IMS Research Examines Video Surveillance Trends for 2011

Editor / Provider: Submitted by IMS Research | Updated: 3/25/2011 | Article type: Hot Topics

IMS Research predicts wireless video, high resolution and 3-D will grow this year, among other key video trends.

IMS Research followed its “10 for 2010” predictions with a report covering its opinions on 2011's most exciting video surveillance trends. They are:
1. City surveillance looks to wireless video
2. HDcctv joins the fray in 2011
3. The mist clears on cloud-based video surveillance
4. Will India's video surveillance boom be as big as China's?
5. Video analytics: To security and beyond
6. From HD to 3-D
7. 2011: The tipping point for network video
8. The commercial thermal surveillance market begins to heat up
9. Looking into the HD crystal ball

1. City Surveillance Looks to Wireless Video
Wireless infrastructure reduces the cost of infrastructure compared with traditional cable. Second, wireless infrastructure offers networking in areas of cultural significance such as historical sites — sometimes, it is the only option.

Third, wireless technology can be used in temporary video surveillance installations to provide flexibility. Finally, wireless infrastructure is best suited to city surveillance, which happens to be the fastest growing vertical market for video.

A growth inhibitor is the knowledge and skill set of systems integrators who install wireless video. However, as opportunities increase in city surveillance, more integrators will get onboard with wireless technology.

2. HDcc tv Joins the Fray in 2011
The HDcctv Alliance was formed in 2009 to develop an open standard for the transmission of HD video using coaxial cable. HDcctv technology is built upon the HD-SDI standard.

In terms of sales, 2010 was a muted year for HDcctv products due to low product availability. However, IMS Research predicts HDcctv will be a strong trend in 2011 as vendors begin to release HDcctv-compliant products. Two key proponents, Speco Technologies and EverFocus Electronics, will ship HDcctv products in early 2011.

While IMS Research predicts HDcctv products will not impact the adoption of network video in the short term, there is potential for it to do so in the long term.

3. The Mist Clears on Cloud-Based Video Surveillance
Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) or cloud-based video surveillance was hot in 2010, resulting in more VSaaS providers. But can this hype be translated into market growth in 2011?

The hype around VSaaS is not unfounded; the recurring monthly revenue business model is attractive to telcos/ ISPs, central monitoring stations and installers. The ability to achieve remote redundancy of footage, true “plug-and-play” installation, remote monitoring, and lower-cost equipment are factors that will encourage this market to grow.

Certain applications of VSaaS are more likely to take off in 2011, such as customers with multiple sites that each require four or less cameras. End users will be more likely to adopt a solution with a strong value-add, rather than just a video surveillance or security application.

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4. Will India's Video Surveillance Boom be as Big as China's?
The Chinese video surveillance market is the largest consumer of equipment and one of the fastest growing markets. Can India, with its fast economic growth, huge population, and burgeoning middle-class; mirror its neighbor?

The Indian video surveillance market is one-tenth the size of the Chinese market — US$165 million in 2010.However, much of China's growth is fuelled by its government's desire to watch over its population. It is unlikely India has the political or financial motivation to deploy large-scale public surveillance projects, reducing potential video growth.

Video surveillance spending typically follows infrastructure projects, and India is no exception. There will be sustained investment related to roads, airports and railways.

The sad reality of terrorist attacks has heightened the need for security and protection. While it is difficult to assess the budget for video surveillance, funds will be earmarked for transportation and critical infrastructure.

India has potential for video surveillance. However, the Indian tiger will not slay the Chinese dragon for some time to come.

5. Video Analytics : To Security and Beyond
The video content analysis (VCA) market endured a difficult year in 2010. There were successes, with new VCA project wins in transportation and critical infrastructure; and there were failures, with a number of analytics vendors choosing to focus on other product areas and the news that Vidient went under.

New potential for VCA lies outside of traditional security. “Visually intelligent devices” describes the use of analytics in automotive, defense, medical, consumer and digital signage. IMS Research predicts 2011 will be the year that VCA looks beyond security.

6. From HD to 3-D HD
was the hot trend in the video surveillance industry in 2010. Could 3-D be the next hot technology trend for video surveillance in 2011?

The benefit 3-D offers security is depth perception. IMS Research does not believe that 3-D technology will gain mass acceptance among vendors or end users in the security industry in 2011. However, it is believed that 2011 will herald the start of a trend towards 3-D in video surveillance.

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7. 2011: Th e Tipping Point for Network Video
As 2011 begins, the video surveillance industry is no less compelling than it was five years ago. At a global level, the tipping point for network video is not until 2015.

However, this picture changes as you drill down — the tipping point is 2013 in the Americas and 2012 in EMEA. The Middle East market has already tipped, and the Russian market will tip in 2011.

Globally, the airport, port and utilities sectors are all forecast to tip in 2012; but education is the real leader, with the tipping point already occurring in 2010. The laggards are retail, commercial and banking.

8. The Comm ercial Th ermal Surveillance Market Begins to Heat Up
Thermal security cameras in surveillance are not new. However, thermal cameras have been costly and beyond the reach of most security customers.

“Affordable” thermal security cameras are a new phenomenon, predicted to continue during 2011.

9. Looking Into the HD Crystal Ball
2010 saw significant growth in the number of HD and megapixel network security cameras shipped. However, standard definition network camera shipments still outsold their higher resolution counterparts at a factor of four to one.

HD and megapixel cameras are forecast to represent nearly 30 percent of network security camera shipments in 2011. IMS Research forecast an increasing proportion of high-resolution security cameras will be HD rather than megapixel. By 2015, more than 60 percent of network security cameras shipped will be HD and megapixel resolution.

How Security Works for Real Transit Authorities

Editor / Provider: Submitted by Legic Identsystems | Updated: 3/8/2011 | Article type: Infrastructure

Access control plays a major role for public transit systems, ensuring the convenience of passengers.

Legic Identsystems' contactless payment card for buses and trams in the German city of Augsburg increased convenience and passenger control.

The Karocard is used as an annual card for public transport in Augsburg. Further uses for the card are being considered, such as an entry ticket for parking lots, as well as an electronic payment method at gas stations.

Working with Legic, the consultancy Cosmo.ID and the general contractor Multicard designed a contactless card for the Stadtwerke Augsburg. For the first time in Germany, the Stadtwerke has created an e-ticket for public transport. About 85,000 Augsburg citizens are already using the cards.

As a first step, the “market partner” and “e-ticket” applications have been activated. Currently up to eight e-tickets can be used on the Karocard, as this is required by the German VDV (Association of German Transportation Companies).

An additional 15 functions are available, which can be added as needed, such as access control, time and attendance, cashless payment or club memberships. The Legic cards can be expanded in the future, supporting up to 127 applications of different types, sizes or from different suppliers on a single card.

All the data required is stored on the contactless Legic chip in the card. Lost or stolen cards can be blocked by the owner quickly, so misuse of tickets is ruled out. The Stadtwerke anticipates higher revenues by combining the customer card with the public transport e-ticket, as well as improved passenger control. Lost cards can be deactivated immediately. The possibility to create a new card in a short time is an additional service for customers.

Converged Solutions Engage Security Personnel Ⅱ

Editor / Provider: By a&s International | Updated: 3/8/2011 | Article type: Infrastructure

Technical Assistance
Maintaining public transit security usually falls to the system integrator who installed the system. “It is the responsibility of the system integrator to ensure the complete integration together with the customer approving it,” Anderson said. “Typically several pilot tests are made and finally an acceptance test and sign-off in these kinds of larger surveillance system projects.”

The integrator has to be on-call for mishaps such as failing cameras to full-blown crises. While the transit authority will have its own security force, equipment issues are generally handled by the installer. With such a range of situations, integrators need to have good communication skills for problems and challenges, Segall said

Experience is a definite plus. “VidSys looks for integrators with physical security and IT industry expertise and demonstrated client engagements across vertical markets, a particular technology or industry niche,” Fowler said.

Public-transit work is carried out by reliable system integrators, who are either global or local. “Through this cooperation we can guarantee the supply of reliable and high-quality ticket and card materials for mass transit systems and be certain that they operate in the system without interruptions,” said Samuli Str?mberg, VP of Marketing, RFID, UPM Raflatac.

While having a long resume helps, it must reflect positively on the integrator. The U.S. is UTC Fire & Security's main market for public transit, which is large but tight-knit. “The properties know what the other properties are doing,” Szmania said. “They hear the good things and the bad things about the systems. Your reputation is extremely important to your business.”

Specifying Security
As any number of things could disrupt mass transit, careful planning is a prerequisite. “Typically, the mass transit system, integrator and Infinova work together on the design of the system to ensure that the resulting solution meets the mass transit organization's expectations,” Wilson said.

Newer technologies are seeing uptake, albeit slowly. Agent Vi has seen more requests for proposals specify analytics and has generated awareness by publishing case studies. “Offering case studies allows systems integrators and end users alike to read about our solutions and determine whether they are suitable for their needs,” Ashani said. “It's not a cutting-edge market; integrators and end users want to see results before they try it themselves.”

Most vendors certify installers or contractors on how to deploy their solutions in a timely fashion. “The sales cycle is pretty long and the project size is quite large, so it is normal to have more parties involved,” said Cosimo Malesci, VP of Channel Sales and Marketing, Fluidmesh Networks.

Because of the long sales cycle, as well as the extended product life span, scalability is a procurement consideration. “Purchasing a system with upward compatibility is important from the outset because it enables transit agencies to upgrade and enhance a system without having to purchase brand new equipment,” Notbohm said. “Transit agencies should also investigate the vendor's product road map to ensure they can equip additional vehicles that are compatible with the rest of the fleet, as budgets allow.”

Today security is factoring into station design long before they are built. “Security needs to have the infrastructure is in place to support it,” said Jamie Edgar, Global Director of Integrated Sensor Systems, Smiths Detection. “For metros built 20 years ago, it's costly to go in and provide retrofitted solutions. There's usually not enough space.”

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Future Challenges
Mass transit has evolved, with rolling stock vendors providing the security hardware for subway cars before they land on track. “They realize video surveillance manufacturers don't understand the hardware specifics to be installed on a train,” Segall said. There is also a great diversity in the hardware specifications for onboard video equipment on subway cars and buses.

It is less expensive for end users to specify security for new vehicles, because they can design for wiring and power, Szmania said.

Retrofitting trains is more costly, as older trains are not designed for video equipment. “The newer trains have the camera infrastructure built in,” Edgar said. “We're having discussions with train manufacturers such as Bombardier to do advanced planning for video cameras and video communications in train cars.”

Global Standards
Public transit is covered by many rules, but most regulations are regional and rarely international. As they vary nationally and even regionally, solutions must meet all the requirements of the individual customer, Notbohm said.

A customized approach for every transit organization is time-consuming and inefficient. “There are currently no national standards for bus security in China,” said Yingming Li, Product Director of Topshine Technology. “We are working with end customers and distributors for more uniform standards.”

Presently, no single standard covers public transit. “Certifications for FCC, CE, RoHS and ISO all must be passed to be specified for transportation projects,” said James Tseng, Senior VP of Telexper.

Public transit rules are detailed and country-specific. “In Europe, the mobile DVRs must operate from 30 degrees to 55 degrees Celsius,” Tseng said. “In the Middle East, operating temperatures go up to 85 degrees Celsius.”

A more universal standard is the Secur-ED consortium, which is striving for an EU solution. “All relevant stakeholders for equipment and operators are working together,” Segall said. “We're working very closely with Bombardier, Siemens, Thales, Alstom and manufacturers of rolling stock.”

For now, public transit rules remain highly detailed, with whole books dedicated to the subject. “It's a barrier to entry for many smaller companies,” Szmania said. “When we go and bid on opportunities, all our departments are involved to make sure we do everything properly for New York City or Philadelphia.”

A holistic approach will streamline public transit. “We talk about equipment, but ultimately, there are the personnel, processes and then the technology,” Segall said. “A good solution is a good combination of the elements.”

Converged Solutions Engage Security Personnel Ⅰ

Editor / Provider: By a&s International | Updated: 3/8/2011 | Article type: Infrastructure

Security equipment may work beautifully, but is useless without proper operation. a&s explores how public transit authorities interact with security for situational awareness.

Public transit security is about being prepared for the worst as well as preventing it. Each system will have different priorities, depending on the location's purpose and unique concerns.

Management concerns can be aided by technology. People counting in a metro station can be added to video, eliminating a tedious manual task. “You can gather statistics and business intelligence on the flow of people for different times of the day and days of the week and use this information to improve operations,” said Zvika Ashani, CTO of Agent Video Intelligence, a video content analysis provider. “For example, you could modify the frequency of buses, change bus routes and look at traffic flow.”

Designated monitoring zones can also tell operators where passengers are located. “For security, the most common application is looking to detect people in unauthorized areas, such as people on the train or subway tracks and in other areas where they're not supposed to be,” Ashani said.

Real-time video gives operators a better idea of what's going on and how best to respond. “There is a big difference between handling violence or vandalism at a station, managing a response to pick pocketing or other disorderly behavior onboard a bus or metro,” said Patrik Anderson, Director of Business Development, Transportation for Axis Communications.

Network cameras are also useful for remote locations to intercept metal theft along the rail infrastructure, or detecting and preventing graffiti before a depot is defaced, Anderson said.

Management software can provide authorities with a record of what happened after an event. “The software provides automatic and on-demand downloading of video with access to status reports and event logs,” said Rodell Notbohm, GM of Apollo Video Technology. “The software is customizable to the agency's retention requirements and allows for easy-to-use yet robust data management.”

Communications
Getting messages to the right people is crucial for public transit, particularly with large distribution and scores of passengers traveling at high speeds. “Recently, we had a fire on an Israeli train. It unfortunately happened while the train was in transit, so the driver didn't even know,” said Udi Segall, Director of Product Marketing, Surveillance Division, Security Group, Nice Systems. “You need sensors and a means of communication to the control center, to know where it's happening and dispatch the relevant forces.”

If the event is even more catastrophic, such as a coordinated terrorist strike rather than a fire on an isolated carriage, communication is paramount. For situational awareness in an event such as the 7/7 attack, remote management should be available to security personnel. “If they cannot get into the control center, the security manager can manage the situation from his home office,” Segall said.

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A good management solution incorporates the transit authority's standard procedures. “From dispatching responders and communicating with field personnel to updating traffic signs and rerouting traffic to streaming real-time information and video to mobile devices, the VidSys physical security information management (PSIM) software manages the situation,” said David Fowler, Senior VP of Marketing and Product Development.

PSIM reports also track for compliance and integrate data from multiple sources. This can range from dynamic message signs, signal controllers, road sensors, video cameras, ramp meters and more, Fowler said.

Getting Along Integration is straightforward in terms of technology. However, it gets more complicated with multiple stakeholders, who all require access to security but are reluctant to share resources. “The biggest issues we run into when integrating into a system isn't with the equipment, although it takes expertise to integrate in bus or rail car,” said Craig Szmania, Mobile View Business Leader, UTC Fire & Security. “The biggest challenge is integrating into the networks, for wireless and computer networks for transit authorities.”

Security vendors must cooperate so third-party devices work as one unified system. “The public address system is often integrated with the camera, intercom, sensor and indication systems,” said Kaz Shimizu, Product Marketing Manager, TOA.

The sprawling Shanghai Metro comprises different video protocols and brands. To enable operators to see video regardless of the manufacturer, Infinova integrated all the matrixes and DVRs, said Mark Wilson, VP of Marketing.

The lack of integration for video creates problems not just for vendors but for operators as well. IP video standards, such as ONVIF and PSIA, are welcome. “Everybody will prosper if they have an agreement to work together,” Segall said.

A large distribution of equipment, both fixed and mobile, makes it difficult for operators to have a comprehensive view. “In the future, what they want is to have all those systems integrate together so the transit security force can access all their platforms and buses from one location,” Szmania said. “The technology is there, but the will and the investment is still coming along. Different departments in the transit authority are responsible for different parts of the business; getting them to talk together is a job.

Forming a solution requires identifying the relevant stakeholders. “If there's a fire in the metro station, it's not just a problem underground, but it involves the local police, the public transit authority and the mayor,” Segall said. These parties must be able to share information for maximum benefit, such as video, audio recordings or messages received.

On the Road with Public Transit Security Ⅱ

Editor / Provider: By a&s International | Updated: 3/8/2011 | Article type: Infrastructure

Troubleshooting
From boarding public transit to reaching one's destination, a great deal can occur. Each step of the way has unique concerns, which must be considered in the system design.

Most systems require some form of payment, although some transit authorities subsidize rides. Interoperability problems are rare,as card reader formats are mature. “Moreover, the RFID inlays are normally strictly specified in the tenders, and this already eliminates potential problems,” said Samuli Str?mberg, VP of Marketing, RFID, UPM Raflatac

Sniffing Out Threats
Detection is moving from airports into mass transit. Some high-threat stations and terminals have chemical and sometimes biological sensors inside. These life safety systems provide multiple layers of protection. “Explosives are actually the most likely threat,” Edgar said. Programs to protect against the other threats of radiation, biological and chemical threats depends on the site's threat profile.

Transit operations also need to consider where buses and trains are stored. “The ability to get to and remove a vehicle off hours from storage and have it driven off into the city by terrorists is a concern,” Edgar said.

The operating environment will affect the system's design as well. In the Washington, D.C. Metro, detection equipment requires frequent maintenance due to dirt and dust which can clog the sensors. “You have to understand the background environment and guide the customer to a technically sound solution,” Edgar said.

Powered Up
Trains and buses require fuel to run, leaving limited power for other onboard systems. A power outage can be catastrophic, such as the December 2010 blizzard that knocked out power to several subway trains in New York City. Hundreds of frigid passengers were stranded for up to seven hours, until rescue teams reached them.

As onboard power is largely devoted to the bus or train, mobile equipment will use power sparingly or generate their own power supply. Public address systems deploy digital power amplifiers with a switching power supply, Shimizu said. Other sources of power include batteries, solar panels and cigarette lighters for vehicles, said Cosimo Malesci, VP of Channel Sales and Marketing, Fluidmesh Networks.

In the event the bus engine is switched off, some equipment can run off power from the car battery, said James Tseng, Senior VP of Telexper. Its mobile DVR is powered independently from the engine because events could happen once the bus is parked, such as the driver being assaulted or held up. Recording after the bus comes to a halt ensures all video data is written, rather than abruptly stopping. Constant shutdowns before data is properly saved could shorten the DVR's performance, such as requiring disk reformatting every two weeks.

UTC Fire & Security MobileView, formerly a product of GE Security, works with a minimal amount of electrical draw on buses or trains. “It is a concern unique to the mobile atmosphere and different from fixed security systems,” said Craig Szmania, Mobile View Business Leader, UTC Fire & Security.

Equipment power consumption can be reduced, but the main issues for mobile power supply are unstable voltage and high peak pulse. “The power supply voltage of the generator varies badly — sometimes double — and the electric power includes high peak pulses, which affect the announcement's noise and distortion,” Shimizu said. “If the system does not have any protection against high peak pulses and sufficient tolerance for voltage, the passengers will hear very noisy and distorted announcements.”

To account for power spikes, surge protection must be designed into mobile equipment. “We caution against systems that are not manufactured specifically for mobile use as standard, fixed systems that are modified generally experience high failures related to power issues in mobile applications,” said Rodell Notbohm, GM of Apollo Video Technology. Shimizu added that only durable solutions could withstand vibration, dust, humidity and bad grounding.

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Video Issues
Surveillance keeps an eye out for events. If something does happen, footage has to be pulled up fast so authorities can respond in time. “The main challenge in monitoring bus and metro systems is accessing the video in real time in case of an emergency or an accident,” Malesci said.

However, the reality is mobile video is plagued with lag. While some transit authorities include real-time streaming, most footage resides locally on mobile DVRs . Some solutions can record for up to two weeks, which is ideal as events may not be reported to authorities right away, Tseng said.

While reliable security comes at a price, it is no longer an option. “Before it was a luxury, and now it's a standard in the way publictransit authorities are running their businesses,” Szmania said. “Frankly, the payoff in terms of accident claims outweighs the cost of the system.”

Wireless transmission is ideal for its flexibility, but is sensitive to weather changes and transmission drops. “Dry weather will affect humidity and transmission,” Tseng said. “We recommend using IP Internet with 3-G to send video.”

Chinese buses typically stream video over 3-G networks, making connectivity a priority, said Yingming Li, Product Director of Topshine Technology. Equipment with GPS enables route tracking for buses and can also monitor driver speeds.

Wireless video mesh is another option , which is less affected by environmental concerns. “Data rates, speed of vehicles, line of sight and hand-off times need to be taken into consideration to guarantee that the network will match the expectations of the customer,” Malesci said.

Rugged Design Mobile equipment withstands a great deal more vibration compared to fixed systems. For the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, it specified vibrationresistance as a feature for more than 700 mini domes installed inside its subway carriages, Wilson said. The driver's cab cameras also used vibration-resistant mounting, coupled with day/night functionality.

Video equipment onboard trains and buses have to operate for long periods of time, making heat dissipation an issue. This is further complicated by cramped spaces onboard. “Dustproofing is important, since the recorder is placed under the driver's seat or in the back of the bus,” Tseng said. “Dust will affect recording and heat, so good seaming is critical.”

Running public transit presents a challenge, particularly with so much equipment. In our next article, we explore the people issues in public transit. While technology aids operations, keeping everyone in the loop and the demands of different stakeholders requires effective communications.

On the Road with Public Transit Security Ⅰ

Editor / Provider: By a&s International | Updated: 3/8/2011 | Article type: Infrastructure

As cities grow, public transit has boomed as well. Keeping people and assets safe, while keeping threats out, is the goal of transit authorities. Each year, roughly a billion passengers take the London Underground, making it one of the largest transit systems in the world. Across the Atlantic, the New York City subway system carries 1.6 billion passengers annually, while Tokyo's system serves 3.1 billion. China plans to break ground on 17 rapid transit systems, making public transit a dynamic market. Buses serve even more people, with service in locations where there are no railways. From private minibuses to large coaches, buses offer great reach over large distances. Public transit buses efficiently transport large numbers of passengers, keeping more cars off the road and reducing pollution. However, increased ridership makes public-transit systems high-profile targets. Deliberate acts of terrorism include remotely triggered bombs and suicide bombers.

Chemical or biological agents which are airborne are a real threat in enclosed and crowded stations. While it is impossible to prevent every attack, security aims to contain and limit the damage. Transit systems also deal with everyday threats, from physical assaults to sexual harassment that take place while the vehicle is in motion. Video recording helps victims gather evidence, with more equipment being installed onboard buses and trains. At the end of the day, technology can only go so far. It requires effective communication between all stakeholders to ensure public transit runs smoothly.

The urban landscape has become an indispensable part of daily life, with more people living and working in cities. As cities are densely packed, taking to the streets by foot is not always feasible. Public transit moves people efficiently, beginning with the London Underground's subway service in 1863 and public buses later on. Commuting reduces carbon emissions, making public transitan urban staple throughout the world.

Despite the soft global economy, the public transit market was relatively immune to its ill effects. Frost & Sullivan found the mobile video market for transit buses, police vehicles and rail was worth US$615.4 million in 2008 and will reach $1.55 billion by 2015. “Video as evidence provides higher safety for passengers and better accountability for transit authorities by minimizing false liability claims,” said Archana Rao, Senior Research Analyst for Frost & Sullivan. “The ability of these solutions to improve operational efficiency apart from providing safety and security will ensure a steady stream of investments in the market.”

However, as government budgets have shrunk, adoption may be slow. Low awareness of benefits in developing countries and price sensitivity mean systems must prove their value, Rao said.

Rapid transit systems are in more than 160 cities, with at least 25 systems under construction. China leads growth, being home to 17 of the new 25 systems . Surveillance onboard buses is booming, with a million cameras installed on buses in Guangdong province in 2009. Similar video rollouts are planned in other major cities throughout China, making public transit a hot market for 2011.

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Open Access
Public transit aims to increase ridership, making disruptions undesirable. Any interruption — accidental or deliberate — could result in mass casualties and damage. While public transportation systems need to be accessible, they must also prevent threats and record evidence for a speedy response. “The nature of public transport is that it is an open transport system where people, passengers and, potentially, offenders can enter directly from the city environment,” said Patrik Anderson, Director of Business Development for Transportation, Axis Communications.

The 7/7 London bombings were coordinated on subway trains and buses at 8:15 a.m., the peak of rush-hour traffic. “If we're talking about terrorist activity, they tend to do it at the least convenient time,” said Udi Segall, Director of Product Marketing, Surveillance Division, Security Group, Nice Systems. As subways and trains are open, transit authorities must consider the purpose for security. While evidence for the post-event investigation is useful, UK investigators had to watch 28,000 cameras to compile seven hours of relevant footage. Effective monitoring requires clear planning.

Chemical attacks must be accounted for as well in rapid transit, with millions of commuters in a day. The Tokyo sarin gas attack proves the threat is a real one, said Jamie Edgar, Global Director of Integrated Sensor Systems, Smiths Detection. It took more than an hour to understand the problem and direct an organized response; newer systems with sensors aim to quickly identify the substance and where it is dispersed in a matter of five minutes.

Apart from organized attacks, more common problems exact their toll on public-transit systems. Violence or sexual harassment take place on trains and buses, requiring security systems to capture evidence and bring offenders to justice, said Kaz Shimizu, Product Marketing Manager, TOA.

In Canada, the Winnipeg Transit added cameras to its buses. It averaged 30 driver assaults and 50 passenger incidents aboard each year; the cameras were intended to deter more assaults. Vandalism is also a mundane but expensive concern, Segall said.

Harsher climates, such as Moscow, require unique considerations. About 9 million Muscovites take the metro daily at 173 stations. “Weather and accidents also contribute to the list of situations that can put both efficiency and safety at risk,” said David Fowler, Senior VP of Marketing and Product Development, VidSys.

Security operators must clearly delineate their objectives, as security becomes a requirement. “The objective of individual security executives at the various local mass transit facilities as well as the Transportation Security Administration, a sector of the US Department of Homeland Security, is to advance mass transit and passenger rail security through a comprehensive strategic approach that enhances capabilities to detect, deter, prevent and respond to crimes, including terrorist attacks,” said Mark Wilson, VP of Marketing, Infinova. “Their common objective is to first, prevent attacks and security incidents and then respond to and recover from, any incidents that do occur.”

Raytec IR Lighting Cracks down on Finnish Illegal Waste Dumping

Editor / Provider: Raytec | Updated: 3/1/2011 | Article type: Government & Public Services

Raytec's IR LED lighting has been installed at waste recycling points across Finland to tackle fly-tipping and improve profitability for Finnish waste management company, Ita-Uundenmaan Jatehuolto. As part of a remotely monitored surveillance solution installed by Lastmile Connection Service, the IR lighting works in conjunction with network cameras to capture clear images of both vehicles and offenders who dump waste illegally during the hours of darkness.

Raytec lights incorporate the energy-efficient LED technology, are long lasting and require zero maintenance. The units stand up well in the challenging Finnish weather conditions.

“The IR lighting allows us to capture high-quality images from the collection site even when it's dark,” said Tuija Klaus, Service Manager at Ita-Uudenmaan Jatehuolto. Armed with video data, Ita-Uundenmaan Jatehuolto is able to identify the culprits and to bill them, allowing the waste management company to recover transportation costs for redelivering the illegal waste to the correction site.

Images are stored locally and also sent to Ita-Uundenmaan Jatehuolto's servers via a 3-G network, with recording and data-transfer triggered by video motion detection. Before lighting was installed, the images captured on site were noisy and constantly moving, triggering continual data transfer even when there was no physical movement on scene.

“The high-quality IR lighting not only improves the performance of the site cameras, but allows us to save money by significantly reducing the bandwidth and storage requirements of the network system,” Klaus said.

“Improved security at the recycling points is not only saving money and helping protect the environment, but it has also had other welcome benefits,” Klaus said, “not least in attracting new paying customers to the cleaner, safer and secured waste sites.”

ADT Cards Standardize US Petrochemical Company Security Requirements

Editor / Provider: ADT Fire & Security | Updated: 2/21/2011 | Article type: Commercial Markets

In anticipation of the U.S. government's Maritime Transportation Security Administration (MTSA) regulations, a large oil refinery company took a proactive approach and engaged ADT to help customize a solution that would integrate the new government-issued Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card with its current electronic access control system. While not yet fully implemented due to the regulations not having been finalized, ADT is helping the company to prepare to meet the new expanded requirements as soon as the cards are issued.

The company has more than 600 sites with 20,000 cardholders who will be affected by the MTSA regulation that will require the TWIC card. ADT currently maintains 25 locations that use an industry access control solution and is developing a solution that will allow the company to utilize their existing card readers which may result in an estimated US$600,000 savings for the company.

The US congress directed the federal government, through MTSA, to issue a biometric security credential to individuals requiring unescorted access to secure areas of facilities and vessels and all mariners holding Coast Guard-issued credentials or qualification documents.

After evaluating the anticipated direction of the MTSA and the company's system, ADT determined it could reengineer the company's existing electronic access control system with minimal modifications. The existing access control system is well maintained, making it readily adaptable to modifications. Abiding by the MTSA regulations which required that an individual present his/her access card to be checked against a database for verification before granting or denying access, ADT set about configuring an upgrade that would perform as specified.

The ADT team implemented a software solution that is used for personal identity verification and would be the liaison between the on-site reader accepting the TWIC cards, the US government server which would house the status of the individual and the existing access control system.

By being proactive, anticipating future regulations and involving professional help in the early phase of this project, the company benefited from time and cost efficiencies. The ADT team had sufficient time to explore options and in this case, was able to configure a solution that integrates with the company's current system which could potentially save the company $600,000.

Since deploying this software solution, the company is currently enrolling TWIC cards into its access control system and once the government implements the new regulations, the company will be ready to use the cards to grant or deny access.

VMS at the Heart of Converged Security

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 1/10/2011 | Article type: Tech Corner

Video surveillance systems today remain steadfast sentinels, but people can learn so much more from the video. Looking for the shady character lurking about two weeks ago? Just pull up the footage with the search function, instead of wading through reels of videotape. As the DVR revolutionized storage by shifting it to a digital medium, video management software (VMS) brings separate devices into a single cohesive network.

VMS expressly manages video, which often is the largest and most complex system in security. While access control and building automation protocols are largely universal, video control protocols and compression depend on the maker. Smart edge devices come loaded with VCA, which is uniquely coded by each vendor and not always compatible with the VMS.

VMS can be categorized as stand-alone and hardware-based. A stand-alone VMS is pure software, managing third-party hardware through server-client architecture. The hardware-based VMS runs off a storage platform — a DVR or NVR — designed with specific functions in mind and manages video systems from its maker or approved partners.

We examine the two large categories of VMS in the following coverage. A&S talks to vendors and installers on what distinguishes stand-alone from hardware-based VMS, what makes a VMS solution good and how it will get better in the future.

Management tools are poised for strong growth. While the market for physical security information management software is expected to reach US$200 million in 2014, the combined video management software (VMS) and access control software (ACS) market will top $1 billion by 2014, according to IMS Research forecasts. VMS has become standard for security installations as camera counts have grown. A management interface extracts more data from video, providing users with value. This first of three articles examines dedicated software solutions, selection criteria and key developments.

Finding an effective VMS solution can be daunting. “There are only a few features that really set some VMS apart as being good, but there is a long list of things that can make them bad,” said Jacob Loghry, Systems Engineer II, Adesta (a G4S company).

The checklist for VMS below includes architecture, device support, ease of use, integration and scalability.

Technology Differentiators
Architecture
VMS can be examined by five metrics. The first is the platform's architecture. “The primary difference between dedicated VMS and hardware-bundled VMS is that the dedicated VMS will work on any standardized, commercially available, off-the-shelf (COTS) server or workstation, and the bundled VMS will only work on a proprietary black box from the vendor,” Loghry said. “This is a critical difference depending on the type of environment the system is going to be placed in.” environment the system is going to be placed in.”

The type of architecture affects system stability, which is critical in mid- to large-scale projects. “Being able to work with COTS equipment generally allows for a much more IT-friendly and enterprise-class solution,” Loghry said.

Selecting best-of-breed hardware demands network maintenance. “The downside to a COTS-based solution is usually that the system is more complex, requiring trained IT staff with knowledge of enterpriseclass servers and complex corporate networks,” Loghry said. “We typically use this solution for all of our larger installations or anything required to meet corporate IT standards.”

Device Support
As architecture determines system stability and size, a second metric for VMS is processing power. “Processing power indicates how many servers and edge devices the VMS can support, which determines the system's scale,” said Alf Chang, Senior Consultant for A&S magazines and a former installer.

As an HD camera recording at 30 fps will tax a system, processor efficiency will affect the system's device support, Chang said. Different compression formats are more processor-intensive — H.264 requires twice the decoding power of MPEG-4. Installers can check VMS device load by seeing how many channels can be viewed simultaneously without lag or dropped frames. Bandwidth management and transcoding should also be noted, Loghry said.

Ease of Use
Users may be overwhelmed by VMS playback, configuration and recording options. “A user-friendly interface affects purchase decisions,” Chang said.

Support for different user profiles, along with ease of administration and maintenance, are good for customers, Loghry said. The number of simultaneous users is another factor, as guards and system administrators will both access the VMS.

Integration
As VMS manages dozens of devices, ease of installation and setup can save installers precious time. Backward compatibility with analog devices is differentiator — VMS that seamlessly integrates all cameras, D/NVRs and video servers will maximize the user's existing investment, Chang said. As support for more systems is expected, VMS that can integrate with access control, fire and building automation will win points for flexibility.

Customers will put vendor claims to the test. “In Russia, the user will test VMS from different manufacturers so they can see how it works,” said Alexey Mayorov, PM at Axxon. “If the VMS is more flexible, scalable or easy to use, the customer will install it for their project.”

Scalability
A good VMS should meet a customer's current and future needs, Loghry said. More vendors believe a scalable solution must have a simple licensing plan along with an open platform, Chang said.

Openness is a hurdle for purchase decisions. “There is no typical selection process,” said Jumbi Edulbehram, VP of Business Development, Next Level Security Systems. “To simplify life, an integrator takes one or two products and only sells this or that VMS. If the customer wants another VMS, he might have to go to another integrator.”

Ease of Use
Ease of use for VMS is superior compared to analog video. “I will admit that some systems are harder to use than others, and usually this is because they just have too many features and can be a bit overwhelming,” Loghry said. “By and large, I would say that most VMS offerings are relatively easy to use and if you learn one, then you understand them all.”

Training time depends on the operator 's knowledge of video surveillance and computers. “We typically spend two or three days of hands-on training with the operators and offer follow-up sessions if needed,” Loghry said. The installer will tailor the VMS according to the requests for proposal.

Good VMS should be configurable. “Each of the VMS GUI applications offers the full configurability of the layout elements: what elements are displayed, along with their position and size,” said Nik Moissiadis, President of Adtech Network Media. “All can be controlled on-the-fly by the application operator, or defined and locked down by an administrator.”

Axxon adapts its software to applications in retail, transportation and city surveillance. “We only provide one application, but it can be used for many different applications depending on the customer's requirements,” Mayorov said.

Other interfaces can be customized by each user — features can be hidden, exposed or dragged and dropped. “From a flexibility standpoint, maybe I only care about reports or I only care about alarms,” said Marc Holtenhoff, CEO of Aimetis. “As an IP administrator, I don't care about cameras but care about the IP network tree.”

Some VMS solutions offer individualized clients by authorization. “Expanding the use of profiles further, every user can belong to a specific profile group, dictating how their interface looks and feels, as well as the system devices and functionality that they have access to,” said David Aindow, Product and Technology Director for Synectics (a Quadnetics company).

VMS options can fine-tune user rights down to single devices or cameras. “A doorman, for example, may only have user rights and control panels for live view and PTZ control,” said Rolf Senger, CEO of SeeTec. “For the special needs of vertical segments such as the logistics industry, SeeTec offers particular solutions tailored to specific needs.”

Genetec's task-oriented concept is designed for ease of use, displaying different functions by credential and software package. “All user interfaces are based on tasks,” said Francis Lachance, PM at Genetec. “In the security market, people tend to stack as many functions in the same UI. We bring a lot of functions to users without overwhelming them.”

The company goes to market through system integrators, who must be certified to install the solution. “This is how we ensure the deployment goes as smooth as possible,” Lachance said.

Browser-based solutions require no software installation apart from the server, letting users and administrators set up quickly. “The VMS offers a number of easy-to-use features such as auto discovery of network cameras and a definable UI,” said Steve Lewis, COO of ipConfigure.

Culture
Accounting for local preferences makes a system easier to learn. “Milestone has fully documented online help for its user interface in 22 languages — and that's just one facet of making the VMS easy to use,” said Christian Bohn, VP of Marketing and Head of Product Development for Milestone Systems.

Software preferences are far from universal. “Sitting in your lab or factory, customer requirements are not exactly the same,” said Tuhin Bose, Chief Engineer of Videonetics. “Making something work in Europe or the U.S. is not the same as making it work in India.”

Integration
Dedicated software platforms utilize third-party hardware, offering users best-of-breed solutions. These noble ideas are trickier in real life, with different control protocols and video compression formats requiring individual integrations.

Standards such as ONVIF and PSIA are easing integration. “We are completely open, so we already integrated about 400 different devices: not only network cameras, but access control and fire alarm systems as well as third-party software,” Mayorov said.

Genetec offers multiple integration levels, with simple integration taking a day. “What we tend to see in the industry is the camera maker provides the API, and it's on the VMS developer to integrate cameras,” Lachance said. “We have created the Genetec protocol and provide it to third-party camera vendors, so they can integrate protocols in their camera to be compatible with our software.”

Other vendors do not integrate by device. “This is all based on open standards,” said Hans Schipper, GM of Security Management, Education and Locker Management Systems, Nedap. “We don't use camera drivers; we follow ONVIF camera controls and standard compression.”

Software Integration
While adding cameras is straightforward, the consensus was VCA integration took longer. “Analytics are a challenge because there are no standards,” Lewis said. “Even with the framework, there is so much interaction between the VMS UI and the analytic algorithms that it takes months to integrate. That is why the majority of dedicated VMS vendors use their own basic analytics such as video motion detection.”

March Networks does not integrate third-party VCA, offering its own analytics instead. “It's very different how metadata is overlaid for ObjectVideo and how we do it,” said Jesse Frye, Product Line Manager, IP Video Management Systems, March Networks. “The development cycle takes months to integrate.”

SeeTec emphasizes deep integration for devices and applications. “Standards like ONVIF and PSIA may make life easier in the future, but they currently offer only the least common denominator of features,” Senger said. The company's solution is fully integrated with algorithms from ObjectVideo and offers a standard interface for third-party applications

Scalability
Big, bigger, biggest — video installations aren't shrinking. Keeping up with all those devices requires robust VMS. “There's a growing demand for VMS,” Frye said.“Even with financial institutions that currently use DVRs, they'll use video management. They're not using stand-alone DVRs, but a video management system to manage all DVRs from a corporate network.”

Modular “building-block” solutions are suited for scaling up, along with the use of a distributed database with no single point of failure, said Phil Ridgeon, VP of Sales for Vigilant Technology.

SeeTec's concept is based on real client-server architecture, making it easy to add servers for more sites or a larger number of cameras. “Starting with a basic package containing five camera channels, SeeTec systems can be extended up to several thousand cameras,” Senger said.

Munich Airport deploys Aimetis' solution, which runs 1,800 cameras on six servers. “Aimetis is strong in scalability, which is interesting for bigger customers,” Holtenhoff said. “Each server manages not just camera feeds from HD cameras, but more than 1,000 I/0 devices with alarms, as well as 5,000 clients all running on six servers.”

Component Requirements
VMS requires sufficient processing power from its components. However, process or performance depends greatly on system size and the device count. “Requirements vary depending on the size of a surveillance installation: how comprehensive the VMS is being used, how many cameras, whether they are megapixel, HD, H.264, whether there are analytics being used and more,” Bohn said. “We have a server estimator to help customers and partners define the hardware requirements for a given installation.”

Efficient solutions mean users do not need to buy new hardware. “That's something we can do over the competition, which is use one processor for fewer cameras,” Lachance said. “It's the processor, bit rate and cameras. The metric to calculate is usually the bit rate.”

Standard PC processors from AMD and Intel are sufficient for PC-based solutions, while DSPs are used for boxed VMS requiring recoding.

Challenges
The future of VMS will see greater integration. “The challenges for VMS are convergence, standardization and embracing access control models,” Schipper said. “In video management, there's an increasing need for access control system models, like role-based access and compliancy rules.”

Software providers must keep up with a growing range of equipment. “Hardware support is a challenging area, since each day new hardware is released and we must support all of it,” said éric Fleming Bonilha, Technology Director of Digifort. “In the future we expect that ONVIF and PSIA will change this, so we can focus on feature development.”

Keeping integration from being overwhelming will be a concern. “Though it is practically possible, integration of everything — access control, video analytics, fire alarms and building management — may be too complex to maintain and lacks user friendliness,” Bose said. “Some interfacing standards need to be defined, and then the integrated system will emerge more effectively.”

As IP video standardizes, VMS companies will struggle to differentiate themselves. “For some companies, that may mean a price leader strategy; some may focus on special applications or industries, while others will be forced to leave the market,” Senger said.

Having a clear value proposition will give vendors an edge. “We all do same thing — capture video, events and trigger alarms,” Frye said. “Frankly, who cares? The customer doesn't see the value in a feature or function, he sees value in how to solve problems.”

ASL Safety & Security Control System Streamlines UK Transportation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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