Security Electronics & Networks Magazine

Security Managers ◆ Integrators ◆ IT Managers ◆ Installers FEBRUARY 2020 ISSUE 417

l Nedap Joins SecTech Roadshow 2020 l BSH Wins $A3 Million Hobart Prison Upgrade

BEST SECURITY PRODUCTS OF 2019

l Hornsby Council Takes Access Control To Cloud l Taxicomms Installs Hikvision For Black & White Cabs l Measuring Voltage, Current and Resistance l The Interview: Wade Anderson, Bravis Security l Alarm Monitoring: The Year Ahead l Special Report: PTZ or Multi-head Cameras? l Review: Panasonic WV-S2550L 5MP Dome

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editorial S E CU RI TY E L ECTR O NI C S & NETWO R KS FE B R UARY ISSUE 41 7

By John Adams

NEW DIRECTIONS FOR OUR NETWORKED FUTURE artner IT’s technology G trends of 2020 make for interesting reading and what seems most clear about the future is that integrators and manufacturers are going to need to hang onto their customers’ operational requirements for dear life.

It isn’t just that there’s plenty going on in technology at the moment, it’s the layered complexity of things – not only in terms of technology but in terms of use case and social acceptance.

Technology has reached a point of such possibility that it’s beginning to feel distracting. Importantly, many of the electronic security industry’s best proven technologies are part of the mix – there’s no chance we will be left behind – but it’s going to take careful consideration to establish what is worth keeping up with.

For a start Gartner sees hyperautomation based on AI and machine learning that will automate processes in a way traditional automation hasn’t been able to manage yet. We’re talking about managing AI and content intelligence when it comes to security electronics, though it will also be applied to manufacturing and process control. With all this AI we’re going to need AI security of an elevated level. According to Gartner, future AI security will depend on protection of AI-powered systems; security of AI training data and trained pipelines and machine learning models; leveraging AI to enhance security defence; and utilizing machine learning and automated cyber security procedures so as to uncover attacks, anticipate attacks and defend against attacks.

Next comes multiexperience or ambient experience, which will be a switch from a 2-D screen and keyboard interface to a dynamic multimode interface in which operators would be immersed within interactive technology.

Gartner sees hyper-automation based on AI and machine learning that will automate processes in a way traditional automation hasn’t been able to manage yet.

When you’re managing multi-input situational awareness, the notion of AI-enabled conversation platforms might be a powerful technology.

The ability to display augmented technology – a real time rendering of a site including an intruder with detail coming from live cameras and sensors has its attractions – and its distractions.

Something else Gartner sees having an impact is the democratisation of technology – this is a key area Gartner defines as a focus on application development, data and analytics, design, and knowledge. This includes development sharing and the citizen developer – a sort of lateral movement which allows society to move technology forward via hive mind not limited to R&D departments.

Next comes human augmentation – technology will be used to deliver cognitive and physical enhancements to people such as defence, law enforcement, firefighters and security teams, allowing them to react faster and more effectively. This will include the implementation of smart wearables that will increase safety, enhance operations, improve efficiency and improve personal security.

Security people have been talking about the edge for many years and we’re getting to a point where the empowered edge might become an even more real thing. So many of the industry’s sensors qualify as empowered edge devices, it’s a label that might apply to security electronics generally. There’s edge computing but it’s really system-onchip smart devices communicating via secure low power comms channels like Z-Wave and ZigBee that appeal most.

The empowered edge sweeps up IoT and includes autonomous devices, which in our industry might include drones, robots and automated AI-powered PTZs that check in only to report a crime. But it could apply just as readily to clever multi-sensors in smart home applications that detect movement, smoke, water, record and store image streams and communicate with users and monitoring companies.

Then there’s distributed cloud – the cloud that’s wherever it needs to be.

In a way distributed cloud is a sort of surrender to the challenge of moving big data through myriad small pipes.

Anyone who works entirely in the cloud – that includes SEN – knows just what a living death it can be accessing serious amounts of information from a location that does not have fast ethernet grade internet. It’s like returning to the year 1998. You open a folder of images then go away and make a cup of coffee.

For the electronic security industry distributed cloud is important because it combines the best things about cloud with physical proximity, allowing the sort of big, secure links our systems demand. With more organisations going to cloud to save space, money, and to enhance the security and reliability of their networks, integrators will be getting increased face time with distributed cloud to the point it’s worth keeping lists of local data centres.

It’s a baffling and exciting take on technology that suggests the future will have a serious impact on our electronic security technologies while fuelling a fierce hunger for their uptake. n

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20: TAXICOMMS INSTALLS HIKVISION FOR BLACK & WHITE CABS

FEB 20 10: NEDAP JOINS SECTECH ROADSHOW 2020 Nedap has joined SecTech Roadshow 2020 – exhibitors now include Nedap, BGWT, dormakaba, LSC, Mobotix, Pelco, Salto, UNV, VSP, Tiandy, Video Alarm Technologies, ASSA ABLOY now signed up – along with principal sponsor Dahua and lanyard sponsor Video Security Products.

Taxicomms has installed its customised Hikvision mobile CCTV solution TaxicamHD for 850 Brisbane-based Black & White Cabs as part of a national roll-out across 2300 P2P Transport taxis nationally. The system comprises internal and external cameras and rugged DVRs, with footage of events accessed by Qld TMR-approved downloaders for Queensland Police.

28: MEASURING VOLTAGE, CURRENT AND RESISTANCE When you’re installing, commissioning or trouble shooting electronic security systems, measuring voltage, current and resistance are at the heart of your skillset.

32: WADE ANDERSON, BRAVIS SECURITY

BSH Electrical has won a $A3 million electronic security tender for the Hobart Reception Prison in Tasmania.

Wade Anderson, general manager of Bravis Security is second generation security industry, having grown up in the family business, Blue Security, in South Africa. Anderson’s experience in these 2 markets, and elsewhere around the world, gives him a compelling perspective on the electronic security industry in Australia.

14: HORNSBY COUNCIL TAKES ACCESS CONTROL TO CLOUD

36: BEST SECURITY PRODUCTS OF 2019

10: BSH ELECTRICAL WINS $A3 MILLION HOBART PRISON SECURITY UPGRADE

Ryan McGovern’s secCloud access control, intrusion detection and automation solution is currently being installed across 25 Hornsby Shire Council sites.

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What were the best electronic security products of 2019 and where do they fit into the fast evolving security market of the future as we move forward into a new decade? Turns out

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54 28 44

20

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things are even more complicated than they look.

44: PTZ OR MULTI-HEAD CAMERAS? When it comes to choosing camera form factor, it can be hard to know what’s best in larger applications – PTZ or multi-head. Complicating the options further still are multi-head cameras with integrated central PTZs. 50: REVIEW: PANASONIC WV-S2550L 5MP DOME

Security Managers ◆ Integrators ◆ IT Managers ◆ Installers

l Nedap Joins SecTech Roadshow 2020

BEST SECURITY PRODUCTS OF 2019

l BSH Wins $A3 Million Hobart Prison Upgrade l Hornsby Council Takes Access Control To Cloud l Taxicomms Installs Hikvision For Black & White Cabs l Measuring Voltage, Current and Resistance l The Interview: Wade Anderson, Bravis Security l Alarm Monitoring: The Year Ahead l Special Report: PTZ or Multi-head Cameras? l Review: Panasonic WV-S2550L 5MP Dome

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Publisher Bridge Publishing Aust. Pty Ltd ABN 11 083 704 858 PO Box 237 Darlinghurst NSW 1300 tel 61 2 9280 4425 fax 61 2 9280 4428 email info@bridge publishing.com.au

Latest business, product and technical news from Australia and around the world.

42: MONITORING There are plenty of trends in the alarm monitoring and home automation markets but pulling them into a clear shape of the future isn’t the easiest thing to do. The one thing that is apparent is communications paths are the key.

54: EDITOR’S CHOICE

Panasonic WV-S2550L is an i-PRO 5MP vandal resistant dome camera featuring native H.265 + Smart Coding, colour night vision rated at 0.0044-.07 lux, integrated IR, Super Dynamic WDR performance of 120dB, FIPS 140-2 Level 1, IK10 against vandalism and IP66 against dust and water.

FEBRUARY 2020 ISSUE 417

10: NEWS

What’s new from our manufacturers.

56: HELPDESK Our team of electronic security experts answers your tough technical questions.

Editor John Adams Advertising Manager Monique Keatinge Customer Service Annette Mathews tel 61 2 9280 4425 annette@bridge publishing.com.au

Design Tania Simanowsky e: tania@ taniasdesign.com.au

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Gallagher’s V8.10 Added To The GSA Approved Product List p.12 Anixter Accepts Wesco’s $US4.5B Buyout Offer p.14 PMT Security Upgrades Engineering Services, Remote Support p.16 CCTV Upgrade For Central Coast Stadium p.18

NEWS IN BRIEF F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 0

COMPILED BY JOHN ADAMS

NEDAP JOINS SECTECH ROADSHOW 2020 n Nedap has joined SecTech Roadshow 2020 – exhibitors now include Nedap, BGWT, dormakaba, LSC, Mobotix, Pelco, Salto,

UNV, VSP, Tiandy, Video Alarm Technologies, ASSA ABLOY now signed up – along with principal sponsor Dahua and lanyard

sponsor Video Security Products.

Nedap specialises in systems for long-range identification, wireless

vehicle detection and city access control with a focus on identifying people and vehicles without delaying them.

Now in its 6th year, SecTech Roadshow is a touring tradeshow that covers 5 Australian state capitals over 2 weeks every year in May and is projected to draw 2500 high-quality attendees in 2020 after an excellent turnout in 2019. Exhibitors are a select group of 20 cutting-edge electronic security manufacturers and suppliers.

The compact size and local venues make Vlado Damjanovski SecTech Roadshow the

perfect opportunity for installers and end users to get face time with leading suppliers and manufacturers and their solutions in a vibrant halfday in 5 mainland capitals.

But limited space means exhibitors need to move fast to secure a spot on the SecTech RoadTrain.

SecTech 2020 hits the Perth Convention Centre on May 7, Adelaide Showgrounds on May 12, Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on May 14, Melbourne’s MCEC on May 19 and RICC in Brisbane on May 21. Call Monique Keatinge on 61 2 9280 4425 to book your space!

BSH ELECTRICAL WINS $A3 MILLION HOBART PRISON SECURITY UPGRADE

INTERLOGIX AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES NEW DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIP

n BSH Electrical has won a $A3 million electronic security tender for the Hobart Reception Prison in Tasmania. An RFT was released last October seeking an electrical services contractor for the Hobart Reception Prison (HRP) Electronic Security System (ESS) upgrade.

Requirements included procuring a system in line with the functional specification, executing installation, commissioning and handover of the electronic security system

n Interlogix Australia and National Security & Surveillance (NSS), a Melbourne-based distributor specialising in commercial products for the security industry, have formed a partnership.

Interlogix products that will be carried by NSS include TruVision video recorders and camera solutions, the IFS ES Series of Web Smart PoE+ managed switches for camera surveillance systems and ZeroWire, a self-contained, wireless security and lifestyle enhancement system for homes.

“Interlogix Australia is excited about this new partnership with National Security & Surveillance,” said Philip Brown, general manager, Interlogix Australia. “The team at NSS is dedicated to providing true customer service, working with customers to provide a solution that fits their needs right through to high quality post-sales service. This is what we expect from a distributor.”

to the Department of Justice.

BSH Electrical is a Tasmanian-owned and operated electrical contracting business with offices in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie, that was founded in 1985.

BSH employs over 80 carefully selected people and provides such services as power, lighting, security, communication, nurse call, fire detection, CCTV and facility maintenance to all areas of the state, including outlying islands.

Interlogix is a part of Carrier, a leading global provider of innovative HVAC, refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies.

This new partnership provides customers in Melbourne and regional Victoria with a range of leading solutions in the consumer smart home and commercial space.

NSS is a privately-owned Australian company established in 2006. The founding directors each have over 30 years of experience in the security

wholesale industry and have successfully provided solutions to the private sector as well as government, financial and correctional facilities throughout Australia.

THE TEAM AT NSS IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING TRUE CUSTOMER SERVICE, WORKING WITH CUSTOMERS TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION THAT FITS THEIR NEEDS.

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NEWS F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 0

GALLAGHER’S V8.10 ADDED TO THE GSA APPROVED PRODUCT LIST n Global security technology manufacturer, Gallagher, has announced that PIV Command Centre v8.10 has been tested and approved for listing on the GSA Approved Product List.

This approval covers both 13.01 and 13.02 topologies and allows v8.10 to be sold to the U.S Federal security market.

“This latest approval demonstrates our commitment to keeping U.S Federal customers up-to-date with the latest

THIS LATEST APPROVAL DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO KEEPING U.S FEDERAL CUSTOMERS UPTO-DATE WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY CHANGES

technology changes,” said Scott Elliott, VP of North America for Gallagher. “We understand that cyber security is a critical concern for our customers, and PIV Command Centre v8.10 showcases our ongoing investment in this area.”

Command Centre v8.10 continues to build on Gallagher’s cyber security strengths, as does recently released Security Health Check utility. An industry first, Gallagher’s Security Health Check tool is an award-winning cyber auditing solution which is available free to anyone operating or installing a Gallagher security management system.

Designed to help their commercial and government customers identify and mitigate

DANIEL ACOTT BIDS FAREWELL TO SCSI

security and cyber vulnerabilities and threats across the Enterprise Physical Access Control System (EPACS),

Security Health Check also audits credentials, reader configuration and certificate validation settings, to ensure

that Federal Physical Access Control Systems (PACS) are installed and configured according to FICAM policy.

OPERA HOUSE SECURITY SOLUTION: OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW n Rumours are swirling about the integrated security solution to be installed at the Sydney Opera House, with the combination of technologies chosen certain to catapult security management at the site into the 21st century.

While we can’t clarify any specifics yet, word is the over-arching management system is locally developed and is

being used at a number of high security sites across the country. Meanwhile, the combined access control, automation and intrusion detection solution remains up for grabs, with the 2 leading contenders being highly respected local manufacturers – one from Australia, the other from New Zealand.

On the video surveillance side, all the leading players

remain in contention, with the selected option likely to provide best integration and performance with other core system components, as well as being open to future development. Selection of CCTV cameras is another key choice and that’s likely to come down to strength of integration and efficiency – particularly on the analytics side. More to follow.

Daniel Acott (left)

n Daniel Acott of SCSI (pictured left) will relocate to the UK to further his professional development and take advantage of the opportunities available in Europe, according to SCSI’s Daniel Canazi.

“As technical BDM at SCSI for the last few years, Dan has personally contributed his technical know-how in many areas, assisting SCSI to bring new products to the

forefront of our industry,” Cananzi said.

“Although he will be missed greatly, we wish him the very best of luck in his future endeavours and we look forward to hearing about all his new travels and experiences.

“Dan’s role as technical BDM has been handed over to Pete Collie. Dan’s shoes will take a bit of filling, but we are confident that Pete’s the right man for the job.”

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NEWS F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 0

ANIXTER ACCEPTS WESCO’S $US4.5B BUYOUT OFFER n Anixter, which owns CSD, Inner Range and Atlas Gentech in the ANZ market, reports it will be acquired by electronics and communications giant, Wesco, for $US4.5 billion.

The agreement has been

approved by the boards of both companies. The transaction is subject to Anixter stockholder approval, as well as regulatory approval in the United States, Canada and certain other

foreign jurisdictions, and customary closing conditions. The companies anticipate completing the transaction during the second or third quarter of 2020.

The agreement concludes a bidding war between Wesco and an affiliate of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R). Anixter’s initial agreement in October to be acquired by the private equity firm for $81 a share in cash was terminated after CD&R waived its matching rights under the agreement. Under terms of the merger agreement, Wesco will pay the equivalent of $100 for each Anixter share outstanding, including

HORNSBY COUNCIL TAKES ACCESS CONTROL TO CLOUD n Ryan McGovern’s secCloud access control, intrusion detection and automation solution is currently being installed across 25 Hornsby Shire Council sites.

“We are delighted to have been chosen by Hornsby Shire Council to supply and install an electronic access control system across its 25 community centres,” said secCloud’s Ryan McGovern.

According to McGovern, Hornsby Shire Council wanted to have one Ryan McGovern

security system set up across 25 community centres, with remote monitoring of bookings and usage at all times.

“The system needed to integrate with the already operating facilities management system, Infor Pathways,” he said.

“Council was looking for a supplier which could offer 24/7 support and an ongoing training and maintenance service and our secCloud managed security system fitted the bill.

COUNCIL WAS LOOKING FOR A SUPPLIER WHICH COULD OFFER 24/7 SUPPORT AND AN ONGOING TRAINING AND MAINTENANCE SERVICE AND OUR SECCLOUD MANAGED SECURITY SYSTEM FITTED THE BILL. “Our system was already successfully integrated with Infor Pathways online booking system for other clients and with our security operations centre up and running we could offer 24/7 monitoring of CCTV footage.

“Our installation programme is now well underway and is due for completion by mid-2020 and once completed we will provide an ongoing training and maintenance service to Hornsby Shire Council.”

The secCloud solution was developed by Ryan McGovern, electronics general manager at Independent Locksmiths & Security. Functionality includes access control, intruder alarms and building automation.

$70 in cash, 0.2397 shares of Wesco common stock and preferred stock consideration valued at $15.89 for each Anixter share.

Wesco said it expects to realize “cost synergies of more than $200 million by the end of year three through efficiencies in corporate and regional overhead, including duplicative public company costs, branch and distribution center optimization, and productivity in procurement, field operations, and supply chain.”

“The transformational combination of Wesco and Anixter will create

a premier electrical and data communications distribution and supply chain services company,” said John Engel, Wesco’s chairman, president, and CEO. “With increased scale and complementary capabilities, we will be ideally positioned to digitize our business, expand our extensive services portfolio and supply chain offerings, and deliver solutions to our customers whenever and wherever they need them around the globe.”

The acquisition creates an electrical, electronic security and data communications distribution business with $US17 billion in revenues.

BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL PLANS MAJOR ELECTRONIC SECURITY UPGRADE

n Brisbane City Council has been to tender seeking comprehensive electronic security solutions.

Brisbane City Council sought offers for the provision of electronic security and related services which encompass the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of electronic systems including security alarms, wireless and fixed-point duress, access control, intercoms, emergency call points (ECPs) and closed-

circuit television (CCTV) systems.

City of Brisbane administers a significant portion of the Brisbane metropolitan area, serving almost half of the population of the Brisbane Greater Capital City Statistical Area. It has a larger population than any other local government area in Australia – more than 1,250,000 in 2020. City of Brisbane administers a budget of more than $A3 billion, by far the largest budget of any local government area in Australia.

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E N T E RTA I N

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DATIONS ABLED TO CURITY HE N AND NING ANCE

NEWS F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 0

SATEL SIGNS DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH SECURITY DISTRIBUTORS AUSTRALIA n Access control and intrusion detection manufacturer SATEL has signed a distribution agreement with Perthbased Security Distributors Australia, a leading provider of alarm, access control and CCTV systems.

SATEL’s range of electronic security products includes control panels, sirens, detectors, monitoring stations equipment and software, radio controllers and switching mode power supplies.

“I am very excited to introduce SATEL’s innovative products to the Australian market, said

Wayne Krahner, managing director, Security Distributors Australia.

“The first product in the range to be introduced is the PERFECTA Hybrid Control panel with models that include onboard 4G LTE modules and also offer access to cloud programming. This new product line will offer our installers and integrators a wide range of high-quality products that are simple to use and install, all at an attractive price. In doing so, we hope to give you a competitive advantage in a forever growing market.”

“In the first half of 2020 there will be further

announcements regarding the new range of products including the powerful but simple PERFECTA 4G alarm panel, state of the art detection devices as

well as a universal 4G/LTE communications module.

“Security Distributors Australia will also be offering sales and technical training days

throughout 2020 so make sure you sign up to our mailing list to receive the latest information and our training schedule around the country.”

PMT SECURITY UPGRADES ENGINEERING SERVICES, REMOTE SUPPORT n PMT Security has upgraded the capabilities of its engineering team over the past 12 months and is able to provide full remote support for a wide range of security and network deployments and solutions, according to the company.

The Melbourne-based security integrator is also able to deploy and manage virtual solutions off-premises, saving customers time and reducing the total-costof-ownership for many security services.

“We have raised the bar significantly in recent times, and our ability to engineer, deploy and manage sophisticated and ultra-modern security services sets us apart from our competitors,” said Darren Taylor, managing director of PMT Security.

“We have seen the industry evolve over the 40 years we have been around and understand that simply delivering and installing boxes of equipment is no longer enough to keep customers safe.

Darren Taylor, managing director, PMT Security.

“PMT Security has significantly increased the size and capabilities of its engineering department over the past year, allowing our customers better access to planning and design services up-front, and increasing the level of support and problemsolving post deployment.”

The company cites a recent instance where a large Western Sydney council suffered a vendor hardware malfunction, and critical services were taken offline. The PMT

Security engineering team, operating from offices in Sydney and Melbourne, was able to provide a virtual work-around solution while the issue was being fixed, and reboot services with a minimum of data loss, time and effort.

“We can manage our solutions from anywhere, our engineers are both highly trained and equipped to handle complex problem-solving whenever and wherever they are required,” Taylor said.

“We can monitor solutions and networks, provide patches and firmware updates, manage storage and data flow – and being able to do it remotely reduces the time it takes for our customers to get the support they require, as well as reducing the cost, in many cases, of sending technicians out to a site.”

According to Simon Vagg, lead engineer at PMT Security, the company partners with a wide range of vendors to provide services including IP camera networks, video data analysis, preventive maintenance, public address systems, physical

PMT SECURITY HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THE SIZE AND CAPABILITIES OF ITS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OVER THE PAST YEAR...

and logical access control and more.

“We also have an advanced application that allows us to create a highly-realistic 3D image of an area, then plot the precise camera location for optimal coverage,” explained Vagg.

“This ensures there are no blind spots, we have the right pixel count for features like facial recognition (FR) and are making the absolute best use of the space in the most cost-effective manner.

“PMT has the ability to draft methodology plans, and carry out all work associated with a tender, while many of our competitors need to rely on third parties to do the pre-staging for them.

That way, we also have an intimate knowledge of the task once we win the contract and can really hit the ground running.”

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Formerly samsung

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NEWS F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 0

HILLS TAKING INTERNAL NETWORKS TO CLOUD n Hills is taking its internal networks to cloud, deploying Extreme Networks solutions across 20 sites and replacing its legacy network infrastructure to bring the management of its voice and data network in-house and accelerate adoption of cloud-based services.

As part of the process, Hills is moving servers to the cloud on the Microsoft Azure platform, supported by Extreme Elements, including

ExtremeSwitching technology and ExtremeAnalytics software for enhanced network visibility and reporting capabilities across its hybrid cloud environment.

The company is using its Extreme switched network and Extreme Management Center to manage traffic mainly for on-premise directory, authentication, file sharing and database services and cloudbased services including Microsoft Office 365, its

David Lenz, Hills.

CRM solution and hosted telephony (VoIP). This has enabled it to reduce its reliance on outsourced IT services and minimise its data centre footprint.

“Extreme Networks is part of our future, both as the technology underpinning our systems and as part of our distribution portfolio and Health Solutions business,” said David Lenz, Hills CEO and managing director.

“We believe in the brand, which is why we’re making the investment to upgrade our entire networking environment from Cisco to Extreme Networks. We’ve already made significant efficiency gains and cost savings with our Extreme switching deployment, which we expect to continue as we continue our network upgrade program.”

PAUL FELTON JOINS CSD AS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Paul Felton

n Paul Felton has joined CSD NSW & ACT in the role of business development manager.

Ian Ross, state manager NSW/ACT welcomed Paul to CSD and said he was excited to see what the expanding team could achieve in 2020.

Felton said he was delighted to be joining CSD. “I’ve started a new chapter at CSD NSW &

ACT and I’m excited to be getting started and looking forward to learning everything I can from my new team,” Felton said.

“I can’t wait to be able to provide fully integrated solutions utilising Milestone and Integriti in conjunction with the huge range of hardware and analytic solutions – it’s a big learning curve but that’s how I like it.”

ICT EXPANDS MELBOURNE OFFICE, GOES DIRECT TO MARKET n ICT has expanded operations in Australia, is concluding current distribution arrangements and will go direct to market from April 1, 2020.

ICT’s Melbourne office of operations will now offer sales, project management, technical support, customer service, account management and product dispatch services directly moving forward. Following 6 years of continued growth and reinvestment back into the Australian operation,

ICT said it was positioned for an accelerated expansion as a result of this move.

From April 1, all sales orders and enquiries will be managed by ICT Australia directly, with the conclusion of LSC and ISCS’s distribution agreements. ICT said it was dedicated to making the transition as effortless as possible for current LSC and ISCS customers, thanks to the appointment of key new staff in sales and support.

“Australian integrators have come to expect a high standard of service from ICT and I am happy to announce that with this move to a direct sales model our service will only get better,” said Hayden Burr, CEO of ICT. “Australian integrators continue to shape our product development requirements and we are pleased to see growing support for the Protege range of integrated access control and intruder detection.”

Dave Ward (left), Arad Moghadam, Victoria Galante and Stephanie Yeung, ICT Melbourne.

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● Case study

Taxicomms

TAXI CCTV IS BLACK & WHITE Taxicomms has installed its customised Hikvision mobile CCTV solution TaxicamHD for 850 Brisbane-based Black & White Cabs as part of a national roll-out across 2300 P2P Transport taxis.

The system comprises internal and external cameras and rugged DVRs, with footage of events accessed by Qld TMR-approved downloaders for Queensland Police. axicomms’ installation of around 850 mobile CCTV systems for Black & White Cabs in Queensland is part of a larger national roll-out of mobile CCTV driven by regular enhancements to state government standards. It goes without saying that safety measures mandated at the state government level have a cadence of their own and this feeds into our story.

Taxicomms is a subsidiary of P2P Transport (P2P) which also owns Black & White Cabs. The P2P Transport fleet of approximately 2300 taxis includes 1100 in Queensland, 400 in NSW, 700 in Victoria and 200 in Western Australia. Founded in Queensland and managed by Greg Witney, Taxicomms has expanded to cover 4 states, with the camera operations side of the business handled by project manager, Guy Bridson.

According to Bridson, branching out as a national supplier is a big step and Taxicomms made this a

T

success by leveraging off the P2P Transport footprint and the experience of its team. Greg Witney has 40 years’ experience in the telecommunications sector with 30 years in the taxi industry, while Bridson has 30 years’ experience in the telecommunications sector and 10 years in the taxi industry.

Wrapping your head around the nature of Australia’s taxi camera programme is part of understanding this application. In the past, Aussie taxis used the VerifEye system, which originated in Dunedin, New Zealand and was taken global by Canadian company VerifEye Technologies Inc. VerifEye was acquired by USA company Lytx in 2016, which closed down the Australian Taxicam programme and subsequently left a huge gap in the market.

“In 2017, QLD, NSW, VIC and WA all changed their taxi security camera system specifications and required upgrades to CCTV systems in thousands of cabs,” explains Bridson. “Regulators have mostly maintained strict controls over the taxi security camera capability, citing occupant privacy, chain of evidence protection and workplace surveillance as key reasons for this control.”

To meet and exceed the technical requirements, Taxicomms developed a solution based on a customised Hikvision DS5504 4-input MDVR platform supplied by Ness Corp. Witney tasked Bridson; who had worked for many years at VerifEye, to manage the process of gaining approval from various state governments. Taxicomms was first to be approved under these new specifications in March 2018 in Western Australia, in April 2018 in Queensland - around 18 months ahead of the opposition - and was approved for the Victoria specification in December 2018. NSW, meanwhile, has started a deregulation of its taxis and does not enforce a CCTV specification.

“The approval process for taxi cameras in most states is rigorous and involves third party engineering ratification, image quality and EMC testing,” Brisdon explains. As the SME for taxi cameras, I quickly set out to obtain approval in QLD and WA, simultaneously achieving this in 4 months and 3 other states within 12 months. Other suppliers have taken 12–18 months to achieve similar results.

“Getting such fast approval put Taxicomms at a significant advantage commercially, particularly in Queensland, where we enjoyed sole supplier status for around 12 months. We could not have achieved this extremely fast path to approval without the support of Hikvision and Ness Corp. Many of the requests are unique and difficult to obtain, Hikvision engineering was helpful and quick to

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BY J O H N A D A M S

respond, its technical capabilities are superior and documentation was of a high quality.”

THE TAXICAMHD SOLUTION Selecting the right solution to replace the legacy VerifEye system was a process driven in part by the flagging performance of the legacy systems.

The 2005 solution used in Queensland was only running at 1 frame every 10 seconds, stepping up to 1 frame per second when triggered, and it only had 32 hours of storage. While the low light performance of the VerifEye cameras was excellent – resolution was S-VHS quality - the new systems are capable of 720p, which is a big improvement.

“By 2017, Witney found supporting the legacy cameras was becoming more difficult, so he set out to find a suitable new camera partner,” explains Bridson. “He chose Hikvision/Ness due the superiority of the DS5504 MDVR 4-input platform, its 3-year warranty (mandatory for Queensland taxi camera specification), and the superior technical support on offer. This has proven a good choice Hikvision and Ness are very responsive and agile.”

According to Bridson, an exclusive channel partnership agreement was entered into between Hikvision, Ness and Taxicomms in mid-2018.

“When it comes to our system, we’ve taken a generic Hikvision product and we’ve customised it to meet the specification,” Bridson explains. “We came to an agreement on hardware and firmware and I dealt with Hikvision’s engineering teams in

Guy Bridson, Taxicomms.

Sydney and in China. Dylan Dong is our Hikvision chief engineer on this project and we recently went to China to give the engineering team there some feedback and discuss a few customisation points.

“It’s an impressive operation. We met with the programme managers and visited the factory. It was useful to sit down with the programme managers to understand the picture from both sides. We are a difficult customer for Hikvision because we are comparatively small. We’ve sold 2000 systems in the past 12 months, which is a big deal for us but nothing for Hikvision, which manufactures 3 million CCTV cameras a year. At the moment we are working on customisation of their IVMS and API,

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● Case study

Taxicomms THE END USER IS THE POLICE – THEY ARE ONES THAT LOOK AT THE FOOTAGE – THE TAXI OPERATORS PAY FOR THE EQUIPMENT, BUT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LOOK AT FOOTAGE.

which allows us to get software developed ourselves and then add it to their system.”

Along the way, Taxicomms realised they had built their considerable experience and expertise into the product.

“A decision to rebrand the DS-5504 MDVR to TaxicamHD was taken to protect the partnership and prevent parallel importing, which is a developing problem for suppliers of lower quality systems,” Bridson says.

On the technical side, image quality and storage are the key.

“In-car storage is SSD and we have insisted on industrial grade because it lasts and has wear levelling technology in it,” explains Bridson. “The standard taxi is running a 256GB system – in comparison the old system had a 2GB CF card, which in 2007 used to cost about $200 – we get these 256GB SSDs for that now days. We think SD cards are not appropriate in this application. If you think 6 frames per second per camera minimum of 2 cameras in a vehicle (12 frames per second) 60 seconds x 60 minutes x 24 hours x 365 equals 100’s of millions of write image cycles per year and you want at least 6 years from a storage solution. The only technology that can deliver this is industrial grade solid state.

“System power is tapped off the vehicle – our techs are trained to pick up a constant power supply and accessories line so that the device is on for the duration of the vehicle ignition being on and for 30 minutes after the vehicle is turned off. The DVR power supply manages power fluctuations very well.

The old specification had a fireproof, waterproof memory because the risk profile accessed by the governments at the time (circa 2005 – 2010). It was thought that there was major risk of vehicles being burnt after serious crimes but in reality over 10 years there were only a dozen or so fires across the entire taxi fleet which did not justify the additional cost of a fireproof memory module – a percentage of the systems did not survive fires anyway.”

A key issue with any mobile CCTV system is

accessing the footage in the event of a crime.

“In terms of accessing the footage we still have to plug a laptop into the system post-incident,” Bridson says. “The system is capable of automatically downloading but cost and logistics are an issue. The end user is the police – they are ones that look at the footage – the taxi operators pay for the equipment, but they are not allowed to look at footage.

“We are adding road-facing cameras and allowing operators to have access to those using a different profile – taxi companies have wanted that for a long time, but it was prohibited under the previous specification here in Queensland. Taxis have a CTP risk profile that is 12x higher for accidents than passenger vehicles, although this is lower than it was a few years ago(18x). We think if we could add driver management incentives through this system, we could reduce accidents further and provide proof to insurers through collected data statistics that we could achieve a significant reduction in CTP insurance costs. These taxis are doing 200,000kmplus each year.”

There are 2 TaxicamHD solutions, the sedan and the maxi. In the sedan version there’s an external camera and an internal camera. There’s a status indicator so the driver knows the camera is on – it’s illegal for a driver to start a shift with a faulty CCTV system. The internal camera sits up near the rearview mirror.

In a maxi cab there could be 3 cameras depending on the seating configuration. There will be one on the right and left-hand side externally to cover anyone or anything approaching from the side and one looking backwards into the cab. Drivers might fall asleep at a taxi rank waiting for a fare and people reach through windows to snatch things. According to Bridson, most crime that happens in a maxi, happens around the sliding door or at the driver’s side window.

“There is a duress button integrated into the

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Taxicomms

THE DVR IS IN THE BOOT OF THE CAR AND IS FITTED WITH A TAMPER PROOF HOUSING – IT’S ALL BOLTED IN AND WOULD NEED TO BE CROW BARRED OUT – THAT’S THE ANTI-VANDALISM CAPABILITY. telematics system – that includes audio recording of what is being said in the vehicle – certainly an advantage of having the ability to access the cameras remotely in real time would being able to livestream into the vehicle to check if a duress event is real,” he says. “Around 80 per cent of triggered duress events are false alarms – the operators managing the telematics systems would be the ones that see the footage – including violent footage. That raises additional issues around training staff responding to violent crime in real time.”

Bridson says there’s no video analytics applied to the system at this time. Taxi CCTV solutions are quite basic and the only improvements over the years have been hardware-based – higher resolution and increases in frame rate and storage capacity. According to Bridson, this comes back to the regulator and to tension on costs. He says that around $A2000 is the ceiling and if costs go higher there is push back from the market.

“The DVR is in the boot of the car and is fitted with a tamper proof housing – it’s all bolted in and would need to be crow barred out – that’s the antivandalism capability,” Bridson explains. “The unit is low profile so it takes up minimal room and can be tucked away.

“TaxicamHD is capable of 1080p at 30 frames a second but no taxi operator is going to pay for a 2TB SSD – the maximum resolution we run is 1280 x 720 pixels at present. There’s that triangle of resolution, frame rate and rollover time – these are the factors that balance performance and cost. Compression is another important part of this equation. Surprisingly, there has been a pretty good uptake on road-facing dashcam solutions. We probably underestimated the pickup on that. For instance, Suncoast Cabs has rolled it out throughout their fleet and in other fleets, individuals are taking it up.”

CHALLENGES OF THE APPLICATION As you’d imagine, mobile CCTV systems face challenges given the tough conditions they work in - the environment is hot, there’s vibration and depending on location, there may be knocks from luggage. This means systems must be well designed, well installed and properly maintained.

“It’s not only heat, vibration and rainfall – the external cameras have to deal with being waterblasted during daily cleaning – the Hikvision cameras are really standing up to it well,” Bridson says. “It might be 50C in the boot, while the dashboard of a car can reach >60C on a 35C day in summer - that’s very challenging for any electrical equipment.

“These Hikvision cameras just last – by comparison I’ve seen some of our competitors’ cameras melting off the windscreens of their cabs.

There’s stress on the storage units, too. Typically, SSDs will stop working at around 85C – this can happen in a boot if the DVR is covered with a coat and heat is not dissipating. In our experience, the TaxicamHD system is the most reliable add-on system in the car.”

But according to Bridson, the greatest challenges of the application with Black & White Cabs and other fleets nationally weren’t technical.

“Involvement in taxi camera programmes is niche and difficult because the markets are small,” he explains. “Regulators like to control specifications, the sale is a grudge purchase as the purchasers are not usually the end benefactor of the footage (police and courts are) and deadlines for taxis to roll over to new cameras continue to be changed as the industry pushes back politically in a tough economic environment battling de-regulation and the introduction of ridesharing.

“For example, QTMR has pushed its roll-out deadline back 3 times since April 2018, while Victoria and NSW finally set a February/March 2021 deadline, and Western Australia has set July 2020. This poses big problems for suppliers who must either plan for or simply cop the probability of having to carry more stock on hand than they may be comfortable doing so under normal commercial conditions.

“As TaxicamHD has unique customisations to meet the specs, it would be difficult for either

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Hikvision or Ness to offload surpluses to other markets and so a certain amount of trust, along with a very agile supply chain, has been key to ensuring Taxicomms has the necessary freedom of manoeuvre required, for which we are very grateful.

Having sales campaigns running across multiple states simultaneously has helped the partnership by clearing any backlogs of stock as a result of sales slow-downs and date changes.

“Another challenge for us is the lack of security for rideshare and the seeming lack of policing of this, which ultimately affects public safety. It would be good to see cameras fitted to ride share vehicles too.

I think a lighter version of the taxi camera would be appropriate here – a secure dashcam solution on a rental model would be a great sales opportunity in the future.”

PERFORMANCE AND MANAGEMENT After we’ve poked around a cab and a maxi, taking a look at the system installations currently being undertaken at the Taxicomms workshop, we head into the office and Bridson calls up video footage on a workstation. We look at day and night performance – performance is monochrome supported by IR. That’s daylight performance in a maxi taxi,” Brisdon explains, opening files, “and here’s night and twilight.

“You can see the night shot is actually better than the daytime shot,” Bridson says. “That’s an example of how seriously we take security – crime rates are highest between 11pm and 3am and we have got to

have a camera with credible performance during that time period. That’s what we and Hikvision are focused on.”

Looking at the monitor I can see useful range is about 4 metres and there’s a good projection of IR light through the vehicle. According to Bridson, taxi camera systems don’t need a lot of range.

“The specification asks for 3 x 3 metre or 3 x 5 metre coverage. There’s a balance because the greater the angle of view, the more powerful the IR needs to be,” he says. “The camera we use has a hyperfocal distance of 300mm and an operational range of 5 metres, which is perfect for our needs.

“At close ranges IR can flare but these cameras have a dynamic illumination package so as soon as you start coming in, image quality is enhanced, and the IR power is reduced. Cheaper cameras don’t have this technology – when you’re looking at close targets inside 500mm – there’s nothing but flare. Hikvision has 15,000 R&D engineers and the flow on effect of what they are doing across the product range for other markets is what makes this product superior – at this price point. When you look at the performance, the value speaks for itself.

“I talk a lot about the iceberg effect with customers – it’s not about the sale, it’s about the support. You must have reliability, availability and maintainability.

You don’t get that with a cheap sale.”

As Bridson goes through the images it’s clear camera performance is solid. Getting quality CCTV coverage in a car with a shaded interior and full sunlight outside is not for cameras faint of heart.

Something else I notice is that the view from the

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● Case study

Taxicomms

THERE ARE 300-400 DOWNLOADS OF FOOTAGE FOR CRIMINAL ACTS INVOLVING QUEENSLAND BASED BLACK & WHITE CABS TAXIS ANNUALLY.

2.1mm lens on the internal cameras is plenty wide.

The external cameras are 2.8mm, which gives more reach (3-5 metres) and increases pixel density across the angle of view. With IR on at night flare is reasonably well controlled, considering how close everything is to the lens.

Court admissible camera performance is the key to a taxi camera system. According to Bridson, there are 300-400 downloads of footage for criminal acts involving Queensland-based Black & White Cabs taxis annually – it’s 700 statewide, similar statistics for the other major states. Many of these downloads are undertaken as part of investigations into serious offences.

“We have a good relationship with QPS and with the Scenes of Crimes Team,” Bridson says. “I’ve done an expert witness course so I can help them out.

You are a witness when you download footage and doing that needs some technical ability, so police will bring you in to explain an event to the court – this happened often with the old system because it was trigger augmented and video came out disjointed – it jumped back and forth in time.

“The defence would pick that up straight away and say ‘Look, it’s not working properly, that video is all over the place’. You’d have to explain in a nontechnical way what the system was doing so the court could understand what they were seeing.

The new system is continuous video so it’s not as complex to view, but there will still be times we’ll have to explain things in court. Because there’s video footage showing the accused, the defence will always attack the system that is delivering the video stream – it’s really their only avenue.

“The procedures we follow are in line with forensic CCTV procedures to make sure we get the chain of evidence that we need. In my career a person has been acquitted of murder on a technicality because there was no forward-facing camera – the evidence did not conclusively prove the crime – that’s how important CCTV is in these applications.”

CONCLUSION Although taxi camera systems aren’t complex, they function in a rugged environment and are regularly used by police to investigate serious crimes. This means performance and reliability are vital but because overall system numbers are small, integrators must undertake customisation of hardware developed for other verticals. This adds a layer of complexity from an integrator’s point of view. A key underlying element in this application has been Taxicomms’ ability to engineer its long experience into existing hardware.

As well as the support of Hikvision, Taxicomms has benefited from its partnership with distributor Ness Corp. According to Bridson, Ness adds significant value to the supply chain.

“Just having considerable stock in country has been a massive help,” he says. “When a taxi is not on the road it can’t make money – it’s really tight at the moment for taxis competing with rideshare. The more we can keep those cars on the road the better – that’s what makes supply logistics for our hardware so important. Our competitors have not got their heads around that yet.”

When it comes to the future of mobile CCTV solutions, Bridson says that’s going to be about expanding use vectors and taking clever systems into the wider transport market.

“The users of these taxi camera systems want them to be compliant and affordable, but they are not being strategic with the technology… yet,” he says. “We believe these systems could save hundreds of lives by managing driver behaviour in real time, reducing accidents and slashing CTP costs across the millions of vehicles in the commercial transport industry. That’s the future of mobile CCTV systems.” n

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Alarms

MEASURING VOLTAGE, CURRENT AND RESISTANCE When you’re installing, commissioning or trouble shooting electronic security systems, measuring voltage, current and resistance are at the heart of your skillset. efore we look at testing, let’s consider the properties of electrical voltage, current and resistance. Voltage is electrical pressure that occurs between 2 points and is also called potential difference. In essence this potential difference is the result of one point having more electrons than another. An atom with more electrons than protons has a negative charge, while an atom with more protons than electrons has a positive charge. Electron theory is complex – there’s still conjecture over why electrons have electric charges at all.

Think of voltage as the pressure that forces electrons to flow.

This flow of electrons is called current. It’s measured in amperes (6.25 x 10 to the power of 18 electrons flowing past a point per second). In a basic circuit when voltage (a power source) is

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connected to a circuit, current will flow from the negative terminal down wiring to a light bulb, through the bulb generating light, then out of the bulb and into the positive terminal of the battery and around again. There’s a quirk with current. Our definition of conventional current flow is exactly the opposite of the path electrons take - not long ago no one knew electrons existed and by the time scientists worked this out, it was considered too late to go back and reverse conventional positive to negative thinking. The 2 important things to realise are firstly that there is a flow of electrons and secondly that all equipment, circuit symbols and the rest, register what’s known as conventional current travelling from positive to negative.

Regardless, you should remove the negative wire first and connect it last.

Now let’s look at resistance. Think of a hose turned to full pressure. The water pressure is voltage and current is the water flow. Now bend the hose tightly so that despite the original pressure (voltage) and water flow (current), only a small amount of water trickles from the nozzle. The bend is resistance. In an electric circuit any opposition to the passage of electricity is called resistance, with the overall resistance of a circuit determined by its components and the resistance of its conductors and connections.

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ELECTRON THEORY IS COMPLEX – THERE’S STILL CONJECTURE OVER WHY ELECTRONS HAVE ELECTRIC CHARGES AT ALL.

MEASURING UP Now we’ve got the fundamentals covered it’s time to get our measuring tools out. Depending on how old your toolbox is this will either be an ammeter, voltmeter and ohmmeter, or a digital multimeter combining all these testing devices in one. In some ways the latter is the more complex measuring tool because it incorporates multiple setting and display options. Let’s start with the easiest test of all, voltage. What’s nice about voltage is that because it’s always between 2 points in a functioning circuit, your voltmeter simply needs to be placed across the points voltage should be present. As a rule, one of these points will be the circuit’s common rail and you’ll measure voltage from that point. A lot of alarm and access control panels have the negative side of the source wired to the common rail, but it’s not always the case.

If you’re measuring a voltage drop across the positive and negative terminals of a panel, or across any component that you believe may be the cause of a voltage drop, there are variations and vagaries depending on the problem and the overall system design. When testing you can think of a voltage drop as loss of pressure caused by too much constriction - too much resistance. You’ll discover this point of higher resistance because the voltage will be higher upstream of the component

than downstream. You’ll calculate the voltage drop by subtracting the lesser voltage from the greater.

You can also measure voltage drop using Ohms Law, with the voltage drop equalling current x resistance. Putting your voltmeter across a component’s resistor will allow you to measure any drop in voltage directly. Just remember to put the positive side of the voltmeter on the positive side of the resistor and the negative side downstream to ensure the voltmeter shows the proper polarity for a digital meter (upscale).

In the event that current isn’t flowing, things are going to be a bit more complicated - if the switch in an electrical circuit is open, testing either side of a component will reveal battery voltage.

CURRENT AND RESISTANCE When measuring current you actually need to get into the wiring by cutting or breaching in order to insert the test device into the circuit. In short, current must go into the ammeter or DMM at the positive lead and go out of the negative – further, the current leaving the test device must be virtually identical to the current that went in – resistance should be limited to less than 1 ohm per Amp of current.

When using an analogue multimeter connect the probes and set the meter switch to current, ensuring you are testing the right range and giving some elbow room to show unexpected variations.

It’s better the meter be set too high, as a low setting might damage the test device. You can adjust range downwards as you go to ensure maximum deflection for a more accurate measurement.

When using a digital multimeter turn on the device, connect the probes – black to common

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Alarms

and red to current. Next set the selection switch to measure for current in high or low ranges – for maximum accuracy tweak range to ensure none of the first couple of digits reads 0.

Hall effect clamp meters are another option – most incorporate a DMM, though the pro versions are expensive and the affordable versions suffer measurement drift. A Hall effect meter can measure AC and DC flowing in a conductor. The meter works because as current flows through a conductor, the iron jaws of the meter form a core that facilitates easier passage of the conductor’s magnetic field than surrounding air. When the magnetic field reaches the air gap at the tip of the jaw it must jump the gap, allowing the Hall Effect sensor to measure a voltage proportional to the magnetic flux in the core, which it converts into a current reading. If you use a Hall Effect meter, be sure to zero it before making a measurement.

If you have no current meter at all you can also use a series resistor to make a calculation – you place a small resistor into the circuit with an end at ground potential to avoid ground shorts during the test. Next measure the voltage across the resistor – if it’s a 10Ω resistor and 100mV is measured then you can calculate current is V/R = 0.1/10 = 10mA using Ohms Law. Such a measurement will not be perfectly accurate but if your measurement can tolerate variation, it will get you out of trouble.

Resistance is measured with an ohmmeter – a unit that is essentially a meter complete with an inbuilt battery and circuitry. When you’re using an ohmmeter remember that you need to ensure the resistor being measured has at least one end disconnected from the circuit and you must only touch one resistor lead when taking a measurement. If the resistor remains connected to other parts of the circuit it will impact on the reading you get from your ohmmeter, while a voltage in the circuit could damage the instrument. Another

RESISTANCE IS MEASURED WITH AN OHMMETER – A UNIT THAT IS ESSENTIALLY A METER COMPLETE WITH AN INBUILT BATTERY AND CIRCUITRY.

issue is that an installer testing resistance also contains an electrical charge and can inadvertently connect themselves across the resistor. In this case the ohmmeter will measure the resistance of the circuit and the installer’s body. The reading from the body will be a parallel path, resulting in a lower reading than would otherwise be the case. n

DEFINITIONS TO REMEMBER: l

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V oltage is pressure or potential difference

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lACCESS CONTROL O hm’s Law states thatINCLUDE: Current equals Voltage x

Resistance

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A toms with more electrons than protons are positive

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A toms with more protons than electrons are negative.

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Oceania 2nd Gen Intecom 2020 to SEN.pdf 1 2020/1/24 上午11:38

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www.videosecurityproducts.com.au

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● Regulars

The Interview

Wade Anderson, Bravis Security Wade Anderson, general manager of Bravis Security is second generation security industry, having grown up in the family business, Blue Security, in South Africa.

Anderson’s experience in these 2 markets, and elsewhere around the world, gives him a compelling perspective on the electronic security industry in Australia.

Q: How did you start out in the electronic security industry, Wade? Can you tell us a bit about your career path so far?

A: My father started a security business in South Africa the year I was born and grew it into the largest private alarm monitoring and armed response business in South Africa. From my earliest memories I used to visit the office, run around, mostly causing chaos but always looking up to my father and wanting to emulate his career and success. My first ‘work experience’ within the industry came while studying at university. I used to do remove VHF radios from cancelled clients during my spare time for $5 radio which would be reused on new connections.

After graduating, I joined the business full time in 2010 and started at the heart of the business - our control centre which had 28 permanent operators 24/7 supporting 55,000 clients, managing 100 inhouse armed response vehicles and dealing with more than 1,000,000 actionable signals a month. I then ran our technical department for a few years, which was probably the most exciting role I had, dealing with 60 permanent technical teams completing an average of 6000 jobs per month.

I THINK PETTY CRIME AND HOUSE BREAK-IN’S ARE DEFINITELY ON THE RISE AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A BIG IMPACT IN THE INDUSTRY.

Prior to leaving South Africa I became managing director of our national business which focused on the retail industry throughout Southern Africa. My wife and I touched down in Australia in early 2017 and I pretty much continued within the residential alarm monitoring business as GM of a business based in Qld. I then moved into enterprise security and have loved my time in this high-end space.

Q: What were some of the joys and challenges of growing up in the family security business?

A: Blue Security had over 650 employees and by far the biggest joy was the family environment. There were many staff that had been there for 20, 15 and 10 years. It wasn’t just a business; it was a family. It was an amazing honour to have played a small part in that business.

Q: Is the nature of the industry different – more centred on commercial than residential – in Australia? What other differences do you see when you compare it to South Africa?

A: The security industry in Australia is very different to South Africa.

Unfortunately, in South Africa, the crime rate and the sheer violence of crime literally made our job within the security industry a matter of life and death. Everything we did, from installing an alarm system and receiving an alarm signal, to dispatching an armed response, had to be done

perfectly, every single time. Even the slightest mistake or lack of focus could have fatal consequences.

The industry in Australia, for thankfully obvious reasons, has far less intensity to it. But in saying that, it has its own challenges which I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of. In my time within Australia I have changed my focus from residential alarms and CCTV to high-value enterprise CCTV and access control systems looking after correctional centres, state and federal government organisations, and large manufacturing plants.

One aspect between South Africa and Australia that speaks a universal language is excellent customer service and doing a great job translate into growth as a business. Having joined Bravis Security I found leading with the same ideals that were successful in South Africa fulfilling and rewarding.

Q: What sorts of systems are most common in South Africa and what sorts of integrations are typical?

A: Security is heavily biased towards the residential market in South Africa, so a lot of the product there is alarm systems and the Hikvision/Dahua type CCTV solutions. Gallagher also plays a big part in the enterprise space, along with Milestone and Avigilon.

Q: Do Australians take security as seriously as they should?

A: Not particularly, I think petty crime and house break-in’s are definitely on the rise and will continue to have a big impact in the industry but at this moment, crime is not in your face and that does result in the everyday Australian dropping their guard with security and the security of their homes and businesses.

Q: What do you think is the greatest challenge facing security integrators in the field?

A: The gap between experience and knowledge. I am a big proponent of technical certifications along with experience. Often in our field integrators rely on ‘years of experience’ but they potentially missing out on better, faster and more secure ways of doing something because they haven’t got the

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WA D E A N D E R S O N W I T H J O H N A D A M S

training and certifications behind them.

When I moved into the enterprise space I identified a gap within my own knowledge and while I have never been an on the tools guy, I did the Gallagher, Integriti, Axis and Honeywell courses for the benefit I can give back to my team and to better support our customers.

Q: What will the security integration business of the future look like? How important is it to have a team with diverse skills?

A: I have been very lucky during my career to travel extensively around the world and visit security expo’s, shows and suppliers in the USA, Germany, England, Hong Kong, China and South Korea. This has given me a great platform to look at security in not just in South Africa and Australia, but where the

market will be going globally over the next few years.

There is no doubt that security is moving very quickly to an IT heavy environment. This means it’s imperative for security businesses and security teams to focus on upskilling themselves in the IT space. Like any team environment, its critical to have varying skills amongst the team and IT should be priority number one if security businesses still want to be relevant into the future.

Q: The race to the bottom on price – do you think hardware quality has joined price in the race to the bottom and how hard is it to explain this to price conscious customers?

A: It has become such a difficult task for our sales and technical teams to speak

through quality, brand and price with our clients and the forever race to the bottom. On the surface a lot of products have the same specifications, qualities etc, and when a client has done a bit of their own research, changing minds is difficult to achieve. However, I have found the best way to demonstrate value is to know the product intimately; to understand the differences, to know the cyber security issues and try to separate marketing and actual facts. Knowledge is power and that often translates successfully.

Q: Which cutting edge technologies are you seeing filtering into the market – how much of the latest gear is vapourware – what are customers really hungry for – in terms of technology and operational outcomes? Do you see

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biometrics, face recognition, analytics, cloud, etc?

A: Security technology, especially around CCTV, has leapt forward over the last few years - a lot of it is quite amazing to see. However, the problem I have with some of the new technologies is how market-ready they are, and if they are market ready, is it something hundreds or thousands of clients are going to want and be prepared to pay for? At Bravis Security, our experience centre has a lot of the current and future technologies in place and working, however, it’s always about finding the right use case scenario and appetite for the solution before going to market.

One of the newer solutions which we have rolled out successfully is a facial recognition solution which works with the access control and provides a 2-factor authentication to high security sites. It works really well, is not cost prohibitive and there’s a growing market for this technology. I think the decision of what not to focus on with regards to some of

available solutions is as important as what to focus on within a commercial context.

Q: If you weren’t a security integrator, what would you have liked to be?

A: I’ve always loved leading. When I was a kid, I was going to be the president. If I wasn’t involved in security, probably running another dynamic commercial business.

Q: What do you love to do in your spare time?

A: I love running and have completed 16 marathons and ultra-marathons around the world but with an 18-month-old nothing beats family time. At the end of the day you have to have a work-life balance and make what’s important to you count.

Q: What motivates you professionally, Wade. What gets you out of bed in the morning?

A: I love leading people; I love success and I love growing. Not only as an individual

UNFORTUNATELY, IN SOUTH AFRICA, THE CRIME RATE AND THE SHEER VIOLENCE OF CRIME LITERALLY MADE OUR JOB WITHIN THE SECURITY INDUSTRY A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.

but within my team and the business I work in.

Q: What advice would you give to young technicians starting out in today’s market – what do you think is the single most important quality of a successful security integrator and installer?

A: Never stop learning and developing as a person and a businessperson. Always challenge the status quo and never accept “that’s just the way we do things around here”. There is always a better, faster and easier way of doing something – finally, opportunities don’t just happen, you create them. n

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Person

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They are designed to capture the varying attributes of objects, including people, vehicles, faces and license plates.

This enable operators to use AI applications running on a back-end server, for faster searching and analyze the information they need. It can also significantly reduce false alarms caused by waving trees, video noise and even moving shadows.

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BEST SECURITY PRODUCTS OF 2019 What were the best electronic security products of 2019 and where do they fit into the fast evolving security market of the future as we move forward into a new decade? Turns out things are even more complicated than they look.

roduct evolution, partnerships, integration, cloud – these are some of the standard characteristics of successful products in 2019. The opaqueness and openness to interpretation inherent in such concepts don’t help us, however. In the past we might have noted the release of dozens of cutting-edge new solutions over a 12-month period, but the market is so mature that the nature of its evolution has changed – it’s a linear process, not a series of jumps.

P

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BY J O H N A D A M S

SOMETHING THAT WAS CLEAR IN 2019 WAS THAT OPERATIONAL CONCERNS REMAIN PARAMOUNT.

Something clear in 2019 was that operational concerns remain paramount. Users want more functionality, more reliability, more information and they want more automation, too. It’s a combination that’s driving the market towards smaller security teams and the outsourcing of security management.

The security function is going to be no less susceptible to the wave of automation overtaking many industries – in fact our market is ripe for it.

As the next few years unfold, we’ll see an increase in the number of solutions leveraging artificial intelligence. Exactly how this will impact in areas like face recognition is hard to call, as some government users have elected not to deploy it. Regardless, notouch authentication face recognition is going to have an impact, no doubt. Cloud is starting to lean in – it’s not only end users going that way, security suppliers are shifting it, too. That shift demands a lot from networks, and we can expect to see a demand for more reliable communications, further

investment in compression, encryption and more pressure on external networks, too.

Video surveillance as a service is going to grow and it’s likely to splinter to incorporate AI functionalities like face recognition for access control, video verification, as well as more traditional ways of handling video around events. SMEs are the biggest users of VSaaS at present, but we are likely to see a shift as AI gets smarter and networks become more capable.

We’re also going to see greater uptake of smart, secure mobile app credentials. We’ve seen that users are far happier using their own phones and phone biometrics than they are registering fingerprints or faces on third party systems – that tiny trend is likely to become a groundswell. There’s quite a bit going on in access control, but the biggest changes there are in management software upgrades and integration with sub systems like CCTV and automation. There’s also performance creep. Some very affordable access control systems are increasingly capable out of the box.

In video surveillance there’s ongoing tension between performance and price. R&D teams seem to be investing their time in developing cameras for verticals. A particular trend in the local market is the hunger for panoramic cameras but what’s driving this shift is hard to say. It could be concurrent demand for coverage and lack of budget. While ASIC chips have been around for many years in alarm systems, it’s likely the year ahead will see new releases in the area of systems on chips, especially around video analytics. The notion of the camera as a sensor depends on this sort of development but hopefully manufacturers will not pull value from key hardware items like lenses in order to maintain margin at the expense of image quality.

ADT’s purchase of its leading dealer, Defenders was an interesting move in the alarm monitoring market recently. Will more manufacturers buy the vertical? It also seems likely we’ll see a shakeup in monitoring as rebate incomes evaporate in Australia. In North America we see telcos

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increasingly going direct to customers but locally the same can’t be said. And the jury remains out on DIY alarm and automation systems. They will have an impact, but it may be to increase overall market penetration rather than swallow the customer lists of professional security providers.

Something else that will be interesting is how customers take to telcos and ISPs getting into a data gathering position inside their homes. It’s not a particularly appealing thought, especially with the deep learning powered camera likely to shoulder aside the intrusion sensor. Quality monitoring centres which trade on their experience, integrity and focus on putting the customer first will do well, in my opinion.

When it comes to alarm monitoring and notions of 5G we are reaching a point where monitoring of many more things than homes is possible. The question for installers is which of these things forms a legitimate business case and which areas should be avoided as distraction. Taking this to the extreme, it might be possible to more or less track the location of an individual based on automated data gathering, or to generate an alert if an expected pattern does not emerge.

PERS monitoring, mPERS monitoring and health monitoring of customers aging at home is also going to grow into the next decade. I’m not sure the electronic security market is fully onto supporting older folks in the way our technology now allows, but there are serious opportunities to support aging populations facing the material impact of fewer children offering reduced assistance to parents in later life.

Cybersecurity is another key area of development. We’re seeing it built into devices, into systems, into services. Probably the area we’d most like to see it is training. Getting educated in cyber security and networking is key. Being able to build rugged networked security solutions and gives security integrators a serious capability they can sell. At the same time, when you think about applying consistent cybersecurity standards to legacy equipment, proprietary solutions, open comms protocols the heart quails.

Communications and software are having a serious impact on the market. It’s a trend that’s not only being seen in new releases but is pushing its way into the thoughts of end users and into tender specifications. End user demands are going to drive the industry at SaaS and cloud more quickly than many realise and those demands are all about efficiency.

It should come as no surprise that improvements in internet speed and the increasing reliability of networks and network components are playing a role here. Customers are looking at their network structures in a whole new way, with cloud and data centres becoming more central. It’s the type of users that are leading the drive that should resonate most. They are serious customers in corporate and government organisations whose wants it’s impossible to ignore.

We were hit with this change at Security & Government Expo 2019 last month, when the head of ASIO T4 gave a compelling precis of where the organization had come from and where it was headed. The areas of gravest concern for the technological gatekeepers of government security solutions revolved around ensuing security in an integrated world – most telling, ASIO T4 called for industry’s help meet the challenges.

The current state of the market displays a blurring of defined boundaries between systems and operating solutions, there’s increasing overlap between platforms and manufacturers and this process is going to accelerate, pulled forward by the gravity of a shift towards a kind of seamlessness I doubt any of us would have considered possible a few year’s ago.

Bastions of proprietary tech now look at the products of competitors in a new way – through the eyes of customer clamouring to focus their technological consciousness into a single point.

This means integrations that used to be about device drivers have become about melding entire disciplines – pushing and levering and teasing systems of all kinds into distilled dashboards that present users only what they need to negotiate challenges of the moment.

None of this should be taken to mean quality devices are not vital to system performance but the way these devices will be addressed in the future is going to be different and the processes customers take to integrate enterprise-wide solutions will consume capital that might have been used

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elsewhere. Underpinning this is communications and the importance of ensuring their reliability.

We’ve lost our land lines, but do we have disasterproof networks? Not really – and it’s an area the industry will need to focus on.

PRODUCTS WE LIKED IN 2019 In 2019 the potency of the Alarm.com ecosystem can’t be denied – the company has reached a tipping point in terms of success that’s likely to see growth accelerate – its success will encourage competitors.

Another strong release in 2019 was ChallengerPlus, a 32-door access control solution that’s managed using the open architecture TecomC4 management software and is designed to work with mobile credentials and to mesh with cloud.

As well as driving 32 standard doors direct from the control panel, ChallengerPlus can handle 2 standard lifts up to 10 floors and does integration to the UltraSync Cloud that creates a secure external comms path to central stations or control rooms via the on-board Ethernet port at no additional communication equipment or cost. The integration of ChallengerPlus and UltraSync means users can employ the UltraSync+ mobile app, which allows simple and convenient interrogation of ChallengerPlus, receive push notifications, and configure user’s information and more. Using the app, operators can fully configure a panel from any location and send critical instructions to multiple recipients via push notifications in the event of a lockdown or emergency event. The system supports Network Access Controller, has a dual Wiegand interface and a 4G communications module and there’s UltraSync support for provisioned and nonprovisioned mode panels along with cloud-based firmware and software updating.

Paradox HD series all-in-one motion detector and ethernet/Wi-Fi camera distributed by CSD and integrated with Inception and Milestone, which allows you to open any door at any time and simple installation via web browser. Simple but very appealing.

Another favourite was Brivo’s Onair, which rotates around a mobile platform for setup and management of the system, as well as replacement of cards and door readers with a mobile phone.

Employees download the Brivo Onair Pass app, which allows them to press a button to unlock any door they’re allowed to access. The app communicates to a database (stored in the cloud), which sends an encrypted signal to the door controller, which releases the door. Use of smart devices allows high security 2-factor authentication to be employed globally via the app.

As well as acting as an access credential, the cloud-based interface lets authorised users access their system from a web browser or a smart device running the Brivo Onair Pass app. Onair Pass lets users manage their access control in real time from their phone. Users can also use the app to schedule access, manage permissions remotely in real time,

CYBERSECURITY IS ANOTHER KEY AREA OF DEVELOPMENT. WE’RE SEEING IT BUILT INTO DEVICES, INTO SYSTEMS, INTO SERVICES.

monitor events, create groups and customize security reports This system scales, too, and can handle 1000 doors, unlimited users and offers unlimited event history, with CCTV footage retained for up to 12 months.

Salto Keys as a service (KS) – cloud-based access control management with no software installation or wiring. Salto’s wireless keyways use credentials to collect data instead of cables and using smartphones to take this concept global is a no-brainer now they’ve done it. The way KS works is that a smartphone and wireless BLE Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) lock pair, and the lock is opened via BLE – including at a distance. There’s no need for an active internet connection and the smart device with its 2-factor authentication including a biometric, is more secure than an access control card.

The solution offers scalable APIs that allow building and tweaking of an enterprise access control solution from scratch, the ability to grant access to groups or individuals for locks or within schedules, and the ability to view access events and revoke access on the go. I also like Salto’s beautifully designed Danalock residential smart locks, which replace traditional keys with an electronic system.

Also pleasing, Salto SVN Flex which works with XS4 2.0 systems using BLUEnet wireless management solution, lets Salto locks update user’s cards when presented to the electronic lock. SVN-Flex increases the number of updating points in a Salto system, so data gets around the hybrid online/offline network much faster.

Aetek EPoT long range PoE extenders that expand transmission distance up to 1200m with a data rate

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of 100Mbps and a 9.7W PoE budget at the transmitter end. Indoor and outdoor options are available, and the outdoor version is protected by an IP67 weatherproof and IK10 vandal-resistant casing as well as a built in PoE surge protection of 6KV. Quality stuff from CSD. Having tested Hikvision Darkfighter X 4MP PTZ with 35x optical zoom we found this camera delivers security teams enormous power. DarkfighterX 4MP’s sensor is said to deliver colour images at 0.0005 lux, which is a big call for an image not enhanced by 250 metres of IR. DarkfighterX 4MP also offers deep learning technology to deliver greater accuracy with analytics such as intrusion detection and line crossing – video analytics works better the less pixel spread you have across a scene, which means this 4MP camera with 2688 x 1512 pixels offers solid performance.

Nirovision’s Mobile First face recognition solution features a deep learning algorithm that offers face recognition and object detection and allows functions like person of interest, blacklists, VIPs, employees, fast searching and viewing of video streams via the cloud.

The point of Nirovision Mobile First is to make video surveillance pointy in real time to enhance business operations.

Security Center 5.8 from Genetec. This management solution is the hub around which the company’s offerings revolve and recent enhancements have taken things to another level. New dashboards make easier to conceptualise and wield the power of this system. There’s enhanced cyber security, including ratings of a network’s security levels with advice on how to resolve issues. There’s encryption in real time. Plan manager is powerful and intuitive and has those little bits of functionality that show deep study, as well as input from end users. Plan manager has a mobile app and LPR and GPS functionalities are synthesised to allow enhanced situational awareness and faster response times. Synergix IX has also been empowered with the addition of OEM hardware and this is all beautifully expressed in SC5.8.

HID’s iCLASS SE RB25F fingerprint reader gives biometric fingerprint matching in under a second using multispectral imaging technology that captures images from both the surface and sub-surface of the skin to handle challenging conditions. The reader’s IP67 and anti-vandal IK09 ratings mean it can be installed anywhere and it’s field-configurable over a network, making things easier still. There’s builtin optical tamper protection, support for Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) and HID Seos technology for multi-layered authentication between the reader and credentials.

AnyVision is a server-based GPU-powered analytic solution that can process 23 faces simultaneously and offers a toolbox of neat features and functions.

AnyVision uses deep learning to find and identify faces in still images or video streams. The features list includes the ability to display gaze estimation, which is a useful marker when seeking the perpetrators of terror attacks.

Vivotek’s MS9390-HV is a panoramic network

GENETEC SECURITY CENTER 5.8 PROBABLY EXEMPLIFIES THE NEW MARKET DIRECTION BEST - THE COMPANY’S SENSE OF THE FUTURE HAS PROVED UNUSUALLY PENETRATING.

camera that incorporates a pair of wide-angle lenses, electronic image stitching, and high-resolution sensors to deliver an 8MP 180-degree scene. This is a compact, robust and capable camera with a huge angle of view. Image sensors are 1/2.7-inch progressive scan CMOS with a combined resolution of 4512 x 1728 pixels – that’s just under 8MP. The focal length of each lens is 2.8mm – a nice length for a wide-angle CCTV camera. The lenses have a fast aperture of F1.2, there’s a combined horizontal field of view of 180 degrees and a vertical field of view of 50 degrees. That vertical field of view is higher than usual and translates to more useful performance in the real world. Vivotek has a 20MP version but this unit is more than enough for many applications.

The Bosch 8000i in 1080p and 4K resolutions is IP66 rated against water and dust and IK10 rated against vandalism. Dimensions are 175mm wide x 145mm high and weight is 2.2kg. The dome bubble is clear polycarbonate with a UV blocking anti-scratch coating. Operating temperature range is -50C to 60C. FLEXIDOME IP starlight 8000i range features IP66 rating for water and dust resistance, IK10+ for vandal resistance, has anti-corrosion coating and solid operating temperature range of -50 to +60C. The camera is designed to be easy to install. None of these words really describe the camera’s excellent performance.

Hikvision kicked goals this year with its secondgeneration video intercom system with Hik-Connect app that gives users a safe living environment through high-definition image quality, easy operation interface, and flexible combination. It’s designed for door entry communication including video and security access especially suitable for residential, public and SME sector. The modular outdoor station features an artistic industrial design and various optional functional modules, including a nametag, keypad, and card reader module, as well as indicator, blank, and other modules. Users can choose customized functions according to their different needs. The fisheye camera lens on the modular outdoor station provides a 180-degree wide-angle, 2MP high-definition image. Its wide dynamic range (WDR) and night vision provide image quality with sharp details.

BGW Technologies’ DSCPG4312 Power-G Wireless Outdoor Magnetic Contact with Auxiliary Input from DSC was a solid release for alarm installers in 2019. It is compatible with DSC PowerSeries NEO and DSC iotega and is designed for both residential and high-volume commercial use. This robust device is designed to protect outdoor entries and exits, including perimeter gates, pool and garden enclosures, shed doors, windows and more.

This outdoor magnetic contact is IP66 certified for dust-proof and waterproof rating, with a long-lasting battery and reliable operation in severe weather conditions, including operating temperature range of -40C to +66C and configurable auxiliary input options for NC, NO, SEOL or DEOL applications.

We also liked AXIS Q6215-LE, a high-performance,

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1080p, PTZ camera with 30x optical zoom and 400 metre OptimizedIR that automatically adjusts to camera zoom. This is a heavy-duty PTZ camera that meets the MIL-STD-810G standard, ensuring reliable operation in extreme weather conditions, including winds up to 245 km/h (152 mph). With vandalresistant IK10-rated casing and IP66/IP68 ratings and NEMA TS-2 compliance, the camera housing is resistant to both harsh weather conditions and heavy impacts.

Also captivating was Hanwha’s HAN-XNP6550RH, a 2MP outdoor-rated IR PTZ camera with the world’s best optical zoom of 55x magnification.

It has a unique adaptive IR technology which adjusts the dynamic infrared radiation angle with the zoom ratio, providing an outstanding low light performance for long range monitoring. The HANXNP-6550RH supports advanced digital image stabilisation (DIS) by combining the standard DIS function with the gyro sensor to compensate for unstable images caused by shaking.

Another pleasing addition to alarm technology was the WX Infinity Series of outdoor intrusion sensors from Optex, which has 2 independent 90-degree 12m detection areas that offer 180-degree detection coverage with a 12m radius. The new WX Infinity Series has 2 wired and 2 wireless models in standard or anti-masking versions. WXI sensors provide 2, independent 90-degree 12m detection areas, one for the left side and one for the right.

The detection distance ranges from 2.5m to 12m, and the sensitivity and alarm output can be set up independently for each area.

CONCLUSIONS What did we like most in 2019? Gallagher Security Health Check utility deserves a mention here.

It’s designed to allow users to run an automated check via their Gallagher Command Centre system at any time, reducing the time and expense of performing regular manual audits and just won a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Award.

We especially liked the Fujifilm SX800, the Paradox HD series all-in-one motion detector and ethernet/Wi-Fi camera, HID’s multispectral fingerprint reader, 2GIG eSeries controllers and the Axis Q6215-LE 1080p, PTZ camera with 30x optical zoom and 400 metre IR. Hanwha’s HAN-XNP6550RH 2MP IR PTZ camera with 55x zoom and the Optex WX Infinity Series of outdoor intrusion sensors.

It’s nice to see there are still plenty of quality hardware devices to go with the clever software solutions currently being delivered to the market.

A trend in 2019 that’s certain to leach into the new year is integrated security sensors – Paradox HD springs to mind but the 2GIG smoke, heat, freeze sensor also fits the bill. Integriti version 19 – this was already a highly evolved solution and the addition an improved camera interface and evidence vault takes this to the next level. Users can view multiple cameras using a variety of standard

layout configurations, control items associated with cameras, tweak tours, camera views, evidence clips and more.

Having taken a closer look at the Tecom ecosystem in recent weeks, it’s impossible not to be pleased with it – there’s a lot to think about in that product stack. I like Tecom ChallengerPlus, which delivers ‘a building on a board’ and backs that hardware up with solid software with plenty of potential for evolution, and a secure cloud path. TecomC4 is another winner from Interlogix. Being able to bring multiple systems together affordably is going to be central to the future of suppliers and integrators.

The latest version of Saab OneView is an if/then business rules integration platform topped by a lightweight management system that sits above any collection of integrated sub systems and aggregates system-wide events to give profound situational awareness, quickfire response to unfolding events and complex reporting via a single portal. The OneView interface is a thing of simple beauty. Bosch FLEXIDOME IP starlight 8000i won an ASIAL Best Product Award this year and deserved it – a great camera.

Genetec Security Center 5.8 probably exemplifies the new market direction best - the company’s sense of the future has proved unusually penetrating.

It takes a capacity for technological synthesis a drive towards partnership and a double helping of self-belief to successfully ambush a market. With Security Center 5.8 Genetec has presented us with its most highly evolved expression of the future yet. n

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The Year Ahead :There are plenty of trends in the alarm monitoring and home automation markets but pulling them into a clear shape of the future isn’t the easiest thing to do. The one thing that is apparent is that communications paths are the key.

omething that was interesting over the summer hols was the news Google, Apple, Amazon and the Zigbee Alliance have formed a new working group that plans to develop and promote the adoption of a new open standard for smart home devices. Supporters and contributors of Connected Home over IP include IKEA, Legrand, Resideo, Samsung SmartThings, Schneider Electric, Signify (Philips Lighting) and Silicon Labs – it’s a solid line-up with plenty of technical and retail clout. Connected Home over IP project will simplify development for manufacturers and increase compatibility for consumers seeking to easier integration of smart home solutions. The project aims to enable communication across smart home devices, mobile apps and cloud services, and to define a specific set of IPbased networking technologies for device certification.

S

The project will make it easier to build devices that are compatible with smart home and voice services such as Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, Google Assistant and others. Development work and protocols from existing systems such as Amazon’s Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Weave and Zigbee Alliance’s Dotdot data models will be incorporated into the new standard.

While most these systems depend on Wi-Fi or direct connection, ZigBee is the one with most potential when it comes to supporting constellations of low power edge devices.

ZigBee is an open global wireless standard catering to low-cost, low-power machine-to-machine networks ratified by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 2003. The frequency is IEEE 802.15.4 in familiar unlicensed bands such as 2.4 GHz, 900 MHz and 868 MHz and the protocol is designed offer simple to use, secure, reliable wireless network architectures.

Essentially, the specification is a packetbased radio protocol for battery-operated devices across a range of topologies with a battery life of many years. Why not just use WiFi? Because WiFi has a data rate of up to 100Mbps for home and commercial data networks and needs to be supported by mains power. ZigBee, while it complements WiFi, is all about preserving

IN MAY 2019 WE LAUNCHED 5G WITH THE RELEASE OF THE FIRST 5G DEVICES IN AUSTRALIA. AS AN EARLY ADOPTER AND PIONEER OF 5G, WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF THE LATEST MOBILE TECHNOLOGY WORLDWIDE. – TELSTRA.

battery life, which in some cases can extend past the life cycle of the device.

Because ZigBee nodes can go from sleep to active mode in 30ms or less, the latency can be low and devices can still be responsive, particularly compared to Bluetooth wake-up delays, which are typically around 3 seconds. The fact ZigBee nodes can be dozing most of the time means power consumption is very low.

Furthermore, the ZigBee protocol is designed to communicate data through hostile RF environments. Features adding to its robustness include support for multiple network topologies such as point-to-point, point-to-multipoint and mesh networks. There’s low duty cycle for long battery life, use of Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS), up to 65,000 nodes per network, 128-bit AES encryption for secure data connections, collision avoidance, retries and acknowledgements. Compared to the simple 433Mhz sensor comms of most wireless alarm sensors, there’s really no comparison.

The specification goes on to complete the standard by adding 4 main components including network layer, application layer, ZigBee device objects (ZDOs) and manufacturerdefined application objects which allow for customization and favour total integration. As well incorporating a pair of high-level network layers to the underlying structure, the key thing here is ZDOs. These are responsible for tasks including device roles, management of requests to join a network, device discovery and security.

On the network side, the ZigBee network layer natively supports both star and tree typical networks, as well as generic mesh networks. Every network must have a coordinator device for its creation, the control of network parameters and basic maintenance.

Within star networks, the coordinator must be the central node. Both trees and meshes allow the use of ZigBee routers to extend communication at the network level.

A strength of ZigBee is the ability to support mesh networking. In a mesh

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network, nodes are interconnected with other nodes so that multiple pathways connect each node. Connections between nodes are dynamically updated and optimized through sophisticated, builtin mesh routing table. Mesh networks are decentralized in nature; each node is capable of self-discovery on the network.

Also, as nodes leave the network, the mesh topology allows the nodes to reconfigure routing paths based on the new network structure. The characteristics of mesh topology and ad-hoc routing provide greater stability in changing conditions – including jamming - or failure at single nodes.

Another coming in communications is mobile networks, with Telstra announcing its 3G shutdown and Optus certain to follow suit. Telstra recently revealed it would shut down its 3G network in June 2024 and repurpose its bandwidth to support 4G and 5G. Meanwhile, an Optus

spokesperson said it had not determined an end date for its 3G network but given it closed 2G around 12 months after Telstra did, a closure of 2025 is a realistic expectation for security installers.

“Today, as part of our program to continually upgrade our network to the latest technology and expand our 4G and 5G coverage, we’re announcing the eventual switch-off of our 3G technology,” said Telstra group executive, Networks and IT, Nikos Katinakis. “This will not happen until June 2024 – more than 4 years away.”

“In May 2019 we launched 5G with the release of the first 5G devices in Australia.

As an early adopter and pioneer of 5G, we are on the cusp of the latest mobile technology worldwide.

“To help continue enhancing the network, it will eventually mean our older network technology will need to be switched off, so the spectrum that is used

to carry data and voice calls over our oldest mobile network technology can be repurposed to help grow 5G,” he said.

Katinakis said that between now and June 2024, Telstra will be upgrading and expanding its 4G coverage to a “materially equivalent size and reach to our 3G footprint”.

“We are working to assess our product range and all current areas with 3G only coverage in order to give you the best possible experience on 4G and 5G,” Katinakis said.

Regardless of what telcos tell us about the advent of 5G, I think installers can safely put it to one side for the time being.

But they’ll need to ramp up their transition plans to ensure customers are supported by 4G when 3G is switched off in 2024.

Given many areas, including metropolitan areas in Australia, depend entirely on 3G, this process is likely to be more challenging than you’d think. n

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CCTV

PTZ OR MULTI-HEAD?

When it comes to choosing camera form factor it can be hard to know what’s best in larger applications, PTZ or multi-head.

Complicating the options further still are multi-head cameras with integrated central PTZs. here’s a lot to like about multi-head cameras. Multiple sensors mean a wide angle of view without excessive pixel spread, which can impact on image quality and depth of field. There are applications where there’s no substitute for optical zoom – the ability to go 36x and retain full HD. This power comes with a trade-off – the loss of other parts of the scene for live surveillance and recording.

The key to camera choice should always be operations and, according to Farshid Parhizkari of Vivotek, the perfect applications for multi-head cameras are big.

“Multiple head cameras are designed to provide more coverage for large areas - these cameras are perfect for airports, both terminals and apron, large malls, schools and universities, traffic control, parking, big warehouses and yards like logistic sorting facilities, ports, customs and city surveillance,” he explains.

“A multi sensor camera, gives users a massive coverage from a single camera point instead of requiring 3 or 4 cameras and cabling. Users save on installation cost, licensing and storage costs - a multi sensor cameras needs only one cable, one PoE port and one SW license.”

T

While there are techniques to installing multihead cameras, the task is not as high touch as it used to be, according to Parhizkari.

“These days the installation is much easier thanks to automatic image alignment and better mechanical design,” he explains. “The installation of a multi sensor camera is as easy as installing a bullet camera.”

Something that has posed challenges in the past has been managing image streams. Different manufacturers have different ways of seamlessly managing image streams so as much as possible information can be displayed on standard monitors and video walls.

“Using the latest technologies we can not only manage the streams individually in terms resolution, compression, frame rate and bit rate, we can also use high resolution 4K screens or tablets to reveal the capacity of high-resolution stitched image, so when we zoom in digitally, we get enough PPM to review incidents,” Parhizkari says.

“For example, we can record the video of VIVOTEK 20MP multi sensor camera at 25 Fps at very low bit rate by using H.265 and Smart Stream III compression technology and use the second stream at 4MP with H.264 compression to put less pressure on CPU for decoding. However, using 4K

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BY J O H N A D A M S

screens and GPU decoding on monitoring stations are recommended. Using H.265 compression technology requires less CPU for recording because there will be less data received and processed by VMS server.”

Something that has raised questions in the past has been software stitching of multiple images into a composite view. In the past it has been tricky to ensure that camera heads line up perfectly and are set to generally identical settings to ensure continuity of colour, saturation and WDR performance. But according to Parhizkari, the process is now more streamlined.

“Today the stitching happens automatically in multi sensor cameras and the R&D and optics engineers do a lot of tests in the lab to make sure stitching can be adjusted with minimum effort,” Parhizkari explains. “However, the process depends on the number of heads and the resolution.

“Other important factors are installation height and distance to closest objects. The higher up 4-sensor cameras are installed, the less the image borders can be seen and at some points stitching is not visible at all. The VIVOTEK MS9321-EHV camera delivers super smooth seamless stitching to ensure the users have the best possible user experience a panoramic multi sensor camera can deliver.”

A MULTI SENSOR CAMERA, GIVES USERS A MASSIVE COVERAGE FROM A SINGLE CAMERA POINT INSTEAD OF REQUIRING 3 OR 4 CAMERAS AND CABLING.

Installers have wondered in the past whether compression of multi-head camera streams achieved a low enough bit rate to ensure networks were not overwhelmed.

“You will be surprised with the average bit rate of our 20MP multi sensor camera in a busy scene – the VIVOTEK camera uses less than 6Mbps,” Parhizkari says. “And if the scene is not busy, the bit rate will drop to less than 1Mbps at 25 Fps.” What’s the perfect resolution per camera head for a multi-head camera if you want to cover a significant scene and retain good depth of field under digital zoom – say a DoF of up to 50 metres from the lens?

“We think for 50m DoF, each lens has to be minimum 5MP to provide enough PPM,” says Parhizkari. “Obviously, the focal length of the lenses and VFOV matters too. It means for higher PPM at 50m FoV we need to use higher focal length, which decreases the VFOV significantly. This means finding a balance between VFOV and PPM depends on the scene and a customer’s expectation. Using 4K resolution camera heads will be better but the low light performance of 4K sensors is not as good as 5MP sensors yet, and providing 25Fps at, say 32MP (4x4K sensor), needs lots of edge CPU power and generate a higher bit rate. But, ultimately, 4x4K multiheads will happen.”

In Parhizkari’s opinion, should multi-head cameras be supported by cameras with tight focal lengths at choke points, or are we at a point with resolution where this is now unnecessary?

“It depends to the size of the scene that needs to be covered – for up to 50m DoF, 20MP is pretty good with fixed lenses,” he says. “We can deliver 48 horizontal PPM at a 50m distance covering a 158m wide panoramic view with the VIVOTEK MS9321EHV. At 20m distance the camera can provide 115 horizontal PPM and at 10m it can deliver 200 PPM which is enough to read a license plate.”

Multi-heads can be more expensive than single head cameras – how can installers show the cost balance is worth it and how can they ensure they continue to enjoy similar earnings when installing fewer cameras on a site?

“The price of a 20 MP camera is 4x that of fixed dome with similar resolution, so there would be no difference in the money that the installers can make on the camera but there will be one installation, one cable run and one camera SW license and configurations,” Parhizkari says. “However, when there are some budget limitations and some installation difficulties, multi sensor cameras can be the best solution for a hassle-free installation and a win-win result.

“They can also allow installers to compete against the competition - since the labour cost is one the major cost factors in ANZ, using multi sensor cameras can save end users at least 50 per cent when compared to multiple cameras – and the installation will take much less time, as well.”

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CCTV

Over at Axis Communications, Daniel McGee, believes multidirectional cameras have unique situational advantages.

“They can monitor multiple directions simultaneously thanks to independent positioning of camera heads that can be moved and rotated, allowing scenes to be captured in various directions with both wide and zoomed-in views,” he says. “This makes them well suited to a variety of scenarios indoors and outdoors, particularly for mounting on external corners or at the intersections of corridors and roads.

“Additionally, with multiple camera heads incorporated into a single unit, you achieve the benefits of several cameras while only having to purchase and install a single unit, pull one cable, and pay for one VMS license (depending on the camera and VMS).”

According to McGee, challenges can include physical size as well as positioning the camera heads in a way that provides the desired fields of view.

“The initial assessment determines whether a multidirectional camera is appropriate for that location,” he explains. “Once it has been established that it’s appropriate to utilize a multidirectional camera, there are features such as remote zoom and focus, auto levelling, wireless installations tools, etc, which may be used to alleviate some of the challenges encountered during installation. These challenges typically have to do with ensuring that each of the sensors is covering the intended field of view.”

McGee argues usage requirements have priority when it comes to stream profiles being pulled from a camera for display.

“This is especially true when it comes to multidirectional cameras and it is always in the interest of the manufacturer to ensure that the streams and profiles available are as flexible as possible,” he says. “As an example, a single multidirectional camera may offer multiple streams as well as different resolutions, aspect ratios, and frame rates from a single sensor. The camera might also offer the same variations as above but for a combined ‘stitched’ view which merges the views from all sensors into a single high-resolution stream.

MULTIDIRECTIONAL CAMERAS DO OFFER A FINANCIAL SAVING BUT PUTTING A PERCENTAGE ON THAT SAVING IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO GENERALIZE.

“A user may not utilize all of the different streams available, but what is important is that the ones which the user needs are there as available options.”

When it comes to stitching, McGee says it’s important to differentiate between multidirectional and panoramic camera systems.

“Multi-directional cameras incorporate several camera-heads which can be repositioned in a flexible manner such as pan/tilt and zoom adjustments allowing each sensor to focus on what’s required,” he explains. “These units are multiple sensors which share a common base/body and are not intended for image stitching as their primary usage.

“Panoramic cameras incorporate multiple sensors in order to provide high resolution wide area views, and are designed so that the alignment between the factory focused sensors is fixed. This allows for excellent stitching performance, be it on the edge or in the VMS.” What about the compression equation?

“This is an interesting question because while the bitrate of a single multidirectional camera will in most cases be higher compared to a single sensor camera, we also need to consider the total bitrate of the number of cameras this multidirectional camera will be replacing,” McGee explains.

“Taking this into consideration, the bandwidth of a multidirectional camera may be similar or even lower when combined with more recent compression technologies, such as Zipstream technology, which reduces storage and bandwidth needs while capturing important details in full image quality.”

When it comes to choosing the perfect resolution for a scene with a 50m depth of field, McGee says it’s hard to select an optimal resolution without knowing the angle of view and the pixel requirements of the application.

“For instance, at 50m, and in wide angle mode with a scene width of 88m, one QHD sensor of a multidirectional camera could provide a pixel density of 29 px/m,” he says. “This is typically only useful for detection. But the same sensor would provide a pixel density of 125 px/m, which is good enough for recognition at 24m with the varifocal lens in tele mode and a scene width of 20.5m.

“Higher resolutions will of course provide a higher pixel density, which can be very useful when covering a wide scene. One drawback that comes with higher resolutions is higher bandwidth, and state-of-the art compression technologies such as Zipstream become essential to counteract that problem.”

Should multi-head cameras be supported by cameras with tight focal lengths at choke points or are we at a point with resolution where this is now unnecessary?

“It all depends on the application and the specific requirements for the project, as well as the cameras used,” McGee says. “For instance, a customer who needs coverage of an entrance lobby may have several options to consider:

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l A single multidirectional camera providing just 360 degrees overview of the lobby. l A single multidirectional camera providing 270 degrees overview with one of the 4 lenses now being used to specifically zoom and focus in on the entry door. l A single multidirectional camera providing 360 degrees overview of the lobby plus a single sensor camera specifically zoom and focused in on the entry door.

“These are just a few examples of all possible scenarios where the ‘correct’ option really depends on the user’s needs and expectations,” says McGee. “Everything should be evaluated on a case-bycase basis. How many single-head cameras can be replaced with one multidirectional camera or panoramic camera? Which solution provides a better result for the end user? How much time can an integrator save when installing one multidirectional or panoramic camera compared to installing multiple single-head cameras?

“Even if installing multidirectional and panoramic cameras on a site, rather than single-head cameras, means fewer billable hours for an integrator, it may also provide a better and more cost-efficient solution for the end user. This in turn can generate a lot of recurring business for the integrator.”

When it comes to using multidirectional cameras to save money, McGee says the equation is difficult to pin down.

“Multidirectional cameras do offer a financial saving,” he says, “But putting a percentage on that saving is often difficult to generalize as this will often depend on multiple factors such as: l How many multidirectional cameras are being used at a site compared to traditional single sensor cameras? l At a location within that site, how many traditional single sensor cameras will that multidirectional camera be replacing?

“Having said that, in general a single multidirectional camera will be a more cost-effective solution compared to multiple single sensor equivalent cameras with factors which can contribute to this saving being: l Combined hardware cost - single camera compared to multiple cameras. l Cost of cabling - running to a single location compared to multiple ones. l Labour cost associated with the installation of the camera hardware plus cabling. l VMS licensing costs - most VMS will view a multidirectional camera as a single device license. l Power consumption - the TCO of this is viewed as a long term saving as a single multidirectional camera will often have lower combined power consumption when compared to multiple single sensor cameras.”

EOS Australia’s Andrew Cho, meanwhile, argues that the biggest strength of multi-head cameras is the cost-saving.

“A multi-head camera may cost more than a single sensor camera,” Cho says. “But most of the VMS’s

support multi-head cameras with a single license, so there is a big saving on the licenses which ends up becoming a cheaper option. A multi-head camera has a price advantage if used correctly. In general, there will be cost savings on the VMS license, cabling and installation. From our experience, there is an approximately 20-30 per cent saving.

“Also, the ability to cover multiple directions with a single cable connection is another big strength of the multi-head camera.”

Cho says there are some installation challenges to consider when installing multi-head camera systems.

“Most of the multi-head cameras are much bigger in comparison to the single sensor cameras, and it limits the locations the multi-head can be installed in,” Cho explains. “Besides the size, the application also needs to be selected carefully to maximise its benefit. Managing image streams is another area that requires careful consideration.

“When using a multi-head camera designed for a panoramic view, due to the difference in the aspect ratio of the image, it can be difficult to display in a single screen. For this reason, we recommend using either a dual-screen or a VMS platform with the customisable layout as such as the latest WISENET WAVE VMS. For the multi-directional purpose multihead camera, each camera sensors are programmed separately and treated as an individual camera, so there are no issues with seamless management.”

When it comes to stitching and ensuring correct camera settings, Cho says the process has improved in the latest cameras.

“The previous design of multi-heads had difficulties in making the seamless stitched image. However, nowadays it is much easier, as manufacturers are introducing new technology,” he explains. “For example, the PNM-9030V from Hanwha adopted 3D stitching technology, so in the programming, the installer only needs to input the target monitor distance, and the camera automatically stitches the image. It has been working very well in real environments.”

“In most of the cases, bitrate is not a big issue.

However, when choosing the multi-head camera, the pre-engineering design must be done properly to ensure the infrastructure can support the relatively higher bandwidth requirement of a multihead camera. Selecting camera head resolution is important, too. For a depth of field of 50m with a typical angle of view, we’d recommend 5MP.” n

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â—? Product review

Panasonic

PANASONIC WVS2550L 5MP DOME Panasonic WV-S2550L is an i-PRO 5MP vandal resistant dome camera featuring native H.265 + Smart Coding, colour night vision rated at 0.0044-.07 lux, integrated IR, Super Dynamic WDR performance of 120dB, FIPS 140-2 Level 1, IK10 and 50J against vandalism, IP66 and NEMA 4X against dust and water.

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BY J O H N A D A M S

anasonic has a long history of making lovely CCTV cameras and pulling the WVS2550L 5MP Dome out of its box the first thing that hits me is the build quality and the way everything fits together. This is a rugged dome with a high specification that’s designed for challenging environments. I have no problem putting the camera together after adding the attachment plate and base bracket. The camera powers up and I’m able to access it via Panasonic’s EasyIP browser with no problem.

The WV-S2550L is built around a 1/2.8 MOS sensor with a maximum resolution of 5MP at 30ips and offers H.265, H.264 and JPEG compression options – I stick with native H.265. Resolution settings at the upper end include 3072 x 1728 pixels, 2560 x 1440 pixels and 1920 x 1080 pixels. This camera can handle a minimum scene illumination of 0.07 lux in colour or 0.04 in black and white.

The angle of view from the 2.9-9.9mm lens (3.3x optical) with its magnesium fluoride coating is a little narrower than I’m used to – it gives 103-33 degrees.

For my busy street scene, this turns out to be a good range. Vertical angle is 19-55, which I found gave me all I really needed. You tweak the pan and tilt manually by loosening grub screws – it’s -180 to +180 for pan, with a tilt angle of -30 to 85 degrees. I found these adjustments easy to do one-handed.

According to Panasonic, Intelligent Auto (iA) monitors scene dynamics and motion to adjust key camera settings automatically in real-time, reducing distortion such as motion blur on moving objects.

Meanwhile, H.265 Smart Coding technology means bandwidth efficiency is intelligently increased for longer recording and less storage. Other features include Super Dynamic, WDR of 120dB, BLC, Enhanced Super Dynamic, day/night, ICR,auto back focus and focus assist and auto focus.

Out of the box, the camera supports full data encryption streaming to SD card edge recording, while FIPS 140-2 Level 1 compliance gives end-to-end system encryption with supported VMS and devices to protect from IP snooping/spoofing and to detect data alteration. There’s support for IPv6 and IPv4, TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTTP, HTTPS, RTP, FTP, SMTP, DNS, NTP, SNMP, DHCPv6, MLD, ICMP, ARP, IEEE 802.1X, DiffServ. Depending on network environment, the camera can support 14 simultaneous users.

This camera has 2-way audio with a built-in microphone, 3 external inputs and 2 external outputs including a 3.5 audio jack, an excellent operating temperature range of -40 to 60C and a stingy V DC power draw of 840mA at 10W. Audio compression options include G.726 (ADPCM) at 16 kbps/32 kbps, G.711 at 64 kbps and AAC-LC*6 at 64 kbps, 96 kbps or 128 kbps. This up-spec of ancillaries is typical of a Panasonic camera.

The WV-S2550L is compatible with SDXC/SDHC/ SD memory cards to a maximum of 256GB, as well as SDHC and SDXC cards. It’s also compatible with iPad, iPhone and Android mobile terminals and there’s email notification of alarm events, HTTP

P

No plate at 6.30am at widest angle.

No problem with faces.

Backlight and DoF strong.

Moving plate at 15m.

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● Product review

Panasonic

Lost plate but scene bright.

alarm notification, indication on browser, FTP image transfer and a Panasonic alarm protocol output.

Panasonic’s WV-S2550L dome is physically quite imposing at 154mm x 103mm high with a main body of die-cast aluminium in Panasonic grey and a clear resin dome bubble. With the base bracket attached, weight is around 1.6kg and all the outer fixings are corrosion-resistant with a secure screw head design.

Finally, there’s integrated IR with a range of 40 metres and there are loads of settings to play with.

When we tested the Panasonic i-PRO Bullet last year we found IR range and spread was a real strength – IR is likely to reward users needing 24-hour coverage of scenes.

TEST DRIVING THE PANASONIC DOME

Excellent faces.

Plates on zoom at 8.10pm

Pedestrians – good detail in failing light.

The camera is set up out the front of the office and is running on SEN’s dedicated test network, which is now corralled from the general data network.

This subnet comprises an Optiplex 9020, a NetGear GS108P PoE switch and the test camera.

I have resolution settings at super fine – 3072 x 1728 pixels, priority at VBR, 30ips, iA on and maximum bitrate set to 8192. This is higher than you’d go in many applications but through the test I find bitrates varies considerably. With nothing moving in the scene, bitrate gets down to 750kbps at times, which is brilliant. Because I have a lot of tree movement close to the lens it’s this factor that impacts most on bitrate in my application. If I zoom the foliage out of the field of view it makes a massive different to the burden static scenes pose on storage.

I kick off testing in the morning at around 10.30am with loads of sun – more than 70,000 lux face on. It’s a challenging application for any camera, let alone a dome with bubble. My initial impressions are that WDR performance is good – there’s no ghosting of the bubble or internal elements of the lens. General detail is high, with good resolution, sharpness and contrast.

There’s some chromatic aberration at the wide end that’s a little better than average and zooming in significantly reduces it. There’s also some barrel distortion in this lens – around 6-7 per cent - and I decide to tweak it out in settings. After tweaking I decide less is more – too much adjustment changes the perspective of objects in the scene more than I’m happy with and I opt for just a nudge of flattening.

Colour rendition is a strength, even across challenging variably lit scenes. The shaded parts are still apparent, and the bright parts are brighter but there’s no heavy shade and no overexposure. This means the camera is balancing light levels across the scene well and exposing uniformly. Depth of field is solid thanks to that strong resolution. I’m able to get useful detail all the way to Albion Street – around 100m from the lens.

Best sharpness is when you zoom and then refocus but as this is a dome camera, zooming can

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take you away from your field of view. Something I enjoy is the speed of the zoom and focus and the value of increased pixel density – I’m only going to 1.6x but the resolution of this camera makes that slightly longer focal length really pay off.

I notice the camera system is prioritising low bitrate in H.265 – it’s working hard to keep the bitrate as low as possible. This might be why movement leads to a bit of softness at the edges, even though people and vehicles are still pretty well rendered – including moving faces and plates.

Given the brightness of the day, this softness around moving trees and people, particularly in shadow, isn’t shutter speed but more likely tone mapping artefacts or generalisations in processing. Later, I distinctly notice when shutter speed drops back.

Looking at faster moving vehicles there’s definitely a trail of artefacts but this doesn’t seem to be rendered in snapshots. Performance when it comes to identification of people and vehicles – even small vehicles like motorcycles – is better than my instinct tells me it should be. Whether this comes down to iA, to compression, or to any of Panasonic’s other smart i-PRO features, I can’t tell.

But what the combination of functionality, decent zoom, H.265 compression and high resolution gives me on the street is plates and faces deeper into the scene than you’d ever get with 1080p at a very low overall bitrate. Getting static plates at 25 metres at a focal length of 2.8mm without needing to zoom optically or digitally is sweet.

Faces on zoom.

Plates on zoom.

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● Product review

Panasonic RESOLUTION IS HIGH, BITRATE IS OFTEN SURPRISINGLY LOW, WDR PERFORMANCE IS EXCELLENT, DEPTH OF FIELD IS GOOD, COLOUR RENDITION IS NATURAL, THERE’S GOOD SHARPNESS AND CONTRAST.

Night wide in colour.

No plate with IR.

Pedestrian with IR.

Wide view.

Performance is consistent throughout the day, though I notice that as the street between the towers loses light in the mid to late afternoon, I start to lose some details I had in full sun. Then as things get uniformly gloomy, performance against tone mapping/blur improves – I can’t help wondering if there’s some impact from WDR software. Not only that, the image gets brighter overall as the scene gets uniformly darker. The afternoon plods along. Notwithstanding the slight evidence of tone mapping artefacts around moving objects, depth of field is good, and colour is held all the way into a scene with no signs of over exposure.

I leave the office for a few hours then return around 7.30pm. Things are getting gloomier on the street but the image stream from the WV-S2550L is interestingly bright – it even shows distinct lightening towards the end of the street where there’s a less shaded horizon – the sun has gone down by now. I still see the tone mapping around moving parts of the scene, but it has no impact on faces to 20m. They are court admissible. I notice that while I still have faces, I’ve lost moving plates.

By around 7.50pm the shutter speed has noticeably slowed down – pedestrian faces are getting softer, though still court admissible. At 8pm the camera is contriving to surprise me with its levels of detail, especially with optical zoom wound in 1.6x. I’d like to go further but once again I’m zooming out of my field of view the way it always happens with fixed dome cameras. This is something installers would have to manage in the field. It would be easy for me to pull the Magic Arm off the front of the office, remove the bubble and tweak pan and tilt vectors to improve my angle of attack on the scene but I don’t want to bother.

There’d be even more inertia if you needed a scissor lift to gain access and the answer is to take future zoom choices into account during commissioning.

By 8.10pm it’s sub 10 lux out front and shutter speed has well and truly fallen away. I’ve lost plates, even on zoom, and sauntering pedestrians are starting to drag tails of artefacts and blur, as are moving cars. Tree branches are also doing a little bit of painting in the air, though I can also discern individual leaves. Regardless, situational awareness remains strong, depth of field is solid, colour rendition is good, there are no strange colour casts in the scene and noise remains very low at all times. An interesting thing is that I still have static plates a long way from the camera courtesy of that 5MP resolution – I’m am still getting them at more than 25 metres.

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By 8.20 the light is well and truly gone and there’s now a cast showing from the low-pressure sodium lamps up the street – you can see the difference between the LED lights close to the office and the sodium. Something I can also see clearly now is that the camera handles blooming very well and there’s no ghosting of the bubble or lens elements with direct light at night. Depth of field remains strong.

The camera is still in colour even with ambient light around 4-7 lux outside on the street – at this point I realise I’m going to have to force this Panasonic dome into night mode to see IR performance.

About 10 seconds later I can see IR performance at night is solid. While I expected it would be, I wasn’t expecting this quality of throw and spread.

There are applications that would suit this camera almost for IR coverage alone. On default settings the range is out to 25 metres (it’s more but that’s all I can see in this application), with coverage greater than the angle of view. Despite this performance, it’s not so strong as to create flare although there are near structures in the scene.

Regardless, in night mode with IR activated shutter speed is master of ceremonies and I’m no longer getting plates, though vehicle type is readily discernible - nor am I getting faces, though I find I often get strong detail of shoes and other objects.

Next morning, I arrive back at the office relatively early before the sun has risen. As soon as I look at the screen it’s brought home once again how well this camera performs in uniformly dark scenes - my street scene is much brighter on screen than off.

Something I do notice when a dark vehicle then a white vehicle drive along the street is that this has an impact on the whole scene at this time of day.

The overall scene is brightened when a white car goes past, while I find the darker contrast preferable when a dark car goes by. At 7am I’m not getting fast moving plates, but faces are court admissible and then as the morning goes on I once again have plates at around 8.30am on an overcast day.

no ghosting of the lens or dome bubble and the IR capability is top notch, with flare very well managed and great reach and coverage.

From early in the morning – around 6am in Sydney summer – to 8pm in the evening, the camera delivers court admissible faces. Outside these hours, I found faces were better in day mode than they were with IR activated in night mode. While court admissible faces and plates are available during the day (plates) and into the early evening (faces), the camera engine and its firmware show some consistent tone mapping when it comes to moving objects – this happens in all lighting conditions and is evidenced around moving branches, vehicles and the legs of pedestrians. n

CONCLUSION Panasonic’s WV-S2550L 5MP i-PRO dome is a robust camera with an excellent specification that’s capable of taking the worst the environment can throw at it. Build quality is high, installation and adjustment is easy, and the accessories all fit together well. Finding a cable path through the base bracket is a snip thanks to a range of cut-outs and sensible cable lengths and all adjustments are easy to manage.

Taken as a whole, camera performance is strong.

Resolution is high, bitrate is often surprisingly low, WDR performance is excellent, depth of field is good, colour rendition is natural, there’s good sharpness and contrast. Adjusting zoom and refocus is easy and the process is rapid. The camera does well through a range of lighting conditions and manages to never overexpose or under expose in challenging scenes. At night there’s no blooming,

FEATURES OF SALTO FEATURES OF THE PANASONIC WV-S2550L 5MP DOME INCLUDE: l

Self-Learning ROI encoding (Auto VIQS) Compresses Quiet Areas

l

Region of Interest

l

5MP, 30ips, Super Dynamic 120dB

l

iA (intelligent Auto)

l

Color night vision (0.0044 to 0.07 lx)

l

H.265 Smart Coding

l

FIPS 140-2 Level 1 compliant

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● Regulars

Products

Editor’s choice BOSCH IP 3000I FROM CSD l Bosch has introduced its new IP 3000i range of dome and

microdome network cameras with in-built Essential Video Analytics (EVA). EVA features include people counting, blocked emergency exits, queue notification and then providing valuable data for business intelligence.

Available in 2MP or 5MP with 120dB wide dynamic range and built-in infrared on outdoor models, the IP 3000i is suitable for retail, commercial, offices and banks. The outdoor dome has a 3.210mm varifocal lens while the microdome is provided with either a 2.3mm or 2.8mm fixed lens.

High-quality, 24/7 performance and cost effective, this new IP 3000i range sets a new benchmark for professional surveillance installations.

Distributor: Central Security Distribution Contact: 1300 319 499

What’s new in the industry.

PELCO ADDS SMS NOTIFICATIONS, NEW STORAGE TO VIDEOXPERT l Pelco’s VideoXpert 3.7 VMS now includes high framerate playback (smooth fast forward): VX 3.7’s fast playback shows both I and P-frames (not just I-frames) at 2x, 4x, and 8x.

VX 3.7 now integrates with Twilio so that an SMS message can be sent and received globally – VideoXpert’s Rules Engine can be used to send an SMS message from any event, including integrations and external events, as a recording trigger. All new event triggers can be used with a reduced frame rate, continuous recording behaviour in order to get bump on alarm type recording.

It’s also now possible to connect VxOpsCenter from a different network with enabling of clients on a remote network and the ability for CMG NICs to connect into separate networks providing flexibility to operate on different network architectures.

VideoXpert version 3.7 now includes the new VxStorage designed for monitoring environments involving a large number of cameras and long retention times.

Distributor: Pelco Contact: +61 2 9125 9310 or pelcoaustralia@pelco.com

PROFESSIONAL DELL SERVERS AT CSD

DAHUA HUBBLE 8 SENSOR PTZ CAMERA

l CSD introduces a new range of Dell R540 PowerEdge

l Dahua Hubble panoramic camera combines a fast-moving PTZ and a multi-sensor design, with 8 independent concave windows to avoid occlusion caused by rain and snow.

The eight 4/3-inch (1920 x 1080p) CMOS sensors are used together with a 1.8-inch star-level sensor on the ball to deliver a clear and bright performance at night, providing a 24-hour monitoring capability.

Dahua Hubble features a splicing algorithm, tracking algorithm and face recognition algorithm – the camera can manage high-point monitoring via 360-degree seamless splicing. The AR platform realizes panoramic AR functions that can identify moving trajectories of people and vehicles.

Real-time screen connection also allows users to obtain real time information of people within the panoramic view and enables intelligent warning and stereoscopic command to assist video surveillance.

Professional servers to suit small to medium surveillance systems. This server range uses the 2nd generation Silver Xeon processor and comes equipped with the iDRAC9 Enterprise management platform, TPM 2.0 trusted platform module, dual power supplies and an Intel network card. They are also available in the Core R540 range for small surveillance systems and the Enterprise R740XD range for larger surveillance systems. The core, professional and enterprise custom series of servers are available only at CSD and have been specifically designed to suit the VMS essentials of either Milestone, Hanwha or Axxon for each software’s requirements. For more information, please talk to our team of specialists at your local CSD branch.

Distributor: Central Security Distribution Contact: 1300 319 499

Distributors: LSC, Seadan, Hills, SecuSafe

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INNER RANGE INCEPTION 3.2 ADDS FACE RECOGNITION AUTHENTICATION

NORTEK RELEASES NEW 2GIG SMOKE/HEAT/ FREEZE DETECTORS

l Inner Range Inception 3.2 firmware update allows users to present biometric credentials, including face recognition, as well as traditional access cards to gain entry.

Nirovision’s identity recognition platform is one of the first to take advantage of Inception’s new biometric credential features.

Developed by Nirovision, the integration allows users to unlock doors as their face is detected by a camera.

With Inception 3.2 facial recognition, fingerprint scans and iris scans can all now be used as access credentials and this allows for more advanced security configurations for clients. For example, during office hours users could present either a face scan, or card or PIN to access a building but after-hours facial recognition is revoked, and users must present both a card and PIN. Inception users can also present virtual credentials on their mobile phones via a REST API protocol to gain entry, in another addition to the system.

The REST API protocol is version 4.

l Nortek Security & Control has released 2GIG smoke/heat/ freeze detectors designed to detect fire issues earlier and recognize smoke from common synthetic materials to decrease nuisance alarms from everyday cooking.

Both detectors feature updated optical sensors and detection algorithms, with one adding encryption technology for more secure communication with the new 2GIG eSeries security panels.

While traditional smoke detectors identify smoke and trigger an alarm when the smoke density has reached a specific level, the new 2GIG smoke/heat/freeze detectors use advanced algorithms and a sophisticated optical chamber to recognize the difference between smoke particles created by synthetic materials and those resulting from normal cooking events, according to the company. This results in the alarm triggering faster if smoke from common synthetics is detected, which tend to burn faster.

The 2GIG smoke/heat/freeze detectors also help monitor and report on excessive temperature and variations. A high temperature alert is sent to the panel and the siren is triggered when the ambient temperature exceeds 134 degrees F.

Distributor: Central Security Distribution Contact: 1300 319 499

AETEK POE EXTENDER OVER 2 WIRES l Aetek EPo2 ethernet and power over 2 wire adaptor delivers IP

video (data) and power (PoE) for network cameras, networks, IP video intercoms, VOIP, and IP speakers over an existing doorbell wire, telephone line or other 2- wire cable infrastructure without the need for retrofitting. In addition to being able to reuse existing 2-wire cables, Aetek’s EPo2 adapters are designed to extend PoE range & data rates far beyond 100 meters. For more information, head into your local CSD branch.

Distributor: Central Security Distribution Contact: 1300 319 499

Distributor: Rojac Alarms Contact: 1300 668 004

AVIGILON ADDS FACIAL RECOGNITION TO ACC 7.4 VMS l Avigilon has added facial recognition technology to the latest version of its Avigilon Control Center (ACC) 7.4 video management software (VMS). The new appearance alerts capability of ACC 7.4 will help security teams accelerate response times by identifying people of interest in enterprise settings. People of interest are identified based on a secure, controlled watch list created and maintained by authorized users at the commercial organization.

For organizations that use the new ACC software and license their Avigilon cameras for facial recognition, cameras will seek to identify potential matches based on the watch list. If a potential match is found, the user is alerted within the ACC software, and security personnel can then determine whether further investigation or action is necessary.

Distributor: Suretek Contact: 1300 65 44 33

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● Regulars

Help desk

Q: Are modern integrated cameras with housings as robust as oldstyle camera housings when installed outside? What should we be looking for in a housing? I’ve had trouble with some modern PTZs, especially with inadequate rubber seals, which have aged very quickly and can’t be replaced. Can seals be restored using grease or vasoline?

A: Longevity of modern cameras depends on the construction material, build quality, environment and more.

A quality IP66 rated camera made in quality alloy and poly should last many years mounted externally. The weak points are the fastenings, particularly if they are not complimentary metals, the seals and the dome bubble, which will age if exposed to direct sunlight.

You can help seals that have shrunk or weathered using lubricant but a petrochemical will make any latex seal age even quicker, so stick with organic oils – glycerine, a lanolin oil like Inox – if nothing else is available you can even use olive oil or dish washing liquid. If the seals are made of nitrile, EPDM or neoprene, then a silicone lubricant grease is the answer.

Externally mounted camera seals need to be kept lubricated as part of a maintenance programme – and we all know that’s a lot harder to achieve than it sounds.

Depending on your application the housing must resist extremes or cold and heat (fans, ventilation),

Our panel of experts answers your questions.

high winds, rain, salt spray (integrated wiper), vandalism, ice and snow, dust, theft, RFI and EMI (through shielding and grounding), and fog, mist, smog and smoke. You need to choose a housing that has been designed to handle the camera you’re installing. It’s important the camera be firmly attached to the housing and the housing firmly attached to a mounting point. The housing’s access point should have a secure lock or antitamper screws and structure should be resistant to corrosion. Electrical connections must be weatherproof, and cables and insulators must be able to stand up to temperature extremes.

Sunlight is another damaging factor and the housing window, and all fittings must be able to withstand prolonged exposure to sun.

Q: Do you think using older lenses on newer cameras is acceptable or have their been changes in lens coatings that would introduce problems with performance?

A: If talking about DSLR cameras we’d agree that the latest lenses – even from third party makers like Tokina and Sigma – are much better than many older

more expensive lenses and much of the vividness of colour rendition comes down to the latest coatings. When it comes to CCTV camera lenses, which typically have an outer element coated with magnesium fluoride covering the 550nm spectrum, and very little else, the proof of the pudding will be in the testing.

The quality of older lenses is likely to be higher than today’s plastic lenses. Along with mounting compatibility, make sure you’ve still got electronic iris. The image here shows Watec’s most compact full body CCTV camera (we are dying to test it, CRK), which has a beautifully made lens, as you can see.

Q: What do you think is the best intrusion sensor when it comes to performance – what should we be installing more of?

A: SEN tends to favour the perimeter security layer – that means high end intrusion detection sensors on external approaches – verandahs and closed courtyards and volumetric coverage of typical entry points and throughways internally. Taking this philosophy into account, we’d argue the most under rated intrusion sensor in residential and

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small medium commercial applications is the wireless reed switch.

It’s almost invisible, it never false alarms, its battery never dies, and in a simple smart home application it will inform the home or business owner when a secure door in the premises is opened and/or closed via smart phone notification, regardless of whether or not the system is armed. Installed on front and rear access doors, garage and tool shed, accessible windows and one or 2 throughway doors inside the premises fitted with automatic closers, the wireless reed switch is hard to beat.

In concert with higher security locking devices like the 001 on external doors, reed switches will also tell you whether your premises remain unsealed via door left open notifications on your smart phone. You can also install 2 magnets on sliding or single hung windows, making it possible to receive breach notifications even if windows are left part open to allow ventilation. Robust external reed switches like DSC’s DSCPG4312 (BGWT distributes this locally) deliver multichannel, frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) technology, adaptive transmission power, high transmission ranges, TDMA synchronized communication technology and 2-Way 128-bit AES encryption.

Q: We were interested to read about cable rollers in SEN recently – what would you recommend in the way of pulling tools?

A: Pulling heavy conductors through restrictive conduit, especially if there are many corners in the cable run, is tough.

In modern networked environments things are easier thanks to relatively shorter cable runs to remote networking cabinets using Cat-6 but in complex environments even moving a bundle of 5-10 cables without caused damage can pose challenges. To make cable pulling easier, there are a number of tools and techniques that can help. Bands can also be employed to splice conductors together during the pulling operation.

Also important are feeding sheaves rollers that mount on the cable conduit and guide cable through it by keeping the

least possible angle between the lips of the conduit and the wiring spool you’re feeding from – this sounds much easier than it is. Depending on the nature of the installation, attaching a wax-based lube spreader between the wire grip and the cable being pulled can facilitate an easier installation when multiple cables are being pulled. Meanwhile, grips allow solid purchase to be made on a cable run whether it’s going to be pulled by hand or using a winch. It’s likely you’d use light duty pulling grips or splicing grips in most cases, rather than the big K-type grips required for multi-conductor surveillance installations using coaxial cable. When pulling network cable make sure then are no bends with a radius of less than 2.5 centimetres – around an inch. Don’t use tension greater than about 12kg in the pull. If you can walk the cable along with many hands and place it in the tray, that’s better. If you use a lubricant with Cat-5 cables don’t use oil-based lubricants – they’ll damage cable jackets.

Q: We’ve heard that it’s possible to use a torch to find the far end of a fibre run – is this true? We’re working in a large legacy site with a mess of fibre installed decades ago and trying to make sense of it in the field is very difficult.

A: CCTV installers who install or service fibre optic cable plants in tough environments should consider making a visual fault locator part of their toolbox.

VFLs use a semiconductor that emits red light to fire a light stream down a fibre in order to check its physical integrity.

The light signal escapes through cracks or damaged joints and can be seen with the naked eye anywhere the fibres are exposed. While it sounds a rudimentary technique, the red test light will travel up to 10km down standard fibre and can be clearly seen under the glass fibre’s coating. Bear in mind that if the fibre is heavily encased in a thick plastic jacket chances are you won’t be able to see light spilling out of it.

Ideal locations to use this technique will be when working on the back of switchers or integrated equipment racks where there’s poor labelling of fibre runs and you need to see where a single fibre input ends up on the other side of a snugly bound bundle of 15 or 20 fibres. In such situations, visual locators work a treat. If you don’t have a visual fault locater you can use a small torch – rather peering into fibres, which can be dangerous to eye health – hold a mirror or the white tag you’re going to use to label the run close to the fibre endwith room lights dimmed. n

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Security Managers ◆ Integrators ◆ IT Managers ◆ Installers FEBRUARY 2020 ISSUE 417

events ISC West 2020

l Nedap Joins SecTech Roadshow 2020 l BSH Wins $A3 Million Hobart Prison Upgrade

BEST SECURITY PRODUCTS OF 2019

l Hornsby Council Takes Access Control To Cloud l Taxicomms Installs Hikvision For Black & White Cabs l Measuring Voltage, Current and Resistance l The Interview: Wade Anderson, Bravis Security l Alarm Monitoring: The Year Ahead l Special Report: PTZ or Multi-head Cameras? l Review: Panasonic WV-S2550L 5MP Dome

PP 100001158

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Dates: Thursday, 19 March 2020 Venues: Sands Expo Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Contact: 0011 1 203 840 56025 ISC West is the largest converged security industry trade show in the U.S. At ISC West, you will have the chance to network with over 30,000 security professionals through new products and technologies encompassing everything from access control to drones and robotics from over 1000 exhibitors and brands.

SecTech Roadshow 2020 Dates: May 2020 Venues: 5 city Australian tour Contact: Monique Keatinge +61 2 9280 4425 SecTech Roadshow in its 6th year takes leading electronic security manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers on a national tour.

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Security 2019 Exhibition & Conference Date: July 22-24, 2020 Venue: Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre Contact: +61 3 9261 4662 Security Exhibition & Conference is the industry's annual opportunity to reunite for 3 days of quality networking and education.

Security Essen Date: September 22-25, 2020 Venue: Messe Essen, Messeplatz 1, Essen, Germany Contact: +49 (0)201 72 44-524 Security Essen 2018 draws 950 exhibitors from 43 countries to show their security and safety innovations to 36,000 visitors from 125 nations at Messe Essen, Germany.

The Rea

SECURITY & GOVERNMENT EXPO

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Security and Government Expo 2020

Date: November 12, 2020 Venue: Realm Hotel, Canberra Contact: Monique +61 2 9280 4425 SAGE 2020 is the perfect opportunity for government and commercial end users, as well as integrators, installers and consultants, to see the latest security products and technologies in the nation's capital.

DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY.

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Series cameras

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AUCKLAND WELLINGTON CHRISTCHURCH

+64 9 574 2700

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