Category: Case Study

Senegal’s new Blaise Diagne International Airport has chosen to minimise its parking lot headaches and secure its massive freight zone with intelligent smart surveillance from Hikvision. Officially opened by Senegalese President Macky Sall in December 2017, Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) covers 4,500ha of land located near the town of Diass, 47km from the capital of Dakar. Built at a cost of $575 million, the new airport is one of the largest travel hubs in West Africa, with a main runway designed to accommodate long-haul aircraft such as the A380 and B787. Approximately 3 million passengers are expected to travel through AIBD annually, increasing to 10 million by 2035. With a two level 42,000m2 main passenger terminal and 12,800m2 cargo terminal building designed to handle 50,000 tons of cargo and 80,000 aircraft movements annually, the new airport of fers a long-term solution to intra-African economic activity, providing excellent levels of aviation connectivity. Parking management To address the security, efficient management and profitability objectives of the airport’s 17 car park entrances and exits, operator Senecar enlisted the help of Hikvision authorised distributor, CST Securite, which capitalised on the support of the Hikvision Technical team, and all parties worked to confirm the final specification to meet the needs of the airport’s car parking and freight zone security surveillance, and site management requirements. Drawing on specialist products from Hikvision’s Smart Parking Management Solution, for the airport’s car park areas, CST Securite installed 17x DS-TCG225 2MP HD resolution ANPR cameras, featuring built-in whitelist, LPR identification support, barrier/ gate control and audio output. Effective access management The Hikvision smart parking management system employed at AIBD uses the latest barrier technology combined with Hikvision industry-standard ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) to ensure seamless, managed vehicular entrance and exit from parking lots. Fast vehicle identification and integrated barrier control software means queues are kept to a minimum – which means greater vehicle flow can be handled to increase the productivity and efficiency. The Hikvision Darkfighter and True WDR imaging technologies employed in the airport’s ANPR system are specified to deliver crisp and clear recognition, alongside a recording of every vehicle using the car parks day and night. A development beyond traditional technology, the airport’s car park barrier activation is not driven by traditional sensor coils in the floor (that detect a vehicle waiting to enter or exit), but by highly accurate ‘radar’ sensors. This technology enables far simpler installation and maintenance, as no ground works are required to dig across roadways or pedestrian pavements to install the traditional sensing coils and their cables. Additionally, the Hikvision radar solution is not affected by local environmental influences such as light, dust or rain that can inhibit the performance of traditional sensing coil based solutions. Helping Senecar to maximise their operation, the system provides invaluable statistical and analytical parking lot information, supplying status history, parking usage rate and parking vehicle flow, to name but a few. Underlining the advanced performance capability of the Hikvision smart parking management system, a range of configurable alarms helps the ANPR system operators to manage daily activities such as unauthorised parking, overtime parking and illegal access, which all helps support highly-effective vehicle and security management. High-level freight security AIBD’s cargo terminal building located to the south-west of the runway accommodates the airport’s freight handling, and incorporates a number of storage areas, freezers, office facilities and electromechanical service areas. To integrate with the airport’s mix of security measures and site management, CST Securite liaised with the airport security team to identify the most advantageous locations to install the freight zone cameras. Designed to capture a comprehensive view of all key internal and external areas, a mix of Hikvision DS-2CD2T42WD 4MP/ DS-2CD2T22WD 2MP full HD EXIR bullet network cameras with built-in IR to 50m, and DS-2CD2142FWD 4MP/ DS-2CD2122FWD 2MP full HD vandal-resistant network dome cameras with built-in IR to 30m and edge storage – all with IP67 protection have been installed. Supporting the Hikvision cameras’ high-performance imaging, their on-board VCA alarm activation parameters was set-up for individual camera scenes, to provide automated alarm activations and situation awareness of any predetermined set of events within each cameras’ view. To provide the airport’s security and management teams with effective real-time and playback monitoring, at the control room, Hikvision NVR-7332NI-E4/ 16P, embedded plug & play NVRs and a DS-7716NI-I4 NVR were installed to provide up to 6MP resolution recording. Simple and intuitive systems control is provided by Hikvision’s iVMS-5200E Control software, enabling all aspects of the surveillance system to be managed effectively. Commenting on the AIBD installation, Kevin Zhu, General Manager of CST Securite said, “Having used their products many times before on other high-profile projects, we had no doubt that the choice of Hikvision surveillance products would provide the customer with an efficient and reliable intelligent surveillance solution. We can confirm the good reputation of Hikvision products’ quality is backed by an equally good experience of their after-sales service.”

Kredi Kayıt Bürosu (KKB) was founded by the then nine leading banks of Turkey on 11th April, 1995, which is a highly regarded financial institution in Turkey and has a total of 156 members. The KKB Anadolu Data Center is located in the capital city of Ankara across 43,000 square meters of land, comprising three main sections. The facility is equipped with protection systems against lightning and earthquake. Issues The data center has cabinet system in place while access to data racks require biometric authentication. The center is equipped with numerous data racks for which they required a display device at the entrance. Each rack was locked with physical locks but the center required a cost effective solution that did not include a device for each rack. Moreover, they required devices that supported both smart card authentication as well as door locks. The center authorities were looking forward to provide the supervisors with an additional option of authentication through RFID cards. With respect to gaining access, they wanted a solution that would grant access through two steps, biometric authentication and physically opening the locking system. Finally, the center wanted a solution that could alert them in case of situations such as a door being left open. Solutions provided Matrix, in association with SouthCo, provided the KKB Anadolu Data Center with the following solution: To enable a display device at the entrance, integrated with the biometric device Matrix integrated data center solution with a touch screen display. Whenever any user tries to access the data center with their biometric credentials, the touch screen would display a list of racks the respective user is authorized to access. From the display, the user would be allowed to choose the racks he/ she would like to access. Once the user is granted access into the chosen racks, they will be allowed to access the same for a pre-defined period of time. User based access ensures the security of sensitive company data. They also installed 200 COSEC ARCs at the entry/ exit of racks between 400 SouthCo locks, one between two door locks, making it a costeffective solution for the center. Additionally, the COSEC ARC also provides the admin personnel with real-time notifications such as SMS or email notifications in case of any mishaps such as an open door, a forced opened door, door being left open etc. The personnel can also gather customized reports on events like who, when and which rack was accessed. Results Maintenance of diverse data. Foolproof security with biometric user-wise rack access. Accurate records of who accessed data center at what time.

Gemalto and INCOMELEC SAS, a Colombian partner, are transforming the immigration and border crossing in Colombia through biometric iris verification implemented by Migración Colombia, the country’s border control agency. This innovative solution was launched in February with a pilot program at Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport. The Automated Border Control (ABC), known locally as ‘BIOMIG,’ is benefiting both citizens and border officials. Gemalto’s ABC speeds identity authentication and significantly reduces bottlenecks in the immigration process while maintaining strong security control for each traveller. Gemalto ABC Iris solution secures and speeds immigration A growing majority of airport arrivals in Bogota – up to 60% – are Colombian citizens re-entering the country. This often results in long immigration queues, congested waiting areas and travel weary citizens. ‘BIOMIG’ mitigates these challenges while complying with Colombia’s stringent border control security requirements. How does it work The solution integrates a highly intuitive iris recognition terminal that allows swift long range iris capture from 35 to 45 centimetres away. This eliminates physical contact with the terminal and improves comfort and ease of use. To use the service, Colombian citizens aged 12 and older only need to visit one of 30 BIOMIG enrolment stations at the airport as they exit the country. In less than one minute, their unique iris scan is securely registered with Colombia’s Border Management System (BMS). When re-entering the country, previously enrolled citizens simply enter their national ID number on a touchscreen integrated with an automated door barrier by INCOMELEC, SAS. After a quick glance at the iris reader terminal, identity is validated via a secure digital process and the automatic doors swing open. Gemalto has supported Migración Colombia with state-of-the-art solutions for secure document authentication, biometric solutions and software integration for their border operations. “The challenge with border control solutions is to minimize and simplify immigration procedures while improving ease, speed and convenience for end users – without compromising security. This is exactly what the ABC Iris solution achieves,” said Francesc Ortodo, Sales Director for Government Programs Latin America at Gemalto, “Colombian citizens can now benefit from strong biometric security within a trusted environment.”

Avigilon Corporation has been selected by the Long Beach Housing Authority (LBHA) to improve safety for its residents in Long Beach, New York, USA. Committed to providing high-quality housing assistance to its residents, the Long Beach Housing Authority is a government-managed public housing project that owns and manages over 370 affordable rental units. To enhance resident safety, the LBHA installed a complete Avigilon surveillance solution that includes Avigilon HD Pro, HD dome and HD multisensor cameras, as well as Avigilon Control Center (ACC) video management software and Avigilon network video recorders. The LBHA system features Avigilon cameras with patented Avigilon self-learning video analytics including the award-winning 4K HD Pro camera. Providing high image quality and accurate detection of people and vehicles in critical areas, these cameras notify security staff and allow them to zoom in and quickly identify and respond to potential security events. Avigilon HD multisensor cameras were also chosen for their flexible design, which can capture multiple angles of street and property areas up to 360 degrees, enabling maximum scene coverage while minimizing blind spots. Using advanced search capabilities in ACC, LBHA’s operators can quickly search for and identify people and vehicles of interest, saving time and effort during critical investigations. “We’ve seen a dramatic 70 percent reduction of crime in our housing development since installing Avigilon’s surveillance system,” said Mike Cruz, Executive Director for the Long Beach Housing Authority, “With Avigilon’s self-learning video analytics and clear video footage, we’re able to quickly and effectively find the critical evidence we need to assist police in investigations, helping make our neighborhood a safer place.” “The demand for video analytics is increasing globally, and we believe that all video surveillance systems will eventually feature video analytics,” said Dr. Mahesh Saptharishi, Avigilon’s Chief Technology Officer, “The solution deployed by the Long Beach Housing Authority is a great example of how Avigilon self-learning video analytics are increasing the effectiveness of a security system.”

The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, the largest Cathedral and fifth largest church building in the world has recently completed installation of a Vicon Valerus video management system to secure the Cathedral and surrounding 11.3 acre complex in Manhattan. As the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, the Cathedral is the site of daily religious services, community programing and social outreach. It also plays host to a busy schedule of art exhibitions, concerts, receptions, public and private events and visiting dignitaries, who have included Nelson Mandela, the most reverend Desmond Tutu and President Bill Clinton. The new Valerus system, installed by the Long Island office of ITsavvy, an IT products and technology solutions provider, combines over 70 Vicon highresolution IP cameras, a Valerus application server and multiple recording servers. The system’s wide range of cameras includes models with powerful zoom that provide detailed coverage of surrounding city streets, and others chosen for their ability to perform well in the low and challenging light inside the Cathedral. Cameras also provide coverage of the Cathedral’s exterior, administrative and residential buildings that support the Bishop, clergy and Diocese, a world-class textile conservation laboratory, visitor center, information booths, and surrounding grounds and gardens. The Valerus system is vital for providing safety for all visitors, staff, residents and students, as well as protecting the property and its many valuable artifacts. Cameras are particularly helpful in protecting the Cathedral from liability in slip-and-fall incidents. They also document, for the police, any incidents that arise from the Cathedral’s service to the mentally ill and indigent. Live and recorded video from the Valerus system is frequently shared with NYPD and local security forces from Columbia University and other neighboring institutions. Keith Hinkson, Director of Security at The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine says, “The searching feature is so much easier on Valerus, and we can see up to 99 cameras on one screen. This is huge for an institution like ours. I can go from one camera to the next with no trouble whatsoever.” “Vicon is incredibly proud that a world-class institution as prestigious as The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine has entrusted its security to an end-toend Vicon solution including our latest Valerus software. Our participation in this project illustrates that Valerus can deliver security effectively to the most high-profile installations,” said Bret McGowan, Vicon’s Senior V.P. of Sales and Marketing.

NIST firefighters Justin Grossnickle and Martin Neal look over the end of a controlled test to study the impact of fire on cross-laminated timber buildings. CLT is a construction material identified in a new NIST report as needing more flammability research. Fire researchers tell that there’s a simple solution for reducing fire hazards and that is to eliminate flammable materials. If it doesn’t burn, the experts say, then there won’t be a fire. Of course, that option isn’t very practical or realistic; after all, who wants to sit on a block of cement when one can have a cushiony recliner? A better strategy for reducing the thousands of deaths and injuries and billions of dollars in damage resulting from the more than a million fires each year in the United States is detailed in a new research roadmap published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The roadmap provides guidelines for developing science-based approaches to solving numerous fire problems for multiple materials, from lightweight automobile composites to cross-laminated timbers, and prioritizes the most critical and urgent fire hazards to which they can be applied such as upholstered furniture. “Our hope is that this roadmap will help the global fire community develop research strategies and implementation plans for addressing fire and materials problems, now and in the future,” said NIST Materials Research Engineer Rick Davis, one of the authors, “The roadmap identifies and describes the major challenges associated with these problems and then detailed potential solutions so that users such as designers and manufacturers can continue to create safer materials that still yield quality products with high consumer satisfaction and market profitability.” The research roadmap resulted from a recent NIST-led workshop that brought together key national and international stakeholders from industry, government, academia and public laboratories. Workshop attendees focused their discussions on four areas in which fire hazards are major concerns. They are innovative construction materials such as the growing use of cross-laminated wood for tall buildings, advanced polymers and composites such as polyester fabrics used in furniture and lightweight composites used in automobile bodies, next-generation fire retardants with an emphasis on those that suppress combustion without being health hazards, and transportation and infrastructure vulnerabilities such as fire risks on trains. For each of these areas, the experts considered the direction of current R&D and how it may impact future fire hazard reduction goals such as developing new materials, establishing product flammability standards and advancing computational tools. They also addressed emerging technologies and practices such as the increasing use of high-energy density (lithium-ion) batteries that have been in the news for flammability concerns. The workshop participants agreed that the highest priority for future scientific studies and development projects in flammability should go to cross-cutting research approaches that can work against multiple hazards across a wide range of materials and applications. These are: Real fire behaviors: To understand how the actual use of a product impacts its fire service-life (the fire resistance over the life of a product) and burning behavior; Engineered fire-safe products: To enable the development of technologies that yield products compliant with flammability regulations for their entire lifetime; and problems, now and in the future,” said NIST Materials Research Engineer Rick Davis, one of the authors, “The roadmap identifies and describes the major challenges associated with these problems and then detailed potential solutions so that users such as designers and manufacturers can continue to create safer materials that still yield quality products with high consumer satisfaction and market profitability.” The research roadmap resulted from a recent NIST-led workshop that brought together key national and international stakeholders from industry, government, academia and public laboratories. Workshop attendees focused their discussions on four areas in which fire hazards are major concerns. They are innovative construction materials such as the growing use of cross-laminated wood for tall buildings, advanced polymers and composites such as polyester fabrics used in furniture and lightweight composites used in automobile bodies, next-generation fire retardants with an emphasis on those that suppress combustion without being health hazards, and transportation and infrastructure vulnerabilities such as fire risks on trains. Bench-scale and computational tools: To develop and use physical testing methods and computer modeling systems that accurately predict a material’s real-life fire behavior. The new roadmap strongly recommends that these research approaches be applied to the five most critical and urgent fire hazards as defined by the experts at the recent workshop. These are residential upholstered furniture, residential buildings in Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) communities, timber used for multi-storey buildings, passenger railway cars and insulation applied to the exteriors of high-rise buildings. “The workshop participants determined that these application areas should be prioritized for R&D because reducing flammability in all five should significantly reduce the overall losses from fires in the future,” Davis said, “The benefits from the new research roadmap, Davis said, could eventually be greater than just getting low-fire-hazard products to market. It’s our hope that the research resulting from the roadmap will lead to science-based quality control measures, testing procedures and performance standards for materials flammability, which in turn, should reduce the costs of making products, simplify regulatory compliance for manufacturers, and provide consumers with more fire-safe product choices.” Davis added that along with being actively engaged with its partners to promote and urge acceptance and use of the new roadmap by others, NIST has already begun putting it to work. “Based on extensive discussions with our in-house experts after considering the roadmap’s guidelines, we are planning changes in our upcoming year’s research and modifying our longterm strategies,” he said.

Honeywell has recently announced new smart airport technology that helps enhance the safety and efficiency of airside operations. The Honeywell NAVITAS™ software suite intelligently integrates air and ground traffic control with maintenance operations so airports can more easily accommodate growing air traffic while promoting safety and on-time performance.   Developed to comply with the latest industry standards set forth by organizations – including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE) – Honeywell NAVITAS includes modular and scalable software components, combined with an intuitive userfriendly interface, providing real-time insights for air traffic controllers and maintenance operators. The components assist personnel in visualizing and routing aircraft movements – from enhancing situational awareness about traffic conditions and more safely expediting aircraft turnaround times, to automating fault diagnostics for airside equipment – all despite the increasing complexity and stress associated with today’s airport operations. “Airports around the globe are seeing dramatic increases in traffic, and while that makes the world more connected, it increases complexity to ensure safe and reliable operations,” said Sonja Strand, Vice President and General Manager for Honeywell’s Global Airports Business, “NAVITAS helps orchestrate these complex environments like never before through mobile applications, dashboards and heads-up displays that are intuitive. By harnessing the power of the Internet of Things, we’re making data user friendly, and making airports smarter in the process.” The Honeywell NAVITAS modules include: Honeywell NAVITAS Tower Manager helps improve the productivity of air traffic controllers by enhancing situational awareness of airport surface operations. It gives controllers access to rich, real-time information on ground, air traffic and meteorological conditions, presenting the information in a single, easy-touse interface, and providing visibility into a multitude of traffic events while reducing the chance for error. The system helps manage the air traffic controller’s responsibilities, while making it easier to issue and track aircraft clearance information to keep landings and takeoffs safer and on time.   Honeywell NAVITAS Surface Manager helps airports get more out of their existing infrastructure by enhancing ground traffic safety, fluency and throughput in a wide range of weather conditions, while helping New Roadmap Charts Path to Reduced Fire Hazards from Materials NIST firefighters Justin Grossnickle and Martin Neal look over the end of a controlled test to study the impact of fire on cross-laminated timber buildings. CLT is a construction material identified in a new NIST report as needing more flammability research. Fire researchers tell that there’s a simple solution for reducing fire hazards and that is to eliminate flammable materials. If it doesn’t burn, the experts say, then there won’t be a fire. Of course, that option isn’t very practical or realistic; after all, who wants to sit on a block of cement when one can have a cushiony recliner? A better strategy for reducing the thousands of deaths and injuries and billions of dollars in damage resulting from the more than a million fires each year in the United States is detailed in a new research roadmap published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The roadmap provides guidelines for developing science-based approaches to solving numerous fire problems for multiple materials, from lightweight automobile composites to cross-laminated timbers, and prioritizes the most critical and urgent fire hazards to which they can be applied such as upholstered furniture. “Our hope is that this roadmap will help the global fire community develop research strategies and implementation plans for addressing fire and materials to reduce their fuel burn and carbon footprint. The module also provides the software necessary for airports to use all four levels of an AdvancedSurface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS), including surveillance, routing, guidance and airport safety support, along with enhanced movement conflict detection and resolution, which can include ‘follow-the-greens’ based guidance that automatically illuminates lighting on the tarmac to guide aircraft to clear taxiways.   Honeywell NAVITAS Engineering Manager helps engineers and technicians manage maintenance by enabling them to more effectively monitor system health, more easily perform fault diagnostics and to streamline workflows, which also often helps reduce operational costs. It features a mobile interface and automates the diagnostics and failure reporting, while simplifying manual tasks and reducing paperwork, giving personnel better visibility into the availability, reliability and performance of airside systems. Personnel can easily create, manage and issue work orders to expeditiously resolve issues and keep equipment up and running. Honeywell NAVITAS Performance Manager features dashboards that allow airport staff to collaborate and analyze operations in line with key performance indicators. The module which is accessible both on premise and remotely provides access to a common base of holistic information and allows for the application of big data analytics for real-time and predictive insights, often enabling more efficient and informed decisionmaking.

Avigilon Corporation, a Motorola Solutions company has been selected to enhance security for the Port Authority of Guaymas, Administración Portuaria Integral (API) de Guaymas, in north-western Mexico. As one of Mexico’s busiest and most strategically located freight ports, API Guaymas imports and exports nearly 6 million metric tons of cargo to and from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas each year. To strengthen safety and comply with government regulations, the port, in partnership with telecommunications solutions company, Global VoIP de Mexico S.A. de C.V., installed a complete Avigilon security solution that includes Avigilon HD Pro, HD Dome and HD Multisensor cameras, as well as Avigilon Control Center (ACC) video management software and Avigilon network video recorders. The port is also deploying the Avigilon access control manager (ACM) system to secure physical access points throughout its extensive premises. With resolutions ranging from 8MP (4K) to 30MP (7K), Avigilon HD Pro cameras were selected for their ability to cover wide distances between sites with fewer cameras, while simultaneously allowing operators to zoom in with detail to identify and quickly respond to potential security events. Avigilon HD Multisensor cameras were also chosen for their flexible design, which can capture multiple angles up to 360 degrees, enabling maximum scene coverage while minimizing blind spots. Combined with ACC software’s advanced search capabilities, these cameras help the port’s operators to effectively monitor and accurately verify the location of people and vehicles of interest, saving time and effort during critical investigations. “Clear video surveillance that can withstand challenging conditions is critical to our ability to protect the port from theft and other security threats,” said Axel Humberto Perez Flores, Head of Information Technology for the Port of Guaymas, “With Avigilon’s HD cameras and ACC software, our operators can centrally monitor and verify port activities, helping ensure we continue to provide secure transportation and storage services to our clients.” “Transportation projects like the Port of Guaymas face unique challenges in protecting staff and facilities, while also ensuring the safe and efficient handling of cargo,” said Ryan Nolan, Avigilon’s Senior Vice President, Business Operations, “The comprehensive Avigilon solution installed at the port is an excellent example of how our technology can provide scalable solutions to meet the operational and safety needs of our customers.”

Security has come a long way in the banking business. At one time, for example, Westpac New Zealand supplied firearms to employees and had a gun range in the basement of one of its branches to train staff in marksmanship. It was only in 1975 that firearms were removed from the branches and the gun range deemed redundant. Today, Westpac New Zealand relies on a state-of-the-art video surveillance system from March Networks to protect its customers, employees and assets. Part of the Australian-based Westpac Group, Westpac New Zealand is the island nation’s second largest financial institution with 170 branches across the country, approximately 130 of which are equipped with March Networks 8000 series hybrid NVRs or 9000 series IP recorders. As the bank’s older, thirdparty surveillance devices and recorders exceed their ‘best before’ date, they too will be replaced by March Networks technology, said Ray Millar, Westpac New Zealand’s Senior Manager of Protective Services.   “We have exposure to three video surveillance systems and the March Networks solution is the leading performer of the three for usability, retention and quality,” said Mr. Millar. Transitioning to all-IP video The introduction of the 9000 series IP recorders followed a decision by the bank last year to begin transitioning to high-definition, all-IP video in new deployments for enhanced image quality. Each recorder is loaded with a quar tet of 4TB hard drives for total storage capacity of 16 TB, allowing Westpac New Zealand to retain video for up to a year. Branches are each equipped with between 10 and 24 third-party cameras depending on their size, including outdoor cameras in branches where parking lot coverage is necessary. The 9000 Series recorders are available in 32, 48 and 64-channel models, and feature an embedded Linux operating system, internal battery backup, front panel diagnostic LEDs and between four and eight secure, front-access hard-drive slots for efficient maintenance. The solution is powered by March Networks Command Enterprise video management software, which allows large, multi-site organizations like Westpac New Zealand to centrally administer user access and recording configurations, schedule mass device updates, monitor system health performance, and quickly zero in on video evidence. In addition to its 170 branches, Westpac New Zealand operates 320 remote ATMs, 19 of which are smart bank machines that accept deposits without the need for a bank card. To comply with the New Zealand government’s antimoney laundering requirements, the bank has equipped the 19 smart ATMs with March Networks MegaPX ATM cameras. Designed specifically for bank machines, the MegaPX ATM camera is compact, easy to install, and features high dynamic range for superior image capture in bright backlit conditions and excellent low-light performance. Good camera coverage is ‘vital’ Westpac New Zealand uses its complete video surveillance solution to manage a number of risks including robberies, violent and aggressive behavior, and investigations around discrepancies in cash. “We allow for fast, bulk deposits, so someone might drop $5,000 in a sealed, tamper-proof bag into a slot and walk away,” said Millar, “The bag gets processed in a cash room and if a bank employee opens it and finds it’s short, it’s vital that we have good camera coverage with a chain of evidence to show with some confidence that the bag wasn’t tampered with.” “Because video evidence is so critical to Westpac New Zealand, the March Networks remote health monitoring functionality is very important,” continued Millar, “If we lose a camera or a recorder hard-drive, we need to know as soon as possible because we don’t want a branch to open without a fully functioning video surveillance system. In these situations, we’ll dispatch a security guard to the branch until we can get a technician there to get the system up and running.” Westpac New Zealand provides its regional and branch managers with access to video systems in the locations they oversee, and requires them to check the field of view monthly to make sure the cameras are properly positioned for optimum surveillance. The bank also makes the systems available to its antimoney laundering investigators and other key people in the organization. From time to time, the security department will receive requests for video from the human resource department, for example, or from a customer whose car has been dinged in a branch car park. In the event of a robbery or other incident, still images from the video solution can be quickly and easily emailed to law enforcement. Video clips can also be exported directly onto a memory stick or burned to a DVD. Westpac New Zealand’s decision to standardize on a March Networks intelligent video solution is based on the bank’s experience with different vendor offerings.  

Gemalto has won an open tender with the Home Office, acting through Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO), for the production of the next generation of British passports and associated services. Gemalto, an international security company with substantial operations in the UK, won the contract following a rigorous competitive process which rated each bidder against strict requirements that included security capabilities, processes, technical quality and the value for money for the taxpayer. The contract is for 11.5 years, including 10 years of production and issuance services. British citizens will soon carry one of the most technically advanced passports in the world thanks to a combination of high-end security features. For the first time, the British passport’s data page (also known as the biographical data page) will be made from polycarbonate instead of paper. This material Awarded Multi-Year Service Contract for New British Passports makes the document extremely secure; any attempt to tamper with it causes visible damage. The material is more durable than paper, preserving the integrity of the document over its lifespan. The digital component of the new British passport will rely on a highly secure operating system designed to comply with ICAO standards, developed and secured in-house by Gemalto. Mark Thomson, Director General for HM Passport Office said, “I am delighted that we have awarded the contract to design and produce the new blue passport. I look forward to working with Gemalto to continue to deliver a worldclass service to British nationals around the world, and keep the UK passport as a global leader of document security.” Howard Berg, Managing Director of Gemalto UK Ltd, said, “We are delighted to have been selected by Her Majesty’s Passport Office to deliver the new generation of British passports. As a pioneer of cutting edge government document design, we’re confident that the new passports will be the most attractive and most secure ever, as befits the British traveller.” The passports will be personalised in the UK to ensure all citizens’ personal and biometric data remains in the country. This process will further extend Gemalto’s presence in the UK, where it has operated for the last 25 years and create new jobs, supplementing the 500+ staff which Gemalto already employs in the UK, as well as generating secondary economic benefits in the local communities where Gemalto will be manufacturing the passports. In line with HMPO tender requirements, Gemalto has developed a complete business continuity plan, featuring the multi sourcing of key components and a manufacturing capability distributed over several factories. Gemalto will be manufacturing the first CarbonNeutral® certified passport. The carbon footprint of the new British passport will be independently measured, validated and reduced to net zero in line with The Carbon Neutral Protocol – the global standard for carbon neutrality. Frederic Trojani, Executive Vice President of Gemalto Government Business Unit added, “Over the past decade, Gemalto has helped develop some of the world’s most secure passports, including landmark projects in Norway, Sweden, USA, Finland and Singapore. We look forward to working with Her Majesty’s Passport Office to deliver one of the most technically advanced passports ever.”