Sen april2017

Security Managers ◆ Integrators ◆ IT Managers ◆ Installers april 2017 Issue 386

Video Analytics

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l The Contenders! SecTech Camera Shootout l Video Analytics: Technology of the Moment l Naskam Secures Cooroy with Hikvision l Should Physical Security Be First Choice? l Bolloré Logistics Upgrades With Mobotix l Special Report: Monitoring Technologies l Gunung Mulu Bat Cave Installs Bosch MIC l Review: Panasonic’s Rugged 30x Aero PTZ l Review: CS Technologies’ Evolution Range

Š 2016 Genetec Inc. Genetec, the Genetec logo and the Mobius strip logo are trademarks of Genetec Inc., and may be registered or pending registration in several jurisdictions.

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editorial s ec u ri ty e l e ct ro n i c s & netwo r ks a pr i l 20 17 i s sue 386

By John Adams

Video Analytics Empowering CCTV Solutions

IDEO surveillance coverage is vast and growing – not just in terms of scale but in quality. Despite the improvement, many CCTV systems are static beasts – they record at fixed frame rates with fixed fields of view and the footage they generate is stored for investigation. But there’s a growing trend which sees end users and integrators squeezing more out of CCTV systems using IVA – some of these digital enhancements are not security or safety-related but increasingly, many are.

It’s not surprising at one level. The underlying technology that generates sales reports for marketing teams is just as capable of delivering reports to security managers informing them in real time of large crowds or heavy vehicles driving where they should not be. Security managers and risk averse end users are turning to analytics to lever more proactive security out of their systems. In a very real sense, ROI on CCTV doesn’t just mean lateral applications – it means increasing the security performance of systems. For too long, CCTV solutions have been set and forget.

IVA uses in security applications are diverse but they have a pattern that integrators, consultants and end users will be familiar with – they have all been proven by trial and error to

V

Functional IVA is not just a nice idea from the point of view of manufacturers and distributors hungry for a sale – functionality and reliability must be there.

be reliable. The most common IVA applications include approaching a secure line and crossing a secure line in perimeter applications. Counting people and vehicles is also common.

But some end users are interested in being alerted to the presence of items or conditions in a field of view. And some integrators are deploying IVA as a matter of course in almost all their applications.

ANPR – numberplate recognition – is increasingly common in large retail applications today – you can’t drive your car into a mall in a major city without your numberplate being recorded. But for some end users, numberplate recognition technology is being considered to assist local police to capture the plates of hoons, as well as acting as a deterrent. Police can be further empowered when alerts involving particular vehicles are sent directly to their mobile devices by the surveillance system.

When it comes to ANPR on the street, the word is that it works and that it can be affordable – especially if it’s being delivered as an integrated part of video surveillance solutions, not as a highly-engineered bolton. It’s worth noting again, as we have in the past, that as prices are forced downwards by competition, engineering teams will find powerful new features with which to distinguish their systems. The notion of an integrated video surveillance system that incorporates powerful and functional IVA off the shelf is a

major selling point.

Speaking with end users in the industry recently – including some who did not wish us to discuss the nature of their IVA applications – something obvious is many users want IVA that empowers their CCTV solutions with serious operational advantages – that means they want more than line crossing, which is relatively undiscerning. For end users, ROI is important, but imposing security procedures is more important still and the best and most cost-effective way to alert compact security teams on large sites to indiscretions or incidents occurring in open space is with capable IVA. When you bring in the high levels of integration that are now taking place between CCTV, access control and intrusion detection systems, the capability of IVA to generate an automated response or to escalate an event to rapid response is considerable. IVA has been making the video surveillance industry promises for many years. Can it deliver on those promises?

What’s going to be challenging for engineers is building IVA solutions that are more flexible than simple line crossings, yet deliver metronomic dependability. Functional IVA is not just a nice idea from the point of view of manufacturers and distributors hungry for a sale – end users and consultants are hungry for more flexible and affordable IVA that works, and it seems we’re now in sight of that Holy Grail. n se&n 03

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apr 17 22: The Contenders! SecTech Camera Shootout SecTech Roadshow will see all the big CCTV brands going head to head, including Mobotix, FLIR, Axis, Hikvision, Dahua, Uniview and Sony, Bosch, Panasonic, Pelco, Vivotek and Samsung (others pending!) on the test jig for our big camera shootout!

26: Video Analysis Although many manufacturers are delivering IVA capable video surveillance cameras, it’s not easy to establish exactly how many integrators and installers are using IVA in their applications and which IVA rules they find most applicable to their customer’s applications.

32: Hikvision Secures Cooroy Naksam Security has installed a Hikvision optical and thermal safety and security surveillance system with ANPR in the town of Cooroy in Queensland. The new Hikvision system incorporates 23 fixed and PTZ Hikvision Darkfighter cameras and the specification was written by CCTV consultant, Doug Grant.

Auckland Security Cameras has installed Mobotix Solution incorporating c25, v25, i25 and D15 cameras for Bolloré Logistics near Auckland Airport. The system is managed by Mobotix MxManagementCentre software, offering full encryption and with all vehicle movements recorded and time-stamped.

56: Bug Off, Water Water-repellent cone-shaped nanotextures developed at Brookhaven National Laboratory could prevent fog condensation on surfaces in humid environments, including the windscreens of cars and CCTV camera housings.

44: To The Bat Cave The original Batcam project at Gunung Mulu was completed in the most gruelling installation conditions. In 2016, the project required an upgrade and the specification called for a camera that could handle the extreme conditions.

48: Panasonic Aero Panasonic Aero is a 1080p day/night, 30x optical, 1080x digital PTZ with 360-degree panning, 90-degree tilting with 150m of IR, 1P67 rating, IK10 rating, Video Stability Augment System and an operating temperature range between -50 and 55C.

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54: Support CCTV Systems Despite increased functionality and higher resolutions, CCTV is still not achieving the one thing its proponents have always claimed that it can – improving the security of the premises where it is installed.

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

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58: Monitoring Choosing the best monitoring technology is not easy to do. It’s not that there are not plenty of technologies to choose from but which are the most secure? Which are the most future-proof and which offer electronic security people the level of expansion customers are beginning to demand?

62: Evolutionary Theory CS Technologies’ Evolution access control range is a pair of fullfunction access controllers, the EVO4 4-door and EVO2 2-door, featuring network access control boards with RS485 and TCP/IP Ethernet communication support, lift control, and seamless alarm integration via 4-state monitored expansion boards.

68: editor’s choice What’s new from our manufacturers.

72: helpdesk Our team of electronic security experts answers your tough technical questions.

Security Managers ◆ Integrators ◆ IT Managers ◆ Installers APRIL 2017 ISSUE 386

VIDEO ANALYTICS

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SEM0417_1cover.indd 1

l The Contenders! SecTech Camera Shootout l Video Analytics: Technology of the Moment l Naskam Secures Cooroy with Hikvision l Should Physical Security Be First Choice? l Bolloré Logistics Upgrades With Mobotix l Special Report: Monitoring Technologies l Gunung Mulu Bat Cave Installs Bosch MIC l Review: Panasonic’s Rugged 30x Aero PTZ l Review: CS Technologies’ Evolution Range

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

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

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

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Royal Darwin Hospital Seeks Security Integrator p.14 Ergon Energy Tenders For Fencing, Automatic & Personnel Gates p.16 Alarm.com Acquires Video Analytics Specialist ObjectVideo p.18 Hikvision Revenue Grows 26.69 Per Cent to $US4.67 Billion p.20

news in brief

compiled by john adams

april 2017

Genetec, SimonsVoss Partnership Signals Change in Access Control Market

Vlado Damjanovski

Video Contents Analysis Standards Presentation At SecTech Roadshow, Sydney

■

VLADO Damjanovski and Olly D’Souza will present on video contents analysis standards at SecTech Roadshow in Sydney on May 4.

Damjanovski is a member of the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) TC-79 group which deals with IP CCTV, Alarm and Access standards, on behalf of Australia where he participates in the Work Group 12 (WG-12) which worked on the new Camera Measurement Standard, the IEC 62676-5, which is now being voted on internationally.

Meanwhile, Olly D’Souza is actively participating in the IEC TC-79 WG-12, on behalf of Australia, in the making of standards document 62676-6, which refers to video contents analytics.

Damjanovski and D’Souza will present on the efforts going into the creation of the video content analysis standards document and will explain the already voted standards and what they mean for the video surveillance industry.

“The creation of standards in IP video surveillance and video contents analysis is beneficial for the whole industry – it will eventually become part of the Australian IP CCTV standard,” said Damjanovski.

PMT Wins National Contract For 795 Retail Sites

Darren Taylor

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n PMT Security has won a national contract agreement with City Facilities Management for electronic security managed services across 795 retail sites nationally.

The contract includes remote servicing of all ad-hoc alarm faults, construction of regular proactive investigative reports, as well as the designing and actioning of a combination of business initiatives and ROI opportunities.

Customers include

VicTrack, Myer, Sydney Trains, NSW Transport, Westfield, Target, V-Line, University of Canberra, Officeworks, Bunnings, Victoria Police, Kmart, Coles and IGA. PMT’s managed services solution comprises remote services, including system programming, ad hoc services, access card processing and system monitoring.

“Congratulations to all involved,” said PMT’s MD, Darren Taylor.

GENETEC has announced a technology partnership with lock maker SimonsVoss that will allow the SmartIntego Digital Locking Cylinder, Smart Handle and Padlock Wireless Locks to integrate with Genetec’s Synergis IP-based access control core system in the Security Center platform.

The idea is to offer a costeffective and scalable solution for a wide range of customers, including higher education, healthcare, retail and governmental institutions. It’s a sharp move from Genetec and given the company’s relentless focus on cloud delivery, it’s a signal of ongoing change in the access control market.

The partnership means customers will be able to enrol SimonsVoss locks into their Synergis access control systems via version 5.6 of Security Center, which is expected to be available in early Q2, 2017. And because they’re wireless, these integrations are very simple.

The partnership means integrators can offer a greater choice of industrystandard wireless electronic locks and when applied, system design and deployment will be greatly simplified, significantly reducing installation time and labour costs associated with hardwired solutions.

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news april 2017

QSS Formalises Partnership With Sunell, Wins Exclusive Australian Distribution n Q Security Systems has for the past 10 years partnered with Sunell in bringing its OEM-branded cameras to Australia and now distributes the Sunell brand of NVR’s and new series IP cameras exclusively through its national branch network.

The launch of the new Sunell NVRs by QSS is marked by a special bundle price offering. Installers contact their local QSS branch and ask about this

Sunell has been committed to the research, development and innovation on the intelligent video products and solutions...

deal and also get a Sunell Launch Kit package.

Since its foundation in 2002, Sunell has been committed to the research, development and innovation on the intelligent video products and solutions, and has been the leading company in surveillance industry in China.

With its headquarters located in Shenzhen, Sunell has 24 branch offices in China and has set up 5 international branch offices in South Africa, Taiwan, USA and Europe. Pursuing top quality, Sunell’s products have served 93 countries and regions in the world, and provided security for billions of people.

Sunell insists on the independent technology

innovation, and has constructed an international high level R&D platform. The average annual R&D investment accounts for 10 per cent of the sales volume, and part of the independent technology ranks in the leading level internationally.

QSS MD, Rob Rosa

Video Security Products Opens New Perth Warehouse n ELECTRONIC security distributor, Video Security Products, has continued its national expansion, opening a new warehouse in Perth after its Melbourne warehouse was opened earlier in the year.

VSP’s Zaki Wazir said he was delighted with the recent opening.

“The new warehouses in Melbourne and Perth enhance VSP’s ability to serve customers even more

and the VSP team is looking forward to seeing you at our new premises,” Wazir said.

VSP’s Melbourne warehouse is located at 6/484 Graham St in Port Melbourne and has 3 staff members, including Steve Groves, Paul Cundy and Hershal Desai. Meanwhile, the Perth warehouse is located at 8/14 Halley Rd in Balcatta and has 2 staff members, Dylan Macleod and Tom Wood.

New $A560 Million High Security Prison Will Be Largest in Australia n A NEW prison boasting

Royal Darwin Hospital Seeks Security Integrator n NORTHERN Territory Health Department is seeking a security integrator to provide support for Royal Darwin Hospital. The tender calls for the repair and maintenance of existing security and CCTV systems, including minor installations as required, for a period of 3 years.

Royal Darwin Hospital in the Northern suburb

14 se&n

of Tiwi underwent a major $A43 million redevelopment in 2003 which saw the construction of a new Emergency Department, a new expanded Intensive Care, Coronary Care, an Operating Theatre suite, a new Imaging Department and a 12-bed Hospice.

The Royal Darwin Hospital is also home of the National Critical Care

and Trauma Response Centre funded by the Australian Government after the hospital’s efforts associated with the Bali Bombings in October 2002.

With 375 beds, Royal Darwin Hospital is the largest hospital in the Northern Territory, and employs more than 1500 people. The tender closes on April 13.

state-of-the-art security and surveillance is to be built in Grafton in NSW. The new prison will cost $A560 million, house 1700 inmates and employ 600 staff, making it the largest prison in Australia. The prison will comprise a 1000-bed, male maximum security facility, a 300-bed, female maximum security facility and a 400-bed minimum security facility.

NSW Corrections Minister David Elliott said the prison would be built and operated by consortium Northern Pathways comprising Serco, John Laing, John Holland and Macquarie Capital.

“The project received very

high-quality bids, but Northern Pathways has a significant focus on our commitment to reduce reoffending,” Elliot said.

The new centre will be responsible for remand, reception and placement for specified offender groups and will provide rehabilitation services to reduce reoffending.

It will be located on a 195-hectare site at Lavadia, approximately 12.5km south-east of Grafton, which has been purchased by the NSW Government following agreement with the former landowner.

Construction will begin this year, creating 1100 jobs, and the prison is expected to be completed in 2020.

Hikvision Oceania Sydney Unit 14a, 2 Eden Park Dr, Macquarie Park NSW 2113 Melbourne Unit 12, 475 Blackburn Rd, Mt Waverley, VIC 3149 Email: salesau@hikvision.com

news april 2017

Paul Kirby Joins Centrevision as Qld State Manager n PAUL Kirby has joined Centrevision as its new Qld state manager. Kirby has more than 30 years’ experience in the electronic security industry, for the past 14 years being based in Brisbane, Qld in security distribution management or BDM type roles.

According to Centrevision, Kirby has a strong background within the industry, having both technical, product management and sales

experience. His main directive is to build the Provision-ISR brand within the region, as well as supporting customers and developing new business.

Centrevision was founded in 1986 and currently operates in Eastern Europe, North America, Mid East/ Africa, Central/South America, Asia, Western Europe and Australia.

Centrevision employs 150 people worldwide and Centrevision Australia was

established in 2009.

Centrevision is an Israeli company which manufactures cameras to its own highly demanding specifications under the Provision-ISR brand. Provision-ISR is distributed all around the world. The brand is becoming recognized as a high quality alternative solution for many projects and now carries 2-year warranties.

Centrevision is an Israeli company which manufactures cameras to its own highly demanding specifications under the Provision-ISR brand.

Paul Kirby

Ergon Energy Tenders For Fencing, Automatic & Personnel Gates n ERGON Energy Corporation has gone to tender for the supply and installation of triple pointed Palisade fencing, an automatic cantilever gate, a single leaf swing gate and personnel gates for the Ergon Power Station at Aurukun.

Some concrete curbing, minor earthworks and installation of earthing

conductor will also be required internally and externally to the power station as part of the security upgrade. The tender states that the contractor is to provide details of the methodology of the old fence and installation of the new fence for approval of power station security. The tender closes on April 19.

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Cloud Stage-1 Solution: l Multiple backup locations (local and cloud)

l FTP backup location (send database to ftp server) l Updating the SPR CCTV DVR interface two h265. l This is one of the first to move to the new codec technology. We suspect the large brands (HikVision and Dahua) will follow suit soon. One the updated SDK is available we will upgrade their interfaces.

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l Running Evolution in on a virtual cloud desktop l Moving more of the software and communication to the cloud.

S I G N U P TO OUR NE WSL E TTE R FOR THE L ATEST NEWS AND INFO ! EMAIL KATIE@CSTECH .BIZ TO SIGN UP NOW !

Tech 1/2H ad.indd 16 CS se&n

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news april 2017

Alarm.com Acquires Video Analytics Specialist ObjectVideo

GMCT Seeking Integrated Security Solution

n ALARM.COM has acquired ObjectVideo, a provider of intelligent video software, including its products, technology portfolio and personnel. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The business will be called ObjectVideo Labs. Alarm. com’s announcement provided no details about what products or technology

n GREATER Metropolitan

ObjectVideo was founded in 1998 by scientists and program managers from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

it had purchased from ObjectVideo.

“As video applications grow rapidly in both the residential and commercial spaces, this acquisition will reinforce our ability to continue to lead in the development of proactive, next generation connected home and business solutions,” says Jeff Bedell, Alarm.com’s chief strategy and innovation officer.

ObjectVideo was founded in 1998 by scientists and program managers from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

In 2014, the company sold its intellectual property and patent licensing program to Avigilon for

$US80 million.

The ObjectVideo acquisition follows Alarm.com’s $148.5 million acquisition of 2 business units from IControl Networks, which were completed last week in spite of an anti-trust suit filed

by Honeywell that seeks to prove the acquisition created a monopoly.

as access control, alarm integration and intercoms to be rolled out across the state.

Additionally, the state operations centre for security will be redeveloped to house security personnel and upgraded equipment.

The upgrade represents a significant investment into the security of TasPorts controlled ports across Tasmania and is expected to provide meaningful functional improvements over the existing system.

TasPorts is seeking

expressions of interest from experienced suppliers interested in working with TasPorts to supply, install and maintain this equipment.

The Tasmanian Ports Corporation is an important link in trade for Tasmania and Australia, with 99 per cent of Tasmanian freight passing through its ports every year. TasPorts operates major seaports in Burnie, Bell Bay, Devonport and Hobart, multiple smaller seaports, as well as Devonport Airport.

James Cook University Seeks Security Consultant

n JAMES Cook University released an EOI seeking the services of a qualified and highly experienced security consultant last month.

Consultants are invited to submit an expression of interest to provide security consultancy services for a review of the security function, including strategy and delivery, at all James Cook University’s Australian sites.

James Cook University (JCU) is a public university and is the second oldest university in Queensland, Australia. JCU is a teaching and research institution and incorporates multiple research facilities. JCU’s

18 se&n

integrated security service across various GMCT managed assets. The GMCT manages 18 sites and associated facilities and was established on March 1, 2010 enabling the consolidation of 8 existing cemetery trusts into one.

Jeff Bedell

TasPorts Seeking Partners for Major Security System Upgrade n TASMANIAN Ports Corporation is embarking on a significant electronic security technology upgrade programme of its seaports across Tasmania and is seeking expressions of interest from prospective partners.

The upgrade will support its operations well into the future and provide state of the art capabilities for security monitoring and access control management. Technology requirements include a new video management system, IP cameras, as well

Cemeteries Trust, a department of the Victorian Government, has sought an integrated security solution. The GMCT published an RFP seeking to engage a suitably qualified organisation to provide an

main campuses are located in Cairns, Singapore (not included in this EOI) and Townsville. The student body across all sites is around 23,000.

JCU also has study centres in Mount Isa, Mackay and Thursday Island. A Brisbane campus, operated

by Russo Higher Education, delivers undergraduate and postgraduate courses to international students. The University’s main fields of research include marine sciences, biodiversity, sustainable management of tropical ecosystems, genetics and genomics, tropical health care, tourism and engineering.

news april 2017

Gallagher & The Art of Bicycle Maintenance n GALLAGHER’S global team gathered in NZ last week for its annual sales conference and took the opportunity to put smiles on the faces of local kids.

The 110 staff from 13 countries finished their week with a team-building activity that saw them build 16 bicycles for young foster children from the region.

Putting their mechanical skills to the test, the Gallagher teams raced to complete their bicycle builds before presenting them to the children.

“This was a really great experience for our team and a wonderful way to finish our conference” said Kahl Betham, global general manager at Gallagher.

“Gallagher has a strong commitment to giving back to the communities in which we live and work; the smiles

DTI Forward-Facing Cameras Clear Path for Buses n MORE than 800 forward-

on the faces of the children are something that will stay with us for a long time.”

The Elevate Build My Ride event sees corporate teams earn parts to build brand new bikes, which are

then given to deserving kids, in person. Thanks to Build My Ride, more than 200 children in fostering families from all over New Zealand have been gifted brand new bikes.

facing cameras from Perthbased DTI installed on every San Francisco Muni buses led to 3625 tickets handed out to vehicles blocking a bus’s path over the past 12 months.

Since the first cameras were tested on San Francisco’s Muni buses 24,125 tickets have been awarded to owners of cars parked illegally or pulled over where a bus camera could photograph them.

The cameras are constantly running, and Muni staff view footage and record license plate numbers of offenders. Revenue to the city is considerable parking in a transit-only lane or a crosswalk is $US110 and stopping in a bus stop costs $288.

According to Muni spokesperson Paul Rose, the cameras have led to fewer cars double-parking in front of buses and fewer commercial vehicles stopping in bus paths to unload.

DTI’s depot-based wireless infrastructure and comprehensive backend CCTV management system centralises and coordinates bus CCTV data and allows video evidence to be recovered from the buses through an on-line automated CCTV booking system providing easy management of equipment, video retrieval and video storage. Muni buses are equipped with DTI’s mobile digital recorder and high resolution colour cameras, plus wireless infrastructure.

Hikvision Revenue Grows 26.69 Per Cent to $US4.67 Billion n Hikvision announced its preliminary earnings results for the full-year 2016, with revenues of about US$4.67 billion, amounting to a 26.69 per cent growth rate year on year. The operating profit was $998 million with a growth rate of 24.84 per cent

20 se&n

and the total profit at $1.2 billion with a growth rate of 23.56 per cent.

According to the company, the main attributions are the continuous investment in R&D for technology innovations, complete product development system and comprehensive vertical solution capability; with further expansion of global business and marketing network, management, and operation efficiency improvement.

Hikvision announced the acquisition of Pyronix in May 2016, converging 2 security technologies in video surveillance and intrusion detection, to bring new advancements and

The operating profit was $998 million with a growth rate of 24.84 per cent and the total profit at $1.2 billion with a growth rate of 23.56 per cent.

innovative products to the market. In 2016, Hikvision also expanded its global network, opening new offices in Netherlands and Russia, South Korea and Khazakstan, and expanded its office in the UK, Middle East and the USA, to better support the local market.

In 2017, the company also announced the establishment of the Hikvision R&D Center and Research Institute in North America, aimed to providing innovative, cutting-edge technology products tailored to the needs of worldwide partners and customers.

Mike Richardson Joins ISCS n MIKE Richardson has joined ISCS in Adelaide based in the company’s SA office on Goodwood Road, Wayville. Richardson has more than 25 years’ experience in sales and key account management, with the past 13 years in the electronic security industry based in Adelaide.

“Mike has a strong commitment to the electronic security industry and the sales process, with a successful track record involving integrators, consultants and end users,” said ISCS MD Stuart Harmer.

“Mike has been involved

in many large commercial projects in South Australia over the past 13 years and he also has 9 years’ experience selling the ISCS flagship brand Protége, from ICT.”

Mike Richardson

● News report

SecTech Roadshow

by j o h n a d a m s

SecTech Camera Shootout SecTech Roadshow Camera Shootout will see all the biggest CCTV brands going head to head, including Mobotix, FLIR, Axis, Hikvision, Dahua, Uniview and Sony, Bosch, Panasonic, Pelco, Vivotek and Samsung.

SECTECH Roadshow hits Sydney on May 4, Melbourne May 9, Brisbane May 11, Adelaide May 18 and Perth, May 23 and some of the contenders at SecTech’s big Camera Shootout have been revealed. The camera groups include Best Low Light Cameras, Best Bullet Cameras and in Sydney only, PTZ Domes 30x or higher. The camera resolutions of low light and bullet cameras will be left open but we’ll be calling bitrate as we go – at this time, most the contenders are 1080p versions.

When it comes to the general parameters of the shootout, we’ll be looking at performance in typical light, with back light, and in low light. Throughout these lighting conditions we’ll be paying attention to key parameters like motion blur, colour rendition, contrast, sharpness, flare and ghosting, latency, noise and noise suppression artefacts. We are especially interested in motion blur in optimum light, in unassisted low light (5-25 lux) and in night mode (sub 5-lux).

Our test targets for SecTech will again be Norman (National Operational Requirement Mannequin), which includes a full colour graphic and accurately sized motor vehicle licence plate and SEN’s Rotakin, which rotates at 25rpm and gives an excellent sense of motion blur – if Ronnie looks blurry on screen, you can forget about face recognition and license plates.

Something we are looking at in 2017 is getting a look at bullet cameras with integrated IR one at a time to get a sense of IR performance – this will involve some serious choreography.

I

The Contenders We have entries in the shootout from manufacturers including Hikvision, Dahua, Panasonic, Sony, Bosch, Samsung, Flir, Pelco, Axis, Vivotek and Mobotix – here are some of the first to register – keep an eye out in SEN’s weekly EDM for the full list!

Wisenet X camera l Wisenet X camera series offers 150dB WDR performance and clear images in extreme low light conditions. A convenient USB port is also available for easy setup and installation. Key features include

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license-free audio and video analytics, dual SD card slot for increased onboard storage and image stabilization using gyro sensors. Wisenet X cameras also combine H.265 compression and WiseStream II, a complementary compression technology that dynamically controls encoding, balancing quality and compression according to movement in the image.

Data reduction of up to 99 percent can be achieved with Wisenet X series cameras and analytics include audio analysis function that recognizes critical sounds, such as gunshots, explosions, screams, and broken glass, and then immediately issues an alarm.

Pelco Optera l Pelco’s Optera panoramic 12MP cameras with SureVision 2.0 WDR imaging technology offer the unparalleled ability to find and capture the necessary evidence to make critical, business-enabling decisions. The Optera Panomersive Experience delivers completely stitched, seamless and blended panoramic views without the disruption and distraction of disjointed sensor boundaries. Featuring 12 Megapixel resolution at up to 15ips, with electronic PTZ across the entire panorama for the highestquality and most uniform image detail possible.

Pelco Spectra l Pelco’s New Spectra Enhanced high speed PTZ dome delivers Full HD 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second, SureVision 3.0 (130dB WDR), a full suite of built-in analytics, electronic image stabilization, single cable HPOE installation in all models, and much more.

Featuring HD optimized dome bubble technology, a revolutionary solid pendant design to eliminate vibration noise, 20X or 30X optical zoom, and precise 360-degree PTZ control.

Bosch 5000 Bullet l Bosch’s IP 5000 day/night bullet camera is an IP66-rated 5MP bullet camera with a motorised, varifocal, IR-corrected, board-mounted 2.7-12mm F1.4 lens offering 32-100 degrees of viewing angle and 18-53 degrees of vertical angle. The motorized zoom lens has automatic focus adjustment with 1:1-pixel mapping to ensure the camera is always accurately focused. It works extremely well in the field.

The camera has a 30m IR array comprising of 4 850nm LEDs. The sensor is a 1/2.9-inch CMOS and is claimed to offer minimum scene illuminations of 0.07 lux in colour, 0.05 lux in monochrome and 0 lux with IR activated. Dynamic range is 76dB – that’s a modest number that belies the cameras true WDR capability.

It does well in strong backlight.

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SecTech Roadshow

Bosch 7000 HD Starlight l The 60ips Bosch NBN-71013-B DINION IP starlight 7000 HD Day/Night full body network camera features 720p resolution from its 1.4MP 1/3-inch 1312 x 1069 CMOS sensor. Dynamic range is 84dB, WDR is 100dB and with a fast F1.2 aperture, the camera is claimed to offer colour performance at 0.017 lux and monochrome performance at 0.0057 lux.

Bosch MIC PTZ l Bosch’s MIC IP dynamic 7000 HD camera has an advanced PTZ platform that was designed using Bosch’s domain expertise in material engineering, mechanical design, intelligent imaging, and video streaming. The camera complies to some of the toughest industry standards such as IP68, NEMA 6P, and IK10 for extreme mechanical strength and durability. The camera is designed using the latest technology in intelligent imaging and video streaming. Thanks to the intelligent coding and content-based imaging technology (CBIT), the HD module delivers high resolution video, even under challenging light conditions at very low bit rates.

Panasonic Aero l The Panasonic Aero PTZ delivers 1080p resolution at 60fps with a 30x optical zoom lens. The camera is IP67 rated, which means both water and dust proof and vandal proof to IK10 standards. The temperature range is -50 to +55C, which is strong for a PTZ, which has many more moving parts than a simple bullet or dome. The sphere pan-tilt mechanism allows endless 360-degree panning and there’s a +/- 90-degree tilt range. In addition, the super dynamic function ensures a wider dynamic range compared to conventional cameras. IR range is 150m – that’s solid.

Aero’s image sensor is a progressive scan 1/3-inch MOS type with an area of 5.346mm x 3.336mm. This sensor offers minimum scene illumination in colour of 0.06 lux at F1.6 with gain on high and shutter speed at 1/30th of a second and 0 lux in monochrome thanks to the IR LEDs. WDR is 105dB. The lens has a focal length of 4.3-129mm, giving a horizontal viewing between 64 and 2.3 degrees, while aperture is F1.6 wide open and closes down to F4.7 at the long end.

Panasonic i-Pro Extreme l Panasonic iPRO Extreme camera models feature H.265 smart coding (Long GOP, Auto-VIQS, Smart Face Coding), H.264 compatibility and mixed mode streaming, recording and viewing, auto image stabilization, secure communication, up to 4-stream simultaneous H.265/264 encoding, enhanced Super Dynamic 144dB at 30fps (depending on model), ultra-high sensitivity from 0.008 lux to 0.015 in color mode (depending on model), touchable Rain Wash Coating (outdoor models only) and built-in IR LED (up to 130 feet).

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Sony SNCVB640 l Sony SNCVB640 is part of the new V-series and offer double the visibility at minimum scene thanks to the Exmor R CMOS image sensor and XDNR noise reduction algorithms, and can maintain colour integrity at 0.1 lux in colour and 0.05 lux in monochrome. Using advanced imaging technology, Sony’s G6 cameras offer security professionals clear detail and higher visibility with excellent lowlight sensitivity, which is ideal for a wide range of demanding applications, including city, transport and commercial surveillance.

Sony SNCWR632C 1080 PTZ l Sony’s SNCWR632C 1080 PTZ is a high-performance rapid dome network camera with IPELA ENGINE PRO delivering an extra-wide 130dB dynamic range at Full HD, frame rates as high as 60fps – double that of normal IP cameras - continuous 360-degree PTZ operation, with the industry’s fastest pan speed of 700°/s letting an operator quickly recall pre-set areas of interest in a single, seamless motion. A powerful 30x optical zoom offers wide area coverage, plus the ability to grab detailed close-ups without losing clarity.

Designed for dependable round-the-clock performance in demanding outdoor environments, the unitised camera can operate in temperatures from -40°C to +50°C on 24V AC power (-30°C to +50°C with HPoE+), and is IP66/IK10 rated to resist weather and unwelcome tampering by vandals. There’s Defog Image Processing and a gyroscopic image stabiliser.

SecTech Roadies comprise Camera Shootout sponsors Hills and Genetec, as well as Video Alarm Technologies, Honeywell Fire & Security. Bosch Security Products, LSC, CSD, Pelco, Video Security Products, C.R. Kennedy, Hikvision, ICT, Dahua, Mobotix, Tyco Security Products, BGWT, NX Witness and Q Security Systems.

SecTech Roadshow puts together product and people in a relaxed and informal environment, with brilliant technology and masses of great prizes. We visit 5 cities in 2 weeks, drawing more than 1500 installers, integrators, consultants and end users to check out the latest electronic security solutions.

Jump onto www.sectechroadshow.com.au and preregister now! n

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Analytics

Video Analytics

Although many manufacturers are delivering IVA capable video surveillance cameras, it’s not easy to establish exactly how many integrators and installers are using IVA in their applications and which IVA rules they find most applicable to their customer’s applications.

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Analytics

NTELLIGENT video analysis is something of a holy grail in video surveillance. It’s the notion that machine intelligence can do the tedious work of watching multiple video feeds in real time, only bringing them to the attention of operators in the event something takes place that might interest them. Over the last couple of years, IVA has become more and more capable, with many cameras incorporating IVA rules which can be governed by VMS, and almost every DVR and NVR offering some sort of IVA functionality, even if only motion detection.

There are many things about IVA that are beautiful. The ability to record only those scenes before during and after activity thus saving recording space. Then there’s the ability to alert operators to particular types of activity, allowing operators to undertake other tasks without missing anything important. And IVA also facilitates pointy searches, allowing security teams to find what they are looking for much faster. The idea of paying people to sit through hours of videotape to find an event seems quaint now.

Comparatively, products like Avigilon Appearance Search automatically analyse video data from multiple sources to quickly locate persons, vehicles and objects of interest. The technology has been designed for Avigilon’s complete line of video

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analytics solutions, allowing existing customers to upgrade certain legacy products to benefit from its powerful capabilities.

And Avigilon is expanding its deep learning artificial intelligence (AI) search engine, Avigilon Appearance Search technology now has 2 new features to help users save time and effort during critical investigations. Using deep neural networks for face analytics, Avigilon Face Appearance Search enables searching for a person by incorporating the unique characteristics of a face to find similar recorded footage of that person across a site. For operators, this technology increases the speed and accuracy of investigations, by detecting and understanding that it is searching for the same person, even if items such as their clothing change over time. Meanwhile, Avigilon Vehicle Appearance Search technology enables users to quickly search recorded footage and find a specific vehicle across a site.

Interesting, too, Bosch has just announced it will offer video analytics as standard, at no extra cost or license fee, in all Bosch IP cameras. Bosch’s incamera IVA includes 17 different video analytics algorithms, with a focus on discriminating between genuine security events and known false triggers, such as challenging environments where snow, wind, rain, water reflections and distance could

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● News report

Analytics

make images more difficult to interpret.

Avigilon and Bosch are not the only quality players in this market – IVA is becoming pervasive in software and in devices but even taking IVA’s powerful attention-grabbing and investigative capabilities into account, it remains difficult to get a clear sense of the penetration of this technology onto the front lines of electronic security applications.

Speaking with technical people close to the sharp end of the business does provide some answers. At an operational level, IVA is being used in many ways and the people using it want more capability still.

According to Rob Marsden of integrator, Addictive Technologies, IVA’s time has finally come.

“Businesses expect more than security out of their investments now,” Marsden explains. “They want to see operational efficiencies and drive more value from their cameras which can be realised through uses of IVA rules and alerts.”

Marsden says that in his experience, there are a number of dependable IVA rules that integrators and end users seriously consider deploying in their applications.

“Perimeter detection would be the most common,” he says. “Detecting people approaching a boundary, crossing a line or traversing in a direction that is not allowed. People and vehicle counting is another key aspect of our most common installation scenarios.”

Over at integrator, PMT, project manager Daniel McMahon says that due to the company’s chosen technology partners and offerings, IVA is in use in almost all PMT’s installations to some degree.

“This may be just detecting certain objects to compliment video motion detection, however, IVA is now making end users more aware of this technology and they look for it in systems,” McMahon explains. “A smaller percentage of clients will describe requirements of systems that could only be done via IVA rules but we expect this to grow. We are certainly using IVA to deliver solutions and value to our customers and IVA is a key part of our strategy moving forward.”

For Larry Waite, manager at Safe City & Corporate

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As long as we expect realistic outcomes, video analytics can be very useful in reducing the stress on the operator watching hundreds of cameras.

Security at Ipswich City Council IVA offers worthwhile functionality that will only improve with further development.

“The addition of cameras with IVA has not had a great impact of the purchase price and it makes video surveillance a more effective solution,” Waite says. “I still think there is plenty of scope for development, particularly in the collection of data and extracting it from the edge, preferably via the VMS into a common format.

For Waite, the most dependable IVA rules for end users include virtual fence lines and simple counting and he says the addition of real time sensory devices would be a bonus.

Waite says the team will continue to use/expand IVA to enhance their security operations.

“Safe City Ipswich, will continue to explore the opportunities that IVA can offer. Such exercises are vital today and in line with the Smart Cities/IoT strategies that currently challenge us.”

Meanwhile, at Cooroy in Qld, consultant Doug Grant has designed a CCTV solution for the local council that incorporates IVA – in this case, number plate tracking.

“It’s certainly very interesting and most importantly, it seems to work in operation,” Grant says. “The way IVA works for Cooroy is that the system can log number plates as vehicles came up to a stop sign. One after another as vehicles arrive, the software recognises each number plate.

“Double clicking on the plate icon on the righthand side of the GUI we were able to go through the movements of the vehicle. Importantly, this aspect of the system is not connected into the Department of Transport Data base – it’s accessible only to Cooroy Police monitoring and assists them with official investigations. The future of this technology is making it so much easier to search for images from particular vehicles. And it’s happening in Cooroy of all places.”

Consultant Vlado Damjanovski says video analytics is a very promising area.

“As long as we expect realistic outcomes, video analytics can be very useful in reducing the stress on the operator watching hundreds of cameras, and take his/her attention to a potential incident,” Damjanovski says.

“People counting, numberplate recognition, face identification, line-crossing are all existing products, some better than others, but none perfect as there are too many non-predictive variables. When a customer understands the shortcomings, analytics becomes a very useful tool.”

Meanwhile, at SecTech Roadshow in Sydney, Damjanovski and Olly D’Souza will give installers, integrators and end users a presentation on the proposed standard in video content analysis currently being created.

“A standard in VCA is important as it creates a benchmark in IVA that end users and installers can rely on,” Damjanovski says. n

● Case study

Cooroy

Hikvision Secures Cooroy NASKAM Security has installed a Hikvision optical and thermal safety and security surveillance system with ANPR in the town of Cooroy in Queensland. The new Hikvision system incorporates 23 fixed and PTZ Hikvision Darkfighter cameras and the specification was written by CCTV consultant, Doug Grant.

OOROY’S new CCTV solution covers the Cooroy CBD, main street, skate park and the industrial park and was funded by a $200,000 grant from proceeds of crime delivered through the Federal Government’s Safer Streets Programme. Video footage from the system can only be obtained by police officers through a formal process of request during investigations.

Of note, the Cooroy system incorporates number plate recognition and snares registration plates of vehicles travelling along the main street to be displayed for the attention of operators and recorded for police investigators.

Cooroy Chamber of Commerce’s president Danielle Taylor said Cooroy police who monitor the system at the local police station would soon have the capability to monitor the town’s CCTV cameras from mobile phones or iPads, giving greater flexibility.

According to Taylor, the new system is immeasurably better than the old CCTV system used by local police, which meant they had to visit each camera to download footage during investigations.

Cooroy Police Sergeant Mal Scott is impressed by the system.

“There are 23 cameras located at strategic points throughout the Cooroy CBD and they send live feeds back to the police station,” Sgt Scott said.

“This system will definitely be a deterrent to criminals and the footage has already assisted in the capture of criminals in Cooroy.”

In the initial stages of the project, Volunteer in Police, Anne Winning, spoke to all the retailers in town about having CCTV cameras located throughout town.

“Anne got overwhelming support for the project from all the businesses so we saw the value in the project straight away,” said Sgt Scott. “With input from myself, local businesses and the Chamber, we had CCTV specialist (Doug Grant) recommend the

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This system will definitely be a deterrent to criminals and the footage has already assisted in the capture of criminals in Cooroy. locations for the cameras which formed the basis of Cooroy Chamber of Commerce’s application for the grant.”

CCTV consultant Doug Grant said that he wrote the specification for the Coorong solution as a performance document, not on the basis of cost.

“I studied the Hikvision equipment and was impressed with the technology,” Grant said.

The Cooroy system When it comes to cameras, Cooroy is using the Hikvision DS-2DF8223I-AEL Darkfighter IR PTZ camera, which has a 23x zoom, 1080p resolution at up to 30fps, WDR, PoE, Defog, motorised PTZ and 3D DNR. The camera has a 1/1.9-inch HD CMOS sensor, 120db WDR, Smart Tracking, Smart Detection, electronic image stabilisation and 200m of IR range. Fixed cameras are Hikvision Darkfighter DS-2CD4A26FWD-IZ 2MP external bullets, which offer 50fps, a 2.8-12 zoom lens, 50m IR, WDR, 1080p resolution, 120dB WDR, defog, 3D DNR, and smart feature set, including smart detection, IP67 and IK10 rating. Also included in the system is the Hikvision DS-2CD4026FWD/ P-L 2MP ANPR Camera with 11-40mm lens. Its smart functions include vehicle detection with automatic number plate recognition, smart autofocus, 1080p resolution and 120dB WDR. The main video management system IVMS5200 is running on Hikvision Blazer Pro, an all-in-one server that combines Hikvision’s VMS with video storage capacity in one physical server. It has basic functions like recording, live view and playback as well as alarm management, advanced functions

Sgt Mal Scott (left), Anne Winning, Danielle Taylor, Tony Abbott and Doug Grant at the system opening

such as licence plate recognition, POS integration, business intelligence and mobile surveillance to meet a variety of user requirements. There are up to 128 channels, a 400Mbps throughput and up to 42TB of storage. Remote NVRs used in other locations around the CBD are the Hikvision DS7616NI-I2/16P 16 Channel IP NVR. In terms of system size and layout, cameras 1 and 2 are located on the roof of the police station, cameras 3, 4 and 5 are located on Bendigo Bank/ Wythes Real Estate at 36 Maple Street, there’s a Ubiquiti link and NVR at the Honda building – going back to the police station. Cameras 6, 7, 8 and 9 are located on the Commonwealth Bank, 32 Maple Street – with a Ubiquiti link to the NVR at the Honda building – going back to the Police Station. Cameras 9 and 10 are located at 2 Emerald Street and 22 Maple Street with a Ubiquiti link and

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● Case study

Cooroy

...the new system was immeasurably better than the old CCTV system used by local police, which meant they had to visit each camera to download footage during investigations.

NVR on Emerald Street going back to the Police station. Cameras 11, 12, 13 and 14 are located on Cooroy Harvest Fresh with a Ubiquiti link and NVR on Harvest Fresh going back to the Police Station. Cameras 15 and 16 are located on Sunshine Mitre 10 at 18 Maple Street with a Ubiquiti link to Harvest Fresh and NVR going back to the Police Station, Cameras 17 and 18 are located on Cooroy Hair Design at 10 Maple Street with a Ubiquiti link and NVR on Cooroy Car Parts going back to the Police Station, cameras 19, 20 and 21 are located on Cooroy Car Parts with a Ubiquiti link and an NVR on Cooroy Car Parts going back to the Police Station and cameras 22 and 23 are located on Belvedere Newsagency at 4 Diamond Lane with a Ubiquiti link to the NVR at the News Agency going back to Police Station.

Cooroy’s system employs hard wired and wireless links with a throughput up to 2Mbps per camera and all cameras are managed centrally, with every camera on the network visible in real time at the main monitoring area in the police station on a 50cm display monitor. Cat6 cabling has been used in runs of no more than 90 metres, with all cable in conduits. All cameras are PoE and there’s a rack-mounted UPS giving back up of the entire system for one hour.

“Cooroy is open for business and closed for crime,” Danielle Taylor said. “We have a wonderful town and the Cooroy Police work very closely with the community and businesses. This funding will complement the great work Cooroy Police already do and will be strong deterrent to criminals ensuring that Cooroy continues to be a wonderful place to live and work.

“This project has been 12 months in the planning between Cooroy Chamber of Commerce and the Cooroy Police. It’s been an extensive process with a lot of work from volunteers but it is worth it as it will ensure that Cooroy sends the firm message to criminals that the town is not an easy target,” said Taylor. n

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● Case study

Bolloré Logistics

Bolloré Logistics Auckland Security Cameras has installed a Mobotix solution incorporating c25, v25, i25 and D15 cameras for Bolloré Logistics near Auckland Airport. The system is managed

by Mobotix MxManagementCentre software, offering full encryption, and with all vehicle movements recorded and time-stamped.

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WORLD leader in logistics and warehousing, Bolloré Logistics is one of the top 10 transport and logistics companies in the world. Its warehousing and logistics facility near Auckland Airport, New Zealand, has seen significant growth in recent years and often handles more than 2000 items per day.

As a customs-bonded warehouse, monitoring of all stock movement and processing is crucial and the current CCTV operation needed to be expanded to monitor the entire site.

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In logistics, CCTV is an invaluable tool for risk management, compliance enforcement and dispute resolution.

Within a logistics setting, the consequences of damage or loss to premises and stock can be catastrophic. A security system, which allows both the monitoring of business processes and guarantees the availability of historical footage, can help companies avoid expensive compensation claims. In logistics, CCTV is an invaluable tool for risk management, compliance enforcement and dispute resolution. It creates a verifiable audit trail that saves money by reducing insurance premiums.

With footage on the site’s existing analogue system barely useable, an upgrade was essential.

Steve Smith, logistics and compliance manager at BollorĂŠ, turned to Brian Clough of Auckland Security Cameras, an integrator specialising in security installations for large industrial and logistics companies. Clough chose MOBOTIX cameras for the installation because their hemispheric technology would give excellent visibility of the whole premises.

Plus, with military-grade encryption features as standard, MOBOTIX provides a high level of network security, a significant consideration in the import and export sector.

A combination of MOBOTIX c25, v25 and i25 hemispheric cameras, along with several of MOBOTIX’ dual D15s cameras, provided complete coverage of the large 6600sqm site.

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● Case study

Bolloré Logistics

“The system now gives us full visibility of the warehouse aisles to protect us and the customer should an incident occur. It also provides real time visibility of workloads,” Smith explains. “Recordings accurately identify every vehicle, as well as the precise time it enters and leaves the facility, along with all loading and unloading activities. These are time-stamped to create a visual verification of every operational process. For security reasons, there is no direct access to the cameras over the internet, a time server is used instead.”

At Bolloré, existing IT infrastructure was used wherever possible, reducing the amount of new cabling needed. This was simple to implement because, according to Clough, MOBOTIX is a good network citizen. Meanwhile, the decentralised technology means the cameras process and compress the recordings themselves, requiring no central server and therefore not burdening the network.

MxManagementCentre(MxMC) management software made configuring the cameras very straightforward.

“It’s the best user interface I’ve ever seen, from the end user’s point of view - it’s very intuitive,” Clough says of MOBOTIX new VMS. “It performs perfectly

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and is very easy to use for the 3 main tasks that any end user will want: How to view live footage; how to see what happened at some point in the past; and how to give evidence of an incident.”

According to Clough, where previously security staff had to go the server room and arduously search through hours of footage, they can perform this from their office computer with ease. The MOBOTIX search facility (up to 60x high speed playback), along with other analysis and event monitoring functionalities incorporated into the VMS, makes event searching simple.

The system goes beyond securing assets and premises, to be an integral part of operations.

Because of this, reliability is an absolute priority.

According to Smith, the Auckland Security Cameras’ team could be requested to supply video footage relating to an incident or delivery which could have taken place some time ago.

“I can honestly say I’ve never had a camera failure in any of the MOBOTIX cameras we’ve installed,” Clough says, “But with storage devices this can happen, which is why we have built plenty of redundancy into the NAS where the recordings are stored.” n

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â—? Special report

Video surveillance

Thermal Springs

With their ability to handle low light, fog, rain and extremely long distances, thermal cameras have capabilities that make them perfect for many large sites with inhouse response teams.

LL network cameras have a basic physical limitation: they need light to work. To get around this fundamental requirement some cameras have night and day vision capability that allows them to operate in very poor lighting conditions. Additionally, if natural light is not available, it can be substituted by artificial light or by infrared. But in some instances, these solutions have serious drawbacks.

For instance, they can be expensive, energy consuming, and illumination creates shadows where an intruder can hide.

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In comparison, thermal cameras ––not only perform well in total darkness, they also perform well under difficult climatic circumstances such as haze, dust, rain, snow and smoke. All the same, there are physical limitations to the performance of thermal cameras. Water droplets or small dust particles in the air will naturally hinder the transmittance of thermal radiation from a single object, making it harder to detect from a great distance. Consequently, haze, snow and rain will hamper camera performance. Water limits thermal radiation and the moisture in the air evens out temperature differences between different objects in the picture. Therefore, a thermal camera will produce better and clearer images during winter time with clear skies and good weather conditions than under comparable atmospheric conditions during summer when humidity is usually higher. Even with these limitations considered, thermal cameras are superior to conventional cameras when it comes to detection under a wide range of difficult weather conditions.

Thermal detection Unlike conventional cameras, thermal cameras can detect people and objects in a wider range of environmental conditions. Like any other camera, a thermal or thermographic camera

by p h i l d oy l e *

collects electromagnetic radiation which is formed into an image. But while a conventional camera works in the range of visible light, i.e. with wavelengths between approximately 400 and 700 nanometres (0.4-0.7 mm), a thermal camera is designed to detect radiation with greater wavelengths, up to around 14,000 nanometres (14 mm). Radiation in this part of the electromagnetic spectrum is referred to as infrared, or commonly IR, which in turn can be divided into several subgroups.

Near-infrared light has a wavelength of about 0.7-1.5 µm, which is just beyond what the human eye can see. Camera sensors, on the other hand, can be built to detect and make use of this type of radiation. A so-called day-and-night camera uses an IR-cut filter during daytime to filter out IR-light so it will not distort the colours of images as perceived by the human eye. When the camera is in night mode, the IR-cut filter is removed. Since the human eye is unable to see infrared light, the camera displays the image in black and white.

Near-infrared light also requires some kind of light source - either natural, such as moonlight, or manmade, such as street lights or a dedicated IR-lamp.

Moving further away from visible light, the rest of the IR-spectrum is usually divided into the following categories: Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR), approx. 1 - 3 µm Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR), approx. 3 - 5 µm Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR), approx. 8 - 12 µm Very Long-Wave Infrared (VLWIR), approx. 12 - 25 µm l Far-Wave Infrared (FWIR), approx. 25 µm - 1 000 µm or 1 mm. l l l l

Note that there is a gap between 5 µm (MWIR) and 8 µm (LWIR). This part of the waveband is virtually unusable for thermal imaging purposes because of the high spectral absorption of the atmosphere in this range.

Microwaves have a wavelength exceeding 1 mm.

At the far end of the spectrum are radio waves, with a wavelength of 1 meter and more. In the other end of the spectrum, wavelengths shorter than those of visible light are successively referred to as ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma rays.

So, while conventional cameras work in the range of visible light, i.e. with wavelengths between approximately 0.4-0.7 mm, thermal cameras are designed to detect radiation in the much broader infrared spectrum, up to around 14 mm.

How thermal imaging works Images, as they are perceived by the human eye, can be described as light reflected by different objects. No light means no reflection and thus the eye is “blind” under such circumstances. Thermal images on the other hand, are not dependent

Images are generally produced in black and white but can be artificially coloured to make it easier to distinguish different shades.

on visible light. Instead, images are created by operating in the infrared spectrum. It works perfectly well even in total darkness since the ambient light level does not matter.

What makes this possible is the fact that all objects - organic or inorganic - emit a certain amount of infrared radiation as a function of their temperature. This is true for all objects that have a temperature that is above absolute zero, i.e. 0 degrees Kelvin (-273° C or -459° F). That means that even very cold objects, such as ice or an outdoor steel post in winter, emit thermal radiation.

The ability to emit absorbed energy is termed emissivity. All materials have more or less emissivity (e). Their respective values range from 0 to 1, depending on their different properties. The latter value only applies for a theoretical object called a black-body. In general it could be said that the duller and blacker a material is, the closer its emissivity is to 1. Conversely, a more reflective material has a lower e value. For example, highly polished silver and brass have an emissivity of about 0.02 and 0.03, respectively. Iron has an emissivity of 0.14 - 0.035 if polished, but 0.61 if it has rusted red. Regular glass, which effectively blocks thermal radiation, has an emissivity of 0.92.

All objects emit thermal radiation which can be detected with a thermal network camera. Images are generally produced in black and white but can be artificially coloured to make it easier to distinguish different shades. An object’s thermal radiation is also dependent on its temperature the hotter it is the more thermal radiation it emits.

Humans cannot see this, but we can sense it, for example, when we approach a camp fire or enter a sauna. The greater the temperature difference in a scene, the clearer will the thermal images will be.

Furthermore, some materials will have a different emissivity in the mid-wave infrared spectrum than in the long-wave span. For imaging purposes, these differences in emissivity are, for the most part, of secondary importance since the camera’s sensitivity can be defined as its capability to distinguish between temperature differentials.

Thermal images are sometimes associated with bright, intense colours - which may seem a bit odd considering that the camera works outside the spectrum of visible light. This is because the colours are created digitally (so-called pseudocolours). Each colour or nuance represents a

se&n 41

● Special report

Video surveillance

Thermal images are sometimes associated with bright, intense colours - which may seem a bit odd considering that the camera works outside the spectrum of visible light.

Although this technology is both expensive and demanding in maintenance, it has benefits. These detectors work in the mid-wave spectral band, which provides better spatial resolution because the wavelengths are much shorter and provide higher thermal contrast than in the long-wave band. Hence, cooled detectors can distinguish smaller temperature differences and produce crisp, high resolution images.

Another advantage is that greater sensitivity also allows the use of higher F-number lenses.

Consequently, cooled detectors are a better choice for long range detection, i.e. 5 km - 16 km (3 - 10 mi).

Importantly, the sensor in an uncooled thermal camera is not dependent on cryogenic cooling.

In this case, the sensor is stabilised at or close to the ambient temperature using less complicated temperature control elements. Sensors of this kind operate in the long-wave infrared band.

Uncooled thermal image sensors are smaller and built with fewer moving parts. Not only does this make them less expensive than their cooled counterparts but also allows for much longer service intervals. Whereas the cooled cameras typically need a rebuild for the cryocooler every 8,000 to 10,000 hours, an uncooled camera can run continuously for years.

Conclusion

different temperature, usually white and red for higher temperatures, over green, blue and violet for colder ones. The reason is foremost practical since the human eye is better at distinguishing different shades of colour than different shades of grey.

Detectors used for thermal imaging can be broadly divided into 2 types: cooled thermal imagers that typically operate in the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) band and uncooled thermal imagers that operate in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) range.

Cooled infrared detectors are usually contained in a vacuum-sealed case and cooled to temperatures as low as 60 to 100° K (circa -210° to -170° C or -346° to -274° F), depending on the type and level of performance desired. These extremely low temperatures are accomplished with so-called cryogenic coolers. Cooling is needed to reduce thermally induced noise - at higher temperatures the sensors risk being flooded or “blinded” by their own thermal radiation. The equipment not only makes the detectors relatively bulky and expensive, but also rather energy-consuming.

42 se&n

With thermal imaging becoming far cheaper and an integral part of IP-surveillance systems, a whole range of uses becomes both possible and economically viable. Thermal cameras can be an excellent complement in many situations where conventional surveillance cameras are inadequate or insufficient.

They are, of course, unparalleled in a situation of total darkness. They can also be an option in areas that are very difficult to illuminate effectively, for example a sea front, a harbour, or any other vast expanse of open water. Similarly, artificial light not only runs the risk of revealing where the cameras are placed, enabling parties to avoid or vandalize them, but can also create projected shadows in which an intruder can avoid detection.

Furthermore, spotlights can blind as well as illuminate. So surveillance cameras that do not rely on light can be the preferred solution in many different traffic situations, whether it is in railway tunnels, on air strips, or on regular streets. Thermal cameras, on the other hand, cannot be blinded by bright lights or laser beams.

All in all, thermal network cameras perfectly complement and complete a network video system, making sure that objects, people, and incidents are detected 24 hours a day, seven days a week. n * Phil Doyle is regional director, Northern Europe at Axis Communications Communications

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● Case study

Batcam

To The Bat Cave

The original Batcam project at Gunung Mulu was completed in the most gruelling installation conditions. In 2016, the project required an upgrade and the specification called for a camera that could handle the extreme conditions.

UNUNG Mulu National Park covers an area of about 544 square kilometres – as large as Singapore and half the size of the Blue Mountains National Park in NSW. Granted the status of a World Heritage Area by UNESCO in 2000, this tropical rainforest is home to some of the largest documented cave systems on the planet, as well as some of the rarest creatures on the planet.

Park management company Borsarmulu Park Managament Sdn Bhd is an international company

G

44 se&n

based in Sarawak, that provides complete tourism services for the industry and the Borneo Government. Borsarmulu Park Management commissioned the original Mulu Batcam project with a broad requirement - to enable the capture of clear video images and sounds from selected sites within the cave network to observe and monitor wildlife and to provide real time video surveillance of the remote sites.

Installer ctg Security Matrix faced a daunting task - the extreme remoteness of the Gunung Mulu National Park, the enormity of the Mulu Caves, the physical challenge of the terrain, the extremes of its regional climate, and its inhospitable jungle environment. The Park is dominated by the sandstone mass of Mount Mulu, on whose flanks lies a band of limestone which form the lesser peaks of Gunung Api and Gunung Benarat. Inaccessible by road, the park can only be reached by a 35-minute plane trip from the township of Miri, 100 kilometres away, or by a daylong journey by long-boat on the Baram River.

To visit Mulu National Park is to step back in time. Local tribes - the Orang Ulu, or ‘up river people’, which include the Berewan, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Kiput, Murut and Peran people - still wear traditional attire; loincloths give modesty to bodies heavily tattooed in tribal and ritual symbols, while elongated earlobes set off

hats woven from split canes from the forest, and decorated with glass beads and feathers. The tribesmen are warmly welcoming – and their presence and immense skills were vital to the success of the Batcam project.

The purpose of the project was to place CCTV cameras in the cave network, predominantly Deer Cave - home to millions of bats, comprising 12 species, and forming the largest bat colony in the world. Deer Cave is also the biggest cave chamber in the world, being 175 metres wide and 120 metres high. Within this giant space, the environment is oppressive; day-time temperatures typically hover around 30C, with humidity ranging up to 99 per cent. It is, literally, a natural sauna-bath – but with the added imposition of an enormous variety of insects, bugs, centipedes and cockroaches - which feed off the mountain of guano, the droppings of the estimated 3 million wrinkled-lipped bats which occupy the cave.

It rains continually in Borneo’s rainforests, and as the rain eases late in the day, the bats inside awake as Mossy Swiftlets (small Starling-like birds which have been out in the forest feeding) return in their thousands, both species use echo-location not only to avoid hitting the cave formations and walls but also to avoid mid-air collisions. In this pandemonium, the bats fly out of the enormous cave-opening en masse to form a swirling, heaving

Within this giant space, the environment is oppressive; day-time temperatures typically hover around 30C, with humidity ranging up to 99 per cent.

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● Case study

Batcam

cluster known locally as the ‘Black Dragon’ - a term implying awe and respect.

Against this intense background, CTGSM had to introduce technology designed for the climate-controlled and sedate concrete jungles of the modern metropolis rather than the steamy, unpredictable bug-infested jungles of northern Borneo. It also demanded that any recommended solution be pre-engineered and rigorously tested.

Dependability had to be assured in an operating environment where trained maintenance personnel would be hundreds, perhaps even thousands of kilometres away.

Cable requirements included resistance to environmental elements, including armoured dual sheath cable for both crush resistance, flexibility and rodent proofing; a steel wire located in the centre of the core acting as a metallic strength member, UV and special moisture resistant. The 6-core, single-mode fibre is technically able to deliver 3 million simultaneous telephone conversations, in a region where little communication had previously existed.

Also required was power for the cameras, which could only be supplied from the Park generator some 5km from the furthest camera and, like the fibre cable, power cable had to be armoured with the added inclusion of surge filters to reduce the risk of voltage spikes. And before anything was installed, the rock surface of the ceiling had to be laboriously chipped away and ground down by hand to provide a flat surface for the camera mounting plates. As this work proceeded, six 1000m rolls of armoured cable, each weighing 1740kg, was sent to Mulu National Park via the city of Miri in Malaysia.

Just getting the fibre and power cable and the cameras and equipment to the caves from Park headquarters required ingenuity and meticulous teamwork, a monumental feat requiring consultation with expert structural engineers -

46 se&n

and local tribesmen - to ensure the safe movement of equipment and personnel.

In the end, the solutions came from a combination of space-age technology and local resourcefulness. No better example of the outstanding success of this unlikely marriage of cultures was the movement of 5 tonnes of equipment through the jungle and over the deep valleys of the cave network. As the Mulu tribesman stood in awe of the technology about to be deployed in their jungle home, the CTGSM team stood equally in awe of the amazing abilities of the tribesmen and their traditional equipment.

Using techniques learned from centuries of carrying wild-boar kills over treacherous terrain, the tribesmen carried on their shoulders the heavy equipment, slung under stout bamboo and wooden poles and trussed up by hand-made rope.

When the equipment could not be carried on the ground because of impenetrable jungle, expert tribesmen armed with slingshots were called in to fire lead-shot attached to fishing line, over the stout branches of trees high in the canopy.

This allowed more hand-made rope (and eventually stainless-steel cable) to be drawn tens of metres into the air to eventually form a series of flying-fox to carry the equipment hundreds of metres over yawning chasms. All this was expertly rigged and controlled by tribesmen whose familiarity with the terrain made them extremely dexterous, and seemingly fearless.

For the CTGSM team, it was an extremely nervewracking process as one wrong move would see their precious cargo plunge from a height of often more than 50 metres. In the end, however, CTGSM’s confidence in the amazing abilities of the local tribesmen was well founded as not one kilogram of more than a tonne of equipment was misplaced or damaged during this tortuous process.

When the Batcam project required an update in 2016, Charles Tomas, principal and specialist operational security adviser at ctg Security Matrix was called upon once again. Having recent experience working with the Bosch MIC cameras, he recommended them for the challenging task – to place 3 ROV cameras inside the largest cave passage, to be connected and remotely controlled via a fibre optic line some 3.8km away.

The images were also required to appear on an all-weather TV screen at the Bat Cave Observatory, situated next to the Deer Cave. The application called for a robust camera able to function in total darkness in a remote cave in the depths of the tropical rainforest.

With the camera upgrade now complete, Bosamulu Park management and CTG Security Matrix agree that Bosch MIC cameras are an amazing product, working in a challenging environment unlike any other on Earth. n

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â—? Product review

Panasonic

panasonic Aero Panasonic Aero is a 1080p day/night, 30x optical, 1080x digital, PTZ camera with 360-degree panning, 90-degree tilting, 150m of IR, 1P67 rating, IK10 rating, Video Stability Augment System and an operating temperature range between -50 and 55C.

48 se&n

BY J O H N A D A M S

OT surprisingly, I was very interested in the performance of Panasonic’s lovely Aero PTZ when the boys from BGWT brought it around to the SEN office and after spending a couple of days and an evening driving the camera, I formed a reasonable idea of where its core strengths lie. But before we get into the test, let’s take a look at Panasonic Aero’s specifications.

According to Panasonic, the Aero PTZ is designed for applications at sea, around ports and bridges, and in any other applications that experience extreme weather, including snow, rain, gale force winds (200kmph or 60m/s), and extreme temperatures. To handle these conditions, the camera has a fibreglass body for corrosion resistance and is designed so its shape reduces wind drag and sheds snow, water and dirt. There’s an integrated sunshade, a defroster and a built-in wiper to help with this.

Also assisting is the pedestal-mount design of the camera, which made it tougher for me to test as I could not hang the camera in the usual way.

However, pedestal designs provide a very secure base for attachment in extreme conditions. And while the body-work of this camera is glass fibre, the metal base is heavy – I placed the Aero on the roof of the office and needed to reach up and out to do so – not easy.

Panasonic’s Video Stability Augment System (SAS) is claimed to virtually eliminate camera shake and the camera has gyro-sensors, to minimise the impact of external vibrations; and is equipped with ‘active sense’ technology, which responds to external conditions to initiate the built-in wiper to keep the lens clear in rain and snow, the heater to ensure internal electronics are operating at the optimal temperature and the defroster to keep the viewing lens clear.

The Aero-PTZ delivers 1080p resolution at 60fps with a 30x optical zoom lens. The camera is IP67 rated, which means it is both water and dust proof, and vandal proof to IK10 standards.

The temperature range is -50 to +55C. That’s strong for a PTZ, which has many more moving parts than a simple bullet or dome. The sphere pan-tilt mechanism allows endless 360-degree panning and there’s a +/- 90-degree tilt range. In addition, the super dynamic function ensures a wider dynamic range compared to conventional cameras. IR range is 150m – that’s solid.

Aero’s image sensor is a progressive scan 1/3-inch MOS type with an area of 5.346mm x 3.336mm.

N

Norman at 12m and 5mm

12mm and 80mm focal length

Norman at 16m and 5mm

The camera is IP67 rated, which means it is both water and dust proof and vandal proof to IK10 standards.

And at 80mm again...

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● Product review

Panasonic When I start zooming, panning and tilting with the Aero, pow, its operational functionality socks me in the eye. This is a camera designed to be driven in real time on very large sites or in public spaces.

Plates at 25 km-ph in 5000 lux

About 2000 lux

This sensor offers minimum scene illumination in colour of 0.06 lux at F1.6 with gain on high and shutter speed at 1/30th of a second, and 0 lux in monochrome, thanks to the IR LEDs. WDR is 105dB. The lens has a focal length of 4.3-129mm, giving a horizontal view between 64 and 2.3 degrees, while aperture is F1.6 wide open and closes down to F4.7 at the long end.

Compression options are H.264 and JPEG – I use the main H.264 profile in this test – and there’s audio compression G.726 (ADPCM) 32kbps / 16kbps, G.711 64kbps, AAC-LC 64 / 96 / 128 kbps, digital noise reduction, video motion detection in 4 areas, 15step sensitivity and 10 step detection size. There are 32 privacy zones, which might be useful with a camera this powerful, and up to 8 zones of VIQs. There’s a full networking and network security toolkit.

Aero’s physical dimensions are 220mm wide x 450mm high x 266mm deep and the camera has a weight of 8kg. The main body of the camera is highstrength resin, while the base seems to be coated aluminium alloy and the front screen is clear glass.

Test driving the Panasonic Aero

500 lux

7 lux

50 se&n

I start out testing the Panasonic Aero taking in the district view. It’s a big view with objects from 2m (fence) all the way to 2000m (Centre Point Tower).

We’re testing via the camera browser, which is a full management solution for this camera with tons of functionality built into it. The camera is sitting on SEN’s office LAN and I’m driving it via a dedicated Dell 9020 server with no other cameras connected.

PoE is coming from a NetGear switch and there’s a 60W Planet injector installed in the cable run to power the PTZ functions.

First, I look at the wide-angle view. Even at the widest focal length of 4.3mm there’s virtually no barrel distortion in this image at all – maybe it’s 1 per cent but it might be less. That’s good performance indeed. The image is a little soft at this focal length, though noise levels are relatively low. It’s very bright out here – around 80,000 lux – and it’s likely the WDR function is having an impact on sharpness, which is typical.

When I start zooming, panning and tilting with the Aero, pow, its operational functionality socks me in the eye. This is a camera designed to be driven

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● Product review

Panasonic The strengths out front on the street include a complete lack of barrel distortion, a combined pan, tilt, zoom and focus speed that is simply outstanding.

District at 120mm

Lane at 60mm

Apartment at about 70mm

in real time on very large sites or in public spaces.

Utilities, ports, stadiums. Hyperfocal distance is about half a metre by my estimation but when you’re zooming in on objects in the near middle distance, you still get reasonably good performance in the background, which is nice to have.

Something that is noticeable with this camera wide open at F1.6 and a focal length of 4.3mm, is longitudinal chromatic aberrations, which are visible almost exclusively at the edges of the scene to a depth of about 8 pixels. As you’d expect, these CAs are present to a lesser extent at the long end with aperture at F4.7 – they are about 6 pixels deep.

You expect some CAs around high contrast points

52 se&n

with a fast tele lens, esepcially wide open. Colour rendition is good – in the presence of WDR and when light levels fall – and the performance of the camera in variably lit scenes with 75,000 lux of sun and 10,000 lux of deep shade is solid, too.

Because it’s there, I swing Aero around to view Centre Point Tower at 2000m at a focal length of 129mm– it’s the best image I’ve had of the tower out here – there’s not really any sign of pin cushion distortion, either. Because we’re dealing with a 1080p sensor, digital zoom offers less than you expect with the Aero and you really need to use fast optical capability as much as you can. I also play with the 90-degree tilt, which is great.

Between the tilt and the 30x zoom, I get views of the towers around me I’ve never had before.

Once I’ve started with the PTZ, there’s no stopping me. It’s just so powerful, bringing the district into sharp relief and letting me take a closer look at some of the Surry Hills’ wildlife. But because the camera is installed on the roof of the office instead of over the lane, my ability to explore camera performance in the presence of movement is limited, so I take Aero up onto the balcony out the front. Mounting is a compromise again – I can’t hang the camera off the balcony, but the power of the PTZ gives me almost everything I need even with the camera mounted a metre or so behind the usual position.

Sitting down at the workstation I notice CAs again, some blockiness in uniform surfaces as the camera makes processing generalisations, and some stepping of moving objects – cars and people. I’m at 30 frames per second but there is a lot of tree movement out here. There’s a tendency to mild blooming on bright points at the widest angles at apertures of F1.6. My assumption is that it’s the sensor but I don’t see it at night, so it’s more likely the processing decisions being made by the camera engine at my default camera settings – lighting is variable in this scene, with deep shadow and full sun.

When it comes to motion blur, it’s there at wider angles of view with moving traffic but as you wind in the optical zoom you lose motion blur in good light. The further you zoom (the narrower the angle of view), the less motion blur you get – I snare plates at 30kmph at focal lengths of around 60mm and face recognition is always there in good light, too.

It’s ok at widest angles and excellent at the long end. I note that it’s when the sensor is really loaded with movement at wide angles that blur and a little stepping creep in.

The strengths out front on the street include a

District at 4.3mm

Lane at about 12mm

and pedestrians but face recognition is still court admissible at mid focal lengths to a distance of about 12 metres and further out at longer focal lengths.

There’s not a lot of noise in the low light images and colour rendition remains good, with the camera moving the cut filter and going into night mode at around 10 lux. Something to note about performance on the street is that there’s too much light out here to make much of the 150m IR – I’ll have to play with that out back at night later on.

Next day, I drag Norman out the front and move him up and down the street to get a sense of image quality. It’s good at the wide end, better in the middle and best at the long end – you expect that but with a PTZ that’s so flexible and easy to drive, the image quality at the long end really stands out.

WDR performance is these conditions is good, too.

It’s 75,000 lux in the sun but aside from some CAs on high contrast points, I have no trouble getting portrait quality imagery of Norman.

Panasonic Aero is a rugged camera that puts a lot of power into an operator’s hands. Its specific mounting design makes it ideal for pole-top or pedestal mounting on large and environmentally challenging sites where it can look in all directions, including upwards. As you’d expect with an IRenabled camera, unassisted low light performance is less strong than the leading large sensor low light designs but there are plenty of positives to offset this. The manageability of its pan, tilt and that big zoom with fast autofocus in all weather conditions is Aero’s greatest strength. n

Apartment at 4.3mm

complete lack of barrel distortion and a combined pan, tilt, zoom and focus speed that is simply outstanding. With this camera, you define a square in the field of view and 5 seconds later it fills the frame in sharp focus – that’s brilliant.

WDR performance is pretty good, light/dark area performance is generally good.

As light levels fall, I start to lose plates – first of faster moving cars, then slower moving cars, then pedestrians at the wide end. Zooming in further helps until light levels fall below about 1000 lux and I lose them altogether. As light levels drop further down towards a minimum of 7 lux, the shutter speed slows and blur creeps in with vehicles

Features of Panasonic Aero PTZ include: l

41080p at 60fps with a 30X optical zoom lens

l

uper Dynamic function ensures a wider dynamic S range compared to conventional cameras

l

phere Vision 3D viewing provides 360-degree S continuous panning and +/- 90-degree tilt range

l

ind load durability 60m/s (operation) to 80m/s W (non-destructive)

l

ully water and dust proof conforming to IP67, F NEMA 4X compliant and IK10

l

perates in extreme hot and cold conditions from O -50 to 55C.

se&n 53

â—? Special report

CCTV

Support CCTV Systems

Despite increased functionality and higher resolutions, CCTV is still not achieving the one thing its proponents have always claimed that it can – improvement in the security level of the premises where it is installed.

54 se&n

HIS is it is a big statement and there are always exceptions to the rule, but crime still occurs on premises where CCTV is being used. It happens regularly and from where I sit, things are not going to change anytime soon. But why?

CCTV is becoming everything except a security tool. All sorts of applications and functionalities are being developed that might be valuable to a business, but they do not necessarily improve security. These functions include things like finding a car park in a shopping centre, counting how many people come through a door or showing retailers where people congregate in their stores.

The most useful aspect of CCTV from a security perspective has been video motion detection (VMD), which has been around in various forms for a decade or more. VMD is widely available now and easier to

T

by l u k e p e r cy- d o v e

Integration is key to CCTV today. Major video management systems are integrating with all manner of third-party systems. set up than ever, but it remains evolutionary rather than revolutionary. License plate recognition (LPR) is another of the more useful CCTV developments of recent years. It is achieving good results in major shopping centres, but the big winners of this technology are police and local councils for law enforcement and compliance purposes.

Facial recognition is more myth than anything at this stage. The systems that do work are incredibly expensive, involve significant software maintenance agreements and require precision with camera placement and the environment where it is installed to achieve respectable results.

Facial recognition is miles off being a mainstream security technology, so the civil libertarians of the world have nothing to fear from this technology yet.

And while the theory behind facial recognition is sound, for the system to work the people you want to detect with it must already be in the local database. As a tool for preventing serious incidents such as terrorist attacks, it is simply not practical.

Where is CCTV heading?

Integration is key to CCTV today. Major video management systems are integrating with all manner of third-party systems. These include license plate recognition, people counting, access control and alarm management, video analytics, fire detection, biometrics and time and attendance.

Certainly, these in part, can aid in keeping property safe and secure. We just can’t rely on them as our primary means of defence.

Security measures aim to keep honest people honest. ASIS International states that, “Theft, much like fire, occurs when 3 elements are present including motive, desire and opportunity.” Starve people of the opportunity and desire quickly diminishes. However, CCTV is not proving to be an opportunity reducing measure. Opportunity is generally reduced by physical measures combined with sound security risk management practices that are appropriately reflected in policies and procedures. These might include fences, gates, lighting, bollards, locked doors and windows, and permanent structures.

There are always exceptions where CCTV is a highly-valued crime fighting tool. But even the very best systems are mostly used for evidentiary purposes. During a recent audit, we reviewed a CCTV system that allowed police to clear 91 per cent of incidents associated with a property. Due to the quality of the CCTV system, crime decreased because the main offenders have been jailed. That is an outstanding result in anyone’s language.

However, even though CCTV was present, the incidents, which were of a quite serious nature, were still occurring. What the client needed to focus on was preventing, wherever possible, the incidents happening in the first place. This is not achieved by installing CCTV because it is mostly useful after an incident has occurred. The property in question needed to be reinforced so the method of entry was no longer available to the intruders. If you can stop them from entering the property in the first instance, the issue of loss and disruption to the business goes away.

It might seem contradictory or hypocritical for a security consulting firm to advise against a type of technology when a large part of our work involves CCTV. Right now, we have several projects that are entirely related to the deployment of large scale CCTV systems. In these projects, the use and purpose of the CCTV systems is absolutely understood by our clients. They know exactly what it will achieve for them in their environments.

The CCTV systems are not being used as security systems or as a measure to prevent intrusion or other forms of loss.

They are being used as surveillance systems that will allow our clients to track and monitor people who have access to their property about 18 hours a day. And really, that is the perfect application for CCTV. The system will be actively monitored and local security can respond almost immediately as incidents and other issues unfold. In the end, my message is not to dismiss CCTV as an option, but I believe it is a mistake to use it as a primary security measure for the typical commercial or industrial property. n *Luke is one of the most respected and highly regarded security advisers and security design consultants in Australia and has been a trusted key player in the security industry for more than two decades, delivering security solutions for hundreds of businesses and organisations nationally.

se&n 55

● News report

Technology

Bug Off, Water

WATER-repellent cone-shaped nanotextures developed at Brookhaven National Laboratory could prevent fog condensation on surfaces in humid environments, including the windscreens of cars and CCTV camera housings.

NSECT bodies have evolved the abilities to repel water and oil, adhere to different surfaces, and eliminate light reflections. Scientists have been studying the physical mechanisms underlying these remarkable properties found in nature and mimicking them to design materials for use in everyday life.

Conical-shaped textures resist dew formation because the water droplets are so lightly adhered to the surface that when 2 drops join together, they gain enough energy to spontaneously jump off the surface, similar to the mechanism observed in cicada wings.

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory used selfassembled patterns of block copolymers to create nanoscale textures in a variety of inorganic materials, including silicon, glass, and some plastics. Initially, they studied how changing the shape of the textures from cylindrical to conical impacted materials’ ability to repel water. Cone-shaped nanotextures proved much better at forcing water droplets to roll off, carrying dirt particles away and leaving surfaces completely dry.

Working with colleagues in France - from ESPCI Paris Tech, École Polytechnique, and the Thales Group - they have further shown that the optimized nanotextures have excellent anti-fogging abilities, as described in a paper published online in the Feb. 27 issue of Nature Materials. Led by David Quéré of ESPCI

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and École Polytechnique, the research provides a fundamental understanding that may inform new designs for car and aircraft windshields, and other materials prone to fogging.

“Many textured materials can repel water, with millimeter-size water drops bouncing off their surfaces, but many of these surfaces fail when exposed to foggy or humid conditions,” said Charles Black, director of Brookhaven Lab’s Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN), the DOE Office of Science User Facility where Black and former physicist Antonio Checco of Brookhaven’s Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department and former CFN postdoctoral research associate Atikur Rahman fabricated the nanotextures.

Fog forms when warm, moist air hits a cooler surface (such as a window or windshield) and forms water droplets -- a process called condensation. When water droplets are similar in size to the structural features of a textured hydrophobic (water hating) surface, they can get inside and grow within the texture, instead of remaining on top. Once the texture fills up, water landing on the material gets stuck, resulting in the appearance of fog.

Scientists have previously observed that the wings of cicadas, which are covered by nanosized cone-shaped textures, have the ability to repel fog by causing water droplets to spontaneously jump off their surface -- a phenomenon caused by the efficient conversion of surface energy to kinetic energy when two droplets combine. Motivated by this example from nature, the team investigated how reducing texture size and changing texture shape impacts the anti-fogging ability of a model surface.

To simulate fogging conditions, the scientists heated water and measured the adhesion force as warm water droplets cooled upon contacting the nanotextured surfaces. These measurements revealed that droplet adhesion was significantly affected by the type of surface nanotexture, with warm drops strongly sticking to those with large textures and hardly sticking at all to surfaces with the smallest ones.

“Textures with the smallest feature sizes and the appropriate shape - in this case, conical - resist fogging because condensing water droplets are too big to penetrate the texture. The droplets remain on top, essentially floating on the cushion of air trapped beneath,” said Black.

The scientists next used an optical microscope connected to a high-resolution video camera to view droplet condensation on different textures during dew formation, when atmospheric moisture condenses faster than it evaporates. While all textures are initially covered by large numbers of microdroplets, over time textures with a cylindrical shape become covered in water, while the ones with a conical shape spontaneously dry themselves. n

CREATING THE FUTURE OF SECURITY . . . TODAY

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Monitoring Technologies

Choosing the best monitoring technology is not easy to do. It’s not that there are not plenty of technologies to choose from but which are the most secure, which are the most future-proof and which offer electronic security people the levels of expansion customers are beginning to demand?

RYING to establish which alarm monitoring technology is the best currently available is no easy feat. There are plenty to choose from and they vary not just in terms of technology but in terms of underlying provider. Comms is not just evolving, it’s being corporatized in layers and that doesn’t make life easy for end users and integrators who are trying to get a sense of what system works best.

According to Bill Rose, chief operating office at SecureNet, qualities end users and installers should be looking for in alarm monitoring technologies are generally the same; reliability, security, functionality and ease-of-use and installation.

“These qualities now need to be imbedded into sophisticated user interfaces (UIs) via both mobile applications (apps) and professionallevel administration portals, and deliver a unified customer experience independent of the type of hardware or the feature-based solution deployed,” Rose explains. “Reliability builds trust in the installer and alarm monitoring as a whole for the end-user. Reliability saves the installer time and money, by lowering the number of unscheduled, warranty service visits and it decreases end user attrition.”

According to Rose, security was identified as the number one, must-

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have feature in several large surveys conducted recently in the U.S. “Securing loved ones, property and livelihoods is a need that the security industry has serviced well for many years,” Rose says. “With the advent of modern security technologies, security can be increased and extended to new sectors of consumer lives and businesses by adding new sensor types and allowing the monitoring of assets considered too remote or too cost prohibitive to monitor in real time relatively easily and cost effectively.”

Rose says functionality, by extending the feature-set available to end-users, increases the value-proposition and utility vs. the traditional, stand-alone dialler based security-only systems.

“Data from the U.S. shows customer attrition on end-users who have an automation solution, tightly integrated alongside their core-security solution, drives significantly increased customer engagement, and it greatly drives customer attrition down by up to 10x compared to security-only offerings,” he argues.

“This broader feature-offering also increases the professional installers ability to enjoy an overall increased spend and margin from their end-user. Easeof-use and installation to the end user mean less pain in the installation phase (shorter install time = less disruption) and higher utilisation rates as the ease of use

removes the customer frustration with controlling what is sometimes seen as too onerous and complex a system. The obvious upside to Installers is far less support calls explaining system functions and less time on site installing the system in the first place, allowing more systems to be installed in the same time frame.”

Rose says most monitoring-integrated CCTV is not taking the form of video verification or guard tours.

“Video verification and guard tour based video is primarily contained within the commercial channel of the professional installer; while it’s likely it will move slightly into the residential market (based mainly on local municipality regulations), this is not likely to become a significant market-growth opportunity,” he says. “SecureNet has developed a video solution specifically supporting both video verification and guard tours services, allowing for the utilisation of an extensive range IP-based cameras, in partnership with market-leading camera manufacturing partners.”

When it comes to other integrations,

he ability to locally and more importantly remotely control access totally within the core security app ecosystem has quickly become a major advantage and competitiveedge for forward-leaning professional installer

including remote management of functions like access control, Rose believes the IoT space has lowered the cost of entry for small business and homes to enable basic access control and is a large driver in the security space both here and in the U.S. “The ability to locally and more importantly remotely control access totally within the core security app ecosystem has quickly become a major advantage and competitive-edge for forward-leaning professional installers,” he says.

How does the expansion of remote management into monitoring stations impact on monitoring technology?

“Monitoring stations have by and large been slow to offer remote management services in the U.S. and Australia to date, in our experience - the opportunity is large as many of the most common pain points for both the end-users,” says Rose.

“Monitoring stations could be burdened with far less expenditure of resources (and quicker response time) and provide more comprehensive solutions than

the current response to something like a late to close notification, which could be more-easily resolved by a monitoring station.

“By simply allowing the end-user the ability to remotely arm their system (notifications sent via SMS), or by the end-user pre-authorising the monitoring station to perform this arming command, the customer-experience is raised to the highest possible level. This new enhanced level of notification eliminates an age-old monitoring station issue, and removes all delays in this important notification.”

Rose argues that from a future-proof standpoint, it’s critical to anchor around the currently-available technology which embraces as many current market-driven technologies while exploring, developing and deploying new market channels in the emerging, global Internet of Things (IoT) space.

“This dual focus tangibly demonstrates the future-proof of SecureNet’s own solution,” Rose explains. “It’s also key that these current and future technologies can be effective and easily monetized.

SecureNet’s solutions are currently integrated with many non-securitycentric, consumer-driven products and technologies, as well as integrating into most major-security platforms offered exclusively through the professional security-dealer channel provided by our major security manufacturing partners.

“This broad view helps ensure that SecureNet remains nimble enough to be to be early adopters when it makes commercial sense and well as to be centrally-focused on remaining as futureproof as possible. Offering a secure, stable platform is actually the underpinning of SecureNet’s offerings. We are fully committed to protecting the security of personal information, built upon the most-stable platform base in today’s marketplace.

SecureNet uses a multitude of security technologies and procedures to help protect personal information from unauthorised access, use or disclosure, all deployed on one of the most-widely deployed cloud-based platforms, Amazon Web Services (AWS). These 2 pillars are

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and will remain at the cornerstone of our offerings, and while nothing is foolproof, as today’s headlines underscore on a regular basis, this will always SecureNet’s highest priority.”

Is it possible for alarm monitoring to continue as a business model without embracing changes like app-based reporting of alarm events to customers?

“In a word, no,” says Rose. “We believe the viability and growth sustainability of core alarm monitoring services as a business-model is directly tied to a consumer’s ability and willingness to embrace emerging technologies, based upon customizable applications (apps). Security is fundamentally based upon a very narrow use-case, i.e., there was a personal “triggering event” (or a consumer was made aware of an event which hit close to home), which “created” their buying need.

“By embracing the emerging IoT technologies, the scope of devices, assets and information that can be monitored (and monetized) is increasing exponentially, and is virtually unlimited. To remain a

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relevant, monitoring-based business can take on these emerging fields and offer a more connected and relevant service, and utilise apps, SMS, email and other automated contact technologies, and do so in a cost-effective and responsive, and consumer useful manner.”

Over at Ness, Larry Circosta believes the market has multiple options when it comes to alarm monitoring technologies.

“There’s not one obvious future-proof product in my opinion and technology will continually change,” he says.

“However, what there is needs to be highly encrypted and offer multiple communication paths – perhaps greater than 2 or 3 paths, depending on the security level of the application.”

When it comes to the qualities installers and end users should be looking for in alarm monitoring technologies, Circosta says for end users it’s often price, as well as ease of use, reliability, confidence in the product, access to their account, and direct verification. For installers, all these things apply, along with the tools to manage their own accounts.

The future business models of alarm

monitoring include things like app-based reporting of alarm events to customers, which Circosta says is already happening with platforms such as Ness Mezzo.

Circosta believes alarm monitoring cannot not survive without continual add-ons and new features that provide value to a more educated client base.

“Other integrations like building access have been happening for a very long time and will continue to grow given technology and customer expectations,” he says.

At Bosch, James Layton says that of all the technologies available in the marketplace, the most stable, most secure and most future-proof is wireless.

“Cellular technology would tick the most boxes for our market in Australia,” Layton says. “GPRS technology allows for the protection of data encryption, and the coverage of mobile phone networks in Australia means that most locations can make use of the service.

“The implementation of the National Broadband Network has certainly turned alarm communications on its head in recent years, with several providers

seeking options using VOIP, IP, or 3G/4G technology - but only cellular technology has really risen to the top as a truly secure and robust delivery method. In terms of future-proofing, the only concern we can predict is that 3G/4G technologies will eventually go the same way that 2G did at the end of 2016. Technology providers have seen this, however, and more are starting to look at products that allow the cellular module to be easily and cheaply swapped out to improve lifespan.

What qualities do you think end users should be looking for in alarm monitoring technologies? What about installers – what is most important for them?

“For end users it really comes down to an equation of cost versus security,” Layton explains. “For the securityminded individual, the best option is multipath communication – with at least one path using some form of cellular technology. Solutions that meet the Class levels of the Australian Standard have network uptime requirements, which means that a VPN will normally be used.

All of this means that high security is going to cost you money, every month.

“At the other end, there are methods to deliver alarm communication via IP networks (like the NBN), which are free in many cases. The problem here is that any problem which can impact the Internet or a local area network, can effectively take down alarm communications. It comes down to whether the end user is prepared to wear the risk of lost communications in return for the cheaper, or free service.

“For the installer, it’s going to come down to what business model works for them. Recurring revenue is a key driver in our industry, but some companies are not set up for that sort of billing, or chasing delinquent accounts. The installer is going to want a communications method that is effectively set-and-forget. The less interaction the end-user has with managing the billing of a service, the more likely they are to just let it continue running.”

So, can alarm monitoring continue as a business model without embracing changes like app-based reporting of alarm events to customers – and how can monitoring providers balance remote system event reporting and management with traditional alarm monitoring services?

“This is one of the hardest challenges facing the alarm monitoring segment,”

Layton says. “More and more end users are looking for products that will alert them directly, rather than going through a monitoring centre. Bosch Security Systems recently conducted a survey of home owners and renters who do not have current security systems to ask them how they would expect a system to work in the event of a break-in. Most respondents indicated that they would want the alarm panel to inform them first of the alarm state, and then they would make the decision to escalate the alarm to a security company or the police.

“The solution to this is really one of education. We all carry our mobile phones with us, so naturally we expect that this is the best way of informing us of important events. But what about at 3am?

What about when you are out of signal range, or overseas with no roaming? And even if you can take the alarm while you are on holidays on the other side of the world – what are you going to do when you know someone is in your home? Getting people to ask themselves these questions is the best way to show the true value of 24-hour professional monitoring.”

According to Layton, there really isn’t substantial penetration of video technology in to the alarm monitoring space, and the main reason behind this is bandwidth.

“Australia’s average 9.6Mbps speed places us 50th in the world for Internet speed according to the Akamai Q4 2016 report, meaning that bandwidth intensive activities such as high resolution live video streaming may fail to deliver on expectation,” he says.

“Given the difficulties experienced managing several high definition camera and events, most offerings today are built around snap shots or shortrecordings. For the time being, this will limit the power of video monitoring to predominantly reactive verification, rather than proactive observation.

“Video verification is the most common form of video monitoring.

Guard tours have the traditional problem of only allowing the operator to identify problems at the exact moment they bring up each camera, whereas the concept of verification allows a non-video device to identify a threat (such as motion, broken glass, etc) and then have the operator gain immediate access to the associated footage.”

What about other integrations,

Australia’s average 9.6Mbps speed places us 50th in the world for Internet speed according to the Akamai Q4 2016 report...

including remote management of functions like access control?

“This sort of functionality has seen limited use in Australia,” Layton argues.

“The thing to remember is that most monitoring centres are third party companies, and thus giving them control functions over a site (such as the ability to open doors or turn off lights) could actually be a security vulnerability, rather than a benefit. Of course there are several companies large enough to have their own internal control rooms for alarm monitoring, and in these cases, we are seeing more and more interest in remote control of perimeter security and building functions.”

Layton doesn’t think the expansion of remote management into monitoring stations impact on monitoring technology in serious applications.

“An alarm monitoring centre gives you the guarantee that there is a manned service able to respond to risks and requirements at your site 24/7,” he says. “Very few businesses have the infrastructure to take this sort of service in-house, so there will continue to be a use for these sorts of centres for the foreseeable future.

“Remote site management is certainly a value-add that monitoring centres can use to differentiate themselves, but the biggest inhibitor right now is liability. Monitoring centres traditionally rely on systematic application of the client’s instructions, as any sort of alternative interpretation may open up the centre to liability claims if the wrong conclusion is acted upon – especially in cases where there is a risk to property or life.

“You can put all of the advanced remote management you want to in to a monitoring centre, but the only way to ensure that you get what you want out of it, is to implement a robust instruction set about when individual actions are to take place, with little or no room for creative interpretation.” n se&n 61

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CS Technologies

Evolutionary Theory

CS Technologies Evolution access control range is a pair of full function access controllers, the EVO4 4-door and EVO2 2-door, featuring network access control boards with RS485 and TCP/IP Ethernet communication support, lift control, and seamless alarm integration via 4-state monitored expansion boards.

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by j o h n a d a m s

S Technologies has a deep history in the electronic security industry – the company’s roots go back to the late 1980s – and this informs the nature of its systems, which combine the solid reliability of proven hardware and the profound functionality of decades of evolution.

The long history of this company should come as no great surprise – local access control manufacturers are the norm, not the exception, in ANZ. All the local access control manufacturers are quality makers, combining strong and rapidly evolving software solutions with thoughtful suites of hardware and passionate local service.

Like the rest, and perhaps a little more so because of its smaller size, CS Technologies is an old-school tech house. The company has its circuit boards made by the same reliable Blacktown manufacturer it has used for decades. You can speak to the engineering department on the phone and they’ll build software enhancements into their free management software to meet any reasonable user application free-ofcharge (just don’t tell too many other installers!).

And if hardware breaks, which it almost never does, they’ll replace it at no cost. This level of customer ownership is unique to manufacturers deeply embedded in the electronic security market.

Technological solutions are like cityscapes. Those constructs that are well built and offer the best functionality tend to survive to support the needs of later generations. In the case of CS Technologies, it’s the company’s Silkey readers, which have been around since the early 1990s. Silkeys are tiny stainless steel discs that contain a unique identifier and can survive pretty much any form of physical and environmental abuse. Built by Texas Instruments, Silkeys still form a core part of the CS Technologies offering, though users can now also opt for proximity readers or keypads.

C

EVO controllers According to Michael Carruthers, engineering manager at CS Technologies, the company has always had a 4-door controller (EVO4) and EVO2 is a 2-door version of the latest generation of EVO4. It’s fundamentally the same board but with a number of key parts removed to reduce the cost by around half.

“Its specification and lower cost mean EVO2 is ideal for smaller systems with 1-2 doors,” says Carruthers. “This board is a door controller and lift controller. In terms of alarm inputs, Evolution allows for up to 250 inputs by adding 12-input, 4-output expansion boards. This alarm expander just plugs into either controller board and piggy-backs on top.

A controller can handle 8 of these alarm expanders but you need to use a larger box to accommodate a system of that type.

“For typical 1 or 2-door domestic or small business applications, installers would use the EVO2 controller to drive a couple of doors and add

We made our controllers to suit every sort of reader technology out there - they do Weigand, clock and data, Silkey and Nidac Presco, the latter of which offers a huge 1000m range.

Michael Carruthers

one expander to give 12 alarm inputs and 4 outputs to handle any automation or REX requirements,” Carruthers says.

“We made our controllers to suit every sort of reader technology out there - they do Weigand, clock and data, Silkey and Nidac Presco, the latter of which offers a huge 1000m range. The only reader we manufacture ourselves is the Silkey reader, which is affordable and highly resistant to weather and vandalism.”

Neither controller has onboard dialler, which in 2017 is advantageous. Instead, they feature a serial integrated port that communicates with a polling Emizon TCD unit which transmits all the alarm data to monitoring companies in 3G/4G – it’s a 2-way communicator so goes over internet as well. If you don’t want Emizon, you can use the serial port to communicate with a comms module of your choice.

In terms of wider functionality, EVO2 and EVO4 controllers combine access control, intrusion,

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CS Technologies

The beauty of a LAN port is that you can put the PC wherever you need to on a network – it does not have to be literally hardwired in by RS-485 cabling. lift control and automation; including tenant air conditioning control and integration to several CCTV systems. Being modular, both systems are hugely expandable with no need to swap out controllers.

Out of the box, EVO2 controllers can have 2000 users, many access levels, public holidays, and time zones, while on-board transaction memory is up to 1000 transactions. Meanwhile, EVO4 controller boards can have 20,000 users, many access levels, public holidays and time zones, while on-board transaction memory is up to 20,000 transactions.

In both cases, expander boards contain outputs which allow automation. A controller can have up to 250 areas and this large number of areas makes the system attractive for applications like selfstorage facilities, which might use hundreds or even thousands of controllers.

Despite the expandability of the EVO range, Carruthers says a typical system usually includes a controller, one 12 x 4 expander board, power, a box tamper, 1 or 2 REX switches, reeds, readers and locks, and intrusion sensors.

“In our experience, 1 expander board is more than enough for most small business solutions – 4 doors,

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12 alarm inputs, and 4 relay outputs is plenty - that’s why we designed the system this size.”

Installing the hardware In terms of hardware installation, you install the controller close to the doors – you can cable 100m with Weigand readers or 1000m with a Presco reader. On a bigger site, if you have multiple controllers it’s possible use a USB RS485 comms converter from controller to controller to controller in a daisy chain linked to a workstation or a switch – the system does not need to be server-based, either, making things simpler still.

“You install the controllers, the readers, the locks, the cabling, port comms to a workstation and when you install the software, it finds the controllers,” says Carruthers. “The way it works is a bit different. The controller does not have an entire database inside it. Instead it knows what to do operationally and it is programmed with all the card details which have access to the doors it opens – you are either programmed into this controller or not – you might have a million users in the software but only 2 credentials stored on a reader identifying those who have access to the doors it controls.

“You program these credentials into the controllers via the Windows-based management system – you select a door and a user and the

Key watcher cabinet

software works out the access group and passes on the required credential authorisation information to the controller. This means we can maximise the use of memory – we store the full site code and cardholder together so when you badge your card the site code must match with the card number for this controller, making it much more secure.”

Carruthers turns a 4-door controller over in his hands.

“You wire your 4 readers into these termination blocks here,” he explains, pointing. “There are a couple of links to configure, a couple of relays and here are comms – your RS-485 is an RJ45 port. In terms of system comms, Weigand links the readers to the controllers, and RS-485 links controllers to controllers, with dipswitch addressing so controllers know which board they are talking to us.

“You can choose to wire RS-485 to a workstation, or go from one controller to a network switch using an optional LAN port using a Lantronics LAN adapter. This simply clips on and gives you a LAN connection to a switch to reach the workstation, which is simple and effective. Alternatively, you can use LAN and RS-485 comms together, giving plenty of flexibility.

“The beauty of a LAN port is that you can put the PC wherever you need to on a network – it does not have to be literally hardwired in by RS-485 cabling,” Carruthers says. “About 50 per cent of applications

we see use the network adaptor as it may not be clear where the workstation will be located. Or RS485 will be used to connect multiple controllers in an area and then one will be connected to a switch to access LAN.” According to Carruthers, the 4-door version is a lift controller as well and you action this capability in software by selecting that option for a controller.

“When EVO is used as a lift controller we use 1 controller per lift handling 1 reader inside each lift that’s wired up the lift cable to a controller installed outside of the lift motor room. In this case, the 4 relays will allow 4 floors to be connected to the lift system to make buttons work when a card accesses a floor.

“If you have 8 floors you use the 12 x 4 expansion board and there are also 16-way expander boards that are heavy duty and designed for lifts,” Carruthers explains. “This 16-way board has 16 inputs for intercom release. We can also do floor destination reporting via input boards, as well as pre-sensing – which ensures only an authorised cardholder can access a floor after badging when entering a lift. That’s an awesome feature that costs thousands more if it is done by lift companies.”

Something else that’s neat is that in programming, EVO handle lifts in a bank – that means instead of needing to manually give user access to Level 5 Lift 1, Level 5 lift 2, etc, you can give a cardholder access to L5 and the system gives them Level 5 access on all lifts. This makes things very easy to program and manage.

Driving the software CS Technologies’ software is simple and easy to use. Logging in, an event log covers the centre of the screen, with a menu at the top, including setup, devices, reports, administrators, hardware and technician drop-downs. There’s also a block of coloured tiles under which sit key pieces of functionality. These include backup, history reports, help, teamviewer, set time, locations, controllers, door access groups, floor access groups, users, timezones, holidays, device doors, device floors, device areas and more.

During setup of the main system, you add controllers and locations and setup devices, reports, apply access groups to users and setup administrator rights.

“When you are programming, time zones are a key thing,” Carruthers says. “You set up when you want the doors to open or alarms to deactivate – between 8am and 5pm on weekdays and between 10am and 4pm on Saturdays, for instance.”

If doors are assigned to a time zone, they will be automatically open during that time. When it comes to access groups, you make a group, name the group, select doors to define access parameters for groups,

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CS Technologies

It’s straightforward yet fully functional – all the things we have done with the software have been about making it easier to operate select time zones and then apply cards to groups.

Once a template is built, the controller knows which cards have access through the doors it manages – though importantly, you can also customise different times for different doors. Once this is done, adding cards to a group assigns them all the associated access rights of the group. It’s simple and quick. Then users can be assigned to cards.

To demonstrate the way users can be registered, I tag a Silkey at a nearby reader, and its identification number appears in the event log – in this case as ‘Denied, user not in the database’. Carruthers hits the plus sign, brings up the user screen and presses add, then slots in my name and nominates an existing access group, presses ok and the Silkey is activated and I’m ready to go. The same process applies for cards or keypad PINs and there’s integrated photo ID, too. The operator presses start camera with the user’s file open and takes a snapshot which immediately appears in the file.

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“Deleting cards is easy,” explains Carruthers. “I like removing access rights from the user rather than deleting a card or Silkey credential entirely, because it means when a person badges with a deleted card, the person managing the system knows who it was.”

I can’t help commenting on the simplicity and functionality of the free software as Carruthers runs through the demo process. It’s a simple design without some of the visual bells and whistles you might see on larger management systems but all the functionality lies very close to the surface and the thoughtful way the system is put together expresses CS Technologies’ long experience in access control.

Everything you need is just a mouse click away.

“The database is our own development and it’s simple, too,” explains Carruthers. “It’s based on .exe files and this means you can just take a USB stick, plug it into your managing PC, run the .exe file and the software will build the database from scratch as a bulk import. You can move that USB stick and move the database to other workstations. The technician log-in allows you to stipulate access rights, access to reports, etc.”

Reports are another important aspect of any access control management solution. With CS Technologies Evolution, they can be weekly or monthly or automatic and you can generate system reports of all users, of groups, of time zones, user transactions, alarm events, history reports, all doors, all locations, all users. Reports are simple and very capable.

Meanwhile, the administrator allows you to setup floor plans, tweak display font and create email alarms, while Operator allows you to setup who can login to the software. Readily to hand are settings to allow back-ups to multiple locations, such as an FTP site or another workstation, allowing the system settings to be run straight off from backup to a new workstation if anything goes wrong with the primary management hardware.

The system also includes maps, which are created as images in the background, then populated with icons.

“You just drop doors, floors, alarms, or other devices onto relevant spots,” Carruthers says. You

can see system status, last person in an area, then click onto that icon bring up a door on screen where you can open the door or look at assocated events.

You can also add a lift bank and remotely trigger it via the software. We can do up to 250 floors as low level interfaces and high level interfaces using Compass and Koni – in that case, the software talks direct to the lift over IP.” Something CS Technologies also undertakes is plenty of work on interfaces for automation and this work benefits all its customers.

“We do a lot of interfaces – we have an external interface feature – and we do a lot with third party applications that allow users to create a file in a particular format and bring the users and access groups into it our software using it,” Carruthers says. “This is popular for self-storage, caravan parks and gyms, which often use uncommon or legacy subsystems. In such cases, our program runs in the background and handles management of users, access times, etc. We can also export events out. You don’t have to touch our software to add such things into it. You can also see status of an integrate site, doors open or close, locked or unlocked, same with floors or areas, which makes management easy.”

There are more than 50 completed integrations allowing Evolution software to support specific user applications, including self-storage, 24-hour gyms, access to golf clubs and caravan parks, and plenty more. The next major addition will be operation of sites and buildings via the cloud. Something else that’s nice is that the Evolution software incorporates CCTV integration, which shows image streams from cameras within the software. Video clips are not stored on the workstation – instead the software goes to the linked DVR and requests a time-slice of footage – before, during and after an event.

“We do this with Hikvision and Dahua and Sprint’s Super CCTV DVRs, explains Carruthers. “It’s a simple process to set up – we go to a door in the software, then select the IP address of the DVR, select the channel and press ‘start video’ and it’s been assigned – a door is assigned to channel of video.

“It’s straightforward yet fully functional – all the things we have done with the software have been about making it easier to operate. We are in the process of adding more SDKs at the moment. If someone is always asking for a particular thing, then that feature will go into the system – we don’t charge – almost always it’s something that improves the overall software.”

The software comes on a CD or you download it from the website – when you do a full install of the software there’s a help folder with install guides, user guides, manuals. Everything you need to know.

The pre-defaults are all set so installers and users don’t have to do too much.

Neat, too, there’s a mobile version, an app for iPhone iOS or for Android – it’s essentially a web browser so it’s very easy to use but is fully functional

– you can add users and access groups. You can also trigger the front door remotely if someone is stuck outside, or you can lock the front door and activate the alarm. And you can manage all this from anywhere. The interface is a good one – nicely laid out and very easy to understand.

“The app doesn’t store any data – it’s just a link,” Carruthers explains. “It’s not designed to fully manage the system with bulk adding and changes but it does allow considerable functionality.”

Conclusion Technologies’ EVO2 and EVO4 controllers and the Evolution software they run on are ideal for installers who do a lot of work in small and medium business applications, as well as large or higher security domestic applications. And the combination of affordability, functionality and multifarious integrations to sub systems, makes them ideal for applications like caravan parks, gyms and storage centres, too.

According to Carruthers, access control hardware does not change much with core changes reflecting shifts in communications technologies. But it’s a different story when it comes to software.

“Software changes all the time – it’s a constant process of making things easier and more efficient – for me it’s a full-time job,” he explains.

When it comes to pricing, EVO2 and EVO4 are very competitive – EVO2 is $A355 +gst to the trade, while the 12 x 4 expander is $A90, the LAN module is $A100 and the software and ongoing upgrades are free. A complete access control, intrusion detection and automation solution that can handle 2 doors, 12 inputs and 4 outputs, supported by capable management software and a mobile app for less than $A750 is a bloody good deal.

As ever, the installer and user experience is the most important thing.

“That’s where we score a lot of points,” says Carruthers. “Once you get a feel for the system it’s very easy and intuitive to install and to use – that’s what all our customers say.” n

Features of EVO2 and EVO4 include: l

2 or 4-door access control

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Left control and automation

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CCTV integration of Hikvision, Dahua and Sprint

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2000 users, 1000 events (EVO2)

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20,000 users, 20,000 events (EVO4)

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RS485 and LAN communications

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Multiple reader formats

l

Free management software and apps

l

Competitive price and local service.

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Products

Editor’s choice

What’s new in the industry.

Bosch Z-Wave Vera Home Controller l BOSCH has introduced a new range of Z-Wave home automation components.

Using the VeraEdge Home Controller, it is possible to control over 220 devices including Z-Wave lights, locks, climate control and energy monitoring devices. Additionally, the VeraEdge can interface with and control the Bosch G Series integrated intrusion and access panel, and will shortly be able to do the same with the Bosch Solution 2000 and 3000 Intrusion panels.

All of the interconnected devices can be controlled through an easy-to-configure web interface, or via a smartphone or tablet using the Vera app for IOS and AndroidOS. Users can create ‘Scenes’ which allow detections on various devices such as the alarm panel or thermostat to trigger actions on other devices, or to notify users via Push, SMS or Email. All of these features are available with no monthly fee.

Distributor: Bosch Security Systems Contact: 1300 1 BOSCH (26724)

UTC Challenger10 Modular Solution

ICT Releases Protege DIN Rail Network Extender l DESIGNED to extend the network capabilities of the Protege system, the Protege

DIN Rail Module network repeater is connected via RS-485 or Ethernet providing optical isolation between up to 3 branches of the module network, and simplifies network and power connectivity.

When using Ethernet expansion, the module network repeater communicates via UDP through a switch or router and allows linking of module networks that run between 2 buildings within a close proximity, removes the need to run expensive cabling over long networks, allows running of cables to physical locations that would break the normal daisy chain design of the module network and resolves issues with networks that are experiencing connectivity/communication issues caused by ground loops or long distance runs The network repeater can be placed virtually anywhere on the RS-485 module network, allowing installers creating up to 3 isolated RS-485 network spurs, ideal for connecting keypads or devices that are located outside or in publicly accessible areas.

It also allows installers to take over existing installations that use spur wiring without the need to completely rewire the system.

Installers can configure RS-485 biasing for each of the COM ports enabling them to set master or slave configurations giving more reliable communication.

Distributor: ICT Technologies Contact: +61 2 8916 6367

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l CHALLENGER10 continues to develop as security industry and end-user security requirements change. It provides customers with an advanced, integrated security solution designed for commercial and corporate sectors. Perfect for the security requirements of banks, retail outlets, educational facilities and more, Challenger10 is a modular system which can be scaled for almost any application.

With thousands of programmable options, Challenger10 has been designed to meet any security and access requirement and can be tailored to your own security policies. The Tecom portfolio is ever-evolving, providing superior access control and integrated networking.

Distributor: Hills Contact: 1800 685 487

Bosch Video analytics at the edge now a standard feature in all IP cameras l BOSCH has announced it will offer Video analytics as standard, rather than an optional feature, in all Bosch IP cameras. The IP 4000 Series and higher will now feature a full suite of 15 of its new Essential Video Analytics. This is available now with the DINION IP starlight 6000 and FLEXIDOME IP starlight 6000 cameras. All top of the line IP 7000 and IP 8000 starlight cameras will come equipped with Bosch’s stateof-the-art Intelligent Video Analytics offering up to 17 different analytic possibilities.

Video analytics inside the camera mean adding sense and structure to video data, and allows users to take appropriate action faster, easier and more efficiently.

Essential Video Analytics allows a single camera solution to be used to enforce health and safety regulations, intelligent intrusion and idle-object detection; as well as to perform crowd density assessment. It also provides useful business metrics for various applications, like retail, such as people counting and crowd density information.

Distributor: Bosch Security Systems Contact: 1300 1 BOSCH (26724)

Tyco Complete Security Solution l TYCO’S Complete Security Solution provides a comprehensive solution for securing premises, property and people at any size multi-residential, commercial or public site.

The all in-one integrated intrusion, video surveillance and access control gives users greater control through one single and easy to use interface, while giving you a simple and quick to install solution to boost your revenue and amplify your business opportunities. This solution incorporates Quantock access control, Exacq video surveillance and DSC intrusion products to create a secure and flexible integrated security system that scales for many applications. Tyco’s Complete Security Solution can be managed and accessed from a single platform – a choice of Kantech or Exacq management systems.

RightCrowd Partners with Inner Range to Provide High-level Integration l RIGHCROWD, a provider of continuous workforce assurance and visitor management systems, has partnered with Inner Range to release a high-level integration to Inner Range’s Integriti platform.

This deep integration, which is both comprehensive and highly intuitive allows the visitor management system to interact with Integriti Pro to ensure all site requirements are met before allowing visitors or workforce personnel on site.

There are 3 versions: RightCrowd Visitor Essentials, which provides both streamlined and modern visitor management processes reducing time and costs, Workforce Essentials, which builds on features of Visitor Essentials and includes contractor and employee management processes and also Workforce Essentials and Elements.

Distributor: Central Security Distribution Contact: 1300 319 499

Distributor: Tyco Security Products Contact: +61 4 6776 3544

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Products

Editor’s choice

What’s new in the industry.

Avigilon Expands Video Analytics To Face and Vehicles l AVIGILON is expanding its deep learning artificial intelligence (AI) search engine, Avigilon Appearance Search technology, with two powerful new features that help users save time and effort during critical investigations. Using deep neural networks for face analytics, Avigilon Face Appearance Search technology enables searching for a person by incorporating the unique characteristics of a face to find similar recorded footage of that person across a site. For operators, this technology increases the speed and accuracy of investigations, by detecting and understanding that it is searching for the same person, even if items such as their clothing change over time.

Avigilon Vehicle Appearance Search technology enables users to quickly search recorded footage and find a specific vehicle across a site. This technology is designed to provide security operators critical information about where and when a vehicle might have been before and after an event. Both Avigilon Face and Vehicle Search have been designed to be part of Avigilon Appearance Search technology, and will be integrated with Avigilon’s full line of video analytics solutions. Existing customers will be able to upgrade certain legacy products to benefit from these exciting new technologies.

Distributor: Central Security Distribution Contact: 1300 319 499

NetDigital Security Partners With Suprema, Releases BioEntry W2 Reader l SUPREMA BioEntry W2 from NetDigital is a multi RFID reading, IP67-rated vandalproof fingerprint access control reader. BioEntry W2 blends with loads of industryleading technologies and innovations. BioEntry W2 is loaded with class-leading 1.2GHz quad core CPU which achieves incredible matching speed up to 150,000 match/second. With its large 2GB memory, BioEntry W2 can store and manage up to 500,000 users and provides instant matching results with minimal lag time. The device combines enhanced fingerprint algorithm, new fingerprint sensor, and live finger detection technology. BioEntry W2 also features Suprema’s patented live fingerprint detection technology that effectively eliminates possible fraud using various fake fingerprint materials including clay, rubber, silicon, paper and film.

BioEntry W2 features dual-frequency, multi-card reading technology. Supporting all HID multiCLASS compatible RFID standards, the device features both LF(125Khz) and HF(13.56MHz) RFID and reads most types of RFID card standards with a single device including MIFARE, HID iCLASS, DESFire, FeliCa, HID Prox, EM and NFC. Distributor: NetDigital Security Contact: +61 8 8371 4166

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Ness MCP-040 4-Door Access Controller l NESS MCP-040 is an intelligent 4-door access controller with an integrated 4-area control feature to interface into Ness M1 intruder alarm system with arm and disarm badging. MCP-040 powers and controls 4 doors, 8 x RS485 (and/or 4 Wiegand) proximity card readers. The controller features 50,000 proximity card capability onboard, a 51,200 event log, 4 Wiegand inputs, 8 supervised monitoring inputs, 4 lock outputs, plus 8 programmable outputs, and comes complete with an encrypted ethernet port, making it LAN ready. MCP-040 is supplied with the premium black multifunction housing with unique time-saving features.

Contact Ness Corporation Ph +61 2 8825 9222

Tyco Releases s700 IP Reader l TYCO Security Products has released the S700e Intelligent IP Reader and the

companion S700 Exit Reader from CEM Systems, extending the powerful reach of CEM Systems’ AC2000 access control and security management system. With onboard Ethernet connection, the S700e bypasses the need for an intelligent control panel within the AC2000 system.

The unit has a large graphical LCD display with several easy-to-read and simple to comprehend predefined messages, such as Access Granted, Expiring Card, Lost or Stolen Card, Wrong Time, Wrong Zone and Passback Violation and icons for intuitive operation. The soft-touch capacitive keypad on the S700e allows for dualauthentication by presenting both a card and a PIN. The unit features 4 analogue inputs that monitor door or alarm conditions and 2 changeover relay outputs that activate door strikes or other equipment. The companion S700 Exit Reader, which offers the security of a bi-directional door when deployed, can be used in conjunction with the S700e Intelligent IP Reader.

The S700e master reader provides reading support for 13.56MHz smart card and 125kHz proximity technology, and is designed to handle a larger reader database for off-line card verification and alarms. The S700e can hold up to 250,000 cardholder records and up to 50,000 offline transactions. It works with a host of card technologies, including MIFARE, DESFire, iCLASS, iCLASS SE, HID 125kHz Proximity and PicoPass. A forward-thinking technology, the S700e supports IPv4 networks and is IPv6-ready.

Distributor: Tyco Security Products Contact: +61 4 6776 3544

Hikvision Launch Blazer Pro ‘All-in-One’ Server l HIKVISION has launched Blazer Pro, an ‘all-in-one’ high-end server solution designed

specifically to meet the needs of medium to large camera count, mission critical surveillance network projects. Combining Hikvision’s powerful Video Management System software and data storage in to one physical server solution, Blazer Pro is capable of handling up to 128 or 256-channels. Catering for any large to mid-size surveillance application, the all-in-on server not only performs basic functions like recording, live view, playback, and alarm management, but also optional advanced functionality such as ANPR, business intelligence, and people counting.

The all-in-one solution ensures a fail proof backup system with the server board and storage board working independently so that in the advent of VMS server failure, normal recording, preview and playback functionality remain unaffected. The storage board adopts the stable Linux architecture, providing more dependable operation.

In a project with several local NVRs performing local recording and utilizing Blazer Pro as the central platform managing those NVRs, if a local problem occurs with an NVR or it is removed (stolen), all is not lost, as the Blazer Pro unit will retain the key IP channels data from that local site. This fail-safe solution is facilitated by key IP channel streams being simultaneously transmitted in real-time for recording, from the local NVR, to the central Blazer Pro server. With this Hikvision solution, Blazer Pro ensures the safety of key local IP channels data.

Dahua 2-wire Apartment Video Intercom System l DAHUA VTNS1006A-2 switch and the VTH5222CH indoor unit use a 2-wire interface. The switch is connected to the indoor unit using any two wires, which is used for signal transmission and power. There is no polarity and the switch has a network interface to connect with external networks and communicate with regular IP devices.

The maximum supported distance between the switch and the device is 100 meters, while the maximum supported distance between switches is 30 metres.

With the VTO1210C-X large apartment outdoor station, each unit can support a maximum of 20 outdoor stations and 1000 indoor monitors. Each switch can support a maximum of 6 indoor monitors and only 2 series connections are needed between switches.

The maximum number of switch connections is 30 and can satisfy the requirements for high rise apartments.

Each household can install a maximum of 5 VTH5222CH indoor monitors which can be used for group calls, and calls can be answered anywhere within the household; within the household, users may communicate with each other through the indoor monitors.

Indoor monitors can monitor IPC in real-time, and connect with wired alarm and detection devices to implement 24 hours protection using Smart PSS management.

Distributor: Dahua Contact: overseas@dahuatech.com

Distributor: Video Security Products Contact: +61 2 9557 7946

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Help desk ■ Below are the approximate recommendations for rest times (complete rest, that is) between sets according to your goal, per the National Streng th and Conditioning Association (NSCA). *Note that since fat loss depends primarily on diet, there is no official rest-period prescription for it, although we feel that both short and long rests work, depending on the program.

Q: If you could only do one thing to increase the security level of a site’s perimeter, what would it be? Alarms, optical CCTV, thermal?

A: We would build perimeters so they provided better support for electronic security equipment and genuinely denied access to intrusion.

Some installations rely on detection systems, be they microwave, infrared or VMD as the sole means of perimeter protection. But these technologies are not reactive. Unless a guard force is located locally, an intruder can get onto the site then off again long before a response team can arrive. You want your perimeter detection systems to actually defend a physical perimeter - even if it’s just the exterior walls of a building.

Microwave and active infrared receivers should ideally be installed in support of fences 3m high. If your installation is protecting the exterior of a building don’t hesitate to raise the issue of target hardening with security managers. Point out that electronic security systems detect intrusion that is in the process of occurring, they don’t keep a perimeter secure in the physical sense. Even the application of tough 3M window film and 5-pin locks are a step up from no perimeter protection at all.

If we could only install one thing on a perimeter, it would be an electric

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Our panel of experts answers your questions.

fence. There’s a reason electric fences from companies like Gallagher and Nemtek are so effective. They are installed as part of a physical barrier, they respond instantly, painfully yet harmlessly to an intruder’s attempts to climb or break through them, and they report incidents as alarm events to local or remote monitoring teams for rapid response escalation.

Q: On a remote mining site, we have a system vital to operation, that failed through loss of a pair of fuses. Getting this sorted out meant a light plane trip and a very grumpy client. The question is, can fuses be monitored for health and replaced in advance, or should we build fuse replacement into our maintenance programmes?

A: If you have fuses on which core systems depend, then it’s best to replace them well ahead of time in your maintenance programme. But it’s possible to keep an eye on fuse health by measuring voltages over fuse circuit connections. If your multimeter doesn’t have auto-ranging, set its controls to a voltage you know is greater than the voltage source in the circuit. Connect the multimeter’s probes to either end of the fused circuit’s connection. What you’re looking for here is either zero or a very low voltage. Any sign of positive or negative source voltage means it’s time to change the fuse.

Q: If you were choosing an enclosed IP66 rated CCTV camera and had to choose between a bullet or a fixed dome, which form factor would you

choose based on performance only?

A: I would choose the individual camera that offered the best performance in my objective shootout – that might be a dome or a bullet – a great dome will be superior to poor bullet camera if both have clear front element/dome bubbles. All other things being equal, however, a bullet camera with a flat front window would be my choice – dome bubbles are prone to flare when hit by direct sunlight or headlights. Bullets also have remote zoom and focus to play with.

Q: There have been a number of stories in SEN lately about the vulnerability of pedestrians to vehicle attacks, particularly in areas of high concentration and these have focused mostly on physical barriers without digging too deeply into technology, which I think is a mistake. Isn’t it possible for an electro-magnetic pulse guided by IVA from integrated optical and thermal cameras to deliver a highly targeted EMP pulse at long range to defend areas of vulnerability?

A: You are correct, in theory at least.

EMPs might help but the global application of collision avoidance technology, which includes engine-braking and steering adjustments to avoid pedestrians is likely to be the key. Let’s look at EMP first.

Certainly, IVA-managed cameras with precise thresholds could defend adjacent areas by using EMP technology. There would be some latency but once a vehicle crossed a programmed line, EMP would bring it to a halt at relatively long range and

without signal spill. It’s doubtful an EMP could be employed in public space without operator input, however, though IVA would reduce reaction times in a professional control room.

Something like RF Safe-Stop, which is manufactured by e2v in the UK would be ideal. It employs a directed narrow band pulse in the S and L bands that is claimed by the maker to disrupt the electrical systems of vehicles at distances of up to 50m. This non-contact jamming system works on cars, boats, motorcycles and drones (range increases to 400m for UAVs).

Cost will be an issue, as will antenna area – you need a 1m square antenna to stop a car at 50m, though larger antenna areas increase stopping distance. This said, the units are usually installed in pairs – more cost and more visual pollution. Something else to consider is latency – EMP pulses are about 5 seconds in duration and it takes about 3 seconds to scramble the car’s electronics, with time to halt depending on vehicle speed and road conditions.

Perhaps the best use for this technology would be in mobile police command centres, where the antennae could be mounted on existing telescoping poles and deployed in defence of vulnerable areas or events.

Something else we’ve not talked about in detail is widespread government mandate of laser-based collision avoidance technologies – this is a process that is already underway in heavy vehicles and passenger vehicles. In March last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced that manufacturers of 99 per cent of U.S. cars had agreed to include automatic emergency braking systems as a standard feature on virtually all new cars sold in the U.S. by 2022. The NHTSA projected that the ensuing acceleration of the rollout of automatic emergency braking would prevent an estimated 28,000 collisions and 12,000 injuries every year – that’s a big deal for life safety on all fronts.

In Europe, things are more advanced.

There was a related agreement about advanced emergency braking system (AEBS) or autonomous emergency braking

Public space is vulnerable to vehicles

In the 2016 Berlin terror attack, the truck driven into the Berlin Christmas market was brought to a stop by its automatic braking system, saving many lives.

(AEB) in 2012 after a study showed it would save 8000 lives a year on European roads and this became mandatory in 2015. In the 2016 Berlin terror attack, the truck driven into the Berlin Christmas market was brought to a stop by its automatic braking system, saving many lives. We can expect governments around the world to press harder on collision avoidance technology from here out, which is good news for medical response teams, and law enforcement and security people the world over.

A: We’re maintaining a site which has an old system with a lighting board for a large carpark and storage park that is prone to serious sparking – this system is right there in an equipment room with the rest of our security gear. Do we need to replace the whole lighting control panel or is there something else we can do?

Q: Sparking from the relay contacts used to handle the big electrical loads demanded by external lighting systems or automatic gate motors is a thing. The problems start if major inductive loads produce back-electromotive forces that degrade contact surfaces - welding them closed or burning them out. Traditionally, capacitors or metal oxide varistors have been installed over high stress contacts but new developments see high-powered semiconductor switches used with conventional relay contacts.

There are also sparkless relays – these include a coil, contacts and a high-power semiconductor device. This configuration switches the load before relay contacts meet - the relay takes the current load and the solid-state switch leaves the circuit. n

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events

Security Managers ◆ Integrators ◆ IT Managers ◆ Installers APRIL 2017 ISSUE 386

ISC West

VIDEO ANALYTICS

l The Contenders! SecTech Camera Shootout l Video Analytics: Technology of the Moment l Naskam Secures Cooroy with Hikvision l Should Physical Security Be First Choice? l Bolloré Logistics Upgrades With Mobotix l Special Report: Monitoring Technologies l Gunung Mulu Bat Cave Installs Bosch MIC l Review: Panasonic’s Rugged 30x Aero PTZ l Review: CS Technologies’ Evolution Range

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28/03/2017 1:10 pm

Date: April 6-8, 2017 Venue: Sands Expo Centre, Las Vegas Contact: www.iscwest.com/Show-Info/ The International Security Conference & Exposition – also known as ISC West – is the largest event in the U.S. for the physical security industry, covering access control, alarms and monitoring, biometrics, IP security, video surveillance, networked and physical security solutions.

SecTech Roadshow 2017 SECURITY & GOVERNMENT expo

Date: May 4-18, 2017 Contact: Monique Keatinge on 612 9280 4425 SecTech Roadshow takes up to 20 of Australia’s leading distributors and manufacturers on a national tour – a simple and highly targeted touring tradeshow covering 5 state capitals over 2 weeks during the month of May. In 2017, SecTech Roadshow will visit Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

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2017 Security Conference and Exhibition Date: July 2017 Venue: Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour Contact: +61 3 9261 4500 Next year we’re heading back to Sydney to the brand new International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour and the anticipation is palpable! Our whole team is looking forward to reuniting the industry in sunny Sydney, we look forward to seeing you there in 2017.

SECURITY & GOVERNMENT expo

= DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY.

Security and Government Expo 2017

Date: November 2017 Venue: The Realm Hotel, Canberra Contact: Monique +61 2 9280 4425 Security and Government Expo is a one-day expo with space for 20 companies to promote their technologies and products in the nation’s capital. SAGE brings together government and commercial end users, consultants, integrators and installers in Canberra and the ACT to see the latest security solutions in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

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