Morpho signs e-Border contract with the UAE Ministry of Interior

Editor / Provider: Morpho (Safran) | Updated: 1/30/2015 | Article type: Security 50

Morpho (Safran), through eIMASS, has been awarded the prestigious e-Border management project by the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates. The e-Border project is setting the standards for the future of border control in the world, combining the very latest in biometric technologies, automation and system integration.

The contract covers the implementation of a fully integrated multi-biometric border control system, including the delivery of 96 e-Gates and 94 e-Counters, in five major airports across the UAE. Abu Dhabi airport will be the first, in spring 2015.

The system features Morpho's Finger on-the-Fly technology, which is a very rapid, touchless way of capturing fingerprints, via a simple wave of the hand, in only one second. Morpho's Finger on-the-Fly is a world first, offering major advances in both speed and accuracy, while mitigating hygiene concerns.

In a similar way to fingerprint recognition, the e-Border project is spearheading the use of the iris and face recognition for border control, featuring Morpho Iris-at-a-Distance (IAD) cameras, with the world's fastest operational capture time (less than 1 second for simultaneous capture of iris and face).

In terms of automation, the versatile MorphoWay e-Gates provide the highest level of security, while facilitating the traveler experience in airport border control. Featuring a new and modern design, they can be used by travelers at both entry to and exit from the UAE.

System integration is also a key feature of the e-Border project. Expanding upon the e-Border pilot implemented in 2012 in Abu Dhabi, the new fully integrated border control system seamlessly interfaces with the existing Ministry of Interior systems, such as the Visa Enrollment Centers for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Philippe Petitcolin, Chairman and CEO of Morpho, said, “This contract solidifies our long-standing working relationship with the police and border authorities of the UAE. We believe that our partnership is a truly winning combination, and one that will make a positive contribution to the future of border control in the UAE.”

Major General Dr. Ahmed Naser Al Raisi, Director General Central Operations of Abu Dhabi Police, added, “Morpho has the proven technology and local expertise which enable them to fully understand our needs and expectations for the e-Border project. We have every confidence in their ability to successfully support us in one of most important of our nation-wide projects.”

In addition to the Ministry of Interior, Morpho already supplies security systems to numerous government agencies and organizations within the UAE. These customers include the Abu Dhabi Police, Emirates Identity Authority, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abu Dhabi Airports Company and the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.

Mongolian bank fully covers 530 branches with QNAP security surveillance solution

Editor / Provider: Sponsored by QNAP | Updated: 1/27/2015 | Article type: Commercial Markets

With over 530 branches throughout the country, Khan Bank is one of the largest commercial banks in Mongolia and provides banking services to an estimated 70% of Mongolian households. The Khan Bank was established in 1991 as the Agricultural Cooperative Bank in connection with the dissolution of the State Bank of Mongolia's monopoly. The Bank assumed most of the assets and businesses of the State Bank in rural Mongolia.

Each of Khan Bank's 530 branches handles large amount of transactions and customer enquiries every day. Khan Bank requires a reliable surveillance solution to safeguard their customers and staff in their branches and ATM areas. However, the existing CCTV system was insufficient for meeting their heavy surveillance recording requirements, and Khan Bank planned to improve the safety of their ATM centers by deploying network cameras to deter robberies and other criminal incidents. In the meantime, for bigger branches, Khan Bank planned to upgrade their storage appliances to networked storage devices.

Khan Bank decided to replace their analog CCTV systems with a digital surveillance solution and install 156 units of the QNAP VioStor VS-2104 Pro+ NVR, 98 units of the VS-2108L NVRs, and 20 units of the TS-469 Pro Turbo NAS in their branches and ATM areas. Khan Bank upgraded their surveillance infrastructure to an all-IP solution featuring network cameras.

“With QNAP VioStor NVR solutions, we can easily fulfill customer requirements through the compatibility between NVRs and selected network cameras” said the local system integrator. “The main purpose of this IP surveillance system is to access high-quality video feeds from megapixel network cameras deployed in banks and ATM areas.”

The three-stages of IP surveillance deployment starts from Khan Bank's central office to all branch banks in the capital city and then to the branches in rural areas. Based on branch scale, Khan Bank implements one VioStor NVR with four to eight network cameras to build up an IP surveillance system. With the Turbo NAS storage expansion solution, the VioStor NVR storage can be extended to meet the mandated data archiving period.

The VS-2104 Pro+ and the VS-2108L NVRs run stably, reliably and with enhanced compatibility & performance with Khan Bank's chosen cameras. After easily deploying and configuring the standalone VioStor NVRs, Khan Bank saved a great deal on system maintenance and technical consultation fees and whenever they have questions or need technical support, QNAP Security's responsive and knowledgeable customer service team is always available to assist them. Additional savings were incurred with the VioStor NVR's smart recording mode that records standard-resolution videos during normal events and high-resolution videos only when notable events occur or alarms are triggered - effectively reducing costs as additional hard drives are unnecessary. In addition to the above benefits, Khan Bank has made plans for the next stage of their surveillance system, where they will install the VioStor CMS turnkey solution and will be able to manage NVRs, cameras and events easily and efficiently.

Sponsored by:  

A major retail chain improves video surveillance coverage with LILIN

Editor / Provider: Sponsored by LILIN | Updated: 1/26/2015 | Article type: Hot Topics

Stationery retailer giant in Asia
A major retailer required better surveillance video in many of its locations throughout Taiwan Island. The company is headquartered outside of Kyoto, Japan and is one of the biggest stationery chains in Asia Pacific region founded in late 1980. The retailer is expanding business abroad quickly and so far the retailer has more than 18 chain store locations in Taiwan alone.

Upgraded with LILIN CCTV speed dome cameras to prevent shoplifting
Theft has always been a well-known problem for high-street retailers. Because of the need to look out for the safety of both customers and personnel, the large area of the stationery stores, and the surveillance system in place across their 18 stores Taiwan nationwide did not meet their current security demands, the retailer has decided to upgrade their outdated CCTV system to provide employees and customers with the highest level of security. In addition, the company wanted to control its processes such as checkout flow more effectively by the deployment of surveillance cameras. With the use of CCTV technology, the company is able to prevent shoplifting and theft, and therefore to safeguard its stock and profit margins.

Choose speed domes from LILIN to monitor
LILIN's SI system integrator partner in Taiwan, EverPark, recommended LILIN speed dome surveillance solution suitable for this highly specialized retail application. The retailer giant adopted LILIN video solution ensuring real-time surveillance of the widespread stores throughout Taiwan.

Solutions integrated with stores' POS system
There are 18 stores to be monitored and each store is installed with 5 LILIN SP312 speed dome cameras for in-store security solutions. LILIN surveillance systems are able to integrate smoothly with the existing analogue infrastructure, and also LILIN video solution at each store has been integrated with the POS system to trace sales transactions.

LILIN provides powerful video surveillance solutions which perfect for store chains.

Sponsored by: 
LILIN is a global IP video manufacturer with over 30 years of experience. Throughout the years, the company has maintained its dedication to Creativity, Progress, and Excellence providing expertise in digital video with a strong focus on innovation moving forward.

HD-over-coaxial: what you need for a carefree upgrade experience

Editor / Provider: Michelle Chu | Updated: 1/23/2015 | Article type: Hot Topics

 >>> Click the imgae for the full content

Since IP system emerged a few years ago, analog players have been trying to supply solutions with higher image quality and more efficient installation. Despite the market share of IP solutions are increasing steadily, analog systems still domain with around 70 to 80 percent.

Being able to deliver superb image quality at longer distance, HD-over-coaxial solutions, be it AHD, ccHDtv, HDCVI, and HDTVI, promise the end users a carefree surveillance systems upgrade without hassle on ripping out existing cables.

HD-over-coaxial systems also guarantee no frame losing, as bandwidth is not an issue at all for image transmission. “ccHDtv, transmitting through DVB-t, is able to provide image resolution of 1080P perpetually, and the end users will not suffer from poor image quality as the cables aging over time,” said Bryan Wang, Business Development Manager of a-tec.

As many retrofit projects face with restrain budget, better quality with lower budget is another major advantage of HD-over-coaxial solutions. “GKB AHD 5480 dome camera is ideal to adopt for retrofit project in chain store, residential area, bank, and education sectors,” said Anna Hsiung, Marketing Manager at GKB.

Meanwhile, a great demand on HD-over-coaxial solutions is seen in the verticals with critical environment and larger area to be covered with such as factories and critical infrastructures. Although Asian market shows more interests in HD-over-coaxial solutions in the past, European countries with higher CCTV deployment density, such as the UK, is full of business potential as well, according to Wang.

***Held from April 28 to 30 at Taipei, Taiwan, secutech gathers the world's most important manufacturers who will display a wide variety of CCTV Upgrades' products.
To find out more, please click here.

Surveillance integration - why people matter

Editor / Provider: Synectics | Updated: 1/13/2015 | Article type: Security 50

As investment in Middle East industrial, financial and critical infrastructure continues to rise, increasing protection of assets crucial to ongoing economic and social development is naturally becoming a higher a priority.

At Intersec 2015 in Dubai, global surveillance business Synectics will explain and demonstrate how achieving this is as much about people as it is about technology.

Paul Webb, Managing Director of Synectics, said: “The Middle East market is familiar with the concept of security systems integration – unifying multiple systems (CCTV, perimeter security, access control, emergency alarms etc.) into a single environment to streamline and enhance protection and operations. Advances in IP-based surveillance networks and HD camera technology have supported growth in this concept.

“But while integrated security represents a vital step forward in asset protection, collating information from disparate data streams in this way is only part of the equation. To fully maximize the opportunities this presents, it is necessary to understand the interplay between technology and personnel and then take action from that vantage point.

“How individuals and teams use and respond to data will ultimately dictate the security and operational outcomes for any site, whether that's an airport, gas plant or a city traffic network.”

In 2014, Synectics rolled-out its open and fully scalable Synergy 3 command and control software platform that integrates alarms and events, security and process control subsystems, surveillance, and other essential site systems. Crucially, the solution can be programmed to detect and understand potential threats by mining the data captured, and present that information to best guide appropriate action.

“It's about data ergonomics”, said David Aindow, Product and Technology Director at Synectics, “presenting the right data, in the right way, at the right time for the right people to act on it.

“This concept was integral to our development of Synergy 3, demonstrated by features such as the customisable Graphical User Interface (GUI), interactive mapping engine (with Geospatial Information System (GIS) technology), and dynamic workflow functionality to guide operators through required response procedures and protocols in specific situations.

“It's also the driving factor behind the latest enhancements we'll be highlighting at Intersec, specifically around task management – enhancements that help operators identify and enlist the skills required to resolve specific issues.

“For example, a single subsystem alert (perhaps form a perimeter fence) can now trigger immediate visual/audio feed correlating with the incident location, and an associated workflow programme to guide operators in responding. Operators can also cross-reference information received with a database of skillsets to identify appropriate first responders and issue coded alerts to the relevant personnel via SMS. On task completion, whatever that task may be, the responding personnel can then use mobile devices such as telephones and tablets to automatically update the control room operator accordingly.

“It's a solution that closes the loop on incident identification and response, and that's how ultimate protection and efficiency is achieved.”

Synectics will be demonstrating Synergy 3's mapping, workflow and integration capabilities at booth S1-D12, alongside its COEX™ C2000 TriMode and new C3000 HD IP camera stations.

The surveillance solutions specialist will also be demonstrating its Synergy Tablet which offers mobile situational awareness, taking the concept of personnel integration a step further by delivering system capabilities to operatives in the field.

Paul Webb concluded: “Intersec has always been a show about innovation and this year is no different. What's most exciting for us as a business though, is being able to meet customers face-to-face and demonstrate how innovation can marry with real world needs and practicalities in order to deliver tangible security and operational benefits.”

For further updates from Synectics regarding Intersec 2015, follow @synecticsglobal on Twitter

Dahua iHCVR offers face detection function

Editor / Provider: Dahua Technology | Updated: 12/30/2014 | Article type: Security 50

Dahua Technology, one of the world-leading manufacturers and suppliers of video surveillance products headquartered in Hangzhou, China, announced to introduce its new iHCVR series products.

iHCVR, based on Dahua's in-house High Definition Composite Video Interface (HDCVI) technology, new generation of smart face detection which realizes 1ch face detection, instant playback and face index playback. iHCVR series products not only support face detection but also can realize face image snapshot and face image 20 seconds playback assisted by software.

HD Performance at 720P
Dahua iHCVR product family is based on HDCVI technology and it retains the ease to use of an analog system while offering up to 720P HD video output.

Easy Space
Detected face images, motions, alarm snapshots and video can be uploaded to the free “Easy Space” (Network Cloud Disk) such as Skydrive and Dropbox to keep data safe and save storage space. Also the recorded data can be searched easily.

P2P
P2P allows simple and easy connecting between client-end and mobile apps. Dahua iHCVR can realize p2p network connection through scanning QR code and logging website.

iHCVR products family includes 5104/5108H-F and 5104/5108HE-F. Among these models, different hardware case is not the only way to differentiate them but also with different functions, such as iHCVR5104/5108HE-F supports 4/8-ch alarm in and 3-ch alarm out.

Furthermore, the sync software will be available for mobile phones in January. With mobile device viewing support, it will be much more convenient to use. As for the users, iHCVR is cost-effectiveness, easy-to-use and high performance solution.

Key feature
* Support face detection, instant playback and face index playback
* Detected face images can be uploaded to the free “Easy Space”
* Support P2P network connection through scanning QR code
* All channel@720P real-time recording
* 1HDMI,1VGA,1Audio,1SATA,2USB,1RJ45(100M),Alarm(HE Series optional)

ZNV, new rising star, builds up global strengths

Editor / Provider: Sponsored by ZNV, a&s Asia | Updated: 12/29/2014 | Article type: Hot Topics

ZNV Technology, a world leading security company and ZTE's spin-off, just announced its launch of H.265 IP cameras this September. By debuting this H.265 IP camera, ZNV is able to fully demonstrate its recent accomplishment in technological innovation and further sustain its global presence. Despite being a new name in the security industry, ZNV positions itself as a professional solution provider, setting themselves apart from most other Chinese competitors.

ZNV Technology, carrying a strong technological background from ZTE, is ready to take a bolder approach in the global security industry. Even though the company remains new in most countries, its strong local presence in China has resulted in high recognition. ZNV was ranked as “a&s 2013 Top 10 Security Brands in China,” selected by engineering/systems integrators and end users.

Forming a World Class Management Team
Through the latest appointment of Robert Zhu as Executive Chairman in May 2014, the company is fully demonstrating its determination to focus on security. Zhu, with rich experience in global security business management, was former VP and GM of South Asia for ABB Group and former President for APAC and China of Tyco International. Zhu said, “The first mission for my appointment is to elevate the company to be greatly involved in global business.”

With its abundant knowledge and experience in the telecommunications industry, ZNV is quite unique with specialties in wired/wireless communication, sensing technologies, and signal processing. Now the company is able to develop industrial solutions in a full spectrum, Zhu continued.

Besides appointing the new Executive Chairman, in order to form a world-leading security team and further become a competitive company, ZNV has also strengthened its sales management team by hiring the former GM of Honeywell Security, as well as other industry experts in different sales channels. By doing all this, ZNV hopes it can stand out from other strong competitors. Instead of its hardware manufacturing capability, the company is focusing on penetrating and concentrating on different verticals and industries.

Solutions, Not Just Products
The global demand toward security equipment is increasing rapidly. Not only are the frequent major global security breaches propelling technological breakthroughs, but so are new applications such as high or ultra-high resolution or ultra-low illumination. However, merely providing high-quality and special products for customers is not enough. Zhu, therefore, suggests that the security industry should focus more on how to maximize overall value of security devices and services, particularly for operational and business management efficiency for certain market sectors. In the future, security systems will become a tool for corporate management.

Therefore, in order to elevate a company's overall corporate capability during the transition from product manufacturing to solution design, the company should be knowledgeable in communication, signal analysis, and management platform in order to satisfy the specific needs for some particular vertical markets. These indeed are the specialties of ZNV, Zhu highlighted. “ZNV is a technology company, which is able to do an in-depth research on projects and then provide the pertinent solutions to them,” he continued.

‟We do not just merely think about how to apply the products for a certain application but care about what the project really needs and wants. However, most of the Chinese companies only think about how to let users see clear pictures and that's it, with nothing more.”

Specialized in Industrial Solutions With Unique Design
By positioning itself as a solution provider, ZNV is taking quite a different approach to the security business. First, the company utilizes its own strength in the telecommunications sector where ZNV has the largest market share in China. “In these projects, what we accumulated is not just video surveillance but also the know-how of monitoring the generator room of an industrial environment,” said Zhu. ZTE provides communication services to more than 1.2 million substations in China and ZNV is in charge of one-fourth of their video monitoring projects, including HD picture quality transmission, temperature and humidity control, HVAC system control, battery management (uninterruptible power supply and regular charging and discharging power), and access control. “We intend to combine these know-hows with our in-house video content analytics (VCA) R&D lab and apply both to other industries, such as railways or power stations, which also require an independent and integrated security system,” said Zhu.

In terms of product features, ZNV also stands outs in communication and transmission capability in its video surveillance cameras. For instance, Zhu mentioned, “We add a special communication function in a 4G-LTE camera. Normally, the regular camera only transmits via cables. However, in many of the industrial environments, the cables are usually under the risk of being cut off. Therefore, our products support Wi-Fi wireless connectivity. When the cable transmission fails, the Wi-Fi connection will automatically be activated. If the Wi-Fi connectivity also fails, we also have our preset SIM card which can also immediately turn on the wireless telecommunication function to keep the normal operation of data transmission. ZNV is able to provide all these extra added values to our customers.

Restructing R&D Team
ZNV, then, began restructuring its R&D team right after Zhu joined the to tailor solutions for specific vertical markets. Zhu mentioned that now the company has around a 400-person R&D team. Instead of taking the traditional way to divide the team by technologies, ZNV now divides them depending on the solutions and projects. He said, “According to what the specific project needs, we form the designated team by its requirements toward software, hardware, and encoding and processing technologies to accelerate the speed of product development. For instance, the R&D team developing H.265 would normally need around 30 people, but we transfer and borrow some manpower from other teams if necessary. Just because of this, we are able to stay flexible and quickly develop products according to what the market really needs.”

H.265 IP Cameras Lift ZNV to Global Technology Leader
High-definition cameras for security monitoring, remote machine operation, or other applications are required mostly because the sharp images will help users identify security threats or control a machine remotely. The current challenges are the cost of transmission and storage of largesized data over the network and cloud. By overcoming the bandwidth and storage challenges that the security industry has been facing for years, ZNV has finally made a market breakthrough, launching H.265 high-definition IP cameras this September.

H.265 is the latest compression technology which can save up to 10 times the bandwidth and storage space compared to the current H.264 compression technology. The company predicts H.265 IP cameras will quickly be adopted by some retrofit projects where end users expect to upgrade their video surveillance systems, such as the education sector. Other target customers are end users that have demand for high capacity storage devices, such as a smart city project. “Normally, H.264 cameras can store video images for 12 months with 20 TB storage. However, keeping the same high-definition videos, H.265 technology can reduce the data size by three times in dynamic scenes like a busy street and up to 10 times in static scenes like a guarded warehouse. So, it is very attractive for a large scale project in greatly reducing the total cost of ownership,” said Robert Zhu, Executive Chairman of ZNV.

“ZNV is very focused on developing our own technologies about H.265 compression. We have been developing H.265 technology for two years and acquired many patents in decoding and encoding technologies, and system design. H.265 algorithm is more complex compared to H.264. It has to be flexible and accurate, and follow many international standards. An example is we owned a patent in motion encoding technologies in order to largely reduce the bandwidth in the static scenes, which is useful for end users who want to save the bandwidth and also cost of storage. A major issue of H.265 cameras is the overheating problem. We have solved this problem from the hardware design to the internal design for heat dissipation. We now are working on the application for this patent,” said Zhu.

The company further predicts that in a year, H.265 will be ready to grow in double digits.

Abundant International Experience
Even though ZNV just recently got fully involved in international business and marketing, ZNV products and services have been applied to 70 countries globally via ZTE. Zhu provided an example that ZNV used to implement their security equipment for a ZTE project of a substation in Pakistan. “Luckily, we acquired the overseas experience quite early compared to other companies. Our goal right now is to explore more new markets other than telecommunications industry. In order to achieve that goal, we have started to quickly establish our international partner network in some geographic markets. Our showroom in Malaysia was just set up recently to showcase our latest products, systems, and solutions. This year, we started some new partnership in South Africa and South America too. In the near future, we are expecting more from the U.S. and Europe.”

Looking to the Future
ZNV, indeed, is taking a different approach to face the challenges of global market competition. Most importantly, ZNV has a high level of understanding in technology and specialtiers in industrial environments. It can be expected that ZNV will soon become another new star in the global security industry.

SMAhome Expo 2015 offers one-stop sourcing for smart home security solutions

Editor / Provider: Sponsored by Secutech | Updated: 12/24/2014 | Article type: Hot Topics

The highly anticipated 18th edition of Secutech will again serve as a premier networking platform for security professionals from across the world to form strategic partnerships and distributorships with Asia's top-tier manufacturers and service providers. The event will run from 28 – 30 April 2015 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center in Taiwan.

Security-related devices top demands in the current smart home market. As such, fair organisers will build on the success of the SMAhome product zone at Secutech 2014 and add a new show component in 2015 called the SMAhome Expo. The objective is to streamline sourcing processes from the early stages of design to final production.

Visitors can expect to find products categorised under Home Security, Home Control and Connected Home in the new Expo. A wide spectrum of smart home safety and security-related products including entry-level DIY kits, mid-range solutions, complete interconnected home control systems and wireless door solutions, as well as related technologies such as ultra HD, NFC, cloud storage, and smart smoke detection will be showcased. Expected to be in attendance are telecom companies, Internet service providers, retailers, home security experts, appliance brands, and automation importers and dealers.

Over the course of three days, a projected 200 booths in the SMAhome Expo will house manufacturers who are highly adept at R&D, product design, customisation, efficient production, technical support and international trading. Asia's Top 100 manufacturers will be selected from Taiwan, China and Korea – three manufacturing hubs accounting for nearly 70% of the global home security-based product output. These manufacturing elites, including names such as Chicony, Climax, D-Link, Forscam, Optex, Sercomm, Starvedia, Wolfguard and others, will showcase the trendiest products and solutions of 2015 to visitors from around the world.

To ensure participants maximise their return at the fair, a number of seminars led by major industry players will take place. A highlight includes the Smart Home International Conference, featuring the latest technological and application developments in various user markets such as telecom and building automation. Attendees can expect to gain insights into the evolving global smart home industry through presentations and interactions with field experts.

For more details about SMAhome 2015, please visit SMAhome. Alternatively, please call Ms Sandra Chen at +886 2 2659 9080 ext 761, or send an email to sandra.chen@newera.messefrankfurt.com.

Register your FREE visitor badge now at www.secutech.com/registration/en

Diversity: Hallmark of RFID

Editor / Provider: William Pao, a&s International | Updated: 12/23/2014 | Article type: Tech Corner

RFID first hit the market in the 1970s and has seen continued improvements over the years, making it an effective technology for tracking and managing goods with applications in a variety of vertical markets. RFID exists in different types and forms. Chief among them are LF, HF, UHF, active, and passive RFID, each with unique applications in different verticals. This article chiefly examines the technology behind long-range RFID.

RFID, or radio-frequency identification, can trace its history to after the Second World War, when devices transmitting and retransmitting radio waves carrying audio information were invented for covert operations. The first true RFID device, a passive transponder with memory, was unveiled in 1971 and patented in 1973.

While RFID is not a new concept, it has never gone out of style since its introduction in the last century. From parking lots to highways, factories to offices, RFID can now be found in various parts of our everyday life. According to IDTechEx, the RFID market is worth US$8.9 billion in 2014, a rise from $7.8 billion in 2013 and $7 billion in 2012. The figure is expected to rise to $27.3 billion By 2024. The market research firm also predicts 6.9 billion tags will be sold by the end of 2014 — versus 5.8 billion in 2013 — to retailers, event organizers, and animal farmers, among others.

RFID's popularity has to do with its ability to effectively identify, manage, and track goods, in the process saving businesses a huge amount of money in labor and management costs. The technology works by way of communication between a reader and a tag and generally includes the following features:

1. Read-Write: Data stored in the tag can be read, without any contact, by the reader, which can read multiple tags at the same time. Meanwhile, data can also be written into the tag for operators to know the status of the order or delivery process.

2. Diversity in shapes and sizes: Unlike paper labels which come in specific sizes, RFID isn't limited by the size of the tag, which can be in different shapes and be as small as possible.

3. Resistance to dirt/stains: Unlike paper labels, which become unreadable when dirtied or soiled, RFID tags don't have this problem.

4. Reusability: Since data stored in the tag can be overwritten, the tag can be reused over and over again on different products.

5. Bigger memory: A barcode contains 50 bytes of data, while an RFID tag can contain several megabytes of data.

Diversity Rules
RFID comes in many forms, each with its special features and applications. The technology can be categorized in two ways: by the frequency of the signal transmitted (low-frequency, high-frequency, and ultrahigh-frequency RFID), and by whether there is power in the tag itself (active RFID vs. passive RFID).

LF RFID
This technology employs the 9kHz to 135kHz band of the radio spectrum. It is limited by the reading distance, which is approximately 1.5 meters. Limited memory capacity is another disadvantage with this type of RFID. However, there are several advantages as well, one of which is its immunity to metal or wet environments. Meanwhile, since this frequency band is open in most countries, there are fewer regulatory issues. Applications are mostly in animal management on farms, access control, and theft prevention.

HF RFID
HF RFID uses the 13.56MHz frequency band. It is also limited by the reading range of 1.5 meters, and there are different standards applied to this particular RFID. However, HF RFID is a highly accepted technology with different applications, for example access control payments, automation, asset tracking, library management, and electronic airline tickets. “HF RFID allows high flexibility as well as good stability and security,” said Klaus Klosa, MD at LEGIC Identsystems.

UHF RFID
UHF RFID signals range from 300MHz to 1.2GHz. The reading distance is not limited by 1.5 meters and can go anywhere from 1 centimeter to 15 meters. The technology is also well-standardized. Disadvantages include susceptibility to the environment. Interference when overlapping with devices using the same frequency range may also happen. In fact, this frequency band is banned for commercial use in Japan.

Despite all this, UHF RFID has enjoyed strong growth, especially in areas, such as retail, where strong inventory visibility is needed. “UHF technology is strongly growing compared to other frequencies due to its high performance and good standardization,” said Richard Aufreiter, Director of Product Management at HID Global.

Active vs. Passive
The method of powering the RFID tag differentiates between active and passive RFID. Active RFID uses an internal power source, such as a battery, within the tag, which can transmit signals to the reader. Passive RFID, meanwhile, uses tags that rely on the energy from the reader to stay active.

Each has its advantages and disadvantages. For active RFID, the read range is significantly longer and can go as much as 100 meters. On the negative side, the tag is limited by battery life and can be quite expensive, ranging from $15 to $100 per tag as opposed to passive tags that cost anywhere between 15 cents to $5. Applications include real-time tracking or any systems where high-volume assets are moving within designated areas. Passive RFID, meanwhile, literally “sleeps” when not being powered by a reader field. It's low-cost and requires only minimal maintenance fee. Its best area of use is moving high-volume assets through a fixed point. “All ‘typical' RFID applications are those that do not require active tags,” Aufreiter said.

Tags and Readers
Tags come in different sizes and shapes, from those the size of one's fingernail to those comparable to Christmas cards — although the trend is moving towards making tags smaller and smaller.

Tags can be worn as wristbands, embedded in tickets, placed on cargoes, and inserted in clothes. In other words, users should pick tags that suit their needs and purposes. In terms of the materials that the tags are made from, they are also diverse and wide-ranging as the tags themselves. “Typically materials differ in heat, cold, UV, flame or chemical resistance, rigidity or flexibility, and cost. Depending on the use case, the proper tag housing material is chosen by the manufacturer,” Aufreiter said.

Readers consist typically of the reader module and the antenna. “Some readers support more than one concurrently connected antenna or have the processing power and flexibility to do certain calculations with the data read internally, so that the network and SAP system in the back does not have to deal with raw data but receives already consolidated results,” Aufreiter said.

Things to Look for in Implementations
One thing people need to understand about RFID is that the experience can't be duplicated. “You finish one project, you take this project model and copy to the next project, and make a quick profit — that simply doesn't work,” said Brian Ma, Sales Representative at GIGA-TMS. “Each scenario is different. Every project is customized.”

It is therefore necessary to sit down with clients and talk about what they want to achieve with RFID. “Work closely with the end users of the solution in the field, so that they can see the benefit of the new solution and give you valuable feedback. Do not only look at tag and reader costs alone, but calculate the ‘bigger picture' for costs and benefits,” Aufreiter said.

Technically, “installers need to keep in mind the positioning of antenna and if enough care is been taken to shield from the environment where the installation is being done,” said Atul Ghaisas, Business Development Manager of Store Performance Solutions for APAC at Tyco Retail Solution. “The distance between the reader and the antenna should be based on the manufacturer's recommendations and should not be more than that which can reduce the RF signal and cause a deterioration of power and performance of RFID reader.”

Can't Live Without It
With different RFID technologies in place, companies and businesses can effectively track and manage goods and automate processes that were once handled by human labor. In the process, huge amounts of cost are saved. With growth set to continue, RFID will become a more prominent part of our daily life.

Comparison of RFID of Different Frequencies

Hikvision unveils 1080P Ultra Low-light PTZ network camera

Editor / Provider: Hikvision | Updated: 12/23/2014 | Article type: Security 50

Hikvision is expanding the DarkFighter range of ultra-low-light surveillance cameras with the release of the DS-2DF8223I-AEL PTZ network camera. This cutting-edge camera utilizes Hikvision's industry-leading, ultra-low-light MP lens and is designed specifically to capture sharp color and monochrome images in extreme, low-light conditions. The result is crystal-clear color images in conditions that would defeat conventional monochrome IP cameras and competing low-light cameras.

The DS-2DF8223I-AEL DarkFighter PTZ opens up new opportunities for 24-hour CCTV surveillance. The incorporation of EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization), 120dB WDR and a host of Smart Detection technologies further improves image quality and operational convenience. The overall excellence of the camera has been recognized by the IFSEC Security & Fire Excellence Awards which has nominated the new DarkFighter PTZ as a finalist for "CCTV Camera Equipment of the Year".

Award-winning low-light specifications
The DarkFighter camera features a large, two-megapixel, 1/1.9 inch progressive scan CMOS image sensor for capturing full color images down to 0.002 Lux and B/W to 0.0002 Lux. Together with a 120 dB WDR (wide dynamic range) and Hikvision's 3D DNR (Digital Noise Reduction) technology, the camera is capable of streaming full HD 1920 x 1080 video at full frame rate. IR distance of up to 200 metres is further supported to ensure image capture in the darkest environment.

Smart features
The camera features a wide range of Smart detection features, including face detection, intrusion detection, line crossing detection and audio exception. The great improvement on security efficiency benefits users and, more importantly, key events/objects are recorded for further forensic needs. These features, combined with smart tracking, which enables the camera to detect any progressively moving object and follow it within the camera's area of coverage without fault, place the DarkFighter head and shoulders above other PTZ and IP cameras. Smart Defog and EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) are further supported to improve image quality in challenging conditions.

High power optics
DarkFighter PTZ is fitted with a fast and powerful 23x optical zoom lens, which zooms from wide open to fully zoomed in less than five seconds. This high-power lens is capable of rotating endlessly through a full 360 degrees and tilting from -20 to 90 degrees. Besides, its ultra-low-light performance is augmented with infrared capability over a range of 200 meters. In addition, up to 300 preset positions can be programmed and the new camera also enables up to 32 presets in up to 8 patrols. The DarkFighter PTZ will also scan up to 4 patterns and supports up to 24 ROI areas.

The DS-2DF8223I-AEL DarkFighter PTZ is the latest member of the growing DarkFighter family of ultra-low-light CCTV cameras. It is fully protected by an integrated heater in the sturdy IP66 and vandal-proof housing, making it the perfect candidate for deployment in challenging outdoor environments both day and night down to temperatures as low as -40°C. High-PoE and 24VAC power supply are supported as well.

In addition, Hikvision is also expanding customer choice with the introduction of another DarkFighter PTZ member, the DS-2DF6223-AEL 2MP Smart PTZ Outdoor Network Camera. This camera shares all the other excellent functionalities of the DS-2DF8223I-AEL with the exception of IR capability.

For more information on the DarkFighter PTZ network cameras, please be sure to stop by the Hikvision booth SA-C11 at the coming INTERSEC show.