Genetec has introduced a new collaborative intelligence feature for its Autovu Cloudrunner vehicle-centric investigation system.

Collaborative intelligence facilitates the sharing of ALPR data between partnered organisations such as local police departments, private businesses, and community groups. By enabling organisations to connect and share on a secure single network, they benefit from enhanced situational awareness and a more unified response to security challenges. This way, no matter where a crime occurs, it can be addressed collectively and efficiently.

Collaborative intelligence prioritises data privacy, allowing customers to retain full ownership and control of their data. Organisations manage who can share and access ALPR data within the Cloudrunner platform, ensuring sensitive information is protected. Law enforcement cannot share ALPR data with private entities, and private organisations can revoke sharing permissions at any time. The platform also offers tools for managing discoverability, privilege-based access, and an audit trail for accountability.

Thomas Sexton, Investigator at Belle Meade Police Department in Nashville (TN), shares his experience as an early adopter of the collaborative intelligence feature: “The ability to share data, from fingerprints to driver’s license information, is essential for modern law enforcement. Autovu Cloudrunner’s collaborative intelligence feature allows our department to develop specific hot lists and securely share data with other agencies in real time, while safeguarding privacy. This technology enables us to operate more efficiently and securely.”

Secure data sharing between agencies

Sharing ALPR data among law enforcement agencies enhances their ability to catch suspects who cross jurisdictional lines. For example, if a vehicle linked to a recent crime is on a local hotlist, collaborative intelligence can immediately alert officers if the vehicle is detected by ALPR systems in neighbouring areas. This real-time coordination enables law enforcement to quickly locate and apprehend the suspect before they travel further.

Sharing between private entities and law enforcement

Collaborative intelligence helps communities proactively protect themselves by allowing law enforcement to initiate ALPR data-sharing requests with private entities like schools and neighborhood homeowners’ associations (HOAs). For instance, if a private entity’s Cloudrunner camera detects a vehicle on a law enforcement hotlist, officers can instantly be alerted, enabling them to respond quickly.

Sharing among private entities

Retailers, residential communities, and parking companies can use ALPR technology to synchronise their security efforts by sharing data with other private entities. For instance, a network of different retailers can install Cloudrunner cameras to track vehicle plates across multiple locations. When a vehicle associated with thefts is detected, a real-time alert is sent to the store that flagged it. The store can then conduct a thorough investigation by reviewing data from partner ALPR systems to track the vehicle’s movements. By sharing information about the suspect vehicle with their partners, retailers can work together to prevent further thefts, strengthen their cases against offenders, and enhance the protection of their assets.

Available to all Cloudrunner subscribers in North America, collaborative intelligence will be showcased for the first time at IACP in Boston next month.

Hikvision is releasing the DS-KIS600 Intercom Kit, designed to deliver advanced home security in a compact package.

Featuring the DS-KV6113-WPE1 door station, this kit offers crystal-clear two-way communication with a noise-reducing microphone, perfect for narrow door frames. The Hik-Connect App offers homeowners and tenants the ability to easily control their intercom system from anywhere, ensuring greater convenience and peace of mind.

“The DS-KIS600 is more than just an intercom. It’s a comprehensive home security solution in a compact form. With its crystal-clear audio, mobile app integration, and advanced features, we’re confident it will set a new standard for convenience and peace of mind, said John Xiao, Vice President of Marketing, Hikvision USA.

The DS-KIS600 Intercom Kit goes beyond basic communication, offering a layer of security for modern homes and condos. The included DS-KV6113-WPE1 door station features Power over Ethernet (PoE) and a built-in 2 MP high-definition camera with night vision for capturing clear video footage, day or night. Additionally, the system allows access control through an integrated RFID card reader, providing an extra layer of security for authorised personnel.

Siemens has appointed Susanne Seitz as CEO of the Buildings Business Unit, which is part of Smart Infrastructure. The unit is a newly formed business unit which brings together all Siemens’ buildings-related businesses into one entity, effective October 1, 2024.

With a combined portfolio of products, software and services, the Buildings Business Unit is a technology partner for digital transformation, focused on reliable and cost-efficient building operations, decarbonisation and energy efficiency, as well as successful business operations for customers across wide-ranging industries.

“Making existing and new buildings more sustainable has never been more urgent. After all, buildings generate more than 40 percent of annual global CO2 emissions and we have a responsibility to drive their decarbonisation,” said Matthias Rebellius, managing board member and CEO of Smart Infrastructure. “Smarter buildings bring value to their owners, users, operators and to the world around them. I am confident in the newly-formed leadership team. Together with the combined expertise of almost 30,000 people globally, we can take our leadership position in the buildings market to the next level and pave the way to smart buildings of the future.”

The Buildings Business Unit works with customers and with an expanding ecosystem of partners across more than 60 countries and in key industries, including healthcare, data centres, higher education, commercial real estate, pharmaceutical and life science, and food and beverage. The business unit’s portfolio includes products for building control, fire safety and security, automation and operation, data-driven services, decarbonisation programmes and software, including Building X, Siemens’ scalable digital building platform to digitalise, manage and optimise building operations.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to grow this dynamic business. With innovative technology we can accelerate the transformation of buildings to make them smarter, self-adaptive and more autonomous, harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence, IT/OT convergence and digital services. This supports our customers in reducing their emissions and costs while improving user experience in buildings,” said Seitz.

Based in Zug, Switzerland, Seitz previously served as the Head of Sales and Marketing at Siemens Smart Infrastructure, leading the transformation towards digital sales and marketing globally. Prior to that, she was Executive Vice President EMEA at Landis+ Gyr and Member of the Group Executive Management.

For some 16 years preceding this, Seitz held different positions at Siemens, including Head of Strategy and M&A, Head of Security, Vice President for the global buildings systems and solutions business. She is a Swiss native and holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Technology from ETH Zurich and an Executive MBA from the University of St. Gallen.

HID has launched its next-generation Fargo HDP5000e designed to deliver vibrant, high definition cards and IDs.

HID’s Isaac Young, VP & Head of Fargo, stated, “The HDP5000e is where unparalleled reliability meets exceptional usability and performance — setting a new standard for the everyday retransfer card printing experience.”

Built on the rock-solid foundation of the renowned HDP5000 printer series and proven retransfer technology over the last 25 years, the HID Fargo HDP5000e ID card printer emerges as the next iteration of this market-leading solution, poised to redefine the standards of reliability, usability and printing excellence.

Engineered for universities, medium-to-large businesses, healthcare facilities and government agencies who need retransfer printing technology to effectively personalise contactless cards and for any organization looking to switch from a higher-end, direct-to-card printer to a retransfer printing solution for improved image quality — the feature-rich Fargo HDP5000e is ideal.

Young concluded, “The HID Fargo HDP5000e card printer offers seventh-generation retransfer technology for every need — from sharp and vibrant photo ID cards to multi-functional, high-security ID badge and card applications, the customer-inspired Fargo HDP5000e is the solution of choice for superior image quality, ease-of-use and printer reliability.”

The new Fargo HDP5000e offers to deliver high-level performance. With an increased card throughput and greater Ethernet speed than its HDP5000-series predecessors, the HDP5000e also boasts an advanced electronics platform — ensuring faster and more precise control over the printing process, resulting in crisper text and more vivid imagery. Additionally, the printer’s enhanced memory and processing capabilities allow for more efficient handling of print jobs, especially in high-volume environments.

Boasting exceptional reliability from its reinforced connection points to its streamlined module attachment, the HDP5000e is designed for dependability inside and out. The printer’s connectivity reinforcements strengthen and protect USB, Ethernet and power cable connection points — while the printer’s streamlined module attachment helps eliminate common issues such as internal card jams and misalignment.

The HDP5000e’s user-friendly Smartscreen interface in high-definition, graphical OLED provides easy-to-understand notifications and helpful, walk-through prompts for setup, maintenance and troubleshooting. In addition, the printer’s Workbench diagnostic utility with its Color Assist spot-color matching tool is conveniently built right into the printer driver so users have immediate access to everything they need via a single driver download. Should maintenance be required, the HDP5000e’s thoughtful design allows for easy, hassle-free access to the card path, main board, and film and ribbon drawer assemblies without the need for tools or special expertise.

The printer’s unique and inclusive resin scramble data protection feature effectively scrambles and subsequently conceals information printed with a resin panel. Used ribbon panels are thus rendered indecipherable, safeguarding the cardholder data from fraudulent use.  Moreover, the HDP5000e includes built-in AES-256 data encryption, support for UV printing and offers optional locks for additional peace of mind, and so providing security from end to end.

The newly launched Genetec Cloudlink 110 is the latest addition to company’s line of cloud-managed security appliances. This compact device is specifically designed to simplify video management in low-density deployments, providing a versatile solution that enables customers to transition to cloud or hybrid environments at their own pace.

With a micro form factor, support for up to eight cameras, and 1 Tb of local storage on an ultra-endurance micro-SD card, Cloudlink 110 is designed for smaller sites within larger deployments and locations with limited hardware space.

The Cloudlink 110 offers to enhance video workload optimisation and seamless cloud integration, ensuring interoperability between local and cloud environments in hybrid deployments. Supporting both local and cloud storage, it enables efficient communication between satellite locations and centralised headquarters. Its flexible hybrid storage also offers a straightforward transition to cloud or hybrid environments. By enabling organisations to use their existing cameras, Cloudlink 110 reduces the need for significant new hardware purchases.

This makes Cloudlink particularly well suited for sectors such as retail, where it can simplify operations across multiple store locations; cities, where it helps government agencies manage security within tight budgets; and healthcare, where it supports the remote monitoring of smaller facilities like satellite clinics.

“We are transforming physical security with our hybrid cloud solutions,” said Christian Morin, Vice President of Product Engineering, Genetec Inc. “Our multi-workload appliances, capable of handling video, access control, intrusion, and more, allow organizations to achieve their business objectives with a single device. As we expand our solutions, these appliances will be the cornerstone of resilience and performance, unlocking broad capabilities to meet evolving security needs.”

Ease of use is central to the design of the Cloudlink 110. With cloud-managed automatic updates, customers benefit from the continuous delivery of new features and updates to ensure that the system remains secure and running at top efficiency, with minimal intervention. This eliminates concerns about compatibility issues or disruptive upgrades, allowing customers to focus on their core operations without the need for specialised technical expertise.