The new facility, located under 16 kilometers from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, was opened with a launch event attended by OPTEX senior management including CEO Toru Kamimura and Executive Officer and Head of Security business Mac Kokobo, as well as sales, marketing and technical teams from across Europe.
The new office will provide account management, service and support base in Europe for new and existing customers, and will be managed by Masaya Kida, Managing Director for OPTEX EMEA.
“Europe represents a hugely important security market for us,” says Masaya. “And this new facility helps support our commitment to further growth and expansion throughout the region, ensuring we have the right resource in the right location to support our customers, service new business and deliver exceptional customer support at every stage.”
Additionally, Mark Cosgrave, OPTEX Divisional Manager for Western Europe, Ryotaru Shimizu, Product Manager for Security EMEA, and Eelko Griepink, Area Sales Manager for Benelux will also be based in the new office.
“We’ve enjoyed substantial growth in Europe over the last few years, and we will continue to grow our team to ensure to sustain this,” Masaya adds. “This new office will help ensure we can continue to meet the ever-changing needs of integrators, distributors and end users alike with our leading security technologies and solutions.”
The new office adds to OPTEX’s existing network of European security offices and stocking facilities already in operation in France, Poland, United Kingdom and Germany, as well as representatives based in Italy, Spain and Romania.
London, July 2022 –When one medical clinic in Belgium extended their premises, they looked for modern, hassle-free door security to protect the practice and its team of five doctors and administrative staff. Alongside security and convenience, the major issue Dermatologie Nijlen wanted to address was patient privacy.
“What we do most is to examine patients from top to toe. They need to take all their clothes off,” explains Dr Nele Cattaert, dermatologist co-founder of Dermatologie Nijlen. “You see them watch the door and wonder whether anyone could barge in.”
Practice managers searched for convenient door locking to help their patients feel comfortable during a consultation. This locking would ensure practice rooms were secure and separated from public areas. They also targeted a keyless solution: They did not want anyone on the team wasting time carrying or keeping track of traditional keys.
An elegant door handle with inbuilt digital PIN functionality
On the suggestion of the builder who carried out the refit, Dermatologie Nijlen chose Code Handle Door locks to secure their practice rooms. These digital locks enable the business to keep consultation rooms private with simple, keyless locking. Patients are reassured.
Practice rooms are unlocked with individual 4- to 6-digit PINs via a PINpad integrated with the door handle. Admin staff can issue up to 9 different user PINs per lock; PINs can be cancelled or changed anytime. Code Handle makes this modern, digital security easy.
“The main benefit to us was that the patient could feel at ease,” says Dr Cattaert. “That patients did not get the impression that someone could come in at any time.”
The easy way for small organizations to forget about keys
This convenient security has been achieved without the complication or expense of wiring or software.
Installing a Code Handle Door Lock on almost any interior door is straightforward: It requires just two screws. The standard mechanical cylinder remains in place, with just a change of handle.
“In addition, it is a beautiful handle,” Dr Cattaert adds. “I did not know that a solution could be so small and compact. It doesn’t really stand out. Although patients frequently notice it, saying: Oh, it is a special lock, isn’t it, doctor?”
To learn more about the Code HandleÒ Door digital lock, download a brochure at https://campaigns.assaabloyopeningsolutions.eu/codehandle
London, July 2022 – Door closers do most of their work out of sight. Building users may not always notice them, but an effective door closer helps everyone to experience a more secure, comfortable building. Not every door closer does the same job, however.
An ASSA ABLOY Door Closer offers everyday benefits. Doors which require significant force to open are a big problem for inclusive access. An ASSA ABLOY Door Closer with Cam-Motion® technology can solve it and remove this barrier to building accessibility. It provides safe, convenient access for every building user.
A fully closed door creates a thermal seal which minimizes energy waste; it adds fire compartmentation and ensures a building access control system works properly.
And with Close-Motion®, ASSA ABLOY developed a door closing technology which operates almost silently, reducing environmental noise while soundproofing rooms.
Why ASSA ABLOY? History, innovation and expertise
“The key to the quality of ASSA ABLOY Door Closers is quite simple,” says Andreas Gmelin, Product Management and Business Development Director Door Closers at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA. “Decades of expertise and innovation have helped us to really understand the door and everything around it.”
“A lot has changed since the first door closer was patented back in 1880. In that time, ASSA ABLOY’s experience has established trust in markets in every corner of the world.”
ASSA ABLOY Door Closers have won multiple design prizes, including Red Dot and ICONIC awards from the German Design Council. They are manufactured in Europe and pushed to their limits in stringent in-house and certification testing. This ensures customers in more than 150 countries receive the quality they expect from an ASSA ABLOY door device.
“We have a solution adapted to almost any door in any building, from contemporary construction to heritage properties,” adds Andreas Gmelin.
“Our range includes single- and double-leaf door closers for any material, including floor springs for glass doors, vertical gate closers and invisible solutions which preserve any entrance’s ‘wow factor’.”
“You may not see an ASSA ABLOY Door Closer. But you will know it is there.”
ASSA ABLOY has acquired Caldwell, a manufacturer of fenestration hardware for window manufacturers.
“I am very pleased to welcome Caldwell into the ASSA ABLOY Group. This acquisition delivers on our strategy to add complementary products and solutions to our core business,” says Nico Delvaux, President and CEO of ASSA ABLOY.
“Caldwell is an excellent addition to the Pacific & North East Asia Division and provides complementary growth opportunities. The acquisition will strengthen our position with fenestration manufacturers and I look forward to working with the experienced team to continue Caldwell’s successful journey,” says Simon Ellis, Executive Vice President and Head of Asia Pacific ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions Pacific & North East Asia.
Caldwell was established in 1888 and has some 800 employees. Sales for 2021 amounted to about MEUR 93.7.
Food safety, employee health and site security must all work in harmony to ensure the efficient operation of a large-scale food producer. At LFC Milling in South Africa, CLIQ key-operated electronic access control helps to ensure that happens.
LFC Milling manufactures maize products and sell a range of prominent brands into the South African market. Maize is received from farmers, undergoes several cleaning stages, and is then milled. The large LFC plant houses high-end manufacturing equipment used in the process.
LFC Milling were looking for an access control solution which would enable the business to manage access throughout their wide-ranging site, and control employee access to specific machines and equipment. The system needed to log all access into specific zones like storage areas, giving security staff the ability to generate audit trails when needed. This further benefits the health and safety of personnel because it restricts access to any potentially dangerous areas or specialist equipment. The access management software was another major concern during the commissioning and specification process. The demand was a system with software which is easy to use, enabling swift onboarding of new personnel and quick changes to staff access rights when needed.
The advantages of CLIQ in a manufacturing site
LFC Milling chose CLIQ key-operated access control from ASSA ABLOY. “We need to ensure that our employees and production processes are safe and secure at all times — and CLIQ supports that,” explains Cobus van der Linde, General Manager at LFC Milling Pty Ltd.
Thanks to CLIQ battery-powered programmable keys and locking cylinders, now only authorized personnel enter designated areas from toolrooms to storage areas, or can operate specific plant equipment.
For the management of access rights LFC deployed CLIQ Web Manager (CWM) software alongside a CLIQ Wall Programming Device and CLIQ Remote functionality. Keys can be updated conveniently around the site. For added security, CLIQ keys are also set for specific revalidation periods: If a key is lost, it is quickly excluded from the system. The CWM software interface simplifies user, key and door management, as well as time-and-date functionality. It also provides audit trail reports should an administrator need to track access into a specific area or by a specific person. This has significantly improved accountability and security.
CLIQ’s extensive range of programmable locking devices meets the needs of almost any door or application. Padlocks secure exterior roller doors, machines and other equipment. Electronic cylinders protect higher security doors, swing-style security gates and standard doors.
“The CLIQ system allows for easy management of access control in a dynamic environment with continuous production and extremely high health and safety standards,” adds van der Linde.
After another large-scale update, Partizan mobile application began to support evalink by Sitasys AG.
Such collaborations are a successful strategy that allows both parties to reach even more customers. And, finally, make life more comfortable and safer. Do you want to know how?
evalink by Sitasys AG is a fully managed automated alarm management platform. evalink talos’ automation technology helps Control Centers to save time in processing alarms and greatly improves the accuracy and ease of alarm verification. Using it, security teams at the checkpoint can monitor whether critical situations occur at various controlled facilities. Now, thanks to the integration of evalink and Partizan equipment, they will also be able to analyze video from Partizan’s CCTV cameras.
This is better and more convenient than relying on the signals of “blind” sensors and trying to understand what exactly happened. After all, the function of motion detection of modern CCTV equipment will promptly notify that an undesirable presence is detected in the field of view of the CCTV camera. And it will show everything in the smallest details.
The integration of evalink by Sitasys AG with Partizan will also be a major bonus for end-users of video surveillance services. They have access to the Partizan Cloud archive repository, where video from the site is stored securely. If necessary, the client can easily use the recorded data. In particular, the Event Gallery with push notifications becomes available in the Patizan application. Thanks to it, pictures with “alarms” will be instantly received not only by the employees of the monitoring service but also directly by their clients.
And, thirdly, it is worth mentioning the possibilities of Partizan Cloud Link technology. It allows you to instantly connect to the monitoring service via a link with a unique access code. You don’t even need a static IP address on your facility. Video data is sent in encrypted form via HTTPS.
The more opportunities the security business provides to customers, the more profit it receives. Integration of video monitoring services with Partizan software and equipment can become a powerful level-up. And collaborations with brands like evalink by Sitasys AG are good proof of that!
TOA’s new horn speaker uses IP audio and common industry standards to make Public Address (PA) as easy as possible
Looking at the rather unassuming IP-A1SC15 loudspeaker from the Japanese audio specialists TOA, you wouldn’t guess the number of features this product has to offer.
For the sake of accuracy, the product description would have to be changed from “loudspeaker” to “integrated audio system”, because nothing less than that is hidden under the robust and plain white housing of the IP-A1SC15. All components of a Public Address system are contained in the unit: the audio source (80 MB memory for pre-recorded messages, live paging via network), the amplifier (15 W, powered via PoE+) and finally, the loudspeaker. The latter is based on the model TOA SC-615, which is known for its reliability and installed in numerous factories, warehouses, railway stations and more.
The combination of video surveillance and building communication with PA systems has been widespread for years, and the IP-A1SC15 has been designed to simplify these applications drastically, as well as adding many useful functions.
A single standard network cable is required to start working with the device. In comparison: in a traditional PA system, you would need several cables to provide the source signal, the amplified signal, control signals and power.
If the operator plans to use the loudspeaker in combination with CCTV, it can be easily done by adding the speaker inside the Video Management System (VMS). This is possible thanks to the ONVIF Profile S Standard, which is supported by the IP-A1SC15. The speaker has been certified by Genetec for their platform Security Center. More certifications are planned, and it was confirmed through in-house testing and customer feedback that the unit can be quickly integrated with other VMS as well.
If the use case is to flexibly broadcast voice announcements in an office building or similar environments, the operator can take advantage of the SIP technology, which is a part of modern networks in almost every commercial building. The IP-A1SC15 supports SIP, which means that the loudspeaker can be added to the network just like a normal (IP) phone. To make an announcement, the user can “call” the loudspeaker from their desk or even from mobile phones. The speaker can also receive Multicast, which means that not only individual loudspeakers, but also groups of loudspeakers can be addressed.
Another way to operate the speaker is by triggering functions automatically, which can be done through the remote API Protocol (HTTP) and/or 2 x contact inputs. This offers many possibilities for individual control: adapt the volume to the environmental noise level, to the time of the day and the degree of emergency; trigger announcements by motion detectors or temperature sensors, for example.
Security industry professionals are not always familiar with audio technology. The IP-A1SC15 makes it easy for this target group to add audio functionality to their solutions and thus expand their offer to the end customers. The network-enabled horn loudspeaker can already be seen on mobile surveillance towers, in perimeter surveillance and at traffic junctions. And we´ll probably see it even more often in the future, as there is no shortage of possible applications.
For more information, datasheets, videos and 3D views of the product, please visit
All Bosch cameras support remote configuration, management, and planning. System integrators can work remotely with customers to perform services such as changing configuration settings or installing firmware updates. Remote health checks ensure systems meet the highest reliability standards. This approach minimizes the number of commutes, resulting in sustainable business practices that are economically viable, socially responsible, and environmentally friendly. Here we present three examples of how Bosch delivers on the Green Way promise.
Work remotely from the start. Project Assistant makes it possible
With the Project Assistant software, project set-up and pre-configuration can start in the office without the physical camera needing to be present. Only the project plans, IP addresses, and the client’s password are required for the system integrator to create a new project via the software. There is also an option to set up each camera individually or multiple cameras at once. Designed and developed to assist system integrators, the Project Assistant software is available for installation on desktop, tablet, and smartphone devices and works on Apple, Windows, and Google platforms. It is accessible to everyone, so everyone can benefit from the control, transparency, and efficiency made possible by the Project Assistant app at every phase of a video systems project. Creating a set of virtual cameras within the software eliminates the need for unboxing and re-boxing of products for labeling and pre-configuration in the system integrator’s office and has been found to deliver significant time savings of up to 30%. And it reduces the logistic efforts involved in shipping the goods from the manufacturers warehouse to the system integrators office and subsequently to the customers premises, which helps reduce CO2 emissions.
Remote device management for environmentally friendly operation
Remote device management is a combination of Bosch tools, like Project Assistant and Configuration Manager, and services for secure, transparent, and cost-effective device management throughout product life cycles. From anywhere in the world, system integrators can organize and monitor device status across sites and check if they work properly and securely after they have been deployed. If there is an issue, system integrators get a notification. They can act immediately to troubleshoot the problem by accessing a camera’s web interface from the Remote Portal or by logging in to their Remote Portal account from the Configuration Manager to interact with the devices as if they were on-site. Online device management can reduce or eliminate travel and the associated carbon emissions.
The next step toward more sustainability: Remote commissioning
FLEXIDOME IP starlight 8000i and FLEXIDOME IP indoor 8000i cameras, like all Bosch cameras, offer remote off-site project planning and product setup via Project Assistant, Configuration Manager, or Remote Portal. Once cameras are physically installed on-site, the setup, adjustment, reporting, and management can be performed remotely.FLEXIDOME IP starlight 8000i and FLEXIDOME IP indoor 8000i cameras go the extra mile. Together with the Project Assistant software, their remote commissioning concept enables the required field of view to be set without physically having to touch the camera or lens.
Dahua Technology, a world-leading video-centric smart IoT solution and service provider, is bringing new AI features to its WizSense family. Adopting an independent AI chip and deep-learning algorithm, the newly introduced WizSense integrates SMD 4.0, Quick Pick, AI Scene Self-adaption (SSA), AI Coding and other extended AI functions to deliver accurate detection, fast target search, simplified operation and inclusive AI products to customers.
“User demands are becoming more and more diverse, with higher requirements for AI accuracy and better image quality in different scenarios,” said Eaden Xie, IP Camera Product Director at Dahua Technology. “That’s why we have brought four major upgrades, including optimization of alarm accuracy, search efficiency, etc. We believe that the development of high-end WizSense will bring more value to our customers.”
SMD 4.0: Focus on real alerts and color information
Thanks to an optimized AI algorithm, SMD 4.0 futher reduces false alarms caused by large and small animals. Compared with SMD 3.0, the false alarm rate for large animals (cattle, horses, deers, etc.) is greatly improved from the previous 5% to 2%; while the false alarm rate for small animals (cats, dogs, etc.) is further enhanced from 1% to 0.5%. Filtering out false alarms caused by non-target objects enables users to receive valid alerts for human/vehicle targets that may pose a real threat and to respond as early as possible. At the same time, the powerful AI capability of SMD 4.0 can detect the color information of clothing and vehicle, like exterior color of a vehicle, top clothing color of a person, etc., which provides data support for evidence-based backtracking after an event.
Quick Pick: Quick search for human/vehicle targets
This year’s WizSense brings a brand new Quick Pick feature that comprehensively enhances the efficiency of post-event retrieval by 90% compared to SMD Quick Target Search. Quick Pick (with AI NVR) allows users to quickly search for the target of interest (human or vehicle) using AI algorithm-based extraction and comparison of clothing and vehicle color, rather than searching from massively categorized “human” and “vehicles” playbacks. It significantly narrows down the search results to only present the video footage of the targets selected by users, which greatly saves search time and labor costs. It is ideal for various verticals such as retail stores and shopping malls to quickly locate a specific target during or after an event.
Smart recognition of multiple scenes with optimized image quality
With its capability to recognize monitored scenes with changing weather and lighting conditions such as rain and fog, backlight, etc., the AI SSA technology of the new Dahua WizSense can intelligently adjust the camera settings (e.g. brightness, color, contrast and white balance) to capture clear and high-quality image output that matches the actual indoor and outdoor scenes. This way, installers no longer need to manually adjust various parameters of each camera – which often requires additional time and labor costs – to improve video performance. AI SSA supports multi-scene recognition, making it suitable for both indoor scenarios (e.g. warehouses, offices, museums) and outdoor sites (e.g. villas, schools, factories, shopping malls).
Save storage while ensuring the image quality of targets
The increase in monitoring resolution has prompted the demand for more storage space. Based on CBR (Constant Bit Rate), the AI Coding function of WizSense for IP Solutions dynamically allocates the bit rate to provide clear target images and saves bandwidth up to 25% compared with H.265. At the same low bit rate, WizSense AI Coding prioritizes bit rate allocation over people and vehicles to ensure clear and detailed images of human/vehicle targets, while saving storage costs for users.
With the addition of the aforementioned new features of Dahua WizSense, users can now receive instant alerts during an event, quickly review and search through volumes of SMD video footages for specific targets after an event, prioritize matching for the best image quality, as well as saving storage with AI coding, facilitating post-event evidence collection while adhering to privacy protection. Additionaly, it creates an opportunity for systems integrators to provide comprehensive security solutions through Dahua’s WizSense portfolio that can transform video into actionable intelligence while saving users’ time and money.
Secure Logiq, Toshiba, Cathexis, ZKTeco, and Camect went on an atypical two-week tour of France. We joined them in the suburbs of Paris to witness the first-hand test of the functionality of a complete integrated solution that these spirited competitors offer in the security market
We caught up with the Niesmann + Bischoff iSmove camper in Chatou, a beautiful town whose looks are sculpted by traditional French architecture and nature. Picturesque houses with high narrow windows, stone and brick facades in the colors of earth minerals, and dark roofs can be found, fittingly, only in this place – the one with much green and quiet. The chirping of birds is the area’s native sound tapestry, and occasional vehicles are just intruders that disturb its peace. While being close to the most visited tourist city in the world, life out there takes place in a completely different timeline: one reserved for yourself and your loved ones, at a bistro surrounded by friends, in intimate gardens surrounded by hedges. Even the hotel where we stayed, although tiny and fused with the panorama of the place, has a small inner stone courtyard, where you can smell the tradition while enjoying your croissant and coffee.
Watch the video reportage:
Integration in practice
We met our hosts in that mini square: Ivan, Jessica, Dominique, and Pierre. Contrary to expectations, thousands of kilometers and a number of visited cities did not leave a noticeable trace on their appearance: we were greeted by a cheerful, open-minded and – as it turned out – a pretty interesting team of people, the memory of who, even now, brings a smile to the face of the author of this text. The four of them work for different companies, which have a variety of products in their portfolio, but which are united by the challenges and willingness to cooperate. Wanting to offer something new to their potential partners and customers, they decided to go on a tour of France together. They branded the camper, equipped it with products, and brought with them their years of experience in business development, sales, and technology with the intention to demonstrate both the individual strength of their companies and the strength that stems from the relationship between various technologies. This is a value that is important to the world of security because the protection of any major facility or location depends on the functionality and reliability of a number of parts that constitute complex security systems. Dedicated servers by Secure Logiq, Toshiba’s hard drives, Cathexis’ VMS, ZKTeco’s access control and Camect’s hub with multiple outputs for multiple cameras, monitors and video walls in fact represent stacked layers of one security croissant of sorts that customers can study on their doorstep as part of a unique tour in this industry.
Dedicated CCTV servers
The entire presented system relies on Secure Logiq’s dedicated servers, the specifics of which we wrote about in one of our earlier issues. A group of experts with many years of experience gathered while working for all well-known manufacturers of video management software came up with the idea to fill in the missing piece on the security puzzle. These are servers specifically designed and built for video surveillance because the use of generic servers did not provide the quality of the recording that could be obtained in the field. The systems were simply not optimized. Secure Logiq has therefore developed a unique Benchmark Pro system to simulate the system that operates in real circumstances. It enters all the specifications that the client submits, from the number and type of cameras to the analytics used. The software then creates virtual streams and simulates what it will look like before the hardware production, i.e. whether the server will withstand the load or not. “Clients often ask us how we can guarantee that our servers will work. The answer is our unique Benchmark Pro software. Since each video system has its own needs, the client provides us with what they need, we make a calculation and deliver a server that is guaranteed to work 100%. If we make a mistake, and so far we haven’t, we’ll fix it at our own expense. And as an added value included in the price of the server, for each client who submits a template and to whom we send a recommendation for the server, we will also provide a complete design. In it, we will describe how many frames per second they get for each camera, what the percentage of the recording is, etc. With that document they can go to the client and ask for a quote”, says Ivan Sval, Secure Logiq’s Regional Sales Manager.
Four-pitched roof
Secure Logiq has several types of servers in its portfolio: from input models 1U with 42 TB, through 2U and 4U, to large workstations of up to 384 TB. The biggest project they completed involved a 1.4 PB server in a single housing. Secure Logiq’s vision is based on four pillars: the largest archive, the fastest data flow, the highest resilience, and the best value for money. “All of our components come with a three to five-year warranty. All servers have two SSDs, with the operating system mapped to both by default, while a redundant power supply is optional. We can run recording servers, workstations used for recording and viewing, or workstation clients used just for viewing recordings,” explains Mr Sval, adding that servers can be upgraded with GPUs and that the last one they worked on had as many as 30 GPU ports.
In addition to Benchmark Pro, Secure Logiq offers two other value-added pieces of software. One of them is Healthcheck, to which the user can connect via the cloud and immediately get information about the status of their server. This does not require an application, but rather online access via any browser. Thresholds can be set in the software, the crossing of which activates the sending of notifications. All communication is protected by SSL encryption and 2-factor authentication. There’s also the Logical Core which allows you to make a copy of one server to another without using licenses for a VMS manufacturer’s redundancy services. The complete Windows is mapped to another server. When the first one fails, the second takes over at no extra cost.
A new challenger in the storage market
Secure Logiq buys all hard drives used in its servers from Toshiba. This is a seemingly unusual move because those who follow this industry know that this renowned Japanese manufacturer, although globally known for its quality, hasn’t operated in the video surveillance market until recently. Toshiba entered the global security industry only five years ago, while its presence in the European security industry was established in 2019. For this purpose, Toshiba had to design completely new products. “We had to develop a special technology because all-day work is demanding for this type of disc. In order to withstand a workload of 180 TB per year, the device must be of great quality. Although we faced strong competition from Seagate and Western Digital, Toshiba is an established Japanese manufacturer which can offer high value in terms of quality, design, price-quality ratio, and investment in research and development. Of course, we had to start from scratch, present our solutions and products and convince customers to trust us,” says Pierre Andrieux, Key Account Manager. It is with this goal that they embarked on this tour in order to establish themselves on the French market together with other brands.
Toshiba has developed a special series of hard drives, firmware, and designs for video surveillance applications so that their products can record videos 24 hours a day, every day of the week. The new series of 3.5-inch discs optimized for storing video with 64 cameras have been named the S300 and is rounded off with the S300 Pro model with a capacity of up to 10 GB. At the same time, they promote an even more resilient and reliable, but more expensive enterprise MG series of hard drives, which can withstand an annual load of 550 TB. It is intended for industrial servers, data centers, and cloud infrastructures. All Toshiba discs come with a five-year warranty, be those the cheapest or the most expensive ones.
Multipurpose open architecture software
The “mind” that manages the entire system backed up by Secure Logiq’s and Toshiba’s hardware is the video management software by the South African company Cathexis. It is software with sophisticated open architecture with multiple possibilities, used for a number of projects around the world. From single installations with over 4000 cameras to customers with over 65,000 cameras spread over 1,500 locations. CathexisVision is not just a VMS in the classic sense: it integrates and manages other 3rd party systems, from intrusion detection and access control to fire alarms, elevators, etc., which makes it very flexible and multifunctional. It comes in several editions: Lite, Core, Professional, and Premium. The difference is in the number of cameras it supports (a maximum of 48 in the first two versions, 150 in Professional, and an unlimited number in Premium), and single servers for Lite and Core and no restriction on servers in the remaining two editions. The cost of the required server platform is considerably lower than the main competitors. In this way, the company can adapt the software to the needs of an individual project. If, for example, you have 10 cameras, one of which is ANPR-enabled, and the two come with on-board analytics, it is not necessary to upgrade to a more expensive version, but rather keep the basic server licence and merely purchase additional camera licenses. There is no limit on the camera functionality supported. Subsequent changes are also easy to make, e.g. moving analytics from one camera to another.
Find objects quickly
The CathexisVision interface is classic, with a video display, timeline, playback and search controls, a feature resource tree,, etc. As we have seen, the software is easy to use and helps you find the clips you need. “Personally, I think that the most important thing in VMS is to quickly find the segment in the video that we need. In our software, this is made simple. We display various activities and other useful information on an intuitive timeline. It includes a graph, often referred to as a Manhattan, which is indicative of the motion throughout the image. The timeline also includes information from other triggers and time based recordings.
If, for example, you want to know when the vehicle entered the parking lot, you can click on the time when it probably did not arrive, e.g. early in the morning, and load that image, and then you go to a time when it’s already there and share the frames between those two time points until you get the one we need,” explains Dominique Debusschere, Cathexis’s Business Development Manager for Europe. Another useful feature is the Activity Trail, which employs different colors, similar to heat maps, to represent movements in the monitored area in relation to the time when they occurred. There is also Adjacent Camera Mapping which offers ease of navigation from one camera to another and by using arrows similar to those in Google Street View.
Easier addition of analytical functions
One of the strengths of CathexisVision is the rapid deployment and fine tuning of multiple types of analytics. The ease of configuration was one aspect of the VMS that helped Cathexis win the Innovation award from the UK security magazine, Benchmark, three out of the last four years. “Once the threat has been identified, one or multiple analytics in the library, including artificial intelligence based object classification, can be used to combat the intrusion,” says Mr Debusschere. The real challenge with intrusion analytics is the large number of false alarms, usually solved by having a technician go to the site and adjust all the parameters, potentially multiple times, requiring both time and money.
To avoid this, Cathexis developed an analytics simulator were recorded footage from the false alarm can be processed remotely allowing an “off-line” inexpensive way of fine-tuning analytics. Integration provides an expansive connection with multiple types of 3rd party devices. For example, a camera detects movement, it would be possible to set the lights to turn on immediately, play an audio warning, check if all the doors are locked, etc. Cathexis now offers a completely revamped, feature rich and highly configurable Android and iOS mobile app. Everything is visible to the mobile security and which can be tailored to their needs. As a novelty for our readers, we learned that just before our arrival, Cathexis launched their new Carbon user interface, an improved and modernised user app with great new functionality. We have also found out that they are currently working on an Enterprise app that will give an estate owner visibility of all his assets, how they are performing, what’s working and what isn’t and be able to control in detail who access to what resources via the corporate Active Directory.
Focus on a new strategy and partner selection
After staying at the European headquarters of ZKTeco in Madrid, which I wrote about in detail in issue No. 178 in May, I was not surprised by the presence of this multinational company on this tour. Back then, I asked them about their development plans in Europe and learned that they opened a number of new offices and were planning for more, that they operated profitably and actively even during the pandemic and that they significantly expanded their product portfolio compared to 10 years ago when they had celebrated their first presentations at local security fairs in a more modest manner. The European market is their focus now and they will maintain that course in the coming years, given the growth in all countries. “Large European market is traditionally a great challenge. Since we have so far been oriented towards project tenders in Europe, we now want to focus on strategy and partner selection, not trying to focus on everything but rather on a few key needs. We want to build a relationship based on trust, so my job is to train our partners to more easily find their partners, bring them in and help them grow,” says Jessica Perret, the company’s Business Development Manager whose goal is to strengthen its presence in French and Belgian markets and draft accompanying strategy.
Client’s trust, among other things, will be built by demonstrating the ability to integrate, and this tour across France is just a great opportunity to do so. “The reason we are participating in this mobile presentation is to show the extent to which we can integrate with all brands. Here, we not only play the role of an independent company but rather show that we are available for integration and communication with other solutions. It’s a new way of marketing. The idea of this presentation is to attract customers, find new partners, and present new ways of getting to know the brand. This type of communication is much more comprehensive. I think that top brands joined together in this way make this presentation stronger and better,” explains Mrs Perret.
A solution for small and medium enterprises
In the park, the “green” company presented us with an affordable and comprehensive Atlas series of access control devices, intended for small and medium enterprises. It is a simple solution, consisting of the main controller to which up to 20 secondary controllers can be connected, together with two types of readers – RFID cards and fingerprints – that can be used simultaneously. The system also supports contactless reading of QR codes from mobile phones, as well as PINs and bar codes. Atlas comes with Linux software installed, which does not require a license. Just enter the IP address of the controller as the URL of the web page. On the main screen of the software, you can monitor the activities of the controller, e.g. how many devices are connected, and how many doors are controlled, with real-time monitoring supported. “You can easily determine if someone is a user and if that person has the right to access a specific door. If you enter a random code, the system reports that someone is trying to enter at a certain time. You can, for example, identify individual doors and readers and connect to the desired door. Also, with the help of the menu, you can get a map of the installation, the location of the controller, as well as information about which door is connected to which type of reader,” ZKTeco’s business development manager told us.
The simplicity of the Atlas series is reflected in its plug & play connectivity, which makes it easier for installers, because they no longer have to spend time connecting, configuring, and explaining the system. The same goes for the users because it is now easy to create new users and give them access. Of course, ZKTeco also offers solutions for much larger installations, such as ZKBioSecurity, which supports more than 200 doors and an unlimited number of users, whereby ANPR, elevator control, time & attendance, etc. can be added to the software. The system can be integrated with any third-party product. They offer communication via SDK to other companies, so they can use the information stored in the controllers and communicate with third-party software.
All analytics in one device
Although their representative could not join us, our interlocutors eventually presented us with a solution from the American company Camect, which is used in more than 30 countries. It is a smart camera hub that offers high-precision object detection in a compact and affordable local system that requires minimal configuration. As obtaining accurate video analytics from a surveilled location remains a challenge, Camect has created a platform that sends detailed and informative notifications about a detected object, which it can send to a monitoring center or other application. This way, it eliminates false alarms caused by smaller moving objects, animals, shadows, or weather conditions. Even simple adjustment makes it possible to detect objects over long distances, which is suitable for construction sites or car parks, for example. The Camect hub is compatible with all IP cameras that support ONVIF profiles or the RTSP protocol, and by combining analytics in one hub, excellent results can be obtained even with cheaper cameras. Integrators can also unlock advanced analytical settings such as increased sensitivity or detecting loitering or unauthorized tampering with the device. The hub itself also has 1 TB of internal memory, where it stores and processes video data, so only alarm notifications are sent to the monitoring center. This significantly reduces bandwidth compared to cloud analytics services for filtering false alarms.
