Vivotek Going Vertical

Editor / Provider: Vivotek | Updated: 6/5/2012 | Article type: Security 50

Vivotek continues to invest tremendously in the transportation vertical market to continue strengthening its worldwide marketshare in 2012.

In Q1, Vivotek delivered a speech during Annual Urban Transport tradeshow, while in Q2, Vivotek exhibited at the Annual Modern Railway show. Vivotek was one of the top sponsors for both events held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Through participation in these events, Vivotek has established strong contacts with various transit authorities, urban planning professionals, and key industry players throughout Asia. Market leaders from a wide range of organizations, corporations, government entities, and many more expressed strong interest in Vivotek‘s mobile dome series, a compact, 2-Megapixel network camera product line geared toward transportation applications such as buses, trains, and other vehicles.

"We are pleased to receive such positive feedback and compliments on our mobile dome models, which we are confident that will bring great benefits to the transportation vertical market," said William Ku, Director the of Brand Business Division at Vivotek. "Vivotek takes pride in delivering high-performance products and the best solutions for members of the security industry."

The Vivotek mobile dome series currently includes MD7530, MD7560, and MD8562.

All mobile domes from Vivotek feature full EN50155 compliance & IP67-rated design, which enables the cameras to withstand shock, vibration, humidity, dust, and temperature fluctuations, maintaining stable and reliable video during vehicle movement. Furthermore, the vandal-proof metal housing effectively provides robust protection from vandalism. The tamper detection function is available on all mobile dome models as well.

Findings from IMS Research's latest report suggest the network camera market for trains and trams is forecasted to grow at over 20 percent over the next five years. The transition from analog to network video surveillance equipment is also reportedly forecasted to grow more than 7 percent in the train and tram sector.

Vivotek has recently successfully complete transportation projects in Brazil, China, Czech Republic, France, Hong Kong and Spain.

Vivotek will be exhibiting at the Transport Security Expo 2012 show in Olympia, London from November 14 to November 15 this (booth number A24). Live demonstration of Vivotek mobile domes and their applications in transportation will be available.

2012 Anticipated Network Camera Updates from Chinese Suppliers Part I

Editor / Provider: Donna Chan | Updated: 3/22/2012 | Article type: China Corner

In 2012, the video surveillance equipment sector is expected to increase by an estimated 25%, according to IMS research. With such a sales forecast, what can be anticipated for network cameras in 2012 and what new features and technology can be expected. a&s International China Best Buys talks to several Chinese manufacturers who are well known for their technology and innovative products.

Currently, the most well known are Hikivision and Dahua who have established themselves in the international market. Other notable manufacturers of network cameras are Launch, Sunell, TVT, Wision and several others. This issue a&s talks to China's well-known network camera manufacturers to gain an insight into what can be expected for 2012.

CCD or CMOS?
Often when speaking of the network camera the image sensor is a vital part and the most often talked about is the use of a CCD (Coupled Charged Device) and CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semi Conductor). It is widely known that of the two CCD provides a much better image quality but has greater costs. However, CMOS does still maintain its advantages, for 2012 what can we expect CCD or CMOS?

"2012 will continue to be dominated by CMOS network cameras due to lower costs" according to Hikvision's Network Camera Director Ying Xiangqun. Ying believes that cost is still a major consideration for customers and the market at this very moment in time.

The technology gap between CCD and CMOS is becoming less obvious, according to Demi Piao, Sales Manager of Wision Technology. CMOS is doing even better due to its lower power consumption and better heat dissipation," said Piao. However, CCD still retains its advantage on the global shutter technology. CCD despite being more expensive also has its disadvantage of being dominated by Sony.

CMOS technology has already reached the same level as CCD in 90% and above of the environments in which it operates it has reached the same results as CCD," said Joe Qiu, Overseas Business Director at TVT Technology. However, Xiang Wenxin, Chief Technical Officer at ZNV, clearly points out that regardless whether the use of CCD or CMOS is not the main concern as different markets have different requirements, but more importantly is the integration of design with technology.

It is worth noting that CCD and CMOS appeal to their respective markets, but for many manufacturers CMOS still seems to be the main image sensor used for network cameras due to costs and new innovative technology which has brought it to a new level.

Issues with High Resolution
High resolution is the new generation for network cameras in 2012, this trend will continue due to the markets demands for fine detail images. In the future, we can expect new technology for network cameras in the following areas: light inhibition, low bit rate control, plug and play and solutions for low light environments," said Yip Hao, Network Camera R&D Product Manager of Dahua Technology.

Even though, technology for megapixels has just begun but later this year the possibility of cameras with 10 megapixels could be possible,"said Luo Jiachen, Technician at WAPA. With compression being an issue with high resolution, Xiang believes that the market awaits for a low bandwidth compression solution which can preserve the high definition details.

However, there are still problems to overcome with HD such as compression, storage and other technology issues.The new trend seems to be heading towards cameras with even higher pixels with a resolution of 3-megapixels to 5-megapixels," "but the major consideration here again is image transmitting and storage costs "said Piao.

High definition has lots of potential areas for expansion such as face recognition and intelligent detection,"said David Ding, Overseas Manager at Launch Digital Technology. Currently, the majority of manufacturers have not yet put a lot of emphasis in the added value of HD or in other words there is not enough research and development in this area."

Piao points out that "emphasis should not be put on the resolution but the video analysis technology."With higher image quality being the new revolution, there are still problems to conquer with the technology, due to image encoding, transmission and decoding which can cause the image to be delayed.

Other companies such as TVT believe that high resolution satisfies the majority of customers but problems remain whether service related or product related. It seems that although high resolution is the continued trend for 2012, there are still many problems that remain to be solved.

With the increasing growth of the network camera market, there is the view that it will become a main solution. Ying believes this is not the case as this depends on market and customer preference and purpose of usage. Ding also points out that using one product to solve all problems is not realistic.

There are certain areas where HD does not have its advantages and, therefore, it cannot be seen as a solution for all situations. For example such as "low lux IP CMOS and CCD do not perform as well as analogue CCTV," said Michael Archer, Product Manager from Sunell Technology. "more pixels does not always mean greater quality and low light with higher pixels does not always bring a favorable picture image."

Russian Market Booms With Oil Prices

Editor / Provider: The Editorial Team | Updated: 9/13/2011 | Article type: Hot Topics

The Russian market remains subject to fluctuating oil prices, a harsh reality in a global economy. While the economic recession made its mark, Russia is seeing renewed market activity in the public and private sectors, attracting players from all over the world.

Russia is the largest country in the world, covering more than an eighth of Earth's inhabited land mass. The vast nation attracts global players with its strong growth opportunities, natural resources and untapped potential. Russia enjoyed nine straight years of growth, from 2000 to 2008, as part of the BRIC bloc with Brazil, India and China.

The economic crisis dealt a crippling blow to growth. “Revenue dropped in 2009 for the whole market,” said Maria Satunovskaya, Head of CCTV Department for Vidau Systems, a distributor for EverFocus Electronics. “People think the Russian market did not drop much officially, but we are sure the Russian market lost around 30 percent.”

Others reported even steeper drops of 50 percent in 2009, said Kubysheva Ekaterina, Business Development Director of Grandprix, a distributor. However, growth went up in 2010 and should continue into 2011.

Many projects were delayed in 2009, but were back online in 2010. “We have business we didn't get in 2009 because many government projects were frozen for the financial situation,” said Stanislav Guchia, General Director of Axis Communications. “This year, we had a terror attack at the airport, which was terrible. Many different organizations decided to improve security.” Demand continues for security solutions, albeit more affordable ones. “The Russian market now is about the same size as before the recession, or about equal to 2008 levels,” said Andrei Subbotin, Deputy Director of Sales and Marketing for Skyros, a VMS provider. “Demand is increasing not only for cheaper products but for middle- and high-priced products as well.”

However, returning to prerecession sales may be a long way off for the whole Russian economy. “With the general tendency for market recovery, it will be two or four years before the market completely recovers,” Satunovskaya said.

MARKET DRIVEN BY OIL
Oil prices remain a key benchmark of growth for Russia, which translates into an optimistic economic outlook. “The Russian economic situation directly reflects the oil price,” said Hiroaki Yamauchi, Chief Representative of CBC. “The oil price is going up to more than US$100 a barrel.” Threats also drive security uptake. “People invest in security because the crime rate is getting higher,” said Alexey Uretskiy, Commercial Director of Akvilona, a distributor for Samyung and Nuvico.

GROWTH VERTICALS
Moscow is undeniably Russia's locus of power. “Nearly 90 percent of the money is concentrated in Moscow's central government or corporate offices,” said Vadim Makarov, CCTV Products Supervisor, B&I Department for CJSC Sony Electronic. “Even if the project is in Siberia, the money goes to Moscow.”

Even Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, is dwarfed in comparison. “The St. Petersburg market is about 40 to 50 percent the size of Moscow's,” Subbotin said. “Moscow has 10 million people, while St. Petersburg has 4.5 million people. Moscow is the capital and the economic center.”

However, the capital's strategic location makes it vulnerable to threats. January's suicide bombing at the Moscow airport left 35 dead and 100 wounded. In response to the attack, more government spending has been allocated for public transportation. “An urgent matter in Russia is to provide safety and security on public transport after the terrorist acts,” Satunovskaya said. This includes mobile DVRs onboard buses and police vehicles.

Transportation is Russia's top market,according to Guchia. Along with public transportation such as railways, airports are also deploying more video surveillance.

CITY SURVEILLANCE
Public monitoring is increasing as part of the response to terrorism. Bloomberg reported a possible Moscow surveillance project, covering 95 percent of apartment buildings and 75 percent of infrastructure by 2016. The project would be worth $11.7 billion, including online services for residents. While the project has yet to be finalized, it represents a significant boost for video surveillance spending. Along with Moscow, neighboring Ukraine is also implementing city surveillance, Guchia said. ITV, best known for its AxxonSoft VMS, has established a firm presence in Russian city surveillance. “Our biggest project to date is 175,000 cameras in one system with 10,000 servers,” said Evgenia Ostrovskaya, Global Business Development Director of ITV. The project started in 2003, growing from 5,000 cameras to many times that amount. As more projects are slated, public monitoring represents a booming market segment for Russian security.  [NextPage]

PETROCHEMICAL FACILITIES
Oil is a lucrative business, requiring effective security to guard precious resources. “Oil-related projects in Siberia grew,” said Yoichiro Akahane, Manager of the Project Department for Panasonic Russia. “We delivered a huge shipment for cameras for oil factories.”

Fire solutions are essential for oil and gas projects, which are deployed by Gazprom, said Natalia Novikova, Marketing and PR Manager for ADT Security Solutions. Remote monitoring is also required for pipelines, Ostrovskaya said.

COMMERCIAL
Retail is deploying more security solutions, such as EAS. Retail represents about 80 to 85 percent of ADT Security Solutions' Russian sales, said Alexey Novikov, Sales Manager.

Russian consumers are making retail a top market, filling malls and outlets. “There are more than 15 big shopping centers in Moscow,” Makarov said.

Financial institutions are deploying video surveillance for bank branches and ATMs, although there are no specific mandates governing the amount or type of equipment. One bank is deploying ITV solutions at more than 2,000 ATMs for remote monitoring, Ostrovskaya said.

Retail and private systems are expected to deploy more cameras and alarm systems, said Lev Kabanov, Project Manager for LUIS+Center Security Systems. “People, rather than the government, have more money to spend on security.”

SPORTING EVENTS
Russia will host a number of global athletic events in the next 10 years, requiring a significant security presence at multiple venues. The 2013 World University Games will take place in Kazan, while the 2014 Winter Olympic Games will be in Sochi. Russia will also kick off the 2018 World Cup at several strategic cities.

Each event yields strong potential for security providers. A total of 13 stadiums will deploy Bosch solutions for the World Cup, said Christoph Hampe, Country Director for Bosch Security Systems. Cameras are already being installed at the Winter Olympic venues, said Yamauchi of CBC.

MARKET TRENDS
Russia has a large existing base of analog installations, making IP inroads tough. While network video vendors have certainly tried to change market perceptions, government mandates for real-time images have spurred uptake. “In this time, network cameras became more popular,” Ekaterina said.

IP market growth estimates range from 10 to 40 percent. Axis Communications is No. 1 for network camera market share in Russia, representing a whopping 50 percent of cameras based on local analysis, Guchia said. “Now the IP penetration is 15 percent. Growth in IP is much higher in Russia than in Europe.”

Russian demand is growing for both IP and analog solutions, but IP is growing more rapidly. “The market in Russia is growing, despite some difficulties due to the economy,” Makarov said. “I think IP growth is about 25 to 30 percent, while analog is 15 to 20 percent.”

Local manufacturers are gearing up for IP demand. “We will have our own network camera this summer with video analysis,” said Evgenij Eroshin, Marketing Director of Byterg CCTV Systems.

IP uptake is poised to grow, with the tipping point expected to be reached in five years. “But today for our customers, analog is more popular,” Novikova said. “Cost is the main factor.”

Network infrastructure is also limited outside of Tier One cities such as Moscow. Internet access is limited in remote areas in the north, Ekaterina said. [NextPage]

RUGGED CAMERAS
Climate conditions in Russia are not always kind to security equipment. Outdoor cameras are required to operate in subzero temperatures, requiring tough cameras. The heaters that keep the cameras from freezing usually make cameras a drain on power.

Local vendors have designed low-power outdoor cameras expressly for the Russian climate. “It operates in temperatures as low as -50 degrees Celsius,” Eroshin said. Vandal-proof models are also in demand, using polycarbonate housings to withstand tough knocks.

INTEGRATION
High-level integration remains rare in Russia, for instances of deeply integrating multiple systems such as video surveillance, access control, intrusion and fire safety. While large multinationals may have complex integration, most local companies keep security systems separated in their respective niches, Guchia said.

This was particularly glaring during the investigation of the January Moscow attack. When the authorities tried to reconstruct the events, they found three agencies were responsible for airport security. “They were absolutely independent and had no connection,” Guchia said.

Open platforms are being developed to break down barriers to communication. ITV tries to integrate as many manufacturers as it can, including video surveillance, access control and fire, so operators can choose equipment that best suit their needs, Ostrovskaya said.

HD-SDI
Russia's large analog base makes HD-SDI or HDcctv solutions a good fit. While the technology is currently too expensive, it holds potential. “I think HD will be a good competitor to IP,” said Vladimir Osipov, VP of Satro-Paladin Security Systems. “But I don't see high demand in Russia.”

Some limitations remain, such as CMOS low-light imaging issues. “If the technology produces something that gives us high-resolution video for low-lux situations, that will be good for Russia,” Ekaterina said. Other issues include limited storage options and transmission constraints for HD-SDI.

SI AND VMS PLAYERS ENTER DISTRIBUTION
Channels in Russian security are still developing. While IP and software distribution is still in its infancy, some system integrators and VMS providers have stepped into this niche. One VMS provider has a distribution arm which sells hardware to its system integrators, who perform the installation. This distribution branch offers computers and cameras along with VMS , making it a one-stop shop. It does not conflict with major distributors, as they have existing relationships with system integrators, while its installers work in a different niche.

LOCAL PRODUCTION
More local production is done in Russia. Brands such as Byterg became No. 1 for camera market share in 2010. Other manufacturers include control panel and building automation manufacturer Bolid, as well as software providers EVS and ITV.

Byterg makes 40 different models of cameras, along with distributing Samsung and CNB products, Eroshin said. However, its own-brand products make up most of its sales.

Bolid started out with fire and intrusion alarms 20 years ago, then progressed to access control and video surveillance. “Our position is that everything should work together,” said Igor Babanov, CEO of NVP Bolid. “Fire alarms should work with access control to open doors. We began integrating video surveillance in 2005 when we migrated toward software.” [NextPage]

BUYING BEHAVIOR
The recession made buyers more careful about their purchases. In the past, government projects almost always used top brands. After the economic crisis, more of that investment is shifting toward the mid- to low-end. “For government projects, their priority is cost,” said Yamauchi of CBC. “If the project has enough budget, they are concerned about quality and functions.”

While buyers are more cautious, they are still concerned about quality. Branded products are preferred over unknown or Chinese products. “They buy brand names like Bosch or made-in-Japan ones,” Yamauchi said.

Even though branded product sales are picking up, there remains demand for good price performance. In light of this emphasis, top brands are rushing to produce midrange products that hit the price sweet spot. “We introduced this year our new portfolio for the midpriced range,” Hampe said. This includes cameras that start from 120 euros. “Bosch is competitive on midpriced products. It's recreated from high-end solutions.”

Panasonic has also launched a midend line for IP and analog solutions, along with modules and components for local manufacturers. “After the crisis, the government hesitated to spend so much,” Akahane said. “The majority of the market changed to the midend products. Most of our customers were government users, and now their budgets have shrunk. This is true even for private customers, such as banks.”

While brands dominated in the beginning, a growing demand for value leaves room for Korean players priced in the midrange. “People are considering value much more thoroughly,” said Christophe Guillot, EMEA Marcom Manager, Honeywell Security. “They want to get more value for the same money in the past. We have three-in-one or four-in-one solutions as more economic options.”

LOCALIZATION
Success in Russia means mastering the Russian language. Breaking into the market means translating all materials into the Cyrillic alphabet. Sales and support staff must be local, with different regions requiring multiple branches nationwide.

ITV expanded to 10 offices throughout Russia last year. “Every strategy in each office is different,” Ostrovskaya said. “We from headquarters support them but we don't dictate how they do things. “We support, watch and help them for localization and features,” Ostrovskaya said. “Some features are popular in one country but not another. We need industry people who can understand the needs of the customer.”

Bosch provides a Russian 24-hour hotline for technical support. “It doesn't matter if you call from Vladivostok at 8 or from Moscow at 10,” Hampe said. Grandprix's distribution network extends throughout Russia, requiring Web media such as webinars and teleconferencing to span vast distances. “The Internet is necessary for many companies because this country is very big and people need to understand our products,” Ekaterina said.

However, being local is not enough to succeed. Distributors or manufacturers must spend time with clients to build trust and develop a good reputation, Kabanov said.

While low prices are attractive, cultivating customer relationships requires continued support and mutual trust. “If any company tries to steal from another company, it will be known very soon,” Osipov said. “The security market in Russia is stable because we trust each other.”

Local Russian distributors maintain close relationships regardless of their business dealings. “For me, a competitor is a good friend,” Osipov said. “We are very friendly and ready to hear from each other if we have any business problems.”

Since some distributors carry the same brands, business is bound to overlap. However, Russian distributors do not aim to drive their competitors out of business. “It's not fierce competition as it is with Korean brands, who hate each other, like Samsung and LG,” Osipov said. “Russians are different. They are not involved in these products and don't get angry with each other.”

The Russian market is not for fly-by-night companies out to make a quick buck. It requires hands-on communication with partners and customers. Fair and honest dealings will reward providers who are committed to stay for the long term.

How to Succeed in the HD Network Camera Market

Editor / Provider: Submitted by Sunell | Updated: 3/11/2011 | Article type: China Corner

Sunell shares its expertise on network camera selection.

In the high definition (HD) era, the market has placed increased demands on surveillance products. While analog video users asked for clear images, today they request crisp detail as well as realistic color saturation. Low-light performance must not just be as low as possible, but wide dynamic range (WDR) should have outstanding results as well. As higher resolution and larger camera networks are the trend, products are evolving. Resolution is becoming ever larger, from 720P, 1080P up to the 5-megapixel range. Low illumination and WDR are also becoming requirements for the HD market.

The problem facing manufacturers today is not the lack of market demand, but rather the inability to meet customer demands. In the HD era, product development is no longer about buying a Sony camera module, putting in an enclosure and then shipping it. The technical threshold has been raised, above the abilities of traditional camera makers. As high resolution quality products are the norm, vendors who possess component know-how will have an edge in the market.

Image quality is the greatest differentiator for HD video. No matter how stylish the camera design is or how powerful the features are, good image quality cannot be lacking. Outstanding image quality begins with good hardware, with the image sensor being the deciding component. Even the best image processing cannot clean up images from an underperforming image sensor.

How to Select Image Sensors
Image sensors are either CCD or CMOS, which differ in their architectural design. For CCDs, each pixel is connected to an electrical “temporary storage,” which converts photons to electronic signals after exposure to light. These signals will be activated by TG's H and V drivers and then transferred to the ADC, which amplifies and converts the signals into digital ones. As CCDs use charge transfer method, these require to set up specific transmission channels, making them expensive and challenging to produce.

By contrast, each CMOS pixel is connected to an ADC, so photons are directly converted into digital signals. Each ADC amplifies the signal differently, making it hard to achieve a simultaneous conversion. Compared to the one-time amplification of CCD signals, CMOS images are noisier, particularly under low-light conditions. Each CMOS pixel includes an amplifier and A/D converter, the additonal equipment over a single pixel surface reduce the light-sensitive area size, so a CMOS sensor with the same format as a CCD one will have worse low-light performance.

CMOS sensors today show marked improvement in noise reduction, light sensitivity and low-light performance, coming close to CCD levels. CMOS production costs are also lower than CCDs, which is another advantage. Thus, CMOS specialists such as Aptina are gaining increased market recognition. Even Sony, the reigning champion of CCD production, is developing CMOS sensors. As video surveillance migrates from analog toward network HD, CMOS will become more dominant in the market.

Select sensor, the first factor is the light-sensitive area size of single pixel. While a larger image sensor will have larger pixels that are more sensitive to light, this benefits for low light perforamnce and noise suppression, but it will take up more space in the camera and use more power. This affects product design and heat dissipation. Large-format sensors also rarely have matching lenses, making it hard to find the right lenses for 2/3” to more than 1” sensors.

Noise reduction and WDR are being developed for more sensors, such as Pixim's DPS dynamic range function. Pixim partnered with Sunell for a super WDR color camera that delivers strong performance. Aptina has also developed a surveillance-specific WDR sensor integrated with a DSP that can process WDR value up to 120 decibels.

Finding the Right Solution
Options for high resolution imaging are limited. The first is using an image sensor integrated with an image sensor processor (ISP), which outputs YUV data and compresses into H.264. This option has limited customization options and image quality will be largely the same.

The other option requires stronger R&D ability. Some image sensors do not include an ISP and output RAW data. This data format requires a DSP or FPGA to act as the ISP. However, FPGAs cost more than ISPs. Sunell's programming expertise overcomes the limitations of the 2A algorithm for superior image quality.

Integrated Cameras
There is increased demand for integrated cameras, which feature PTZ and IR capabilities in one camera. These cameras place unique demands on image sensors, with more product offerings from Sony, Hitachi, LG, CNB, Sanyo, Hitron and other manufacturers.Integrated cameras are suited for many verticals, as well as for nonsecurity purposes such as teleconferencing. Sunell is one of the first Chinese manufacturers to launch an integrated camera with auto focus for greater clarity and detail. A manufacturer's core competence in component R&D will determine its competitiveness.

Has IP Finally Come of Age?

Editor / Provider: Submitted By Sunell | Updated: 5/6/2010 | Article type: China Corner

The IP video market has developed steadily since 2009, with many customers asking about IP equipment but few actually deploying it. Buzzwords like HD and megapixel are common, with emerging interoperability standards moving the industry in the right direction.


The advantages and disadvantages of IP have been covered extensively. This article will focus instead on the maturity of network video and its future.


Video surveillance has a well-established history, particularly for analog technology. IP is an exciting new development, marking a vastly different type of technology from analog. There are many engineers and professional video companies which have yet to embrace the IP. Several factors affect the uptake of IP, including cost, unknown reliability, maintenance and the “Do I need it?” factor. Time will only tell how quickly IP is adapted.


Service Matters for IP
End user concerns about network video are understandable. IT technologies and software connect to the Internet. This allows IP products such as network cameras to be more flexible and scalable, with a lower cost of installation. However, they need to be managed by comprehensive surveillance software, along with complicated network settings and being capable of remote upgrades.


Network requirements make IP video a headache. In fact, network cameras are no longer simply about product capability, but about service. Therefore, how to offer effective service will be a key factor to gain market share in this segment, rather than resolution and price. Service should cover not only maintenance but also after-sales service. This includes the ability to respond quickly to market demands, refine products, interface with standards and so on.


Technology Strength
Sunell takes a proactive approach toward technology breakthroughs, aiming to be a leader. We devote 40 percent of its 90 R&D staff to the IP field.
To better serve our customers, we enhance product quality and lower service costs.


The Sunell megapixel PTZ speed dome features the latest technologies, utilizing a Sony megapixel CCD. Sony's image sensors are regarded as the benchmark for CCDs. Sunell worked close with Sony to best integrate its CCD into our cameras. This is not as simple as putting an analogue CCD in an IP module, then placing it into a PTZ housing.


Designed from the ground up with just one PCB for all in-house technology design, the megapixel speed dome emphasizes quality. Sunell’s development roadmap is packed with innovation, using newer CMOS technology from Sony, the world’s undisputed leader. Other cameras are in production, including 2-megapixel and 5-megapixel PTZ cameras.


Enhancement and Compatibility
Sunell invests greatly to enhance product stability for both software and hardware. We have a series of rigid testing procedure, such as aging, pressure and actual environment testing. This reduces equipment malfunction rates, even when cameras operate 24/7. Furthermore, we follow IP standardization and uniformity. We believe that following industry standards is the way to save our customers money, such as maintenance fees.


With more standards issued by the Open Network Video Interface Forum (ONVIF), the Physical Security Interoperability Alliance (PSIA) and the HDcctv Alliance, we foresee IP standardization in the near future. As a member of ONVIF and a would-be member of PSIA, our network camera supports both standards’ protocols. This includes RTSP, RTP, RTCP, HTTP and SOAP, enabling greater compatibilities with surveillance software.


Technology steps should always be taken in moderation. Sunell has a reserved but pragmatic approach to not run before you can walk. With more than two years invested in IP technology, we look forward to a bright and productive future in the network camera market.

Image Sensors on the Lookout

Editor / Provider: by a&s International | Updated: 3/18/2009 | Article type: Component

The “eye” of a camera lies behind the lens, residing on wafers of silicon comprising an image sensor. A&S delves into key figures, trends and applications for video components.


Surveillance forms the bedrock of security, as crisp images help identify threats. Inside of every camera lies an image sensor, converting photons into electrical signals. With Frost & Sullivan predicting video's market share to grow through 2012 with the IP boom, image sensors are a major part of the security picture.


Two types of image sensors are deployed for video security: charge-coupled devices (CCD) and complementary metal-oxide semiconductors (CMOS). “The aggregate surveillance image sensor market in 2008 is estimated to be close to 40 million sensors,” said Roy Karunakaran, Senior Product Marketing Manager of OmniVision Technologies, a provider of CMOS sensors. “Of these sensors, 30.5 percent are CMOS image sensors, while 69.5 percent are CCD.”


CCDs currently make up the majority of image sensors — dominated by Sony, Sharp and Panasonic — but some experts predict a shift. “According to estimates from Japanese market research firm TSR (Techno Systems Research), CMOS will see its market share near 45 percent by 2012,” Karunakaran said. “According to this same report, CCDs will remain stable but eventually see a decline in units by 2012.”


Demand for image sensors has increased. “Pixim believes market growth for image sensors used within the video security market have grown an average of 15 percent over the past two years,” said John Monti, VP of Marketing and Business Development for Pixim. The company develops its Digital Pixel System, comprising a CMOS sensor, image processor and real-time software.


While Japanese companies dominate the CCD market, the CMOS market is younger and has more players. Micron, which was acquired by Altera, and Pixim are major CMOS players, Matagawa said.


Several other image sensor providers figure prominently. “According to the 2008 TSR report, OmniVision is the market leader in CMOS sensors,” Karunakaran said. “The other major CMOS sensor vendor is Aptina.”


Security Applications
In general, CCDs are used in conventional analog cameras, while network cameras deploy CMOS, said Junichi Matagawa, Japan/Asia Marketing, Digital Image Sensor Products, Worldwide Application Specific Products, Texas Instruments Japan. “Recently, CMOS sensors are used for wide dynamic range or high resolution in network camera applications.”


Edge devices are newcomers to the camera scene, with one box holding image sensors, processors loaded with video analytics and sometimes storage. “One niche market with great potential is intelligent cameras, which today comprise a tiny percentage of cameras sold,” Monti said. Pixim's solution is onboard some intelligent cameras for high-profile installations, such as ioimage cameras at the Vatican in Rome.


Product Trends
While CCDs have more market share than CMOS, several CMOS developments indicate they are the next focus for security imaging. “Security cameras have definitely started trending towards CMOS image sensors, with even Sony and Sharp beginning to offer them,” Karunakaran said. “It would be difficult for someone to make a business case for a new CCD vendor.”


Some CMOS sensor yield higher resolutions than analog CCD sensors. High-definition (HD) video at 720 pixels or 1080 pixels will be mainstream soon, Karunakaran said.


A Texas Instruments solution offers SVGA resolution (800 x 600), which exceeds analog cameras in both horizontal and vertical lines at 560 TV lines, Matagawa said.


This boost in resolution is due to reduced pixel size, Karunakaran said. Pixels went from 9 by 9 microns a few years ago to 1.75 microns in OmniVision's high sensitivity pixel architecture.


Smaller pixels mean more of them can fit on an image sensor. “The industry is now readying 1.4 micron pixel technology, which should further reduce size while retaining the same quality levels,” Karunakaran said. “A smaller amount of processed silicon surface means lower cost once the new products start reaching high volumes.”


While CMOS technology is less sensitive in low-light conditions compared to CCD, this is an advantage in high-decibel ranges, when blooming can cause CCD image sensors to lose detail. “The new wide dynamic range CMOS image sensor from Texas Instruments offers high image quality, exceeding conventional CCD sensors, for advanced video surveillance cameras,” Matagawa said. The sensor “contains a high response amplifier in the pixel and reset noise reduction circuit that provides CCD-level high sensitivity and high signal to noise ratio, which has not been achieved by conventional CMOS sensors.”


Some CMOS sensors can even compensate for light sources. “During 2008, Pixim released several innovative technologies including its award-winning Enhanced Flicker Reduction (EFR) technology,” Monti said. “EFR is able to provide accurate color and eliminate flicker in cameras capturing modulated light sources, such as LEDs and fluorescent lights, even when the camera is DC-powered, such as in Power over Ethernet cameras.”


As cameras must function in extreme lighting conditions, image sensors have to adapt. “Since these light sources are 'green,' their use is expanding rapidly around the world,” Monti said.


Comparing CMOS and CCD Technologies


CCD
The key advantage of CCD sensors is their sensitivity to light. “Based on their low- light sensitivity features, high-end professional surveillance camera requirements have almost exclusively been addressed by CCD sensors,” Karunakaran said. "With the introduction of CMOS image sensor innovations, low light sensitivity and image quality of CMOS sensors are beginning to equal or better their CCD counterparts.”


CCD strengths include global shutter and good fixed pattern noise, Matagawa said.


However, the strengths of CCD sensors can work against them, as increased light sensitivity under extremely bright conditions erases detail. “Analog CCDs and analog CMOS sensors use old principles to capture and measure light,” Monti said. “These technologies have many issues, such as random noise, limited dynamic range, blooming, smear, high power, interlace or rolling shutter, very high compressed file sizes, et cetera.”


CMOS
CMOS design enables smoother integration with other technologies, scoring a point in its favor. “CMOS imagers are in mainstream technology and other circuits are easier to integrate,” said Rainer Schweer, CIS Manager of Thomson. “For example, CMOS SoC capability and mainstream pricing will nearly squeeze the CCD to death.”


This integration is crucial for the network camera market. “CMOS technology enables the integration of an entire camera system on a single chip, featuring both analog and digital properties,” Karunakaran said. “The CCD sensor is solely dedicated to acquiring data and sending it out in raw analog format, so a separate dedicated chip is needed to convert the signal from analog to digital.”


The ability of CMOS to play nicely with other components can be a selling point. "Integration is necessary to convince customers to make decisions more quickly,” Matagawa said.


Some shortcomings of CCD, such as blooming, random noise and large file sizes, are overcome with CMOS. “The Digital Pixel System technology used by Pixim eliminates these issues with extremely low random noise, accurate color, global electronic shutter, and the industry's smallest file sizes when compressed,” Monti said.


Other CMOS features give it an edge over CCD technology, including low power consumption — using about a tenth of what CCD devices need. “CMOS sensors also offer a wider operating temperature range, random pixel access and the ability to co-exist with other complex electronic circuitry,” Karunakaran said. "Integrating circuitry in a system using CMOS sensors results in a more compact design — therefore a smaller camera unit — as compared with competing CCD systems and offers reduced cost, due to a lower component count.


CMOS development is working to catch up with CCDs on sensitivity. “In shrinking pixels, one often must avoid trading off light sensitivity,” Karunakaran said. “It is critical for security cameras to exhibit excellent light sensitivity during night time or other poorly lit conditions.”


With continued development, CMOS light sensitivity is starting to measure up to CCD technology. “For image sensors, sensitivity is commonly measured in terms of how much electrical signal is produced from incident light, or in terms of mV/Lux-Sec,” Karunakaran said. “CMOS sensors are now in the same range as CCD sensors in this respect.”


Standards
There are few universal standards for security image sensors. “The only de facto standard is for physical imager size,” Schweer said, which typically measure 1/2 inch, 1/3 inch and 1/4 inch. “They affect the R&D and business as a requirement and option.”


Most providers establish their own specific standards. “There are presently no industry-wide standards for imaging sensors, so each vendor sets their own R&D and business development priorities,” Karunakaran said.


Texas Instruments is focusing on CMOS and expects high-resolution images to be standard. “The 1.3 megapixel image sensor will be a standard in the network camera format,” Matagawa said.


Pixim sets its own standards for sensor packaging. “Digital Pixel System sensors use modern Ball Grid Array packages, which are soldered to printed circuit boards using standard surface mount technology production lines,” Monti said. “This provides perfect alignment of the sensor during production without any human intervention. Analog CCD sensors must be soldered by hand, with sensor alignment accomplished using tiny shims placed under the sensor by specialized factory personnel.”


An industry-wide imager size will be adopted for increased standardization. "Image sensors must use a 1/3-inch optical format,” Monti said. “Also, they must have a minimum of 100 dB dynamic range to handle common lighting conditions in all outdoor applications.”


Challenges
The image sensor industry has several challenges, ranging from technology to market adoption. CCDs are more mature, so most vendors expect more technical breakthroughs for CMOS imagers.


Improving the low-light performance of CMOS continues to be a technical hurdle. "Currently, technology developments in CMOS image sensor technology are addressing the sensitivity issues that CMOS typically had relative to CCD,” Karunakaran said.


Related to lighting is chip architecture, with different approaches to shuttering. "Developing a high performance global shutter in CMOS sensors would be a chief stumbling block,” Matagawa said.


For market reach, relatively new CMOS companies face daunting odds against established CCD providers. “The key limiter of the market share growth of Digital Pixel System products is brand awareness,” Monti said. “Pixim has a small, but growing, brand value compared with the large Japanese competitors.”


Some vendors consider the industry's conservative attitude to be a challenge. “The chief stumbling block is none other then the industry's own speed of adaptation,” Schweer said.


While image sensors have several obstacles to overcome, the overall outlook for them remains bright. As cameras figure prominently into security solutions, capturing clear images make image sensors crucial security components. Continued innovation, stronger market awareness and increased integration will spur image sensor development to new heights.

Insight on Asian Network Camera Market

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 12/29/2008 | Article type: Hot Topics

The rise of IP heralded the age of networked surveillance. At the edge are network cameras, stalwart sentinels ready to capture images. ASMAG.com talked to several Asian vendors about their solutions and how they fit into surveillance for the future.


As more users discover the benefits of IP, network camera usage has grown, accelerating the migration from analog systems. The ability to stream video through the Internet, rather than stringing analog cables, has made digital surveillance a welcome solution. This product niche has ushered in a group of surveillance providers ready to enter the digital age. Several analog makers are also repositioning themselves, as they strive to stay relevant in a networked security world.


Asia has emerged as a major player in digital surveillance, thanks to its strong production capabilities and robust IT sector. One of the top Asian players in network cameras is VIVOTEK of Taiwan. Its new award-winning PTZ network camera features Sony progressive scan CCD, 2.6x optical zoom lens and Power over Ethernet (PoE), said Owen Chen, Chairman of VIVOTEK. The camera's dual-stream support allows users to view video through a Web browser or 3G mobile device simultaneously, with different resolutions and qualities in MJPEG or MPEG-4.


GeoVision's IP cameras also pack a hefty punch. "Based on years of in-house experience on PC-based video surveillance systems, we are now developing and designing IP cameras for hybrid surveillance integration," said George Tai, CEO of GeoVision. The company's 1.3 megapixel camera uses a Sony progressive CCD image sensor for crisp images and also supports MJPEG and MPEG-4 formats. It is integrated to GeoVision's video analytics and video management software, making it part of a total surveillance solution.


Camdeor Technology applies its experience and integrates IR functions with network cameras. "We focus on what we have and provide value-added products to the market," said Russel Yang, Assistant Manager of the Overseas Department, Camdeor. "Furthermore, we bring IP cameras to outdoor applications with our IP 66 design, giving customers more options."


Camdeor's expertise with IR and lenses gives it an edge, while incorporating H.264 for the greatest compression benefit. "Most IP players focus on developing software applications and use third-party optical and housing designs," Yang said. "The cost of IR cameras and components is getting lower — if users buy an IP camera and pay a few dollars more, they will have IR capabilities. We believe everyone will buy IP IR cameras to see in both day and night."


Other cameras combining IP with IR's all-seeing benefits include ones from Three Brain Technology, using two switchable CCDs to eliminate IR cut filters and color coating, said Young Lee, Chief Marketing Officer for Three Brain Technology.


Beside from making IR IP cameras for outdoor applications, Zavio also targets smaller applications with its wireless IP camera. "The camera is aimed at the residential and small business markets, where customers tend to be more price-sensitive and range requirements are roughly 5 meters in the dark," said Shau-Chau You, Product Manager for Zavio. It uses white light LEDs instead of IR LEDs for less color distortion under natural and incandescent light, without an expensive ICR switcher required for IR LEDs. The camera also enables remote surveillance with its 3GPP support.


Top Regions and Applications
The deployment of network cameras requires a stable Internet connection capable of transmitting images in real time. As a result, network cameras end up in areas with developed Internet networks. Europe and North America were key export regions for most Asian vendors, courtesy of their mature IP infrastructure.


"Ethernet bandwidth influences the size of the IP market greatly, so more advanced countries like America or Singapore specify IP cameras for public construction," Yang said. "For countries in the Middle East, they are still using dial-up, which results in slow IP camera performance. In these countries, the biggest buyers for IP are usually governments or global companies."


Governments can establish dedicated networks for security, ideal for applications to monitor large areas remotely. "The main use of network cameras is for public monitoring," Yang said. "For government or in banks, they have money and the network infrastructure. Government applications for network cameras include jails and traffic monitoring."


For Zavio, 90 percent of its business is overseas, including OEM, to the United States and Europe. "These regions are our main market, but we are not limited to them," You said. "The Middle East and other regions are also seeing strong demand."


This is not the case for VIVOTEK. "Europe also has a strong demand because it is more receptive to surveillance," Chen said. VIVOTEK also has strong growth in other parts of the globe, but Europe has accepted VIVOTEK-branded products more readily and has a more developed Internet infrastructure. This makes it an ideal market for the company's network cameras.


GeoVision sees more demand for IP solutions in western Europe, along with North America and Latin America, Tai said. "The GeoVision IP surveillance platform allows for intelligent integration with e-maps, PoS systems, EAS systems, license plate recognition systems and access control systems."


Regardless of region or application, demand for network cameras is growing, giving Asian vendors a new product niche to expand.


Challenges Ahead
With strong technology and worldwide demand, network camera vendors see excellent growth potential. However, before they claim success, several issues must be overcome, from technical difficulties to market awareness.


"The next trend will be megapixel cameras based on H.264," You said.
"Current megapixel cameras based on MPEG-4 platforms are impractical, as they deliver low frame rates and require huge amounts of network bandwidth and storage."


Increasingly sophisticated hardware is part of GeoVision's long-term goals and an R&D challenge to overcome. "GeoVision will continue to develop higher megapixel IP cameras and advanced video analytics software," Tai said. "In the meantime, we will watch how the IP camera TCO (total cost of ownership) may affect growth and market acceptance."


VIVOTEK found that existing processing components, like DSPs, did not serve its needs. In 2003 it began to develop its own SoC and launched the first one in 2005. "This helps us control component costs and provide better support to customers, as we aim to be a total solution provider," Chen said.


VIVOTEK strives to offer more high-end products, planning to incorporate megapixel, newer compression formats and video analytics in the future. "Our direction is to serve the high end professional market," Chen said.


Ultimately, finding good partners is crucial for Camdeor. "Integration is the biggest challenge, as we must select the right customer," Yang said. This means clients who are committed to quality and less interested in haggling over a "price negotiation."


"They need a good engineering team, as an IP camera is not plug and play," he said. "There are firewalls. For remote monitoring, there are multiple firewalls if there are multiple sites. It's not a hardware issue, but a software setup issue."


This is evident in differing video standards worldwide, such as for watching live footage on mobile devices. "The main countries are the same, as they must pass the same protocols, but the interface is slightly different," Yang said. "A very well-educated user will understand these differences."


As demand for network cameras continues, manufacturers must tackle technical issues while educating users about new technology. With their continued efforts, the outlook for IP cameras has never been brighter.

Despite Turbulence, Security Providers Still Soar (Ⅰof Ⅵ )

Editor / Provider: by a&s International | Updated: 11/28/2008 | Article type: Security 50

With the worldwide economic slump, security providers anticipate its effect. The Security 50 companies discuss how they stayed afloat in 2007 and remain on the cutting edge of industry trends.


For this year's Security 50 ranking, we shifted our coverage for a broader perspective. While in previous years we focused on the companies, this year we also asked them for their take on the industry. We found out what unique strengths and opportunities each provider had, along with any industry weaknesses or threats they perceived, for a strength-weakness-opportunity threat (SWOT) analysis. With a more inclusive report, providers had their say on how the industry is shaping up.


Company Strengths
Even with the subprime mortgage crisis in 2007 and the ensuing credit crunch, a number of companies still grew. They each had strategies to distinguish themselves for the competition and emphasized technological innovation, along with good old-fashioned service. While the effect of 2008's financial developments is unknown, this year's providers believe they have the ability to make it through.


Growth Factors
At the top of this year's ranking is Honeywell Security, which expanded its portfolio. “One of the most notable developments for Honeywell over the past year has been the acquisitions of Hand Held Products and Metrologic Instruments, which led to the inception of our Scanning and Mobility business,” said Frank Roth, Vice President, Global Marketing, Honeywell Security and Data Collection. “This gives Honeywell a strong position in an adjacent market.”


Bosch Security Systems also grew through acquisitions and development of innovative products, buying Canadian surveillance company Extreme CCTV in 2008. “For the last few years we have experienced a continual upward trend, driven by successful acquisitions, strategic partnerships, the expansion of our regional presence, the development of new products and also the expansion of our product range,” said Gert van Iperen, Chairman of the Board for Bosch Security Systems.


Surveillance provider Geutebrück posted revenue growth of 27.5 percent through a range of efforts. “We have been able to reduce material costs, enhance our product performance by intensive R&D and broaden our reach to the market, with additional branch offices and intensified support for our partners through end user focused marketing and expert training programs,” said Katharina Geutebrück, CEO of Geutebrück.


Having a broad base of customers helped network camera leader Axis Communications increase its revenue, with a two-tier partnership sales model. “We sell to distributors, who sell to system integrators,” said Ray Mauritsson, CEO of Axis Communications. “That is a program that has been growing, with 2 4,000 partners in that program.”


The range of Axis partners provides more opportunities for the company. “The security market is rather fragmented, as a large number of small installations are provided by small system integrators,” Mauritsson said. “We must be present with small or local system integrator to cover a large part of the market.”


Loss Factors
Some companies were negatively affected by factors out of their control, such as Israeli residential security provider Electronics Line 3000. “The decline in the company's profitability is to be attributed to the significant depreciation of the U.S. dollar against the New Israeli shekel over the past year,” said Amir Hayek, President and CEO of Electronics Line 3000. It also increased its investment in R&D and incurred development costs for its flagship iConnect solution in 2007, before its launch in 2008.

Differentiators
Company strength includes what makes it unique. Some of the Security 50 group touted a broad product portfolio, while others made innovation their hallmark.


The breadth of Honeywell's offerings allows it to offer a total solution. “Honeywell is a manufacturer that can truly call itself a full-line supplier of security technology,” said Roth. “We have extensive experience and deep resources in many areas, including intrusion, video and access control and we're also a leader in integration and making these technologies work together.”


Honeywell's experience can streamline security. “It is a true differentiator when you have an experienced and knowledgeable team behind you to help you effectively deploys these technologies — both to improve security and protect the bottom line,” Roth said.


Expertise in multiple technologies set Israeli Nice Systems apart. “For the security sector, Nice is the only company that has interactions capture and analytics solutions for all media types — from voice, including VoIP, video, data and radio,” said Israel Livnat, President of Nice Security Group.


This year's ranking included 31 surveillance companies, not counting providers of total solutions. Having distinctive products was a must for these manufacturers to stay ahead in the competitive video space.


An industry-changing product boosted market share for Axis, which enjoys a 32 percent slice of the network camera market, according to IMS Research. “We were the first on the market with the network camera,” Mauritsson said. “We're a focused company focusing on network video.”


An established name in video and emphasis on technology helped Geutebrück. “We are a highly innovative family company with almost 40 years experience in the surveillance business offering comprehensive, flexible solutions for security professionals and experts,” Geutebrück said.


For Electronics Line 3000, its product quality enables its success. "The Company develops, designs and manufacturers its solutions at its headquarters in Israel using the latest technologies," Hayek said. "All Electronics Line 3000 solutions can also be localized and customized according to partners' requirements."

For the whole picture on the report, please visit  here.

Surveillance Enters the Future with Multimegapixel Cameras

Editor / Provider: The Editorial Team | Updated: 8/26/2008 | Article type: Tech Corner

While three-megapixel to five-megapixel cameras offer a lot of advantages, further technological improvements will be needed before users take them up in a big way. Even though multimegapixel cameras present good value propositions, problems with sensitivity, storage and display will not be solved until H.264 adoption becomes widespread.


According to IMS Research, about 80 percent of all installed CCTV systems are analog, so strong growth is predicted for megapixel network cameras. "The IMS study confirmed that the entire industry is undergoing a period of sustained growth," said Mobotix CEO Ralf Hinkel. "The market for network cameras is set to increase by an average of 40.1 percent annually between 2006 and 2011, with the market for network video surveillance software not far behind at 35.8 percent."


Paul Bodell, Chief Marketing Officer of IQinVision, estimates that North America for 45 percent of the IP video market, Europe for 45 percent and the rest of the world accounts for the remaining 10 percent. "There are very few providers when it comes to three-megapixel to five-megapixel single lens cameras," Bodell said.


More exact figures were provided by Hidenori Taguchi, Manager of the Product Planning Department at Sony Corp. "The network camera market was worth US$500 million in 2007," he said, "with the megapixel market worth $80 million." To calculate market size for three-megapixel and above cameras, he estimated that less than three percent of the network camera market is multi-megapixel; this would equate to $15 million per year. "You have to remember that roughly 90 percent of the megapixel camera market is only 1.3-megapixel cameras," he said.


"We have seen many companies try to enter this market," said Bodell. "Some have tried to market 20-megapixel cameras, but the market is just not there. These companies are redefining portfolios to offer three-megapixel to five-megapixel cameras." He also noted that some big players have been talking about entering. "We expect them to launch products in the next year to 18 months."


Applications
According to Grandeye CEO Alexa McCulloch, the strongest vertical markets for 360-degree network cameras are commercial security, liability protection, safety, enterprise business, military applications, robotics and defense.


In Europe, IQinVision is providing service for a lot of city surveillance. "This is just starting to grow in North America," said Bodell, while pointing out that the education vertical is very strong in the U.S. while commercial and industrial applications are strong in both regions. In addition, transportation is an increasingly important segment in both Europe and North America.


Bodell also pointed to applications outside security, including education (administrators may wish to survey campuses to see if there is snow to cancel classes), retail (video analytics such as people counting and monitoring), license plate recognition for parking lots, trash collection (systems associate vehicle with weight and amount being dumped, while recording license plate number and recording information to invoices) and hospitals (medical diagnostics to monitor vital signs). Facial recognition and left-luggage video analytics are other possibilities.


Latest Technology
The latest technology, in Bodell's view, involves single-lens day night cameras and on-camera recording. "Until just recently," added Bodell, "traditional box cameras with one megapixel to two megapixels have been most popular; but demand is starting to shift toward three-megapixel to five-megapixel cameras because of the packaging and housing that IQinVision is using."


Mobotix is moving to a decentralized concept with high-resolution cameras that have built-in intelligence, internal DVRs (SD cards), the use of the Mobotix video codec MxPEG and a new Q22 hemispheric camera with 360-degree recording and virtual PTZ with no moving parts. "Usually," said Hinkel, "cameras supply only images, while the processing and recording is done later on a central PC using video management software." "This traditional centralized structure, however, is not suitable for high-resolution video systems," he said, "since it requires not only high network bandwidth, but also enormous PC processing power to support several cameras."


"Unlike traditional systems," said Hinkel, "the decentralized Mobotix concept incorporates a high-speed computer and, if necessary, a digital memory (SD or flash card) for long-term recording in every camera. The PC is now used only for viewing, not for analysis or recording. As a result, Mobotix cameras record events even without a running PC and digitally record videos with sound for archiving purposes."


Grandeye recently introduced its Halocam compact IP series of ultra-high-resolution network cameras. "Each," said McCulloch, "features patented, award-winning 360-degree technology, 12-bit color pipeline, five-megapixel sensor and ability to generate multiple virtual cameras. Unique in-camera intelligence combined with a powerful three-dimensional graphic chips enable a variety of advanced 360-degree video analytic functions, including threat recognition, virtual trip wires, changes in field of view and automated multiperson PTZ tracking triggered by motion detection and/or external alarms."


Ultimately, the primary benefit of using high-resolution cameras is that the stored images are more revealing and provide stronger evidence than other formats. Other criteria include IP65, no moving parts, robust and low maintenance, no additional power or heating required, no software and licensing costs, sun and backlight compensation, dual camera technology: two-in-one intelligent recording technology to reduce required storage, recording of events even without a running PC and digitally record videos with sound for archiving purposes. Another attraction is lower network bandwidth because everything is processed in the camera itself, and the high-resolution images do not have to be constantly transferred for analysis.


Challenges
Several challenges remain. "We are still fighting the giants in the market," said Bodell. "These," he added, "still promote mostly analog technology and are, thus, the dominant CCTV forces. They imply that there is value to IP cameras, while still marketing analog. We are fighting this momentum.


The second challenge, in Bodellˇs view, is to reach people with straightforward messaging. "As it is a very immature market, at least from the marketing perspective, there is a tendency to confuse people with an alphabet soup of technology that does not translate value to the customer. We focus on the value of megapixel cameras rather than talking endlessly about functions and features."


For Taguchi, the biggest challenge is sensitivity. "Codecs are mostly based on JPEG, though H.264 is being developed. If you increase the number of pixels, then normally sensitivity is lowered. Since sensitivity is the most important factor in surveillance for security purposes, it has a big effect on the industry."


Sony, he said, is not yet making three-megapixel or five-megapixel cameras. "We simply have not been able to get the sensitivity with currently available sensors." Another impediment is display and storage. "How do you store and display such large images?" asked Taguchi. ¨Most displays can handle up to two megapixels (1,980-pixel by 1,080-pixel images), but anything over that is problematic." Likewise, he noted, JPEG is not a very efficient method of compression. "To record and store three-megapixel and five-megapixel images requires servers with a lot of capacity."


Oh Tee Lee, Regional Director, South Asia Pacific, Axis Communications, agreed. "H.264, a new compression standard, will have a big influence on this market, but it has to be widely accepted or there will simply not be sufficient bandwidth or storage capacity to enable use of megapixel technology." In Lee's estimation, the use of megapixel will be dramatically expanded over the next 12 months to 24 months. "Every day, in fact, there are more requests for megapixel."

Railway Security Finally Coming into Its Own

Editor / Provider: The Editorial Team | Updated: 1/22/2008 | Article type: Infrastructure

There were 206 attacks worldwide on trains and rails from 1979 to 2005. In 1980, a bomb killed 75 at a train station in Bologna, Italy. In 1995, eight were killed on a Paris train. In February 2004, two blasts near a Moscow subway killed 51 people, with another 191 dead a month later in Madrid. A series of coordinated suicide bombings on July 7, 2005 struck London's public transport system, killing 56 people and injuring 700. According to Rand Corp., there were a total of 181 terrorist attacks on trains and rail-related targets, such as stations, worldwide from 1998 to 2003, averaging 30 per year. What can security providers do to protect these facilities? The U.S. alone has more than 140,000 miles of track that carry millions of rail passengers every year and scores of freight trains hauling hazardous materials. There are also 19,391 light, commuter and heavy rail carriages in the U.S. (2006), 18,000 rail carriages in Germany (2005), 11,000 rail carriages in the U.K. and Ireland (2005) and 7,136 rail carriages in Austria and Switzerland (2005). A&S takes a closer look.

The global market size of rail security industry is nearly US$10 billion for 2007, said Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Farheen Pasha. ¨I would say 53 percent of the market lies in the mature European rail industry, followed by the fast-growing APAC region (21 percent), NAFTA (15 percent) and other important markets like Russia, Egypt (the largest market in Africa), Ukraine and Turkey (11 percent).

According to IMS Research, reported Tony Jenkins , Vice President of March Networks' Transportation Division, the global market for mobile video surveillance equipment onboard trains and trams was worth $63.8 million in 2006. Furthermore, it is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2 percent to $99.1 million in 2011. While Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) has been the ¨dominant market for video surveillance equipment onboard trains,〃 said the report, ¨the market will mature and saturate with new growth potential coming from China, India and the U.S.〃

The U.K. and Irel and will slow, due to fewer large projects coming online, but the Middle East and Africa will experience high compound annual growth. In addition, Germany, France and Eastern Europe will invest significantly in video surveillance equipment on trains and trams. Oceania is the largest market for video surveillance on trains and trams (29.6 percent of the Asia market). China will be the largest market by 2011, with the highest growth taking place in Japan.

The market for DVRs with hard disks will grow at a CAGR of 8.1 percent for the same period. Network cameras will account for nearly 29.2 percent of market revenues and 9.7 percent of unit shipments by 2011. In the Americas, camera sales are expected to grow faster than recorders with the prices of analog cameras falling more quickly by 2011. That said, network camera price declines will slow. In EMEA, network camera market share for trains and trams will increase from 8.6 percent to 15.3 percent (10.1 percent of unit shipments by 2011). In Asia, network cameras will account for 9.4 percent of revenue and 5 percent of unit shipments.

For video recording devices, IMS predicted the rate of growth will drop due to a maturing market. ¨The eight-channel market is forecast to remain slow,〃 the report stated. ¨The larger manufacturers in the EMEA are all supplying 12-channel and 16-channel recorders.〃 Eventually, they will introduce the same products in the Americas.

IMS Research: Verint Dominates the Sector

Traditional rail security solutions providers, said Pasha, have included Siemens, Kroll and Tyco. Today, however, new players are entering the fray worldwide. Some are rail equipment suppliers and integrators like Thales, ARINC, Alcatel, Bombardier, Faiveley and Alstom. Others are defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, network and IT companies like IBM, MiTAC and Cisco, and even construction companies like Bouygues, Vinci, Amco and Balfour Beatty.

In the mature and consolidated North American rail market as a whole, said Pasha, ¨GE and EMD hold major market share of locomotives. Bombardier, Alstom and Siemens are the next most important." For APAC, Bombardier, Alstom and Siemens hold around 28 percent of the market; Hitachi, Kawasaki and Mitsubishi are important in Japan; Rotem is the South Korean leader; Chinese players are gaining huge export orders; in Europe, Bombardier, Alstom and Siemens dominate.

For Bharat Singh, Head of Vertical Solutions at Honeywell India, the major players in India are Honeywell Security, GE Security, Bosch, Siemens and Tyco.

Jenkins reported that North America is ¨dominated by March Networks, which holds nearly 85 percent of the freight rail market; it also enjoys a major presence in the light-rail market through our partner Bombardier.〃 Bombardier produces an estimated 40 percent of the world's rolling stock, he said, allowing March Networks to grow its presence in Europe.

¨Verint is the exclusive global provider of a comprehensive rail security solution portfolio,〃 said Mariann McDonagh, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing for Verint. ¨Our Nextiva Transit solutions are currently deployed by hundreds of transit authorities across the world. This unparalleled real-world experience has provided us with the insight required to develop technologies and trusted integrator relationships that protect rail systems around the world.〃

According to IMS Research, Verint is the leading supplier of mobile video surveillance equipment in trains and trams with an estimated market share of 23.3 percent (2006). Of the top 10, seven companies are headquartered outside the U.S., with six of those seven in the U.K., France and Germany. In EMEA, Verint leads with an estimated market share of 26.5 percent. Verint entered the market via an acquisition of a German company, IMS said.

Decision Makers

When it comes to influencing the types of products and features, Pasha said, railway operators in charge of rail infrastructure and station modernization agencies are the key players. However, these responsibilities lie with different agencies in different countries.

In the U.S., Pasha said, allocation of budgets for rail security from federal and state governments, third-party grants and internal funds require federal and state approval, which take place in four-year time periods. ¨Actual procurement is done by the concerned department of the rail operator itself,〃 she said. Meanwhile, in Europe, each country has a separate agency in charge of station modernization.

All train operators, Jenkins said, are making use of rail security with consultants playing a key role in influencing specifications.

End users of rail security solutions, McDonagh said, are primarily municipal transit authorities responsible for protecting critical transportation infrastructure. ¨Proliferation of networked video solutions, however, is facilitating new levels of collaboration between transit authorities and law enforcement and government agencies. This increased cooperation is heavily influencing specifications of rail security solutions to ensure that security data can be easily distributed and shared with all parties working together to protect people property and assets.〃

The U.S. federal government is also identifying how equipment performs against a specific set of criteria without editorial comment, so buyers can look at the results and form their own opinion. Governments are moving to develop technological standards.

Core Technologies

Electronic rail security, Pasha said, makes use of the following products: video surveillance for incident detection and recording; access control to identify, track and supervise access; passenger information systems (PIS) on stations and trains consisting of customer communication systems; automatic vehicle location (AVL); IP train LAN backbones; public address and intercom systems, consisting of station controllers, visual passenger information, information kiosks for audio announcements and emergency intercoms; telephony and Wi-Fi for control ground and radio communications; sensors and actuators to identify incidents; assisted incident management and decision support; fire detection and control systems; intrusion detection systems; general alarm systems; and track, infra security and platform monitoring equipment.

For McDonagh, an effective rail transit security solution is made up of several key components: a robust networked video monitoring platform capable of integrating a variety of cameras, alarms and security sensors; sophisticated video analytic applications that extend effectiveness of limited security personnel; and advanced wireless technology to transmit video and security data from remote locations throughout the rail system to centralized monitoring centers.

Singh cited technologies like surveillance, access control with mechanical barriers, handheld metal detectors and unattended baggage detection (only in developed countries). ¨There is also use of wide-area surveillance, video analytic-based facial recognition, cost-effective and manageable bomb detection, smart card-based ticketing systems, and railway track tampering detection systems.

¨New rail security technologies are proliferating at a high speed,〃 Pasha said. ¨Growing R&D spending on rail security technologies from an increased number of solution providers is leading to more cost-effective solutions as well as more automated ones. This is increasing the quality and quantity of information processed as well as economizing on the need for human attention.〃

Pasha noted that wireless broadband communications is increasingly supplying high-quality, real-time video surveillance. Software is being developed to detect antisocial behavior, as vandalism and crime are major problems for rail agencies. ¨Video feeds of surveillance cameras are being analyzed through econometric models (video analytics),〃 she said.

In addition, she pointed to digital surveillance, which is being coupled with high-speed wireless monitoring, and blast containment measures (built or retrofitted) at stations and rail cars. Trials for millimeter wave detection are also going on in London and New York. Other technologies emerging for rail security are audio detection, facial recognition, object detection, and chemical, biological and explosive agent detection.

McDonagh reported increased placement of cameras inside rolling stock or rail cars. ¨Through advancements in our wireless data transmission technology, rail security organizations can now deploy analytic-embedded cameras and intelligent edge devices within passenger and cargo cars to proactively detect threats before they escalate. This is just another example of how vendors like Verint are increasing situational awareness for rail security organizations.〃

Railways Eyeing Video Analytics

¨In terms of new products for the rail security market, some of the most significant new solutions are in the area of video analytics,〃 McDonagh said. ¨Virtual trip wire analytics can monitor miles of unmanned tracks, tunnels and bridges, and alert security personnel to movement in secure areas where no activity should be taking place. Traffic flow analytics identifies unusual passenger behavior in rail stations and on passenger platforms to proactively prevent threats before they occur. Finally, left baggage analytics identifies abandoned objects or suspicious packages for further investigation.〃

Singh supported McDonagh's stance on the importance of video analytics, typically for unattended baggage. ¨For some applications, traffic flow through some specific paths needs to be estimated, but simply calculating enter and exit counts at entrances is not enough,〃 Singh said. ¨For example, 300 people may enter a railway station, with 200 going to the ticket counter and the other 100 going to the platform.〃 Counting zones are, therefore, being used in each target area, with the software detecting transitions from one counting zone to another. ¨This usually requires a very high camera view to cover a wide area with great visibility,〃 he said.

Integration: Name of the Game

Regardless of the technology, a crucial factor in successful operation is how well it can be integrated with other systems and technologies. ¨Operators are increasingly viewing rail security as a means to increasing customer confidence, as well as reducing operating costs,〃 Pasha said. ¨They are bundling security, safety, communications, rail control systems and other features into integrated rail solutions, and this is also increasing the need for open systems that will allow modularity and scalability in the future.〃

Pasha cited surveillance integrated with fire alarm systems and the passenger address and information systems to determine appropriate emergency response. These can be linked with passenger counting systems to enhance fare collection, provide head count in emergency evacuations and provide HVAC requirements.

Electronic security for geographically separated systems, Singh said, works well when integrated — at least on the data sharing layer. ¨Integration enables advanced upgrades of security analysis, say for tracking of possible terrorists across any station connected to a rail route. Integrating surveillance systems at all the stations on a network can deliver this flexibility.〃

Step-up gradation of security systems is desirable in railway security environments as security for railways evolves. ¨Deployment in railway environments takes more time than any other transportation vertical,〃 Singh said. ¨The main reason is area of spread. Hence, an integrated security system with a clear upgrade path is the way to go.〃 Working upfront with both operators and train manufacturers is important in integrating video surveillance, Jenkins said. ¨Retrofits are more costly and labor-intensive for operators.〃

McDonagh believes enterpriseclass video management platforms — built on recognized and open industry standards — are the most effective tool for integrating data from security cameras, access control systems and other security sensors. ¨By integrating data from these siloed systems into one centralized monitoring platform, security personnel receive a comprehensive view of security threats for enhanced situational awareness and more effective response."