Sen may2014

May 2014 Issue 354

The Big Picture l Garmin’s magic integration l Thermal is so hot right now l DSC releases PowerSeries NEO l Axxon Next from AxxonSoft l ISC West: Expo snapshot l Freedom Surveillance VMS l Don’t fear the Megapixel l HikVision Super Embedded NVR l Security 2014 pre-show report l Exploring QSS’ service centre

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editorial EDITORIAL roNnI Ci cSs && NEnetwo ks Ssec EC UuRIriTYty EeLlEeCTctRO TWO RrKS

may 201 4 issue 3 5 4 E 3 49 NOVEMBER 2 01 3 ISSU

Security 2014: Bring your hustle SALES MACHINE

W W

e liveHETHER in a competitive world.date No sooner has it’s the earlier of Security cutting edge technology been developed 2014 Exhibition or simply the passage of thanyears, it’s shoe-horned into a matchbox of this year’s security event seems white plastic, its price shorn to the bone.

The chipset out the gate early, creating a sense of hustle people of today’s edge video industry surveillance is in the cutting electronic security mustcamera be feeling the chipset of tomorrow’s retail or domestic cloud a lot these days. Product upgrades are almost solution, leased tothe an latest end user at no visibleare cost, like constant and market leaders usually someovertaken giveawayinside 4-zone alarm panel.

12 months.

And In when I say I mean literally. Right 2013, thetomorrow, key trends we itidentified were nowthings the humblest $200 fixed mini domes video and like price deflation, thermal cameras, compact camerascloud-based are rumbling aroundsolutions, powered and by verification, security the most powerful HD processing engines.

Can it go on wireless and mobile management of security indefinitely?

I think And in news we’reof solutions.

Alsonot. noticeable was this the month, digitisation seeing the advent of simple, unitised IP-based access wider electronic security solutions - IP access, control, designed to integrate with current IPthe video alarms, intercoms, home automation and rest. solutions without any of the usual fussing about.

A surfeit of features was another trend, with buyers This development getting more for less.points to commoditisation across But all market segments.

Alarms, access control, we also identified core performance video surveillance, parameters thatsoftware continuemanagement to define oursolutions, solutions the lot.

– from image quality and low light performance, Is and the lower end the of the market resistance to only falsepart alarms and low that’s power pricedraw, conscious?

No fear.

It’s slash and burn at the top through to compact solutions integrating too. And talking the issue Then recently I gotwas to multiple securityabout subsystems. there Making matters end, wondering whether the malaise that has long afflicted traditional stuff like relationships with suppliers, worse, in the alarms segment will infectsolutions major systems, as well. of entire by distributors There’s ajust lot ofWhatcommissioning Australia is that sickness?

It’s a systemic collapse of sales before shipping, local servicing of hardware and jockeying now there seemsforability, with allquality the attendant plain old support.ailments. going In the to beposition a selection and small alarms Lastdomestic year, installers and commercial integrators said they where techs spend 90 per cent of their time 2014, by withmarket processindriven wanted suppliers to give them more amazing in spiderwebs and and pigeon can big playerscovered project managers product for less money withpoo, moreyou support. a reluctance to prance about in board shuffling theirunderstand At the same time distributors and manufacturers or electrical up-selling fawning customerswere to enterprise wished installers and integrators more loyal, product ranges, contractors who rooms solutions with no more than the whiff of Dunhill ApresIP more prepared to try new solutions, better with more staff win tenders using Rasage and the flash of a Rolex. less transfixed by the lowest price. movement than Butand lowball quotes when it comes to bigger systems, an ainability Industry observers will have noticed wave of have seento sellstart-ups andwe then carve based on features is harder to rationalise and sprouting in the automation/security/ in many years,muchcloud morecrossover. dangerous for the industry as a whole, margin from their It seems to me many of these when time is crowd-funded added to the equation. along with some contractor’s hip especially are MBA-fuelled, attemptsTheto progression of aof collapse in margin time big mergers andlogical pockets. relieve the wallets over-funded techover giants, not is theserious inability to invest in research and development to build profitable businesses. What acquisitions.that’s so vitalefforts to future impact might theysales. have on our electronic security

By

By John John Adams Adams The technical dormancy resulting margin products?

They’ll encourage cloud from models to crash is most obvious when viewing ‘modern’ offer more competitive prices and they’ll push alarm systems whosetolast was than undertaken our manufacturers be upgrade more clever they inare. the 1970s, that wild decade when Fairchild At Security 2014 take a look at Risco Agility 3, Optoelectronics’ 5-cent LEDsNEO, blasted alarm panel Honeywell Tuxedo and DSC among others. keypads to technological heights previously Something that’s creating a hum just now only is seen Starbubble Trek. in the local security business. frothonand In likely my view, culture that underpins margin It’s thisthe willsales increase the frisson at Security seems to have given way to a different method 2014. There’s a lot of jockeying for position going of winning business that’s based on relationships that on in 2014, with big players shuffling their product are too often one-way street. Part the problem ranges, morea staff movement thanofwe have seen is intense competition, butwith an inability to mergers win jobs based in many years, along some big and on presentation of the benefits of system performance acquisitions. is a In keyterms factor.of technology, what should visitors The impact poor sales skills, or no sales skills, expect to see of at Security 2014?

I think technology flows through the industry, from bottom top. will continue to evolve as it has been doingtobut Integrators and installers selling on price, exist the pace of development will gather and priceson virtually margin, making their profit continueno to hardware slide in areas where competition is from the installation itself. Distributors sell the product hottest. ranges manufacturers, servicing Chinese each less.

We of more mentioned home-grown Manufacturers scrimp on component quality and manufacturing as a driver of change in the industry start dressing up less as more.

Firmware tweaks take in 2013 – primarily through price deflation but also the placeto of decent lenses. A tendency mindset grows in which thanks that endearing of Chinese quantity, not quality is the primary motivator. manufacturers to cram all the latest features To intoget volumes, manufacturers go direct, or start searching their affordable products. I think this impact on for new verticals, cannibalising their existing sales price will ease in the short and mid-term. andI’ve isolating customers, who lose brand long hadexisting a fondness for Chinese watchmaker, loyalty and purchase solely on price.

Sea-Gull. What’s relevant here is pricing, which Making matters worse, in Australia there used to be jaw-droppingly low givenjust thenow quality seems to be a selection process driven by project and complication of the company’s movements. managers electrical contractors who win tenders But in theorlast 12 months, routes to market have using lowball quotes and then carve margin from crystallised and prices of key models have their contractor’s hip pockets. doubled.

But key element commoditisation Thisthesuggests to me driving that quality Chinese ismanufacturers, lack of sales ability.

A failure to teach staff that as well as cementing their particular skill of the sales animal, built on an intense distribution models, have begun valuing Chinese and justifiedinbelief in have the capability of solutions, technology a way we not seen before.

From combined with an industry self respect that the perspective of security electronics demands people, buyers true value to electronic I think apply this changing attitude will see thesecurity heat technology. ]]] move away from price and towards features and performance. zzz

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50 generally. As well as being busy, there were good things on the stands as well.

36: Freedom Surveillance VMS

16: The big picture Speculating on market trends is an entertaining pastime but the most accurate way to model a market is through sales. In this feature SEN spoke with a number of manufacturers and suppliers in multiple market segments to get a feel for where the market is heading.

may 14

Developed locally, the Freedom Surveillance VMS developed and distributed by Camvex, offers end users and integrators a solution that’s flexible, affordable and supported locally.

40: Big stuff End users and installers making the transition from analogue to IP solutions, or upgrading first generation IP solutions, should look hard at the strengths of megapixel cameras – reduced installation costs and far superior coverage.

24: NEO is The One

44: Super Embedded NVR

DSC, distributed locally by QSS, has released PowerSeries Neo, a new scalable commercial and residential line of intrusion detection solutions supported by a big range of sensors, including PIR cameras for video verification.

Hikvision’s DS-96256NI-E24/H Embedded NVR can handle 120 video inputs at 5Mbps, provides up to 24 built-in HDD interfaces and external storage devices and has a high level of system stability and redundancy.

26: Generation Next Axxon Next from AxxonSoft, distributed locally

by C.R. Kennedy, is an open platform video management solution that features great features that make security operations simpler and more efficient.

30: ISC West: Snapshot THIS year’s ISC West exhibition in Las Vegas was the biggest turnout since 2007 with around 26,000 visitors to the show. That’s a good sign for the U.S. market and the global market

50: Built to last Integrator, Digital Connections & Security Systems has installed integrated Digifort IP video surveillance and Vauban access control systems for Garmin Australasia. The overall solution includes Samsung cameras, a Tecom alarm system, video analytics, dual perimeter detection, intercoms, and multiple boom gate and turnstile access points.

64: SEN pre-show report Security 2014 will be the first security exhibition

76 68 40

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+regulars

held in Melbourne for a decade. The event gives end users, installers, integrators and consultants an opportunity to check out the latest products and technologies.

08: news

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

68: QSS at your service The QSS service, logistics and training centre in Laverton North in Melbourne is something to behold. It’s the only service centre of this size I’ve seen anywhere in the Australian electronic security industry.

46: monitoring The monitoring business is going to change a lot over the next 5 years and to get a sense of how much, you need only look at the sort of features users are starting to demand from their alarm panels.

30

72: Convection currents Thermal cameras have been on a roll over the past couple of years and it seems every manufacturer has a thermal PoE network camera in its lineup. While the applications for thermal seem specific, there’s a lot to like about this technology.

May 2014 Issue 354

THE BIG PICTURE l Garmin’s magic integration l Thermal is so hot right now l DSC releases PowerSeries NEO l Axxon Next from AxxonSoft l ISC West: Expo Snapshot l Freedom Surveillance VMS l Don’t fear the Megapixel l HikVision Super Embedded NVR l Security 2014 Pre-show Report l Exploring QSS’ Service Centre

PP 100001158

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

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

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

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

Design Tania Simanowsky e: taniasdesign@ optusnet.com.au Subscriptions 11 issues per annum One year (11 issues) Australia 12 months $A104.50 (incl GST) 24 months $A188.00 (incl GST)

Overseas 12 months $A155.00 (incl GST) 24 months $A270.00 (incl GST) WEBSITE www.securityelectronics andnetworks.com.au No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form in whole or part without prior written permission of Bridge Publishing.

Hills Aquires Questek, Sells UHS p.10 Genetec Partners with Salto p.12 QSS Signs On With FLIR p.12 Dahua wins IP Camera Excellence Award p.14

news in brief m ay 2 0 1 4

Hills Aquires OPS, Now Exclusive Genetec Distributor ANZ

co m piled b y j oh n ada m s

Guy Chenard

NBN countdown is on

■

HOMES and businesses in Armidale, Kiama, Willunga, some areas of Melbourne, and some areas of Tasmania will make the switch from copper to the National Broadband Network (NBN) in the next month. Thousands of premises in these areas have until 23 May 2014 before the NBN’s new digital infrastructure will replace the existing PSTN landline phone, ADSL internet and Telstra cable internet services.

NBN Co has advised home and business owners in these areas that if they currently have a back to base

alarm installed and are switching to the NBN, they should speak to their alarm service provider about the issues to consider.

Telecommunications Universal Service Management Agency (TUSMA) has entered into agreements with telecommunication providers to ensure consumers are provided with safety-net communications regarding the impending disconnection of the copper network, as well as arrangements to cover the costs of any in-premises cabling required to run a voice-telephony service over the national broadband network (NBN).

Inner Range teams with Patriot Systems n INNER Range has announced a new partnership with New Zealand-based Patriot Systems to distribute Patriot Security monitoring software in Australia.

Inner Range says the move gives an attractive alternative for start-up central stations which will benefit from the combined research and

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development collaboration of Inner Range and Patriot Systems.

Leveraging the power and sophistication of the Patriot central station software suite, Integriti and Concept systems will be controlled directly from the Patriot alarm response screen. New features, including IP alarm reporting, CCTV and video monitoring, along

with remote arm/disarm and door control, plus a host of new feature-rich, seamless integrations between Patriot and Inner Range products will be released going forward.

In key ways, this alliance recognises the growing importance of integration between hardware and software to enable the release of the full power of the latest electronic

Vin Lopes

security systems. It also hints at the joint development of a cloud solution, though this is speculation.

HILLS Ltd has acquired Open Platform Systems for an undisclosed sum.

The move follows a number of acquisitions and adjustment in the Hills Ltd business.

“Hills has an enviable reputation as a leader in Australia’s technology market with a powerful span of product and service offerings through a range of business units,” says Kobi ben-Shabat, managing director at Open Platform Systems.

“Choosing to join forces with a company like Hills Ltd, which has an outstanding trackrecord of pre and postsales support, as well as a broad reach into the homes, businesses and enterprises of Australia, just made sense for OPS and our partners.”

The acquisition extends the reach of Genetec solutions into a much broader portfolio of clients in that market.

Hills will distribute the full range of Genetec products in the Australia and New Zealand markets “We’re excited by the recent acquisition of OPS by Hills as it will help to further build upon the already strong market position developed for Genetec by the OPS team in that region,” said Guy Chenard, vice president of global sales at Genetec.

“Growing the Genetec footprint in the APAC market is strategic for our business and we are looking to partners like Hills to help us maintain and further drive our growth in this region.”

The exclusive rights of distribution of Genetec products will transfer to Hills immediately, with current customers and partners of OPS seeing minimal change in their day-to-day contacts and on-going projects.

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Exciting, new and powerful integration features are now available between Patriot and Inner Range Systems!

CCTV and Camera features The new Virtual Guard Tour feature allows sites with video cameras to be assigned individual virtual guard tours which will allow your operator(s) to tour the site at the appropriate time through the client/site camera system. Patriot covers all the bases of video monitoring with video verification, live feed and virtual video tours integrated seamlessly within one package. With a super easy to use, browser styled interface, operators require virtually no training and will be able to minimise the potential for false alarms and costly call-outs.

To find out more or arrange a demonstration: Contact Jason Hartley at Inner Range E. jason.hartley@patriotsystems.com P. +61 3 9780 4300 | M. +61 447 357 186 www.patriotsystems.com

news m ay 2 0 1 4

QSS Now Exclusive NUUO Distributor

Vicky Wu

Hills Aquires Questek, Sells UHS n HILLS Ltd has acquired integrated healthcare solutions provider Questek and plans to integrate the business with its healthcare group, including Merlon Health Communications and HTR (Hospital Television Rentals).

Last month the company sold its UHS communications subsidiary to Interlogix in return for a distribution arrangement and bought networked security specialist, Open Platform Systems.

Questek‘s nurse call systems and general healthcare monitoring systems are installed in

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600 aged care facilities throughout Australia and more than 50 hospitals.

Across the group, Merlon has 225 sites and HTR has 80.

According to Questek’s website, the company not only designs and manufactures nurse call systems, it also supplies and installs paging and communication technologies, security and access control systems, digital entertainment systems, radio pendant systems and care management software.

Hills management told staff the acquisition of Questek was “a further boost to Hills Health

Solutions division.

Questek is the national market leader in wireless nurse call solutions, has respected, long-term customer relationships, and a new solution in entertainment through a partnership with Stellar Entertainment.

“This is another great strategic fit for Hills and builds on our expanding health solutions division, which includes the marketleading Merlon Health Communications and HTR (Hospital Television Rentals) businesses, both acquired late last year.

“We will be integrating the HTR, Merlon and Questek businesses under

one operating model and structure within Hills Health Solutions.

All 3 businesses will be integrated under a single operating model and structure under Hills Health Solutions.”

Another recent win for Hills was a new agreement to supply Foxtel with satellite dishes and electronic equipment across Australia. It now includes regional areas, except in WA. “The new Foxtel agreement strengthens our longstanding relationship with one of our largest and most valued customers,” Hills managing director Ted Pretty said.

NUUO has announced that QSS is now its exclusive Australian distributor.

“Initiated early 2009, this is the 6th year of partnership between NUUO and QSS,” said NUUO’s regional sales manager, Vicky Wu. “We have seen the change and growth of QSS and also growth in the Australian market.

“This year QSS won the APJ Strategic Partner Sales Performer Award 2013 with its outstanding performance and NUUO is glad to strengthen our partnership in order to provide better support for our customers,” Wu said.

“We believe customer satisfaction comes from a higher level of service and technical know-how and NUUO and QSS can provide this support.”

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news m ay 2 0 1 4

Vivotek chooses Suretek as a global partner n VIVOTEK has selected Suretek as a global partner and Australian distributor. Suretek will offer the entire Vivotek camera range alongside its Mobotix range.

Suretek is in the final stages of integrating Vivotek into RemoteGUARD (Suretek’s integrated video monitoring solution) – making it available to more than 400 monitoring centres currently using CAMS or ADSW alarm automation software.

The Vivotek camera range supports all standard RemoteGUARD features – including video alarm verification, virtual patrols and virtual escorts, together with 2-way audio and remote camera commands to drive door locks, gates or lights (where available) and ‘Follow Zone’ (Patent Pending).

“After extensive testing, Vivotek was identified as the most appropriate

choice to co-exist with Mobotix, allowing RemoteGUARD resellers to target new opportunities and market sectors,” says Suretek’s Glenn Smith.

Suretek has access to the full Vivotek product range, including network cameras, video servers and NVR’s.

Vivotek integration opens the door to many new opportunities for RemoteGUARD resellers.

Previously confined to high-end applications, the introduction of Vivotek’s build quality, ease of installation and competitive pricing, makes RemoteGUARD an ideal product for the residential and small/ medium business sectors.

“Having a strategic partner like Suretek will help Vivotek expand its presence in the alarm monitoring sector,” says Vivotek’s regional manager, international sales, Ray Lee. “I expect we will have a long and prosperous relationship.”

QSS Signs On With FLIR

Rob Rosa

Genetec Partners with Salto n GENETEC has entered into a strategic partnership with SALTO that will offer a streamlined integration between Genetec Synergis and Salto SALLIS wireless technology. Synergis will allow end users to consolidate their new or existing wired and wireless access control systems into one, and centralize monitoring and reporting. Customers will also be able to manage

Synergis will allow end users to consolidate their new or existing wired and wireless access control systems into one, and centralize monitoring and reporting.

Hikvision gets IP camera certification n HIKVISION says its DS-2CD4024F 2MP WDR 60fps smart network camera is among the first cameras to be certified at the UL2802 image performance standard.

This Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certification was awarded at ISC West, held in Las Vegas from April 2 - 4, 2014.

UL originally established the first video image performance standard

12 se&n

for the security industry in September 2013. This new standard defines a method to assess image quality through a series of performancebased tests conducted on production camera models. Cameras are rated on the following critical operational parameters: image resolution, distortion, relative illumination, dynamic range, maximum frame rate, gray level,

sensitivity, bad pixel count, and veiling glare.

“This certification is gratifying. This new UL standard provides customers with a great tool to evaluate a camera’s video image performance in a fair and professional manner, and ultimately helps our customers better differentiate security cameras in the marketplace,” explained Polo Cai, vice president at Hikvision.

a single cardholder and credential database without having to work with separate wireless systems or duplicate credentials. These and other benefits will enable users to optimize their operations and reduce their expenditures for years to come.

“Both Genetec and Salto serve customers around the world and we look forward to delivering joint solutions that will respond to local needs as well as those of multisite and multi-national installations looking for wireless options,” says Jimmy Palatsoukas, senior manager of product marketing at Genetec.

“As we continue to expand our portfolio of supported access control partners, we are very excited about giving our customers access to Salto’s SALLIS wireless technology and locks.”

FLIR Systems has strengthened its national distribution with the signing of leading Australian security and technology provider, Q Security Systems. QSS will represent the full range of FLIR security cameras and systems.

“We recognise FLIR as the world’s leading thermal imaging camera manufacturer and are very excited to be able to represent them throughout Australia,” said Rob Rosa, QSS’ chief operating officer.

QSS has 2 primary parts to its business. The first is commercial design, development and sale of advanced technology systems, sub-systems, components and software for security related applications worldwide. The second is as a value-added reseller of high-end security products including detection, alarm and surveillance systems.

The business is headquartered in Port

NO W AVAI L AB L E A T

TURNING NIGHT INTO DAY Visit Q Security Systems at Security 2014: Booth F8, June 4-6 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Center

For more information contact your local Q Security Systems branch.

www.qsecuritysystems.com.au NSW 02 8833 6500 QLD 07 3257 1700 SA 08 8210 4900

VIC 03 9676 7000

WA 08 9207 6900

news m ay 2 0 1 4

FLIR Unveils $US499 Thermal Bullet, PTZ Cameras, NVR

Security Exhibition and Conference 2014 n WHILE the security market continues to grow, this year’s ASIAL Conference at the Security Exhibition and Conference comes at an important time for local industry professionals.

“Recent reports show that it is a pivotal time in the security industry, as we are witnessing strong and continued growth in the security market both locally and internationally,” exhibition manager, Kylie McRorie, said.

“In a report by Gartner Inc in 2013, analysts forecasted that the worldwide security technology services market will grow to more than $US86 billion in 2016, as companies continue to expand the technologies

they use to improve their overall security.

“As the security world experiences rapid growth, it’s imperative security industry professionals attend events like the Security Exhibition and Conference for their own development and business’ growth,” Ms McRorie said.

The ASIAL Conference program - featuring a renowned panel of both local and international security industry experts - offers Australian professionals key insights to evolving their market intelligence.

The world-class conference program will feature talks from the likes of: • Ted Pretty, Managing

Director and CEO at Hills Holdings, on the “The future of security in Australia”; • Steve Sullivan, General Manager of Security, Safety and Emergency Management at Port of Melbourne, on “Managing security in a multi-tenant organisation”; and • Dave Van Laambart, Senior Consultant of Jakeman Business Solutions, on “Challenges for the contemporary security risk manager”.

International headliners at the conference include Mike Howard, chief security officer at Microsoft, and Blake Kozak, Research senior research analyst at IHS. The conference will also incorporate a panel

discussion on “Integration of security systems and manpower - the opportunities and the challenges”, and will be hosted by Tom Roche, managing director at SNP Security; Phil Law, managing director at G4S Secure Solutions; Mike McKinnon, managing director at MSS Security and John Rogers, general manager at Wilson Security.

Organised by Diversified Communications Australia, the Security Exhibition and Conference will be held this 4-6 June at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. For more information and to register visit www.securityexpo. com.au

Dahua wins IP Camera Excellence Award at Secutech 2014 n DAHUA Technology’s DH-IPC-HF5281 network camera has won the IP Camera Excellence Award at Secutech Taipei 2014.

This year’s IP camera contest focused on night visual effect in addition to saturation, low light, shutter speed and image quality.

14 se&n

Dahua DH-IPC-HF5281, an ultra-low light network box camera with a 2-Megapixel CMOS sensor, is able to capture 1920 x 1080 resolution video at 60fps. Featuring ultra low illumination, IPCHF5281 is able to present clear image even under 0.0001Lux. Meanwhile,

for monitoring highspeed moving objects, the camera is able to render smooth images with 60 frame per second, Moreover, the camera has intelligent functions, such as face detection, wandering detection, illegal parking, fast moving and more.

FLIR Systems has unveiled 3 low-cost thermal camera lines at ISC West with MSRPs starting at $US499, as well as a cloud model, and announced an NVR. FLIR’s lineup includes 12 new models ranging from the BT-Series mini-bullets with 50-degree and 25-degree fields of view, to the DT-Series PTZ cameras with sensor resolutions around VGA and fields of view down to 9-degrees.

It’s a serious move from FLIR, which is making good on its promise to carry thermal camera technology into verticals like small commercial and residential markets.

If prices continue to sharpen, it’s also possible thermal cameras could be seen in alarm sensors in years to come.

The decision to build low cost thermal can’t be seen outside the context of the company’s FLIR Cloud solution, which allows end users to access imagery from cameras using any internet connected device – remote workstation, tablet, smart phone.

Apps include cloud video activity synopses and mobile alerts, scheduled backups to offsite cloud servers, smart video analytics, and remote playback of video stored in the cloud, according the company.

Supporting these cameras and their remote applications will be FLIR’s DNR400 Series NVR, with a release date around July 2014. The DNR400 is expected to be just the first of a family of NVRs from FLIR.

Security.

At the Center of Your Business.

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Innovative Solutions

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trends

by john adam s

the big picture

Speculating on market trends is an entertaining pastime but the most accurate way to model a market is through sales. In this feature SEN spoke with a number of manufacturers and suppliers in multiple market segments to get a feel for where the market is heading.

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S the electronic security industry morphs, it’s not easy as an installer or end user to be certain where the technology of the future is going to go. Will future systems reside in the cloud? Or will the electronic security subnet model that typifies most applications persist and most systems remain closed?

Talking sales is the best way to assess what is selling but speaking with manufacturers and suppliers injects a subjective bias into an argument.

Companies experience the markets in which they operate, giving them a narrow view. The answer is to speak to as many companies as possible across multiple market segments.

For Emanuel Stafilidis at C. R. Kennedy, the most significant technological trend in the market over the past 12 months has been integration.

“Security is no longer a standalone solution,” Stafilidis says. “Customers are demanding that differing manufacturers’ products work with each other and on existing platforms. They want open selection of cameras, servers and storage, all

16 se&n

functioning on a single network. They also want these devices to integrate with other security products in order to create a single security solution that integrates with BMS. “Something else we are seeing is greater demand for video analytics,” he says. “Video analytics adds another layer of detection, provides statistical data such as people counting, and enables quicker and easier searching through video archives.

“Interesting too, we have noticed an increase in the uptake of transmission modules that are used to transfer ethernet signals over existing cable infrastructure, such as ethernet-over-coax baluns.”

At perimeter specialist Senstar, Jonathan Johnson also sees integration as being significant.

“We are seeing a trend towards tighter integration through greater use of PSIM and other centralised management platforms,” Johnson says. “This is good for end users as they gain greater situational awareness through a more complete picture of what’s occurring around their facilities. “In turn,

It’s about the nature of IP solutions. The quality and performance of IP-based products is so strong and the pricing so competitive that technological trends are moving at a pace I’ve never seen before.

Visit Axis at Security 2014:

Booth E14, June 4-5 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Center

What’s the difference between night and day?

Nothing.

I can get excellent color images even in the dark.

That’s because Axis network cameras are fitted with Lightfinder technology. They’re so sensitive to light, I can get clear color images even in very low light conditions – and that makes identifying people, vehicles and objects easier, at any time. As security manager for a shopping mall, it’s a huge step forward.

To learn more about Lightfinder, image usability and the surveillance solution that’s right for you, visit the Axis interactive guide at www.axis.com/imageusability or email contact-sap@axis.com for more info.

Distributed by:

s p e ci al re p o rt

trends

more common use of high level interfaces to networked sensors is providing greater visibility and control, which subsequently reduces total cost of ownership through the use of remote maintenance provisions.”

Bosch Security Systems’ Steve Malesevic also takes an holistic view but for him, the really significant trend in the electronic security market is remote connectivity.

“More and more projects are coming up that require some form of remote connection or access,” Malesevic explains. “In the old days, the requirement was to have a closed system, however, with video over IP becoming the norm, the requirement for remote connectivity is growing fast.

“For smaller systems, the end user wants to have peace of mind through remotely monitoring their premises via smartphone or tablet using 3/4G or on a laptop while travelling. For larger sites, this might include patrol guards accessing video across large geographical areas, or command centres having visibility of multiple retail outlets or office locations.”

Obviously, to meet these demands, many factors need to be taken into consideration when

designing a system.

“NBN is here in some areas and it will expand, so people are thinking about big questions with no one-solution-fits-all answer,” Malesevic says.

“For instance, how is video to be handled in NBN environments? Is it to be stored locally? Should there be off-site redundancy? Recording at the edge device? What cloud services are available and what is the best way to access quality HD images remotely?

“I think it will come down to leveraging the power of various technologies and systems to provide a range of different solutions depending on requirements. We’re doing this with dual iSCSI recording, recording at the edge, low bandwidth IP cameras and remote connectivity via transcoding devices and mobile video servers.”

For Rob Rosa, COO at QSS, the most significant technological trend is the underlying IP technology itself.

“Truly, where do you start?” he asks. “For me it’s about the nature of IP solutions. The quality and performance of IP-based products is so strong and the pricing is so competitive that technological trends are moving at a pace I’ve never seen before.

“A good example of this is that we can offer a FLIR

www.videosecurityproducts.com.au

Sony Distributor of the Year 2013 (ANZ) Video Security Products

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thermal camera at a lower price than an installed external PE beam. Imagine a FLIR thermal camera costing less than $1000 delivering near perfect verified intrusion detection at a range of 80 metres in total darkness - with images going straight to your VMS/NVR or smart device.

“The sense of excitement applies to our customers, too,” says Rosa. “QSS is currently experiencing serious take-up across all our IP solutions.”

Over at FLIR, Peter De Ieso also thinks thermal combined with video analytics is going to be huge.

“Thermal imaging has become video analytics’ greatest technology partner,” says De Ieso. “Given the capability of thermal technology to verify intrusion in real time, we see FLIR technology as solving problems like false alarms, as well as cutting the installation cost of illuminated optical CCTV systems. I think the technology in our new FC-series will enhance security system capabilities for a long time to come.”

Infratherm’s Brad Ballesty agrees thermal is a big growth area, along with HD-SCI, a comms technology that gets IP cameras onto existing coaxial networks. According to Ballesty, end users wanting to verify intrusions and defend their perimeters are highly attracted to thermal because it saves them money and once installed, it actually works.

Thermal is not the only area in which customers are attracted to raw, dependable performance.

It’s a constant that suggests the underlying fundamentals of the security function have not changed. Every electronic security system needs to detect and report intrusion efficiently and reliably.

For Tony Lagan at HikVision, this demand for system performance is driving development in 2 key areas when it comes to CCTV cameras.

“There’s continuing improvement in low light performance and WDR,” Lagan says. “These features are generally the most important performance-based specifications - they are certainly the first things installers and end users look at when considering a camera.

“The second trend I see is edge storage allowing for redundancy in case of server or network failure.

This is now being regularly requested as part of large project requirements,” he says. “Our latest 4-Series cameras are strong in all these key areas.”

There’s also change in the access control market with an increasing number of open platform and non-proprietary door controllers available that provide a transition to the unified market.

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Vivotek’s Kate Wang sees things in the same way – she says low light technologies and wide dynamic range (WDR) will be the 2 key technological trends in the market.

“The truth is that high resolution alone cannot ensure image quality and usability,” explains Wang.

“With the increasing demand for effective security and intelligent utilization of video footage, the precise and clear identification of an object under challenging lighting conditions is becoming basic criteria. To achieve this 24-7, low light performance and WDR are needed.”

According to Wang, Vivotek’s SNV (Supreme Night Visibility) range has 3 types of WDR - WDR Enhanced, WDR Pro (100-120dB) and WDR Pro II (140dB).

And that last number – 140dB of WDR in Vivotek’s WDR Pro II camera – seems like the strongest wide dynamic range in the industry right now.

Steve Charles at Sony also sees outright performance as the key aspect of the cameras his company manufactures.

“From Sony’s viewpoint, the most significant trend in the market is the development of cameras that perform 24 hours a day with true colour reproduction and without compromise to camera performance and resolution,” he says.

“This depends on a combination of low light performance and wide dynamic range during the day and night without intervention.”

Something else that’s on the minds of distributors and manufacturers is 4K, or Ultra HD as the consumer standard is known. Ultra HD offers a resolution of 3840 X 2160 and as it becomes pervasive, it’s going to have an impact on cameras, networks, storage solutions, the lot. There’s not a huge number of Ultra HD surveillance cameras on

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the market yet, but Axis Communications’ recent release of the P1428-E with 3840 x 2160 pixels at 30ips is a big signpost. Where Axis goes, others will follow.

Over at Pacific Communications, Lou Mavrelis affirms the big change coming is an increase in megapixel resolution for IP cameras used in general applications. Mavrelis is also seeing more cameras used in domestic applications, with local event recording and the option of cloud storage.

Still at Pacific Communications, Kieron McDonough agrees with Mavrelis.

“For me the big trend is IP cameras and their ever increasing megapixel resolution,” McDonough says. “Yesterday it was 720p resolution, today its 1080p and tomorrow it will be 4K resolution.

Fundamentally, you get clearer, sharper images that allow you to electronically zoom in. This is a huge benefit for CCTV surveillance.”

Kobi Ben Shabat of Open Platform Systems also thinks 4K cameras will be the next big thing.

According to Ben Shabat, they will provide a boost to the demand for higher resolution and frame rate in the MP camera requirements of customers over the next 18 months.

“There’s also change in the access control market with an increasing number of open platform and non-proprietary door controllers available that provide a transition to the unified market (video and access control),” says Ben Shabat. “These will increase the demand for similar solution that is dominating the IP Video – Open platform.

Not surprisingly, given the release of the P1428-E, Axis’ Wai King Wong also points at 4K as being the big deal of the moment.

“Consumers are driving the technology

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trends

Visual verification of alarm events with PIR camera detectors and with IP cameras will significantly change the way an end user views security.

innovations and demand for higher resolution,” says Wong. “When 4K technology is used broadly in the consumer market, we’ll see it adopted by the security market as well. 4K is a natural step from HDTV to improve image quality and details further.”

Yunus Mamoniat at communications manufacturer, Comnet, says IP or Ethernet-based transmission networks are becoming a greater focus as a solution to today’s video transmission challenges.

“We are also noticing the importance of an ability to converge technologies and the seamless integration of fibre, copper, and wireless is now a very attractive proposition.”

Having sold its products in Australia for 20 years, Risco has a good sense of changes in the market, according to Tim Prag. For Prag, the big things are visual verification of alarm events, wireless solutions and app control of security systems.

“We are seeing a wider acceptance of wireless systems with apps for control and video verification,” he says. “End-users like systems that can be controlled by apps and they appreciate visual verification of alarms at monitoring stations.

“I think visual verification of alarm events with PIR camera detectors and with IP cameras will significantly change the way an end user views security.

“In the past such systems were only available in high security applications – they were financially out of reach of the everyday home or business,” Prag says. “We believe that the introduction of Risco’s VUpoint live video verification solution will be a game changer in this area.”

And Bosch’s James Layton agrees with Prag that the changing user experience is a key trend in electronic security systems.

“Improvements and innovation in the field of user experience will be the key driver towards technical success in the market going forward,” Layton says. “Manufacturers that fail to account for the holistic system experience and instead rely on features and ticked boxes to sell their products, are going to suffer.

“Our market is becoming increasingly driven by the needs and desires of the end user, especially in the residential market. In the past, uninitiated users would turn to the integrator for advice on every component of a new installation. Today end users are doing their own research and highlighting new technologies and innovations that they want.”

Tyco, too, is seeing a big move from hardwire to wireless devices in the intrusion space, along with support for video verification. Given Tyco’s great global size, these observed trends carry serious weight. If a company like Tyco focuses on video verification of alarm events, it’s likely we will see video verification become the industry standard for intrusion sensors. zzz

MOBOTIX SOLUTIONS SECURITY

n ew p ro d u ct

PowerSeries Neo

Neo is The One DSC, distributed locally by QSS, has released PowerSeries Neo, a new scalable commercial and residential line of intrusion detection solutions supported by a big range of sensors, including PIR cameras for video verification.

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EO is designed to be a flexible platform that leverages the capabilities of PowerG – DCS’s wireless intrusion technology. PowerSeries Neo is a customizable system with a range of control panels supported by easy to install wireless devices.

At the core of the system are 4 control panels, ranging in capacity from 16 to 128 zones and 2 to 8 partitions. Each panel starts with 6 or 8 hardwired inputs, 2-4 hardwired outputs and PTSN communication onboard, with the capability for expansion, additional features and services.

PowerSeries Neo offers a full range of optional cellular and/or IP communication methods in support of the industry’s transition away from traditional phone lines.

Because it incorporates PowerG 2-way wireless communication, the system is able to hop between wireless frequency channels so that if one is jammed, it will move to a free frequency. This allows for seamless, reliable communication between the control panel and devices. In addition, PowerSeries Neo allows for devices to continuously measure the communication quality and automatically sets transmission power to the minimum required for reliable communication with the panel, saving energy and battery life. Solid encryption technology offers a high level of protection by guarding against digital attacks on the system.

The PowerSeries Neo platform is also primed to reduce the incremental costs of false alarms by employing innovative, regionally-compliant alarm verification solutions such as visual verification, 2-way audio and sequential detection, while also offering additional RMR opportunities to dealers.

WebSA, a professional end user application that manages multiple systems, gives the ability to manage, monitor and control the functionality of their PowerSeries Neo security system through the use of user-friendly, intuitive interfaces accessed with real-time dashboards.

Supporting PowerSeries NEO are more than a dozen new PowerG detectors, keys, sirens and related devices. Included in this group are the PG9904P wireless PowerG PIR motion detector, the PG9905 wireless PowerG temperature detector, the PG9916 wireless PowerG smoke and heat detector,

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the PG9924 wireless PowerG curtain PIR motion detector, the PG9926 wireless PowerG smoke detector, and the PG9934P wireless PowerG motion detector with integrated camera. All these detectors offer 128-bit AES encryption, high transmission ranges for reliable communication at up to a 2000 metres line-of-sight and TDMA synchronized communication technology to prevent message collision.

The PG9934P Wireless PowerG motion detector with integrated camera is activated upon movement when the detector is armed. Images are sent via the ethernet or cellular signal to a monitoring station where staff can view, verify and respond accordingly. The PG9934P is capable of operating in total darkness, making it the ideal tool for delivering visual alarm verification under any circumstance.

Also part of the PowerG series are the PG9938 wireless PowerG panic key and the PG9939 wireless PowerG 4-button key. The PG9938 is a portable personal protection device, while the 4-button model combines security system management, allowing users to arm and disarm the system or call for help. There are 2 sirens included in the series, the PG9911 wireless PowerG outdoor siren and the PG9901 wireless PowerG indoor siren. Both feature differentiated audible and visual alerts for fire, carbon monoxide, burglary and flood events.

The PG9975 wireless PowerG door/window contact provides perimeter protection when installed on common intrusion points such as doors and windows by reporting opening and closings to the security system. The PG9920 wireless PowerG repeater significantly extends the communication range between the alarm system and other PowerG devices, forwarding messages from these wireless PowerG devices to the control panel.

A robust platform with loads of features, PowerSeries Neo is designed to reduce operational costs for dealers and provide ultimate reliability for end users. PowerSeries Neo offers a variety of control panels, a full suite of compatible PowerG wireless devices to include a PIR motion detector with integrated camera, repeaters and glass break sensors, and a complete line of expansion modules. zzz

Hikvision 4-line Professional Network Camera Series Hikvision’s 4-Line network camera series is packed with “Smart” surveillance technologies and superior features to suit any professional IP surveillance application.

With superb image quality and so many value-add features, this series represents extraordinary value for money.

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Other features: Defog, 60fps frame rate, 120dB WDR, ABF, HLC, Heater, EIS, Triple Streaming. *The features vary depending on specific models.

To find out why the world is turning to Hikvision for its’ CCTV solutions contact Central Security Distribution.

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Hikvision Australia Pty Ltd Unit 14a, 2 Eden Park Dr, Macquarie Park NSW 2113 Tel: +61 2 8599 4233 Toll Free: 1300 557 450 (Australia only) Email: salesau@hikvision.com

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9 / 17 Cairns St LOGANHOLME QLD 4129 qld@centralsd.com.au

21 Grove Ave MARLESTON SA 5033 sa@centralsd.com.au

1 / 1 Natalie Way BALCATTA WA 6021 wa@centralsd.com.au

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axxon next

Generation Next Axxon Next from AxxonSoft, distributed locally by C.R. Kennedy, is an open platform video management solution that offers great features that make security operations simpler and more efficient.

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PUN out of Axxon Soft’s Intelect Enterprise PSIM solution, Axxon Next is a straight up VMS that allows management and control of a network video surveillance solution across one or multiple sites. As well as giving full control of real time and recorded footage, Axxon Next is designed to scale pretty much endlessly – there’s no limit on server, camera or workstation numbers.

Importantly, these numbers are not contrived. In Moscow an AxxonSoft solution supports 200,000 video cameras, while in China, another huge enterprise system installed across 90 correctional sites handles more than 90,000 cameras.

Axxon Next has all the features you’d expect from the latest VMS solutions – support for mobile devices, drivers for more than 1000 IP cameras, a one-off license fee per input (no software maintenance agreement but every update included), self-configuration of devices, as well as support for audio and alarm inputs.

I got a demo of Axxon Next at C.R. Kennedy’s Sydney office and it’s clear right from the start

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that Axxon Next hits the right notes. The layout is simple, even the complex operations are intuitive, and the system works to ensure everything stays on the screen in front of you, whether you are monitoring cameras live or undertaking a deep search. Handy on bigger systems, there’s also a system health board that gives a health analysis of network components – CPU, HDD, switches and IP camera performance.

According to Emanuel Stafilidis, NSW state manager surveillance, C.R. Kennedy is the exclusive distributor of Axxonsoft in Australia.

“We decided to go with AxxonSoft because it’s a well-established, 10-year-old company with 2 excellent products – Axxon Next and Intelect PSIM,” Stafilidis explains. “What I like most about Axxon Next is that it combines simplicity of operation with features not commonly found in other video management systems. There’s Time Compressor, Forensic Search, Interactive 3D Map function, Immersion mode, editable camera layouts and something installers will really love – fast configuration of IP cameras.

“The GUI is very easy to use. You can see there’s a selection of camera layouts and maps and it’s very easy to access setup. You select a display layout from options in the top left of the screen, you can swap out a camera using drag and drop,” Stafilidis explains.

“Managing live views is handled using on-screen controls or mouse controls. You can also zoom in and out or click on a camera view for a full screen display, and there are multiple playback options, including instant playback.

“In larger applications, Axxon Next’s Interactive 3D Map function interfaces with Google St View to improve a security team’s situational awareness. Security operators can see at a glance exactly where an event is taking place across an organisation.

“You can also build an interface on a map or using a site diagram. When viewing a map, you simply click on a camera icon to go to that view, which is ideal for enterprise applications. Each icon could also represent different levels of a building. In that case, you click on a camera icon and it will bring up a camera view on say, level 2, or the warehouse, or wherever the camera icon might be located.”

The flexible layouts mean cameras with multiple aspect ratios can be supported on a single screen, including de-warped hemispherics. Something else that’s neat is an Immersion mode which makes monitoring interactive. According to Stafilidis, it allows visual correlation of in-frame movement of people in real space.

As AxxonSoft explains it, this mode overlays a translucent video viewing tile on the map. Fixed objects in the field of view (furniture, doors, etc), are combined with their depictions on the map.

This allows operators to easily see where a person

by john adam s

or car is located and where it is going.

The way it works is that if the field of view in Immersion mode shows a part of a map for which a camera icon has been added, you click the icon to immerse yourself in that camera’s view. Thus operators can track a person’s movement across cameras without leaving immersion mode.

Special features The first thing we take a look at in our demo is AxxonSoft’s Time Compressor, which allows users to apply a time range to a search and then view a playback that only includes motion events. I’ve seen Time Compressor before, as well as some similar solutions, and again I’m impressed with its performance. It really does...compress time, which is great for time poor security officers and security managers.

“Time Compressor is an excellent feature,” says Stafilidis. “The system creates a stream that only includes movement. This means the video stream is way faster to review and you are only reviewing actual movement in the target area.”

On the screen, events and objects that appear and disappear are condensed into a synopsis of the time period being searched with events displayed ‘simultaneously’ with no overlap. You simply click on an event in the synopsis to view a live playback of the event in real time.

The scenes we view in this demo are very busy – a road with lashings of commercial traffic so there’s activity every few seconds – but even taking this into account Time Compressor helps. A typical camera view would have far fewer events and would be condensed vastly more – you’d see half a day’s action in a couple of minutes. That’s a fabulous tool for operators.

Next, Stafilidis shows me Axxon Next’s Forensic Search, which allows us to go back in the archive and search for a defined event at a set time. There are additional search parameters. A person or a vehicle might be crossing a line, or moving from one defined space to another, or might simply be generating motion in an area.

Keeping search operations at warp speed, Axxon Next is not going through all pixels in single images

when it hunts down search parameters. Instead it’s going through the descriptive meta data of images using a function called MomentQuest2, which searches for those numbers that correlate with a particular event. The way MomentQuest2 works is that every time there is movement, the system captures meta data about elements of a scene and logs them. This allows the system to quickly search for an object of a particular size and colour, going in a particular direction, at a particular time.

When using MomentQuest2, you can specify motion in the zone, user-defined with any polyline detection of crossing a virtual line in a userdefined direction, loitering of any object in an area, simultaneous presence of a few objects in an area and motion from one area to another. Filters include object size, object colour, direction of object motion speed of the moving object, zone entry/appearance and zone exit/disappearance (with the “motion in the zone” criteria).

“Forensic Search is one of the most powerful features of Axxon Next – it allows you to search the entire archive, or select a time or other parameters to narrow a search down,” says Stafilidis. “You can see the events on the right hand side of the screen and you select from these events – the timeline on the right aligns itself with the events – each event appears as a green icon in the timeline.”

There’s Time Compressor, Forensic Search, Interactive 3D Map function, Immersion mode, editable camera layouts and something installers will really love – fast configuration of IP cameras.

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Stafilidis defines a location – a mouse-drawn box in the entry exit of the carpark of the building and runs the scan. Axxon Next offers all the events that have taken place, displayed as thumbnails and on a timeline.You click on the event logged at the known time. This makes the process extremely easy.

Next, Stafilidis tightens the search by selecting for movement in one direction. When he applies this search, fewer events are logged in Forensic Search but again they appear as icons on the adjacent timeline.

It’s a great piece of functionality – we sit there as the system whips through the database and then offers us a selection of all events that took place in a particular direction.

“As well as defining triplines and boundaries, you can also search on the basis of size, speed and colour,” he says. “The search I really like is colour.

You can search for something that’s in the red spectrum , like a car, and Axxon Next will search the archive for events with objects of that colour.”

Something that’s nice is that Axxon Next’s video detection tools are visual – once they are set up and applied, you can see the way a detection tool will work. In an alarm activation, scenes that triggered the tool will be displayed in real-time in a special area of the screen. This allows adjusting the configuration settings to ensure that the detector works exactly as required by the user.

“Another great feature of Axxon Next is the simplicity of camera setup and assigning storage locations,” says Stafilidis. “Cameras are listed in the camera tree and you associate them to servers. If a driver has been written for the camera – there are more than 1000 drivers – it will be available for download as a Driver’s Pack Module. You select that driver to open all the features of that camera.

If there’s no driver you do this manually. You can then select compression, frame rate, resolution, bit rate, Hz, flip the image.”

Watching Stafilidis work, the thing I like about the camera setup screen is that all the features of a camera are there on the screen at the same time – you scan all the features at a glance. You then hit the apply button and it programs cameras and assigned servers.

“You set up the archive on a camera-by-camera basis,” he tells me. “You can select where you want 28 se&n

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each camera recorded to, you can break up hard drives, scheduling, you can associate portions of HDDs across a network – any HDD on any type of networked storage device can be assigned to store camera footage - SAN, DAS and RAID.” Recording can be activated by triggering of the video detector or by security sensors and can be written to different archives with different settings. One archive can perform continuous video recording at a low frame rate, while another dedicated alarm archive can record alarm events with a high frame rate.

“For example, you might store real time images from a camera to one location at 15 frames a second for 4 weeks, while storing 2 frames per second from that camera to another location, where you hold it for 6 months before it’s written over. It’s really up to you. This is a networked solution – few systems give this level of flexibility, but they should.”

Now Stafilidis turns to analytics.

“We can also set up analytics, maximum object height and width, minimum object height and width. You can also program out little bits of movement so you are only capturing bigger movements – people or cars.”

There is a range of video analytic tools including motion detection, background change detection, detection for loss of video quality, abandoned objects detection, detection of crossing a line in a given direction, motion start detection, motion stop, loitering detection, object appearance detection and object disappearance detection. There are also 2 audio detectors, noise detection which is triggered by a threshold and silence detection, which activates when there is no noise at all.

All this smart detection ability is supported by equally clever response capabilities – actions that can be selected as responses to triggering of detection tools or intrusion sensors. This capability gives the system a level of automation.

Responses include things like start recording of the video from the camera (with sound); send an SMS-message phone numbers, send an email, play an audio announcement; send a signal to an actuating device (relay) connected to the camera; switch to alarm processing mode and rotate the PTZ camera in a given direction. zzz

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isc west 2 01 4

By Joh n A dam s

ISC West Snapshot

This year’s ISC West exhibition in Las Vegas was the biggest turnout since 2007 with around 26,000 visitors to the show.

That’s a good sign for the U.S. market and the global market generally. As well as being busy, there were good things on the stands, too.

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ECHNOLOGIES that stood out for me were 4K cameras, much lower cost thermal cameras, established alarm manufacturers starting to flex some muscle in R&D – think DSC and Honeywell. Again this year there were cloud solutions and video surveillance as a service from some larger players.

Another noticeable thing at ISC West was the growing number of ways to hook into a security system using smart devices. In a standout case, Alarm.Com was showing how a Pebble smart watch could drive home automation technology.

While Pebble is not rocket science – it uses WiFi to connect to a user’s smart device – development of this interface indicates growing awareness of the importance of mobile interfaces to security systems in the future. Alarm.com also had a demo of installers using Google Glass to commission security systems with both hands free.

Also suggesting that video surveillance has

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well and truly broken into the domestic market, Alarm.com showed off its new Stream network video recorder. Stream is cloud-based, supports 4 cameras and offers 1TB of storage. Recorded events go to Alarm.com’s cloud servers for distribution.

Cost for this unit was $US800, which seemed a little high to me. Alarm.com also released a single mobile app for its alarm panels, showed off an IP66-rated IR camera and 4G LTE comms module. None of this is ground breaking but trends are building.

Honeywell’s LYNX 7000 scored Best Intrusion and Detection solution and according to Honeywell it’s the first alarm panel to offer support for 4 CCTV cameras and 2-way audio using Wi-Fi as a comms path. Honeywell too has a growing range of alarm sensors and you interact with the system through a touch screen or smart device app.

Linear showed an embedded browser-based access control platform integrated with Digital Watchdog’s DW-VMAX digital video recording

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solution. And BRS, which is distributed locally by OPS (now Hills) has a new SaaS solution to keep an eye out for.

Tyco showed off the new PowerSeries Neo range which we’ve written up in detail this issue. Neo is scalable, flexible, employs PowerG comms giving a monster range of 2000m line-of-sight for sensor devices, and it supports PIR cameras. CNL Software showed a PSIM solution on the Pelco by Schneider Electric stand. Veracity was displayed new storage and comms technologies.

Interlogix showed a self-contained panel with Wi-Fi and Z-Wave that interfaces with lifestyle management devices such as lights, locks and thermostats. There were also new accessories for the NX platform, including a touch-screen module that adds a graphical interface to the control panels; and a modular, hybrid panel that allows features to be added through a unique, DIN-rail mounting system.

FLIR has a new low cost thermal camera for $US499 – it will be under $A1000 in Australia, you would think. Mobotix was showing off the company’s new VMS solution, Axis has a new line of Ultra HD cameras called P14 that are priced at $US999 in the U.S. S2 was showing the NetVR 700, a highperformance solution that supports up to 128 IP cameras and is available in 12 and 24-bay storage configurations that provide up to 96 terabytes of video data storage (RAID 5 or RAID 6). Evolution from Pelco by Schneider Electric had a range of 360-degree, 5-megapixel cameras and ComNet introduced a 6-port, self-managed Ethernet switch, the CNGE2FE4SMS.

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Honeywell Systems has a drop-in board replacement option that allows users to migrate from GE legacy (Casi-Rusco) Micro 5 Series control panels and modules, to its Pro-Watch security management system. Samsung Techwin was showing off the SRM-872, a full-featured, 8-channel NVR for mobile use. And IQinVision displayed IQeye Alliance-mx cameras, which include the increased processing power needed to run analytics or VMS applications at the edge.

How did the best product awards pan out? Of special note, Aussie company dFENCE scored The Judges’ Choice Award for its dFENCE ballistic shield product. The SV3 solution from Building Intelligence Inc. won best new product award at the show. The SV3 acronym stands for ‘Secure Vistors, Vehicles and Vendors’ and the solution itself is a cloud-based application that integrates with local access control solutions, LPR readers and driver’s license readers.

Automating the reception security process, SV3 validates the identity of the 3Vs for approval of access into or anywhere on a site. The solution itself was less of a thing for me than the fact a cloud-based solution won the best new product award.

Installers will be interested to hear the Best in Video Surveillance Cameras HD (Megapixel) went to Sony Electronics for its X Series of IP-based transport cameras. An Honourable Mention went to Panasonic’s IP66-rated dome, the WV-SFV631L. These 2 cameras are not particularly comparable but the brands probably lead the market right now.

The Best in Surveillance Video Data Storage solution went to Samsung Techwin America for SRM-872 Mobile NVR, while the Best in Video Surveillance Hardware and Accessories was won by Axis Communications’ Axis P5415-E PTZ Dome Network Camera. The judges decided the

My impressions were that not everyone in electronic security has figured out how to make a profit from the cloud. Is it based on data? Is it based on hardware? I think it’s both, but its hardware more.

s p e ci al re p o rt

Best in Video Surveillance Management Systems was NUUO’s Crystal Titan and they chose HP Autonomy’s HP Surveillance solution as Best in Video Analytics.

The Best in Access Control Hardware & Software award went to FST21 American Inc. for Safel, while the best wireless access product was Securitron Magnalock Corp’s Securitron R100 Surface Mounted Wireless Reader. Meanwhile, the Best in Biometrics, Identification and Credentialing award went to MorphoTrak’s MorphoAccess SIGMA Series, while Resolution Products won the Best Commercial and Monitoring Solution with its Interactive Gateway Modules.

Best in Convergence and Integrated Software and Solutions went to IDV Solutions for Visual Command Center v3 and the Best in Emergency Communications Systems was taken out by Eaton’s Cooper Notification ALERiTY. The Fire/Life Safety award went to Silent Knight’s SK-FIRE-CO and the Best Green Solution was Rutherford Controls International 0563 ½-inch rim strike.

The Best in Hosted Solutions winner was Eagle Eye Networks for Eagle Eye Security Camera VMS, the Best in Intrusion Detection and Prevention Solutions was Copperwatcher LLC for Copperwatcher Model CW-3 and as mentioned, Honeywell Lynx 7000 snagged the Best in Intrusion Detection and Prevention Solutions Wireless.

Best in Locks/Safes/Hardware was ASSA ABLOY’s Ecoflex Electrified Mortise Locks, Best in Mobile Apps was EmergenSee’s EmergenSee Personal Security System, Best in Network Support Solutions was Sentry 360 with sentryEdge NVR and Xtralis scored Best in Outdoor Perimeter Protection with the ADPRO PRO E-Passive Infrared (PIR) Detector.

Best in Personnel, Loss Prevention and Asset Tracking Solutions was Vitek Industrial Video Products Inc. VT-HDOC16, Best in Residential and Monitoring Solutions was Linear LLC’s Z-Wave Garage Door Controller and the Best in Video Surveillance Advanced Imaging Technologies was Thermal Imaging Radar LLC’s Thermal Radar solution.

My impressions were that not everyone in electronic security has figured out how to make a profit from the cloud. Is it based on data use? Is it

Growing app support for remote management of alarm systems is also a nice capability, as is onboard 4G LTE. The latest generation of alarm systems is the most appealing ever.

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based on hardware? I think it’s both, but hardware more. Finding a commercial model is going to take time and prices will need to be competitive.

Fact is, the gold-plated cloud clients are actually those domestic and commercial users who already care enough to install a monitored alarm system. This means organic growth by monitoring companies may be where the true, and more modest, cloud profits reside.

I like what’s happening in the alarm industry. The new sensor types supporting flood, fire, locusts and tempests are good stuff. WiFi cameras linked to alarm panels are also valuable additions and will encourage existing clients to upgrade. Growing app support for remote management of alarm systems is also a nice capability, as is onboard 4G LTE. The latest generation of alarm systems is the most appealing ever.

I tend to agree with people who say 4K (Ultra HD) is going to be something in the future. Of course, we’ve had 8MP cameras for a while now and the thing that slowed uptake wasn’t lack of high res displays but the cost of storage. This has not changed as far as I can tell. Time will tell.

If I had to pick a standout product at ISC West in 2014 it would be FLIR’s BT-Series thermal minibullets with 50-degree and 25-degree fields of view.

It’s not that the technology is new, it’s the $US499 pricing, which might be an enabler in this market segment. Given thermal’s fundamental strength is video verification, and given its VGA streams have modest bandwidths, I can’t helping visualising it in intrusion detection applications. zzz

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Freedom Surveillance VMS

Freedom Surveillance VMS Freedom Surveillance VMS developed and distributed by Camvex, offers end users and integrators a solution that’s flexible, affordable and supported locally.

F

reedom Surveillance VMS was developed in Melbourne, Australia, by Join Computer and Control in collaboration with Camvex.

Freedom VMS is designed to manage digital video inputs from multiple CCTV technologies including analogue cameras, 960H cameras, IP cameras, HD-SDI cameras and recently introduced HDCVI cameras.

According to Camvex’ Andrew Del Biondo, Join Computer and Control was the leading developer of real time multi camera recording of video and audio for surveillance.

“The company did pioneering work in China in 1995 winning major projects locally, then opened an office in Australia in 2001 when Charles Chen came to Australia,” explains Del Biondo.

“We formed an agreement in 2006 to work together to build a new video management solution from scratch. Our initial work was on Freedom client, which was integrated with the major Chinese embedded NVR brands including Hikvision and Dahua.”

According to Del Biondo, after developing Freedom Client, engineers moved on to develop

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Freedom Server, which competes with PC or server-based VMS solutions and works with all major video surveillance technologies.

“With Freedom Client and Freedom Server, Camvex and JC&C have developed an Australian software platform that allows the Freedom VMS to talk to imported third party DVRs – analogue, 960H, IP, Hybrid, HD-SDI and HDCVI. “It’s the only software we know of in the world that is compatible with all 5 current CCTV technologies across multiple brands,” Del Biondo says. “This means users can keep their existing hardware, and upgrade and drive the system from a single management solution.”

“Most other VMS products are skewed towards IP – they can migrate analogue cameras in with encoders with few that can integrate with DVRs and they don’t support HD-SDI or HDCVI,” Del Biondo says. “That was the principle behind Freedom. If you have compatible legacy DVRs and you want to connect to them via a client, you put Freedom client software onto a workstation and you have far superior control.”

The systems’ flexibility has been welcomed by the market. Camvex now has over 20,000 installed channels of Freedom Client and over 5000 channels of Freedom Server in Australia.

From an operational point of view, Freedom Video Management Software (VMS) supports up to 36 synchronised live HD video displays and recording of 64 cameras per Freedom Pro Server.

And the key functional element of Freedom is that it leverages eMaps.

“The key to the Freedom VMS system – doesn’t

by john adam s

matter if it’s entry level analogue DVR, HD-SDI or enterprise IP - is eMaps,” says Del Biondo. “About 90 per cent of Freedom VMS solutions we supply are installed with eMaps. Properly configured, eMaps make system operation much faster and easier – security operators no longer need to learn their way around a site – camera views are in front of them all the time.

“Something extra our eMap implementation offers is that it works on playback and this assists staff, too. If they want to review playback of cameras, they drag and drop from the eMap to the display and use the controls to view recordings.

Users find it extremely simple.”

In a typical installation, the Freedom VMS eMap screen shows all the cameras on selectable maps.

There’s also a camera tree on the right of the Freedom VMS and from here you drag and drop cameras from the tree and onto a viewing tile.

From the perspective of an operator, you can view all cameras in the system or a user-defined group of cameras saved to a viewer. The system will show on eMap the cameras in a nominated group and different icon status colours show which cameras are streaming. If operators want to bring up a camera to stream they just drag from the map and drop on the screen. If they want to disconnect

It’s the only software we know of in the world that is compatible with all 5 current CCTV technologies across multiple brands. a streaming camera from the workstation, they can do so with a click.

You can get into all the settings of the cameras via the Freedom Server – tweak BLC, WDR, profiles setups, schedules of settings for day or night – all of which makes for easier installation and management. You can also save the configuration file for a particular camera and upload it to other cameras if there are multiple cameras in the same or a similar location. And if there’s an event that needs to be investigated, a self-executable player is added to any removable media footage is downloaded to. It allows functions like play, pause, FF, zoom, print, save a still and watermark verification.

Another solid feature of Freedom Surveillance VMS is transcoding.

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“For remote site connections, there are 3 user configurable profiles that can be re-encoded on the fly,” says Del Biondo. “What we are able to do is fast forward through an HD recording at a lower resolution. Essentially, when we connect we can tell the system what profile to use – mainstream (2MB), or up to 3 H.264 transcode profiles, high, medium or low.

“The transcode takes the recorded stream from a Freedom Pro server and re-encodes it again to reduce the amount of data to push through low bandwidth connections. Imagine if you had to playback 4 HD cameras from the remote site at 2 or 4MB each – it’s not going to work. That’s why we developed transcode via the client for Freedom Server Pro. It’s where a lot of VMS solutions struggle. An embedded IP NVR – how well are they going to playback their HD footage remotely over the low bandwidth connections we typically have here in Australia?”

Freedom Server allows the addition of other recording devices. If a site has more than one server, one of the Freedom servers becomes a master and the other devices connect to it. Once the system is fully configured, you end up with a tree showing every camera on the site. Normally you would need a client PC to achieve this but with Freedom it can be done from the server.

Another neat thing about Freedom server is an automated health diagnostics server that gives system-wide alerts from the unit if there are any critical problems including HDD failure and camera failure. A recent improvement includes notification when the intended recording duration isn’t being achieved which can be critical for some user’s legislated compliance.

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Freedom Surveillance VMS

Something installers will love is that they are always working with the same software interface and that was the principle behind the development of the Freedom

This makes Freedom a more reliable solution that is easier to manage.

“Something installers will love is that they are always working with the same software interface and that was the principle behind the development of Freedom VMS,” says Del Biondo. “We wanted technicians installing the systems and end users driving the system, to always be using the same software interface regardless of the underlying technology of the particular solution.”

Helping customers further on the Freedom VMS website are storage and bandwidth calculators and tutorials that are very simple and easy. You can work out what size HDD is needed based on file sizes, frame rate, storage time. It tells you the bit rate per camera and globally. You can work this out for analogue cameras, IP and HD-SDI cameras.

“The way pricing works is that when Camvex customers are using Freedom Client to talk to Freedom servers, then Freedom Client is free,” Del Biondo explains. “When you have Freedom Client talking to compatible lower cost Omega and Maxima embedded recorders, the Freedom client is also free. If you have Freedom client talking to HikVision or Dahua recorders, then there is a license fee per workstation with client software.

“Freedom Lite server software has 30 cameras per server purchased in groups of 6 channel upgrades at $50 + GST (RRP)per channel, while Freedom Pro is 64 channels per server at $100 + GST (RRP) per channel upgradable in increments of 1. What customers like most is there are no base licences or recurrent software maintenance fees.

Furthermore, you can upgrade from Lite to Pro by only paying the difference between their upfront costs.” zzz

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Megap ixel cameras

Big stuff End users and installers making the transition from analogue to IP solutions, or upgrading first generation IP solutions, should look hard at the strengths of megapixel cameras – reduced installation costs and far superior coverage.

C

OST is a primary factor in many installations and megapixel cameras provide real value and measurable cost-efficiencies for both end users and integrators. Since the first video surveillance system was installed, users have asked for better image quality. Now that quality is available with cameras employing up to 40MP image sensors.

The benefits of megapixel camera technology permeate all areas of a surveillance installation.

The key here is that because megapixel cameras can cover a much wider field of view, fewer cameras are required to cover the same area in far greater detail.

For example, a large telecommunications company had originally designed a video surveillance system for their retail operations with 30 analogue cameras and was able to reduce the number to 17 megapixel cameras without any compromises in coverage area. Fewer cameras also significantly reduce overall system and installation costs. And, they received substantially better image quality even with fewer cameras.

Networked infrastructure uses fewer cables than analogue systems by eliminating the need to run separate cables from each camera to a DVR. And PoE technology also supplies camera power over the same cable that connects a camera to

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By Cat hy L i *

the network, eliminating the need for local power supplies, simplifying installation and further reducing costs.

Megapixel cameras can reduce the need for manned security services. In one school system, for example, megapixel cameras replaced security officers while providing 24/7 coverage. The overall cost of the system was roughly equivalent to the money spent on security officers over the course of a single year – in other words, the system paid for itself in 12 months.

When it comes to image quality, there is no argument. Conventional IP and analogue cameras produce about 400,000 pixels compared to 1.3 million to 10 million pixels for megapixel cameras.

The difference in image definition when using digital zoom is clearly visible. With megapixel cameras, zooming in after events provides forensic capabilities far beyond those of ordinary cameras.

High-definition megapixel cameras allow highly detailed images to be easily and quickly viewed and analyzed by law enforcement/security authorities for investigation and prosecution. The high resolution images captured by megapixel cameras can aid in prosecutions and convictions, or even prove innocence. Conventional IP and analogue cameras simply cannot deliver the same level of image definition.

The use of digital PTZ with megapixel cameras allows users far better coverage of facilities. A mechanical PTZ camera can only watch one at a time of the 10 fields-of-view it tours. That leaves 90 per cent of a scene with no coverage, 100 per cent of the time. Covering those additional fields with additional cameras increases the overall costs.

Megapixel single sensor and panoramic (multiimager) cameras capture the entire scene, all the time, and users can zoom in on any area of the image, live or on recorded video.

Making megapixel technology even more powerful, Arecont offers a range of panoramic megapixel cameras that provide vast coverage.

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Freedom Surveillance provides seamless integration of existing and new CCTV technologies under one unified software platform allowing intuitive visual navigation via electronic maps (eMaps) as well as conventional CCTV navigation.

Freedom Surveillance allows you to utilize your existing SD analogue system while migrating to one of the new HD (High Definition) CCTV technologies as budgets allow.

Supporting camera technologies such as Analogue, 960H, IP / ONVIF, HD-SDI and HD-CCTV™ across a choice of cable infrastructures including coax, CAT5 and fibre and compatible with multiple hardware manufacturers.

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DEALERS Freedom VMS solutions are available nationally from a network of certified dealers.

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Obviously a PTZ camera can only be pointed in one direction at a time and this means it will miss events in another part of the scene. Panoramic megapixel cameras don’t miss anything. A single 180-degree or 360-degree panoramic 20 megapixel camera can cover a huge area that would require many conventional cameras, or multiple PTZ cameras.

H.264 compression technology There’s been a great deal of progress in multimegapixel video security systems in the last 2 years. Perhaps the greatest impact has come as VMS developers have embraced the H.264 video compression standard, which significantly reduces network bandwidth and storage requirements of megapixel video. H.264 compression produces high-quality video using less bandwidth than the commonly used JPEG compression.

H.264 and JPEG are 2 closely related standards.

Computationally they belong to the same family of compression methods. Because the compression methods are similar, the distortion introduced into the video in the process of compression is also similar. The degree of video distortion is proportional to the degree of compression: both standards support a wide range of compression levels and, accordingly, a wide range of achievable video quality (the inverse of video distortion).

There are many metrics of video quality, some objective and some subjective. Using any measure, one can precisely demonstrate that when the compression parameters of the H.264 and JPEG standards are matched, the video quality of the same scene under like conditions is virtually indistinguishable across a wide range of settings, with the possible exception of the extreme highcompression limit. In particular, this is easy to demonstrate using Arecont Vision’s megapixel IP cameras that feature instant switching of the oncamera encoder between JPEG and H.264. In fact, if video quality was the only measure for choosing one compression standard over another it would be very difficult to make the choice.

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Megap ixel cameras

The main difference between H.264 and JPEG is the consumed bandwidth per given video quality - H.264 offers a major reduction in bandwidth relative to JPEG. Bandwidth reduction translates to a major reduction in cost of security installations; the requirements for networking equipment and disk storage are accordingly reduced.

Reduction of bandwidth is achieved at the cost of high computational complexity of the H.264 encoder, which is used inside the camera. Put simply, the more computation there is, the more efficiently the data is organized and packed.

Decoding the compressed video stream is an entirely different matter. The H.264 standard is asymmetrical: all of its computational complexity is on the encoder side while the H.264 decoder is similar in complexity to a JPEG decoder. For example, Arecont Vision’s megapixel IP cameras use a patent-pending massively parallel H.264 hardware encoder that achieves 80 billion operations per second.

The benefits of H.264 in terms of bandwidth utilization per given video quality and the related reduction of disk storage are obvious, the incremental costs are low, and there are no hidden installation costs. It is safe to predict that H.264 will become the de facto compression standard for the security and surveillance market, especially for megapixel IP cameras where the benefits are even further multiplied. In fact, H.264 could be viewed as the silver bullet that has removed the earlier obstacles to mass penetration of megapixel IP cameras into the marketplace.

Megapixel imaging is the new benchmark in image quality and functionality for video surveillance systems now and in the future.

Obstacles relating to bandwidth and storage have been eliminated with H.264 compression. Price issues are more than cancelled out relative to the higher performance of megapixel cameras and their overall improved ROI when compared to conventional IP and analogue cameras. zzz * Cathy Li is regional sales manager – Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Australia & New Zealand for Arecont Vision.

Built for Capture it all

The Illustra 625 IP PTZ dome in full HD 1080p is an ideal choice for any site where locating, tracking and zooming in on the details of a subject are critical.

The Illustra 625 PTZ is one of the fastest HD PTZ in the industry. With a solid state motor and exceptional gearing and braking designs, this camera delivers pan and tilt speed performance and accuracy that surpass the maximum speed and return-toposition accuracy of most competitive PTZ cameras. When using programmed presets and tours, the Illustra 625 PTZ moves to position at an amazing 512° per second.

When using the camera in automated modes, the Illustra 625 PTZ delivers HD video from scene to scene in fractions of a second.

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Super Embedded NVR Hikvision’s DS-96256NI-E24/H Embedded NVR can handle 120 video inputs at 5Mbps, provides up to 24 built-in HDD interfaces and external storage devices, and has a high level of system stability and redundancy.

H

IKVISION’S new DS-96256NI-E24/H embedded NVR has heroic proportions and is specifically designed for large-scale surveillance solutions. Supported by Hikvision video management software and Hikvision IP cameras (including the latest introduced 4 Series smart IP cameras and smart tracking PTZ dome cameras), this NVR is a thorough surveillance solution for a variety of applications.

Driving the unit is an industry-leading 960Mbps throughput (640Mbps for input/320Mbps for output), which gives the DS-96256NI-E24/H the required bandwidth for simultaneously recording multiple HD megapixel cameras, along with remote viewing capabilities. The big NVR has the ability to access 256 network cameras, while supporting up to 8 megapixel video input resolutions. It also supports up to 6 HDMI outputs and 24 channels of live viewing and/or video playback at 1080p resolution.

Storage is simply vast. The NVR offers 24 built-in hard drive interfaces, with 4Tb of internal storage capacity each – that’s 96TB in the box. In addition, the DS-96256NI-E24/H has a pair of USB 3.0 ports, one Mini SAS, and one eSATA interface for additional data capability. This huge backend support means HikVision’s big kahuna is not all about camera input bragging rights. This unit is the real deal.

Storage is designed with reliability in mind, and the DS-96256NI-E24/H NVR employs RAID 0,1,5,10 disk management across all 24 hard drives. Dual systems and a redundant power supply are also included, to improve system reliability and ensure seamless video recording.

Equipped with Alarm I/O and Audio I/O interfaces, the unit allows users to connect to a variety of external audible & visual alarm devices for additional security control purposes. There are also four 1Gbps optical

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fibre interfaces that are supported to ensure smooth data transmission.

Along with the flagship model we are talking about here there are other models available including the DS-96128NI-E16(/H), with up to 128 IP cameras, 16 HDDs and an optional LCD touch screen; the DS96128NI-E24(/H), supporting up to 128 IP cameras, 24 HDDs and an optional LCD touch screen; the DS-96256NI-E16(/H), which supports up to 256 IP cameras, 16 HDDs and an optional LCD touch screen; and the DS-96256NI-E24(/H) which supports up to 256 IP cameras, 24 HDDs and an optional LCD touch screen.

Driving the new DVR is HikVision’s iVMS-4200, which offers a flexible distributed structure and easyto-use operation. It provides multiple functionalities including real-time live view, video recording, remote search and playback and file backup. Thanks to its embedded web server, iVMS-4200 client can be accessed via the web browser where it provides the functionalities of live view, playback, device management, account management and system configuration. iVMS-4200 client offers a user-friendly wizard and introduces some basic operations of the software, such as adding devices, importing device to group and configuring record schedules.

There are different view modes supported in the live view or playback process and users can play the video in default view mode or in custom view mode.

The custom view can be customized as desired.

Camera links mean that when tampering alarm or video loss alarm occurs, the image from the linked camera will pop up for notification.

Other features of iVMS4200 include the ability to add offline devices to the client with the required information input. When the device comes online, the software will connect it automatically. An alarm output control manually turns on or off the alarm output of the added device. And not only cameras, but also alarm inputs can be added to E-map as hot spots.

These alarm input hot spots detect the conditions of the surveillance scenario and give alarm information. zzz

Features of Hikvision’s DS-96256NI-E24/H Embedded NVR include: l Support for 128 camera inputs at 5Mbps l Ability to access 256 network cameras l 960Mbps throughput l 24 HDD bays giving 96TB onboard Stevan Malesevic l 24 channels of live viewing l Supported by iVMS 4200 l RAID 0,1,5,10 disk management l Four 1Gbps optical fibre interfaces.

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Our market is increasingly driven by the needs and desires of the end user, especially in the residential market

All change T The monitoring business is going to change a lot over the next 5 years and to get a sense of how much, you need only look at the sorts of features users are starting to demand from their alarm panels.

46 se&n

HERE’S plenty happening in the alarm monitoring spaces – lots of it being the inevitable impact of new alarm technology from the likes of DSC, Risco (which has just released VuPoint Live), Honeywell and others. All are starting to wick up the support of their alarm panels, not just for automation, but for video verification as well. This gives a sense of where things are going in monitoring and it seems to me, the industry will need to peddle hard to keep up.

A key observation came from Bosch Security Systems’ James Layton this month, who said that innovation in the field of user experience will be the key driver of the future in alarm technology.

“Our market is becoming increasingly driven by the needs and desires of the end user, especially in the residential market,” said Layton. “In the past, uninitiated users would turn to the integrator for advice…today, end users are doing their own research and highlighting new technologies

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and innovations that they want.”

This is an important development and it relates not just to apps, alarm panel functionality and additional sensor types, but to the monitoring function itself. With 4G LTE and video verification looming, the way users think about security monitoring is definitely going to change. If they can access video footage of their premises in high resolutions and frame rates, monitoring companies must follow.

Increasing the pressure in this area alongside 4G is the NBN, which while it’s not going to be fibre to the door everywhere, is still going to be a heck of a lot more capable than current broadband services. The NBN will be important to our technology. I heard some boffin talking the other day on Radio National about Peak Wireless – the point at which the airwaves are so crammed with signals that contention caps performance. The suggestion was that Peak Wireless cannot be far away, especially once all our smart devices are running 4G. The glass NBN has gone into Armidale, Kiama, Willunga, parts of Melbourne and Tasmania and in those areas the copper PSTN network will be turned off on May 23. For local installers, customers in those areas are going to be the canary in their coal mine. Will service improve? Remain the same? Will customers be interested in additional services like 720p 6 fps video verification? Will nothing change?

Installers elsewhere will want to draw on the experience of the security industry’s NBN pioneers.

Something else that will impact on monitoring in the longer term will be the idea of so-called Internet of Things, which Bill Gerhardt, Cisco director of engineering for the IoT, argues will hit 50 billion connected devices by 2020.

According to Gerhardt, figures show that adoption rates of digital infrastructure are progressing 5x times faster than electricity and telephony did.

I’m not really a true believer in this conceptual monster – I think there’s a limit to the number of network connections users will want in their lives

48 se&n

Users will want to monitor power usage, water usage, multiple security and fire sensors, CO2, flood, temperature.

They’ll also want to look at optical and thermal cameras remotely.

And users won’t just want to be connected, they’ll want more control. but I think the idea of such a thing will expand what users expect from alarm and automation panels. Users will want to monitor power usage, water usage, multiple security and fire sensors, CO2, flood, temperature. They’ll also want to look at optical and thermal cameras remotely. And users won’t just want to be connected, they’ll want control too.

At ISC West recently, Gerhardt said there are 5 things networks must have to benefit from the Internet of Everything. These include cross-function convergence, resilience at scale, security, distributed intelligence and cloud management.

He said (and we all agree with him) that security was the critical element.

According to Gerhardt, 6 additional characteristics are pivotal to the IoT. They include interoperability among disparate systems, data sharing among departments, common infrastructure investments, standardization of interfaces, adaptability to new technologies and rapid deployment of resources. A lot of these things have been on our table for some time now – and we know they have attractions and risks.

If such talk sounds like dross, things are happening in the local monitoring market that suggest some big manufacturers and service providers have a clear idea of where they think the future is going. Suretek’s recent partnership with Vivotek is a big one.

Although Suretek already partners with Mobotix, a monitoring company partnering with a CCTV manufacturer that boasts the massive and affordable range of surveillance solutions Vivotek does is big news. Clearly, Suretek sees video surveillance as being a key aspect of the future of monitoring and is manoeuvring itself into position to support its hundreds of monitoring station customers.

Then there’s Inner Range, which has just announced a partnership with NZ tech house, Patriot Systems. In this case the 2 companies will collaborate on the future development of Patriot Security monitoring software. According to Inner Range, planned new features include IP alarm reporting, CCTV and video monitoring, along with remote arm/ disarm and door control. I can’t help but imagine a cloud solution in there somewhere.

The future of monitoring is going to be different. And for all this talk about new functions and performance, there are underlying issues relating to basic things. The security of mobile devices, the security of mobile apps written on Java or Adobe Air, the security and reliability of panel communications – even the bandwidth potential of wireless solutions. Consider that 2G GPRS is fine for low bandwidth applications but start moving video and you will need something more. zzz

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cas e st u dy

Garmin Australasia

Built to last Integrator Digital Connections & Security Systems (DCSS) has installed integrated Digifort IP video surveillance and Vauban access control systems for Garmin Australasia. The overall solution includes Samsung cameras, a Tecom alarm system, video analytics, dual perimeter detection, intercoms, and multiple boom gate and turnstile access points.

50 se&n

G

ARMIN is a manufacturer of future-proof high technology and it shows. At the company’s new purpose-built facility in western Sydney, security is taken seriously.

Arriving at the site there are fences, motorised gates, rising barriers that manage car park access. I can see LPR cameras on poles in the car park and there are intercoms and prox readers on entry points.

There are plenty of external cameras keeping watch and on the perimeter fence I can see the distinctive black boxes of an Intrepid Micropoint II fence sensor. And as I go into the facility, the strong sense of classic onion skin defensive layering is enhanced. There’s a reception/security point as the first port of call and everything is managed by access controlled turnstiles, doors and lifts from there on.

Garmin’s new building was completed in

by john adam s

November 2013 by Prime Constructions and it includes 2000 square metres of office and 4000 square metres of warehouse – it’s not a vast site but it’s not small, either. The perimeter is around half a kilometre and borders road, neighbouring industrial facilities and a bush-covered reserve.

Given the size of the site and the number of cardholders, this is certainly one of the most complete solutions I’ve seen. Along with electronic perimeter detection, there’s a Vauban access control system integrated with a Digifort IP surveillance solution. There’s a Tecom V10 alarm system with 3-way alarm reporting, an IP intercom system and all important, there’s backup of everything to UPS and local generator.

Tech flows in every direction. There are no light switches; lighting is handled by movement detection, as is air conditioning. And as we look into the video surveillance and access control

solutions, the use of clever technology including video contents analysis, perimeter VMD and LPR (license plate recognition) to drive boom gates automatically, deepens.

SEN often reviews systems that are badly compromised. Their one-dimensional specifications mean they would function best in support of perimeter defences or on-site security teams – without these defensive or responsive layers they are reduced to investigation tools. I also see installations in which a single intrusion detector or camera type is forced to do duty across an entire site. Not at Garmin. At all times, and within the constraints of the budget, the best cameras/sensors for a particular application are deployed.

The complete nature of the security solution suggests the end user had specific objectives in mind and Garmin’s HR manager Leonie Holman, who was involved in developing the project and has full access and operational oversight across the entire system, says there were 2 things the company wanted from its new integrated security solution.

“We wanted to minimise the risk of unauthorised entry to the building, with the vital aspects of the system being the turnstiles and surrounding cameras to secure the facility,” says Holman. “In addition the turnstiles allow us to be aware of who is currently on the premises.

The network room Our first port of call during this visit is Garmin’s network room, where all controllers, servers, patch panels, switches and power supplies supporting the system are located. Looking around amid the roar of cooling fans I can see it’s a nice space – less compact than many, clean and well ordered.

“There’s the main server, this is video analytics and LPR server, there are switchers – it’s a Digicor

se&n 51

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Garmin Australasia

Patrick Cha (l) and Tooma Chong of EOS with Tim Rowe

server running Digifort Enterprise software,” says EOS Australia’s director, Tooma Chong, pointing each out to me. “This is the server that runs the Digifort VCA and LPR and here is a separate server running the access control and tecom management software.”

According to Digital Connections & Security System’s (DCSS) director, Tim Rowe, there are 50 cameras across the site and all one of a number of different models from the Samsung range.

“Cameras are all IP and PoE and they run into this network room in a star configuration, connecting directly to one of a number of 24-port patch panels, then going from a patch panel into a PoE switch, from there into a Gigabit switch, then to the servers.

“The longest run is around 140 metres,” Rowe says.

“I honestly thought we would have problems with distance but prior to the job we installed a camera on a 160m run of Cat-6 as a test – signal strength was superb. In fact, across the entire site, the only extender supports the intercom in the warehouse.”

While most SEN readers are familiar with Digifort’s IP CCTV system, they are not likely to have heard of Vauban Systems’ access control system. The boys tell me it’s an IP-based solution manufactured in France, for which EOS is the sole local distributor.

Making things especially convenient, there’s an existing integration bridge between Digifort and Vauban.

“The distinguishing characteristics of this Vauban unit are that it’s essentially plug-and-play on the network side and very compact,” Rowe explains to me, swinging open double doors to access shallow lockers in which the controllers are installed. “With Vauban you can have 40 doors on one V-EXT4

52 se&n

Carpark entry

The distinguishing characteristics of this Vauban unit are that it’s essentially plug and play on the network side, and is very compact...

controller with each of the controllers handling 10 four-door controllers.”

Peering inside the locker Vauban System’s hardware looks good – the 4-door controller boards are tucked up inside compact metal housings with only termination blocks visible and all inputs and outputs including power and comms clearly labelled. This means the board has a solid EMI shield and protects the PCB from knocks or static during installation.

Something else Vauban Systems has that’s very neat is a dual processor. If there’s a power surge and a processor is damaged, a second processor onboard will kick in giving full redundancy of processing capability. That’s nice.

In terms of access control system layout, high security BQT DESFire 32-bit readers are installed in a star configuration, arrive at the network room as Weigand, and are funnelled into 4-door controllers mounted locally. These 4-door controllers connect to main controllers via IP and or RS-485 connections and the main controllers then hop onto the network via a switch. Management of the access control system is handled by Vauban’s Visor management software.

“The thing with Vauban is that from day one it was designed to be a networked access control system,” says Chong. “That means it’s simple and it has a small controller footprint – it’s very compact. And because it is an enclosed unit, there is not a lot of configuration to be done.

“Normally you would have end of line resistors and hi/low settings but you don’t have to do any of that with Vauban. You just plug in the network on one side and the reader inputs on the other side.

You then you plug in your outputs – electric strikes, boom gates, etc, and away you go.

“The beauty of integrating video and access control is event management,” Chong explains.

“When you click on an image of an access event the system not only gives you details like whether access was granted and card number – you can also do a video playback as well. We can do this because there is an existing integration between Digifort and Vauban Systems.”

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cas e st u dy

Next, Rowe shows me the surge protected circuits for the entire system and Vauban controllers, which are supported by back-up battery as well as being connected directly to the generator. This means if there’s loss of power the system continues to function without interruption. The Digifort system servers are also connected to the internal UPS giving a minimum of up to an hour of support, which is simply a backup prior to switching over to the generator.

Installed in a locker next to the Vauban controllers is a Tecom Challenger V10 panel which is being used solely as an intrusion detection system for alarm sensors and the Intrepid perimeter zones. It’s a bit unusual having a powerful intrusion and access control solution like Tecom V10 only managing alarm events but Rowe says this was the best combination of compact size, existing integration with Digifort, and cost.

As we head out of the network room Rowe points up at the white poly housing of the Permaconn comms module which reports alarm events to a monitoring station via IP, GPRS (wireless data) and digital dialler.

Driving the system We go upstairs into the guard room. It’s impressive – same as the rest of the security function. Garmin takes security seriously and the guard room is manned after hours on working days and 24-hours on weekends. The large, bright space meshes well with the rest of Garmin’s fit out.

Looking at the video wall and the supporting pair of workstations it’s obvious that driving the system is very simple. Importantly, the main monitors are a good size – you can get situational awareness at a glance. The small tiles on the display screen are shown at a lower resolution that wicks up to full HD when a camera is called up to full screen.

“The space, the systems and the Digifort viewers are designed so a security officer can control CCTV

54 se&n

Garmin Australasia

Access controlled carpark with LPR

and Vauban from here, as well as the intercom, they can respond to alarm events, Intrepid activations and breaches of the VMD on the perimeter.”

Cameras are being recorded at 1080p at 30 frames per second in the server downstairs, but up here the resolution and frame rate displayed varies depending on the nature of the selected viewer.

If a multi-screen viewer is being displayed, the resolution of smaller views is restricted to 800 x 600 pixels at 10 frames per second to save bandwidth. If the security officer clicks on a tile to open an image stream to full screen, resolution jumps to 1080p HD at 30 frames per second.

At this point, it’s worth taking a look at the Digifort Enterprise solution handling video management at Garmin. DigiFort’s core functions are image recording, image monitoring, synoptic maps, PTZ control, video exports, alerts and events, and admin.

It’s designed specifically to be simple to use thanks to clever touches that offer layers of functionality from a single viewer screen – there’s no drilling through multiple screens to find elusive functions.

It’s easy to change the viewer GUI – you change the display layouts and shapes then drag and drop cameras to it, creating multiple viewers dedicated to areas of interest.

Important too, DigiFort’s client/server architecture allows local and remote surveillance and the integration of alarms through system events, as well as administration of multiple users, automatic disk administration and live surveillance tools.

There’s also the capacity for scene retrieval based on different image selection techniques.

It’s easy for the uninitiated to dismiss Digifort as a low-cost solution but they are seriously missing the point. When I reviewed this system back in 2010, it was already loaded up with a Carmen LPR engine, UDP Technologies video analytics, DigiFort analytics and Java-based DigiFort Mobile for smart Internal dome

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cas e st u dy

devices. This was pioneering stuff back then.

The system also had full integration of selected access control solutions that allowed to obtain any event and perform an action, such as popping-up camera views, starting a recording, or sounding an alarm. There was a storage calculator, colour-coded alerts on movement, recording of single camera streams to multiple servers and DigiFort Evidence, which allowed a bunch of events to be associated for faster investigation. Needless to say, all this is operational gold and the DigiFort product has been polished and refined over the last 4 years, making it more capable still.

Sitting in front of the workstation at Garmin, the main GUI has PTZ controls, a camera tree where operators can click/double-click to drop or shuffle objects on the malleable viewer screen or playback by right-clicking on the camera icons on the tree.

In one of a number of intuitive features the eye takes in at a glance, the camera tree also indicates motion – a camera icon that is experiencing motion will turn yellow and a red record indicator beside the camera icon if the camera is recording. It’s a simple but neat piece of functionality that makes a lot of sense when an operator is chasing movement across a big site after hours.

The high level of automation between DigiFort, Intrepid perimeter zones and the internal alarm sensors (via Tecom), and the integrated perimeter VMD means security officers at Garmin get a lot of support. They can respond to visual or audible alarm events, check out camera groups at the start of a guard tour and create individualised viewers to meet changing situations or threats.

The Intrepid Micropoint II perimeter solution is broken into 16 alarm zones each linked to a PTZ preset in DigiFort. The PTZ cameras sit at their home positions and swing to those presets in the event of Intrepid alarm triggers. There’s also a local siren that activates when Intrepid is activated to alert staff to an intrusion.

Another good feature DigiFort offers is the ability to click once on a camera and instantly jump to playback from say, 30 seconds or 5 minutes or an hour ago. There is a list of pre-defined times you can jump back to or specify a custom time, and users can draw zoom areas onto recorded scenes for investigation or for automated searches.

Timelines are located at the bottom of a viewing screen – you can zoom in and zoom out digitally in creative ways. There’s also motion search – here you can select an area of a scene to search or the system will perform a motion search based on the whole image.

Another interesting feature is DigiFort’s mapping functionality which incorporates icons for cameras and sensors. The way this works is that you click on an area in a map and the system will open all cameras on the map – you don’t have to click on each camera icon.

56 se&n

Garmin Australasia

It also had full integration of selected access control solutions that allowed the system to obtain any event and perform an action, such as poppingup camera views, starting a recording, or sounding an alarm.

Samsung hemispheric

Intrepid MicroPoint II

“The strength of Digifort is ease of use – it is very intuitive,” says Chong. “There’s a very flexible viewer creation tool. You can create as many viewers as you want and operators then scroll through the viewers and select the ones they want to view – truck entrance, car park, warehouse, for instance.”

“You can do a single playback of a camera or playback all the cameras in a particular viewer. In that viewer you select the time you want and click.

You do motion search, or smart search, or print, or pull up an image. Once you get into the viewer there are all sorts of options. From that screen you have direct access to everything you need to know.”

Operationally, there are 5 different ways to move a PTZ. These include the GUI PTZ controls, the mouse via controls embedded in an image, a visual joystick which overlays OSD controls on image, and a Digifort CCTV keyboard.

Chong shows me the integrated PTZ controller which sits in the middle of the screen and allows users to steer the camera with a mouse without taking their eyes off the action. The control is represented by a tiny red cross with a smaller box to left and right, one with a plus and one with a minus symbol, handling zoom. This sounds more complex written down than it actually is.

Steering a PTZ in Digifort is very soft compared to some mouse-driven PTZ controllers I’ve seen, which kangaroo-hop around a viewing screen due to oversensitivity. With Digifort’s integrated control you baby the camera with small, distinct gestures for small, manageable movements. You can employ big movements to hustle things up if you want.

“Searches in Digifort are another strength,” Chong tells me. “You can set up areas of detection using the VMD and the system will activate an alert if they are breached. You can create pop-up screens for alarm events, or send an SMS. You can define alarm events for particular areas – loitering or intrusion or speed of movement or size of object in very specific areas.

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And you can search for movement in given areas, too, just by defining them.”

As we talk I’m sneaking looks at camera performance at Garmin – it looks good inside and out. The latest cameras tend to outperform cameras that were spec’d 6-8 months ago as these were, but Samsung’s performance has been solid across multiple generations now. In particular, the big PTZs are unchallenged. Given the relatively compact nature of the site, their deep zooms either stretch into neighbouring properties or give macro detail of trees in the reserve over the back fence. Their power makes them perfect for overviews, as well as alarmdriven preset response.

The day is cloudy and very glary – it’s probably 2500-3000 lux outside – and all the external cameras are doing well with the backlight and shadows. Colour rendition is strong. There’s some good external lighting supporting night time operations and the cameras are Day/Night so no worries there.

Something to take into account is that the internal lights at Garmin are all on movement sensors for reasons of economy. That means internal cameras may at times be supported only by variable natural light.

Internally, the office design includes muted colours and some of the areas I look at on the monitor seem to be operating in perhaps 40-50 lux of natural light from windows. Nevertheless, colour rendition indoors is very good. Samsung cameras typically do very well in this area – they are probably in the top 4 performance-wise.

According to Rowe, Garmin’s Digifort system is also set up with analytics that provide hands-free access to staff car parks.

“Dedicated Samsung LPR cameras recognise a number plate when a car drives in and the boom gate opens automatically – they are IR so they work 24 hours a day,” Rowe says. “The system will open the staff car park gate, the executive and sales car park boom gate and we also have delivery vehicles that come here every day and they are managed through this system as well.

“Some vehicles might be on 2 lists so if the car park is full, vehicles can be parked elsewhere. The LPR is 100 per cent accurate in normal conditions.

If it’s pouring with rain, or there is some other issue, the driver can use their prox card to manually open the gate, while the fire brigade has pin code access through a keypad.”

Next we jump into Vauban Visor software and have a poke around access groups. When Rowe calls up a user we can see as a graphic all the doors that user can access and at a click he shows me the time zones during which access is authorised.

“It’s very easy. Visor is a GUI you can read and understand – extremely user friendly,” Rowe says.

While we are talking, Tim calls up access system on the local integrated workstation and we poke

58 se&n

Garmin Australasia

“It’s very easy. Visor is a GUI you can read and understand – extremely user friendly...

Server rack

around briefly looking at users and schedules.

The admin functions look simple to me – almost industrial.

“During commissioning you simply name the door in a user’s schedule and they have access to it,” Rowe explains. When it comes to reader formats for particular doors, Rowe points out how easy it is to change formats.

“There’s clock and data, Digitouch, Weigand 26bit and 32-bit, decimal keypad, biometrics, set up of anti passback, I can manage master, monitor events, times and attendance, anything other systems can do, this can do with Vauban,” he says.

“There are also maps of the site, diagrams of the building that can be called up, showing locations of devices as icons. I can manage time and attendance, which goes through to payroll automatically.

“Going through the other systems on the market, there’s nothing that compares to DigiFort that is not hugely more expensive. Interfacing access control to payroll and video surveillance is a major exercise but Vauban is already integrated with Digifort and that made things much easier.”

Next, we take a look at the Golmar IP intercom, which is mounted on the display wall of the guard room. There’s a GL-M700 hands-free unit in the guard room and GL-7102 units in the field. This intercom is full PoE – door stations – too, so they draw power from a PoE switch. There are 2 entrances with 3 intercoms – the main gate which is low level, the truck entrance, which is high level, and the car entrance which is low level.

The installation

LPR cameras

Rowe’s Digital Connections & Security Systems (DCSS) is the incumbent electronic security provider for Garmin, so when a new solution was required, Digital Connections & Security Systems (DCSS) got the nod. Though the system is now materially complete, Digital Connections & Security Systems (DCSS) is undertaking some final commissioning, which includes setting up user access times, sorting out auto arming in certain areas and finalising training.

According to the financial controller of Garmin Australasia, David Sung, the investment in the security system is significant.

“We believe that having a state of the art security system for our new facility is important for now and as the business continues to grow,” he says.

Meanwhile, Rowe says the system was designed to reflect everything Garmin wanted from access control and CCTV.

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cas e st u dy

Garmin Australasia

“The system was designed to prevent a repeat of robberies that have happened in the past,” he says. “A lot of thought went into this system from everyone involved. That’s reflected in the physical security, the double layers of perimeter protection, access control, video surveillance and on-site security officers.”

Was the system supplied to you complete and commissioned for installation by EOS, or did you do all the setup and commissioning by itself? I ask.

“We did everything ourselves with support from EOS,” says Rowe. “The system basically arrived in a big box and we took it from there. We set everything up, commissioned the cameras, the readers, set up the entire system.

“We have done Digifort before but not to this level - because of its capabilities you are learning something every day. Garmin is certainly the most complex installation we have done so there was a learning curve but the support from the EOS team has been outstanding.”

According to Rowe, Digital Connections & Security Systems (DCSS) started the installation in November 2013 – running cables took a couple of weeks and the overall hardware installation took a few months with up to 5 techs, including Tim (Rowe), Nik, Jim, Ray and Sam, working on the job at various times.

“Given this was a Greenfield site there were a lot of other contractors here – plasterers, builders, electrical contractors – it was a building site and every building site is a mess,” Rowe recalls.

“There were pressures on us, too. As part of the installation we were in charge of supplying the Gunnebo turnstiles and I had to get them in and the entire system had to be interfaced back into the fire panels so the fire trips would open all the boom

Gunnebo turnstile

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gates and turnstiles. All this had to be put together very quickly.”

As part of the installation Digital Connections & Security Systems (DCSS) also created that VMD barrier around the entire site using the Digifort VCA module to provide an additional layer of perimeter protection. VMD is not absolutely discerning when it comes to detecting the characteristics of human intrusion under 24-hour lighting conditions, but it provides excellent support for the Intrepid MicroPoint II fence sensor – in particular monitoring of areas inside the perimeter during the day, showing things like loitering and objects left behind.

Exactly what was the process of integrating the access control and CCTV sides of this solution? I ask.

Vauban has integrated Digifort into its head end program so the configuration is straightforward,” Chong tells me.

“You simply associate the camera/s on that server with the entry points they are viewing and every time someone uses their card the system creates an event. The way this works is that when you click on an event in Visor, the Vauban system accesses video from Digifort. And on the Vauban site map you can also associate a camera with a reader so you can access a live image from Digifort whenever you want.”

Was building the access control side hard from Digital Connections & Security Systems (DCSS)’ point of view?

“No – it was fairly simple,” explains Rowe. “On the database side, I went through it with Garmin HR – they gave me the executive list, the finance list, the warehouse list, the administration list and these were input into the system. All the access controlled doors are set up on time schedules – no one has blanket access to the entire site, it’s all been done very thoughtfully.

“The initial access control system choice was governed to some extent by the amount of space I was limited to in the network room – I only had part of one wall to support controllers for 56 readers,” Rowe explains.

“I couldn’t fit standard 15 four-door controllers in that space – there was simply no room. Cost was also factor, too. Vauban handles everything I wanted

and offers a low-level interface with Challenger for intrusion detection. And being IP-based, it was relatively simple to install from our point of view.”

At Garmin, all the intrusion devices, including the Intrepid perimeter system zones, are connected in a star configuration back to the main comms room, where they are connected to a DGP (data gathering panel). This then connects to the main panel in the network room via a bus link.

“These Intrepid zone inputs and intrusion sensor inputs are used to drive PTZ presets and alarm events in Digifort,” Rowe says. “We installed high quality Aritech intrusion sensors at Garmin. In the warehouse we used long-range VE735 dual technology sensors with a 60m x 24m detection zone. Internally, we used Aritech’s 360-degree dual tech detectors.”

Did you have much to do with Garmin’s IT department on this installation?

“Yes - we worked very closely with Garmin’s IT department – they supplied the racks we needed and we are supported by their UPS,” Rowe says.

“But we did all our own work on the network side.

As far as the access control and alarms and CCTV and intercoms are concerned we have nothing to do with IT – the networked parts of our system run on a dedicated subnet.”

What was the single greatest challenge of the installation from the point of view of Digital Connections & Security Systems (DCSS)?

“One challenge was that we needed more time for training on overall system capabilities,” Rowe tells me. “There are a number of parts to the system and you can’t just dump a manual in some one’s lap and say, ‘go for it’. I think we were scheduled a couple of hours for training on the entire system as part of the contract – that was insufficient.

“But in terms of overall challenges, the biggest one for us as an electronic security integrator was delays in getting the approval for variations during the build and obtaining the approval from the head contractor.

However, being the incumbent security contractor, I was able to liaise directly with the client and not only obtain approval for additional expenditure but to show a saving in other areas.”

The system was designed to prevent a repeat of robberies that have happened in the past – a lot of thought went into this system from everyone involved.

Rowe says. “It’s something other installers should keep in mind. You need to take responsibility for knowing what is most important for your customer.”

Touring the site Having checked out the guard room it’s time to take a quick tour of the site. The network room we’ve seen already is ground zero. The patch panels, PoE switches, servers are all very tidy. There’s the intercom, the link direct to the security control room upstairs and the time and attendance access which go straight into the switch. There are Vauban panels, Challenger panels, the Permaconn PM1025 Radio Data comms unit. At all times it’s tidy work from Digital Connections & Security Systems (DCSS).

Terminations look good, racks are neat, and CCTV and security cables have their own colours in cable trays.

The office areas are supported by 360-degree surveillance cameras and dual technology sensors.

These choices are discreet. As we move around there’s access control on every door, as well as turnstiles, to ensure maximum control at key entry points. Access points are also covered by CCTV. We go into the Garmin warehouse – it’s big, bisected by towering storage racks running longitudinally.

Physical security is taken indoors in the warehouse.

My eyes are drawn to the bright yellow livery of the heavy Rivers Locking Systems’ Anti-Ram barriers that defend the warehouse doors.

Warehouse sensors are those awesome Aritech VE735 long range units with gliding mirror optics.

Cameras are Samsung 6084s varifocal domes that are pole and wall mounted. There are also 24-hour reed switches on doors along with local sirens and

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strobes. Again, I get a sense of Rowe’s classic layered system design. Layering inwards from the perimeter is something we all know about but I’ve never seen it applied as sweetly as it has been at Garmin.

Our tour takes us out of the warehouse, across the rear car park to the fence line with its Intrepid MicroPoint II fence sensor solution. The cable goes all the way around the perimeter passing through multiple boxes on its way. Intrepid is very discreet.

You would not know it was there unless you were looking for it.

“External coverage is handled by 16 cameras in all – 4 being the PTZ domes set to home giving a general view of where there might be an intrusion. In the internal office areas we installed Samsung 1.3MP 5061 varifocal domes and we used the Samsung 7010 360-degree 3MP cameras in 6 open office spaces. Out here there are those big Samsung 2MP 6200H PTZs you can see, as well as Samsung 7080 3MP IP66-rated Samsung (WDR)domes.

Rowe points at a purposeful-looking matt-black bullet camera.

“These pole-mounted LPR cameras are Samsung’s 2120 IR camera with 12x optical zoom set up with a faster shutter speed and a higher frame rate to detect moving vehicles,” Rowe explains. “It’s a standard camera but because the vehicles are not going at high speed, this works perfectly for LPR, while the IR allows the system to work at night.”

We also take a look at the Golmar intercom units on the poles at the vehicle entrances. Same as the rest of the installation, these are very nicely done.

Conclusion Garmin is certainly one of the most complete electronic security solutions I’ve seen and being IP, this is a system that can be expanded and upgraded well into the future. The power of the integration between Digifort and Vauban is what best defines this

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Vauban controllers

job but there’s so much going on here it’s hard to pin down a single standout feature.

To my mind this is a site that speaks eloquently of what a really good networked electronic security solution can be and credit sheets home to Garmin Australia, Digital Connections & Security Systems (DCSS)’ Tim Rowe who designed the solution, and EOS Australia, which supplied most system hardware and software components and was involved in day-to-day support.

According to Tooma Chong, the Garmin facility is an important one for EOS. “This is a site which represents all of our solutions – Digifort VMS, Vauban IP access control, Samsung cameras, Golmar IP intercom - all working together seamlessly,” he explains. “We have worked very closely with Tim Rowe and the Digital Connections & Security Systems (DCSS) team on this application.”

Meanwhile, Digital Connections & Security Systems (DCSS)’ Tim Rowe has plenty of praise for Garmin’s management team, which took the site’s security solution seriously and wanted the best from CCTV and access control systems.

“Garmin has been great,” Rowe says. “They’ve told us exactly what they wanted – their concerns about perimeter and access control, the need for a link between access control and time and attendance.

We told our suppliers, including EOS, what Garmin wanted and the result is a solution that works very well.”

From Garmin’s point of view, the experience has also been a positive one. “The security system addressed the brief and met our expectations, says Holman. “The completed system works well - we are able to use the integration of the access control system and CCTV to confirm any events as required.

The support from Digital Connections & Security Systems (DCSS) and EOS has been excellent.” zzz

high performance VISIT US ON STAND i20 4-6 JUNE 2014

An IP Security System you can trust The Honeywell HUS-NVR-7200A-E supports up to 256 channels at full frame rate at high resolution recording, and playback or relay with up to 40 channels video streaming at the same time. Storage is scalable – this NVR supports 16 bays hard disk, and can be expanded to 64 bays with 3 expansion chassis up to 192 TB. As a comprehensive integrated unit, the Honeywell HUS-NVR-7200A-E is a high performance, more cost-efficient and low maintenance security solution.

A complete fail-over solution can be provided by a N+1 redundancy system design.

The smart choice for high performance IP security management.

For more information call 1300 234 234 or visit www.honeywellsecurity.com.au email honeywellsecurity.as@honeywell.com Š 2014 Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved.

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Garmin securityAustralasia 201 4

SEN pre-show report Security 2014 will be the first security exhibition held in Melbourne for a decade. The event gives end users, installers, integrators and consultants an opportunity to check out the latest products and technologies.

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USTRALIA’S annual security exhibition, Security 2014, to be held in Melbourne this June, should be a great opportunity for Victorians to get a look at the latest electronic security products. Things have changed a lot in 10 years and there’s been development and consolidation of new product since last year’s event in Sydney.

According to Emanuel Stafilidis, NSW state manager surveillance at C. R. Kennedy, the company’s key releases at Security 2014 will include the AxxonNext video management system, a new range of Dallmeier recorders and recording platforms, and advanced software management and cameras with the best image quality. C.R. Kennedy will also be showing Ganz camera-based analytics that are accurate and very easy to use, as well as new remote positioning cameras that cut costs for installation companies.

“Visitors will also see LG’s IP and hybrid range of quality yet cost effective solutions,” says Stafilidis.

At QSS, Rob Rosa say the company will be

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releasing its own QVS brand cameras called Alumia and Alumia Net. “These cameras are manufactured by one of the key camera manufacturers in the world and have been designed to compete against big brand cameras but at half the cost, with more features, great video quality and a 5-year warranty,” Rosa says. “We will also have the new Exacq system, DVTEL Meridian and Horizon and Ariel range and also some new FLIR products.”

Vivotek’s Kate Wang says one of Vivotek’s key focuses will be retail security.

“Factors like customer theft, shoplifting, and employees’ administrative errors or suppliers’ fraud have been causing revenue and inventory shrinkage among retail stores,” says Wang. “Taking this into account, Vivotek has worked hard to develop network cameras offering high quality video image streams that have an elegant and fashionable design, ensuring a safe and secure shopping environment.”

Wang says Vivotek’s newly developed megapixel Ultra Mini Bullet and Ultra Mini Dome network cameras, which are designed for convenience stores, boutique stores and elegant restaurants, will be introduced at Security 2014.

Over at Tyco, the key new product release at Security 2014 will be PowerSeries Neo, a hybrid intruder alarm panel with PowerG technology offering detector installation distances ranging up to 2km line-of-sight range and 128-bit EAS encryption of data and video verification.

At the core of the Neo range are 4 control panels, ranging in capacity from 16 to 128 zones and 2 to 8 partitions. Each panel starts with 6 or 8 hardwired inputs, 2-4 hardwired outputs and PTSN communication onboard, with the capability for expansion, additional features and services.

When it comes to communications, PowerSeries Neo offers a full range of optional cellular and/or IP communication methods in support of the industry’s transition away from traditional phone lines.

Direct Alarm Supplies’ Tony Le says there will be

by John By john Aadam dam s

plenty of new things for installers and end users to check out at Security 2014.

“This will be an exciting year for the Hills Group,” Le says. “DAS will be unveiling its latest enhancement to the ever reliable Hills Reliance security platform, showcasing its mobility and flexibility.

“We’ll also be taking our visitors through the new line of products and software from the everstrengthening Tecom Challenger10 product suite.

The latest in residential CCTV surveillance and stylish intercoms will also be on show, together with, an industry-first motion sensing technology that will take your breath away.”

FLIR’s Peter De Ieso says the big releases at Security 2014 will be FC-R and FC-VA. The new FC-Series VA cameras have on-board video analytics designed for thermal imaging. Product redundancy is achieved with edge analytics instead of relying on a central PC. The video analytics is able to classify humans and vehicles and generate alarms to third party VMS. “The new FC-Series R cameras’ on-board, noncontact temperature measurement capabilities are normally found only in much more expensive camera systems,” says De Ieso. “This creates a true dual-role camera that provides rock-solid perimeter intrusion detection as well as temperature-based alarms.”

According to De Ieso, this added capability makes the FC-Series R cameras perfect solution for condition monitoring, trend analysis, predictive maintenance, fire detection and safety monitoring, as well as their typical security role.

Open Platform Systems will be showing SC-32 at Security 2014.

“SV-32 is an exciting new product from Genetec that will be extending the offering of the SV-16 and SVPRO and we think it will be a very important part of the solutions we provide,” says OPS’ Kobi Ben Shabat.

“We’ll also be displaying the new Briefcam Syndex product which extends the capabilities of Briefcam and has new features that will create great interest in the product.”

Risco’s Tim Prag says the company will release its live video verification solution VUpoint at Security 2014. VUpoint is compatible with Risco’s Agility 3 and LightSYS 2 security control panels.

“Seamlessly integrating IP cameras within our professional security systems, and powered by the RISCO Cloud, VUpoint will give an unprecedented level of security with live video monitoring capabilities for both monitoring stations and endusers,” he says.

With VUpoint, users can remotely view their premises through live video clips up to 30 seconds in length through Risco Group’s intuitive iRISCO smart phone app. In addition, video clips can be viewed in response to a wide range of triggers, (detector alarm event, panic alarm, or system disarm by code), providing unparalleled peace of mind for end-users,

and enabling monitoring stations to simply verify false alarms, saving on unnecessary visits to the premises and wasted resources.

VUpoint features include unlimited opportunity to stream live video events, unlimited monitoring capability; anywhere, anytime, unlimited types of triggers; detector alarm event, panic, system disarm by code, unlimited quantity of IP cameras; increasing security and sales potential, and unlimited potential for installers; simple plug and play installation.

Senstar will release its new ranging fencemounted intrusion detection sensor, FlexZone. With 3m location accuracy, FlexZone enables flexible zoning through software. Compared to non-ranging systems, FlexZone reports fewer nuisance alarms while maintaining a high probability of detection.

According to Senstar, FlexZone can detect and localize multiple simultaneous intrusions and provides many features that speed installation time.

Pacific Communication’s Lou Mavrelis says Pacific Communications SmartIP series network video

Genetec’s SV-32 is an exciting new product from Genetec that will be extending the offering of the SV-16 & SV-PRO and we think that it will be very important part of solutions we provide - Kobi Ben-Shabat, OPS

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recorders will be on show at Security 2014 in a range of 4, 8, 16 and 32-channel IP inputs. All come with a builtin POE switch and the quick wizard feature simplifies the setup and configuration, especially when using the EVOnet range of cameras, which is automatically discovered and pre-configured for recording. SmartIP is also compatible with the Panasonic, Axis and all ONVIF-compliant cameras.

Meanwhile, Pacific Communications’ Kieron McDonough says the key Panasonic product for Security 2014 is the new Series 6 cameras.

“These fantastic cameras feature double the Super Dynamic capability previously available, outstanding low light performance and up to 60 images a second at full HD quality,” McDonough says. “The increase in images per second prevents vital information being lost in fast moving scene applications, such as casinos.

Communications specialist Comnet plans to release a hybrid product, digital encoders, copper distance extenders, wireless and solar power kit.

Axis Communications’ Wai King Wong says the Axis P1428-E network camera is the top-of-the-line model in the compact P14 Series. AXIS P1428-E is Axis’ first camera with 4K. It was announced in March 2014 and is planned to be available for order in Q2, 2014.

“4K technology offers the latest generation of HDTV standards and features a resolution 4 times higher than HDTV 1080p,” says Wong. “The new P1428-E is ideal for overlooking large areas like parking lots and public squares while being able to capture fine details.”

Typical Axis, Wong says there will be strong new additions to its comprehensive lineup of fixed dome network cameras.

“The all-new Q35 Series and P32 Series as well as 2 additions to the existing P33 Series offer customers versatile options meeting any installation need and ranging from high-end to affordable,” he explains.

“The new Q35 network camera series is suited for high-end video surveillance installations offering HDTV 1080p resolution at 60 fps, electronic image

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stabilization or wide dynamic range - dynamic capture (WDR) technology.”

Also at the show will be the new P32 camera series, which meet quality and cost demands of volume deployments featuring HDTV video quality and remote zoom and focus. Visitors will also see the new Q35 Series, the outdoor models of the AXIS P32 Series and the 2 new additions to the AXIS P33 Series which are planned to be available in the end of Q2 2014 through Axis’ distribution channels.

On the Kaba stand visitors will see the new Kaba TouchGo, according to Kaba’s Nicole Richardson.

Meanwhile, EOS Australia will be unveiling a bunch of new Samsung gear including new 3MP and 5MP Wisenet III camera ranges, a 4-input plug and play NVR, an HD-SDI camera and DVR series including Hybrid recorder with real time recording, 850TVL analogue cameras and a 960H DVR, a 64-input NVR and Samsung Security Manager (SSM), Samsung’s Network Total Management Software. EOS will also show an IP spot monitor system called IPVISTA. On the alarms side, Honeywell will show Honeywell Tuxedo R2 now with voice, as well as VAM – the Vista Automation Module - which gives Vista users a Wi-Fi and Z-Wave automation module with heaps of automation capability and support for up to 4 IP cameras, with mobile app management.

The big release on the fire side is Honeywell’s BC600 Fire Alarm Control Panel – With Wireless HLI Integration – it’s Honeywell’s first fully addressable bi-directional wireless fire detection system.

Meanwhile, CSD will be showcasing a heap of new and exciting products such as Hikvision’s new 4-line smart IP camera series and Avigilon’s new

8-16MP Lightcatcher range of smart IP cameras. CSD and Inner Range will also offer a sneak preview of its new WEBtegriti web-based access control system.

Bosch Security Systems will show a new residential and commercial alarm panel at Security 2014.

“We’ll be showing our new residential/ commercial intrusion panels, the Solution 2000 and 3000 as well as our new Touchscreen Codepad for both our existing and new intrusion panels,” says James Layton, Bosch’s intrusion product manager.

“You can also see Bosch Site Manager – end-user software for our Solution 6000 integrated intrusion and access panel – and there will be updated information about Bosch and the NBN including the benefits of IP intrusion monitoring.”

Bosch’s video systems product manager Steve Malesevic says visitors will see new Dinion and Flexidome 4000/5000 cameras, Microdome 5MP IP cameras, 960H Resolution analog cameras and a range of powerful DVR’s. Bosch will also be promoting its integration partner program.

Sony’s premier showing at Security 2014 will be the company’s powerful new Series 6 range, which is driven by Sony’s IPELA ENGINE EX. The range includes the Series X – the SNC-XM632/ XM636/XM637 transportation cameras, which are a network mini dome FHD camera with features like 1080p HD resolution, Exmor CMOS sensor, dynamic range equivalent to 90 dB achieved with View-DR technology, minimum illumination of 0.2 lx (tentative) in B/W mode and 0.2 lx (tentative) in colour mode at 50 IRE, IK10-rated vandal-resistant (tentative) and IP66-rated waterproof/dust-tight features.

There’s also the SNC-WR632 (High Speed Rapid Dome), which features a pan speed of 700 degrees per second, 1080p resolution, 60ips, IP66 and IK10 rating and a dynamic range of 130dB. The SNC-HM662 H Series is a 360-degree hemispheric-view camera with a 5MP CMOS sensor.

It has a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1920 pixels and 360-degree hemispheric imaging technology with a panamorphic lens from ImmerVision.

There’s de-warping technology, PTZ, 11 view modes including 360-degree hemispheric view, 180-degree panoramic view, and 9-split-screen view, edge storage and IP66 and IK10 rating.

Sony’s street surveillance unit is the SNC-VB635, which features all the performance capabilities of Gen 6, as well as minimum illumination of 0.04 lx in colour mode and 0.03 lux in B/W mode at 50 IRE and 30 frames per second (fps), a high frame rate of 60 fps, dynamic range equivalent to 90 dB achieved with View-DR technology, RS-485 interface and an operating temperature up to 60 degrees C. HikVision’s Tony Lagan says the company’s focus for the show will be its newly released 4 Series which consists of a wide range of models designed for the project and enterprise markets.

Vivotek has worked hard to develop network cameras offering high quality video image streams that have an elegant and fashionable design, ensuring a safe and secure shopping environment – Kate Wang, Vivotek

“We have 16 new models in Hikvision’s 4 Series range ranging from 1.3MP WDR cameras capable of 50ips though to our range topping 3MP models with 120db WDR and a motorised lens,” says Lagan.

“All the 4 Series cameras are capable of triple streams and we have worked on the bandwidth to provide much higher quality images at lower bandwidths. This has a big impact of course on network performance and storage consumption.

“We have other features such as ‘region of interest’ where the user can increase the image quality of a part of the image such as an entry point, and run a lower quality for other parts of the image, reducing bandwidth further.”

All Hikvision’s new models are ONVIF, PSIA and CGI compatible and are equipped with digital image stabilisation and a defog function, as well as audio detection and intrusion detection. They can house a 64GB MicroSD card for edge storage and have many other features designed to enable them cameras to integrate into large scale projects.

At the Mobotix stand, visitors can check out the new Mobotix VMS Multiviewer, as well as MxDisplay, the M15-D thermal camera, a new PT Dome which sounds interesting, along with new lenses and interface boxes.

There are new light-sensitive 5-megapixel camera models 10x the light sensitivity of older systems that eliminate motion blurring in very dark scenes and deliver low-noise images.

There’s the M15 thermal camera, which can detect movement in absolute darkness and measure the temperature. M15 can also be purchased as a thermal and optical camera which makes it an especial useful solution.

The video motion analysis MxActivitySensor reliably detects movement outdoors. Even in difficult weather conditions, for example shadows and trees moving in the wind, it auto-configures itself.

The new video management software MxMultiviewer for PC, Mac and Linux handles not just video security but home automation systems and independently configures complex video systems and access control systems. It gives a strong hint of where Mobotix is going in the future. zzz

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qss

qss at your service The QSS service, logistics and training centre at Laverton North in Melbourne is something to behold. It’s the only service centre of this size I’ve seen anywhere in the Australian electronic security industry.

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OST manufacturers and distributors in Australia have a ‘service centre’ – a crowded bench in a dusty warehouse covered with the bodies of dead cameras and DVR chassis that looks like a Star Wars’ droid workshop.

But the QSS service centre at Laverton in Melbourne, really is different.

The facility handles commissioning of systems for integration customers as well as servicing of cameras, NVRS, DVRs, servers and computers. As I walk through the QSS service centre with QSS’ national service manager, Manny Kalaw, I see hundreds of cameras in various states of repair.

When you think of modern electronics as being disposable, there’s something wonderful about a facility that repairs our electronic security technology.

It’s impressive space – big, clean and well organised. The QSS service centre has real wow factor. The work benches are commodious, there are stores of parts it seems to me go right down to the board component level. There’s also serious network support for the local LAN, with a packed

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Domes on the work bench

server rack giving the 5 QSS service centre technicians plenty of horsepower for working up systems.

I did not know you did this at QSS, I tell Kalaw – I’m not sure anyone outside the QSS orbit knows you do this. It’s by far the most impressive CCTV workshop I’ve seen in Australia.

“All QSS branches have a local service capability – 95 per cent of service work happens there it’s only the more complex tasks that come to Laverton North where we service everything,” Kalaw explains. “We repair NVRS, DVRs, servers, cameras, we do all maintenance and repair for all the brands we carry. And if we can’t repair something, we organise it to be returned to the manufacturer wherever they may be – Taiwan, China, Hong Kong – it all goes through us.

by john adam s

Justin Pantalleresco (l), Manny Kalaw, Sandro Scucchia, Ivan Jelic and Peter Ha

“We are the service centre for all Samsung CCTV cameras in Australia,” Kalaw says. “We repair Pelco, NUUO, Verint, American Dynamics, QVS, Fuijinon and AD. We repair full body cameras, PTZs, dome cameras. We do PTZ drives, lenses - anything and everything. We repair cameras from top to bottom – right down to board work. Obviously to do this properly we carry a lot of spare parts and components.”

Interesting, too, the service techs say that compared to sales volumes there’s a tiny percentage of devices that need servicing. Cameras generally last a long time if properly protected from the elements and when it comes to DVRs, the techs say the big failure is hard drives.

As we walk, Kalaw tells me there are a number of commissioning jobs currently in the process of

completion. The commissioning technicians have their noses to screens setting up solutions as we walk by and we take a peek at one – a NUUO system with a flock of Samsung iPolis dome cameras arrayed around it.

“Systems of 50 cameras or more will usually be configured here,” Kalaw tells me. “Commissioning is a process that starts with administration and supply of the necessary hardware and then moves to the service centre. Here, we build the system, install boards, load IP addresses, configure required specifications, configure switches, including wireless switches. All the integrator has to do is install the system we supply and if they have a problem, we will guide them through it.”

According to Kalaw, the service centre’s workload is likely to increase now QSS is carrying Tyco Security Products’ range of cameras and DVRs. “Tyco is a huge company with a massive product range and we will commission systems using these products as well as handling all Tyco servicing in this region – including Fiji and NZ.” It’s a lot of responsibility - you must have challenging moments when there’s a lot of commissioning going on and a large number of repairs come in? I ask.

“Yes, there’s pressure on all of us when it gets busy but the whole team is highly trained in all the

We repair full body cameras, PTZs, dome cameras. We do PTZ drives, lenses, anything - we repair cameras from top to bottom – right down to board work.

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Repairing PTZs

Inside a fixed camera

product ranges we support and we work together to achieve our goals,” Kalaw says.

Listening in, the techs tell me they have had every workstation filled with commissioning jobs at various times. As we chat, I get a sense that those challenges have created a real esprit de corps in the young service team. It’s a reflection of the changing nature of electronic security distribution that QSS has the capability to supply complex networked surveillance systems as plug and play solutions.

“I think there’s a real service culture in this company,” Kalaw says. “This service centre is one of the reasons clients love QSS – because we offer a very high level of technical support locally.

All repairs, all warranty support, replacement of parts - it’s all done right here in Australia.”

According to QSS, COO, Rob Rosa, having an inhouse logistic, training and service centre allows QSS to deliver total solutions for clients quickly and efficiently.

“It means we don’t need to depend on 3rd party sources to provide us repairs, warranty or pre-sales configuration as our in-house techs do

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There’s a real service culture in this company.

This service centre is one of the reasons clients love QSS – because we offer a very high level of technical support locally. all this and all our clients are a priority,” Rosa says.

“When we sell an IP system it is all pre-configured with IP addresses and set up with the specifications that customers provide to us. Installers can then literally plug-and-play the system on a site.

“The QSS Professional Service model is based around this facility with all our other sales offices in Australia having mini service centres that can service the local market without having to be returned to Laverton North.

“For QSS it has been important to try and differentiate ourselves from the other distributors.

As you can appreciate many others tend to outsource some of these services and then promote that they offer repairs, warranty, training and the like.”

Rosa says outsourcing service doesn’t work well as there is no real level of control from within.

“My belief is that to offer a one-stop solution covering things like servicing and commissioning, all these processes must be under the control of the company offering them,” he explains. “QSS manages each individual process of these valueadd services and all comply with our quality control and procedural standards.”

Rosa says QSS can also negotiate (dependent on project value and longevity) advance replacement with an integrator that may have contractual obligations, as opposed to sending repair items abroad as he says the company’s competitors often do. Service offshore can mean waiting up to 8 weeks for a repaired item, which is unacceptable for many electronic security applications when parts, including cameras, need to be cut-over to maintain 24-hour coverage.

“All in all, I believe we have a unique business model that while many others try and emulate, they can’t duplicate,” says Rosa. “That’s why QSS is growing in a very competitive market place.” zzz

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s p e ci al re p o rt

thermal cameras

Convection Currents Thermal cameras have been on a roll over the past couple of years and it seems every other manufacturer has a thermal PoE network camera in its lineup. While the applications for thermal seem specific, there’s a lot to like about this technology.

T

HERMAL cameras have a great strength.

Although they don’t offer face or number plate recognition, they offer something else - visual confirmation of intrusion day and night.

They are also capable of handling rain, hail, trees, grass, shrubs, bushfires and dust storms without expensive supporting light sources.

As well as confirming intrusion, thermal cameras have head spinning working ranges. Even a modest unit can peer hundreds of metres into complete darkness across land or water, while high end units can detect intrusion at thousands of metres. What this means operationally, is that end users can extend their perimeter detection zones way past

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their boundaries, buying time in an intrusion event.

The engine of a PoE thermal imaging camera is the un-cooled microbolometer – essentially that’s a bolometer fitted as an image sensor. This sensor is responsive to IRE in the 8-13um range and when IRE reaches the microbolometer, it generates a cascade of electrical signals based on resistance which can be analysed to construct a thermal image.

When you’re selecting a thermal camera you want coverage of that long 8um to 13um spectral band – that’s the spot you’ll get best penetration of smoke, fog and rain.

In very general terms, all microbolometers have certain similar characteristics, though each

by john adam s

company licensed to build the technology interprets it independently and some manufacturers OEM tech from a third party. In terms of microbolometer construction, there’s typically a bottom layer of silicon, a readout integrated circuit and a reflector beneath the sensing layer to reabsorb spilled IRE. There’s also a sacrificial layer thermally isolating the IR material from the integrated circuit and an absorbing layer for the placement of electrical contacts.

Building a microbolometer is an expensive businesss with some or all of the fabrication process undertaken with the sensor encapsulated under a vacuum. This means even the most affordable thermal imaging cameras aren’t cheap but they are getting more and more affordable all the time.

Consider that FLIR released a $US499 thermal camera at ISC West in Las Vegas.

In terms of image quality, the better low cost versions deliver 320 x 240 pixels while the cheaper arrays are 160 x 120 pixels. Recent releases incorporate 640 x 480 pixels using 25um pixel sizes.

At 640 x 480 pixels you are beginning to get detail and that means more contrast and better situational awareness.

The latest thermal cameras have the ability to penetrate fog, smoke and mist, as well as darkness.

They are small and lightweight, have modest power consumption and being uncooled, they function on power up. Like most passive sensing devices, mean time between failure is lengthy. A thermal camera installed in a properly maintained protective housing might last decades.

Another strong feature of thermal cameras is the fact they have both analogue (mini-BNC) and digital outputs and that means the unit will stream video on a LAN with viewing and control handled by a Windows software application. Basic control features of thermal cameras include things like freeze/live, horizontal and vertical flip, black-hot/white-hot, colour palette control, video recording, searches, alarms on intrusion, NUC control, histogram display, automatic contrast enhancement, gamma correct ion and digital zoom.

What’s available According to Brad Ballesty of Infratherm, the company’s most popular range is DRS thanks to great range and competitive price.

“DRS has predominantly played in the military market so the quality of its products is outstanding but has recently released a range of cameras targeted to the commercial CCTV market,” Ballesty explains.

“In saying that, we represent and service the products of 8 different thermal manufacturers and can sell everything from entry level fixed thermal cameras up to high end PTZ integrated optical and continuous thermal zoom cameras that can pick people up at 10km.”

The key feature for end users that sets thermal cameras apart is the ability to detect intrusion in darkness and challenging weather conditions such as smoke, haze, dust and light fog.

According to Ballesty, the key feature of a quality thermal camera for end users is as early warning detection.

“We recently had a case where a client came to us with a job requiring around 90 IP cameras,” he says. “It was a large site with a perimeter fence some 80m away from the warehouse surrounding the building. We re-designed the spec with a thermal fence around the perimeter and incorporated video analytics.

“When we had finished we had 8 thermal cameras with analytics covering the perimeter fence line and 70 IP cameras. The client got an additional 100m of security in all directions and saved $A20,000. Better security at a cheaper price – now who doesn’t want that.

“This client can now be alerted if someone is approaching his fence 100m away from his building and do something about it – rather than with an optical design just waiting until the perpetrator has kicked in a door to get notification that something is going on.”

Ballesty says another key feature for end users is the ability for thermal cameras to detect and can notify over long distances at night with no lighting. This makes thermal a proactive tool that’s environmentally friendly and much less expensive than traditional flood-lit applications.

“Identifying threats before they happen is important for many applications,” Ballesty says. “It’s better

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thermal cameras

to know someone had breached a fence line and is approaching your office or warehouse ten minutes before they kicked a door in and activate a reed switch.”

According to Ballesty, the things end users like most about thermal camera technology revolve around these core capabilities – 24-hour coverage without an expensive external light source and enormous range. Having a thermal perimeter gives end users peace of mind, he says.

From the point of view of installers, Ballesty says IP-based PoE thermal cameras are relatively easy to install and program.

“As an installer selecting a thermal camera for a client, you’d be looking at things like ease of installation and programming, quality of build, camera performance, and local back up and support,” says Ballesty.

Over at FLIR, Peter De Ieso says the most popular solution is the company’s F (Fixed) Series used to create a FLIR Thermal Fence. According to De Ieso, the thing installers and end users need to

It’s better to know someone had breached a fence line and is approaching your office or warehouse ten minutes before they kicked a door in and activate a reed switch.

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think about when selecting thermal cameras is temperature resolution.

“On the top of the list of key features is temperature resolution expressed in milli Kelvin,” De Ieso says. “I enjoy working with 50mK or better, as this enables end users to see more detail and detect objects further away.

“A high temperature resolution, coupled with proven intruder detection algorithms, presents an end user with the technology to apply a visual alarm to areas of interest.

“Apart from high temperature resolution and proven intruder detection algorithms, the installer should be reviewing ease of use, environmental specification, warranty provided and how easily the camera integrates with other systems,” he says.

What end users across a range of industries find so compelling about thermal cameras is that they give the ability to see in the dark.

“Everybody wants to see in the dark and most people are amazed that this military technology is now available at the consumer level,” De Ieso says.

“Consider a security officer or law enforcement officer using a thermal imaging camera compared to a torch or a spotlight. Now they can detect intrusion without drawing attention to themselves.”

When I was at the Mobotix Conference a couple of months ago, I got a look at the M15-D platform, which can include a thermal camera and an optical camera in a single IP65-rated PoE housing. Use of optical and thermal side by side was a real eye opener for me – it

makes for a powerful solution.

According to Mobotix’ Frank Olsen the MXM15D-Thermal is based on the proven design of the M15 system platform and provides a range of applications. There’s an array of camera sensors (PIR sensor, microphone, etc), as well as the video analytic capabilities of MxActivitySensor video analytic software (video motion detection, event logic, etc).

From Olsen’s perspective, the key feature of the M15-D is that the camera measures the thermal radiation of objects so it can function in absolute darkness.

“Together with the new MxActivitySensor, the M15-D can reliably detect motion in images at night,” says Olsen. “Importantly from the point of view of false alarms, only changes in position trigger a signal. Objects moving on the spot – trees or shrubs – do not.”

Olsen points out something not widely considered – the fact thermal camera modules also have an advantage during the day since they can detect moving objects in shadows, semi-darkness or behind bushes.

“Mobotix thermal modules are designed for around-the-clock operation (80,000 hours MTBF) in industrial conditions and are certified as weatherproof to IP65,” he says. “Just like for the daylight modules, there are different focal lengths available for the thermal modules.

“The advantages of an M15-Dual with a thermal module and simultaneous daylight sensor lie in the combination of both images. You get brilliant 5MP optical images during the day and in twilight hours, as well as reliable motion detection at night with the thermal.”

According to Olsen, when installers are looking for a quality thermal camera they should be aware of the technology’s limitations.

“Different sensor types provide diverging sensitivity for various wavelengths,” he explains.

“The human eye and a colour sensor are sensitive to visible light in the range from 390nm to 770nm. A black and white sensor is additionally sensitive for the near infrared range - it sees light the eye cannot see.

“But the thermal image sensor uses a completely

different range of the electromagnetic spectrum heat radiation. Due to the fact that the wavelength is around 10x longer, this radiation reacts different with typical material.

“Glass, for instance, does not let thermal radiation through and reflects it back,” Olsen explains. “This means a thermal imaging camera cannot look through glass. Thermal radiation also has a different behaviour with other obstructions like fog, smoke or smog. Heat radiation can penetrate smoke completely which means intruders can be seen in a smoke filled room.

“Steam and gas like water-steam or carbon dioxide absorb the heat radiation. While absorbing, the heating energy is passed over to the steam or gas before it reaches the thermal camera. Subsequently, the penetration of these substances is reduced.

Light fog can be penetrated while heavy fog cannot.

These characteristics need to be taken into account by installers.”

According to Olsen, what end users like most about thermal is that it adds a dimension to traditional security solutions.

“The advantages of an M15-Dual camera with a thermal module and daylight sensor originate from the combination of both images.”

For Axis Communications, the most popular IP network thermal camera is the AXIS Q19 Series.

According to Wai King Wong, the features installers should look for when choosing a quality thermal camera include intelligent video capabilities, outdoor-ready models with a window heater and lens options for different applications.

“I think the key feature for end users that sets thermal cameras apart is the ability to detect intrusion in darkness and challenging weather conditions such as smoke, haze, dust and light fog,” says Wong.

“For end users, thermal cameras are a perfect complement to any network video system that needs to secure an area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.” zzz

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new pr o d u ct s h owcase / new p roduct showcase / new p roduct showcase /

editor’s choice

What’s new in the industry

Honeywell goes VAM

Axis Q35 fixed dome network cameras

l HONEYWELL’S Vista Automation Module (VAM) gives Vista users simple, affordable home and business control on mobile devices. It’s an ideal solution for upgrades, retrofits and account retention. VAM contains a built-in web server that broadcasts its own network, allowing for easy connection to Wi-Fi enabled devices.

Users can locally control their security systems, and Z-Wave enabled, lights, locks, thermostats and blinds and view up to 4 IP cameras at once on their smartphones, tablets and other Internet-connected wireless devices. Users can get emails notifying them of important alerts or system events for up to 4 email addresses.

In addition, users can customize up to 10 scenes that suit their individual lifestyles—allowing system devices to act based on events, day of week or time of day. For example, they can have all of their lights turn off and all of their doors lock every night at 11:00 p.m., or automatically raise the thermostat and dim a hallway light upon disarming their system.

l AXIS’ new Q35 camera is suited for high-end video surveillance installations offering HDTV 1080p resolution at 60 fps, electronic image stabilization or wide dynamic range - dynamic capture (WDR) technology.

The new AXIS Q35 Series consists of AXIS Q3505-V for indoor installations and the AXIS Q3505-VE for outdoor installations, both with wide and tele lens options. The cameras deliver smooth and steady video with HDTV 1080p video recording at 60 frames per second and electronic image stabilization (EIS). The intelligent operational functions of the cameras allow operators to use live zoom for example together with the Gatekeeper application to get closer views of people or vehicles.

The cameras can seamlessly transition between handling strong variations in light (WDR) and low-light conditions. The IK10-rated and dust-resistant indoor model and the IK10+ impact resistant outdoor model, together with vibration resistance and shock detection - an automatic alarm sent to the operator if the camera is hit –make the cameras ideal for installations with a need for highly durable and reliable video surveillance.

Distributor: ADI Global Contact: 1300 234234

Distributor: Axis Communications Contact: +61 3 9982 1111

Ultra-Smart Network Cameras

OPS has released Visual Tools’ AX-TV

l DAHUA Technology’s Ultra-Smart DH-IPC-8000-series of network cameras offers 3MP in box, IR-bullet and dome. Features include Ultra codec, region of interest (ROI), corridor mode, electronic image stabilization (EIS) and scalable video coding (SVC).

Ultra-Smart series supports intelligent analytics such as tripwire, intrusion detection, abandoned/missing, scene change, defocus, facial detection and audio detection. The first models are HF8301E, HFW8301E and HDBW8301 in box, IR-bullet and dome.

The series supports max 25/30fps@3MP encoding and features in triple-stream codecs, enabling customized configuration on codec, frame rate and bitrate depending on purpose.

l AX-TV is a small video decoder that display live footage of up to 16 Axis network cameras, including encoders and various 360-degree camera views, direct to a TV screen.

There’s no need for a PC and the setup is easy; just connect to the TV via HDMI output and either connecting to the LAN via network cable or Wi-Fi. Once all connections are completed, you simply use the remote control to configure the desired view settings.

AX-TV broadcasts the cameras to the television and permits a user to configure the display to show up to 4 cameras simultaneously.

Distributor: Dahua Contact:overseas@dahuatech.com

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Distributor: Open Platform Systems Contact: +61 3 9646 9004

n ew p rod

duct showcase / n ew p ro d u ct s h owcas e / new pr o d u ct showcase / new p roduct showcase / new p roduct showcase /

Vivotek NR8401 16-channel NVR

Mobotix M15-D thermal camera

l VIVOTEK NR8401 is a Linux-embedded NVR with 2 gigabit Ethernet RJ45 ports providing network failover/load balance functionality to avoid the risk of recording loss. Up to 4 hotswappable HDDs can be added to the NR8401 for a total storage capacity of up to 12TB (3TBx4HDDs).

The NVR provides up to 16-channel live view and 4 synchronous playback, ability to export footages and fast backup/restore.

l THERMOGRAPHIC cameras sees what would otherwise be invisible to the human eye. What’s certainly not invisible, according to CSD, is the fact Mobotix continues to excel with its M15-D AllRound thermal camera range.

Based on the proven M15 system platform, these outstanding thermal cameras offer an abundance of new application options for the consumer. There’s a comprehensive array of camera sensors which include a PIR sensor and microphone, and the analytic capabilities of the camera software (MxActivity Sensor, video motion detection, event logic, and more), it is now possible to detect moving persons or objects even in total darkness!

Distributor: Open Platform Systems Contact: +61 3 9646 9004

Distributor: Mobotix Contact: +61 2 8507 2000

Axis PoE+ over coax blade

Hikvision’s 4-Line Smart IP Cameras

l AXIS T8646 PoE+ over coax blade enables the re-using of existing

Enriched with smart technologies such as autofocus, defogging and intelligent video analytics, amongst many others, these 4-Line cameras are specifically designed to deliver a smart and convenient surveillance to the market. Hikvision’s 4-line cameras can also be coupled with other Hikvision products including smart PTZ domes and video management software to deliver a truly outstanding solution for range of professional applications.

coax cabling when migrating to IP cameras.

“This is a very strong alternative for customers to get the all benefits of IP video surveillance without having to make any significant changes to their existing infrastructure,” says Erik Frännlid, Axis’ director of product management.

“The Axis T8646 PoE+ over Coax Blade fits Axis’ video encoder chassis and any combination of encoder blades, and Axis T8646 can be used simultaneously, so customers can migrate to IP in any pace they like.”

To complement the solution, an Axis T8642 ethernet-over-coax device unit PoE+ is used on the camera side. Both the device unit and the network camera can receive power over the coax cable using the new rack-mountable Axis T8082 and Axis T8085 power supply solutions, making the installation and maintenance very effective.

Axis T8646 will be sold as a single unit and in a kit that combines one Axis T8646 blade with 6 Axis T8642 device units, at the suggested retail price of $A740 for Axis T8646 and $A1800 for the kit. Axis T8646 is planned to be available in Q2 2014 through Axis’ distribution channels.

Distributor: CSD Contact: 1300 319 499

Distributor: Axis Communications Contact: +61 3 9982 1111

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new pr o d u ct s h owcase / new p roduct showcase / new p roduct showcase /

editor’s choice Honeywell upgrades Tuxedo Touch l HONEYWELL’S Tuxedo Touch is a 7-inch, high-resolution graphic touchscreen that integrates security with home and business control. Additional features now include voice commands, video viewing and recording, email alerts and control for Z-Wave enabled thermostats, lights, locks and blinds. Tuxedo Touch software can be updated manually through an SD card or remotely without having to schedule a costly onsite service call. A built-in web server allows end-users to control all aspects of their Tuxedo Touch controller on premises through smartphones, tablets, Internet TVs and other web-enabled devices.

Distributor: ADI Global Contact: 1300 234234

What’s new in the industry

Honeywell’s HUS-NVR-7200A 256-channel NVR l HONEYWELL HUS-NVR-7200A-E supports up to 256 channels

providing total bandwidth of 700Mbps, and playback or relay with up to 40 channels video streaming at the same time. Storage is scalable – this NVR supports 16 hot-swap HDD bays and can be to expanded 64 bays with 3 expansion chassis.

As a comprehensive integrated unit, the HUS-NVR-7200A-E is a high performance, cost-efficient and maintenance-saving security solution compared to other standalone video storage devices on the markets.

There’s support for H.264, MPEG-4, MPEG2 and MJPEG formats and a complete fail-over solution provided by N+1 redundancy system design. Continuous, scheduled, motion and alarm triggered recording support, fast video record search by date, time, alarm event, channel number and onboard video analytics on 6 channels at D1 resolution, or on 4 channels at 720P/1080P are included.

Distributor: ADI Global Contact: 1300 234234

Fujifilm Launches 1/1.8 Large Sensor Lens l FUJINON’S DV2.2x4.1SR4A lens is designed to support a

6MP high resolution security camera with advanced optical performance. According to the company, this is the world’s first 1 varifocal lens that offers advanced optical performance for compatibility with 6MP high resolution security cameras.

When mounted on a high resolution security camera the Fujinon DV2.2x4.1SR4A can capture and record security footage with the finest details at the high resolution of 6MP. The lens can have its focal length adjusted anywhere between 4.1mm and 9mm (2.2x) and the horizontal angle of view is greater than 100 degrees. Its day/night design supports near-infrared wavelengths and gives the lens an ability to capture clear high-resolution footage even at night.

Fujinon’s DV2.2x4.1SR4A is available with the CS-mount for box cameras widely used for security cameras as well as in the module type for built-in camera applications. The module-type lens can have the iris (aperture) and zoom controlled with a motor to enable remote focus adjustment.

Distributor: EOS Australia Contact: +61 2 9749 5888

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Bosch EN Grade 3 Curtain PIR with radar l BOSCH’S new Professional Series TriTech+ curtain detector with anti-mask, is ideal for monitoring long, narrow interior spaces such as hallways, storefronts, loading docks, or storage aisles, offering dip switch selection between 2 coverage areas 30 x 2.6m or 8 x 1m. No matter the range selected, Bosch Sensor Data Fusion Signal Processing combines PIR and ultra-low power microwave Doppler radar with multiple built-in environmental sensors to ensure the most reliable detection performance available in a motion detector.

In order to meet the demanding requirements for this application, Bosch has developed a new curtain specific infrared lens and radar system. The new detector also offers the highest level of security, e.g. through its Multi-point Anti-mask with Integrated Spray detection (MANTIS), certified by an accredited lab to EN50131-2-4 Grade 3.

Distributor: Bosch Security Systems Contact: +61 2 9672 1777

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FLIR FC-Series S l FLIR’s affordable and maintenance free FC-Series S thermal camera includes the most advanced thermal imaging technology available in an affordable, user-friendly package. This PoE camera is easy to install, integrates to existing TCP/IP network and can be controlled and viewed via a wide range of networked devices, including PC, NVR, smart phone or tablet.

FLIR FC-Series S is almost maintenance free, as the cameras have uncooled detectors, and the absence of a motorized focus mechanism prevents mechanical break downs. With WDR and FLIR’s Digital Detail Enhancement, FC-Series S does not compromise in quality for cost.

Distributor: Open Platform Systems Contact: +61 3 9646 9004

Axis Announces P1428-E 4K Resolution Camera l AXIS Communications’ P1428-E network camera has a resolution 4 times higher than HDTV 1080p. The new AXIS P1428-E is designed to capture fine detail in large areas like parking lots and public squares.

The new AXIS P1428-E offers 850nm IR, PoE, IP66-rating, remote zoom and focus, a built-in slot for micro SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards and I/O connectors for interfacing with external devices.

“Simply put, 4K offers four times the resolution of HDTV 1080p,” says Erik Frännlid, director of product management, Axis Communications. “Initially, it is likely that most customers will be using a standard HDTV monitor. 4K makes it possible to enhance any portion of the screen without losing details. To manage bandwidth consumption, users can view the live video stream in HD 1080p and take advantage of 4K recordings for forensic purposes.”

The 4K standard is defined and approved by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and offers a video resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels at 30 frames per second. The AXIS P1428-E Network Camera with 4K resolution is planned to be available in Q3 2014 through Axis’ distribution channels.

Distributor: Axis Communications Contact: +61 3 9982 1111

VESDA-E from Xtralis

Crestron RMC3 controller

l NEW from Xtralis is the VESDA-E range, with VESDA Smoke+ technology giving 15x the sensitivity of its predecessor. VESDA analytics further improves the effectiveness of very early warning by providing supplementary probabilistic information for an informed targeted response.

WireTrace provides targeted detection of particles from slowly overheating PVC insulated wires. Supplementary info that can direct investigation to primary source (electrical wires and/or cables) resulting in a faster response for asset protection and business continuity.

Along with its major developments VESDA-E ASD system is backwards-compatible with the existing VESDA range, reducing the system’s total cost of ownership.

Boosting coverage in high airflow environments by 40 per cent, VESDA-E offers a substantial CAPEX saving. System OPEX is reduced further still thanks to easier servicing and fieldreplaceable architecture.

l CRESTRON’S RMC3 is an affordable 3-Series controller for building and home automation that’s ideal for single-room control. The unit is compact enough to sit behind a display or atop a projector, and robust enough to control an A/V system and other subsystems (lighting, HVAC, motorized shades, etc) via IP, serial, IR and relay controls.

The 3-Series processor embedded in the new RMC3 offers Crestron’s XPanel technology for computer-based control, Android and iOS apps, Samsung Smart TV app, Fusion smart-building platform, SNMP support and Cresnet communications for integration with the company’s own keypads, lighting controls, thermostats, shades and other offerings.

In addition to Ethernet, the RMC3 includes a variety of control ports for interfacing with third-party equipment. A single bi-directional COM port (RS-232/422/485) and two IR ports allow for interfacing with AV devices, small appliances, and other equipment. There are 2 programmable relay ports are provided for controlling projection screens, lifts, power controllers, door strikes, and other contactclosure actuated equipment. A pair of digital input ports enables the integration of occupancy sensors, power sensors, door switches, or anything else that provides a dry contact closure or low-voltage logic signal.

Distributor: Xtralis Contact: +61 3 9936 7000

Distributor: Hills SVL Contact: +61 2 9647 1411

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re g u lars help desk

helpdesk

Our panel of experts answers your questions.

allow the best possible performance in a worst case environment - never over extend a sensor in perfect installation conditions.

Every sensor enclosure should have tamper protection and any units located externally should be installed in weatherproof enclosures with boards conformal coated.

Care should also be applied to installation of the cable plant with all cabling sealed in conduit meeting the Australian Standard and buried or carried too high to be reached. External zones should be no greater than 300m to allow better response and maintenance.

Q: We undertake commissioning tests of camera systems we install but while we walk test, we don’t do the same sorts of tests for alarm systems. This has been highlighted by a number of device failures lately – a particular problem we have had is with vibration sensors though we have also had an issue with a dual technology sensor.

A: Yes, all electronic security equipment should be checked to ensure there’s been no damage caused by shipping and the same checks should take place during system commissioning.

Such checks will reduce false alarms and expensive call-outs to rectify faults that should have been picked up while installation teams were on site.

Special attention should be paid to electrical connections - these are the places a system is most likely to run into trouble.

You must be sure that any active motion detector transducers are installed firmly on vibration free surfaces. Another important point is to ensure that sensitivity is never adjusted to such extremes that the detector is prey to picking up environmental disturbances. Sensors are especially likely to be tuned too highly on large sites when the preferred technology is not available due to budget constraints. When setting sensitivity make sure the sensor is positioned and tuned to

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Q: We installed a basic PIR in a large warehouse – we wanted to install a dual technology sensor but price was a factor for the client so we used the same sensor that we installed in the office. The sensor is a standard unit with a range of about 15m that covers an area that’s probably 30m deep and during hot weather it has been false alarming on weekends. Now it’s cooler the incidents have fallen so there’s a thermal issue. What could be causing this?

A: A cheaper PIR with no digital signal processing and no discerning mirror optic lens really needs to be targeted against a wall, floor or barrier within its specified range. The reason for this is that if large IRE objects appear outside a sensor’s specified

range when it is installed in an open area, it’s likely the event will generate a false alarm.

A typical 15m PIR is designed to best detect a person-sized object moving across it’s zones at right angles at say, 6-8m. But the same sensor may also detect IRE from a floor to ceiling window every afternoon at 25m – well outside the detection range. Or it might detect a heat plume at 30m.

Q: We use a lot of wireless these days – it’s fast to install, works in difficult environments where surface mounting or going through walls would be expensive and painful, it self-configures and it’s increasingly affordable. However, we definitely have more trouble with false alarms than we used to. Is there a key thing we should be doing to make sure we have fewer problems?

A: Yes – you should be running a diagnostic on the wireless link with the panel before you install a sensor. That will give you a snapshot of the quality of the link. You really want a signal strength of 80 per cent – though 90 per cent is better. A key issue with wireless sensors is that they and the receivers supporting them are often installed too low. You want them up high as much as possible.

Another problem is the result of null points caused by the reflection of RF signals from

unsecure. While there was an alarm sensor in the garage it faced the roller door and the rear door – softcore timber with a glass window – was locked but otherwise unsecured. Is there a best standard for panel installations?

sensor and control panel receiver. If the receiver gets a direct signal and a reflected out-of-phase signal at the same time it may cancel both signals. Null points might be caused by metal objects located between transmitter and receiver. Other factors that may influence RF performance will be RF rich environments or jamming of the receiver by a powerful external source of RF. The sort of source we’re talking about would be a radio station’s antenna array or a repeater tower.

In winter, cold weather can reduce battery strength and cause frequency drift, though in a modern system a loss of link strength is likely to be reported immediately. This is going to be most noticeable in sheds, garages or covered external applications.

Q:I read recently in SEN that too many alarm panels were being installed in exposed locations – sometimes on a wall in the garage next to a power point. A few weeks ago I was installing some cameras for a client and in the garage next to a power point was the alarm panel. The housing was a click-on type and board, battery and power supply were completely

A: There’s no doubt installers and domestic and commercial end users need to pay special attention to the integrity of power supplies, especially vulnerable power supplies like plug-in transformers.

Transformers can be damaged, disconnected or removed and if system power isn’t monitored there the security system will fail.

Alarm panels should be installed in an access controlled and secure location wherever possible. Panel housings need a good camlock and monitored tamper switches on the case. Plug packs aren’t the only thing that’s vulnerable. Putting panels on walls near power points where power can be accidentally or deliberately turned on/off makes for a poor security installation.

Q: SEN recommends soldering terminations and this is certainly best practise but in the field, in roofs, in risers, this can simply be impossible to achieve.

We’ve heard about cyanoacrylate adhesives in some applications – would this be as good as soldering?

insulation, apply a nice, clean splice and squeeze out some liquid tape or ester over the connection. Once these are dry you’ll have a strong mechanical bond supported by a waterproof insulator and there won’t be any impact on the conductivity of the splice.

Q: We’ve completed an installation in which there’s a time of day when a key camera in a driveway is blinded by light off the windows of the industrial unit opposite. The camera has reasonable wide dynamic range but the glare is too much for it. Apart from replacing the camera, what would Help Desk recommend?

A: There are a number of practical design tricks installers can use to combat glare in surveillance installations but they are limited. They include use of a sunshield or sunshade on camera and tilting the camera down or slightly away from the windows – this latter might involve raising the camera a little higher to change the angle of view without losing any of the target area. If changing the angle of tilt or moving the camera to another location is out of the question, we’d be thinking about replacing the camera with a high WDR camera. zzz

A: Yes, you can use liquid electrical tape and cyanoacrylate adhesives to protect cable terminations and joins but they are better compared to heat shrink than to soldering and there’s no reason you would not use heat shrink or liquid electrical tape to protect a soldered joint. We’d use heat shrink first on carefully crimped connections and we’d use liquid tape or cyanoacrylate adhesives second.

When using liquid tapes or esters, you just clean up the join and the adjacent

A key issue with wireless sensors is that they and the receivers supporting them are installed too low. You want them up high as much as possible.

se&n 81

events

june 2014 – october 2014 May 2014 Issue 354

THE BIG PICTURE l Garmin’s magic integration l Thermal is so hot right now l DSC releases PowerSeries NEO l Axxon Next from AxxonSoft l ISC West: Expo snapshot l Freedom Surveillance VMS l Don’t fear the Megapixel l HikVision Super Embedded NVR l Security 2014 pre-show report l Exploring QSS’ service centre

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Security 2014

29/04/14 4:11 PM

Date: June 4-6, 2014 Venue: Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre Contact: Kylie McRorie kmcrorie@divcom.net.au +61 3 9261 4504 Security 2013 brought together more than 4500 security professionals and 150 leading brands in its busiest and most successful show in years.

Visitors and exhibitors alike celebrated in the largest annual event for the industry to seek out the latest security solutions, share ideas and extend their professional networks. The Security Exhibition & Conference returns to Melbourne for the first time in 14 years from 4 – 6 June 2014, we look forward to seeing you there.

Secutech Thailand

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Date: 3 – 5 July, 2014 Venue: Bangkok / Thailand Contact: 886 2 2659 9080 Ext. 665 Secutech Thailand is a dynamic trading platform for security, fire and safety that helps spearhead security businesses into Pan Asia.

Technology includes CCTV, access control, biometrics, RFID, smart cards, gate/fence, intrusion alarms, intercoms and networking solutions.

Security in Government Conference 2014 Date: September, 1-3 Venue: National Convention Centre, Canberra Contact: 61 2 6141 2987 The SIG Conference targets senior executives responsible for managing security in agencies; officers from all levels of government who contribute to the development of security capability and response; security practitioners from the public and private sectors who contribute to the provision of services to government and critical infrastructure providers

Security China

= DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY.

Date: 28 - 31 October, 2014 Venue: New China International Exhibition Center, China Contact: Tel: 86 010-51920615 Fax: 86 010-51920049 Security China in Beijing is located in the biggest security distribution and procurement center in China and provides a major platform for exhibitors to meet government level buyers and senior management.

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SecuRity

Xandem tomographic Motion Detection (tMD) Xandem is a revolutionary motion detection technology which utilizes nodes to create a wireless mesh across an entire area to detect intruder movements through walls and obstructions.

You’ll find the largest range, best service and most trusted solutions for all your security needs in one place.

DAS, Pacific Communications and Lan 1 are now called Hills, Australia’s leader in integrated technology and communication solutions.

• Sense and detect through walls and obstructions • Invisible/hidden - can be installed behind walls • Integrates with any security or automation panel • Available in 6, 10 and 15 node kits • Large coverage area (up to 5,000 square ft)

SecuRity

SecuRity

Dell SonicWALL SRA 1600

Genetec Security center

Secure remote access to your IP CCTV system

IP security systems • Genetec IP security systems include: (Omnicast) video surveillance, (Synergis) access control, and (AutoVu) license plate recognition • Unified Security Interface • Security Center Mobile and Web Apps • Integration to your business systems

• Secure access from any device including mobile/tablet • Scalable from 5-25 concurrent users • No pre-installed client required

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netWoRk

DAS

CO0068/SEN/FPC

Australia’s leader in integrated technology solutions

cAMeRA

D-Link DGS-3120-24Pc 24-Port Managed Gigabit Poe Switch

Panasonic 6 Series Super Dynamic

• Powers 20 x PoE cameras simultaneously • Supports 802.3af (PoE) and 802.3at (PoE Plus) on 20 ports • 370 watt PoE budget (up to 740 watts)

• Four H264 High profile streams and three Jpeg streams • Enhanced Super Dynamic and ABS (Adaptive Black Stretch) technologies • Built-in IR LED • Auto back focus

Pacific communications

Varifocal dome cameras

Lan 1

For more information on these and other best-in-class solutions from Hills, call us on 1800 685 487 or visit hills.com.au

NEW IP CAMERAS Ranging 1.3MP to 5MP

iTech Multicam

NVR

Bullet IP Camera

16Ch NVR with 8 PoE Ports

32Ch NVR with 16 PoE Ports

www.itechsec.com.au (Formerly Crow Australia)

www.facebook.com/itechsec