storage is either included inside the unit, or for more storage, a disk array can be directly attached to the DVR. The consequence is that each DVR is a silo, making the storage available only to its cameras. The storage is rarely shared between multiple DVRs, so users cannot take advantage of economies of scale. A single 10-terabyte storage unit will be more economical and more reliable than 10 units with one terabyte of storage for each or embedded hard drives.


Network video recorders comprise three key components — management software, a server platform and attached storage to record video. These systems typically require one NVR for every 64 cameras, because the PC is a bit rate bottleneck for the video trying to reach the storage.


For large facilities such as airports, this can mean a significant investment in servers, as well as time, for IT to administer the technology with operating system patches and anti-virus updates. The total cost of ownership of server hardware and software can vary anywhere from one to five times the initial purchase cost per year in terms of maintenance cost.


Increasing video quality or retention time will require purchasing additional storage and reconfiguring each affected camera or NVR. In this scenario, users are not only paying for the extra hardware and software required, but also pay for the integrator's labor. This reformatting can take days, depending on how many cameras are impacted.


While DVRs and/or NVRs may make sense for a user's video needs and budget, there is an emerging approach that may be the better alternative to help lower video systems' total cost of ownership.


Eliminating the NVR PC
An alternative approach to video storage is to bypass the need for NVR PCs all together and make network cameras stream directly to the disk array storage. The same principle also applies to encoders — the devices that translate analog camera signals into digital. Disk array RAIDs that use an IP-based storage networking standard called Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) can record video without the added expense of NVR server hardware, software and their maintenance costs.


With the addition of video recording management software that acts as a traffic cop, video can be distributed in one gigabyte blocks across various disk arrays on the network. Each storage unit is no longer a silo. Rather, the software will pool all RAID arrays in a system and, after dividing the total capacity into one gigabyte storage blocks, allocates storage on demand to network cameras and encoders.


This approach allows for automatic load-balancing, better storage utilization, as well as greater system flexibility and easier adaptation to changing storage demands. It supports a phased deployment of storage, allowing users to add storage when they need it.


With the steady reduction in storage costs that have occurred recently — typically halving every two years — and that are expected to continue, purchasing the full amount of storage equipment up-front is a large capital investment that does not make economic sense. If long-term retention is required, users can initially purchase a certain amount of storage and wait for storage costs to decrease or the users can wait for next year's budget allocation to become available and then purchase the additional storage needed.


With video recording management software that treats all RAID arrays as a virtual pool, the integrator will simply need to add the storage devices and alert the software to their presence. The software will then make those storage devices available to all of the cameras or encoders in the system.


All of this can be done with the addition of one PC server for every 2,000 cameras.


By reducing maintenance costs and better utilizing storage technology, users have the ability to reduce the total cost of their systems by up to 30 percent over their lifetimes. All users need to do is ask their integrators to eliminate NVRs from the system design.


Educated buyers, who understand the approaches to IP video and their costs, can challenge potential integrators to design the most appropriate system for their needs — one that meets budget constraints for acquisition and long-term maintenance.

Firetide Surveillance Safeguards California State University

Editor / Provider: Source: Firetide | Updated: 1/23/2009 | Article type: Education

California State University, Long Beach, one of the nation's largest public universities, is watching over its campus with a wireless video surveillance system similar to those used at Super Bowl XLII and in metropolises such as Chicago and Dallas. The system, which employs wireless networks from Firetide Inc., helps alleviate safety concerns ranging from auto theft and vandalism to traffic flow and congestion. To date, the system has led to a dozen arrests, including one felony weapons possession charge.


The university administration and on-campus police department needed a surveillance system to supplement officers on patrol and couldn't temporarily shut down to lay fixed cable.


In addition to the task of watching over a population of 38,000 commuter-students, the Cal State Long Beach police department patrols many large and remote parking lots.


Thirty-seven pan-tilt-zoom cameras, 29 of which are connected wirelessly, and 40 Firetide mesh nodes comprise the university's network, deployed by local installer Moore Electrical Contracting, Inc. The network operates in the licensed 4.9 GHz public safety band to reduce interference and provide extra security; the system includes Bosch analog cameras and IndigoVision encoders and video management. The majority of cameras are strategically located on light poles and other structures around campus and its parking lots. Those entering areas under surveillance are alerted via signs.


Trained police dispatchers monitor the live video feeds and communicate with police officers on patrol in real time. All dispatchers are cross-trained in both communications and the video system. This versatile expertise enables one person to remain focused on operating the system, while another team member directs the officer to the scene and relays critical information.


Although the department used some existing fixed cable, it built a new wireless infrastructure for the project. The university and police department own and operate the secure network, so they have the ability to add other high-bandwidth applications like data transmission. Ultimately, the network will be able to stream live video into patrol cars on the beat.

Bosch's Efficient IP-Based Surveillance Solution for Tihar Jail

Editor / Provider: Sponsored by Bosch Security Systems | Updated: 1/21/2009 | Article type: Government & Public Services

To improve order and peace in the prison environment, Tihar Jail chose Bosch Security Systems for its IP-based video surveillance solution.


Prisons are dangerous places and must abide by numerous rules and regulations. All around the world, prisoners and staff face varying types of abuse, and more often than not, authorities turn a blind eye to the cruel and blatant violations of human rights that occur within prison walls.


Tihar Jail, located in the western part of New Delhi, India, is the largest prison complex in South Asia. Spread across 400 acres, the center comprises of nine prisons, housing roughly 11,872 inmates. The prison complex is currently managed by the Delhi Administration, government of India.


The Premises
The jail is committed to providing a safe and secure detention facility, with reformation and rehabilitation as central goals for all its inmates. Tihar Jail has special cells for adolescent and female prisoners, specialty medical care, crèche facilities for children and facilities for education, spiritual, vocational and recreational activities.


Since its initial development 50 years ago, the prison population has steadily grown, adding tremendous pressure to the overall capacity, basic standard of living and treatment to prisoners. Because of the enormous population within Tihar's walls and the need to maintain a standard of safety, constant surveillance and vigilant security measures must be implemented to assist the 1,300 jail staff with keeping order and peace throughout the premises.


The jail management decided that an efficient video surveillance system was required to track, monitor and record movements in critical locations such as intense security wards for prisoners involved in multiple heinous offences or terrorist activities, main entrances, and common areas where prisoners frequent such as kitchens, general barracks and activity halls for recreation and dining.


Security Solution
Bosch Security Systems, with its local partner M/S. Pan Intellecom, installed an IP-based solution in Tihar to strengthen the security and surveillance of its prisoners and staff. The first areas targeted to tighten security were the First Time Offender's Ward, High Security Ward, Interview Room, Medical Examination Room and Kitchen, as all these places require surveillance to ensure that no one is being violated.


Bosch employed a total of 280 Auto Dome PTZ (VG4 Series) and Fixed Dinion (LTC 0455) cameras, along with VIDOS Pro Suite software in 14 video management client software stations, all of which are located in a central control room. Each of the nine prisons has a control room, all connected to the central control room. The software system provides long-term storage and video and audio retrieval, to enable proper surveillance and post-incident analyses.


To prevent data loss during system failures, the main server stores the entire configuration while a redundant second server is used for backup, so that in the event of server failure, it can automatically take over for the main server and keep the system running.


Using VIDOS system configuration, administrators can create various trigger alarms, including motion detection, video loss and video contrast. Interval and weekday timers are used to ensure that alarms go off when necessary, such as when motion is detected in specific unauthorized areas during nighttime. When an alarm is received, the system switches a specific camera to the workstation and triggers the NVR recording, to track and record sensitive areas.


An Improved Prison
The jail administration is now much more efficient in monitoring the premises and ensuring the safety of all its inhabitants. "The jail inmates know they are being watched, and the staff knows that their actions are being monitored," said B.K. Gupta, Director of General Prisons. "There is no room for ambiguity. The surveillance system greatly improves the prison's security and helps ensure the safety of everyone within the grounds".


After the first successful installation, prison authorities have decided to increase the number of cameras for better control of the activities of inmates and to ensure proper discipline on prison premises.

Security Stands Guard over Correctional Facilities

Editor / Provider: Submitted by ADT, Bosch Security Systems and Pelco | Updated: 1/19/2009 | Article type: Government & Public Services

From high-security prisons to police substations, security solutions play an important role at correctional facilities.


ADT Secures Hungarian Prison
ADT installed the security system at Hungary's Szombathely prison, boasting the most advanced graphics-based monitoring software in the nation. The Szombathely facility will house 800 prisoners, operating at Hungary's highest security level.


The integrated system for the Szombathely prison ensures high standards of security, monitoring and detection.


State-of-the-art Integration
The prison's high specifications were met with an advanced technological solution, combining fire and security technology components. Synergy of the system's 10,000 components was possible, as nearly all of them — cables, scanners, cameras, fire detectors — were ADT products and were compatible with each other.


A surveillance network forms the largest system within the overall setup — supporting nearly 500 external and internal cameras integrated with a digital recording system. The data storage space exceeds 60 terabytes.


A multi zone intrusion and escape detection system uses microwave and infrared technology. The integrated proxy-card access control system monitors entrances and exits, and features airlocks and a master key system. Gate, handheld metal detectors and X-ray baggage scanners are at security checkpoints.


Guards are protected by a wireless emergency alert system, with a wired system in high risk areas, which allows quick alert and response times in emergencies.


ADT also installed a fire detection system incorporating 1,500 sensors. Audio amplification, internal communication and lighting control systems are part of the integrated prison system.


Graphics-based Monitoring Software
The Szombathely prison has a high-security IT network, built around an optical fiber backbone. The "brain" of the system is an integrated graphics-based monitoring software program, which displays live information from the subsystems to monitoring center personnel.


The system simultaneously displays task lists with images from the system and records an event log. It monitors 10,000 devices for up to seven different status settings, or 70,000 status settings. It registers and displays all impulses arriving from signal locations through the kilometers-long "signal-chain" in a second. The system can initiate control procedures and intervene as required by the operational personnel.


An advantage of integration is that information from one system can be utilized by another. For example, the system can process the access control system database. Its telephone book automatically enables duty personnel to be called en masse, in line with alert procedures. This functionality is unique to two new Hungarian prisons, where ADT has integrated fire and security solutions.


Bosch Wireless Officer Alarm System Offers Secure Environment
Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) Perth is one of the largest prisons in Scotland. It houses around 700 inmates, including short-term adult male prisoners and remand prisoners.


Upgrading Safety and Security
SPS looked into upgrading security alarm systems in the prison. Traditionally, systems used throughout U.K. prisons include fixed wall-mounted alarm buttons and private mobile radios (PMRs). A wireless system with alarm mobiles carried by officers was an obvious option. Not only would this provide added personal security for all officers, but by eliminating the wiring needed with the old wall-mounted alarm system, it could offer cost savings during renovation and rebuilding.


The PS-Pager system is a flexible wireless personal alarm solution. All prison officers have their own PS-Pager mobile, which can transmit an alarm to the Central Control room. The status of all PS-Pagers is monitored and requests for assistance are automatically routed. If Central Control is unmanned, the system automatically forwards the alarm call to a response team.


The system features an embedded RF-based location detection system, ensuring that the position of every officer can be tracked throughout the prison.


Designed for quick and accurate response to prevent an alarm situation escalating into an emergency, the PS-Pager is the main mobile device carried by the prison staff.


Pelco Cameras Cover Colorado Springs Police Substation


Mission
When the US$6.2 million Stetson Hills Substation opened in Colorado Springs, United States, there was a need for both indoor and outdoor cameras of the highest caliber. The substation is home to 135 police department employees and provides temporary quarters for an average of 250 "guests" per month.


Not only do outdoor temperatures in Colorado Springs vary significantly, the area is also home to seasonal thunderstorm activity from May through October. The system needed to be able to continuously record all outdoor and indoor activities, integrate with the access control system and operate through all kinds of weather.


Solution
The system consists of Pelco's indoor (color) and outdoor (day/night) Spectra Series Dome Positioning Systems, along with Integrated Camclosure units and CC3700 Series fixed cameras. Working together, they capture the video images that are then stored on DX8000 Digital Video Recorders. The system is set to continuously record all activity on a 14-day loop and CD copies are made four to five times a month. To ensure high system reliability and survivability in case of a lightning strike, fiber optic cable is used for the transmission of video signals from exterior cameras to the DVRs. Power for exterior cameras is provided from isolated power supplies and a UPS/Surge Suppressor installed at the system head end also offers additional protection.


Result
The Pelco video security system has played an important role in helping secure the Colorado Springs police substation both day and night, rain or shine. Police Services Representative Kim Brunson has found the new system simple to use and highly effective, as it allows her to select specific cameras in order to focus on what is most important during her shift. The recorded data is also invaluable for ongoing investigations and for use as evidence in future cases. And while no individual component can survive a direct lightning strike, the substation's new system minimizes the possibility that an electrical surge could cause a serious system outage.

Opportunities for Guangdong Security Industry

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 12/29/2008 | Article type: China Corner

The Chinese electronic security industry started out when international brands made contact with local distributors. Agents in Guangdong, in particular, benefited given its close proximity to Hong Kong. Today, these electronic security players come in the following three varieties: local manufacturers, those with foreign investment and R&D support, and distributors.


Vendors with strong R&D capabilities in Guangdong province are improving solutions to remain competitive. ATI, for example, produces video doorphones and CCTV equipment; NPE features products with Australian and Japanese technology; Linbell benefits from Hong Kong connections; and Lan Castle and Goldenlan combine the best of what both China and Taiwan have to offer.


According to Zhang Yeling, General Manager of Linbell, up to 50 percent of digital light processing (DLP) products are made in China. To further improve quality, Linbell has partnered with Mitsibushi.


Lan Castle is enhancing competitiveness with Taiwanese IC chips. "We are the only DVR supplier that makes our own IC chips," said General Manager Yang Yanfei. To provide quality products at a reasonable price, Lan Castle has fully automated production. This has also made it possible to offer greater customization of housings and software interfaces.


Goldenlan, which specializes in IP networking solutions, is looking to advanced audio and video coding standard (AVS) transmission to provide better image quality when bandwidth is limited. "Chinese manufacturers have their own algorithms so there are no legal problems when exporting," explained Hu Wei, General Manager of the company's Technical Support Center.


Goldenlan has also teamed up with a Taiwanese company, a digital media institute at Beijing University and the Shanghai Institute of Computing Technology to promote AVS in video monitoring applications. The new solutions include software management platforms and AVS system on chips (SoCs).


Function ATI Telecommunications has been manufacturing electronic security products since 1995. Today, it has R&D centers in the U.S., Taiwan and Shenzhen. According to Teddy Li, Chief of the Marketing Department, the U.S. center provides the R&D direction. "We are targeting domestic vertical markets like the military and campuses," said Li. "Our new solutions feature WiFi to enhance flexibility of applications and transmission efficiency."


Video doorphone systems, said Li, are usually purchased by real estate developers rather than installers or home owners. "Some functions may not be practical for overseas markets, but Chinese real estate developers want fancy products to earn bigger profits."


Protruly understands that intrusion alarm systems with stylish appearances are more profitable. It launched its latest intelligent door lock to target value-added applications. "We offered US$7,500 to anyone who could force the lock, but no one succeeded," said Chen Daoqing, Marketing Director of Protruly. "Some visitors even tried interrupt the alarm control panel to open the door; nothing that they tried, however, worked." The only way to open it, he said, is via a key embedded with a chip.


According to Chen, the advanced mechanism lock features intelligent functions to trigger alarms for vandalism and illegal copying of keys. To enhance safety, it works with Daunting home safety alarm systems to disarm itself for home owners. Furthermore, not only is quality guaranteed but also owners are protected by China Pin An Insurance up to $15,000 for losses stemming from intrusions.


New-Tech Protective Electronics (NTP) has incorporated Australian technology to deliver video monitoring and multiple access management suited for crucial areas. "Our company hired a Japanese research professional with expertise in optical technologies," said Luo Cheng, an engineer in the Technical Support Department at NPE.


This, he continued, has enabled NPE to promote cameras with Sony third-generation wide-dynamic-range solution and blaze-retraining for harsh lighting conditions on roads. The cameras are also equipped with Tamron lenses for better image quality and stability.


According to Huang Jing, Manager of Aony, many products on the market fall into the me-too category. Aony is planning to set up a dust-free factory to enhance IR LED assembly for its IR cameras. "We do not want to get involved in price wars; that is why we are working only on high-end IR cameras." Huang pointed out that while Chinese manufacturers provide excellent products, the major bottle neck is the huge investment required to perfect manufacturing facilities.


Take Chinese-made speed domes. "They perform well only with specific camera modules because the housings do not offer good ventilation," said Huang. "Chinese manufacturers lack prowess in product finishing; they are not able to drill perfectly smooth ventilation holes like the Japanese.


" Eagle is working on sophisticated alarm sensors with high-quality optical lenses and light filters, among others. Its patented connections, for example, reduce installation time and effort, thus driving down installation costs. Kewang and Jianbiao are tailoring equipment cases for central monitoring systems. Even though these products are mostly for the Chinese market, Jianbiao has developed a desk with an embedded two-drawer space on the top to enhance user-friendliness.


TBL is promoting intelligent IR chips that offer better performance over IR LED arrays. The design enables nighttime viewing with regular box cameras. Bestech has launched IR speed domes with nanometer technology to ensure water-proofing in outdoor environments. Finally, Dikai, Xierli and Jiali are marketing anti-lightning and anti-strike devices.


Key Distributors
Major distributors in Guangdong include Aoxing, Baoshijie, Billion Technology, Ding Li, JWS, Qihan, Ruixun, VisionCom and WinHi. Major partners include Bosch, JVC, Panasonic and Samsung. Agents also provide key feedback.


Many find it easier to introduce international brands since image and reputation are well-established. "Almost 90 percent of alarm products sold in richer cities like Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and Qingdao are foreign brands, even though they cost twice as much for the same functionalities," said Peter Yu, General Manager of VisionCom.


Most distributors find much to like about Chinese products as well. "One developed a fluorescent intrusion sensor," said Yu. "When it detects suspicious targets, a light flashes and a buzzer sounds.


Another example where Chinese products outdo the competition, he continued, is wireless alarm control panels. "Imports support only short-distance transmission. Chinese suppliers, however, are customizing products to reach distances up to one kilometer."


Chinese video doorphones impress with CAT-5 transmission and IP functions, said Xia Bing, General Manager of Aoxing. "Also, international brands do not respond as quickly when it comes to differentiating themselves or keeping up with the latest trends."