Monthly Archives: March 2010

Will IP solutions mean security equipment distributors have to move online?

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Moving to on-line sales.

The introduction of IP equipment into the Integrated CCTV and access control arena is being hailed as the next step forward in the security industry. This does however pose some serious questions about how this new equipment is brought to the market. So far there is a set pattern. A manufacturer approaches a distributor and gives him the exclusive right to sell his product. The distributor in turn will fix a price and only allow this product to be sold to security installers. The public have no access via the distributor. If they wish to have the product installed they must go to an installing company. So far quite simple.

Who are the main players?

The main players in the distribution market (UK) are Norbain , ADI and  Gardners Security however there are probably over 100 in the UK and they control who they will deal with, what price the equipment will be sold at and so on. Over the last 20 years or so all these companies have expanded enormously and each year gather at IFSEC to demonstrate what is new on the market.

So what will change?

The main thing that the big distributors need to consider is ,who will actually be installing the new products?  As we have said, up to now it has been installing companies. Most of the big installers are giants who will struggle to adapt to the new market place quickly. So if they are not installing large volumes of IP security products who will?

IP integrators.

Well the school of thought says that at the moment the balance could tip towards IP integrators. Most companies of any reasonable size have their own IT department or outsource to a local IT company. These people in reality will be very well placed to start installing IP security solutions for their employers and very much cheaper than a security installer.

So where does the smart manufacturer sell his products?

Well it does not take much to imagine where an IT integrator is going to look for his security solution. On line of course and at the moment he can buy some fairly good stuff that will satisfy a need. But that is about it! some of the products have questionable quality and origins. IT integrators will however demand quality and back up . So could it happen that the smart manufacturer actually begins to bypass the big CCTV distribution companies and sell through an on line company?

Cut out the middle man?

Not inconceivable when you think about it. By putting a search on google for “IP cameras”  Norbain is nowhere to be seen nor are any of the big distributors or manufacturers. They should all be worried about this

The future.

So how will this be addressed?  Well they are going to have to think who will be doing the installation of the security systems, be it CCTV or even access control. There are still things that need to be fixed to walls and doors but the technical aspect of the way it is going may mean that your friendly CCTV installation engineer is going to struggle with the technology . If this proves to be true and installers fail to move fast enough with training and recruitment, the security industry could be a very different place in just a few short years.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition ANPR.

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What is ANPR?

Automatic number plate recognition is becoming a very useful tool for all sorts of organisations. It is being used to control entry, monitor movement of vehicles around the country, catching speeding motorists, controlling car parking amongst other things.

How does it work?

Essentially software is used that recognises a standard number plate when the image from the ANPR camera is presented to it. It then converts the image it sees into data and decodes the data to decide what action it will take IE open a barrier or issue a fine etc.

Can any camera be used?

It depends. Some of the of the difficulties of capturing number plates includes  lighting levels, speed of the vehicle and the angle of the camera in respect to the number plate. In general it should be noted that the essential thing is for the CCTV camera to have extremely high shutter speeds. Also IR light is very helpful in allowing the camera to work when being blinded by headlights. Some manufacturers have tried incorperating ANPR into their DVRs , however it is generally thought that because ANPR is such a specialist subject it is better to use a dedicated stand alone solution rather than try to intergarate it into other CCTV security solutions

Car Parks.

You will need to be extremely careful nowadays when going over your time in a car park. McDonald’s for instance have recently introduced ANPR cameras in some of their car parks. These cameras capture the image of your plate when you enter and note what time this is. They do the same on the way out. If you have overstayed their mandatory 2 hour limit you will be issued with a fine. Annoying if you are the victim but this does stop drivers abusing the car park and leaving cars for hours on end when they are not actually using the restaurant. Expect this practice to become very popular with other big companies.

Barrier control.

Another good use for the ANPR camera is Access control on barrier systems. Companies are starting to use this method of entry technique when they have a secure site but a high flow of  known traffic through the gates. From a cost point of view it is so much cheaper than employing a security guard at the gatehouse and possibly more accurate .The software knows what vehicles it holds authorised plates for and will allow through the barrier . The barrier will  lift it automatically for these vehicles. Any traffic that in unauthorised will have to use an intercom to communicate with reception and if it is deemed the person is on site for genuine reasons then the barrier can be raised manually. Some bonded warehouses actually have a legal obligation to record the number plate of every vehicle movement into and out of site.

The police

In fighting crime ANPR has become invaluable. The police are able to enter the number plates of suspects into the ANPR software they operate nationwide . When a target vehicle is on the move they know immediately and are able to judge whether that vehicle is a threat especially now with terrorism so high on the agenda. ANPR is helping to keep us all safer.

FLIR Thermal Imaging camera

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FLIR VSR-6

FLIR have just released their new VSR-6 thermal imaging camera.  This camera is specifically aimed at the mainstream CCTV market. FLIR  have been able to do this at a very competitive price because there is becoming more demand to integrate this type of technology into an integrated CCTV solution resulting in high volume production.

Why thermal imaging?

The benefits of thermal imaging have long been known but have historically only been able to be afforded in extremely high security scenarios such as military bases and airports. However FLIR have recognised the need for a lightweight model that can fit into a CCTV project especially one that takes in perimeter boundaries in areas where there is absolutely no lighting.

Image quality

The VSR-6 is capable of delivering crisp and clear images at 160 x 120 pixels. It uses 6.3mm wide angle lens  enabling a good field of view approx 52 degrees so enables the operator to have a good situational awareness. It is IP 66 rated and operates between -32 degrees C and + 55 degrees C so it is capable of operating almost anywhere.

Absolute darkness .

Of course the reasons for using thermal images are now becoming even more apparent with the advent of CCTV analytics. Analytics fail to work in zero light conditions and this is a nightmare for system designers but now thermal cameras are affordable they can be added into the specification. Of course other benefits over traditional  CCTV cameras is the thermal solution will work in extremely dusty conditions as well as fog and smoke.

Car dealer is spending 70K on security guards

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Cost savings. Are they realistic?

We have talked about integrating various systems together without actually giving any real examples so below is one that integrated CCTV came across late last year and the solutions we provided.

The scenario

A large car dealer is currently spending nearly £70k per annum on a manned security guard to look after their site 365 days a year. Although the guarding company is doing a fairly good job, a risk assessment has proved that in the case of a break- in the chance of him being in the right place at the right time is slim. Therefore the company in question has concluded that it needs to source a far more cost effective method to secure the site.

Where can the cables go?

The site is 30,000 square meters and has no real secure fencing, anyone can enter the site at will and they have millions of pounds worth of stock on show. Due to the lack of fencing there are no real cable routes and also no fixing points for sensors on the perimeter and the whole site is block paved and this leaves no opportunity to trench or put up many poles.

The solution… Integrated security!

We concluded that a radical solution was required. One that used cutting edge technology together with an effective visual and audible deterrent, We also need to effect a manned response to a genuine alarm situation but not scare off any genuine customers viewing cars up to a certain time in the evening.

To add to our problems as mentioned before there was very limited scope to fix poles and run cables so sensors and fixed beams had to be ruled out. There was only one realistic answer left and this was to use analytics to generate alarms.

Light levels

The light levels were good and we decided to recommend a mixture of IP, wireless and traditional analogue cameras together with analytics to get the ultimate system and bring it in within budget.

The cameras on the building are wired in a traditional way, coax back to a standard codec to produce the analytics, then onto a hybrid DVR that was connected via broadband to a remote monitoring station. The IP cameras on the perimeter are to be  fixed  onto just two poles and linked via a wireless IP transmitter back to the hybrid dvr.

Controlling alarms

Sitting in between this was a control panel used to process alarms, generate on site verbal deterrent and sounders designed to remove unauthorised intruders. If this failed then the system was designed to call out the manned response but only as a final measure again helping to keep on going costs to a minimum.

Analytics

The use of analytics to generate the alarms however was the key to this working. Only in very recent times have we been able to use them effectively outside and in limited lighting conditions. This type of alarm generation will soon supersede traditional sensor technology and can only get better and better as large cooperation’s begin to invest heavily in analytics.

Conclusion

In conclusion the recommendations mean the car dealer now has the opportunity to lower security costs and will start to see savings filter through after 18 months or so. He has a system that is future proofed for at least the next 5 years and beyond. He has eyes all over the site 24/7/365 and as well as better security he has also got a sales tool and a health and safety watchdog as well as a deterrent system. Quite a few benefits for a great deal less money.

Things to look out for in the coming weeks on this site

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Saving money on security guards

We look at a case study for a site that was spending over 70 thousand pounds a year on security guards. We discuss how this can be cut to a fraction of that cost by using  Analytics.

FLIR thermal imaging cameras.

We look into the new thermal imaging camera released by FLIR that is light and very cost efficeint  something we all thought would be impossible for a thermal imaging camera.

ANPR cameras. 

 How they work? and where they are being used today.We highlight some good and some bad points about them.

Biometrics.

We ask whether this technology is ever going to become as big within the security market place as it promised to be when it was first launched.

Adpro and IP.

Can Adpro ever get back to where they were in the CCTV transmission market place. It was not so long ago they were the only choice when transmitting CCTV images.

CCTV distributors.

We discuss whether CCTV distributors need to look at a different route to market now that IP cameras are so popular.

Emizon IP.

We talk about Emizon and what it means for IP intruder alarm monitoring.

Raytec.

This revolutionary new lighting technology has turned a few heads but will it replace all the old halogen lighting systems out there?

NSI.

Does the security industry need this regulator and how will IP camera systems impact  on this inspectorate?