Category: Case Study

AI-enhanced Software Enhances Security and Safety at Historic Site viisights, Inc., a global company in behavioral recognition video analytics, announced the deployment of viisights Wise™ and related software products at the headquarters of the Tata Group in Mumbai, India. This security system upgrade involves dozens of cameras and will enhance perimeter protection, support occupancy analysis, and improve the early detection of suspicious activity and safety-related events such as outdoor fire and smoke. Tailgating detection, for alerting on unauthorized access, will be deployed later this year. These improvements demonstrate the value that Tata management places on the safety and security of staff and visitors, as well as on the preservation of the historic Bombay House that serves as their corporate headquarters. “Tata Group is a global leader in many industries, from steel to power to airlines, and they understand the value of proactively ensuring safety and security,” said Asaf Birenzvieg, CEO, viisights, “viisights is delighted to deliver our highly effective pre-emptive solutions to help protect their business headquarters and ensure the safety of this historic building and its many occupants, visitors, and environment.” The Associated Building Co. is the Tata division that owns Bombay House. In the 2010’s, Tata upgraded Bombay House to become the first heritage structure in the country to achieve a Gold rating from the Indian Green Building Council. Today, implementing viisights Wise to help protect Bombay House is the essential step to continue moving forward. Designed for fast and cost-efficient deployment, viisights behavioral recognition video analytics leverage investments in existing video systems to autonomously detect and issue real-time alerts on unsafe conditions and security incidents so they can be addressed before they cause injuries or losses. viisights’ unique video understanding technology utilizes deep neural networks to analyze video streams from existing video camera systems to automatically detect developing security and safety risks, and issue real-time alarms to authorized personnel to take remedial action. The early notification of impending and real-time events of interest enables responders to take faster action, effectively reducing or eliminating negative outcomes from potentially threatening or harmful events. viisights intelligent behavioral recognition video understanding technology is currently deployed in critical applications around the world, helping create safer and more secure facilities and workplaces.  

The university complex consists of two distinctive campuses: the Tagaste campus, which includes 3 buildings with three-story each, and the Hipona campus, which includes 1 building with four-story each. Over 7,000 people populate the campuses daily, creating heavy peakhour traffic and security-related challenges. Agustiniana University partnered with RCM, Rosslare’s official Colombian partner, to manage access control and secure their premises seamlessly. Together, they built a security policy allowing over 7,000 staff and students to enter the campus daily. The university required a system to monitor and control access to classrooms, laboratories, and restricted areas. Additionally, they wanted to limit access to authorized staff only at sites containing valuable equipment and sensitive information. Finally, they needed a vandal-proof system to handle complex daily operations. With their extensive background in access control, RCM and Rosslare proposed AxTraxNG™, a real-time management solution for institutions on several campuses. Using AY-K25 and DR-6255 readers with 40 advanced networked controllers, Rosslare installed AxTraxNG™ access management software, controlling close to 200 doors in an organized way that monitors the entry and access of staff and students in detail. The system allows the division of cardholders according to their standing, with administrative staff limited to office buildings and teachers and students to their classrooms, laboratories, and recreational facilities. In conclusion, Rosslare provided Agustiniana University with a durable and vandal-proof system that efficiently manages detailed access control and reports on daily uses for staff and students, integrating security into the university premises.  

Rekor Systems, Inc., a global AI technology company with a mission to provide insights that build safer, smarter, and more efficient cities around the world through intelligent infrastructure, announced the sale of Rekor Edge Pro™ systems and Rekor Scout™ platform licenses to a large parking operator that has over 15,000 customer locations across all major U.S. cities and Canada. The contract is valued at $648,000. The Rekor Edge Pro™ is a complete vehicle recognition solution that captures and processes all recognition data on-device within a compact, durable enclosure. The system is engineered for roadway speeds and can also be deployed in neighborhoods, campuses, and business districts for parking management and access control. Rekor Scout is an AI-driven vehicle and license plate recognition platform that uses video streams from nearly any IP, traffic, or security camera and provides vehicle make, model, color, direction of travel, license plate information, and more. Rekor’s AI vehicle recognition technology will be integrated with the operator’s access control and a back-end customer billing system, making the parking process virtually frictionless and more efficient for its customers. Michael Dunbar, Chief Revenue Officer, Rekor said, “We are pleased that this partnership is now in place and are confident that our initial work here will expand throughout their substantial parking garages and property network. This new agreement adds to a number of similar product and licensing contracts Rekor has announced within the last 60 days. It demonstrates the wide range of customers that the Company continues to work with beyond the primary focus on data services for our rapidly growing urban mobility and transportation management areas. These include a federal government agency, a prominent operator of theme parks and water parks, a major Las Vegas casino, and a top provider of safety solutions for fleet vehicles.” Dunbar concluded, “With the inclusion of this customer, we have secured product and licensing contracts over the past 60 days that have a total contract value of $6.9 million. These demonstrate Rekor’s ongoing commitment to delivering innovative and reliable solutions to meet the needs of its clients across various industries and the breadth of the markets that can make use of our innovative solutions. With these wins, Rekor continues to demonstrate its strong market position and drive for growth in the coming year.” Rekor Systems, Inc. is a trusted global authority on intelligent infrastructure providing innovative solutions that drive the world to be safer, smarter, and greener. As a provider of comprehensive, continuous, and real-time roadway intelligence, Rekor leverages AI, machine learning, and holistic data to support the intelligent infrastructure that is essential for smart mobility. With its disruptive technology, the Company delivers integrated solutions, actionable insights, and predictions that increase roadway safety.  

Genetec Inc., a leading technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, announced that the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District (CFBISD) in Texas has implemented a unified school security solution with Genetec™ Security Center for video surveillance and access control and Bosch Security Systems for intrusion detection. CFBISD provides schooling for 25,000 pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in the Dallas suburbs. The district comprises 24 elementary schools, six middle schools, five high schools, and three specialty program centers. The overhaul was the result of a three-year bond project to refurbish older buildings and update all security systems with the goal of increasing video coverage and door monitoring while implementing a standardized modern intrusion system. “There was very little standardization across our schools and facilities,” said Daniel Robertson, Senior Security Systems Engineer at CFBISD, “We needed a more streamlined approach to security. The upgrade wasn’t only about investing in a new unified security solution. It was a complete change of mindset in how we secured our district.” Today, the Genetec-Bosch solution has been deployed across 42 CFBISD sites, including most schools, administrative buildings, sports stadiums, transportation depots, service centers, and other facilities. At all locations, the team is using Security Center to manage nearly 2000 cameras, 50 door readers, and 600 Bosch intrusion sensors with Bosch G series intrusion panels. They also have video intercom setup at main entrances and are using Security Center to manage more than 7,000 cardholders, streamlining activation/deactivation. CFBISD has even given authorized School Resources Officers and district Police Chief administrative accounts, to help facilitate responses and keep all parties on the same page in the event of an emergency. “Security Center allows us to quickly investigate any situation across our facilities. All our doors and intrusion points are linked to video, so we can easily retrieve everything from one platform. And if there’s an alarm triggered, we can click on that event and immediately know what’s going on. All this can be done quickly, so we see what’s happening and address it right away,” said Robertson.  

New tech integration from smart spaces will enable Apple users to gain seamless access to their office at London’s 22 Bishopsgate Smart Spaces, a leading global provider of smart building technology, has teamed with HID to introduce an employee badge in Apple Wallet, offering a secure and even more seamless building entry for employees at 22 Bishopsgate in the City of London. By adding their employee badge to Apple Wallet, employees and staff in the building can now safely and easily gain access to offices with just a simple tap of their iPhone or Apple Watch. Following the initial partnership between Smart Spaces and 22 Bishopsgate utilising HID Mobile Access in 2020, all occupiers and guests at the landmark office tower have had access to a frictionless arrival-experience. Multi-platform QR access will remain available to those that require it. Smart Spaces provides a suite of cutting-edge smart technologies for workspaces. By utilising HID Mobile Access and building management systems, Smart Spaces constantly adapts to deliver best-in-class experiences to make daily work life more efficient for occupiers, employees, property owners and managers alike, while optimising sustainability and wellness. The introduction of employee badge in Wallet, which is one of the first to debut in the UK at 22 Bishopsgate, is the next step in transforming the user experience in a modern workplace. Unlike physical cards, there is no waiting time for obtaining building credentials, making building access for new employees quick and efficient. Once an employee badge has been added and activated within Apple Wallet, users can hold their device near a door’s NFC-enabled reader to immediately access secured areas. With Express Mode enabled, employees do not need to unlock or even wake up their device to use their employee badge – they can simply tap their device. If an iPhone or Apple Watch needs to be charged, employees can still use their device to access their office or amenity areas for up to five hours with Power Reserve. Employee badges in Apple Wallet take full advantage of the privacy and security built into iPhone and Apple Watch. When or where a 22 Bishopsgate employee uses their employee badge in Apple Wallet is never shared with Apple or stored on Apple servers. If their iPhone or Apple Watch is misplaced, the owner of the device can promptly use the Find My app to lock the device and help locate it. Gerald Grattoni, VP and Head of Physical Access Control Systems for Mature Markets at HID said, “We are happy to continue to bring yet another deployment of employee badge in Apple Wallet. The broad reach and daily touchpoints of digital wallets will truly impact the way we interact with the world, particularly in terms of convenience and security.” Dan Drogman, CEO at Smart Spaces said, “We’re excited to bring this new service to occupiers at 22 Bishopsgate and to be using Apple Wallet to deliver cutting edge and truly innovative solutions for our clients. Evolving workplace trends mean that we need to think creatively about occupier needs and what draws them to the office. Having seamless access to a building through a commonly held Apple device is a game changer and we’re delighted to be one of the first to bring this technology to London offices.”  

Safety has become a top priority for most organizations today, along with the importance of having an effective strategy in place to combat and manage emergencies and risks. With this in mind, modern solutions have been developed to ensure organizations are fully equipped to meet their legal and safety obligations concerning their onsite employees, visitors, and contractors. Why is Muster Reporting Needed? Increased on-site accountability is essential for a workplace with a high number of employees, and regular visitors and contractors entering their organization. In the event of a fire or emergency, having increased on-site accountability allows emergency response services to easily and quickly identify all persons in a building, whether they are staff or a visitor. This ensures that the rescue planning and management of the emergency is optimized at a high level, further ensuring the safety of all persons. Explaining the intricacies of the feature, Business Development Manager for Acre, Michael Byrden explained, “Once a roll call report has been generated, a list of all the users present in the area group selected will be displayed in the lower window of the roll call screen.” “Initially, all of these users will be given a status of ‘Missing.’ If muster readers are defined, the users will change status to ‘Safe’ as they present their user tokens to the reader to confirm that they are now in a defined muster area of the site,” he concluded. How Reports are Displayed? As personnel swipes safe at designated muster points, a missing list report is then made available on intelligent mobile devices which automatically update, offering a unique insight into the various stages of evacuation. The extensive reporting suite assists emergency services to pinpoint the last known location of missing persons or unaccounted individuals. This dramatically improves the outcome of rescue operations. “Determining where employees are located can be critical for knowing whether they are in danger,” said Michael, “That’s why a key security emergency is using access control systems for reporting employees’ locations, also used mustering.” What are the Key Benefits of Muster Reporting? Real-time on-site accountability. Optimized rescue planning. Real-time visibility for Emergency Response Teams. Regulatory compliance. Optimum on-site security. Robust reporting functionality. Availability of ‘last-known-location.’ Reaffirms your organization’s commitment to Health & Safety standards. Critically, it is essential to note that muster reports can only be successfully used if all users follow the system’s conventions. That is, all users must swipe in and out of all controlled areas. Moreover, if any person is still missing following the conduction of a muster report, cameras integrated into the access control system can be used to scan the building’s interior and exterior while simultaneously calling the missing person’s listed contact number by clicking on this information on the dashboard of the muster report. The Implementation Process Following discussions with OLS’s Founder and CEO Ollie Law, the common requirements for OLS’ clients when implementing muster reporting solutions are ‘health and safety compliance, process management, ease of access to a report, self-accounting for users for a swifter process and reduced mustering time after an evacuation.’ The time it takes to implement this solution is all dependent upon a site survey, but depending on the client’s requirements, it can take as little as a day. The beginning steps to implementing this solution with OLS involve working with end-users to define the risk assessment to ensure current measures are in place to determine the requirements of the new system. With regard to training and support options that are available upon implementation, the OLS team promises to provide training and support for the end-user during the implementation of the system with a dedicated project manager assigned to the client.  

The factories and manufacturing facilities are the hub of core economic and industrial activity helping to create a positive impact on the local economy, employment and manufacturing ecosystem. The security and efficiency are the key concerns for the stakeholders. There are efficient way to manage Factories by implementing security solutions. Solution Overview The factory is a synthesis of personnel, assets, equipment, and machinery. Therefore, complicated challenges arise frequently in a factory, such as personnel mobility and fire hazards. Hikvision’s Solution by Scenario for Factories provides more cost-effective ways to guarantee efficient and safe production, and property protection. Secured by our professionally selected products and subsystems, the whole solution can bring more momentum and productivity to factory operation. Vehicle Management The biggest challenge faced in factories and manufacturing facilities is the entry logs of authorized Vehicle entrance and exit. The Vehicle Management data continues to be the perpetual challenge for the Factory Management and Security Personnel. Challenges Manual identity check for drivers and vehicles can be inconvenient and time-consuming, as well as difficult to trace back when looking for specific vehicle records. In manual identity check there is always a chance for human error. Solution To replace manual identity check with Hikvision Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Cameras can enhance the security by automation of the Vehicle authorization process. Thus, adding efficiency and security for Vehicle Management via hands-free, drive-through ANPR authentication and easy-to-retrieve records. Advantages Secure and efficient vehicle egress Hands-free, non-stop, authenticated drive through. Support for block-list alarm/ VIP notification. Operational efficiency boost Easy-to-retrieve records via ‘fuzzy’ license plate match. Automated alarm push for block-list vehicle and full parking area. Simple, adaptable deployment Card and video intercom in one unit. Adaptable in scenarios with or without attendant booth. Features Authenticated vehicle access using ANPR or ID card. Support for granting access remotely via video intercom. Vehicle records and parking statistics reports. LED display of available spaces and other parking info.  

German video technology manufacturer Dallmeier presented its solutions for casinos at the recently held WGPC 2023 (World Game Protection Conference) in Las Vegas. Highlights included the modular DOMERA® camera system and the PANOMERA® high-performance, high-resolution 360° ‘multi-imager.’ Dallmeier cameras simplify casino gaming floor surveillance with features such as remote adjustment of camera views or unique 360° overviews and ‘virtual PTZs’ for significantly improved situational awareness. Surveillance Managers: Quickly adjust cameras to new table layouts When casinos change the layout of their gaming tables, such as for a holiday, or completely rearrange the tables, it is often time-consuming to adjust the installed surveillance cameras: Standing on a ladder or a forklift, technicians must reposition the cameras to get the desired view. With Dallmeier’s DOMERA® cameras this is a thing of the past. The integrated Dallmeier RPod (Remote Positioning Dome) enables remote controlled fine adjustment of the lens in three axes. This allows casinos to easily install the cameras and quickly and easily adjust the recorded scene from any location if requirements change. In addition to up to 4K resolution, the cameras offer other exciting features such as WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) for optimal recording of scenes with very bright and very dark areas, and exposure presets for casinos. Finding the bad guy much faster with fewer cameras Dallmeier also demonstrated new features of its HEMISPHERE® SeMSy® video management system and the Panomera® W 180° and 360° panoramic cameras. With these innovative camera systems, surveillance managers can monitor large indoor casino areas with a much smaller number of cameras and seamlessly track persons of interest in much less time. This is possible due to the unique combination of a large, 180° or 360° panoramic overview and theoretically unlimited ‘virtual PTZs’ which allow for a much more convenient and efficient tracking of details than traditional gaming floor PTZs. Casino customers report that the time to resolve typical gaming floor incidents has been reduced by over 80%. Gaming Managers: Make informed decisions with AI people counting “Not only can casinos easily and quickly reposition our DOMERA® cameras when, for example, they rearrange their gaming tables,” said Joe McDevitt, President, Dallmeier electronic USA Inc., “Advanced video analytics – whether in the camera itself or via third-party analytics tools – enable applications such as AI people counting on the gaming floor. This gives gaming managers the ability to increase both safety and efficiency, for example by opening more gaming tables if there are too many people in an area, or closing tables if the occupancy of individual tables is not ideal. With our Panomera® W8 camera solutions, surveillance managers are simply revolutionizing gaming floor surveillance.”    

Fire protection solutions manufacturer, Advanced, has provided intelligent fire panels to protect Alnmouth Friary, a Franciscan monastery overlooking the Alnmouth coastline in Northumberland. An Advanced MxPro 5 analogue addressable fire panel was installed in the Friary to provide industry-leading protection that is high-performance and fault tolerant. Alnmouth Friary was originally built as a private dwelling in the early 20th Century and today the main ministry offers hospitality to visitors and is also the house where new men are welcomed to try their vocation with the Society of Saint Francis. Fire and security service providers, Safe Services, installed an Advanced MxPro 5 four loop analogue addressable fire panel in the Friary. Safe Services was involved in the project from the design stage though to installation and commissioning. The Advanced MxPro panel is integrated with Apollo Discovery fire detectors for a complete fire system. Graeme Millar, Fire Systems Technical and Sales Engineer at Safe Systems said, “We were delighted to be asked to install fire protection in the Friary on the beautiful Northumberland coast. The Advanced MxPro 5 is providing fire protection for both the Brothers who live in the Friary and all of their guests who visit them. The Advanced MxPro 5 is our panel of choice since it is reliable, fault-tolerant, high performance and great to install.” Neil Parkin, Advanced Sales Manager for the North, said, “Our MxPro 5 panels are designed to make life as easy as possible, delivering robust protection that offers real peace of mind, all backed up by our highly rated technical support. Add to that the time and cost benefits they provide to installers, and they are a great choice in multiple scenarios both large and small.” MxPro 5 is the fire industry’s leading multiprotocol fire panel and is certified by FM Approvals to the EN 54 standard. It offers customers a choice of four detector protocols and a completely open installer network, backed up by free training and support. MxPro 5 can be used in single-loop, single-panel format, or easily configured into high-speed networks of up to 200 panels covering huge areas. Ease of installation and configuration, as well as its wide range of peripheral options, make MxPro 5 customisable to almost any application. To combat false and unwanted alarms, AlarmCalm is available as standard on MxPro 5 multiprotocol fire panels, delivering unprecedented control of verification and investigation delays. By dividing sites up into virtual false alarm ‘building areas’ independent of fire zones, much more precise control of false alarm management and reduction strategies can be achieved, that exactly fit the needs of each part of a building. An optional AlarmCalm button allows trained occupants to verify if they believe a local fire signal is a false alarm too – a highly effective way of eliminating unwanted alarms.  

The Federal District Court in Brazil’s capital city of Brasília uses its new high-end security system to prevent defendants from escaping during trial, and to identify potential criminals wandering its facilities. Intelligent video analytics can quickly alert authorities to possible riots, triggering police to respond and prevent an uprising. Thirty buildings are efficiently managed from one location. CHALLENGE: Keeping employees and visitors safe in 30 buildings Occurrences of defendants escaping and rioting had been a very real risk. The Court of Justice of the Federal District and Territories (TJDFT) considered this when it undertook preventive security actions. Their previous surveillance consisted of analog cameras connected to stand-alone DVRs – outdated, with obsolete equipment, providing no integration between the different sites. The court district needed a better way to monitor 30 buildings spread across Brazil’s federal capital, to protect employees and visitors and ensure the safety of thousands of Brazilian citizens who use the agency services. Ultimately, the court needed a system to help capture fugitives and identify criminals. TJDFT sought a modern video management system that could integrate all the buildings of the judicial district across the capital, some of them in remote areas. The court also needed to monitor the offices from one central location. It was essential to ensure the safety of people and property, and the security of the system itself. “We bought our cameras at different times based on cost, functionality, and warranty. We had 30 buildings that were using different cameras, so we needed to feel confident that they would all integrate into the federated software system without any hassle” Igor Martins da Silva Manager for the Project, TJDFT In the main building alone, up to 5,000 citizens visit the location monthly. Other buildings are located in the court complex, too, such as the public warehouse (the central holding area for guarding weapons and objects from crimes), a museum, medical areas, and a retail complex. SOLUTION: Scalable system with smart video analytics The Federal District Court expanded and upgraded its existing security infrastructure with a district-wide solution using cameras equipped with intelligent video analytics (perimeter, loitering, and forensic search) from Axis Communications and Bosch, all integrated with the Milestone XProtect Expert open platform video management software (VMS) for easy monitoring, prevention and incident investigation. “We chose the most critical buildings to receive the new technology: the largest ones with the greatest flow of people. At the time, we updated nine buildings with the new surveillance solution” Igor Martins da Silva Manager for the Project, TJDFT Milestone’s open platform VMS was approved because it offered more freedom of choice among the associated technologies. Cameras and video analytics from Axis models M1125, P1435, M3046, P5534-E and Bosch models NBE-3502-AL, NDV-3503-F02 were chosen due to the best visuals and performance. The implementation of smart video analytics vastly optimized policing in courtrooms and other internal areas. The perimeter, loitering, and forensic search analytics from Axis and Bosch are used the most. A more efficient system, scalable and ready for future growth The system implementation took place in stages, beginning in 2015. Since the TJDFT is a public agency, each stage required a bidding process. The judicial police were responsible for preparing the project description to carry out the bidding, with the services and products contracted. In 2017, the project expanded to the rest of the buildings in the second stage. By then, the contract required the use of the Milestone VMS platform. For the third stage in 2020, the TJDFT updated all the licenses and extended the Milestone Care Plus service, which provides maintenance, upgrades and complete product support. Around 1,170 cameras are installed in common areas outside and inside, especially where criminals are held. As the largest in size with the greatest number of courtrooms, the main building received the most cameras, totaling 450. The other 29 buildings have 40 to 110 cameras each, depending on their size and needs. Axis models make up 80 percent of the devices. The system is scalable and open architecture, ready to handle new devices and add more integrations. The management of all forums in the Federal District is handled in a virtual machine on a SQL server. However, the video recordings are kept locally in each building to avoid overloading the central storage. In the main building, the monitoring room has more robust servers and a video wall featuring ten 47-inch monitors displaying images. Police officers monitor the system 24 hours a day with support from the IT team, if necessary. The personnel who operate the system received training on the functions most used daily: retrieving images, searching, configuring view mosaics, and checking system alarms. As of summer 2022, all TJDFT buildings have the Milestone VMS installed, and new sites that are built in the future will also receive the solution. RESULTS: Efficient monitoring of all buildings improved security The Milestone open platform delivered integration with existing cameras from different manufacturers, technical support, and high performance. The new video system has helped security personnel deter defendants from escaping and crowds from forming. During emergencies, local law enforcement have direct access to all camera views. “We chose the most critical buildings to receive the new technology: the largest ones with the greatest flow of people. At the time, we updated nine buildings with the new surveillance solution” Igor Martins da Silva Manager for the Project, TJDFT The Court has a mission to provide the community with access to justice and peaceful conflict resolution. It serves all cities in the Federal District, which has an estimated population of nearly 3 million people as of 2022. This brings together forums from 33 administrative regions that make up the Federal District of Brasília. Proactively deterring crime with smart video analytics Now, all 30 buildings are monitored from their unique location as well as from one central command center that integrates into the Milestone XProtect Smart Wall. If the system detects something unusual in the courtrooms, it triggers a riot alert so police can take…