Category: Case Study

The National Autistic Society has invested in Verint’s Community™ solution to provide its members a safe, online discussion forum for sharing stories about their experiences with autism. Verint’s Community solution facilitates the engagement and interaction through shared stories, advice and support, while providing a great online experience so the society can better engage with their members. “We chose Verint because we wanted to replace our aging forum software with a modern, reliable platform to support strong online communities for autistic people, their families and for professionals. Verint also provides a solution that will integrate well with our main website, which is currently being redeveloped,” said Dominic Wilkinson, Digital Projects Manager at the National Autistic Society, “We look forward to exploring even more features including incorporating blogs and Q&A Forums.” The organization understands the importance of robust moderation capabilities for a public forum – another reason for choosing Verint. “As an organization that supports autistic people and their families across the UK, and works to improve their everyday lives, we know a key enabler of this mission is the sharing of knowledge,” said Verint’s Michael Southworth, General Manager, Intelligent Self-Service, “Verint Community allows people to exchange their real experiences of everything from diagnosis to daily life for the benefit of others in similar situations, while preserving privacy for those that choose to remain anonymous.” The community is part of the society’s three-part web presence. The main site offers guidance and advice, as well as details of services and how people can support them. Specialist sites provide information about and for professionals who work with autistic people in fields such as education, health and social care, and the law. “The National Autistic Society is a forward-thinking organization that recognizes the value of an online community to its mission and to the digital services it provides to its members,” added Southworth, “We are honored to have been chosen as the provider for this important offering, and look forward to continuing our partnership with them.”  

A typical residential complex security system consists of premises access control and video surveillance. Such measures are impressive but not capable of stopping prepared burglars. SAGA Development and Ajax Systems have implemented a truly safe housing project based on the Einstein Concept House residential complex. The territory, corridors and stairs remain under 24/7 surveillance. Every apartment is equipped with Ajax security system devices. An internal security service instantly responds to its alerts. Einstein Concept House has no fence. It is not needed as every meter of the territory is monitored by cameras, and the guards are always nearby. An outsider would have a hard job entering the building since the entrance doors are equipped with fingerprint scanners. Furthermore, they will need a magnetic card to use an elevator, enter a staircase, or get to the necessary floor. The property of the residents is pro tected by Ajax security systems. Hub Plus hubs, DoorProtect door opening detectors, and MotionProtect motion detectors are installed inside every apartment. Ajax systems are not vulnerable to power outages or frequency jamming. They are always connected to the Ajax PRO Desktop central monitoring station that is monitored 24/7 by an internal security service operator of the residential complex. If thieves manage to gain access to an apartment despite all the security measures, Ajax will immediately send an alarm to the residents’ smartphones and the monitoring station. Elevators and exits from the floors will be blocked within 30 seconds, and the burglars will have to deal with the security guards of the complex and the police. The building has a centralized fire protection system. It can be reinforced with Ajax FireProtectPlus detectors that react to smoke, rising temperature, and carbon monoxide. Every apartment is equipped with Ajax LeaksProtect detectors. The security service will remotely shut off water supply to the apartment once a leakage is detected, and the owners will receive an incident alert. All plugs in Einstein Concept House apartment have built-in WallSwitch relays. The residents need not worry about a forgotten iron, curling tongs, or other electrical appliances. The users can turn the power supply on and off remotely via an application and monitor energy consumption using the smart relay. Furthermore, the relay protects the equipment from power overload and the plug from overheating and catching fire. The apartments with pre-installed Ajax systems can be supplemented with optional devices at the request of the residents such as detectors, smart plugs, key fobs, and keypads for system control. All Ajax security system devices are wireless, so the equipment can be connected within minutes and the connection process does not affect indoor decorations.  

Securitas UK has been awarded a five-year contract to deliver protective security services for The O2 arena. Home to world class entertainment, the 20,000-capacity venue hosted over 9 million visitors, 168 event days and 194 performances in 2018. Owned by AEG, The O2 arena is a high-profile venue which welcomes visitors from all around the world. The contract with Securitas went live in June. Craig Robb, Chief Commercial Officer at Securitas UK commented, “The O2 arena is one of the most recognised venues for out of this world entertainment, and we are committed to maintaining and enhancing this well-deserved reputation. “During the tender process, The O2 made it clear that they were looking for a best-in-class security supplier to keep their venue and visitors safe. They needed a provider that understood the challenges of operating in a complex and unique entertainment environment. “We’re delighted to welcome our new officers to the Securitas team – these officers are at the heart of our security delivery. “Through industry leading security officers and a highly experienced local management team, Securitas will deliver unrivalled protection at The O2 arena, creating a safe, secure and enjoyable environment for everyone.” Paul Williams, Senior Security Manager at The O2 commented, “We’re delighted to appoint Securitas UK to supply security and stewarding services to ensure the safety of our visitors at The O2 arena. As the world’s most popular music and entertainment venue it’s essential we work with a supplier who shares our values and we are proud to work with Securitas UK, the leading global security provider who deliver integrity, vigilance and helpfulness.” In addition to The O2 arena, Securitas delivers a range of protective security services for Formula 1, Wembley Stadium, Arsenal FC and works closely with the FA on event security.  

Obayashi Corporation, NEC Corporation and Taiyu Co., Ltd. have jointly developed an autonomous backhoe operation system that automates sediment loading as an important step in the autonomy of construction machinery. In recent years, labor shortages due to the aging of skilled workers and a decline in the number of younger workers have become urgent issues for the construction industry in Japan. As a result, labor-saving measures for the improvement of productivity have become increasingly important. For this reason, there are great expectations for the automation of construction technology, especially for the development of technology to automate heavy machinery that is currently operated by technically skilled workers. In order to address these issues, Obayashi, NEC, and TAIYU began joint development of technologies for automating general-purpose construction machinery, aiming to dramatically improve productivity while capitalizing on their collective experience and technological know-how. As an important first step, the companies have developed an autonomous operation system for backhoes. The autonomous backhoe operation system automatically carries out sediment loading, which represents a large amount of work for civil engineering projects such as tunneling, underground excavation for large-scale buildings, and other purposes. Sediment loading requires a high degree of skill in order to effectively control backhoes’ arms, booms, and buckets, making it difficult to achieve autonomy. Therefore, NEC applied its adaptive predictive control technologies to a general-purpose remote control device, the surrogate, which was jointly developed by Obayashi and TAIYU, for installation on backhoes. This system combines Obayashi’s know-how of sediment conditions and dump trucks in order to perform controls that take into account backhoe dynamics and constantly changing conditions. In addition, the use of know-how of technically skilled workers and AI technology has enabled the highly accurate remote control of actions conventionally carried out by technically skilled workers, such as excavation and loading. This system is scheduled to be applied at a civil engineering site managed by Obayashi in December this year. Features of the autonomous backhoe operation system include the following: Accuracy, safety and high productivity The autonomous backhoe operation system uses 3D scanners to check the status of embankments in an excavation area. The system determines the points at which the amount of sediment loaded per excavation is maximized, excavates the sediment, swivels to a dump truck standing by, and repeatedly loads the dump truck while monitoring progress by camera. In order to improve the accuracy of operations, the system produces a series of optimal operation plans and utilizes NEC’s Adaptive Predictive Control techniques to understand the dynamic characteristics of the backhoe. In addition, the system analyzes the work data of a large number of skilled technicians to quantify the efficiency of their operations, in addition to analyzing sediment conditions, correct it according to the position of the dump trucks or backhoes, and other conditions in order to realize higher productivity. When the sediment loaded into a dump truck reaches a specified weight, work stops automatically until another dump truck arrives. Therefore it is not necessary for personnel to enter a worksite, which helps ensure safety as well as productivity. In the unlikely event of a worker’s entry, Obayashi has installed the ‘QuattroEyes’ system, which was developed by Obayashi, to ensure safety by preventing contact through fail-safe measures. Easy autonomy compatibility This system enables backhoes to be operated through a general-purpose remote control, the surrogate, developed jointly by Obayashi and TAIYU. The surrogate is attached to the control levers of a backhoe and is compatible with any manufacturer or model. Therefore, the autonomous backhoe operation system can be mounted on any commercially available backhoe, regardless of the type of the system. Since automatic operation and remote control can be easily implemented or removed, it is possible to quickly and flexibly respond to sudden events or complicated operations that require manual control as well. Integrated control system that saves labor The autonomous backhoe operation system is managed by a networked control system that integrates and controls a large number of sensors for recognizing the conditions of work areas and construction machinery. Therefore, it is possible for the administrator to remotely check and manage large amounts of information from multiple viewpoints. In the future, next-generation communications, ‘5G,’ will enable faster, larger-capacity, and lower-delay communication, allowing multiple types of construction machinery to operate autonomously at the same time, helping to further improve productivity and labor savings. Going forward, Obayashi will promote the development of next-generation construction production systems capable of realizing high-productivity and high-safety even with few technicians. In the future, the company aims to contribute to solving the shortage of technically skilled workers problem in the construction industry through sales of these systems. NEC will leverage the results of this collaboration to develop solutions that can be used to improve the efficiency and safety of construction work. Moreover, NEC will utilize network flexibly to accelerate the provision of ‘NEC Smart Connectivity,’ which dynamically links data to people and goods as it creates new social value. TAIYU aims to promote the expansion of remote and autonomous operations for a wide range of construction equipment through the training of skilled operators, development of surrogates and other innovative new technologies.  

School district deploys a complete video security and critical communications solution to enhance safety for students, staff and faculty across its 20 locations Motorola Solutions and Avigilon Corporation have been selected to help protect Georgetown County School District (GCSD) in South Carolina, USA. Serving over 9,500 students throughout its 10 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 4 high schools, career center and adult education center, GCSD sought to undergo a major security upgrade to increase safety, help mitigate misconduct, and offer greater ease-ofuse for school administrators, security officers and law enforcement officials using the security system. To enhance safety throughout its locations, a complete Avigilon video security system was deployed with over 1,000 cameras including the H4A bullet with self-learning video analytics, H4 mini dome and H4 fisheye cameras, all which helped achieve a tailored security solution for each location while allowing school security operators to leverage the benefits of real-time analytics. Avigilon Control Center™ video management software was also deployed to provide a more efficient way to manage video from a central location. GCSD also uses Motorola Solutions XPR 3500e radios across its locations. If suspicious activity is flagged using the Avigilon solution, security operators can quickly contact each other using the Motorola Solutions radios and take immediate action to keep students and staff safe. By using the two systems together, school officials can seamlessly improve operations from the time an emergency call is placed until after an incident is resolved. “Georgetown County School District is an excellent example of how Motorola Solutions and Avigilon provide a unified security solution for schools,” said John Kedzierski, Senior Vice President, Video Security Solutions at Motorola Solutions, “We are committed to continuing to develop products and technologies that can help enhance school safety and protect what matters most: students, staff and faculty.” “The ability of Avigilon and Motorola Solutions to provide an integrated solution for security, and critical communications is quite unique and extremely valuable to us,” said Alan Walters, Executive Director, Safety and Risk Management at GCSD, “We selected this system knowing that it is designed with every step of the response process in mind, which can make a world of difference in the moments that matter most.”  

Delta Scientific’s new patented crash rated TB150 portable bollard system lets law enforcement and other security providers promptly block access to temporary venues where vehicles can be used as weapons against large numbers of pedestrians. Individual portable bollards provide vehicle barricades in applications such as heavily traveled walkways and roadways, or any area that a vehicle can get through. They can also be used as substitutes until permanent bollard systems get installed. Ten TB150 portable bollards can be linked together with a cable system and placed on a road’s surface to create immediate protection for a span of 40 feet (12.2m). No other installation procedures, excavations or sub-surface preparations are required. Certified testing demonstrates that a TB150 portable bollard will stop and disable a 15,000 pound (6,804kg) vehicle traveling at 50mph (80.4kph), resulting in an ASTM M50, P3 rating. “Being able to stop a massive, high-speed attack vehicle is imperative to protecting crowds enjoying venues such as malls, theme parks, and public fairs,” emphasized David Dickinson, President of Delta Scientific, “The TB150 marks a new standard in crowd protection containing and stopping 1.2 million foot-pounds of attacking truck. The portable bollard array requires no foundation or site preparation and can be used for permanent or temporary vehicle control. The bollards can be set up on any stable surface such as concrete, asphalt, compacted soil or vegetation.” According to Dickinson, the TB150 temporary bollards can be used to close off streets, entrances, or wide expanses such as access to pedestrian areas or even airport runways. They can be installed in conjunction with Delta’s popular MP5000 portable barricade to fill in any gaps to protect people and critical infrastructures at public events such as parades, festivals, sporting weekends and any place that vehicles could attack transitory events. The combination of the portable barriers with the new portable bollards provides fast controlled vehicle access without the time and labor of installation. “From a purchasing standpoint, it can be easier to buy portable bollards and barricades than permanent solutions,” added Dickinson, “The latter are oftentimes placed into an organization’s real assets budget because they are permanently installed into the ground, becoming part of the property. Such budgets can often create complex purchasing scenarios for law enforcement or public safety departments. However, purchasing portable bollards and barricades is no different than buying protective vests for personnel or new sets of wrenches for the maintenance department.”  

With a history dating back to the year 1859, the Polytechnic University of Turin is Italy’s oldest technical university. The expansive historic campus includes landmarks such as Valentino Castle as well as the completely renovated Cittadella Politecnica complex, offering over 170,000 square meters of modern facilities. Attended by over 33,500 students, Politecnico di Torino provides degree courses in the fields of Engineering, Architecture and Industrial Design.Over the past years, the Politecnico saw rapid expansion due to growing demand for degrees in Engineering and related fields. Latest additions to the university include three off-site buildings outside campus areas one and two – the design and sustainable mobility Citadel, plus the newly re-modeled Lingotto building and Fiat manufacturing facility. To ensure the safety of students and staff in these buildings, officials in Turin needed to expand existing safety infrastructure. This proved challenging not only because of the complexity of the architecture and vast distances between buildings, but the additional need to comply with EN54-16 voice evacuation regulations. For this, the Politecnico needed to implement a certified public address and voice alarm system. As a satisfied customer for almost 20 years – the first ever PRAESIDEO system in Italy was installed at the Politecnico in 2001 – the university called on Bosch to secure the new additions with the PRAESIDEO digital public address and voice alarm system. Certified by security standards such as EN 54-16 and ISO 7240-16, PRAESIDEO provides a scalable solution for safety applications spanning several locations including campuses. It handles message routing, emergency voice evacuation, local amplification for lecture halls and other functions on a single platform. The system’s daisy-chain network topology also supports expansions in a flexible and highly scalable manner. The experts needed to accommodate for the complex architecture on campus – a mix of new construction and historic remodels – and integrate the three new locations with the existing Bosch solution. The result is a PRAESIDEO public address and voice alarm solution featuring eight network controllers, 80 basic amplifiers (a variation of 500W, 2x 250W, and 4x 125W amplifiers) and ten call stations. The two PRAESIDEO call stations at the main entrances of campus areas one and two work together with the PRAESIDEO PC call station client software; the other eight PRAESIDEO call stations are distributed among the other campus buildings. From a safety operator’s point of view, this integration provides a big picture perspective of the entire campus and the ability to address a variety of loudspeaker zonesseparately in each building. For clear audio, installers added 1,500 Bosch loudspeakers plus sound projectors that match the interior design of the modern Politecnico campus. All selected loudspeakers are EN 54-24-certified, making the solution fully EN 54-compliant. Inside the facility buildings, the loudspeakers are a mix of water-protected wall mount metal cabinet speakers (LBC3018/0) and LC1 modular ceiling loudspeakers (WM06E8, UM06E8 and UM12E8) for speech and music reproduction. Outdoor campus areas, sheltered or not, are covered by water- and dust-protected horn speakers (LH1-10M10E and LBC3482/00), as well as bidirectional (LP1-BC10E-1) and unidirectional (LP1-UC10E-1) sound projectors. The installed PRAESIDEO network controllers allow staff to manage the public address and voice alarm functions on a centralized platform. In emergencies, the system supports voice evacu ations. The efficient evacuation starts with occupants closest to the threat – addressed by pre-recorded voice messages – then moves on to adjacent floors and areas. The voice evacuation instructions achieve time savings of up to 30 percent for emergency responders. Having passed inspection in early 2019, the PRAESIDEO solution safeguards the campus expansion in Turin with a fully EN 54-certified safety solution. “We are very happy with the system, especially thinking about the complexity of the university and its expansion,” said Andrea Carbonatto, Facility and Security Manager at Politecnico di Torino. As a fully scalable, upgradable and expandable system, the Bosch solution is ready to accommodate the university’s future growth and has proven an important reference project in Turin and beyond.