Danish visual arts museum turns to discreet IP-based surveillance

Editor / Provider: Axis Communications | Updated: 5/8/2013 | Article type: Government & Public Services

The Danish government's main museum for visual arts, the National Gallery of Denmark in Copenhagen, upgraded its CCTV system in 2012 consisting of 60 analog cameras to a discreet IP-based surveillance comprised of Axis Communications one-megapixel HD cameras and Mirasys NVRs to prevent priceless artworks from theft and damage. The solution was developed jointly between Axis and partner G4S in Denmark, while the product supplier and distributor of the project was EET Europarts.

The gallery has approximately 115 employees and 60 students who occupy the building. Extremely valuable and priceless artworks are on public display in the galleries. Art pieces must be protected from theft and damage, and the safety of the employees and the thousands of people visiting the gallery daily must also be secured. In 2012 the entire CCTV system was extensively upgraded. An important consideration was that the cameras should be discreet and not distract attention from the paintings, and that they should also be easy to move, as the building is reorganized up to two to three times annually.

The museum still has a large number of analog cameras in the system, but the plan is to replace even more of these with IP cameras. The remaining analog cameras are currently connected and integrated into the system using Axis video encoders. “All you need to do is install the camera, program the IP address and run the cable. And then it takes a couple of minutes to adjust the camera angle and the lens,” said Claus Bjerg, G4S. Moreover, one cable per camera is sufficient, as the cameras are powered via the network cable. (This is important as SMK is a listed building in which running cabling, drilling and structural alterations are strictly limited).

Visitors do not even notice the cameras, and for designers the cameras are easier to locate, due to its HD images. “I've not heard any of the designers complain about the cameras,” said the museum's Security Manager Mike Coffman.“On the contrary, several have actually praised the decision to make the conversion.”

As the entire system is based on an open platform, it can be simply upgraded in line with technological development. There are also plans to exploit the opportunities of using intelligent applications, for example, to calculate the number of visitors and analyze how they move around the building. “Apart from using them to calculate how many people are in the building, it's possible to see how visitors move around and between the galleries,” said Coffman.“This is very useful information when planning exhibitions. It would also be good to be able to use intelligence in case of an evacuation, to know whether there are people left in the building and in that case, their location.”

Dutch Hospital Selects IQinVision to Enhance Quality of Care

Editor / Provider: IQinVision | Updated: 7/18/2012 | Article type: Commercial Markets

IQinVision nnounced Elkerliek Hospital in the Netherlands has chosen IQinVision HD megapixel cameras for its recent upgrade to IP video surveillance. Xserius is the distributor for the project, and Flexposure is the project integrator.

Elkerliek Hospital supplies modern, high-quality basic care to its patients. The hospital is run under the motto, “Providing quality care begins with the design of good, modern services for parking, reception, and security.” Thanks to this philosophy and commitment, the hospital was recently recognized as the “Most Hospitable” in the Netherlands.

When hospital administrators decided to upgrade to IP video surveillance, they wanted to accomplish traditional security goals and to optimize extra services and health care. To accomplish these goals, project managers decided a deep integration between parking, access, and other security systems would be required. In order to integrate IP cameras into the overall system, it was crucial that the cameras chosen demonstrate excellent performance in low light situations. The hospital also wanted megapixel quality cameras to ensure detailed camera images at all times.

The decisive factor in choosing IQinVision was the proven ability of the IQeye megapixel cameras to meet Elkerliek's expectations. As a result, and due to IQinVision's open standards, Flexposure was able to successfully integrate 150 IQeye cameras into the centralized security system. As an added bonus, the project solution is future-proof: camera numbers can easily be expanded and cameras can be moved anywhere there is a network connection, should the need arise.

Integration and centralization of different systems within the hospital helps ensure the safety of all patients and staff, and such integration also provides important resources and information to make the best medical care possible. Detailed camera images, managed by a Mirasys VMS, are now used to facilitate parking, confirm access control information, and are available for other uses in the central control room. “The Elkerliek Hospital project is an excellent example of the expanded role integrated security systems can play,” commented Henri Nieuwstraten, GM, Xserius.

Samsung to Promote Smart Security

Editor / Provider: Jill Lai | Updated: 5/15/2012 | Article type: Security 50

asmag.com interviewed Tim Biddulph, IP Product Manager, Samsung Techwin Europe about “Smart Security,” promoted at IFSEC 2012 and their road shows around the UK.

asmag.com: The purpose of “smart security” is to ease the difficulty of making the migration from analogue to IP. Could you provide some examples to demonstrate this idea?

Biddulph: Smart Security is a phrase which Samsung has given to a ‘philosophy' which recognises that until quite recently, Video over IP was only perceived as a solution for large projects but that we are now also increasingly seeing the technology utilised in small to medium sized installations. Despite this, for every installer or system integrator who is knowledgeable about network based security systems, there are probably still many more who do not yet know what questions to ask when they have a requirement to specify an IP network based solution. As a major stakeholder in the security industry, we feel it is essential that we share our knowledge and expertise in respect of IP network solutions and technologies with our existing and potential customers. Our Smart Security philosophy is therefore all about how customers, with our help, can upgrade from an analogue system to an IP and network based solution in the smartest way for their business.

asmag.com: For system integrators, what is the advantage of adopting Samsung IP products over other brands?

Biddulph: We now have a comprehensive range of IP devices from cameras to recorders and switches and can therefore offer a one-stop-shop for most projects, but it is not good enough just to have what we believe are ‘Best in Class' products. Customers also expect us to provide excellence pre and post sales support which, with the co-operation from our network of distributors, we are determined to provide.

For installers and system integrators, the advantage of working with Samsung is that we are solution ‘agnostic'. Perhaps this is not totally accurate, as we do firmly believe that a very high percentage of video surveillance systems in the future will be IP network based, but we are in a strong position to be objective when offering advice on the best technology to be used for a specific project. Our product catalogue now provides customers with a choice that includes a comprehensive and competitively priced range of analogue cameras, DVRs and monitors, a complete end-to-end IP solutions range, license-free viewing and recording software and an impressive line-up of high definition megapixel cameras. ‘Hybrid' options include encoders, which provide a cost effective and easy to implement method of adding analogue cameras to an IP/network based video surveillance system, and HD-SDI cameras which allow the transmission of uncompressed and non-packetized Full HD (1080P) video over analogue cabling.

asmag.com: I have noticed that the slogan of “smart security” is only promoted in Europe, especially the UK. Is this true?

Biddulph: The Smart Security philosophy is being promoted throughout Europe. The UK however has been among one of the slowest countries in Europe to embrace the opportunities offered by IP network based video surveillance systems. This is to some degree understandable because the UK has such a large number of existing analogue systems but it is for this reason that the Samsung's UK sales team are currently conducting a series Smart Security Days with the objective of taking the mystery out of installing an IP and network solution. By doing so, we can demonstrate to customers that with the correct advice and guidance, they need not have any fear of embracing what is a truly exciting technology which offers so many benefits, not the least of which is the opportunity to gain maximum advantage from the latest HD megapixel cameras.

asmag.com: Samsung have been the market leader of analogue security equipments. How does Samsung strengthen its capability in IP technology especially in Europe, where many leading IP video solution providers are located?

Biddulph: Samsung has been acknowledged by independent research companies as one of the top three European security brands and although until recently our strength has predominantly been with analogue technology, we now also have a comprehensive range of IP and network products.

One of the things we have done recently to help our customers in Europe and build on the trust they have in the Samsung brand is to accelerate our programme to integrate our cameras, DVRs and NVRs with video management software offered by leading independent software vendors (ISVs). Axxon, Aimetis, Digifort, Griffid, Ipronet, Exacq, Genetec, ISS, Milestone, Mirasys, ONssi and Seetec are now among the list of manufacturers that Samsung has been working with because of their ability to offer ‘open' software specifically designed to facilitate the integration of equipment and systems from different manufacturers. This is to provide customers with the flexibility to choose the perfect combination of security products to match their specific requirements. We recognise that in a tough economic climate, we must ensure that customers achieve the full benefit from their investment in a security system. This means providing customers with the option for Samsung products to be controlled and monitored alongside equipment produced by other manufacturers. Working closely with ISVs is very much a part of our Smart Security philosophy which is primarily about making it easy for customers who are looking for a gradual transition from an existing analogue system to a full IP network based surveillance solution.

Messoa Network Domes Provides Safer Nightlife at Dutch Pub

Editor / Provider: Messoa | Updated: 12/2/2011 | Article type: Commercial Markets

Sorbonne is a popular dance café located in the center of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The two-story pub opens 7 days a week, offering dining services during lunch/dinner hours and turning into a lively nightlife venue late in the evening. However, situated in the heart of the most unsafe city in the country, the owner of Sorbonne is concerned with any crime-related incidents that are likely to happen in the block, as well as within the pub.

To protect his customers and employees, he was prompted to deploy security cameras. He additionally requested for remote monitoring accessibility to real-time streaming video on mobile devices to keep an eye on what goes on around the pub.

Sorbonne turned to XSERIUS, a local system integrator partner with MESSOA, for professional installation. To make mobile access possible, a network IP surveillance system seems to be the only viable choice to go with for this project. Meanwhile, taking the complexity of lighting in a nightclub environment into consideration, it is essential to deploy a network camera with outstanding imaging performance in difficult lighting conditions to meet the harsh requirements.

After identifying Sorbonne's needs, XSERIUS, with its extensive proficiency in IP technology and a wide spectrum of client base, recommended MESSOA IP dome camera, to do the job. A total of 12 IP dome cameras are strategically positioned both inside and outside of the pub to get a comprehensive overview of the entire premises.

All sorts of lighting effects may be encountered in an environment like nightclubs, where there may be dim lighting, multi-colored lighting or even strobe lighting for creating such ambiance. But from the security's point view, this poses a serious threat for cameras from capturing useful images while adjusting to the constantly-changing lighting background.

The camera features digital day/night capability to dynamically adapt to complicated indoor lighting environment. The camera is further powered by the proprietary Lumii imaging technology that significantly enhances light sensitivity and noise reduction to deliver crisper images in the low-light settings. The Full HD 1080p resolution adds to the already superior image quality that has to offer.

To achieve remote access from mobile devices as required, the ONVIF-compliant day/night camera is flawlessly interoperated with the NVR and a spotter app from Mirasys designed for Smartphone and tablet PCs. The app in combination with MESSOA cameras allows the user to view live video streams and to access recorded footage remotely in superb picture quality.

Design-wise, the vandal-resistant casing of the day/night camera is able to protect the camera from external impacts, while its low-profile look blends perfectly in the modern pub interior.

After the surveillance system is in place, the staff at Sorbonne now has a much more effective tool to help them when they are trying to validate any brawl or confrontation that may happen inside the pub from time to time. The owner could also be notified in the first place via his mobile device should any incident occur and make necessary arrangement to solve it remotely without having to be physically on-site. Risks of robbery and other crime activities are also expected to drop in the long run with the help of high-definition recorded footage as the most powerful proof.

How to Avoid Common Surveillance ‘Traps'

Editor / Provider: Submitted by Mirasys | Updated: 9/29/2011 | Article type: Hot Topics

Instances where poor video surveillance installations result in detrimental impact on forensic investigations remain common, leaving end users unhappy and frustrated. In this article, Iain Cameron of Mirasys details some of the most common mistakes made by installers and/or end users, which reduce the efficacy of surveillance infrastructure, and presents some advice on how these common downfalls can be avoided through thorough planning and understanding.


1. IDENTIFYING REQUIREMENTS
Lack of awareness around surveillance requirements of any given customer/location is one of the biggest problems associated with the technology today. Installers need to identify the core business needs of the customer, and whether the infrastructure is required for security, to act as a deterrent, for data gathering or a combination of all three. Too often, installers jump to the design and installation phase without meeting the end-user requirements first, which could lead to critical aims and objectives not being met once the implementation is complete.

In neglecting this essential step, end users may find that they have surveillance solutions installed, which either are insufficient for purpose or include unnecessary features which they are paying for and simply not using. Businesses looking to implement a surveillance system go to installers for experience-based advice, and it is, therefore, essential that end users and installers work together from the start and communicate needs to ensure the chosen solution suits them.

For example, businesses should evaluate whether they are looking to observe static or moving objects, people or locations, in dim or bright light; each of these factors, and many others, will impact the solution and its outcome.

2. OVER SPECIFICATION
With a proliferation of new technology being brought to market and the advancement of features like VCA, another common mistake is for a business to implement technology for technology's sake, demanding higher specifications than may be actually needed. For example, businesses today often look to meet too many requirements at one time, and in a surveillance context, this may mean wanting HD or even broadcast grade as well as high frame rates. Achieving this can often be financially unrealistic, as broadcast-grade video recording at a high frame rate can cost upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Similarly, multimegapixel cameras may struggle in low light or when expected to monitor fast movement such as traffic. Installers, therefore, have a responsibility to identify these limitations to end users to set expectations appropriately. Equally, customers need to be open to expert advice around getting the best results for any given surveillance area. For example, balancing a lower-resolution camera with a higher frame rate can achieve similar results as utilizing an HD camera, while still keeping costs low.

3. LIMITED MARKET UNDERSTANDING
The plethora of highly functional and feature-rich video solutions on the market would make designing an installation “into a corner” a real mistake. Getting the most out of a surveillance platform and deriving value for money are important, and require a scalable and flexible solution that can accommodate future changes as technologies continue to evolve.

For example, a situation where updated camera or analytic technology cannot be folded into an existing infrastructure due to a closed, proprietary implementation is an oversight which is made too often. For businesses who want to take full advantage of what is on offer in the marketplace, utilizing an open platform which supports technologies from multiple vendors is much more effective, particularly when ensuring that a business' surveillance needs can be supported as security requirements evolve.

In particular, companies which design their installations based on budgetary constraints as opposed to requirements are failing to recognize that quality solutions will deliver more effectively over a longer period of time. If the initial investment is lacking, then solutions may fall short of their intended purpose. Installations which fail to address all considerations at the outset are frequently found to be of less use when they are needed. For example, end users need to be educated on features such as VCA, mobile access and remote monitoring; this will help ensure that they get the most out of solutions.

4. POOR MAINTENANCE
To avoid potential system failures, it is important to keep all equipment properly maintained. Having a good maintenance schedule and structure means that a business can ensure all cameras are functioning as they should be and that system integrity is up to scratch. Neglecting maintenance is likely to result in faults later down the line. Within the context of IT and data management, maintenance schedules such as rebooting devices, clearing caches, removing unwanted data and ensuring system performance through commonly scheduled maintenance events are important in order to ensure that solutions are running efficiently.

In recent discussions with law enforcement agencies, it is also apparent that the ability to produce usable and admissible evidence is absolutely imperative, so in certain cases, the systems used should be able to provide both easily viewable, re-encoded footage as well as the native recordings, without having to take the systems off-line. End users do not always understand these basic maintenance tasks, and so one way to combat this is for installers to include these schedules within a managed service to ensure the long-term performance of the solution. Offering this service is also a great way for installers to stand out from competitors.

Furthermore, it is important to point out that the higher the specification of the implemented solution, the more maintenance is required. Often, users of VCA solutions such as ALPR do not realize that maintenance is also required here to keep on top of the vast quantities of data required to run algorithms which result in enter and exit filters, dwell filters and even object filters. When upgrading a solution, maintenance schedules also need to be upgraded to meet new demands.

5. AN IT ISSUE
The increasingly complex nature of security installations, particularly when employing IP-based solutions, means that video surveillance is — more than ever — becoming an issue for the IT department instead of a concern solely for security staff. A common error is the failure to adequately consider the capabilities of the IT department when choosing and implementing security solutions, and evaluate whether these match the requirements of complex surveillance technologies.

For example, transmission of IP footage requires high network bandwidth availability and data center storage; these are clearly issues which should be discussed with the IT team before any significant infrastructure decisions are made. Too often, IT personnel will inform security teams that video surveillance is not permitted to run on the existing infrastructure due to issues such as company policy, which can lead to a poorly implemented system not fit for purpose.

Addressing common missteps when implementing video surveillance solutions means that installers and end users alike can ensure platforms meet business requirements. By addressing these challenges at the outset, any project — whether it is “ripping out and replacing” or upgrading an existing implementation — should be successful for both the installer and end user. The long-term benefits of careful planning are evident, forming the basis of any successful implementation which offers high performance, longevity and cost-effectiveness.

UK Security: Industry in Flux

Editor / Provider: The Editorial Team | Updated: 8/24/2011 | Article type: Hot Topics

The U.K. is one of the most mature markets in the world, with more new players making their mark. John Shi, Editorial Director of a&s magazines, examines key trends in the channel and in technology.

The U.K. is a major security force to be reckoned with. However, national austerity measures and an anemic economy have slowed growth.

At the May IFSEC exhibition, the number of exhibitors held steady. However, more of the exhibitors were new. While the UK remains stable, the influx of new players is shaking up a stagnant industry.

Overall, more Asian companies were represented, introducing serious price competition. Major players were forced to reevaluate their positioning and price point. Some examples included Norbain's launch of SupaVu, its ultra no-frills offering. While the Vista lines will maintain the same levels of support, SupaVu is purely mature analog products that do not require additional service. The product will be distributed through mail-order and online sales.

Market consolidation is expected to grow. “We see more Asian players enter the market,” said Paul Wong, MD of Bosch Security Systems. “Some single-line manufacturers have suffered with smaller portfolios.”

Long-term players are adjusting their playbook to deal with new competition. Bosch has launched a complete midrange product lineup as a more cost-effective alternative. “Our customers want to be aligned with a known brand,” Wong said. “Most of the mid-end products are not known brands. Brand recognition has Industry in Flux UK Security been positive, with a competitive price point.”

Companies will have to redefine their value, from manufacturers to channel players. Canon diversified its surveillance offering with a new IP line. “The future of IP security lies with intelligent cameras and HD quality images; Canon's technology will keep us at the cutting edge of the network camera sector, while allowing us to continue to offer our customers the highest quality security solutions,” said Anand Subbiah, GM of Ubiqz, Canon's UK distributor.

The migration to IP has resulted in rapid development of new players channel players. Mayflex, Ubiqz and CCTV42 are among the start-ups emphasizing IP video. CCTV42 was founded by two users who were exasperated with existing options and decided to build their own “real-world” solution. Even traditional players such as Norbain are taking note of IP, recruiting a managing director with 30 years experience from the IT world.

From Norbain's point of view, analog forms the base of the technology pyramid, said Barry Shakespeare, MD of Norbain. It has the largest market volume and continues to see development in analog solutions. The midmarket will migrate to hybrid solutions mixing IP with analog, but demands compatibility with existing hardware. IP will be embraced by early adopters at the top of the pyramid, who seek comprehensive solutions that will integrate with their IT infrastructure.

Nearly all new players promote IP solutions, while some analog manufacturers are nowhere to be seen, Shakespeare said. While currently few security installers work with Microsoft, the IT world practically requires Microsoft certification. As more companies move into the IP space, holistic solutions are set to become more common.

Overall, the UK market has slowed. “I would say the market generally has seen a CAGR reduction of 10 percent for the last three years,” Wong said. “The UK government is trying to reduce the deficit, so the spending is down. That's mostly in infrastructure: Rail, roads, bridges. However, that's being countered by the antiterrorism initiatives.”

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Whole-scene imaging
Video surveillance has made strides in imaging, enabling operators to see more detail than ever. For whole-scene imaging, Axis Communications offered a camera combining fisheye and megapixel lenses. While the fisheye image remains unwarped, it lets operators identify regions of interest to zoom in on with the megapixel lens for added detail.

Megapixel cameras reached double-digit counts, including Arecont Vision's 20-megapixel model combining four 5-megapixel cameras. Dallmeier electronic's Panomera was even more impressive, combining 12 lenses for up to 51 megapixels of detail. Its unique lens is designed to keep the foreground and background equally sharp, regardless of where operators look in the scene. These big-picture solutions enable effective wide-area monitoring, indicating a significant product trend.

ImmerVision offers a patented panomorph lens and dewarping technology, intended to overcome imaging flaws in fisheye lenses. By maintaining crisp images with no blur at the edges, it certifies lens suppliers, camera manufacturers and software providers that pass its testing process. Once a lens is certified, it can work with any camera or software platform that supports the ImmerVision panomorph technology for comprehensive overhead viewing.

Software Platforms Must Capture Market Share Early
VMS is still in the infancy of its life cycle, requiring continued market education. While there are countless software providers, competition is less of an issue compared to information, as companies struggle to increase market share.

Physical security is relatively conservative, making it harder to develop VMS. New developments are eyed suspiciously and users generally ask for case studies before they are willing to deploy a solution. “What we typically see is that is takes more than six months for really new things to take off,” said Jukka Riivari, CEO of Mirasys. “This whole market is still immature. We're in a stage of consolidation.”

As standards take hold for video surveillance products, VMS vendors are also moving from proprietary solutions to open ones. “We spent three years opening up our system and now we can integrate with anyone,” said Oliver Vellacott, CEO of IndigoVision. “We realize people need choice and we can't do everything ourselves. Our strategy is to move toward PSIM, bit by bit. PSIM is all about dragging in huge amounts of data and combining it with video to make decisions.”

Some vendors stake their reputation on openness. “A real element that defines this market is we're independent,” said Darren Chalmers-Stevens, Director of Europe, VidSys. “We're not a threat to video surveillance or access control companies.”

The PSIM model offers better use of existing systems, effective corporate governance and situational awareness. “People can see and analyze unlike before,” Chalmers-Stevens said. “It has the five key principles: Collect, analyze, verification, resolution and reporting. That's the ability for people to add real value.” More VMS platforms are accommodating access control management software for increased openness. “People are starting to understand and adapt open access control architecture,” said Michael Chalouhi, Director of Product Management for Genetec. “People can migrate to a better system without throwing everything away.”

However, the access control industry is mostly proprietary. “I would throw down a challenge to those guys: We're open, why aren't you?” Vellacott said. “They like having proprietary solutions they lock the customer into. If the industry really had a choice, they'd go the same route as us.”

Openness has extended to audio, with IP communications provider Barix offering a two-way audio solution integrated with video. IP standards make such integrations more effective.

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HD
HD-SDI solutions are all the rage, providing a transition point for the analog-to-IP migration. With more camera options than ever from analog video manufacturers, HD-SDI combines coaxial transmission with high-definition (HD) resolution. Norbain's Vista range included HD-SDI solutions, as well as EverFocus Electronics. As Norbain knows the UK market as the largest distributor, carrying HD over coaxial cabling shows this is a definite market need.

CNB has also launched a range of HD cameras. “Our customers are questioning us about HD-SDI and IP,” said Sean Kim, GM of CNB Technology. “We think it could be very booming.”

HDcctv video systems will be ideal for the analog market, Kim said. “It's hard to predict the growth,” he said. “It's a good idea but there's not a complete system.” Customers are confused about what HD-SDI is, with its cabling. They are also unclear about how HD-SDI differs from IP.

Sony has taken a different tack on HD with its hybrid camera with Intersil. It has not adopted the HD-SDI standard, despite its broadcast TV know-how. Intersil's Security Link over Coax (SLOC) technology enables transmission of IP and analog signals over a single cable. This would allow a network megapixel camera to use the same cabling system with analog cameras to transmit images up to 500 feet.

“For Sony, we are showing we are totally committed to IP,” said Mathieu Lesieur, Video Security Regional Trade Marketing Manager, South and East Europe, Sony Corporation. “It's getting really fast and big.” HD-SDI adopts a broadcast transmission medium as the basis for HD development. As the signals are uncompressed, there is no image lag or TCP/ IP protocol issues. The completeness of the HD-SDI transmission standard offers a high resolution plug-and-play camera that works on any HD display. The development of HD makes it a serious competitor in the face of megapixel's biggest advantage: Detail. The Sony solution emphasizes displays with HD and IP, while Intersil's SLOC emphasizes transmission to the backend. As HD-SDI launches continue, they satisfy a demand for a midway solution between analog and IP.

Innovation
IP has enabled greater connectivity and handy applications such as remote monitoring. The CheckMyCCTV diagnostic from CheckMySystems offers health monitoring on video surveillance systems for installers and monitoring centers. Instead of going out to each location, the software acts as a virtual 24-hour engineer, checking for network connectivity, camera status and more. Another technology that saves installer time is the iLOQ, a battery-free IP access control system. While each mechanical key is identical, access privileges are programmed into each key. Locks and the IP access control system are powered by the insertion of the keys, requiring no wires and cutting installation space and costs. The UK market remains stable, with continued demand for solid solutions. As newer players make their mark, they bring vitality to a stagnant market.

Your Business's Best Friend

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 6/29/2011 | Article type: Tech Corner

Anyone who hasever taken notes on a regular basis understands how limiting handwritten notes can be; finding specific information in a notebook can be time-consuming and frustrating. In the past, video archives were nothing more than a collection of footage waiting to be reviewed. With the advent of intelligent surveillance systems, raw video has been transformed into actionable information.

Video content analysis (VCA) has been plagued by bad business practices and unrealistic expectations, but the technology is, in many ways, still evolving and there have already been tried and tested real-life success stories that benefit from it.

The key for VCA to provide maximum value is having a clearly defined problem and realistic expectations of a solution. “There have been successful projects installed all across Europe,” said Gerard Otterspeer, CCTV Product Marketing Manager, Bosch Security Systems. “In Greece, for example, they use video analytics in tunnels to detect if someone is driving the wrong way or at the wrong speed.

That's directional detection coupled with speed detection. If a car stops in the tunnel for a certain amount of time, which is object loitering, the local authorities can be notified. Furthermore, a clear distinction is made between size and object shape, so the system knows if it's looking at a person or a car.”

Quality Comes With a Tag
What exactly is intelligent video? It is a system that analyzes millions of pixels at blazing speeds, Otterspeer said. “No matter what detection you choose, as simple as it may seem, all of it depends on the underlying algorithm. The first step is to analyze all those pixels and then identify objects. Only when you have the objects can you set the rules. So, it all starts with the quality of the algorithm, and this varies greatly from provider to provider.”

For example , in a complex environment where there are objects walking past one another in the background and foreground, the object IDs may be merging and splitting constantly since the camera is not aware of depth in the scene. “A lot of time and efforts have gone into optimizing ID tracking to ensure there is a right balance. If this is not done properly and two objects merge into one, it messes up the detection,” Otterspeer explained.

Many camera companies are giving away their software at low or even zero costs. However, you get what you pay for, which is nothing, cautioned Ivy Li, cofounder and MD of iOmniscient. “System integrators sometimes complain that the products they were using did not work — if they bought them based on price rather than quality and functionality, they should not be surprised.” Developing VCA algorithms requires a tremendous amount of time and resources. When a provider is giving them away for free, it is possible that they did not put in that much effort to begin with. Came r a s , DVRs a n d o t h e r hardware devices are becoming commodities with reasonable quality, leaving price the only thing to compete on, Li said. “This is not yet true for video analytics. The huge difference in quality drives the market and solution prices.”

Most companies already offer reliable, basic solutions such as line crossing, zone entry/exit and tampering detection. Price per channel for these is dropping since most companies can deliver, said Thejaswi Bharadwaj, Head of Civilian Technologies at Delopt. “However, for analytics that involve significant R&D and intellectual property such as people counting, PTZ tracking and ALPR, the prices will stay steady for quite a while.” Today, many camera and DVR manufacturers give away their software for free to sell their other products, Li said. “If you want a good, working product, you would have to pay for it. It's the same with transportation. You can get a bicycle very cheaply. However, it will not get you from Beijing to Paris quickly.”

"Many VCA solutions on the market today use video motion detection. Today's VCA uses advanced technology which applies machine vision to video scenarios in security and business intelligence applications," said Ed Troha, MD of Global Marketing at ObjectVideo. "Video motion detection is often used in products as an added component to drive hardware sales. These are not truly intelligent analytics and can have limited reliability."

Processing
The algorithms determine how intelligent the VCA is, said Patrick Lim, Director of Sales and Marketing for Ademco Far East. “There are products that use entrylevel processors but perform very intelligent functions without a problem. However, having a more powerful processor gives you some space to accommodate future firmware upgrades that can bring more complex algorithms and smarter features.”

VCA algorithms are very computationally intensive, and any increase in available processing power results in the ability to deploy more accurate algorithms without increasing solution prices, said Zvika Ashani, CTO of Agent Video Intelligence. “Computerized vision is a science that has many applications other than security, and advances are slowly applied to VCA, resulting in an increase in solution accuracy.”

Organizations that have the luxury of applying their algorithms to different industries have the greatest advantage since they can adapt and apply their algorithms to different applications, achieving economy of scale and knowledge-sharing among different projects, Otterspeer added. "For example, algorithm R&D could be centralized and later utilized across divisions such as automotive and security."

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Play Nice
Different vendors take different approaches, but the underlying concept is the same. Classifying different rules based on accuracy helps. According to Bharadwaj, there are three categories:
1. Moving objects: people counting, line crossing, zone entry/exit;
2. Static/semi-static objects: object removal, unattended object, dwell time detection (not based on face detection), loitering, crowd counting, object classification; and
3. Special rules: camera tampering, PTZ tracking of moving/stationary objects, ALPR, face detection.

Solutions for the first and third categories are mature, Bharadwaj said. “With the second, we believe more R&D investment is needed for a foolproof solution that works in all situations to surface.” However, Li feels that the question is not about whether an application is ready, but rather if a particular supplier has a product that can work robustly in different environments.

There are four VCA rules that most users are familiar with, namely people counting, directional detection, camera tampering detection and object removal. “The concept can be easily communicated to customers, and the benefits are easily understood,” said Jukka Riivari, CEO of Mirasys.

People Counting
The largest marketfor people counting is retail, Bharadwaj said. “Presently, most retail locations do not have a way to measure footfall traffic and correlate it with sales numbers. A real-life scenario is one in which a store has counting systems installed at all entrances, aisles and exits. These systems can provide various statistics about flow rate, occupancy and other information that can help optimize operations.” In terms of operational efficiency, people counting helps stores maximize staffing levels at both peak- and low-traffic periods, said Steve Gorski, GM for the Americas, Mobotix. “Hospitality is another vertical that also finds significant value through the use of VCA.”

The traditional method for retail counting was highly inaccurate and costly, requiring extensive wiring and many sensors, Lim added. “New top-down intelligent video devices come fully packaged. For chain stores looking to collect data centrally, IP network connectivity also saves a lot of money. Crowd counting for traffic flow in shopping malls is also a growing trend.”

Accurate people counting requires good processing power. “More often than not, multiple cameras are needed for a wide door/passage way. These cameras need to function as a single integrated sensing entity and generate a single count. It is also important to handle overlap between camera views to avoid over/under counting,” Bharadwaj said.

People counting is very valuable for indoor usage, especially in conjunction with access control. However, the greatest potential lies in commercial and retail settings where people want to know how many people are standing in a certain aisle at a certain time. For security and safety applications, there is increased use of crowd density detection, allowing for an alarm if a train platform reaches, for example, 80 percent of its capacity. Line checking, such as in airports, is another area that can greatly improve operational efficiency, Otterspeer said. “One of the things that can reduce false alarms is head detection. The shape of a human head and its relation to the shoulder is always a certain geometry. Detecting that greatly reduces false alarms from dogs or other animals.”

With the right camera placement and good software, you can do high-quality counting anywhere, Li said. “More sophisticated counting applications can be used for queue management to determine average waiting times.”

Counting and crowd management are slightly different, Lim cautioned. “Counting is expected to be more than 90-percent accurate while crowd management looks at the speed of a crowd formation and area of formation. Count accuracy in crowd management is usually not expected to be more than 85 percent.”

For Coastalwatch , people counting is most practical from a high-mounted camera in an area where background noise is less likely, said Tim Chandler, President of CoastalCOMS Division. “Our focus is to assign a risk variable to a risk index — the ‘count' or number of people is assessed to indicate that the number of people has significantly increased or decreased over a predefined amount of time. Our system ends up reporting 'load' rather than 'count,' which works best in beach areas where safety is a concern.”

Directional Detection
Directional detection and tampering detection are basic functions that many cameras include and most customers enable, Otterspeer said.

“Directional movement detection is used for triggering alerts when a person or vehicle is moving in an area and direction that they should not be moving in. This is used, for example, in protection of critical infrastructure and in airports,” Ashani said.

Real-life scenarios for directional detection involve perimeter surveillance and wrong-way movement detection for vehicles and people, Bharadwaj added. “This is a motionbased algorithm; false alarms arise when the line drawn includes objects such as trees that move due to wind.”

Directional detection can also be applied to beaches as a further indication of risk. “The ability to draw a virtual line in the sand and see if folks are stepping across the line to move into or out of the water is useful, as it can modify a risk calculation's results,” Chandler said. “The idea is to support the risk manager with useful decision support metrics that they can evaluate in real time, especially for remote or unmanned areas of responsibility.”

Directional movement detection can be very accurate, so long as the environment is not overly crowded. Outdoor scenarios are more challenging as there are environmental conditions that can lead to false positives or negatives, Ashani said. “Modern VCA algorithms are able to robustly handle outdoor scenarios in many common cases. Another challenge is the ability to distinguish between target types. For example, the system can fail to distinguish between a group of people and a slow moving vehicle if the algorithm is not sophisticated enough.”

Typical sources of false alarms are moving shadows, changing lights and incorrect object/target classification. Each of these can be minimized by developing additional algorithmic components, Ashani said.

Tampering Detection
Like with all video analytics, tampering can be a simple application, Li said. “The system can tell if someone has sabotaged the camera or covered the lens. More sophisticated systems can also tell if the system can see clearly. So even if the camera has not been tampered with but has lost focus or can't see because it's raining too hard or if the camera has moved due to vibrations, the system will let the operator know.”

Tampering detection is a must-have for any surveillance installation. A tampered camera directly defeats the purpose of video surveillance, Bharadwaj said. “Accuracy depends on design. A good solution needs to detect tampering due to camera defocusing, blocked camera and view change. At the same time, it needs to disregard camera shakes/vibrations due to environmental conditions.”

Camera-tampering detection is applicable to any surveillance camera and enhances the operational readiness of cameras in surveillance installations, Ashani said. “For some solutions, camera tampering is not limited to only video loss or image blocking but also detects insufficient lighting or oversaturated images which result in poor video quality.” This application is generally very accurate and generates very few false alarms, Ashani added.

Object Loitering/Removal
Object loitering and object removal are essentially the same thing. The targeted object is identified, but the alarm goes the other way around, Otterspeer said.

At the moment, object removal rules are probably most effective in places where the traffic is not too dynamic, Lim said. “Object loitering is not as magical as some would claim. If a camera is placed over a crowded airport and a crowd forms up covering one another and an unattended bag, there is no way the VCA will work.” Successful applications are likely in museums and exhibitions rather than airports and transport terminals. “I've heard stories about a public transport operator that tried to implement unattended-bag detection for trains, buses and even the stations. It was a complete failure,” Lim added.

Object removal detection is not practical if the object in question is too small, not in a well-lit area or occluded from the view of the camera for very long periods of time, Ashani added. “There was a large warehouse that installed 150 cameras, all of which carried video analytics. The customer wanted to be notified when cargo went missing, and to be able to use forensic search to find the cargo. This was not that difficult,” Otterspeer said. “However, the director of that establishment wanted to know when one little box of a cellular phone went missing, and wanted the system to follow it through all 150 cameras. That was simply not possible — and still isn't — with the current state of the technology.” Once the director was shown how to set up the right detection lines and proper rules, he was still impressed by how much it could help his operations.

Baggage abandoning is a different matter, as the system needs to understand when one object splits into two and establish a connection between the person and baggage.

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Customizations
Boxed solutions are generally not tailored for specific applications. If a customer is looking for one niche solution, it may still be a centralized solution because of the flexibility. It will also be more expensive because the system needs to be trained by engineers, Otterspeer said.

However, meeting customers' real-life needs is an increasingly popular requirement, Li said. “Solutions tailored for industries, ranging from oil and gas to prisons, maximizes value and reliability. For example, solutions for banking provide detection of skimming devices on ATMs, and solutions for airports provide metering of aircraft to tell precisely how long each is parked at the air bridge.”

Another example would be how people counting is used in coastalarea management. “For safety applications, people counting seems to be most interesting for remote ‘pocket beaches,' which are areas that are often off the beaten path and unguarded by lifesavers,” Chandler said. “If a large number of people suddenly appear in an unguarded or remote beach area, that may equate to higher risk if the ocean or water conditions also match up. This type of VCA, which requires accuracy within a range rather than identification of a single human form, is a great example of VCA working in tandem with business rules and VMS-actuated work flows.”

Integration
The power of analytics is greatly enhanced when alarms or events are correlated with those from other functions, such as access control or video management. A unified security platform allows the end user to view information from all the different systems, correlate it and report on it through one interface, said Jumbi Edulbehram, VP of Business Development at Next Level Security Systems. “The combination of this data enables the user to have a fully comprehensive view of security and business operations, and that is what the end user is seeking.”

The challenge in integrating with VMS is that suppliers are focused on storing information and displaying it, Li said. “They're not familiar with the sophistication of VCA metadata, so they don't have the ability to display it. For example, the VCA software may have a function that allows the user to track an individual and know which camera he has passed through over a period of time. However, most VMS systems are just focused on showing raw image scenes; they don't have the capability to ask complex questions nor to display the answers.” To complicate matters, most metadata today is still proprietary, but fortunately there will be a standardized set of metadata in ONVIF 2.0, making it easier to interact and to integrate VCA into other systems, Otterspeer added.

User interface is another problem area. “If the VCA software allows the user to go back to the beginning of an event when the need arises, the metadata to achieve this can be requested from the video analytics system,” Li said. “However, if the VMS's user interface doesn't have a button to activate this function, the user can't get this information.”

VMS integration, thus, requires software developers to work closely to ensure all functionalities can be accessed through a common user interface, and major standards bodies need to pick up their pace in addressing their clients' needs.

Mirasys Expands Bangkok City Surveillance

Editor / Provider: Mirasys | Updated: 5/26/2011 | Article type: Government & Public Services

Mirasys, a provider of open platform digital surveillance solutions, announced that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has expanded their City Safe project into the second phase with Mirasys technology. In this new phase, 8,000 cameras will be installed throughout Bangkok City, and managed through Mirasys VMS from the centralized locations of Bangkok's 88 police stations. Offering intelligence in a scalable solution, this surveillance infrastructure allows Bangkok's police to access surveillance footage from the city's 50 districts, both on site and remotely, via a central control room. With each police station also equipped with a Mirasys workstation for monitoring purposes, this surveillance infrastructure allows staff to keep a close eye on key security issues throughout the city.

During the phase one of the City Safe implementation saw 3000 cameras installed throughout the Bangkok region and phase two has developed this into a city-wide increase of 5,000 cameras, simultaneously raising the number of users who will require access to the cameras and their footage from the hundreds to the thousand. This means that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration have benefitted significantly from the virtually limitless scaling capabilities of the Mirasys VMS platform. In its final stage, the number of cameras implemented for City Safe which are supported by the Mirasys VMS will rise to 20,000.

Mirasys' VMS platform has allowed Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to take a targeted approach to surveillance monitoring by categorizing and grouping footage from each camera in line with the diverse surveillance requirements which range from traffic and flood monitoring and control to crime prevention. These diverse monitoring requirements of the project have required the implementation of a broad series of HD network and analog cameras from ten different manufacturers, which has been easily accommodated by the open and non-proprietary functionality of the VMS. Through algorithms that filter out non-relevant feeds and trigger real-time response alarms to critical incidents, the VMS allows the Bangkok city police force to have a greater level of control over their management of footage.

“In order to improve safety and security for all of Bangkok the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has used Mirasys VMS to create an intelligent and scalable surveillance infrastructure which will allow improved security across the city,” said Noppadol Sukhmol, Country Manager for Mirasys Thailand. “City Safe is a wide-reaching project with specific security demands. This project has been, and will continue to be, an excellent experience for Mirasys as the company gains momentum in the Asian markets”.

“Mirasys has experience in city monitoring implementations. Mirasys VMS offers the solution for high-input surveillance systems, such as those required for the scale of city surveillance required in the City Safe project, being intelligent and easily integratable. The City Safe project has been a perfect example of how scalability and flexibility at the implementation level can deliver great results, both with regards to ease of use at a user level, and providing security and the efficiency within the city,” said Jukka Riivari, CEO at Mirasys.

Security Blooms After Trial by Fire

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 12/17/2010 | Article type: Hot Topics

One of the lasting effects of the recession that occurred at the end of 2008 is that the working dynamics of many industries have become more flexible yet unpredictable, and security is no exception. However, the momentum of a recovering 2010 will likely carry over into 2011, where exciting opportunities abound in both emerging and mature markets.

Business projections for market growth and focus, along with product development and range, underwent drastic changes in order to adjust to the volatile economic and financial conditions in 2009. By entering previously unexplored or underserved regions such as Latin America and the Middle East, some manufacturers found new opportunities in 2010 and enjoyed fruitful results. Now that the economy has rebounded in most parts of the world, what will 2011 look like for security?

Manufacturers seem equally optimistic about market demand, business prospects and available projects in 2011. IMS Research advises that the top three verticals to watch are city surveillance, transportation and utilities. All of these are forecasted to grow in excess of 15 percent compared to 2010.

In addition, projects in retail, education, health care and banking are already lined up in the business agenda for many manufacturers. “While uncertainty in the economy slowed capital spending in many areas, there has been an increased need for more effective security as economic difficulties have increased risks like internal and external theft,” said Peter Costa, VP and Business Leader of Global Protection, Honeywell Building Solutions.

Large-scale installations in these sectors often require multiple setup points, scattering across a wide campus or in individual branches or chain stores. “The profile of banking and finance, like the utility sector and managed service providers, typically has multiple locations and demands centralized management with a large degree of integration with other subsystems,” said Johan Lembre, CEO of Pacom Systems.

Many manufacturers also have plans to proceed with projects for the government, transportation and public/city surveillance sectors. “We do foresee more larger-scale projects, such as in transportation, commencing in 2011,” said William Ku, Director of Brand Business at VIVOTEK. A research study published by Frost & Sullivan in the second half of 2010 indicates that rising terrorist threats enact as a key driver for mass transportation security implementations in the EU accession states, and the market is predicted to expand between 2010 and 2013 due to a competition for large infrastructure projects and life cycle replacements. IMS has also observed that spending in the transportation vertical — airports, ports and rail — is expected to remain high throughout 2011.

“All countries were affected by the financial crisis, which in turn affected funding for infrastructure,” said Herve Fages, Global Marketing Director for Pelco (a Schneider Electric company). “However, government and largescale projects like airports, transportation and seaports remain as some of our targets.” Working in the government and public-infrastructure sectors has its own risks to note, however. The same Frost & Sullivan study indicates that the lack of security solutions tailored to mass transportation systems and the complex procurement pattern of available solutions have a possibility of hindering market potential for many. In addition, a third factor to consider is the balance between maintaining a strict security protocol and achieving passenger satisfaction.

Similarly, Cisco Systems' recent sales and profit forecasts show cutbacks in government spending, which pose risks for companies relying on the sector for growth. For companies pursuing opportunities in mature markets, this might be a major concern.

Various other manufacturers, such as Hikvision Digital Technology and Mirasys, will also focus on large recreational facilities like sports stadia, hotels and leisure spots in emerging markets.

Regional Markets
In 2011, regions across the map — both emerging and mature — are promising more business opportunities. “In the Americas, there is still funding available for city surveillance in the U.S., and the two upcoming, major sporting events in Brazil will see many Latin American countries continue to invest in city surveillance to combat and reduce crime,” said Gary Wong, Senior Research Analyst for Video Surveillance and VCA, IMS Research. “In Asia, ‘Safe City' projects in China will be a significant driver of growth as new deployments continue to expand into other (Tier-3 and Tier-4) cities and existing deployments get upgraded (in specific verticals). In EMEA, growth will be driven by sizeable ‘Safe City' deployments and upgrades in Eastern Europe.”

The growth potential and level of demand in emerging markets reflect the driving force of local governments, and cost of operation is much lower particularly when compared to mature markets, said Tony Yang, International Marketing Director for Hikvision. Other costs, however, should be taken into account as well. These include import tariffs levied on finished electronic products and establishing local service centers among others. In addition, buyers in many emerging markets prefer cost-effective products, and some manufacturers inevitably compete on price alone in order to win bids and secure orders.

As manufacturers take on projects in emerging markets less affected by the recession, such as Latin America, APAC and the Middle East, many are anticipating that business conditions in North America and Europe will return to prerecession levels. “The US market has been slow in recovery, but we are trying not to lose market share as we pursue emerging markets,” Fages said.

To some solution providers, mature markets like Japan and Germany are served with high-end offerings. “As Japan and Germany are renowned for advanced technology requirements and product standards, the successful launches and acceptance of high-end products in these countries attest to the products' quality and reliability,” said Andy Lee, Marketing Manager of AVTech. Fortifying company and brand positions in mature markets is another approach to break into existing markets.

China and ASEAN Free Trade
China, in particular, is regarded by many as a region with even more growth potential in 2011. “Urbanization in China is expected to continue at a rapid pace for the next two decades,” said Eng-Han Goh, VP of China Operations at ST Electronics (a Singapore Technologies Engineering company). “This will drive many associated segments.” Such verticals include government, transportation, intelligent building/ home management solutions, commercial and residential markets. Countless large-scale infrastructure projects are also near completion, requiring an unprecedented amount of low-voltage systems, including security and safety.

There is still room for growth for foreign system integrators (SIs) in the Chinese security market. “Foreign SIs will find that they need to offer new value propositions along the value chain, and provide creative and innovative solutions and unique product features,” Goh said.

To understand the market, SIs need to meander with care. “Without sufficient resources, the connections and the determination to break through, it'd be better to approach the Chinese market with even more caution,” said Patrick Lim, Director of Sales and Marketing for Ademco Far East. “It'd be hard to operate in the Chinese market without understanding the business culture and mindset first.”

Setting up service centers and managed services is another way to be closer to local customers. “Companies that can offer China good technologies at competitive prices and software tools and management systems that will help improve efficiency, quality, productivity and sustainability will be able to accompany China in the urbanization process,” Goh said. The 12th five-year plan indicates that high-tech industries like green energy and biotechnology will be fast-tracked in terms of resource allocations.

With the signing of the free-trade agreement (FTA) between China and ASEAN countries, many manufacturers have taken a wait-and-see stance to observe how the FTA policies pan out for China and its new partners on the business front. Some view the new trading alliance positively and anticipate that this new platform will enhance sales activities in the region. “Chinese manufacturers are now better positioned to enter the ASEAN market, and local channel players will be attracted to Chinese products more because of the low tariffs and improved trading procedures,” said Bruce Wu, Overseas Marketing Director for Dali Technology. Ku added that more companies might be interested in setting up warehouses in China to reduce the tax barrier.

Fages believes that the FTA will assist international solution providers — with respect to cost and operational efficiency — with product promotions in ASEAN countries from their manufacturing and logistics facilities in China.

Polarized Requirements Another noticeable phenomenon in 2010 was the emergence of cost-effective but quality solutions. Industry heavyweights such as Axis Communications, Bosch, Honeywell, Panasonic, Sony and Pelco, who offered only high-end solutions in the past, have started to launch value or low-cost offerings. At the same time, more and more Asian manufacturers are devoting R&D efforts to developing high-end, tailored solutions to better satisfy intricate specifications from mature markets. So, what happened to the traditional mid-end market? “The key to success for manufacturers and installers should not be about ‘high-end' or ‘low-end,'” said Johnny Allia, VP and GM for EMEA, Honeywell Security. “It should be about providing innovative products and solutions that meet the present and unique security requirements and financial investment expectations of the end users, and that products are flexible and scalable to protect the business as it expands and diversifies.”

For 2011, many hold the view that mid-end products, in comparison, will not be offered as much. “Mid-end products might have a market for Europe, excluding Germany, and North America, but the market is definitely becoming polarized,” Lee said. The decrease in quantities of mid-end offerings is an alarming proof.

The market has a tendency to shift either to the high-end grouping, where innovation and advanced functions are the central foci, or to the cost-effective side, where price is vital to a buyer's decision, said Craig Scott, CEO of OVii. “Of course there is room for further development in the mid range; however, with the way the security industry has evolved, it would be a great challenge.”

On the other hand, some are leaning toward continuing to offer only high-end products with innovative features and lasting quality. “More and more users are realizing that cost-effective products often do not carry advanced features and are unable to catch up with increasing user requirements as time goes on,” said Iain Cameron, MD of Mirasys. “Increasingly, high-end products will come back into play, as these products in the long run are better in overall performance.”

There are others who disagree with the high-end/low-end dichotomy and regard increasing competition as between proprietary and open systems. “Today's end users are demanding open solutions that don't lock them into proprietary protocols traditionally offered by manufacturers,” said Jumbi Edulbehram, VP of Business Development at Next Level Security Systems. “They want open, networked platforms that integrate traditionally separate subsystems together to increase security, reduce risk and enhance situational awareness.” It is believed that these open systems, based on industry standards, ensure interoperability in the field and long-term investment protection.

Demanding HD
For 2011, vendors unanimously agreed that with the rebound, there are still many projects to complete using either analog or networkenabled equipment. Growth potential for either technology looks promising.

Globally, IMS forecasts that in 2011 the market for video surveillance equipment will grow by more than 10 percent on the previous year. With increasing adoption of networkenabled equipment, IMS believes that analog surveillance equipment sales will grow in low, single-digit percentages, while network video equipment sales will increase between 20 to 30 percent on the previous year. The education efforts done by organizations such as the PSIA and ONVIF and increasing preferences for open, remotely manageable platforms are most likely some of the drivers behind the growth for network video.

HDcctv technology is also coming into focus. Clearer market position and technology differentiation are estimated to emerge in the second half of 2011. “HDcctv cameras and DVRs are now on the road maps of most of the world's largest OEM/ODM manufacturers in China, Taiwan and Korea for the first quarter in 2011,” Scott said.

In simple terms, some manufacturers feel that network cameras will continue to be widely used in the education, health care and large infrastructure markets; HDcctv will take up the mid- to high-range market in retail and banking; and analog products will continue to serve the general public in smaller-scale projects.

Regardless of analog, HDcctv, hybrid or IP, all manufacturers predict that HD will become mainstream in 2011. HD technology was introduced at large in 2010, and widespread acknowledgement and acceptance of this technology have paved way for its further development and employment in 2011. Most IP incumbents have already developed new product lines based on HD technology to satisfy growing demands from end users for ultimate clarity in video footage. “Speaking from a technology viewpoint, network video is the revolution of yesterday, and it's already there in the market. Now, we're trying to push more HD infrastructure into the market and are ready for the next challenge,” Fages said.

New Opportunities
The market saw introduction of various new applications in 2009 and 2010, such as more refined VCA, software as a service (SaaS) and managed video as a service (MVaaS). Over the past year, adoption of these new features into products has been slow, and some feel that recession was just one of the reasons. “New applications need time to mature before they can be utilized for day-to-day operations, as their performance capability and real-life functionality are not on par with one another so far,” Scott said. This difference between expectations and reality poses as the main stumbling block for solution providers to further develop these new technologies.

However, they might fare better in 2011, as some predict that more investments will be poured into developing and maturing these new technologies. “The potential for SaaS and MVaaS should grow as they do have advantages by nature of their platforms,” said Daniel Ong, VP of Certis Technology International, Certis Cisco Security. “These advantages include lower cost, quicker and better deployments, more hassle-free support and a smaller IT footprint.” Security implications and general costs of bandwidth and maintenance will be monitored by end users, and more IT-savvy SIs are needed to actively market related services. “Over time, as they mature in features and functionality, SaaS and MVaaS will evolve to be a more appealing alternative to customers,” Ong said.

For others, the game already kicked off. “Our partners are using SaaS as a platform to generate recurring revenues from their customers, predominantly through the provision of managed access control,” Lembre said.

Sc ale New Heights With the dark cloud of the recession clearly behind, all solution providers have high hopes for 2011. Major projects previously suspended will resume, and projects of all sizes will be started or completed. Aside from products, tailored features, customer service and support centers are becoming increasingly demanded. By interacting with end users and knowing their needs better, companies will be able to develop and launch better “destructive innovation.” Despite the turbulence and the rapid adjustments in the market and industry, 2011 is shaping up to be a year of exceptional growth and development for all.

*Read the 2011 market forecast at <Scale New Heights>

Mirasys Surveillance Solutions Transport through Thailand Mass Transit Stations

Editor / Provider: Mirasys | Updated: 10/28/2010 | Article type: Infrastructure

Mirasys, a provider of open-platform digital surveillance, announced that the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) has installed a centralized video monitoring system coupled with NVR across 18 disparate underground stations to protect the underground construction, tunnel and train system. This surveillance infrastructure allows staff to monitor camera footage onsite and remotely via a central control room, improving security and addressing increasing terrorist threats as well as the subsequent security demands of the National Security Council and Ministry of Transportation.

The MRTA opened 18 underground stations across Thailand in 2004, and has since introduced hundreds of megapixel cameras to protect the underground network. Mirasys partner, Wire&Wireless, has connected this complex camera infrastructure with Mirasys NVR on each site via fiber optic cables which connect to a central control room operating video monitoring system for surveillance analysis. This setup allows security officers to closely monitor live and recorded surveillance footage both onsite from local and remote control centers, improving security and operational efficiency across the underground network.

The platform has allowed the MRTA to take a targeted approach to monitoring by categorizing and grouping footage from each camera. This has allowed for effective surveillance of each individual underground site as well as the travel route itself, enabling the MRTA to respond and act on increasing concerns around terrorist threats in the area. The North and South routes are displayed on separate LCD panels at the control center and an additional 18 workstations also operate to provide remote monitoring and control for each station.

“In order to improve security on the underground network and address the increasing global threat that terrorism brings, the MRTA has used NVR and VMS to create an intelligent surveillance infrastructure which will allow improved security across each site,” said Noppadol Sukhmol, Country Manager for Mirasys Thailand. “MRTA is a complex organization with specific security demands and a desire to innovate and improve the service that it provides.”