Security Electronics & Networks Magazine by Security Electronics & Networks Magazine

FEBRUARY 2021 ISSUE 428

WHEN A STRANGER CALLS l FLIR Systems To Be Acquired By Teledyne For $US8B l Lou Mavrelis Joins BGW Technologies as State Manager l Adelaide Botanic High School Deploys SALTO Access Control l The Interview: Dave Gavan, Wormald Security l Product Review: Hikvision DS-K1T341A Face Access Terminal l Alarm Monitoring Faces A Challenging Future l Special Report: Camera Performance – What Do You Need? l Special Report: Latest, Greatest Alarm Panels l Product Review: FLIR Elara DX Multispectral PTZ

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editorial By John Adams

S E CU RI TY E L ECTR O NI C S & NETWO R KS FE B R UARY 2 021 ISSUE 4 2 8

ELECTRONIC SECURITY & THE CREATION OF THE FUTURE

FTER the challenges and of 2020, A uncertainties the new year is likely to offer considerably more stability for the ANZ electronic security industry. For a start, we know what COVID-19 quarantine measures are in place and operational strategies around its control are tried and tested. Something else we can be sure of is that the layers of government in this corner of the world, which have their roots in the geographical isolation of ANZ’s European colonies, offer a level of local decisiveness in crisis that other countries have struggled to match. State government has shown it will do whatever it takes to keep the virus under control – this caused considerable pain last year, but that pain is likely to pay off in 2021. With COVID-19 in ANZ more or less under control and with circumspect vaccine rollouts being planned, starting with Australia next month, it’s likely that growing immunity and careful social strategies are going to put a floor under consumer and business confidence over the next 6 months. The economic rebound of the last 2 quarters in ANZ was profound – around 15 per cent in Q4 – and this recovery is not aberrant. The global nature of economic recovery and growth suggests underlaying fundamentals remain strong. It’s not only being seen on balance sheets. Share market recovery and growth in home prices suggests long term confidence in the future, all of which are likely to drive up a flagging birth rate. On the domestic front, there are other elements to the 2021 equation – a tendency for homeowners to

Perhaps the most inspiring thing about 2021 for security people is that it’s not cast in stone – 2020 broke the old ways of doing things. trade up to larger homes, a tendency for homeowners to renovate existing homes, a continued push towards automation in homes and a hunger for big band internet services. There’s also a continuing drive towards renewable energy, which in Australia is powered by a domestic market that simply can’t get enough of affordable rooftop solar – the connection here is adjacent energy management solutions. Throw in the opportunities offered by environmental monitoring, which are made more pressing by the impact of climate change across ANZ, and there’s plenty to chew on. Running alongside these observations for security installers is a state of flux in the alarm monitoring market, which is both empowered and disempowered by digital communications. Wireless sensors of all kinds can now feed information from anywhere, to anywhere, but the digital substrate they drive on threatens to break the traditional alarm installation and alarm monitoring model. Coming on the back of the loss of rebates and exacerbated by the fact installers spend more time on the tools than on strategic planning, it’s no surprise that many installation businesses see alarms as a shrinking business unit. But with big change comes big opportunity. For larger integration businesses something else we are going to see in 2021, is fiscal turbocharging delivered by the availability of lowcost capital across all layers of the user market. There’s also going to

be serious government granting of precedence to large infrastructure projects. Major projects that have been creeping towards ground-break are going to find their skids well and truly greased - those projects will be road infrastructure, rail, renewable energy, medical cannabis and sea farms, mining, biotech, rare earth processing, upgrades to existing sites and much, much more. This isn’t just going to take place at a national level – in Australia state governments have made their intentions to spend their way out of COVID very clear. Alongside all this will be the momentum of automation and remote management solutions, the ongoing push to digital transformation, a hunger for greater efficiency delivered by technology and paid for by cheap capital and government incentive, as well as a hunger in the end user market to leverage newly minted infrastructure to deliver greater returns on investment. As 2021 unfurls its opportunities, it’s important to take an holistic view, to ask what clients really need, to uncover their cost pain points and most importantly, to discover and offer bespoke solutions empowered by new technology partners. Perhaps the most inspiring thing about 2021 for security people is that it’s not cast in stone – 2020 broke the old ways of doing things. Exactly what a security system is and how it should support end users has never been more up to you than it is today. n

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that the school was a state-of-the-art building in every way, including its access control system. 18: DAVE GAVAN, WORMALD SECURITY

9: FLIR SYSTEMS TO BE ACQUIRED BY TELEDYNE FOR $US8B FLIR Systems and Teledyne Technologies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Teledyne will acquire FLIR in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $US8.0 billion, a 40 per cent premium on FLIR’s current stock price. 13: LOU MAVRELIS JOINS BGW TECHNOLOGIES AS STATE MANAGER VICTORIA, TASMANIA LOU Mavrelis has joined BGW Technologies with over 30 years of security experience in many roles including technical, project management and product management. 16: ABHS DEPLOYS SALTO When South Australia’s Department for Education built its first new school in 20 years, it wanted to make sure

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FEB 21

Dave Gavan joined Wormald as security division manager in August 2019 at a time Wormald has been focused on realigning its business as a leading independent fire and security provider. We sat down with Dave to ask him about his role in shaping the future direction of Wormald Security. 22: HIKVISION FACE ACCESS Hikvision’s DS-K1T341A Series Face Recognition Terminal offers typical Hikvision quality build, with good hand feel and a sleek finish all over. There’s a solid working temperature range, backed up with an IP65 rating against dust and water. Best of all this access control solution is oh so simple to use. 28: CAMERA PERFORMANCE – WHAT DO YOU NEED? What is the right IP camera specification, balancing flexible form factor, angle of view, sensor size, resolution, etc, regardless of application, when seeking the best operational outcomes? Will a 5MP dome camera with 100-degree angle of view, H.265 compression, IP66 and IK10 rating, ½-inch sensor be ideal for most applications? Or is camera choice more challenging than that?

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regulars

34: LATEST, GREATEST ALARM PANELS What are the underlying qualities of the best modern alarm panels – are they things like device agnostic comms, cloud functionality, integration, automation, app management? Or are qualities like ease of programming and user operation still vital to installers and their customers? 38: FLIR ELARA DX PTZ FLIR Elara DX is a multispectral PTZ camera designed to provide 24-hour situational awareness in rugged environments. This IP66, IK10-rated camera combines a DX thermal sensor with 640 x 480 resolutions with a 12-degree fixed lens (36mm focal length) and a 4K sensor supported by a 31x optical zoom and 200 metres of IR. The result is a camera purpose-built for larger sites and tougher applications.

FEBRUARY 2021 ISSUE 428

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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

8: NEWS Latest business, product and technical news from Australia and around the world. 24: MONITORING Alarm monitoring has been in the sights of big tech companies for many years but it’s only now that they are starting to make serious plays for the market, with investment in existing providers and a new price threshold that looks frightening to traditional players. 44: EDITOR’S CHOICE What’s new from our manufacturers. 48: 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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LOBAL T THE G IN W WE EWLY ING

NEWS IN BRIEF F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 1

GALLAGHER NAMED SECURITY SOFTWARE MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR n Gallagher has been named Security Software Manufacturer of the Year at the prestigious Security & Fire Excellence Awards 2020 in the United Kingdom. The award recognizes Gallagher’s outstanding innovation and commitment to high physical, integration, and cyber security standards. Their world-class site management software, Command Centre, and the Proximity and Contact Tracing Report were

recognized as standout software solutions that secured Gallagher the award. Gallagher’s Security Portal for Online Training also achieved industry recognition as a finalist in the Security Training Initiative of the Year category. Gallagher’s UK Regional Manager, Richard Huison, said the award and nominations for Gallagher across multiple categories was testament to the team’s ability to innovate.

“It’s great to receive this award and be recognized as a leader in the market for world-class security solutions,” Huison said. “Our team continues to go the extra mile to deliver innovative products that really help organizations. “Our Proximity and Contact Tracing Report, which was delivered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is a fantastic example of this.” Identifying its inherent need during the pandemic, Gallagher made its Proximity and Contact

Tracing utility available to customers free of charge, following its well-timed launch in May 2020. Global general manager for Gallagher, Mark Junge, said despite the upheaval brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Gallagher has continued to increase its rate of investment to provide innovative solutions for customers. “We’re all very proud of what the Gallagher team continues to achieve despite the disruptive nature of the

Richard Huison

year,” Junge said. “We place incredible importance on producing forward-thinking solutions of the highest quality, which continue to position us at the forefront of security solutions worldwide.”

GALLAGHER SUPPORTS CUSTOMERS FOLLOWING DISCLOSED VULNERABILITY n GALLAGHER has released a security advisory following the public exposure of the Default Gallagher MIFARE DESFire and MIFARE Plus keys. This act means cards using the default keys could be cloned or emulated, resulting in a site’s security becoming compromised. Customers who have followed Gallagher’s long-standing hardening guide, which recommends the use of site-specific keys, are not affected by this disclosure. “Ensuring the continued security of our customers’ sites is our top priority,” said Mark Junge, Gallagher’s global general manager for security. “Following the discovery of this exposure, we Mark Junge

immediately began communicating with our global team, our network of channel partners, and our customers regarding the mitigation options available to them – including our key migration feature released in Command Centre v8.30 earlier this year.” “Communicating information about any security risks, as well as providing timely advice and recommendations is of vital importance to us. Our published hardening guide has for many years provided in-depth advice of defensive measures for customers to aid in mitigating possible risk,” Junge said. The vulnerability only affects sites using a default MIFARE DESFire or MIFARE Plus key. It does not affect Gallagher MIFARE DESFire with a site-specific key, Gallagher Mobile Connect credentials, US Government FIPS201 PIV cards, GovPass, or MIFARE Plus with a sitespecific key. Concerned customers should contact their channel partner or local Gallagher representative for further support and advice.

SECURITY SYSTEMS TO BE REMOVED FROM 13 REGIONAL AUSTRALIAN AIRPORTS n SECURITY checks will no longer be required at up to 13 regional airports in Australia, whose management teams have been authorised to remove them as part of cost cutting measures. The changes recognise the fact that in up to 50 regional airports, passengers are not scanned and their luggage is not checked, including for flights into state capitals. Critics of scanning say the financial burden is too great for small airports to bear. Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has not revealed which airports are impacted by the changes, though they are known to

be those which have less than 30,000 departures annually and which support flights of less than 40 passengers. “In recognition of the cost impacts of new technology upgrades on critical regional aviation services the government has allocated $A50.1 million to assist eligible regional airports to upgrade their security screening equipment,” said a Department of Home Affairs spokesperson. “Some small, regional and remote airports have been identified as no longer meeting the threshold to be security controlled.

They will still be subject to safety and other regulatory requirements.” Meanwhile, security consultant and former director of security for Qantas, Geoff Askew, told The Guardian that for any regular public transport aircraft, every passenger should be screened. “They should be screened at the same standard in Longreach as they are in Sydney,” Askew said. “Why is the risk any less if they’re on a 36-seater or a jumbo…the global publicity for their cause, which is what terrorists want, would be exactly the same.”

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SA Government Approves SAFR From RealNetworks p.10 VIVOTEK Breaks Into Integrated Access Control Market p.12 Andrew Grey Appointed Hills’ Product Manager, Intrusion p.13 SIA Releases 2021 Security Megatrends p.14

COMPILED BY JOHN ADAMS

FLIR SYSTEMS TO BE ACQUIRED BY TELEDYNE FOR $US8B n FLIR Systems and Teledyne Technologies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Teledyne will acquire FLIR in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $US8.0 billion, a 40 per cent premium on FLIR’s current stock price. “FLIR’s commitment to

innovation spanning multiple sensing technologies has allowed our company to grow into the multi-billion-dollar company it is today,” said Earl Lewis, chairman of FLIR. “With our new partner’s platform of complementary technologies, we will

Earl Lewis

be able to continue this trajectory, providing our employees, customers and stockholders even more exciting momentum for growth. Our board fully supports this transaction, which delivers immediate value and the opportunity to participate in the upside potential of the combined company.” The transaction, which has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies, is expected to close in the middle of 2021 subject to the receipt of required regulatory approvals, approvals of Teledyne and FLIR stockholders and other customary closing conditions. “At the core of both our companies is proprietary sensor technologies,” said Robert Mehrabian, executive chairman of Teledyne. “Our business models are also similar:

we each provide sensors, cameras and sensor systems to our customers. However, our technologies and products are uniquely complementary with minimal overlap, having imaging sensors based on different semiconductor technologies for different wavelengths. “For 2 decades, Teledyne has demonstrated its ability to compound earnings and cash flow consistently and predictably. Together with FLIR and an optimized capital structure, I am confident we shall continue delivering superior returns to our stockholders.” Jim Cannon, president and CEO of FLIR, said FLIR was excited to join forces with Teledyne. “Together, we will offer a uniquely complementary end-to-end portfolio of sensory technologies for

all key domains and applications across a well-balanced, global customer base,” Cannon said. “We are pleased to be partnering with an organization that shares our focus on continuous innovation and operational excellence, and we look forward to working closely with the Teledyne team as we bring our two companies together to capitalize on the important opportunities ahead.”

WE ARE PLEASED TO BE PARTNERING WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT SHARES OUR FOCUS ON CONTINUOUS INNOVATION AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE.

CSD MOURNS LOSS OF PAUL KNIGHT n THE CSD family is mourning the loss of one of its favourite sons, Paul Knight, who passed away suddenly late last year, a loss that has sent shock waves through the CSD team and the security industry community. “Paul had been with CSD for the past 7 years as the WA state manager and then more recently as the product manager for access, security & fire,” said Peter Grimshaw, CSD’s GM – sales & distribution ANZ. “While Paul was a much loved and valued member of the business, he also had many friends and colleagues within the WA security industry fostered by over 35 years of providing exceptional service, advice and

friendship. “Paul’s contribution to the CSD business was highly valued and respected, everyone at CSD will miss him dearly,” Grimshaw said. Starting out his career as a technician with Wormald, Knight moved to DAS and worked in security distribution. Moving to Perth to head up its WA operation, Knight drove great results and saw out the Hills’ transition. Spending over 25 years with Hills, he built friendships with many of the Western Australian ‘who’s who’ of the security industry – everyone knew him, and he was everyone’s mate. According to CSD’s state manager WA, Ray Mills, Knight will be particularly

missed in Western Australia. “We are a very close business unit here in WA and we have become like family,” Mills said. “Many of the team have known Paul for more than 15 years, this is going to be extremely difficult to get through. Paul would have wanted us to keep our heads up and soldier on, but we will really miss him.” Mark Edwards, GM of product and marketing, said the CSD team will feel the loss keenly. “Paul’s experience and understanding of the industry made him an extremely important part of our product management team and we are all extremely shocked and saddened at his

Paul Knight

passing” Edwards said. “CSD’s management and staff have passed on sincerest condolences to Paul’s family and like

the rest of the security industry, farewell a friend, a colleague and mate. Rest in peace, Paul – you will be forever in our hearts.”

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NEWS F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 1

SA GOVERNMENT APPROVES SAFR FROM REALNETWORKS n SAFR from RealNetworks has announced the government of South Australia has approved SAFR as an official facial recognition solution to be used in casinos, clubs, and other hospitality venues with gambling machines to enforce gambling bans. A new state regulation requires all venues with 30 or more gaming machines, one or more of which can accept cash, to have approved facial recognition technology installed in order to identify barred patrons and notify authorized security teams if a barred person attempts to enter the gaming area. To be approved for use in gaming venues, a facial recognition system must comply with very strict data retention and privacy regulations. SAFR is designed, built, and regularly updated with security in mind and is compliant with the South Australian government’s data regulations. The face biometric signatures created by SAFR cannot be reversed in order to

re-create a face image, nor can they be read by other facial recognition systems. Any personally identifiable information held within the system is protected with the highest standards for data security and encryption — all images and data are encrypted using AES256 at rest or in transit — and customizable data retention settings give users control over data policies. SAFR also offers a local deployment model which ensures that no face data is ever transported over the internet. SAFR is able to prevent unauthorized access to, and use or disclosure of any data collected or stored within the platform. Approved facial recognition systems must also offer specific capabilities designated by the South Australian government: • Integration with barred persons database: SAFR has been integrated with the barring database held by the state’s CBS (Consumer and Business Services) agency so that

barred person records are always up to date and accurate data is used when monitoring persons entering a gaming area. • Ability to send realtime alerts: SAFR actions can be programmed to send customized SMS and email notifications to security personnel or other members of the gambling establishment’s staff when a suspected barred person is identified by the system. • Reporting capabilities: SAFR has been customized to send daily statistics reports regarding the number of persons detected and the number of barred patrons recognized for each gaming venue where SAFR is deployed. “SAFR offers real-time actionable data from live video feeds so security staff can respond to events in real time,” said Kaitlyn Shin, ANZ head of sales and business development at RealNetworks. “The ROI for enforcing responsible gaming is clear and compelling for casinos around the world.

In North America and the ANZ market, there is a strong focus on loss prevention coupled with a desire to do more without increasing staff. “Beyond security use cases, competition among casinos for players remains fierce, and facial recognition technology opens the door to operational benefits that can enhance the player experience and keep them coming back. “Being able to identify known advantage players or criminals with an automated identification system is an incredibly

valuable use of the technology, as persons of interest believe they can get lost in a crowded environment, and without tech like facial recognition, they usually can.”

IN NORTH AMERICA AND THE ANZ MARKET, THERE IS A STRONG FOCUS ON LOSS PREVENTION COUPLED WITH A DESIRE TO DO MORE WITHOUT INCREASING STAFF.

HONEYWELL ACQUIRES AUSTRALIAN TECHNOLOGY AND SAAS PROVIDER, SINE n HONEYWELL has acquired Sine Group, an Australia-based technology and software as a service (SaaS) company that provides visitor management, workplace and supply chain solutions that are readily accessible with mobile devices. Sine’s technologies will support a Cloudbased mobile platform for Honeywell Forge, purpose-built on a native edge-to-cloud, data-driven architecture designed to accelerate digital transformation of operations. Sine’s software will also augment Honeywell’s Connected Buildings offerings with expanded safety, security and compliance

capabilities. Honeywell said it would expand on Sine’s features and solutions and make Sine’s offerings available to more customers, globally, according to an announcement. “Sine’s innovative and intuitive self-service software, combined with Honeywell Forge, will enable our customers to return to work and help keep their employees and customers safe,” says Que Dallara, president and CEO, Honeywell Connected Enterprise. “We will leverage Sine’s technological know-how and expertise to create a mobile extension of Honeywell Forge while also substantially enhancing our Connected

Buildings offerings to enable even greater levels of safety and productivity for building occupants and their guests.” Sine’s intuitive mobile application is said to enable touchless check-in by mobile phone across a wide variety of industries including commercial real estate, pharma, education, industrial, logistics, construction and others. Sine’s SaaS solution provides companies with capabilities to help improve safety, security and compliance across their facilities for visitors, building occupants and workers. Sine has also built a suite of features to enable organizations to manage their COVID-19 return-to-workplace

protocols, including prescreening, thermal camera integrations, capacity management and contact tracing. “The combination of Sine’s visitor management software and Honeywell’s enterprise performance management software is a powerful one for

businesses globally,” says Antony Ceravolo, founder and CEO of Sine. “Together, with an accelerated roadmap, we will deliver a deeper set of solutions globally, while continuing to grow our ecosystem of partners and third-party integrations.”

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An Anixter Company

SEADAN SECURITY & ELECTRONICS

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NEWS F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 1

PETER KRINCEVSKI JOINS CONVERGINT TECHNOLOGIES AS HEAD OF SALES, OCEANIA n CONVERGINT Technologies continues its aggressive expansion in Oceania strengthened with the appointment of Peter Krincevski in the role of head of sales, Oceania. The region plays an important role in Convergint’s Asia Pacific business, with success both in the local Australia market and global accounts. No stranger to the security industry, Krincevski formerly held the role of CEO of Inner Range. He will be based in Melbourne, responsible for leading all sales and marketing activities For Convergint

Technologies in Oceania. The role includes maintaining relationships with existing customers and exploring new verticals, as well as new sales and business development initiatives, reporting to regional managing director, Dean Monaghan. “Peter’s considerable experience and skills will be a great asset to the team and his leadership will undoubtably bring growth to our business in the region,” said Monaghan. “He has an incredible ability to develop and nurture

lasting relationships with customers, a key factor in the customer-centric service we deliver at Convergint.” Krincevski said he was looking forward to his new role. “I am excited by the proposition of working for a global technology solutions provider that is focused on providing the customer the most optimum solution,” he said. “We will be uncompromising in exploring new opportunities and leveraging off global accounts”.

Peter Krincevski

VIVOTEK BREAKS INTO INTEGRATED ACCESS CONTROL MARKET n VIVOTEK is partnering with Chiyu Technology to roll out a new integrated access control and IP surveillance solution. With facial recognition and video tagging, the new solution can accurately verify who is entering a specified area and then subsequently track where visitors go after they have entered a facility. VIVOTEK also provides a wide selection of versatile network cameras to deliver high-quality imagery in diverse and changing environmental conditions. More importantly, security staff can manage IP surveillance and access control systems through

VIVOTEK’s VAST 2, a userfriendly, intuitive video management software. All these advanced features combine to provide an enhanced user experience while simplifying procedures of device setting and management. “The integration of IP surveillance and access control has become a growing trend for smart security systems,” said Eric Chang, general manager of Chiyu Technology. “I believe this cooperation with IP surveillance pioneer VIVOTEK will build a mutually beneficial partnership, making us more competitive in the global industry.”

G4S AGREES TO ALLIED UNIVERSAL’S $5B ACQUISITION OFFER n G4S has agreed to a $US5B acquisition offer from Allied Universal that will create a security company with an $18B annual turnover and a workforce of 750,000. The offer overwhelmed Garda’s proposal of $3.13 (235 pence) per share and represents a 68 per cent premium to G4S’s last close – though it’s possible Garda may put an additional offer on the table before this latest deal is closed. In early October, G4S announced it had received an expression of interest from privately-held Allied Universal while Canada’s

GardaWorld also put forward an offer of $2.48 (190 pence) a share for the company, which was rejected. Allied then raised its offer to $3.26 (245 pence) per share and it’s reported G4S directors plan to unanimously recommend the deal to shareholders. Combining G4S and Allied will create a global security company with about $18 billion of annual revenue and a workforce of more than 750,000. The companies expect to close the deal in the first quarter of 2021, according to the announcement. “G4S has been transformed

into a focused global leader in security services with market-leading solutions and a blue-chip customer base that is served by a dedicated and talented team of over 530,000 employees,” G4S CEO Ashley Almanza said. “The combination of G4S and Allied Universal creates the global leader in security with over 750,000 employees, industry leading capabilities and unrivalled market coverage. This unique and compelling combination will offer customers exceptional service and provides employees with an exciting future.”

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ANDREW GREY APPOINTED HILLS’ PRODUCT MANAGER, INTRUSION n HILLS has appointed Andrew Grey to the position of product manager, intrusion – Grey will be responsible for the intrusion business in Australia and New Zealand. “Hills is a forward-thinking company that is always evolving to meet the current and future needs of Australian and New Zealand homes and businesses – this played a big part in my decision to

join the Hills’ team,” Grey said. Grey has over 30 years’ experience in the security industry and a passion for home renovations, which imbues him with a deep perspective and understanding of the intrusion market. Grey said he intends to use his expertise to further empower the Hills’ sales teams to meet and exceed sales targets.

Andrew Grey

SIA SEEKS FDA ASSISTANCE ON BODY TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT SOLUTIONS n SIA’s Don Erickson has written to Stephen Hahn of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, on behalf of the association, to advise that “some companies and solutions that are not following FDA guidelines and the standards within, while claiming to detect elevated human temperatures for the purpose of mitigating the spread of disease… potentially endangering public safety”. Erickson pointed out that the guidance released by the FDA – Enforcement Policy for Telethermographic Systems During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency – dictates clear guidance for devices and systems that are used to detect elevated human body temperatures amid the global pandemic. “Many of our member companies are taking

measures to ensure these guidelines are followed, but it has become increasingly clear that there have been some products introduced during this time that are missing the mark when it comes to enhancing public safety,” Erickson wrote. “These failures come as a result of not following the guidance, specifically when it comes to being labeled consistent with IEC 806012-59:2017: Medical electrical equipment – Part 2-59: Particular requirements for the basic safety and essential performance of screening thermographs for human febrile temperature screening or an alternate standard. Some products are deviating from this standard by being marketed as: • Able to scan multiple subjects at a time • Able to scan subjects with an obscured procerus region (hats and glasses)

• Able to scan subjects outdoors • Able to scan subjects with windows in the background. “These claims are not supported by the guidelines or standards, and without enforcement of the FDA guidelines, the result has been confusion in the market which can lead to a false sense of public safety. “The proliferation of solutions that cannot function as marketed also negatively affects makers, resellers and users of solutions that do follow the guidelines.” Erickson said SIA believes there is an opportunity for the FDA to support the agency’s mission of protecting public health and safety by enforcing the guidelines that were released in April 2020. In Australia, the TGA categorised all BTM products as being medical testing devices that require certification 6 months ago. It’s understood the products of many manufacturers have applied for certification. Suppliers and integrators could be forgiven for assuming some of these solutions might have been certified by now but it appears there’s no process of certification and no clarification on whether such a process will be established.

LOU MAVRELIS JOINS BGW TECHNOLOGIES AS STATE MANAGER VICTORIA, TASMANIA n LOU Mavrelis has joined BGW Technologies with over 30 years of security experience in many roles including technical, project management and product management. “Lou has a strong technical base, exceptional experience in CCTV and has spent the last 20 years in various roles leading and supporting diverse teams in the areas of product management, product development and channel management for Pacific Communications (Pacom) and Hills,” said Robert Meachem, executive GM for BGW Technologies. “Lou’s key role will be to deliver on the customer service and sales growth strategy as well as leading and supporting the local team in the Port Melbourne branch.” According to Mavrelis, BGW Technologies is a specialist security distributor for system integrators and provides customer service, based on a thorough understanding

of its customer’s needs. “This focused approach attracted me to this company as well as their highly skilled staff, world class products from tier 1 leading suppliers, which allows us to provide end to end products to suit small applications through to the larger more complex enterprise projects,” Mavrelis said. “To all the Victorian and Tasmanian customers, we look forward to providing continued high levels of service and I am excited about the opportunity to meet up and engage with you in the not so distant future. In the meantime, if you have any requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us.” Meachem said BGW Technologies was “delighted to have a quality person like Lou join us”. “His extensive experience, industry connections and passion for customer service make him an invaluable addition,” Meachem said.

Lou Mavrelis

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NEWS F E B RUA RY 2 0 2 1

DAHUA TECHNOLOGY OBTAINS ISO/IEC 27701 CERTIFICATE FROM BSI n DAHUA Technology has obtained an ISO/IEC 27701 Certificate from British Standards Institution (BSI) for its Privacy Information Management System. Formed in 1901, BSI was the world’s first National Standards Body. Representing

UK interests at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the European Standards Organizations (CEN, CENELEC and ETSI), BSI aims help improve the

quality and safety of products, services and systems by enabling the creation of standards and encouraging their use. ISO/IEC 27701 is a privacy extension to the popular ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management and ISO/IEC

SIA RELEASES 2021 SECURITY MEGATRENDS

NDERLYING VING FUTURE GICAL ENTS IN THE NDUSTRY

n THE Security Industry Association has released its list of 2021 Security Megatrends – while there’s nothing unexpected on the list, there are a number of thought-provoking areas from the point of view of installers, integrators and their suppliers. “Artificial intelligence is resoundingly the dominant Security Megatrend for 2021,” said Pierre Trapanese,

chair of the SIA board of directors. “AI is the underlying trend driving future technological advancements in the security industry, and ultimately AI offers the promise of making security and safety solutions more effective, efficient, automated and responsive to users and customers. “The adoption of AI by the security industry

AI IS THE UNDERLYING TREND DRIVING FUTURE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS IN THE SECURITY INDUSTRY. will not, however, be an overnight change; instead, it will shape the long-term evolution of security solutions and will be an avenue for growth, competition and creativity for many years to come.” The full SIA Security Megatrends list includes: • Artificial intelligence • Cybersecurity of physical security • Predictive data analytics • Connectivity and IoT of everything • Cloud computing • Touchless & frictionless solutions • Facial recognition • Responsive environments & intelligent spaces • Emphasis on data privacy • Move to service models.

27002 Security Controls. As an international management system standard, it provides guidance on the protection of privacy, including how organizations should manage personal information, and assists in demonstrating compliance

with privacy regulations around the world. According to the certificate, Dahua Technology operates a Privacy Information Management System which complies with the requirements of ISO/ IEC 27701:2019 for the registered scope that is planning, design and development of Dahua Technology’s security surveillance products and associated software platform (including DSS series and ICC series). “Dahua Technology is the FIRST enterprise in the global security industry that has acquired ISO/ IEC 27701 certificate, and this fully demonstrates the company’s perspectiveness and continuous practices in data security and privacy protection,” said Liu Zhe, vice president at BSI China.

PATRICK TIQUI JOINS ZANKAP AS SENIOR BDM n BOUTIQUE security distributor Zankap’s Janet Kapor said the team is excited to announce the appointment of Patrick Tiqui as senior business development manager. “Zankap has built a customer-focused reputation within the market which puts us in a good position to continue our strong growth and am delighted to have Patrick onboard with us,” Kapor said. “Patrick used to work with myself and for Andrew Bowden, our head of sales and strategy, so it is like we have turned back the clock, getting the

old team back together.” Tiqui has been in security distribution for over 13 years where he has built a solid reputation within the industry and is well versed in what customers need to be successful. He has a strong background in access control, intercoms and CCTV with a primary focus placed on solution design and projects. “I am excited to work for a family-owned business with a unique business model that offers high levels of customer service and such a great product offering,” Tiqui said.

Patrick Tiqui

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Hills has a range of over 100 top brands and more than 70 years of delivering products you can rely on. That’s why we are the largest and most trusted Security and ICT Distributor in Australia. Meet a few of our leading partners

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● Case study

ABHS

ABHS DEPLOYS SALTO When South Australia’s Department for Education built its first new school in 20 years, it wanted to make sure that the school was a state-of-the-art building in every way, including its access control system. DELAIDE Botanic High School is the first vertical high school in the state, consisting of 2 high rises - one a converted 5-storey University of South Australia building and the other a 6-storey new construction. The 2 buildings are linked with bridges on the higher floors and connected with a central atrium. Set in parklands, the school has minimal grounds and no perimeter fencing, meaning access has to be managed within the building itself. George Dunleavy - strategic manager of security and emergency management for South Australia’s

Department for Education, explained the challenges, and how they were addressed with the SALTO Gallagher integration, one of the most advanced and innovative electronic security partnerships on the market. “As a new school, starting with just year 8 and 9 students, we were looking at considerable growth over the coming years, as we increase to our predicted full complement of 1250 students,” Dunleavy said. “That potentially also means changes in the way the school operates. “First and foremost, we had to make sure that our access control system didn’t limit us in any way for future expansion. One of our first decisions was for a completely keyless solution as we knew that keys would certainly limit any future expansion plans.” Security is a major concern for schools and Adelaide Botanic High School wanted to be able to secure individual classrooms, with privacy doors that could be locked from the inside in case of an intruder. It was important to continue the design aesthetic throughout the interior, including the door furniture.

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“We were looking for an access control solution that gave us the right combination of functionality and good looks”, Dunleavy said. “Integration was an essential requirement. We needed to be able to manage a wide range of security concerns through a common platform, while leveraging the flexibility and capabilities afforded by the SALTO access control system. SALTO has been the department’s preferred wireless access control solution for a number of years and the fact that SALTO integrates into the Gallagher head end system was vital for us.” The Department also wanted to avoid students having to carry multiple cards, and needed an access control system that could use their existing MiFare EV1 student cards. SALTO was selected for 123 internal doors in the school, including classrooms, server rooms, staff rooms, meeting rooms, sports facilities, and performance spaces. “We selected the XS4 One wireless BLE lock,” Dunleavy said. “With 115 doors having online locks and the rest using SALTO Virtual Network (SVN), with data-on-card. Access can easily be tailored for each individual user. For example, we have some students in wheelchairs, and we can give them lift access. Senior students might have additional access rights, say, outside normal hours. If an external sports club hires out the gym, we can allow them to come in only on certain days and times.” In the case of an emergency that requires lockdown, staff or students can use an electronic button on the rear of the door to lock themselves in. The internal doors are managed via SALTO’s ProAccess SPACE software, which integrates seamlessly with the Gallagher head end system. ProAccess SPACE currently runs on a server in the school, but in 2021 will move to a cloud-based system. “Because the Department has a number of schools running on SALTO, it makes sense to have a centralised SPACE hub as a single management point,” explains Dunleavy. “We really like the flexibility of the virtual network as a backup, and that we don’t have to be completely reliant on being online all the time. If you lose connectivity you still have the data-on-card as a backup.” The whole process, from concept to implementation, provided South Australia’s Department for Education with important learnings and a solid foundation to design the next batch of public schools in the State, which are already underway. According to Dunleavy, the key benefits of selecting SALTO include: l Ease of operation - no keys to replace, and the ability to manage different access profiles l Future proofing - flexibility to adapt to the changing needs of the school as it grows l Integration with primary security - seamless integration with the Gallagher security system l Access management - by groups of people with the same requirements, or down to individuals

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM DIDN’T LIMIT US IN ANY WAY FOR FUTURE EXPANSION. l Bluetooth credentials - the option for staff to use their mobile phone as their security credential l Tracking and accountability - no sharing of credentials, and full visibility of who has accessed (or tried to access) which doors l Wireless BLE locks - for rapid installation and ease of retrofitting if needed l Virtual network - the flexibility of having a backup, and not relying on being online all the time. The school uses SALTO on one external access door so they know that, even without power, they can always get into the building, without a key override. “With the SALTO EAC, there’s never any doubt that someone has a card they shouldn’t have. We know that credentials aren’t going to be passed around, and can’t be copied,” Dunleavy said. “It makes managing the site so much easier - knowing that access won’t be possible for unauthorised people and that if they try, we can see the attempt on a report.” n

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● Regulars

The Interview

Dave Gavan, Wormald Security Dave Gavan joined Wormald as security division manager in August 2019 at a time Wormald has been focused on realigning its business as a leading independent fire and security provider. We sat down with Dave to ask him about his role in shaping the future direction of Wormald Security. Q: What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in your years in electronic security? A: The transition to IP has certainly been the greatest change influencer of my era thus far. IP technology has been the catalyst in opening pathways to high level integration, global and national integrated solutions and, more recently, cloud-based solutions. This change has also spawned the establishment of the security integrator where security engineers and technicians require extensive software and IT skills in addition to the traditional security hardware and cabling technician skillset. Q: What is the role of process control and automation in the systems the team is designing today? Is it fair to say that integrated, enterprise electronic security solutions offer a completely different value proposition to the solutions of the past? A: In its simplest form, integrating the video management system (VMS) and electronic access control (EAC) systems into an integrated security management system (ISMS) provides considerable process control improvements through

association of access and alarm events to video footage, event bookmarking, incident auditing, integrated reporting and increased situation awareness of the one operator interface. In addition, we are also seeing demand for a physical security information management (PSIM) layer. A PSIM can provide increased benefit to clients who have a multitude of subsystems such as EAC, VMS, HR, HVAC, lighting, etc. Often these clients may have multiple disparate EAC’s or VMS systems which they wish to bring together into one platform. Further, the PSIM layer can provide cross platform workflow management, centralised staff onboarding, increased governance and overarching hierarchy of operator permissions and controls. With new technology comes opportunity to extract additional value when utilised in the right application. In our experience, the initial and ongoing cost of implementing an ISMS differs greatly to that of an PSIM, so establishing a clear comprehension on the return on investment and total cost of ownership (TCO) at the outset is vitally important. In brownfield applications, the ongoing costs of maintaining the multitude of

IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO CONVINCE SOMEONE TO REPLACE A WORKING SYSTEM BEFORE IT FAILS, BUT ENSURING SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS ARE SUPPORTED AND NOT END-OF-LIFE IS THE KEY TO A WELL-MANAGED OPERATIONAL FIT-FOR-PURPOSE SECURITY SYSTEM.

subsystems needs to be considered. Should the subsystems be upgraded, is a ISMS solution viable or is a PSIM more appropriate? Whether the products are non-proprietary, widely supported by reputable integrators and function on an open platform to enable them to bring in further best in breed solutions in the future should also be considered. Q: Do you see an appetite for AI functionalities – video analytics, audio analysis – from your customers? If so, what areas are of most interest to them? A: The appetite for AI functionality is increasing as the technology advances and video manufacturers build further capability into their products. Analytics certainly are a real consideration in the modern integrated security solution. It is, however, extremely important that the nominated security integrator has working knowledge with the technology to ensure the scene, environment and objective are suitable for the effective use of analytics to reduce or eliminate false positives detection. There are many areas where analytics are increasingly being used to detect crowding, provide retail and marketing statistics, perimeter protection, person location and facial matching and many other applications for the proactive improvement of site safety. Again, for analytics to be affective, it is vital to work with integrators with experience in this area and, in our view, only use best-inbreed, tried and proven products from partners who care for their reputation. Q: In your opinion, how important is partnering with specialised providers for the modern security integration business? A: Partnering with specialist suppliers is a no-brainer, as they know what their products can do, where they work best, and what their limitations are. Partnering with best-of-breed product and service partners is a vital ingredient in providing a quality end-to-end service and integrated solution to the client. Reputable integrators and suppliers do not want to install a system that is not fit for purpose or won’t do what the

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D AV E G AVA N W I T H J O H N A D A M S

Dave Gavan (second from right), with Wormald team members.

end-user wants or expects. Working closely with our suppliers enables us to understand how systems will achieve customer outcomes and work together to determine the best fit for our customers and their sites. Q: What’s the most interesting electronic security application you or the team have ever been involved in and why? A: The nature of the clients and environments we work in often prevents us from talking about and sharing what we have achieved, however, our most interesting projects are either technically complex or operate in highly secure interesting environments where encrypted Gallagher Class 5 or Type 1A SCEC endorsed solutions are installed. From an integrated solution

perspective, the solutions that comes to mind typically involve using one platform to bring together multiple systems. Integrating perimeter monitoring technologies, such as electric fences by Gallagher, thermal fence line and radar detection by AXIS for perimeter monitoring and surveillance. Integrated physical key management control by CIC, facial recognition analytics and site-wide IP video using a best-in-breed VMS platform such as Milestone and Geutebruck also springs to mind. Q: What would you argue is the most difficult aspect of today’s security integrations? A: Increasing client awareness around the importance of IT infrastructure security and maintenance is an ongoing challenge. Often the physical security

scope is short sighted and doesn’t acknowledge the need for or benefits of software maintenance agreements to reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO). The IT components of modern security systems are critical elements. When a server fails due to lack of maintenance or if it has exceeded its effective life, the failure can cause considerable business disruptions, unnecessary additional costs and extensive delays in rebuilding. It is also concerning to see seemingly high security environments overlooking the risk posed due to antiquated insecure card and reader technologies or the out-of-date legacy 1980s or 1990s systems running end-of-life Windows XP and Windows 7. The clients are often unaware their system is at risk or has already been compromised. These legacy systems are often unsupported,

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● Regulars

The Interview changing the way we look at interconnectivity for remote sites, system support and federating solutions. Inevitably we will continue to see 4G and 5G technology being used where interconnectivity, mobility or high bandwidth is required in the future.

and their system failures can create the same security vulnerabilities, disruptions, extra costs and operational delays as hardware failures. If software or systems are left to run after their endof-life, or are no longer supported by the manufacturers, this should be a red flag for any business relying on those systems for their security or operational needs. It is sometimes difficult to convince someone to replace a working system before it fails, but ensuring systems and components are supported is the key to a well-managed operational fit-forpurpose security system. The challenge for the industry is to raise awareness of these legacy systems and the level of risk exposure they create, increase the focus on quality and holistic purpose of the solution to elevate the standard of security to one that is expected in the modern era. Q: We’ve touched on networking already – what are your instincts on cloud and the advent of 5G – obviously these technologies are going to impact on the way people network and the way businesses are run – will we see

cloud and wireless networking flow through into our security solutions, or will bandwidth and security issues continue to create caution when it comes to high security applications? A: Again, cloud has value, as does analytics, and likewise its relevance is application dependant. In my view, Cloud, IOT and analytics are not going to change everything we do, as they are complementary solutions to help address the client’s needs. For example, cloud video storage for offsite redundancy in conjunction with onpremise storage can add tremendous value in disaster recovery for high risk sites. Cloud video and remote access control management can provide an overview of multiple sites, while being a very effective holistic solution as well. An influential factor in determining the total cost of ownership (TCO) is the cost of transmitting large volumes of data upstream, then storing it, with the ongoing costs often higher than the cost of on-premise traditional solutions. Ultimately it comes down to the client’s particular needs and circumstances to evaluate the benefit. 4G and 5G technology are certainly

Q: What advice would you give to youngsters joining the electronic security industry today – what areas of personal development do you think they should focus on to ensure their own success? A: Embrace being a lifelong learner, as systems will continue to evolve and the way they are used and what they are used for will continue to change as well. When I started, multi partition alarm systems with a keypad programmed 4-digit code and dual end of line resistors were leading-edge systems. At that time, it was hard to imagine we would have the technology we do now, and in another 20 years I am sure there will be considerable change that any industry starter will need to stay abreast of to be most successful. Key to professional success is finding an employer who values you and supports you in your career development. Q: Wormald has been a household name in the Australian security industry for decades – dozens of our industry leaders learned their trade as Wormald apprentices. Can you tell us a bit about the Wormald of 2021 – what is the company known for today? A: Wormald Security is known for reliability, quality and always delivering 100 per cent to a high standard. The Wormald Security team values the customer and its reputation and knows that the reward for good work is future work. We specialise in quality high security and integrated solutions typically for Federal Government and enterprise clientele. Wormald Security is one of the most experienced and longest standing Gallagher Type 1A and Class 5 channel partners in the industry, with many years of industry experience in installation, service, maintenance, life cycle planning and monitoring of a vast array of industry leading products, including Gallagher, Lenel, InnerRange, Geutebruck, Milestone, FLIR and AXIS, etc. n

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ADELAIDE Botanic High School

● Product review

Hikvision

HIKVISION FACE ACCESS TERMINAL Hikvision’s DS-K1T341A (available in AM or AMF versions) Series Face Recognition Terminal offers typical Hikvision build quality, with good hand feel, a sleek finish all over, and a solid working temperature range, backed up with an IP65 rating against dust and water. NSTALLATION is a snap, too, with single clearly marked bundles of wires handling RJ45, RS-485, Wiegand 26 and Wiegand 34, and there’s a lock output, an exit button, a door contact input, a power interface and a tamper, with all these pre-wired – you just bring the door to the terminal. There’s a USB port underneath to access data and a quality 4.3-inch 720p LCD screen. A ridged body helps disperse accumulated heat.

Supporting the IP65 rating is an excellent operating temperature range from -30 to 60C and a rugged Linux operating system. Enrolling a person is extremely easy – you just name the user via the capacitive touch screen and take a snapshot. Whenever the person stands in front of the terminal they are authenticated, and the door is unlocked. That’s basically all there is to it. In fact, the entire solution is pretty much perfect for SMEs and even homeowners wanting high security, COVID-safe access control at an affordable price, without compromising operational reliability or having their system database online. There’s 2-way audio with client software, indoor station, and master station, support for TCP/IP, support for ISUP5.0, ISAPI, configuration via the web client, face recognition with an authentication distance of 0.3m to 1.5m, though our preliminary twiddling suggests it works well at closer ranges, too. The audio is driven by an integrated omnidirectional microphone and loudspeaker and

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BY J O H N A D A M S

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM DIDN’T LIMIT US IN ANY WAY FOR FUTURE EXPANSION.

volume adjustment is possible at the terminal or via the client software. The integrated camera is 2MP with a wide-angle lens and wide dynamic range, while the terminal is claimed to deliver fast reads from its deep learning algorithm, which gets it more accurate over time when identifying a user. Read time is said to 0.2 second and we think it’s slightly faster than this, while face accuracy is claimed to be 99 per cent. Something interesting is that it requires a lot of work to trick the deep learning algorithm. It’s capable of seeing through silly faces, medical masks and it even identifies me accurately when half obscured by a DSLR camera. We’d say accuracy is higher than 99 per cent when there are no obstructions and lower than 99 per cent in the presence of obstructions. Performance is very good. I could not easily get my face anywhere near the terminal at any angle without being authenticated and thanked by the device to the point it became annoying as a tester. The terminal screen goes to sleep when there are no faces around but as soon as it detects you, it powers up the screen and almost instantly authenticates. And it has the temerity to remind you to wear a mask while it’s making authentication decisions. Even at extreme angles I was identifiable. And thanks to that deep learning algorithm, read times become increasingly more accurate the more often the reader successfully authenticates a person. The mask wearing alert was also highly reliable – it almost never made a mistake. A neat feature is forced mask wearing alert - if the user has forgotten their mask, the device will prompt a voice reminder and the authentication will be failed, denying the user access until they put a mask on. While most users will stick with face recognition for the time being, thanks to COVID-19, the terminal supports Mifare 1 cards and fingerprint authentication, as well as face recognition and these authentication processes can be stacked to increase overall security levels. The terminal also connects to an external card reader via RS-485 protocol, connects to a secure door control unit via RS-485 protocol to avoid the door opening when the terminal is destroyed, and connects to an external access controller or Wiegand card reader via Wiegand protocol. Other features include face anti-spoofing, capture linkage and captured picture storage onboard for stand alone operation, as well as the ability to transmit card and user data from or to the client software via TCP/IP protocol and save data on client software, import pictures from the USB flash drive

to the device or export pictures, events, from the device to the USB flash drive. When used in standalone operation, users can manage, search and set device data after logging into the device locally. Operationally, the system supports 6 attendance statuses, including check in, check out, break in, break out, overtime in and overtime out. There’s also configuration via web client and the ability to remotely open doors and undertake live view via Hik-Connect, and there’s also support for ISAPI and EHome 5.0 protocols.

CONCLUSION The key takeaway from our review of the DSK1T341A is the simplicity of operation and installation with this terminal – it handles a database of 1500 cards, 1500 faces and 1500 fingerprints and 150,000 events and it does so in the easiest possible way, with clear audio feedback of authentication attempts. The system can be networked or standalone and everything is wired, marked and ready to go. For users requiring affordable high security in a low touch environment, this system is well worth a look. n

FEATURES OF THE HIKVISION FACE ACCESS TERMINAL INCLUDE: l

Card capacity 1500

Face capacity 1500

Fingerprint capacity / 1500

Event capacity 150,000

Card type Mifare 1

Face recognition distance 0.3 to 1.5 m

ive view Supports live view on the L platform, H.264

Supports face recognition in low illumination

Power supply 12 VDC, 2 A

Working temperature -30C to 60C

Rated to IP65 against dust and water.

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Proudly brought to you by

● Regulars

Monitoring

Your Monitoring Specialists

1300 130 515

www.bensecurity.com.au

When A Stranger Calls

When news of a new price point of $5 per month for monitoring began to seep out of the U.S. recently, it was hard not to see the shift in contextual terms – the universality of devices, increasingly global internet services, affordable hardware, affordable software development, ubiquitous smart phone ownership and life at the end of an app.

EN reported on the looming S closure of the PSTN network many years ago and at the time there was a sense of monitoring’s future being challenging, yet glittering. We never saw the demise of POTS as being a threat to provision of alarm monitoring itself. But with IP now the default communications method for most applications, there’s an emerging vision of a different sort of security industry. We’re not talking about these changes happening tomorrow, nor will our central stations no longer monitor the interests of serious organisations. But there are going to be adjustments to user expectation, as well as adjustments to the monitoring business model that serves ordinary consumers. News of $5 dollar per month monitoring services, not only from economy alarm providers, but from a big digital provider like Amazon, makes FAI’s dollar-a-day service released in the mid-1990s look like a very good deal from a provider’s perspective. And the question for security installers and professional monitoring providers is where will this trend lead? It’s not going to end here. With Google and ADT having formed an alliance late last year, there’s little chance their offerings will not be governed by the net zero opportunity cost of existing comms services. Seen in this light, a few

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Intercoms

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Fire

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Number Plate Recognition CCTV

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Axis products are available at CSD and not from Atlas Gentech New Zealand

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Proudly brought to you by

● Regulars

Monitoring

Your Monitoring Specialists

1300 130 515

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INSTEAD, THE ONLINE SERVICES OF BIG DIGITAL PLAYERS ARE TAKING ON A FUNDAMENTAL GRAVITY BY WHICH THE INCOME OF PAID SERVICES OF MANY KINDS ARE INCREASINGLY DRAWN TO THEM.

extra baud of alarm data is a triviality on a modern network, and $5 a month sounds like money for jam. The first $5 announcement came from Wyze Home Monitoring, which released a solution that has the option of professional monitoring powered by Noonlight and supported by an unidentified TMA 5-Diamond certified monitoring company that contacts police in an alarm event. The solution includes contact and motion sensors, as well as a hub and keypad. Now Amazon has released a $US4.99 monthly fee for its Alexa Guard Plus service – this gives users hands-free access to an emergency helpline, smart alerts about activity and other emergencies in their home while they are away, as well as new features to deter potential intruders, and a free Energy Dashboard service. It’s tough not to see this trend – offering existing customers monitoring services at prices so competitive they are impossible to resist – becoming widespread. It aligns perfectly with affordable video and music streaming services that have completely changed the video and music industries – not to the benefit of incumbent providers either, many of which have been swept utterly away. We reported last issue on Google’s investment in ADT, as well as its announcement of a joint home

automation and security solution combining quality hardware and clever software. While Google seems to have put Nest to bed in the face of its new alliance, the company’s ability to take a stripped-down version of the new product to a wider consumer market while supporting the professional monitoring business of ADT is unquestionable. From the point of view of local installers and monitoring stations, the nature of the present is not only nebulous, it makes the business model of the future increasingly hard to qualify. App and browser-based services like Alarm.com, which supports a large number of quality security and home automation solutions, are not designed to compete at the $5 a month level. In fact, the entire business model of distribution, installation and professional monitoring, isn’t designed for bare bones. Instead, it seems the online services of big digital players are taking on a fundamental gravity by which the income of paid services of many kinds are increasingly drawn to them. Developments like analytics and software automation are hardly likely to alter this profound shift. Instead, they may feed it by empowering solutions that make the most of hardware inputs and outputs. It goes without saying that if analytics could eliminate

false alarms, monitoring would be a more streamlined animal, indeed. The technology to achieve this increasingly frightening-looking future is here, whether users are prepared to pay for it or not. One true thing security people can hang onto as we’re sucked into the future’s funnel, is that these new ultraaffordable services will engender no loyalty, must be intensely automated, will deliver no human contact and are likely to be inflexible when it comes to response. The answer for professional providers is that they offer the best possible service, using automation to unload needless burdens from monitoring teams so quality operators can handle human contact in the moments of genuine need that build unbreakable bonds. For the industry bodies charged with governing standards and licensing, these changes need to be squarely addressed. It’s clear that DIY has sidestepped the licensing requirements of alarm installation and it’s just as likely automated monitoring services provided by big digital providers may now side-step the professional requirements of central stations. These are difficult discussions, but the industry needs to start having them, and it needs to start bringing studied pressure to bear to ensure the standards and services end users expect from their security providers are maintained. n

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www.hikvision.com.au Hotline +61 1300 976 305 salesau@hikvision.com Follow us on |

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● Special Report

IP Cameras

CAMERA PERFORMANCE WHAT DO YOU NEED? What is the right IP camera specification, balancing flexible form factor, angle of view, sensor size, resolution, etc, regardless of application, when seeking the best operational outcomes? Will a 5MP dome camera with 100-degree angle of view, H.265 compression, IP66 and IK10 rating, ½-inch sensor be ideal for most applications? Or is camera choice more challenging than that?

or end users and installers, camera choice is a key challenge in every application. Trying to balance opposing demands like face recognition in low light and low cost is an exercise in contradiction. A camera that did everything well for a reasonable price would make this choice easier, but no camera is ideal for every application. A camera that does well in low light is usually more expensive, A camera with a very low bitrate is often making compromises in the level of detail. “It’s hard to say the best camera is X, as the situations are always so different,” explains Sargon Yousif of Axis Communications. “However, when it

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BY J O H N A D A M S

comes to our range, we can share that the Australian market still prefers a dome 1080P network camera. The AXIS P32 series dome has been our preferred camera for some time now - the AXIS P3245 is the fourth-generation model with the latest ARTPEC 7 processor with AI. In the last 18-24 months, there has been increase in the 4/5mp cameras and 4K, but still not enough to take first position. From the encoding perspective, H.264 seems to be still preferred as well, though more recently some installations are using H.265.” Something that challenges many installers and integrators is that IP camera performance varies so much in areas like low light, motion blur and more. Brands can vary enormously, as can models within the same brand. Whether or not this comes down to the sensor, or the camera engine – including firmware – isn’t an easy question to answer. “The engine has a lot to do with the process,” Yousif says. “The onboard processor is critical, but so is the lens and sensor. It’s the combination of the 3 that needs to be carefully selected to work together to achieve the desired outcome from the camera. Each camera will be different. For example, in the same series from AXIS P3245-LVE vs P3245-VE both outdoor 1080p cameras, their lens selection is different, as one will have IR and the other is designed to work without IR to produce colour video in low light.” According to Axis’ Oshana Jouna, it can be important for users to get a sense of camera performance on their own sites before making decisions about cameras. “The value of onsite testing depends on the use case,” he says. “If this is for a typical surveillance scenario, then testing camera onsite is not required. If the customer is comparing vendors and looking at datasheets to decide on which camera vendor to go with, then it is highly recommended to do a shootout. “Surveillance imaging is different from broadcast imaging or imaging for other industries. In video surveillance it is all about trade-offs. IEC 62676-5 is attempting to standardize image quality for video surveillance but manufactures can still do the test to achieve the standard while compromising other parameters. For the customer to get a better understanding of camera performance a shootout is required (looking at the datasheet only is not enough).” It’s fair to say that lens quality continues to drift downhill. What does Jouna think installers and end users can do to ensure they are getting the best value for money? What about lens speed – low light performance vs blooming for faster lens apertures under F1? “At Axis we continue development with lens manufacturers to come up with technologies best suited to surveillance use,” Yousif says. “You have seen P-Iris lenses developed by Axis Communications and Kowa, and more recently I-CS lenses, again developed by Axis Communications and Computar, which the security industry has taken up well.

“We could spend hours on lens designs and differences. Lens speed or faster aperture is commonly used in photography, where typically you would want lower F-stop for the given focal length and field of view to improve low light performance. Lower F stop lenses need great aspherical glass to minimise light diffractions. “If end users or installers are interested in the lens on the camera, look for the premium lens manufacturers like Fujinon, Kowa and Computar, especially when it comes to varifocal domes, which can be hidden or hard to see. Ask the camera manufacturer about the lens and why that lens was chosen for the sensor behind it. Do some tests in day/night with IR on and off to get a sense of performance.” Another key question is whether the quality of H.265 compression compares favourably to H.264 compression? H.265 certainly has a lower bit rate but is there a quality cost to pay? “This will highly depend on the scene,” says Jouna. “H.265 is primarily designed to reduce the storage needs of low-noise video with a lot of motion. In scenes where there is a lot of motion and low light, H.264 could have an advantage over H.265. The use of H.265 will also depend on the processing power available. “The H.264 and H.265 standards do not stipulate the actual video compression method. Only the syntax and the method to perform playback is standardized. This enables improved video encoding solutions to be created while keeping the file format for interoperability (decoder compatibility).” According to Jouna, Axis Zipstream technology is a more effective implementation of an H.264/H.265 video encoder for surveillance applications. It includes various surveillance-unique methods that enable networked cameras to produce video with significantly lower bitrate. “Axis Zipstream technology provides both H.264 and H.265 support in parallel in the same products, without any need for reconfiguration or complicated system setup,” he explains. “True multi-streaming with per stream selectable codec and configuration enables both types of video to be transmitted or stored, for maximum flexibility. This twin-codec approach is central for making the transition period between the two standards as smooth as possible.” If Jouna had to select the perfect camera for a low light application – where face ID unassisted was required – what would the specification be? What about if you needed plates? “The ability to identify people depends on several factors,” Jouna says. “Some of the more important factors include camera resolution and scene size, lighting conditions, camera position, motion, and compression. “Surveillance objectives determine the number of pixels a person or object needs to occupy in the captured footage. Axis recommends 80 pixels or

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● Special report

IP Cameras

more for identification in challenging conditions. For license plates, text should be 15 pixels vertically, so check legal requirements for footage intended as evidence. “Identification might not be possible in challenging lighting conditions, even if resolution is high enough. Highly sensitive sensors and features such as wide dynamic range can help, but also consider better lighting and positioning of the camera to avoid backlit situations.” Does the price pressure of CCTV cameras translate to operational performance, in your opinion, or are we at a point where camera performance is no longer the primary driver in CCTV? “We are still seeing that camera performance is the main driver in certain industries,” says Yousif. “Especially end users who know what they are buying. There has been increased awareness on main processors being used, awareness around cybersecurity and greater focus on supply chains. Certain verticals still look for performance and quality as well – prisons, datacentres, transport and critical infrastructure are examples. They need to ensure that camera will last, deliver a quality image, and have ongoing firmware support and VMS integration support over the lifespan of the camera, while remaining cyber secure. “For commercial/residential this may not be an issue as you can easily replace the camera if it dies within 2 years, but the labour cost of replacing a camera in a prison or tunnel can be 5 to 10 times the cost of camera itself.” It’s fair to say that video analytics is becoming increasing important when it comes to quality CCTV cameras, but how many applications make best use of this technology and what are the most useful video analytics? “Today’s video has amazing quality, amazing light sensitivity and that’s been driving the value of video for forensic purposes,” says Jouna. “Picture quality is so much higher today than it was only 5 years ago. On the other hand, analytics is still a work in progress, even though many of us think the industry is finally delivering what we promised 10 years ago. “The most important analytic is the one that

addresses the challenge presented by the customer. When looking at tender documents we often see a list of analytics that all cameras for a given project must comply with. This is regardless of the camera location or purpose. Generally, these requirements are not realistic, which results in analytics that produce poor outcomes with operators ignoring alarms. “With the increase in processing power at the edge and the advancement in artificial intelligence (AI) we can make use of this technology and produce very accurate analytics at the edge, but the use case and the scenario has to be well defined for the analytics to work accurately,” Jouna says. “Axis has launched cameras that are equipped with an embedded deep learning processing unit that supports third-party deep learning applications. This made it possible to run facial recognition and other processor intensive applications on the edge. It is now also possible to do object classification and use the info to do forensic search. “With this in mind, consultants and end users should really study what analytics should be applied to which camera with a clearly defined outcome. This way the security integrator and manufacturer can supply and install the best camera for the particular application with the desired outcome. “Still, I would envision analytics being more of a disruptor moving forward,” Jouna says. “It’s gaining some momentum - with deep learning, we’re able to make the algorithms even better and more accurate. Now we’re starting to provide some meaningful and accurate analytics that are useful for companies.” Would Yousif agree the trend towards modest camera performance makes meaningful (court admissible) video analytics more challenging, at the same time as making searches much easier? “While the ability of CCTV surveillance to reduce crime remains hotly contested in the literature, there is little doubt that it is often an extremely useful investigative tool,” he says. “Analytics have played a huge part in making it even easier to search for that few important seconds in a 24-hour period. Law enforcement is no longer reliant on witnesses who attempt to tell or reconstruct criminal events, often missing vital information. Investigators can collect visual evidence of incident in question from an unbiased source with instant and total recall of all. “Unfortunately, there is very little data about the use of CCTV video in criminal matters before the courts, either overseas or in Australia. We have limited information about the way in which this footage was used by police and its impact on any later criminal proceedings. Despite the lack of data about its actual use by law enforcement in courts, media reports often highlight the importance of CCTV in criminal investigations. Often, we see on TV or online media which highlights the value of CCTV surveillance footage in several high-profile criminal investigations.” Something that’s great about the latest CCTV cameras are flexible form factors – 180-degree angles

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of view, 360-degree views, robust bullets with decent focal length, modestly priced dome cameras that offer surprising low light performance, as well as IR support – do you think users and installers should delve deeper into the options in many applications, rather than using only one or 2 types? “There has been significant improvement in the way the panoramic (180, 360 and multi-sensor cameras) have developed, and Axis is investing more in R&D in this area,” says Yousif. “We have not noticed our partners only use one or two models – they use a variety of models based on the application. More so from partners that use our presales engineering team, who can advise on best camera for the desired outcomes. There seems to be a preference towards domes in the Australian market, but street, city surveillance and retail surveillance are verticals in which panoramic or multisensor cameras are more commonly used.” According to Andrew Cho of EOS Australia, lens, image sensor, and the processing chipset are the key elements of the performance with IP cameras. “As most of the IP cameras nowadays are higher than 2MP, the quality in the cutting of the lens makes a significant difference,” Cho explains. “Then the size of the image sensor makes a remarkable difference as in low light applications it is essential for the sensor to absorb as much light as possible. “However, the most important part is the processing chipset. The chipset processes the digital signal and turns into an image. Lastly, unlike the analogue cameras, IP cameras need to encode the raw image processed in the chipset, and the technique used for image compressing can make a noticeable difference. Cho argues that there is an image quality differential when it comes to H.264 and H.265 and this needs to be factored into camera choice. “When it comes to the quality of the video stream, H.264 compression is better,” he says. “However, H.265 compression value is much greater than the small compromise in image quality. The amount of the saving in the disk space, as well as the lightness in the transmission, makes H.265 is favourable to H.264.” Cho says price does translate to operational performance when it comes to IP cameras. “The price pressure has compromised the operational performance of CCTV in recent times,” he explains. “The low price and the higher resolution at a lower price tactic have blinded many security people into believing they are getting a better value without considering the real operational performance of the product. Not many realise a good quality 2MP camera has more useful information in its image than a cheap 6MP camera.” How important is video analytics when it comes to quality CCTV cameras, in Cho’s opinion, and what are the most useful video analytics? “Video analytics have opened up another horizon in the detection mechanism of CCTV systems,” Cho explains. “In the past, we relied on the motion event only, but thanks to the continuous development of

WHILE THE ABILITY OF CCTV SURVEILLANCE TO REDUCE CRIME REMAINS HOTLY CONTESTED IN THE LITERATURE, THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT IT IS OFTEN AN EXTREMELY USEFUL INVESTIGATIVE TOOL. video analytics, now we can utilise analytics to minimise the unnecessary storing of data, as well as improve efficiency in searching. “Also, advanced analytics can proactively alert end-users rather being reactive. As an example, a loitering analytic allows users to be alerted and keep an eye on the suspicious movement. For example, a recent AI analytic from Hanwha enables the VMS to collect attributes for faster searching with detailed criteria, such as finding a male with glasses wearing a red t-shirt. These new AI analytics are becoming most useful.” According to Cho, end users and their integrators should explore the possibilities offered by increasingly flexible camera form factors. “Every camera design is developed with a thoughtful consideration of its usability,” Cho says. “The end-user will benefit not only with the performance/usability but financially as well. For example, the PNM-7000VD or PNM-9002VD from Hanwha, which has a dual-sensor in a single dome design, can easily replace 2 cameras with one. If the customer is using VMS, then the customer would only need to pay for 1 license instead of 2, and the cost to run the cable would be reduced. “There are many other newly released products with optimum designs that would save on total cost of ownership. User and installers must delve deeper into available options to better design their security systems.” Over at Hikvision Ryan Shi believes sensor and lens are the key contributors to camera image quality. “Larger sensor sizes not only deliver better images, but also gives wider fields of view,” he explains. “Lens aperture has also became an increasingly important feature for cameras - a larger iris opening means more light coming through the lens to the sensor, giving better lowlight performance. Very high resolution used to be an important factor. However, with the development of camera technology and the market, a 4MP camera with an improved sensor and lens is adequate for most applications. “When it comes to performance variations between cameras, sensors and lenses are the key contributors to camera image quality, especially low light performance. For motion blur, a powerful main chip further improves performance. Something else to consider is the settings of the camera for specific applications, things like frame rate and shutter speed are of equivalent importance for solving the problem of challenging environments.

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IP Cameras

“It’s very important to choose the right camera with better performance for industrial and critical applications. I would suggest consulting professionals for advice on the best cameras and the system design, ensuring the key requirements can be fulfilled.” Installers and end users looking to ensure they are getting best value for money should focus on meeting their applications, according to Shi. “For security surveillance, objectivity with clear image and target detail might be more important than fancy pictures with special effects,” he says. “The balance of cost and performance is also an important factor. In some ultra-low end markets, irrational competition might have caused some negative effect for the market. However, camera performance is improving over the years. Manufacturers are still striving to make better cameras to better meet the market requirement. “When it comes to compression, H.265 has already become the prevalent option in the market compared to H.264 - H.265 codec saves a lot in terms of bandwidth and storage. Video analytics also helps improve efficiency - number plate, target classification and recognition, perimeter detection will be more popular and useful in the future. Given video analytics is based on image quality and detail, it’s better that camera performance and video analytics go hand in hand.” According to Shi, flexible form factors – including cameras with 180-degree and 360-degree angles of view – are well worth considering. “Absolutely yes,” he says. “Most end users and installers are familiar with the traditional camera types. They can still fulfil the needs and keep improving. However, new types such as panoramic and more-in-one models (multi-head cameras), would be better a fit for specific industries and niche markets, bringing more value and performance.” At Hills, Anitha Bellary agrees that 2MP camera types remain a big seller, but she points out that the market is moving to higher resolutions, such as 5MP or 8MP.

“For the lens, a fixed focal length 2.8mm is our major volume driver, however, motorised varifocal lenses (2.8~13mm) dominate in projects, as these give greater flexibility of FoV,” she says. “H.265 is normal now for compression, while IP67 and IK10 ratings are for outdoor purposes only. The ideal sensor size is 1/2.8-inch, which is well balanced between cost and performance. True WDR is another basic feature, even if its performance varies between manufacturers.” Bellary puts this variation between manufacturers down to a number of factors. “It comes down to the lens quality, SoC and image sensor variations, the calibration knowhow/ algorithm are also factors,” she says. “However, in most cases, performance is dictated by hardware and hardware-related engineering that optimizes performance.” How important it is that users get a sense of camera performance on their own sites before making decisions about cameras depends on application, according to Bellary. “If an application is unique or special, users’ sense of camera performance on the site is critical – for instance, users and installers should explore and implement new camera form factors to meet their applications,” she explains. “New form factors may provide great advantages to an application. “Something installers and end users need to consider is that price pressure does translate to operational performance. That’s the reason we have multiple camera lines, so users have an option to choose based on their own operation, cost and level of acceptance of camera performance.” When it comes to the choice between H.265 and H.264 compressions, Bellary argues that technically, image quality would be equal. “Compression is the technology to reduce size of data while minimizing damage to image quality,” she explains. “More compression means more chance to damage the original image. However, due to the enhancement of image processing and CPU, you can barely tell the difference, even if size is decreased drastically (such as intelligent codec, Zipstream, H.265+).” While Bellary agrees image quality feeds into the performance of video analytics, she says there are other factors at play. “Edge VA cameras run VA processing and metadata generation at the camera end,” she explains. “Not only image quality, but also reliability of camera hardware and constant performance in various environments would be important. But again, without the association of a back-end application, its usage has to be limited. “The use of analytics that shows clearest benefit is when it is replacing or supporting humans undertaking tasks like person matching through search of reference images and in COVID-19related applications, where it is used for monitoring compliance to government guidelines.” n

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Now available from P 02 9194 5101 E sales@edsales.com.au www.edsales.com.au

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● Special report

Alarm Panels

LATEST, GREATEST ALARM PANELS What are the underlying qualities of the best modern alarm panels – are they things like device agnostic comms, cloud functionality, integration, automation, app management? Or are qualities like ease of programming and user operation still vital to installers and their customers? HAT are the qualities of the greatest modern alarm panels? There’s plenty to consider and the answer is not cut and dried. For a start, you want a system that’s flexible enough to meet the needs of a wide range of users – homeowners as well as SMEs. That word ‘flexible’ is a big one. The system needs to offer alarm, automation and video verification capability – perhaps even live video monitoring. The ability to support door control is a big deal, too, especially if there’s a video intercom that can be accessed via an app or web browser from anywhere in the world.

You can appreciate that words like ‘wireless’ are hard to pin down. In modern systems this might mean Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, ZigBee, BlueTooth, 433 or 866mHz, as well as spread spectrum devices – and that’s on the system side. On the monitoring station and customer side wireless means 3G, 4G and 5G – the best solutions aren’t going to use just one comms path for monitoring, so there’s that to consider. Sensors are an increasingly mixed bag these days. There are internal and external PIRs and dual technology sensors but there’s a swag more – smoke, flood, glass break, reeds, vibration sensors, long range sensors – as well as an ecosystem of automation sensors, and controllers from hundreds of manufacturers. Managing systems with this much scope is challenging and demands a quality app supported by excellent infrastructure. SEN has long experience with the Alarm.com app and browser and rates these highly, but there are other solutions out there. For installers, partnering with a hardware provider that is partnered with a quality management solutions provider will be key. It’s the app and the browser through which most customers will interact with their security solutions. Quality alarm panels and their keypads and sensors are well built and give the customers plenty

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of options – think the Risco ecosystem or Qolsys – both these solutions are deep and wide, with affordable sensors and higher end gear for rugged applications. They have a long lifespan and if wireless, they are easy on device batteries without falling short on device health polling. According to BGW Technologies Stanley El Komala, the underlying qualities of the best modern alarm panels are installer and customer focused. “A quality alarm system must be easy to install and programme, easy to explain to end users, have scalability, be a hybrid system (either hardwired or wireless), offer a large selection of optional extras, including keypads, wireless devices, communicators, home automation devices, visual/video verification modules, etc, and have PSTN, IP and cloud-based communications paths,” El Komala explains. “Today’s desirable features include being able to integrate for expansion (scalable) to accept video doorbells, voice control (Google Home and Amazon Alexa), smart home capabilities (locks, thermostat, garage doors, lights, audio) and cameras,” he says. “With all these devices; you could create scenes, schedules and notifications based on requirements, with everything viewable and controllable on a smart phone app. Visual verification will be a plus for the alarm system, especially for self-monitoring-type installation. With visual or video verification, this will help determine if a real incident is occuring.” El Komala agrees homeowners and SME’s buy different solutions to larger commercial applications. “The requirements are different,” he explains. “Homeowners buy systems driven by consumer market products; while SME/commercial applications are driven by their applications – this might include intrusion, access control and CCTV. Home automation and app management are the big homeowner requirements, while SME/commercial requirements include scalability and simplicity. “When it comes to system type, we see the demand for both solid-state (tin can type) alarm panels and hub-based systems (all in one type) still growing; especially the hub-based. Hybrid solutions are the most attractive, when it comes to our customers.” How hard is it in the modern world to ensure that alarm and automation solutions are cyber secure, according to El Komala? “Firstly, installers need to select products that offer encrypted communications from front end to back end (ie, DSC Neo, which offers 128-bit AES encryption from the wireless devices, panel, communicator, with Z-Wave Plus technology for smart home automation,” he says. “This also offers 128-bit AES encryption). Installers also need to ensure the network and hardware alarm products connect to or sit on, are secure, and adequate password protections are used by the SI and the end user. “When it comes to 5G, we don’t see any threats, just an opportunity to provide more value and benefits to the customers. With current technology, 3G and 4G devices can handle alarm communications. Packets

THE DIY MARKET IS VERY BIG MARKET IN AUSTRALIA, AND GROWING IN THE GLOBAL ALARM MARKET AS WELL.

of data sent from alarm panels are small, requiring little bandwidth for transmission. Even video is pretty good over 4G. But if there are more devices, like video cameras, added into the alarm system, then the bandwidth requirements will grow. The requirement for more bandwidth and more speed will determine what technology will be used. For monitoring station communications, 4G/IP Ethernet is the ideal combination.” According to El Komala, DIY alarm systems offer fewer features than standard alarm systems and their functionality and design are often driven by low price. “Some of the DIY products have limited types of sensors and they might not be specific to the application required. Some of them might not have any encryption at all,” he explains. “Most people end up disappointed with DIY security once they finally have a professional system installed by a security professional. “Regardless, the DIY market is very big market in Australia, and growing in the global alarm market as well. Most of these solutions are basic products that will suit basic applications and will secure homes/ premises in a substandard way. For the best results, the alarm system should be installed by professional installers (licensed security installer).” In an era where alarm and automation systems are increasingly cloud-based, how important is it that security providers and their partners are utterly trustworthy when it comes to collection of household data? “This is terribly important because the data collection can include things such as location, unit description, home or business system configuration, sensor names, appliances or other devices monitored, account information, schedule, mode, automation settings, device settings and monitoring people coming and going and moving around a home or business) in order for the service provider be able to personalize your services,” El Komala says. When it comes to wireless alarm panels and devices, what’s the most useful – 433, 866, Z-Wave, ZigBee, something else, or all of the above? “In Australia, we are following the ACMA,” El Komala explains. “We use wireless alarm detectors

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Alarm Panels

on 433-434MHz and Z-Wave on 921.42 Mhz. Alarm panels with capabilities to accept many other frequencies for devices is bonus (ie, Qolsys IQ Panel 2 has 433Mhz, Z-Wave 921.42 Mhz, Bluetooth LE 4.0, WiFi dual band, image sensor 919MHz, 4G LTE bands). Importantly, not all wireless gear is created equal and this is why DSC Power G is a stand out solution due to its range or devices, wireless transmission distance, power management, 2-way intelligence and excellent encryption.” El Komala says BGW Technologies sells DSC and Qolsys alarm systems because they cover a wide variety of customer needs. “The DSC Neo continues to grow nicely and is our biggest seller because of its hybrid nature, excellent Power G Wireless detector range and brilliant integration with Alarm.com,” El Komala says. “The Qolsys solution is growing at the fastest rate due to its all in one tablet style looks, brilliant user options, wide DSC wireless device range, smart home features (Zwave, wifi, Bluetooth) and seamless integration to Alarm.com.” According to Andrew Gray – vendor manager security, Hills, there are 2 vital underlying qualities to a modern alarm panel - the first is installer functionality. “Ease of programming and fast installation are what guides an SI to their preferred alarm panel,” Gray argues. “The second quality is customer wants and needs, which these days are app functionality and the alibility to at the touch of a button find out the status of their system.” Key features of great alarm panels in the past were 8-16 zones, a touch screen display, area arming and a couple of doors of access control. What features are most important to users now, according to Gray? Video doorbells, voice control, locks, cameras, etc? “8-16 zone alarm panels were a big step forward many years ago, but we are now moving towards total integration of the alarm system, delivering complete control of the home, including CCTV, home automation, video intercom, air conditioning, watering systems and lighting,” says Gray. “End users these days are doing more research into the wants and needs that suit their requirements and this research is giving them the information to make choices that suit them.” Does Gray think the solid-state alarm panel has had its day and that hub-based systems are the way of the future? Or are hybrid alarm solutions the best option? “In the short term I still see the solid-state alarm system having its place but as the population grows older and the next generation comes through we will see the change due to generational growth,” Gray explains. Gray agrees that some of the DIY alarm systems sold to consumers lack the robustness and functionality of traditional systems and sensors, as well as lacking the functionality and security of the latest network-facing alarm panels. “Don’t get me started why we have security licences and must comply with the government rules when

HARDWIRED SOLUTIONS ARE STILL AHEAD, HOWEVER, WIRELESS SOLUTIONS ARE GROWING QUICKLY, THANKS TO THE COSTEFFECTIVENESS OF WIRELESS HOME AUTOMATION.

retail companies get away with selling and giving expert advice without having to comply,” he says. “To ensure their solutions and services remain a cut above, installers need to get better support from industry bodies to ensure DIY solutions comply with the licensing regulations that the installer must follow.” Gray argues it’s important in an era where alarm and automation systems are increasingly cloudbased that security providers and their partners are utterly trustworthy when it comes to collection of household data. “Regarding the collection of data there is always going to be a threat – monitoring services providers that installers partner with need to have the latest cyber protection in place.” Where does Gray stand on wired vs wireless alarm sensors and peripherals like internal and external sirens and secondary keypads? What’s best in homes and would you recommend something else for commercial applications? “With the onset of wireless networks and growth of better wireless systems in domestic setting I see wireless security systems taking over the hardwired systems allowing the installer to meet the needs and requirements of the homeowner in a timely manner,” Gray argues. “In our experience, hardwired solutions are still ahead, however, wireless solutions are growing quickly, thanks to the cost-effectiveness of wireless home automation.” For Nick Zhao, product specialist at Hikvision, the underlying qualities of the best modern alarm panels are video verification, cloud functionality and app management. He also argues that solid state alarm panels have had their day. “Hub-based systems are the way of the future for the domestic market,” Zhao says. “As you can see, in many other countries like UK, EU, hub-based systems are becoming more and more popular. Hub-based systems are normally easier to program, are nicely designed and are easier to use.” When it comes to the perfect alarm monitoring communications path combination for a quality alarm system, Zhao argues IP reporting with a 4G back up system is the way of the future. “A dual-SIM card designed system will be a good option to build a solid communication path with control room,” he explains. “Something else that’s a key requirement now is video verification. The captured image or video needs to be clear, at least 720p. And the captured image or video needs to be uploaded to app without too much delay so end users can check what happened when there is an alarm event.” Zhao says commercial applications will continue to favour wired alarm solutions, but he says wireless is increasingly popular in the domestic alarms market. “Transmission distance and battery life are very important for wireless alarm systems,” he says. n

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Nx Witness v4.1 is now available.

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Melbourne Melbourne Unit Unit 54, 54, 148 148 Chesterville Chesterville Road Road Melbourne, Victoria, 3189 Melbourne, Victoria, 3189

Call: Call: 1300 1300 280 280 135 135 SEN221_37.indd 1

sales@mgts.com.au sales@mgts.com.au

Sydney Sydney Unit Kelso Court Court Unit 8, 8, 3 3 Kelso Moorebank, NSW, Moorebank, NSW, 2170 2170

Call: Call: 1300 1300 280 280 135 135

28/1/21 4:52 pm

● Product review

FLIR

FLIR ELARA DX PTZ

FLIR Elara DX is a multispectral PTZ camera designed to provide 24 hour situational awareness in rugged environments. This IP66, IK10-rated camera combines a DX thermal sensor with 640 x 480 resolutions with a 12-degree fixed lens (36mm focal length) and a 4K sensor supported by a 31x optical zoom and 200 metres of IR. The result is a camera purposebuilt for larger sites and tougher applications.

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BY J O H N A D A M S

LIR Elara DX arrives at the SEN office in a big Pelican-style carry case – pulling it out and setting up on the compact display mount it’s impossible not to notice the camera’s weight and build quality. Elara DX current draw is too high for standard PoE – the options include uPoE or 24V AC – I opt for the latter, with an adjacent Cat-6 cable carrying data back to the Opteplex 9020 through SEN’s same-old Netgear 108SP switch. FLIR Elara DX has an interesting set of specifications and we’ll look at them before we go further with our test. There are 2 distinct components to this surveillance camera – optical and thermal – let’s do optical first. Handling light input is a 1/1.8-inch CMOS sensor with auto iris control, 3840 x 2160 pixels of resolution (4K) and an optical zoom lens delivering 6.6-202mm (31x) with an aperture of F1.6. The optical camera is day/night and has an IR cut filter, a minimum resolution in colour of 0.25 lux and 0.10 lux in black and white, there’s 130dB of wide dynamic range, white balance, 3D noise reduction and auto gain control. The high efficiency SMD IR array has a range of 200 metres and a spread of 6, 30 and 90 degrees. This camera has 4 alarm inputs and 2 alarm outputs, full duplex audio with G.711 compression. On the recording side there’s M-JPEG and H.264 options both at 30ips available as separate channels. I move between both when viewing, tending towards H.264, but there are applications in which thoughtful surveillance technicians would favour the superior handling of rapid movement offered by M-JPEG. Frame rate control o/ptions are CBR/VBR with VGA-4K resolution scale options. Elara’s PTZ functionality is a strength – it’s such a strength that between PT and the big zoom I find myself getting lost to the point of having to go outside and check which direction the camera is facing. These sorts of entanglements would not be an issue when viewing via a well-integrated VMS. In terms of specifications, there’s mechanical autoflip, a horizontal viewing angle of 3-64 degrees, pan and tilt of 90 degrees per second in manual and up to 280 degrees per second as a preset, with tilt of -10-190 degrees. Other features of Elara DX include firmware upgrade via network, cyber security via user credentials, protection from brute force attack and TLS, ONVIF compliance to Profile S, NEMA

80m plus.

Moving plates at 70m.

No hiding from thermal.

ELARA’S PTZ FUNCTIONALITY IS A STRENGTH – IT’S SUCH A STRENGTH THAT BETWEEN PT AND THE BIG ZOOM I FIND MYSELF GETTING LOST TO THE POINT OF HAVING TO GO OUTSIDE AND CHECK WHICH DIRECTION THE CAMERA IS FACING. Useful close up, too.

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Face at 75m.

FLIR 4X rating, support for a wide range of network protocols, remote config via browser or VMS, excellent operating temperature of -40C to 60C, and a power draw of 61W 24VAC or 43W uPOE with heater and IR on. The thermal sensor of the model 427-0300-40-00 SEN is testing is an uncooled Vox microbolometer with 640 x 480 pixels of resolution, a thermal spectral range of 7.5-13.5um, and a fixed lens offering the equivalent of 36mm at the wide end. Because it’s integrated into the camera head, panning and tilting the thermal camera head is a snap and that capability combined with the focus-free fixed lens and continuous digital E-Zoom, takes thermal surveillance to a whole new level. It’s a compact field of view at 6 x 5 degrees and thermal streaming resolution options are QVGA and VGA. Meanwhile the automatic flat field correction (FFC) has thermal and temporal (time schedule) triggers.

TESTING DRIVING ELARA DX

Moving vehicle.

Plates and faces.

Once Elara DX is powered up, the camera comes to life and starts going through its activation processes with no help from me. With the camera happily onscreen, it’s time to select a location for the test drive. The FLIR team has pointed out that this camera is long range and should be tested with that in mind, but my first look at the image stream is in the office with the camera mounted on a table looking away from natural light. It’s in this application that I first started to wrestle with slight softness that I can’t dial out with manual focus. I also notice strong colour rendition, excellent skin tones, as well as some chromatic aberrations. The other noticeable thing in the office is focal length at the wide end – it’s much longer than usual and this gives a hint of the nature of Elara DX. Though my initial look at the camera is downstairs, it’s the 100-metre street view that really gives me my first clear ideas about the capability of Elara. That slight softness in the image is also apparent with the camera mounted on the balcony viewing a shallow scene with a depth of field from a couple of metres to about 25 metres. Again, I spend time messing around with auto and manual focus, switching between resolutions and image streams, as well as checking out H.264 and M.JPEG streams. It’s only once I tilt and zoom the camera up the street and started winding in the big optical zoom that this softness irons out and I realise Peter De Ieso was right. This camera is all about reach. Out front in my busy scene the camera’s huge reach delivers compression, a quality that’s useful on the street. Being able to view multiple targets in a scene between 60-100 metres is very appealing, though at the long end there’s near bokeh in the foreground with Elara. From 80 metres out in strong backlight I have plates and faces deep into this scene. There’s a sweet spot for plates at the long end

Great situational awareness.

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in this application – with aperture closed fast moving plates are impacted by slight blur but when I back out a bit, plates return. Next, I have a look at the camera’s thermal view, which is a click away using the camera browser. I opt for red-hot a lot of the time in my test, although it’s not going to be the choice for security operators keeping an eye for warm-blooded intruders - they’ll be happier with the white-hot option. Even in daylight, there’s plenty to see using Elara thermal. There’s good tonal variation and it’s very easy to get a sense of the warmest surfaces, as well as making out pedestrians in surprisingly high levels of detail at around 50 metres from the lens. I can establish differences like gender, attire (untucked business shirt vs T shirt), general details about shoes and hairstyle. Thermal works well at closer ranges, too, and it gives plenty of detail when it comes to situational awareness. You can clearly see what people are doing, place subjects in context and get a concrete sense of their physical interactions. When it comes to vehicles, you can also tell which have recently been driven thanks to heat radiating from bonnets, brakes and other areas. It doesn’t take me a huge length of time – a couple of hours – to decide that more interesting times are

FROM 80 METRES OUT IN STRONG BACKLIGHT I HAVE PLATES AND FACES DEEP INTO THIS SCENE. going to be had out the back in the district view, which offers 70 metres of lane with buildings out past 1000 metres. Before going any further, it’s worth pointing out that my mount for the camera out back is not optimal – it uses the compact mount placed on top of another stand – and it’s very windy out here. I’ve got image stablisation on but there’s no doubt conditions are having an impact on image quality. My first look at the wide end highlights the lack of barrel distortion from Elara’s slightly longer zoom lens. First up I look up the lane from 70 to about 85 metres, where some neighbours are unloading their car after a shopping trip. Elara is dishing up face recognition and high levels of adjacent detail in this application. There’s full detail of clothing, footwear, even the bands of wristwatches, which at this distance is solid performance, indeed. The presence of reusable cloth shopping bags is pleasing to see. While this is taking place, people and vehicles

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FLIR THE THERMAL IMAGE AT NIGHT IS ALSO BEAUTIFULLY COMPLETE – THAT’S THE BEAUTY OF THERMAL – WHAT IT DOES WELL, YOU ALWAYS GET.

Thermal at night.

Optical at night.

White hot – subject at 85m.

World Tower at 1000m – this is a night image.

are moving up and down Albion Lane and Bellevue Lane and I’m not missing anything around that action close to my focal point, though closer to the lens subjects move out of focus and into bokeh. Next, I swing Elara through 180 degrees to view neighbours at the other end of the lane – they are at around 100 metres from the lens. I have face recognition and loads of detail of their environment. It’s during this panning operation that I first get lost in the zoom – from here out I reverse to full wide instead of trying to pan the long end. Because my subjects are behind a glass screen, they aren’t visible using thermal imaging, but I can get a good sense of the scene. Going back to visible imaging – yes, it’s a click away in the camera browser – I look at the top of the buildings along Oxford St, which are at least 1000 metres from the lens. There are no human subjects in my scene, but I have good situational awareness of communications infrastructure. Switching back to thermal the view alters thanks to the focal length of the thermal lens, but it would be possible to observe a person moving along the roof line, even from this distance. The digital E-Zoom helps. The World Tower on Goulburn and George Sts is my next target – performance using the optical side is strong – there are some faint chromatic aberrations along high contrast edges, but the image gives me an excellent look at the rooflines, walkways, external staircases and more. The thermal view of World Tower is pleasing, too. It’s a different shape from the 16 x 9 optical view and the perspective is altered by the focal length, but again I have strong views of the roofline and access points. At night with higher contrast delivered by greater temperature variations, the levels of detail and the sharpness would be higher still. Sticking with the thermal camera, I pan and tilt towards the offices down on Elizabeth St – these are around 350 metres from the lens. Again, I’m interested in the rooflines and again I have an excellent view. At this slightly shorter distance, with less hazy air between lens and target, the thermal scene is more detailed. It’s disappointing there are no workers on these roof tops but the ability to see thermally passive comms infrastructure underlines the capability you’d have to see people at these distances under virtually any circumstances, which for high security applications is exactly what you want. Something I find myself noticing is the cool areas where air conditioning is escaping, as well as ventilation points dispersing hotter air. The impact

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of shading on the temperature of external windows is an eye opener. Windows under verandah lines are cool blue, while exposed windows are red hot. It’s not something that would bother security operators, but facilities managers would find such imagery interesting, given its potential to reduce power consumption and wear and tear on building plants. Going back to optical, I’m drawn back to the lane where there’s still plenty of activity from neighbours 70-80 metres from the lens. In this part of the test I’m interested in faces and plates, static and moving, but in fairness to Elara, this is not a challenge. Everything here is court admissible, even though I’m not wound in the full 31x on the optical zoom. Thermal is also rock solid out towards 100 metres – there’s zero chance you’d miss an event here – the fast pan and the huge tilt are enormous assets with thermal. As the afternoon wears on, there’s a little more blur or noise pushing through on the optical side – it’s a measure of the camera’s capability that this never impacts on face recognition or the camera’s ability to hoover up little details, right down to the phone numbers on the sides of moving vehicles. I’m able to ascertain the presence of face masks worn in cars and to recognise people through on the other side of vehicles at 80m by peering through closed, tinted windows. With the light fading, I find the camera’s performance in colour is surprisingly good – it’s light on noise, shows good colour rendition and the tones are neutral, considering the low-pressure sodium along that back lane. Looking at moving foliage, I find blur is relatively low – leaves are distinct and pointing the camera towards a lighted terrace, it handles the work very well, with no blooming or smearing. I’m able to see layered detail in this application, all of which suggests power for longer ranges, too. The thermal image at night is also very complete – that’s the beauty of thermal – what it does well, you always get. For manned security teams with big sites to support – I’m thinking of ports, stadiums, major bridges, road infrastructure, high security perimeters, power utilities, defence installations and more – this capability is solid gold. You can see it’s a person, you can see it’s a fox, or a kangaroo. There’s serious efficiency to be found here. Just to check this assertion, I swing the camera over to the World Tower again – it’s around midnight – the optical performance in colour is surprisingly good out here. I can almost read the words ‘World Tower’ on the side of the building. But the thermal is what really impresses. Thermal performance at night is even better than it was during the day. Teamed up with a watchful security operator and/or video analytics, there’s no chance a person could move in this field of view – from 40m out to 1000m – without being detected.

CONCLUSION FLIR Elara DX is a powerful surveillance solution for serious applications. The combination of optical and thermal surveillance in a PTZ delivers performance unmatched by any other form factor and the camera’s specification plays to these strengths. Elara DX is not an inexpensive solution, but the cost needs to be thoughtfully considered. The combination of thermal and optical in a single flexible package saves money because it means fewer cameras, fewer camera points and fewer VMS licenses. The capability of the camera also means you don’t need to install as many Elaras. The idea of a highcadence thermal guard tour by a powerful speed dome supported by analytics is very appealing for high security applications. Mounted high, there’d be nothing detectable in its field of view that Elara would not see. For high security and high value applications, Elara DX is highly recommended. n

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Products

Editor’s choice VIVOTEK RELEASES BETA VERSION OF NVR WEB INTERFACE l Vivotek has released a new beta version of its ND9322P-v2, ND9424P-v2, ND9441, ND9441P, ND9541 and ND9541P web interface NVRs. “The new web UI provides a more fluent and intuitive experience for users,” explains David Liu, president of Vivotek USA. Users can experience the trial version by upgrading firmware to version 3.3 to further enjoy features of liveview, playback and alarm search. Features of the beta version include: • Brand new design, providing a more intuitive and smooth overall experience • User-friendly layout optimization, allowing users to interact and operate with ease • Web Plug-in Free in Chrome; no more hassles regarding settings and cybersecurity • Powerful multi-live view with fisheye dewarp of up to 16 channels. Distributors: Vivotek Distributors

What’s new in the industry.

LENELS2 RELEASES ONGUARD SECURITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM VERSION 8.0 l Lenel S2 Onguard Version 8.0 updates include integration with the Magic Monitor unified client, interactive maps, a new reporting engine, cybersecurity enhancements and more. Other features include occupancy management, enhanced access control and proactive screening solutions to better protect people and assets, and optimize building health and efficiency. The OnGuard 8.0 system enhances security and situational awareness through integration with the Magic Monitor client, a Windows and MacOS client, which provides a unified view of access control, video surveillance feeds and web content in a single display. Users can view OnGuard system alarms and credentials, as well as live or recorded video from the LenelS2 network video recorder (LenelS2 NVR) platform, or third-party video management systems, including the Milestone XProtect system. The Magic Monitor unified client supports a single display, a command center workstation or expansive video walls. Distributor: BGW Technologies Contact: +61 2 9674 4255

ARITECH RELEASES NEW RANGE OF MULTICLASS TRANSITION READERS l Aritech has announced the immediate availability of MultiClass Signo20 Tecom 27-bit Indala transition readers for OSDP and Wiegand. New features include the ability to read a variety of formats, including Tecom 27-bit Indala as default, availability in 2 preconfigured options: Wiegand and OSDP, and reader options that are now configurable by using HID’s free app for iOS and Android. The multiCLASS reader is connected to a Challenger (or other) security system via either a standard Wiegand connection, or may utilise a secure OSDP connection when connected to the Tecom Network Access Controller. The reader features integrated tamper and beeper functionality. For the complete list of features, please refer to the release notes here. Features include: • Simple migration from the Tecom 27 bit technologies to iCLASS or Mifare • Open architecture design allows project specific formats and keys • Provides flexible options for processing multitechnology cards. Distributor: Hills Contact: 1800 685 487

ALARM.COM UNVEILS TOUCHLESS VIDEO DOORBELL l Alarm.com has released a touchless doorbell that removes the need to press a button – anyone coming to the front door stands on a doormat placed at a safe distance to ring the chime, with the process managed by video analytics. “When I go to answer my door, I can avoid that awkward moment where we are standing too close together,” explained Allison Beach, Alarm.com’s managing director of research and development. “Since they are already not within arm’s reach of my door – 6 feet away – I can open the door and feel more comfortable.” According to a press release, when a person is detected, the doorbell immediately triggers the existing chime in the home, sends a mobile alert to the homeowner and starts recording a video clip. Homeowners can see and speak with visitors through the doorbell’s live HD video and 2-way audio. Other features of the video doorbell include: • 150-degree vertical field-ofview that gives homeowners a full head-to-toe image of visitors and clear look at packages left on the doorstep Distributor: Alarm.com Contact: ilaw@alarm.com

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CORSIGHT AUTONOMOUS AI FACIAL RECOGNITION l Corsight AI has launched a facial recognition solution that has the ability to speedily and accurately identify persons, bypassing obstructions to clear facial view such as face coverings and bad weather. The system is powered by Autonomous AI, which the company says is the world’s most advanced artificial intelligence system, backed by more than 250 patents. Corsight AI said its new facial recognition technology surpasses the human brain’s ability to register and accurately identify individuals, regardless of whether they are wearing a protective face mask or other covering, whether they are in low-light or extreme weather conditions, or if photos are taken at acute angles or of large crowds. The biometric solution is camera and hardware agnostic, can easily fit into any existing security system, and allows for a more accurate and comprehensive detection of identifying features. Distributor: Corsight Australia Contact: +61 499 874 265

LOX EM3500 ELECTRO MAGNETIC LOCK RANGE l The LOX EM3500 Series electro magnetic lock range, available from LOX Locking distributors, is a comprehensive Electro Magnetic Lock range with up to 280kg holding force. It is one of the most reliable and most successful Electro Magnetic Locks in the Australian market. These monitored magnetic locks have a built-in Hall Effect sensor for monitoring the lock/unlock status of the locking device (LSS – lock status sensor), a built-in reed switch contact for monitoring the open/closed status of the door (DSS – door status sensor), highly visible red/green LED status light and an anti-tamper fixing plate to avoid hostile attacks targeted on the dome-nut-fixing bolt of the armature plate. Accessories include a LOX mounting plate for EM3500/M; the AMGB4-12 LOX U-shaped armature holder for glass doors for the EM3500/M and EM3500D/DM; the AMZB4LP LOX L and Z bracket for inwards opening doors for EM3500/M and EM4700; and the AMAB4 LOX armature holder and dress plate for glass doors for the EM3500/M. Contact: LOX Locking distributors nationally.

VESTA SMART SECURITY & AUTOMATION FROM FHD

SMART ACCESS PRODUCTS WITH LIFETIME WARRANTY FROM SEADAN

l Vesta Australia’s Smart Security & Automation System brings a new advanced way to protect, monitor and control homes and businesses with a new seamless approach to enhancing the everyday lifestyle of consumers. Vesta addresses the need for a simpler, more affordable professional smart control product in the market. It’s a completely modular product range allowing for scalability in application, without compromising on control. The Vesta App on your smartphone or tablet, allows you to control your system anywhere with an internet connection. Vesta’s wireless technology allows temporary installations on construction sites without the need for cabling. Featuring F1 technology extending the wireless range, means Vesta can cater for different sized construction sites from small to large. Vesta systems are suitable for a wide range of commercial Applications, including offices, warehouses, factories, showrooms and more, while Vesta’s new kits are a thoughtfully put together package. Grab a starter kit and expand your system to suit your needs.

l The SMART Innovations range of universal readers offers a high level of connectivity and security and is now available from Seadan Group. The no-touch SL Mini gives the ability to use a smartphone as an access credential with an adjustable Bluetooth reading distance of up to 15m – it can also use NFC to read authorised credentials. This product is universal in its format capabilities – it can read HID/EM/MIFARE and DESFIRE(CSN) credentials embedded into security swipe card or fobs. It can also interact with low frequency (125KHz) and high frequency (13/56MHz) technologies, and has encrypted password protection capabilities for extra security and peace of mind, as well as a lifetime warranty. SMART access solutions also allow users to trade in the traditional methods of credential storage, such as fobs or swipe cards, and use a person’s phone to hold their identity, reducing the risk of lost or stolen credentials. A bonus is that once you have purchased a credential with SMART Innovations, it’s yours for life.

Distributor: FHD Contact: +61 3 9994 0340

Distributor: Seadan Security & Electronics Contact: +61 3 9263 0111

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Editor’s choice

What’s new in the industry.

LILIN AUSTRALIA UNVEILS SONY STARVIS IP CAMERA RANGE

BOSCH RELEASES NEW AUTODOME IP STARLIGHT 5100I

l LILIN has developed a range of cameras which incorporate Sony STARVIS sensors that use back-illuminated pixel technology to provide clear, high quality colour images in ultra-low light environments. This feature, in combination with a large range of infrared options, provides a complete package of ultra-sensitive low-light performance, in a range of chassis. The product range models are P2 (fixed lens) and Z2 (motorised autofocus lens) and come in a variety of bullets, domes, box, turrets and mini turrets and 1080P to 5MP resolution. The Z2 series provides infrared coverage from 30 to 100 metres, which allows for a huge range of applications in commercial, small business and home automation. LILIN’s H.265 technology saves 25-50 per cent data flow loading, while strengthened password settings, and features, including IVS, offer additional functionalities.

l Bosch has introduced the AUTODOME IP starlight 5100i with enhanced image quality and built-in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help operators react before a potential situation occurs. Designed for outdoor surveillance applications when light levels vary, the AUTODOME IP starlight 5100i has a new ½ inch camera sensor offering 4MP resolution and 20x optical zoom to detect people or objects at a maximum distance up to 1676 metres. The camera is equipped with advanced motion optimized High Dynamic Range (HDR-X) at 133dB and starlight technology, which allows the camera to provide exceptional image quality during daytime and at lower light levels such as dusk and dawn without blurring of moving objects. The camera is weatherproof with vandal-resistant housing expanding its use to demanding city surveillance situations. Built-in AI, like Video Analytics, uses metadata to add sense and structure to video footage, enabling cameras to understand what they are seeing and gives customers a smart choice to know what is next.

Distributor: LILIN Australia Contact: +61 2 9646 4878

Distributor: Bosch Distributors

DAHUA RELEASES FACE RECOGNITION ACCESS CONTROL TERMINAL l Dahua has released its new FACT series Face Recognition Access Control Terminal for people who need to enter premises regularly. Dahua’s self-developed award-winning AI algorithms, Dahua FACT series Face Recognition Access Control Terminal, features a face recognition speed of less than 0.3 second per person. This enables a fast entrance of employees into premises, which comes in handy, especially in rush hours. According to Dahua, FACT series Face Recognition Access Control Terminal guarantees a 99.5 per cent accuracy and strong adaptability to a number of demanding situations, including intense light, dark night, beard, glasses, etc., enabling a stable performance in various environments. Enabling touchless access functionality, Dahua FACT series Face Recognition Access Control Terminal delivers significant convenience to employees, faculty, students, medical workers, etc. It also provides an additional layer of protection by reducing their physical contacts in premises they work or attend to. Trusted Tested is according to TÜV Rheinland ETSI TS 103645 standard. Contact: Dahua distributors

TECOMC4 ROLLS OUT 2N, AXIS, BOSCH, LUXRIOT, MODBUS, SUPREMA INTEGRATIONS l Aritech has announced the release of the multiple drivers for the TecomC4 management platform across brands such as 2N, Axis, Bosch, Luxriot, Modbus and Suprema. According to Aritech, the release of these drivers gives installers and users more flexibility and overall control of business operations, keeping staff, premises and customers safer than ever before. 2N is a leading European company operating worldwide, specialising in the development and manufacturing of communication solutions. Axis Communications is part of Canon Group and provides a range of robust outdoor and discreet cameras for sensitive environments, video and audio, analytics and access control solutions. Bosch offers a complete range of customisable video surveillance, intrusion detection, fire detection and voice evacuation systems as well as access control and management systems. Suprema is a leading global provider of access control solutions. Their portfolio includes biometric access control systems, time & attendance solutions, fingerprint live scanners and mobile authentication solutions. Distributor: Hills Contact: 1800 685 487

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HILLS E-SHIELD ACTIVE INFRARED BARRIERS l Hills has released its E-Shield active infrared barriers, which

work with any alarm or access control and alarm system to offer flexible, long-range protection in multiple applications. With E-Shield, modulated beams of IR light are sent between the transmitter and receiver to form an invisible wall of protection. Due to the excellent outdoor range (up to 50m), one set can be installed to protect multiple doors and windows along a building perimeter. The R series is discrete in size at just 30 x 20 mm available in different lengths and will blend seamlessly into its surroundings. It has synchronised dual modulated pulse beam, coded to minimise false alarms. Meanwhile, the commercial grade D series is slightly larger at 42 x 40mm and is extremely stable with superior active IR technology. The D series offers selectable single or adjacent dual beam activation, IP65 rating for demanding environments, is suitable for internal or external use and has easy beam alignment with inbuilt buzzer and led indicators. Domestic applications include windows, patio doors, fences, driveways and gates.

OPTEX LIDAR SENSOR INTEGRATED WITH GENETEC RSA MODULE l GENETEC’S airport development team has integrated the OPTEX LiDAR sensor into its Restricted Security Area (RSA) Surveillance module, an extension of the Genetec Security Center platform to unify data from the sensor and camera to present more meaningful information to the operators. The RSA module provides wide area protection and integration with wide area surveillance technology, including radar, fibre optic and laser detection devices to allow security staff to determine the level of threat for each area, map them, and utilise OPTEX technologies to identify and locate quickly and precisely the point of intrusion. With a fibre optic fence sensor, zones can be 100m-200m long and will identify people cutting through a fence, crawling under or climbing over. Newer fibre technologies provide point location. Another way to pin-point exact intruder location is with OPTEX LiDAR technologies or with Radar. Distributor: Genetec Contact: gmoawad@genetec.com

Distributor: Hills Contact: 1800 685 487

UNIVIEW RELEASES 5MP ACTIVE DETERRENCE MINI PTZ

LOX LOCKING RELEASES ES20 ELECTRIC STRIKE

l Uniview has released a 5MP active deterrence Mini PTZ camera with an IP66 rating, the IPC675LFW-AX4DUPKC-KG, with LightHunter illumination, day/night functionality, 50 metres of IR, 10 metres of visible light distance, 4x optical zoom, and 120dB of WDR. There’s optical glass window with higher light transmittance, IR anti-reflection window to increase the infrared transmittance, 2D/3D DNR, Ultra 265, H.265, H.264, MJPEG, built-in microphone and speaker, alarm light, triple streams, region of interest, PoE, ONVIF conformance. Temperature range is -20 to 60C. The purpose of active deterrence, which detects human presence, is that once a stranger enters into the view of the camera, the strobe light will be triggered, and the built-in speakers make sounds that fit different scenes. It allows the active deterrence camera to be widely used for many areas. For areas dangerous for pedestrians, such as the entrances and exits of parking lots.

l LOX Locking has released the ES20 series electric strikes, which are designed for use with all access control systems. According to Marc Bindner of LOX Locking, the ES20 series comes with a 10mm strike lip as standard, to prevent possible personal injury and damage to clothing that might occur with a 15mm lip. A 5mm lip extension is included with the strike if needed. “This lock has fail secure/fail safe functionality that is changeable on site, making the strike suitable for use on hinged doors with an extensive range of locksets,” Bindner said. The ES20 is fire rated up to 4hrs on fire door assemblies in accordance with AS/NZS standards. Features of the LOX Locking ES20 electric strike include: • Multi voltage 10~30V DC • Current 10-30V DC @ 250mA, 24V DC @ 125mA • Monitored and non-monitored options • Fire rated up to 4 hours • Power to open/power to lock – open field selectable • Stainless steel construction powered

Contact Uniview Distributors

Contact: LOX Locking distributors nationally.

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Help desk

Q: What are the strengths and weaknesses of thermal surveillance cameras – are they a viable solution for perimeter security applications? A: Thermal cameras can detect warm objects day and night, regardless of weather and tree cover, at great distances – from several hundred to thousands of metres. The latest thermal cameras can penetrate fog, smoke and mist, as well as darkness. They are compact and comparatively lightweight – especially when required scene depths are moderate – have modest power consumption and the ability to function on power up. Like most passive sensing devices, mean time between failure is lengthy. The sorts of applications that best suit thermal cameras have a security team, have fast contract patrol response to off-site monitoring, use the cameras the drive alarm inputs, or simply seek to keep an eye on changing threats to high security perimeters – in real time or retrospectively. Thermal makes for a massive extension of perimeter detection capability and for really big sites, like mines, solar and traditional power generation plants, and industrial facilities with line of sight along perimeters, thermal is a great solution. In mentioning line of sight, it’s worth pointing out this applies to metal objects or buildings – thermal cameras can see deep into

Our panel of experts answers your questions.

heath, bushland and tree cover either on the sterile or public side of a secure perimeter. The key weakness of thermal cameras is that this imagery does not provide optical detection, including plates and faces, though some cameras are far better than others in this regard – especially those with higher resolution sensors – and many thermal cameras incorporate thermal and optical sensors. There are some limitations with respect to fog and rain with thermals – moisture can attenuate signal. Another critical aspect of thermal imaging is thermal sensitivity (NEdT/NETD) – are you blind or can you see? The heart of any modern thermal imaging camera is the un-cooled microbolometer – essentially that’s a bolometer fitted as an image sensor. This sensor is responsive to IRE in the 8-13um range. When IRE reaches the microbolometer, it generates a cascade of electrical signals based on resistance which can be analysed to construct an image based on heat signals. When you’re selecting a thermal camera, you want coverage of that long 8um to 13um spectral band – that’s the spot you’ll get best penetration of smoke, fog and rain. In terms of image quality, options include 160 x 120, 320 x 240 and 640 x 480 pixels. Thermal cameras will usually have fixed lenses, but some are being released with PT and zoom functionalities. Basic control features include freeze/live, horizontal

and vertical flip, black-hot/white-hot/etc, colour palette control, histogram display, automatic contrast enhancement, gamma correct ion and digital zoom. Integration with the latest VMS solutions is typically very good. Q: What are the most common problems in hardwired alarm systems – what should we be looking for first in order to reduce time spent on site troubleshooting? A: All other things being equal – things like epic RFI or EMI issues that are specific to a site – we’d suggest the most common issues in hardwired alarm panels are open circuits, ground faults or short circuits, and changes in electrical value. Value changes are common in older systems – cables and terminations degrade, and resistance increases, leading to voltages failing to meet expected thresholds for normal operation. Value changes also include things like surges and spikes, which tend to be single events that damage devices, infrastructure, terminations and connections on a circuit. Ground faults are caused by conductors wearing or being damaged in such a way that cables come into intermittent or permanent contact with each other. Making this issue more complex, a live cable will also short if it contacts a grounded chassis. Open circuits are caused by a broken cable, a termination or connector that

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has come loose, a blown fuse or an overcurrent protection device that has tripped, a switch with a loose or broken mechanism, or a controller with broken circuitry or damaged termination blocks. Q: Could SEN explain the operation of the potential divider in a digital voltmeter? What does this circuitry do? A: A digital voltmeter has 2 key components – these include a digital module and a potential divider section. Analogue input voltages arriving at the digital module’s inputs are converted and displayed on an LED screen. But there’s a limit to the maximum voltage the digital module can tolerate. It’s the potential dividers’ job to reduce the input voltage to a level that can be accepted by the digital module. In essence this divider is a series circuit in which a voltage is applied to an entire resistance network upon which a switch decides on a take-off point for the voltage to be handed over to the digital module. When the potential divider is designed, resistors are selected that break the voltage down so it can be applied to each of the necessary ranges covered by the voltmeter. As a rule, regardless of the voltage range you select on the meter, the resistance between the unit’s input terminals remains identical to the total resistance of the voltmeter’s network, typically 10 ohms. Q: What’s the easiest and quickest way installers should be searching for ground faults in zone loops? A: If you suspect a ground loop in your 12V DC installation, turn off the plug pack and put a voltmeter between the positive battery terminal and the disconnected positive cable. You need to ensure the COM (negative) terminal is to the disconnected positive cable and the V/ Ohms/A terminal is to the positive battery terminal in order to get this little test right. If your DMM now reads zero, there’s no electrical ground path in your installation. If there’s a voltage. then you have a ground fault. Typical causes of ground faults are moisture or drips, torn insulation on moving wires, and poor terminations and busted switches.

If you find a ground fault, you can work out how bad it is by switching to ohmmeter and measuring between the disconnected positive cable and the negative battery terminal. If the reading is 10,000 Ohms. the fault is probably moisture or a poor termination. If you find less than 10 Ohms, there’s a major ground problem. Q: Do PTZ camera mechanisms need lubrication of internal pan and tilt mechanisms after extended periods exposed to the elements? A: Lubrication is a key concern when technicians are conducting routine maintenance on the motors and gears of PTZ domes, but it does depend on the nature of the mechanical components used – older PTZs may need more and different lubrication than newer ones. Ball bearing motors in which rollers or bearings support each end of the engine rotors may be a particular issue in older PTZs. In ball bearing motors, lubrication has multiple roles including protection against dirt in the bearing environment, dissipation of friction heat, and protection from rust and corrosion. For modern PTZs, dry graphite lubricant is likely to be a better choice. Graphite lube bonds to metal, rubber, plastic and many other surfaces and forms a dirt repelling barrier that lubricates and protects the surface from pressure, friction, water, chemicals and temperatures of up to 400C. Given the cost and complexity of quality PTZs, you need to talk to manufacturers about the appropriate lubricant and the method of applications before you start spraying the internals.

IT’S THE POTENTIAL DIVIDERS’ JOB TO REDUCE THE INPUT VOLTAGE TO A LEVEL THAT CAN BE ACCEPTED BY THE DIGITAL MODULE. Q: Hall Effect Meter or traditional DMM, what’s best in SEN’s opinion? A: Both have their strengths – probably the greatest strength of the Hall Effect meter is that you don’t need to break conduits to measure electrical values. Clamp-on (Hall Effect) meters can measure current up to 1000 amps (a standard DMM only goes up to 10 amps). While they are not as flexible as a DMM, clamp-on units will also measure voltage and while they’ll do it with a little less accuracy than a direct circuit connection, they’re safer and easier to use. These devices are ideal if you’re testing a conductor with current flowing in one direction – you can place the tester perpendicular to a magnetic field and a voltage can be measured at right angles to the current path. A clamp-on meter also allows low voltage techs to establish AC power delivery in nearby AC cables and outlets, including security system supply cables. Hall Effect meters do have probes but they don’t offer the sorts of ranges and accuracy that you get from a traditional DMM. These devices are now affordable and compact enough that you can have both – we’d spend more on a traditional DMM for security installations and troubleshooting. n

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