ASSA ABLOY has acquired Bird Home Automation GmbH, a German manufacturer of high-quality IP door intercom for single and multi-family buildings, for indoor station or smartphone control, marketed under the trademark Doorbird.
“Doorbird is a strategic technological addition to the ASSA ABLOY Group and will reinforce our offering with IP door intercom and provide complementary growth opportunities,” says Nico Delvaux, President and CEO of ASSA ABLOY.
“I am delighted to welcome the Doorbird team to the EMEIA Division. This acquisition supports our efforts to accelerate our growth in the Smart Residential segment and continue our journey as a leader in home security. Doorbird has built a successful and attractive product and service offering, that is highly respected in the markets they serve, and I look forward to working with them on their evolution within the ASSA ABLOY family,” says Neil Vann, Executive Vice President of ASSA ABLOY and Head of EMEIA Division.
Doorbird was established in 2014 and has around 110 employees, with its main office located in Berlin, Germany. Sales for 2021 amounted to about MEUR 21 with a strong EBIT margin.
Adria Security Summit 2022, the largest conference and exhibition dedicated to security and converging industries in SE Europe, closed its doors on October 6 following a two-day event that took place in the Croatian capital of Zagreb.
The organizers have reported report that this event has been the largest and the most successful one so far, continuing the upward trend that the Summit experienced since its inception.
With 2500 visitors from more than 30 countries and 136 sponsors and exhibitors, the event has not only signaled the full recovery of a whole range of industries following the pandemic but rather its potential to cover new grounds as it breaks new records. For the sake of comparison, let us recall that the last year’s event in Belgrade has seen more than 70 exhibitors and 1500 participants.
Next, a total of 48 presentations and side events, all helmed by eminent experts, touched upon every hot issue across the industries, including security, smart cities, home automation, mobility, cyber security, ICT, and IoT.
Case studies also figured prominently during the event, with top-ranking presenters being handed over awards for the most innovative projects. This time, the honors went to the 1st ranked company Securitas Croatia for its achievement in managing the projects involving perimeter protection along the Croatian borders.
The second award went to Konica Minolta for its case study of the way in which modern-day video technologies can easily extend their application and usefulness beyond security implementations, while Hikvision secured the third place for its case study of the implementation of converged technologies in the Amadria Park resort in the Croatian town of Šibenik.
To round things off, the Summit also premiered the official presentation of the trailblazing startups across industries. They were presented with appropriate awards for their achievements in this business segment which was dominated by Robotiq (1st award), Zuluhood (2nd award), and Glog (3rd award).
The organizers expressed satisfaction with the event and its attendance and thanked all participants for their part in the organization of the event on the largest scale so far. A comprehensive report on the event as yet another success story for the Adria Security Summit brand will be published in the next issue of Adria Security Magazine.
Adria Security Summit will continue its journey in 2023 – stay tuned for more news.
Security Essen has long been one of the central events in the calendar of security professionals. Therefore, after a four-year break caused by the pandemic, as well as the organizer’s decision to continue holding the fair in even years, there was a great interest by our editorial team to see the latest technological innovations and meet famous faces again.
However, interest waned somewhat when we saw that only three and a half halls were open and full, compared to the former twelve. With 1,040 exhibitors and more than 40,000 visitors from 119 countries in 2018, the fair dropped to 383 exhibitors and 17,000 visitors. This is a 63.1 percent decrease in the number of exhibitors, and a 57.5 percent decrease in the number of visitors. Big players such as Bosch, MOBOTIX, Axis, Milestone, ZKTeco etc. were absent, further impoverishing the once impressive event.
Focus on higher ranking visitors
The organizers, on the other hand, interpreted the situation differently. The CEO of the fair, Oliver P. Kuhrt, said that “the exhibitor presentations were top-class and led to intense discussions”, shifting the focus to the quality of the exhibited technologies, and that “with Security Essen, they offer the industry a strong strong platform in a strong market”, meaning the German market, where turnover in this economic sector increased by 7.5 percent to more than 24 billion euros last year. Also, the decrease in the number of people who came to learn about the latest available products and solutions was interpreted as a reflection of the trend of attracting more high-ranking visitors, because, according to the organizers, 77 percent were decision makers who invest or arrange investments in their companies. Such, they say, were “very satisfied with their visit to the trade fair – particularly with the wide range of products and services covering all areas of civil security, as well as the presence of many market leaders and industry giants”.
Telenot was one of them. “We have seen a clear trend towards better quality visitors. Whether they represented industry, corporate groups or retail chains, the security professionals who came to specifically Security Essen were all highly trained experts. There was great interest in both our professional access control technology and our new motion detector, which was presented during the fair and is already available on the market. The numerous specialist installers particularly asked about our even larger range in the area of intrusion and fire alarm technology. Security Essen 2022 has surprised us in a good way. We will definitely be back in 2024,” said Peter Wunderle, CEO of Telenot.
AI, digitisation and cloud solutions as main trends
It was clear that artificial intelligence (AI), digitisation and cloud solutions will significantly shape the future of civil security. Among other things, learning robot systems were on display, which carry out site surveillance tasks or provide information as visitor assistants. There was also strong interest in complete systems, where software, terminals, administration, analysis and maintenance services all come from a single source. As the progress in AI, Internet-of-Things technology and digitisation requires storage space for use and the amounts of data generated, cloud solutions were also in demand. Associated storage systems are also becoming increasingly important.
Start-ups had brought along plenty of new ideas for the security industry. At the joint stand sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Economics Affairs, they demonstrated intelligent robot systems designed as dogs, innovative solutions for recording working time and even storage containers for valuables hidden in inconspicuous furniture.
In the next, 183rd issue of the a&s Adria magazine, we will talk more about the technological innovations that we had the opportunity to see and hear at the stands of some of the world’s largest companies.
Save the date
The high level of satisfaction among trade visitors and exhibiting companies is reflected in the trade fair surveys. Nine out of ten visitors would recommend Security Essen to others. Nine out of ten companies expect good post-fair business due to the positive course of the fair. Almost all exhibitors stated that they had reached their most important target groups. Already now, 89 percent of the visitors and 88 percent of the exhibiting companies stated that they would be present again at Security Essen 2024.
The next Security Essen will take place from 17 to 20 September 2024 at Messe Essen. Interested exhibitors can find the registration documents online at www.security-essen.de.
The national railway company of Belgium, NMBS/SNCB, has successfully deployed a real-time location service platform with BEEKs Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) beacons from HID to accurately monitor train location and ensure on-time departures.
NMBS/SNCB maintains and operates 3,607 kilometres of track and approximately 30 train stations throughout Belgium with passenger safety and on-time departures serving as key priorities. Prior to the HID solution, when an approaching train reached a preset GPS coordinate, an app on the onboard attendant’s smartphone would signals software at the station to start running the digital safety-check programme to ensure passengers can safely disembark and the train can depart for the next station on schedule.
However, many locations such as tunnels, have limited cellular coverage. When this happens, the train’s GPS location can appear as far as 10 kilometres away from the station, thwarting the entire safety check process.
“We knew we had to find a different way to mimic someone’s location within the vicinity of the station. That is when the idea of using HID beacons to transmit a specific ID came into play,” explained Nathan Willekens, Innovation Project Manager, NMBS/SNCB.
NMBS/SNCB deployed HID Global’s real-time location services (RTLS) platform and BEEKs Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) beacons on its platforms to ensure the safety check process would not be compromised. Now, when the system detects the Bluetooth device, it is given priority over the potentially inaccurate GPS signal.
“We were impressed not only with the accuracy — we knew with more certainty that the train was in the location identified by the beacon — but also by the efficiency with which the beacons were able to operate and the area they could cover,” said Willekens.
According to HID Global, NMBS/SNCB is planning the system to be deployed in at least 10 additional stations across Belgium.
The Open Security & Safety Alliance (OSSA®) Continues to Innovate
for the Industry, By the Industry
The Open Security & Safety Alliance (OSSA®) was founded in late 2018 by major industry stakeholders to enable an influx of innovation across the security and safety markets. Our industry body is comprised of member companies from all facets within the security, safety and building automation categories – and together we work to 1) create device harmony, 2) ensure proper matching of demand and supply between devices, apps and audiences and 3) ensure we adhere to appropriate cyber security standards.
Specifically, over recent years, our members helped guide the creation of open standards that (when applied) allow for easy and cyber-secure integration of third-party AI analytics applications to run agnostically on video cameras, gateways and other computer vision/smart camera devices. This group of industry experts drives an open platform principle to open up the industry and take IoT security and IoT surveillance to the next level.
OSSA® Application Interface Specification: This technical specification defines a set of four interfaces which collectively enables third-party software applications to run on video security cameras following the common OSSA Technology Stack.
OSSA® Compliant Camera Definition Specification: This technical specification sets the core system requirements for video security cameras following the common OSSA Technology Stack to provide a basis of trust and to ensure app interoperability across vendors.
OSSA® Camera Cyber Security Specification: This technical specification contains definitions and guidelines regarding mandatory and optional cyber security measures for cameras. The mandatory part of these guidelines will be used as an input for the OSSA certification framework that’s forthcoming.
Hardware manufacturers simply design IoT smart cameras according to OSSA specs, and end-users gain access to an unfolding forum of AI advancements and business opportunities (see Driven by OSSA details and products here). Technology company and OSSA member Azena created a corresponding and agnostic operating system (OS) that connects with the industry’s biggest online Analytics App Store in support of this collaborative issue.
Making Data Flow to Enable Flexible IoT Solutions
Now, in 2022, we are further refining the Alliance’s focus by standardizing consistent and uniform data interpretation and consumption, thereby opening the door for security and safety solutions and sensors to gain a better understanding of each other’s data sets.
Members are expanding their attention from realizing third-party applications on brand-agnostic cameras and AI boxes/gateways, to designing corresponding ontologies and communications protocols to further unlock data produced, stored and (currently) confined to millions of “things” – things that have the potential to share important digital data that can help us not only ‘see’ but more importantly ‘sense’ and ‘understand’ what’s happening across an area under surveillance. For example, providing the ability to intelligently cross-reference or combine data from a simple CO2 meter with that from other “things” such as video security cameras to detect and respectively verify if a meeting room is occupied or not.
The Alliance’s push to make the sensing data that our industry constantly produces better and more uniformly consumable and interpretable across the aisles (i.e., across brands, devices, applications and beyond) is an important next step for us all. Tapping into stagnant data reservoirs and enabling resources to securely flow data outside of current digital siloes will open up a tremendous new corridor of IoT-based possibilities.
More good work needs to be done. And we welcome additional industry experts and innovators to join our effort. Participation levels are flexible and completely up to you. We offer very affordable membership levels – and there is an open seat waiting at the OSSA table for anyone with an interest in bettering our category alongside other forward-thinking individuals and organizations.
We look forward to more good industry collaboration from the Adria Security Summit October 5-6 in Croatia. Stakeholders from all areas within the security industry continue to meet up at points around the planet to align and bring more intelligence to our security and safety systems. OSSA’s security alliance members are at the center of important orchestration – and we look forward to bringing new participants into the fold to help steer the next chapter in security. Connect with us here!
Whereas Avigilon has been a Premium Technology Partner of Advancis ever since last year already, Advancis is vice versa now also part of the Technology Partner community of Avigilon.
Avigilon Control Center (ACC) video management software is completely integrated in the Winguard open PSIM platform from Advancis, so that it is possible to observe live streams, control cameras (PTZ), request playback videos, and more. Advancis’ Winguard ACC integration is compatible with ACC6 and ACC7 versions.
Laura Flamm Technology Partner Manager at Avigilon, states: “With this integrated solution, situational awareness is enhanced for the end users and provides efficient and intuitive security information management capabilities.”
VIVOTEK’s VC9101 is a high-performance split-type camera system. Its discreet design, rich functionality and ability to be flexibly integrated into even the tightest spaces, make this camera ideal for indoor or covert surveillance of ATMs, banks, stores and offices. The VC9101 features a separate camera unit (CU series) and video core design, enabling the tiny camera unit (with 5-meter long cable) to be easily and flexibly installed into any decoration or interior design, thus preserving stylish appearances while dramatically saving on installation time and cost.
Key Benefits:
· The camera unit that can be connected to the core unit can be positioned up to 5 meters away, enabling the tiny camera unit to be easily and flexibly installed into any decoration or interior design.
· The split-type camera system can be used to monitor spaces such as ATM’s, elevators, a single large space, or to provide different types of views, among other possible usage scenarios.
The video surveillance market is projected to grow from USD 48.7 billion in 2022 to USD 76.4 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 9.4% during the forecast period. A number of factors, including increased camera capabilities, maturing technology, features, and customised systems, are making it easier for integrators to meet the demand from end users willing to upgrade legacy surveillance systems to meet their security and operational needs. This is according to the latest information coming out of the research company, Marketsandmarkets.
Security concerns and advancements in technologies demand real-time remote monitoring on any device at any time by end users such as retail stores, manufacturing sites, enterprises, warehouses, and banks to detect unusual events on their premises.
Storage devices hold the largest share
While DVR’s are considered as cost effective storage solutions, NVR’s provide an IP based recording solution over a centralised network providing more flexibility than DVRs. With the growth of IP cameras that record videos at higher resolutions and framerate, some of these cameras simultaneously record sound alongside the video. These factors have increased the storage requirements; hence, storage devices are projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period compared to cameras, monitors, and other accessor.
IP surveillance systems to show the highest growth
Along with the basic features, advanced IP cameras have enhanced filtering capabilities that can monitor the image and video data even in low light conditions. The network interface and PoE interface are used to transmit the data over a network. For advanced camera features, such as PTZ and PWM, motor drivers can be used to rotate the camera with PTZ capabilities. Although the upfront cost of IP video surveillance systems is higher compared to an analogue CCTV system, the total cost of ownership (TCO) over time is lower compared to analog video surveillance systems. Analysts found that some of the strongest players in this field include Hikvision, and Dahua Technology, Axis Communications, and Bosch Security and Safety Systems are among the major players providing IP video surveillance systems consisting of cameras, storage, and software.
City surveillance boosts infrastructure vertical
City surveillance is the dominant application for the video surveillance infrastructure market and is projected to grow at a high rate. An increase in investments by governments of various countries to increase safety levels in public places is also projected to boost market growth. The increasing number of smart city projects will require the implementation of various security and surveillance systems, thus driving the growth of the infrastructure market during the forecast period.
Fastest growth comes from APAC countries
Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region in the video surveillance market owing to heavy investments in infrastructure and smart city projects. The use of security cameras in Asia Pacific is expected to increase owing to the massive deployment of city surveillance networks in China to monitor millions of citizens across the country. The increasing urbanisation in Asia Pacific has led to the development of new cities and manufacturing and retail industries, among other application areas in other countries. The rising penetration of surveillance cameras in small and medium-sized enterprises, hospitality businesses, airports, ATMs, banks, residential buildings, and religious places, among other places, is also expected to drive the video surveillance market growth. According to Marketsandmarkets, the major players in this region include Dahua Technology, Hikvision, Hanwha Techwin, and Uniview.
On Thursday, September 8, OPTEX will present FlipX, a new highly accurate, and flexible indoor detector.
Installers and end-users in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) can now take advantage of FlipX, a new range of flexible indoor sensors from OPTEX, the leading global sensor manufacturer. New techonlogy features a bespoke pyroelectric sensor for increased performance that adapts to the human shape, and a unique lens that can be ‘flipped’ to provide both narrow and wide detection in a single sensor.
This ‘flipped’ lens has been designed with flexibility in mind. It effectively gives installers “2 sensors in 1” to satisfy multiple customer demands. It helps installers manage both their inventory and their cashflow while giving them the versatility and confidence of arriving on site with the solution they need to match their customer’s needs.
The new indoor sensor series is built on OPTEX’s extensive track record of providing outstanding sensing performance for intruder detection applications. By simply rotating the lens through 180°, the sensor can be used to protect narrow or long areas such as a hallway up to 18m, or a wide, open area like a living room or retail store up to 12m at 85°.
FlipX Standard, the first to be released from the new series, is a Grade 2 sensor, that also features a digitally enhanced signal recognition logic called Super Multi-Dimensional Analysis (SMDA), which means nuisance alarms caused by changes in light or temperature can be avoided.
Following the FlipX Standard launch, OPTEX plans to release other models in the FlipX series in late 2022/ early 2023.
Genetec, Motorola Solutions and Milestone Systems continued to grow their combined global share of the market for video surveillance software and service agreements in 2021, according to a new report from Novaira Insights. The research shows that this global market was worth $2.4 billion in 2021 with around 68% of this outside China. The, so-called, “big 3” grew their combined share of the market for video surveillance software and managed services to over 35% in the world excluding China.
The supply base for video surveillance software outside China remains very different to that of the Chinese domestic market. China continues to be mainly served by large domestic vendors. In contrast, the world excluding China is served, not only by the big 3, but also by a multitude of other suppliers, each with a small market share of less than 3%.
Novaira Insights’ latest report, “The world market for video surveillance hardware and software”, shows that, outside China, the market for video surveillance software and managed services grew quickly at 10.1% in 2021, as restrictions on movement due to the Covid-19 pandemic eased and pent-up demand for video surveillance equipment was served.
According to Jon Cropley, principal analyst at Novaira Insights, “An important factor in the big 3 continuing to grow market share in future will be their strategies for cloud. We are forecasting that the market for cloud video management software will grow much faster than the market for on-site video management software licenses. So far, each of the big 3 has adopted a different approach to cloud so it will be interesting to see how these approaches evolve going forward”.
The pandemic appears to have catalysed interest in cloud video surveillance. 53% of respondents in a Novaira Insights 2022 survey of North American end-users indicated that the pandemic had either started, accelerated, or greatly accelerated their organisation’s cloud strategy specifically related to video surveillance. Furthermore, 68.3% of respondents thought their organisation will move to managing or storing more of its video surveillance data in the cloud in the next two years.
According to lead analyst and founder of Novaira Insights, Josh Woodhouse, “The medium-term future for many video surveillance installations will be largely a hybrid approach in which software is hosted off-premise in the cloud but a primary tier of video storage is on-premise. Cloud storage will likely be increasingly used but this will be often in conjunction with on-premise storage tiers.”
