Timeless technologies l november issue l 2017

TimeTech Magazine

November 2017 Issue

• New articles from the TimeTech team • More to read from the Smart Video Security Handbook • An article written by the Director of Timeless Technologies Page 1 l TimeTech Magazine November Issue 2017

In this Issue: Pg. 2 - 3 Contents and Editors Pg. 4 - 5 Timeless Technologies & FLIR TK Scout Pg. 6- 7 The importance of Thermal Hanhelds

Contents Page

Pg. 8 - 9 Davantis and Xanadu Pg. 10 - 11 Adminastriewe Pos Pg. 12 - 13 Betafence and MAD Pg. 14 - 15 Optics Night Vision versus Thermal Vision Pg. 16 - 17 FLIR Pg. 18 - 23 Having a Herman in your Toolbox Pg. 24 - 25 More than just stock Pg. 26 - 27 FANG and Hatteland Pg. 24 - 25 More than just stock Pg. 26 - 27 FANG and Hatteland Pg. 28 - 29 DVTEL Pg. 30 - 31 YSG and Ionodes Pg. 32 - 41 Smart Video Security Handbook Pg. 42 - 43 Timeless Technologies Pg. 44 - 47 Reputable Companies Pg. 48 - 49 IDME and Davantis Pg. 50 - 51 Keep it Simple stupid Pg. 52 - 53 Synergis Pg. 54 - 55 What the team has been up to

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The FLIR Scout TK is a pocket-sized thermal vision monocular for exploring the outdoors—at night and in low light conditions. The Scout TK reveals your surroundings and helps you see people, objects and animals over 100 yards (90 m) away.

Simple to use, with still image and video recording, Scout TK is the perfect companion, whether in the back country or your own backyard.

Contact Timeless Technologies if You are insterested in this project: www.timetech.co.za l sales@timetech.co.za l 021 975 3515 Page 4 l TimeTech Magazine November Issue 2017

Worldwide, the popularity of Aerostat systems are growing quickly.

Why the need for an Aerostat system? It is a cost effective way to launch, monitor, and recover a payload designed for aerial surveillance, communication, and atmospheric monitoring.

The patented Sky Doc™ Aerostat System is a unique product line designed to provide it’s handlers with superior durability in all types of weather conditions so that your payload can be up in the air and operational whenever you need it. Because of this, we’ve had customers from many different specialties and countries purchase systems to be used for their specialised needs.

Aerostat Sky Doc™ Aerostat Systems are configured to individual needs and our helium aerostat platform was specifically designed to meet criterion requested by many operators of aerial specialised equipment and built with state of the art components to offer optimum performance and reliability.

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The Importance of FLIR Thermal Handhelds.

During my time, working with Flir Thermal Cameras and more specific the Flir Thermal Handhelds, a lot of Questions were raised from doing demos with Farmers, neighbourhood watches and community safety forums.

The most frequently asked Question is “why choose Thermal and what is the definition of Thermal?”

Hendri Verster

Any object that has a Temperature above absolute zero (273.15 degrees Celsius or 0 Kelvin) emits radiation in the infrared region.

Everything from the heat that we feel on our skin to the sun or a fire is radiation.

We cannot see this but the nerves in our skin can feel it as heat.

Thermal imaging produces a crisp image in the darkest of the nights. With a thermal Camera in your hand nobody can see you but you can see them, whereas with a torch light in your hand you put the focus on yourself which can potentially put your life in danger.

Thermal images do not only produce a clear image in total Darkness, which is extremely useful during daylight, but the thermal contrast is also difficult to mask Someone trying to hide in shadows or trying to camouflage themselves.

Thermal cameras are also not blinded by glare from the sun and can also see through fog and smoke which allows it to easily identify suspects.

When intruders want to enter your premises they want you to come out of the House so they can attack you and have easy access to your home.

With a thermal Handheld in your hand you can scan the outside of your house through an open window due to the fact that thermal cannot pick up temperature through Glass, and contact the relevant security or Police to help you in case of intruder on your property.

The other Question frequently asked is “how far can you see with a thermal camera?” Well thermal Cameras can see the Sun which is 146 million kilometres away but it would be wrong to say that security threats will be detected at that distance.

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The Importance of FLIR Thermal Handhelds.

1.Detection Detection means, in order to detect if an object is present or not, its critical dimension needs to be covered by 1.5 pixels or more. In simple terms you won’t be able to see what the object is.

2.Recognition Recognition means recognising the object, to be able to distinct between Person, Car or Truck. In order to recognise you need at least 6 Pixels across its critical Dimension.

The reason for me explaining this is that all Data sheets reflect Detection Distances and that you need to look at recognition and Identification to be able to choose the right lens for your application.

The other very important Question is “what is the resolution?”

Available resolution is 640 x 480 and 320 x 240 The easy way to explain this is 640 x 480 = 307200 Pixels 320 x 240 = 76800 Pixels in the screen or Monitor The better the resolution the further your Detection, Recognition and Identification distances.

When contacted by people who want to buy a Thermal Handheld I would always explain this and offer a free Demo on Thermal Handhelds to help you making the right choice for your specific application.

Hendri Verster

3.Identification This means to see if someone is a “friend or foe” in order to do this you need at least 12 Pixels.

You are welcome to contact me for a free demo in the Cape Town area.

Make the right choice and arm yourself with a Flir thermal Handheld ,you will never be sorry. FLIR Technical notes & Brochures

Hendri Verster Cape Town Branch cell: 0724050761 hendri@timetech.co.za

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Administratiewe Pos Wat ‘n eenvoudige pos benaming, maar tog ‘n omvattende pos…. wat soms ‘n seekat se arms verg - om almal se ore en oë te wees en te weet waarvan en met wie gepraat word.

Marieta du Toit

Soms help dit om ‘n olifant se geheue te hê of ten minste een vir ‘n jaar lank om so gou moontlik die korrekte antwoord te kan gee op almal se vrae wat heeldag gevra word.

Gee ons die vermoë om alles tegelykertyd te kan doen - telefone te antwoord terwyl iemand die deur klokkie stukkend druk vir aandag dit terwyl jy besig om ‘n dokument voor te berei vir ‘n klient wat staan en wag om te teken…. en skielik omdraai om later terug te kom.

Om die vermoeë te kan hê om alles te weet - alles te hoor en te weet wanneer wie en waar opgetel of afgelaai moet word om betyds ‘n vlug te haal. Om betyds die nodige Krag aankope, Papier vir ‘n werkende Printer asook die nodige skryfbehoeftes en drinkgoed in voorraad te hê.

Laat my nie my geduld verloor of stress as ek vir ure deur lêers soek na ‘n faktuur wat op iemand se tafel gekry word nie of nog nooit aangevra is nie.

Help my om alle instruksies te verstaan en uit te voer sonder enige verduidelikings.

Laat my te alle tye weet waar die baas is, sonder dat iemand my vertel het, wat hy doen en wanneer hy terug sal wees.

En gee my die insig om my “filing” en admin met trots te hanteer en na ‘n jaar van hardewerk met trots te kan terugkyk en met ‘n welverdiende vakansie die nuwe jaar met baie geesdrif en opgehoopte energie te kan aanpak Marieta du Toit Cape Town Branch Cell: 021 975 3515

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Marieta du Toit Page 11 l TimeTech Magazine November Issue 2017

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Optics Night Vision vs.

Thermal Vision Which application is better, Optic Night Vision or Thermal application?

In the security industry I have come across this debate and question many times, and to answer the question one must first understand both applications.

Wilke Pretorius

Optic Night Vision It is important to know that there are different types of light. The light that we can see, which is called visible light, is only a part of the overall electromagnetic light spectrum. There are different types of light that we cannot see with the naked eye, like infrared and ultraviolet light.

Optic Night vision goggles works by using a technology called image enhancement. This means that the equipment takes what is already there and makes the best of it. In the darkest environment there are still tiny bits of light present. Optic night vision goggles collect all available light including infrared light and amplifies it so that you can see in the dark. The electronic information is actually black and white, but why are the pictures not black and white then? Optic night vision googles are fitted with screens that produce green picture, because human eyes are more sensitive to green light and it is easier to look at for longer periods of time.

Thermal Technology Thermal Technology has to do with heat. Objects including the human body emit some heat in the form of infrared light. This means the hotter an object is, the more infrared radiation it produces. Inside a thermal camera, there are a bunch of tiny measuring devices that capture infrared radiation, called microbolometers, and each pixel has one. From there the microbolometers record the temperature and then assign that pixel to an appropriate color. This is why most thermal cameras have a low resolution compared to modern televisions.

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Optics Night Vision vs.

Thermal Vision Thermal cameras allow a person to see things the naked eye could never perceive on its own. With thermal imaging, the portion of the spectrum we perceive is dramatically expanded, helping people “see� heat even in the absence of any light.

So which technology is better?

If your goal is to identify a face or simply to see in the dark and you are not looking at extreme distances (150m +). Optic night vision will be a good technology to consider.

If your goal is to differentiate a person from the rest of the environment in night time and in broad daylight at long distances, I would recommend going for thermal technology. Thermal Technology is king at spotting suspects when they are trying to hide and that is why the law enforcement units in the United States use it.

Before investing in a night vision technology make sure to know what your goals are.

Wilke Pretorius Pretoria Branch Cell: 062 377 8753

Wilke Pretorius

I believe that you cannot really compare the two with one another, because the two technologies do not work in the same way. One works with heat and the other works with light. The real question that should be asked is what do I need night vision for and what technology will suit my needs best.

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Having a “Herman” in your toolbox

Herman Snyman

Joining the industry, nearly 8 years ago as the Technical Manager at Timeless Technologies, I had to do support on sites where there has been 10 different integrators, all installing various types of equipment that they thought to be the best at the time. With the advancement in technology over the years, this meant that some sites had installed from the latest greatest solid state equipment, all the way back to the stuff someone picked up after Noah threw it out when he upgraded the Ark. This was a bit of a problem for me. Although I was well trained in electronics, I didn’t know much about cameras. I even thought “resolution” was the act of buying my wife some flowers after I lost an argument (don’t show her this article or I will have to buy some more).

Luckily I’m a quick learner. I spent countless hours learning and experimenting with different products and did almost all the online training courses available.

By becoming a FLIR Certified Systems Integrator, first ever FLIR Certified Service Centre (outside of FLIR self), a MAD repair technician, nick-named Mr. VideoIQ in SA and certified support partner for Genetec to my latest achievement, being trained by the nicest engineers at Davantis.

I quickly became a technical force to be reckoned with. Clients and integrators started calling me day and night to assist with issues they struggled with and I even repaired cameras that the opposition said was un-repairable.

By reading the story above, I bet all the technical guys out there want me in their toolbox. You are probably thinking “The guy who wrote this is the best thing next to under-water toasters or ejection seats on an Oryx helicopter”.

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Having a “Herman” in your toolbox Now, now… before you start nick naming me as Chuck Norris or C-C-Bruce-Lee, I have to share my secret. Remember your dad telling you to “use the correct tool for the job” and “work smarter, not harder”. This meant more than just “Don’t use a flat screwdriver as a chisel” (or gently persuade it with a hammer) .

In our line of work, no one can fix a fault if he struggles to find it in the first place.

The Timetech CCTV tester does most of the work for me. With features as listed in the datasheet covering the next few pages after this article, you’ll feel like you have ME permanently in your toolbox.

Thanks for reading to the end of my article, I had a fun writing it.

Herman Snyman Cape Town Branch Cell: 079 022 1771

Herman Snyman

Using the wrong tools and test equipment is a waste of time and can possibly cause costly damage to the equipment you are working on which could lead to dangerous situation… Just thinking of the screwdriver that went straight through my hand, sticking out on the other side while I was fixing my girlfriend’s bicycle. Very embarrassing moment as my dad laughed, in front of the girl, saying “I told you so!”

Here is my secret:

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Having a “Herman” in your toolbox

Herman Snyman

Timetech 7” IPC Tester

7 inch IP camera tester TT-7IPAT with Multimeter, AHD, HD-TVI, HD-CVI and HD-SDI

IP camera tester with capacitive touch screen, display ONVIF IP camera image, ONVIF PTZ controller, support more than 40 customized IP cameras protocols, support video management software to view IP camera image, built-in WiFi to receive network image and data, FTP Server, Static IP address, DHCP, simultaneously test different segments IP cameras, Network bandwidth testing, PoE 24W power supply to IP camera, PoE voltage testing, HDMI signal output, support 1080P, support DC12V 2A power output to camera, USB 5V 2A power output to mobile phone, video level meter, cable tracer to find cable from messy cables, PoE port finder, link monitoring, IP camera ping testing, IP address scan, BNC input & output, both IP and analogue images could be zoomed in 1-4 times and output, support snapshot, video recording and playback, built in 4GB SD card, NTSC/PAL auto-selecting, video signal measurement, analogue PTZ control, preset setting, UTP cable testing, PTZ data analyst, RS485 communication address scan, audio input testing and output, Led lamp, 7.4V DC 6600mAh lithium polymer battery, working for 17 hours, Multimeter, HD-TVI camera testing, HD-CVI camera testing, HD-SDI camera testing, AHD camera testing etc.

Features: • English and other languages optional • Test both analogue and IP CCTV cameras • HD-CVI camera testing

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Having a “Herman” in your toolbox

Herman Snyman

• AHD camera testing • HD-TVI camera testing • HD-SDI camera testing • Multimeter testing • 7 inch display, capacitive touch screen, 1024*600 resolution, support Resolution 1920 x 1080, 1080 x 720 • Display ONVIF IP camera image, ONVIF PTZ controller • Support more than 40 customized IP cameras protocols • Support video management software to view IP camera image • Built-in WiFi to receive network video stream and data • Network bandwidth testing • FTP Server, Static IP address, DHCP, simultaneously test different segments´ IP cameras • PoE 24W power supply to IP camera • HDMI signal output , support 1080P • DC12V 2A power output for camera • USB 5V 2A power output to mobile phone • Led Lamp, easy to operate at night • Removable Micro SD card • User-defined shortcut keys (F1 and F2) • LCD screen brightness/contrast/colour saturation adjustable • Automatically adapts and displays the video format of NTSC/PAL • Enhanced colour bar generator • 4x zoom, video image can be magnified to view the details, easy to use (only for analogue video test) • Video record and playback (only for analogue video test) • Snapshot and save the current image as JPG file in the SD card (only for analogue video test) • PING testing, test IP camera or network devices’ Ethernet port • Video signal level test • PEAK video signal level, SYNC signal level, COLOR BURST chroma level measurement • Cable scan, Send a tone signal, easy to find out the connected cable.

• IP address scan, quickly search the IP address for the connected IP camera and other network devices circuit. High power-efficiency with , energy saving and environmental protection. Up to 17 hours normal use after charging for 7 hours

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Herman Snyman

Having a “Herman” in your toolbox • PoE measurement, test PoE switch’s voltage to IP cameras, wireless AP device and other PD devices • Device Port flicker, easy to find the connected PoE switch port by sending special signals • Link monitor, check whether the IP address is occupied.

• PTZ address scan, search the ID of PTZ camera.

• Network cable and Telephone cable testing • Support RS232/RS485/RS422, rate 600 115200bps adjustable • Multi-protocol. Supports more than thirty PTZ protocols. Such as PELCO-P, PELCO-D, SAMSUNG etc.

• PTZ protocol analysis, control protocol command displays to check RS485 transmission • PTZ control. Pan/tilt, zoom in/out, adjusts focus, aperture and set/call preset positions • Audio input test, test the audio signal from pickup devices • Lithium Ion Polymer Battery . Advanced power control and protection Specifications Model Number: TT-7IPAT Signal System: NTSC / PAL (Auto-Selecting) Display: 7 inch LCD screen display, with capacitive touch screen Resolution: 1024*600 resolution, support Resolution 1920 x 1080, 1080 x 720 IP camera type: ONVIF, ONVIF PTZ, ACTi, Dahua IPC-HFW2100P, Hikvision, DS-2CD864-E13, Samsung SNZ-5200, Honeywell HICC-2300T, etc. Customized protocols are available.

Network test : FTP Server, Static IP address, DHCP, simultaneously test different segments´ IP cameras, Network bandwidth testing.

Management software: Support video management software to view IP camera image.

LCD adjust:

Adjustable brightness, contrast, colour of LCD

HDMI signal output: Support 1080P Network port: 10/100M auto adjust, RJ45 WiFi: Built in WiFi, speeds 150M, receive wireless camera image etc.

PoE power output:

PoE 24W power supply to IP camera

Video Input / Output: 1 channel BNC input & 1 channel BNC looped output Video Output Mode: 1.0 Vp-p Video Level Test: Video signals measured in IRE or mV Power Adapter: 5V DC, 2A input supply Power output: 12V DC, 2A power output for camera Audio input:

1 channel audio signal input, 1 channel audio signal output (line level)

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Having a “Herman” in your toolbox USB power output:

USB 5V 2A power output to mobile phone

Communication:

RS232, RS422 simplex and RS485

Baud Rate:

150, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200bps

Power Saving Features: Sleep mode, Battery level indicator PTZ Address Scanning: Scan for local PTZ address over data cables Rechargeable Battery: 7 hours charge, work for 17 hours Battery: 1 pcs Lithium Ion Polymer Battery; 7.4V DC, 6600mAh Video Display: Displays video signal from analogue input Video Signal: Colour bar generator for monitor testing

PTZ Protocol: Compatible with more than 30 protocols. PELCO-D/P, Samsung, Panasonic, TeleEye etc.

PTZ Data Capture:

Reads and displays commands sent from controllers

Image 4x zoom: 4x zoom image display and video out Photograph

Snapshot and save the image as JPG file and screenshot

Video record: Video recording and playback from the SD card Port flicker: Find the connected PoE port quickly IP scan: Find out the connected IP camera or network equipment´s IP address Link monitor

Check the IP address is occupied

Ping testing: Network and IP camera ping testing PoE tester: PoE voltage testing, PoE port flicker, PoE link monitoring Night Led: Built Led lamp SD card: 4G Micro SD card, support Micro SD card for recording. Max support 32G SD card Cable scan: Find out the connected cable in many messy cables Video level meter: PEAK video signal level, SYNC signal level, COLOR BURST chroma level measurement Multimeter: Voltage, current, resistance and capacitance measuring, continuity

Herman Snyman

UTP Cable Test: Checks connections of UTP cables

testing, diode testing.

HD-TVI input

HD-TVI: camera testing

AHD input: AHD camera testing HD-CVI input: HD-CVI camera testing HD-SDI input: HD-SDI camera testing Dimension: 253mm x 176mm x 52mm (Tester); 320mm x 290mm x 100mm (Colour box) Weight: 1200g (Tester); 2700g (Tester with spare parts, black package, box)

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More than just “stock�

People always seem to think that stock is stock is stock. At Timeless Technologies this is definitely not the case. We have four different stock types namely stock, white stock, loan stock and demo stock. In this article I will enlighten you on the roll and definition of each one.

Luanne Stoop

Stock This is new stock that we purchase to sell to our customers. Although we mostly purchase stock as and when customers place orders but we also try and build up extra stock in our store by adding a few extras to our supplier orders for the more popular models.

White stock This stock is a 10% surplus that is ordered for bigger projects that have more than 10 cameras on one site. We endeavour to hold the white stock on all projects with more than 10 cameras on site for the first three years in order to assist customers with emergency swop outs or replacement cameras when and if the need should arise.

Loan stock This stock type is used to help clients when they are either waiting for their order to arrive or when they are in the need of units in the interim / if there is a critical camera that needs to come in for repair. Loan stock is given out on a case by case basis and for a limited time only and with prior approval.

We only keep a limited amount of loan stock so not all models are available and loans are only given out in case of an emergency.

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More than just “stock” Demo stock This stock type is used by customers that would like to demonstrate equipment to their end user. Cameras are normally used for a seven day period or at a prearranged time. All demo stock has to be covered by our customers insurance and we also require a copy of identification and proof of address before it can leave our offices. Each demo unit is tested once returned to make sure it is in 100% working order.

There are numerous processes, procedures and registers that have to be followed and completed so that we know the whereabouts of each camera.

We are required by law to make sure we know where all our cameras are. All stock coming in and going out has to be recorded on our system and also has to have the necessary documentation completed and signed. The most important thing when managing all stock types is of course the serial number of each item. We use the serial number to track everything to do with that particular item as the serial number appears on all of our documentation and in addition to all of this there are also repair units that are brought in by our customers and this adds extra responsibility and work to the stock management, but that is an article for another day.

So next time you hear the word ‘Stock’ you will be able to appreciate the work and organisation that goes into this five letter word.

Luanne Stoop

The management and overseeing of all of the above stock types at Timeless Technologies is a very important task and needs to be checked and followed up on a regular basis. The responsibility for this falls on two Office Managers one at our Pretoria branch (Luanne Stoop) and one at our Cape Town branch (Marieta du Toit).

Luanne Stoop Pretoria Branch Tel: 012 997 1114

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DVTEL As many know, DVTEL was acquired by FLIR in December 2015. A multitude of questions came to mind about DVTEL.

Quintin Havemann

What next? Will any of the DVTEL products survive?

DVTEL only had about 150 employees compared to the more than 3000 working for FLIR now. Although FLIR chose to do away with the DVTEL brand name, the product range is stronger than ever.

In April 2017, FLIR won the award for the best united VMS at the ISC West show in Las Vegas, Nevada. They have the VMS in Latitude, and the Horizon NVR and Meridian NVR solutions.

On visible cameras they released the 6MP hemispheric camera and have a new 12MP hemispheric version due for release in the third/fourth quarter of 2017.

The new Quasar PTZ camera with 200 meter IR is also due for release. It is a 30 x optical zoom and can work of POE+, 12 Volt DC or 24 Volt AC. A new Ariel range is due for release at the same time. This will extend the current Ariel range from the 1080p to also incorporate the Quad 1440p and 4K UHD products.

It will be available in mini bullet and mini dome with different lens options.

Having the 4K Ultra HD mini dome and bullet form factors, FLIR designed the new box version with separate P-iris lens. This provides the customer with a product to use as they see fit but with the proven high quality resolution we well know.

There is also the new corner camera that was displayed at Securex. This is a brilliant indoor solution covering wall to wall with a 120 degree horizontal field of view with a 3MP sensor. This is perfect for waiting areas, angling corridors and elevators to name but a few solutions.

This is the greatness we have come to know from FLIR and it seems they will keep on dealing in amazing technology.

Quinting Havemann Pretoria Branch Cell: 084 565 3105

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WHO WE ARE YSG Security Solutions is dedicated to providing top quality network security services and support to its clients. Our company specializes in designing and building intelligent security solutions for both public and privately owned companies, residential premises, educational facilities, and government agencies. With a client base as diverse as ours, we are often faced with the challenge of finding the perfect security solution to meet the needs of our client. This is a challenge we face enthusiastically.

With our strong technical background, understanding of networking and intelligent security solutions it enables us to build sophisticated surveillance applications that are available anytime and from anywhere.

YSG has a dedicated security team of field technicians, sales personnel, engineers and administrative support staff that work together seamlessly to ensure that our clients are kept abreast on all aspects of their projects and those projects are completed within all established timeframes. To make certain that our clients are receiving outstanding support and service, our team is researching a broad range of security solutions and receive ongoing training throughout the year.

Alarm Systems

Access Control

CCTV

Offsite Monitoring

Design & Upgrades

Perimeter Protection

www.ysgsecurity.co.za l sales@ysg.co.za l 087 238 0608 Page 30 l TimeTech Magazine November Issue 2017

What we Do...

Established in 2007, IONODES Inc. is a Canadian corporation specialized in the design, development and manufacture of high quality IP-based video transmission and data processing solutions optimized for use in video surveillance and security management solutions.

IONODES’ product line includes a wide array of smart appliances, ranging from a complete line of H.264 IP video encoders & decoders, to more advanced server solutions for commercial, industrial and mobile applications. By providing its customers with smarter IP video surveillance technology allowing them to identify security threats quickly and in any environment, from vehicles to critical installations, IONODES believes it can contribute to making the world safer and therefore more peaceful.

IONODES designs, develops and manufactures high quality IP-based video and data processing appliances optimized for use with many other well-known video, data and security management solutions such as Milestone XProtect®, Genetec© Omnicast™ and Security Center™. IONODES’ product line includes a wide array of smart appliances, ranging from a complete line of H.264 video encoders & decoders, to more advanced compact server solutions for commercial, industrial and mobile applications.

www.timetech.co.za/ionodes l sales@timetech.co.za l 021 975 3515

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Smart Video Security Handbook

Fail-Safe: The Smart Thermal Video Advantage Visible-light video cameras, combined with perimeter intrusion detection sensors, have been standard equipment in outdoor security applications for decades. When used to detect intruders, these systems are not only expensive, they are so prone to nuisance alerts that security officers sometimes shut them off. It’s only in the past few years that thermal video technology has matured to the point that it has begun to displace this old model of site protection in a big way.

This chapter will explain how smart thermal cameras work, and point out which of their features or functions should be on the security system planner or manager’s checklist. Our discussion will cover: • How the technology solves specific outdoor security issues • Capabilities that enable a smarter, more reliable security system • Customization options, such as policy-driven response to potential threats • What to look for in a camera: performance, features, functions • Integrating the cameras with other equipment, including visible-light IP Dome cameras

We will focus special attention on video signal processing, the “smarts” of a smart camera. Without it a thermal camera would be just a nightvision version of a conventional surveillance camera.

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Fail-Safe: The Smart Thermal Video Advantage 24 Hours/Day Smart thermal video security cameras offer a virtually fail-safe solution to the challenges of guarding an outdoor site. They can pick a person or vehicle out of the background under virtually any weather or lighting conditions, determine the target’s location, and apply pre-determined policies for assessing the threat level before alerting security staff.

While early thermal security cameras were only useful at night, today’s thermal cameras function equally well in the daytime. In fact they handle certain daylight scenes better than visible-light cameras, producing clear video in extremely bright sun or through fog, mist, and rain. Thermal security cameras can outperform visible-light cameras because they do not rely on light to create their images. They work by detecting thermal or heat energy emitted by objects in a scene. All objects emit heat to varying degrees. Some generate it themselves (warm-blooded mammals, automobiles), while others absorb heat from the sun or other sources and then release it when their surroundings cool(rocks, pavement, soil).

Humans, the real threat to site security, maintain a normal body temperature of 98.6°F. The imager in a thermal camera can detect a human’s heat profile even in total darkness. It can then create video that represents the various heat profiles in a scene, including those of people, in monochrome grayscale shades ranging from white to black, much like a black-andwhite movie. Thermal cameras are especially good at “seeing” human intruders at night, when other objects on an outdoor site are usually cooler than people.

A thermal image shows warmer objects as brighter than their surroundings, so people will usually stand out as bright objects. Conversely, on a hot sunny day, when surrounding objects such as buildings or pavement reach very high surface temperatures, humans will be presented as darker than their surroundings. Bright or dark, however, intruders will always be visible as separate objects in a smart thermal camera image.

Visible-light cameras, on the other hand, work like our eyes: they can only see objects that produce light or are illuminated by the sun or some other light source. As a result, nighttime surveillance by visible-light cameras is impossible without covering the area with costly artificial lighting.

Smart Video Security Handbook

Smart Thermal Cameras: Clear Images and Automated Detection

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Smart Video Security Handbook

Fail-Safe: The Smart Thermal Video Advantage The reason early thermal cameras were restricted to nightvision duty was that their images of daytime scenes appeared washedout and blurry.

They also exhibited diminished performance at night when environmental conditions such as rain, heat, and humidity affected their ability to distinguish objects.

In the figure below, for example, rain has cooled the scene until there is very little temperature differentiation among the objects in the scene. It’s obvious that the older camera that created this image had troubledistinguishing between the person and the background. The result: a blurry image that masks detail to the point that it nearly conceals the target, creating a potential gap in security. Such poor performance is a relic of the past, thanks to major advances in thermal sensors (imagers) and image processing technology, as fig. 2-4 (below) demonstrates.

Today’s cameras also make it possible to put more pixels on a target for better detection.

Technology Realignment #1: Imagers Current thermal (infrared) imagers deliver substantially better sensitivity than those of just a few years ago, yet cost much less. High-sensitivity imagers can “see” objects with a lower heat signature, such as those that are farther away. They are also able to sense temperature variations of 1/20th of a degree or less. This allows them to discriminate among objects when rain, humidity, or other conditions have reduced the temperature differences across a scene.

Smart thermal video cameras that take full advantage of these technical advances can detect potential threats in a scene around the clock, even when working under adverse conditions such as rain, snow, or mist.

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Fail-Safe: The Smart Thermal Video Advantage To get the highest quality raw imagery for your video security system, compare the performance of several cameras.

• Look for models that produce the highest-contrast images with the clearest differentiation among individual objects, under all conditions • Give as much weight or more to signal processing (described below) as to imagers and lenses.

The last point is especially important. Thermal cameras need powerful signal processing capabilities if they are to provide reliable intruder detection.

Technology Realignment #2: On-Camera Image Processing and Detection If its imager is a thermal camera’s eyes, image processing is its brain. It is image processing that turns what is essentially a passive surveillance tool into an active security device, detecting motion and recognizing targets under any conditions. Outdoor video security systems face a constantlychanging environment that often interferes with their ability to detect potential threats. Cameras mounted on poles shake and sway in the wind. Clouds create moving shadows on the ground. Foliage waves in the breeze, adding more movement to the scene. Rain, snow, and blowing dust occlude a camera’s field of view. Distinguishing legitimate targets amid all that noise is a significant task.

Smart Video Security Handbook

Camera Selection Guide: Imagers

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Smart Video Security Handbook

Fail-Safe: The Smart Thermal Video Advantage To give some idea of the scope of the challenge, consider just the first step: making the scene visible to humans.

Thermal cameras can capture 16,384 shades of gray, from which they create a finely gradated image that clearly distinguishes one object from another. But humans can see at best only 256 shades of gray. Converting the rich thermal imagery to 256 shades for human vision requires considerable processing power. A 640 x 480 video image contains 307,200 pixels. Each pixel has 14 bits of data, which equates to the 16,384 shades of gray mentioned above. These images are updated at a rate of thirty frames per second to present a smooth video image. The math is daunting: 640 x 480 x 14 x 30 = 129,024,000 In sum, cameras must process over 129 million bits of data every second, day and night, to present imagery that human eyes can resolve. And that’s just the first step in detecting threats.

Intelligence at the Perimeter

It’s natural to assume that this volume of processing is best done on a husky computer located in the central security office. But in fact you’re much better advised to assign the task to powerful digital image processors built right into the cameras.

Using local processors lets you avoid having to compress the data before it reaches the computer. Sending 129 Mb/s of camera data through a network for processing virtually requires that the data be compressed.

That’s a problem because compression removes most of the finer scene details – up to 99% of the original data – seriously degrading a security system’s ability to accurately detect and recognize targets in the video image. In fact, on days with restricted visibility due to rain or fog, data compression has caused processors to miss virtually all suspicious movement in a scene.

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Fail-Safe: The Smart Thermal Video Advantage

The image above illustrates the on-board image processing functions. The first processing step cancels out any camera movement embedded in the video.

This is known as image stabilization, a more robust version of the “antishake” feature found in consumer still and video cameras. When a camera sways on a pole, or shakes from vibration transmitted through its mounting hardware, its vertical, horizontal, and rotational motion appears in the video. Electronically stabilizing the image at the outset prevents the video analytics engine from interpreting this motion as suspicious movement in the scene. We will look at the other important functions performed by the image processing in Fig. 2-2 a little later. Meanwhile, here are some tips on selecting cameras based on data processing and image stabilization.

Camera Selection Guide: Processing Take these factors into account when choosing cameras: • Limit your choice to models with high performance built-in processing to avoid data loss. There are big differences among manufacturers in the processing power and sophistication of their image analysis • Look for cameras with excellent image stabilization performance, to keep camera movement from affecting video analytics • Narrow the selection down to cameras that produce clear video under the most demanding environmental conditions (fog, rain, total darkness) Reliable intruder detection requires processing 100% of video data. High performance on-camera processors are the surest path to that goal.

Smart Video Security Handbook

When the uncompressed imagery is processed in the camera, 100% of the raw scene data is available for analysis. With on-board image processors examining the full visual detail of every video frame, you can achieve a much greater degree of accuracy in detecting motion and recognizing potential threats.

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Smart Video Security Handbook

Fail-Safe: The Smart Thermal Video Advantage Technology Realignment #3: More Pixels on the Target Take these factors into account when choosing cameras: • Limit your choice to models with high performance built-in processing to avoid data loss. There are big differences among manufacturers in the processing power and sophistication of their image analysis • Look for cameras with excellent image stabilization performance, to keep camera movement from affecting video analytics • Narrow the selection down to cameras that produce clear video under the most demanding environmental conditions (fog, rain, total darkness) Reliable intruder detection requires processing 100% of video data. High performance on-camera processors are the surest path to that goal.

Identification-level video needs at a minimum: • 75 horizontal pixels on target (150 pix/m) • 250 vertical pixels on target How many pixels an object fills depends on five factors: the object’s size, its distance from the camera, the focal length (magnification) of the camera’s lens, the physical size of the imager, and the camera’s resolution. A properly designed multi-camera security system will be laid out so that at least one of the cameras will put enough pixels on any object of interest anywhere in the site to detect motion and recognize the target.

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Fail-Safe: The Smart Thermal Video Advantage Build your smart thermal video security system around the cameras that give you the most cost-effective coverage of your outdoor site.

• Larger sites should be equipped with models with a long detection range. You will need fewer of them, making them a cost-effective choice.

• If the site is small, consider lower-resolution cameras that still put enough pixels on a target for reliable recognition given the size of the area. Cost-per-camera will be lower, and since you won’t need many for full coverage of the smaller area, you save money.

• When monitoring an area, choose wide-coverage thermal cameras with higher resolutions. One such camera can cover an area that would require up to 10 visible-light units.

• Smart thermal cameras are generally used for detection and recognition. Use a high-resolution PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) or IP Dome visible-light camera for identification. A properly equipped smart thermal camera can send GPS coordinates to the PTZ to point it right at a recognized threat.

Smart Video Security Handbook

Camera Selection Guide: Pixels on Target

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Smart Video Security Handbook

Fail-Safe: The Smart Thermal Video Advantage Operation, Integration, Implementation Image stabilization, described above, removes camera motion artifacts from the video signal. It gives the other image processors in a smart thermal camera (as in fig. 2-2) a solid, steady image to work with. Image processors downstream from the image stabilizer carry out two functions: image enhancement and video analytics. Video analytics processors have the glamor job – they detect motion, analyze the moving object, and send out alerts when necessary. The image enhancers prepare the video for human visualization.

Image Enhancement They figure below graphically demonstrates how intelligent image processing by in-camera processors can bring clarity and realism to a subpar video of a daylight scene. The image on the left comes from a thermal camera without image enhancement. The image on the right was captured by a thermal camera with built-in image processing. Both images were captured in bright daylight at the exact same time after objects in the scene had absorbed considerable heat from the sun. Due to a phenomenon known as thermal loading, there are so many hot objects and surfaces that the camera without processing capabilities cannot discriminate among them. Its image displays extensive white-out, and much of the detail in the scene has been lost.

Looking at the image on the left it’s easy to understand why thermal cameras were once restricted to nighttime use. It’s difficult for humans or computers to detect a potential threat in this flattened-out landscape. In the right-hand image the camera’s image processor has intelligently remapped the scene to emphasize small temperature differences among the objects. Dark an light areas of the scene are clearly delineated. Details such as the railway’s overhead wires, the chain-link fence, and the vehicles on the street are sharp and clear. In fact, the quality of the image suggests a sharp black and white photo, not the blurry video of past thermal cameras (and of many visible-light cameras under intense sunlight)..............Please read more in our next issue which will be released in 2018!

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Reputable Companies and ensuring that they are certified & accredited.

Being in the Industry for many years I have come across many incorrect applications, ideal solutions overlooked, security systems with a poor operational plan or an ineffective solution due to risks that were not considered. Many of these incorrect applications were drive by a sales reward.

Michelle Kramer

This does not have to happen to you, if you use the services of an expert with years of experience, they can add huge value by sharing a wealth of knowledge with you, that is unbiased or encumbered by the need not to push the services that forms part of their core business.

An independent consultant will offer you the best proactive and/or reactive solution that will best protect you without the undue influence of vendors or service providers.

Below I will provide a few practical examples of why this is so important to have a security consulting who is acting on behalf of a client in an advisory capacity,

Insight into Companies that are reputable and ensuring that they are certified & accredited.

I have seen this occur many a time, where a Company is appointed for a service or an installation, but they are not even accredited or certified to provide the services, unbeknown to the client.

This comes in the form of a SURPRISE, and it is normally only discovered during an insurance claim or when using a reputable company to provide some additional work, and the installation is not done to standard. An independent consult can conduct reference checks prior to appointing a Company.

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Reputable Companies and ensuring that they are certified & accredited.

The CORRECT solution An independent security consultant always advises and recommends the best proactive solution, in the best interest of the client. With an experienced & creative consultant, they have many different solutions and options, however they can take pricing, installation costs, timelines, maintenance costs, aesthetics etc., into consideration.

Be the logical thinker Should a client be unfortunate to have become a victim of crime, emotions run high at that time. After an incident or loss, with the natural instinct to protect they tend to want every security application installed. Let an independent consultant take the emotion out of it and be the logical thinker and ensure that only the necessary recommendation is considered to secure your premises. This prevents a situation of an “overkill “to the actual requirements - many a salesman sell on fear.

Michelle Kramer

Problems arise when a Company quoting may not always suggest the best or most proactive solution, and may provide a solution only in line with their core business.

Once again, this often only becomes apparent when the security fails, equipment fails and/or on-going costs to repair, upkeep, upgrade and maintain sky rockets.

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Reputable Companies and ensuring that they are certified & accredited.

Calibrate all systems, solutions including HR requirements

Michelle Kramer

An example is: A security solution is installed, however the system and the end user was not taken into consideration, and this is imperative. This can lead to much of the security equipment that has been installed being underutilized. Or it is designed with the input of a security manager and his needs, and not specifically the organization’s needs. This will be adequate and probably work very well, until this manager leaves the company. Or a sophisticated system is installed, with on-site monitoring and the caliber of guarding staff is overlooked, as it is not important to the installer.

IF the HR needs and integration of the HR is not considered a very sophisticated system could become very ineffective.

One example below is how I managed to assist my client by being an independent advisory. This specifically was a perimeter security solution, and I will just make reference to the CCTV application. I consulted with my client in the following areas: needs analysis, correct application, integration, pros and cons, hidden costs areas and made my recommendation to the Client, which was a thermal camera application with analytics. This was backed strongly by the benefits that thermal cameras can offer, which worked extremely well for this specific site.

• See in total darkness, picking up subjects even hiding behind shrubbery.

• Can see in the most diverse weather conditions, including fog, mist and sea air • They work both during daytime and nighttime.

• Thermal Cameras that don’t include any moving parts, need no maintenance.

• There are minimal regular maintenance costs, dependent on the full system • Thermal Cameras do not require additional lighting, which saves costs.

• It is very difficult to hide/mask a Thermal Camera • Low power consumption • Less false alarms • Temperature differences objects EG: Monkeys will not set them off.

• Long Range potential (fewer camera are required) • Can assist with fire hotspot detection

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Reputable Companies and ensuring that they are certified & accredited.

The site information was then released to Four Companies, and we asked them to provide THEIR recommend for the best solution, following on from a site inspection.

Tender 1 Suggested Infrared Cameras (They do not specialize in Thermal Cameras; hence they would never recommend them)

Tender 3 Suggested Infrared Cameras, and they did not account for blind spots and the full circumference of the fence, which would make the solution fairly pointless.

Tender 4 Suggested a Thermal application with analytics.The client opted for Tender 4, on my recommendation and even though it was substantially higher in price, you get what you pay for.

Invest correctly from the start, if not it could cost you tenfold.

Michelle Kramer CEO IDME Consulting (Pty) LTD 6 on Broadway Durban North Tel : (031) 563 4447 Cell: 084 4055 201

Michelle Kramer

Tender 2 Suggested Infrared Cameras, and did not include the correct poles for the site, which would have rusted very quickly (you know what will happen to the equipment over time)

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Keep It Simple Stupid

Tinus Diedericks

The above words mean quite a lot when interpreted in full, especially when you talk about Estate security systems and sub-systems. The main reason for the above comment, is derived from all the “problems/issues” the Estates perceived to have, with regards to their Electronic Security Systems. I have found that some integrators make the engineering so complex that nobody can understand or even grasp the physical installation thereof. The poor, and I mean the poor clients, do not have a “hope in hell” in getting another integrator to site, when the main contractor default and asked to leave, without spending a huge amount of money in getting the issues resolved.

The system was sold as an intelligent system and better than “a piece of bread”, that the access control interfaced with the gate CCTV interfaced with the perimeter measures interfaced with the VMS, is the best in the world. What the client does not know, is that there are interface “black boxes” and proprietary software within the systems and between each interface which is the brainchild of the integrator only. When the, hypothetical, “jam hits the fan”, and the customer cancelled the order or maintenance contract, normally after a huge fight, one of many things occur, just to mention a few: 1. The client has difficulty in getting another contractor who is willing to accept responsibility for the future maintenance.

2. If he does get someone, there are a huge cost involved in getting the system up and running as specified.

3. Or the client has to replace some of the hardware and/or software in achieving such.

As we all know, there are major repercussions when a project goes “belly up”!

Very few people think about the Estate or Security Manager or even Trustee, who supported the clever sales people from this specific company. The homeowners starts asking questions and needs explanations, and at the end, all “hell breaks loose”. The Sales person and company goes on with “business as usual”, looking for another “sucker” and the employee sits without a job and the homeowners fight the so called “positional” battles within.

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Keep It Simple Stupid

Therefore my learned colleagues, I do know that you disagree (or might even agree for that matter – you have seen the truth), but believe you me, with all my experience and with all the research I have done on the Estates where I operate, the happiest customer to date, is the one, as mentioned above, who is in charge of his own destiny by doing all the maintenance work himself and who understands his basic sub-systems, and the customer who kept it simple, stupid!

I salute you!

Tinus Diedericks CEO

Tinus Diedericks

But, imagine, the access control is used as is with minor changes as required, but supported locally by the distributor or local manufacturer, or the CCTV, or the VMS. It speaks for itself in that you can get the support from the supplier directly and the customer is not tied down by an integrator at all. The question will be which customer will be most happy? Believe me, and as I have seen the last 30 years, it is the end-user who is in charge of his own destiny.

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What our team has been up to Page 54 l TimeTech Magazine November Issue 2017

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TimeTech Magazine

November 2017 Issue

Keep a look out for our next issue that will be available in 2018!

www.timetech.co.za l Sales@timetech.co.za l 021 975 3515 l 012 997 1114

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