London School Turns to IP-Based Security via Milestone Platform

Editor / Provider: Milestone Systems | Updated: 7/13/2012 | Article type: Security 50

Milestone Systems, the open platform company in IP video management software (VMS), has formed the centerpiece of a major surveillance upgrade in a 1,500 pupil school based in East London called the Brampton Manor Academy. The Academy benefitted from a ￡10 million injection of capital from ‘Building Schools for the Future' for major renovation of the main building and grounds in 2009, prompting the decision to improve their security system. Academy status was attained in April 2011, and it will be expanded further this year with the creation of a Sixth Form Center for 300 additional pupils.

Milestone partner Security Systems Technology (SST) carried out the specification, installation and configuration work for the security system upgrade. The new solution consists of 112 Arecont Vision, Axis, Mobotix and Sanyo IP cameras in addition to 33 legacy CCTV analog cameras - all being managed by Milestone XProtect Enterprise IP video software, running on three Dell servers. The video recordings are archived on three RAID-5 arrays.

Graham Glass, Director of Finance and Administration at Brampton Manor Academy, said: “Milestone XProtect has proved to be a very intuitive system for viewing a wide mix of cameras - the interface is easy to manage. Milestone partner SST keeps us up to speed with technical enhancements, which Milestone is continually bringing to XProtect, to keep our initial security investment future proof.”

The benefits of the Milestone open platform architecture are clear to Glass, who oversaw the installation, subsequent upgrade and expansion of the new surveillance system by SST: “Coverage is now excellent. If there is an incident, we can find it quickly in the Milestone XProtect software and use the video (and in some cases audio) evidence to tackle any wrong-doing, which is now very rare.”

Brampton Manor Academy now has a surveillance system which serves their security needs today but is also capable of integrating with other building management systems over time, such as access control in the new Sixth Form Center to be completed in late 2012. The Milestone XProtect system integrated with Paxton Access control in the new building will help Academy staff to place trust in the 16-18 year olds to use their swipe cards when entering restricted areas rather than having to be physically on hand to unlock rooms where valuable equipment is located.

Glenn Fletcher, Milestone Systems UK GM, commented: “This installation by SST shows that Milestone XProtect Enterprise is a future-proof video management platform ideal for long-term flexibility. Taking feeds from CCTV cameras as well as the latest IP devices from a wide range of manufacturers, and offering integration with access control or other systems shows the versatility of Milestone software.”

Nebraska Medical Center Improves Patient Safety While Cutting Costs With IQinVision

Editor / Provider: IQinVision | Updated: 7/13/2012 | Article type: Commercial Markets

IQinVision announced The Nebraska Medical Center, located in Omaha, has deployed nearly 300 IQeye HD megapixel cameras to ensure patient safety, upgrade medical care, and reduce staffing costs.

When The Nebraska Medical Center wanted to streamline its operations and improve care for at-risk patients, IQinVision HD megapixel cameras and Milestone XProtect video management software proved to be the answer. With nearly 5,000 employees and 1,000 physicians, The Nebraska Medical Center is the largest health-care facility in Nebraska. The hospital hosts 624 beds and numerous departments that cover pediatrics to oncology to bio-containment.

With a number of patients who require 24/7 observation, the medical center wanted to improve the safety of these at-risk patients, while also reducing staff and overhead requirements. The Center worked with Sentrixx Security Solutions to deploy 299 IQinVision megapixel indoor day/night vandal IP domes and infrared units, and monitoring stations running Milestone XProtect Enterprise IP video surveillance software.

Nebraska Medical Center has reduced its overhead by eliminating the majority of its one-on-one bedside observation staff. There are a dozen monitoring stations located throughout the center and each station allows one or two technicians to observe multiple patients simultaneously. In just the first two months of being operational, the megapixel video system has streamlined the process for monitoring patients and saved The Nebraska Medical Center thousands of dollars.

Until recently, when a patient required 24/7 observation, the hospital placed a staff member in the room to keep an eye on the patient. This was standard practice for patients who, for example, were on suicide watch, prone to violent outbursts or in a critical state of health. It is typical for the medical center to have two or three dozen patients being watched in a one-on-one scenario on a given day, which put a strain on staffing costs.

Sentrixx installed IQinVision Megapixel indoor day/night vandal IP domed cameras, providing staff with full real-time video at 30fps with a 720p resolution. These are unobtrusive dome-style cameras that blend into the hospital's aesthetic, and they are vandal resistant. Along with each camera, Sentrixx installed an infrared unit to further improve night-time image resolution.

The Nebraska Medical Center can already cite a number of benefits even after the relatively short period of use. The deployment was fast and easy, and training staff for the advanced system took practically no time.

It is somewhat early to put a firm number on how much this has helped in regards to staffing and reducing the facility's overall spending, but staff believe they have already seen significant savings, numbering in the thousands of dollars. “I haven't seen a dollar amount since it is so early, but I know we have already saved ourselves thousands of dollars and we anticipate recouping the cost of the cameras within 7 or 8 months,” said Maureen Goltl, an operations manager at The Nebraska Medical Center.

Then there are the people being protected—patients and staff members. “We recently had a patient who was somewhat aggressive and agitated,” recalled Goltl. “We placed a person in the room with this patient, but we also decided to keep them on the monitor so the person watching the monitor could tell when the person sitting with that patient needed help. We wanted to make sure they were both safe.”

Vicon Introduces New Cost-Effective Options for IP VMS Systems

Editor / Provider: Vicon Industries | Updated: 7/6/2012 | Article type: Security 50

Vicon Industries, a leading designer and producer of network video management systems, has introduced new pricing for its ViconNet IP video management software, providing free and low-cost options for systems with less than 25 cameras. Software is offered at three levels: ViconNet JUMP, ViconNet ZONE and ViconNet PEAK. All versions are open-platform, supporting third-party ONVIF compliant cameras.

ViconNet JUMP supports up to 6 network cameras. There are no per-cameras licensing fees. Compact, low-cost, pre-loaded NVRs are also available.

ViconNet ZONE is offered at two levels, supporting either a maximum of 16 or 24 network cameras. Designed for mid-sized systems, competitively priced ViconNet ZONE may be purchased as software only, pre-loaded NVRs, or as part of bundled packages that combine a pre-loaded NVR with a selection of IP cameras.

Both ViconNet JUMP and ViconNet ZONE offer all the features and functionality of enterprise-scale ViconNet but can only operate as a single NVR system. Users of these smaller systems maintain the ability to integrate with third-party access control software and make use of Vicon's virtual matrix display solution. Remote access is available through a convenient browser-based interface. Enterprise-scale ViconNet has been rebranded as ViconNet PEAK and continues to offer support for systems of unlimited size.

“With the launch of ViconNet JUMP and ZONE, we look forward to reaching a whole new group of end-users, whose security needs are just as critical but must be supported by lower budgets,” stated Bret McGowan, Vicon Senior V.P. of Sales and Marketing.

Trying Times, Prettier Prices

Editor / Provider: Hayden Hsu | Updated: 7/3/2012 | Article type: Hot Topics

Cost-effectiveness sells, especially during financially trying times. With government spending cuts slowing down infrastructural development and the private sector strapped for cash, security solution providers of all sizes are busy seeking and identifying the next “blue sea.” In the meantime, small-and medium-size end users are in for a treat, as more affordable and efficient solution offerings are made available.

Axis Communications
Phil Doyle, Regional Director of Northern Europe
With our cloud, more cost-effective and low-light offerings, we are better enabled to reach partners and installers with smaller business operations. We've been “cloud-friendly” for more than nine years, so it just shows we were right all along. Globally, we will continue to invest in technology and innovation; as proof, 13.6 percent of our revenue last year was earmarked for such efforts.

Canon
Julian Rutland, Director of Visual Communication Products and Solutions for Europe
General economy is quite hard, and people are taking the time to evaluate new brands and alternatives. We're a relatively new kid on the block, so that helps. Compared to last year, we're enjoying an upward trajectory of 800percent. With the shift to IP, the channel is learning, and we're also learning, to work hand in hand and move in the right direction. System integrators usually don't have the time to test everything, so we test and integrate for them to make sure everything is compatible. Thanks to our consumer electronics, we have the upper hand in image processors (with analytics) and lens specs in terms of overall pricing. We are a full member of ONVIF, working with more and more VMS brands, and incredibly committed to delivering the kind of promise, quality and training that our channel partners and end clients expect of us.

Honeywell Security
Tony Makosinski, Head of Marketing for the U.K. and Ireland
We're seeing growth in residential burglar alarm products, due to higher crime rates. The fact that Honeywell has a myriad of solutions across the board does help. Mirroring what has spiked demand in the IT market, we now provide DVR-like cloud storage with user-friendly interfaces, making it easy for our partners to sell monthly plans rather than big, initial investments. Storing and managing on the cloud has also helped shorten time to market and further green initiatives. System checks and maintenance are done automatically. If there's something wrong, an email will be generated and sent to the responsible technician automatically, minimizing unnecessary truck rolls. For certain legally mandated system checks and tests, the cloud saves the trouble of emptying out the entire building during such procedures.

Navtech Radar
Philip Avery, MD
Single-unit prices of radar systems cannot be compared to regular surveillance cameras. But, think holistically. Radar provides 360-degree coverage and significantly cuts down numbers and costs of guards, tours/patrols, trip wires, intrusion detectors and cameras. There's no trenching required, further reducing installation time, service disruptions and related expenses. We own all the key technologies (hardware, software algorithms, signal processing) and can tailor to specific system integrator requirements. For example, we managed to cover an airfield in Romania with just two radars. This is the kind of message that needs to be heard when people are scrambling to find the next best, more affordable alternative.

Opgal
Yair Sakov, VP of Security Business
Thermal cameras are not security cameras. Helping our partners understand the technology — the breadth of our offerings, picture quality, innovation — and transforming them into our extensions in the field do take a lot of resources. A lot of security solution providers sell on fear, uncertainty and doubt; we sell on the value of being able to see clearly and cost-effectively what's going on at critical locations like airports, seaports, railways and energy plants in challenging environmental and lighting conditions. Five years of market education and evangelization are really paying off: the company was ranked No. 2 in market share by the latest IMS Research report on thermal cameras. Although there's a lot of cautiousness in the market at the moment, the private sector and emerging markets in Asia and Latin America are luckily still buying. Examples include interesting flame detection applications from garbage disposal sites and commercial buildings. We will continue to preach about security being like insurance and make sure our partners will never lose any project to the No. 1 in this market on price.

Panogenics (AMG Group)
David Myers, MD
This business unit was founded by the founder of Grandeye and is a sister company of AMG Systems (fiber transmission). Our new product is nicknamed the “time machine.” With just one unit, there are 14 streaming possibilities, and you can go back to any recorded, HD, 360-degree footage to zoom in and dewarp, easily replacing four to eight traditional cameras. The management software was developed in-house, and we are integrating with Wavestore, Axxonsoft, Xtralis and more to target verticals like retail, transportation, education and health care. Our new firmware that's coming up will also be ONVIF-compliant, opening up even more possibilities and cost savings.

 Texecom (Halma Group)
Clym Brown, Marketing Director
Our business is about solving problems. Right now, it's about getting more than 1,000 installers across Europe up to speed on the new confirmed alarm standard, via road shows and workshops. We have new, conformant equipment for different market sectors: small to medium residential units, medium commercial establishments, and high-end infrastructure projects. One common characteristic of our new solutions is getting more done with less devices (and money). The home automation media server, for example, controls lighting, entertainment units and the alarm system all on one panel. Our top-end, self-healing, auto-rerouting mesh system gets signals across industrial or commercial sites with changing and challenging environments, which reduces false alarms and related penalties. And yet we keep everything simple, to minimize installation time/cost and maximize user enjoyment and energy savings. For instance, our dual-detection system of 32 devices can be set up and activated with just one touch and within two seconds.

Time and Data Systems International
John Davies, MD
The UK and European access control market is growing at about 4 percent; we are growing at about 15 percent in this market as well as overseas in the Middle East and Asia. We compete with different Tier-1 brands in different regions, but all at a lower, mid-point price, in verticals like education, finance/banking, health care, telecommunications and commercial buildings. Our cost-effective solutions provide reliable features, tailored functions with adjustable Web interfaces and add-on software and database tools; the flexible look and feel enhance user experience considerably. It's critical for access control solution providers like us to be able to work with specialists in architectural design, audio/visual, structural cabling and IT/IP infrastructure early on in any given project; it's our reputation on the line, so we need to make sure there are no surprises down the line. We already have video integration capabilities and are looking to biometrics, NFC and the cloud for new possibilities and opportunities.

Tyco Security Products
Leon Langlais, Product Management Director for Residential and Small Business, Tyco Security Products
Everyone is affected by the economy, but our intrusion detection business has had three straight years of double-digit growth. Our unified, all-in-one-box server solution was designed specifically for the small- to medium-size market, with an average application requiring 20 to 100 readers and 8 to 32 IP cameras. At aggressive price points, we address all the issues that installers care about: speed of installation, quality, reliability and third-party integration, so that they can continue to grow with us even in difficult times. For example, the fact that no wireless repeaters are needed (thanks to the Visonic acquisition and complementary market synergy) and installation time is cut from two weeks to two days makes it rather easy to sell, even to the cost-conscious bunch. Battery life of wireless products is also extended to five to eight years with corporate-grade reliability, eliminating unnecessary installer dispatch and user headaches.

San Francisco Football Team Upgrades to Axis Encoders

Editor / Provider: Axis Communications | Updated: 7/2/2012 | Article type: Security 50

Mission
When their DVRs started to drop the ball, the stadium operations team at Candlestick Park opted for a new game plan. With a network video solution in place, they felt they'd be more proactive tackling problems that often occur during the excitement of game day. They also expected that quicker access to specific archived video would give them the forensic evidence to forestall liability claims and expedite criminal investigations. These goals caused them to begin investigating ways to leverage their legacy analog surveillance equipment while migrating stadium surveillance into the digital age.

Solution
IPVision, an integrator of intelligent physical security solutions and Axis partner, mapped out a strategy for migrating to a more feature-rich, IP-based surveillance solution. To preserve the stadium's investment in analog cameras and ease the transition to IP video, IPVision network-enabled the analog cameras via Axis video encoders.

They sacked the unreliable DVRs and replaced them with robust Hitachi servers, and installed an intuitive OnSSI Ocularis Video Management Software (VMS) system to give security greater control over live video and instant replay.

Result
On game days, the 49ers' security staff and San Francisco Police Department survey stadium activity from a video wall in the Security Operations Center– keeping an eye on everything from parking lots and gate entrances to the bleachers and concession stands. With the map-driven interface, they've been able to locate and resolve problems quickly – apprehending seat jumpers, defusing fan confrontations, responding to medical emergencies and redirecting guest services staff to ensure a positive game day experience for all. On non-game days and in the offseason, City of San Francisco park rangers command a second Security Operations Center to monitor and protect property and visitors to the stadium grounds during special events.

FVR Security to Represent Vicon in South America's Mercosur Countries

Editor / Provider: Vicon | Updated: 7/2/2012 | Article type: Security 50

Vicon Industries, a leading designer and producer of network video management systems, announces that FVR Security will serve as Vicon's manufacturer's representative within the countries of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile. Headquartered in Sao Paolo, Brazil, FVR Security has more than ten years of expertise providing physical and video security management solutions through the use of information technology. The firm is a Silver Partner of Motorola Solutions, making the addition of Vicon's cameras, hardware and video management software a natural complement to their existing product line.

“Latin America is one of the few bright spots within the current global economy” stated Bret McGowan, Vicon's Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing. ”We are confident that our relationship with FVR Security will help us make significant inroads there.”

Costa Rica Judiciary Relies on Milestone Protection

Editor / Provider: Milestone Systems | Updated: 6/28/2012 | Article type: Security 50

Milestone XProtect open platform IP video management software (VMS) has been implemented in more than 30 government judicial buildings in Costa Rica. The new surveillance system is the foundation for defense against violence for judicial employees to be less vulnerable to the risk of attacks in the office.

With an increase in reported violent crimes throughout Costa Rica, the prosecution of more offenders has resulted in a correlated increase of threats directed toward judicial employees in government offices around the country. Controlling all legal matters in the Central American country, more than 10,000 employees work in 31 buildings ranging in size from 1,312 – 81,200 square feet. They had previously been left vulnerable with out-of-date analog surveillance systems.

To help protect the employees and property of the Costa Rica judicial system, the government agency has implemented a highly effective solution to control the entire video monitoring infrastructure with high image quality, reliability and the ability to integrate with technology from leading security manufacturers and suppliers. Milestone XProtect Enterprise VMS was implemented for a full-scale surveillance improvement throughout the nation's government buildings.

For the new system, two types of IP network cameras were installed: the SNC-RS86N pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) day/night outdoor rapid dome camera with 36x zoom capability and H.264 data compression, and the SNC-DH180 network 720p HD vandal-resistant, fixed mini-dome camera with view-DR technology and IR illuminator – both manufactured by Sony.

Milestone XProtect Enterprise software operates through the Wide Area Network (WAN) of the organization to the monitoring centers with client stations, where administration and supervisors are located. Each building has its own local monitoring center running through a client station. In total, the system has around 30 operators.

"XProtect Enterprise has allowed government security personnel to perform intelligence work remotely, increasing the effectiveness of our human resources," states Carlos Solano, Project Development Manager at Sonivision, Costa Rica, the Milestone partner who implemented the solution. The Milestone solution offers an advanced surveillance system with top-of-the-line technology and open architecture, providing coverage of all surveillance needs through managing high-resolution, high-definition IP cameras, which would not have been possible with analog technology. Milestone XProtect Enterprise can access the video in both real time and recorded information - simultaneously.

"Milestone XProtect Enterprise has a very intuitive user interface that allows access to remote viewing of different points of interest simultaneously, as well as recordings. With the intelligent search tools we can look for evidence easily that can be quickly exported and used as evidence," stated German Rojas Monje, Security Director, Judiciary System of Costa Rica. "In addition to its powerful remote surveillance, the XProtect Smart Client interface has improved our ability to view and record events that take place both inside and outside the buildings. This has improved security and allowed us to strengthen our position against possible threats."

When the first stage of implementation was finished, operators of the system and the IT personnel who provide technical support were trained in two stages: basic training for both types of users, and one focused solely on the IT personnel in recommended practices for maintaining the XProtect Enterprise software and Sony cameras.

Solano continued: "All of the end users are in agreement – due to its graphic design and intuitive interface, it is a significant improvement for the government's security. Whether running through scheduled monitoring routines or exporting and generating video evidence, Milestone's ease of use is significantly more helpful in protecting those who serve in the justice department."

UK Diamond Courier Secured by Avigilon

Editor / Provider: Avigilon | Updated: 6/20/2012 | Article type: Security 50

Avigilon announced that Malca-Amit UK, a leading provider of secure logistical solutions and full operational services for companies dealing with precious commodities, high-valuable goods, and special events, has deployed the Avigilon high-definition surveillance system at its new UK warehouse and corporate office to protect and safeguard its clients' precious cargo from origin to destination.

“Because we ship the majority of the world's diamond and jewellery, the very nature of our business makes security absolutely critical to our success,” said Stephan Kazes, MD of Malca-Amit UK. “Chosen for its image quality, advanced management features, and ease-of-use, the Avigilon high definition surveillance system enables us to capture indisputable video evidence of vehicles, individuals, and packages entering and exiting our premises to deliver the level of security our clients expect.”

For complete coverage of both the interior and exterior of the 10,000 square foot warehouse, parking lot and main road, Malca-Amit installed 65 Avigilon HD cameras ranging from 2 MP to 29 MP, mounting cameras with an automatic infrared (IR) filter for high resolution surveillance in low-light conditions. The corporate office in London installed Avigilon 2 MP and 5 MP cameras, along with several Avigilon analog video encoders to boost the performance of its existing analog-based surveillance cameras. Security personnel manage the high-definition surveillance system live around-the-clock from the warehouse and an offsite monitoring station using the Avigilon Control Center network video management software (NVMS) with High-Definition Stream Management (HDSM) technology. Malca-Amit also installed Avigilon Network Video Recorders (NVRs) to store up to 90 days of continuous surveillance footage.

Malca-Amit confidently ensures the safe transit of its clients' valuable assets. Furthermore, the company can achieve “known shipper” status to help grow its business. Security personnel can find event details in minutes instead of hours and can quickly and effortless share video with key stakeholders. Delivering greater coverage with fewer cameras, the Avigilon high-definition surveillance system resulted in 40 percent savings in infrastructure, installation, training, and maintenance costs. Leveraging the Avigilon high-definition surveillance system, Malca-Amit has also improved employee productivity, safety, and customer service.

“In ‘delivering absolute peace of mind,' Malca-Amit's success depends in large part on its ability to protect and secure its clients high-value cargo while in transit,” said Keith Marett, VP of marketing and communications at Avigilon. “As a key component of its overall security program, the Avigilon high-definition surveillance system delivers the image clarity, search and playback capabilities, storage capacity, and ease-of-use the company needs to achieve its stringent security goals.”

Innovation and Tailored Solutions for US Market

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 6/26/2012 | Article type: Hot Topics

Solution Needs
While awareness for HD-SDI has grown considerably in EMEA and Asia, people are not as interested in it in North America where IP is generally preferred, said Jeff Whitney, VP of Marketing and Business Development, Intransa.

On the camera side, camera manufacturers are touting improved low-light performance and WDR, while also increasing in pixel count. Arecont Vision's megapixel WDR cameras, for example, combine long and short exposures in the same video frame to provide greater detail in both bright and dark areas of the picture, said Mark Espenschied, Senior Marketing Manager at Arecont Vision.

Right now, 1,080p video has become pretty commonplace. In two to three years, we may be seeing another wave of upgrades. 4K resolution features four times as many pixels as 1,080p, and it has already begun seeping into the hands of tech-savvy consumers, said Bengt Christensson, Senior Marketing Director for Ambarella.

There will always be a need for higher resolutions, and with increased volume and falling prices for image sensors, it will not be long until adoption begins to pick up, Christensson continued. On another note, the 2012 London Olympics will be recording and transmitting some 4K content.

For 180/360-degree imaging continues to build up, with even chip manufacturers such as Ambarella building hardware-based lens distortion compensation directly onto its chips. 360-degree imaging in video surveillance has not been practical until recently due to technical limitations, but with larger image sensors and faster frame rates, Christensson thinks it is ready for prime time.

Also, an increasing number of camera manufacturers are beginning to replace fisheye lenses with panomorph ones. They use a larger area of the image sensor, and are already supported by many major software vendors, such Milestone Systems and On-Net Surveillance Systems (OnSSI).

Cloud-based services are all the rage these days, but end users are still evaluating the offerings on the market. You have to place a lot of trust in your service provider, and if you have a mission-critical system, you are not going to accept it, Bob McCarthy, MD of the U.S., TKH Security Solutions. He believes that the market potential for managed services has already arrived for the residential market, with light commercial to follow soon. Enterprise customers, however, may find it very difficult to take that leap of faith.

Simplification
As demand for IP and open solutions has grown, so have business opportunities grown for making life easier for integrators. "We sell directly to integrators. We save them the hassle of buying a brand or generic PC and figuring out the right configuration and all the integration requirements for all the different software types," Whitney said. What companies like Intransa do is provide appliances that are basically traditional storage boxes, but preconfigured for compliance with different security vendors and products.

"We compete with a lot of people in different spaces, but there's no one that looks like us," Whitney said. Perhaps something is wrong with this picture, because it is pretty obvious that many traditional security professionals need help in minimizing the IT headaches and continue to supply the market with their expertise.

Innovative Security Designs (ISD), founded in late 2011 by former IQinVision CTO Ian Johnston, approaches this problem from the front end. "Many network cameras are developed in their own little worlds, with a lot of features that most people don't care about," said Johnston, now President and CEO of ISD.

At the end of the day, people buy cameras to solve problems, not for cool features, Johnston continued. So he set out to reimagine how cameras deliver value to system integrators and end users.

In his experience with system integrators, Johnston came to the conclusion that what they wanted, more than anything, in a network camera was simplified and automated network settings and configurations. If you look at the consumer world, almost every gadget is IP-connected, may it be a tablet computer, smartphone or printer, Johnston said, but they do not require time-consuming, mind-boggling network setup on the user's part.

About 60 to 70 percent of cameras sold today are still analog, not only because they are extremely mature and work very well, but also because IP-based systems are simply too much hassle. ISD attempts to marry analog's simplicity, via "zero touch" installation, with megapixel's sophistication and image quality.

Innovation
Some manufacturers are catering to increased sensitivity to price, some getting fed up with the competition of me-too features, some reimagining security products for HD and IP-based systems and still others filling voids and identifying new business opportunities.

Avigilon is probably one of the fastest growing companies in video surveillance. It essentially reimagined video surveillance from the ground up to better fit HD and IP networks, said Keith Marett, VP of Marketing and Communications at Avigilon. "We were new and came in at the right time, and designed the system the right way from the very beginning. In contrast, competitors with existing systems tried to adapt, tweak or change to allow for the new digital wave." Avigilon's products, Marett said, are developed solely for the new era.

Others saw a void in the wireless camera department and decided to move in. "The entire camera was designed from the ground up to consume very little power and effectively transmit video wirelessly," said Allyn Pon, Director of Product Management. MicroPower Technologies. The camera is a compact unit with integrated solar panels and batteries; one could simply pick it up and pluck it anywhere.

Promising Verticals
As different industries have different requirements for security, vertical-specific components are necessary and so is the need for stronger integration of the components. Open solutions and standards are more important than ever.

ONVIF recently introduced "profiles," which take version compatibility out of the equation for users and let them easily determine supported features. Currently, the sole profile is the S, which "describes the common functionalities shared by ONVIF-conformant VMS and devices such as IP cameras or encoders that send, configure, request or control the streaming of media data over an IP network. The profile includes specific features such as PTZ control, audio streaming and relay outputs."

However, working with a single vendor is always easier, and some system integrators prefer a vertically integrated total solution. "When there's a problem, they know there's a single point of contact to go to. Logistically, it's just easier to work with a single company," McCarthy said. "That said, we do embrace integration with other systems. For example, some verticals need specific VMS, such as those for casinos or intelligent transportation."

Speaking of casinos, Keith thinks the market potential is big, but it is not exactly up for grabs. "You see in casinos 3,000 or 4,000 cameras for each site, so obviously that's a big market. Most casinos in Las Vegas still use analog cameras and VCRs for recording. When you switch those cameras to HD, you have a huge load of bandwidth, and you need a system that can handle that."

Retail is also taking off quite a bit, Keith continued. "They're seeing more and more what HD video surveillance systems can provide, in terms of ROI, and how they can improve the bottom line." Good guy applications are also an area Avigilon is focusing on in its education.

Panasonic is focusing on solutions tailored for specific applications, such as gaming, retail, education and public safety.

In terms of working with a single vendor, ADT Global Accounts lends a helping hand to companies with global footprints that wish to standardize integrated security solutions. With a Global Center of Excellence in Alabama pulling in resources from all over the world, ADT Global takes care of the designing for its multinational customers, while local teams of installers are given detailed instructions and diagrams to follow, said Renae Leary, Senior Director for Global Accounts, Tyco Integrated Security, previously part of ADT Worldwide. "This unit really began because so many customers were asking for our help in standardizing and integrating geographically disparate security systems."

US Recovers From Backlogged Demand

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 6/25/2012 | Article type: Hot Topics

During the recession of 2008 and 2009, the physical, electronic security sector was hit pretty badly. For example, the residential vertical typically relies heavily upon new constructions, so it was inevitable that things slumped in 2008 and 2009, said Ryosuke Miwa, GM for Integral Surveillance Activation, Security Business Division, Optex. "But things have been gradually getting better since 2010. In fact, we've been having double-digit growth for the last two years."

One big driver for growth is backlogged demand. Many end users have put brakes on projects for the last four years because of budgetary issues, and systems that would have been upgraded had there not been a serious recession are now even older and in need of upgrade, said Bob McCarthy, MD of the U.S., TKH Security Solutions. "That's one of the big drivers for growth within the security industry."

It may not be equally rosy across the board, though, since customers value their cash much more than they did prerecession. Speaking of government spending, McCarthy said that spending has not gone up, but there are still projects out there for vendors that have reliable products and responsive service. Regardless, for video surveillance, 2012 will be a bumper year, according to research. Analysts predict a significant transition from analog to digital and high demand for HD video.

MORE THAN SECURITY
Miwa noted that companies are spending more on "good guy" applications that increase operational efficiency to help their bottom lines, and more companies are catering to those requirements by diversifying offerings. "For example, everyone wants to save labor cost, so we try to develop wireless products that help installers work very efficiently.”

There is a clear trend toward using video for applications other than security, such as for management and efficiency, said Yoav Stern, President and CEO of Dvtel. "That's where people will be able to justify buying the system. If you make your business run more efficiently with video surveillance systems, you either reduce the amount of people you have or let them work more efficiently." There is also a trend toward sophisticated solutions that are tailored for specific applications.

While the market is getting crowded for smaller installations, companies specializing in high-end systems are thriving. Commenting on the video management scene, Pierre Racz, President of Genetec, offered an interesting analogy: Near the ground you have systems with 1 to 16 cameras. There are a lot of players and the view is quite foggy. As you go up in the atmosphere, it becomes much clearer.

Market research does not really differentiate between system sizes, so Genetec captures 20 percent of the overall market in those reports, but the number goes up for systems with 100 cameras or more, Racz said. In addition, Racz said that Genetec's own forecasts for the next two years are positive, matching or outpacing market research's prediction of 30-percent growth for VMS.

Support Critical
After-sales support has never been more important in the security industry. With less-than-optimal budgets, who would not want more bang for the buck? Furthermore, the increasing adoption of IT and IP-based technology means that more people will have more problems outside the control of their security systems.

For example, Intransa introduced a support program that is targeted at security professionals not as sophisticated in data storage and IT hardware. "We were getting panic calls saying, '12 of your drives crashed and the whole system is down.' What we actually found is a slightly different story," said Jeff Whitney, VP of Marketing and Business Development, Intransa. "In reality, two drives failed two years ago; three drives failed last year; four drives failed this year; and yesterday, the last one failed. So the system was actually down because the drives have been failing over the years, and the system could no longer work because there were no drives left." Now, systems can monitor hardware and notify relevant parties to send replacements and instructions when anything fails; the integrator does not go through those panic moments.

IQinVision, among others, offers a 5-year warranty for every camera. Manufacturers can include such an extended warranty because they have the confidence that every product is well-designed and thoroughly tested, said Wendy Burke, Director of Global Marketing Communications at IQinVision. She noted that only 0.04 percent of its cameras fail within the warranty period.

Smaller budgets mean that customers will want to accomplish more for less, said David Liu, National Sales Manager for Vivotek. He said that Vivotek's focus on quality and competitive prices helped the company grow through difficult times, but after-sales service was also an area that Vivotek compares favorably over many competitors. Responsive technical support and short RMA processing times for Vivotek products are a couple of factors he mentioned.