Security Operation at the 2010 Asian Games

Editor / Provider: a&s China | Updated: 2/15/2011 | Article type: Hot Topics

a&s explores the measures taken by China to ensure security at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, and discusses the challenges overcome through years of planning, building and testing.

Designing a security protocol for the Guangzhou Asian Games was no easy feat, which hosted an unprecedented 42 sports. Spanning over 2.7 million square meters, the Games featured 12 new venues and 58 remodeled ones; the main venue covered 65,000 square meters of ground.

Since Guangzhou won the bid in 2004, the government had invested more than US$30 billion in upgrading the city's existing infrastructure, as well as in constructing new facilities; an additional $150 million was also allocated to strengthen electronic security measures at the venues, including surveillance, access control, intrusion alarms, patrol checkpoints and perimeter protection.

Various outdoor areas were cordoned off as restricted areas and security checkpoints. IC-embedded access cards were required of athletes, referees, officials and staff to enter the restricted areas. The security checkpoints also acted as buffer zones to prevent crowd crushes and to separate vehicles and pedestrians.

With proper security procedures and electronics, Guangzhou established a seamless security layer, eliminating possible blind spots and enabling security personnel to react efficiently to anomalies.

Hybrid Surveillance Prevails
The success of the 2008 Beijing Olympics sparked rapid development of sports and event venues across the country, creating a huge market for electronic security, especially for video surveillance. For the 2010 Asian Games, video surveillance products and systems were provided by a total of 38 local and international manufacturers, including Aebell Electrical Technology, Hikvision Digital Technology, Bosch Security Systems, Panasonic System Networks, Sony, TCL and XTE.

According to Aebell and Bosch, video surveillance for the Games was primarily analog (at or more than 520 TVLs), supplemented by network cameras at strategic locations. Many predict the same phenomenon for key events in the next few years, for the following reasons.

● Reliability: Infinova suggested that analog cameras have been around for a very long time, and the stability and color reproduction are much better when compared to network cameras. Image quality and latency issues of network cameras for large-scale installations still worry some end users.

● Cost: In general, a network camera must be within 150 meters of a switch. For expansive installations like the Asian Games, the cost of network infrastructure would be astronomical, and hybrid was proved to be more cost-effective than going purely IP, as some subsystems were integrated into the existing nationwide Safe City infrastructure (predominantly analog).

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HD and VCA
HD video and video content analysis (VCA) were two major advances on-site. Both 720p and 1,080p HD cameras were used, and VCA was incorporated to cover certain entrances, exits and pathways. Image clarity and color reproduction of HD cameras can come in handy covering critical areas with high-density, high-volume foot traffic, according to Axis Communications.

The key issues challenging the use of HD cameras at sports complexes are bandwidth and back-end storage. Beijing Visia, Brainaire, Visiondigi and many other local solution providers are beginning to notice these problems and develop better or hybrid alternatives.

At the Games, VCA helped with people counting and detection of objects left behind at the entrances and exits. Built-in technologies such as video processing, pattern recognition and artificial intelligence were readily available from Axis, Bosch, Hikvision and several others. Aebell believes that people counting is already mature with an accuracy rate of at least 90 percent. Future developments may be on facial recognition and behavioral analysis.

Bosch added that theft and violence detection, unusual crowd gatherings and fire detection are increasingly demanded as well.

Access Control
Access control to areas such as offices, VIP rooms, fire exits and utilities rooms was vital, and reliability and remote authentication and management of at least 40,000 users were minimum requirements.

At the core of the Games' security operation, the access control system was tasked to integrate video, audio, data, alarms, VCA, resource management and personnel dispatch, while keeping components and users in check.

In terms of functionality and capability, the access control system provided interfaces for the following:
● Power and environment monitoring integrated with video verification
● Electronic map with geographical information of each device
● Perimeter protection with IR and vibration sensors
● VCA
● Public address system

Back-End Management
Not only was the back-end management software capable of basic functions such as regular device checks, flexible user groups and alarm management, it also took in more digital and analog inputs from multiple systems. In access control, Israeli service provider DDS saw more functional advances:
● Mandated regular password changes and reminders
● Passport scanning: An unlimited amount of images can be attached to a cardholder's file. When a scanner is connected, workstations can be shut down or reboot by the server to for easier maintenance and operation.
● Remote and regular upgrades
● 3-D electronic map
● Multinode, multisite and multilevel management of various competition areas across all venues

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Policy and Support
Proper legal regulation and support facilitate industry development. In the requirements for security systems in the Asian Games, video surveillance was specified in detail. Security cameras must be placed at all entrances and exits, outer barricade facilities, main passageways, spectator stands and other critical locations, with 100-percent coverage. In addition, medal storage rooms and lost-and-found areas must be monitored.

Critical locations included utilities rooms, HVAC and telecommunications, outer perimeter of VIP rooms, podiums, fields, referee areas, media centers and various pathways.

For such an event that required continuous and fail-proof operation of all systems, equipment must be carefully evaluated on the basis of quality, performance and reliability. Technical support is also a must.

All security solution providers had technicians on call 24/7 at the venues so that any glitch could be quickly resolved, according to Axis. Only the best could be seen on-site, and local, regional, national and international support centers and personnel were called upon whenever necessary.

Issues at Hand Although analog is currently mainstream for stadium security, most agreed that digital, network and intelligent are inevitable. Yet one issue that remains is the challenge with compatibility and system integration. Video surveillance, access control and intrusion alarms must integrate seamlessly, but Infinova feels what is clearly lacking is standard software and hardware interfaces, as well as reliable, generally accepted and continuously evolving management platforms. These cannot be resolved without collaboration among hardware and software suppliers, system integrators and end users.

Cognitec Systems Biometric Software Deployed by Canadian Tire Stores

Editor / Provider: Cognitec Systems | Updated: 12/30/2010 | Article type: Commercial Markets

Cognitec Systems, a provider for face recognition technology and systems, was selected by Razko Security as the face recognition provider for Canadian Tire locations.

Specifically, Cognitec’s software is used to automatically scan live video from cameras installed at store entrances, detect faces and check for possible matches in a database of previously stored photos of shoplifters. When a match is found, staff is automatically notified in real time, allowing them to focus on the identified person and react to possible intruder threats.

Shortly after introducing the first systems, the facial recognition system has flagged several suspects who returned to the stores after being issued future trespass status and alerted the staff accordingly. As Razko Security installs additional Cognitec solutions into more Canadian Tire locations and the watchlist database will grow, the capture rate is expected to increase considerably.

“An added value of the Cognitec system is in the peace of mind that the system provides,” said Ted Eliraz, President of Razko Security. With the real-time screening solution in use, locations equipped with the Cognitec facial recognition system know that repeat offenders will be detected as soon as they reenter the facility. The system will flag them and alert the staff as to who and where they are, so that appropriate facility security action can be taken.”

Advanced Technology Clamps Down on Inmates

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 12/22/2010 | Article type: Government & Public Services

Although funding is an issue, correctional facilities are deploying advanced technology to keep better watch on inmates. Everything from biometric to infrared technology is used to keep danger from entering or leaving the facility.

As prisons become more crowded, more internal problems will arise. “The physical security design plays an important role in the prison security system,” said Nafis Jasmani, Sales Manager for ASEAN at Axis Communications. “Prison bureaus and authorities are continuously looking into implementing more advanced technology to ensure good security in keeping things smooth inside and outside the perimeters.”

A number of systems are put in place to secure the premises. “Obviously there is surveillance,” said Johnny Trivitayakhun, MD of Semple Cochrane. “Perimeter systems may include an electric fence for the outer layer and a tough wire fence for the inner layer. Access control is needed for all entrances and gates — down to the individual cells. Then there are the public address equipment, metal detectors, X-ray machines and so forth. Road blockers are also used for the main entrance because there have been incidents where inmates would try to escape by hijacking a car and running it through the gates.”

Biometrics is playing a key role in highly integrated prison facilities, from access control and record keeping, to tracking the movement of inmates. “Most jails have an electronic automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS), where the fingerprints captured during the time of arrest and incarceration are stored,” said Michael Trader, President of M2SYS.“Some facilities send a copy to the agency maintaining the statewide AFIS and also to the FBI, which maintains a national integrated AFIS fingerprint and criminal history system. Some still use ink and paper to capture the fingerprints onto cards, which are then mailed in; however, it could take weeks to receive results. For those facilities using an AFIS, the entire process is done electronically and it saves a lot of time and manpower.”

Biometric information can also be used within the walls of the facility to verify inmate information. “By storing an inmate's biometric information, facilities can determine whether or not the same inmate has been incarcerated within the facility before, and if so, making duplicate copies of their records upon entry can be avoided,” Trader said.

Records can help keep track of inmates and even protect the facility from lawsuits. “By implementing biometric readers at access points, such as the library or the health services, jails can prove the inmate has been given access to these areas. There were cases where an inmate would sue the prison upon release, stating proper care was denied,” Trader said. For inmate release and other services such as the distribution of medicine, biometrics can help verify the identity of a person.

Keeping biometric records of visitors can expedite regular visits. “Jails need to regulate the people who are allowed to visit the facility,” Trader said. “Also, family members who are frequent visitors can store their biometric information in the database and avoid having to fill out the same forms every time they come in.” There are a variety of biometric modalities that are suitable for this purpose, such as fingerprint, finger/ palm vein and iris/face recognition.

Biometrics are primarily used for identification rather than access control. “Facial recognition is widely used, although mostly for record keeping,” said Aluisio Figueiredo, COO of Intelligent Security Systems. “Fingerprint technology is sometimes used for access control because it is a more cost-effective alternative.”

According to Trivitayakhun, smart cards are rarely used because they can be stolen and used as knives. “Instead, we use RFID tokens and to gain access, the user must present either the token with a PIN or a fingerprint. We would never allow only a token for access. Also, the access control device itself can be used to send an alarm by punching in a specific sequence during an emergency.”

Scanners
Scanners, such as metal detectors and X-ray machines, are largely used to prevent contraband items from entering the facility. X-ray machines have raised privacy and health concerns, which is why alternative technologies are being introduced. “Thermal booster infrared technology is new on the market and it is a combination of an infrared camera and a heat source,” said Peter Harris, CSO of ISCON Video Imaging. “They are less expensive than X-ray machines and have been proven effective in the detection of items hidden under clothing.”

Thermal scanning can add other features such as facial recognition, explosive detection or heart-rate checks to see if users are nervous, Harris said. However, the infrared camera may have trouble detecting items a person has carried for a long time, as its temperature could be too close to body temperature.

By using technology such as scanners, inmates and visitors will not need to be subjugated to strip searches or invasive pat-downs, which can also help deter unnecessary and false sexual harassment claims.

IP Uptake
A clear view of all corners of a facility is required in a prison, which is why megapixel and HD video sees strong demand. “Megapixel technology is capable of delivering complete awareness in all prison areas without requiring a security guard for each cell pod, which could save more than US$10 million annually,” said Rick Ramsay, Senior Product Manager, Avigilon.

The surveillance system must be able to identify people in the general surroundings and detect them when hidden. “HD provides up to five times higher resolution and twice the linear resolution compared to traditional analog,” Jasmani said. “Furthermore, it comes with wide-screen format and DVD-quality audio.”

Thermal cameras are used to detect people, objects and incidents in complete darkness. “They can pick up images even when it is obscured by smoke, haze, dust and light fog,” Jasmani said. “Also, they are immune to problems with light conditions and normal shadows, thus achieving higher accuracy than conventional cameras in most intelligent video applications.”

Not all facilities have the money to obtain many megapixel and HD cameras and provide adequate storage. “Dedicated cameras are still widely used for corridors and critical areas, such as entrances and exits, and megapixel cameras are used for central areas where entire areas need to be taken in,” said Herve Fages, Global Marketing Director for Pelco (a Schneider Electric company).

Many facilities are already equipped with analog cameras and disposing all of them would be a waste. “In general, we see megapixel and HD as a rapidly expanding market as prisons use analog encoders to record existing cameras, build hybrid systems and install HD cameras over time as need and budget allows,” Ramsay said.

Wired Up
Although more network cameras are being used by the general CCTV industry, prisons in the U.K. currently prefer hard wired technology. “Fiber optics is used for transmission due to its reliability and resilience to electrical interference,” said Ron Harris, Technical Sales Manager and Senior Security Consultant, Quadrant Security. “Wireless transmission for highsecurity applications is still not fully trusted at this moment in the U.K.”

However, there are situations when wireless is required. “Keep in mind that these facilities are made of very hard concrete and sometimes it may be difficult to retrofit a system since drilling will take up too much time and effort,” Figueiredo said. “This is when wireless transmission is used. However, all the new facilities being built rely on fiber-optic transmission.”

Not all cable is made equal. “High humidity levels can ruin copper cables in three to four years,” Trivitayakhun said.“Byusin g fiber optics, costs can be cut from the constant replacement of copper cabling required to keep transmissions stable.”

Redundancy
When security is of utmost importance, recording redundancy is no small matter. “Redundancy is typically achieved using failover servers,” Ramsay said. This allows for dedicated servers to be available to automatically failover or a distributed approach where all the servers have extra capacity available to manage cameras from one server if it becomes unavailable. Some high-security locations make use of redundant recording to mirror storage off-site.

Even when electricity is switched off, backup generators allow access to the system. All information is archived for a minimum of 30 days and the system has the capacity to retain 60 days of information, Trivitayakhun said. Information is saved in a secure area and can be migrated to the headquarters for viewing or storage.

However, there are facilities where there is no backup system in place. “Processes around the redundancy of the systems and hardware replication are dependant on the risk assessment established by the operators of the facility,” said Sanjeev Vanmali, Security Account Manager for South APAC, Honeywell Building Solutions. Some facilities may not provide redundancy due to budget constraints or it being deemed unnecessary

The monitoring room is usually at an isolated location that tends to be difficult, if not impossible, to be broken into. However, in some cases the monitoring is done remotely. In Portugal, there often is a central monitoring station that is responsible for several prisons, Figueiredo said.

Other Technologies
New ways to secure prison facilities are being discovered. Sound technology is used to pick up on aggression. “The system is capable of running on cameras and video recorder systems where it analyses sound input to provide real-time alerts,” said Chris Mitchell, founder and CEO of Audio Analytic. “The system has been trained on hundreds of examples of people becoming aggressive and these sound packs can be used to identify dangerous situations as soon as they occur. Also, it is important to note that the system does not necessarily allow the operator to hear any sound in the control center.”

Future
The implementation of digital technology is improving in recent projects to almost 50 percent, according to Vanmali. New products are relying on digital technology and it is important to find ways to convert technologies from the analog world to the digital formats. “There are limitations that exist with older facilities and their lack of network infrastructure,” said Tom Coxford, Sales Manager for Canada, Senstar.

One way to prolong a system's lifespan is to use open platforms. “Using open technology standards enable easy integration and scalability,” Jasmani said.

New command and control centers that can operate multiple systems from various manufacturers will be expected in the future, said Arlene Perdomo, Marketing Coordinator, Safeguards Technology.

Open video systems — combined with the benefits of networking, digital imaging and camera intelligence — constitute an effective means of security surveillance and remote monitoring. “Live views and recordings of incidents can be both local and remotely located to ensure that at no time is information being compromised,” Jasmani said. “The high availability of the system provides comfort to the authorities, such that should anything happen in the correction facility, they have information in their hands at all times.”

In terms of detection, many companies are working on stand-off recognition, where a camera can see right away if they are attempting to smuggle in an item under their clothing. “This way unnecessary touching can be avoided,” Harris of ISCON said.

A fully integrated system will be the way of the future. “One system will be able to control everything — from the doors to the elevators — making the facility as secure as possible,” Trivitayakhun said. “Wardens would be able to guide their colleagues in the event of a critical incident and time settings can be set to lock doors or play prerecorded audio clips. Even the lights and TVs can be turned on and off by the command center.” By having full control of the facility, regulating inmates will become safer and more secure.

Biometric Access Control System Installed at Chicago Office

Editor / Provider: FST21 | Updated: 12/3/2010 | Article type: Commercial Markets

Los Alamos Technical Associates (LATA) has installed access control system from FST21 in its downtown Chicago office. The LATA entrance allows access by recognizing employees by the way they look, talk and walk as well as being aware if they are in distress and can even carry a conversation with them and their visitors.

The system modernizes the way people enter buildings, offices and secure areas. No key, no card and no code are required because the face and voice of authorized personnel works as a key. Using biometrics with a combination of face, voice, license plate and pattern of behavior recognition, the access control system provides automated convenient identity management access while maintaining the high level of security.

LATA, a diversified engineering, environmental and technical services company serving worldwide clients, has repeatedly set standards for excellence and has demonstrated capabilities for solving the scientific and engineering problems. LATA’s Chicago team focuses on information technology and systems integration with expertise in biometrics, security, GPS/GIS and applications to increase business efficiencies. The Chicago office works with local clients including the City of Chicago, O’Hare international airport, Cook County, Chicago Transit Authority, Metra heavy rail commuter system, the Chicago Housing Authority and others. The Chicago team also works with multiple public transportation and other agencies across the nation and is working on other security, access control and biometric time and attendance projects in the region.

“This is the system based on fusion technology that integrates facial recognition, voice recognition and behavioral recognition into a cohesive identification system.” said Pat Anderson, Department Manager and Manager of LATA’s Chicago Office.

Before the access control system was installed, LATA was using a hand reader with a keypad, which Anderson admits was invasive and a little time consuming for employees. Employees don’t even break a stride in walking toward the door and entering. The camera sees them, welcomes them and opens the door.

Accessing and Assessing Biometrics

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 11/9/2010 | Article type: Tech Corner

Anyone accessing highly sensitive areas must be authorized, and there is no better authorization code than a person's biological signature. Although some areas of this technology are still in the development stages, other areas, such as fingerprint readers, have already been widely deployed.

According to Acuity and International Business Group, the total size of the biometrics market in 2009 was between US$2.6 billion and $3.4 billion. Much funding has been placed into the development of biometric technology and it is no surprise since it may become the most failproof method of reading a person's credentials. “The higher the security level is for a site, the more expensive the hardware investment is since the more complex the system will be,” said Vincentius Liong, a veteran security system consultant. “Site security and accuracy are determined, adjusted and fine-tuned based on the asset and people protected, security threats and overall security level and comfort. One of the best ways to do this is by providing access according to the department and authority and by limiting access through customizing the front-end management software. Every department will have its own PC workstation, user name, password and access level authority to monitor and control its area of responsibility through their own PC.”

The use of biometrics such as fingerprint, hand geometry, iris recognition and facial recognition, along with RFID contactless smart cards, is now becoming common in high-security applications, Liong said.

A Unique Key
Each type of biometrics has different benefits and vulnerabilities in terms of cost and performance. The “correct” one is chosen based on the client's system and the level of security required, said Philip Verner, Sales and Marketing Manager for CEM Systems (a Tyco International company). “Fingerprint and iris recognition have proved to be the most popular methodologies of choice.” Issues such as the environment, networkability, ease of use, processing time and vulnerabilities must be assessed when choosing a biometric technology.

“Clients have generally opted for fingerprint as it is relatively low-cost, easy to use and widely available,” Verner continued. "As a more accurate option, iris recognition is chosen by some but has issues such as a higher price per unit and slower speed of authentication. Thus, a fully integrated finger biometric solution is recommended.”

According to Daniel Ong, VP of Certis Technology International, Certis CISCO Security, fingerprint is the preferred form of biometric identification as it is still the cheapest, fastest, most convenient and reliable mode of unique identification. “However, iris and face recognition are rapidly gaining market share,” said Stewart Hefferman, CEO of Omniperception. As markets evolve, vendors are forced to move to commercially available, off-the-shelf components, using open platforms so that the production costs, and more importantly, support and installation costs, are reduced. Standardized interfaces and protocols will equal such cost reductions, Hefferman said.

In spite of such developments, biometric technology still remains unaffordable for certain applications. Only a small percentage of the market is using biometrics — less than 10 percent, Enser said. However, many clients have shown interest; so, efforts are being made to reduce the cost of biometric devices. “Biometrics are being used, starting from small and straightforward access control systems, to foolproof time and attendance for SMBs and other complex and comprehensive applications for critical data centers and other industrial applications,” Liong said.

Currently, however, cards remain the primary access key for physical access control. “Biometrics, specifically fingerprint scanners, are more commonly used as a secondary or alternative security layer,” Ong said. On the other hand, there are instances where biometrics are used as the primary form of identification. Accurate identity authentication through biometrics becomes essential for certain industries where the number of employees is very large, and shift rotation and remuneration are normally calculated by the hour. By being able to use biometrics to schedule shifts, both time and money can be saved by eliminating the hassle of filling out and filing paperwork.

Challanges
Reliability is still an issue of concern and debate. Many believe that the technology has yet to fully mature and has greater error rates compared to other forms of credential verification. In the case of finger and hand scans, common problems in faulty reads are generally due to dirt, oily fingers and fingers with almost no fingerprint. “Different sensor modules such as silicon-based, optical and capacitive, along with the algorithms, provide different performance and reliability,” Liong said. “The environment must be considered. High-traffic, outdoor conditions, electrostatic discharge, impact and scratches, and various contaminants such as sweat, dirt and oil can all affect the results.”

In addition, recognition algorithms can be used to compare credentials with all the templates in the database. “The common practice right now uses a group-matching technique, which groups users and only does print comparisons with templates within that group. The larger the user database, the higher the probability is of acuiring a high false-acceptance rate.” Ong said.

In terms of installations, the most challanging installations take place when the training and knowledge possessed by the installer and/or user are poor. “ Most commercially available products are underpinned by robust R&D, and while this aspect of performance can always be improved, it is generally the simpler things that go wrong. Biometric systems are particularly susceptible to poor user experience if training is poor,” Hefferman said.

The Future
It has been noted that the penetration of biometrics has been somewhat slower than originally forecasted. “This is due to a combination of the recent economic downturn, cost and, particilarly, the complexity of such solutions,” said Timo Jauhiainen, VP of Sales & Marketing, Idesco. “Another likely attenuating factor that we suspect is a rise in privacy concerns over the storing of biometric data. A competitive market itself will continue playing the largest role in differentiating product offerings over the short term as companies seek to leverage advantage in either quality or pricing." As the industry evolves, it is inevitable that growing demands for performance in accuracy, speed, security and convenience will accelerate product differentiation.

Vendors will distinguish themselves by focusing on different types of biometrics, and there are emerging ones such as ear, nose, knee and bone scans. Others will concentrate on specific geographical locations where support and cost of sale can be kept low. “Diversification across geographical and vertical markets is key for survival,” Hefferman said. For many smaller organizations, identifying niche applications and ensuring they add value to the sales proposition are critical in remaining in the game.

3VR Platform Keeps Tabs on Intruders at Houston Hotel

Editor / Provider: 3VR Security | Updated: 10/9/2010 | Article type: Commercial Markets

Hilton Americas–Houston installs 3VR Security's digital recorder platform for retrieval of video footage and improved security

As open buildings, hotels are typically on guard for any signs of trouble. So it's no surprise that the downtown Hilton Americas–Houston just upgraded its video-surveillance system, installing one based on 3VR's digital recorder platform for the sake of efficient retrieval of video footage for research.

Hilton Americas-Houston's networked digital-video system also includes facial recognition capability so Hilton can input a digital facial image that can send out an alert related to that individual if picked up by the video surveillance cameras.

"A homeless person was trying to sneak into the hotel, and we got a shot of him and put it in the system," said John Moore, Director of Security and Life Safety, Hilton Americas–Houston. When the video system picked him up trying to enter the hotel again, the system sent off an alert, so security might escort him off the property.

But the hotel isn't just monitoring for potential outside threat; it's also keeping an eye out for rogue insiders, too. The hotel is using facial recognition to monitor employee behavior, paying particular attention to any former employees who leave on less-than-pleasant terms. All employees are informed that video monitoring of them takes place.

The video system monitors the areas where employees come to punch into time clocks in order to verify the person's identity. But perhaps more significantly, the facial recognition system is used to watch for any suspicious activities of employees or former employees.

"If someone leaves under bad conditions, we set up alerts for that," Moore said. If the former employee suddenly showed up at the hotel, the video surveillance system would send out an alert.

In any serious cases related to any trouble, the video surveillance footage is stored and can be E-mailed to insurance carriers or the local district attorney. The system has 1 TB each of storage and backup and only saves movement in clips.

The video surveillance system is used more often for examining more mundane problems, such as when a guest complains of misplacing an item or wondering where the valet is. The hotel does not do facial recognition of its guests, though it would be nice to know whenever a top celebrity might walk through the door.

Does Public Surveillance Deliver Real-Life Results?

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 8/23/2010 | Article type: Hot Topics

Video cameras put eyes in more places, but are we really seeing more? The brazen
Dubai assassination suspects were captured on video but have largely eluded capture.
A&S examines whether public monitoring is effective.

Caught in the act. Busted. Captured red-handed. Catching the bad guys is clear-cut in the movies, with a witness making sure the perpetrator is brought to justice. However, there are not enough people to stand vigilant at all times. The security camera becomes a sentry, keeping watch and recording what it witnessed.

More cameras are being deployed for evidentiary purposes. Specifically for terrorism, surveillance footage has helped nab suspects in the past. “Time and again the advantages of effective digital video evidence have been demonstrated through events such as the police investigation into 2005's London bombings,” said Pauline Norstrom, Chairman of the CCTV Section for the British Security Industry Association. “This massive intelligence exercise carried out by London's Metropolitan Police and surrounding forces was significantly aided by the presence of the surveillance systems covering the streets. Recordings from 28,000 cameras were cut down to seven hours of relevant footage to aid the investigation, and the pictures that were subsequently produced, such as those taken at Luton rail station of the 7/7 bombers on the irway to suicide missions, showed identifiable images of the perpetrators.”

However, seven hours of street footage requires quite a few eyeballs to watch it all. While the cameras placed the bombers at the scene of the crime, it took dogged police work to identify and capture them. A camera cannot be expected to solve everything, as it is just part of an investigation.

In the past year, surveillance came to the fore in January with the Dubai assassination. Local surveillance mandates yielded a near-perfect record of the hit on Hamas officer Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. The cameras faithfully recorded the perpetrators, who were remarkably bold.

“Team members walk through the airport, check in and out of hotels, get in and out of taxis,” said Bruce Schneier, security technologist and author, in a prepared statement. “They make no effort to hide themselves from the cameras, sometimes seeming to stare directly into them. They obviously don't care that they're being recorded, and — in fact — the cameras didn't prevent the assassination, nor as far as we know have they helped as yet in identifying the killers.”

While there is no way a camera can stop premeditated murder, it does seem odd that no one noticed the flurry of activity around Mabhouh's room. “Pervasive security cameras don't substantially reduce crime,” Schneier said.

Another high-profile event was May's failed bombing of Times Square, one of the most monitored places on earth. Faisal Shahzad set off a bomb in an SUV, which failed to ignite. He then simply walked away, while a street vendor noticed the smoking car and alerted the authorities. It took mere days to apprehend Shahzad, but not after operators reviewed footage from 80 cameras.

With all those cameras rolling but no one watching, it begs the question of whether public monitoring is effective. The answer comes down to why the cameras are there in the first place.

Practical Issues
A primary issue with cameras is whether they provide evidence-grade images. The British Standard BS8495 addresses exporting image data for evidence, so the footage carries weight in court, Norstrom said. This depends on image quality, authenticity and operator awareness, among other factors.

Another challenge in real life is integration. “Technology has limits,” said Chris Phinney, Senior Product Marketing Manager for Intrusion Systems, APAC, Bosch Security Systems. A city surveillance system will involve a camera capturing images, then software to analyze. Poor integration means the system will have limited performance.

An urban cityscape is also challenging. “The technology and the integration aren't keeping up,” Phinney said. “The reason is there are so many factors that need to be taken into consideration, like environmental factors. Video analytics are not yet intelligent enough to adapt to all these different environmental factors.”

While Hollywood movies show street cameras performing facial recognition despite the villain's clever disguise, reality is harsher. An indoor environment, such as the customs area at an airport, can control factors such as lighting and position, Phinney said. An outdoor camera mounted on a lamp post will also record images, but may be affected by sunlight, branches or wildlife. Matching a photo of someone from a street location to a database has limits, due to insufficient image quality.

Limited budgets mean outdated cameras are recording, but the images are too low-quality for evidence. Cameras also break, reducing them to expensive decorations. Even if there are high-resolution cameras providing identifying detail, they may not stream images in real time.

Video surveillance is primarily for evidence, but it is difficult to sift through footage. “Looking at the expansion in the scale of video surveillance being deployed in our urban areas, as well as the increased integration of mobile and fixed solutions, there is certainly a pressing need for ways of managing the sheer volume of video footage,” Norstrom said. “This is where we are seeing a growing interest in database-driven solutions which can allow for the successful archiving and retrieval of digital video evidence being generated on a daily basis across multiple sites and systems.” This includes embedding metadata for more effective searches.

Best Practices
Cameras placed out in the open do affect behavior. Public surveillance cameras and signs that indicate an area is being monitored serve as noticeable deterrents. “You can then argue: Is it a deterrent or crime displacement?” Phinney said. “For example, the bad guy sees the camera and decides not to mug the lady, so he goes down the road to commit a crime where there are no cameras.”

Any camera installation should be carefully considered. “The organization looking at this has to weigh the advantages for its specific application,” Phinney said. “Measuring success is about achieving the objectives that the organization has.”

An installation's purpose must be clearly delineated before equipment is specified. “When it comes to video surveillance, however advanced it may be, there is little doubt that care needs to be taken in terms of how it is specified, installed, operated and maintained,” Norstrom said.

“As with any type of technology, the reality is that video surveillance never operates in a vacuum, so it is imperative that steps are taken to ensure that any solution is ‘fit for purpose' and that there is a real appreciation of the ‘bigger picture' context in which the surveillance infrastructure is to be applied,” Norstrom said. “Whether it be public-space monitoring or commercially operated surveillance, many of the principles which underscore best-practice surveillance are the same.”

A holistic mindset is required for public monitoring. “Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) relies on whenever you design a system in a building to rely on natural surveillance,” Phinney said. “A characteristic of CPTED is open architecture, open viewing so everyone can see what's going on.”

This approach emphasizes natural barriers that are aesthetically pleasing. “No one wants a city center that's like a military bunker,” Phinney said. “You need to be able to adopt certain aspects of CPTED.”

It is clear technology aids the capture of wanted criminals. However, real-life implementations mean the technology faces real-world limitations. “The storage, the signage, the lighting — all of these different aspects — are part of a system,” Phinney said. “You don't look at cameras and say they don't solve problems; you need to have a holistic view.”

In cases where there are concerns over the surveillance system's ROI, it is important to look at the context, Norstrom said. Examining whether the installation measures up to best practices — how it was specified, installed and maintained — is important before “rushing to any rash judgments as to the efficacy of surveillance at a wider context.”

Ultimately, it goes back to education. “The knee-jerk reaction is put up a camera after a mugging,” Phinney said. “Next week, someone else is mugged, so the reaction is that the camera is no good. That camera needs proper lighting, a sign and a system that if you see something, you call this number. It's a different story when you also adopt the other measures to be much more effective.”

Surveillance cameras are still necessary, but only as part of the equation. A response plan must be drawn up to take action. “To ensure that any public-space surveillance infrastructure is effectively deployed and maintained, members of the general public should be encouraged to be ever-vigilant and to report their concerns to the police,” Norstrom said.

Surveillance does catch the bad guys, when deployed correctly. The evidence captured by cameras helped put away the London bombers, along with the perpetrators of the unsuccessful attempt two weeks later, Norstrom said.

However, effective monitoring requires forethought about what the cameras are meant to do. This extends into the response network, with a clear plan about what action to take.

Cameras will never find Osama bin Laden in a packed football stadium, but they can offer valuable assistance to the authorities.

Crossing Borders with Biometrics and RFID

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 6/25/2010 | Article type: Hot Topics

New airports boast the latest security technologies, yet most personal identity documents and issuance procedures are outdated. In many countries, passport and national ID issuance is still done manually. Governments are looking into electronic IDs to replace paper documents, while international standards mark this as a major application for biometrics and RFID technologies.


The management of national ID production is currently cumbersome and costly. It is not uncommon for employees of passport or license agencies to spend their days doing manual labor — scanning documents, sending forms to people who have submitted substandard photos and so on. "It is a difficult and time-consuming process for individuals to apply for IDs, and agencies to produce them," said Magnus Svenningson, MD of Speed Identity.


There is much room for error and identity fraud. "Approximately 10 percent of technologies and procedures are substandard applications, and though it's reasonable to assume use of current technology, budget restraints on behalf of government agencies involved in issuing national IDs is holding back widespread deployment," Svenningson said.

Demand for electronic IDs (e-ID) is just beginning. In Europe, a third of the countries have rolled out related projects, with more coming on board. "This means that a little over 50 percent of the European population is taking on e-ID schemes," said Yiru Zhong, Market Analyst at Frost & Sullivan.


International Regulations
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is active in setting global standards for e-passports. Among these standards include the Basic Access Control (BAC) and the Extended Access Control (EAC) initiatives. These will help countries migrate from traditional paper-based travel documents to e-IDs.


BAC addresses first-generation electronic passports (e-passports), using contactless smart cards containing a simple biometric — typically a digitized photo of an individual — along with the digital identity information of an individual duplicated on the paper document, said experts from Temporal Secure Digital Identity in a prepared statement.


EAC addresses second-generation e-passports, allowing governments to leverage a stronger biometric identifier that makes impersonation of the legitimate document holder more difficult. The use of biometrics — typically a digital fingerprint or iris scan — establishes a stronger tie between the individual and the travel document. EAC is currently optional and not fully specified.


The ICAO has also issued standards for RFID use in passports, while the ISO issued standards for facial recognition biometrics used in ID documents. "As a biometric solution, facial recognition is not as reliable for personal identification, because it varies with lighting, color, temperature, aging, and so on," said Anderson Lin, Project Manager of Security for NEC.


Additionally, requirements are difficult to meet because operators must undergo at least two to three years of training from each solution vendor, Lin said. Countries tend to have very high false acceptance and false rejection rates if they do not follow these standards.


Higher accuracy alternatives, such as fingerprint or iris scans, have been mandated. However, issues with privacy still need to be overcome.


Efforts to ensure the quality of documents can be seen by manufacturers obtaining certification. The German Federal Office of Information Security, for example, issues security certifications for factories to ensure RFID production environments and manufacturing processes are up to par, said Martin Kuschewski, Head of e-ID Business Unit at Smartrac Technology Group. "We were among the first to obtain the highest evaluation assurance level for manufacturing RFID-based identity documents."


Decision Makers
A range of government departments and agencies are involved in the rollout of a national identity scheme. This typically includes the national registry, the department of home affairs, the electoral judiciary and the national statistics office, said John Kendall, National Security Program Director for APAC, Unisys. For e-passports, the authority for immigration and citizenship is involved.


The ministry of the interior is also responsible for issuing e-IDs. It usually establishes the requirements and specifications of such projects. However, due to the sensitive nature of these documents, there is also significant collaboration with national IT infrastructure networks, Zhong said. "Tenders are streamlined through public announcements found on national government websites."


Other stakeholders involved include the foreign affairs ministry. Communication between the ministry of the interior — which handles immigration — and foreign affairs has historically been a market barrier. "Foreign affairs lean towards traditional paper methods of issuing passports, whereas immigration is pushing for the uptake of biometrics for better protection," Lin said.[NextPage]
Technologies in National IDs
Despite public complaints, biometrics and RFID are making headway in national ID projects. Deployment requires many things, of which convenience, efficiency, accuracy and reliability are paramount.

Biometrics
For biometrics, enrollment needs to be convenient and easy. National ID projects involve hundreds of thousands of individuals, so fixed and mobile enrollment stations help agencies cover more people, Kendall said. The system must also be highly accurate in identifying both legitimate citizens and imposters.


With facial recognition, it is fairly standard to obtain multiple samples of the same face in different positions, from different sources and at different times, said Algimantas Malickas, CEO of Neurotechnology. This improves matching quality. For example, a person can be enrolled with or without glasses, a mustache, smiling, and so on. Enrolling each sample takes only a few seconds, but the full process may take more time, depending on the number of samples taken.


Speed of enrollment and matching is also a top concern. If these processes are time-consuming, governments will refrain from using them.


"Our fingerprint technologies can match up to 40,000,000 fingerprints per second," Malickas said. "Faces can be detected and processed in milliseconds, depending on the defined template size."


RFID
The introduction of RFID-based identity documents enhances the overall security standard for national IDs. E-passports are among the first identity documents equipped with RFID technology. "Today, more and more identity documents, such as ID cards, pass cards for border crossing, drivers' licenses, health cards, public services cards and so on, are based on RFID," Kuschewski said.


These chips are being used to store biometric data and provide information electronically during credential verification processes, said Uwe Richter, Senior VP of Product Management at Cross Match Technologies.


RFID tags satisfy the demand for convenience because of their touch-and-go capabilities. RFID chips tend to be more durable than contact technologies, said Stephen Price-Francis, VP of Marketing at LaserCard. They facilitate long-range wireless communication of a serial or file number to a reader, and can notify border inspection systems of the smart card's impending arrival. This is useful for reducing delay at busy border crossings, such as checkpoints between the U.S. and Mexico.


In terms of durability, RFID hardware typically has an expected lifespan of up to 10 years, said Dimas Ulacio, Program Manager of Identity Solutions at Smartmatic. However, though the tag itself can operate for a long time, environmental factors can cause it to fail much sooner.


The weakest part of the system is where the antenna connects to the chip. "In flexible documents such as a passport, I have seen chips fail in a matter of months, when the document is heavily used or carried in the back pocket of pants. If the chip gets wet, or is subjected to high humidity, it can fail," said Richard Search, Directorof Program Management at Animetrics.


This produces a twofold dilemma: the individual holds a valid but electronically disabled document, Search said. The inspector must then make a decision based on incomplete information. Additionally, the individual needs to repair the faulty ID, causing inconvenience and extra cost.


"This problem will become more pervasive as RFID chips are used longer and fail on a larger scale," Search said. Facial recognition provides an additional level of security if the RFID chip fails.


While the introduction of biometrics and RFID technologies have advanced document security, they do not necessarily provide a comprehensive solution preventing document and identity fraud, especially where readers are not available, Price-Francis said. Government and national organizations are turning to multilayered approaches that combine a set of technologies onto a single credential. The next-generation U.S. Permanent Resident Card, launched in May of this year, is a recent example.


Pilot Schemes
Experts agree that pilot runs are necessary to highlight real-life operational problems. "This part of the program enables the customer and supplier to identify specific local issues — from staff training needs to distribution, logistical or technology problems, including equipment performance in diverse climates," Price-Francis said.


Local conditions could cause problems that need to be taken care of before a large-scale rollout, such as insufficient storage; production and operations; limited bandwidth; power shortages and voltage fluctuations; and dispersion of the population in remote and inaccessible places, Ulacio said.


Optimizing these conditions can involve simple and specific adjustments, such as modifying holders for fingerprint readers to be mounted in a slanted position on a counter, Richter said.


Culture and religious considerations also play a role. "In some countries, fingerprints are associated with crime and are unpopular. For this reason, Australians, for example, prefer facial biometrics for civil applications, whereas Indians, who have been using fingerprints for several years to authenticate legal documents, are rolling out large-scale fingerprint biometrics for national IDs,"Kendall said.[NextPage]
Centralized Systems
At an early stage, planners must determine whether issuance will be centralized or distributed in multiple locations. Key factors to consider include: security of the process; overall control of program data; integration of databases; cost and security of issuing infrastructure, including printers, readers and staff; quality and consistency of finished credentials; and the convenience and service levels required for clients, Price-Francis said.

Major governments are increasingly shifting to centralized issuance systems for reasons of cost, control and security.

Privacy Protection
The largest barrier to adopting RFID and biometrics is privacy. Countries are concerned about information being used inappropriately or falling into the wrong hands. However, suppliers are confident that data protection through encryption methods, such as public key infrastructure (PKI), prevents tampering of communication between devices and locations, Kendall said.


Exchanging PKIs from country to country is an issue for customs and immigration procedures, if the country is not an ICAO member. "This is why one country cannot read passports from another," Lin said. "Countries that are ICAO members can share passport PKIs via ICAO's public key directory system."


New passports are protected by requiring the passport reader to authenticate itself as an authorized one, before the RFID chip releases its contents. "This ensures that the biometric data will not be read by an unauthorized terminal," said Eric Skinner, CTO at Entrust.


Governments can also minimize danger with administrative efforts. "This can be done by centralizing the system, and minimizing the amount of personal information maintained in the central identity register," Kendall said.


Way Forward
There are many issues to overcome before widespread adoption of digital national IDs. Several countries have launched e-passports in the Americas, Europe and Asia, but few countries have e-passport checking systems that can read the chip information from another country's passport during immigration. "You have no way of checking the electronic and digitized information on a passport if you cannot read it, causing inspectors to resort to traditional methods of manual face matching," Lin said.


More time and effort need to be spent on intercountry interoperability before national ID schemes can take off on a global scale. "Efforts can be seen in ICAO's work on the second generation e-passports, and as more countries adopt these passports, interoperability can be achieved," Skinner added.


Apart from technological challenges, past experience in conservative European countries suggests that without legal requirements to carry a national ID, the reception is usually lukewarm, if not downright hostile, Zhong said.


Cost is another issue that cannot be ignored. The expense difference between a paper-based ID card and a smart card is significant, making the latter less popular.


"Relying on a proven technology for identity documents is not only a question of practicality; it is also a question of efficiency and financial resources," Kuschewski said. "National ID projects are a long process, and complexities in infrastructure and technical interoperability must be addressed for successful deployment."

Integrated Solutions Safeguard Power Plants

Editor / Provider: Submitted by Siemens Building Technologies | Updated: 5/18/2010 | Article type: Hot Topics

Power plants are mission-critical facilities which require high security. Siemens Building Technologies examines what systems are needed for an effective solution.


Siemens Building Technologies recognizes the demands and design of security, fire safety and building comfort vary from power plant to power plant.


As a service provider for building security, life safety and building automation systems, Siemens understands power plants carry operational, security and fire risks. The one thing they share is the need to manage these risks. Siemens believes safeguarding facilities with integrated, high-performance systems can help reduce operating costs and supply disruption, by mitigating damage and restoring supply quickly.


Long-term continuity relies on protecting existing infrastructure. The diversity of threats to infrastructure calls for an integrated risk-management strategy, based on industry standards and best practice. Engineers can collaborate with risk analysts to install the appropriate fire safety, security and building automation systems.


Intrusion detection at power plants need to be adaptable, to cope with large numbers of staff, visitors and contractors, as well as numerous buildings. Critical features include the flexibility to be able to set the alarmlocally while allowing for central monitoring. Detection systems should identify the origin of an alarm and provide reliable verification.


Perimeter surveillance is critical. Motion detectors with video offer proven effectiveness. They trigger an alarm if intruders set foot on restricted property, allowing for real-time verification and response. Intelligent verification processes also ensure detection accuracy and false alarm immunity.


Plants with multiple buildings benefit from central management of access control, allowing single-card access to any building. Video surveillance can be set to record on alarms and image data can be accessed and managed remotely over the network. Special areas requiring high security can integrate biometrics, such as fingerprint recognition, 3-D facial recognition or iris scans.


Power plants usually require many cameras, sensors and guards. Integrated intelligent video solutions can assist with accuracy, reliability and short response-times. Video sensory analysis, or technology able to aggregate data so a single operator can manage it, allows personnel to focus on critical situations and supports decision-making.


Providing a safety and security solution which integrates systems into one administrative entity is not just about merging equipment and technology.
Command and control solutions utilize functional analysis and detailed design, translating management's operational concepts into a technical reality. They detect incidents, trigger alarms and provide real-time information flow for effective command and control decision-making.


In summary, all power plants are different in their safety, security and even their building management requirements. With the world focusing on energy supply, appreciating these differences is crucial for an integrated solution which truly safeguards energy provision from generation to distribution.

Biometrics Nose Your Identity

Editor / Provider: Submitted by the University of Bath | Updated: 5/3/2010 | Article type: Tech Corner

Forget iris and fingerprint scans — scanning noses could be a quicker and easier way to verify a person's identity, according to scientists at the University of Bath.


Unlike other facial features used for biometrics, noses are difficult to conceal and are not changed much by facial expression. Dr. Adrian Evans and Adrian Moorhouse, University of Bath faculty in electronic and electrical engineering, investigated whether images of people's noses could be used to recognize individuals.


A photographic system called PhotoFace was used to scan the noses of volunteers in 3-D. Researchers took three measurements:
1. The length of the nose ridge profile
2. The width of nose tip
3. The length of the nasion, or section between the eyes at the top of the nose


The curvature of the ridge was combined with the ridge length, and the ratio of the tip and nasion widths. This combined ratio was used to distinguish individuals using a database of 36 people. Computer software analyzed them according to six nose shapes: Roman, Greek, Nubian, Hawk, Snub and Turn-Up.


Distinctive Identity
Although only a few samples were used, nose scanning had good recognition and faster image processing rates compared to conventional biometric techniques, such as facial recognition.


"Noses are prominent facial features, and yet their use as a biometric has been largely unexplored," Dr. Evans said. "We wanted to find out how good they could be at recognizing individuals from a database."


The contactless method has advantages. "Where iris and fingerprint recognition are quite invasive procedures, either requiring physical contact — in the case of the fingerprint, or in most cases of close up images of one's iris — the PhotoFace method used for capturing the data is achieved simply by walking through a doorway," Moorhouse said.


"We've only tried this on a small sample of people, but the technique certainly shows potential, perhaps to be used in combination with other identification techniques," Dr. Evans said.


Melvyn Smith led a team at the University of the West of England (UWE) who developed the PhotoFace system. "This collaborative project with Bath is very exciting work with great potential," Smith said. "It works by taking photos, lit by a flash from several different angles, so that four images are taken in very rapid succession of every point on the face, each under different controlled lighting conditions. The technique is known as photometric stereo and UWE's Machine Vision Laboratory is one of only three UK centers with expertise in this area."


"The software then works out the color, surface orientation and depth of each point on the face by analyzing the shading within each of the photos," Smith said. "The technique is able to achieve a level of detail that is beyond current competing technologies and can be extended to a myriad of other applications. We recently completed a project for the UK Ministry of Defense, where we used photometric stereo to reveal hidden and camouflaged objects, such as weapons."


Using the nose as a biometric is still in the developmental stage. "Although promising, I am not sure the nose itself is robust enough," Smith said. "We may have to expand the region of the face which we use, to an area that is slightly larger than just the nose."


Nose recognition holds potential, once fully developed. "An obvious choice for such technology would be in airports, where the current device could be easily mounted onto existing frames — such as doorways and metal detectors — where only minor alterations are required," Moorhouse said.