Dahua Highlights HD Solutions at GDSF Vietnam 2011

Editor / Provider: Dahua Technology | Updated: 10/7/2011 | Article type: China Corner

The Global Digital Surveillance Forum Vietnam 2011 focused on the local security market and showcased robust security technology.

The Global Digital Surveillance Forum (GDSF) Vietnam 2011, hosted by Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Media, received media attention and attracted more than 160 local distributors, government buyers and end users from Northern Vietnam. International security players, such as Bosch Security Systems, Hikvision Digital Technology, Dahua Technology and 3S Vision, unveiled their new IP technology and surveillance solutions through the forum and product displays. The forum is designed to improve Vietnamese security standards and meet its growing security needs.

The event combined professional seminars and exhibits, enabling visitors to find new technology and understand product performance through demonstrations. Attendees were able to interact with speakers about real-world solutions. System integrators consider GDSF to be the most professional security event. This was the first year the forum was held in Hanoi.

Showcasing Robust HD Solutions
Dahua Technology is dedicated to the development of HD solutions in the security industry. It actively engages with distributors, system integrators and end users. The company attended the forum as a key speaker and exhibited its most advanced and innovative HD products at a booth display. Vantech, Dahua's main distributor in Vietnam, also exhibited the company's complete product lineups for DVRs and network cameras.

The company showcased its 3-megapixel cameras with resolution of up to 1,080P. It features high-definition and real-time monitoring, providing sharper and clearer image for dedicated applications, such as transportation and banking. Another HD solution, combining an HD-SDI DVR and HD-SDI camera, further optimizes existing cabling to see more detail. This supports wider coverage while providing high-resolution images. Visitors at GDSF were impressed by the image quality and outstanding performance delivered by Dahua's HD solutions.

The forum and booth exhibits gather key security players to discuss security industry developments. It provides a good platform for visitors to experience new technology through seminars and live demonstrations.

Memoori: Acquisitions Have Doubled in Past Two Years, Without Major Suppliers

Editor / Provider: Submitted by Memoori Business Intelligence | Updated: 10/6/2011 | Article type: Hot Topics

One of the more baffling and intriguing findings of our third annual report The Physical Security Business in 2011 is that despite a surge in acquisition activity, which has doubled in the last 2 years, most of the traditional market leaders have not participated and watched this going off from the sidelines.

It is not easy to fathom out why... because like all multinational companies, up to 2008 / 9 they had an active policy of growth through acquisition and they all have strong cash reserves. By 2010 the security industry had got itself back to profitable growth and the industry had proved itself to be an attractive robust business, as our report shows. Although company valuations have gone up they are still below 2008 levels. So what could be the reason or reasons for this change of attitude to this business? They have the money and attractive companies are available to buy at realistic prices. This has been proven when outsiders (some with deep pockets) are taking their share of the market, through acquisition without any 'retaliation' (so far).

In the report we delve into the details of the structure and shape of the market showing that most of the relatively medium to small companies are focused on one product area; specialise in introducing innovative technologies. Those that backed IP Networking products 10 years ago now hold the strong ground.

The multinational companies such as Bosch, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Schneider Electric, Siemens and UTC Technologies are both product manufacturers and system suppliers and cover almost all aspects of physical security. When you take account of this and review market share on the basis of product sales (which our report does), then it shows that average market share figures are little more than 3 percent with the highest around 12 percent. If you then start to look at market share in some of the segments, say the fast growing IP Video networking camera market (not inconsequential at $1.3 billion) then the leading supplier Axis Communications has a share around 35 percent with no other supplier in reach.

You then have to wonder if some of the major traditional suppliers are spreading themselves thin on the physical security front and need to refocus on either the product or systems business or combine these to focus on particular product areas for specific vertical markets.

Most have been successful in growing their systems business during the last 3troubled years. One of the major reasons for this is they have fed off their heritage estate business and at the same time have integrated activities from other parts of their organisation such as fire detection and extinguishing, evacuation control, mass notification and energy management into holistic solutions for their clients. Siemens have shown an acquisition appetite for specialists in verticals such as transportation; last year they acquired Republic Intelligent Transportation Services to expand their reach in the traffic solutions and services business. A combined portfolio of Siemens' products and solutions and Republic's services and maintenance provides an opportunity to leverage their expertise.

It has been quite clear since the beginning of this decade that in order to grow the business some fundamental changes had to be made to attract buyers. The new business model had to be built around "How through IP technology, do we move the clients security operations from a cost centre to a cash generator and converge with the business enterprise?" Because growth will get little benefit from marginally better economic trading conditions in the future but from new products and systems that deliver a better return on investment.

Our report shows that much of the investment in acquiring security companies in the last 2 years has come from outside the security business particularly Defense and IT / Communications companies. They are able to leverage their expertise to join up solutions with the business enterprise and we think they see this business as much more than a safe port in a storm.

So the traditional majors of the physical security business now have a growing number of new competitors from outside the industry and a stronger competition from product specialists in the middle ground. The recent manouverings of Tyco to split in to 3 separate companies with 2 based on security and safety is very likely to open up the opportunity for at least 1 "mega merger" in 2012 and our betting is that the traditional major players in our industry will not sit it out this time around.

Resort for Terminally Ill Children Selects Panasonic Cameras for Multimedia Experience

Editor / Provider: Panasonic System Networks | Updated: 10/6/2011 | Article type: Commercial Markets

Children battling a life-threatening illness are given a magical multimedia experience at Give Kids The World Village (GKTW) with the participation of Panasonic video surveillance solutions. Panasonic high-definition pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras deliver a high-definition video element for the exciting experience, which is built around the positioning and unveiling of a commemorative “star” personalized by each child as a permanent reminder of his or her visit.

The “stars”, about an inch and a half in diameter, adorn the ceiling of the Star Tower, a new venue at Give Kids The World Village, a non-profit resort located in Kissimmee, Florida that provides cost-free, weeklong vacations for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

Children decorate and sign their commemorative stars, close their eyes, make a wish, and place each star into the Star Fairy's chest. The next day, they return to find that their personalized star has joined the thousands of stars of other children on the Star Tower ceiling. But where is their star amid all the stars displayed up to 32 feet above them on the ceiling? Finding the star becomes a colorful interactive video game adventure and multi-media experience in which an iPad directs the child to point in the direction of his or her star. When the iPad is positioned correctly, a graphic image icon confirms the star has been found. Touching the icon enables the child to see a live video close-up of his or her star displayed on the iPad, provided by one of nine Panasonic PTZ megapixel cameras located within the walls of the Star Tower.

The iPad application uses the Panasonic i-PRO Smart HD WV-SC385, a Super Dynamic network dome camera that provides feature-rich pan-tilt-zoom control, 720p high-definition (HD) images, and superior low-light performance. Most importantly, the camera has the ability to repeatedly “map” the locations of its PTZ views based on internal software and a coordinate system relative to the camera's “home” position, which is calibrated at installation. Panasonic worked with developers of the Star Tower to make the coordinates available as part of a database that directs the iPad video game to each star's location. As each new star is attached to the ceiling in preparation for the unveiling, one of the nine cameras is directed manually to the position of the star, and the coordinates are recorded and saved.

Over the last 25 years, GKTW has partnered with wish granting organizations across the world to help fulfill the wishes of more than 110,000 children whose one desire was to visit the theme parks of Central Florida. GKTW provides accommodations for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families at its whimsical “storybook” resort, along with donated attraction tickets, meals, entertainment, transportation and much more.

“There is no better application for Panasonic cameras than to make wishes come true for children who are dealing with serious illness on a daily basis,” said Bill Taylor, President, Panasonic System Networks Company of America. “This unique application also helps to emphasize the versatility, reliability and higher resolution of Panasonic's SmartHD camera line.”

College students from the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) of Carnegie Mellon University designed the video game application, which included creating a virtual world inside the Star Tower that is calibrated to the exact physical position in which the iPad is being held. The game includes animated figures and interactive graphics and features the Star Fairy, who offers to show the child where their star is located. Children can also use the iPad to bring the inside of the tower to life with special effects, lighting changes and lively sounds including the bangs and whistles of fireworks. Carnegie Mellon's ETC was conceived by Randy Pausch, author of “The Last Lecture,” and co-founder Don Marinelli, with a goal of blending left brain (logical) and right brain (artistic) skills to prepare students for careers as artists, graphic designers, programmers and engineers.

ITEC Entertainment designed and supervised the creation of the Star Tower. An entertainment design company that has been involved in the design, installation and construction of theme park attractions all over the world, ITEC enthusiastically undertook this project as part of a 20-year history of work with Give Kids The World.

“The star program provides one of the most cherished memories for the families that stay with us at Give Kids The World,” said GKTW President Pam Landwirth. “This simple, yet poignant moment in a child's visit has become a symbol of hope for so many. We are deeply grateful to our friends at Panasonic for helping us create this magical experience.”

Swedish Transport Administration Manages Rail Traffic Using TagMaster RFID Solution

Editor / Provider: TagMaster | Updated: 9/26/2011 | Article type: Infrastructure

TagMaster, the leading producer of advanced RFID solutions for access control and rail applications, together with Swarco Sverige AB, has been awarded a supply contract to deliver its new UHF track-side readers to Trafikverket (the Swedish Transport Administration). The readers will be used to automatically identify both Swedish and international goods wagons as they pass detection sites on the Swedish mainline rail network.

TagMaster will supply its new XT-3HD long-range RFID reader which is an EPC Gen 2 (ISO 18000-6C) compliant UHF reader. The XT-3HD is the heavy-duty model of the XT-series of UHF readers and is certified for railway applications. The XT-3HD is based on TagMaster's existing fourth generation reader technology and includes a Linux operating platform. To enable the detection of untagged wagons, axle counters have also been interfaced directly with the reader. This is made possible by the high level of functionality available in the readers standard platform.

As part of the contract, TagMaster will supply the readers with communication software according to the GS1 EPCIS data standards. This so called Device Agent has been developed by 7iD. As a strategic technology partner to TagMaster, 7iD Technologies GmbH will supply TagMaster with their Device Agent software which is compliant to the EPCglobal Tag Data Standards and the Tag Data Translation functionality.

Trafikverket, along with several other infrastructure owners in Europe are implementing wagon tracking systems conforming to the EPC Gen2 standard, paving the way for the introduction of a European wide system where interoperability is a the primary requirement.

“We are extremely pleased to be selected by Trafikverket as a supplier to this important project. TagMaster was awarded this contract thanks to our cost-effective and technically competitive solution. We have identified the tracking of wagons in Europe as a strategic opportunity and we intend to lead this market with our advanced UHF product range”, says Richard Holt, Director of Transportation at TagMaster AB.

Par Friberg, Sales Manager at Swarco Sverige AB says, “We have co-operated closely with TagMaster in order to win this contract and to continue to be a supplier to Trafikverket. This contract further strengthens our position in this market and compliments our important existing business within the traffic sector”

City of Baltimore Enhances Interagency Collaboration With VidSys Software

Editor / Provider: VidSys | Updated: 9/19/2011 | Article type: Residential & Consumer

VidSys, the leading provider of Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) software that allows organizations to resolve business and security situations in real time, announced that the City of Baltimore leveraged the VidSys PSIM software to enable inter-agency collaboration for city-wide situation awareness in order to better protect citizens, businesses and first responders. Used during the Baltimore Grand Prix, the recent earthquake and Hurricane Irene, the VidSys technology enabled the City to collaborate and share resources with 20 city, state, federal, and private agencies in real-time in order to monitor for, respond to and manage potential security threats and safety and transportation issues throughout the Inner Harbor and downtown areas.

By integrating, correlating and analyzing data from the City's multiple systems and devices, as well as the data from the more than 10 state, city, federal and private collaborating agencies, the VidSys PSIM software enables the City of Baltimore to more easily distribute information to decision makers and collaborate in real time for improved situation management. Providing one common operating picture, VidSys' technology provides operators across multiple command centers complete area visibility, enabling them to identify hot spots and prioritize resources as situations arise throughout Baltimore.

“The VidSys PSIM software enabled us to enhance public safety and transportation efforts throughout Baltimore city through an unprecedented level of coordination and collaboration by sharing existing resources,” said Sheryl Goldstein, Director of the Mayor's Office on Criminal Justice “One complete view of unfolding situations allowed our first responders from multiple agencies to more quickly and efficiently identify and verify situations and work with each other for a faster, more coordinated response.”

While the City of Baltimore began working with the VidSys PSIM software in preparation for the Baltimore Grand Prix in order to best manage the high volume of activity expected during the race and related events, the City first used the technology to manage responses during and after the earthquake and Hurricane Irene. As a result, the City was able to dispatch officers based on real-time location to ensure the most rapid response to unfolding situations and view congestion points around the city based on real-time traffic information in order to re-route cars to minimize back-ups.

“The City of Baltimore is truly becoming a connected city by enabling tight coordination and collaboration across jurisdictions and organizations in order to better manage and respond to situations as they unfold,” said Chuck Teubner, CEO, VidSys. “They serve as a leading example for other cities throughout the country looking for proactive ways to improve the safety of the public, the first responders and businesses while also reducing risks and operational costs.”

Bosch Helps Ease Traffic Congestion in Vietnam

Editor / Provider: Bosch Security Systems | Updated: 9/15/2011 | Article type: Infrastructure

Video surveillance by Bosch ensures smooth traffic flow at the Can Tho Toll Bridge, one of Vietnam's most important transportation links. A comprehensive monitoring system allows toll charges to be paid through automatic bank payments and guarantees efficient and safe operations even at peak times.

Spanning 2.75 kilometers, Can Tho Toll Bridge is Southeast Asia's longest suspension bridge. It was built to improve vehicle movement between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta region. To ensure a continuous flow of traffic, a system to allow drivers to pay their toll electronically and without stopping at the booth was crucial. Bosch Security Systems was asked to provide a comprehensive solution, which supports a steady flow of traffic even at rush hours.

The technology and service provider installed a highly reliable video surveillance system which identifies and registers every vehicle passing through. In order to enable supervisors to quickly react on any incident, all recorded images are relayed to the control room, where they are shown on a video wall.

In total, the solution provided by Bosch and third party systems cover the lanes, center operators, accounting systems, surveillance camera systems, number plate recognition and vehicle systems.

“The new system provides a professional, yet cost-effective solution com-pared to common devices”, explains Terence Ng, GM, Bosch Security Systems Indochina. “We paid attention to keeping the operation simple and flexible via a PC platform and public communications network. Known for our commitment to quality, we ensure accurate and continuous performance of all installed products at all times”.

With the new system implemented, the Can Tho Bridge significantly contributes to the reduction of road traffic congestion in the Mekong River Delta, saving time and fuel. The intelligent technology brings optimum convenience to all service users and promotes non-cash payment in Vietnam.

CMOS and CCD – Small Differences Along the Way from Light to a Signal

Editor / Provider: Dr. Joachim Linkemann | Updated: 9/15/2011 | Article type: Component

How everything began
Historically, CCD (Charged Coupled Device) sensors have existed much longer than CMOS sensors, that is to say, for more than 40 years. Due to constant improvement and optimization over the years, CCD sensors today stand for excellent image quality. In 2009, the American scientists Willard Boyle and George E. Smith were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics for the invention of the CCD sensor. Originally developed in 1969 for the storage of data, the potential of the Charge Coupled Device as a light sensitive apparatus was soon realized. By 1975, the first sensors with a resolution sufficient for television cameras appeared. However, it took more than 10 years before the process technology was mature enough to begin production of CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensors. In the mid-nineties, the first commercially successful CMOS sensors appeared on the market.

The more sensitive the better
CMOS sensors are based on the same physical principles as CCD sensors. They convert incoming photons into electrons by means of a photo effect. As a result of their sensor structure, the maximum sensitivity of CMOS sensors is in the red spectral region (650 – 700 nm). CCD sensors, not least because of the numerous innovations during their longer technological history, have a maximum at about 550 nm - exactly where the human eye is most sensitive. For a variety of technical reasons, CMOS sensors in the past were considerably less efficient in converting the incoming light to an electrical signal. The photosensitive area within each pixel in a CMOS sensor occupied only a fractional part of the total pixel area. The rest of the pixel area was populated by the individual readout electronics associated with each photosensitive area. The structure of CCD sensors is different. In CCDs, the electronics for the evaluation of the charges collected by the sensor surface is located outside of the chip, so almost the entire chip surface is available for photosensitive structures.

Over the last few years, design improvements have increased the size of the light sensitive area of CMOS sensors to near the level of CCD sensors. One example of such an improvement is the micro-lens array that is now applied to the CMOS chip. The lens array collects the light impinging on each pixel area in the CCD sensor and focuses it on the available light sensitive region within the pixel.

The price of individuality
One set of electronics for all pixels – this phrase regarding processing capability is valid for CCD sensors and at first sight, sounds rather like a trade-off. But in fact, it is an advantage for image quality. Because there is one common electronic path for a large fraction, if not for all, of the pixels in a CCD chip, all analog pixel signals are evaluated and processed in the same way and they are all converted to digital signals in the same way.

CMOS chips carry individual processing electronics on board each pixel and are different in this respect. This characteristic means that they can be read out faster and that the image area can be accessed in more flexible ways. However, there are tiny variations within the individual electronic structures used to process each pixel, and this means that signal offset can differ from pixel to pixel within a CMOS sensor, although the amplification slopes are almost identical. Variations between the offset values of the pixels in a CMOS sensor are typically ten times larger than those of CCD sensors.

Taken together, this offset variation represents a difficulty with respect to the sensitivity threshold of the sensor. This is especially true when a weak signal that is slightly greater than the background noise must be detected. In this situation, a CMOS sensor looks worse than a CCD sensor. By definition, this threshold is reached when the signal from the sensor is as high as the noise (i.e., the signal-to-noise ratio or SNR equals one). A technical term that quantitatively describes this characteristic is known as the Fixed Pattern Noise (FPN). CMOS sensors exhibit a higher FPN than CCD sensors.

Less sensitivity, but lots of space for electrons CMOS sensors, however, do score much better in another area – they can provide a higher full well capacity. The full well capacity represents the maximum number of electrons that an individual pixel can hold. On CCD sensors, this number is often artificially limited to a reduced saturation capacity to avoid certain technical problems. The ratio of the saturation capacity (full well capacity, respectively) to the sensitivity threshold determines the sensor's dynamic range. In comparison to a CCD sensor, a CMOS sensor wins with regard to the saturation capacity what it loses when it comes to low-light sensitivity. As a result, CMOS and CCD sensors have almost the same level of dynamic range. Certain procedures can be used to modify the characteristic response curve of a sensor so that it matches what a human eye perceives. This is especially true for CMOS sensors, and therefore a logarithmic behavior with a dynamic range of more than 100 dB can be achieved. This modification differentiates dark regions within an image more precisely than bright regions and should be applied with care.

The saturation capacity is related to a second important parameter of an imaging device, the maximum signal-tonoise ratio. This parameter quantifies the ratio of a signal associated with light under optimum conditions to pure sensor noise without any light exposure. It can be shown, that in principle, the maximum signal-to-noise ratio equals the square root of the saturation capacity. Thus, the CMOS sensor excels with respect to the maximum signal-to-noise ratio, but it needs more light to do so.

As a simplified rule-of-thumb, one can say that CCD sensors are the preferred choice for applications with little light and CMOS sensors are a good alternative when there is a lot of light. [NextPage]

It can become too bright for a sensor
If especially bright light is present, users must sometimes struggle with other effects. When a CCD pixel is overexposed to light, the pixels can generate an excess of electrons that can migrate into neighboring pixels. In this situation, very bright image structures seem to extend into the darker structures, an effect known as “blooming”. CMOS sensors don't see the migration effect and are not prone to blooming like that.

After a CCD sensor has been exposed to very bright light, the charge transportation process can cause bright stripes to appear in the image. The bright structures within the image appear as white smeared lines. This effect is known “smearing” and can be seen, for example, in images acquired at night when a car approaches the camera with its headlights on. As with blooming, CMOS sensors have an advantage compared to CCD sensors because they do not exhibit smearing.

Small bad habits and how they are moderated
For technical and cost reasons, quite a large number of commercially available cameras with CMOS sensors implement a rolling shutter. With this image acquisition method, all of the lines in a sensor are not read out of the sensor at a single instant in time. Instead, there is a time lag between the start of readout for each line in the frame.

In cameras with a global shutter, exposure is started for all pixels at the same time and is stopped for all pixels at the same time. In cameras with a rolling shutter, exposure is started sequentially line by line and is ended sequentially line by line. With rolling shutter technology artifacts can occur, particularly with rapid moving objects (unwanted, for instance, in intelligent transportation systems). These days, other CMOS sensor technical inadequacies can easily be compensated for within the camera. This includes non-uniformities that appear during the conversion of charges to gray values (ADC inequality) or that result from variations in the electrical properties of the numerous individual readout structures used in a CMOS sensor. Defective pixels can be corrected by interpolation in the camera. In addition to correcting the inadequacies already mentioned for CMOS sensors, the electronics in today's cameras can also correct for the irregularities exhibited by CCD sensors.

The agony of choice
CMOS sensors have a shorter history than CCD sensors, but they are now technically mature and even represent the best choice for some applications. Even novelties such as backside illuminated sensor technology (BSI), which was first introduced for CCD sensors, are currently entering the CMOS world. With this technology, the photosensitive area in each pixel is increased because no electronics are obscuring the pixel area.

But when you must choose the optimum solution of a specific task, many of the aspects mentioned in this article will come into play. In the end, the constraints and the details of your application should determine which sensor technology represents the best alternative.

Alaska Trucking Company Deploys IQinVision and Milestone Solution for Security and Claim Resolution

Editor / Provider: IQinVision | Updated: 9/15/2011 | Article type: Infrastructure

IQinVision, market leader in high-performance HD megapixel IP cameras, announced that Carlile Transportation is utilizing IQeye HD megapixel cameras at two of its trucking terminal complexes and has plans to install IQeye cameras at all 10 of its North American terminals. Anixter is the value added distribution partner for this on-going project.

Carlile Transportation Systems, founded in 1980 by brothers John and Harry McDonald, has grown from two tractors to one of Alaska's largest trucking companies. Today, Carlile's wholly-owned terminals serve Alaska from Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kenai, Kodiak, Prudhoe Bay and Seward, as well as Tacoma, WA, Houston, TX, Blaine, MN, and Edmonton, AB. An interesting side note: Carlile drivers are featured in History Channel's “Ice Road Truckers” for the second year.

Carlile had been using analog cameras to monitor some of their terminals, but as company CTO Eugene O'Neal related, “The picture quality was bad, so we really needed the clarity that megapixel offers.” To date, Carlile has installed a mix of IQeye Sentinels and Alliance domes at its expansive warehouse, loading, and administrative facilities located in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Both the Tacoma and Houston locations are slated for installation of over 100 cameras in the next few months. Camera data is managed by Milestone open platform video management software.

Eugene O'Neal and his team perform a combination of live video monitoring and incident review of all the action in and around their freight terminals at all times. “These cameras have paid for themselves in no time,” said O'Neal. “In our business, there are a good number of freight claim situations and they can add up to a lot of money. With these crystal clear images, I know what really happened. I've got proof.”

Carlile moves everything from gas and oil equipment modules to general freight commodities to fish. Their 75+ 3-megapixel IQeye Sentinels and Alliances at both Carlile locations enable them to see it all and at the level of clarity they demand.

“There is absolutely no comparison to any camera systems we've used in the past. We'll use IQeye cameras at all 10 of our terminal locations. It's unbelievable the quality you can get—right down the to the license plate level,” O'Neal concluded.

New York New WTC Transportation Hub to be Protected by Verint IP Video

Editor / Provider: Verint Systems | Updated: 9/13/2011 | Article type: Infrastructure

Verint Systems announced that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) awarded Verint Video Intelligence Solutions with a security contract in July 2011 for which it will supply IP video solutions to the World Trade Center (WTC) Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) Transportation Hub. Slated to open in 2014, the WTC Transportation Hub will make Lower Manhattan the third-largest transportation center in New York and will re-establish the transportation facilities and infrastructure that existed at the WTC complex prior to September 11, 2001. The Port Authority will implement the Verint Nextiva security solution across such critical areas as entrances, exits, platforms, and electrical and telecommunications rooms to increase situational awareness, improve preparedness, and enhance passenger safety and the security of facilities.

Over the past several years, PANYNJ has deployed Verint video solutions at key facilities, including the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels, the George Washington Bridge, the New Jersey PATH system, and AirTrain JFK. In cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Transit Administration, PANYNJ is building a new WTC 800,000-square-foot transportation hub. The facility is designed to accommodate 250,000 pedestrians per day and will feature underground pedestrian connections to locations on and around the WTC site, Hudson River ferry terminals, the World Financial Center, PATH trains, 13 subway lines, and the proposed JFK rail link.

Verint, together with its integration partner Diebold, Incorporated, will deliver the robust security system to help deter crime and enhance the safety of this state-of-the-art facility.

Once implemented, the Verint Nextiva IP video portfolio will enable PANYNJ to capture high-quality video images, optimize bandwidth and storage utilization, leverage flexible video search capabilities, and benefit from programmable video retention and storage. As a result, the organization is expected to achieve a more complete and accurate view of activity and operations.

"We are delighted to have been awarded this contract with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey," says Elan Moriah, President, Verint Video Intelligence Solutions and Verint Witness Actionable Solutions. "We believe that the Port Authority's decision to further extend its Nextiva deployment at the new World Trade Center transportation hub is indicative of both the strength of our solutions and Verint's ongoing commitment to help secure our nation's critical infrastructure."

Russian Market Booms With Oil Prices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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