Glasgow Science Centre invests in Hanwha Techwin video surveillance

The management team at the Glasgow Science Centre has invested in a new video surveillance system from Hanwha Techwin to help create a safe environment for visitors who wish to enjoy the site’s extensive facilities which include over 400 interactive exhibits, a planetarium and a space zone.

As one of Scotland’s most popular visitor attractions, the Glasgow Science Centre – which is located at Pacific Quay on the south bank of the River Clyde that runs through the city centre – is an educational charity that seeks to inspire and motivate people to engage with the subject of science. Its work is supported by a not-for-profit visitor experience in addition to other revenue streams, with all the income it generates being reinvested to support its charitable purpose.

The contract to install the new video surveillance system, which features cameras sourced from Hanwha Techwin, was awarded to the Scottish Communications Group, itself one of the UK’s leading independent communication and electronic security system integrators. In fact, the company installed the original analogue CCTV system when the site first opened in 2001.

Glasgow Science Centre

“We have had a close, long-term business relationship with the Glasgow Science Centre and we’re delighted to have had the opportunity to build on this partnership by being entrusted to design, install, commission and maintain the new system,” commented Stuart Leslie, sales director for the Scottish Communications Group.

“The old analogue system had done an excellent job over the years,” added Leslie, “in helping to keep visitors safe by ensuring staff and contractors comply with Health and Safety procedures. However, in terms of features and functionality, as well as the image resolutions of the cameras, the system wasn’t able to deliver the benefits offered by the latest generation of cameras.”

Camera installation

A total of 68 new Wisenet cameras have now been installed at the Glasgow Science Centre by the Scottish Communications Group, 48 of which have been deployed as replacements for what was the old existing analogue cameras, while 20 additional cameras are installed in new locations to negate any blind spots and afford the Control Room operators greater situational awareness.

Leslie and his colleagues took advantage of the advice available from Hanwha Techwin Europe’s pre-sales team to ensure that the most suitable Wisenet internal and external cameras were specified for each of the 68 camera locations. As a result, 40 cameras were selected from the Wisenet Q IP network Series which. The models feature built-in IR illumination and are able to capture clear, sharp 2 MP and 4 MP images, regardless of lighting conditions.

These bullet and mini-dome cameras also feature Wide Dynamic Range, which performs at up to 120 dB to produce clear images from areas that present a challenging mix of bright and dark areas. For example, the Glasgow Science Centre’s reception area can receive strong sunlight at times.

The remaining 28 bullet, PTZ and mini-dome cameras have been selected from the Wisenet HD+ Series of analogue models and are able to deliver “superb quality” 2 MP HD images over coaxial cables. Wisenet HD+ cameras minimise the cost and disruption of installing new data cabling as they can support the transmission of HD images using standard coax cabling – without any latency or image loss – at distances of up to 500 metres. 

Further, without the need to incur the cost and time of installing encoders, converters or switches, yet more savings can be achieved.

Images from the cameras are recorded on either a Pentabrid ‘hybrid’ recorder or a Wisenet NVR, with each of the five devices offering up to 12 TB of storage.

Foremost priority

“The safety and security of our visitors is always our top priority,” affirmed Robbie Galbraith, facilities manager at the Glasgow Science Centre. “We have therefore invested in the very latest technology in order to significantly upgrade the capabilities of our video surveillance infrastructure and, in doing so, provide our security colleagues with a powerful tool which will allow them to respond quickly and effectively to any incidents that may occur.”

Galbraith concluded: “We’re very happy with the performance of the new system and pleased that we could take advantage of the cost-saving benefits of the Wisenet HD+ cameras without compromising on quality or functionality. We firmly believe that we now have a video surveillance system which will be fit for purpose for many years to come.”

Medium distance Wisenet QVGA thermal cameras unveiled by Hanwha Techwin

Hanwha Techwin has strengthened its ‘affordable’ Wisenet QVGA resolution thermal camera range with the introduction of two medium distance models designed to help provide perimeter protection of large open sites.

The TNO-3050T with a fixed 35 mm lens is able to detect vehicles at a distance of up to 4,472 metres and people at 1,750 metres, while the Wisenet TNO-3040T has a fixed 19 mm lens and detects vehicles at up to 2,428 metres and people at 950 metres.

The two new IK10/IP66-rated, vandal-resistant and weatherproof thermal cameras, which complement existing thermal models within the Wisenet T series, capture images at up to 320 x 240 resolution.

A temperature detection feature triggers an alert if there’s a rapid, significant change in temperature, with operators able to define up to three ‘regions of interest’ within a camera’s field of view.

The cameras are also equipped with a suite of video analytics which includes enter/exit, appear/disappear, direction, virtual line, loitering, shock and tamper detection.

When operating in complete darkness, the effectiveness of the cameras is further enhanced by audio analysis functionality, which recognises critical sounds such as gunshots, explosions, screams and broken glass.

The open platform cameras are also able to support third party video analytics applications, such as the edge-based intruder detection application developed by Hanwha Techwin’s technology partner A.I Tech. 

Key features

*Operating temperature of -40°C to +60°C.

*IP66, IK10 and NEMA4X rated for protection against water, dust and mechanical impact

*Digital Image Stabilisation with built-in Gyro sensors which comes into effect when a camera is disturbed by wind or vibrations (this delivers more stable images, while also compensating for roller shutter effects)

*A Hallway view feature enables end users to monitor tall and narrow spaces more effectively in 3:4 or 9:16 aspect ratios

*Support for H.265, H.264 and MJPEG compression formats, as well as WiseStream II (a complementary compression technology which improves bandwidth efficiency by up to 75% compared to current H.264 technology, when combined with H.265 compression)

*Micro SD/SDHC/SDXC slot which allows up to 256 GB of video or data to be stored at the edge should there be disruption to the network

*PoE which negates the need to install a power supply and reduces cabling requirements

Unlike traditional cameras which rely on light to see images, thermal cameras pick up heat signatures of objects and are unaffected by extreme conditions, such as complete darkness, harsh weather, bright lights, fog and smoke. They also offer an effective solution for applications where there are concerns about light pollution.

*Access further information online at http://www.hanwha-security.eu

Motor Fuel Group in charge thanks to Wisenet cameras

Motor Fuel Group (MFG), the UK’s largest independent forecourt operator, has entrusted Wisenet cameras manufactured by Hanwha Techwin to help protect its major investment in electric vehicle charging hubs.

With the sales of electric vehicles growing, MFG is accelerating its plans to offer ultra-rapid, electric vehicle charging bays with up to 12 charging bays at each location across its 900-plus station network. Dedicated Wisenet video surveillance systems are being installed to detect and deter vandals, as well as maximise the customer experience by helping MFG personnel to quickly identify if any charging equipment has been damaged.

Andrew Edwards, group infrastructure director at MFG, explained: “Reflecting the wish of many drivers to own eco-friendly vehicles, we expect the sales of electric vehicles to continue to rapidly increase year-on-year, which is why we’ve made a commitment to lead the market with the provision of fast, clean and 100% renewable energy.”

The contract to install the Wisenet systems was awarded to AGE CCTV, a division of AGE Electrical Services Ltd. “We’ve been installing new video surveillance solutions and upgrading existing systems at MFG forecourts for over 15 years,” explained Jason Gargiulo, managing director of AGE CCTV. “In all cases, we’ve used Wisenet cameras in line with MFG’s decision to single-source cameras and recording devices from Hanwha Techwin.”

Gargiulo added: “It was just a simple matter of working with Hanwha Techwin’s pre-sales and technical teams in order to specify which Wisenet camera from the company’s extensive range would best assist MFG’s personnel to observe close up detail of any activity occurring at the charging hubs.”

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Bullet cameras

Depending on the number of charging bays at each location, AGE CCTV has installed one or more 5 MP Wisenet QNO-8080R bullet cameras.

The QNO-8080R is a true day/night camera equipped with built-in IR illuminators which enables it to capture superb quality images regardless of the lighting conditions. It also benefits from enhanced Wide Dynamic Range functionality which performs at up to 120 dB to produce clear images from scenes containing a challenging mix of bright and dark areas (which normally results in overexposed or underexposed images).

With many MFG electric vehicle charging sites being unmanned, authorised MFG personnel are able at any time to remotely access the live images captured by the H.265 Wisenet QNO-8080R cameras or retrieve the recorded video of any incidents. They can do so from a desktop PC or laptop by using Hanwha Techwin’s management software or conveniently via their smart phones or tablets by making use of the Wisenet mobile app.

The images are transmitted over 4G technology and, in this respect, the WiseStream II complementary compression technology built into the QNO-8080R models is proving to be a significant benefit. Bandwidth efficiency is enhanced by up to 75% compared to current H.264 technology when Wisestream II is combined with H.265 compression.

MFG has never hesitated to invest in the latest technology to ensure that its people, property and assets are kept safe and that the highest quality of service is provided for its customers.

Andrew Edwards concluded: “We’re delighted with how AGE CCTV and Hanwha Techwin are continuing to work in partnership to help us achieve our key objectives as a business.”

Hanwha Techwin launches temperature detection thermal camera

The dual-purpose Wisenet TNM-3620TDY camera from Hanwha Techwin is equipped with QVGA thermal imaging and HD capabilities designed to help businesses operate safely during the COVID-19 era.

The TNM-3620TDY is a bi-spectrum, multi-channel device which incorporates a QVGA-class thermal imaging camera and a 2 MP video surveillance camera. As such, it can detect heat and measure temperature with a very high degree of accuracy, while providing visual verification of people within its field of view.

In body temperature mode, the QVGA-class thermal imaging camera is able to estimate a person’s temperature within a range of 30⁰-45°C, with +/-0.5⁰C accuracy. When supported by black body technology, the accuracy increases to +/-0.3⁰C, allowing the TNM-3620TDY to provide a strong indication that a person may have a fever.

Offering support for deep learning AI-based face detection functionality, the TNM-3620TDY can measure the temperatures of up to ten individuals in real-time at a distance of up to 3 metres, with operators able to choose to view either the captured thermal images or standard HD video images.

IEC 60601 certification

The TNM-3620TDY is compliant with a series of device technical standards for the safety and essential performance of medical electrical equipment published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

In addition, Hanwha Techwin has completed the FDA facility registration process and device registration for the TNM-3620TDY in respect of FDA 510(k) clearance which is in progress.

In normal radiometric mode and with a high degree of accuracy, the thermal imaging camera detects and measures changes in temperature within the -20⁰C to 130°C range. End users are able to set up detection zones to cover specific areas of interest within the camera’s field of view. This provides a powerful tool which generates alerts when there’s a threat of fire in recycling, waste management and landfill-type facilities where spontaneous combustion may occur. A detected change in temperature may also be a warning that machinery in factories, processing plants, cold stores or utilities is faulty.

In addition, a spot detection feature enables operators, via a web viewer, to click on any pixel within an image and obtain a measurement of the temperature of the area covered by that pixel.

WiseStream II technology

The TNM-3620TDY supports H.265, H.264 and MJPEG compression formats, as well as WiseStream II, a complementary compression technology which dynamically controls encoding, balancing quality and compression according to movement in the image.

Bandwidth efficiency is improved by up to 75% when compared to current H.264 technology when WiseStream, which is unique to Wisenet cameras, is combined with H.265 compression.

The 2 MP video surveillance camera features a set of Intelligent Video Analytics which include directional detection, motion detection, enter/exit, virtual line, audio detection and camera tampering detection.

The TNM-3620TDY has a Micro SD/SDHC/SDXC slot which allows up to 256 GB of video or data to be stored at the edge should there be any disruption to the network. Video evidence, which potentially might have been lost, can therefore be retrieved when the network connection has been restored.

Capability to deliver

“Regretfully, some so-called ‘fever screening’ solutions devised by other manufacturers have attracted negative publicity,” said Uri Guterman, head of product and marketing for Hanwha Techwin Europe. “In my view, this is because they’ve been oversold in terms of what they’re capable of delivering.”

He continued: “Although we’ve often been the first to market with new product developments and technologies, in this instance we’ve taken the time to develop the TNM-3620TDY and ensure that it’s fit for purpose. We highly value the trust our customers and business partners have in our ability to provide solutions which do not compromise on performance and quality. In this respect, they can be confident that this camera will meet, if not exceed, their expectations.”

In conclusion, Guterman stated: “The TNM-3620TDY is a great addition to our suite of COVID-related solutions, which includes face mask detection, occupancy monitoring and AI deep learning-based social distance measuring applications.”

Smart R Distribution provides vital link for CCTV expansion at New Cross Hospital

As a direct consequence of COVID-19, many hospitals have needed to quickly erect new portable buildings to expand the capacity of certain sensitive areas. In turn, this has created a requirement to immediately expand the scope of existing CCTV systems to ensure Control Room operators are able to monitor and react appropriately to any suspicious activity in the vicinity of the new buildings.

New Cross Hospital, which is run by the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, is just one of many throughout the UK faced with the challenge of ensuring all areas of its campus can be monitored on a 24/7 basis. Providing 700 beds and employing circa 9,500 members of staff, it’s the largest teaching hospital in the Black Country, having been originally built in 1900 as a workhouse.

The need to install a new 4K camera in a location over 300 metres from the hospital’s Control Room initially seemed daunting in terms of the cost of laying the network cabling normally needed to transmit the ultra-HD images captured by IP cameras.

“Apart from the cost of the engineering work and the disruption caused by installing the new cabling, it would also have taken several days to achieve,” said Dan Mather, director of Derby-based JKE Security who’ve enjoyed a long-term working relationship with the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust.

“We clearly needed to find a much simpler and cost-effective solution which would enable our clients to take full advantage of the superb quality images captured by 4K cameras and, if necessary, pass evidence of any wrongdoing to the police.”

Finding the solution

Mather sought advice from Smart R Distribution, the Haverhill-based specialist electronic security products distributor. The business was able to offer Mather an assurance that its own brand 602POE-2P single port PoE Ethernet Extender would be able to reliably support a new 4K Wisenet PNP-9200RH dome camera by facilitating the transmission of the IP images over the hospital’s existing coaxial cabling.

The Smart R 602POE-2P is proven to be able to robustly transmit data over any two-wire cable and, with the ability to handle bandwidth of up to 200 Mbps, is more than capable of coping with the transmission demands of the Wisenet 4K camera.

“Although we didn’t source the camera directly from Smart R, it could not have been easier to connect it to the Ethernet Extender,” said Mather. “It was truly a case of plug-and-play, with both devices installed, configured and working within half a day.”

Commenting on the successful installation of the new camera, Paul Smith (head of security and car parking for the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust) said: “During this challenging time, it’s essential that we’re able to continue to provide a secure and safe working environment for all our heroic colleagues who are so compassionately caring for people suffering from the Coronavirus. I’ve been impressed with how quickly various companies within the electronic security supply chain have been able to join forces and use their combined expertise to provide us with an efficient and cost-effective solution.”

Hanwha Techwin awarded Milestone Platinum Technology Partner status

Milestone Systems has accredited Hanwha Techwin as a Platinum Technology Partner. The Milestone Technology Partner Programme, which formalises a high level of co-operation between Milestone and leading manufacturers, comes with a rich set of benefits and well-defined requirements.

The main objective of the Partner Programme (which has three levels, with ‘Platinum’ being the highest) is to ensure that mutual end user clients are able to achieve maximum value from their video surveillance systems.“We’re delighted to be acknowledged by Milestone in this way,” said Uri Guterman, head of product and marketing for Hanwha Techwin Europe. “The Platinum Partner accreditation reflects our ability to co-operate with Video Management Software (VMS) developers to assist system integrators in providing end users with easy-to-implement and easy-to-operate integrated video surveillance solutions.”

Guterman added: “The ability of Milestone’s VMS to support existing as well as future generations of Wisenet cameras means they can be controlled and monitored alongside devices and systems produced by other third party manufacturers, as well as being integrated with specialist analytics applications.”

Hanwha Techwin “stands out from the crowd” in “competitive surveillance market”

Bob Hwang, managing director of Hanwha Techwin Europe, has provided an indication as to what’s in the company’s 2019 product pipeline. Here, he explains how working ever more closely with distribution partners and leading system integrators, and valuing the feedback they provide in terms of changing market demands, has delivered huge dividends for Hanwha Techwin when it comes to devising a successful product strategy.

We’ve enjoyed significant sales success over the past three years. There’s no doubt that this is largely due to our ability to truly understand how the market is evolving, which we have been able to do with the help of our field-based sales colleagues and our talented teams who have taken on board our customers’ feedback.

In addition to introducing new cameras and recording devices, this has also driven us to work in partnership with third party technology providers to develop solutions which are relevant to today’s market and provide our distribution partners and system integrators alike with a competitive edge.

During 2019, our customers can be assured that we will continue to be a market leader by taking advantage of emerging technologies which will enable them to achieve maximum value from their Wisenet video surveillance solutions.

Bob Hwang

New products and solutions

Hanwha Techwin will be formally launching new additions to its Wisenet range throughout 2019 and we’ve given a strong indication as to what’s in the product pipeline.

With Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep learning – which present exciting new opportunities for a wide range of sophisticated applications – now becoming more accessible to solution developers, we intend to introduce more solutions which support the latest AI technology.

The Wisenet 5 chipset, which is at the heart of the Wisenet X Series of cameras, will be used in other camera lines. There are also plans to introduce an even more advanced Wisenet 7 chipset.

There will be an updated version of the Wisenet WAVE Video Management Software (VMS) offering improved scaleability and interoperability for medium-sized installations, as well as a new version of Smart Security Manager which is designed for entry level, legacy and special projects. We shall continue to cooperate with third party VMS vendors for our high-end customers.

A key attribute of the new products which will be introduced over the coming months is that they’ve all been designed to improve the installers’ experience and reduce operational costs for end users. 

Smart solutions for vertical markets

We intend to sustain our efforts to seek out opportunities for introducing new and innovative solutions to complement existing Wisenet solutions developed jointly with our technology partners for strategic vertical sectors, such as retail and transportation.

Our Korean heritage and core values of ‘Challenge’, ‘Loyalty’ and ‘Integrity’, which are at the heart of our ‘We Move With Trust’ central marketing theme, have equipped the business to stand out from the crowd. In order to have a brand name which is trusted, it’s not sufficient just to have products which are better than those of our competitors or for them to be more affordable. We also need to demonstrate a long-term commitment to provide customers with the highest levels of pre- and post-sales support.

In this respect, our message encompasses respect for our distribution and solution partners, our passion for quality and service and an extended five-year warranty support which we offer to our STEP Partners as part of a package of benefits designed to reward their loyalty and give them a competitive edge. 

Determined not to be complacent, Hanwha Techwin has declared its intention to continually monitor and test cyber security risks using third party security agencies and a dedicated cyber security team. When necessary, we will release in quick time new firmware to counter the latest threats.

This is an exciting time for our security business. The year has already begun well with the recent announcement that our new manufacturing facility in Vietnam is fully operational. This is just one of many reasons why I’m confident we will continue to succeed and be competitive in a market that continues to grow at pace.

Hanwha Techwin cuts ribbon on new manufacturing facility in Vietnam

Hanwha Techwin has announced that its new 54,543 m2 manufacturing facility at the Que Vo Industrial Park in the Bacninh Province of Vietnam is now fully operational.

The strategic decision made in April 2017 to continue the expansion of Hanwha Techwin’s global security business by way of a $100 million investment in the new Vietnam-based facility, has been supported by the Vietnam Government’s ‘friendly policy’ and the securing of various logistics channels for import and export through land and neighbouring ports.

The new facility offers Hanwha Techwin the opportunity to considerably increase manufacturing output and reduce costs. Logistics will also be greatly improved, ensuring that orders from the company’s distribution partners are fulfilled more efficiently.

“I’m pleased to report that a significant percentage of Wisenet video surveillance products will be shipped from Vietnam from the beginning of this month.” said Bob Hwang, managing director of Hanwha Techwin Europe. “This is a very exciting time for Hanwha Techwin’s security business. Our new manufacturing facility and all of our new colleagues who work there will significantly contribute towards our ongoing success and our ability to be competitive in a market which continues to grow.”

A.I. Tech’s business intelligence technology sets the Benchmark

The technology that sits at the very heart of the Wisenet Biometrics and Retail solutions, which have been jointly engineered by Hanwha Techwin and analytic specialist A.I. Tech, has won the Business Intelligence category in the Benchmark Innovation Awards 2018 run by Risk Xtra’s sister publication Benchmark Magazine.

The Benchmark Innovation Awards are designed to recognise and reward innovative thinking and the delivery of benefits through advanced security solutions.

A Benchmark test team and an independent panel from the security industry judged products and solutions from across ten technology areas, with A.I. Tech’s AI-Tech video analytics winning the Business Intelligence category against stiff competition from the other shortlisted finalists.

Wisenet Biometrics and Retail solutions, which are supplied ready to work out-of-the-box, are designed to enable smaller retail chains, as well as smaller outlets such as convenience stores, CTNs and petrol stations to gain a greater understanding of the type and numbers of people who visit their outlets.

“We’re very pleased that A.I. Tech’s innovative video analytics technology has been recognised in the form of this high profile and prestigious award,” said Bob Hwang, managing director of Hanwha Techwin Europe. “This further justifies our strategy of working in close partnership with specialist application developers such as A.I. Tech in order to deliver on our promise of continually developing new and innovative solutions which make good use of our high-performance Wisenet open platform cameras.”

Hanwha Techwin Europe unveils pan-European marketing and training alliance with ADI Global Distribution

Hanwha Techwin Europe has teamed up with ADI Global Distribution to create a pan-European marketing campaign designed to raise awareness of – and highlight the advantages that – Wisenet cameras, recording devices and video management software offer to installers and system integrators alike.

The two companies will conduct a wide range of marketing activities including live demonstrations of the comprehensive range of Wisenet video surveillance solutions at roadshows and seminars, while also placing advertisements in leading European electronic security publications and producing bespoke direct mail communications and eNewsletters.

“This is our first pan-European marketing initiative with Hanwha Techwin,” said Simon Middleton, marketing director of ADI’s EMEA businesses. “Our decision to do so reflects the value we place on the relationship formed between our two companies. It also demonstrates the confidence and trust we have in the ability of Wisenet products to provide installers and system integrators who source video surveillance solutions from ADI Global Distribution with a competitive edge.”

Simon Middleton

Scope of the project

The campaign, which is to be implemented across all countries in Europe where ADI Global Distribution is working in partnership with Hanwha Techwin, will primarily be focused on educating the market on the benefits of Wisenet X cameras.

These 2 MP and 5 MP models are ‘supercharged’ by “the most powerful chipset ever incorporated into a full camera range” and equipped with “the world’s best motorised F0.94 varifocal low light lens” and “the world’s best 150 dB Wide Dynamic Range”.

In addition, the marketing campaign is designed to raise awareness of other Wisenet solutions including Wisenet HD+ analogue cameras which capture Full-HD images in 1080p without the need to upgrade cabling infrastructure, Wisenet Q entry level network cameras delivering feature-rich 2 MP or 4 MP images and premium, top of the range Wisenet P cameras delivering “superb quality” 4K (12 MP) images.

Wisenet solutions certificated training for ADI Global Distribution 

In support of the pan-European marketing alliance, Hanwha Techwin Europe has successfully completed the first phase of its certificated Wisenet product and solutions training programme for sales and technical staff across ADI Global Distribution in Northern Europe.

Hemant Trivedi

“This represents a major investment in time for both UK-based ADI Global Distribution and Hanwha Techwin personnel,” said Hemant Trivedi, regional director for ADI. “It has proven to be time well spent as many of our sales and technical staff are now Hanwha Techwin accredited trainers and able to provide expert advice on the best combination of Wisenet cameras and recording devices for specific projects.”

*For more information on ADI Global Distribution visit www.adiglobal.com