Facial Recognition Technology May Soon be Part of Your Travel Plans

Now that the 2014 Winter Olympic Games have passed into history, we can exhale in relief that they passed without any of the fears of terrorism coming to fruition. Some credit should be given to the Sochi

International Airport’s use of Facial Recognition Technology  (FRT) to screen the thousands of athletes, spectators, and employees entering secure areas.  Several other Russian airports employ the technology, and airports around the world are mulling over how they can use it as well.

Here in the U.S, the Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate, which oversees all R&D, tests, and evaluations is gearing up to make Facial Recognition screening a permanent part of our travel plans as well.

 The Directorate serves on two fronts. 

• On the one hand, they gather input from DHS agents, law enforcement  and other emergency responders on what can be done to best prepare them for the risks they face day in and day out.
• With this information in hand, they set out to find who in the private sector, research labs, or academic world has the technology to make it happen.

To this end, the Directorate has commissioned an initial FRT evaluation project with the intent of determining  how and which:

• ·         how FRT can be put into place, not only at airports. but at all levels of government, and
• ·         which software companies employ algorithms that can best aid first responders .  

Since the intent of the study is more to evaluate the technology than to pinpoint a setting or application, the first step they took was to gather neutral video footage, choosing to film attendees at minor league hockey games in Washington State. 

The hockey arena fits the bill, in that it offers crowds of people funneling through ticket collection areas or milling about at refreshment stands; a similar milieu to airports, cruise ships, transportation hubs, inaugurations, and other functions that could be targets.

Attendees were given the opportunity to opt out. Only a handful did. The next step was to pair the actual images with fictional profiles of the volunteer participants to be used to compile a database. This is all part of the how stage, and as of this writing, that's where they remain.

However, once they have the data standardized, and know exactly what test methods they will use, DHS will begin the which stage, sending out a call to selected manufacturers for the algorithms their FRT software products use.  The various algorithms will then be applied to the collected data to test the strengths and weaknesses of each of the FRT products. 

A major determining factor will be the percentage of successful matches made vs. false positive matches. After all, isn’t that what’s it all about?

For information on facial recognition technology or IP cameras, call Kintronics at 914-944-3425 or fill out an information request form and a sales engineer will contact you. 

Capturing the Heat of the Sports Moment

It looks like television has discovered thermal imaging technology. Last post we reported on how NBC News used a thermal camera to illustrate how much heat can escape from even the warmest winter clothing during the “Polar Vortex”. Well, on February 2, also known as Super Bowl Sunday, Fox Sports hopped  on board the thermal  imaging train.

Thermal Imaging Cameras At Super Bowl XLVIII

 In addition to the 79 cameras that brought viewers action on the field, they installed  one more, a high-definition, military grade thermal imaging camera to demonstrate just how much body heat players were losing to the field, and how wind chill affected their flexibility, range of motion, and stamina. 

Fox/Flir Image

IR Cameras at The World Series
Super Bowl XLVIII was not the first time Fox Sports has called in thermal imaging. Last year, during the World Series, they also used  the technology to see temperatures in warm weather. IR cameras caught the heat of the friction generated when bat collides with ball, or ball with a player or his protective gear. 

The way Fox set up the cameras – one on each side of home plate to cover right-handed, as well as left-handed batters, plus one in the front, it’s not a stretch of the imagination to see how thermal imaging might pick up things an umpire’s vision could miss. For instance, whether the pitch that almost hit the batter's arm wasn't an almost at all. Friction is friction and the camera would pick it up. So, might thermal imaging be part of  the instant replay of the future?

Take a look at this sequence of pictures capturing Adrian Beltre "striking out."  When it careened toward third base, both the umpire and Fox announcer Joe Buck agreed it was a strike. But watch the IR friction-heated ball as it leaves the bat. 

 Was it a strike or did he foul it off his foot?

Thermal Cameras at the Daytona 500

It certainly would seem that when Fox latches on to a technology it likes, it spreads the wealth. The network first brought thermal imaging cameras to NASCAR races in 2011 at the Daytona 500 with the intention of illustrating that the heat from the engines of a pack of cars  forces the cars behind to back off a bit lest their engines overheat.

But let's here it in their own words as found in their Daytona 500 on Fox Broadcast Guide

Infrared Cam

Introduced in 2011 during Fox Sports Coverage of the 53^rd Daytona 500, the network unveiled an infrared cam , a special camera designed to register variations in the heat signature of objects in its line of site. A unique feature during the race-cast demonstrates extreme temperatures that develop during typical racing conditions. Additionally, the Fox Sports infrared camera can reveal  the on-track grooves cars are using, as well as the difference between tires about to be changed compared to fresh replacements.

IR Cameras and Security

But there’s a time for fun and games and a time for safety and security, and this is where IR cameras come in to their own. Since they rely on heat rather than light they are perfect for monitoring dark areas and serve as a perfect companion to your conventional IP camera surveillance system.

Let's pause for a review.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Not all energy in the electromagnetic spectrum is visible to the human eye, only visible light. Light is actually energy, and although all light travels at the same speed, 186,000 miles per second, wavelengths and frequencies differ, accounting for the different levels of energy in each of the seven divisions of the spectrum.
Visible light is but a small portion of the entire spectrum, radiating about midpoint between Gamma Rays , X-rays, and Ultra-Violet light, all having shorter wavelengths and  longer frequencies. On the other side we have Infrared light, Microwaves, and Radio waves all with increasingly longer wavelengths and shorter frequencies.  Infra-red’s longer  wavelengths and  shorter frequencies lack energy sufficient to stimulate the cones in our eyes, responsible for processing visible light.

A conventional IP cameras is similar to the human eye. Its lens works only with visible light, capturing and focusing it on the image sensor which processes a digital image  But an Infrared camera is able to detect heat or thermal energy, convert it to an electronic signal and process it into a thermal image that  shows a range of temperatures. And it bears mentioning that everything on the planet gives off a degree of heat.

An  IR illuminator is used in conjunction with infra-red cameras and serves a dual purpose. It floods the dark area with sufficient infra-red light needed by the camera’s IR len and IR sensor, and thanks to IR light's invisibility as far as the human eye is concerned, allows surveillance monitoring operations to remain covert.

Should you have need for infrared cameras or conventional IP cameras, visit us at www.kintronics.com, call Kintronics at 914-944-3425, or fill out an information request form and you’ll be contacted promptly so we can answer your questions and give you all the info you need.

Thermal Imaging and the C-c-c-cold

Anyone out there old enough to remember the ‘60’s movie, “the Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming!” ?  

Well 2014 is hearing a real-life warning that rings of similar urgency. “The Polar Vortex is coming!  The Polar Vortex is coming!”

Now that it’s here, and roughly half the country is experiencing dangerously frigid temperatures ranging from single digits in the Northeast to minus double digits in the Upper Midwest, it’s only natural that the TV news shows abound with segments on keeping warm.

 So I wasn’t surprised to see a segment on dressing warmly enough to prevent frostbite which can attack exposed skin in as little as five minutes.  What surprised, or shall I say impressed me, was to see that they were using thermal imaging sensors to illustrate how, even when we think we are warmly dressed, we may still be losing body heat. If you recall from previous blog posts, anything with a core temperature above absolute zero emits I-R energy.  Since absolute zero translates to zero degrees Kelvin,( minus 469 Fahrenheit), we can safely say everybody and everything on the planet gives off I-R energy. 

Thermal imaging cameras contain special lenses that focus the infra-red energy emitted by anything in its field of view. Since there can be literally thousands of points in the FOV, the cameras contain image sensors that use a phased array of infra-red  detectors to gather the points together and create a detailed temperature pattern  known as a thermogram. Using this, the thermal sensor is able to map out an image of the object within its environment using color to reflect a gradient of temperature  

This type of thermal imaging produced what I saw on my TV screen, half of it anyway. On one side of the split screen  in normal viewing mode stood two men, side by side, both dressed in warm-appearing down jackets but of slightly different styles.

• ·         One jacket had a flap covering the zipper, the other didn’t.
• ·         One man had on a hat under his hood, the other wore a hat, but not a hood.
• ·         And their gloves were slightly different –one wore mittens extending up under his sleeve, the other wore slightly shorter, fingered gloves. 

The other half of the screen showed them as viewed with a thermal camera. The difference in color as evidenced by the thermogram showed that while some heat was being lost through the flap covering the zipper much more was escaping through the unprotected zipper. Similar color differences showed heat lost through the hat but not through the hat and the hood, and finally patterns of escaped heat between the fingers and out of the margin between glove and jacket but noticeably less from the long mittens.

This is not the actual image shown but it is similar in that it shows how proper clothing retains body heat.

The use of Thermal imaging provided an excellent lesson, and I took note. When I went out to shovel my walk shortly thereafter, I checked my parka. I honestly had never noticed if it had a protective flap over the zipper. It did, and now I knew why it was there. I rummaged through my gloves for mittens, and although I find it bulky and annoying, I raised my hood over my warm woolly hat.

Thermal imaging can serve well for surveillance in areas devoid of light. For information about thermal imaging and IP cameras, call Kintronics at 914-944-3425 to speak to one of our sales engineers or fill out an information request form.

IP Cameras: Keeping an Eye on the Security of Our Schools

More than a year has passed since the senseless Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, and tragically,  details of new school shootings continue to pepper the news. It shocked many to turn on the news on January 14 and hear that a 12 year-old in Roswell, New Mexico, had brought a gun to school and wounded two of his classmates.

As a result of this alarming increase in shootings, school districts across the country  are assessing their existing security policies, and although there’s no way to absolutely, positively, protect their students from a random attack, IP cameras can give them a head start.

According to market research firm, IHS, more than $720 million will be spent on school security equipment in 2014, with IP video cameras accounting for the most purchases on through 2017.

Administrators look toward IP video to monitor real time day-to-day occurrences as well as the security afforded situational and perimeter awareness. The particular usage differs from school to school, and depending on where it resides on the K-12 spectrum.

What are they purchasing?

Since the lives of their students are on the line, most school systems are allotting a significant portion of their budgets to sophisticated IP camera systems consisting of

• ·         Outdoor PTZ & Vandal-resistant Dome Cameras
• ·         The Indoor Counterparts of the Above
• ·         Sophisticated Video Management Software
• ·         High-Resolution Viewing Monitors.

In the School Building

How are they using them?

Large School Districts

Many city school superintendents who oversee a multitude of schools are choosing large-scale IP camera enterprise systems  to connect the entire district, with each school building comprising an Ethernet hub, and connecting with other hubs via the Internet or a WAN.

Small Districts

Rural districts or small city districts sometimes have only three buildings to secure, an elementary, middle, and high school. In such cases each building can be outfitted with their own independent network of cameras controlled by Video Management Software (VMS). 

Save for inter-connectivity, they will have the same features the enterprise systems have. And should a forensic need arise,  VMS can be used to sort through the  recorded video and forward applicable images  to the main district office or the police department.

Where are they mounting cameras ?

Mounting points will vary according to building type and whether the school is in a urban, suburban, or rural area, but a few locations are common.

Entrances and Main Office

Many schools are choosing to lock all their entrances once classes have started and designating one entrance through which visitors can report, gaining entrance only after presenting verifiable photo identification. An IP camera, placed in such an area, can serve not only to deter intruders but also to verify that the receptionist or guard posted there is following security protocol.

Hallways

Many schools use a mix of fixed position and pan, tilt, zoom (PTZ)  cameras for monitoring movement during the day. PTZ cameras can move vertically, horizontally, and if needed zoom in optically to give a closer view.

PTZ camera

They can be controlled using either a web browser or the Internet, or programmed with VMS in patrol mode to step through preset positions. When classes are in session and the halls are empty, a camera can spot an intruder and follow his progress while security responds.

 Between classes, when middle and high school students pass through the halls and congregate at lockers, the cameras can alert security and administrators to drug use, bullying, or gang activities.

Gymnasiums and Cafeterias

In wide open areas  like gyms and lunch rooms, the  ratio of students to supervisory personnel tends to be poor, at best. PTZ cameras in discrete vandal proof domes areas are an excellent discrete way to detecting bullying and the potential for fights, enabling a quick response.

Restrooms

It’s not uncommon for threats to be found on restroom walls or bomb threats to pinpoint bathrooms. They are also a location where bullying can take place. Obviously a respect for privacy rules out the presence of IP cameras in restrooms but cameras mounted outside the entrance can provide forensic help in case of an investigation.

Laboratories and Shop Classrooms

Areas such as chemistry labs, welding areas, and wood-working and automotive shops can be dangerous. Surveillance cameras can be helpful in providing video to detect unsafe practices in . They can also monitor computer labs where theft can be a concern.

On School Grounds

Districts in suburban areas are turning to outdoor cameras with environmental domes to protect them from the elements.

environmental dome

Day/night cameras provide 24 hour surveillance and cut costs, operating in color mode during daylight hours and automatically transition to more light-sensitive monochrome at night. Employing these dual mode cameras cuts in half not only the number of cameras needed but the number of domes as well

Most schools  find that  high-speed, high-resolution PTZ cameras to be effective in monitoring their campuses and parking lots where cameras can be programmed to perform a predetermined guard tour, panning from one area to another.  Should any suspicious goings-on be detected, the camera send an alert to the security officer on duty who can then zoom in, still the frame, and if necessary, take appropriate action.

Parking Lots

Rooftops are a favorite place for mounting IP cameras. They’re safer from vandalism, plus from this vantage, a PTZ camera has an unobstructed view

Pick-up and Drop-off Areas

Virtually every district has implemented highly structured security policies regarding exactly who is authorized to pick up students. Surveillance video along the pick-up line can provide the best of forensic details should a child go missing....... 

......or an accident occur.

Kintronics has outfitted schools all over the world with IP cameras, IP based access controls and PA over IP.  If you’d like information, call and speak to a sales engineer at 914-944-3425 or you can fill  out an information request form and someone will get back to you.

IP Camera 101 for Today’s Security Guard

Enter Technology

 Today’s security professional is a far different person than the security guard of yesteryear.  Gone are the days when padlocks and fences were sufficient to keep intruders at bay and a guard’s duties consisted of making patrols and admitting authorized workers with the wave of a hand. The adoption of IP cameras heralds a new era. At many facilities, guards need a working knowledge of IP cameras and Video Management Software.

The growing prevalence of IP devices also marks the tearing down of the wall separating the IT department from the security department.  The very fact that IP security system devices reside on an organization’s local area network (LAN), link the two.  And when you come down to it, it's all about catching intruders, whether they're virtual intruders like hackers or phyisical intruders like thieves or terrorists gunmen. So aren’t IT and Security  charged with the same tasks - risk management, response, and the ever-present need to be on guard?

However this doesn’t mean IT and security should require the same skills. Just because an individual knows how to install a firewall doesn’t mean she knows how to assess IP camera technology.  So more and more we're seeing  the responsibility for choosing an IP camera system to the security department.

 “Hiring” an IP network

Today’s security guard doesn’t work alone.  He, or she, has an IP network at his/her fingertips.  But when it comes to “populating” that network some IT / IP savvy comes into play. And that brings us to exactly what security personnel need to know in the 21^st century.

Cameras????

Before a security official can decide on the cameras he needs, he must determine what he needs to see, or rather how clearly he needs to see it.

• ·         Does he just want to detect that an individual is on the premises?
• ·         Does he need to recognize that individual as a known employee? 
• ·         Or does he need to see a stranger’s facial features for the purpose of forensic identification?

Once he’s determined that, he needs a basic understanding of resolution to help him make the best choice.

 Resolution

 In digital imaging, the smallest element of a picture is called a pixel. Pixels are usually square and arranged in a two dimensional grid. The resolution of a camera or lens is usually expressed in terms of the total number of pixels in a frame. An image with a resolution of 1280 x 1024 is a frame containing a count of 1280 pixels from left to right and 1024 from top to bottom. Work out the math and we have a frame composed of 1,310,000 pixels. And since every 1,000,000 pixels is expressed as 1 megapixel. We are looking at a resolution of 1.3 megapixels.

•   If the purpose is mere detection of the person with no notice given to his facial featureschoice should be a camera that supplies at least 5 pixels/foot.
• If the purpose is to recognize an employee or a known visitor,  since the mind tends to  “connect the dots” when it comes to recognition, the choice should be a camera with at least  50 pixels/foot
•  But when it comes to identifying a stranger,  facial characteristics must be clear in order to compare them to a database of offenders. In this case,  a minimum of 70 – 80 pixels/foot is recommended.

Light????????

Now he needs to assess the location where the camera will be mounted.  

Day/Night Cameras

Will he be placing some of his cameras in areas that are fully lit during business hours, but minimally lit after hours? If so, he will need a day/night camera.

Most cameras have an IR filter over the lens to filter out the infra-red waves of the light spectrum. Day/night cameras automatically set them aside when the lighting is low so that more light can hit the sensor.

Other day/night cameras switch to black and white mode which increases light sensitivity. 

 Some can operate in as little light as 0.05 Lux (for the sake of comparison, the light level of a fully lit office is 500 lux, and the light on a full moon night is 0.270)

Cameras with Wide Dynamic Range (WDR)

Will some cameras be in areas of contrasting light, where the field of view includes well-lit areas as well as darker ones? Examples of such places might be the main entrance of a hotel at night where guests are crossing over from the relative darkness of the street to the bright illumination of the lobby, or the parking area or garage where the bright headlights of cars constantly alter the range of light.

In conditions where there is a significant range of light variation, a regular camera cannot change its shutter speed or iris settings to adjust.  However, a camera with Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) capability uses a special technique called multi-frame imaging to capture the light variations and heighten the details in the area of view.

Lens????

To talk about a camera without considering a  lens would be telling half the story.

A Megapixel  Lens  will be of particular importance if he has selected megapixel cameras since the  quality of video depends on the clarity of the lens and its ability to capture the most light possible in poorly lit areas.

A Varifocal Lens will give him flexibility when he needs to adjust the focal length in differing conditions.  Focal length is expressed in millimeters (mm) and to determine 

his particular needs, he must take into consideration the width of an area and the distance of its object from the camera.










A good rule of thumb is the  lower the number (mm) lens, the larger the area it takes in, but with less magnification. Conversely,  the higher the number ( mm), the smaller the field of view, but with more magnification.

Video Management Software?????

Whether it’s the case of a single office building, a flowing hospital setting, or a multi-building college campus, the security department needs software to control,  manage, amd get the most from their cameras.  

Video management software (VMS) can be installed on any Windows computer and its applications tailored to meet many situations. At its most basic, VMS will allow guards and administrators to stream live video

from each camera separately or simultaneously on a video wall or divided monitor.

Another useful feature in a large facility is carousel viewing in which the

security officer can determine which cameras are included in a rotating cycle. A live feed will be highlighted and featured for a set period of time before giving way to the next camera’s field of view. This allows the guard on duty to view different areas or sections without the monotony brought on from trying to view the whole screen of windows at once.

With the right VMS, the guard on duty can

• Record and retrieve video,  
• Control PTZ cameras with a joystick
•  Add digital PTZ function to a live feed.

Video management software can also be set to automatic functions like monitoring alarms and issuing alerts. And should police need any recorded video for forensic investigation, most VMS programs will allow security to find and retrieve specific recorded events without going through the archive

The Takeaway???????????

An ambitious security guard should take it upon himself to continually update his computer skills, for who knows what degree of technical will be required in the future. As more and more organizations adopt The Cloud, the day may soon be upon us when IT and Security may find themselves sharing the same office.

 Anyone interested in more information on IP cameras, lenses, or video management software is invited to contact Kintronics, Inc., the experts in Security solutions. Call one of our sales engineers at 914-944-3425,  check out our website, www.kintronics.com. Or just state your needs on one of our information request forms

IP Door Access Control: Retiring the Key Ring

In our previous post we looked at how the security industry's adoption of IP cameras changed the lonely night watchman into a technology-savvy security officer. Today we take a  look at how IP door access control has made his set of keys all but unnecessary.

The night watchman’s scheduled rounds were marked not only by his flashlight’s circle of light but by the sound of his keys as he unlocked and relocked each door as he made his rounds

With IP door access control in place, a key is of no use since each door’s lock  is controlled by the intelligent card reader mounted at thedoor. The reader contains all the intelligence that is needed to read and validate any company access card presented to it by any employee authorized to use that particular entrance. The guard just swipes his proximity credential  in front of the IP reader. Validation is instant and the lock is de-activated.

Accountability

At one time, night watchmen had to verify they were carrying out their duty by logging in at certain points of their patrol, by signing their name and noting the time. IP door access control software automatically captures this information when the guard swipes his credential, not only validating that the officer has passed through this site, but providing a timetable for any forensic investigation that may arise in the future.

 Being connected to the company’s  ethernet  network and powered by PoE  means there is no need for a central control panel box or even a power outlet. So the security guard has none of the connection problems or power outages faced by ye olde night watchman. 

Employee Access

Today’s video management software means the security guard  no longer has to check each worker’s ID badge or rely on recognition. Although a guard is usually present to provide manual entry if required, his presence is not required thanks to access control software.

Once administrators have customized the software to specify the entrance an employee is authorized to use, and during what hours, it sends that information to the reader mounted at that door. The reader processes the commands stores the information so that when the employee presents her credential, it deactivates the lock if she's authorized (or doesn't, if she's not.)

This allows the security guard to stand  apart from the process, and not  have to put up with anger, frustration  or arguments if entry is denied. The matter is beyond his control.

 Visitor Management

Visitor Management software can automate lobby security, freeing up security personnel for other

duties. No longer is it necessary for hospitals to use security guards to greet and process visitors at the information  desk or for school’s to station a guard in the entrance lobby to verify a parent coming for a scheduled teacher conference.  Using Visitor security management software installed on a PC, hospital volunteers or school clerical staff can confirm a visitor's identity, capture information from his photo ID and issue a temporary visitor’s pass with hardly any typing and print professional quality visitor badges withing seconds.

Remote Access Control

The Ultimate Security Triumvirate: IP camera + IP Access Control + IP intercom

Some guard duties involve manual control of locked entrances as in the case of a bank vault or safety depositroom , a high security prison, or a loading dock after regular business hours. Whereas Ye Olde Night watchman was forced to go to the door, the security officer of today can monitor, converse with, and grant entry to those seeking entry without leaving his desk, thanks to IP connectivity.

Although easy to install, several devices and types of software must be installed.
      ·         IP camera with two way audio

·       An   IP intercom to be connected to the video in and video out connectors of the IP camera

·         Video Management Software to provide doorbell notification

·         Electric Door lock and IP access control software.

 Using these configured items, let's look at scenario in which a bank employee seeks admittance to the vault.

1. She rings the bell on the intercom. 
2. The sound comes to the guard through his computer's speaker
3. The employee appears on his monitor
4. He converses with her via his computer’s mic 
5. Satisfied with her identity, he deactivates the electric lock via the access control software.

If the guard needs to monitor the surrounding area before granting entry, a standalone IP camera is used but often such a camera is not positioned to capture the entrant's face. If the guard needs a head on view, an inter-cam might be a better choice.

Simply put, the inter-cam is an integrated unit consisting of a wide angle lens IP camera inside an intercom.

Since the camera can be focused on the area a visitor would stand when using the intercom, it can provide a clear view of the person’s face.

The Inter-cam includes an interface box for connecting it to the ethernet so it’s included on the network along with the IP access control, and can be controlled by the same video management software. So, as soon as the guard confirms the vistor’s identity, he can deactivate the lock right from his station.

And so, thanks to IP technology, the security guard's life is easier, yet more complex. More complex because as noted in the previous post, he does need basic technical knowledge about IP technology and video management software; easier because he does not have to spend so much energy patrolling the facility.
And as far as his welfare is concerned the news is good and bad. Good because an IP camera allows him situational awareness, no longer venturing into the unknown dangers ye olde night watchman faced investigating intruders in the dark. Bad because with all that technology at his fingertips he’s going to gain weight if he doesn’t get up and walk once in a while!

To learn more about how IP cameras, IP door access control, and IP intercoms and inter-cams can improve your facility's security, call 914-944-3425 to speak to one of Kintronics sales engineers or just fill out an information request form on http://www.kintronics.com/RequestInfo.htm

Where Have All The Night Watchmen Gone?

One rarely hears the term night watchman anymore. But up until the 1980’s, this was the name today’s security personnel answered to.The common image of a night watchman was a man, keys jangling on his belt along with a whistle, as he made his rounds through a deserted facility, following the lonely beam of hisflashlight. Advances in technology have all but retired his (or her) flash light but these same advances have added to the requirements and knowledge needed to become a night watchman, oops, a security officer.

IP Cameras Call for a Tech-Savvy Breed of Security Officers

Today’s organizations and institutions, whether they hire their own security personnel or contract with a security agency, are turning to IP technology to expand their security.

What this means for security guards, especially those in supervisory positions, is that they need to have a basic technological understanding of and familiarity with IP cameras, monitors, video management software, PCs and servers. And since the world of technology expands constantly, they need to keep abreast of changes.

Many organizations are also seeing a subtle blending of IT and Security operations. Let’s take a look at three specific sectors.

Hospitals

How ironic is it that hospitals, places that provide care and healing are also experiencing a surge of violence and theft?  But think about it - a hospital provides fertile ground for both.

• ·         Emotions can run high in crowded Emergency Rooms, accelerated by long waits and tight quarters.
• ·         Upstairs, frustrated  relatives seek instant answers to questions that rely on lengthy testing.
• ·         Back downstairs, the pharmacy, although under lock, and with access procedures in place, offers temptation to trespassers, or even employees with a drug habit or in need of money.

Having to monitor all the corridors and departments of a hospital presents a challenge. Ye Olde night

watchman would have needed to expend a lot of shoe leather. Today, thanks to the remote connectivity offered by IP networks and Video Management Software (VMS), today’s guards can monitor it all from the security desk.

Department Stores

In the watchman era, a plainclothes “store detective” might wander the floors all day, posing as a browsing customer.  Today’s theft  prevention officer can view live camera feeds from the women’s department,

housewares, toy department, cosmetics, and menswear without leaving her desk. And in the case of a large chain with many locations, thanks again to network connectivity and VMS, the corporate security officer at the flagship store or the company headquarters can view every one of its stores either as a live feed or recorded video.

This is possible because every IP camera has its own unique IP address, and resides on its own node on the company’s Ethernet network, just like any other device. So if a branch manager in Peoria, Illinois can  connect to the purchasing department in the corporate office in Chicago, or download an evaluation form from the flagship store in Los Angeles, the security department can use the same network to monitor sites.

Schools

It used to be that vandalism, burglary, and extensive graffiti were the major problems schools  faced.  But, for reasons, yet to be fathomed, schools from kindergarten through university, have become a destination for sick individuals bent on wiping out innocent victims.

The presence of watchmen patrolling the corridors would only add to the stress level of students. But by adding IP cameras to the school ‘s network a security officer  can sit in his office and keep careful but discrete watch over the gym, cafeteria, corridors, classrooms, parking lots and playgrounds. Should an intruder approach, security can be forewarned. Careful IP camera vigilance might also help in warding off bullying that often goes un-noticed by teachers and administrators.

Video Management Software Makes for A Safer Security Officer

The night watchman treaded on a path of uncertainty each time he made a patrol. He could never be sure what was just beyond the beam of his flashlight. 

Adding  Video Management Software (VMS)  to the IP camera system  takes some of the inherent danger and uncertainty out of the night watchman’s job, and affords the Security Officer a chance to organize and prepare for an incident as it unfolds.

What this means for today’s security officer is he/she needs to be trained on navigating the software to take advantage of its many features and options such as

Virtual Patrols

VMS allows security to “patrol” several areas at once without leaving his PC or control station. Live footage

from cameras in select locations can be viewed on one split screen monitor, each in its own little segment of the screen, or preset to scroll through the frames. This means the guards can take more virtual tours and fewer walking ones. 

·         Should a school security guard spy an open exit door in the empty gym or cafeteria on his virtual tour, he can alert another guard closer to the area while he scrolls through cameras in the surrounding areas searching for any intruders.

·         In a hospital, viewing a scene of escalating tempers might prompt the viewing officer to not only send several of his men to the scene, but also to call in the police.

·         In a shopping mall, a large gathering of youths might warrant the dispatching of several guards to the area.

Motion Detection, Cross Line Detection, and Alerts 

Cameras equipped with Cross line detection or motion detection can be programmed to automatically send an alert  to the monitoring screen. Both applications are similar in that they detect moving objects. The difference is that motion detection concerns itself with movement in a predetermined area while cross line detection sets up a virtual tripwire which when crossed by a moving object will send an alert. The officer at the  PC will be alerted when that particular camera’s viewing pane is suddenly highlighted, outlined, flashes, sounds an alert, or all four. The alert signal is programmed at set-up.

Subsequent cameras can be selected to follow the progress of the intruder, and depending on the software, the alert may automatically alert the police. Meanwhile it allows on-site staff to know what they will be facing so they coordinate and respond to the situation.

 And so today's security personnel has to be technology-savvy. Savvy leads to superior security. Not only does it make a guard's job safer but it expands his presence, and that expanded presence makes for safer facilities and businesses.

Next post we'll explore how IP-based Door Access control and IP-based Intercoms would also have lightened Ye Olde Night watchman's load.

Meanwhile, if you're interested in finding out more about how IP-based security products can make your workplace a safer place, Kintronics sales engineers are available at 914-944-3425 to answer your questions or design a system for you. Filling out a form at request info is another option.