Building Management Systems: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Editor / Provider: Submitted by Elmark Engineers | Updated: 4/1/2010 | Article type: Tech Corner

Integration holds great potential, but faces obstacles such as proprietary standards. Vinayak Sane, Principal Consultant for Elmark Engineers, examines open systems for building automation.


A building automation system (BAS) optimizes the administration, operations and performance of building systems with purpose-built networks and protocols. A good BAS greatly increases the interaction of mechanical subsystems within a building, improves occupant comfort, lowers energy use and allows off-site building control.


Modern systems use computer-based monitoring to coordinate building control subsystems such as security, fire/life safety or elevators. Over the years, several proprietary building automation network standards have evolved in the marketplace.


Proprietary solutions have permeated the nonresidential HVAC market, limiting upgrades or expansion to off-the-shelf vendor-specific products or costly custom solutions. Vendor initiatives to publish proprietary protocols resulted in one-way systems, with the host system playing the role of master.


The proprietary or legacy systems consisted of digital direct control (DDC) controls looped in a daisy chain. The interconnection between them used to be peer-to-peer or a supervisory controller communicating to set of DDCs in a star format. This would require large amount of cabling.


Proprietary system architecture has its limitations when integrating multiple utilities. Closed systems mean the client is at the mercy of the vendor, who dictates price and products for a seamless interface.


Systems Today
Flexibility and scalability are important when selecting a BAS. The ability to reconfigure and monitor changes in real-time is important to building managers. For users, BAS enables different systems to talk to one another and integrate all building functions into one seamless system. The development of open communication protocols for building automation makes that dream a reality, with significant benefits for end users.


Open systems provide enhanced usability, lower installation costs and greater control of life-cycle expenditure. Open systems allow products with the best capabilities to be chosen for the task at hand. The result is a more effective BAS solution, which is not held back by proprietary software.


In recent years, open protocols like BACnet or LonWorks have been implemented as primary system protocols instead of proprietary ones. Some organizations have taken the lead in defining vendor-independent open systems.


LonWorks can interface with a wide range of systems, from hotel booking to home automation. It is probably the most common open system found in modern buildings. In its original implementation, LonWorks could be considered proprietary; use of the hardware and software required a licensing agreement from Echelon. Since then, Echelon has allowed users to port the LonTalk protocol to different hardware platforms.


BACnet, a data communication protocol for building automation and control networks, is a fast-growing and freely distributed, garnering the most interest from the U.S. and Asia. New products are appearing regularly from multiple vendors, as the protocol operates over a wide range of communications media. It is independent of hardware or software, making it suitable for many applications. BACnet is a software-only solution which integrates products from different manufacturers. It consists of a standardized set of messages that replaces the proprietary messages between the field panels and the host.


Compared to BACnet, LonWorks is a lighter protocol, suited for smaller and more cost-effective devices.


LonWorks represents a complete hardware and software solution for control network communication. The hardware platform was based on the Neuron chipset, which provided I/O processing and data communications. Software is based on the LonTalk communication protocol, which provides a set of standardized messages and a development tool for custom applications. It does not allow the use of IP as the transport layer. Therefore, for remote management over an IP network, clients must use a gateway encapsulating LonTalk in IP or HTTP servers displaying LonTalk device information over IP. Manufacturers need to pay license fees to Echelon to integrate Neuron chips into their devices


BACnet and LonWorks are not interchangeable. Each protocol provides its own standardized set of messages. BACnet messages can be transmitted across a LonWorks communication backbone, but messages between LonWorks and BACnet are not compatible.


LonWorks and BACnet complement each other in an open system. For example, a BACnet user may want to incorporate LonWorks devices. In this case, LonWorks can easily be added for a higher level of interoperability.


Among the common protocols Modbus, N2, LonMark and BACnet, only BACnet is developed in an open manner. Native BACnet means systems work seamlessly with third-party BACnet devices without protocol converters, saving on system configuration and ongoing maintenance.


While all the protocols above offer data sharing for read-write points, BACnet and LonMark go further with device management. They offer scheduling, trending, and alarm and event management — but BACnet is more powerful than LonMark. BACnet systems provide users with single-seat control of an entire facility through a dedicated front end or remotely by Web browser.


A fundamental aspect of a converged and intelligent system is transparency. If the system is to maintain control and reduce costs, it must have a common platform. While this does not preclude sophisticated management software, a simple interface such as a Web browser can deliver a user-friendly platform to realize a powerful system. This approach allows the cabling infrastructure to be fully utilized, removing the need for proprietary cabling or IT installations.


Buildings need a simpler, more cost-effective means of managing diverse proprietary control systems. At the same time, Internet technologies have been developed at an explosive rate, speeding data collection on the Internet. Real-time information optimizes the performance of buildings, productivity and the bottom line.


The International Standards Organizationadopted the BACnet protocol as a communications standard for integrating building automation and control products.


The best network for interoperability would be one that relies on LonWorks at the unitary level and BACnet at the building level, with a Web browser for the interface.


Today, a BAS can send alarm information to smart phones and computers. Mobile building managers can check systems remotely and react more quickly to problems. Using an existing network also reduces installation costs and increase scalability.


Systems of Tomorrow
As infrastructure expands horizontally and geographically, IT managers look for a communication medium with more bandwidth. Wireless networks provide ease of connectivity in any application.


Ethernet is one of the approved LAN types in the BACnet standard ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 135-2001. With the newer BACnet/IP LAN type defined, and more building owners using Web browsers to view the status of their buildings, interest in Ethernet is growing.


A TCP/IP Ethernet network connects to a Web browser easily, but there is more to using Ethernet. Instead of using coaxial cable with transceivers mounted in ceilings, Ethernet uses inexpensive twisted-pair or fiber-optic cabling to connect Ethernet stations. Recommendations on cabling and connectors for commercial buildings can be found in standards such as ANSI, TIA or EIA-568-B.


The original Ethernet data rate of 10 Mbps still is supported, but some newer equipment can automatically configure a station to operate at either 10 or 100 Mbps.


Originally, Ethernet operated only in half-duplex mode, which allowed transmissions in both directions, but not at the same time. Now with twisted-pair and fiber-optic cabling, which have two distinct paths for signaling, it is possible to configure Ethernet stations to operate in full-duplex mode with simultaneous transmission and reception over separate paths.


With the migration of LAN to wireless LAN in closed environments, BAS vendors are upgrading their systems with Ethernet connectivity.

Automated Gate Market Undergoes Gloomy Atmosphere, Says IMS Research

Editor / Provider: IMS Research | Updated: 3/26/2010 | Article type: Residential & Consumer

New statistics published by IMS Research on the global market for vehicle entrance control equipment forecasts growth within the gate automation industry to further decline to US$805.7 million in 2010 following a decline of -7.0 percent in 2009.


"With residential construction down, new market opportunities for gate automation companies continue to slow," commented Paul Everett, Report Author and Director of Security Research at IMS. Everett continues, "Hit hard by the construction downturn, the Americas market continues to toil showing no signs of recovery until 2012. Western Europe has also not escaped unscathed, posting the second lowest growth worldwide thanks only to moderate gains in Eastern European countries and the Middle East. Asia remains the catalyst to growth, and will continue to pull the market through these difficult times posting double digit growth each year through 2013." 


With commercial buildings, protection in some shape or form is required rather than desired. With private residential properties, vehicle gates are not a necessity and as a result, market growth remains slow in this application. During the recession, most high wealth individuals still have money and will continue to purchase vehicle gates. Unfortunately, this type of customer accounts for only a small proportion of the market.

AVerMedia Network Solutions Make up Safer Life

Editor / Provider: Submitted by AVerMedia | Updated: 3/16/2010 | Article type: Tech Corner

With the headlines constantly talking about security issues, residential security has been a priority for homeowners. Families are turning to video surveillance for more protections for their real estate. However, most current surveillance systems are expensive with installations that take time, drilling that are potentially disturbing the residents. Some blurry and unclear images on the outdated system couldn't provide high-quality images for detail exploration.


AVerMedia provides solutions to home security. AVerDiGi Wi-Fi offers crystal clear, live-stream surveillance image qualities for individual use. The Wi-Fi NVR requires no modification that might damage furniture, walls, and costly cable layout. Appling power to the NVR and network cameras, users just press the WPS button to connect two devices, which makes itself the best choice for home and small business.


Swedish-based fashion store established by Arnold Scaasi, an acclaimed fashion designer who is prestigious for designing gowns, has been bothered by the thefts.


Scaasi turned to AVerMedia's wireless NVR for the solution. The ease-of- installation of the technology has been a perfect fit for a relatively smaller perimeter of space with no need of NVR installation knowledge because it comes with plug-and-play, Linux platform with intelligent GUI.


With AVerDiGi CMS, the system could control up to 1,000 DVRs and cameras with remote PTZ, receive/respond/manage all alarms and trouble-shoot DVRs remotely.


If users concern about the weak signal caused by poor environments, AVerDiGi wireless antenna with extension cable and a point-to-point directional antenna will provide better signals to fulfill the demand of long-distance wireless transmission and reception. Both of the enhancers have great compatibility with AVerDiGi WiFi DVR/NVR that will be the best choice to reduce interference from unwanted resources.

Hikvision Intelligent Solutions Guard New York Residents

Editor / Provider: Hikvision | Updated: 3/4/2010 | Article type: Residential & Consumer

Hikvision's video compression boards are being used at a major residential building in New York. The block is one of a set of three adjoining riverfront structures in Manhattan that has attracted residents such as Calvin Klein and Nicole Kidman.


The buildings were designed by Richard Meier, one of the "New York Five" group of celebrity architects who sprung to fame in the seventies. The newest of the structures, 165 Charles Street, features a remote doorman system that gives residents the convenience and security of a manned presence through web-based information management. 


A core component in the servers controlling security at this apartment block attributes to Hikvision's high-resolution video compression boards. These real-time H.264 (MPEG-4/Part 10) units also offer audio compression using the open-protocol standard with 16KHz sampling rate and 16kbps output bit rate. A single PC can support up to 64 channels and the units exploit artificial intelligence when assessing possible motion detection triggers and rejecting false activation. Compression rates are unrivalled and integrators benefit from optimized use of RAID storage as longer recording times result in reduced maintenance costs and improved system resilience.


Intelligent Managed Access Recognizes Visitors
With theft and fraud involving bogus callers on the rise in a time of recession, managing agents are anxious to provide apartment owners with premium security services while keeping charges low. This is particularly important for the elderly or any vulnerable section of the community including the famous. 


Intelligent managed access exploiting advances in video and audio technology has proved a way forward since it avoids human error and personnel demands associated with recruiting door staff. Virtual supervision of a residential building involves surveillance technology that does not sleep on duty, take breaks or call in sick. 


The New York-based integrator Virtual Service has used its expertise in video conferencing and monitoring to develop Virtual Doorman more than 10 years as a managed access control system.


When callers such as department store employees, fast food couriers or dry cleaners arrive to make a delivery they activate video monitoring and audio feeds. Data is sent to Virtual Service's central station where human rather than technical device assesses the individual. In the case of a legitimate delivery person, he or she is directed under camera surveillance to a package room. The technology is context-aware and audio announcements can be made if a wrong turn is taken. Should the caller be a personal visitor and the resident is at home, then Virtual Doorman makes the appropriate connection.


It's estimated that about 110 apartment complexes in the New York metropolitan area employ Virtual Doorman, and mostly in Manhattan. For those where a custom-built PC-based server is not required, Virtual Service is using Hikvision's DVRs. These are network DVR featuring an embedded microprocessor control unit and real-time operating system. The recorders are available as 4-,8-,12- and 16-Ch camera units.


Successful installations of this automated lobby surveillance have overcome initial skepticism from residents, since use of cameras represents less intrusion into people's lives than observation by door staff.

Hosted Services Speak the IT Language

Editor / Provider: The Editorial Team | Updated: 2/9/2010 | Article type: Tech Corner

With IP blooming, software-as-a-service (SaaS) is the next natural step for physical security. However, IT complications have hindered real growth. Vendors are still sifting through limitations to deliver true plug-and-play, user-friendly and cost-efficient services.


Network administrators are notorious for rejecting security software on their networks. "Any application residing on the network is added work, which requires the right firewall, configuration of routers, maintaining and updating software patches, and so on," said Dorairajoo T, Executive Director of Securcomm Solution.


If devices are not true plug-and-play, installers need prior knowledge of the network infrastructure to address compatibility issues. The hardware specifications, therefore, are of paramount importance, said Terence Lee, Director of Product Management, APAC, Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies.


Plug-and-Play
Plug-and-play devices in video, access control and intrusion detection automatically seek the host server, allowing installers with minimal IT knowledge to deploy the system. This connectivity makes plug-and-play devices critical for system success. "With systems that do not have self-discovery, you'd have to purchase IP addresses and network address translations to get the network camera connected to the hosted video system," said Fredrik Nilsson, GM of Axis Communications. A specific box solution with routers can often solve the problem, but adds a layer of cost and complexity.


With devices that can automatically connect to the server, there is no port-forwarding involved, making the service more secure. This is particularly appealing when installing cameras at remote sites. Cameras are plugged in and immediately dispatched to the right hosting company, rather than being forwarded to outside servers before reaching their final destination, Nilsson said.


Interoperability
A common problem with software-as-a-service (SaaS) deployment is incompatibility between user protocols, platforms and browsers. While this also occurs with traditional security systems, the issues are magnified when all management and services are conducted through the Internet.


Integrated home management solutions must support different wireless protocols. "Solutions need to push all the information from various devices (such as security panels, cameras, thermostats and so on) through the Internet to vendors' hosted servers. Platforms need to take into account a number of wireless solutions available to residential users, such as Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, ZigBee and GPRS protocols," said Gregory Roberts, VP of Marketing at iControl Networks.


Aside from supporting communication protocols, existing systems often require flexibility to add new features. Most third-party SDKs for video surveillance only work on the Internet Explorer platform, particularly for DVRs. In hybrid systems for larger installations, SaaS providers are at the mercy of the DVR manufacturer. "We end up having to work with whatever platforms the DVR supports," said Steve Van Till, President and CEO of Brivo Systems.


A way to avoid installing custom browser plug-ins would be to use a Flash client, providing cross-platform functionality for all major browsers across Windows, Apple and Linux, said Steve Roskowski, CEO of Viaas. This is a departure from traditional plug-in based models demanding separate installation, development and support for each browser and operating system.


For access control, there are fewer compatibility issues. New develop-ments are moving away from machine-dependent models to embed the application on devices, such as a controller. Access control systems today have controllers connected to a cloud cluster, which connects to a host computer where the SaaS software resides, Dorairajoo said. "We're trying to remove the host computer, which is machine dependent, meaning that you will no longer need the power of a computer to run the SaaS." This translates into more secure and reliable services, as operating systems are prone to various manipulations.


Securing Data
Widespread skepticism of data security is shared by users. SaaS vendors typically reassure users that data is as secure as online banking — the premise being that if users trust online banking, they can trust SaaS. Internet security is becoming more robust, as SSL and VPN encryption assuage most user concerns.


However, the moment data enters the Internet, it is susceptible to hacking. Most security advisors prefer an environment not open to the World Wide Web and its risks. "The problem with user name and password authentication is that a lot of programs on the Web copy your keystroke. The moment you key in, the program recites it into the background and sends it to the Web-browser's originator," Dorairajoo cautioned. Antiviral software rarely picks this up as a priority threat.


Some SaaS vendors will partner with managed IT security service providers to oversee the data and protect against hacking, said Jon Ramsey, CTO of SecureWorks.


Despite SaaS being readily available and mature in other industries, it is untested for physical security. The concern about vital and personal information being viewed by unauthorized people is why users continue to err on the side of caution.


That said, while remote video management software offers enhanced functionality and features over exiting analog solutions, IMS Research projected that its proliferation will be a gradual and evolutionary process, rather a than rapid and revolutionary one. Analog cameras and DVRs will be preferred for low-end surveillance applications for many years to come.

Software-as-a-Service in the Spotlight

Editor / Provider: The Editorial Team | Updated: 2/8/2010 | Article type: Tech Corner

Software-as-a-service (SaaS) is shaking the physical security industry. A veteran of the IT and consumer markets, the service has cast a small but expanding spotlight, inviting security providers to further solution development in the IT world.


Since the rise of IP-based systems, Internet bandwidth has become more flexible and cost-efficient, while Internet security has become more reliable, said Fredrik Nilsson, GM of Axis Communications. These factors set the stage for software-as-a-service (SaaS) to enter physical security.


SaaS, hosted or managed services, offers users the flexibility of having their security systems managed and stored over a network. Vendors typically host accounts at their own databases that oversee computing infrastructure, while allowing clients to manage their own accounts, said Steve Van Till, President and CEO of Brivo Systems.


In a nutshell, customer benefits should include reduced complexity of installation and equipment costs, as well as easier access to systems locally and remotely — be it video, access control or intrusion detection. However, uptake has been slow. The service is not only new, it also faces installation, compatibility, scalability and security drawbacks.


"People had to be convinced that it's safe to have their data hosted off-site, but now with Gartner Research projecting US$10-to-12-billion worth of commerce being managed this way, corporate America has become much more accepting," Van Till said.


In the last two years, most new entrants are in hosted video, with hosted access control having a longer history. "The margins of sales of hardware are dropping and have been dropping for some time now. This is an opportunity for vendors and system integrators to participate in a higher margin business via recurring revenue," said Bill Bozeman, President and CEO of PSA Security.


Growth Market
Gartner Research predicted the overall SaaS market will grow at more than 22 percent a year, and 25 percent of new software services will be delivered by SaaS in a few years, Nilsson said. A report by IMS Research found global remote surveillance, comprising product sales and recurring service revenues, was worth more than $300 million in 2008.


At the moment, less than 5 percent of video is delivered as a service, but it is expected to grow quickly, Nilsson said. The U.S., a world leader in IT adoption, seems quick in picking up hosted video services.


Rising Verticals
Video surveillance and access control have different requirements. As a whole, surveillance demands for bandwidth and storage limit its applications.


Video Surveillance
Compared to the DVR market, the SaaS market is minute. Its potential attracts vendors who focus on individual or multisite small-tomedium businesses (SMBs) and residential security. "Restaurant chains and SMBs buy SaaS through central monitoring stations," said Alan Avidan, President of OzVision. "In the U.S. alone, there are 40 million accounts like this."


For example, the owner of a pizzeria equipped with alarms may add video capabilities. These applications are perfect candidates for video-as-a-service (VaaS).


Adding video capabilities to SMBs means that business owners can streamline management processes on top of the added layer of security. For example, owners can program open-and-close reports to see who first entered and last left the premises, Avidan said.


With traditional systems, users must install coaxial cables, DVRs and ensure maintenance, whereas hosted video requires only the installation of cameras with footage recorded off-site, Nilsson said.


Service providers include alarm monitoring companies and telecommunications companies. The difference between the two is that telecommunications providers host the video but users monitor it themselves. This is practical for private residential use.


For SMBs, however, the trend will be toward alarm monitoring companies, who will host and monitor the managed services. Business owners of multisite chain stores find this solution ideal, and currently account for the bulk of hosted video users, Nilsson said.


Enterprise risk management has emerged as a new vertical. Large installations with central monitoring rooms, such as hotels, employ hosted cameras to watch security personnel viewing the cameras. Data centers have also followed suit, with cameras watching over racks of NVRs and DVRs.


"There has been a growing niche in 'watching the watchers,' the value being that the video is not stored on site nor controlled by the user," said Brian Lohse, Director of Business Development at Secure-i. "This is seen as an external quality control audit."


Home security in the U.S. is an $8 billion industry, said Gregory Roberts, VP of Marketing at iControl Networks. With broadband becoming increasingly prevalent, the overlap between home security and broadband usage takes the stage. In homes with security, 80 percent of them utilize broadband connections, and convergence that will enhance numerous services will take the home security industry beyond its current 24 percent penetration in the U.S. marketplace, Roberts said.


VaaS gives the option of putting up as few as one or two cameras. Home owners typically refrain from using surveillance because the cost of purchasing and maintaining a DVR and software for one or two cameras is too high. With hosted video, users can ensure security and safety at home, while keeping an eye on children or the elderly, Lohse said.


Access Control
For access control, the possibilities are virtually limitless. Property management for multidwelling units and condominiums, and commercial verticals, such as national large format retailers, are seeing the benefits of SaaS.


"Forty percent of our business is for property management applications.
These companies might manage tens or hundreds of different properties in a given area, and hosted access control services allow them to manage all their properties without involving an IT staff," Van Till said. "We're growing at about 50 percent a year, and property management is enjoying that similar rate with its adoption of SaaS."


Retail is an ideal application, as large chains can have hundreds or thousands of locations. Integrated with hosted video services, deployments would include two or three cameras at each location — the front/ back door, cash room, high-value merchandise room, or manager's office. "There are thousands of locations in many of these large retail operations, but each location only needs a handful of cameras and access control points," Van Till said.


Traditional Models vs. SaaS
For hosted video deployments, the importance of the camera is higher than it would be in a closed system. The hosted camera does more work, including motion detection, to determine when it should record and when sophisticated processing should work.


Often with NVRs or DVRs , cameras blindly send footage to the storage and management devices, which then decide what to save or discard. For this reason, VaaS vendors typically partner with top-of-the-line camera manufacturers or develop their own line of cameras to meet the requirements, Lohse said. "The power of a strong camera is more important than ever, because it's doing a lot of work that the DVR/ NVR usually does."


An advantage of hosted video is the separation of management and recording. If the Internet connection fails, cameras can continue to record on network attached storage (NAS) devices, while the off-site hosting server is able to send notification e-mails or SMS messages to users, Lohse said. DVRs, even if programmed to send notification E-mails, are unable to when the local
Internet connection fails.


With an added and often prioritized operational function, access is easy and convenient. SaaS speaks to smart phones and computers, so at any given time with adequate network coverage, users can log onto their accounts and access their camera footage.


DVRs are notorious for living and eventually dying, Avidan said. "When you manage several locations, you end up with continuous maintenance problems that involve constantly buying or replacing equipment, which adds up to heavy sunk costs." When DVRs need replacing, all information needs to be transferred elsewhere, adding another layer of complexity.


The benefits of access control are more transparent. Securing key areas separated by large distances via Web-based systems enables customers to tap into existing TCP/IP networks, and reduces the need to install expensive cables and wiring, said Terence Lee, Director of Product Management, APAC, Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies.


In the case of greenfield projects, vendors have developed access control panels with built-in GPRS modems that work over cellular networks. "As a reseller for major telecommunications providers, we can build connectivity into our control panels," Van Till said.


Cost
Lower costs are a primary driver for SaaS market penetration, but there are outstanding factors to consider. "Vendors argue that monthly fees for their services provide more financial flexibility than the significant upfront cost of buying DVRs. This benefit is limited by the implicit interest rate that users would absorb if the service's multiyear cost was significantly higher than the cost of a DVR/NVR," said John Honovich, founder of IPVideoMarket.info.


However, maintaining fleets of DVRs for multiple locations can be an IT nightmare. "Businesses usually end up with a lot of different types of DVRs. Maintenance, including the numerous patches sent to users by manufacturers, is time-consuming and costly," Avidan said. "A good DVR can cost users somewhere between $3,000 and $5,000, which is a rather hefty capital expense."


"Achieving a price point of $10 per camera per month is realistic, and at that point, the motivation to replace analog systems will be high," Honovich said. "Users should note that this price point pertains to services only, as camera costs are separate unless otherwise specified by the vendor."


When hardware and software companies partner to offer SaaS, they are two independent parties both seeking significant margins for their products. "The end result is that most hosted/managed video solutions are noncompetitive for a total system cost to the end user," said Steve Roskowski, CEO of Viaas. "Users have to pay a significant premium for the functionality delivered — they must buy the camera at the retail price, then pay for the services."


Vendors who provide the total solution will become increasingly competitive, as they can control pricing, manufacturing options around the hardware, the service and so on.


Future Outlook
Security companies move to offer SaaS, as users look for more scalable, easy-to-access and feature-rich solutions, said Bill Diamond, President and CEO of Xanboo.


Experts in the field agree that SaaS will be a game-changing technology. "While 2010 should see exciting announcements and product improvements, broader use for SaaS will more likely occur in 2011 to 2012," Honovich said.


Over time, the SaaS market should polarize, dominating small installations such as SMBs, and large installations, like campuses or municipalities. "For installations between 16 and 100 cameras, however, premise-based solutions with direct integrator support will continue to be a compelling solution," Roskowski said.

VIVOTEK IP Solutions Safeguard Shanghai Residents

Editor / Provider: VIVOTEK | Updated: 1/25/2010 | Article type: Residential & Consumer

Challenges
The committee of the Golden Stone Garden Community in Shanghai, China had relied on a surveillance system for maintaining residential security. However, with increasing security problems such as burglary, robbery and fire accidents and rising demands from growing residents, the surveillance system had become ineffective and inadequate. In the hope of creating a safer residential environment and improving management efficiency, the committee was looking to scale up the existing system. In view of the expansion flexibility and management convenience provided by IP surveillance systems, the committee decided to deploy VIVOTEK's network cameras for future proof. They also installed several VIVOTEK video servers, turning the existing analog system to digital, so as to protect their investments in the surveillance systems.


Solutions
More than 30 VIVOTEK network cameras were installed for this project. An external alerting system is connected to the fixed network cameras via digital input/output ports so as to notify the security staff and the residents on an event. In order to have low-light performance, some cameras were installed in the hallways to ensure image quality under poor-light conditions. The installed models provide 3GPP support, allowing the committee to monitor activities inside and outside the community even when out of office. In addition, the committee installed the free-bundled central management software for easy and efficient video management. The CMS supports up to 32 channels, allowing the committee to manage and control all cameras centrally from one server.


Results
The cost-effective IP surveillance system enables the community committee to benefit from the advantages of digitization at an affordable price. It significantly enhances the committee's emergence response capability and management efficiency. "Live monitoring is much easier and more convenient now. Besides, we can quickly locate the recorded video images we want without playing hours of tape to search for an incident," said the Chief of the Committee. "Since we intend to expand the system in the future to meet growing demands, adopting an IP solution is undoubtedly more cost-effective and labor-saving for long-term conditions."

What 2010 Holds

Editor / Provider: Hayden Hsu | Updated: 1/8/2010 | Article type: Hot Topics

The global credit crisis took everyone by surprise, leaving many industries still crippled. Security was no exception, but there are glimpses of light for certain technologies. A&S highlights the areas to heed in the new year.


While most economies around the world are seeing signs of recovery, forecasts for physical and electronic security are still somewhat obscure. According to IMS Research, the global video surveillance market grew by roughly 3 percent in 2009, which was significantly lower than historical double-digit growth. The overall revenue (manufacturers level) was estimated at US$8.8 billion, with IP growth at 15 percent. Given the overall delays in construction in the commercial and residential sectors, access control and intrusion detection systems are believed to have suffered severely in terms of sales performance. Earlier forecasts indicated near-flat growth and pegged the markets at approximately $2.1 and $2.8 billion, respectively.


2009 did not bear witness to any brand new innovations as sales of previously launched products stumbled and budget freezes (even in R&D) were seen across the board. Our own "Products of the Month" (which showcases industry firsts) and findings at the various trade shows were equally telling. There are, however, disruptive technologies brewing on the horizon, and we expect to see some mature over the next couple of years. Our collection of predictions for 2010 is as follows.


1. John Honovich, founder of IPVideoMarket.info , suggested that "IP video surveillance product sales will increase by 200 percent between 2010 and 2012, significantly disrupting and overtaking analog CCTV sales," thanks to falling prices of IP-based devices and increased performance and availability of cost-effective offerings. IP growth, however, depends largely on the availability of IT/IP-savvy channel partners. The status quo is not very promising, as A&S has been approached by many to recommend such in the various markets it is active in and competent candidates are scarce. Fortunately, increased involvement from players like Cisco Systems and Ingram Micro and increased training funding will likely improve this, albeit slowly.


2. Adoption of hybrid solutions will continue to rise when more users look to extend their old security investments with tightening budgets. Research firm In-Stat sees DVR shipments growing faster than camera shipments, with hybrid DVRs increasing at the highest rate. What HDcctv can or cannot deliver will be tried and tested in niche applications.


3. In a post-credit crisis world, price/performance and cost-effective claims will be examined more rigorously. No-frills offerings from Asia will see increased market share, and value adds like video-alarm verification and basic analytics will be demanded more.


4. Megapixel and panoramic cameras deliver TCO advantages, but their low-light performance and compression/transmission methods will continue to be challenged, resulting in slightly curbed growth curves (65 to 100 percent according to IMS) and diluted market shares with new entrants. H.264 will see a lot more usage, but providers that “cheat on” profile/resolution differences will suffer and be weeded out gradually.


5. The reliability (especially outdoors), ease of use/configurations, pricing and feature flexibility issues of video analytics cannot be solved overnight and will hinder its growth and widespread adoption. The current market size is estimated at between $50 and $145 million by research companies and high-end vendors, with IMS forecasting that more than 450,000 channels of analytics will be embedded in cameras, encoders, DVRs and NVRs by 2013.


6. IMS predicts the overall security management market to be $728 million by 2011, whereas Frost & Sullivan predicts that to be $2 billion by 2012. Physical security information management will continue to see integration and interoperability problems as common standards and protocols still require years to establish. In the short term, only MNCs and government facilities, with bundled purchase orders, can see such implementations through.


7. Remote video monitoring and surveillance and software as a service generated product sales and recurring service revenues worth $300 million in 2008 according to IMS, and their proliferation will only be gradual. As such, IMS predicted that analog cameras and DVRs will remain the preferred solution for low-end applications for many years to come.


8. Technical specifications from the ONVIF, PSIA and HDcctv Alliance will continue to develop and reel in more supporters, but integrators and users will demand more details as various, nonparallel network technologies clash and new compatibility issues crop up. The dust shall settle a bit in 2011, though.


9. Sales of fiber-optic and wireless technologies will grow rapidly, with more video, access and intrusion systems riding on one common infrastructure. Wide-area applications like the education vertical and infrastructure projects (air/sea/land transportation, power generation, city surveillance and border control) will reap most benefits. Given the upcoming global sporting events, the recreation vertical (gaming, large venues and retail) will also enjoy healthy growth and receive our continuous attention over the next year.


10.  Biometrics will finally turn the corner, with IMS forecasting the global market for fingerprint devices to reach $650 million by 2013. Frost & Sullivan predicts the EMEA market to recover and reach $1.7 billion by 2015 (from $351.4 million in 2008, at an annual rate of 25.5 percent). Both the low- and high-end markets (in terms of accuracy requirements) will grow significantly, with many construction and government projects (including national IDs/e-passports) back on track and logical/physical integration gaining traction.

A Look at 2009 and 2010: Power Shifts to Asia

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 12/14/2009 | Article type: Hot Topics

Globally, heads are turning toward Asia. Emerging markets like China and India have cushioned the region from the worst of the economic impact. The latest forecasts from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) reported that Asia is set to lead the world out of the global financial crisis. The region's GDP will grow more strongly than expected, both in 2009 and 2010, at 3.9 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively.


"The balance of power has shifted to be in favor of Asia, and we are lucky to be here," said Ricardo Ebri Sambeat, GM of China for Fermax Electronics.


"The region will fuel exciting growth opportunities in the coming years, especially with the phenomenal growth experienced in China and India. The importance of Asia is evident from the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference, where the U.S. reaffirmed their active engagement in the region," said Terence Lee, Director of Product Management for APAC, Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies.


The access control market, comprising contactless proximity cards and readers, keypads, biometrics, controllers, and integrated readers and software, was estimated in the range of US$800 million to $1 billion in 2008, said Parul Oswal, Industry Analyst for APAC, Frost & Sullivan. It is expected to grow at an annual rate of more than 20 percent, year on year from 2008 to 2015.


Video surveillance, including cameras, video servers, NVRs, DVRs and surveillance software, was estimated at over $1 billion for 2008, which will grow by five times by 2015 at an annual rate of more than 23 percent, Oswal said.


Strategies and Trends
With Asia taking center stage, marketing and educational efforts have been localized. "We are advertising in nine languages and will be exhibiting at 28 trade shows (19 more indirectly) in 2010," said Raúl Calderón, VP of Marketing for Arecont Vision.


For local manufacturers, admirable efforts to keep up with international standards and products make for daunting competition. "We send our R&D personnel to trade shows worldwide, so they can experience firsthand on what's truly demanded, return to the drawing board, and design features that fulfill these needs," said Michael Chen, Overseas Marketing Manager of Dahua Technology.


Partnerships and acquisitions blossomed in every direction, indicating that the quickest way into Asian markets is through strong local partners. For example, Bosch recently partnered with Hochiki to penetrate Japan's IP surveillance market. In India, a joint venture between EverFocus Electronics and Rasan Infocom paved the way for focused development.


More production lines have moved to China in 2009, as major manufacturers such as Panasonic and Bosch lead the trend. "Our Zhuhai factory alone is responsible for 30 percent of our global output," said Alex Blome, VP of APAC at Bosch Security Systems. "Dedication to customer satisfaction has made significant performance improvements in the last 12 months. We've achieved an average repair turnaround time of less than two days."


Key Countries
Among the APAC countries, India and China are forecast to grow the fastest, with an average annual growth rate of 15 to 19 percent, said Blake Kozak, Market Analyst for IMS Research. Key verticals include health care, government, airports, seaports and utilities.


The ADB report stated that China's growth increased to 7.9 percent in the second quarter of 2009, and that the improvement was mostly driven by investment. Global market research also showed that, by 2018, China is forecast to be the second largest market, said Roni Klein, VP of Sales for Verint Video Solutions APAC, Verint Systems. Lee added that, "The government's $586-billion stimulus package will place the country as the firstmajor economy to emerge from the global recession."


In both India and China, import tariffs present real challenges, albeit for different reasons. India's import duties are prohibitively high and weigh heavily on international suppliers. Local competition, however, is scarce.


"Import tax is always a challenge for international trade, but the biggest challenge in China is the well-established local manufacturing of analog equipment," said Ray Mauritsson, CEO of Axis Communications. Additionally, local companies have invested heavily in R&D. "About a quarter of our personnel are R&D specialists, and we will leverage our vertical-specific solutions and experience to further expansion," said Francis Jing, International Sales Manager for Tiandy Tech.


India is forecast to grow by 6 percent in 2009 and 7 percent in 2010, according to the ADB. The country's Union Home Minister recently confirmed that its homeland security budget will increase by 35 percent, accumulating to $29.5 billion from 2009 to 2010, Klein said. (For more information on the Indian market, please refer to the Market Update.)


The ADB also pointed out that economic growth in Southeast Asia was projected to slow to 0.1 percent in 2009, because recovery in Indonesia and Vietnam did not offset worsening conditions of Malaysia, Thailand and smaller economies. However, the Thai government's overall annual spending in security is still expected to grow between 5 and 10 percent, Klein said. The new economic stimulus plan of $3.3 billion underlies huge business opportunities in airports, seaports, infrastructure, tourism and retail sectors.


Rising Verticals
Most governments throughout Asia, from China and India through to Korea, Thailand and Australia, are offering stimulus packages, Blome said. Although forecasts have been optimistic, effects of the weak economy can still be seen.


There have been instances where budgets have been withheld, projects postponed or requirements respecified, said Koen Rommel, VP of Sales for China, Bosch Security Systems. "Coupled with increasing price sensitivity and  local competition, the first two quarters of 2009 were somewhat slow. The third quarter, however, started to see many projects back on track, including railways, airports, power plants, stadiums, apartments, office buildings, industrial parks and city surveillance projects."


"There have been several surveillance projects of note this year, including the Beijing Metro, Seoul MetropolitanMetro, Taipei City, Bangkok City, Sydney suburban rail, and Macau's City of Dreams," said Alastair Hayfield, Research Manager, Video Surveillance and VCA Group, IMS Research.


Investment for the Chinese market is beginning to move from Tier-1 cities, which experienced high growth, into Tier-2, -3 and -4 cities. "We've recruited a significant number of sales representatives, and added local branches in all major Tier-3 and -4 cities. China's residential market is promising," said Jack Lee, GM of China for Honeywell Security. Ebri agreed, adding that real-estate developments in the east coast and southwest region of China have fueled growth in intercom sales.


Though IP is in the air, China is still very analog-focused. Currently, the Safe City project, public transportation and hotels are the few noteworthy IP users. "In 2010, IP will be a big focus in China," said Mads Bo Frederiksen, Territory Manager for Asia, Milestone Systems.


The government of India has launched possibly the world's largest biometric-based national identity program, establishing a new agency tasked with creating a national ID database for the country's 1.2 billion citizens, said Walter Hamilton, Chairman of the International Biometric Industry Association and a Senior Consultant with Identification Technology Partners. This initiative includes an ID card with a unique number, photo and biometric data.


Product Needs
Frost & Sullivan's recent "Strategic Assessment of the Asia-Pacific Wireless Video Surveillance Markets" report stated that wireless penetration and developed infrastructure have created a significant market in APAC.


However, finding channel partners proficient in both network technology and physical security proves to be challenging. "This is why we've launched our IP certification program. We will invest more sales and marketing efforts in furthering our IP growth in 2010," Rommel said.


It is not easy for end users to abandon existing systems and switch to IP. "For this reason, we propose hybrid solutions so users can enjoy IP's benefits and still use existing systems," said Katsunari Matsuoka, GM of IPELA Marketing Department, Marketing Division, B2B Solution Business Group, Sony Corporation.


Video Surveillance
Transportation, government, financial services and insurance were seen as the top revenue generators, Oswal said. By country, the largest shares are attributed to China, Japan and South Korea.


Early adoption and fast pace in Asia have resulted in great growth in megapixel technology, HD cameras, mobile surveillance terminals that automatically connect to WiMax networks, built-in analytics for DVRs and increased adoption of NVRs.


"Consumers are becoming more IP-savvy and value-minded, so we recently introduced our ready-to-use system — one compact camera with 16-channel recording and free surveillance software," Blome said.


Efforts have been made to assist the analog-to-digital migration. "Our video encoders make it easier for customers to operate analog and network cameras on the same platform," Matsuoka said. "In 2010, we will focus more on HD development and IP devices."


For storage, DVRs remain popular, with value-added features such as built-in analytics getting traction. "Our new stand-alone DVR embedded with analytics offers operational advantages to banks that manage thousands of branches daily," said Romeo Kwok, CFO and Senior VP of BlueStar SecuTech.


IP users are also showing interest in NVRs, and camera manufacturers are careful to prioritize compatibility with multiple NVR brands, Calderón said.


Access Control
Lack of regulations and standards and relatively high prices discourage potential buyers of access control equipment, Oswal said.


China, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand are seen as the major revenue generators for access control, Oswal said. Proximity card reader systems are estimated to account for more than 30 percent of the market, followed by keypad readers. While contactless smart cards had the lowest revenue contribution in 2008, they are expected to exceed keypad readers by 2011, and double the growth by 2015, Oswal continued.


In keeping with reducing price points, Bosch released scalable entry-level solutions for SMBs. "Customer feedback from road shows in China, India and Malaysia has been very positive," Blome said. An additional Web-based control system gives users more options and enables a range of features to be integrated into the system, even by users with relatively little IT knowledge, Blome said.


For residential projects, uptake in wireless access control systems has been visible. "These systems can be remotely accessed via the Internet or Web-enabled devices, including mobile phones," Lee of Ingersoll Rand said. Home automation systems will grow hand-in-hand with expansion in the residential sector.


Intrusion Detection
Polarity can be seen in the intrusion detection market. Local manufacturers opt for less demanding verticals. "Intrusion detection is still a developing technology, and, therefore, our focus is on the residential market, which is less critical and demanding," said Ken Li, GM of Chuango Electronic. "More than 90 percent of our sales are generated from alarm-monitoring companies."


International competitors have taken up a different focus. "We thrive on selling systems, which set us apart from our competitors who specialize in either panels or intrusion detectors. We sell to the professional market," said Peter Harries, Sales and Marketing Director of Texecom.


Verdict from the East
With the economy still far from stable, price-consciousness often leads to cheap and low-quality product purchases. "Systems that do not fit or are lacking in requirements represent a threat in this region," Blome said.


The region, however, is becoming more globalized. Businesses from all corners of the world are flooding in, and opportunities for growth are endless. "It is extremely critical that governments coordinate and execute their strategies well, so that the recovery is balanced, inclusive and sustainable," Lee of Ingersoll Rand said.

Security on the Rebound: A Look at 2009 and 2010

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 12/7/2009 | Article type: Hot Topics

2009 has born witness to countless struggles in a subdued global economy. Collateral damages can be seen in every industry, with some governments forced to put projects on hold while others pressed on with stimulus packages. A&S reviews the year's happenings and presents how industry players have prepared for 2010.


Lowered forecasts from Frost & Sullivan and IMS Research indicated that earlier optimism for the industry was premature, and the industry has indeed suffered. However, increased fear of crime and terrorism has prompted countries, both emerging and mature, to take proactive measures. According to the "Global Homeland Security 2009-2019" report, worldwide government spending on products and services for homeland security reached US$141.6 billion in 2009, with continuous growth going forward, said Roni Klein, VP of Sales for Verint Video Solutions APAC, Verint Systems. "Prevention of terrorist attacks and detection of perpetrators are vital."


To this end, security activity has been booming in infrastructure-related projects, including all modes of transportation, city surveillance, and health care and educational institutions. Funding, however, has been difficult and postponed by some government bodies.


"For the global video surveillance market, Western Europe, the Middle East and Africa have been the most severely affected, followed by North America," said Alastair Hayfield, Research Manager, Video Surveillance and VCA Group, IMS Research. "Asia is still performing strongly, thanks to China, India and other growth regions."


Partnerships, such as Pelco-Cisco, Dell-HID and UTC Fire and Security's recent acquisition of GE Security, have turned heads in this industry, and companies continue to fill gaps in their portfolios with strategic acquisitions. "We're going to see new players from telecommunications, looking at leveraging their network capabilities in the fast-growing security market," said Matia Grossi, Industry Analyst for the EMEA Physical Security Group, Frost & Sullivan, in a prepared statement.


To varying degrees, certain countries and regions abide by standards and regulations, and efforts have been made to consolidate video standards. "Both PSIA and ONVIF have made progress over the last year. With numerous large manufacturers committing to implementing these specifications, we should start seeing them make a real-world impact in 2011," said John Honovich, founder of IPVideoMarket.info.


In biometrics, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) launched its professional certification program for biometric practitioners. The Certified Biometric Professional (CBP) program includes study material and course work. "The CBP will spur more interest in biometrics as a professional field of endeavor, and, as a result, help encourage industry growth," said Walter Hamilton, Chairman of the International Biometric Industry Association and Senior Consultant with Identification Technology Partners.


More companies are also investing more in certification and training for partners and users. "Meeting user needs requires a level of commitment from dealers and integrators," said Gadi Piran, President of OnSSI. "Our certification program strengthens our channel partners' capabilities to design, configure and install our solutions in a complex, networked environment."


Scott Schafer, Executive VP of Sales and Marketing at Arecont Vision, added, "We hold classes around the globe focusing on megapixel technology, to help better design and deploy systems."


Additionally, manufacturers such as Honeywell stress the importance of going beyond the product. "Everything from lead generation programs and custom literature, to specification tools and sales and product training are areas in which we make a difference and help our customers grow," said Frank Roth, VP of Global Marketing for Honeywell Security.


The security industry has been tried and tested by the financial crisis, leaving only the fittest to survive. Those who pulled through 2009's tribulations do not expect 2010 to be easy, but most remain cautiously and reasonably optimistic.



Changing Currents in EMEA
Quality assurance and cost control have seen major players through the year's turbulence. "With the financial crisis still far from over, we're controlling costs very carefully rather than pushing for rapid expansion," said Dr. Oliver Vellacott, CEO of IndigoVision. Some have felt the recession's impact more than others. "We continue to feel the impact of a difficult economy and sluggish business development environment," said Dave Patterson, President and CEO of Optelecom-NKF, in a prepared statement.


Strategic partnerships such as Siemens-Bosch and Johnson Controls-Milestone Systems show EMEA players reaching beyond technological expertise and geographical borders to embrace new markets.


Overall Market
The overall physical security market in Europe is expected to remain flat, or show up to 3 percent of growth throughout 2010, said Matia Grossi, Industry Analyst for the EMEA Physical Security Group, Frost & Sullivan. Video surveillance is expected to show stronger growth, up to 6 percent, due to falling prices for IP devices, increased performance and availability of models, and new players entering the market. Access control is expected to show decent growth, whereas intrusion detection is predicted to be flat in 2010, Grossi said.


Europe
After a "cautious" spring in 2009, the European markets have picked up in the early summer, said Michael Zabler, Marketing Director for ABUS Security-Center. Although there are distinct signs that things are starting to move again, the effects appear less profound on some niche manufacturers, said Doktor Jon, a 30-year veteran of the video surveillance industry.


Western Europe, slowly moving from traditional installations toward IP-based systems, is now looking at megapixel technology to improve image quality and reduce costs, said Scott Schafer, Executive VP of Sales and Marketing at Arecont Vision.


Scandinavia, France and Germany remain relatively stable, said Dr. Juan Farre, CEO of Ernitec.


In Italy, the intrusion alarm market is slow-moving. "From our observations, 2009 will see a 10- to 15-percent decrease, compared to previous years," said Chafik Khaoutem, Export Manager of Tecnoalarm. A factor is that companies concentrate more on producing conventional intrusion alarm systems that have limited use. New to the market are embedded cameras (in control panels), access control and advanced software. "These technologies go hand-in-hand with evolving market needs," Khaoutem said.


Middle East
In the Middle East, large projects are suffering less due to lucrative oil revenues. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Jordan and Turkey have seen increased government installations and city surveillance deployed in parallel to city planning projects.


Over in Turkey, residential security is quickly becoming an area of interest, creating an important market for intrusion and fire alarms, said Ismail Uzelli, Chairman of Gesider and Country Manager of Turkey for ADT/ Sensormatic. Shopping centers and residences have turned more attention to procuring and implementing security measures.


Africa
The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa has propelled the bulk of the continent's security spending. Construction is booming, and infrastructure projects include airports, roads, highways, mass transportation, stadiums, hotels and malls. "Perhaps in 2010, there might be a slight decline, but major infrastructure investments will last at least for the next five years," said Francois Malan, Technical Director of Camsecure.


International standards are being adopted for cabling infrastructure, which will be a major driving force for IP uptake. The O.R. Tambo International Airport, for example, installed 650 network cameras in 2009.


Thriving Verticals
With the 2012 London Olympics just a couple of years away, preparation has already begun. Distribution of worker identity cards and biometric scans, including iris and handheld readers, is part of a move to protect against terrorism, said Blake Kozak, Market Analyst for IMS Research. "Security spending is predicted to surpass $2.2 billion."


Both, retail and transportation sectors are increasingly driving adoption of video analytics. Retailers look to extend the value of their surveillance cameras, and analytics provide reliable management information on customer flows and dwell time, said Kevin Waterhouse, Sales and Marketing Director of VCA Technology. "Benefits of integrating PoS transaction data from cashiers' tills with video footage deliver real ROI by helping spot and reduce employee theft, which still makes up nearly 40 percent of all retail theft, according to the latest shrinkage figures."


Transportation applications, such as monitoring traffic flow or capturing license plates, are also a rapidly growing area for surveillance cameras, analytics and powerful video management software.


The residential market is somewhat subdued, particularly for video surveillance. "It's not yet a big market for us, and it will be a few years until we reach a price point that is appropriate for broad residential uptake," said Ray Mauritsson, CEO of Axis Communications. The SMB market, however, has great potential, where analog solutions can be replaced by IP-based solutions.


Product Needs
While 2009 has seen more relaxation of laws, such as in France, Scandinavia and the U.K., and less skepticism, Europe is still regarded as a conservative user of technology. According to the McKinsey Quarterly's "Time to Raise the CIO's Game," less than 20 percent of European IT executives believed their companies were effective at introducing technologies faster and better than their competitors. That is, Europe needs stronger IT presence and development to tip the scale in IP's favor.


The Middle East and Africa, being relatively "greenfield" areas, are more open and quicker to adopt IP infrastructure.


Video Surveillance
Sales cycles have become longer in 2009, but loosened budgets for video surveillance are anticipated for 2010, said Eric Fullerton, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Milestone Systems. Growth in 2010, however, is not expected to get back to 2007 and 2008 levels immediately.


To ease the transition from analog to IP, hybrid DVRs are among the highlights of popular products for 2009. PTZ dome cameras, H.264 compression, megapixel technology, day/night cameras and panoramic cameras also dotted the innovation landscape of EMEA players.


"Video feeds from our new H.264 PTZ dome camera are indistinguishable from the best analog out there — even during rapid PTZ movements. This is the fastest 'take-off' of any product we've ever launched," Dr. Vellacott said.


Boxed network cameras with small form factor and day/night functions have been well-received, said Hardy Mehl, Director of IP Business for Basler Vision Technologies. "Additionally, we recently released a fixed network dome series which will enable us to address the worldwide demand for domes."


Hemispheric cameras have been a success. Decentralized technology and doubled processing power have made this a very powerful and efficient technology, said Lutz Coelen, CFO of Mobotix.


IMS predicted high growth levels for video analytics over the next three years, with global sales set to reach $1 billion by 2012, Waterhouse said. "Though the possibilities have been initially overestimated, eventually there will be many opportunities to make surveillance more efficient by adding analytics," Mauritsson said. The analytics market, currently a small part of the overall surveillance market, will see rapid adoption from the second half of 2010, Grossi said.


Finally, standardized and preintegrated systems, such as off-the-shelf products, will be seen in the year to come, said Mads Bo Frederiksen, Territory Manager for Asia, Milestone Systems.


Access Control and Intrusion Detection
The Americas access control market was relatively flat in 2009, while the Asia market maintained strong growth. The security market in EMEA fell in between the conditions that were seen in the Americas and Asia regions, Kozak said. Migration to IP and increasing integration with video surveillance are trends that will continue in 2010.


2009's innovations were driven by plug-and-play intelligent locks with networking capabilities and battery-operated wireless locks, said Michael Soderberg, Business Manager of Electronic Access Control for Australia, ASSA ABLOY. "Wireless locks are being driven by the need to put access control on more doors in a building, but at a much lower cost."


With little to no growth in construction and reduced activity in the residential market, intrusion detection had negative growth in 2009 and will see flat growth in 2010, Grossi said. Trends that picked up were wireless alarm systems with active anti-burglary protection and video verification. Both Tecnoalarm and RSI Technologies have developed wireless devices with alarm and surveillance capabilities.


"The industry is moving quickly toward GPRS for alarm monitoring. In Europe, we expect our GPRS product sales to overcome standard PSTN products in early 2010," said Francois Lafferriere, Director of Business Development, RSI Video Technologies. "A lot of our clients still consider wireless unreliable for critical deployments, but both wired and wireless solutions can be combined to offer optimum security with GPRS backup."


Increasingly, value-added products are gaining market share. "Integrating various capabilities, such as biometrics and home automation, into the alarm system will become a trend in 2010," Khaoutem said. Likewise, camera manufacturers like Mobotix are looking to broaden their product portfolios in 2010. "We will not simply focus on cameras, but also venture into developing alarm and security systems," Coelen said.


Challenges and Outlook
A slow-moving market, lack of education and standards, and increasing competition are highlighted challenges in EMEA. "The biggest weakness is the inertia in the marketplace. It's well-documented that IP-based surveillance systems have better ROI and lower TCO than traditional analog devices, yet we still see incumbents trying to prolong the lifespan of analog technology based on lower acquisition cost alone," Fullerton said. Dr. Vellacott agreed, adding that, "Companies emerging from the financial crisis will be stronger than before."


2010 will see more competition from IT companies. "When the security market starts to use advanced technology from the IT world, it's natural to see collaboration between new channels and vendors," Mauritsson said. "Fast-growing markets like network video will always be very competitive — with the market convergence, you have competitors from two different industries."


Large installations, such as industrial sites, severely affected by the financial crisis will likely delay new and replacement investments in 2010, Zabler said. However, SMBs and the private sector are predicted to recover to previous growth rates.


The industry will anticipate the first ONVIF-compliant systems being deployed in 2010, which will boost confidence in associated brands and give users more freedom to choose among manufacturers, Dr. Vellacott said.