100 Years of High Quality and Trust
a&s Adria: Dear Mr. Dobnikar, you have been present on the regional security scene for many years, knowing you as a representative of Sony. What is your role at Bosch now, how did you make transition to a German company, for which markets are you now in charge now?
Dobnikar: In my former role as dedicated representative for the Sony video security products, I have already been a part of the global organization of Bosch Building Technologies for a while. I am happy to continue my professional career now within this premium brand as a sales distribution manager for the Southeast Europe and Adriatic region. Despite to my long experience, working for a German company is a new challenge for me. Workstyle is different, I am a member of much larger team and product portfolio is much wider.
a&s Adria: Bosch has managed to maintain its position in the top five company, globally. What are the values that make Bosch rank high, and keeps customers coming back to you?
Dobnikar: This year, Bosch celebrates 100 years of being present in safety and security industry. I would start my reply with unbeatable experience! New IoT based ecosystem called SAST, new collaboration initiative called OSSA, new product line up called INTEOX, are synonyms in the security industry recently developed by Bosch. Like with ONVIF, we are in the position to put and implement new standards in the security market. Bosch offers a really comprehensive product portfolio covers Security, Safety, Management and Communication Systems. This includes video security, intrusion and access control, fire detection and voice evacuation systems, commercial public address and conferencing systems, from small to big applications in all verticals. Energy services and Building automation are all parts of Bosch Building Technologies. Bosch is a well known brand, future proof investment, still synonym for high quality and reliability, providing peace of mind and trust to all our customers.
a&s Adria: Bosch is the strongest in large projects, which require high quality products and solutions. Would you agree with that statement and why? What big projects have you been working on since our last interview four years ago?
Dobnikar: It is not only about the high quality products and solutions. We also have the best and strongest partner network in all countries. All our system Integrators are trained and certified to meet challenging demands even on large complex projects. Total cost of ownership is very important factor for our customers, and Bosch products meet highest standards in that sense. We are locally presented in almost all countries, we speak all languages in our region and we can provide quick pre sales, and after sales support. Bosch can offer turnkey solution for most of security & safety projects which reduce the time for designers and provide efficiency and reliability for end users. Until the beginning of this year, I was engaged with the Sony product portfolio. Majority of my projects were in public/governmental sector, in transportation, critical infrastructure, city surveillance and education vertical market segments. From the January 1st 2020, I am supporting Bosch team, in developing distribution business in SEA region.
a&s Adria: This year has been really turbulent for the whole world, even for the security industry. Bosch actively entered the fight against the new coronavirus and quickly offered solutions in the fight against the pandemic.
Dobnikar: New Bosch product, that can help to prevent the spread of the virus, called Human Skin Temperature Detection solution. System includes Dinion thermal camera, a temperature reference device (blackbody), Videojet decoder with embedded thermal analytics and a keyboard for configuration and operation. Key system specifications are tested by a 3rd party lab to ensure compliance to FDA/EUA guidelines and applied test methods are followed as per the IEC 80601-2-59: 2017 standard. The solution offers tools to ensure that customer can maintain the privacy of people being scanned by cameras, following GDPR regulations. Face of the person is masked, color scheme does not allow to derive absolute temperatures visually, absolute temperature measurement can be hidden from the screen, and historical data will be erased 4 hours later.
a&s Adria: Your new solution is for people counting, created in collaboration with Philips. For what purposes can it be used for smaller or larger areas? Is there a limitation to the number of devices?
Dobnikar: It is a stand alone people counting solution, a joint work of Bosch Security and Safety Systems and Philips Professional Display. No additional PC is needed, no remote software, no VMS platform no Internet connectivity. All what is required is a Bosch camera with built in analytics, Philips Android based professional display, router with PoE, USB dongle with foc application and some cabling. It is social distancing solutions, designed to equip our customers with the information they need to manage their places of work effectively and efficiently. Information on the display contains the total number of customers inside store. Display can be split on two parts. One is providing notification content that can be a simple number or colored massage. Second part is dedicated to the customer content with advertising or informative messages (digital signage). Currently, the maximum number of devices in a single set up is 80 cameras and 20 displays.
a&s Adria: Bosch is well known for its big line up and integrated solution. You recently introduced Bosch Video Management Systems 10.1 and Bosch Building Integration System v. 4.7? What are the new functionalities and what is the biggest benefit of comprehensive integration into one platform?
Dobnikar: Bosch Video Management System, BVMS, helps our customer to detect and solve incidents faster. By using a unique, built-in, resilience concept, BVMS will always offer the required functionality to the operator, out of the box. It provides continuous live and playback operation, no matter what type of interruption or failure occurs. The system is able to scale up to 200.000 cameras spread over multiple sub-systems. Each Bosch camera is equipped with an onboard NVR, and is able to write the video footage directly to the storage device. BVMS is ONVIF profile S compatible platform. Besides integration with new access control and intrusion products, new version enables data consolidation by using “Intelligent Insight” software. Thanks to 3rd party integration you can expand BVMS system with LPR option and face identification features. BVMS is scalable solution that grows with security requirements. Start with Viewer, Lite, Plus, Professional and Enterprise editions.
Building Integration System, BIS, is a highly customizable software which suites for security and safety integration. It is designed for the typical project business to meet individual customer requirements from small or midsize to very large projects. It is a complex platform allows you to integrate complete portfolio of Bosch Safety & Security products. It allows you to get automated and verified response in any situation assuring best reaction with lowest response time. Supporting business continuity and disaster recovery. BIS is also a cost effective solution because it reduces training costs and staff costs by having only one team for security and fire monitoring. It also decreases IT cost by maintaining only one PC based system running on standard IT environment. It is a turnkey solution from Bosch, that protect your assets today and rely on Bosch`s innovative solutions tomorrow.
a&s Adria: New software, “Intelligent Insights”, allows users to collect and use data in different ways. How does Intelligent Insights evaluate the entire scene using data from multiple cameras?
Dobnikar: Intelligent Insights is new standalone software that enables our customers to collect and aggregate meta data from the camera and display it by using predefined widgets. Situations involving data of moving objects, like vehicles, people, or customer-defined objects, counting data and crowds captured by multiple cameras can be visualized in real-time. This allows users to quickly see the number of counted objects within a time period, the movement of objects, formation of a crowd or the fill-level of an area. It facilitates the fast evaluation of data generated by multiple cameras, providing a complete understanding of the situation. It can be integrated with BVMS, and it can work with advanced machine learning software – “Camera Trainer”.
a&s Adria: Bosch introduced new fire detection system – AVENAR. In addition to new fire panel Bosch is offering video based fire detection system-AVIOTEC. Latest version went one step further – towards low-light areas. AVIOTEC IP starlight 8000 can now be used in tunnels as well?
Dobnikar: Bosch created first electrical fire panel back in 1920. 100 years later, Bosch launched, the new, extremely reliable, easy to use, completely modular, IoT ready, fully controllable voice alarm, remotely serviceable, future proof fire alarm system, called AVENAR. Suitable for all project size, with integrated IP technology, with embedded Smart and Safety Link for connection with Bosch Voice Alarm /Evacuation systems. Protecting lives, buildings and assets is the major aim and our approach is based on 3 objectives: most reliable fire sensors, high value usable solutions and best in class service. Thanks to “Dual-Ray technology”, “Intelligent Signaling processor” and “e-Smog sensing”, Bosch detectors are quick and most reliable fire sensors. We are providing best in class service thanks to dedicated planning software, remote service and local pre sales and after sales support.
AVIOTEC is a unique, video based, fire detection system. Building upon proven Bosch camera technology and Bosch’s Intelligent Video Analysis. It can supplement state-of-the-art fire detection technologies and enables early detection of smoke and flames in environments where these cannot offer satisfactory reaction times such as buildings with high ceilings or dusty and humid areas. AVIOTEC can also secure environments where no other solutions exist, like saw mills or paper factories, hangars or extremely large monitoring areas. Using intelligent algorithms in surveillance cameras, AVIOTEC can identify smoke and flames as soon as they come into the range of the camera instead of having to wait for smoke to be detected by smoke detectors. It is first and only VdS certified video detection system in the world. Latest model AVIOTEC IP starlight 8000 embedded with new firmware release 7.70, is specially developed for use in tunnels. The cameras requires only 2 lux visible, ambient light, or 0 lux with additional IR illumination, to reliably detect smoke and flames. For use in tunnels, Bosch doubled the detection range from 50 to over 100 meters by using new lenses.
a&s Adria: You used video analytics to optimize the airports parking lots. Some airports are losing up to 40 percent of revenue from inefficient parking use. This can be a reason for potential buyers to consider installing your solution.
Dobnikar: Bosch has over 300 airports in its project portfolio. Based on huge experience it is estimated that 40% of potential parking revenue is lost through inefficiencies between security requirements, internal operations, and the customer experience. Parking sensors or parking cameras, both provides a solid database for making decisions and managing parking spaces efficiently. Parking Lot Sensor (PLS) detects and reports parking space occupancy, only. Intelligent cameras improve operations and increase security by detecting breaches, loiterers, and perimeter incidents and collect data of these incidents. Cameras detect congestion, occupancy rates, and processing times and provides perfect foundation for optimizing the business side of parking. With smart cameras we have the combination of business process optimization and security of the area, in the same time. To simplify payment for parking, cameras can recognize license plates and automate billing, so there is no more need to stop at the barrier for a ticket. In the drop-off and pickup area, machine learning algorithms can detect and alert law enforcement when vehicles remain parked beyond the maximum time limit or if emergency exit is blocked. Operators can receive automatic notifications to check the situation on the ground. The heart of this system is called “Camera Trainer”, a machine learning software embedded in Bosch IP cameras. It teaches the camera to detect objects and states. If camera recognizes a predefined scenario, it executes a predefined action, such as counting or triggering an alert in real time. Camera learns, what a car looks like and what an empty parking space looks like, and can subsequently distinguish between the two. It can automatically determine how many vacant parking spaces are available in a given area.
a&s Adria: Last year, Bosch launched PRAESENSA, a PA & voice evacuation system. “Unparalleled quality, durability, safety and reliability”. What are the biggest advantages of this solution?
Dobnikar: With more than 90 years of experience and more than 1 Million loudspeakers in EMEA region, installed every year, Bosch established strong leadership in our region. All our EVAC products are made with highest standards (EN54-16) based on optimized user experience. For small sites we have PLENA system, for medium sites we have PAVIRO and, for high end, large and complex sites we have PRAESENSA system. PRAESENSA is the first, fully IP based, public address and voice evacuation system. It enables new levels of adaptability and scalability, combined with local backup power facilities equally suited to both centralized and decentralized topologies. Innovative amplifier architecture allocates power intelligently, for lower cost of ownership. PRAESENSA has no single point of failure with built in redundancy. All PRAESENSA system devices use dual Ethernet ports, for automatic recovery from a broken network link. To summarize, PRAESENSA is most advanced, flexible, scalable, cost-effective, reliable, user friendly, future rich and future ready PA system from Bosch.
a&s Adria: Bosch is one of the founder of OSSA (Open Security and Safety Alliance). What is the main goal of that organization and does it already affect the security industry ? You said that new INTEOX open video surveillance platform will “revolutionize the security industry.” What innovations and functionalities are behind these words? What exactly is INTEOX? And do you plan to add INTEOX cameras to your portfolio soon?
Dobnikar: OSSA is a collaboration initiative that brings together like-minded organizations in order to create a framework providing standards and specifications for common components including an operating system, IoT infrastructure, collective approach for data security and privacy, and a drive for improved levels of performance for security and safety solutions. Our new open camera platform combines built-in intelligent video analytics with superb performance and the ability to freely add software apps. And, as it runs on a commonly used operating system based on Android Open Source Project, it is accessible to anyone who wants to create and deploy customer-specific apps and services.
INTEOX is a new camera platform designed to modernize the security industry. It is first, fully open, platform gives users, system integrators and application developers, unlimited freedom for innovation and customization. The new platform supports the latest technologies, such as neural network-based analytics, the next step in machine learning and artificial intelligence. With INTEOX we will be able to collect more data points and information tailored to our needs, and use them in dedicated applications. System integrators are free to add apps available in the application store, making it quick and simple to customize security solutions. This makes INTEOX the only platform that is accessible to anyone who wants to imagine, create and deploy customer-specific solutions. The INTEOX camera platform will power an entirely new line of MIC, AUTODOME, FLEXIDOME, and DINION, fixed and moving cameras supported by an open IoT infrastructure. PTZ cameras are already available for ordering.
OSSA has set the hardware specifications and INTEOX cameras are built by Bosch, following OSSA specifications.
Security & Safety Things (SAST) developed the open operating system that runs in INTEOX platforms. It provides the entire IoT infrastructure consisting of an application store, web portal for app developers and device management portal focused on online app management across camera vendors.
a&s Adria: One of the biggest concerns in security industry is cyber security. How do you protect your devices? Do you use the TLS 1.3 cryptographic protocol to protect the communication between your cameras and software ?
Dobnikar: Video security is not an isolated system anymore, it has become a part of IoT. The camera role changed from capturing images to smart sensors. By protecting security and privacy data we need to consider entire infrastructure, minimize risk of hacking and protect privacy by meeting international laws and regulations. Storage rooms and monitoring centers are highly secured areas, but, most exposed and vulnerable parts of security systems are external communication lines and cameras. New security standards assumed TLS 1.3 and AES-256 encryption, but highest level of protection achieved by using TPM (Thrusted Platform Module). TPM is self contained system acts like a co-processor to the camera, providing secure generation of cryptographic keys for authentication and encryption. TPM firmware is loaded in secure, production environment, and new version can be deployed with new product only. Runs its own firmware, there is no firmware or operation system that can modify anything inside TPM. Communication between the camera firmware and the TPM chip happens via ‘Secure Apps’ inside TPM. Private keys, if loaded with a certificate, are stored inside the TPM and they are no longer retrievable. Private keys are not stored in camera file system. Not possible to interrupt data bus while triggering authentication process. As soon as somebody tries to log to the camera, communication goes through TPS. TPS is checking the correspondent, looking for the manufacturer certification. If no signature found, TPS is cutting the communication.
a&s Adria: What can we expect from Bosch in the near future? In which direction will your product portfolio develop, the development of new technologies, business strategies, with a closer look on our regional market?
Dobnikar: With our combination of customized system solutions, services and modern technology, we provide a comprehensive portfolio that helps you increase your buildings long-term energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprints. All measures are always perfectly matched in order to save energy and operating costs.
I believe that old fashioned NVR will disappear from the market, and complete communication will goes through cloud based environment. NVRs and VMSes will transfer into VSaaS. Cameras will not be just a source of video stream but it will become an IoT sensor with multiple functions. I am expecting quick and exponential growth of artificial intelligence. We already have video based fire detection system and I believe intrusion protection will go in the similar way. Public address systems are already IP based. All systems will require better and safer connectivity, and 5G network is coming. We can expect new video codecs, very soon.
As one of the founders of OSSA, Bosch is putting lot of efforts to drive security and safety market. INTEOX line up is just a beginning and we can expect more IoT based products in the near future. Not just in our market segment, but also in automotive, home appliance products, power tools, etc. Unfortunately, our region is still not technology driven but price driven market and all those new technologies will come with some delay. I believe end users in our region, still don’t understand the meaning of secure environment to their daily business. That is why it is important to increase awareness and constantly educate the market on all levels. It is just up to us how quickly we will be able to adopt to the new challenges of the modern world.
At the end, I would like to quote one of my colleagues from Bosch: “We are the first choice for technologies and services that make buildings safer, more comfortable and efficient.”
