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ISE 2017 – All the connections you need

The 2016 edition of the Integrated Systems Europe exhibition placed it at the forefront of the world’s international technology and business to business tradeshows. For the first time in the exhibition’s history, the show ran for four days. It drew in a record number of registered attendees (over 65,000) who flocked to see the products, services and solutions being presented by over 1,100 of the world’s leading AV equipment manufacturers and service companies.

At the end of the show ISE was confirmed as the world’s largest AV and systems integration exhibition. With registered attendees coming from over 150 countries worldwide, many from outside Europe, ISE is now recognised as truly international in the role it plays in bringing together the world’s leading AV technology developers, suppliers and end users.

 

Technology areas

For the 2017 edition of the show, taking place on 7-10 February at the award winning Amsterdam RAI conference and exhibition centre, enhancements are already being put in place to ensure that the next event is the biggest and best so far. The most obvious evidence of this will be the addition of new hall space (Hall 9) and a reorganisation of the show floor layout to make sure that it maximises the attendee experience.

Broadly, the show floor of ISE is divided up into a number of distinctive areas of technology. These are Digital Signage and Digital out of Home; Unified Communications; Smart Building; Pro Audio; Residential Solutions; Education Technology and Smart Building. The latter two areas are new for 2017 and reflect a growing focus from exhibitors and in these fast developing sectors.

Looking specifically across the 14 halls being used for ISE, Digital Signage has its own specified area on the show floor, in Hall 8, but there are relevant exhibitors in all 14 halls, making ISE the world’s largest gathering of Digital Signage manufacturers and service suppliers.

ISE has become one of the key destinations in Europe for discovering the latest UC technologies and solutions. The show covers a range of UC technologies, including: integrated videoconferencing and telepresence systems, remote worker and teleworker technologies, cloud services, networked interactive whiteboards, managed service providers, and collaboration system integrators ICT service providers.

Attendees will also find a huge number of manufacturers, suppliers and integrators that are concerned with Smart Building technologies. The areas of Smart Building covered includes: air conditioning, lighting and shutter control, security systems, heating, ventilation, monitoring, alarming, water control, energy management, metering, audio and household appliances.

ISE is a must-exhibit platform for companies concerned with the manufacture, distribution and integration of audio equipment. Visitors attend the show to stay at the cutting edge of professional audio and to experience how it’s being integrated into a wide range of diverse applications from those used in live entertainment events to voice evacuation and security. The ISE show floor is home to more than 250 audio exhibitors.

Residential Solutions has a designated area on the ISE show floor, in Halls 1 and 5. This area is also home to the ISE Residential Solutions Show Floor Theatre, which is another source of key industry insight and expertise. With over 200 relevant exhibitors focussing on Residential Solutions the case for attending ISE grows stronger every year.

In recent years, we’ve seen the rise of educational learning techniques like flipped learning, peer-to-peer, collaborative, blended learning and lecture capture. Technology designers and providers have recognised the rising importance that technology has in education and are reacting with products and solutions. This adds up to a general trend that education-technology’s prominence at ISE is growing, which is why there will be a dedicated education hall in 2017.

 

Educational programs

ISE has always had solutions and products for education, with educational buying groups attending the show. The new hall – Hall 13 – will consolidate these things and help them to grow further, while simultaneously helping attendees who are focused on this sector to embark on a more coherent ISE journey.

In addition to a packed show floor attendees at ISE 2017 will be able to experience a full range of bespoke events and dedicated personal development learning programmes.  Typically, CEDIA and InfoComm International will provide dedicated training opportunities throughout the show, combining a mix of conferences, workshops and specialist training sessions. The duration of these events can range from a short 30-minute InfoComm Flashtrack session to a full day’s conference programme or workshop, ensuring that all attendee needs can be met.

The ISE Show Floor Theatres are based within the halls and offer free-to-attend presentations made by exhibitors and their customers. The Show Floor Theatres at ISE provide a unique opportunity for attendees to hear industry experts, consultants and manufacturers present the latest in project-based case studies, workflow solutions, technological innovations and business analysis in an intimate and innovative setting on the exhibition floor. Each presentation is 20 minutes long with a 10-minute Q&A. No pre booking is necessary.

For 2017 the five ISE Show Floor Theatres are: –  the InfoComm International Commercial Solutions Theatre sponsored by Crestron; the CEDIA Residential Solutions Theatre; The ISE Audio Solutions Theatre; The InfoComm International Unified Communications Solutions Theatre sponsored by Crestron and the CEDIA Smart Building Solutions Theatre sponsored by KNX.

Show highligh

An undoubted highlight of the show will be the Friday Closing Keynote speech. The ISE organisers has confirmed that Daniel Lamarre, the President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil, will present the show’s Closing Keynote speech on Friday 10 February 2017.

For over 30 years, Cirque du Soleil has been at the cutting edge of live entertainment creation and production with shows such as Varekai, Amaluna, TORUK – The First Flight, inspired by James Cameron’s Avatar, The Beatles LOVE and Michael Jackson ONE combining stunning acrobatics, theatrics, visuals and music. Cirque du Soleil has consistently shown how creative expression can benefit from the adoption of the latest audio-visual technologies when used to enhance and compliment a show’s key storylines. Today, the company operates across five continents and is the world’s largest theatrical production company.

We visited Hikvision HQ

With 2.78 billion USD in revenues in 2014 and an annual growth rate of more than 60%, Hikvision aspires to become the first-ranked manufacturer of security systems in the world. The company was founded in 2001 and today it has 14,500 employees (5,400 engineers), more than 200 technology partners, 600 patents and 53 offices in China and the world. Thus, Hikvision made sure to be in position to offer to the market its complete, end-to-end security solutions aimed at individual vertical markets

By: Mahir Hodžić

 

After lengthy flights from all parts of the world, twenty-five nine editorial staff representatives from the security industry of the United States, Russia, China, Germany, France, Turkey, Poland, FinlandSweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries, gathered together at the invitation of globally renowned company Hikvision. A team representing our magazine found its place among them, which was a great honor for us. The gathering was organized in Shanghai and, on the following day, from there we set out on the trip to the company’s HQ in Hangzhou which is two and half hours away from Shanghai and it served as our place of residence in the next three days. It is interesting to note that these two cities themselves are home to more than 40 million people and that the industrial potential of the region is huge, so it is not surprising that the headquarters of the largest manufacturer of video surveillance systems in the world is located in this region of a large country such as China. The host, particularly its international marketing department team headed by Finn Wu and Ada Han, made great effort to welcome us at the highest level and make it possible for us to use our four-day visit to tour the factory, test laboratories, showroom, head office and booth at the China Public Security Expo (CPSE) trade show in Shenzhen which is dedicated to the security technology.

Current company HQ occupies 68,000 m² and it consists of two towers with 22 floors. However, a new 250,000 m² facility is being built and it will accommodate 11,000 new employees.

Complete solutions

The first day of our visit to the Hikvision HQ was marked by a press conference and a lecture during which we were informed about the company’s success and its further steps. It was emphasized that each market is interesting for them and that their presence is adapted to the needs and requirements of individual countries, so that that they do not offer the same treatment to the regions that require either IP or analog technology. The signal of the local market represents the basis of strategic and marketing decisions of the company. Hikvision is a manufacturer that provides complete security solutions with an average annual growth rate of 53% between 2009 and 2014, and with the export business revenues accounting for 26.5% of total turnover, while the share of sales of HD products in these revenues amounted to 75%.

The experience that the company acquired by working on large and demanding projects in the domestic market has become its main export product after their successful implementation. Hikvision established strategic collaboration with leading global companies in specialized sectors for the purpose of joint research and development projects, and these include Intel, Sony, Seagate, WD, Huawei and Apple, and it also established strong partnerships with distributors, system integrators and installers, as well as technology partners such as Milestone, Genetec and other software providers. The popularization of mobile technology and WiFi connection, as well as the ubiquity of intelligent terminals has laid the foundation for the Increasing demand for smart homes affected the increased demand for intelligent terminals, mobile technology and 4G/3G signal transmission. In this respect, this was followed by the development of solutions which would improve the quality of sensors, chipsets, lenses, monitors and signal transmission. Convergence of signals including audio, alarm, video, data, temperature and humidity was achieved by using intelligent technology and, in the future, it will become part of the video surveillance system offer. As it was emphasized, smart applications for buildings, logistics, cities, transportation and housing, along with the processing of large amounts of data through cloud technology, will offer a completely new approach to modern and programmed security systems.

In a specific way, smart city projects accelerate the development of management and control in the field of technology, applications and offered commercial models, and this will facilitate the civil services, city and travel management, and, ultimately, increase public safety.

Industry trends and the company’s response

For the second day, the hosts prepared a tour of the showroom, laboratory and company headquarters, and we also visited the factory plant in the afternoon. Company’s showroom features departments in which equipment and systems are presented, so we had an opportunity to get insight into a surveillance center, line of analog products, mobile video surveillance systems for security personnel, smart detection applications, face recognition, motion detection and movement detection, license plate recognition etc. Exhibition area includes overview of smart city solutions, VTM detection of objects and suspicious movements and activities, solutions intended for government agencies and organizations, smart building management, solutions for houses and apartments, cameras for sports, solutions for banks and other vertical markets.

In order to achieve the status of the leading security company in the world, Hikvision Research Institute was founded in 2014 in order to support innovative research and development of new products while taking into account market needs and innovative technology

More than 8% of annual revenues is invested in research and development. The research in this sector focuses on perceptive technology, intelligent technology analysis, data storage, cloud services and multimedia technology.

Continuous innovations led to the release of products such as 4K network cameras (8 MP/12 MP), H.265 cameras and NVRs, Smart 2.0 product line, coding technologies such as H.265+ and H.264 + for better efficiency and usage of bandwidth. With the introduction of CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) model, they sought to improve the management of research and development.

At Hikvision, quality control is a comprehensive process which, apart from design and quality assurance (DQA) which involves more than 500 product testing engineers, also includes the material quality control, monitoring of the production processes and testing and quality checks before market placement.

Laboratory and test centers account for a significant share of the company’s success, so we had the opportunity to visit a laboratory for testing of equipment and departments for testing of sound, human voice and the influence of temperature, audio-video testing laboratory, departments for testing of wireless communication and radio frequency signals. All of these technologies undergo several months of testing after production and before market placement. Equipment and devices undergo tests involving pressure and movement in real-life conditions, so all data collected during tests are exchanged online via software, and the development department gives its final opinion before market distribution.

Growth and only growth…

Entire production output of the companies comes from two production facilities in Hangzhou in the area covering 100,000 m², and from a new 320,000 m² facility in Tonglu. Entire production output is automated by means of SMT (pick-and-place machines) robotic equipment and technology. The company’s manufactures more than 90,000 network cameras, 65,000 analog cameras and 5,000 PTZ dome cameras and 28,000 back-end products on daily basis. We had the opportunity to visit two floors at the factory that produces 19 different components. Behavior of employees who usually work with the German-made Siemens machines is regulated according to the 6S (sort, stabilize, cleanliness, comfort, standardization, safety) regulations used by Japanese companies.

Globalization

Globalization and localization represent the path that the company will take in the future by means of interaction and integration of that which is global and local with unique solutions. The focus of Hikvision’s business will also be its media partners, as the company, in an effort to make society more secure and achieve more success, is aware that in the framework of the development strategy and being on the “front line” of sales and the market, the media can play a major role. By establishment of new branches, increased manufacturing capacity and completed product lines and services, the company will continue to be strongly committed to its core mission – meeting the needs of its partners.

SICUREZZA 2015: TECHNOLOGY TO PROTECT US

New market areas, products and services from top industry players with tailor-made integrated solutions. More and more on offer, and double-digit (27%) growth in foreign exhibitors
Milan, 29 September 2015 – SICUREZZA 2015, the international biennial security and fire prevention fire, will run in Italy, at Fiera Milano (Rho), from 3 to 5 November.
In the run-up to the first time the fair is being held during an odd-numbered year, SICUREZZA remains a key appointment for security and fire prevention professionals. This time it is bigger and better, with 10% more exhibition space and, most notably, a 27% rise in attendance by international exhibitors.
SICUREZZA 2015 is the first step along a path that will continue in the next editions, in 2017 and 2019, with a greater number of market areas represented to reflect an increasingly evolved and integrated market with increasing international reach.
The presence of major market leaders at this edition confirms SICUREZZA as the leading Italian event. The goal now is to become the go-to event for the entire Mediterranean Basin and southern Europe. A boost in investments outside Italy, partnerships with Europe’s main media and above all increased incoming buyer planning are all underway.
A hundred and fifty top hosted buyers (40% more than last time) are coming to this year’s show. They’ll arrive with high budgets and executive decision-making powers. Through EMP – Fiera Milano’s proprietary business matching software – they are put directly in contact with exhibitors before the exhibition starts so they can set appointments and then take meetings at the stand. This creates tangible opportunities for all enterprises attending the show to expand their business and meet the world right here in Milan.
On the supply side, all sectors of the market have upped the ante. Video surveillance continues to go from strength to strength: most of the top Italian and multinational names are all here. A wider selection of products for passive security is also on show, in particular locksmiths, who this year are out in force with brands and offers of great interest such as the latest-generation, electronic locks.
Advanced products will be on show for access control; in burglary prevention there are bespoke solutions for every situation, from the home to the office right through to sensitive environments; fire prevention and surveillance have attracted a number of top players in Italy.
IT-based solutions continue to grow in importance, paving the way for a future of potential opportunities with integration into other sectors and an embrace of IoT, the Internet of Things. Massive opportunities lie in managing and monitoring technology online, and a number of interesting state-of-the-art solutions are on show.
SICUREZZA Drone Expo is a brand-new addition this year, dedicated to the use of drones for security/safety-related purposes. Many of the most interesting and beneficial uses of this agile and versatile technology are in private and public security.
Security managers, designers, installers, public officials and law and order professionals will all find tailor-made solutions for every sphere of application: banks, offices, transport, local stores, mass retail outlets, residential, critical infrastructure and smart cities.
In addition, adding more value to security where it is most needed, SICUREZZA 2015 plays host to many different vertical initiatives dedicated to a burgeoning world of applications that help industry professionals make the best choice for their needs and understand the potential of the emerging technologies on show.
EXHIBITION INITIATIVES
THE EVOLUTION OF SOLUTIONS FOR THE RETAIL TRADE
Focused specifically on security solutions for the retail trade and large-scale distribution, the Security for Retail Show (Hall 22) is being staged for the first time at SICUREZZA jointly with the Italian magazine essecome/securindex.com.
Aimed at trade professionals in the retail sector who are hunting for tools to protect their business, the area will encourage dialogue on these problems and propose customized solutions for every type of point of sale, presenting technologies and vertical solutions in a single context.
As well as showing integrated customized proposals and new ideas for linking security to the way customers are welcomed in points of sale, this area – thanks to a rich program of talk-shows, seminars and workshops organized by essecome/securindex.com – will provide an interesting chance to inform and train retailers, putting them in contact with the people who manufacture security systems and services.
INCREASING INTEGRATION BETWEEN ICT AND SECURITY
Offering a privileged overview of the increasingly digital nature of the sector, SICUREZZA and the Italian trade magazine Digitalic are once again organizing ICT Security Village (Hall 24). In a world where security tools are invariably digital devices linked to a network, which communicate with a server and a hard disk and are connected to the Internet, new expertise and new solutions are needed to protect surveillance tools and the data they record adequately. Digitalic Village will be offering concrete examples of the increasing level of integration between ICT and security and will be proposing avant-garde solutions in various fields, from recording on hard disks and memories, and protecting secure networks to protection software. From secure cabling to memories that can defend themselves from attempts to steal data, and software and systems to protect corporate assets, many interesting technologies of the latest generation will be presented in this area devoted to digital security.
THE INTELLIGENCE AND THE SECURITY OF THINGS
Another interesting vertical area will be the one focusing on IoT: the intelligence and the security of things (Hall 24): With the advent of the ‘fourth industrial revolution’, things have become smart and can communicate with each other, and everything nowadays –  whether we’re talking about infrastructures, the industrial world or private individuals –  is linked to a digital device and a network. In this context, the theme of security becomes a priority. In fact, not only have physical and logistical security converged, but security in every sphere has become a key factor for ensuring protection and constant monitoring, but also for improving efficiency and performance. With the aim of focusing attention on the future of the market, the IoT area will be bringing together companies which, even today, are taking effective steps to solve the security problems which need to be tackled, in the light of increasingly widespread intelligent devices and products. Enhancing the content further, Digitalic will organize a conference involving top experts on IoT and security, and technical workshops where case histories will be examined and future opportunities will be discussed.
WHEN SECURITY TAKES TO THE SKIES
Appearing for the first time at the show, SICUREZZA Drone Expo (Hall 22) is an initiative entirely devoted to the use of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or drones) for the purposes of security and safety. It has been organized by Mediarkè, an Italian company which, for a couple of years now, has been promoting professional events of this kind in the sector, in cooperation with the trade magazine S News. At this group event, which will take place in the halls of SICUREZZA 2015, leading Italian and foreign companies specialized in the production of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or which offer services employing drones, will be taking part. Finally, a special ‘flight area’ will be set aside for demo flights involving multirotor drones.
An initiative that looks at the future of security, a sphere in which UAVs are finding more and more applications, from the surveillance of flows of migrants in the Mediterranean to controlling critical infrastructures and major events, from protecting major monuments or art heritage to monitoring landslides and forest fires. And, very soon, other applications will be added to the list, such as emergency intervention in places where a natural disaster has struck, controlling critical situations from the air and even transporting drugs to isolated areas.
PROFESSIONALISM IN THE PIAZZA, BUSINESS AND HOSPITALITY
Once again SICUREZZA welcomes the Ecosystem Village (Hall 24), a perfect “piazza” for meeting up and finding out the latest industry developments.
An exhibition space is dedicated to the ecosystem of Milestone Systems’ partners, who will be showcasing the latest technologies and technical training, events and networking opportunities. The central bar is a perfect place to meet, to build and to consolidate business relations by combining hospitality and professionalism at informal or business meetings, and to share products or map out future ventures.
FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION.
THE BEST SOLUTION? LET THE VISITORS DECIDE
Technological innovation and advancement have prompted the industry to realize that it is necessary to go beyond an individual product-based approach: the future lies in integrated solutions, and successful case histories can help us understand how.
This is the idea that spawned the Solutions Gallery, an initiative organized by the Ethos Media Group, publisher of a&s Italy, which is showcasing 360-degree class-leading solutions (fire protection, burglary prevention, access control, building, video surveillance, etc.) in eight different vertical markets: transportation (rail, sea, air and road), retail, banking, urban security, healthcare, building, hospitality (hotel, holiday resorts), plus a miscellaneous category.
Participating companies illustrate their solution starting with how it caters to customer needs, including a case-by-case description of the location, installation type, key aspects of the system, main functions, what brands were used for the various components, and the results and benefits achieved.
Awards will be presented on SICUREZZA’s final day to the three solutions that garner the most votes at the event and online. The initiative is sponsored by sector trade associations.
Visitors to SICUREZZA will find quality and innovation, new solutions, training and increasingly-interactive spaces to discuss and leverage ideas and professionalism.
The show runs from 3 to 5 November 2015 at Fiera Milano.
THE SECURITY TO…
…SAVE TIME AND MONEY
Pre-register at www.sicurezza.it and buy your tickets. All it takes is a few clicks to avoid the queues and save 50% on the cost of entrance.
…ARRIVE SMOOTHLY AND EASILY
SICUREZZA 2015 is at halls 22 and 24, in the fieramilano exhibition centre, Rho.
We advise parking in the P1 and P2 car parks, near the western entrance (Porta Ovest).
A free shuttle bus operates to and from the metro and rail link stations for visitors who travel via public transport. Thanks to an agreement with Trenitalia, some of its high-speed trains from major Italian cities will be stopping at Rho Fiera Milano station. Download the list from www.sicurezza.it
…ALWAYS BE CONNECTED
SICUREZZA is also on twitter and LinkedIn. Follow the new LinkedIn showcase at https://www.linkedin.com/company/sicurezza-milano.
Fiera Milano Press Office
T +39 024997.6214 F +39 024997.7174

What’s Trending in the Fire Alarms and Evacuation Market?

With the rapid rise in popularity of building automation systems, the integration of fire alarms and evacuation systems is seeing a strong rise in demand. Here is a look at the current market trends, challenges and opportunities.
Izvor: a&s International
E-mail: redakcija@asadria.com

With the increasing awareness on the need for safety and prevention, fire alarm and evacuation solutions continue to see higher market demand. According to a report from the research firm Technavio, the global emergency alarm and evacuation market is expected to reach US$5.3 billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR close to 7 percent. Increasing awareness, government regulations and end-user demands are expected to be the major reasons for this growth.

The rising popularity of building automation solutions is also expected to fuel growth in this sector. However, Technavio pointed out that the current uncertainty over ideal wireless solutions and lack of awareness will hamper expansion for two more years. The market could see a rapid pick up after that.

In the fire alarms solutions market alone, the industrial sector is expected to see the most growth because of government regulations becoming stringent in developed and developing economies. Technological advancements such as wireless sensors, advanced detection systems and human machine interface (HMI) solutions are also among the factors encouraging customers to adopt solutions and boost the market.

Mass notification and evacuation systems are widely seen in the commercial sector. They make use of announcement systems, messages, emails and phone calls to provide real-time information in the event of an emergency. Some experts have pointed out that the recent developments in the field of the Internet of Things (IoT) have transformed the market, with the integration of business systems with emergency systems giving greater flexibility in operation. However, a major issue that still hurts the industry is the lack of standards for different structures that could lead to possible failure of control systems during an emergency.

A technology close to this market, and imparting significant influence on its development, is the digital addressable lighting interface (DALI). DALI is a wireless protocol and software integration that makes the lighting systems digital. Its deployment complements fire and evacuation solutions, and has proved to be extremely useful during an emergency situation.

The Current Trends Seen in the Market
Bringing the fire alarm and evacuation systems under one technological roof and integrating them to work together seamlessly is the main trend that is seen in the market. According to Thomas Parrish, VP of Integrated Systems at Telgian, more and more fire systems are being installed with voice systems so that there is no need for two separate setups to be put in place.

“We are seeing a lot of integrations,” Parrish said. “We are also seeing, in certain markets and verticals, the uptake of using the communication systems for other purposes like telephone, paging and background music.”

In fact, the integration of mass notification systems with fire alarms is widely seen as the most significant trend by many in the market. Some suggest that the need for intelligibility and clarity is crucial in this regard to managing audible as well as visual notification systems. The role of mobile technology is also becoming more and more important. Features like Real Time Location Services (RTLS), widely found in smartphones these days, can be integrated with security systems to expand the reach and effectiveness.

Rex Lam, Senior Consultant at Guardian Forest Security, stressed that the change in trends is reliant, to a significant extent, on the regulatory policies of a region. Depending on how proactive a particular government is towards meeting the requirements in the field, the market demands and trends could change. Speaking specifically of major Asian markets like Hong Kong, Singapore and Mainland China, Lam said that he could not see much change over the years.

“The trends have not been changing much because there are fire codes in different jurisdictions, regardless of where you are, may it be Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, etc.,” Lam said. “This is because the fire system needs to be compatible with the local regulations first before other things can come into play. So, the trend has been to first meet the regulations and then try to integrate the solutions with building management systems. Of course, there are different ways to do this, there are several industry-wide protocols out there for you to integrate with other systems, but the key thing is before you apply the technology, you must understand what is the value of an integration. This will help the client understands why they are spending the money.”

Speaking of developments in technology, Lam added that solutions are becoming more and more sophisticated than before in reducing false alarms.

“Traditionally you would detect fire either by temperature or by smoke,” he said. “I have recently seen newer types of sensors that are also using CO as part of their detection technology in an effort to reduce false alarms. In any alarm system, false alarms are something that you are trying to avoid at all costs.”

The importance of local regulations was also stressed by Paul Wijnstra and Mirre Veerman, Fire Safety Consultants at Royal HaskoningDHV, as they spoke about the market conditions in the Netherlands. In most cases in the country, fire alarms and sounders for evacuation are integrated into a single control panel. But the integration of voice alarm systems is not permitted as per Dutch standards and hence has to be maintained on a separate control panel.

The Current Requirements in the Market
Needless to say, more and more verticals are interested in installing mass notification systems integrated with fire alarms. According to Parrish, sectors like healthcare were the early adopter of this but now establishments like schools are making it a requirement. There is also demand from other industries like the retail.

“More demand from what we would consider non-traditional markets,” Parrish said. “[For instance] in large single-story buildings we would use systems that would be useful for both paging as well as for emergency communications.”

According to Lam, the major requirement is to meet the government regulations. In many countries, regulators impose stringent checks on fire safety. Non-compliance with the rules could lead to problems for commercial as well as non-commercial establishments.

Going a bit more in detail on this, Wijnstra and Veerman added that the Dutch standards NEN 2535 and NEN 2575 define the requirements for fire detection and evacuation systems in the Netherlands. “For the fire detection system in the recently published 2017 edition, it is now allowed to have digital mimic panels,” they said. “This is due to the recently proven reliability which the Dutch fire detection standard prescribes to. For evacuation systems, sounders with programmed messages are now available.”

Technological and Market Challenges
As solutions become increasingly sophisticated and their integration requires multifaceted expertise, challenges in their implementation are also prone to rise. According to Wijstra and Veerman, for an evacuation alarm system with sounders to function effectively, the sounders and detectors should be combined in the same loop. Everything depends on programming the correct cause and effect to ensure proper integration.

“Voice alarm systems cannot be integrated into the same control panel,” they added, highlighting the Dutch standards again. “However, they are allowed to be connected into the same network. The challenge is to have both systems talk the same (software) language. Most of the time this is not possible and therefore they are connected with I/O modules.”

Lam noted that ensuring the devices work on a common protocol is a challenge in the field. For instance, there are several popular protocols like Modbus and BACnet. At the design phase itself, the consultants need to clearly specify the required protocols so that the integration can be completed without hassles.

Sometimes, infrastructural limitations too become a challenge in implementation, according to Parrish. Especially when it comes to older buildings or even historic architecture for that matter, installers will have to work around structures that are already in place. They will have very limited scope for making changes to the building. Parrish added that 3D design can be a solution to this to a large extent, as it helps in eliminating conflicts when running conduits, piping, and integrating with other devices. Quite often, there is a small space in the ceiling where you are looking to run all these together. If space is calculated and planned in advance through 3D design, there will be no conflict when it comes to the installation.

Limited Intrusion of Technological Advancements
Recent developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have had an impact on the security surveillance industry. However, the fire industry still largely remains immune to such changes, sticking to traditional systems. A potential space where AI can be useful is in video-based fire detection. The analytic software required to detect smoke and fire from a video can make use of AI to become more efficient.

“Fire tends to be a little bit conservative with newer technologies,” Parrish said. “What we are seeing is systems like alarm verification, multidetector detectors, and so on. I see AI and other emerging technologies mostly in facilities that are getting systems like gunshot detection solutions.”

He added that there are also solutions such as smoke screens that are becoming popular in some areas. But the use of AI is largely limited to other security areas like facial recognition.

Lam agreed to this. However, he added that AI is a loosely defined term. Whenever we talk about AI, there are three factors that come into play. First is processing power, second is the sensor that captures information, and the third is algorithm powered by a software. Since fire solutions may be integrated with systems like access control and surveillance, AI can play a role in the larger purpose of the system – to get people to safety in the event of an emergency.

What the Future Holds
That integration is critical to better fire and emergency management is beyond question. What systems integrators and installers would need to look into, however, is how the integration technology evolves to bring in more devices in the future. As the trend of building automation systems and smart buildings pick up, fire alarm and evacuation systems could increasingly become a crucial part of the bigger picture. Finalizing standards and protocols would remain a hurdle in reaching this stage, but once this is done, market growth in this sector could see a rapid pace.

Tips for Systems Integrators in Fire and Evacuation

As market demand increases, systems integrators (SI) should ideally be able to find more business in this sector. However, we all know how this is easier said than done as factors like competition and market awareness continue to affect the business. So, what can SIs do to move ahead?

Ensuring a strong relationship with designers, developers, and solution providers is one major factor that Thomas Parrish, VP of Integrated Systems at Telgian, pointed out. There are a number of manufacturers out there now offering a variety of options to SIs, but the latter needs to know who has the best support in the region they work in.

Rex Lam, Senior Consultant at Guardian Forest Security, is of the opinion that SIs should begin to think more like consultants. When a client approaches you with a requirement, you should make them understand how the solutions can help reduce costs for them. For instance, what are the costs that the client would incur if a fire breaks out? How can they be mitigated with the right solutions in place? SIs should be able to get this point across to their customers effectively.

However, governmental regulations remain a hurdle for SIs in this field when it comes to innovation. According to Paul Wijnstra and Mirre Veerman, Fire Safety Consultants at Royal HaskoningDHV, as of now it is difficult to move beyond traditional systems in the Netherlands due to the way regulations work. However, moving forward, there are possibilities of technologies like video smoke detection systems getting regulatory approval and this should help SIs widen their offerings.

 

Global ANPR market on target for 800 million USD by 2022

According to the latest research by IHS Markit, the global market revenues from sales of intelligent ANPR devices are forecast to reach $800 million by 2022 and increase at a compound annual growth rate of 16.4 percent.

The types of applications where automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) can be used has increased and so has the range of offered functionalities. Advances in video analytics and processing power used in modern ANPR devices are reshaping the market says the research company.

(R)evolution in the industry

Speed enforcement devices can now offer more functions than ever before, such as seatbelt detection in vehicles and helmet detection for motorcyclists. The more advanced algorithms used in these devices rely on machine learning and deep-learning techniques to analyse recorded images for seatbelt or helmet presence. This recognition process is very complex, because the ANPR camera needs, for example, to differentiate the image of the seatbelt within an image with a lot of background noise, such as light reflections from the car windshield and shading and obstructed views caused by a driver using a sun visor. The advanced algorithms allow for real-time accurate object detection.

Detection of dangerous driving, which can tell whether a car is tailgating an emergency vehicle or whether it is driving between two lanes of traffic, is another important add-on feature enabled by analytics powered with artificial intelligence (AI).

Red light enforcement is another key ANPR application that has benefitted greatly from advances in analytics. Traditionally there was a need for two separate devices to be deployed in one location – one to read the licence plate of the car and another to record the red light. Modern devices with improved analytics are increasingly able to perform both tasks with a single device, which helps lower system cost and speed up the ticket processing for violations.

ANPR devices are now more likely to have analytics deployed on the camera. They do not require back-office processing software to perform their functions, which reduces the overall system set-up costs and lowers adoption barriers across many industries. Processing power improvements have allowed ANPR devices to become much more compact, further simplifying installation. Advances in video analytics have had a big impact on modern ANPR solutions, which has led to increasing adoption in access control and parking applications, including at hotels, hospitals and airports. These advances allow hotel chains, for example, to offer free parking to their guests at all associated hotels, not just the one where the guest is booked for their stay.

More data, more privacy concerns

Despite the great promise of advanced analytics, regulatory and practical considerations are the two main barriers to broader adoption of ANPR systems.

On the regulatory level, concerns over privacy will play an important role. As ANPR systems gather more data across industries, and additional devices are deployed in more locations than ever, the concerns over privacy of vehicle drivers run high. People are questioning why ANPR images are being recorded, as well as where they are stored and how secure they are. These concerns will have to be proactively addressed by manufacturers and installers alike, to help prevent a public backlash against these technologies.

On the practical level, the biggest barrier to adoption is still system cost. In countries where labour costs are quite low and the concepts of smart cities are not very well developed, the law enforcement agencies may prefer to continue conducting manual checks. Private businesses might not be willing to invest in training their staff in how to operate ANPR devices.

Onward and forward

Advanced analytics are transforming ANPR devices into multi-purpose detection systems, which fit very well with the concept of safe cities and smart cities, despite many other competitive technologies at the core of these systems. The next stage for ANPR systems, according to IHS Markit, is to integrate facial recognition with number-plate recognition. While these two functions have already been combined in some access control applications, the detection is still performed by two separate cameras, mostly due to installation angles and other practical factors. However, in the future, improvements in camera features and analytical algorithms could open the door to these two features combined into one single system, which would greatly improve the investigative capabilities of these devices.

Nedap Identification appoints new MD

Joost van der Willik, Managing Director of Nedap Identification Systems
Nedap – a leading specialist in long-range identification and wireless vehicle detection solutions – has appointed Joost van der Willik (35) as the new Managing Director of Nedap Identification Systems.

“For many years, Nedap Identification Systems has delivered cutting edge technology in various markets and verticals. I’m excited to team up with a global team of knowledgeable professionals, eager to pursue new heights by further inspiring our partner network and the clients that benefit from our technology on a daily basis.” said Joost van der Willik, Managing Director of Nedap Identification Systems.

Since the company’s founding in 1929, Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek ‘Nedap’ N.V. has been manufacturing smart technical applications for the challenges of today and tomorrow, and selling them all over the world. Headquartered in Groenlo in the Netherlands, Nedap boasts a workforce of approx. 680 employees and operates on a global scale.

LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN: SICUREZZA AND SMART BUILDING EXPO WILL BE BACK AT FIERA MILANO NEXT YEAR

Innovation, training, and renewed synergy between the two shows. SICUREZZA is ready to consolidate the leadership of an event with an increasingly international appeal.

SMART BUILDING EXPO extends its offering to the photovoltaic industry and smart cities. Milan, 30 November 2018 – the next edition of SICUREZZA will be back in less than a year, from 13 to 15 November 2019 at Fiera Milano.

This is Italy’s leading trade fair in the security & fire sectors and a must-attend international event for European players. Next year’s edition is going to be legendary, as many major companies will showcase their best solutions. As a matter of fact, there will be an additional pavilion and it will be an opportunity for focusing on training in the security and fire-fighting industry.

Security technologies are everywhere, from our homes – the residential sector has been growing consistently in the past few years, also thanks to government incentives – to our cities and workplaces. And SICUREZZA is getting ready to provide an overview of the current market.

Video surveillance, which has always been well represented at the trade fair, is already a widespread industry, but video cameras are enhancing their performance and are more and more sophisticated, smart, and an integral part of complex systems. This is leading to the multiplication of settings that are becoming testbenches for the most innovative technologies, providing HD images and being effective with any kind of lighting and weather condition. The recent debate in Italy about the possibility to install video cameras in kindergartens and hospices says it all. The aim is to turn this technology into a tool that can be a deterrent and a defence for weaker categories, while respecting everyone’s privacy.

The spotlight will be also on other new developments in the security industry. The access control sector is getting smarter, thanks to electronic locks and increasingly sophisticated biometric solutions, which can archive and monitor thousands of different users. On the other hand, the anti-intrusion segment is becoming progressively more oriented towards the integration of home or office management functions that can be controlled remotely via apps.

State-of-the-art modular solutions and data transmission systems allow for the transfer of vast quantities of information in real time from all the various types of sensors, with the possibility of identifying anomalies and immediately monitoring situations and activities.

Besides efficiency, new security technologies are asked to face an important challenge, especially in view of the recent enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Data processing is even more challenging because securing data goes beyond protecting them and preventing risks. In the Internet era, the security of data, things, and people is a strategic asset to ensure the benefit and effectiveness of any type of technology. Security is no longer just a technical matter, but a corporate governance responsibility. Whether we are talking about companies, cities, or shopping centres, security-related decisions are a value on which clients base their idea of reliability.

In this ever-changing context, players’ competency becomes essential, because security has become a topic for many people: constructors, designers, and installers (who must comply with the GDPR), as well as major users and private citizens, who can now integrate their security systems, thus being a resource for the entire community. The security culture is something that any constructor and representative of the supply chain are asked to feed continuously.

SICUREZZA 2019 will be back to consolidate all this with its rich panel of high-profile meetings, organised in collaboration with associations and publishers, and inform and update all the players of this industry.

SMART BUILDING EXPO: A STRONGER SYNERGY

After the success of this first edition, Smart Building Expo, the event organised by Fiera Milano and Pentastudio, will be back stronger than ever to provide designers, system integrators, facility and energy managers, as well as public administration, a richer and more complete offering, which includes smart building.

The two events will be very synergetic (Smart Building will take place in pavilion 6 together with a part of the SICUREZZA trade fair) and will have shared contents, thanks to a schedule including cross-cutting topics.

Smart Building Expo has always focused on the market’s evolution, and the 2019 edition will add new product sectors to those traditionally covered in the home and building automation field. The world of electricity self-production, especially using photovoltaic technology with a natural opening towards e-mobility infrastructure will join energy efficiency and smart lighting. The concept of Audio Video Control will extend to the outdoors, as an integral part of a smart city.

The design and start-up areas will be implemented thanks to the collaboration with some major Italian business incubators and accelerators. The smart city area will be the newest introduction of the 2019 edition, which will put the limelight on 5G deployment as an infrastructure enabling new applications in an urban environment.

To mark the investments in this strategic area, which is open to future developments, Smart Building Expo, together with a few institutional partners, is organising an importantInternational Conference, which will take place during the trade fair. The conference is going to attract a highly qualified international audience, who will help enrich the event through best practices.

 

THE ROADSHOW CONTINUES: A NEW STAGE IN THE SOUTH

After Spain, Germany, and Romania, the SICUREZZA and Smart Building Expo promotional roadshow stopped in the South of Italy, in Bari for the Smart Building Levante event.

To present the latest developments of the next edition to the players from the South, SICUREZZA has promoted a conference on Integrated Safety with the service provided by professionals and industry players.

To learn more, visit: www.sicurezza.it and www.smartbuildingexpo.it .

 

Fiera Milano Press Office

Rosy Mazzanti, rosy.mazzanti@fieramilano.it

Mariagrazia Scoppio, mariagrazia.scoppio@fieramilano.it

T +39 024997.6214 F +39 024997.7174

FUJIFILM Optical Devices Europe GmbH: Binoculars for a Stable Field of View at High Magnification

Kleve, November 2018

FUJIFILM has released Fujinon binoculars with exceptional performance: the TECHNO-STABI TS 12×28 has an image stabilizer, which can be used without a tripod, even at high magnification.

When normal binoculars are held by hand, distant objects can appear to tremble and blur. This is particularly distracting when working with high magnifications and dark scenery. The TS 12×28’s image stabilizer provides stable images even at 12x magnification. The vibration correction works precisely at an angular range of ± 3°. This makes it very possible to observe moving vehicles or ships.

Furthermore, the TS 12×28 has an extraordinary light intensity, which also produces sharp and high-contrast images for astronomical observations. This is achieved through multi-coated optics and phase-coated prisms. The focus is adjusted by means of a central focus wheel, which can be operated with one finger.

Thanks to the fiberglass-reinforced and compact plastic casing, the binoculars are lightweight, easy to handle, robust and waterproof. The power consumption is so low that one battery charge lasts up to 12 hours. The power saving mode also switches the device off automatically after 10 minutes. Therefore, the TS 12×28 is recommended for very long observations.

The application areas are unlimited, for example in sports, in nature, at concerts or on the high seas.

Links:

Product:
https://www.fujifilm.eu/eu/products/optical-devices/binoculars/techno-stabi-series#techno-stabi-ts12x28

Data sheet:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pdcctgx3ljo3msy/TS12x28%20sell%20sheet%201PP_FINAL%201-12-18.pdf

Images:

Techno-Stabi TS12x28 (white background)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9cxtse5c9cw5icu/FUJI-224_3QL.png

Techno-Stabi TS12x28 (black background, stylized)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hhtfqhmjztpcvwu/FUJI-224_Style_2.png

Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjLw2m8_HAQ

 

Contact:

FUJIFILM Optical Devices Europe GmbH

Fujistraße 1

47533 Kleve

Phone: +49 2821 / 7115 400

E-mail: bino_eu@fujifilm.com

www.fujifilm.eu/fujinon

 

About FUJIFILM Optical Devices Europe GmbH

FUJIFILM has been producing award-winning lenses for many decades. It develops and produces innovative, cutting-edge solutions for almost any application in the entertainment industry, for security systems and in industrial image processing.

FUJINON binoculars are known worldwide. FUJINON binoculars are particularly popular in professional nautical environments, as well as in scenarios related to water sports, security forces, and nature/sky observers. Users will appreciate the optical quality in combination with the robust, lightweight and waterproof casing. For special requirements there are also sophisticated features, such as night vision and electronic image stabilization.

FUJIFILM Optical Devices Europe GmbH in Kleve is responsible for the sales, services and marketing of professional FUJINON lenses for TV and film productions, CCTV and Machine Vision as well as of FUJINON binoculars in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Global critical infrastructure spending to reach 125B USD by 2023

Critical infrastructures are radically transforming on an unprecedented scale, boosted by a rapid adoption of ‘smart’ operational technologies. Cyber security is a growing part of that evolution. ABI Research, a market-foresight advisory firm providing strategic guidance on the most compelling transformative technologies, forecasts security spending for the protection of critical infrastructures will hit US$125 billion globally by 2023.
Currently, defence contractors (Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Harris, Northrop Grumman), industrial OEMs (Honeywell, Siemens, Airbus, Rockwell, Boeing), tech leaders (IBM, Amazon, Microsoft, Verizon), and energy companies (Shell, Total, Exxon) are the big security spenders.

Three primary drivers are pushing better digital security in sectors such as utilities, transport, and healthcare: digital transformation and increased connectivity of operational technologies; democratisation of cyber attacks targeting critical infrastructure; and a maturing market for industrial and IoT security.

“Connected OT has enabled optimisation and greater efficiency for decades-old legacy systems, cutting costs and vastly improving operations for operators,” said Michela Menting, Research Director at ABI Research. But it has also introduced new vulnerabilities and opened new threat vectors to previously air-gapped technologies. The first specialised attacks against industrial control systems are over a decade old, and the attack tools and methods are accessible to even the most common cyber criminals. Fortunately, the cyber security industry has been working in parallel to address that security gap between IT and OT.

As a result, security solutions for industrial control systems and IoT have been fast maturing, rendering them more widely available and affordable. “So, while critical infrastructure operators face an expanding threat landscape, they also have greater choice and support in terms of digital protection of their OT and IT systems. Security budgets have increased significantly, which is encouraging news for those sectors which have long lagged in digital security,” Menting explained.

However, these positive developments face-off against several obstacles plaguing critical infrastructures: a macro-focus slowdown by governments regarding national cyber security strategies, especially in the U.S., and the E.U., continued resistance to cyber security regulation and sectoral information sharing, and cyber threat fatigue leading to general apathy regarding cyber security by the private sector. Many stakeholders view cyber security as a check-box exercise for one-time spending rather than investing on a continuous basis. “Consequently, while current security spending levels are significantly higher compared to just a few years ago, there is still significant room for further investment, both from an awareness and an implementation perspective,” Menting concluded.

Pieter de Vlaam person of the year

The ESSA International Leadership Award, which was introduced for the first time last year, was once again awarded to an important person in the international security industry this year. The award honors people, who have made a special contribution to the continuous development of the industry due to their extraordinary commitment.
This year, Pieter de Vlaam from Gunnebo was honored with the award. “Pieter de Vlaam has dedicated his entire career to the industry. He is one of those rare people whose dedication and motivation have really made a difference in our field. Above all, his analytical way of dealing with difficult topics with little emotion and full of confidence is impressive.”, says Wolfgang Bruna (Wertheim Betriebsberatungs) in his laudatory speech.

Pieter de Vlaam shaped the industry mainly through his extraordinary commitment to standardization. Since the beginning of the 1990s he took over the management of ad-hoc group tools. Furthermore, since 2003 he has been the convener of Working Group 2 for “Fire Resistance”. In this capacity, he quickly introduced the standard for light fire storage cabinets. In addition to these positions, he also heads the Certification Board of the European Certification Body since 2016.

“We are very pleased that the award is so well received by all our member companies. We are already looking forward to the submissions for next year.”, states Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of ESSA. The next ESSA International Leadership Award will be presented at the next ESSA General Assembly on the 13th and 14th of November 2019.

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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.