Senstar unveils new sensor fusion engine driven by Symphony common operating platform

Video management and perimeter intrusion detection solutions specialist Senstar has issued its new sensor fusion engine which synthesises data from multiple sensors to generate actionable information.

“The concept of sensor fusion isn’t a new one, but we’ve taken it beyond simple Boolean logic integration to develop an engine that analyses real-time data alongside historical, locational, environmental and classification data before generating an alarm,” explained the company’s chief technology officer Jeremy Weese. “The resulting decrease in nuisance alarm rates and increase in system confidence enables security operators to focus on what’s important. Specifically, a quick and efficient response to real security threats.”

The Senstar sensor fusion engine accesses low-level data to intelligently characterise potential risks and data synthesis enables the system to achieve levels of performance that exceed those of the individual sensors. For security applications, this has direct and practical benefits, including the ability to maximise the strengths of individual sensor technologies, while at the same time avoiding their shortcomings.

When signal response data from outdoor sensors is synthesized with video analytics data, nuisance alarms generated by wind or debris are virtually eliminated, while the system’s high probability of detection is maintained.

Game-changer for the industry

“Senstar’s sensor fusion engine is a game-changer for the industry as it specifically addresses one of the top concerns for perimeter security, which is that focused on nuisance alarms,” said managing director Fabien Haubert. “Senstar continues to differentiate itself by advancing security technologies and simplifying deployment to better serve customers in the utilities, logistics and energy sector markets.”

Driving Senstar’s new sensor fusion engine is the Senstar Symphony common operating platform, which is a modular solution for security management and data intelligence. In addition to being an open and highly scalable video management system with built-in video analytics, it includes fully-featured access control and perimeter intrusion detection modules. The Senstar Symphony Common Operating Platform is the latest expansion of the Senstar Symphony video management software, itself a leading solution in the security industry for close on two decades.

Milestone and Briefcam bring premium forensic analytics to XProtect customers

With the introduction of XProtect Rapid REVIEW, Milestone Systems’ customers will be able to accelerate investigations and find what they are looking for with speed and accuracy. Powered by BriefCam’s video analytics technology, hours of video recordings can now be reviewed in minutes, bringing enhanced decision-making and momentum to any investigation.

Milestone’s XProtect Rapid REVIEW is an intelligent video analytics solution that allows security operators and investigators to efficiently search through hours and hours of video recordings and pinpoint exactly what they’re looking for in minutes.

Powered by the innovative BriefCam video analytics technology, XProtect Rapid REVIEW is an add-on product that’s seamlessly integrated into Milestone’s XProtect Smart Client. The product is supported on all paid XProtect VMS products.

“XProtect Rapid REVIEW is an ideal solution for those Milestone XProtect customers looking to enhance their VMS investment with premium forensic video analytics,” explained Gili Rom, vice-president of strategy and alliances at BriefCam. “Through Milestone and its vast partner ecosystem, BriefCam is thrilled to be able to tap into a segment of the market not currently addressed.”

Bjørn Skou Eilertsen, chief technology officer at Milestone Systems, responded: “Clearly, XProtect Rapid REVIEW is an important tool for our customers to help them speed up their investigation and, in general, work smarter with their VMS. Bringing the best solutions to customers is our key focus.”

Cross-camera video searches

XProtect Rapid REVIEW enables highly accurate, cross-camera video searches and filtering based on an expanding suite of classes, attributes, behaviours and visual layers that help investigators pinpoint people, objects and behaviors of interest.

The VIDEO SYNOPSIS technology gives the operator the ability to visualise objects simultaneously that appeared at different times within the video.

“The launch of XProtect Rapid REVIEW is a strategic partnership to bring video analytics closer to our core product and add further value to our customers’ XProtect investment,” continued Eilertsen.

“We want to enable businesses and Governments to harness the power of data insights, which can then help them to address the scarcity of resources, security threats and other challenges. Sometimes, we may find that the best option is to integrate analytics in XProtect. That said, openness is built into Milestone’s DNA, XProtect remains an Open Platform VMS, and we continue to deliver the video management solutions that best solve customers’ needs through strong partnerships with our technology partners.”

*For further information visit https://www.briefcam.com/

Senstar introduces TC200 thermal camera to UK market

Senstar, the perimeter intrusion detection and video management solutions specialist, has introduced the Senstar TC200 thermal-visible, dual-video detection camera for outdoor site security.

A smart camera that detects intruders with high accuracy and low nuisance alarms, the Senstar TC200 combines the power of thermal detection with that of visible HD colour for reliable 24-hour security.

Along with on-board video storage, automatic stabilisation, LED illumination, long-range and wide-angle options as well as dual-sensor video analytics, the Senstar TC200 helps to prevent crime, theft and business disruptions.

“With outstanding detection performance in a cost-effective package, the Senstar TC200 is an ideal option for protecting fenced-in yards and perimeters, enabling remote video monitoring applications,” explained Brad Martin, director of product management. “With the ability of the Senstar TC200 to complement intrusion detection sensors and integrate with the Senstar Symphony Common Operating Platform, Senstar can now offer an even more powerful and comprehensive perimeter security solution.”

The Senstar TC200 is now available in 30 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and here in the UK.

*Additional detail can be accessed online at www.senstar.com

Qognify joins NVIDIA Metropolis Partner Programme

Qognify, the technology solutions provider for enterprise operations and safety, has joined NVIDIA Metropolis, a programme designed to nurture and bring to market a new generation of applications and solutions that make the world’s most important spaces and operations safer and more efficient with advancements in Artificial Intelligence vision.

As a business, Qognify offers various video management Internet of Things solutions that help customers safeguard people and assets. The rise of IP camera deployments and the increasing number of video streams per installation has made it more essential than ever to add an automated perception layer to the image stream through video analytics in order to better understand how an enterprise’s space is being used. This is where NVIDIA with its Metropolis platform comes into play as the system helps Qognify reliably detect and classify important objects in the video stream.

NVIDIA Metropolis makes it easier and more cost-effective for enterprises, Governments and integration partners to leverage world-class Artificial Intelligence-enabled solutions in order to improve critical operational efficiency and safety problems.

The NVIDIA Metropolis ecosystem contains a large and growing breadth of partners who are investing in the most advanced Artificial Intelligence techniques and the most efficient deployment platforms and also use an enterprise-class approach to their solutions. Partners have the opportunity to gain early access to NVIDIA platform updates and further enhance and accelerate their Artificial Intelligence application development efforts. Further, the programme offers the opportunity for partners to collaborate with industry-leading experts and other Artificial Intelligence-driven organisations.

Chen Porat, vice-president of R&D at Qognify, stated: “The NVIDIA solution does all the heavy lifting for video analytics in combination with our own video analytics platform. We’re planning to roll-out to all of our VMS products in the future. It moves resource-intensive calculations to the GPU and therefore gives back bandwidth to the CPU to manage other tasks needed by our physical security solutions.”

Risk mitigation solutions

Qognify helps to safeguard today’s organisations, focusing on the outcomes of customers who place a premium on physical operations. Providing solutions to mitigate risks and optimise operations, Qognify serves thousands of customers all over the world as a trusted advisor.

The comprehensive portfolio of Qognify solutions encompasses physical security and incident management solutions, which add value for businesses in many sectors including manufacturing companies, transportation authorities, retail chains, banks and other financial institutions, ports and seaports, logistics service providers, schools and universities, correctional facilities, critical infrastructures and cities.

Headquartered in New York, Qognify operates major development hubs in Germany and Israel as well as sales and support offices around the globe.

*Additional information is available online at www.qognify.com

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

 

VCA Technology launches “powerful” AI video analytics solution

VCA Technology, the provider of video analytics, has announced the release of VCA Server, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Deep Learning-based video analytics software suite providing a key upgrade to the company’s flagship VCA Core platform.

Offering simple integration with VMS and NVR manufacturers’ technologies, the new release ensures that sophisticated analytics can be set up and installed within as little as 15 minutes, allowing end users to significantly reduce false alarms with minimal disruption.  

Central to VCA Server is its Deep Learning filter which is pre-calibrated to immediately recognise vehicles and people, delivering an ‘instant analytics’ application. Its focus on ‘event filtering’ can, for example, distinguish foliage movement, shadows and changes in weather conditions from suspicious activity, enabling more accurate distinctions between true events and false positives. This makes it ideal for monitoring sterile zones and closed site installations, as well as managing perimeter protection remotely.

The VCA Core rule and feature sets are still available within the new release and, for high density sites such as airports and Shopping Centres that require a more comprehensive set-up, there’s still the option to use ‘Logical Rules’ alongside the extensive calibration features and the Deep Learning filter.

The new release is compatible with both remote and local servers and can produce basic data or more comprehensive metadata, depending on end users’ requirements.

Also available in a rack-mounted unit, VCA Server is suitable for projects from four to 64 cameras and ideal for applications with or without a VMS, where it would be used in conjunction with a local NVR, for example. This provides installers with an extremely cost-effective solution and enables them to use VCA Deep Learning analytics at a significantly lower cost than the industry standard.

Kevin Waterhouse, managing director at VCA Technology, explained to Risk Xtra: “There’s a misconception among integrators and installers that AI-based video analytics demand high processing requirements, making them cost prohibitive. However, our technology is compatible with all IP cameras of varying capabilities, as well as the most popular VMS and NVRs, greatly reducing cost and installation time. By quickly and seamlessly incorporating AI and Deep Learning into their existing portfolio, security providers can now future-proof their business by providing end users with intelligent and real-time video analytics.”

Waterhouse added: “For end users, the launch of VCA Server means that there’s now a more comprehensive solution that goes beyond just surveillance. With budgets being squeezed, companies are looking for surveillance solutions that can overcome industry bottlenecks and do more with less. This is where AI and Deep Learning significantly push the boundaries of standard video analytics.”

IDIS Global Partners Summit highlights developments in analytics and end-to-end solutions for strategic markets

The latest advances in video analytics – including improved classification, accuracy and speed – were unveiled at a Global Partners Summit of international security and video surveillance professionals hosted by IDIS in Seoul, South Korea.

The three-day event, attended by senior executives from leading security distributors from 23 countries, focused on how IDIS is responding to market trends and needs, developing end-to-end solutions (including specialist technologies for a range of vertical markets) and pushing forward with improvements to the IDIS Deep Learning Engine, the technology which powers the company’s ‘AI in the Box’ and IDIS Deep Learning Analytics solutions for end users.

Earlier this year, IDLA Version 3.0 was introduced as a service module for up to 80 channels within the IDIS Solution Suite VMS and it set new performance benchmarks by achieving an accuracy of 97%-98% while dramatically reducing false alarms. Responding to customer demand for easier, more affordable analytics for smaller applications, IDIS also launched its aforementioned DV-2116 ‘AI in the Box’ solution.

Delegates learned of future enhancements in meta-data searching by class, colour and number, plus the ability to search a specific area of interest. People counting, fall detection and the ability to search by the direction of an object’s movement were also previewed and delegates received advanced notice of a new range of AI-ready 5 MP cameras, featuring deep learning on-the-edge analytics, due for release next year.

Technology roadmap for 2020

The Global Partners Summit also previewed IDIS’ ambitious video product and technology roadmap for 2020, further building out the company’s end-to-end solutions for core vertical market sectors.

Innovations in recording and camera technology, and the growing importance of cyber security, extended warranties and the advantages of delivering lower total cost of ownership and lower total cost to serve for systems integrators and installers were among key topics discussed at the event.

IDIS works closely with its partners and hosts the annual Global Partners Summit as an opportunity to exchange market insights and steer its strategies for product development, technical support and marketing.

Partners shared Best Practice implementations and related Case Studies in core vertical markets including retail, education, logistics and distribution and hotels.

Awards for Best Practice

Joon Jun, president of the IDIS Global Business Division, recognised outstanding project implementations and presented special awards for Best Practice to Alarm Automatika from Croatia and BTCO of Chile.

This collaborative approach, focusing on long-term partnerships, is a key element in the company’s success. It’s a customer-focused model that has seen IDIS grow continuously since 1997 to become Korea’s largest in-country video surveillance manufacturer, with regional operations now expanding across 50-plus countries.

Concluding the Global Partners Summit, special partner awards were presented by YD Kim, CEO of IDIS, recognising outstanding collaboration and sales growth over the last year. These were given to Alarm Automatica of Croatia, CCTV Center from Spain, EPCOM of Mexico, JES CQTEC of Thailand and Japan’s Secure Inc.

Joon Jun

“The expertise, energy and commitment from all our partners at this year’s Global Partners Summit demonstrates yet again that collaboration is that the best route to success,” said Joon Jun. “Together, we’re giving our customers the most advanced video surveillance solutions, ease-of-use and installation, scaleability and protection against today’s cyber security risks.”

Facit Data Systems launches new website to showcase video analytics portfolio

Since its inauguration five years ago, Facit Data Systems has grown to become one of the market’s foremost providers of video analytics and compliance software. Now, the company has launched an all-new website designed to showcase its solutions for end users.

A host of operators are maximising organisations’ CCTV investments by generating business intelligence to improve sales, staffing efficiency, customer experience, safety and compliance.

Facit Data Systems’ People Counter, Queue Manager and Heat Map solutions operate cost-effectively over installed CCTV cameras and are system agnostic. Identity Cloak auto redaction software launched in 2018 to help Facit Data Systems’ customers comply with strict General Data Protection Regulation guidelines for video data.

The new Facit Data Systems website reflects the business’ work with the UK’s largest brands in retail, banking, healthcare and public space, as well as its partnerships with some of the world’s most trusted specialists.

*Visit the new Facit Data Systems website

Milestone Systems opens new UK Innovation Hub

Milestone Systems, the instigator of the open platform community in networked video management software (VMS), opened its new UK headquarters on Thursday 25 April at the Landmark Business Park in Reading, Berkshire.

The new Innovation Hub has been designed to support Milestone’s wider community of technology partners and features a new state-of-the-art Experience Centre complete with wall-to-wall screens for a fully immersive virtual presentation experience.

Attendees at the launch were able to witness the Experience Centre in use during a presentation by Dave Gregory, business development manager for Northern Europe at Milestone Systems.

Dave Gregory of Milestone Systems making a presentation at the launch of the company’s all-new Innovation Hub

The Experience Centre is the focal point of the new Innovation Hub and features six 65-inch screens as well as a video wall. The Experience Centre’s look and feel can be easily adapted to mirror that of the company brand using the Centre, and offers users a dynamic virtual presentation experience that captures the innovative nature of the Milestone community of technology partners.

The Innovation Hub has a working demo set-up of Milestone’s software and hardware solutions, together with some of its ecosystem partner integrations including – but not limited to – partners such as Axis Communications, BriefCam, Venzo, Nedap, Lenel and Bosch. This means that end users and channel partners alike can experience Milestone’s next generation open platform capabilities such as Artificial Intelligence-based video analytics (eg facial recognition) or user-friendly integrations for perimeter protection solutions like radars and intrusion detection systems.

A new training facility was also showcased at the launch event and will welcome up to 25 attendees at a time to take part in a variety of one-hour Continuing Professional Development courses in addition to Milestone’s certification courses that are already up-and-running. The training facility is also available to the Milestone partner community to use as training hub for a range of sessions.

Neil Killick briefs attendees at the official opening

Neil Killick, regional leader for Northern Europe at Milestone Systems, commented: “The launch of this new Innovation Hub in the UK is testament to the performance and dedication of the UK team. I’m proud to open this new facility that’s as much for our wider community as it is for the team here. Milestone’s open platform is the driver of innovation and collaborative solutions in the security space and beyond. The same spirit of openness is behind the launch of this new Innovation Hub.”

The overriding aim of the new facility is to nurture Milestone community partnerships, better showcase the open platform capabilities and introduce Milestone and its technology partners to vertical sectors beyond the security space.

Shining a light on Raytec and Wavestore’s systems integration move

The recent announcement that Wavestore’s open platform Video Management Software (VMS) has been successfully integrated with Raytec’s lighting solutions means that operators are now able to match the security requirements for individual locations throughout a site with a wide range of lighting options managed directly from Wavestore’s front-end ‘one screen, total control’ display. 

Raytec and Wavestore’s technical teams have worked closely together to develop an intelligent lighting solution which can be controlled via Wavestore’s VMS by simply clicking on fully-customisable buttons. The solution also enables the ideal lighting for each situation to be automatically selected when a moving object is detected or by metadata-triggered events from other systems and software, such as access control, ANPR, alarm sensors, cameras, face recognition and other forms of video analytics.

“There are so many different reasons why our end user clients may need supplementary lighting and this smart solution provides them with the flexibility to choose from a long list of options which exactly meet their requirements,” explained Enrico Bizzaro, head of integrations for Wavestore.

Minimising energy costs

“Our clients tell us that minimising energy costs and light pollution is important to them, so this integrated solution has been designed to ensure lights are only turned on when needed. This could be, for example, at an access control reader location in order to visually verify the identity of a card holder or to enhance the ability to read the number plate of a vehicle entering a site. Lighting is also quite often used to add to the deterrent factor of a video surveillance system and, in this respect, operators can choose different options such as SOS, Hi-Lo and Wave light effects.”

The benefits offered by the deep level of integration between the two technologies are available  as standard across Wavestore Premium, Wavestore Enterprise and Wavestore Ultimate channel license levels. 

First to support Hybrid LED illuminators

Wavestore was the first VMS to support Raytec’s Hybrid LED illuminators which bring the benefits of White Light and infrared technology into a single unit. With less cabling required, the 2-in-1 solution reduces installation costs as well as negating the capital cost of deploying two separate lighting units.

Wavestore enables the Hybrid LED illuminators to be controlled individually or as a group with all commands, such as scheduled on/off timings and brightness, securely authenticated by Wavestore in order to prevent unauthorised access to the illuminators over the network.