Category: Feature

Lt Gen A B Shivane,PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)Former Director General – Mechanised Forces,Presently Strategic Advisor to Chairman CAPSI Suraksit Bharat for Viksit Bharat In the vision of Viksit Bharat of India, the evolution of a robust citizen security culture stands as the critical path of Suraksit Bharat. It emerges as a beacon of hope amidst the complexities of its socio-political landscape and escalating security threats. Embracing the ideals of justice, equity, and dignity, the nation grapples with the imperative of safeguarding its citizens from diverse threats and vulnerabilities. The recent bomb hoax calls in schools, malls and air flights have highlighted the inadequacy of response and lack of security consciousness among the citizens. If it would not have been a hoax the consequences would have been disastrous. Must we wait for it to happen? The recent spate of terror attacks in the Jammu sector in the recent times is a stark reminder of the dark shadow of terrorism on soft targets with high visibility and payoffs. As citizens we need to introspect and asses if we are security conscious and responsible? Is it a cultural deficit that exposes our vulnerability both to the escalating kinetic and non-kinetic threat? The path to Viksit Bharat requires sustainable citizen security. Empowering communities is the cornerstone of sustainable citizen security. Empowering communities requires a National Citizen’s Security Culture (NCSC) for which the Private Security Industry along with MHA can provide yeoman service to the nation. Accordingly a novel initiative was launched by Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI) under the vision of its Chairman Kunwar Vikram Singh in March 2024. The first round table conference on 15 March 2024 was accordingly convened to deliberate and evolve a strategic construct for its manifestation. CAPSI thus has taken the lead to empower the nation and its citizen’s by evolving a National Citizen’s Security Culture. The Critical Security Deficit Gap With a crime rate rising faster than the population growth rate, new threats are emerging and challenging national security. In 2023 the total cognisable crimes were 58,24,946 against a population of 1.44 billion making the crime rate 422.2 per lakh persons. This is certainly very high and thus India ranks 79 among 197 countries in an assessment of crime rates by country in 2024. The public-to-police ratio at 152.80 per lakh against 222 per lakh defined by the UN shows how understaffed India stands and exposes citizens’ safety. Thus a critical security vulnerability gap exists. Bridging this gap is the responsibility of the Private Security Industry with a one crore workforce that must harness citizens as an extension of their arm to exhibit security consciousness as a culture. This would help create an environment where individuals can thrive, families can feel safe, and communities can flourish. This requires an expanded role of the PSI along with its transformation and technology integration to remain ready and relevant for the future. The national chorus must be – ‘Stay Alert – Stay Safe.’ After all, security is everyone’s responsibility. The Need for National Citizen’s Security Culture India needs to evolve its National Citizen’s Security Culture for several reasons: Challenges to Citizen’s Security “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members” – Mahatma Gandhi India confronts a myriad of challenges in fostering a National Citizen Security Culture, including resource constraints, social fragmentation, institutional weaknesses, public security mechanism inadequacies, and technological disparities. The allocation of limited resources towards security initiatives often exacerbates socio-economic disparities and undermines the accessibility of justice for marginalized communities. Moreover, divisive forces fuelled by religious, ethnicity, and regional identities perpetuate social tensions and erode trust in institutions, posing formidable obstacles to inclusive security governance. Chanakya had stated four types of threats to a nation: Today, India faces all. They are both kinetic and non-kinetic in nature, which impact a citizen directly. They may be caused by inner political turmoil, or provoked, prompted or proxied by an enemy country, perpetrated even by such groups that use a failed, failing or weak state, causing insurgency, terrorism or any other subversive acts that target innocent citizens, cause animosity between and amongst groups of citizens and communities intended to cause or causing violence, destroy or attempt to destroy public and private establishments. Besides cyber-attacks, electronic warfare, psychological operations, data manipulation and misinformation campaigns are some of the faces of non-kinetic threats. Understanding Citizen Security in the Indian Context “Security is not a privilege; it is a fundamental right that every citizen deserves and must drive” In the Indian context, citizen security encompasses a broad spectrum of concerns ranging from traditional crime rates and communal tensions to emerging challenges posed by cyber threats and environmental degradation. Beyond the realm of physical safety, it embodies the aspirations of individuals to lead lives free from fear, discrimination, and violence. The quest for citizen security transcends geographical boundaries, cultural divides, and socioeconomic disparities, underscoring the need for a cohesive and inclusive approach towards its realization. National Citizen’s Security Culture refers to the shared values, norms, beliefs, attitudes, behaviours and actions of citizens and society that promote the protection and preservation of a nation’s security interests and the safety of its citizens. It elicits curiosity that exhibits security consciousness as a moral responsibility in a day-to-day schedule. The key challenge remains the ‘Cultural Change.’ Culture is changing the behavioural design. Tiny habits and small changes may change everything. So, behaviour equals a combination of motivation, ability, and prompts at the time of the behaviour. Fogg’ model explains that behaviour happens when motivation, ability and prompt come together at the same time. Motivation can range from low to high. Ability can range from being something very hard to do to something very easy to do. And then the prompt is something internal or external that says, all right, we want you to do this thing. Expectations from Citizen’s as Stakeholders of NCSC The expectations are very elementary in terms of following, reporting, providing and leading: Ends, Ways…

Aditya KhemkaManaging Director,CP PLUS (Aditya Group). With its dedicated endeavors under the ‘Made-inBharat’ initiative, CP PLUS is determined to realize the inherent potential of India. Celebrating the spirit of Indian-ness, the brand has launched many steps to align with PM Modi’s mission to turn Bharat into a global powerhouse. CP PLUS’ ‘Made-in-Bharat’ initiative is more than just a manufacturing strategy, it’s a commitment towards promoting self-reliance and innovation not only in the security and surveillance sector but across the country. Embarking on a nationwide expansion, CP PLUS has been constantly strengthening its distributor and SI network. With more than 30000 partners, CP PLUS enjoys direct reach in every corner of the country. One of India’s Largest, Most Innovative Brand Producing to meet the needs of the growing India, CP PLUS has set up one of the world’s biggest manufacturing facilities for surveillance products. Situated in Kadapa, AP with a total capacity of more than 2.5 Million units per month, this facility can further be expandable up to 5 Million to cater to global security demands. Recognizing that investing in technology means spending for a better tomorrow, the brand’s rising investments in R&D stand as a testament to its commitment to innovation and excellence. The CP PLUS manufacturing facility at Kadapa in the state of Andhra Pradesh has been integrated with the world’s latest Fuji-made state-ofthe-art technology SMT Lines and semi-robotic assembly & packaging lines. All production areas have been designed with ESD flooring, dust-free, and air-conditioned environments to deliver state-of-the-art products. “Our mission is to make life safer and smarter for a billion-plus Indians everywhere. We have introduced India-focused innovations and made dependable and high-quality products more and more accessible to the masses. As we grow month by month, we are also stepping up our commitment to help build a truly self-reliant Bharat”Aditya Khemka Managing Director CP PLUS (Aditya Group) This manufacturing facility has a wide range of Reliability Test Equipment to ensure the highest quality of products and have the certifications required by Government organizations. Playing a vital part in India’s extraordinary growth journey, CP PLUS has also launched the ViDu series – a comprehensive range of completely indigenized advanced CCTV cameras. These cameras are designed, developed, and manufactured in India with a greater localization of the manufacturing process, showcasing the brand’s commitment to the ‘Make in Bharat’ vision. “Our mission is to make life safer and smarter for a billion-plus Indians everywhere. We have introduced India-focused innovations and made dependable and high-quality products more and more accessible to the masses. As we grow month by month, we are also stepping up our commitment to help build a truly self-reliant Bharat,” added Aditya Khemka, Managing Director, CP PLUS (Aditya Group). Touching Lives and Empowering Futures In a resounding testament to the strengthening potential of a dynamic India, CP PLUS, the globally acclaimed security solutions provider, has embarked on a focused journey to blanket the nation with its innovative offerings. With the opening of CP PLUS World Experience Centers, dozens of CP PLUS Galaxy Stores, and hundreds more to come this year, the brand is on a mission to break barriers and instill a pervasive sense of security across the length and breadth of the country. The CP PLUS Galaxy Stores initiative transcends mere business expansion; it embodies a pledge to foster self-reliance and innovation across sectors. By expanding its presence in Tier II & III towns, CP PLUS is not only bolstering its distribution network but also nurturing local talent and entrepreneurship. These stores serve as bastions of progress, offering communities access to state-of-the-art security solutions while fostering economic growth at the grassroots level. With another ground breaking move, CP PLUS has introduced CP PLUS World, a network of immersive experience centers strategically positioned in major metropolitan hubs across India from New Delhi to Mumbai to Chennai. These centers serve as hubs of innovation, offering customers, partners, and enthusiasts a firsthand experience of CP PLUS’ cutting-edge security solutions. These focused endeavors underscore CP PLUS’ commitment to empowering its customers while driving progress in the security industry, both in India and around the world. Through these cumulative efforts, CP PLUS is not only showcasing its leadership in the security and surveillance industry but also embracing the ‘Make in Bharat’ spirit. Leading the Way by Uplifting the Industry In addition to creating dependable and competent inventions, the CP PLUS team has been leading Indians towards a better future by initiating a country-wide training program, Mission Tech under the CP PLUS Training Division to help upskill a professional and capable workforce. CP PLUS has been educating Indians across the country about the potential of CCTV technologies for many years now. To meet the aspirations of the young and novice CCTV Installers and Technicians and to further invest in the human capital so that there is a competent and proficient workforce in the Security and Surveillance Industry, CP PLUS began conducting practical hands-on training workshops, free of cost, regularly in all the CP PLUS branches spread all over India. CP PLUS has successfully engaged and trained over 50,000 CCTV Installers and Technicians under this program to date. The course is specially designed for the Indian environment so that system integrators and partners can deliver relevant solutions.

In the realm of surveillance and security, Pan-Tilt-Zoom cameras play a major role in Critical Infrastructure projects not only offering an overall 360Degree surveillance but also most of the PTZ cameras now being embedded with intelligent analytics, which redefine the way of looking at traditional surveillance. These analytics run algorithms which can help detect and track anomalies and prevent unprecedented events by triggering alarms. Though analytics bring intelligence to PTZ cameras, it also comes with its own limitations and challenges. Some of the potential challenges has been captured below so that users can make an informed decision when designing a security system solution. Constant Movement PTZ cameras are designed to pan, tilt, and zoom to cover a wide area or track moving objects. This constant movement can make it challenging for video analytics algorithms to accurately detect and track objects. The changing perspective and orientation of the camera can confuse the algorithms and lead to false detections or missed events. Complex Scenes PTZ cameras often monitor large and complex environments, such as parking lots, stadiums, traffic junctions or industrial sites. These environments may contain a variety of objects, movements, and lighting conditions, further complicating the task of video analytics. Analyzing such complex scenes requires sophisticated algorithms that may struggle to perform reliably on PTZ footage. Limited Field of View While PTZ cameras can cover a wide area by adjusting their field of view, they can only capture one portion of the scene at a time. This limitation can reduce the effectiveness of video analytics, as important events or objects may occur outside the current field of view. Constantly adjusting the camera’s position to monitor different areas can also disrupt the analytics process and lead to delays in detection and response. Resource Intensive Running video analytics on PTZ camera feeds can be resource-intensive, especially if the cameras are capturing high-resolution footage or operating in real-time. Processing the large amount of data generated by PTZ cameras requires powerful hardware and efficient algorithms, which may not always be feasible or cost-effective. Integration Challenges Integrating video analytics with PTZ cameras can be complex, particularly if the cameras are part of a larger surveillance system with multiple cameras and other security devices. Ensuring seamless communication between the analytics software and the PTZ cameras, as well as synchronizing control commands and data streams, requires careful planning and implementation. Alternative Solutions Instead of relying solely on video analytics, it may be more effective to complement PTZ cameras with other surveillance technologies, such as fixed cameras, motion sensors, or perimeter alarms. These additional layers of security can help enhance situational awareness and provide redundancy in case of analytics failures or blind spots. Conclusion In conclusion, while it’s not impossible to use video analytics with PTZ cameras, it’s important to consider the limitations and challenges involved. Careful planning, testing, and integration are essential to ensure reliable performance and maximize the effectiveness of both the analytics software and the PTZ camera system.

By Bhagwan Shankar, IAS (Retd.) Introduction Every modern Nation has a primary role to safeguard the life and liberty of its citizens. To ensure this objective, the institution of law enforcement agencies where police plays a major role has been created. However, depending on the complexity of the society which includes population, composition of the population, development status including adoption of technology, performance of public and private institutions etc., there have been different patterns of partnership of citizens and police in the realm of internal security in various countries of the world. This partnership has different contours ranging from community policing to private security industry. On one hand, we find a very active role of community policing in USA, Singapore, Japan and so many other countries, this role is too low in countries like Russia, Australia, and Germany. Obviously, the population of a country and resources available with the governments for police administration is a major factor. In United Kindom, Sir Robert Peel, a two time Prime Minister known as father of Community Policing introduced the concept of community policing in the 19th Century. Further, John Angel, a famous artist in England coined the word ‘democratic policing’ to describe community policing. USA started community policing from 1960s which, inter alia, included neighborhood watch programme having provision of a meeting hall attached to every police station to have regular consultation with the neighbourhood community. The police patrols are also on walks or cycles so as to mingle with the community better and enlist their support. Even today, the Police population ratio is 152 as against the desired norm of 222 (UN norms) per one lakh population Indian Perspective In India also, there has been a long history of people participation in all spheres of public life including Policing. India is also known as the mother of democracy where the people participation in terms of community policing was there during the ancient period, even during the Ashoka period. During the medieval period, the village chiefs known as Mukkadan or Sarpanch used to work as police officers. Unfortunately, during the British period, the community policing lost its significance as Lord Cornawalis introduced the Zamindari and Daroga (in charge of a police station) system as part of the centralised control of the British exploitative regime. After the Independence of the country, it has been a general perception of the common people that the mere police administration, as an arm of the State, is not good enough where control on crime, law & order situation, administration of justice remains largely unsatisfactory. Even today, the Police population ratio is 152 as against the desired norm of 222 (UN norms) per one lakh population. As a consequence, some initiatives have been taken in different parts of the county, like: Private Security Agencies and its Significance in Nation Building With the passage of time, there has been participation of private security agencies in the realm of the internal security of various countries and it has taken a very big shape today. In USA and many other advance countries they outnumber the public police. Some countries like Japan and UK have given them some of the police powers also. In India also, the private security industry is big, and poised to play a very important role alongside police in the domain of internal security of the country. Now, they are visible to the common man also – at places like residential colonies, bank ATM’s, schools and colleges, hospitals, hotels, ports, airports, industrial establishments, malls, private businesses, and as private security officers (PSO) in corporates etc. The National Citizens Security Culture Now, there is new dawn coming up on the horizons of the private security landscape. The 10 million strong workforce with the private security industry is waiting in wings to work as agents of National Citizens Security Culture, a noble project being unfolded by CAPSI (Central Association of Pvt security Industry) in the near future. The project under monitoring from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) would be the largest ever community policing initiative with sustainability in mind. “Every modern Nation has a primary role to safeguard the life and liberty of its citizens. To ensure this objective, the institution of law enforcement agencies where police plays a major role has been created. However, depending on the complexity of the society which includes population, composition of the population, development status including adoption of technology, performance of public and private institutions etc., there have been different patterns of partnership of citizens and police in the realm of internal security in various countries of the world” The National Citizens Security Culture project would mean very big and comprehensive. It is a nation-wide initiative which would be felt through the actions of multiple stakeholders simultaneously under the monitoring from the national capital Delhi in association with the state chapters of CAPSI. The citizens from all walks of life would take ownership and responsibility for the cause. It would be for the cause of national security covering all dimensions of security of a society and the country. It is meant to ensure that security will become the part of life of people that will bring about changes in attitudes and behavior of people on a sustainable basis so as to let it become the culture of the citizens. The project envisages involvement of the various stakeholders viz., educational institutions, hospitals, hotel owners, mall owners, RWAs, village panchayats, civil administration (in particular police), and support from the Central ministries viz., Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Human Resourse Development (MHRD), Ministry of Urban Development & Housing (MOUD), Ministry of Rural Development (MRDD), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B ) etc., to ensure successful launch of this project which essentially is an altruistic measure by the private security industry association. In fact, this initiative should qualify for CSR (corporate social responsibility) contribution from the corporate world. “In India during the medieval period, the village chiefs known as Mukkadan or Sarpanch used to work…

In the ever-evolving world of physical security, staying ahead means embracing the dynamic shifts and innovations that shape the industry’s landscape. As we set our sights on 2024, a year set to redefine security standards, Videonetics stands as a leading force committed to deciphering the upcoming trends that will impact how we safeguard our cities, premises, people, assets, and invaluable resources. Explore the following key trends to stay informed and enhance your security measures: A. Emergence of on-the-spot computing The security industry is experiencing a transformative change due to the rise of on-the-spot computing. As security systems progress and generate increasing amounts of data, the need for real-time data processing has never been more crucial. On-the-spot computing, which essentially means processing data at the edge of a network, is gaining prominence for its ability to address this need. This approach allows for quick and responsive security systems by reducing latency and processing time, enabling them to counter potential threats promptly. This emerging approach of on-the-spot computing offers clear advantages over centralized models by handling data closer to its source. It unlocks the potential for real-time processing at accelerated speeds, resulting in action-oriented outcomes. B. Multi-modal analytics for improved detection In pursuit of heightened security, the trend of security systems utilizing multi-modal analytics takes center stage. Multi-modal analytics, powered by AI, enables security systems to analyze data from various sources, including images, video footage, audio recordings, and other sensor data. This comprehensive approach allows systems to detect more intricate patterns and behaviours, significantly improving their effectiveness in identifying potential threats. Multimodality, involving the collaboration between multiple resources or systems, enhances threat detection by reconstructing the overall picture based on data from various sources and providing a more accurate depiction of an event, helping security personnel make better-informed decisions. Increased Accuracy and Robustness: Multi-modal analytics can improve accuracy in threat detection. Different modalities may capture complementary information and combining them allows the system to cross-verify and reduce false positives or negatives. Multi-modal systems are often more robust in challenging environments and detect threats detected early. For example, if one modality, such as visual data, is compromised (e.g., due to poor lighting conditions), other modalities like audio and other sensors can still provide valuable information. C. Integration of AI with visual intelligence The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with visual intelligence marks a significant leap in the capabilities of security systems. By leveraging AI algorithms, systems automatically detect and track suspicious behaviour, adapting over time to improve accuracy and effectiveness. Various industries are looking to adopt AI-enabled video analytics to gain actionable insights: The integration of visual intelligence from video and images with AI and machine learning unlocks invaluable business intelligence and public safety capabilities across multiple sectors. D. Growing importance of privacy and ethics As AI becomes more integrated into security and video surveillance systems, ethical monitoring, and privacy concerns have gained more eyeballs. Responsible and collaborative AI development is critical to ensuring that systems are designed and used in a way that protects individual privacy and civil liberties. It includes preventing the misuse or abuse of data collected by security systems, and ensuring organisations & individuals maintain control over their data and store only minimum anonymized data. E. AI and cloud – A symbiotic alliance In the interconnected realm of physical security, the symbiotic alliance between AI and cloud has emerged as a trend. This trend represents integrating AI-powered solutions with cloud-based platforms, offering unprecedented flexibility, scalability, and convenience. This collaboration enhances the capabilities of security systems by leveraging the computational power and storage capacities of the Cloud. F. Increase in adoption of video Surveillance-as-a-Service (VSaaS) The surge in Video Surveillance-as-a-Service (VSaaS) adoption is reshaping the security landscape, fuelled by rapid expansion and convenient accessibility of cloud infrastructure. The widespread shift to remote work and the necessity for secure, real-time access to security data resulted in the swift embrace of cloud-based solutions. According to a Morphean survey, senior decision-makers in the UK, Germany, and Sweden saw a 3% increase, climbing from 48% in 2019 to 51% in 2021, in the adoption of cloud-based VSaaS. Key drivers behind this trend include cost-effectiveness, ease of deployment, scalability, the growing need for real-time access to data, and maintenance. VSaaS can easily integrate with other cloud-based services, such as analytics platforms, storage solutions, and AI-driven applications. This integration enhances the overall functionality and capabilities of the surveillance system. Cloud-based storage options made available by VSaaS providers offer flexibility and cost-effectiveness that allow users to choose the amount of storage they need and pay for it on a subscription basis, avoiding the need to invest in and manage on-site infrastructure. Conclusion The Path Forward: Videonetics and the Changing Security Landscape Videonetics takes a step forward, incorporating innovative solutions that align with the significant trends in 2024. Whether using on-the-spot computing for rapid threat responses or integrating ethical AI and VSaaS, Videonetics leads by example. As we navigate through 2024, we urge you to think of Videonetics as a reliable guide, embodying a commitment to excellence and forward-thinking in the realm of physical security. Join us in acknowledging these transformative shifts for a future that prioritizes safety and reflects the progressive principles that Videonetics embodies. *Views expressed in the article are solely of Videonetics

Capt Shantanu Krishna (Retd)Managing DirectorPINKERTON India The role of visibility in physical security Visible security measures serve as powerful deterrents to potential threats by creating an overt display of vigilance. Uniformed guards positioned at entry points signify a proactive stance against unauthorized entry, while surveillance cameras act not just as tools for documentation but also as visual warnings to those considering illicit actions. Additional elements like perimeter fencing or controlled access gates provide tangible barriers that further fortify premises from intrusion. When clearly displayed, these visible components are instrumental in pre-emptively reducing risk factors by affirming the existence of active security protocols. The Need for Discretion in Security Operations Maintaining operational continuity Discretionary security measures ensure ongoing daily activities remain uninterrupted by the overt presence of security protocols. Preserving privacy Careful, unobtrusive surveillance respects individual privacy and avoids creating a climate of unease or invasion of personal space. Employing covert techniques Specialized agents conduct undercover patrols that integrate with the environment, interacting indistinguishably as part of the staff or visitor population. Subtle communication systems The use of silent alarms provides a means for quick and discreet communication amongst security personnel during incidents, helping to manage situations without public escalation. Non-intrusive safety presence A discreet layer of protection supports a secure atmosphere within premises without attracting unnecessary attention or causing concern among those present. Assessing risks to tailor onsite protection strategies Pinkerton Comprehensive Risk Management excels at conducting comprehensive assessments tailored specifically to each organization’s unique profile – considering factors such as location vulnerabilities, nature of business operations, past incident history, current threat landscapes – and determining the optimal mix between visible deterrence and discreet monitoring required for robust onsite protection solutions. These assessments form the backbone upon which dynamic security plans are developed; they facilitate informed decision-making about where resources should be allocated most effectively within any given protective strategy. Impactful training for security personnel A crucial aspect of onsite protection lies in the training of security personnel, specialize in equipping teams with the necessary skills to execute both visible and discreet security measures effectively. High-quality training programs address various scenarios, from routine patrols to emergency response, ensuring officers are prepared for any situation. This includes conflict resolution without escalation, advanced surveillance tactics, and understanding when to shift from a low-profile approach to high-visibility action swiftly. The expertise provided through these training initiatives ensures that each protective measure is performed with precision and aligned with overarching security objectives. Conclusion In conclusion, onsite protection requires a nuanced approach that balances visibility with discretion – an equilibrium essential for effective physical security management. It plays an indispensable role by crafting customized solutions that align with specific organizational needs while maintaining this balance. Through comprehensive risk assessments, they can determine where on the spectrum between overt deterrence and subtle oversight each measure should reside for optimal effectiveness. The sophistication brought forth by enables organizations not only to protect their interests but also do so in a manner that respects operational fluidity and individual privacy – the hallmark of truly balanced onsite protection.

Capt SB TyagiChief Councillor of ICISSM As Warren Buffet said, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” A single act of crime on your property could diminish your brand. Hotels need to partner with an experienced physical security provider, and ensure that the entire staff understands the need to keep security top of mind – always. Savvy hoteliers should consider the following solutions when looking to improve their property’s security. Meet and Greet One of simplest, but most effective, ways of securing a property is to provide excellent customer service. “Engage customers you encounter,” Clifton said, “Ask them about their stay and if there’s anything you can do to help. You don’t have to throw more labour at security. Just make employees a little smarter.” Meet and greet is the policy and program which efficient hotels deploy now a days and their happy stories depend more and more on its success! It takes management closer and closer to ‘Predictive Profiling’ which seems to be a panacea for many of the evils plaguing security. What is Predictive Profiling? It is a method of situational threat assessment designed to predict and categorize the potential for inappropriate, harmful, criminal and/ or terrorist behaviour that leads to the deployment of procedures and actions necessary to confirm, reduce and/ or eliminate such threats. It is the best practicable methodology for criminal/ terrorist threat mitigation. And the only method that adheres to legal, commercial and civil liberty concerns while still offering an effective security solution. It categorizes threat based on the predicted methods of operation that would be used by a given aggressor to attack a given protected environment. A person holding a box cutter on a train going 100 miles per hour presents a threat in the form of hijacking a train while in transit. However, holding a box cutter in the middle of a train station is not threatening from the point of view of a masscasualty terrorist attack. Whether it involves people or objects, every situation is evaluated according to time, location, and the possible threatening scenarios associated with the specific protected environment. Predictive profiling as a threat assessment technique The Predictive profiling helps predict and categorize potential criminal/ terrorist, their methods of operations based on behaviour, information and situation. It isn’t out of the box thinking but has its moorings in the observation skills of eagle eyed police officers who used to naturally scan people moving in queues and pick up the ones showing palpable signs of nervousness or physical indicators with a fairly good success rate. As a full-fledged art, Predictive Profiling is a focusing technique to spot the telltale signs of a crime/ criminal in the making. Predictive profiling or Pro Active Threat Assessment is a way of surveillance from a criminal/ terrorist’s mind-set. The technique looks for suspicious indicators in the various stages of life cycle of a crime. The crime does not happen overnight and what we fight back or makes headline is just the tip of the iceberg. According to Wikipedia, “Predictive profiling is a method of threat assessment designed to predict and categorize the potential for criminal and/ or terrorist methods of operation based on an observed behaviour, information, a situation and/ or objects.” Predictive profiling offers a unique approach to threat mitigation It begins from the point of view of the aggressor/ adversary and is based on actual adversary’s methods of operation, their modus operandi. This method is applicable to securing virtually any environment and to meeting any set of security requirements. In Predictive Profiling, one uses only the operational profile (not racial or statistical profile) of a terrorist or criminal as the basis for identifying suspicion indicators in a protected environment. When predictively profiling a situation, person or object, one identifies suspicion indicators that correlate with an adversary’s method of operation. For example, if a security officer observes a person walking with an empty suitcase in an airport (the suitcase appears very light; it bounces off the floor) he may identify this suspicious behaviour as an indication of a possible terrorist or criminal method of operation because: Predictive Profiling in Hotel Industry As having been largely successful in aviation security, similar profiling templates are created by the hotel industry. Passport officials scrutinize guests, applicants while on lookout for ubscrupulous elements. Israel, where the concept of Predictive Profiling is said to have originated along with USA, Netherland and host of other countries are pioneering its use. Recall the 26/ 11 Mumbai Attacks and David Colman Headly’s testimony. He did eight hostile resonance of Mumbai, entered and left the country at will, joined an upscale gym and befriended people in the city without raising suspicion. He carried back photos, videos and GPS locations of Taj Hotel, Oberoi Hotel, State Police HQ and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre for his handlers to create a ‘Mock Up’ in Pakistan. He filmed the entire Bhagat Singh Marg (Colaba), Leopold Café and Taj Hotel for hours and yet we failed to get the ‘suspicion’ and prophesy correctly. In our fight to catch up with terrorists, predictive profiling, complimentary to existing security measures is like an intelligent algorithm generating red flags for the outliers and help keep them at bay. Going ahead, we need to fight the war on terror intelligently, reinvent and reposition ourselves on that all-out offensive. Alert to safety issues like never before, major hotels in the country are upping their security quotient in a big way. In fact, the hospitality industry’s apex body, the Hotel Association of India (HAI), with the biggest chains (the Taj, Oberoi and ITC, among others) in the country as members, has arrived at a complete list of security measures. “We had been in continuous discussions and wanted to arrive at recommendations for both big properties that can afford the kind of investment needed and smaller ones which can’t afford some of these hi-tech measures,” said Priya…

Prakash PrabhuChief Business Officer & Co-Founder, VisionBot Computer vision has traditionally been used for inspection in highly structured manufacturing environments. But thanks to increasingly powerful machine learning techniques, and mature data labelling capabilities, Visual AI is becoming capable of monitoring more complex and dynamic processes where humans are involved, this is revolutionizing our approaches to identifying and mitigating failures in a wide range of industrial processes – expanding well beyond traditional automated manufacturing applications and promoting Human Centred AI (HCAI). The oil and gas sector, companies can adopt AI technologies to improve Operations, Safety and Reliability across the production and supply chain. This translates to autonomous processes, improving cost efficiencies, and reducing operational risks. Some of the process impacted by Visual AI include: Intelligent Fire Detection With AI Fire hazards are one of the most severe causes of accidents that may lead to casualties, considerable production loss, and equipment damage. Traditional fire detection was done by human operators through video cameras, especially in petroleum and chemical facilities. However, it’s almost impossible for human operators to spot fires in time with hundreds of video cameras installed in large-scale settings. Human subjectivity, distraction, and visual perception limit the accuracy of human safety supervisors. Intelligent fire detection applies computer vision methods to video cameras to detect fires. Some methods have shown better results when focusing on smoke detections. These use background subtraction to detect motion and reduce computational complexity. The availability of accurate model datasets and improved computation power of edge cameras can now make it possible to undertake complex analysis for Fire and Smoke detection on the camera. Predictive Maintenance and Equipment Failure Detection In oil fields and refineries, deep learning models can be used to detect equipment failures or deterioration. Therefore, custom neural networks are trained to detect anomalies during automated equipment inspection. If an AI model detects a potential issue, an image can be automatically sent to a human supervisor for manual review. By continuously monitoring equipment performance, they can predict potential failures, allowing for proactive maintenance to minimize downtime and prevent accidents. well where deep neural networks (DNN) are applied. Traditional methods of physical interpretation are time-consuming, and the results depend strongly on the human expert (subjectivity). In Industry tests, the ML model’s accuracy was 92% compared to manual interpretation and about 1,000 times faster than the manual method. AI methods can accelerate the process and, even more critically, exclude subjectivity in the interpretation process. Conclusion Today, we are only seeing the beginning of the era of Visual AI-driven applications. Edge AI makes it possible to move AI vision capabilities from the cloud to the field, enabling large-scale and distributed applications. Because of the strategic importance and distinct operational workflows, most oil and gas companies aim to build and operate their Visual AI solutions with a primarily aim to improve maintenance, safety, management, life-cycle sustainability, quality, and operational efficiency. As a leading Visual AI Company, VisionBot helps to leverage the latest in computer vision technology to help businesses and organizations automate processes, improve customer experiences, and gain valuable insights in to their operations. Connect with our experts to understand how companies are using VisionBot™ Visual AI driven Computer Vision to strengthen security, safety and streamline operations. We welcome Technology Integrators and sector speciality VAR’s to become a VisionBot™ channel partner, and discover the opportunity to offer a cutting-edge AI-powered computer vision solution to your customers. *Views expressed in the article are solely of the Author