October 20, 2026
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Home Articles posted by a&s Adria (Page 190)

REDSCAN Pro, A Smart Approach to Advanced Detection

When designing and implementing smart solutions, it is essential that credible triggers can be created to allow accurate and relevant actions to be generated. If detection devices do not have high levels of catch performance coupled with a good degree of resilience to nuisance activations, the system will inevitably struggle to deliver the performance users expect from their investment. While a stable and efficient system generates a good return on investment, a system which suffers with false positives or which misses events can quickly become an expensive mistake.

The first thing to ensure is the detection device has been specifically designed for use in high risk applications, and is offered by a manufacturer with a credible record in the intruder detection sector. While it is relatively easy to manufacture detection sensors, it is not a simple task to produce one which is both accurate and stable. More importantly, it is critical that detectors can be installed and configured with ease to ensure correct operation.

OPTEX has optimised its LiDAR technology detection devices for security applications, and has included a number of features to ensure correct installation and configuration. The REDSCAN Pro range offers both accuracy and stability, along with flexibility when it comes to mounting the units, which can be configured for detection on both horizontal and vertical planes.

The benefits of ONVIF compliant REDSCAN PRO LiDAR sensors
ONVIF is a well-known and established standard for IP cameras, but less so when it comes to sensors. Our new REDSCAN Pro LiDAR series is ONVIF Profile S compliant, and here we explain what this means and the benefits that can be realised when connected to a networked security system.

Since its foundation in 2008, the ONVIF organisation continued to grow as the need of interoperability between IP devices has constantly increased. Over the years, seven different ONVIF Profiles – A, C, D, G, M, S, & T- were created to standardise interface between IP-based physical security products in different categories such as video streaming, access control, meta data, edge storage and retrieving devices etc. The organisation now counts over 20,000 conformant products and our REDSCAN Pro LiDAR series are a recent addition to the list.

With the increase of OPTEX IP detection sensors being implemented in complex network security systems, it was important for us to look at using standard communication protocols rather than proprietary. ONVIF compliance makes the integration of our LiDARs with a security system far easier, and gives more flexibility to the customer as it means they are not locked in a specific system.

What is ONVIF Profile S
ONVIF Profile S specifies a set of IP video streaming features that must be supported by a conformant device. The inclusion of the assistance camera in the REDSCAN Pro LiDARs
opened up the potential for OPTEX to utilise this open standard – not only for streaming the video, but also for alarm transmission. The added bonus being that the 180-degree assistance camera utilised to enhance the setup procedure, can also be streamed directly back to the Video Management System (VMS) for maintenance checks, ease of setup, and even as a way of verifying genuine or nuisance alarms.

How are the REDSCAN PRO alarm events passed on?
The REDSCAN Pro alarms are configured in the sensor unit prior to connecting to the VMS. There are six ONVIF digital inputs available to us, and any of the RLS-Pro alarms events can be configured to each of these inputs – alarm zones, trouble events, tamper, device monitoring – in any combination. Please note that some VMS platforms may not support as many as six ONVIF inputs on their side.

How is the camera module managed?
The video stream will be discovered as part of the ONVIF discovery process – just like with any other ONVIF-compliant video camera and can be used for set up and event analysis.

How are users managed?
Within the REDSCAN Pro, multiple ONVIF user profiles can be configured, to enable the three main ONVIF roles – Administrator, Operator and User. These user profiles are entirely independent from the REDSCAN user profiles, allowing for full flexibility in configuration.

Which VMS platforms are integrated so far?
Currently our REDSCAN Pro LiDARs are integrated with Genetec Security Center, Milestone XProtect, and Panasonic Insight, with many more in the pipeline.

How can REDSCAN Pro be integrated using ONVIF protocol?
Integration via ONVIF is simplified for VMS and PSIM providers, with a simple SDK containing all the required information available from the OPTEX Technical team.

For the details please contact to: optex@optex.com.pl; www.optex-europe.com.

Networked Fire Systems – What to Consider?

The demands on today’s fire systems have never been greater, but not all panels are created equal, which can make choosing the right solution a challenge.

Many fire panels are relied upon to alert people to real and potential emergencies, to control evacuation procedures and to reduce the number of false alarms. They are also required to control the release of suppressants, operate smoke control systems, manage the closure and release of fire doors, link to graphical control systems and interact with building management systems.
The demand for fire panels to do all this – and more – over larger and more complicated sites, as part of a fire network, is increasing. And with this requirement come important questions, such as:
– Are the panels quick and easy to set up as a network?
– Will the network speed/performance, over a large area, be compromised?
– Will the network be easy to use and maintain?
– Will it be easy to expand the system?

Flexible system architecture
A networked fire alarm system communicates data between all panels/network nodes on a site, allowing for greater control over the fire safety of the entire building. Good network design will distribute the fire panels throughout the site, instead of having to take all the detection circuits back to a single point. Using a true peer-to-peer system, information from any input or output device can be passed over the network and displayed on any control panel.

The inter-connection of fire alarm control panels over a proprietary network is well established, allowing many panels, often sited in physically different locations, to communicate between each other using a two-core cable (or fire resistant, two-core, screened twisted pair cable depending on your local legislation). Information from any one panel can be accessed from all other panels in a network, allowing the user to access all the information on the system from any panel.

Speed of the system
In large, complex sites, as the number of panels and input and output options on a network increase, some systems can slow down dramatically, seriously compromising safety and reliability. Both EN54-13 and UL864 specify maximum times for relaying signals around the network. For example, the standard EN 54-13:2005 (E) 4.3.2.1 states that “a fire alarm condition on Control and Indicating Equipment (CIE) shall be indicated on the main CIE within 20 seconds.”
Advanced’s networks allow the inter-connection of up to 200 panels (nodes) in a fault-tolerant configuration. The maximum cable length between nodes is 1.5km, with a total loop length of 20km. The network is capable of withstanding a single fault between nodes without loss of communications to any single panel. This is all achieved using standard two-core, fire-resistant cable.
There’s little point in setting a 60-second acknowledgement time if your network takes 15 seconds to process inputs, as that’s 25 per cent of the time available. The typical delay on an Advanced Ad-NeT+ 50 panel network, for each panel to indicate a fire from any zone, is less than one second, and it’s just 3.5 seconds for a full 200 panel system.

Network, design and composition
Networks can be built using standard fire cable or fibre optics and often need to cover huge distances. The network design therefore needs to be resilient and function reliably in a dynamic fire situation, where increased network traffic, higher voltages and currents, as well as changing environmental conditions, can be challenging. EN54-13 approved systems are designed and tested to continuously monitor network activity and ensure they perform in a fire situation, so are worth seeking for added peace of mind, especially on larger sites.

Operation of the system
Large fire alarm systems can feature control panels on different floors or in different areas of a building, with each panel controlling and monitoring devices in the area to which it is designated. It’s therefore critical to choose a flexible solution that can be configured to report the status of other panels in the system, if required.
A networked fire alarm system enables the user to access information from any panel on a network or from a central location. This overall system view saves those charged with maintaining these systems from having to visit multiple physical locations.

Scalability and cause and effect
A truly scalable fire network will allow different cabling typologies suitable for sites of various sizes, with a vast choice of cause and effect options. Networks designed within buildings generally use standard fire-resistant copper cable. However, as buildings are increasingly networked, fibre optic cable has become the preferred medium.
The nature or purpose of a building area also requires consideration. For example, detectors will be grouped to allow appropriate alarm annunciation, so systems need to provide enough zones. Depending on the size of the site, a fire alarm network may have multiple panels, hundreds of zones and thousands of devices. Therefore, the need for sophisticated cause and effect and intuitive, easy programming of rules becomes crucial.

Conclusion
In complex buildings, the fire system needs to work quickly and reliably, and process large numbers of changing signals in the event of a fire. On larger sites, seconds count and fast systems are highly valuable in maximising the time for verification, escape and firefighting.
When selecting the most appropriate networked fire system, it’s important to ask:
– Can information be displayed clearly and logically across the whole site?
– Is the system truly scalable?
– Is it easy to program and maintain, and can it easily be expanded in future?
– Will the system perform correctly and are its cause and effect capabilities adequate?
– Does the network offer appropriate levels of reliability in the event of a fire or fault?

 

“Big 3” account for 1/3 of the market for video surveillance software

Genetec, Milestone Systems and Motorola Solutions have grown to become the “big 3” suppliers of video surveillance software, video analytics and managed services. According to a new report from Novaira Insights, the global market for video surveillance software and managed services was worth $2.2 billion in 2020 with around 69% of this outside China.

However, the supply base outside China is very different to that of the Chinese domestic market. The world excluding China is served, not only by the big 3, but also by a multitude of other international suppliers, each with a small market share of less than 3%. In comparison, China is served by domestic suppliers like Hikvision, Dahua and “AI unicorns” like Sensetime and Megvii.

The report, “The world market for video surveillance hardware and software”, shows that, outside China, the market for of video surveillance software and managed services continued to grow slightly in 2020, despite the coronavirus pandemic. Growth In the Americas was highest. Here, revenues from video surveillance software and managed services grew 8.8% in 2020. Many end-users took advantage of facilities being closed to upgrade their software. This focus on upgrading software led to end-users re-evaluating their entire back-end architectures. This resulted in greater use of cloud in architectures and increased spending on software managed services. These factors contributed to an acceleration in the proportion of revenues from recurring spending. The report forecasts high average annual growth of 12.1% in the world excluding market from 2020 to 2025.

According to Jon Cropley, principal analyst at Novaira Insights, “Genetec, Milestone and Motorola grew their combined share of the world excluding China market for video surveillance software and managed services to 33% in 2020. Software continues to be a key differentiator in video surveillance system functionality and will continue to offer these and other suppliers high revenue growth opportunities in future years. Furthermore, the bounds of what is classified as video surveillance software continues to expand with additional and sometimes specialist functionality brought about by integrations of video analytics and other sensors”.

Video surveillance market makes quick recovery to $24 billion in 2021

The global video surveillance market revenues are set to reach $24 bn by the end of 2021 according to Omdia’s latest Video Surveillance and Analytics Intelligence Database.

This marks a quick recovery for the video surveillance market as demand that was suppressed in 2020 will return and revenues will be bolstered by projects that were postponed in 2020 due to Covid getting the greenlight in 2021. Omdia forecasts that total video surveillance market revenues will grow to $31.9bn by 2025 with a total CAGR of 7.1% between 2020-2025.

Thermal body temperature solutions
According to the analysts, the size of the thermal body temperature solutions market has rapidly grown to $1.3 bn globally in 2020. Driven by Covid-19 precautions, this technology has been adopted by several regions, in particular China, East Asia, India and the Middle East. However, without the growth in thermal body temperature solutions, the global video surveillance equipment market declined 3.8% globally in 2020

Despite being a driving growth factor in 2020, Omdia forecasts the thermal body temperature solutions market will decline rapidly in 2021 to just $137 million, an 89.8% decline, ultimately limiting the overall video market surveillance market growth.

Various factors increase average selling prices
Omdia expects average selling prices of video surveillance equipment to increase in the short term as US-China geopolitical tension and supply chain constraints from the Covid-19 pandemic increases pressure of vendor margins.

In recent years US-China geopolitical tensions within the video surveillance industry have escalated. The initial NDAA and blacklisting of Hikvision, Dahua and Huawei within the US is being augmented by new FCC regulations.

Oliver Philippou, Research Manager – Physical Security at Omdia commented: “The semiconductor shortfall driven by geopolitics and Covid impact has affected all industries, and video surveillance is no exception. This disparity between supply and demand is expected to last until mid-2022.

Longer term Omdia expects that there will be a greater adoption of the network camera products using AI deep learning acceleration and inference at the endpoint. This will result in higher average prices of network cameras.

Chinese impact on market revenues
The Chinese video surveillance market is estimated to have grown 6.4% in 2020 compared to the global average of 2.2%. This growth is mainly attributed to the thermal body temperature solution. The market excluding such solution is estimated to have decline by 0.8%. As such, China now accounts for 50% of the global market revenues. However, a combination of Covid-19 and the completion of Xue Liang programme has resulted in declining government investment in video surveillance in China. Even so, the government investment will continue grow, all be it at a slower rate.

Tommy Zhu, Senior Analyst – Physical Security at Omdia commented: “One of the major factors that drove the China’s market growth in the past few years was government investment. Although the year of 2020 marks the completion of Xue Liang programme, the government will continue to enhance the construction of Safe China during its 14th Five-Year plan. In addition, as China is rolling out its trillions of dollars investment in new infrastructure construction, the demand for video surveillance equipment is expected to continue to grow. Besides, China’s ambitions to accelerate the transformation to a digital economy will boost the investment in both public and private sectors.”

 

 

 

Konica Minolta’s Mx6 series and MOBOTIX 7 platform again SYSS certified

The manufacturer-independent SySS GmbH has tested and certified the security of the MOBOTIX 7 intelligent video platform and MOBOTIX Mx6 security cameras. As a result, the leading institute for penetration tests in Germany has confirmed the best possible cybersecurity of Konica Minolta’s MOBOTIX products series.

During the tests, hardware and software components are subjected to simulated hacker attacks in several scenarios. These correspond to the current cyber attacks, which have recently led to data tapping and data hijacking worldwide. The testers of SySS GmbH are familiar with the recent attack methods on IT systems and research how to prevent the intrusion into digital infrastructures. With this exclusive know-how, SySS GmbH tests IT landscapes and looks for weaknesses and security vulnerabilities.

“The renewal of the SySS certificate for the MOBOTIX 7 platform and the Mx6 camera series, which both are part of Konica Minolta video solution services portfolio, confirms our high standards in terms of security. We only offer our customers video solution services that provide the best possible protection – not only for people, facilities, goods, grounds, or buildings but also for the data that our recordings collect,” said Shintaro Inoue, Head of Video Solutions Services, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe.

The MOBOTIX 7 platform and the Mx6 camera series are among the market-leading systems in IoT camera applications. They are appreciated worldwide for their robustness, durability, and energy-efficient solutions. Despite the decentralised approach, the system is ONVIF and H.264 compliant.

ASSA ABLOY sells its Nordic locksmith business CERTEGO to Nalka Invest

ASSA ABLOY has signed an agreement to sell its Nordic locksmith business CERTEGO to Nalka Invest, which invests in small- and medium-sized businesses primarily in the Nordic region.

CERTEGO is a market-leading locksmith and security solutions installation business in the Nordic region. It provides planning, installation and managing of mechanical, electro-mechanical and electronic security solutions for customers across multiple verticals. CERTEGO has a network of around 70 locations with some 1,200 employees in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark. The impact from the divestment on ASSA ABLOY external sales is around SEK 1.5 bn.

“Recent trends in the security solutions installation market, including the growing need to offer a comprehensive range of different solutions, has led us to reconsider the merits of continued ownership of CERTEGO. We have concluded that a divestment would allow EMEIA to focus resources in its core business. I am confident that Nalka Invest will take CERTEGO to the next level as part of their business transformation and wish them and the CERTEGO team every success in their future endeavors,” says Neil Vann, Executive Vice President of ASSA ABLOY and Head of EMEIA Division.

The transaction will have a positive effect on ASSA ABLOY´s operating margin going forward. The divestment will result in a capital loss and exit costs amounting to approximately MSEK 200.

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions and is expected to close during the third quarter of 2021.

How one municipality deploys programmable electronic keys for safer, smarter access control across its facilities

London, August 2021 – Running a unified locking system for multiple municipal services may bring operational efficiencies. However, if the system is based on mechanical locks, it can also create time-consuming headaches. When keys go missing, for example, or user access requirements change, mechanical security does not have the flexibility to adapt quickly.

For this reason, Vincennes city administrators sought a modern, electronic replacement for a master-key system whose lock-chart ran to 4,000 keys. Several locations around Vincennes — among them schools, nurseries and the Town Hall elevator — relied on this complex locking solution. The costs and risk when keys went missing had become a growing logistical burden.

Vincennes officials tasked their city security director with finding a more responsive solution: An electronic locking system which is easy to install; does not require power to be cabled to every door or lock; and gives municipal staff the ability to tailor access rights for different people, to trace keyholder and lock interactions and to amend or revoke permissions when required. They also needed an established, trusted security partner able to offer all the necessary training and system support.

“A wired access control system was rejected because it required too much work to bring the power to each door,” says Fabrice Pain, Director at the Municipal Technical Centre. “Now eCLIQ provides us access control without wiring at all.”

Interior and exterior doors at buildings including the Hôtel de Ville, 11 nurseries, 12 schools and the Municipal Technical Centre are equipped with more than 650 programmable, electronic eCLIQ cylinders. Almost 1,000 battery powered eCLIQ programmable keys have been issued to authorized staff.

Solving the lost key problem — and reducing thefts
With eCLIQ, lost keys no longer threaten building security: They can simply be blacklisted by the city’s central eCLIQ management software, which saves the money spent on replacing mechanical locks. And because every key, lock or user may be audited at any time, thefts from public property have dropped.

The eCLIQ cylinder range brings almost any opening into an access system. Robust, durable eCLIQ locks can protect lifts, machines, mailboxes, cabinets and more with the same security as sensitive doors. Certified and available in multiple sizes and formats — including the EURO format first patented by an ASSA ABLOY Group brand nearly 100 years ago — eCLIQ cylinders maintain security and regulatory compliance across the city.

During installation, no wiring or cabling was needed at the doors. A standard battery inside every programmable eCLIQ key powers the electronics inside the lock. Every authorized building user brings their own power to the door.

Now, the city security team issues granular access to everyone who needs it — and only where they need it — from a single admin point. The new solution is popular with school and municipal staff, especially since a successful implementation of Vincennes’ integrated Vigipirate plan, in which eCLIQ plays an important role.

With eCLIQ, Vincennes has found a security solution to match their image as a young, dynamic, tech-savvy place to live and work. More important still, eCLIQ key-based electronic access control has simplified security management and solved their lost key problem.

To learn more about eCLIQ programmable key access control, download a free Solution Guide at https://campaigns.assaabloyopeningsolutions.eu/ecliq

Motorola introduces concealed weapon detection

Motorola Solutions is launching the newest addition to its video security and analytics portfolio, Concealed Weapon Detection (CWD), through an agreement with Evolv Technologies, Inc.

The scanning solution uses advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to detect a wide range of concealed weapons and threats, such as firearms, metallic weapons and improvised explosive devices, on a visitor entering a premises. The introduction of this technology is a part of Motorola Solutions’ ongoing commitment to the innovation and integration of security technologies that help organisations increase safety.

The solution is designed to allow up to 3600 visitors to walk through one of the scanning systems per hour without having to conduct pat downs or empty pockets as the technology can distinguish between personal items and weapons. If a threat is detected, an alert is displayed on an Express tablet showing the location of the potential threat on the person’s body, or in their bag, to security operators. Alerts are sent directly to Motorola Solutions’ video management system, Avigilon Control Center (ACC), which automatically notifies and shares live video with the facility’s security team so they have precise awareness of the situation and can support an immediate response.

“Through the use of AI, we are automating and unifying workflows to better protect people against the threat of violence,” said John Kedzierski, senior vice president, Video Security & Analytics at Motorola Solutions. “Concealed Weapon Detection is an excellent example of how technology can help enterprises prevent threats from turning into tragedies.”

In addition, the sensitivity levels on the CWD solution can be adjusted to align with the safety needs of a facility based on their anticipated threat-scenarios. This capability allows for the technology to identify and flag new threat profiles over time, and enables security personnel to manage data and insights that help to provide a safe and positive experience for visitors and staff.

Video based detection provides fire safety at cardboard factory

Bosch Building Technologies has installed an innovative fire detection system at a key manufacturing site for corrugated cardboard in Ecuador: At the factory operated by Industria Cartonera Palmar (Incarpalm), the video-based fire detection system Aviotec provides around-the-clock fire safety amid challenging conditions thanks to innovative AI algorithms.

Incarpalm relied on Bosch partner Adeatel to install a system that complies with legal guidelines for high-risk manufacturing sites while exceeding the performance of conventional fire detectors and reducing false alarms. Integrated on the Bosch Video Management System (BVMS), the intelligent video sensors rely on machine learning algorithms to detect fires at their source within seconds, thereby ensuring safety and business continuity at the site in Machala, capital of Ecuador’s banana industry.

Challenging conditions
Before choosing the video-based solution from Bosch, Incarpalm was looking to comply with local legal requirements for the pulp and paper industry, which had been updated in collaboration with fire protection services. In addition, the paperboard factory houses large amounts of industrial machinery while the paper-based raw materials generate a dry, dusty, and highly flammable environment. Plus, heat from machinery such as IR dryers and conveyor belts poses additional fire hazards to raw pulp paper sheets and finished cardboard products. As Incarpalm learned, conventional point-type detectors fall short of providing fire safety under these conditions. That’s because these devices rely on detecting smoke particles in the air, which can take several minutes to rise – especially when detectors are mounted on high warehouse and factory ceilings. But in that short time span, fire can already spread and potentially harm employees, while an entire business could literally go up in smoke.

Light signals travel faster
Responding to Incarpalm’s specific requirements, the experts performed a thorough site assessment and conceptualised an integrated system based on a new generation of intelligent fire detection: It relies on light signals that travel much faster than smoke particles to spot smoke and fire even in the smouldering stages. Built-in machine learning algorithms, programmed to sound alarms for colour changes and visual patterns associated with fires, can detect fires within seconds.

The Aviotec IP Starlight 8000 devices deployed at the warehouse are VdS-certified and highly resistant against false alarms; they can also operate in the dusty and low visibility environment that is typical for cardboard manufacturing. Additional challenges included vibrations from the machinery and pipes, solved by adjusting the position and sensitivity settings of Aviotec devices on the premises. As live tests confirm, the solution can now sense active flames within seconds.

The installation of the video-based fire safety solution is the first of its kind in all of Ecuador, but not the last: Incarpalm is currently expanding Aviotec coverage across its compound, including new infrastructure for cardboard manufacturing and storage. Meanwhile, according to Bosch, other businesses in the region are noticing the added safety, and supply chain integrity afforded by the intelligent system.

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a&s Adria – professional security magazine for providing total security solutions is a monthly circulating publication and a licenced representative of Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Media for Adriatic region, which consists of following countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, FYR Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia.