Year: 2017

Orange Group, one of the leading telecommunications companies in Cameroon, has specified and deployed iVMS software, NVRs, decoders and IP cameras from Hikvision. Orange Cameroon enlisted the help of Servitel, a leading specialist systems integrator based in Douala (the seaport and economic hub of Cameroon) to provide an effective solution to the frequent problem of theft of stock at many Orange sites, and to the requirement to help better manage remote access to some key sensitive areas, along with confirming the locations and status of its employees. Servitel worked with the head of security for Orange to deliver an effective solution that would provide an answer to the security and management issues being faced. With the study of the initial proposed eleven Orange sites by the Orange Group security team, along with the staff feedback, the first phase of the new surveillance system specification was developed and approved. It was decided that the eleven Orange locations to be covered by the networked solution would include the company’s HQ in Douala, its technical HQ, commercial HQ, and Orange retail and technical sites in 10 cities throughout Cameroon. A mix of entrances and exits, fence line perimeters, tops of buildings, and internal areas were all chosen to be monitored. Orange required the mix of Hikvision camera models including DS-2CD4212F-IS 1.3MP Low-light IR Bullet, DS-2CD2722FWD 2MP WDR Vari-focal Dome, and DS-2DF8236IV-AEL 2MP Ultra WDR Smart PTZ network cameras. At each remote site, the Hikvision cameras are integrated with the access control system, to allow remote verification of entry and access doors, with some access points used to trigger camera snapshots of users. The use of H.264+ encoding technology by Hikvision cameras enabled the transmission of 1080P HD quality images by using only half the bandwidth of cameras using standard H.264. The H.264+ algorithm also reduced the amount and cost of storage hardware needed by requiring only half as much disk storage space, and the cameras themselves are very competitively priced considering their high-spec and high quality. Local remote site continuous recording is facilitated by Hikvision DS-9600NI-H8 Series NVRs, with built-in network protocol for connectivity with Hikvision and other leading camera manufacturer IP products. Local recording plays an essential role within the multi-site system, primarily because the data connection between the remote sites and the control room can sometimes be lost for relatively long periods, interrupting live monitoring. But with high-capacity local storage, events and local recordings are maintained safely, and available for retrieval when the connection with the control room is resumed. The mix of specified internal and external IP cameras was installed over three phases, and devised to address the varying range of surveillance scene conditions encountered across each of the eleven Orange sites. The mix of specified technologies directly addressed issues such as bright-backlit scene lighting, total darkness and the need for wide-area coverage. Comprehensive control At the central control room in Douala, supporting 24/7 live monitoring and reporting of incidents to the Orange security department, Hikvision DS-96128NI-E24/H embedded NVRs were specified to provide up to 8 Megapixel resolution recording and playback of the multi-site networked surveillance system. Hikvision’s Blazer Pro (256-channel) all-in-one server was also deployed to provide a comprehensive and powerful surveillance video management solution, along with Hikvision DS-6408HDI-T Series decoders, used to provide video stream decoding for a high-resolution 20”x32” monitor screen video wall. Utilising the powerful Hikvision surveillance capability, if and when an event occurs, depending on its severity, control room operators notify the Orange security department with the precise nature and level of the event taking place, furnishing them with detailed information and enabling them to take the appropriate course of action. Post event investigation is also catered by the system, where search and playback of specific events enables control room operators to provide the Orange security team with snapshots or video footage whenever requested. System benefits Since the system went live, it has contributed a positive impact on the business, with a number of acknowledged security benefits across the Orange estate. Consolidating its leading position in the 23 million population central African country, Orange Cameroon is progressively substituting voice and SMS applications by data communications and value-added services, expanding its 3G and 4G coverage, and upgrading its access network. This move is set to greatly enhance Orange’s network capabilities for new applications and the development of very high-speed broadband. Furthermore, Orange Cameroon leads the way in providing mobile payments, thanks to numerous innovations in its Orange Money service, including the Orange Money Visa card.

The video surveillance of thoroughfares in this large country improves the road safety and service. The Russian standards for road video surveillance equipment are very high, and the products made by Videotec, Italy, fully comply with them. Over 30 years of Videotec’s experience in developing and manufacturing of equipment for road security systems are behind the successful projects in Russia. On the roads of the two Russian capitals Various Videotec cameras that are an important part of intelligent transport systems can be found on many roads in the two Russian capitals. The Third Ring Road in Moscow and the Western High-Speed Diameter in St. Petersburg are the most prominent projects among the video surveillance and traffic monitoring projects using Videotec equipment. 72 ULISSE COMPACT HD cameras with the WASPT washing system were selected for video monitoring. These robust, rotating Full HD cameras, that are totally controllable at -4°C/ +6°C, have a 30x zoom lens, a frame rate of 60 images per second and programmable presets, have already become video surveillance bestsellers for the Russian roads. Any model of the series has several power supply options – 230/24/120V AC, can include an IR illuminator and is compatible with various ONVIF-S VMS and control software. WASPT, an exclusive washing system for the windows of PTZ cameras and housings, includes a wiper, a 5l or 23l washing tank and an activation setting used to remove any dirt or suspended matter from the windows. The system’s software analyses how dirty the glass is and triggers the wiper, therefore, the system needs maintenance a couple of times a year only. From Moscow to Khabarovsk in the far east 200 ULISSE COMPACT PTZ cameras will soon monitor the traffic on the Central Ring Road of the Moscow region. As soon as this road with a total length of over 520km and a speed of 120km/h is built, the Moscow Ring Road and roads in the Moscow region will become less busy, and the transit traffic of heavy trucks will be redistributed. ULISSE COMPACT HD cameras with the WASPT washing system are already on watch on the M-4 Don Road (the road bypassing Novaya Usman, km 517 km 544) in the Voronezh region. Similar to the Moscow projects, fixed cameras protected with HEG housings are used there along with PTZ cameras to detect any incidents. 9 HEG housings with a large camera and/ or large lens inside, the windows being served by wipers and washing system, are used within this road section. The housing is an aluminium IP66/ IP67 housing that has a double heater and ensures that the camera is able to operate at -5°C/+6°C. Similar equipment i.e., 21°COMPACT HD PTZ cameras and 22 HEG temperature-proof housings with wipers are installed on a section of the M-9 Baltiya Road and on the M-3 Ukraine Road (28 cameras and 14 housings). 47 ULISSE COMPACT HD sets with a parapet bracket and a 5l washing tank, and 45 HEG housings are expected to be used on the road bypassing Khabarovsk. 91 more ULISSE cameras are expected to be installed soon on section km 1092 km 1319 of the M-4 Don Road. Along tunnels and bridges The video surveillance equipment installed on bridges and in tunnels, especially in maritime regions, is to be protected as much as possible. Videotec stainless steel housings designed for long-term use in corrosive environment are usually preferred for such projects.

In response to the devastation that has occurred in the United States, Mexico and many of the Caribbean islands following recent natural disasters, NextGen Motorsports, a NASCAR series team, and March Networks®, a global provider of intelligent IP video solutions, are joining forces to help support relief efforts. March Networks is sponsoring NextGen Motorsports and driver Josh Berry, who drives the Xfinity NextGen #55 in the NASCAR Kansas Lottery 300 on October 21 in Kansas City. One hundred percent of donations raised around the event at www.donations4disasters.com, will be provided via the Celia Cruz Foundation to established charities working on the ground to help families recover and rebuild following hurricanes Irma and Maria, and the devastating earthquake that hit Mexico September 19. NextGen Motorsports is also donating 50 percent of any purse money won during the race to the cause, and is working with 22 days nutrition to provide food provisions of equivalent value to all funds raised through the website this weekend. “NextGen Motorsports, along with our drivers Enrique Baca, Luis Rodriguez Jr. and Josh Berry, is committed to helping support victims of these tragic events, as are many people in the NASCAR community,” said Carlos Crespo,  Co-owner, NextGen Motorsports, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the many families now struggling to put their lives back together.” “We have established routes into many of the communities affected by these disasters,” said Peter Strom, President and CEO, March Networks, “We are honored by this opportunity to join NextGen Motorsports and contribute to ongoing relief efforts that are critically needed in these countries.”

Tampere University Hospital in south-west Finland is one of the biggest hospitals in the country. In order to meet future needs and requirements, the hospital is currently being renovated and expanded in a project costing several hundred million euros. Here, complex technical facilities are being equipped with the tried-and-tested SecuriRAS ASD 532 early warning system from Securiton. The city of Tampere is located in south-west Finland, approximately 175 kilometres north-west of Helsinki. The third-largest city in Finland is situated between two lakes and is the most populous inland city in Scandinavia with around 225,000 inhabitants. Important healthcare provider Tampere University Hospital is responsible for the comprehensive provision of healthcare in the city and its wider surroundings. The hospital offers complex, specialist care services for a region where around one million Finns live. The services on offer cover virtually all medical disciplines, from emergency care all the way through to rehabilitation. In addition to outstanding care, Tampere University Hospital also provides training and conducts research. Building for the future In order to be able to meet future treatment needs, Tampere University Hospital is currently being renovated and expanded. A total of 40,000 m2 of floor space in three existing wings is being renovated, whilst four additional buildings and an underground car park covering a total of 98,000 m2 are being newly built. Securiton was commissioned with protecting the computer and telecommunications rooms and power supply systems with SecuriRAS ASD 532 aspirating smoke detectors. These are among the world’s most precise and most reliable early warning systems for fires. The SecuriRAS ASD 532 is designed for medium-sized applications and – in addition to applications such as those in Tampere – is also ideally suited for use in lift shafts, laboratories and similar areas. The ASD 532 has the same technical equipment as the more powerful SecuriRAS ASD 535 aspirating smoke detector, except that it has only one sampling pipe and a more compact fan. The installation of a high-quality safety solution is always a matter of the heart for the employees involved at Securiton. This was especially the case when it came to the assignment at Tampere University Hospital.

Honeywell has recently introduced  an enhanced version of Honeywell digital video manager (DVM) that offers smarter security and surveillance capabilities for today’s increasingly complex building environments. The new release, DVM R620, enables organizations to more easily secure large-scale security operations with features that improve operator efficiency and situational awareness for faster incident identification and resolution, and power more accurate and reliable security operations. DVM R620 is well suited for a range of facilities including complex security installations with stringent requirements  such as airports, correctional facilities, hospitals, higher education campuses, and smart cities. It features an enhanced user interface and includes major updates to how operators can capture, access and manage live and recorded video, reliably and efficiently. Based on a highly available distributed architecture, the system features edge recording playback and backfill capabilities, capturing video footage on camera memory cards, and then backfilling the footage to the system’s  main server. These features make the system more resilient in response to interruptions ranging from routine system maintenance, to network or server failures and cybersecurity issues, and ensure cameras more consistently and reliably capture video footage, wherever they are located. In addition, DVM R620 includes an improved and more intuitive user interface and features that improve the user experience, making it easier to learn and operate, which helps improve operator productivity for faster incident response. New productivity features include bookmarking, which lets operators easily annotate and navigate video footage. This enables faster footage identification and retrieval for evidentiary purposes – critical in today’s security environments, which can include thousands of cameras capturing hours of footage. “As buildings become smarter, driven by trends like the Internet of Things and the increasingly connected world, security operations must follow suit. This can be a tall order, however, when you consider the scope and size of today’s connected organizations – and the number of cameras and other endpoints personnel must manage,” said Aseem  Joshi, Country General Manager, Honeywell Building Solutions, India, “DVM R620 serves as a conduit for improved operator productivity and risk mitigation, leveraging connectivity for smarter surveillance that can more easily grow and expand as needs change and evolve.” DVM R620 also supports open standards like the Open Network Video Interface Forum (ONVIF) standard, driving deeper levels of interoperability and connectivity so organizations can more easily integrate an even wider range of video cameras and third-party systems like analytics as they adapt to changing security threats. In addition to improved resiliency, usability and interoperability, DVM R620 enables organizations to: Seamlessly authenticate video footage: When exporting video for evidence purposes, operators can add watermarks or use digital signatures to prove video authenticity and its source, reducing the need for third-party applications. Keep footage secure: DVM R620 exports footage in password-protected files to promote safety and security. Use network and hardware resources more efficiently: The system uses a lower resolution for video streams, freeing up valuable network bandwidth and requiring less from individual monitors for decompressing and video rendering. As a result, organizations can lower hardware costs and view more cameras within a single view. DVM is a component of Honeywell Enterprise Buildings Integrator (EBI), an award-winning building management system that ties all aspects of a security solution together, including video surveillance, access control, and intrusion detection. EBI also integrates comfort, life safety, energy and other core facility controls, providing users a single point of access to the essential information and resources needed to monitor, manage and protect a facility, campus or multi-site operation. As a result, security operators have improved visibility and intelligence, and the ability to deploy their staff and resources more efficiently and effectively. DVM and EBI are designed to work with systems from Honeywell Home and Building Technologies, which creates products, software and technologies found in more than 10 million buildings worldwide. Its connected buildings services help make facilities more comfortable, intuitive and productive.

IndigoVision and Canberra Centre in Australia have an ongoing business relationship dating back to 2006 when IndigoVision was first selected for their knowledge in IP security. In July 2017 the Canberra Centre expanded their already sizeable mall in the heart of Canberra’s CBD, with the Monaro Mall precinct, named in recognition of the original Monaro Mall that opened on the same site in 1963. With the addition of the Monaro Mall precinct the Canberra Centre needed to expand their existing security solution to meet the growing demands of retail businesses which include visibility and situation awareness across entrances, exits and main mall concourses. Solution IndigoVision Partner H3C Plus ensured that the solution for the Monaro Mall would integrate seamlessly into the existing centre’s infrastructure. Faced with a number of complex network infrastructure hurdles, H3C PLUS provided a solution to overcome these hurdles and deployed a robust fibre optic and copper backbone to facilitate the build. As part of the Monaro Mall precinct expansion, 75 BX420 HD Minidome cameras were added to the existing 143 BX400 HD Minidome cameras and 364 analogue cameras (brought to IP by IndigoVision encoders) installed on the site. This is made possible with IndigoVision’s distributed network architecture (DNA), which allows backwards compatibly that is truly scalable with additional products being added as and when required. High quality imagery from the BX HD Minidome cameras allows the Canberra Centre to review incidents within retail businesses and WHS areas, which include shoplifting and slips and falls in common areas like the food courts and escalators. All managed from the main security control room, powered by IndigoVision’s security management software, control center, and video wall. The IndigoVision Enterprise NVR-AS 4000 60TB gives footage a 60 day retention, and high level third party integration with the Skidata parking management system through their SDK allows the boom gate and pay station to be viewed in Control Center, increasing visibility. The opening of the wellness and beauty precinct on the ground floor at the Monaro Mall precinct is the first phase; with the second phase expanding the lifestyle and homeware precinct on the first floor due for completion in October 2017. With scalability, flexibility and the right products the Canberra Centre can be assured that IndigoVision always have them covered. Benefits IndigoVision’s unique distributed network architecture increases reliability and resilience with no single point of failure. High definition (HD) video standard including 720p (1280×720) and 1080p (1920×1080). Analytics algorithms bring significant benefits in both live-monitored and incident review operations. IndigoVision H.264 optimised H.264 video codec results in lower bandwidth and reduced storage requirements. High level third party integration through the SDK allows events and alarms from the Skidata parking management system to be forwarded into Control Center.

The Manchester-Boston Regional Airport faced a lengthy decision-making process when it came to security camera manufacturers, requiring products able to support the unique applications and varied environment of the airport. The security team monitored a range of spaces both in and outdoors, and required products that excelled under all of the varying situations and lighting conditions. The selected cameras needed to provide full high definition video across multiple open areas, while also delivering detailed, close-up images within busy, crowded spaces. The airport’s FAA grant included stipulations regarding the types of products that could be purchased with the supplied funds, specifying that the selected system must qualify under the ‘Buy American’ standard. This provision meant that all potential selections not only meet the technical requirements, but also be Made in USA. The process After a year of exploring the market, the client determined that Arecont Vision was the only manufacturer that not only satisfied the ‘Buy American’ stipulation, but did so without sacrificing the airport’s fundamental security requirements by providing a wide range of high resolution megapixel cameras. Once Manchester-Boston Regional Airport chose Arecont Vision cameras as the foundation for their security system, they began to collaborate with On-Net Surveillance Systems, Inc. (OnSSI) to supply the video management system (VMS). OnSSI is an Arecont Vision Technology Partner Program member, with many joint customers around the world, demonstrating proven integration between the two company’s products and support services. Securadyne Systems was selected as the systems integrator. The Arecont Vision SurroundVideo® multi-sensor camera series piqued the security team’s interest for its 180° panoramic capabilities. The placement of SurroundVideo cameras was made to provide comprehensive coverage. For locations that required a single coverage view, the security team chose cameras from the Arecont Vision MegaDome® series, which are equipped with a wide range of innovative features such as low light capabilities, and remote focus and zoom which all proved crucial to the airport’s requirements. Casino Mode™ is available in the 1080p versions of the MegaDome series, a feature that proved to be as useful at the Manchester-Boston TSA checkpoints as it is in a Las Vegas casino. Casino Mode guarantees 30 frames per second to capture every detail on fast-action applications, an incredibly effective tool when investigating security situations involving many complex, small movements for both live and forensic viewing. The result Manchester-Boston Regional Airport has installed over one hundred and fifty Arecont Vision cameras, and the video surveillance system is continuing to grow. The latest installation of Arecont Vision products included the lower level of a parking garage as well as a newly renovated passenger checkpoint area. SurroundVideo 180° cameras were utilized in the latter situation due to the client’s satisfaction with stitching together images from multiple 180°s. Paul Mueller, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport’s Security Manager stated, “We were sure to go back to Arecont Vision during this process. We have had a good working relationship with them for the past five years, and they enable us to use less cameras while still maintaining full view of inspection areas.” When asked if there are any specific incidents in which Arecont Vision cameras proved useful, Mr. Mueller responded, “Every other day we use the cameras to investigate criminal or worker concerns. We go back and monitor them for possible safety issues on the ramps, for passenger interaction, and for worker interactions. Anytime someone expresses a concern to me, they can come in and we can watch the footage together. I try to make sure that the option to view footage is fairly transparent, which has proved very useful to everyone.” Arecont Vision cameras are monitored 24/7 in the airport’s communications center. Primary views are displayed and monitored all the time, while others can be pulled up and played back as issues arise. The system also allows for particular divisions within the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport to monitor cameras that are applicable to their work such as in the parking garage.