April 19, 2026
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Real-time access management and device aesthetics make Aperio® and The Camp a perfect fit

London, January 2020 – As a provider of future-oriented business education, The Camp sought an access control solution as forward-thinking as their courses.

Their campus site near Aix-en-Provence is diverse, with offices, event spaces, kitchens and two accommodation blocks totalling 170 units. The Camp must remain open around the clock, all week, while maintaining security for staff and visitors.

Aperio provided locking devices tailored to every door type — interior and exterior. So far, The Camp has integrated 221 Aperio Wireless Escutcheons, 42 Aperio Wireless Cylinders and 10 Aperio Wireless Handles within a TIL Technologies security system.

Integrated online with the central system and controlled from the same interface, these Aperio devices effortlessly handle daily staff traffic of around 250 people. Meeting rooms, server rooms, living spaces and kitchens are secured with Aperio wireless locks. Up to 2,000 external visitors arrive on-site when The Camp stages an event — and each must also have credentials issued and access filtered through the site. Aperio makes it straightforward to enable visitor access.

“Many credentials get lost and Aperio enables us to handle this efficiently,” says Benjamin Ciotto, Head of Information Technology at The Camp.

A few clicks are all it takes to cancel a lost key-card and issue a replacement.

Real-time and future-proofed
Security staff at The Camp ensure only authorized users enter offices where expensive video projectors and screens are stored. Their TIL integration enables real-time management of the whole site, with specific profiles created to segment individuals who need fine-grained access to specific areas.

“Online mode is very important because [access] rights are very often updated for the constantly shifting campus population,” explains Benjamin Ciotto. “We can also program access to defined time slots, which is essential when we welcome 200 people for an all-day meeting, for example.”

Aperio technology also met The Camp’s need for an aesthetically pleasing, wireless solution. They did not want to compromise their interior or exterior design. The Aperio product ecosystem’s sustainability performance also fits The Camp’s ethos. Because Aperio devices are wireless and battery powered, they are much more energy efficient than traditional wired locking systems, which require an “always-on” mains connection. Multiple Aperio devices have independently assessed Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). These detail the footprint of each device through its full life-cycle, from production to disposal.

“Aperio is a real comfort of use,” Benjamin Ciotto concludes. “And we handle the easy maintenance for ourselves.”

To download a free Aperio® Wireless Access Control Solution Guide, visit https://campaigns.assaabloyopeningsolutions.eu/aperio

Significant Growth for Global Barrier Market

The latest research shows that the global barrier systems market size is expected to reach USD 24.5 billion by 2025, registering a CAGR of 9.8% from 2020 to 2025.

Information from Grand View Research, Inc. finds that the growth can be attributed to their increasing use in commercial, residential, and high-end security applications. Moreover, these solutions enable access to vehicles and pedestrians at crossing points to avoid accidents, thereby increasing their adoption.

Numerous vendors offer high-security barrier solutions, which are used in vehicle access control systems to protect critical infrastructure and stop projectile impacts. Furthermore, barrier systems include trigger loops and timers to help reduce traffic congestion. The monitoring and access control solutions ensure that property and assets are protected from thieves.

Increasing consumer preference for residential safety and security is anticipated to contribute to barrier system market growth. Governments across the globe are taking initiatives for infrastructure development, which is further expected to favour market growth over the forecast period. Surge in incidents of security breach are fuelling the need for safety and security, which in turn is driving product adoption in end-use industries.

Rapid industrialisation and increasing construction activities across the globe are expected to propel market growth over the forecast period. In addition, increasing terrorism, illegal events, and fraudulent activities have led to a rise in the adoption of barrier systems. These solutions are also widely adopted in data centres and financial institutions to avoid intrusion, property damage, and data theft, among others.

The information shows that the perimeter security and alarms segment is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period based on access control device. The analsysts attribute this to increased demand for video surveillance solutions and intrusion detection systems in smart city infrastructures.

In terms of product type, the bollards segment is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period owing to increased adoption of removable bollards in monitoring and controlling traffic flow.

Companies cited by the research as being key market players include Betafence; Delta Scientific; Hill & Smith; Lindsay; Senstar; Tata Steel; and Valmont.

FLIR Completes Strategic Investment in Providence Photonics

FLIR Systems has made a strategic investment in Providence Photonics, developers of advanced software used to quantify invisible gas emissions using Flir Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) cameras.

Providence Photonics specializes in the development and utilization of advanced technology in the field of optical gas imaging while tackling some of the industry’s most challenging environmental and safety problems. Using patented technology, advanced computer vision techniques, and state-of-the-art infrared imagers, they create solutions for several applications, including leak quantification, leak survey validation, autonomous remote leak detection, and flare combustion efficiency monitoring.

As part of the strategic investment, FLIR will gain exclusive access to certain elements of Providence Photonics’ intellectual property, while helping to expand FLIR Systems’ set of offerings to its oil and gas industry customers. The companies will work to deploy Providence Photonics’ quantification algorithms in current and future FLIR OGI cameras and digital services.

“Our investment in Providence Photonics represents another example of our evolution from solely being a leading sensor company to one that adds decision support to create intelligent sensing solutions,” said Frank Pennisi, President of the Industrial Business Unit at FLIR. “This investment enables to us to better serve our existing Oil and Gas industry customers who rely on our optical gas imaging technology to improve efficiency and safety, while ensuring compliance with methane mitigation regulations.”

ISE 2020 demonstrates the strategic importance of AV

There are considerable grounds for optimism when the pro AV industry converges once again on Amsterdam in February. Here is an overview of some of the technologies driving market growth.
Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) has long been the go-to event for discovering the latest market and technology trends in the professional audiovisual (AV) industry – and ISE 2020 will be no different. Visitors can expect to sense enormous confidence in the halls, not least because AVIXA’s 2019 AV Industry Outlook and Trends Analysis (IOTA) Global Summary saw the organisation raise its growth forecast, reflecting, it said, strong economies and demand for new products and services. From €224billion in 2019, AVIXA now believes 2024 will see worldwide revenues for the industry reach €296 billion – outpacing global GDP growth.
CEDIA’s research gives similar grounds for optimism. The UK alone, for example, represents a market valued at around €779 million, with home cinema installs rising 9% and 80% of participants in a CEDIA survey expressing confidence that their revenues would rise over the coming year.
It’s widely agreed that the success of both the commercial and residential sectors is a function of two key drivers: the proven value that AV solutions deliver, and the AV industry’s continuing embrace of new technologies. In the commercial world, AV is evolving from being ‘nice-to-have’ into a highly strategic asset.

Growing importance of AI
A recurring theme throughout the event is likely to be the growing importance of AI and machine learning. In smart homes, for example, ISE visitors can expect to see growing evidence of manufacturers embracing the likes of Alexa and Google Assistant – both enabled by AI – responding to consumer desire for a more integrated ‘one ring to rule them all’ unified environment. That’s becoming increasingly important as growing numbers of home devices and appliances become IoT-enabled. ISE 2020 will reflect this shift in the connected homes market.
On the commercial side, AI – especially in conjunction with sensors such as embedded cameras – is rapidly finding a place in digital signage (a market forecast by AVIXA to be worth $45 billion by 2024 – roughly 35% larger than 2019) as retailers especially look to try to create more personalised, more engaging, more relevant consumer experiences. In fact, researchers expect the pro AV industry to see greater adoption of AI in any market where customer experience is important, such as hospitality and healthcare. Hospitality companies will spend vast sums on AV in the coming years in order to meet and exceed the expectations of a travelling public deeply rooted in technology.
AI is also believed to have the potential to transform unified communications and collaboration – and is already finding its way into AV solutions designed for education, where research indicates that almost nine out of ten pupils and students are now leveraging the benefits of AV technology for learning. Whatever the vertical market, ISE visitors can expect to see plenty of evidence of AI – including XR (extended reality) – being embedded across a number of platforms.

LED proliferation
AI is very much a ‘behind the scenes’ technology. One of the most visible manifestations of change in the industry is the rapid rise in popularity of LED as the screen technology of choice. Not only does it bring unique advantages in the creative deployment of displays such as videowalls, but also, as its price declines, it is starting to displace single LCD screens. ISE 2020 is likely to provide further evidence of LED’s proliferation – and in the residential systems market too as ‘multi-screen’ becomes the new trend for home theatre installs.
A recurring question, however, is how long LED will enjoy its current place in the sun. OLED technology has numerous theoretical advantages in terms of image quality, installability and the opportunity for highly creative deployments. It’s still, however, not without its challenges – notably in the area of price – and ISE 2020 will provide an opportunity to assess the progress it’s making toward prime time.
A perhaps surprising fact is that, in the face of stiff competition from flat panel displays, the projector market remains remarkably vibrant as it reinvents itself. Having largely eliminated the reasons not to buy – predominantly cost of ownership – with solid state illumination, new generations of projector are becoming increasingly application-specific. The success of projection isn’t limited to the commercial market: PMA Research reports that worldwide sales of 1080p consumer projectors have risen by nearly 30% year-on-year.
It’s not all about images on screens, however. So called ‘object-based audio’ has taken the sound world by storm with its ability to deliver wholly immersive sound stages. Advances in the ‘placing’ of sound are being matched by increasingly sophisticated DSPs that can ‘tune’ an installation to create the optimum match with the acoustics of the room. Together, they’re creating some jaw-dropping aural experiences – and those will be demonstrated at ISE. Audio is no less affected by the progressive ‘IT-ification’ of the AV industry, and visitors can expect to see numerous new audio-over-IP products – not to mention a plethora of AV-over-IP platforms.
Those platforms – distributing video, audio, control signals and more over IP networks – are becoming increasingly commonplace, and ISE 2020 visitors can expect to find more as the worlds of AV and IT progressively converge, bringing new levels of flexibility, interoperability and scalability – not to mention security. Concerns about loss of image and sound quality have all but been eradicated.
What’s exciting about ISE, however – and ISE 2020 will be no different – is not just finding out about the latest developments in today’s AV technology. Where the excitement really comes in is when you get taken by surprise by something that you didn’t expect. To find out what those surprises are, there’s no substitute for being in Amsterdam in February.

ISE 2020 FAQs
What is Integrated Systems Europe?
ISE is the leading trade show for the professional AV systems integration industry. Held annually since 2004, it has grown to become the world’s biggest pro AV show.

Who owns ISE?
ISE is jointly owned by two professional associations: AVIXA, the Audiovisual and Integrated Experiences Association; and CEDIA, the Custom Electronics Design and Integration Association. Broadly speaking, these two bodies are concerned with the commercial and residential markets respectively. Each organises an extensive professional development programme at ISE, ranging from free 20-minute talks to all-day conferences.

Where is ISE held?
The RAI Amsterdam has been the regular home of ISE since 2007. Because of the show’s continued expansion, it will relocate in 2021 to the Fira de Barcelona.

How is the show floor organised?
ISE 2020 will occupy all 15 halls at the RAI. The show floor is divided between generic space and six Technology Zones: Audio and Live Events; Digital Signage and DooH (digital out of home); Education Technology; Residential; Smart Building; and Unified Communications.

When does ISE take place?
ISE 2020 is a four-day exhibition, running from Tuesday 11 to Friday 14 February. The professional development programme, which includes conferences and free presentations run by ISE and its partners as well as AVIXA and CEDIA, begins on Monday 10 February.

Middle East security, safety, and fire protection industries in the spotlight at Intersec 2020

New Intersec Arena spearheads long list of dedicated features as 1,100 exhibitors from 50 nations descend upon Dubai showcase

Dubai, UAE: The 22nd edition of Intersec, the world’s leading security, safety, and fire protection trade show, will open doors early next year in Dubai with a long list of dedicated features set to complement a packed exhibition floor featuring more than 1,100 exhibitors from 50 countries.

The annual three-day event, organised by Messe Frankfurt Middle East, covers the seven sections of Commercial Security; Fire & Rescue; Perimeter & Physical Security; Safety & Health; Homeland Security & Policing; Information Security; and Smart Home & Building Automation.

Running from 19-21 January 2020 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, it will once again be home to biggest names in the business, including two-thirds of the world’s top 50 security manufacturers.

A host of specialised pavilions, conferences and certified workshops will also ensure the expected audience of 34,000-plus trade visitors from across the globe will be privy to the latest technology advancements that will have a profound impact on businesses spanning the entire gamut of industry verticals, from energy and finance, retail and hospitality, to education, government, logistics and construction.

A debut feature for 2020 is the Intersec Arena, which according to Intersec’s Show Director Andreas Rex, will offer insights into new technologies that address cross-sector industry specific challenges, while educating end users on the key considerations when purchasing specific product categories.

“The Arena will be the bridge that connects solution seekers with developers of game-changing innovations,” said Mr. Rex, adding that the unique theatre-style set-up will allow for more interaction between the audience and speakers. “The objective is to analyse the security benefits as well as emerging risks and vulnerabilities with the implementation of latest innovations in an evolving digital world.”
The three-day Intersec Arena will be split into three distinct tracks, with the first day covering digital technologies. Day two will explore security challenges and solutions in key industry verticals before the final day focuses on key requirements and considerations when making purchasing decisions for specific product categories.

Mr. Rex said all the existing popular highlights are returning again, including the Intersec Future Security Summit, with the spotlight in 2020 focusing on disruptive technologies integrating digital and physical security.

“The Drones Pavilion and an indoor Drone Zone, as well as an Outdoor Demonstration Zone of the latest fire rescue applications in action will all be back again in 2020,” added Rex.

“With less than a year away until the Dubai Expo 2020, we’re expecting some important strategic partnerships to be announced, while as is customary, many of the 1,100-plus exhibitors will use this platform to launch their latest products in the global marketplace.”

Intersec is supported by the Dubai Police, Dubai Police Academy, Dubai Civil Defence, the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA), and the Dubai Municipality. A further 35 international government partners, trade associations, and non-profit institutions are also set to participate.

Fire and Rescue is expected to form the largest section in 2020, with more than 400 exhibitors early next year. Commercial Security is next, with an expected 350 exhibitors, followed by Safety & Health (120 exhibitors), Information Security (100 exhibitors), Homeland Security & Policing (80 exhibitors), and Physical & Perimeter Security (50 exhibitors).

Intersec 2020 is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. More details about the exhibition are available at: www.intersecexpo.com.

Hikvision provides high resolution cameras to Moscow Zoo for panda observation

3 December – Hikvision, the world’s leading supplier of innovative video security products and solutions, has the honour of sponsoring 20 cameras to Moscow Zoo for giant panda observation and research. The donation ceremony was held at Moscow Zoo on November 21. The Director at Moscow Zoo Svetlana Akulova and the President of Hikvision Russia & CIS Libbo Feng attended the press conference and visited the pandas

Six months ago, Dingding and Ruyi came to Moscow Zoo from China. At present, they grow very well and have fully adapted to the new home here. Not only did they get the care of the breeders, but they also gained the love of thousands of Russians. Large number of visitors come to see the pandas every day. For the convenience of panda lovers, Moscow Zoo also launched an online broadcast to watch the pandas.

”The audience of the online broadcast launched in July has counted almost one million people, and every day the number of views is growing. However, the previous cameras installed in the pavilion could not provide high-resolution video and color images at night. Today, thanks to our colleagues from Hikvision, there is such an opportunity. We have already replaced some of the old cameras with modern ones, and now not only visitors to the Moscow Zoo, but also an Internet audience from all over the world can watch our wonderful kids, Ruyi and Dindin, even at night. We thank our Chinese partners for this opportunity”, Svetlana Akulova comments.

According to her, the new cameras will also allow zoologists to observe pandas at night and record any changes in their behavior, which has great significance for the research, conservation and reproduction of this unique species.

As part of the donation ceremony, an examination of the pandas by a breeder was captured by the new cameras for live broadcast. People from all over the world could see how Ruyi comically climbs the scales to weigh, exposed his teeth for the physical examination, and stretched out the foot without fear to prepare for blood sampling – all of the wonderful shots are also available online.

”Giant pandas are very friendly and peaceful animals, and they are one of the main symbols of China and are often associated with trust, gentleness and harmony. Hikvision is committed to developing these values in our business. Together with the cloud service provider Trassir, which helps to organize the broadcasting, we are pleased that a large number of people have the opportunity to get acquainted with the pandas Ruyi and Dindin and that we can help ensure their protection with our industry-leading technologies”, said Libbo Feng.

It is worth mentioning that the installed cameras include the cutting-edge ColorVu camera. Thanks to its innovative technology, panda lovers from all over the world will be able to watch animals online in high resolution and color 24 hours a day! Now, visitors can even learn more about the panda’s night activities.

Hikvision is committed to protect the environment and actively supports international projects and initiatives to protect rare animals. Hikvision uses innovative products and solutions to support environmental research and environmental initiatives, rich biodiversity. This year, in the Amur Region, Hikvision cameras were installed in the nests of the Oriental storks, one of the rarest birds in the Russian Far East. With the help of cameras, ornithologists and the online audience witnessed the birth of 14 storks and the moment when they made their first flight.

Smart HVAC Systems on Cybersecurity and Connection Protocols

Compared to a traditional HVAC system, a smart HVAC system offers benefits including lower energy consumption, condition-based maintenance, predictive performance issues, and remote and automatic adjustments of the system. With it, tenants can live more comfortably, building managers can manage more efficiently, HVAC system technicians can work more easily, and total building utility fees can be decreased. There are several considerations for a building to adopt a smart HVAC system: for example, is the building old or new? Which wireless protocols should be used for the smart system? Does the system have sufficient cybersecurity protection? Overall, the smart HVAC system market is promising. The market needs have recently been expanded from residential buildings to commercial buildings, leading the smart HVAC system to provide comfortable living experiences for people working in offices.

Smart HVAC System Assists Energy and Operation Cost Saving
A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is responsible for controlling temperature and air flows in a smart building. With the ability to locate people inside the premises, the smart system helps buildings save significant energy consumption and operational costs.

A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system sits in the middle of a building, it’s respon- sible for providing comfortable room temperatures and air flow for the people inside, no matter if it’s a hot summer afternoon or a snowy winter day. As buildings are adding smart elements such as prediction and remote controls, HVAC systems are also getting “smart.” Smart HVAC systems benefit buildings and tenants in several ways, such as providing energy efficiency, building maintenance, performance prediction and automatic adjustment. Overall, smart HVAC systems are able to save operation costs and provide a better living experience. Here are some benefits brought by smart HVAC systems:

– Energy saving, for example, is achieved by smart HVAC systems constantly demanding performance monitoring and meeting the optimal conditions. As a result, the system is required to conduct energy diagnostics, energy prediction modeling, fault detection diagnostics and model predictive controls to save energy.
– Condition-based maintenance allows HVAC systems to automatically identify equipment performance issues, providing visibility across managing facilities. Rather than having to schedule regular maintenance visits for repairs, they can now be done on demand.
– Predicting performance issues are achieved by intelligence and machine learning embedded in smart HVAC systems. Several sensors are installed on different parts of the smart HVAC system, it is able to predict when system issues are about to happen by analyzing all data gathered from the system’s sensors, including installation dates and performance changes. Due to the system’s ability to predict issues that are about to occur through war nings, higher reliability and uptime of the system are experienced.
– Automatic and remote implemented system changes are accomplished by external decision support tools and systems connected with the smart HVAC system. If any environmental sensors detect changes in the surroundings of a building, a smart HVAC system will automatically adapt to the changes, maintaining comfortable living conditions in the building.

“A truly smart system should be able to anticipate how it needs to perform optimally and adapt to its operations to meet those goals,” said Sudhi Sinha, Vice President & General Manager, Digital Solutions, Johnson Controls. IoT-enabled HVAC solutions offer users insights into data beyond temperature, including humidity and levels of indoor air pollution. In addition, smart interfaces, dashboards and apps enable building managers and tenants to monitor equipment and make adjustments remotely. “It’s all about creating a personalized user experience. With the IoT, building occupants and owners can now feel more in control of their environments,” added Sinha.

Vital Components for Smart HVAC Systems
Compared to traditional HVAC systems, several components of smart HVAC systems are adjusted in order to realize energy saving. First of all, the Compressor, which is the electric pump compressing refrig- erant, and the air handler, that blows air over the heating and cooling coils, needs to be optimized since they are both a major consumer of energy. If these two pieces of equipment run only as needed, a great amount of energy can be saved. Secondly, the ventilation system, which controls a building’s air flow, when and where a building needs external help to save energy. For instance, strong air flow isn’t needed in an empty meeting room or the hallway after office hours.

Through sensor- driven technology to detect the density of occupants in a certain space, the ventilation system works only when it’s needed. Lastly, smart thermostats that can read temperature, humidity, occupancy and other variables are important in the whole HVAC system. The thermo- stats learn from gathered data from the surroundings and make intelligent decisions for the building, such as eliminating uncomfortable heat caused by humidity. “At a basic level, the key components for a smart HVAC system is the sensor hardware and software that provides a way to collect information and an interface for the user to see the information, receive alerts and notifica- tions, and take appropriate action,” said George Tsintzouras, CEO of Alert Labs.

Retrofitting Old Buildings for Smart HVAC Systems
Connected smart sensors play a significant role in establishing smart HVAC systems in old buildings. By having sensors in the existing system, components and back-end software providing data analytics, old buildings can also receive benefits from smart HVAC systems.

For new buildings, it isn’t difficult to embrace smart HVAC systems. Some of them have even been installed from the very beginning. For old buildings, however, adopting smart HVAC systems is a challenging job. There’s even a term “retrofitting,” designed to describe old buildings adopting smart technologies. “In older buildings, a wireless and battery-operated sensor platform could be crucial as it might be difficult and, or, prohibited to install external cabling along walls,” said Peter Lindkvist, Sales Director, Lumen Radio. That is to say, old buildings aren’t required to remove all existing components of HVAC system to adopt smart HVAC technology. They can keep current equipment and install wireless and battery-powered sensors around, to experience the benefits of a smart HVAC system. “Alert Labs sensors can be installed at any age of building and air conditioning system,” said George Tsintzouras, CEO of Alert Labs.

Smart Sensors Turn Old Buildings New
Alert Labs offers four sensors for smart buildings – a water flow sensor, a flood sensor, a sump pump sensor and an A/C monitoring sensor and system. Its A/C monitoring system and sensor, called Sentree, is designed to be installed by residential central A/C units, detecting temperature, pressure of liquid and vapor and real-time amperage numbers. The device connects with cellular networks and provides 24/7 remote monitoring of residential central air conditioning systems. As it detects issues, it will notify maintenance and building managers right away.

The water flow sensor, designed for indoor water meters, detects water leaks, floods, humidity, temperature, and power outages. For its instant alerts of all variable changes, the sensor can help reduce water bills and prevent damages. The flood sensor, on the other hand, focuses more specifically on water leakage and flooding. The sump pump sensor detects rising water levels, pending sump pump failures and floods, aiming to save on insurance and prevent any accidents. Furthermore, data gathered from all sensors can be presented on a back-end dashboard provided by Alert Labs.

The dashboard for homeowners, for instance, offers A/C performance and status; and the dashboard for contractors enables the service team to offer proactive mainte- nance and repairs. For managers who take care of several buildings, the company also has a command center, letting them monitor multiple properties in one place, assign service teams to individual properties, and receive alerts and A/C analytics.

Making Maintenance More Efficient
“A smart HVAC system enables contractors to send the right technician with the right parts to repair the problem on the first visit which reduces truck rolls and increases customer satisfaction,” said Tsintzouras. With the sensors around the HVAC system, contractors can keep equipment running more efficiently by knowing when issues are about to occur. Service or maintenance calls, therefore, can be cheduled before a breakdown happens.

Through a unified portal for both tenants and technicians, service calls can be scheduled by customers’ preference, reducing the frequency of off-hour emergency calls. “Property owners have insight into their buildings and can remotely adjust the system according to occupancy and time of day to save energy. The can also modify their behavior once they see how their property is performing or wasting energy with the incentive that they can save on their utility costs,” said Tsintzouras.

In addition to energy and cost saving, smart HVAC systems also improve management efficiency and building customers’ satisfaction. With smart sensors and the back-end analyzing and monitoring software, old buildings can also have the benefits from smart HVAC systems without replacing all the present equipment.

Mesh Frequency Bands in Smart Buildings
Wi-Fi, LoRa, Bluetooth, Zigbee… wireless connection frequency spectrums are crowded because of the rising number of connected devices around us. In addition to choosing one protocol, MiraOS, a mesh wireless network technology, could be another solution in smart buildings.

There are many connection protocols existing in the field of smart buildings, such as Wi-Fi, LoRa, Zigbee and Bluetooth. Each protocol has its best use Cases Wireless connections and power- efficiency, for the purpose of smart buildings, should be the most important features equal to selecting connection protocols. Bluetooth 5 and LoRa seem to currently be pretty promising in the field, due to their abilities to provide low power consumption and wide coverage connection for IoT devices in homes and buildings.

However, it’s pretty crowded between the wireless connectivity spectrums. IoT and M2M are thriving in the world, and many businesses are investing billions of sensors and actuators being wirelessly connected. According to a report by Gartner, it is estimated that around 20 billion devices will be connected by 2020. Another report by Ericsson predicts that 15.5 billion devices will be connected via short-range technology by 2020, accounting for 53% of all connected devices.

Furthermore, wireless protocols like Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Thread and Bluetooth all use the same frequency channel. The traffic jam might someday cause communication breakdown and service quality downgrading. “Many of the standard protocols available, such as BLE or Zigbee, do not have the capability to scale to thousands of nodes in one single network. They can neither cope with the amount of interference present in commercial buildings, nor are they energy-efficient enough to allow running the whole sensor solution on battery,” said Peter Lindkvist, Sales Director, Lumen Radio. These protocols don’t allow multi- protocol support. It means decision- making is difficult for smart building builders at the investment stage.

Guiding Networks to a Suitable Frequency
“MiraOS from LumenRadio is a best-of-breed wireless mesh for HVAC and Building Automation,” said Lindkvist. Mira operating system (MiraOS) is a future-proof wireless mesh network technology created and patented by LumenRadio. It enables mesh coexis- tence, ultra-lower power, over the air Firmware updates, easy commissioning and large-scale networks. The operating system is mainly powered by the company’s patented Cognitive Coexistence technology, an algorithm which enables real-time, adaptive frequency shopping.

“Within this algorithm, we build a predictive model of the frequency spectrum, where every single device weigh in the decision on the optimal channel to use in each individual (10ms) time slot,” said Lindkvist. Just like the weather forecast, the Cognitive Coexistence technology predicts how the frequency spectrum will be in the millisecond utilized and switch the connection to the best available and least congested frequencies.

Mesh Frequency Bands on Applications
Produal Proxima wireless solution, developed by building automation measurement and control company Produal, is created based on MiraOS from Lumen Radio and u-box NINA module. The solution, which includes several hardware devices, is able to route data from up to 100 wireless transmitters to automated buildings.

Swegon, a supplier of energy efficient and demand controlled ventilation (DCV) and indoor climate systems, is working with LumenRadio on a wireless climate control system – the WISE system. It is said to allow thousands of sensors, actuators and dampers to communicate and create an unprecedented indoor climate solution, helping buildings reduce energy consumption and operation costs, and increase the health of people in the building.

Unlicensed frequency bands, as more devices become connected, is today a scarce natural source. Frequency bands are just getting more crowded and congested day by day. Commercial buildings, are turning into an electro- magnetic mayhem, where different products and systems secure for airtime against smartphones and tenant Wi-Fi networks. “In order to remain reliable and enable industrial – and business-critical use cases, such as HVAC systems, OEMs must select agile technologies including strategies for interference mitigation,” said Lindkvist.

Smart HVAC Systems Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks
Like other connected devices, smart HVAC systems could also possibly be hacked. If attackers take over controls of HVAC systems, in the worst case, cities would break down and private data would be stolen.

All connected devices are standing under the risk of cyberattacks. Smart HVAC systems are no exception, either. Although IoT devices such as smart meters and HVAC unit sensors are not designed for web browsing, they do need to connect to the internet for data gathering, remote control and analytics. Their direct access to the internet, not in purpose, rather makes them major targets of cyber attackers, posing serious security threats for smart buildings.

Cybersecurity firm ForeScout Technologies have discovered that thousands of vulnerable IoT devices in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are vulnerable to cyberattacks. Its research showed that nearly 8,000 connected devices, mostly located in hospitals and schools, offered unauthorized access and were highly vulnerable to cyberattacks. Hacker’s manipulation from HVAC systems could possibly let them access private financial information and potentially retain unauthorized data in large companies. For special locations such as hospitals, dysfunctional smart HVAC systems could possibly harm patients who need to rest under certain temperatures and air flow. This type of attack scenario even has a codename – HVACKer.

Malware Uses Commands to Control HVAC Systems
To carry out attacks on an HVAC systems, hackers would first identify an HVAC system connected to the internet or sitting on a connected internal network. Besides looking for HVAC systems, hackers might also look for building automation software, which incorporates an HVAC component as well. Once they identify such systems, they will try to breach and take control of it. Then, they will import their custom malware to the system in order to infect other devices and computers on the same network. Malware, meanwhile, is mostly used to send commands, instead of stealing data. Sending commands on HVAC systems, however, is still dangerous. Theoretically, hackers could break into air conditioners across a smart city and turn on all of them, to cause a power surge that could disable a city’s power grid.

A Security First Principle Needs to be Put in Place
“Cybersecurity is an incredibly important issue that everybody has to deal with today,” said Sudhi Sinha, Vice President & General Manager, Digital Solutions at Johnson Controls. The first step to achieve cyber safety in a smart HVAC system, suggested Sinha, is for the supplier to have a robust product security program, which spans from product architecture, design, development, support and data management. Next, customers need to ensure that their networks and port are safe and not exposed to any vulnerabilities. To build a cyber-safe HVAC ecosystem requires every partner to take part in. Cybersecurity should be designed from the ground-up, with the final product being the management and data analytics software. Johnson Controls, for example, has a Security First principle in its development processes and product launch. It also provides cyber solutions tailored for the unique needs of each building, ensuring daily tracking of potential threats and provide rapid incident response.

“For cybersecurity, people need to be proactive and vigilant. It is better if companies adopt standard security frameworks,” said Sinha. For instance, buildings can ensure that they have industrial grade encryption solutions such as 128-bit AES, a running network or protocol supporting IPv6 traffic, and an IP-based security solution added on top like certificate handling or DTLS.

Market Needs for Smart HVAC Systems
In addition to smart home and smart residential buildings, needs for smart HVAC systems are also rising in offices and commercial buildings. Remote diagnostics and monitoring of smart HVAC systems, on the other hand, will become more important in the industry.

Smart HVAC systems help smart buildings save energy consumption and operation costs. As many buildings are looking to become smarter, needs for smart HVAC systems are also rising. “Demand for smart HVAC systems is definitely there and increasing,” said Sudhi Sinha, Vice President & General Manager, Digital Solutions, Johnson Controls.

“There’s a strong push for creating more intelligent, on-demand solutions within the HVAC industry right now – driven by energy-efficiency require- ments, but also by the need to enable new data-driven business models and to create new service-related revenue streams for the big OEM’s (Ventilation- as-a-Service),” said Peter Lindkvist, Sales Director, Lumen Radio.

Smart HVAC Systems in Offices
“Smart living technologies are becoming popular outside of residential and hospitality spaces,” said Sinha. In general, people are spending a signif- icant portion of their lives in workplaces. Of course, they would want to feel more comfortable and engaging in this space, helping them become more focused and productive in their jobs. Smart building solutions in workplaces are more popular, suggested Sinha, “because it gives employees a sense of power to control their own spaces and use those spaces within facilities more effectively.”

“We have seen productivity increase by up to 20 percent in certain cases, employee retention by 10 percent, and innovation increase manifold. We have seen this happen across multiple industries and geographies,” said Sinha. For now, although more millennials have shown their preference on smart building technology, Sinha believed, other generations of people feel equally appreciative of it.

Remote Diagnostics Assists all HVAC Technicians
Recruiting HVAC technician talents with the right experience is time-consuming. As a contracted technician, they need to always keep up with service demands, business requests and retain happy customers. A smart HVAC system will also help on their job.

”HVAC business owners are looking for ways to do more with less. Consumers are also looking for ways to expand their smart building capabilities beyond thermostats and lighting,” said George Tsintzouras, CEO of Alert Labs. HVAC systems integrated with smart sensors are able to detect room temper- ature, humidity, water leaks and floods. In the near future, machine learning will further expand the capability of smart HVAC systems. Smart HVAC systems powered by machine learning are able to send alerts about potential issues as sensor readings are abnormal, before a customer really experiences a problem.

“Remote diagnostics are fairly new in the HVAC marketplace, but there are out-of-the-box solutions that are already providing contractors across North America with new business opportunities and growth,” said Tsintzouras. “Remote diagnostics and smart monitoring systems will be available in every technician’s truck in the near future.”

Market Challenges
“There are a few challenges that need to be addressed – cybersecurity, engagement with IT organizations, wireless and communication reliability because of the interference zones in areas where usually HVAC systems are kept, retrofitting and compatibility with older systems, data sovereignty in case of cloud systems,” said Sinha. “And most importantly operator and technician training around new digital and smart HVAC capabil- ities.”

Peter Lindkvist, Sales Director, Lumen Radio, on the other hand, mentioned other challenges for smart HVAC systems: “who should or could own the data, what services are building operators and real-estate owners ready to pay for, and design new product platforms that can scale well enough across large venues to allow fully integrated solutions.” The demand for more connected buildings and smart HVAC systems are growing. All partners should gather together, solving these challenges, and work on the next-generation smart building solutions.

Secutech returns in April 2020 with new 5G applications pavilion

The very best in IoT, artificial intelligence, edge computing and 5G technology will be on display at the upcoming edition of Secutech, which returns to the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre from 22 – 24 April 2020 for its 23rd edition. Commercial security and fire safety solutions will take centre stage at the fair, and in order to reflect the cross-sector influence of artificial intelligence and the IoT, Secutech 2020 will also feature dedicated zones for the smart building and mobility sectors.

Ms Regina Tsai, the Deputy General Manager of Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Media Ltd, explained that new show elements at the 2020 edition will encourage collaboration across different sectors: “We are pleased to introduce the new 5G applications pavilion which will demonstrate how higher data speeds will impact fields such as the IoT. In the new era of 5G IoT, the amount of data that can be transmitted between devices will be much higher, with applications not just for improved security, but also for better road safety and building management. This higher data volume is only useful if the information can be properly analysed, which is where Secutech 2020 will deliver even more value for trade buyers, thanks to its many exhibitors of data analysis solutions both on the edge and in the cloud.”

Held under the supervision of the National Communication Commission, the new 5G Pavilion will welcome four of Taiwan’s main telecom providers: Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, FarEastTone and Asia Pacific Telecom. The four companies will join a lineup of around 350 exhibitors from around the world, showcasing everything from video surveillance cameras and access control systems, to facial recognition systems and security management platforms.

Concurrent events to focus on smarter living and intelligent transportation
Always in touch with technological trends, Secutech has kept buyers abreast of emerging opportunities throughout its 23 year history. Reflecting new developments in the IoT, in recent years the fair has introduced concurrent ‘SMAbuilding’ and ‘Mobility’ events as platforms that mix security solutions with other functionalities such as building management and smart parking.

For the 2020 fair, new elements are set to be introduced to the popular ‘SMAbuilding’ event including a themed ‘Building Internet of Things’ area that will focus specifically on residential property, commercial buildings, the retail sector and hotels. The area will showcase AI and IoT solutions that drive automation and device integration. Other additions will include dedicated zones for smart industrial facilities and construction projects.

Held alongside SMAbuilding, the returning ‘Mobility’ event will also be a significant attraction, allowing exhibitors and visitors to discuss intelligent transportation solutions and generate genuine business outcomes. Covering a diverse product spectrum, the event will house four pavilions dedicated to smart railway, smart road, smart parking and smart logistics solutions.

‘Fire and Safety’ to return for its 19th edition
As a destination for Asia’s fire and safety practitioners to locate new equipment and learn about best practices, the concurrent ‘Fire and Safety’ event will also be returning to Secutech 2020.

Demonstrating how the IoT can save lives, the event will host suppliers of smart disaster prevention devices at specialist zones. Safety solutions for health care facilities and nursing homes will also be displayed alongside traditional equipment such as fire extinguishers, firefighting gear and personal protection equipment.

The 23rd edition of Secutech will take place from 22 – 24 April 2020. Secutech is organised by Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Media Ltd and is part of a global network of Safety Security and Fire trade fairs. For more details, please visit www.secutech.com. Alternatively, please call Ms Emily Lin at +886 2 8729 1052, or send an email to emily.lin@newera.messefrankfurt.com.

Safety and security are increasingly important basic needs and, therefore, stand for a growing global market. With fourteen trade fairs, congresses and forums around the world, Messe Frankfurt brings together demand and supply worldwide with progressive, connected products, applications and services focusing on commercial security and the protection of buildings, spaces and people. The Safety, Security & Fire business cluster offers access to the dynamic markets of the Arabian Peninsula, Asia, Europe and South America.

Fisheye cameras: leaving no blind spots in sight

In video surveillance, covering blind spots has long been a challenge. As a result, fisheye cameras offering 360-degree panoramic views have become a popular alternative for end users seeking to monitor large areas. This article discusses some of the advantages and limitations of fisheye cameras, which the user should know before selecting a model that truly fits their objectives.
Izvor: a&s International
E-mail: redakcija@asadria.com

End user organizations seeking to monitor large areas, like retail outlets, hotel lobbies or warehouses, often find themselves constrained by using conventional box or bullet cameras, which point in one direction at a time. This leaves certain blind spots that are not covered and that can be exploited by criminals. A panoramic camera offering 180 or 360-degree views, be it a multisensor camera or a fisheye camera, can address this challenge.

Benefits and Limitations
One major advantage of fisheyes over multisensor cameras is size and weight. A multisensor camera, as its name suggests, has three to four sensors in one unit and therefore tends to be heavy and bulky; some models can have 314 x 512 millimeters in dimensions and weigh 4.8 kilograms. Fisheye cameras, on the other hand, are much smaller and lighter, with the diameter ranging from 146 to 160 mm and weighing less than 1 kg. While fisheye cameras offer certain advantages, it’s important to know their limitations as well.

Specifically, they have less resolution compared to multisensor cameras. “The early fisheye cameras did not have enough resolution to see the details of person’s face unless the person was very close to the camera. The latest single IP camera solutions use 4K cameras, with up to 12-megapixel resolution,” said Bob Mesnik, President of Kintronics. However, there is a caveat with that as well. “The resolution of the panoramic camera varies from the center to the outer edge of the view,” Mesnik said. “The resolution is best at the edge and worst in the middle.” Meanwhile, the viewing distance is something that the user should also know. According to Kintronics’ calculations, a fisheye camera with 4000 x 3000 resolution and an 180-degree lens allows enough resolution to recognize a person that is less than 11.9 feet or 3.6 meters away from the camera; further away the user sees less detail.

“Single-sensor 360-degree fisheye cameras have been around for many years. The problem with panoramic cameras has always been the lack of detail available at a distance,” Mesnik said. Outdoor applications can be an issue, too. “For most outdoor applications fisheye cameras are not better than multisensor cameras. For example, a corner of a building — users will not get the depth or overall image quality that can be achieved with a multisensor. That being said, for smaller indoor rooms fisheye cameras can be superior if the application requires full coverage,” said Thomas Carnevale, Founder of Umbrella Technologies.

According to Mesnik, fisheye cameras are best at providing situational awareness for users monitoring a large area instead of complex applications such as facial recognition, for example. “Fisheye cameras are used in some commercial applications where it is helpful to see an overview of an area,” Mesnik said. “If the prospect asks for other usage, we steer them to standard cameras. For example, we sometimes need to explain that the panoramic camera is not good for facial recognition.” Or, the user can pair fisheye cameras with standard cameras to achieve better monitoring. “For example, a retail store may use the wide area view to see everything in the store while using a camera at the door to view a person’s face as they enter or leave,” Mesnik said.

Some Applications of Fisheye Cameras
Generally speaking, fisheye cameras can be used in all vertical markets, helping end users monitor large areas. According to TKH Security in a blogpost, public transportation and healthcare can especially benefit, as blind posts can pose threats to the wellbeing of passengers and patients. Another vertical cited by TKH is marine vessels. “Marine vessels are usually gigantic and complex ships consisting of many different compartments and various areas, and fisheye cameras can come in handy,” the company said. “A wide-angle fisheye camera ensures full coverage of the area, using up less of the valuable space at the same time. The on board operations manager can cover a much larger amount of areas with half or even one third of the amount of cameras normally used.”

According to Mesnik, fisheye cameras are all very similar. “It’s important to note that it’s not the cameras that are significant for a vertical, but rather the dealer/ installer’s experience. Most dealers select cameras based on the relationship they have with the manufacturer, the reliability of the cameras, the support and return policies of the manufacturer (or distributor),” Mesnik said. “The cameras they choose are also affected by the video management software that works with the camera, the pricing they can get, their installation experience and the range of models available from the manufacturer.”

A Note About De-warping
Panoramic views captured by fisheye cameras, while useful to monitor all corners of a given area, are often distorted and can seem unnatural to the human eye. This is where mapping or de-warping comes in, a technology that corrects this distorted view. De-warping is done by software that creates a corrected version of the 360-degree video stream transmitted by the fisheye camera. The type of fisheye lens plays a key role in this process. “The lens can provide stereo- graphic, equidistant, equidistant angle or orthographic images. The software mapping will be different depending on the lens,” Mesnik said. The de-warping process can be done in the camera firmware or in the supporting video management software. “Some camera manufacturers provide a software plug-in that does the mapping in the VMS. For example, Hikvison has provided software for Milestone,” Mesnik said. “A software- and-lens combination is available from Immervision. This company provides both a lens and algorithms that run in the camera. The company provides special Panamorph lenses and software that improves the quality of the video.”

Yet the user should know about some of the issues with de-warping. “Some fisheye camera manufacturers only have in-camera de-warping with no client-side de-warping ‘plug-in’ to a VMS, while others have in-camera de-warping but the de-warping algorithm is not sophisticated and the images look warped,” Carnevale said. “In addition, the video management software community is fragmented at best as it relates to true client-side de-warping of fisheye cameras. Some VMS’s have their own de-warping algorithms and others are brand- or model number-specific with an SDK integration. Still some integrations are just very generic between camera brands and video management software companies, leaving the user with heavy processing power issues with live de-warped displayed images.”

Selection and Installation Tips
The specification sheet of a fisheye camera may include a lot of information. According to Carnevale, users should look at the optics first. “Fisheye lenses are in much lower production than traditional board or P-Iris or varifocal lenses. Because of that, the quality gap is wide. This traditionally affects the image quality on the outer perimeter of the fisheye causing artifacts and uneven focus. More resolution is not always better when selecting fisheye cameras for this reason,” he said. “A close second place is low light. Evenly illuminating fisheye cameras is not an easy task. I’ve seen several models that only illuminate the image ‘straight-down’ so outside a five-feet radius the image is completely dark. Also because there are several IR illuminators focused this can cause over exposure.”

According to Mesnik, choosing the right products really depends on the customers’ own needs and requirements. “We ask questions such as what detail do you need to see? How far away do you want to be able to see a target? What are the lighting conditions? Is the camera facing a bright window that requires wide dynamic range? Do they want to view an area that is very dark?” he said. “Selecting the right fisheye camera starts with the customer’s objectives.”

Fisheye cameras are typically mounted on the ceiling to get the maximal result.

The following are some of the installation tips, according to Reolink in a blogpost:
– Avoid placing a 360 fisheye camera in or near a corner, as the walls will hinder its panoramic view.
– If the user plans to install a panoramic fisheye IP camera to the ceiling, make sure the camera is located in the center of the monitoring zone; otherwise the images will be reshaped.
– Keep the camera away from air conditioner vents and electric entrance doors.
– Make sure the fisheye camera is not near ceiling lamps or indicator light, which will interfere with the image signal and affect the camera’s image quality.
– Stabilize the 360-degree fisheye security camera with expansion screws to prevent it from falling down over a long period of time

Mission possible: Safeguarding Moscow’s extensive VTB Arena Park

Centralized video security and access control solution for new sports and events park, a 300,000 square-meter urban space
As Moscow’s latest events destination, VTB Arena Park attracts tens of thousands of spectators during concerts and sports matches. The US$ 1.5 billion project is also a city in its own right, featuring parks, shops, living spaces and a five-star hotel. Providing video security and access control on this massive scale proved a challenge, but not a ‘mission impossible’ for Bosch.

Securing a 300,000 square-meter urban space
The modern VTB Arena Park is a mixed-use development on a 300,000 square-meter area in the heart of Moscow. It’s a showcase for dynamic urban spaces, but also a challenge from a security manager’s perspective because of its size: The Dynamo Central Stadium in the middle of VTB Arena Park is home to the FC Dynamo Moscow football club and holds up to 26,000 spectators during league matches. The indoor arena entertains more than 12,000 guests during ice hockey matches, basketball games and rock concerts. These guests leave once the action is over, but the park also offers permanent retail facilities, residential spaces, and a five-star hotel.
As a result of the mixed uses of its spaces, VTB Arena Park presents a variety of specific security needs. For instance, the on-site security technology needs to provide seamless access to ticket holders during matches and concerts, but it also had to ensure the day-to-day safety of residents who live at VTB Arena Park.

“ We were fully aware that the multifunctional character of the VTB Arena Park would lead to complexity that could hardly be topped. We needed integration power, a partner who knew how to bind all loose ends into one solution that had never existed before.”
Alexander Kravchenkov, Deputy Head of Security Systems Maintenance Group IT Department at VTB Arena

Supporting security personnel with video analytics
The video security needs of the sprawling premises are diverse, especially during big concerts and sports events. The team required the ability to identify certain individuals – for instance a person in a red jacket – among feeds from several thousand cameras. It was also important to limit access to cameras in certain areas to specific personnel with the appropriate access rights and apply specific settings to single cameras.
Catering to these video security needs, Bosch installed more than 2,000 fixed and moving video cameras – both indoors and outdoors – to safeguard all facilities and the entire perimeter of the Arena Park. The team also secured the stadium, homes and offices with high-definition cameras especially suited for providing 24-hour security in outdoor spaces thanks to excellent low-light performance.

The cameras at VTB Arena Park also feature built-in Intelligent Video Analytics to support security staff in the control room with automated alerts. This video analysis automatically detects deviations from standard moving patterns, like a person entering restricted areas, and security staff can then zoom into a scene for closer investigation. The forensic search function also supports identifying and locating specific individuals, like the aforementioned person with a red jacket. For centralized control, security operators can manage all 2,000 cameras and connected video storage on Bosch recording units via the Bosch Video Management System (BVMS). The system provides the team with a single platform that also supports specific user access rights and settings for individual cameras or groups of cameras.

Integrating three access control systems on one platform
To achieve the same degree of integration in the access control system for Dynamo Central Stadium, the Bosch team needed to innovate: The stadium operates three different access control platforms at the same time: a paper ticket system that opens turnstiles for visitors during events on the SkiData system, proximity cards that unlock doors for employees via the Access Engine of the Building Integration System (BIS) provided by Bosch and a third, offline system by Simons Voss that permits entry at specific stadium facilities.
In order to create a single point of control for these three systems, the team devised a highly customized set-up on the Building Integration System (BIS) by Bosch. The customized system provides the security team with a central point of access and comprehensive overview of the entire park during large-scale events. It features custom interfaces with third-party software and hardware, as well as specific scripts to transfer relevant access data into the BIS event log. As a result, VTB Arena Park now commands a single platform to control all of the stadium’s access points, integrated with the video solution and intrusion alarm for end-to-end security at Moscow’s latest attraction.
„The capacity of Bosch to provide both video security and access control and at the same time being able to integrate its own solutions with third-party systems on a single platform, creating one integrated security systerm catering to all the various purposes, has made Bosch our main security partner.“ Alexander Kravchenkov

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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.