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Security 50: a security industry reshuffling in the cards?

In 2022, global security witnessed economic shifts, geopolitical tensions, and a profound impact on the security industry, which is anticipated to continue its growth trajectory

By: asmag.com; E-mail: editorial@asmideast.com

Looking back, security in 2022 operated in a world that saw a slowed recovery from COVID due to various factors, including inflation and geopolitical tensions. Economically speaking, the world had an average GDP growth of 4.1 percent in 2022, dropping from 5.5 percent in 2021, according to the World Bank. Advanced economies such as the U.S. and the Euro area grew 3.8 percent last year, down from 2021’s 5 percent, while emerging markets had a growth of 4.6 percent, down from 2021’s 6.3 percent.

China, meanwhile, registered a 2022 GDP growth of 5.1 percent, down from 9 percent in 2021, due to challenges on several fronts. Domestically, China issued lockdowns in different cities throughout 2022, in response to a rise in COVID cases. Then, there is China’s ongoing real estate crisis–the Chinese government’s effort to regulate the debt limits of major Chinese developers, like the Evergrande Group, had caused the country’s real estate market to tumble. External factors also played a role. Geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China prompted the U.S. to place severe trade barriers and restrictions against China.

The security market is expected to see growth in 2023 and 2024, with video surveillance equipment predicted to grow by 11.8 percent and 10.2 percent, respectively

Impact on security

So how did these factors play out in security last year? Upon first look, they brought little change to this year’s Security 50. The top 10 global security manufacturers in access control and video surveillance in our 2023 Security 50 ranking are Hikvision Digital Technology, Dahua Technology, ASSA ABLOY, Axis Communications, Motorola Solutions, Allegion, Tiandy, Hanwha Vision (formerly Hanwha Techwin), Uniview Technologies and Aiphone. Hikvision and Dahua remain the world’s largest security companies, with 2022 security product/equipment sales reaching US$9.8 billion and $4.5 billion, respectively (based on the IRS’s 2022 average currency exchange rates). There were two new entrants: China-based smart home solutions provider MEARI and Korean biometric solution provider Union Community.

Yet a surprising part of this year’s Security 50 was the growth list. Of the 17 companies that registered 2022-2021 revenue declines, 12 were Chinese companies. While China companies’ revenue declines were somewhat expected given the environment, the number of companies that inked sales declines, and the magnitude of these declines (by as much as 40.2 percent), still caught us off guard.

Indeed, China’s internal and external challenges mentioned earlier–lockdowns, real estate crisis, and tensions with the U.S.–all played a part. “Chinese government spending was diverted away from other areas, including spending on video surveillance, and towards battling COVID-19 and supporting its economy during these lockdowns. Restrictions lasted much longer than many observers had anticipated, with the Chinese government finally easing its ‘zero Covid’ policy in December 2022,” said Jon Cropley, Principal Analyst, and Josh Woodhouse, Founder of Novaira Insights.

At the same time, U.S.-China tensions, which led to legislation like the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that bans the US government from purchasing video surveillance equipment by Hikvision and Dahua, had caused Western and non-China brands to register a proportional growth in their 2022 revenue. These include VIVOTEK, with a sales increase of 82.48 percent; Hanwha Vision, 47.52 percent; Axis, 36.01 percent; Milestone Systems, 30.43 percent; and IDIS, 22.17 percent. It should be noted that many of the U.S.’s Western allies, for example, the U.K., have also enacted NDAA-like legislation.

“The shift away from Chinese vendors continued at a pace not just in the U.S., but across Northern Europe and countries in Asia including Japan and South Korea. In part, many organizations and systems integrators want to standardize NDAA-compliant equipment to ensure existing and future business in the U.S., while end users are expressing concerns about looming regulations in the EU and Asia, cybersecurity weaknesses, and the potential for reputational damage connected to human rights abuses committed by some of the banned Chinese manufacturers,” said Jamie Barnfield, Senior Sales Director at IDIS Europe.

As for this year, Chinese companies are expected to fare better, even though they are not completely out of the woods yet. “The Chinese market is forecast to recover slightly in 2023 but remain well below its peak in 2021. Growth in demand will be much lower than in the years before the pandemic. At the same time, a weakening exchange rate between the Chinese yuan and US dollar will also dampen growth (when measured in US dollars),” Cropley and Woodhouse said.

The shift away from Chinese vendors continued at a pace not just in the U.S., but across Northern Europe and countries in Asia including Japan and South Korea

Yearly review and preview

For the security market in general, growth is expected this year and next, with Novaira Insights forecasting the market for video surveillance equipment to grow 11.8 percent and 10.2 percent, respectively, in 2023 and 2024.

Industry experts agree with that notion. “We observed some economic growth and expansion in 2023, although it has been unevenly distributed across different regions and sectors. This has had a mixed impact on the security industry,” said Choong Hoon Ha, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Hanwha Vision. “Despite the mixed economic impact, the security demands from society and individuals are still rising with the growing need for advanced network-based systems, such as intelligent surveillance cameras. Businesses are willing to invest in security solutions that protect their employees and assets, and even improve business efficiency and productivity by providing business insight.”

“Long-term, sustainable growth is at the heart of our business planning. We plan for 15 percent growth per year on average. And while the market itself is forecast to grow, Axis is again set to outpace it. We’ll achieve this by continuing to broaden our portfolio into new areas, such as intercoms, access control, audio solutions, and so on,” said Ray Mauritsson, CEO of Axis Communications.

Mobile credentials and digital wallets are emerging trends in 2023, providing greater value to end-users and system operators

Trends: AI, cloud, and mobile access more noticeable

As for predominant trends in security, AI and cloud still rank on top.

“Artificial intelligence will continue to provide opportunities for innovation across the industry. Application of AI to data streams from sensor fusion–combining and interpreting inputs from cameras and other sensory devices–will shift security solutions towards proactive capabilities that drive new value. AI’s influence is still in the transformational stage, for certain, but the applicability to the security industry is strong and clear,” said Vince Wenos, Senior VP and CTO of Allegion.

“This year, we have witnessed a growing demand from customers to maximize the capabilities of their cameras and sensors, with a strong emphasis on analytics. The industry continues to embrace the dominant trend of edge analytics, with an increasing number of camera manufacturers expanding their support for this technology,” said William Hinton, Product Line Manager for Video at Genetec.

According to Hanwha, customers are seeking technologies that can help them improve the accuracy of detection, make their video surveillance systems more scalable and cost-effective, and benefit from video analysis.

“In other words, they’re looking for surveillance technology powered by AI and cloud,” Choong said. “Many customers are still in the early stages of adopting AI and cloud-based video surveillance solutions. However, the adoption of these technologies is expected to accelerate in the coming years, as customers see the benefits that they can offer.”

Mobile credentials, meanwhile, have also emerged as a top trend in 2023. “Electronics continue to fuel significant growth for the industry across both hardware and solutions providers. Increasing adoption of mobile credentials and associated readers is providing a healthy lift,” Wenos said. “Mobile credentials continue to gain interest from customers, as they provide greater value to end users and system operators.”

Digital wallets, an offshoot of mobile access, are also gaining traction. “We’re seeing a lot of interest in digital wallets in large, tech-savvy office buildings. The first European rollout of an employee badge in Apple Wallet was at London’s 22 Bishopsgate, touted as the world’s smartest building. 14,000 mobile users at 22 Bishopsgate can now use just their iPhone or Apple Watch to access their offices, plus all the building’s amenities,” said Prabhu Patel, Commercial Director for Physical Access Control Solutions, ASEAN and India, at HID.

Cybersecurity continues to be a hot topic now that more and more devices are online. “For several years we’ve witnessed a growing focus on the cybersecurity of solutions. Customers are aware the risks are rising, demanding robust processes, vigilance, and transparency. When vulnerabilities do occur, vendor transparency is essential, allowing customers to respond as quickly as possible,” Mauritsson said.

Cybersecurity remains a top priority as more devices become online, with a growing focus on robust processes, vigilance, and transparency

Flexible payment

This year, we’re seeing at least two companies offering flexible payment options. These are i-PRO, who announced their FlexPay Financing, and Eagle Eye Networks, who launched their Eagle Eye Camera Direct Complete. The programs aim to help customers achieve more payment flexibility, reduce initial investment, and become more competitive in general.

“In some organizations, an increasing amount of security ops fall under the IT department’s responsibility, and they may have a preference for a greater amount of OPEX compared with the security industry’s typical preference for CAPEX purchases,” Cropley and Woodhouse said. “This type of transition is indicative of a cloud business model transition. However, only the video surveillance vendors themselves know whether the motive behind this is related specifically to products from specific competitors.”

Consolidation vs. smaller start-ups

Meanwhile, two competing forces continue to dominate in security. One is the continued consolidation of the industry. Recent examples include acquisition deals between ACRE and SISCO, Motorola Solutions and Rave Mobile Safety, and IDIS and Costar. Yet on the other hand, we’re also seeing the emergence of smaller companies focusing on cloud and AI. How these forces will play out remains to be seen.

Yet according to Cropley and Woodhouse, there are advantages to the scale of operation. “Each surveillance scenario is unique. Variables include the size of the installation, whether it is indoors or outdoors, and lighting and weather conditions. At the same time, the channel varies considerably by geographic location with a different set of distributors, systems integrators, and installers serving its needs. Large vendors have a range of solutions to meet all scenarios and have the resources to serve different channels in a wide range of geographies,” they said.

The security industry is witnessing both consolidation, as seen in recent acquisition deals, and the emergence of smaller companies focusing on cloud and AI, presenting a dynamic landscape for the future

 

Prevailing physical security trends in 2023: AI, Mobile Access Control and Integration

While the era of double-digit annual growth appears to be over for video surveillance, factors including AI-related innovations, expanding provision, and demand for more sophisticated analytics, the ongoing shift to IP cameras and improving camera resolution will continue to drive market growth

By: asmag.com; E-mail: editorial@asmideast.com

Memoori’s latest report into The Global Video Surveillance Business explores market prospects for cameras, storage, software & analytics from 2023 to 2028. Our latest estimates, based on a comprehensive analysis of the performance of a total of 322 companies operating in the global market, indicate that it generated revenues totaling $30.4Bn in 2022. We forecast that this market will experience a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.7% between 2023 and 2028, with revenues totaling $44.8Bn by 2028.

The AI imperative

The integration of advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning into video surveillance is reaching unprecedented levels of maturity. Key drivers of this trend include various factors. First among them are practical Implementations, as earlier discussions on AI in surveillance have moved from theoretical to practical, with more real-world applications coming to the fore. Next, sophisticated analytics offer capabilities that have grown increasingly refined and reliable, reducing false alarms and allowing for more nuanced and actionable insights.

Also, the falling costs of implementing AI and Machine Learning are making these technologies accessible to a broader range of applications. Finally, there’s a widespread rollout of edge-based analytics, based on dedicated AI chip system-on-chip architectures that offers the ability to process data closer to its source, alleviating network bandwidth constraints and helping end-users to minimize the risk of transferring or processing privacy-related data.

We forecast that by 2028, the percentage of network security cameras with onboard AI capabilities is projected to rise from today’s 18% to over 50%. These advancements are fueling new features like object recognition, behavior analysis, and other forms of intelligent monitoring.

As data volumes and the demand for analytics rise, we expect the market for Video Management Software (VMS) & analytics to significantly outpace growth in the wider market, here, we are forecasting growth at an 8.4% CAGR from 2022-2028. Here, the progressive transition to cloud-based analytics driven by requirements to amplify the power of video analytics by leveraging centralized computing resources is set to continue.

By 2028, the percentage of network security cameras with onboard AI capabilities is projected to rise from today’s 18% to over 50%

Access control: Mobile gains traction

Turning to access control, our market forecasts for this year’s analysis are still being finalized, but initial indicators are that Electronic Access Control market growth is set to outpace Video Surveillance market growth for the coming 5 years, reversing the dynamics that have been in play across Physical Security for over a decade. Here, the underlying supply chain and security dynamics are similar, geopolitical uncertainties are having a much more muted impact. Biometrics adoption has been somewhat stalled due to behavioral and attitude changes resulting from COVID, but we see the primary driver for growth is the progressive shift to mobile-based access control.

From a user standpoint, the allure of mobile access control lies in its convenience, enhanced security features, and the flexibility it offers for system administration. Customers, too, are taking note. According to a recent survey on access control trends, 42% of respondents worldwide now have plans in place to upgrade to mobile-ready systems. Our preliminary data aligns with this sentiment, projecting that by the end of 2023, mobile-based systems could constitute around 20% of all newly issued access control credentials for non-residential buildings.

While the transition to mobile-based systems is underway, it isn’t without its own challenges. Privacy and cybersecurity remain key concerns amongst many end users, particularly in cases where personal devices are proposed as the primary means of access control. For this reason, some organizations remain reticent to back the shift, still preferring the use of physical cards to mitigate the risks associated with personal data exposure on mobile devices.

By the end of 2023, mobile-based systems could constitute around 20% of all newly issued access control credentials for non-residential buildings

Tying it all together

As the physical security industry evolves, integration continues to move to the forefront as a business imperative. Rather than maintaining each individual security component (video surveillance, access control, or intruder detection) in individual silos, companies are now looking for new cross-functional efficiencies and value add opportunities across the BIoT. There’s a burgeoning demand from both users and vendors for unified platforms that not only streamline workflows but also enrich data insights by correlating information across domains. Deeper forms of interoperability that span data structures, analytics, identity management, and automation capabilities are emerging, fostered by expanded cross-domain partnering networks and improving API functionality.

One of the key enablers in this transformation is improving the standardization of security data and its metadata. Providing more contextually rich data is needed to inform more intelligent decision-making across these previously siloed systems, and can be invaluable when integrated into a broader security or building management system, enabling more nuanced and responsive actions like selective door locking or lighting adjustments based on occupancy, or scheduling elevator movements to match patterns of people movement within a building, saving energy and enhancing building user experiences.

Legacy systems, proprietary protocols, and the absence of standardized data formats will also continue to act as common roadblocks to integration until such systems are progressively phased out.  As the industry moves toward more standardized solutions, and cross-functional expertise grows, we can expect deeper, more seamless integrations to become the norm rather than the exception.

Electronic Access Control market growth is set to outpace Video Surveillance market growth for the coming 5 years, reversing the dynamics that have been in play across Physical Security for over a decade

Looking forward

The physical security market clearly remains in a state of flux, influenced by technological advancements, geopolitical shifts, and an increasing focus on integration and ethics. Companies that can adapt to these changes, innovate, and offer intelligent, integrated solutions are likely to thrive. But this is not a market for the complacent; staying ahead will require constant innovation, ethical considerations, and perhaps most crucially, the ability to adapt to ever-changing conditions.

As the physical security industry evolves, integration continues to move to the forefront as a business imperative

 

Interview: Swift Wu, General Manager of the International Department at ZKTeco

Swift Wu, General Manager of the International Department at ZKTeco, discusses how the company effectively addressed industry challenges in 2023 and shares key insights on how regions like the Middle East are emerging as hubs that hold great potential for economic growth

By: asmag.com; E-mail: editorial@asmideast.com

Founded in 2007, ZKTeco has long established itself as a leading global provider of hybrid biometric identification technology. In August 2022, the company marked a momentous occasion when ZKTeco successfully became a publicly listed company on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

asmag.com: What was 2023 like for ZKTeco? What were the challenges and how was ZKTeco able to respond?

Wu: Looking back at 2023, it was a pivotal year for ZKTeco and the industry as a whole. The world was showing signs of economic recovery. However, global economic performance did not meet expectations. While there were improvements, some sectors like retail lagged behind others in recovery. Some regions continued to grapple with lingering economic deficits, resulting in postponed or canceled government projects. In more extreme cases, rapid currency depreciation led to economic instability. Despite these challenges, certain economies outperformed others, with significant changes seen in lifestyles and business operations. The shift towards remote work and online shopping had a considerable impact on our business, particularly in areas like time attendance systems and other B2B security solutions. While many companies have begun asking their employees to return to the office, we anticipate that some changes in working practices may be permanent. Compounding these difficulties were escalating geopolitical tensions, with some nations in conflict or facing economic sanctions. These global issues led to an influx of vendors branching out into overseas markets to compensate for domestic economic downturns. Many employed a skimming strategy, offering low prices to penetrate new markets. This approach not only disrupted local markets but also threatened the sustainability of local suppliers due to the extremely low-profit margins. ZKTeco, with its longstanding presence in international business, was well-equipped to navigate these challenges.

We anticipate a return to economic stability, particularly in regions like Southeast Asia and the Middle East. These regions are becoming hubs for manufacturing and IT jobs, and we foresee considerable economic growth there

Asmag.com: Can you share some noteworthy accomplishments from the past year?

Wu: In the past year, we at ZKTeco have made strides in expanding our business along both horizontal and vertical dimensions. We consider horizontal expansion as into new business sectors or lines, and vertical expansion as penetrating higher or lower market sectors. In 2023, we focused on establishing a solid foundation for future growth. One of our notable achievements was the investment and development of our next-generation access control systems. These systems, built on universal industrial standards, are fortified with intelligent and flexible functions. To accomplish this, we incorporated multiple advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and big data. This integration solidifies our position at the forefront of the industry and offers our clients the most sophisticated solutions. Simultaneously, we’ve made significant progress in our vertical expansion. We are on the verge of launching a new product line that provides real-time managed advertisements, professional digital displays, digital signage, and digital posters. This system is fully enhanced by computer vision technology, addressing the limitations of conventional advertisement placement tools that cannot push correlated advertisements to audiences on demand. In our system, front-end cameras utilize computer vision technology to provide active video analytics. This includes text recognition, pattern recognition, and behavior analysis. Our edge devices then push correlated advertisements to the audience based on these analytics. This technology greatly enhances the accuracy of advertisement placement and provides reliable statistical information to advertisers.

Notable achievements included the investment and development of our next-generation access control systems, fortified with intelligent functions and incorporating advanced technologies like AI, cloud computing, and big data

Asmag.com: How is ZKTeco strategizing for 2024? Where do you see new business opportunities in the market?

Wu: While the world continues to face conflicts and unstable situations, we remain optimistic for 2024. We anticipate a return to economic stability, particularly in regions like Southeast Asia and the Middle East. These regions are becoming hubs for manufacturing and IT jobs, and we foresee considerable economic growth there.
Our strategy for expansion has always centered around localization. We adhere to a management philosophy of decentralization — we believe that providing our branches and departments with autonomy allows them to deliver optimal results, spurred by an effective motivational system. In response to the tense political situations among global superpowers, we’ve invested resources to ensure dual supply chains. This strategy will enable ZKTeco to maintain the production and delivery of our solutions to partners and clients, regardless of external circumstances. As of 2023, our biometric technology is among the top in the industry according to the NIST competition results. We firmly believe that biometrics is the future of human identity authentication and are committed to providing top-notch biometric technology across various solutions and applications. Alongside biometric technology, we believe that cloud-based and SaaS platforms are becoming mainstream. Soon, ZKTeco will launch several SaaS platforms for access control, visitor management, and time-attendance services. This is just the beginning of our journey to provide cloud-based services, with more to come in the next few years. Indeed, 2023 marked an exciting time for advancements in AI technology, with ChatGPT (GPT-4), in particular, garnering global attention. As a technology-based company, we at ZKTeco have embraced these advancements, incorporating AI to enhance our solutions in numerous ways. We are optimistic that the integration of GPT-4 with our existing solutions will result in improved user experiences and more efficient system operations. However, it’s crucial to remember that ChatGPT is just one facet of AI. AI technology as a whole offers a broad range of opportunities to enhance our solutions, and we’ve been keen to leverage these opportunities. For instance, we use AI in our biometric algorithms, where machine learning techniques allow our systems to improve accuracy and performance over time.

The shift towards remote work and online shopping had a considerable impact on our business, particularly in areas like time attendance systems and other B2B security solutions

VIVOTEK’s PoE Switches – Control, Integration, and Cost Efficiency in One Package!

In one article before we write about tools what can help engineers and technicians that their work on site make easy. VIVOTEK network products is one of those tools, with this products Security system Installers can decrease significantly reduce the required man-hours for system configuration in project installation. As well as during the system maintenance period, it can greatly reduce the necessary costs of going to locations with remote control of network equipment.

Written by: Djordje Bacic; E-mail: djordje.bacic@vivotek.com

VIVOTEK have long history in offering network devices for security systems on market. A full range of products designed for video surveillance systems, including power-surge prevention from lightning strikes, network management, multiple topology views of cameras, and more.

  • Commercial Solution

    • Full Managed PoE switch
    • Lite Managed PoE switch
    • Unmanaged PoE switch
    • PoE injector

  • Outdoor Solution

    • Outdoor PoE switch
    • Cabinet
    • Power Box

  • Industrial Solution

    • Unmanaged PoE switch
    • Managed PoE switch
    • PoE Injector

  • Long Range Solution

    • PoE Extender

Full Managed PoE switch

The VivoCam L2+ series is the Layer 2 Plus managed PoE switch with IP surveillance management functions. This switch is not only a standard Layer 2 Plus managed PoE switch, but also able to set up and configure VIVOTEK IP cameras, Video servers and allows users to find all VIVOTEK devices and deploy a surveillance network system automatically.

The VivoCam L2+ series, also features Graphic View, such as Topology/Map view for controlling and understanding network structure and device situation, and Google Map integration to view system situation status for outdoor applications. It not only features surveillance network environment set up functions, but troubleshooting and traffic monitoring functions also help users to clarify and troubleshoot any connection or device issue. In addition, users can also import and export their VIVOTEK IP camera/Video server configuration files, and batch VIVOTEK cameras firmware upgrade through the VivoCam L2+ Managed PoE switch Web UI. With all of these features and more, the VivoCam L2+ series, is the best PoE solution to install and manage your VIVOTEK surveillance devices.

Lite Managed PoE switch

The new light-managed PoE switch series offers a wide range of features, including an 802.3at/bt hybrid PoE port and PoE power up to 250m, making it easy to power your PTZ camera with a single RJ45 cable! In addition to providing essential features such as VLANs, spanning tree, link aggregation, port mirroring, and remote PoE power on/off, the new write-managed PoE is ideal for small and medium-sized businesses and retail surveillance networks.

Outdoor Solution

VIVOTEK’s outdoor PoE switch already installs switch and power so users can save the extra labor cost and time and further decrease the maintenance and RMA cost than before. The solution also supports IP67, IK10 and wide operating temperature, which may not support in traditional solution. The All-in-One solution will be the ideal choice for any outdoor applications. VIVOTEK’s outdoor PoE switch has IP67 and IK10 rated chassis for outdoor environment, also has the power surge protection for lighting strike or unexpected power surge.

Outdoor VivoCam L2+ Managed PoE Switch

Surveillance Features: • Automatic discovery for IP cameras • Generate network topology automatically • Graphic grouping VLAN • Cable diagnostic & reboot camera remotely • Topology view/Floor view/Google map • Monitor/Configure/Manage IP camera remotely • PoE ON/OFF scheduling • PoE auto checking • ONVIF IP camera compatible.

Layer 2 Plus Features: • IPv4/IPv6 protocol • IPv4/IPv6 L3 static route • 802.1d (STP), 802.1w (RSTP), 802.1s (MSTP) • SNMP v1/v2c/v3 • Port-based & Tag-based VLAN • LACP and Static link aggregation • IGMP snooping • DHCP server

 

 

Bosch presents the PRA-SCS Small System Controller

The PRAESENSA public address and voice alarm system gets a new controller option, the PRA-SCS Small System Controller. This cost-effective alternative allows for optimization of the PRAESENSA system components to meet specific project needs, improving operational efficiency and reducing overall system cost. Particularly suited for mid-sized applications, the PRA-SCS Small System Controller offers more options to designing a tailored, value-oriented PRAESENSA solution across a wide range of installation sectors such as hospitality, education, retail stores and commercial buildings.

The Small System Controller oversees all system-related functions within an IP-based PRAESENSA system, including the routing of all audio connections between network-connected PRAESENSA audio sources and destinations. It handles calls, emergency alerts, collects device status information, and generates fault reports. Furthermore, it also plays back messages and tones stored on its flash memory and manages background music streams, business calls, and emergency calls based on priority level and zone occupancy. Equipped with an internal real-time clock, the controller can schedule events and features event time stamping, with support for Network Time Protocol (NTP) and automatic adjustment for Daylight Saving Time (DST).

Identical to its larger counterpart, PRA-SCL, the PRA-SCS Small system controller delivers multi-channel audio and provides an easy-to-use browser-based control interface. DC‑powered from a multifunction power supply with an integrated battery backup, the controller fits both centralized and decentralized system topologies. System communication is based on OMNEO IP architecture over an encrypted IP network, ensuring robust security and data protection. Connections to other system devices are established via the built‑in 5‑port switch, which supports the Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) and has an open interface for third-party applications. PRA-SCS can function as single system controller, as part of a redundant system controller concept for uninterrupted system availability, or even as subsystem controller in a multi-subnet system.

The PRA-SCS boasts the same powerful feature set as its larger counterpart but at a lower price point, making it particularly suitable for small to medium-sized installations due to two restrictions. It can assign a maximum of six amplifiers for up to 48 zones when used with the PRA-AD608 amplifiers. Although it supports the same eight external Dante/AES67 input/output channels, including encryption and decryption, it does not offer the additional 112 static Dante input channels that are available for the larger controller. The PRA-SCS Small System Controller becomes a compelling choice in scenarios where these constraints don’t play into the project requirements.

A complete system solution from Bosch

With PRAESENSA, the standard in IP-based public address and voice alarm (PAVA) systems, we have created a PAVA solution offering unmatched quality, longevity, security, and reliability. Regular updates, upgrades and new product introductions can be expected throughout its lifetime to keep the system up-to-date, future proof and state-of-the art. PRAESENSA is released in several phases to address the needs of various verticals and country requirements. Consult with your local Bosch representative for more information.

TRASSIR Provides Security in Turkish Region

TRASSIR is a CCTV systems manufacturer and video surveillance software developer which started in 2002 as a local company, has grown to become a global supplier, and now boasts a presence in over 42 countries. All of TRASSIR company’s advanced solutions are designed in-house.

By:  t.koseoglu@trassir.com.tr; http://www.trassir.com;

Over the years, TRASSIR has built an entire video surveillance system which combines CCTV cameras, video recorders, video management servers, cloud services, neural analytics, and access control systems.

TRASSIR has already achieved significant success in several countries, including the Turkish region. Our primary objective in Turkey is to establish a strong and enduring presence. The company is constantly growing and today offers an environment for providing security in different fields – retail, city surveillance, traffic, building, banking and much more.

This year also saw the opening of the TRASSIR office in Istanbul. Now we have a Turkish-speaking team, a showroom where customers can see all the TRASSIR modules and take part in some live demos, and a storage room in the office which will make logistics much easier. The team in the Turkish office is ready to support you in sales, marketing, pre-sales and technical needs with 12 members of the team, all of whom are fluent in Turkish.

TRASSIR solutions are implemented in a lot of residential complexes in Turkey, such as DAP YAPI, Istanbul Acıbadem Kosuyolu Residence, Tema Instanbul, INNOVIA 2 and 3, Essenora and others.

The INNOVIA 3 complex is located in Esenyurt and consists of 10 blocks and 3 293 apartments with an area of 95 000 m². This sizable area has been equipped with TRASSIR VMS, which now guarantees the safety of all visitors and residents of INNOVIA 3 and protects against terrorism, theft and fires. The main aim was to use the unified TRASSIR VMS and video analytical modules to prevent any unauthorized access due to timely notifications and alarms.

There are a lot of successful projects in the industrial sector as well, such as Mata Automotive Factory in Istanbul, Cengiz Makina Factory in Tuzla, Faurecia Poliplex Automotive Factory, Edirne Industrial Zone and others. For instance, Cengiz Makina Factory, one of the leading players of the metal machining industry is where TRASSIR ensured safe operation within the steel processing shops and maintained the perimeter security using the Face Recognition module.

TRASSIR offers solutions to provide security in the hospitality area as well. A good example of this is Zorlu Raffles Hotel. The main goal there was to control access points to the hotel and receive reports on the arrival and departure times of staff. Using TRASSIR Access Control System, operators may now create necessary reports and respond promptly in case of unauthorised access to the territory.

TRASSIR solutions also can be used successfully in educational institutions, such as Haliç University in Istanbul which has over 12 000 students. The university premises include 11 buildings, so it requires a good video surveillance system in order to provide security for students and faculty members. Installation of the TRASSIR VMS system made it possible to link the control system together. Now perimeter security of the facility is provided 24/7, and the system detects any unauthorised entry and generates alarm events.

This year TRASSIR team has participated in the ISAF 2023 global trade fair in Istanbul. This International Security Exhibition has attracted a diverse audience of global distributors, IT professionals and consumers eager to join the conversation about security solutions. The TRASSIR team showcased live demos of various industry solutions and our guests were able to confirm the outstanding results that the TRASSIR modules have demonstrated.

We offer many value-added analytical solutions to global end-users, especially in the retail, financial and construction sectors, and we are always focused on offering the best with our innovative structure that listens to customers and develops alternative solutions, which will undoubtedly be highly attractive to the Turkish region and help us gain good consumer recognition in Turkey.

Order a remote free demonstration of TRASSIR products:

http://www.trassir.com

t.koseoglu@trassir.com.tr

 

VAST Security Station: Your Gateway to Intelligent Security

VAST Security Station (VSS) is an easy-to-set-up, AI-powered IP video management software designed by VIVOTEK. It simplifies the management of numerous cameras, allowing users to focus on what matters most with VIVOTEK’s AI solutions and integrating versatile applications, all within one platform.

Lite Version: Start for free and connect up to 32 cameras. Enjoy simple-to-use functions like live view, recording, playback, and event management. Perfect for VIVOTEK camera users.

Standard Version: Still free for up to 8 cameras but packed with more features. Benefit from Real-time Alarms, Deep Search capabilities, Third Party Integration via Data Magnet and TCP Message, and an intuitive E-map. Expand your system to support up to 128 cameras with additional licenses. Connect up to 32 substations (VIVOTEK ND / NV series NVR) seamlessly. Notably, the Standard version supports not only VIVOTEK cameras but also any third party cameras compliant with ONVIF standards, providing flexibility in your surveillance ecosystem.

Professional Version: Unlock the full potential with per-camera licensing. Get all the features from Lite and Standard, plus advanced capabilities like Deep Search: Re-search, GPS integration on E-map, Matrix for video wall applications, and failover protection.

VSS is designed to make surveillance not just powerful but also accessible and adaptable to your needs. Whether you’re a small business owner or managing a large-scale enterprise, VSS has the right version for you, ensuring simplicity, efficiency, and security in your surveillance operations. Don’t wait, download and install now—it’s free to use! Secure your world with VAST Security Station today.

VSS Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-2nlbpY_qg

For More Information: https://www.vivotek.com/vast-security-station

Contact our Sales: https://vivotek.zendesk.com/sales/app/capture-form/ or email: djordje.bacic@vivotek.com

VIVOTEK Tools for Technicians, Engineers, and Project Consultants

As we slowly approach the end of this year, the period becomes very active for all technical personnel in the security business. Technicians and engineers need to complete projects that are due within this year, while project consultants are already working on projects for the next year. The security business faces a significant challenge with a skilled labor shortage, ranging from technicians to project consultants. It is crucial that these professionals have the appropriate tools for their work. By having excellent tools, the time required to complete tasks can become shorter.

Written by: Djordje Bacic – djordje.bacic@vivotek.com

VIVOTEK recognizes the importance of this and has a longstanding tradition of developing tools to assist technical individuals in completing their tasks as efficiently as possible. Alongside their high-quality products, VIVOTEK has also developed top-notch tools.

Shepherd – Camera Management Tool for Technicians and Engineers

So, what is Shepherd?

Shepherd is embedded with powerful device management functions, allowing for the easy setup of multiple cameras simultaneously. The software automatically generates a list of all VIVOTEK devices connected to the network. Users can manually group cameras to apply pre-configured settings.

Shepherd offers various powerful functions, including IP address assignment, remote reboot/restore, and firmware and VADP package uploads. It greatly benefits system integrators and installers who frequently have projects requiring the simultaneous setup of multiple cameras with identical settings.

Shepherd supports batch firmware uploads, exporting device lists for VIVOTEK NVRs, updating virus signatures for cameras equipped with the Trend Micro IoT Security package, and importing/exporting configurations for Stereo Tracker, Deep Learning VCA, and VCA packages.

Validation Tool – Easy People Counting Correction

The Validation Tool is a smart and user-friendly tool that validates the accuracy of people-counting camera results. This tool supports practical functions such as manual counting, combining results from multiple counting cameras, and providing comparison results. With an accuracy rate of up to 98%, it is extremely beneficial for system integrators or administrators who need to evaluate counting results.

BIMobject – 3D Software for BIM for Project Consultants and Engineers

VIVOTEK IP Camera Families are now accessible within Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, specifically BIMobject. BIMobject is a comprehensive software application that supports the entire BIM workflow, from concept to construction. Users of BIMobject can now directly incorporate interactive 3D CAD VIVOTEK camera models into their building plans, seamlessly integrating VIVOTEK surveillance into their designs. Everything, from camera resolution to field of view to mounting options, is considered, ensuring comprehensive coverage through stunning 3D visualization.

  • 3D Design Visualization
  • Focal Length Adjustments for Targeted H-FOV/V-FOV
  • Object Range, Camera Resolution, Camera Position, and Camera Angle Adjustments
  • Choice of Mounting Options
  • Increased Efficiency
  • Ensured Full Surveillance Coverage
  • Save, Print, Collaborate, and Export using Autodesk

IP Video System Design Tool – Intuitively Design Surveillance Systems with 2D/3D Views

VIVOTEK has integrated with JVSG (IP Video System Design Tool) to facilitate the rapid and straightforward design of professional video surveillance systems. With the IP Video System Design Tool, users can calculate precise lens focal lengths and viewing angles for all cameras in a matter of seconds. This aids in checking the field of view for each camera and identifying any dead zones, thereby enhancing premises security using both 2D and 3D modeling. This intelligent tool also provides more accurate estimations for network bandwidth, storage requirements, and other practical functions to elevate your surveillance system design.

  • 2D Planning for Each Camera’s Field of View
  • 3D Views and Simulations
  • Realistic 3D Models
  • Increased efficiency in your security system while reducing costs by finding optimal camera locations
  • Rapid calculation of precise camera lens focal lengths and viewing angles
  • Field of view checks for each camera, identifying dead zones to enhance premises security using 2D and 3D modeling
  • Estimations of required network bandwidth for shaping network video systems with varying numbers of IP cameras and video servers
  • Calculation of necessary HDD storage space for video archives
  • Load site plans/floor plans with JPEG, JPG, BMP, or PDF background images
  • Print or export your project as a PDF, including calculations, drawings, and 3D mock-ups, to create excellent project documentation.

Smoldering Threat: Are Lithium-Ion Batteries A Real Danger To People And Property?

In the era of digital innovation and mobility, lithium-ion batteries are the beating heart of the industry and everyday devices such as phones, laptops, electric bicycles, and scooters. However, does this heart pump excessively “hot” blood at a time when fires associated with these devices are becoming more common, and what is the industry’s response to the need for getting the best of both worlds in terms of energy and safety?

By: Mirza Bahic; mirza.bahic@asmideast.com

Lithium-ion batteries are often revered today as the “engines of the 21st century.” As an important energy storage solution for portable electronic devices and electric vehicles, these devices are a “Promethean” fire for a world that constantly seeks increased mobility, digitalization, connectivity, and sustainability in one package. However, with the widespread use of these devices, there has also come an increased and statistically well-supported danger of fires breaking out in situations that are still unfamiliar to many.

Is the “Flaw” Inherent in the Battery Design Itself?

At its core, lithium-ion batteries consist of multiple smaller cells, each containing two electrodes separated by a separator. These cells facilitate the movement of charged particles, known as lithium ions (hence the name), through a conductive solution between the electrodes. This process involves charging and discharging, allowing the battery to store and release energy, powering a wide range of mobile devices from laptops to electric vehicles.

When a lithium-ion battery is being charged, lithium ions migrate from the positive electrode (cathode) through the conductive electrolyte and move toward the negative electrode (anode), where they are stored. During discharge, the process is reversed, with lithium ions returning to the positive electrode, creating an electric current that powers the device.

The choice of lithium as the primary element in batteries is due to its lightweight nature and high energy density associated with it. Compared to traditional batteries like nickel-cadmium or lead-acid, lithium-ion batteries offer significantly greater energy storage capacity, making them ideal for portable devices requiring long-lasting power.

So, the answer to the question in the title is straightforward: lithium-ion batteries are not inherently unsafe by design. If they are manufactured and used according to industry standards, they are generally considered safe devices. However, it’s important to note that there are inherent risks associated with the operation of lithium-ion batteries, which can be attributed to various factors such as temperature changes, physical damage, overcharging, manufacturing defects, or improper use.

Why Do Lithium-Ion Batteries Pose a Security Risk?

Lithium-ion batteries have quenched the world’s perpetual thirst for portable energy, allowing us to stay connected across the clock, work efficiently, and push new boundaries in transportation. However, along with all the undeniable advantages, these devices also carry concrete safety risks, primarily related to fire outbreaks in fully unexpected situations.

But if we have established that these devices are not inherently unsafe, why are reports of fatal fires and significant material damage spreading through the media like wildfire today? The reason is simple and relates to the law of large numbers – these devices are more popular than ever today, and their rapid adoption has not been accompanied by an equally diligent campaign to raise awareness about their proper handling and incident management.

First and foremost, when lithium-ion batteries become defective or sustain damage, they can pose a significantly greater danger of fire and explosions. Several factors can contribute to battery failure, including improper use and storage or incorrect charging techniques.

Physical impacts such as dropping, crushing, or puncturing the battery can cause damage that compromises the integrity and safety of these devices. External sources of heat, such as open flames or heaters, as well as temperatures exceeding 55 degrees Celsius, can accelerate the deterioration of devices with damaged cells or those with manufacturing defects.

Similarly, charging lithium-ion batteries at temperatures below freezing can lead to the formation of a permanent metal coating of lithium on the anode. This coating increases the risk of battery failure and, consequently, fire incidents.

Therefore, adhering to the manufacturer’s instructions for charging devices and batteries is crucial in preventing damage to these devices. To reduce the risk, some chargers employ a cyclic power supply mechanism to avoid overcharging, while fast chargers often lack this feature, making user vigilance crucial in such cases. Nevertheless, the industry recommendation is to use chargers according to the manufacturer’s instructions to maintain battery safety.

How to Prevent Thermal Runaway?

Essentially, it is crucial to avoid putting the battery in a “faulty” state. However, what if this has already happened without the user’s awareness of the problem?

In the case of battery failure, the heat generated during the operating process can damage nearby cells, triggering a chain reaction known as a thermal runaway. The high energy density of lithium batteries makes them more prone to such reactions. Depending on factors such as the battery’s chemical composition, size, design, types of components, and stored energy capacity, failures in lithium cells can result in chemical reactions and the initiation of combustion, leading to heat release and excessive pressure.

The chemical reactions inside the battery can raise this pressure to a point where the cell walls expand and byproducts leak from the solution. These byproducts include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and hydrocarbons, which are highly flammable and contribute to fire outbreaks and even explosions in lithium-ion batteries.

As an exacerbating factor in battery ignition, combustion can also cause the separation of fluorine from lithium salts in the battery. When mixed with water vapor, fluorine can produce hydrofluoric acid, a highly dangerous substance that can have long-term but initially unnoticeable effects on human health.

Given all the above, it is clear that a comprehensive understanding of these processes and incorporating knowledge of their mechanics is imperative in developing guidelines and best practices for safely handling these devices.

The Ecological Transition and Affordability Fuel the Fires

Seemingly unrelated global events have also had an impact on shifting the spotlight toward lithium-ion batteries as a security risk. After the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of scooters and e-bikes significantly increased, especially in the segment of delivery services and commuting. This sudden surge led to a spike in the price of these transportation devices, prompting individuals to seek manufacturers with lower quality control standards for their battery systems.

Once the market stabilized, the demand for lithium-ion batteries continued to experience significant and rapid growth, primarily driven by the needs of the ecological transition. Li-Bridge, an organization dedicated to the development of a supply chain for lithium-based batteries, states that the global demand for lithium-ion batteries is expected to increase more than fivefold by 2030.

This demand is closely followed by the rising number of associated fire incidents. According to insurance company Zurich, in 2021 alone, there was an increase of nearly 150% in the number of fires caused by lithium-ion battery explosions in e-scooters and e-bikes. Simultaneously, the number of such fires continued to rise by an additional 28% by the end of September 2022 compared to the monthly average in 2021.

The city of New York can serve as a litmus test for dominant safety trends in this market. In 2019, there were 30 fires attributed to the use of batteries in electric bikes or scooters in New York. A year later, this number increased to over 40. By 2021, the frequency of fires more than doubled, reaching a total of 104 incidents in just this city.

Ultimately, by the end of 2022, lithium-ion batteries were identified as the cause of 220 fires in New York, resulting in six fatalities and 147 injuries. These figures have prompted emergency services to seek professional assistance in identifying the causes of these occurrences to reduce their frequency.

Delayed Fires as a Unique Firefighting Challenge

One of the major causes of fires in electric vehicles and scooters is traffic accidents that result in battery damage. They can lead to the rupture of battery cells, causing internal short circuits and accompanying fires. Unlike vehicles with conventional engines, electric vehicles experience a unique phenomenon of “delayed” fires after a collision, which poses a specific risk for emergency services that are only just becoming familiar with this occurrence.

Pioneering research in this field was conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the United States. The Board investigated several incidents involving delayed ignition of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. Instead of the expected battery ignition during or immediately after the collision, it was observed that the vehicles caught fire several hours or even several days after the incident.

For example, in Lake Forest, California, an electric SUV crashed into a residential garage and caught fire. Firefighters initially had to use an unusually large amount of water (over 70,000 liters) on the fire, which continued to burn for at least two hours. It was only when they lifted the vehicle to directly extinguish the flaming battery that the temperature dropped sufficiently to safely remove the vehicle from the scene. However, during transportation on a semi-trailer truck, the battery reignited spontaneously. A similar case occurred in Mountain View in the same region, except that the vehicle’s battery caused a delayed fire at the disposal site five days after the accident.

While there is no clear evidence indicating that electric vehicles are more prone to fires compared to conventional vehicles, the associated thermal runaway process in lithium-ion batteries can be delayed or slowed down to the point of being literally imperceptible. In fact, the initial impact and battery damage can trigger a slow but inevitable chain reaction, ultimately leading to unexpected fires after prolonged intervals, particularly in locations such as salvage yards or vehicle storage areas.

Equally important is the risk faced by truck drivers transporting vehicles with damaged lithium-ion batteries. They are exposed to the possibility of sudden and delayed fires, which can easily spread to other vehicles and further complicate the task for firefighters.

Unquenchable Thirst and Prolonged Interventions

Another important issue related to extinguishing fires on vehicles with lithium-ion batteries involves the availability of abnormally large amounts of water and the length of interventions that “trap” personnel in the field longer than usual. Experts point out that in some cases, extinguishing a fire on an electric vehicle may require as much as 110,000 liters of water. This amount may vary, but many fire departments are already unable to rely on using the same amount of water for interventions on electric vehicles as they would for typical building fires.

The Sinking of the Felicity Ace: Did Electric Vehicles Hinder Firefighting Efforts?

It’s not just trucks and logistical infrastructure that are at risk from the specific fire hazards associated with lithium-ion battery vehicles. On March 1, 2022, the cargo ship Felicity Ace sank near the Azores in the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in the loss of approximately 3,965 automobiles. It is estimated that around 300 electric vehicles were found among them which presented an additional challenge in firefighting efforts because suppressing flames on lithium-ion batteries requires the use of large quantities of dry chemicals such as ABC powder, carbon dioxide, powdered graphite, and sodium carbonate. The crew had to abandon the ship as the attempts to extinguish the fire with water alone proved ineffective. At the same time, cargo ships and ferries are particularly susceptible to such fires due to their internal configuration i.e. the lack of internal compartments which facilitates the rapid spread of fire to other vehicles.

Illegal Vehicle Modifications as a Complicating Factor

In the midst of the authentic boom in the use of scooters with lithium-ion batteries, emergency services face a new challenge in the form of illegal activities associated with this trend. An illustrative example is a tragic incident that occurred on January 1, 2023, in a residential block in the British city of Bristol, resulting in the death of one person and the hospitalization of eight others. The investigation revealed that a fire broke out in the hallway of an apartment, with an amateurishly modified e-bike with a lithium battery identified as the cause. Local authorities attributed this to the growing trend of using conversion kits, which allow for retrofitting electric motors onto standard bicycles. These kits often lack proper batteries, tempting consumers to purchase cheaper alternatives and unverified chargers online that do not always adhere to industrial safety standards. Due to the increased likelihood of malfunctions in these non-standard batteries, the risk of fire is significantly heightened.

Underground Garages and Landfills Are at an Increased Risk

The increasing use of lithium-ion batteries in transport vehicles such as e-bikes and e-scooters has caused real concern among safety professionals due to frequent fire incidents caused by these products. Furthermore, as the global transition to zero-emission vehicles gains momentum, there are concerns about the potential risks posed by underground parking lots. These locations are now filled with electric cars and chargers and are not always easily accessible for firefighting operations.

Alarms have been raised in some countries: after a significant increase in the number of fires caused by e-bikes and e-scooters in London (from eight to 59 cases in just two years), the local transport regulator has called for a ban on the use of private e-vehicles on subway and buses.

At the same time, the Environmental Services Association (ESA) warned that these batteries are dangerous even when they are not in active use, as they can be damaged during disposal in landfills or preparation for recycling. This is primarily associated with the risk of lithium-ion batteries being crushed, broken, or exposed to weather conditions, which facilitates self-ignition or explosions.

At the same time, lithium-ion batteries have become prevalent enough in everyday life that users now dispose of them together with regular waste and other recyclable materials, even though they are essentially ticking fire bombs in this state.

Experts emphasize the importance of separate and proper recycling of lithium-ion batteries, along with their safe disposal outside inhabited areas and adequate protection from weather conditions. Damaged batteries are a particular source of risk as they must be disposed of separately and stored in containers filled with sand or other inert materials such as vermiculite.

Data Centers Are Seeking Solutions in the Redesign of Their Facilities

Lithium-ion batteries have been identified as the main suspect in several devastating fires in data centers. One such incident occurred in early 2021 when OVHcloud, a major European cloud service provider, lost one of its centers in Strasbourg due to a fire. It is also believed that the destructive fire at the Maxnod center in France in March was caused by the ignition of a lithium-ion battery. In light of the potential risks associated with lithium-ion batteries in these facilities, experts emphasize the importance of their functional redesign. This primarily involves relocating lithium-ion batteries to dedicated rooms equipped with fire-resistant walls and ceilings. Simultaneously, fire suppression systems using foam would be introduced instead of water-based systems.

The Industry Responds: A Regulatory or Technological Offensive?

At this moment, it seems that government regulators and the industry are competing to find a universal solution to the “inflammatory” issue of lithium-ion batteries. The solution appears to lie in a fusion of both approaches, with pioneering steps being taken by countries with the highest number of users and, consequently, incidents related to these devices. For example, in the United States, there is an initiative underway to pass consumer standards legislation for lithium-ion batteries. The goal is to establish safety standards for batteries in electric scooters and bicycles, including guidelines for consumer protection. Regulators have emphasized the need for global regulation of the distribution of these batteries from different countries, including those from China, which is undoubtedly yet another echo of the ongoing trade war between the US and China.

Unlike regulation, the user education segment has likely made the most progress in fire prevention. Best practices for protection are generally well-known and include avoiding exposing lithium-ion batteries to extreme temperatures and minimizing overnight and continuous charging. Choosing reputable brands and using original charging devices is another important step in mitigating fire risks. During charging, experts believe that it is crucial to ensure adequate air circulation to prevent heat buildup. It is also advisable to keep and charge electric vehicles outside enclosed spaces, ideally in a dedicated isolated area that local authorities should allocate for this purpose.

Government efforts aimed at preventing loss of life and property can also involve enacting standardized storage and handling procedures for lithium-ion batteries, especially during transit on ships or trucks following traffic accidents.

Lastly, the security industry itself has almost unlimited potential to offer solutions for various risks, including new or lesser-known ones. Early detection of unexpected and delayed battery fires can be ensured through 24/7 monitoring of device transportation, aided by thermal scanners, gas detectors, heat and smoke sensors, and CCTV cameras. Additionally, the industry can provide specialized training for personnel involved in battery handling and fire suppression procedures based on previous experiences with such incidents. It is clear to everyone that if we want the technological torch of lithium-ion batteries to continue to illuminate the path ahead, we must take their countless benefits as seriously as the safety of all user groups that want to tread on it.

How Much Does a Security System Actually Cost?

When buying a security system, decisions often come down to the price tag of cameras, storage, and installation, yet taking this approach can leave the end user with major challenges ahead. Surveillance systems last anywhere from five to 20+ years, so condensing all cost considerations down to the initial expense fails to consider the bigger picture.

By: Ricardo Marranita, Product Growth Manager, Axis Communications; E-mail: ricardo.marranita@axis.com

The initial costs to purchase and set up a security system tend to account for just 30% of the total costs experienced during the lifetime of the system – also known as the total cost of ownership. Despite this, many end users may even make their decision based on the price of cameras alone. In effect, they are making their choice with just a 10-15% view of the total security system costs. The reality is that roughly 70% of expenses come after the system has been installed. Sadly, these can come as a nasty surprise for those end users who have not considered the indirect security system costs.

Taking some time to think about how the system will be used and the costs associated with that use can create significant savings in the long run. Initial choices – such as the type of device to deploy –impact future expenses, from power consumption to monitoring and maintenance. While we’ll focus on cameras specifically here, this principle applies to any device within a surveillance system. Considering the total cost of ownership will help you to identify the questions to ask as you make your decision on which new security system to purchase.

Look Beyond the Cameras’ Price Tag

Filtering is an important step in the purchase process: setting out your surveillance requirements and the available budget is key to narrowing down your choices. Unfortunately, too many initial conversations around requirements focus on the cameras alone, without considering the broader requirements of the system as a whole – from energy use to storage needs.

It might be tempting to focus the budget conversation on cameras, rather than where money will need to be spent to operate and maintain those cameras. Yet the security system will need to support your needs for the foreseeable future. It’s worth remembering that the costs to operate, monitor and maintain certain cameras often exceed the devices themselves and must therefore be weighed up before the purchase is made.

Forecasting Storage Costs

If you’re in the market for a new surveillance system, it’s very likely that you’ll need to consider how to store footage once recorded. On average, legislation requires potential evidence to be stored for a month. Yet in some regions or use cases, this is extended to 180 days – making storage a considerable factor in overall security system costs.

To avoid being caught out with significant server and electricity expenses after cameras are installed, it’s critical to consider the different storage costs associated with each camera model you’re considering. It can be a false economy to purchase cheaper cameras to cut down the initial outlay if they come with vast storage requirements, forcing you to spend more on servers and energy costs in the long run.

Equally, if you plan to reduce storage costs by shrinking the size of the video stored, you will need to carefully choose the right devices to ensure that compressing the video doesn’t compromise evidence quality by pixelating or blurring images to the point that it’s no longer possible to identify a suspect. Ending up with poor-quality footage that cannot act as useful evidence can defeat your objective of installing the security system in the first place. Some cameras come with sophisticated technology that can reserve all the important forensic detail you need while lowering bandwidth and storage requirements, and therefore long-term costs. It’s worth checking any claims of high-quality footage with low storage requirements before you install the system to ensure it meets your expectations.

Each set of requirements is unique. For example, you may require high-quality images even in the dark. While some cameras might compensate for low light levels by increasing the gain and therefore, storage requirements and costs, other options use alternative light-optimizing technologies that do not have the same large-scale impact on storage costs. They might even help you to save your budget by removing the need for additional external lighting.

Anticipating All Indirect Costs

The type of device you choose will influence costs far beyond storage. To forecast the full security system cost, monitoring, maintenance, and electricity use must also be considered.

Once you crunch the numbers, the costs can start to build up quite quickly but crucially, the devices you choose will have a knock-on impact on the extent of these figures. Opting for more economical cameras and devices at the start can result in staggering indirect costs. By contrast, choosing higher-quality cameras and devices at the outset can enable you to cut those indirect security system costs in the long term, introducing savings that you can use to reinvest in and grow your business faster.

As one example, owners of surveillance systems installed in tough environmental conditions, such as a maritime port or chemical plant, may face significant maintenance bills to clean salt water and dust off cameras. By upgrading to more sophisticated cameras that offer remote cleaning functions, or have been designed with self-cleaning materials and components, such as a hydrophilic dome, they can reduce the maintenance – and therefore costs – required.

Turning a Purchase Into an Investment

By considering how your initial decision on which type of camera to buy can impact the chain of future costs, you can shift the purchasing decision into an investment. Achieving this can be as simple as asking yourself just a few questions.

The first concerns the features you want to get with the camera, as well as the need for storage space that getting such a camera entails. Another question concerns the projected costs of powering such a system in the long run. It is important to get a picture of the role of supporting technologies in the camera in the formation of total costs. Finally, it is worth looking at their share in general costs.

The question ‘How much does a security system cost?’ goes far beyond the initial purchase. Making the right choice for you based on the bigger picture can mean a slightly higher initial outlay, but it pays itself back in the long run.

In short, taking the time to ask the right questions at the outset – and finding partners who are open to answering those questions and helping you calculate the long-term costs – allows you to avoid any nasty surprises in future electricity, storage, operational, or maintenance costs. Importantly, it will also ensure that you end up with the security system that is right for your specific requirements.

Five Steps to Optimize Your Investment

Deciding which security system to purchase demands careful consideration. After all, security systems can last for five years or more, so weighing up all relevant factors at the start can lead to significant cost savings and an improved return on your investment (ROI) in the long run. While it may feel daunting, there are five straightforward steps you can follow to ensure you are making the most of your investment. Following these steps enables you to decide on the right security system for your organization, while also optimizing your investment.

Choose the Camera According to the Value It Adds

It may seem obvious but as an initial step, ask yourself “Why are you buying cameras?” Device price and features are important considerations, but it’s vital to understand what your organization needs the cameras to do before you start to weigh up the value of the different functions on offer in each.

Clarity here is vital to figuring out if the cameras on your shortlist will perform in the way you need or provide the evidence you require. For example, are you installing a security system to protect profits in a retail environment by tackling theft and fraud? Are you aiming to optimize production and avoid downtime in a factory? Or are you looking to ensure the safety and security of your employees and passengers in a public transport setting?

There are many different ways in which security systems can be deployed to help your organization – from improving security to creating business value. Narrowing down why exactly you are purchasing the system is a key first step to ensuring you are set up to optimize your investment.

Calculate How the Device Influences the Rest of the System

Next, you will need to figure out how your camera choice affects the rest of the system. Storage is an obvious factor in this calculation. More inexpensive cameras may seem appealing but if their compression technology is limited to reducing bitrate to lower bandwidth and storage requirements, that saving comes at the cost of quality footage – jeopardizing the very reason you’re installing the system in the first place. On the other hand, more sophisticated cameras may have a higher initial cost but come equipped with intelligent algorithms that preserve relevant forensic information in full resolution and at a full frame rate while requiring a lot less storage space. As a result, you can recoup the initial price through lower storage costs in the years to come.

Yet storage requirements and costs are only one piece of the calculation to consider at this point. What about ease of installation? Or how fast it will be to configure the devices and add everything to your system?

It’s also worth thinking about what accessories you will require to ensure the security system meets your objectives if you choose certain camera models. For example, if the cameras you have chosen require extra accessories to mount, this will have a knock-on impact on installation – making it slower and more costly than initially predicted. If you realize this on the day of installation, there is a significant risk of delays to the whole project. To optimize a security system investment, the full picture of all costs – not just the devices themselves – is important.

Estimate the Cost of Using and Running the System

It’s also important to ask, ‘What happens once the system is up and running?’ This step is often overlooked: some may accept the system’s operational costs as the natural cost of doing business, while others may not put too much thought into it if it ends up under another department’s budget. Yet spending some time to think about the costs required to keep the system up and running is important for all decision-makers involved in purchasing a security system: it’s where the bigger losses creep in. While it might not affect you or your department directly, it impacts your organization. And if your company loses money through the system’s high running costs, it could eventually impact your budget too.

This means that it is worth thinking about the electricity usage, required maintenance and the costs of monitoring the system. But how can the different cameras in your shortlist affect these costs? You can assess this by writing down a few key questions.

First, you need to consider how much power your cameras use and how this might affect your electricity bill? On a related note, how much storage do you need for specific cameras and how does that affect your electricity costs in the long run? Finally, you need to know if the cameras offer any smart functionality to reduce the overall cost. For example, do they offer superior analytics performance such as deep learning and edge analytics, reducing false alarms and speeding up forensic search to reduce operational costs? The devices you choose will ultimately impact all the costs to come throughout the security system’s lifecycle.

Predict the Impact the System Will Have on the Business

Once you have mapped out the bigger picture cost implications for the cameras on your shortlist, consider the end result: how will the system help your business? Will it drive greater efficiency, reduce theft, improve the service you provide to customers, and improve employee retention by creating a safer workplace?

Ultimately, the correct security system for your organization can create business value, which translates to improving the bottom line. It’s important to quantify how the security system will impact your business so you can weigh those benefits up against the total costs when making your decision.

Thinking this through often involves collaboration across departments, ensuring the bigger picture of the system’s impact on the business as a whole is considered. As an added benefit, cross-departmental cooperation also opens up the possibility of tapping into bigger budgets and getting additional buy-in on the surveillance system as well as the advantages it can bring to the business.

Make the Best Decision for Your Organization

This final step is about evaluating the information you have uncovered in the previous stages and factoring all of those insights into your final decision. As long as you are taking some new insight from this process, whether considering the value added of the device you are choosing or calculating its associated running costs, you are taking a step in the right direction – moving from purchasing a security system to making an investment that can reap better rewards for your organization.

Completing this exercise of working through the various scenarios attached to purchasing different security devices will set you up to optimize the system you buy to your company’s benefit. Rather than making a choice based on upfront cost, you are making a decision with the long-term view in mind and reducing the risk of unpleasant surprise costs cropping up in the years to come.

Working with the right partner to select the right system

Importantly, you don’t need to do this alone. The process of asking these questions helps you identify which partners are invested in your organization’s long-term success. It’s critical to find the right partner who will work through these scenarios with you to find the system that works in your best interest – both in terms of a total cost of ownership that works for you and a system that meets your requirements to drive long-term value.

Multisensor Cameras Become More Powerful Than Ever

Wide-area monitoring is an important part of video surveillance, especially for end users maintaining large, spacious areas such as airports, parking lots, and warehouses. Yet the challenge has always been the fact these areas need to be covered by multiple cameras, which can be costly and cumbersome to deploy.

Source: asmag.com; E-mail: editorial@asmideast.com

A single-sensor fixed IP camera offers high performance and great resolution, but it has drawbacks, the biggest of which is it covers a narrow field of view, which is a limiting factor when surveilling a wide area. Panoramic cameras overcome this problem by offering 180-, 270- or even 360-degree views of a given area, allowing users to monitor multiple sides all from a single device.

Panoramic and Multi-Directional View

Panoramic views can be enabled by a fisheye or multisensor camera. A fisheye camera has a single fisheye lens, producing a highly warped view of the scene. This leaves multisensor cameras, which include multiple lenses in a single unit, as an ideal choice. Multisensor cameras can be set up to offer panoramic and multi-directional views. Panoramic multisensor cameras fully cover a wide field of view. For example, a 180-degree camera can cover an entire street scene, and a 270-degree camera mounted on an outside corner of a building can provide total coverage in that space. These cameras are about providing situational awareness across wide areas.

Alternatively, multidirectional views can also be achieved. The sensors can be positioned so they point in multiple directions to offer detailed views from several angles in a particular area. They are ideal for areas such as hallways or road intersections, on outer corners of buildings, and especially in locations such as schools or retail stores.

 Higher Image Quality

“Multisensor IP cameras contain two or more stand-alone sensor/lens modules in a single housing. This gives the camera a much higher pixel density for each field of view resulting in significantly higher image quality than what is available from a wide-angle lens paired with a single sensor. With more sensors contained in a single housing, installers, and end-users benefit from reduced installation costs from the single mount and one network cable carrying both power and data,” said Rui Barbosa, Product Manager at i-PRO Americas. “Multisensor cameras also minimize the ports required on a PoE network switch while needing only a single software license for the VMS. These cameras also take up less space and are less intrusive than multiple individual cameras.”

Multisensor cameras offer various benefits. “Using only a single network cable and IP address, multi-sensor cameras take the place of several conventional cameras, allowing users to monitor multiple areas with one device,” said Uri Guterman, Head of Product and Marketing at Hanwha Vision Europe. “They offer significant cost savings for end users as they require far less cable, conduit, and mounting hardware, and involve a single installation process, single power source, single IP address, and single VMS license.”

Applications

The unique features of multisensor cameras make them ideal for any deployment where a high-quality, wide area of coverage is desired. “Multisensor cameras are extremely versatile and are suitable for large indoor and outdoor areas, regardless of the vertical market. For example, at an airport, a multisensor camera can be installed indoors to keep the terminals safe and secure by effectively monitoring the flow of traffic in two directions or outdoors to monitor the airfield. At a school, it can be installed indoors to protect hallway intersections or outdoors to safeguard the parking lot. For cities, the multisensor camera can provide optimal coverage of major road intersections,” said Hamish Dobson, Corporate VP for Enterprise Physical Security at Motorola Solutions.

Vertical markets that can benefit from multisensor cameras include retail, cities, transportation, government, education, and hospitals. However, these cameras are used for non-security purposes as well, helping end users achieve further business intelligence. Beyond security, multi-sensor cameras have been proven to decrease shrinkage, resolve staff and customer disputes, provide forensic documentation to build cases and prevent fraudulent claims, and improve traffic flows in traffic monitoring, amongst many other applications.

Retail, in particular, can benefit. Multisensor cameras can be embedded with various analytics software to help organizations better deal with various aspects of their business. For example, retailers could use the 180-360 degree vision/view of the cameras to see how customers move around a store, where bottlenecks appear, and where cash desks are busy, so they can optimize the layout of the shop floor for greater operational efficiency and an improved customer experience

Empowered with Artificial Intelligence

More and more, IP cameras are empowered by AI-enabled video analytics, which adds more intelligence to the camera. Multisensor cameras are not exempt from this trend.

“Adding AI to a multisensor camera means a user does not have to constantly monitor for events, as it automatically alerts operators to specifically configured events, for example, vehicles entering an area and people loitering. They also provide accurate object classification, object tracking, rapid event search, and the possibility of edge-based business intelligence. Adding AI also reduces false alarms,” Guterman said.

“The addition of AI to a multisensor camera can turn video security systems from a reactive to a proactive solution. Security operators monitoring site cameras for long periods can experience attention fatigue and stress, which may result in missed events. Multisensor cameras that come equipped with AI-powered video analytics can help detect and alert operators of potential events that may go unnoticed and need their attention, such as a person loitering or a vehicle trespassing, and help expedite response times and investigations,” Dobson said.

According to Barbosa, because AI-based analytics can be installed on each sensor, it allows much more customization with regard to analytics being used in each direction. “An installer might have one direction being used to count people coming through a door, while another direction might notify how many people are in a checkout line. A third direction could be monitoring unauthorized access to a restricted area. The possibilities are endless, and that fact that you can do all of this from a single vantage point is truly powerful,” he said.

Types of AI Used

At the minimum, AI used in multisensor cameras allows for object detection and classification. This enables the system to detect objects such as people, vehicles, number plates, and others.

Then, there are more advanced solutions that can further analyze details in the scene. “More advanced models classify attributes such as age, gender, color and type of clothing, accessories (such as a hat, face mask, glasses, bag) as well as vehicle type, make color and even model,” said Uri Guterman, Head of Product and Marketing at Hanwha Vision Europe.

Advanced AI analytics are able to run on these cameras thanks to more powerful hardware, especially the system-on-chip, that has enough computing power to execute complex algorithms.

“When processing on the edge, it’s important to have a powerful and flexible SoC that can support multiple analytics processes in parallel while consuming very little power,” said Rui Barbosa, Product Manager at i-PRO Americas, who used his company’s offerings as an example. “Because the field of AI is changing so rapidly, i-PRO has chosen the powerful Ambarella AI SoC which is also advancing the technology behind autonomous vehicles, IoT, and robotics.”

Indeed, AI and multisensor cameras form an ideal solution for different types of users, who can be more situationally aware and perform their tasks with more effectiveness. “These capabilities can provide greater insight into what is happening at the site, allowing security operators to make better-informed decisions and respond to events. Multisensor cameras have no barriers to using AI analytics compared to standard cameras and the value they bring depends on the use case, the installation, and the field of view,” said Hamish Dobson, Corporate VP for Enterprise Physical Security at Motorola Solutions.

Selection Process

There are certain key considerations to be made when selecting an AI multisensor camera. First, it must be noted that in order for the AI to work effectively, the image quality must be good. Therefore, the user should look at the various specs to make sure the camera can produce a good-quality image.

“Total resolution and frame rates are important specifications to consider. Multisensor cameras are intended to be deployed in large areas where people, vehicles, and important details might be far away from the camera. The higher the camera’s resolution and frame rates, the easier it will be for it to capture the level of detail required, giving a clearer picture of what’s happening at the site,” Dobson said.

“IR illumination is another important feature to consider, particularly for monitoring outdoor areas where dusk or nighttime can make it difficult to see. The option to have IR illumination on multisensor cameras allows security operators to see the site clearly even when it is poorly lit or completely dark,” he added.

Being able to work with the right VMS is another key factor to consider. “It’s crucial that the AI camera be paired with a VMS system that supports all the metadata that the camera is generating. If the VMS can’t support all the data from the camera, then the system is limited from the start. This is why i-PRO created the Active Guard plugin that can be installed in popular VMSs such as Genetec and Milestone allowing them to display and work with every attribute the camera can detect,” Barbosa said.

Optimizing Installation

How to install a multisensor AI camera is also critical if optimal results are desired. In this regard, various considerations also need to be made, for example, the area to be monitored, the field of view, and the ideal height for installation.

“For the best AI-based analytic performance, it’s important to not mount the camera too high. A well-placed multisensor camera can easily replace three or four standalone cameras at the corner of a building or a hallway intersection. For hallways, it’s also important to choose a camera that can optimize the aspect ratio to display more hall than a wall. Depending on the distance to be covered, it may be useful to specify 4K sensors to ensure the pixel density is high enough to discern faces and other distinguishing features,” Barbosa said.

“Multisensor cameras bring a lot of flexibility and can be installed in many different ways. For example, 180-degree multisensor cameras are typically used for wall-to-wall coverage, whereas 270-degree multisensor cameras are most suitable to cover building corners with no blind spots. On the other hand, 360-degree multisensor cameras offer excellent coverage when installed in the middle of intersections and wide areas such as parking lots,” Dobson said.

It’s good to note that there are certain online tools that can help optimize installation. “Online tools such as the Wisenet Toolbox Plus allow users to make simple field-of-view calculations and select the right capabilities, lens options, and accessories for their specific installation. System integrators can easily search, filter and compare product specifications side-by-side and then compile a list of the products required for a specific project. This, in turn, generates a report on the estimated bandwidth and storage requirements for the project,” Guterman said.

Bollards for More Advanced Storefront Safety

We often discuss electronic security systems such as video surveillance and access control. Yet certain physical barriers are also important elements in security. Among them are bollards, which have various applications.

By: William Pao, asmag; E-mail: asmag.com

Bollards serve many purposes. For store owners, bollards can play a key role in protecting customers/staff against vehicle crashes. “They can be used as delineation devices to separate moving traffic from another area. Sometimes this can be to delineate a vehicular traffic lane from a bike lane, or they can be utilized to differentiate a pedestrianized area (for example outside a stadium at the ticket lines) from a parking area or roadway. We also see them utilized many times to protect critical infrastructure (for example electrical equipment) or retail storefronts from vehicular impact,” said Joseph Hauss, President of Gibraltar Perimeter Security.

The Most Expensive Bollard in the World

Retail storefront safety can be much enhanced by bollards, the lack of which can be quite devastating. This is underscored in an incident in which, according to an article by the Security Industry Association, a Chicago-area man lost both his legs after an accidental crash in 2017 outside a 7-Eleven store where bollards were not installed. According to the article, the man in February received a record-breaking US$91 million settlement from 7-Eleven.

To this, Rob Reiter, Principal at Reiter and Reiter Consulting and Co-Founder of the Storefront Safety Council, commented: “What’s the most expensive bollard in the world? The one that was not installed in front of the sidewalk at a 7-Eleven store in Chicago. I have been studying the problem of storefront safety and vehicle-into-building crashes in the United States since 2010. We founded the Storefront Safety Council in 2012 to bring focus and hard data to a serious public health and safety problem that was being overlooked. What we have found after all these years is that safety has been very often neglected in those retail and commercial areas where Americans most often eat, work, play and shop.”

Thousands Injured Annually

Using the council’s statistics, Reiter cited certain figures that are particularly alarming. “Vehicles run into commercial and retail properties more than 100 times per day or more than 36,000 times per year. Each year, more than 16,000 customers, pedestrians, and employees are injured, and as many as 2,600 are killed. Many of these crashes are low-speed parking lot incidents that are easily preventable,” he said.

He added: “In the recent 7-Eleven legal settlement, evidence was revealed that confirmed more than 6,300 storefront crashes occurred at unprotected 7-Eleven stores over 14 years. Approximately 800 stores were struck three times or more, with more than 100 struck more than five times. The totals worked out to 1.3 storefront crashes per day or about 500 crashes per year at unprotected stores.”

These incidents highlight the importance of installing bollards at these premises. “Some of these areas have no protective bollard devices in place, while other places have bollards in place, but it is the wrong bollard and they still have an incident. The best practice is to procure a crash test-certified bollard from a reputable U.S. manufacturer,” Hauss said. “Bollards can be designed with aesthetics in mind with a number of decorative sleeve designs and marketing wraps that can be utilized as a revenue driver for the end user, as it can be ad space.”

Selection

The next question, then, becomes how to choose the right bollard solution for the storefront. According to Hauss, most bollards are made of carbon steel or stainless steel that is crash test-certified. “However, there are some products in the marketplace that combine proprietary materials outside of this in their design with some combination of carbon steel and/or stainless,” he said.

He adds that the user should also identify what their threat vehicle is and the location and traffic directions around the facility. “Is it just nose-in parking and pedal error that you are concerned with, or could a vehicle come off the road directly into your building at 50 miles per hour (for example errant vehicle at high speed)? Do you have high-value assets in your store that make it a target for ram raid attacks where someone will try to physically knock down the security bollard with multiple impacts from a vehicle to leave it and make a getaway in another vehicle? These are just a couple of questions to look at when identifying the correct bollard and the vehicle type and penetration necessary for your facility,” Hauss said.

Installation

The installation of these bollards is also important. According to Hauss, bollard spacing depends on vehicle vector analysis. “There are sites where nose-in parking is at a 45-degree angle and others at 90-degree. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) spacing also must be looked at when implementing bollards, which can differ by the municipality on what their minimum requirements are for gaps. Can the vehicle actually come in at 90 degrees? This is an important question on the spacing,” he said.

Hauss adds that spacing can also depend on the manufacturer and how they were tested and certified. “Typically, 48- to 60-inch maximum clear spacing between bollards will accommodate the angled and nose in parking and meet ADA, but you must look at how the product was tested and certified,” he said. “If a product was tested with 36-inch spacing and it is installed at 48-inch clear, it may change the loading, as two to three bollards would be impacted in the test, but only one bollard would be hit in the actual 48-inch installation, as most vehicles are less than 8 feet in width. It all starts with utilizing a well-versed consultant that knows what products are in the marketplace and then utilizing a reputable U.S.-based manufacturer.”

ISSUES

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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.