Bundled VMS Combines Smarts with Appliances

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 1/19/2011 | Article type: Tech Corner

How VMS-bundled DVRs and NVRs perform is explored in this third of three articles.

Scale dictates whethera software-bundled appliance or pure video management software (VMS) is called for. “A hardware-based, bundled solution usually works better for small to medium-sized installations with little need for scalability or future expansions,” said Jacob Loghry, Systems Engineer II, Adesta (a G4S company).

Dedicated VMS is open to all vendors, while hardware-based solutions are purpose-built for one manufacturer's video equipment. This makes the components in boxed VMS critical, with device support depending on processing power, said Alf Chang, Senior Consultant for a&s magazines.

Processing will affect how many cameras can be connected to the storage device. Installers will determine the number of cameras per box, based on frame rate and resolution, Loghry said. While integration and scalability are limited by the VMS' box, ease of use is almost guaranteed. A single vendor enables “deep” integration of all functions, making configuration smoother.

Ease of Use
Configuration is an issue for large projects, making flexible VMS a plus. “Installers care about configuration, as it takes time to set up 100 cameras,” said Charles Chen, Product Marketing Manager for EverFocus Electronics. “You can easily copy and paste schedules and event configurations for various cameras to save installation time.”

More NVRs replicate the plug-and-play ease of analog. “The NVR provides an auto-search function for network cameras, simplifying the installation process,” said Vincent Chen, Assistant VP of Product Marketing at GeoVision. Advanced features included remote viewing and analytics.

A simple approach will speed the migration to IP. “I'm very passionate about plug-and-play with video devices,” said Danny Petkevich, VP of Engineering, Next Level Security Systems. “Once you plug in a camera, it should auto-discover, configure and stream it. That's the experience people are used to in analog.”

The user interface should be intuitive, with contextual help for functions. “We understand our challenge is to make usage simple for both end users and administrators, rather than limiting features,” said Jakub Motycka, Head of the Technical Department for Koukaam. “That's why Koukaam incorporated automatic camera discovery and setup, as well as automatic router control, into our firmware.”

An uncluttered interface is easier to navigate for busy operators. “If you can use Windows, then you can use this VMS,” said Mark Wilson, VP of Marketing for Infinova.

Ease of use is a trade-off, since users will have limited choice. “Some features will be more complicated and have a more complex interface,” said Cardy Huang, Product Marketing Director for Nuuo.

Vertical-Specific
Some hardware-based VMS solutions are geared for specific applications, offering greater convenience. “A mom-and-pop store or SMB with four cameras does not need the same enterprise-level functionality of a casino or airport with hundreds of cameras,” said Matthew Clark, Marketing Manager at Instek Digital.

An application-targeted approach yields purpose-built software and hardware. “We offer VMS for mobile traffic applications and ATMs,” said James Tseng, Senior VP of Telexper. “For the traffic software, it includes fleet management.”

Some vendors offer tools that let users build their own interface. “If someone wanted a very purposebuilt retail solution with people counting and heat maps, they can expose all that functionality and make it simple to use in that context,” Petkevich said.

Owners can keep track of their business with remote monitoring. “It can set restrictions like at a daycare center, where parents can only view the classroom their child is in,” said Chen of GeoVision.

Browser-based remote viewers can support different operating systems. “It really frees up the developer to be on a PC, Mac, Linux or even mobile device,” Petkevich said.

Scalability Some boxed VMS solutions enable enterprise scalability. “We are installed at business parks, so we take a large system and then divide it into modules,” Tseng said.

Some VMS supports distributed architecture and allows unlimited recorders and cameras to be connected to the system, offering a one-stop shop for customers. “GeoVision offers a complete , integrated solution from cameras and recording to management , ” said George Tai , CEO of GeoVision. “This enables system integrators to fulfill more project requirements and benefit from learning only one solution, which is suitable for small and enterprise projects.”

New equipment should support existing devices. “We do larger installations, like the Panama Canal,” Wilson said. “About 60 percent of our business is in large projects with more than 64 cameras.”

Integration
Hardware integration is simple, taking anywhere from a day to weeks to fully support a third-party camera. “Our solution supports more than 600 models of network cameras with ONVIF, PSIA and other protocols from different manufacturers,” said Chen of GeoVision.

IP video standards are relatively young. “Everyone interprets the specification differently,” Petkevich said. “I hope a year from now it will be truly plug-and-play.”

However, even standards and camera APIs do not ensure a speedy installation. “We support more than 1,000 models, but the difference in time to add cameras is a magnitude of 10,” Huang said. While some cameras follow established interfaces, other cameras have insufficient documentation and do not perform as they are supposed to.

Users expect the box to work with any connected camera. “Our NVR doesn't require any special license or installation of paid third-party software — everything is in the box already, so customers get an ‘all-in-one' solution,” said Lubomír Kadaně, Marketing Manager of Koukaam.

Software
While hardware-based VMS tends to be closed, third-party software is being integrated more. “Integrating third-party analytics to the VMS isn't hard,” Huang said. “But accuracy is another issue.”

Other vendors examine the most useful software features and bake them into their VMS. “As far as thirdparty analytics go, since we provide analytics, we don't need to integrate with third-party software and don't need to pay installation fees,” Petkevich said. “We cover 80 percent of the market.”

VMS also works well with other systems. “For back-end equipment, we offer a management platform that integrates with BA systems, such as lighting, carbon monoxide detection and smoke detection,” Tseng said.

Processor Re quirements
As DVRs convert analog inputs to digital outputs, decoding will affect the VMS. “Software performance depends on processor testing,” said Chen of EverFocus. “We don't want our software to underperform, but we can't boost power beyond the processor's limits.”

Processors matter for what the VMS tries to accomplish. “Next-generation Intel boxes have better performance for video decoding, but do not have the things that Texas Instruments or Hisilicon has,” Petkevich said. “The latter have the added functionality of deinterlacing, compositing, resizing or alpha-blending planes.”

NVRs can work without the decoding hassle. “DVR chips do decoding, which is the reverse of an NVR with pure IP inputs,” Huang said. “Higher-resolution cameras, along with how many there are, will affect processing power.”

PC -Based
PC-based VMS boxes use standard computer components, which are not always designed for 24/7 surveillance operation. “Video display, both live and playback, puts a toll on processors,” Clark said. “The decoding process requires a lot of processing power, while features such as map or alarm display only account for a very low amount of processing power.”

Performance also depends on how the software is programmed to run on the processor. “We deploy a PC-based solution, so we use a CPU and RAM to make up for the front end's shortcomings from decoding and decompression,” Tseng said. This type of solution works on dual-core CPUs with 2 gigabytes of RAM, making it compatible with most hardware.

Payment Plans
Bundled VMS typically includes a number of camera licenses. However, if users wish to expand, they can purchase additional camera licenses instead of another box. Only cameras are licensed, while servers do not require licenses, said Chen of EverFocus.

The camera approach keeps pricing simple. “The VMS is licensed by video input, by any type of camera,” Wilson said. “There is no registration of the MAC address for each camera.”

Other vendors license the VMS and server, as well as the cameras. “We are more flexible and provide packages,” Tseng said. “If you have 128 or 256 channels, it will be cheaper than buying licenses by camera.”

A bundled solution can save on training fees as well. “We require no training or certification for our system,” said Jumbi Edulbehram, VP of Business Development, Next Level Security Systems. “Our strategy from day one is our product and interface should be as easy to use as a smart phone.”

SaaS
Most embedded VMS providers found remote monitoring an interesting trend, but took a dim view of its long-term prospects. “At this point in time, SaaS still costs more than an on-site installation for a long period of subscription,” said Chen of GeoVision.

Thus, adoption rates are slow for managed video. “Even if the advantages are quite clear — no one can steal it, permanent supervision — without a fast and reliable Internet network, it will be impossible or George Tai, Matthew Clark, Marketing Manager CEO of GeoVision at Instek Digital James Tseng, Senior VP of Telexper Product Exploration 8262 JAN 2011 www.asmag.com 22 difficult to handle,” Motycka said.

The market will need time to accept remote monitoring. “Remote storage for cameras depends greatly on bandwidth, which is something a telco or ISP wants to charge for,” Tseng said.

Residential prospects are hazy, as demand for video management functionality is low. “Homeowners just want to see video, so we're not sure if this is a market we want to be in,” Huang said. “There's not much opportunity for differentiation. It does have great camera volume, but the software doesn't offer great value to the customer.”

However, hosted video is a good fit for SMBs. Users can remotely manage sites, access information from anywhere and store video to a hosted site. “It's more efficient to store video locally,” Edulbehram said. Business owners can afford small systems for each location, which can be managed centrally.

Pros and Cons
Ease of use is one of the advantages for hardware-based VMS. “Usually, smaller projects in the SMB market prefer hardware-based VMS, as they need simplicity, basic functions and a low price,” Huang said.

Bundled VMS works on a single vendor's video lineup, with the added security of no viruses or spyware for a local network. “It is useful for small camera systems like in a home, small office or small shop, but I wouldn't recommend free software for critical or larger applications,” Motycka said. “Disadvantages of free software include less advanced features, with usually no alarm handling, archiving, redundancy or advanced user rights management.”

VMS deployments go faster when all devices work together. “The bundled approach simplifies things for installation, deployment and management, as opposed to having many different vendors,” Edulbehram said. “You have just one point of contact. It massively simplifies pricing.”

A comprehensive solution relates to ease of use, with the added benefit of accountability. “A turnkey system will cut down on installation headaches and costs, and the manufacturer will provide full support in the case of a problem to reduce the long-term cost of the system,” Clark said.

Hybrid Systems
Some vendors offer their VMS as software and hardware. “Previously, customers would use a CMS server to broadcast all the images, and the network would have issues, such as losing data packets,” Tseng said. A backup controller ensures images are captured, even if the main server breaks down. “We can manage 2,048 channels with our enterprise software and support 48 channels on our NVR.”

At GeoVision, a purchase of any network camera or video server is bundled with fully functional NVR software for 32 channels. “The solution is cost-effective, and customers can determine their own NVR hardware,” Tai said.

Infinova OEMs its VMS from Video Insight, for a best-of-breed solution utilizing existing equipment. “If you want to bundle all your solutions and mortgage your future on one camera, that's fine,” Wilson said. “Our VMS helps people migrate from analog to IP, but in a cost-managed way. We've enabled the software to actually manage analog equipment.”

Dedicated VMS works best with IP video, requiring analog control room equipment to be replaced. “We have seen pushback for legacy situations,” Wilson said. “We have an Ethernet interface on the matrix switch, so our software can manage matrix switches and video walls on an IP network.”

Challenges
VMS development is affected by camera breakthroughs and their growing processing requirements. “Currently, the drive to IP is for megapixel and its greater clarity,” Huang said. “As it grows, it affects transmission and storage. For all projects, storage for NVRs and cameras is a high cost. These things will be concerns in the future with megapixel surveillance.”

Storage will need higher efficiency to keep up with megapixel or HD video. “RAID has become a risky standard for video storage because of the stresses on hard disks — temperature, vibration and wear — thus producing a high probability of disk failure,” Clark said. Alternatives such as linear array of idle disks technology offer reliability and reduced risk of data loss.

Connectivity is also a trend. “Integration will increase in the market,” Chen of EverFocus said. Wilson agreed, saying, “What you're seeing in the industry overall is convergence at a high level.”

VMS delivers added value, making it essential for security. “The future challenge will be integrating on a larger scale with emerging standards such as ONVIF and PSIA,” Clark said. “As the industry gains confidence in the standards, the next shift will be how you leverage the data available.”

NVT Transmission Descends at Middle East Airport Complex

Editor / Provider: Network Video Technologies | Updated: 1/17/2011 | Article type: Infrastructure

Network Video Technologies’ (NVT’s) unshielded twisted pair (UTP) surveillance camera video transmission, has been employed to provide surveillance transmission at five aircraft service and maintenance hangers at King Khalid International Airport.

Located 22 miles north of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of a comprehensive airport complex that includes three terminals, a control tower and two parallel runways, the five specially equipped hangers are used to carry out repairs and scheduled maintenance on a variety of international and national airlines’ aircraft.

With more than 10,000 square meters of floor space each, the five service hangers can cater to aircraft as large as the latest Airbus A380, Boeing 747-400, or multiple single-engine light aircraft. Assisting the provision of effective health, safety, fire prevention and security procedures at the massive complex, an NVT-based surveillance system has been specified and installed by the Modern Buildings Group. “We planned to use surveillance images from the system for a variety of roles, including security, health and safety and fire/smoke detection via the use of video smoke detection units, so the quality of video we required from the cameras was of great importance,” said Mohammad Amin Almatt of Modern Buildings Group.

“Employing a traditional coaxial-based system at the site would have proven very costly, time consuming to install, and would have meant that an individual fused spur power outlet would have been needed at each of the 25 internal and 10 external camera locations. This would have added significant supplementary costs in equipment and installation time.” “Additionally, camera locations ranged from 200 meters to one kilometer in end-to-end transmission distance to the onsite control room. Employing coax over these distances would have been detrimental to the camera image quality in this mission critical system.”

Utilizing NVT power, video and data technology, the Modern Buildings Group engineers were able to provide each camera in the system with low voltage power, transmit fiber-like quality to the control room and provide camera telemetry, all via a Cat5 UTP network contained within each hanger’s structure. From here, a 25-pair Cat3 UTP backbone is used to transmit images from each hanger, back to the centrally located equipment and control room.

Protecting the perimeter of each hanger, Pelco PTZ dome cameras with UTP outputs are situated on the exterior corners of each hanger. Images from these cameras are used to monitor the hanger environment for any possible unauthorized entry, and to ensure health and safety procedures around the hanger are adhered to.

In addition to onsite monitoring and recording via the control and DVR technology, the images are also monitored by electronic video smoke detection software. The system was developed to overcome the difficulties encountered in environments where traditional forms of smoke and flame detection are considered to be ineffective or impractical such as the aircraft service hangers. False alarms could be frequently created as a byproduct of everyday onsite processes.

“Using NVT technology we were able to provide both the DVR and video smoke detection devices with conditioned, interference free video. Thanks to the continuous and automatic conditioning of the video signal via the NVT technology, the image quality remains consistent and unaffected by changing conditions, such as interference levels or changing lighting conditions – critical for these types of video analytic packages,” Mohammad Amin Almatt said.

Weighing the Benefits of Dedicated VMS

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 1/18/2011 | Article type: Tech Corner

Dedicated video management software solutions have distinct benefits but are also more complex. A&S looks at the pros and cons for software-only offerings, along with pricing considerations.

Stand-alone and hardwarebased video management software (VMS) solutions offer advantages and drawbacks. “I think both solutions have their place in the market,” said Francis Lachance, PM at Genetec. “We see dedicated software solutions are more targeted at the high-end and large-scale systems because they offer more flexibility in deployment.”

The benefits depend on the individual's perspective — whether they are end users, specifiers or system integrators. “While vendor-based VMS ties one to the manufacturer's hardware and tends to lock one in to higher costs perhaps initially and in terms of support in the long term, it does at least guarantee that the software and hardware work properly together,” said Phil Ridgeon, VP of Sales for Vigilant Technology. Its VMS runs on thirdparty approved hardware, but is usually bundled with D/NVRs.

Dedicated VMS can add new functions at any time, while DVRs have limited upgrade options. “Stand-alone, open-platform software means that the VMS is decoupled from the hardware it runs on, allowing users to choose standard off-the-shelf devices of their own brand, price and feature preferences to suit their individual needs best,” said Christian Bohn, VP of Marketing and Head of Product Development for Milestone Systems.

Pure software can be cheaper in some instances. “Professional VMS pros include no initial hardware costs if existing computers and free software are used,” said Jakub Motycka, Head of the Technical Department for Koukaam.

Features Galore Flexible software
increases video's usefulness. “Intuitive and comprehensive IP-based VMS provides valuable data that can be used in numerous ways and, broadly speaking, can provide a useful new asset to the enterprise as well as a solid ROI,” said Gadi Piran, President of On-Net Surveillance Systems.

Bundled VMS features are limited. “What we find in larger projects is they like to standardize hardware like Dell, so free software is increasingly not where the market is going,” said Marc Holtenhoff, CEO of Aimetis. “For people looking for basic features, there's a lot of competition, and free is a nice price. But there's value in paying for software.”

The functionality of a DVR, NVR or free software does not match enterprise demands. “For an airport with 1,000 cameras, you're looking for scalability and a support structure — it's a different ball game,” Holtenhoff said.

For comparison, a DVR cannot handle the complexity of large projects, said Tuhin Bose, Chief Engineer of Videonetics.

VMS delivers more integration, compared to hardware. However, licenses are expensive, require servers to run and can be difficult to install. “Dedicated VMS offers comprehensive functionality to enhance common video surveillance tasks, such as virtual matrix support, automated ‘patrols' of cameras, integrated maps, video wall and more,” said Oliver Vellacott, CEO of IndigoVision.

Some providers offer both software-only and NVR-bundled VMS. “There's not really a pro or con to either one, as it depends on the customer,” said Jesse Frye, Product Line Manager, IP Video Management Systems, March Networks. “The NVR is very successful because it's a purpose-built solution. The con is it is perceived as a closed solution.”

The Nedap VMS solution is based on its access control platform, which was designed to be vendoragnostic. “We introduced a security management platform in which we separated the software from the hardware,” said Hans Schipper, GM of Security Management, Education and Locker Management Systems, Nedap. “We use generic hardware and deploy software components to give it a certain behavior.”

While dedicated VMS offers strong functionality and maximizes existing hardware, a potential downside is it generally has to be purchased whereas vendor-based VMS systems tend to be included with the device, said David Aindow, Product and Technology Director for Synectics (a Quadnetics company).

Payment Plans
Most vendors license by device. Instead of charging for the software, the user is charged for licenses per camera, said Alf Chang, Senior Consultant for A&S magazines. When the system grows, the customer buys more licenses instead of replacing servers and software, saving installation time and cost.

However, not everyone likes paying for software, whether upfront or annually. “Because of the resentment felt in much of the security industry about annual license charges, our model has always been a one-time license charge made at the time of purchase,” Ridgeon said.

Most dedicated VMS providers license by camera count, but others include servers and users for large installations. Discounts for bulk purchases are usually set by distributors, rather than the providers.

Digifort charges by camera license for software, but offers a base license per server, said éric Fleming Bonilha, Technology Director of Digifort. Each base license includes a certain number of camera licenses.

SaaS
As VMS vendors are comfortable in the network space, remote monitoring deployments through software as a service (SaaS) have generated buzz. While this business model could generate new business, hosted video targets SMBs and homes rather than enterprise projects. Some vendors already have partners deploying SaaS, while others are hedging their bets.

Some vendors have put video in the cloud. “In my opinion, hosted video will be driven by IT-centric video surveillance companies and not by the telcos,” said Steve Lewis, COO of ipConfigure. “AT&T tried unsuccessfully to launch a video surveillance offering with its ‘remote monitor ' service. It eventually punted the service back to Xanboo to run.”

The security industry is cautious about new technology and business models. “Video stored by a third party brings security and privacy issues,” Holtenhoff said. “Architecturally, there are reasons for it and it makes sense, but the adoption rates aren't great.”

TagMaster RFID Vehicle System Descends at Peru International Airport

Editor / Provider: TagMaster | Updated: 1/7/2011 | Article type: Infrastructure

TagMaster, a producer of long-range Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems for automatic vehicle identification solutions, announced that Peru’s largest airport, Jorge Chavez International Airport (JCIA) in Lima had selected TagMaster as the RFID solution provider for the airport. TagMaster’s partner in the U.S., TagMaster North America has succeeded in ensuring that TagMaster’s long-range RFID readers were selected, which are instrumental in providing enhanced security required by JCIA. The installation forms part of an integrated access and parking revenue control installation at the airport, supplied by partnering company Intellisoft Parking. The solution increases security by providing a hands-free automatic vehicle identification system at the Lima airport.

At JCIA, the airport catering concessionaires are billed for each vehicle’s runway access based on the duration of stay in the aircraft area. The airport was challenged with improving collection of data to properly calculate vehicle duration in the aircraft area and accurately bill each catering company. The existing process required labor-intensive visual observation and hand calculation of each vehicle’s entry and exit of the runway area which led to identification errors and long billing cycles while calculations were reviewed and verified.

JCIA is the largest airport in Peru serving nearly nine million passengers annually. TagMaster North America is an Intellisoft partner providing long-range RFID solutions for automatic vehicle identification. Intellisoft was tasked with providing a solution for vehicle access control for catering concessionaires servicing the aircrafts. TagMaster’s system encompasses long-range RFID readers and read/write RFID tags used to identify vehicles as they approach the entry/exit gates.

huperLab Streamlines African Logistics Company Workflow

Editor / Provider: huperLab | Updated: 1/7/2011 | Article type: Commercial Markets

DHL has built a global delivery network by trailblazing express shipping in one country after another, and occupied the business of more than 220 countries globally. To overall ensure security and surveillance for multiple sites simultaneously, the system combining huperLab all-in-one server board with video analytics were installed by iTrack in DHL Ghana.

“Most features of DVR system remain similar around the globe. And what can differentiate huperLab from others is its intelligent video analytics feature, allowing us to provide more beneficial solutions,” said Fariz Farah, MD of iTrack.

Installed in 2009, two surveillance systems consist of two units of 16-CH server board with video analytics, and 30 units of D1 real-time HD cameras and speed domes. More than passive surveillance, the system helps managers to better surveillance by actively motion tracking and object tracking within predefined area at multiple sites simultaneously.

The PTZ tracking enables to automatically track a moving object when suspicious intrusions occur, as well as to send events to trigger another fixed cameras on the alert. With video analytics installed at head office and airport site, such as flow counting, virtual fence detection and flame detection, DHL is able to monitor, track and secure every arrived and dispatched parcel for object vulnerability, theft prevention and event records.

For centralized management and monitoring, multiple sites are monitored by one central station at the head office, which all data and events can be recorded and saved. The management works as a central monitoring and event management station for monitoring multiple DVR sites and display images from 64 cameras simultaneously.

ASL Safety & Security Control System Streamlines UK Transportation

Editor / Provider: ASL Safety & Security | Updated: 1/7/2011 | Article type: Infrastructure

ASL Safety & Security has delivered its 3-D control and supervisory platform at City Thameslink train station in London as part of the Thameslink programme.

The system is a sensor and event fusion environment in which voice, data and video can be filtered, analyzed and directed from the full range of subsystems used at transport hubs. At City Thameslink, the solution is monitoring public address and voice alarm (PA/VA), surveillance, help points, alarm reporting and voice recorders.

The PA/VA systems employ ASL's own IP audio controller, a hardware platform developed in conjunction with the VIPA software suite that provides a VoIP and digital voice announcement solution for railway stations and airports.

It is aimed at mission-critical facilities that require lifelike representation of events within an integrated control environment across many disciplines and subsystems. Use of a distributed and open standards-based ‘publish and subscribe' model for messaging ensures efficient use of bandwidth compared with rival ‘hub and spoke' architecture control room software.

The installation at City Thameslink is in a three-part infrastructure project that ASL is providing for the rail division of engineering design consultancy Atkins who in turn are working for Network Rail. The Thameslink programme will deliver longer, more frequent trains across London.

In a second stage, ASL will supply its subsystem supervisory software and VoIP hardware at Blackfriars Station, a site that poses logistical challenges for all contractors since it lies on both sides of the River Thames. The final phase of the project will be Farringdon Station to the north of the city's financial quarter. All three stations will have their own operational centers employing the system control solution.

ASL Safety & Security won the contract in open tender based on the functionality of iVENCS shown in successful deployment at a major international airport and at St. Pancras International Station - currently Europe's busiest rail hub – where the software controls over 8,500 field devices across 16 subsystems.

Manchester Airport Alarm and Intercom Systems Enhanced with Cortech Software

Editor / Provider: Cortech | Updated: 12/30/2010 | Article type: Infrastructure

Manchester Airport has undertaken improvements to its alarm and intercom systems across its three Terminals. An integral part of this new system, which has been managed by Security Installer ES North, is an integrated software solution provided by Cortech Developments.

As the largest British-owned airport operator, the Manchester Airport Group (MAG) play a major role in UK aviation, contributing US$3.1 billion to the UK economy and supporting more than 130,000 jobs. More than 65 airlines offer direct flights to more than 180 destinations worldwide, connecting around 19 million passengers to every continent.

Based on Cortech’s experience in the aviation sector, it implemented a software solution involving the phased integration of intercom and panic alarms, thereby limiting any disruption to the day-to-day operations of the airport.

The Cortech software provides intercom integration for lift emergency and service yard communications. Managing the intercoms through one integrated event based software solution has brought about an efficient and cost effective procedure for controlling the access for vehicles in some restricted areas of the Airport. All calls are logged with the intercom and General Alarm System, a process which is enhanced further with the integration of new vehicle logging software.

As part of the Airport’s public space management, Datalog also integrates with numerous panic alarms for a wide range of passenger facing desks. The software provides a comprehensive system for alarm call management, enabling a fast and effective response to any events that occur.

Geoff Densham, Project Manager for Manchester Airport, said: “The Datalog software has enhanced our operational efficiency for handling alarms in key areas of the airport. This integration initiative has also created a cost effective single point of operation for our lift emergency, service yard intercoms and panic alarms within specific passenger areas. Importantly as a modular platform the software is scalable, enabling the airport to deploy the latest technology as part of its evolving requirements.”

Datalog provides a fully accountable and seamless process for managing alarms and events. All actions on the system are recorded, which is a very powerful tool in determining the sequence of events when any historical analysis is required.

Siemens Sets Its Sights on IT

Editor / Provider: The Editorial Team | Updated: 12/30/2010 | Article type: Hot Topics

Solutions are the core of Siemens' business, as described by Frank Pedersen, CEO of Security Solutions, Siemens Switzerland.

Siemens Building Technologies boasts a large portfolio for security, which becomes even bigger with complete solutions. “We deliver our solutions via our own team,” said Frank Pedersen, CEO of Security Solutions, Siemens Switzerland. “We have partners located around the world to be close to where our customers are. If you say you need a video solution for the Jardin Building in Hong Kong, then we're your new best friend.”

The company sees an industry migration from hardware toward software-related solutions. For greater integration, it is strongly building on open standards. “Software is really the heart and soul of the integration,” Pedersen said. Siemens is an IT player in the security market.

Solutions remain consistent with Siemens' founding principles from 160 years ago. “Our corporate philosophy is that there is inherently more value in solutions, meaning we give you something and optimize it over its lifetime,” Pedersen said. “Solutions are something Siemens has learned from its founding fathers.”

Strengths
Siemens prides itself on understanding applications. “We see companies come to us because they see their security in good hands and our long-term strategies,” Pedersen said. “We don't get in a market and go out two years later. Our application know-how and our longevity combined with the technology is why we will be a dominant player in the future.”

Smart security is the direction of the future. Corporate governance requires keeping tabs on what is happening with the corporation's offices worldwide. “Smart is something that gives you situational awareness, a rule engine, because inevitably something will happen,” Pedersen said. “It has to be more than just preventing things from happening. How we can react smarter and better is important.”

Road Ahead
Siemens' understanding of applications opens up its business opportunities. Its solutions are tailored to each vertical and account for regional differences. Harbors, airports, finance institutes, data centers, and pharmaceutical sites are among the large projects where Siemens has found success.

The company's global presence has improved its access to customers. Siemens is in 192 countries, with its Building Technologies division established in 51 countries and the Security group currently in 30 countries. “We have business in all major markets,” Pedersen said. “Our position in the Middle East is good.” Siemens also has the highest market share in Brazil, based on independent research.

A complete portfolio gives Siemens a competitive offering. “It is a certain value proposition to work with Siemens,” Pedersen said. “It has a higher value to say leave everything and let me integrate it.”

Balkan Security Taking Off

Editor / Provider: a&s Adria | Updated: 12/24/2010 | Article type: Hot Topics

Partly due to the region's own healthy market drivers, and partly as a result of the welcomed financial infusions of the International Monetary Fund and the E.U., the economy of the Balkan countries is reborn. IMS Research shares insights on its forecast of the video surveillance market development in the Balkan region.

A recent report issued by IMS Research, “The East Europe and Russia Market for CCTV and Video Surveillance Equipment,” forecasts strong growth for the video surveillance market in the Balkan region. With more foreign investment in the area and an increase in the spending level on physical security for some countries — Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia — currently with low video surveillance penetration, the video surveillance market will grow at a double-digit rate annually in the next five years. As such, the Balkan region will become one of the largest markets for video surveillance equipment in Eastern Europe.

In particular, Romania and Slovenia are expected to offer bountiful opportunities for video surveillance manufacturers. The Romanian market, which accounted for just about 50 percent of equipment sales in the Balkans in 2009, will grow at a similar pace as the rest of the region, surpassing the Czech Republic in growth rate from 2011 onward. “The Slovenian market, despite having only a population of two million, has a surprisingly large number of video surveillance project tenders out to bid,” said William Rhodes, Research Analyst for Video Surveillance and VCA, IMS Research. A large proportion of these tenders are based on network video surveillance specifications. “Slovenia, among other nations within the Balkans, will drive market growth over the next five years,” Rhodes said.

Regional Differences
Many indicators were used to estimate the magnitude of the Eastern European markets, including the size of the economy, the size of railway network in each country and the amount of retail businesses. The research finds that not all countries offer similar growth potentials.

Despite the various large-scale, IP-based infrastructure projects implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, such as the construction of the Corridor 5C Highway, the Sarajevo Airport, the Al Shiddi International mall center and new hydropower plants, researchers are conservative in predicting an equally booming surveillance market for the country. “In the long term, once these projects have been completed, it is unlikely that the video surveillance equipment market will grow as substantially,” Rhodes said. The market will, then, be dominated by smaller projects and a replacement market, Rhodes added.

Considerations
The private entrepreneurship segment and major public operators have collaborated in the fields of telecommunication, ADSL, DSL and the Internet to offer broadband services like remote video surveillance, although hosted video or video surveillance as a service (VSaaS) has had limited breakthroughs in mature video surveillance markets in Western Europe. For smaller countries in the Balkan region, an average monthly fee of US$8 to 14 for VSaaS solutions might have limited success due to price sensitivity, Rhodes said. Another factor that will impede the adoption of VSassS is bandwidth capacity, which awaits further expansion. However, as network infrastructure investment continues in the region, bandwidth will pose less issues, Rhodes said.

The degree of government involvement will also play an important role in shaping an upbeat market in the Balkans. Government funding, EU funding and private investment may not completely support the growing market, but will surely provide project opportunities in the countries, resulting in market growth. Public and private legislations could also provoke or inhibit growth capacity. Privacy laws have the potential to curb installations of surveillance systems in various private sectors, but other state regulations will have a chance to boost system installments, such as setting a minimum standard of security systems in all banking institutions.

Exciting Years Ahead
Backed by stable government support and available capital funding, the video surveillance market is waiting to be explored as the region experiences an infrastructure and economic boom in the next several years. “With a large new retail park planned in Bucharest in 2010 and many western brands such as Carrefour, Tesco, Wal-Mart and Ikea looking to expand their existing establishments, retail in the region will be one vertical that drives growth of the video surveillance equipment market in the coming years,” Rhodes said.

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>