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Critical Infrastructure Security and Smart Cities

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJuly 10, 2017November 14, 2024018 mins

Recently there have been several policies, simulations, active designing and implementation of smart city concepts in several locations around the world including India. Today, the world is talking about connecting everything to the internet. The fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0), a term used to draw together cyber-physical systems, the Internet Services and Internet of Things (IoT), has started to revolutionize projects such as smart grids and smart cities. There is no universally accepted definition of a smart city, with different schools of thoughts describing this concept in terms of annotations depending on their geographical scope, location and socio economic settings. Faced with rapid urbanization, city planners are turning to technology to solve a wide range of problems associated with modern cities. To provide for the aspirations and needs of the citizens, urban planners ideally aim at developing the entire urban eco-system, which is represented by the four pillars of comprehensive development – institutional, physical, social and economic infrastructure. This can be a long-term goal and cities can work towards developing such comprehensive infrastructure incrementally, adding on layers of ‘smartness.’ Ideally the planning of a smart city originates from the end user. The needs of the end user are assimilated in a systematic manner and are then distributed into several smart layers such as transportation, energy, utilities, finance, social, and logistics, amongst others. A true smart city is networked in such a manner that there is a balance between sustainable socio economic growth and urbanization. There are several examples of successful smart cities in the world such as San Diego in southern California and Glasgow in Scotland. The above illustrations show a few aspects of steps required to convert a city into a smart city. There are also several aspects of smart cities that are directly related to critical information systems and critical infrastructure. These components directly connect an end user to the service provider in terms of information display and service availability. For example, an end user can directly monitor the usage of piped gas from a mobile application; at the same time sensors in a house detect motion and usage, and the service can be cut off in case no one occupies the premise. This close networked platform is usually achieved through machine to machine communication (M2M) or an IoT platform. So how do we define these critical infrastructure platforms? Critical infrastructures are usually divided into physical and socio-economic infrastructure systems. Physical critical infrastructure encompasses all basic services such as electricity and water supply, waste (water) management, transport or information and telecommunication technologies. Socio-economic infrastructures instead include facilities such as banks, hospitals and schools but also public administration. Critical infrastructure is also a term used by governments to describe assets that are essential to the functioning of the society and economy. Future cities will challenge existing safety and security engineering models e.g., the United States electricity blackout in 2003 showed that in interdependent networks a very small failure in one network might lead to catastrophic consequences. New and complex cascading failure modes will arise out of unforeseen or emergent system characteristics as they are developed in an incremental and ad hoc fashion, especially where more sophisticated technologies are added to an already ageing physical infrastructure. A common concept between smart cities and critical infrastructure is cyber physical systems with city as the platform or (CPS). There are a number of definitions of CPS. Common features effectively describe control systems, networked and/ or distributed, incorporating a degree of intelligence (adaptive or predictive), and work in real time to influence outcomes in the real world. These definitions point to the diverse nature of CPS found in transportation, utilities, buildings, infrastructure, manufacturing, and health care. Although CPS have similarities with traditional data processing systems e.g., their networked or distributed nature and a degree of automation, the real-time nature of their interactions with the physical world is a significant difference. Interactions are sensors detecting and measuring physical parameters with actuators to control physical processes. Feedback loops allow data about the environment and the physical processes to be collected and computed. Actuation may be automatic or by an alert to a human operator. Critical infrastructure systems are CPS, whose failure would have economic or social impact. Society expects systems will operate in a safe, secure and consistent manner. In response to environmental, demographic and societal pressures, cities may no longer conduct business as usual. Traditional city models are no longer appropriate, as transport and utility infrastructures become unsustainable and require significant investment. Some cities have embraced the concept of the ‘city as a platform,’ a hyperconnected urban environment that harnesses the network effects, openness, and agility of the real-time web. The focus has been on access to data, leading to development of smartphone apps and portals allowing citizens to ‘connect’ with city services and institutions. To address cyber security requirements, we need to understand the proliferation of functions in this hyper-connected world. Where functions in individual CPS interact, they will create new functions that will proliferate over time. To protect these complex systems, we need to understand their network of functions, relationships and interdependencies. A study of critical infrastructure interdependencies led to the identification of six dimensions, which can be used to examine CPS and supporting infrastructures: Type of interdependency e.g., cyber, physical, logical or geographic. Environment e.g., business, economic, public policy, legal, regulatory, security, technical, health/ safety, or social/ political. Coupling and response behavior e.g., adaptive, inflexible, loose/tight or linear/ complex. Infrastructure characteristics e.g., spatial, operational, organizational or temporal. Type of failure e.g., common cause, escalating or cascading. State of operation e.g., normal, stressed/ disrupted, restoration or repair. Identifying critical city infrastructure in every smart city project is of prime importance. Whilst there are a number of definitions for critical national infrastructure, from a city perspective the concept of critical infrastructure is not well defined. The UK’s definition of critical national infrastructure (CNI) is: “Those facilities, systems, sites and networks necessary for the functioning of the country and the delivery of…

CAPSI Launches Rakshak Awas Yojna (RAY)

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJuly 10, 2017November 14, 202404 mins

Private Security Sector employs over 70 lakh individuals who are the source of livelihood, support and security for over 2 crores 80 lakhs dependents. Almost all security guards belong to economically weaker section (EWS) of the society and often live in slums and destitute due to their very low wages. The security guards who are ever ready to safeguard all, are themselves constrained to live in the most insecure environment. They are deprived of even their bare fundamentals of life including the basic civic infrastructure, social amenities and decent shelters; albeit they deserve them the most. The recent up gradation of the status of the security guard from an ‘unskilled person’ to a ‘skilled worker’ has brought tremendous motivation, and pride in the profession of guarding in terms of remuneration and standing. The skill ecosystem and policy interventions by the Government have made a holistic impact on the security workforce by empowering them to break through the poverty trap successfully. Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI) launches affordable housing for these security guards under ‘Rakshak Awas Yojana (RAY)’ – offering home for every security personnel under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. CAPSI through its State Chapters has announced to form co-operative societies in multiple metros/ cities by availing the benefits under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna for constructing houses through public-private partnership (PPP). In the endeavor to provide shelter to every security person, an MOU has been signed with Golden Gate Projects, a Bangalore-based company, and CNTC India Company Limited for multiple housing projects – first one to start with the construction of 5000 dwelling units at Mysore, which would also act as a pilot project to assess the demand for these ventures. “We are hopeful of getting the good response from prospective buyers since the houses will be priced competitively compared to private ventures. Moreover, our guards can avail government subsidy under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana with an easy pay back scheme through monthly installments,” said Mahesh Sharma, General Secretary, CAPSI. V.V. Katti, President of CAPSI expressed his happiness for the pilot project being initiated at Mysore in Karnataka State. He intimated that the delegation of Karnataka chapter of CAPSI will meet Mr. Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister of Karnataka, and request him to launch similar housing projects near Bengaluru and other towns in the state so that security guards may able to get affordable houses to live. “Being first responders, a concentration of security guards in a single location of living will ensure their instant availability to deal with any national disaster situations and other unforeseen internal security emergencies. Moreover, this project will have a far reaching socio-economic impact on our national agenda of sustainable growth and poverty alleviation.” – Kunwar Vikram Singh Chairman, CAPSI

Case Study

Uniview Protects Grolleman Coldstore, Advanced Freeze and Packing Company

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJuly 1, 2017November 14, 202404 mins

Grolleman Coldstore is one of the most advanced freeze and packing companies in Europe which provides a complete service for companies who want to package, cool, freeze and store their products. With 2500 employees among 4 locations in the Netherlands and 1 in Germany and doing transport with their own transport company, Grolleman Coldstore is the number one in the Benelux market. Grolleman Coldstore used analog system with 600 TVL but currently the company has new requirements to have high quality, high resolution video surveillance system which can help monitor the production process, employees and cargos. Solution Uniview provided 2MP 30x IR network PTZ dome camera, 2MP fixed dome, 2MP minifixed bullet and 2 SATA NVR, and covered all over the company floor, outside of the factory and employee entrances. Highlights Storing, activating and working on extreme low temperature Uniview IP cameras are capable to work, store and cold start under extreme low temperature. The cameras are embedded with high efficiency heater which enables it to work up to -40°C. Smart solution applied on production process control The company had the requirement to have a complete overview of the factory so they could monitor their actions and the damages they cause. Hence it is very important that the camera’s image is very clear in every situation, so they can identify people and process flow and cargos. User-friendly Uniview’s camera and NVR feature long range PoE function which help install products conveniently. In this project, cameras are installed separately inside and outside of the company building. Nearly 1.7km cables are used for this project. In order to easily manage the overall status, Uniview NVR provides statistical form of people counting which is illustrated by time period. It visualizes the smart function which enables users to discover and manage problems easily. Cloud surveillance Uniview NVRs support P2P cloud whereby users can watch live view or recording with smart phone conveniently at anytime, anywhere. Customers of Grolleman Coldstore use Uniview cloud service to watch the process of packaging, cooling, freezing and storing their products with their smart phones. Security manager Harry Grolleman of Grolleman Coldstore said, “With Uniview system, we can give quick response in case of accidents, emergencies or problems. We are very happy with the perfectly clear images of the chosen cameras. We are also using the mobile app for demonstrating to new customers. We are pleased with the professional and convenient products.”

National

MHA to Launch Portal

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJune 27, 2017November 14, 202406 mins

To Manage Private Security Agencies The Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI, has recently developed a platform to manage licensing, training and compliance verticals of the Private Security Agencies Regulation Act (PSARA). The Act was enacted in 2007 to regulate the functioning of the private security agencies. Passed as Federal Legislation, it was sent to all State Governments to follow the model rules, and develop a mechanism to constitute state controlling authorities to commence licensing processes on the guidelines enumerated in the PSARA by the Central Government. Most of the State Governments delegated controlling powers to their state police departments and appointed their IGPs as State Controlling Authorities. The private security industry has been facing some functional difficulties due to non-clarity on various aspects of the legislation. Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI), an apex association of the PSI has been representing to MHA to streamline the regulation processes so that the private security agencies could render services to their clients more efficiently, and also comply with the PSARA provisions. The Joint Secretary (Police Modernization), Department of MHA was made nodal officer to coordinate with the state controlling authorities for effective implementation of the legislation. Training of the security guards, police verification, and functional compliance were a few areas which could not be managed due to the lack of coordination among various state controlling authorities. T.V.N.S. Prasad, Joint Secretary (PM) convened a meeting of all state controlling Authorities (SCAs) of PSARA at Jaisalmer House on May 26, 2017, in which a portal was shown to the participants. Through this portal, each SCA will be able to monitor the compliance of the provisions of the PSARA by licensed private security agencies. Application for the PSARA license is provisioned to be received online through this portal and processed by the SCAs. Police verification of the directors/ partners will be conducted by concerned police station though their computerized networks. Details of all security guards and supervisors, their police verification, training, and wages shall also be managed through this portal. The renewal of licenses which is a major gray area shall also be addressed by sending prior notices to the PSI so that timely action can be taken. The portal is developed by the Chandigarh Police and was highly appreciated by all participants during the meeting. It was also decided that security training centers which are duly approved by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) will be the authorized training providers. This decision ends the long-standing ambiguity about training providers which was causing a major problem to the PSAs. The working group which was constituted to make recommendations for the functioning of the security companies engaged in the Cash-in-Transit business also presented its report at the forum. The report was approved under which specifications for the fabrication of cash carrying vehicles have been defined to endure total security of the cash and valuables. It was also clarified that only companies having a valid license under PSARA will be permitted to carry out the business of CIT. The MHA has also decided to launch a public awareness campaign to highlight the PSARA to seek public support to create a safe and secure environment in the country. Mamta Singh IPS, IGP Haryana presented her report on the implementation of PSARA. The report was accepted by the committee. Kunwar Vikram Singh, Chairman of the Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI) along with Anil Puri, Vice President, and Mahesh Sharma, Secretary-General also participated in the discussions. Maj. Gen. K Majumdar, COO of the Security Sector Skill Development Council, raised the issue of certified security guards being trained by NSDC approved training partners. Rituraj Sinha, Vice President, Security Committee of FICCI, along with Manjari Jaruhar, former DG, CISF assured support to the initiative taken by the MHA.

UBM India Announces 3rd Edition of Security & Fire Expo

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJune 27, 2017November 14, 202406 mins

UBM India is all set to bring in the third edition of ‘Security and Fire Expo (SAFE) – South India’. Slated for 29 June to 1 July 2017 at the Chennai Trade Centre, the expo aims to bring together over 70 renowned Indian and international brands from surveillance, entrance and home automation industry. Consultants, business experts, and key government officials from the industry are to congregate, interact, network, view the latest innovations, source business solutions and gather invaluable expert support, all under one roof. The Electronic Security Association of India (ESAI) and Asian Professional Security Association (APSA) support the expo. Revenue spends on security is predicted to continuously grow in 2017 and is projected to reach $1.24 billion. As such, the dire need for upgraded security solutions has prompted spends on security services, which includes consulting, implementation, support and managed security services, to be higher than ever before. The security services revenue accounted for 61 percent of total revenue spends in the last couple of years, and this proportion will increase to 66 percent by 2020. With a special focus on the key South India market, SAFE 2017 will provide an opportunity for visitors to learn about the latest technology and industry trends and discover the best solutions to keep their business and clients secured. SAFE displays products like CCTV & video surveillance, biometrics & RFID, integrated systems, access control, cyber security, physical security, perimeter protection, fire detection systems, intruder alarms and fire alarms and so on. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India said, “Today, governments all over the globe are unanimous on the need to provide a safe environment to their citizens. This has opened up a huge market, setting the stage for fierce competition amongst the leading players in the security industry. Several organizations globally and in India, are now realizing the vital need to refurbish their security strategy and discuss cutting-edge technologies to monitor as well as surmount accidents. Similarly, the demand for video surveillance in India has grown not only in corporate houses but also risen sharply among the RWAs and security agencies. Security systems like access control, biometrics, alarm systems, transport security, home automation, perimeter security and metal detectors are constantly being upgraded. They and have immense potential to secure lives.” He added, “With South India being such an important business hub for commercial and homeland security in India, UBM India with SAFE-South India 2017 intends to offer market-entry and business opportunities to the growing market in this region while strengthening the supply chain cycle of the industry.” The expo will also be a launch pad for leading security companies to introduce their products and establish relationships with key decision-makers. The congregation will see professionals from across the industry including security and safety managers from hospitality, IT/ BPO & service industry, real estate, port authorities, power plants, logistics, construction, architecture, automobile, manufacturing, industrial, retail, jewellery, health, education, it, networking, telecoms, automation, BFSI etc. In its third year, SAFE India has grown in size and depth and attracts industry leaders and key exhibitors including our Premier Plus Partners eSSL, Hikvision, Mark Electronics, GPS, UNICAM Systems and TVT; our Premier Partners In4 Solutions, Road Point India, Starex, Orbit and ZKT Eco. Other key participants at the expo include Vamosys, Hash Control, Swipe Technologies, Spectra, Main Hardware, Vitaran, Matrix Comsec, Mantra, ERD, TS Infosystems, Commnet, Swaraj Secutech, Pictor, Copper Connections, WYSE, Green Field, Supreme Computers, Micro & Super Micro.

APDI Governing Council Meet

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJune 16, 2017November 14, 2024014 mins

Indian private investigators to attend Interpol World Congress at Singapore The Governing Council of the Association of Private Detectives & Investigators of India (APDI) has recently met at PHD House, New Delhi. The Council was attended by eminent former high ranking bureaucrats, intelligence and police officers including N C Padhi, former Secretary Security, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India; Anil Chaudhary, former Secretary, MHA, Government of India; M L Sharma IPS, former Special Director CBI & DGP, Rajasthan Police; B S Sial, IPS, former DGP, Karnataka Police; and Suresh Dhundia, former Joint Secretary, MHA. Ashok Prasad, who has recently retired as the Secretary, Internal Security, Ministry of Home Affairs attended the meeting as a Special Guest. Presently he is working as the Advisor to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Subhash Wadhawan, National President, APDI in his opening remarks, admired the feats of APDI and the growing professional excellence and credibility of its investigating professionals, not only in India but around the international sphere. It is a great honour for APDI, and for India that the Chairman, Kunwar Vikram Singh has been elected as the President of the World Association of Detectives (WAD). WAD is the apex global body of the investigation and security services which was formed in 1925 and is functional in 124 countries. The 92nd Annual WAD Conference will be held at Shangri-La Hotel, New Delhi during 9-14 October 2017 where more than 100 foreign delegates from various countries are expected to participate. The Chairman also unveiled the ‘logo’ for the Conference. The Council decided to participate in the forthcoming Interpol World Congress at Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre, Singapore during July 04-07, 2017. This is the first time that the members of APDI who are also members of World Association of Detectives (WAD) shall be participating in the Interpol conference. The WAD-APDI delegation will be led by Kunwar Vikram Singh, President of WAD. V M Pandit, former President, APDI gave a presentation on the upcoming Interpol World Congress and educated the audience about it. He pronounced its theme as ‘Fostering Innovation for Future Security Challenges’ and clarified that WAD is partnering with Interpol in its new project to involve professional associations in community safety and crime prevention. More than 19 members of WAD based in India have consented to attend the event. Kunwar Vikram Singh, Chairman, APDI informed the Council that on an invitation from the Ministry of Home Affairs, an APDI delegation headed by him and constituted of Subhash Wadhawan, National President; Pawan Ahluwalia, MD, Premier Shield, Advisor; C Pal Singh, former IGP, Advisor; Mahesh Sharma, Secretary General; and V M Pandit, met the MHA officials at a meeting which was chaired by the Secretary (BM) MHA, and attended by the Additional Secretary and the Joint Secretary (PM) MHA. A number of IGPs of the state police department and representative from BPR&D were also present there. The meeting was held to discuss the status of the Private Detectives Agencies Regulation Act (PDARA) which is expected to be re-tabled in the Rajya Sabha in upcoming session of the Parliament. The APDI delegates impressed upon the option of introducing a new legislation in which the regulatory role should be given to APDI, in the similar manner as other professionals like advocates, doctors, charted accountants and engineers are being regulated through their respective associations as per the regulatory processes passed through pertinent Acts of Parliament. The Chairman indicated that the officials of the MHA were inclined to the suggestions given by them. However, the MHA expressed their concerns over the quality of training needs to be imparted to the private investigators, and emphasized that the National Occupational Standards for Private Investigators drawn by SSSDC and approved by NSDC should be examined by a committee of the MHA. The other eminent participants also marked notable words of appreciation, suggestions and updating at the forum of the APDI Governing Council. The Governing Council was attended by chapter presidents from Punjab, Delhi, Gujarat, MP, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Haryana, Goa and Himachal Pradesh respectively. National office bearers of APDI were also present there. The Governing Council of the Association of Private Detectives & Investigators of India (APDI) has recently met at PHD House, New Delhi. The Council was attended by eminent former high ranking bureaucrats, intelligence and police officers including N C Padhi, former Secretary Security, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India; Anil Chaudhary, former Secretary, MHA, Government of India; M L Sharma IPS, former Special Director CBI & DGP, Rajasthan Police; B S Sial, IPS, former DGP, Karnataka Police; and Suresh Dhundia, former Joint Secretary, MHA. Ashok Prasad, who has recently retired as the Secretary, Internal Security, Ministry of Home Affairs attended the meeting as a Special Guest. Presently he is working as the Advisor to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Subhash Wadhawan, National President, APDI in his opening remarks, admired the feats of APDI and the growing professional excellence and credibility of its investigating professionals, not only in India but around the international sphere. It is a great honour for APDI, and for India that the Chairman, Kunwar Vikram Singh has been elected as the President of the World Association of Detectives (WAD). WAD is the apex global body of the investigation and security services which was formed in 1925 and is functional in 124 countries. The 92nd Annual WAD Conference will be held at Shangri-La Hotel, New Delhi during 9-14 October 2017 where more than 100 foreign delegates from various countries are expected to participate. The Chairman also unveiled the ‘logo’ for the Conference. The Council decided to participate in the forthcoming Interpol World Congress at Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre, Singapore during July 04-07, 2017. This is the first time that the members of APDI who are also members of World Association of Detectives (WAD) shall be participating in the Interpol conference. The WAD-APDI delegation will be led by Kunwar Vikram Singh, President of WAD. V M Pandit, former President, APDI gave a presentation on…

National

Infinova New Facilities at Pune & Hyderabad

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJune 16, 2017November 14, 202402 mins

Infinova entered the Indian Market in 2007 and since then, it has been a prominent brand under video surveillance segment. Infinova has always been among the top choices for a video surveillance requirement in critical infrastructure projects such as city surveillance, airports, railways, metros, and industrial and defense sectors. To cater to the growing demands for surveillance products in the critical infrastructure projects in India, Infinova has recently procured a large facility at Pune to assemble all major products for sale in India. This facility is expected to be operational by the end of July 2017. They have also confirmed a large warehouse at Hyderabad that will also fulfill their service support expansion requirements, and support all the large projects in the South region including Hyderabad city surveillance and community CCTV projects. The company is also to host a local R&D center which would enable quick customizations, firmware development, product improvement etc., to serve customers better. These make major leaps towards ‘Make in India’ movement. Infinova is focused on delivering solutions, and not just products. They work closely with their partners. They help them design and deliver the solution, and also assist and educate them on various aspects to ensure a win-win deal. This makes Infinova an Integrators’ Manufacturer. Infinova Group is an ISO 9001 certified company, headquartered in the USA and has more than 10 subsidiaries in over 30 countries around the world. They have dozens of sales branches and offices, and nearly 1,900 employees and operations in more than 100 countries.

Article

When Surveillance Meets AI

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJune 16, 2017November 14, 2024013 mins

Security camera shipment continues to grow at 14.1% CAGR to reach 190 million units in 2020 (according to IHS report, September 2016) however, revenue growth slowed to 8.1% CAGR. There are too many cameras and video footage to be consumed by human operators. Most security video footages are erased or over-written without being watched. Video analytics technology was once perceived as a solution to automate the utilization of the abundant video footage resources. By means of identifying and tagging the appearance of certain patterns in a video, the system could perform search and run statistics on it. Such output could further be accumulated and analyzed to find trends and correlations. However, the potential has not been translated into business momentum. Complexity in analytics algorithm made it difficult to develop new software to detect a desirable pattern, and the tremendous demand for CPU processing power made it difficult to get timely analytics output. Artificial Intelligence may be the key to unlocking this potential. Video analytics technology has been evolving over the past 10 years. It is getting on the headlines more often lately due to the use of Artificial Intelligence. Machine learning greatly simplifies the software development process and the processing power of GPU made it possible to perform near real-time video analysis. For example, in the 2016 G20 summit, China deployed security solution developed by Dahua Technology using AI – Deep Learning to automatically screen pedestrians in airport and train stations for criminal suspects. Deep Learning has been accelerating the pace of intelligent surveillance Deep learning refers to artificial neural networks that comprise many layers. It aims to emulate human’s ability to analyze and study. It imitates the mechanism of the brain in order to interpret data such as image, voice, and text. Deep learning has been successfully applied in image and voice recognition and is set to be a future development direction. In 2013, deep learning was listed by MIT as one of the top ten breakthrough technologies. In the security industry, the application of deep learning is important for two reasons. On the one hand, it improves the accuracy of some algorithms; on the other, it realizes functions which cannot be done without using deep learning. For instance, facial recognition includes three key parts: face detection, facial features alignment, and feature extraction comparison. If deep learning technology was adopted, the performance of each part would be improved dramatically. Using deep learning, the facial expression, gender, age, hair color, accessories, emotion etc., all can be better recognized. Moreover, GPU can be used to accelerate the computation of deep learning algorithm. A traditional intelligent analysis is unable to cover a large-scale scene with more than 300 people, not to mention group analysis of moving scenes. Now based on the deep learning technology and GPU, it can easily deal with 300 targets simultaneously and further estimate the crowd density and identify the movement of the crowd, to provide more useful information to security staff. Obviously, deep learning accelerates the development of intelligent surveillance. On 7 March 2017, Dahua worked together with NVIDIA, a world-leading Artificial Intelligence (AI) computing company, to launch the ‘Deep Sense’ server for smart video structure analysis. Meanwhile, Dahua also cooperated with many renowned universities in and out of China to advance research on deep learning. As a result, Dahua’s face recognition algorithm ranked number one on the public authoritative testing platform LFW, beating Tencent, Google and other top academic and commercial groups around the world. Dahua made an early start on AI technology Dahua Technology made an early start in AI application amongst players in the global security industry. In 2009, Dahua established a department to research on intelligent algorithms, exploring potential applications in security solutions. The department was later merged with other research groups to form the Institute of Advanced Technology, which focuses on advanced technologies on AI, optics, Codec and ISP etc. ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) by Dahua has greatly improved traffic and parking management for better environments, promoting sustainable urban development. Deep learning is also being applied to the recognition of vehicles and people. Human objects can be classified according to clothing, hair color, wearing eye glasses, backpack, gender, age range and even facial expression. Vehicles can be classified by color, make, model and type on the top of vehicle license plate. Vehicle identification and statistical analysis The ability to utilize AI to identify and analyze vehicles is going to be very valuable. A witness may remember the color and make but not the plate of a vehicle. After applying deep learning, there has been an obvious improvement in AI-powered security applications. On the one hand, the rate of plate number recognition has increased significantly, on the other it is now able to identify car features like type, make, model and color in a more systematic way. Combining various elements in one search, it becomes possible to identify a target vehicle even if the license plate is not captured. Human recognition and statistical analysis Traditional intelligent video analysis technology was previously not able to perform recognition of body shape, gender, age, hair color or hair length, but Dahua’s deep learning technology made it all possible. Deep learning video analytics server handles recognition of up to 80 people within 40ms. Human recognition also suits to be applied in crowded places with continuous flows of people such as on escalators, crossroads, business centers and gates of exhibition centers, and its accuracy rate reaches up to 95%. As long as there is enough training done, the recognition rate is only constrained by how much of the target is exposed to the camera and its moving speed, just as if a human operator is watching the video full time. Application of AI to campus safety In recent years, the American TV series called Person of Interest has been very popular. This TV series described details of predicting crimes by AI. A software genius called Finch invented a program for advance recognition of a potentially violent criminal…

Article

Keeping Data Under Lock and Key

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJune 16, 2017November 14, 202407 mins

BCDVideo looks at how you can protect yourself against cyber attacks with its latest SMARTtechnology In recent months, there has been a multitude of cyber-attacks targeting video surveillance systems and the Internet of Things (IoT). In the aftermath of the Mirai botnet attack, an incredibly powerful distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, some of the largest surveillance manufacturers scrambled to address the extreme vulnerabilities built into their devices. During the October 2016 attack, Mirai, an open-source malware strain that scans the Internet for routers, cameras, DVRs, and IoT devices only protected by default passwords, used its army of infected devices to disrupt dozens of major websites including Dyn, one of the largest DNS service providers, by flooding the target servers with millions of discrete IP addresses sending junk traffic to block the flow of legitimate users. While DDoS attacks like Mirai, designed to cripple websites by consuming all of their bandwidth, target vulnerable devices across the world indiscriminately, several highly sensitive markets experienced the largest percentage of cyber attacks each year such as healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, government, and transportation. The expansion of the IoT has only compounded the problem by providing hackers with almost unlimited resources for carrying out their attacks. As more devices connect to a single network, the total system security is only as strong as the most vulnerable connected device. So, how can security professionals protect their system against these attacks? Gaining access to your security system Similar to any sensitive data, video surveillance represents an untapped pool of information. Consider the key users of surveillance and the data being stored – defense departments, embassies, hospitals, police departments etc., Beyond capturing metadata, by hacking into a video network, hackers will be able to view the camera footage, connect the infected device to a botnet, or even convert the device into a bitcoin mine undetected. A single data breach cost businesses $4 million on average in 2016, according to the Ponemon Institute. With the costliest attacks coming from malicious code and denial of service. The role surveillance networks play in these attacks comes from the relatively low-security, commonly factory default passwords, many IP cameras, DVRs, and NVRs have to combat the malicious code needed to connect the device to a botnet. Once a surveillance device has been infected, it becomes a tool used to take down target servers. After the latest wave of high-profile cyber attacks, updating default passwords on connected devices has taken first priority when securing a system. Security integrators and manufacturers are quickly adapting to the ever-changing cyber landscape, though. Proactive protection against cyber attacks is being implemented on many new, high-performance video servers. BCDVideo SMARTtechnology BCDVideo SMARTtechnology offers a single pane, simple monitoring solution. System administrators receive alerts for 32 system parameters for proactive troubleshooting on your video recorder or access control server all from within the performance panel. The exclusive SMARTtechnology includes: ● SMARTvault: It remotely restores the video software and camera settings to the last backup. ● SMARTrestoration: It restores a system to BCDVideo’s project optimized factory image. ● SMARTconnect: A trusted private and secure connection to a BCDVideo support technician. It provides technical access (when user approved) for remote diagnostics and troubleshooting. ● Intelligent hard drives within each system come with a predictive failure alert system and fault indicators to monitor and store data about the drive’s operational state. This allows for preventative onsite service calls and zero downtime before a drive fails. To protect video surveillance systems from hackers, BCDVideo developed SMARTdeflect, an innovative two-factor authentication application designed specifically for BCDVideo access control and video recording servers. The two-factor login process includes a self-generating PIN randomly reassigned every 30 seconds. System administrators will be able to monitor all logins with optional email notifications for every successful or unsuccessful login attempt. Because SMARTdeflect can be accessed on any smartphone, administrators also have the ability to temporarily disable all outside access to a server under attack. Additionally, the easy set-up and customizable system settings give administrators complete control over their servers With cybercrime on the rise, providing simple, reliable security with BCDVideo SMARTtechnology on all BCDVideo access control and video recording servers gives security integrators and end users another measure of proactive defense against cyber-attacks.

Article

IP Camera Settings for Difficult Lighting Conditions

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJune 16, 2017November 14, 202407 mins

If you’re a technician installing IP cameras for a bank or credit union, you know how challenging it can be to capture clear video surveillance images in dynamic lighting conditions. While some banks have controlled indoor lighting, others have bright sunlight pouring in through floor-to-ceiling windows in ATM vestibules. Other businesses, including quick service restaurants (QSRs), face similar challenges. To help you get the best video quality possible, some tips on which IP camera settings to use in different lighting scenarios will be pertinent. It’s important to note that surveillance cameras are shipped with default settings that are not always optimized to give you the best image quality for the scene you are trying to capture. In some circumstances, you can simply plug in your camera and walk away, but to get the best quality video in complex lighting conditions, a little fine-tuning is highly recommended. Controlled lighting Let’s first tackle an environment with controlled indoor lighting and assume you’re using our ME4 IR MicDome camera with high dynamic range (HDR). If the lighting is sufficient and consistent across the field of view (FOV) and there are no shadows in the image, I recommend turning off HDR altogether. If the lighting is insufficient and there are shadows in the image, you’ll want to leave it on. This will help brighten the low light areas and reduce noise appearing as pixilation. Not only does the noise detract from the image quality, it also increases your data rates and takes up more storage. You can also adjust the Gain setting on your camera, which boosts the light intensity being captured. If your environment’s lighting is bright and relatively even, you can try turning the Gain setting off altogether, which can reduce the amount of visible noise in the image. Conversely, if there isn’t enough consistency, you can turn the Gain up to 1, 2 or 3. Remember that at night, when the lights are off, you should check how Gain impacts night mode. The ME4 IR MicDome automatically goes into night mode with its smart IR technology providing its own light source. Bright sunlight and shade Now, let’s have a look at the adjustments you would make when you have bright sunlight as well as shaded areas in the same scene, which is typical in an ATM vestibule or a QSR dining area. If there is a small to medium amount of sunlight, the HDR Normal setting will suffice to illuminate the scene without overexposing the brightly lit parts of the FOV or underexposing the shaded areas. If, on the other hand, you have a full-size, two-story window bathing the scene in direct sunlight, you will most likely need to select the HDR Strong setting. The image won’t be as sharp, but you’ll be able to clearly identify an ATM user or fraudster who might otherwise be underexposed and difficult to recognize. You can also schedule a combination of settings, including HDR, by time of day. For example, you may want to set HDR to Strong during the day, but turn it off completely at night. To further optimize image quality at night, you can adjust the camera’s exposure and slow down the shutter speed, allowing in more light. Fast moving objects in the FOV – cars, for example – will appear blurry, but if you’re interested in capturing clear bright images in the dark, slowing the shutter is likely your best option. The training video gives a more detailed explanation of how you can use exposure adjustments to optimize image quality at night. You can make all of these changes using your March Networks client software, where you can see real-time camera views and get instant feedback on the modifications you make. Compression Once you’ve optimized the camera for your specific environment, you can now make a decision on what level of compression to apply. The March Networks ME4 cameras are, by default, set to a variable bit rate capped at 4 Mbps. You can instantly improve the overall image quality by setting the maximum bit rate to 6 or 8 Mbps. It’s important to note that the bit rate is variable and the camera will only use the allocated bandwidth as needed. As seen in the image given on the previous page, the compression level is set to 8 Mbps (or 8096 Kbps) but the camera’s video bitrate is only 4.7 Mbps, so don’t be afraid to increase the compression value as it will have a great benefit on the overall quality of the image.