Tennessee rehabilitation center keeps recovering residents in check

Editor / Provider: Sponsored by Qnap Security | Updated: 5/20/2013 | Article type: Commercial Markets

Recovery Ranch, located in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., is a special rehabilitation center for clients with addictive, eating or mood disorders, or in need of psychosomatic recovery for improved quality of life. The ranch employs 160 therapists and administrative personnel, serving more than 75 clients at a time, with 24/7 care for different treatments; hence, it is a large facility with residents of diverse backgrounds.

The ranch encompasses two sites: the main campus with two buildings and a new campus with six buildings, individually located one mile apart. On land stretching over 2,000 acres and multiple campuses, it is necessary to have a powerful surveillance system to secure the community and archive records of any incidents that occur. The two original buildings, dated back to late 1800s, were not designed with network wiring. Also, they had unstable power supplies due to the age of the buildings and the location in a rural area, where bad weather could easily cause a power outage. Therefore, wireless became very important, and a good mechanism to sustain system power supply was essential, too.

Moreover, Recovery Ranch required 16 to 18 cameras installed around the campuses and a system able to store videos for two to three months. Prior to the installation, Recovery Ranch surveyed CCTV and DVR solutions, but all lacked advanced management functions and did not have sufficient storage capacity.

Road to Recovery
In the end, Recovery Ranch turned to the Qnap VioStor NVR surveillance system because of its robust, IP-based design and the many unique management features. Two units of VioStor NVR VS-6020 Pro, powered by dual-core Intel Atom processor, were installed on each campus, monitoring 25 VIVOTEK fixed domes and Mobotix fisheye cameras. “Qnap NVRs definitely play a central role in the video security for Recovery Ranch, as this is a one-stop solution that is well-integrated with multiple brands of IP cameras and hence can fulfill very diverse indoor/outdoor monitoring requirements,” said Jeff Chase, IT Manager. “Moreover, the system is very scalable in camera deployment, and with free software updates, it is open to more features at no additional cost, making it a future-proof investment for many years to come.”

The VS-6020 Pro supports high-quality H.264, MPEG-4, M-JPEG and MxPEG recording, and can efficiently stream videos wirelessly while maintaining high-megapixel image quality. In addition, the 6-bay VS-6020 Pro accommodates up to 24-TB storage capacity to satisfy Recovery Ranch's needs of storing videos for up to three months. The VS-6020 Pro also solves the problem of unexpected power outage. With support for UPS devices, the VS-6020 Pro is programmed with USB-connected UPS to ensure 24/7 service. Detailed event logs of system warning, network disconnection and the UPS status are also recorded for diagnosis. What Recovery Ranch favored most was the intelligent video analytics. By using the motion detection algorithm in playback mode, the security administrator can set up areas of interest and time frames for the NVR to automatically find events of interest. It is, overall, less labor-intensive than manually watching each channel at 16x fast-forward play. It is quick to review — for example, an individual, in a specific area, at a certain time of the day — the day's video, and reviewing evidence is more efficient than ever.

Since the two units of VioStor NVR VS-6020 Pro were installed, the ranch has required little maintenance. The Linux-based operating system and RAID storage volume are very reliable; at the same time, it is more power-efficient than running the VMS server on a PC. Therefore, Recovery Ranch does not have to keep the PC running 100-percent of the time. It shows power consumption changes from 200W to 43W (with six HDDs installed) in average, resulting in up to five times of savings in utility. “The VS-6020 Pro is an easy-to-use and intuitive product, enabling the security administrator to fully utilize the features of the surveillance system. We can spend less time on IT, and more time on running the center,” Chase concluded.

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Arecont Vision appoints VP for Europe

Editor / Provider: Arecont Vision | Updated: 5/14/2013 | Article type: Security 50

Arecont Vision has appointed surveillance industry veteran Ivo Drent as VP for Europe. Drent joins the company after more than two decades in the video security industry in positions responsible for sales management, marketing, customer support and business development.

Drent will manage Europe for Arecont Vision and will also take personal responsibility for strategic accounts, building on the company's top level relationships at key distributors, systems integrators and technology partners. Arecont Vision's European headquarters is located in Frankfurt, Germany.

Ivo Drent has spent more than 20 years in the video surveillance industry working for manufacturers such as Dedicated Micros, Pelco and IndigoVision. Drent led Pelco's EMEA operations from their office in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, managing a team of nearly 100 people who were located in various offices across Europe and the Middle East. For IndigoVision, he managed their EMEA sales, marketing and support operations. More recently, Drent has been Worldwide VP for DataDirect Networks, a manufacturer of high end storage solutions, where he was responsible for their Government and Digital Security division.

“Arecont Vision is very excited to have Ivo Drent join our management team. Ivo is a proven leader in the Europe security market and we are looking forward to even faster growth under his leadership,” said Scott Schafer, Executive VP of Arecont Vision. “Key European distributors, systems integrators and technology partners are embracing megapixel IP cameras for their ability to improve image quality, boost system functionality, lower system costs and improve the return on investment for their customers. Ivo will strengthen our relationships with these important selling partners and drive business growth throughout Europe.”

Thermal imaging moves to the consumer market

Editor / Provider: Submitted by Flir Systems | Updated: 4/18/2013 | Article type: Hot Topics

Flir's M&A and investment strategy is multifaceted and many criteria are evaluated in the decision making process. The acquisition of Lorex Technology supports several of Flir 's key strategic growth objectives. Flir's overall objective is to bring infrared imaging into homes, workplaces, and the lives of people everywhere. Lorex Technology is a market leading manufacturer of home and personal video surveillance products with very strong and successful retail sales channel relationships. As Flir continues to drive the price lower for infrared thermal imaging cameras and viewers, Lorex's retail channels and advanced e-commerce capability will provide widespread access to consumer markets for Flir's new thermal camera products.

Flir will inject infrared thermal imaging technology into both the Lorex and Digimerge video security product lines, which will expand the customer and application base for infrared imaging, and also provide a differentiated product platform for Lorex to ensure their leadership position in the do-it-yourself video surveillance market segment. Lorex has well-developed component sourcing processes, rapid product development cycles, and volume manufacturing capabilities. These key competencies contribute to Flir's penetration of the consumer electronics market.

Traffic
The use of thermal cameras in intelligent transportation system (ITS) applications is growing rapidly as it proves to be a superior solution. Thermal cameras are unaffected by darkness, sun washout, shadows, and many weather effects that traditional visible light cameras are susceptible to.

Traficon is the leading provider of video-based intersection control and roadway incident detection products. Traficon's core capability is its video image processing software for ITS applications. This technology requires little modification to be applied to security and other applications, so the Traficon acquisition brings high-performance video analytics capabilities to Flir. Thermal cameras are often paired with video analytics for perimeter intrusion detection applications. Combining Traficon's video analytics capabilities with Flir's thermal camera technology completes the task of integrating a powerful roadway monitoring solution for cities and municipalities around the world.

Thermal imaging is applied in two primary application areas in the traffic market: detecting the presence of cars at intersections for the control of traffic signal lighting, and along highways and roadways for automated incident detection applications. Thermal imaging provides clear video images during daylight as well as nighttime hours, and it is unaffected by shadows, bright sunset, and is largely unaffected by weather conditions. Therefore, thermal imaging is a more accurate means of detecting the presence of vehicles and people at intersections, and it allows city transportation managers to monitor roadways 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Future for Thermal Imaging Technology
The video images created are data-heavy in that the pixels provide both an image as well as temperature information. For security and safety applications, being able to see clearly with no lights is a cost-effective solution. With the ever reducing prices for infrared thermal imaging cameras, using thermal cameras will become much more cost-effective compared to installing lighting for video cameras in a long run. Also, thermal cameras are a “green” technology because they contribute to the reduction in the use of expensive and energy-intensive lighting equipment.

Well-established and mature commercial vertical market segments include industrial manufacturing, power generation, building inspection, and critical infrastructure that require a high level of perimeter security. Emerging commercial markets include high-volume sectors such as consumer electronics, automotive, maritime, and light commercial security systems. Flir expects to see continued growth in each of these sectors.

Home Security Market
Flir believes thermal imaging will become a standard component in all security systems, including home security systems, as prices for thermal cameras drop. Thermal imaging requires no light, so advancements in technology will be able to replace all supplemental illumination required for video cameras to operate, whether it be white visible light or invisible IR illuminators for both indoor and outdoor applications.

Additionally, thermal images can be coupled with video analytics to create a very effective automated motion detection solution, one that will have a much lower false alarm rate than current visible light solutions in the market.

Home security and situational awareness, such as baby and elderly monitoring, is a rapidly growing market. Flir believes the unique benefits of thermal imaging will appeal to anyone using those types of products.

Management of Acquired Companies
“We have acquired nearly 20 companies in the last eight years, so we are experienced at folding in new products, people, and customers into our existing business,” said Andy Teich, President of the Commercial Systems Division at Flir Systems. “Given that a company's employees are its most critical asset, we focus on communicating clearly to the people that are operating the business we have acquired, how and why they were acquired, and what it means to them personally. This is critical to the success of these investments. Understanding the business' processes, product development, delivery cadence, and the factors that can disrupt the flow of a newly acquired business is also critical. We often do not impose significant change on our acquired companies and usually trust the management teams to continue to operate as they have. Where we do make adjustments is around supply chain sourcing, costs control, and manufacturing efficiency.”

TI sheds light on IP cams

Editor / Provider: Texas Instruments | Updated: 4/11/2013 | Article type: Component

Meeting the needs of video security developers

TI's video SoC provides customers with superior low-light performance at 2X the nearest competitor. A video SoC-based IP camera has the capability to produce clear images in low-light environments such as parking garages or dark alleys, enabling the user to capture a license plate, a person's face and other features that may help authorities solve a crime. The camera can compress and transmit these noise filtered and dynamic range-enhanced videos in real time in a H.264/SVC format.

Easing development with tools and software

TI's scalable video SoC provides surveillance manufacturers with an ecosystem of tools and software, accelerating time to market. The DM369 IP camera reference design includes schematics, layout and BOM to help customers re-use their investment in TI's video processors. ONVIF-compliant, the camera reference design also makes it easy for customers to integrate their cameras with NVR and VMS systems. Customers can also choose from TI's ecosystem of sensor modules based on the market's most popular sensors when designing their solution and taking it to market. “TI's video processors continue to be the go-to solution for surveillance product manufacturers,” said Jacob Jose, IP Camera Product Marketing Manager, TI.

Pricing and availability

TI's DaVinci camera reference design is currently available for US$995. Samples of TI's DaVinci DM369 video SoC will be available at the end of April. Additionally, pricing for the video SoC can be found by contacting local TI or distributor sales representative.  

IndigoVision integrates with Paxton access module

Editor / Provider: IndigoVision | Updated: 3/25/2013 | Article type: Security 50

IndigoVision has launched its latest integration module enabling Paxton access control systems to be fully integrated into control center, IndigoVision's IP security management software solution.

"This is a significant milestone." said John Semple, IndigoVision's Head of Product Management, "Releasing the 10th access control integration module, integrating the Paxton system into the IndigoVision solution, shows how IndigoVision leads the security industry as the open platform of choice."

Semple continued, "The industry is now demanding completely integrated security solutions. Individual security components, such as analytics, license plate recognition, access control, alarm systems and perimeter detection need to be integrated with video security to provide an easy to manage, fully integrated IP security solution. Our customers tell us that an integrated solution dramatically increases efficiency with alarm management enabling quicker incident response."

IndigoVision's integration modules include systems from multiple manufacturers, including Lenel, Software House, Honeywell and GE. Other external systems such as license plate recognition and advanced analytics can also be integrated into the IndigoVision solution. The IndigoVision integration modules allow a seamless flow of events between the external security system and the IndigoVision solution. These events can trigger a wide range of actions in the IndigoVision solution, including starting recordings, displaying live video, moving PTZ cameras or sending notification emails. In addition, events and video can be effortlessly managed in a single, unified user interface, IndigoVision's control center.

In addition to this IndigoVision Paxton integration module, significant enhancements have been made to the IndigoVision Gallagher and IndigoVision MASC Integration Modules.

Chinese highway in Guangdong gets high-def

Editor / Provider: Axis Communications | Updated: 2/18/2013 | Article type: Infrastructure

Mission
Boluo-Shenzhen Expressway is an important part of the fourth vertical expressway that links Shenzhen, Hunan and Renhua in Guangdong province. Connected to Yanpai Expressway, it is a major north-south road for the province and a key express link between Hong Kong/Macau and Hunan/Jiangxi. The entire expressway is designed for six 2-way lanes and a vehicle speed of 100 km/h. 50% of the expressway comprises of large bridges and tunnels. In order to enhance safety management of the expressway, there is a need to ensure uninterrupted 24-hour surveillance of road conditions and create a safe, trustworthy, high-definition smart video security system that includes surveillance of the tollbooth management center and rest areas. This also meets the requirement for superior security technologies for expressway surveillance.

Solution
Axis HD cameras including Axis Q6035-E, P1343 and P3363 are placed at 350 surveillance points along Boluo-Shenzhen Expressway. The entire network comprises of HD cameras along the main expressway, tunnel surveillance cameras, tollbooth surveillance cameras and surveillance cameras at the management centers and rest areas. Real-time transmission of high-definition images is achieved through fiber-optic communication. The surveillance system is designed such that different camera models are selected for each surveillance area based on the required functions: Axis P3363 low-illumination dome camera fitted with the latest sensor chip is used for the office area and tollbooth; Axis P1343 network camera fitted with a special 50mm lens is used inside the tunnel; Axis Q6035-E 1080p 2 megapixel high-speed IP dome camera with 20x optical zoom is used along the main expressway.

Result
This is the first time that a fully digital surveillance system and high-definition IP cameras are used for an entire expressway by Guangdong Provincial Transportation Group. The entire system is transmitted via Internet, phasing out the optical transceiver model of conventional analog surveillance systems and producing huge savings of construction and maintenance costs. It brings HD clarity, high resolutions and huge growth potential that were once far-fetched. The Axis IP cameras directly send digital video images through the IP network (LAN/intranet/internet), allowing users to view high-definition real-time surveillance images with a resolution of up to 1080p on connected computers anytime, anywhere through the client terminal so long as there is sufficient bandwidth. This facilitates visual management and adds variety to the system.

Mobotix minor drop in Q4 of 2012

Editor / Provider: Mobotix | Updated: 2/18/2013 | Article type: Security 50

Key performance indicators for the first quarter
(October 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012):
- Total output: $28.0 million (+4.4%)
- Sales revenue: $26.8 million (-3.5%)
- Export ratio: 72%
- EBIT: $4.9 million (-25.1%)*
- EBIT as a percentage of total output: 17.5%*
- Profit for the period (after taxes): $3.1 million (-35.5%)
- Earnings per share: $0.23 (-35.5%)

* adjusted for one-off extraordinary staff costs

Winnweiler-Langmeil, Germany, February 13, 2013. Mobotix AG (ISIN DE0005218309), a supplier of high-resolution, network-based video security systems, has announced its consolidated results (IFRS) for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2012/13 (October 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012). Total output rose while sales revenue fell slightly compared with the corresponding quarter of the prior year, when business had been very strong.

First-quarter total output increased by 4.4% from $26.8 million to $28.0 million year on year. Sales revenue decreased by 3.5% overall to $26.8 million (prior-year quarter: $27.7 million). Revenue increased in Germany and Asia, although the rises were not quite enough to offset the downward trend seen in some European countries or the impact of the hurricane on the east coast of the United States, as a result of which Mobotix Corp. had to completely vacate its premises on short notice and move into new, temporary offices. The export ratio was 72%.

EBITDA reached $6.3 million (adjusted for one-off extraordinary staff costs), which resulted in an EBITDA margin of 22.2%. Adjusted EBIT declined to $4.9 million (first quarter of prior year: $6.5 million). In the first quarter, the Group's EBIT margin stood at 17.5%, while profit after taxes came to $3.1 million and earnings per share amounted to $0.23(first quarter of prior year:$0.36).

The management board of Mobotix AG presented all the results and explanatory information relating to the first quarter of the fiscal year 2012/13 during a teleconference at 11.00 a.m. on February 13, 2013.

Samsung Techwin appoints Senior Biz Dev Manager for IP Video in DACH

Editor / Provider: Samsung Techwin | Updated: 2/11/2013 | Article type: Security 50

Dirk Brand has been appointed Senior Business Development Manager for Samsung's IP video security channel in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH).

Brand has spent the last 15 years working for SeeTec AG, one of Europe's leading IP video management software providers. As one of the founders of the company he has performed a number of senior roles including most recently that of Regional Sales Manager.

Reporting to Steffen Koenig, Regional Manager for DACH and Eastern Europe for Samsung Techwin Europe, Brand will be responsible for developing relationships with key market players, including consultants, specifiers, installer and system integrators in order to identify new sales opportunities for Samsung's comprehensive range of IP network based video surveillance solutions.

"I am very excited to be able to progress my career with a company that will no doubt become a network video market leader in DACH," said  Brand. "Samsung is a one-stop-shop for Video over IP solutions and can provide a wide range of options to users who wish to take advantage of the latest generation of HD megapixel cameras. I am particularly looking forward to talking to installers and system integrators about how we can work in partnership with them to create new business opportunities by, for example, promoting the benefits of Samsung's LiteNet range, which has been introduced as a result of market demand for ‘affordable' high definition cameras and domes."

Commenting on Brand's appointment, Koenig said: "We have been leading the market with analogue based video solutions for some years and are now poised to achieve the same level of success with our end-to-end IP network solutions range. Dirk's extensive knowledge of Video over IP technology as well as the local market requirements in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, equips him to make a valuable contribution to helping us achieve our sales targets whilst offering customers the highest levels of pre and post sales support."

Paris international airports improve security and perimeter surveillance on IP

Editor / Provider: Sony | Updated: 2/1/2013 | Article type: Infrastructure

Background
ADP, founded in 1945, is most famous for its large international airports serving the Paris area: Roissy, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly. It also manages the 14 aerodromes in the Ile-de France region and jointly manages many other airport sites in Mexico, Egypt, Cambodia, Belgium, Jordan, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Guinea.

ADP accommodates nearly 88 million passengers every year and employs more than 11,000 people making it the second largest airport group in Europe for passenger traffic and the largest for freight and mail transport.

With 1,000 companies based around the 347 hectares of its premises, security is without a doubt top priority for ADP.

Between 55 and 60 people are employed at ADP to monitor the borders with the help of an intricate video surveillance system. 33 highly trained staff manage the surveillance of passenger flows at all times.

Challenges
The main task of ADP staff is border surveillance and security using tools like video surveillance. Monitoring a vast area and providing accurate real-time data for security monitoring is the biggest challenge for the ADP surveillance team.

The security perimeter includes everything related to the protection of the aircraft in particular against terrorist attacks.

With so many millions of passengers travelling through ADP each year and with such a vast perimeter to monitor, safety is unquestionably one of the main priorities. ADP's primary objective is to ensure the security of everyone by monitoring passengers in the continued fight against terrorism. This requires top of the range video security camera solutions.

Solutions
Sony's solution shone in three key areas. The first was thanks to the outstanding image quality, both at day and night, in any season, and in any light conditions. The second related to backlighting: a camera in an airport terminal must portray the traffic inside, as well as the people outside. Finally, the third area offered a seamless integration with the Genetec software.

"This is reassuring and presents an enormous advantage for Sony over its competitors", said Pierre-Fransois Verbecque,Sales Manager for South Europe at VideoSecurity Sony. "Because ADP had worked with Genetec for a number of years, we couldn't change the software and monitoring elements; instead, we had to integrate our cameras into the existing system."

"The Sony SNC-DH140T camera has the technology to respond to these requirements, and goes even further in terms of managing backlighting and contrasts, without taking risks, so we can see people inside the building while observing what's happening outside", said Verbecque.

Genetec Omnicast is an open software that supports addition of new cameras to the ADP network with ease. With the simple addition of servers to the existing system Sony cameras were easily added to the global surveillance network. At ADP's global surveillance center, the server managing Satellite 4 is interconnected to the other terminals' servers. In this way, the Sony cameras are connected to the other existing cameras, which are analog and have decoders.

"The image quality is on a completely different level. We offer HD whereas the definition of the images from basic analog cameras is standard. This allows us to analyze images in higher quality with precision making it easier to identify people involved in incidents", explained Verbecque. "As for the system, it's all homogeneous and set up so that it is completely transparent for the people in the surveillance center."

The camera's pixel matrix exceeds that of SD sensors, which produces an unprecedented image quality and offers a much broader field of vision. Moreover, CMOS sensors use a progressive scanning system which eliminates blurring and fluttering effects. The images can then be transmitted via a network compatible with various formats. In addition, to obtain optimum results and flexibility, Sony's HD video surveillance solutions are compatible with H.264, MPEG-4 and JPEG video compression formats.

Genetec offers SMBs affordable cloud option on Windows Azure

Editor / Provider: Genetec | Updated: 1/31/2013 | Article type: Tech Corner

Genetec, a pioneer in the physical security industry and a provider of unified IP security solutions, announced Stratocast, a powerful yet easy-to-use Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) solution powered by Microsoft's Windows Azure cloud-computing platform. Stratocast is designed to meet the needs of small and midsized businesses who are looking for a high-end and extremely reliable video security solution without the costs and complexities typically associated with installing and managing on-premise surveillance systems.

Currently undergoing extensive beta testing at customer sites around the world, Stratocast is scheduled to ship in the spring of 2013. Because the new product will be sold and supported exclusively by Genetec's Stratocast channel partners, end users will benefit from Genetec's certified integrators' installation expertise, security know-how, and ability to recommend the most appropriate product package for their needs. With minimum training and setup costs, minimal onsite equipment to maintain and manage, and no need for specialized/dedicated security or IT staff, users will be able to focus on their core competencies, while benefiting from a state-of-the-art security system to protect their employees, premises and assets.

"With Stratocast, we are bringing 15 years of expertise in developing safety-critical video surveillance systems for users that include the world's most traveled airports, largest retailers, and Fortune 500 businesses, to a section of the market that is currently underserved by existing systems. Because Stratocast is affordable, easy to install and simple to use, quick service restaurants, retail shops, office buildings, as well as sporting and musical events, will finally have the professional tools they need to secure their facilities, remotely observe their operations, and ensure a safe environment for their employees and patrons, at a price they can afford," says Pierre Racz, Genetec's Founder and CEO.

With packages starting below $10 USD a month per camera, Stratocast users will have access to some of the most advanced functionalities that have made Genetec a leading VMS vendor, including: HD video capture for unbeatable picture quality; next-generation intelligent video management features that automatically alert users when an activity or incident has occurred instead of having to review hours of recorded video; and the unique Cloud Federation feature, which allows enterprise users to easily add new cameras to remote/satellite locations and supplement their existing on-premise Security Center unified security management platforms .Other features such as robust edge recording and video trickling capabilities, mean that cameras, bandwidth, and archives can be fine-tuned to each user's needs and requirements. With a guaranteed uninterrupted service 99.5 percent of the time, and a fresh, modern and easy-to-use interface, users will be able to quickly and reliably access live and recorded feeds from their Stratocast system from any computer, smartphone or tablet – from anywhere in the world – to ensure peace of mind while they are away.

"Windows Azure gives customers a secure and flexible cloud platform that opens up new possibilities for delivering solutions such as high-end security services to businesses of all sizes. With Windows Azure and Stratocast, customers can automatically and safely store security assets, including video and related critical data, in the cloud so they can easily reuse, retrieve and analyze their data at any time, anywhere," comments Mike Howard, CSO at Microsoft.

Stratocast will support a wide variety of cameras that feature "phone home" functionality, including both fixed and PTZ cameras. And with over 40 models of Axis cameras available at launch, Stratocast allows customers to choose the most appropriate camera for the unique needs of their security installation.

"Most small and midsized businesses today still rely on analog cameras, and DVRs, for their security needs, but this is changing fast. With Genetec developing hosted cloud-based video and Axis delivering intelligent cameras designed to leverage the simplicity and ease of use of the Stratocast system, together we are driving the technology shift from on-premise to cloud-based video surveillance in small installations," says Dominic Bruning, Director Global Alliances at Axis Communications. "Building upon our long standing relationship, we are thrilled to be the camera partner of choice for the launch of Stratocast."