Sept 2012
PRODUCT EXPLORATION
Feeling Insecure?
Time for Burglar Alarms to Save the Day
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Infrared detectors have long been safeguarding households houuseholds and private properties due to its cost-effectiveness and its user-friendly installation process. However, infrared detectors also yield high rates of false reports and missed-events.
72 Prime Technologies for Motion Detection Sensors SPECIAL FEATURE
NEWS FEATURE
30 34
Mass Notification:
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 86
In the event of an emergency, effective mass notification is imperative. Whether man-made such as the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the shootings at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), or natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, these tragedies brought forward the pressing need for effective mass notification.
92 Layering for Effective Mass Notification
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Movers and Shakers in Channels School Bus Pilot Program to Ensure Children Safety
Sept S ept 2012
VERTICAL MARKE MARKET ET
44 B Building uildin a Practical Hybrid HD
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Watching Over Gaming Tables with HD 38
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VIEWPOINT
BUSINESS TALK
Channel Restructuring and Market Shifting 56 The worldwide security markets recently got greatly influenced by the economic decline in Europe and the introduction of IP network technologies. These two factors cause the shifting of security markets and restructuring of security channels.
60 Surviving Tough
Economic Times
82
Networking and Integrating Legacy Perimeter Security Systems
READER'S COLUMN
96
Computing in the Cloud
SHOW PREVIEW
100 2012 MVaaS Summit SHOW REVIEW
102 Success for Secutech India and
Intersec 2012 14 18 22 22
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Contents Editor’s Note Corporate News Market Observer
104 Show Calendar 106 New Products 111 Companies in This Issue
EDITOR'S NOTE
a&s International, published by Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Media Ltd., is a monthly professional publication for channel players in the worldwide electronic security industry since 1997. It updates importers, distributors, OEM/ODM searchers, system integrators and other product purchasers on product sources and identifies developments in CCTV, Digital Surveillance, Access Control, Biometrics, Intrusion Alarm, Intercom/Video Doorphone, Home
A TRUE “VALUE ADDED”
Automation and other fields relevant to electronic security.
ISSN 1997-6267 ˁൢඵ͔̻ݭϫ୷ ༚ ੮ທച৪ᕻგΠ
As an editor, I have many chances to talk to the executives in different companies. What we discuss most often are their product features. Manufacturers endeavor to make their products and technologies unique and sophisticated. Sometimes it seems nearly impossible when you read the specifications and expected benefits. More than 10 megapixel cameras for use in security? Suppliers providing a solution to process the uncompressed video via a single LAN cable or to transmit IP signal via a coaxial cable? Are they bluffing? Don’t get me wrong. What I would like to highlight is the real value added of a company and how it actually benefits their customers and enable them to get more ROI, ease the installation difficulties, reduce the maintenance and retrofitting and most importantly, to create extra income.
Parson Lee Joseph Lee John Shih
Publisher & Managing Director General Manager General Manager
Editorial
General Press Jill Lai Alf Chang Tevin Wang Alyssa Fann Christina Philips Christine Chien
Editor in Chief Senior Consultant Reporter Reporter Reporter Coordinator
as-pr@newera.messefrankfurt.com jill.lai@newera.messefrankfurt.com alf.chang@newera.messefrankfurt.com tevin.wang@newera.messefrankfurt.com alyssa.fann@newera.messefrankfurt.com christina.philips@newera.messefrankfurt.com christine.chien@newera.messefrankfurt.com
Executive Designer Designer Designer
gaven.lee@newera.messefrankfurt.com mao.chang@newera.messefrankfurt.com arthur.wu@newera.messefrankfurt.com
Art Design
Gaven Lee Mao Chang Arthur Wu
Circulation & Subscription
Collins Yuan Michelle Shih
Group Manager Coordinator
collins.yuan@newera.messefrankfurt.com michelle.shih@newera.messefrankfurt.com
Corporate Management
“Outside of economics, value added refers to 'extra' feature(s) of an item of interest (product, service, person etc.) that go beyond the standard expectations and provide something 'more' while adding little or nothing to its cost. Value-added features give competitive edges to companies with otherwise more expensive products,” according to the definition from Wikipedia. One supplier explained how their partner program helps provide the premier service to their clients. A distributor manages to survive in the market by manufacturing their products and providing a free one-year service and maintenance guarantee. A system integrator starts to distribute products. These are perfect examples. “Commoditization” of security products created the thin margins for analog products, in particular. The almost total lack of meaningful differentiation, the economic downturn in the U.S. and E.U., and the new IP technology propelled many security companies to start creating their true value added now.
Jill Lai
jill.lai@newera.messefrankfurt.com
Juihui Lin Thomas Pin Chihung Lee
Assistant to Managing Director Account Manager IT Manager
juihui.lin@newera.messefrankfurt.com thomas.pin@newera.messefrankfurt.com chihung.lee@newera.messefrankfurt.com
asmag.com
Hayden Hsu Jerry Wu
Web Editor in Chief hayden.hsu@newera.messefrankfurt.com Assistant Sales Manager jerry.wu@newera.messefrankfurt.com
Secutech & Events (Overseas)
Echo Lin Sandra Chen Iris Pan Tina Chang
Manager Project Manager Assistant Manager Assistant Manager
echo.lin@newera.messefrankfurt.com sandra.chen@newera.messefrankfurt.com iris.pan@newera.messefrankfurt.com tina.chang@newera.messefrankfurt.com
Secutech & Events (Domestic)
Veronica Chen
Group Manager
veronica.chen@newera.messefrankfurt.com
International Advertising [Headquarters]
Echo Lin Joanne Wu Galen Chiu Kay Yang Audrey Fang Helen Chen Winnie Ho Jessica Lee
Manager Assistant Sales Manager Assistant Sales Manager Operation Officer Coordinator Coordinator Coordinator Assistant
echo.lin@newera.messefrankfurt.com joanne.wu@newera.messefrankfurt.com galen.chiu@newera.messefrankfurt.com kay.yang@newera.messefrankfurt.com audrey.fang@newera.messefrankfurt.com helen.chen@newera.messefrankfurt.com winnie.ho@newera.messefrankfurt.com jessica.lee@newera.messefrankfurt.com
[Branches & Representatives]
Bobbie Ferraro Carolina Pattuelli Cemre Ilkan Evris Consolos Muris Hadzic Manish Gandhi Tim Shen Y. C. Suh Takashi Komori Nguyen Thu Ha
USA/Canada Europe (Italy) Europe (Turkey) Europe (U.K.) Southeast Europe India China Korea Japan Vietnam
bobbie@globetrottermedia.com produzione@ethosmedia.it cemre.ilkan@asturkiye.com evris@kemainternational.com management@asadria.com manish@abcindia.biz tim@asmag.com.cn ycsuh517@naver.com komori@asj-corp.jp project1@vietfair.vn
Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Media Ltd. Taiwan Branch: 2F, No. 8, Lane 360, Sec. 1, Nei-Hu Rd.,Taipei 114, Taiwan Phone/886 2 2659 9080 Fax/886 2 2659 9069 Website/www.mfnewera.com Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Media Ltd., a company formed by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. and former A&S Group in 2009, is an integrated media service provider in the security industry. Our service covers magazines, Web sites, events and trade shows. The portfolio of a&s magazines includes a&s International, a&s International China Best Buys, a&s Asia (above published in English), a&s China, a&s Installer, a&s Taiwan, a&s Solution and Info Security (above published in Chinese). a&s Turkiye, a&s Adria, a&s Italy, a&s India, a&s Japan and a&s Vietnam are licensed editions. For changes of address or subscription problems, contact us at mfne-circulation@newera.messefrankfurt.com Copyright© 2012 Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Media Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be republished, reprinted or redistributed in any forms, including electronic, without written consent from the publisher.
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Advertisers are responsible for their own advertisement content. The publisher is not liable for any legal, image, patent or trademark disputes from advertisements or among advertisers. Legal consultant: Julia S.H. Yu, Attorney at Law, First Law & IP Offices
SEPT 2012
CORPORATE NEWS Axxonsoft and JVC Partner on IP HD Axxonsoft has broadened its software support to include integration by supporting the new Super LoLux HD line of IP cameras from JVC, a manufacturer of hardware for video management systems. The new line of IP cameras uses JVC CMOS sensors that support 1,080p resolution. The technology captures color images at light levels as low as 0.15 lux, while Clear Logic Video Intelligence uses smart algorithms to increase image sharpness. CLVI applies digital signal processing to remove fog, haze, rain and smoke that impair image quality. The use of H.264 High Profile substantially reduces network traffic
in comparison with H.264 Main Profile and Baseline. Other important functions include auto back focus, write support for SD cards, VMD, image masking of confidential areas, intelligent audio detection and camera tampering alarms/detection. Axxonsoft develops VMS and PSIMS software to serve as security systems’ core for a broad and diverse range of clients. Axxonsoftbased solutions are used in retail, banks, railroads and transportation, their video surveillance systems are used all around the globe. By combining Axxonsoft products with JVC's new line of IP cameras, operators can now create security systems that are more effective and are suitable for all usage profiles and industries.
Global Biometrics Market to Reach $10B by 2014, Says TechSci Increasing terrorist attacks, plane hijackings and crime rates have underlined the need for security measures around the world. The limitations and inconvenience involved in using alternative identification methods, such as photographs, passwords and PINs, have driven the growth of biometric technologies in the last few years. Some border control projects like e-passport, VIS and EURODAC, and some national identity schemes like Aadhar, are acting as a major driver for the biometrics industry. Biometrics has been adopted for logical access control applications as well, as more people and organizations depend on computers to store their important documents. According to “Global Biometric Systems Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2017,” the global biometrics market revenue is anticipated to reach US$10.02 billion by 2014. Increasing security requirements for public security, such as border control, national identity, Internet and network access, and financial transactions, are acting as growth drivers. The market has been led by fingerprint technology for the last few decades. However, vein recognition technology is gaining Global Biometric Market acceptance globally Total Revenue 2011 and is expected to grow rapidly in t h e ye a r s to co m e. Anticipated to reach R e g i o n a l l y, N o r t h US$10.02 billion by 2014 America and Europe contributed to 62.46 percent of the total revenue in 2011. The global biometrics market has a huge potential due to increasing public Source: TechSci Research acceptance.
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Bosch Cameras Keep an Eye on UK Bridge and Vessel Traffic Six video surveillance cameras from Bosch Security Systems have been installed on the newly constructed Twin Sails Bridge in the town of Poole on the south coast of England. The cameras help to monitor the traffic and pedestrians crossing the bridge as well as vessels passing beneath the bridge. The Twin Sails Bridge features two triangular lifting leaves which, when raised, form the iconic shape of a yacht's sails and thus reflect the maritime history of the coastal town. It is a part of a landmark regeneration project for the Borough of Poole. In addition, the bridge provides access to a large regeneration site in the southwest and is a much-needed extra harbor crossing for easing traffic congestion around the town. The camera uses brushless motor technology to enable quiet yet reliable operation; the full 360-degree continuous rotation pan and 270-degree tilt control offer exceptional viewing capability. Small increment pan/tilt speeds give the user precise control, which is fundamental for tracking subjects when fully zoomed in. What’s more, it is compatible with virtually any control equipment and can seamlessly integrate with the vast majority of security systems.
CORPORATE NEWS UK Drivers Licensing Authority and Border Agency Use 3M Cogent Biometrics Post Office Limited in the United Kingdom announces that its Applicant Enrollment Identification service has now processed the biometric information of more than one and a half million applicants using 3M Cogent Biometric Enrollment Stations. The Post Office carries out the enrollment process by obtaining applicant information such as fingerprints, photographs and digital signatures. The AEI service is designed to serve multiple clients and is currently being used by the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority and the UK Border Agency.
Middle East Market: IP Video Equipment Sales Exceed 50 Percent Says IMS IMS Research estimates that the tipping point when network video surveillance sales overtake analogue video surveillance sales has already happened in the Middle Eastern Market. IMS recently published a report on this market and estimated that network video surveillance equipment sales were 53 percent of the total video surveillance equipment sales in 2011. The Middle Eastern market will be driven by the strong demands for video surveillance equipment from larger regional markets. Turkey, the largest market in the Middle East, is still mainly serviced by analogue equipment. However, due to a number of infrastructure and transportation projects, the penetration of network video in Turkey will increase significantly towards 2016. In Iran, a heavy focus on city surveillance will be the key driver. In Saudi Arabia, large infrastructure projects in hospitals, schools and airports will drive network video surveillance penetration. These projects are due to a surplus of oil revenues and a response to uprisings across the Arab world. Large banking projects have also been confirmed in Kuwait for 2012 and 2013, while the construction industry in the UAE Middle East Market is expected to see improvements towards 2015 and 2016. Network Video Whilst the Middle Surveillance East is not the first Others equipment region to tip in favor o f n e t wo r k v i d e o surveillance, it is one of the first outside of Western Europe and North America to do so. Source: IMS Research
53%
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47%
The DVLA uses the AEI service to allow drivers to renew their driver's licenses. By capturing drivers' photographs and digital signatures at Post Office branches, the service has automated a renewal process that occurs every ten years. Using AEI, the renewal process takes an average from 3.5 to 5 minutes. With over 750 AEI locations throughout the UK, the Post Office-3M Cogent partnership has successfully developed a proven and secure information system to capture the biometric information to the required quality standards for both agencies.
In-Flight Services Provider Enhances Safety and Service Quality with QNAP Security Solution LSG Sky Chefs, a provider of in-flight services, aims to provide quality food for the flying public. It has facilities worldwide, including a food preparation site in Egypt. As food safety and security are central priorities, LSG Sky Chefs needed to monitor and supervise the catering process on a 24/7 basis. Loss prevention was also essential for stock and refrigerator management. Employee locker room and storehouse are locations that required close attention as many losses and related events took place in those areas. “Food safety issues can be deadly and we needed to ensure a high standard of cleanliness,� said Hesham saad Eldin, IT Manager of LSG Sky Chefs. The NVR delivered stable performance, despite harsh environmental conditions and provided security and operational benefits. Theft in the employee locker area also dropped after the installation, with help from QNAP's surveillance and network storage solutions.
CORPORATE NEWS UAE Auto Dealer Test Drives Arecont Vision Panoramic Solution Arecont Vision's 8-megapixel day/night panoramic view cameras provide high-resolution images that help secure luxury automobiles and are a valuable business tool at Al Nabooda Automobiles in the United Arab Emirates. Al Nabooda Automobiles, an authorized dealer and exclusive distributor of Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen, has five showrooms and service centers across Dubai, United Arab Emirates and the northern emirates of Sharjah and Fujairah. The cameras are positioned to view the dealerships' sales floors and showrooms, workshops, parts and service entrances and other locations. The megapixel cameras enable a cost-effective solution by eliminating the need for mechanical pan-tilt-zoom devices and by reducing the overall number of cameras needed to provide
Fortune 20 Organization Expands PSIM Deployment from CNL Software CNL Software announced the expansion of one of its IPSecurityCenter PSIM deployments to protect staff, visitors, buildings and assets in over 425 office locations fanned out across six countries and three continents including the Americas, Europe and the Indian subcontinent. The solution is one of the largest and most complex PSIM deployments in the U.S. today. As with many Fortune 20 companies, the organization has grown both organically and through M&A activity, which brought about the rapid expansion of their physical security infrastructures thanks to the accumulation of disparate security systems, multiple command and control centers plus numerous procedures and processes. To meet the criteria, it was essential that the successful PSIM provider be able to provide references of large-scale deployments that have been running successfully for more than three years. "The US entity was the largest and most complex and as such the management team closely monitored and evaluated IPSecurityCenter's performance in other countries before finally launching the US project", explains Matthew Kushner, President of CNL Americas.
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detailed coverage of large areas. Now Al Nabooda Automobiles is able to provide a safer and more secure environment for employees and customers, prevent theft and minimize damage to vehicles in the showrooms, workshops and parking areas. As a business tool, the cameras help the luxur y dealership analyze customer traffic and evaluate customer support.
Hindu Houses of Worship in N. America Opt for Genetec Management Platform BAPS is a non-profit, socio-spiritual Hindu organization that provides guidance and inspiration to people to lead more enriched lives, morally, culturally and spiritually through youth activities and educational opportunities, precipitating and participating in charities and promoting family values. The organization began in 1907 in a small village in India and has since spread worldwide, generating more than 3,300 centers. The first North American BAPS facility was established in 1974 in a New York basement, and today there are approximately 70 locations within Canada and the United States. The search for a security platform first began when BAPS decided to deploy perimeter protection at a California location. They found themselves in need of a security solution that could integrate with and drive the perimeter protection component; therefore it was important to find an open platform that would easily integrate with third-party solutions. After testing a variety of products, BAPS integrated SightLogix’s automated outdoor video system and Genetec's Security Center software to create a comprehensive video solution.
Agricultural Operation in S. Dakota Leverages IQinVision System IQinVision announced that a large agricultural operation in central South Dakota has deployed an advanced IP surveillance system powered by IQinVision HD megapixel cameras and Milestone network video management software. Dakota Security Systems designed and installed the IP video and wireless mesh systems and provides continued technical support. Previously, the farm had employed an analog surveillance system that could only be viewed from a local TV monitor and did not offer high resolution images, remote access, flexibility, scalability, or ease of use. The owner was never able to get support for the equipment, which lost its value quickly after the system failed to recover after a power surge. Based on Dakota's recommendations, the owner decided to deploy an IP video surveillance system consisting of 2 HD indoor dome cameras and 12 HD exterior dome cameras. All cameras are managed by Milestone XProtect IP video software from the farm's central shop office. Together, IQinVision, Milestone Systems and Tropos Networks, provide the owner with the ability to remotely monitor and manage the safety and security of his agricultural operation.
CORPORATE NEWS Firetide, Lenel and Axis Team up to Provide Wireless Surveillance for Little League World Series Firetide announced that it has joined forces with Lenel Systems International and Axis Communications to create an extensive wireless video surveillance network that will play a critical role in keeping the 66th annual Little League Baseball World Series’ players and more than 400,000 expected spectators safe during the 10-day event. Providing a safe and fun environment during this annual summer tournament is often challenging for such a small town; but with the cooperation of the technology partners, the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police, local South Williamsport Police and LLBWS security forces, the annual tournament continues to provide a safe and secure, yet
Dublin Secondary School Locks Down Access Control With Salto Solution Located in South County Dublin, the Rosemont Secondary School for Girls, which caters to 350 students, recently moved into a brand new campus located on Enniskerry Road, Sandyford. This is an exciting development in the history of the school, which is now open for enrollment. School security is probably one of the most sensitive issues facing today's head teachers and trustees. Problems can happen quickly due to a wide range of incidents including strangers coming into the school, violent actions by children, parents or staff and burglary to name a few. Key elements to recommending Salto for this project were the flexibility of the system, its automatic lock ing abilit y, its use of M ifare technology and its stylish modern design. The XS4 solution programs keys to allow access to specific classrooms or other areas for specified t i m e p e r i o d s o n l y. I f s e c u r i t y i s breached due to the loss or theft of a key, it can be instantly deleted from the system without the need or cost of changing any locks — saving the school time and money.
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family-friendly atmosphere. For the past two years, the LLBWS has greatly improved its security technology by deploying Lenel access control and a mix of Axis IP-based digital surveillance cameras, and now this year, Firetide will contribute 13 outdoor mesh nodes to connect a real-time network of multiple IP cameras covering the vast majority of the 79-acre baseball complex and surrounding areas. “With increased security concerns and tougher economic pressures, temporary wireless video networks make sense for securing special events, be it a baseball tournament or a presidential national convention,” said Bo Larsson, CEO of Firetide.
Euro 2012 Fan Zone Counts on VCA Technology for Crowd Control VCA Technology’s video analytics played an important role ensuring the safety of football fans whilst they enjoyed the facilities at Warsaw's Fan Zone during Euro 2012. Entry was free and on a first come, first served basis. It was anticipated that the number of people wishing to enter could far exceed the safety level which was judged to be 95,000 people at any given time. By instantly analyzing the images captured by cameras, the video analytics software was able to instantly and accurately detect and count the exact number of people crossing a defined zone at each of the Fan Zone's entrances. All of the 44 GANZ encoders were integrated by CallNet.pl into one system, with a central server aggregating all the metadata into a single database. The Fan Zone was a great success with literally millions of people enjoying the brilliant atmosphere of the tournament. Most of the people present were probably unaware that they were being kept safe with the help of the innovative video analytics software.
Swedish Law Enforcement Deploys Fingerprint Identification from Morpho Morpho (Safran group) announced the first European deployment of MorphoBIS, its identification system, to the Swedish National Police Board (Rikspolisstyrelsen). This Automated Fingerprint Identification System is used for investigation, identification and verification in law enforcement applications. Already deployed to police services in the United States and Canada, this AFIS provides the speed and accuracy that can help to accelerate the speed in which crimes are solved. The system is compliant with the European Union's Prum Regulation, which allows the police forces of the 30 signatory countries to compare and exchange data more easily. The Swedish National Police Board is a long-term customer of Morpho. By choosing the company to upgrade their AFIS, Sweden has renewed their trust in Morpho's advanced biometric solutions.
NEWS FEATURE
Movers and Shakers in Channels
The convergence to IP is getting more solid in the physical security industry. a&s highlights some updates in worldwide distribution markets and the latest IP drivers which brought about some significant changes to channels. BY THE EDITORIAL TEAM
I
P networking technologies is not only changing the market and product strategies of manufacturers but also forcing the traditional security distributors to provide more value-added services to the market. During this transitional time, many strong IT product distributors also entered the physical security market. Ingram Micro rolled out a physical security practice in 2010 and it continued to expand its physical security division in 2011 in Canada. “We’ve already seen traditional IT vendors and distributors make moves into the physical security market. IBM and Cisco have both made some inroads in this space, and IT distributor Synnex has long dabbled in physical security. But global information technology distributor Ingram Micro is making a big push into physical security in Canada, following the footsteps of its U.S. counterpart…Ingram is positioning itself as more of a value-added distributor in the physical security segment,” said Ingram Micro in a prepared speech. “The convergence of IT security and physical security is spreading, and it is clear that IP technology will be the driving force behind overall growth in the video surveillance industry,” said John Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Sales, ADI. “Dealers need to embrace this technology and recognize the opportunity for potential growth.”
UPDATES IN WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION MARKETS A headline in the distribution market this year is the acquisition of Aasset by TKH to strengthen its expansion in security this March. Aasset
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is a leading provider of security solutions and video surveillance, and offers added-value services such as designing of architectures, development of specialized software and sourcing of equipment. TKH is an internationally operating group of companies specializing in creating and supplying innovative systems and networks for the provision of information, telecommunication, electro-technical engineering and industrial production. The acquisition of Aasset boosted TKH’s operating base, particularly in the French and German security markets. Within the security cluster, TKH made major headway in increasing the synergy between the security companies, through a further clustering of competencies and the focus of sales teams on specific markets. TKH invested heavily in the field of video management and video content analysis particularly. However, postponed traffic infrastructure projects in Europe had a negative impact on growth of TKH’s security sector this year.
“We’ve already seen traditional IT vendors and distributors make moves into the physical security market.
Negative news came from the U.K. distribution market. Norbain announced that its U.K. operation (including export) was acquired by Newbury Investments (UK) from the administrator KPMG. Will Wright, joint administrator at KPMG commented, “Norbain’s business was adversely affected by a decline in orders as customers decided to wait and see if the economy would improve before investing in infrastructure projects. The fall in income was a key factor in the company entering into administration."
SOME RECENT CHANGES IN CHANNELS ARE SUMMARIZED AS FOLLOWS: VSAAS GETTING STRONG IN THE MARKET Moonblink Communications announced that a Las Vegas Internet service provider, Top Speed Internet Service, has successfully deployed Moonblink’s cloud-based video surveillance as a service (VSaaS) for a retail store located on the Las Vegas strip. Moonblink’s service, powered by EMC and Axis Communications, reduces the upfront hardware
costs as well as ongoing maintenance and management, thus removing the barriers that kept many companies from deploying video surveillance today. This hosted video surveillance solution will help enable businesses like Top Speed to deploy video surveillance solutions where they were previously unable to do so, by greatly reducing the cost and complexity.
STRONG GROWTH FOR EXTERNAL ENTERPRISE STORAGE IMS Research forecasts strong growth for the world market for external enterprise storage platforms used for video surveillance, with an average annual growth rate of 52 percent for storage capacity shipped from 2010 to 2016. In comparison, internal enterprise storage platforms are forecast to see 36 percent growth over the same period. Despite the strong growth for both storage platforms, external storage is forecast to displace internal storage as the dominant storage platform in 2014. A consequence of an increased use of external platforms is that many IT vendors have seen strengthening traction
www.asmag.com
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NEWS FEATURE
of their storage solutions for use in video surveillance applications. Over the past few years, vendors such as EMC, Pivot3, DDN and HP to name a few, have seen an increase in their market share for video surveillance storage solutions. Sam Grinter, Market Analyst at IMS Research continued, “For new IT vendors looking to enter the market it is important to establish strong partnerships in the video surveillance industry. Many successful IT vendors have partnered with VMS providers and have created strong lists of value added resellers and integrators who understand their storage solutions.”
ĺ The convergence of IP and traditional security sales channels accelerates due to the continued
training and education.
UNIFYING CYBER AND PHYSICAL SECURITY CNL Software’s PSIM solution partnered with RADiFlow, a provider of innovative secure communication solutions for critical infrastructure. The combined capabilities will enable the detection, resolution and management of both cyber and physical attacks within a single solution. The project has been accelerated by increasing demand for a converged solution which not only manages disparate physical security technologies, such as perimeter detection systems, ACS and CCTV, but also allows cyber threats to be raised within the PSIM solution. The two companies are working on a joint solution at one of the largest water treatment plants in the U.S. HID Global also expanded its portfolio of converged logical and physical access solutions. “Combining logical and physical access on one credential improves user convenience while increasing security and reducing deployment and operational costs,” said Helmut Dansachmueller, Senior Director, Product Marketing of HID Global.
QUALITY TRAINING TO SECURITY INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS In order to increase general understanding of IP technologies and trigger the market awareness to the benefits of IP, the different channels in physical security all regard training and market education as the most important tool for marketing. On the manufacturing side, IP video leading brands, Axis and Milestone, offer good examples. Now some traditional security players pick up IP knowledge very fast. In the market, they are seeing the convergence of IP and traditional security sales channels due to the continued training and education. Axis started its partner training program in 2005 and more than 25,000
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participants have been trained. “Apart from offering a base choice of programs and an advanced choice, Axis can tailor training programs for larger customer segments, among others. During 2012, strong focus is being placed on offering more diversified training programs that meet the new needs in the market,” said Ray Mauritsson, CEO of Axis Communications. Some companies started to focus on in-depth training toward IP technology and how it turns to business value. Milestone worked together with Connex International to create a visionary training initiative for the company’s global network of authorized partners: an in-depth course on value selling. It makes up the ‘backbone’ of knowledge that is important for understanding both the IT and traditional physical security perspectives. “Attendees learn how to apply value selling practices by going through real-world sales situations so they can create consistency in the sales process, to develop a sales/coaching culture and to model sales skills that bring success,” said Lars Thinggaard, CEO of Milestone Systems. “Milestone sees more ‘green fields’ or brand-new implementation projects — those being built from the ground up for new sites, new buildings or wings — choosing to go all IP with open platforms and comprehensive features. They are putting in the latest in IT networks and understand the value of distributed architecture with central management and remote/mobile access flexibility, standard equipment (as opposed to proprietary) cost efficiency, and future-proof scalability with integrations to other systems.” The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) also announced earlier the creation of a brand new section of membership exclusively for companies providing quality training to security industry personnel.
NEWS FEATURE
School Bus Pilot Program to Ensure Children Safety Over the course of the past year, a pilot program called Student Guardian has been testing out its effectiveness in a few selected towns across America. The program promises to increase the safety of children getting on and off school buses. a&s takes a closer look into what this program can offer. BY CHRISTINE CHIEN
R
edflex Traffic Systems, a red light camera company in the United States, integrated Basler IP cameras onto school buses in order to capture and record the license plates of violators who fail to stop when the stop arm from the bus is deployed. The Redflex Student Guardian program, launched in 2011, will be fully funded by the fines collected from the citations issued; tax payers need not worry about going into their own pockets to finance the program. This particular point will definitely garner more supporters for the program. After all, it is for the safety of America’s children. The program was created because statistics showed that the presence of cameras significantly reduced traffic violations. Once motorists come to realize that school buses are being equipped with cameras and thus citations can be issued, they will be less inclined to ignore the school buses’ stop arms. By keeping potential offenders at bay, children are less likely to fall victim to vehicular accidents when ascending and descending from school buses. Under the program, school buses are equipped with high resolution cameras in the front and the rear driver’s side of the bus. The system is activated by the bus’ stop arm; every time it drops, the cameras will start filming and recording the road conditions. In addition, the cameras are designed to monitor three lanes of traffic at all times. If a motorist were to illegally pass the bus, the cameras will film the footage in high-definition and take high-resolution pictures of the license plate and driver. This system was first implemented because of the enormous amount of illegal passes made by motorists when school buses stopped to pick up or drop off children. Just last year, the Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services conducted the first national survey to evaluate the frequency of this
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occurrence. The survey monitored 112,000 buses in 28 states and the results are shocking — around 76,000 illegal passes were recorded by bus drivers in just one single day. This means more than 13 million illegal passes in a regular school year — about 180 days. As of right now, the program is already being carried out in ten states and there are at least ten more states considering to enroll; the states include Washington, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Texas, Arizona, New J e r s e y, N e w Y o r k , Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. C u r r e n t l y, there are two cities in Connecticut implementing this system.
The data collected from the cameras on the buses will let the public know which cities and routes are the most dangerous. Central Valley will be the first school district in Spokane, Washington to launch this pilot program; the program will run until the end of the school year. This program is a free trail offered by Redflex. After the school year is over and depending on the data collected, the school board will decide whether they want to keep and expand the system or not. Right now, during the pilot run, violators will not receive citations as purpose of the pilot program is to gather data in order to better protect school children. However, this will change once the district decides to keep and use the system. If the district does decide to keep the system, it will only be installed on around ten percent of the district’s buses because of its staggering price. It will cost around US$80,000 to install a system onto each bus (inclusive of administrative costs). Henry County of Georgia will equip three of their buses with Student Guardian. A young boy was fatally struck by a car while waiting at his local bus stop, just one day
before the governor signed into a law that was supposed to prevent such accidents. Examples like this underscore the importance of security measures that hold offenders accountable for their crimes and in addition can possibly act as a pre-emptive deterrent. Corpus Christi of Texas is another town that is currently testing out the Student Guardian. Ten buses will be equipped with the system for a 90-day free trial. Corpus Christi town officials often receive complaints from bus drivers as well as motorists concerning violators who ignore the school bus’ stop arm. In February of this year, two motorists and a student were sent to the local hospital because a car was sent spinning into a school bus after being grazed by a car who failed to stop when the stop arm was deployed. It is not certain whether this pilot program will be short-lived once the trial period is over; however, it is certain that video monitoring does reduce the percentage of accident rates. Despite the initial hefty installation fee, the program will be able to fund itself with the fines collected from violators.
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SSEEP SEP SEPT EPT 220 2012 01122
Watching Over
Gaming Tables With HD
BY TEVIN WANG
While analog systems in casinos have worked well in the past, HD video offers sharp images and clear benefits. However, despite of the crystal clear images, the upfront costs of a complete overhaul with HD deployments remain an obstacle to wider uptake. Also, what is less clear is how users should embrace this technology and what they should expect from it. More education is required. We explore the state and potential of HD deployment in casinos.
HD POTENTIALS IN CASINO Faced with numerous security challenges such as false claims, employee theft, table game scams, money laundering and drugs, casinos around the U.S. are
upgrading their surveillance to ensure customer and employee safety. Currently, many casinos are still tied to analog camera solutions. “Of the tens of thousands of cameras monitoring and recording the 700 plus gaming properties in
North America, we estimate less than 10 percent are currently IP and even fewer are full HD IP,� said John Katnic, VP of Global Gaming at Synectic Systems. The HD migration pace in the gaming industry differs by region. In North
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America, the migration is fast. “Most newly built casinos are opening with IP infrastructures and at least a hybrid combination of analog and network cameras. Existing analog facilities are introducing network cameras to their analog environments at a rapid pace” According to Scott Paul, Senior Product Marketing Manager of Pelco by Schneider Electric, Nevada, is showing great potentials. “Roughly 25 percent of the operators are fully digital. The remaining have yet to make the transition to digital or HD.” “The casino and gaming market is expected to experience a gradual increase between 5 and 10 percent in network video surveillance product sales through 2014 in North America,” said Steve Surfaro, Security Industry Liaison, Axis Communications. “The gaming industry is one segment where the adoption of IP technology has been slower. While this market continues to accept and adopt network cameras, the market share for analog cameras will shrink approximately two to five percent. The Gulf Coast in the U.S. will be a prime target for legacy system upgrades in a few years, especially in Mississippi and Louisiana. Native American gaming in Mississippi and Alabama is also expected to drive considerable growth. The Oklahoma gaming market continues to upgrade from analog to IP with virtually all new installations on the gaming floor using IP video. You even have certain local gaming commissions, like the South Dakota Gaming Commission, who are mandating that any table with US$100 or more limits must be covered by high-definition cameras.” Avigilon is optimistic about the HD potentials in the gaming vertical. “The growth potential for HD
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cameras in casinos is exponential. If we take into account that there are over 500,000 analog cameras operating in North American casinos alone, and the total number of units worldwide likely exceeds one million analog cameras, that translates to a lot of growth potential for HD cameras in casinos,” said Douglas Florence, CPP, Business Development Director of Global Gaming at Avigilon. “The likelihood of HD adoption has improved greatly since 2007 when we first saw a few Native American casinos install their first megapixel or HD cameras on table games.” Many reasons ignite the increase in HD adoption. For instance, “the improved total cost of ownership for HD systems, the decrease in the cost of storage and the introduction of policies that avoid charging recurring IP licensing costs for operation, “ Florence added.
nations,” said Katnic. “Table games benefit by being able to distinguish a Queen of Spades from a King of Clubs from a ceiling mounted camera 20 feet from the table. This is particularly true of fixed cameras because operators can digitally zoom into an HD shot with less pixilation compared to a fixed analog picture.” HD solution is best suited especially where money is being counted out to a player. “It provides much better visual information to the surveillance team over table games to watch card handling, money exchanges, card identification and chip values,” said Surfaro. “In the cash cages and other money handling areas, HD is very well suited due to the capability of identification of denominations on the bills, such as when a dispute exists between the cashier and the patron over an amount received. The use of
HD DEPLOYMENT Cash cage, registers and table games are mostly seen with HD deployment as picture quality in these areas is most important. “We have typically seen HD on the areas such as game tables, slot machines, cashier ’s cage, PoS terminals or the vault while standard definition IP cameras on the remaining areas,” said Scott Bartlett, CEO of Southwest Surveillance Systems. “Cash cages and registers benefit from HD, which makes it easier to visually confirm currency denomi-
▲ Cash cage, registers and table games are mostly seen with HD deployment.
John Katnic, VP Global Gaming at Synectic Systems
Steve Surfaro, Security Industry Liaison, Axis Communications
Scott Paul, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Pelco by Schneider Electric
HD cameras and redundant coverage on 'high stakes and high limit slots and tables is becoming more of a 'standard' as recognition of negative behavior like card counting is more likely.” According to Paul, entry and exit locations are also hot spots for HD solutions, as most casinos often have excellent relationships with
local authorities and are frequently requested to provide quality footage for the identification purposes for people of interest. This has been a big driver for the adoption of HD. HD solutions might be further used in all areas of casinos wherever the cost is justified by the content being monitored. “In the past, the primary focus for HD solutions started out
at table games,” said Florence. “However, surveillance directors soon began adding cameras to areas with slot machines and casino cages, as well as restaurants, count rooms, casino entrances and parking areas. Most demonstrations start out at table games and once security directors experience the clarity HD cameras provide, the desire to add more HD product grows. From there it snowballs, casino operation executives learn they can make a more informed decision on a dispute or reduce false liability claims due to the amazing clarity of HD cameras. The investment pays for itself.”
LEGAL ISSUES In the U.S., regulations require that real-time continuous recording is mandated for all gaming activities
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and the minimum duration is seven days. However, many casinos opt for greater retention times for various operational and security reasons. “Retention rates vary by country, state and what’s being recorded or viewed,” Katnic said. “A few US states, like Wisconsin, require 30 days of recording for all cameras. Most others, including Las Vegas and other major gaming jurisdictions require a minimum of 7 to 14 days. Some regulators require 14 days for gaming, cages and count rooms and just a week for slots, parking lots, etc. Singapore and Macau casinos typically require 30 days of retained video for gaming areas.” Security industry regulations can be a major obstacle for casino operators implementing new technologies. Many of the regulations are drafted around analog technologies and there are fewer specific requirements in relation to a particular HD resolution such as 720p or 1,080p. “Most regulations and standards were written years ago and evolved around analog video capability,” Florence said. “The standard across most international, regional and local regulations is that the video produces 30 fps to provide real-time monitoring.” Most operators choose to store 30 fps for most everything, according to Paul. “Nevada requires 30 fps for a minimum of seven days for gaming operations and 2 to 7 fps for non-gaming. Live viewing is always 30 fps. Everything digital is required to be redundant and as fail safe as technically possible.” Besides fps regulations, redundancy and resiliency are crucial as well. Lost video footages can equate instant fines upwards of $100,000. “Most of the regulators that we come across require some basic standards, most
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▲ Budget remains one of the biggest issues when considering the upgrade to an HD system.
of which are in regards to resiliency. We see requirements such as some type of RAID configuration on storage but not specific to RAID 5, RAID 6 or otherwise,” Bartlett said. “There are also stringent requirements in Nevada that require no more than eight gaming cameras to a piece of hardware such as a network switch. This is in order to avoid catastrophic failure. We have gotten around this requirement with redundant power supplies, fans and the like. Again, the more resiliency, the better for casino applications.”
CHALLENGES Budget remains one of the biggest issues when considering the upgrade to an HD system. In this economy, the best option may be to phase slowly from an analog system to a hybrid system. Providers need to provide a simple, scalable way to make the migration to HD. “Most casinos currently implement a hybrid/IP approach using standard
definition which allows them to leverage off existing analog matrix technology,” Paul said. The new system architecture needs to align itself with the existing system design. Another challenge with HD is the processing power of the camera, as not all HD cameras are as powerful as manufacturers claimed. “We are seeing HD deployed in the gaming and money areas only. The drivers are the technology itself. We need to maintain a high frame rate with the high definition and on multiple streams,” Bartlett said. “The typical casino would like to have a 10 or 20 megapixel camera that can send multiple streams of 30 fps video and that isn’t going to be for a while. We are starting to see three and five megapixel cameras and higher frame rates , but are still away from this being a reality. Once the technology 'catches up’ and can meet those demands, I feel you will see a lot more HD deployments.”