Security & Safety Things “sparks new era” in video surveillance with commercial availability of supported cameras

Security & Safety Things is “set to reshape innovation in video analytics and computer vision” with the commercial availability of a number of new IP security cameras from a variety of vendors that leverage the Security & Safety Things open and secure Internet of Things platform. This new generation of security cameras will employ the free Security & Safety Things camera operating system, which enables the cameras to run multiple Artificial Intelligence-enabled applications in parallel.

The apps automate the analysis of video data to produce valuable operational intelligence for business optimisation as well as provide easy-to-deploy tools that can aid in re-opening measures from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Organisations of all sizes around the world need flexible and easy-to-deploy solutions that enable compliance with constantly changing pandemic-centric Health and Safety mandates and provide future value to ramp up and optimise their ongoing business operations,” stated Hartmut Schaper, CEO of Security & Safety Things.

He continued: “Companies can now deploy cameras running the Security & Safety Things operating system and use a selection of apps from our Application Store to detect the absence of facial coverings in a retail environment. The next day, that same camera can help the same retailer optimise merchandise placement based on store footfall, in one store or throughout the enterprise, along with further optimisations.”

First camera manufacturer

This month, Qisda/Topview will be the first camera manufacturer to launch a camera running the Security & Safety Things operating system, followed in quick succession by AndroVideo, who will also start shipping its own Security & Safety Things-enabled cameras in Q2.

Bosch is making its INTEOX camera line available as of July followed by Vivotek and BSTsecurity, who plan to ship a bit later in Q3. The first devices from Hanwha Techwin that run the Security & Safety Things operating system are expected to be commercially available in Q4. Security & Safety Things, Hanwha Techwin, Vivotek, Bosch, Qisda/Topview and AndroVideo are all members of the Open Security and Safety Alliance.

The free Security & Safety Things operating system is built on the Android Open Source Project. It leverages the expanding processing and analytic power of modern IP cameras to exponentially increase the amount of operational intelligence that can be mined from traditional IP-based surveillance footage.

The applications that can be installed on these cameras, both in an on-premise as well as a remote setting, are created by highly specialised third party developers and available through the platform’s open Application Store. This already features more than 50 applications from more than 35 developer partners, with more than 30 additional apps expected to be available the store very soon.

Typical use cases

In addition to pandemic applications, use cases include the detection of weapons, behavioural analysis, payment systems for garages, drone threat detection and even identifying objects presented for purchase in a cash register transaction for cashier-free retail environments.

Together with some of its camera and system integration partners, Security & Safety Things is already running projects in a live setting. These projects use, for example, heat mapping and queue analysis in retail stores and automated payment processing and license plate recognition for barrier-free traffic.

These types of applications are running in pilots with the parking management solutions provider Peter Park as well as with the leading mobility provider SIXT.

*More information about the Security & Safety Things platform and how businesses can benefit from the platform can be found at www.securityandsafetythings.com

**For an overview of the Artificial Intelligence video apps currently available for the Security & Safety Things-supported cameras, the Application Store may be viewed at https://store.securityandsafetythings.com

 

Genetec unveils collaborative case management system to improve investigation workflows

Genetec, a leading provider of open architecture IP security solutions, has developed Genetec Clearance, a case management system specifically designed to speed up investigations by allowing different organisations to collect, manage and share video evidence and other relevant case information.

Genetec Clearance is expected to be available in Q4 2016 via subscription, through certified Genetec channel partners and resellers.

Genetec Clearance allows police officers, investigators and security managers to gather digital evidence from a variety of sources (such as Genetec’s Security Center and other video management systems, body-worn devices, in-car systems and mobile phone footage from bystanders and witnesses) and easily store, manage, review and share it from within a single application.

Genetec Clearance enables collaboration across independent agencies and private sector organisations. All pertinent files related to cases (video files as well as audio, images and documents, etc) are centralised and can be securely shared between investigators or requested by third parties without needing to physically ship or deliver the recordings.

As the application is not licensed per seat, access can be shared with as many users as needed without incurring any additional fees. With built-in video redaction (patent pending), the privacy of bystanders can be protected by allowing identifiable information to be masked before sending video to other stakeholders. All user actions initiated within the system, whether internal or external, are automatically tracked to ensure the chain of custody of the evidence is maintained at all times.

“The increased evidence that’s now available from video surveillance systems, body-worn cameras and witnesses can help solve crimes,” explained Erick Ceresato, product manager at Genetec. “However, the sheer amount of data to be managed can also become cumbersome to process and review, in turn increasing the time spent on case preparation rather than the investigation itself. That’s why we’ve developed a case management system to help automate certain tasks that are frequently performed on a manual basis and to facilitate collaboration between law enforcement, corporate security departments, legal entities and the public.”

Today’s organisations are looking at ways to streamline their evidence sharing process while maintaining stringent audit capabilities. The growing volume of video recordings has become increasingly complex to manage and it’s important for users to collaborate while also maintaining a clear chain of custody. As Genetec Clearance supports many common video codecs, video evidence can easily be reviewed, while also eliminating the time-consuming manual process of video codec conversion.

Designed as an open platform, Genetec Clearance APIs can be used to integrate with third party systems and automate the upload of video recordings and associated metadata to be reviewed within the system. Integration with Record Management Systems enables law enforcement departments to automate the creation of new cases with their existing record system, thereby reducing the need for duplicate data entry.

Genetec Clearance is available on a subscription basis and includes access to all the latest software updates and features. Updates are automated within the system as they become available, requiring no additional intervention from the client’s own staff.

*For more information on Genetec Clearance visit www.genetec.com

Genetec and MOBOTIX unveil details of new technology integration partnership

Genetec, a leading provider of open architecture, unified IP security solutions, and MOBOTIX (the German manufacturer of video surveillance devices) have announced a technology relationship in which both companies will work together on R&D, testing, business development and sales support for new and existing enterprise clients.

Both companies enjoy a global reputation for quality, reliability, first class customer support and expertise in delivering flexible security solutions.

Genetec’s Security Center unifies video management, access control, ANPR and communications management within a single intuitive platform. The new technology partnership will offer single and multi-site management for MOBOTIX edge devices, leading to greater efficiency for a higher level of security.

MOBOTIX enhances video for physical security applications, business operations, process monitoring and sustainability through reliable camera hardware, decentralised architecture and energy efficiency. The company’s solutions include both optical and thermal imaging sensors.

Genetec and MOBOTIX have a footprint in more than 70 countries. Through this partnership, they’ll be able to offer customers from SMEs through to those managing enterprise multi-site deployments a flexible end-to-end IP video security solution.

“We’re happy to enter this technology partnership with Genetec as we recognise a natural synergy with the highly-scalable unified security platform that Security Center represents, as well as the catalogue of IP cameras and compression technology that MOBOTIX offers,” said Dr Tristan Haage, chief sales officer at MOBOTIX.

“With two recent 500-plus camera customer deployments in Europe and the Middle East, both companies are already realising the advantages of a highly-integrated hardware and software solution for enterprise deploymentsy,” added Hagge.

“As Genetec grows its presence in Germany, we realised the many symbiotic advantages we share with MOBOTIX,” observed Francis Lachance, director of product management at Genetec. “With MOBOTIX joining the Genetec ecosystem of technology partners, we’ll be able to offer the many differentiating features and capabilities MOBOTIX brings to the table, fully integrated with Security Center. It’s a win-win relationship.”

Genetec introduces new subscription-based ownership model for Security Center

Genetec, a leading provider of open architecture, unified IP security solutions, has announced a new subscription model for its flagship unified security platform designated Genetec Security Center.

Security Center Subscription introduces new flexible ownership and payment options that allow customers to gain access to Security Center on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ basis. Subscribing customers receive the same local, on-premises version of Security Center and pay for it on a monthly or annual basis, as opposed to purchasing the entire system up front.

When purchasing on subscription, customers also benefit from the Genetec online support resources and qualified support professionals’ expertise either by phone or through live chat, as well as access to Security Center Cloud services with risk-free trials included in the price.

Security Center Subscription is available immediately through the new Genetec self-service portal.

Changing business model

A recent Gartner industry report noted that, by 2020, more than 80% of software vendors will change their business model from traditional license and maintenance to subscription, regardless of whether the software resides on-premises or in the cloud.

Along with the flexibility and affordability of a subscription model, the Gartner report finds that the value of short-term predictability trumps long-term costs, particularly when the ease of adding or relinquishing licenses is included in the picture.

The subscription model also moves the purchases from capital expenditure (CAPEX) to operational expenditure (OPEX). This enables customers who are looking to upgrade their systems to Security Center to do so from operational budgets allocated to their older, less capable security software.

“In the past few years, companies like Adobe, IBM, Oracle, Netflix and many other software companies have adopted flexible buying models with impressive success, offered as Technology-as-a-Service via the cloud or as a traditional on-premises installation with monthly or annual renewals,” said Andrew Elvish, vice-president of product management and marketing at Genetec.

“Genetec is leading the way in the physical security industry by offering customers an alternative ownership option for our successful video surveillance platform. Not only will customers enjoy the same fully-featured version of Security Center, but they will do so with lower up front expenditures, predicable recurring costs and access to the latest releases and Genetec support resources, all at no additional charge.”

Introducing Security Center Compact

As part of its new subscription model, Genetec is introducing Security Center Compact, a new entry-level edition of Security Center.

Only available through subscription, Security Center Compact supports up to 25 cameras and provides an easy ‘no training required’ option for customers with basic video management requirements.

A good fit for smaller sites, Security Center Compact systems can also be linked to larger systems through the Genetec Federation feature, allowing for centralised monitoring (as seen with city-wide surveillance and multi-site businesses or campuses).

The Compact edition features all of the camera integrations available in the enterprise edition of the software such that customers can choose the vendors they want to work with and design a system that best suits their business.

In addition to providing smaller site video surveillance, Security Center Compact offers a clear path as an organisation’s security needs evolve over time. Security Center Compact end users can simply update their subscription and purchase a higher edition of Security Center as their system grows, in turn avoiding the need to install and/or re-deploy new system software.

Introductory 90-Day Trial for Compact Edition

Beginning this month, Genetec-certified channel partners can sign up for a 90-day trial of Security Center Compact. To take advantage of this limited-time promotion, channel partners should visit the Genetec Channel Partner Portal for an instant download.

*For more information about Genetec Security Center Subscription and Genetec Security Center Compact visit: http://www.genetec.com/subscribe

Centre for Retail Research survey reveals continued strong trend towards network IP-based security solutions

According to the latest Centre for Retail Research annual survey into the use of CCTV in the retail sector, over 60% of UK retailers are planning to adopt network IP in the next three years while nearly one third have already made the move.

278 UK retailers representing 20,350 stores responded to the survey which was commissioned by Axis Communications. The data collated shows that 92.8% of those retailers currently use CCTV. Of these end users, 32.1% have already upgraded to network IP technology. This represents a 2.5% rise in take-up from the previous year’s figures.

That trend is even more pronounced across the wider northern European region, with 58.5% (weighted average) of analogue CCTV end users reporting that they now plan to switch to network IP. This represents a significant increase of 17% on the 2012 survey figures.

Now in its fourth year, the CCTV in Retail survey polled 2,200 retailers and realised 673 respondents from across northern Europe. The results were presented at the recent Retail Fraud Show by Atul Rajput (regional director for northern Europe at Axis Communications) and Professor Joshua Bamfield, director at the Centre for Retail Research.

Reacting to the results, Rajput commented: “The migration from analogue CCTV to network IP continues to be of huge importance to the retail sector, with the majority of UK retailers (60.3%) now planning to convert in the next three years. Over three quarters (77.1%) of those retailers own a retail estate of between 26 and 500 stores. This is likely to be the biggest single factor impacting on retail security as digital surveillance and network video become the standard. Certainly, for the UK we believe that the migration to network IP has become the norm. It’s no longer a question of ‘If’ but ‘When’ the technology will be adopted.”

Atul Rajput: regional director for northern Europe at Axis Communications

Rajput went on to state: “The survey suggests that customer theft is still the biggest security challenge facing retailers at the present time. Nearly a quarter (24.2%) of respondents comment that their main reason for using CCTV is to prevent or investigate theft. 80% of respondents cite the prevention of internal or external theft and better safety as the main drivers for their use of CCTV.”

Continuing this theme, Rajput explained: “The UK as a whole has embraced the benefits that CCTV can bring. 22% of those end users surveyed in this research state that the main benefit of CCTV is a reduction in theft, with an estimated average fall in losses of 15% – the highest prediction in northern Europe and up on the previous year. Couple this with the fact that 14% of respondents cite ‘quality of image’ as an important driver for the use of network video – a 40% increase on the previous year – and it’s clear to see that the HD images network video can offer are critically important for retailers when it comes to driving down theft and improving safety.”

Integration with business intelligence applications

The survey also asked respondents about their attitudes towards potential future application systems and networks for digital surveillance, including non-security issues.

Over a quarter (27%) of the replies cite ‘integration with business intelligence applications’ as the main reason for adopting network IP – the highest in the UK and across northern Europe.

“High street stores are still the origin of most retail transactions but carry the highest overheads,” added Rajput. “That being the case, the need to reduce both the cost and complexity of in-store surveillance systems and, at the same time, ‘sweat the assets’ further becomes absolutely vital. This is where network IP really holds the advantage as it can be used to improve both service and sales, not just security, and subsequently deliver a real return on investment.”

Rajput continued: “The use of cloud-based video systems has shown an increase in interest from UK retailers. So too has the subject of non-security applications. Nearly half (49.9%) of respondents are interested in queue management and people counting (49.2%) as new tools for improving both operational sales and marketing performance.”

In conclusion, Rajput commented: “In addition to the rise of non-security applications, big data, cloud and mobile technologies are all trends impacting the retail sector. As network video is an open platform solution and seamlessly allows integration with these technologies, it can help to maximise the return on in-store video investment by extending its use beyond pure surveillance into becoming a business optimisation tool.”

Speaking about this year’s survey results, Professor Joshua Bamfield added: “The survey clearly highlights the continued move towards IP-based camera systems across the retail sector. It’s a growing trend driven by the need for HD-quality images and the increased adoption and use of business-focused analytics. These are two areas where IP systems demonstrate a clear advantage over older technologies.”

Bamfield also explained: “The survey results further suggest that retailers continue to appreciate the added benefits an IP-based system can deliver which is evident in the high convergence rate each year.”

*The CCTV in Retail survey engaged retailers from both large and small companies across a wide variety of sectors and attracted 673 responses from the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The research was carried out by the Centre for Retail Research between July 2014 and August 2014