Thomas Jensen of Milestone (left), with Andreas Petterson of Arcules.
Milestone Merges With Arcules Strengthening VSaaS Posture.
Milestone Merges With Arcules – VMS developer Milestone Systems has merged with cloud-based video surveillance solutions provider, Arcules.
The merger brings together Milestone’s VMS solutions with Arcules’ capabilities within video management software, including video analytics and video surveillance as a service (VSaaS).
According to Milestone, the VSaaS market is predicted to experience exponential growth within the following years and at the same time AI is creating new possibilities that were not possible just a year ago. By adding Arcules to Milestone’s product line, the company said it is “optimally positioned to lead the video technology software industry”.
Milestone said the merger positions the company better for the rapidly changing AI landscape from on premise to cloud and pointed out Milestone and Arcules are advanced in working with video analytics to deliver intelligent, data-driven video technology that empowers customers to optimise their operations.
“Milestone and Arcules have a strong existing partnership and a common DNA,” said Thomas Jensen, CEO of Milestone Systems. “By uniting and working as one, we can provide a world-class offering that suits many different needs and gives customers greater freedom of choice.”
The merger is scheduled to be finalised by the end of 2024 – you can learn more about Arcules here, discover Milestone here or read more SEN news here.
“Milestone Merges With Arcules Strengthening VSaaS Posture.”
Mini-FRI Field Rely Interface From Jack Fuse Converts DC Voltage For Dry Contacts.
Mini-FRI Field Rely Interface From Jack Fuse – Mini-FRI field relay interface from Jack Fuse is a miniature low power relay for interface to security and other equipment that converts a DC voltage signal to a single pole double throw dry contact that’s ideal for inline connections and tight spaces.
“The Mini-FRI interface relay is perfect for most security and EACS interface requirements,” says Jack Fuse’s Ken Mckeon. “It requires a simple 2-wire DC voltage for operation and its miniature size allows it to be installed into tight spaces, such as door frames, behind switch plates and inside automatic door/gate controllers without using fixings or DIN rail.
“An on-board LED indicator allows the relay status to be identified without needing to use a multi-meter. Spring clamp terminals are used to secure the connecting wires. Unlike screw terminals that can loosen with movement and changes in temperature, the Mini-FRI terminals maintain a constant pressure on the conductors over the life of the connection. The terminals can also be operated by hand
reducing the number of tools required and increasing installation/repair efficiency.
Low drop out and pick up voltages allow the Mini-FRI relay to keep working even when there is a significant voltage drop due to long cables or a failing power supply. For example, the Mini-FRI-12 will work as intended at 8VDC or 5.6V below a typical security power supply voltage rating.
Reverse polarity and inductive kick back (sometimes called back EMF) protection is included onboard eliminating the need to add external diodes and reducing the chance of damage to the Mini-FRI and upstream devices.
Functionally, Mini-FRI is installed in-line with security cabling and the relay coil is powered via the terminals marked + and – and installers apply a DC voltage to energise the relay. An energised relay is indicated by an illuminated green LED. The Mini-FRI has both reverse polarity and energy spike protection diodes on board.
A single pole double throw (SPDT) also known as a 1 Form C configuration is used for the relay contacts. The relay contact terminals are marked NC, C and NO. The normally closed (NC) contact is closed and connected to the common (C) terminal when the Mini-FRI is unpowered. Once power is supplied this contact changes over and the normally open (NO) contact is then connected to the common terminal.
You can learn more about the Mini-FRI here or read more SEN news here.
Installing Passive Infrared Security Sensors – They’re the most common security sensing devices you can buy, but too many installers still get it wrong when they’re putting in PIRs. And just going for dual technology sensors instead of installing PIRs properly is poor practice.
Microwaves have the nasty habit of passing through walls, windows and wooden barriers, making them extremely vulnerable to false alarms if not installed sympathetically. What this means is that a dual technology sensor needs to be installed just as carefully as a passive infrared sensor, or you risk putting in a security system that will have its good hand tied behind its back. Use passives intelligently, installing them using techniques based on a sound understanding of the PIR’s inherent nature.
First, let’s consider the uses of the PIR, bearing in mind these detectors are designed to receive reflected infrared radiation when its wavelengths and energy levels match those generated by human movement. As a rule, PIRs are designed to be installed indoors (unless microprocessor controlled and waterproofed) to cover moderately broad open areas and longish corridors as well as minimal spaces. They’re also ideal for use when factors like noise, inanimate movement and vibration won’t permit the use of microwave alternatives.
PIRs can be masked against known IRE sources, are small, have the ability to be recessed or flush mounted, and are sold in 360-degree ceiling mount variations. Infrared detection devices can also be used when there are large areas of glass forming a boundary to the target area. Used in such an environment, they won’t detect anything on the other side of the glass in the way microwaves and ultrasonics certainly will.
Installing Passive Infrared Security Sensors
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Doing it right
There are several installation tips that will keep false alarms to a minimum while allowing PIRs to work to their maximum potential. Successful use of passive infrared detection demands a stable IRE environment. So, as soon as you get into the installation environment, look around and make certain there are no heaters or powerful lights in the room likely to generate excessive infrared energy levels.
PIRs can’t be located facing to receive unfiltered sunlight, and nor should they be used anywhere there will be sudden temperature changes on surfaces within the target area. Exposure to glass surfaces should be space divisions in office or home environments — not perimeter glass — unless a verandah keeps direct sun off.
Other potential problems with PIRs include humidity, unsuppressed electrical equipment that could cause interference (this includes things like fluorescent lights), and dirt and dust in the environment. You can effectively seal PIRs and conformal coat their boards if you’re installing them in tough environments like bathrooms, garages or covered ways.
Another mistake is to install PIRs in environments in which cats, dogs, birds and flying insects are present unless the sensors have been specifically designed to resist these false alarm signals through sensitivity adjustments, microprocessor control or lens design. In the past, pet immunity meant keeping the IRE sensitivity above knee or thigh level with lens design, creating what was called a “pet alley”. This was effective up to a point, especially with small dogs, but climbing animals like cats are likely to leap onto lounge chairs or tables, causing false alarms.
Microprocessor-controlled PIRs recognise the waveform signal output from a pyro in the presence of IRE, making it possible to recognise animals. It’s true that well-designed sensors can monitor this waveform. They recognise the waveform’s amplitude, cycle, frequency, and wavelength and can compare what they “see” to what has been programmed into their memory as the signal level they are seeking.
A few cats or a big dog will generate a different type of signal — in part because of their insulating fur — and the sensor will ignore them. It’s not easy, however, for the installer or end user to be sure just how smart the processing of many PIRs is, and it’s likely some pet detectors lack sensitivity to certain types of movement in the target area.
Interestingly, SEN conducted tests on a number of standard PIRs and pet detection types installed at 2.5m in a 25m × 18m hall some years ago. We found that it was possible to sneak past some sensors of both types, especially towards the outer limits of their detection zones. Some sensors performed better than others, and price wasn’t a reliable guide. Security managers would be wise to conduct their walk and crawl tests, especially on larger sites where sensors will be challenged on warm days.
Check Your Detection Zones
Before the sensor goes in, you need to know the layout of the sensor’s zones — these are defined by lens design. Always check the specification sheet before installation and ascertain the sensor’s strengths and weaknesses.
The PIR should be installed so it positions the maximum number of zones at right angles to what is the most likely track of an intruder. Passive infrared sensors are far more sensitive to changes between live and dead zones and live and live zones, than they are to changes within these zones. A typical PIR is designed to activate if a certain number of zones is breached in a given direction at a given speed. The sensor is designed to pick up the most likely line of an intruder’s passage at right angles.
If the PIR you’re installing has no anti-masking feature, make sure it’s positioned, so an intruder will have a hard time reaching it to mask it. Most modern sensors have anti-masking, but the cheaper ones will be devoid of this feature and vulnerable to masking by anything from sticky tape to spray paint.
Smart sensors will alarm if they think they’re being deceived in this way. Look for creep zones, too. These lockdown zones are achieved by clever lens design, and they make it much harder to approach a PIR from beneath. We tested creep zones during our fieldwork in 2000 and found that they definitely enhanced the sensor’s ability to pick up close movement, though some were slow to respond.
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Considerations of Sensor Optics
Lens design is another important issue with PIRs. Using the wrong lens will lessen a PIR’s effectiveness. Some sensors will be supplied with a choice of lens, and others will endeavour through their design to offer of both broad coverage and longer range patterns. There are six primary lens patterns — and these can be applied generally to both Fresnel lens types and mirror optics:
Long range, dual zone, narrow coverage lenses are used to monitor narrow corridors with crossing points to protect long rows or windows
Long range, multizone, narrow coverage lenses are designed for use with long corridors without crossings in which intruders will move towards or away from the sensor
Multizone curtain lenses are mounted on ceilings above entrance doors or in glazed areas. They’re a detection fence from floor to ceiling, and any intrusion through them will generate an alarm.
Broad multizone, wide angle or volumetric: These lens types are the most common found. They are more sensitive to movement across a protected space at right angles to their radial zones. They’re ideal for smaller spaces in domestic homes and small offices.
Ceiling mount PIRs have two-zone, 360-degree coverage, with conical zone arrangement arrayed in 2 circumference lengths.
These sensors are ideal for use in offices that have large numbers of partitions between waist and shoulder height. Multiple installations generally employ overlapping pools of detection. We like mirror optic lenses in tough environments. Having spent time fooling around with some mirror optic PIRs, Help Desk came away impressed with their effectiveness at long range. But in most cases, mirrors mean greater expense, so there’s a decision to be made with lens choice.
Some advantages of PIRs include low false alarm rates when compared to microwave and ultrasonic sensors, miniscule power drains, no energy emissions, no moving parts and simple electronics. PIRs have a longer detection range than ultrasonics, are cheaper than most other technologies, will not interfere with each other when installed in groups and can be adjusted in terms of lens pattern and sensitivity while in the field.
There are several disadvantages with the technology, too. For a start, increases in ambient temperature will affect a PIR’s range and sensitivity. And it’s possible for intruders to wear a suit or carry a shield that reflects body heat to beat PIR sensing. Rokonet has a technology called Anti-Cloaking that works to beat this, though we have not tested it.
There’s not the density or uniformity of coverage with PIRs that you get with other technologies, either. There are dead zones, and it’s possible for furniture or pallets of stock to block the sensor’s view. Nor will the PIR alarm if the sensing element fails — something that beam sensors will do. Generally, the PIR sensor’s detection range is limited to 15m × 15m × 50m in wide angle and 50m in a narrow beam, or a circular 15m pattern.
Other disadvantages include the fact that random IRE signals will cause false alarms, and there’s a maintenance requirement. Lenses and mirrors need to be kept clean and insects and other pests kept at bay. In dry, dusty environments, particles will be electrostatically drawn to the device where they’ll stick and cloud its vision.
Making a Choice
There are a number of features installation companies should look for, and end users should demand when installing PIRs. To begin with, look for sensors with dual edge or quad sensing zones. Look for an array that offers a significant number of look down zones, as well as more than one sensing range and the greatest possible number of discrete zones.
You want surge and low voltage protection, as well as RFI suppression, pyro-electric sensing elements, adjustments letting you alter the range or mask zones, as well as LED-supported latching. Walk-test is a valuable feature and a plug-in test meter is an advantage. Other valuable features include fast-change sensor head, anti-masking (a low-power active infrared transceiver), tantalum capacitor-based RFI and EMI protection, a high signal-to-noise ratio, trouble log capability, auto self-test capability and temperature range of -10C to +50C or better.
A beneficial feature in PIRs is temperature compensation. This feature adjusts sensitivity in line with increases in environmental temperature in the target area, considering that some locations may approach or exceed the temperature of the human body. When this occurs, an uncompensated sensor may have a detection range of just a few metres.
Once the temperature hits +35C, any PIR will be seriously disadvantaged, even if temperature compensation is winding up that tiny pyro-signal through a specially designed amplification circuit. The answer is never to challenge a PIR’s long-range capability in hot climates and, at the risk of being thrown to the wolves, we’d recommend halving the quoted range when designing your system. In Australia, especially in the north, installers putting in PIRs should think overlap and dual technology.
Additional features in a quality sensor include silent alarm relay, multifaceted reflectors, low voltage signal; enhanced processing linked to rate and rise of threshold, duration of zone disturbance and intruder presence in both elements; a tamper contact, site-adjustable sensitivity and first-to-alarm memory.
Features of importance in PIR’s include:
Zone pattern and range
Latching LED
Window type
Fresnel or mirror lens
Recess options
Walk test capability
Mounting or tilting bracket
Factory test EMI/RFI resistance
Operating voltage, current draw
Maximum operating temperature
Temperature compensation
Modular electronics
Anti-tamper, anti-mask
Preferred mounting height.
Please refer to our Detection Systems category for more interesting topics. Installing Passive Infrared Security Sensors.
The Review Of a Modular Daul Sensor Surveillance System-MOBOTIX M16 Camera.
MOBOTIX M16 camera is a modular dual sensor surveillance system that offers installers and end users much more than meets the eye. It’s a PoE, 6MP day/night camera with an integrated housing, rated IP66 and IK10, supported by MxManagementCenter and MxAnalytics software and for the first time offering H.264 compression.
HOLDING the Mobotix M16 in the hand is instructive – it doesn’t feel like a modern surveillance camera. The M16 is compact but at just under 1.2kg it’s a hunk, with the camera system buttoned up inside a Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) housing reinforced with glass fibre to increase strength, stiffness, impact resistance and the ability to withstand heat, acids, oils and sunlight. Strength is a design characteristic – this camera has an MTBF of 80,000 hours – that’s around 9 years of constant operation.
As I work to crack open the M16’s shell to fit a longer network cable it’s clear this is a quality manufacture from front to back – everything is well made and fits together neatly, with no short cuts behind the fascia. Build quality is a testament to Mobotix’ long history of survival in tough climes. We’ve seen Julien Lenser-Hobbs punting M series cameras around at Mobotix conferences and the reason he can do that is apparent as soon as you get the M16 in your hands – this is a rugged little beast.
Before we get into camera performance – let’s run through overall specifications. They are comprehensive and come at you in layers and that’s because Mobotix was never a box mover but always sold a complete solution – camera, software and hardware add-ons. The Mobotix back-end has been polished by the lapidary of operational demands over 17 years so that, taken as a whole, the M16 feels smooth as a gem stone.
The MOBOTIX M16 camera we are looking at has a pair of optical image sensors (they are interchangeable) one being colour for day work, the other monochrome for night. Each of the sensors is a 1/1.8-inch progressive scan 1/1.8-inch CMOS with a total pixel count of 3072 x 2048 at up to 42ips, and this new M16 camera engine has a dual core microprocessor. Mobotix offers a range of image sensor lens options which you select before ordering – distant tele, super tele, standard, wide lens, super wide, ultra wide and hemispheric.
In this case, both day and night sensors are fitted with F1.8 Ultrawide L20 lenses with a focal length of 3.6mm and an angle of view of 103 degrees x 77 degrees high.
Light sensitivity numbers are interesting because Mobotix quotes them at the realistic shutter speed of 1/60th of a second, as well as the less likely shutter speed of 1/1 second. At 1/60th low light performance in colour is 0.1 lux and .005 lux at one second. In monochrome, the numbers are .02 at 1/60th of a second and .001 at 1 second. Frankly, anything shot at 1 second that’s not a static object is going to be rendered artistically to say the least. But as an operator, it’s nice to have the ability to snare a static scene at slow shutter speed in order to get the plate of a parked car before hopping back to 1/60th to minimise motion blur.
The M16 has a strong operating temperature range from -30 to 60 degrees C, features an internal microSD DVR, a microphone and speaker (16bit/16kHz HD wideband audio giving live and audio messages), a PIR sensor, a temperature sensor and a shock detector. Power consumption is modest at 7W, dimensions are compact at 210 x 158 x 207mm and weight modest at 1.160kg. The camera ships with screws, dowels, screw caps, a pair of Allen keys, a module key, a VarioFlex wall and ceiling mount with rubber sealing, a 0.5m ethernet patch cable and a blind module.
Mx6 system platform with H.264 and ONVIF compatibility
Recording on an internal MicroSD card (4 GB as standard)
Integrated microphone and speaker
Integrated shock detector und PIR sensor
Wall or ceiling mounting (mount included with purchase)
Can be easily installed on a pole with pole mount (accessory)
Suitable IR illuminator (PoE+) available as an option
MOBOTIX M16 Camera’s Functions
On the networking side, Mobotix has all the bells and whistles including protocols IPv4, IPv6, HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, RTP, UDP, SNMP, SMTP, DHCP (client and server), NTP (client and server), SIP (client and server). Cyber security capabilities are comprehensive; including camera and data security, user and group management, SSL connections, IP-based access control, IEEE802.1x, intrusion detection and digital image signature. Mobotix used to be a completely closed shop when it came to third party integration but there’s now H.264, Genetec Protocol integration, and ONVIF compatibility is coming.
Video codecs are MxPEG, MJPEG and H.264, and there’s G.711 (PCMA and PCMU) and G.722 audio compression.
When it comes to display and streaming there are multiple image options. You can configure image format, select image crops based on frame rate and resolution and select from multiple bitrate options. The DVR/storage management solution is at the edge via microSD card and externally via USB device and NAS, with different streams for live image and recording, MxFFS with archive function, pre-alarm an post-alarm images, monitoring recording with failure reporting.
You can send and receive MxMessages, undertake video analysis, programme and activate the video motion detector, there’s onboard MxActivitySensor, integrated MxManagementCenter and there’s a Mobile Mobotix App for live viewing or actioning of events remotely. This test is undertaken on MxManagementCenter I’ve downloaded to my workstation.
We’ve already mentioned some of the M16’s large suite of general functions but there are a few more it’s worth touching on – continuous or event recording with audio, time-controlled flexible event logic, weekly schedules for recordings and events, event video and image via FTP or email, playback and quad view via web browser, animated logos on the image, bi-directional audio in the browser, customised voice messages and plenty more.
Test Driving The MOBOTIX M16
We’re testing the M16 through a Netgear 1080S PoE switch but instead of using the usual Dell Optiplex server, I’m viewing the camera on my workstation, an HP EliteDesk 800 G1 with an i7 4785T processor with integrated video processing, 2.2GHz processing speed and 8GB of RAM.
In terms of camera settings, I’m using MxPEG as codec and viewing the camera in MxManagementCenter with image quality set to high (1280 x 960), sharpness at 4, noise filtering set to low, colour saturation at 0, brightness at 0, average brightness at 40 per cent, BLC at 4 and a 100 per cent exposure rating. I’ve got AWB at auto, set night mode for 10 lux and my frame rate is 15 ips.
Colour Rendition
I start my test out the front in good light – conditions are variable – strong light and deep shade from surrounding towers – a typical city street scene. Optically the M16 is always solid and at times – particularly in very low light – it’s surprising. The sensor and processor are highly responsive to changing light, there’s almost no noise or processing pulse in the image stream. Contrast is good, sharpness is strong, too. With a 3.6mm lens you move into softness in the first half of digital zoom but that’s expected with a 107-degree angle of view, even at 6MP resolution. This is a big all-round view. Exposure is generally consistent across the frame with a tendency to overexpose.
Colour rendition is good with strong reds and blues. Something MxMC allows is the ability to create zones of exposure – that’s a nice feature for scenes like this one.
The 3.6mm ultra-wide lens with it’s angle of view of 107 degrees has a hyperfocal distance of less than half a metre, so within half that distance and all the way out to infinity, the scene is more or less in focus. In practice, I’m getting plates to about 12m – past this point things get softer as pixel spread comes into play – you need to select your fixed focal length camera sensors thoughtfully – in this application the standard focal length would have been my best option, giving me enhanced depths of field.
Longitudinal chromatic aberration is restricted to the outlines of white cars. Barrel distortion is quite mild for a lens of this focal length. I try to get the plate of a fast-moving cab at about 15m and can’t, but it seems to be softness thanks to pixel spread, not blur. I try again with a yellow and black plate slightly closer (the first plate was blue and white) and snare it but there’s a cut-off point for plates and this applies to faces, too – around 12m.
Past this point situational awareness remains strong, with excellent image balance and vibrant colour but digital zoom at a 103-degree angle of view comes at a price. It has an advantage in that it allows you to capture much more of a scene than you might with a lens sitting at a focal length of 5-6mm but you will mouse wheel into softness. After the first afternoon of testing I head back to the office at about 9pm to see how things are looking in full dark. The camera has gone into night mode – not with a cut filter, but by switching over to the monochrome camera sensor.
In around 4 lux, the image is noisy, but it retains plenty of detail and is also light on blur.
This confirms something we saw at SecTech Camera Shootout. In real world applications the M16 can give you moving details many other cameras cannot, and it does this with lots of controlled amplification and not very much digital rebuilding of the image stream. The image exhibits some blooming and flare, with over exposure at the bright end of the street, but that’s past the camera’s useful depth of field at this ultrawide focal length anyway. I am still getting the plate of neighbour Fred’s car about 6m from the lens and it’s easy enough to see the make of cars driving up the street.
Next day I can see straight away the camera manages street backlight very well. When exposing for shaded scenes there’s some typical overexposure in bright patches but it’s well balanced and I have recourse to the brightness and contrast slider on the left of the viewer. Most the time I find that keeping the contrast button just above the brightness button works best no matter which levels I choose.
Motion blur is low. I don’t see tone mapping around fast-moving objects. I don’t quite manage the plate of a motor scooter at 15m and 35kmph but there are no worries with a group of people at around 10m and the faces of pedestrians and joggers are easily discernible, too. Court admissible faces in good light are pushed back to 16m at this focal length. There are not sharp at that distance but I’m getting high levels of detail across the wide scene. I try for a plate on digital zoom at about 20m but can’t get it.
Next, I move the camera out back and position it looking down Bellevue Lane – that’s the darkest view I have in this application in low light and I’m going to leave the camera here throughout the afternoon and into the evening. Foveaux Lane forms a T-junction at about 70m and this angle of view is giving me situational awareness – including clothing and hair colour at the junction – but not court admissible faces. It’s bright out back initially but shadows lengthen and late in the afternoon it starts to rain. Throughout all this, the M16 returns a consistent image stream with good colour and contrast.
I get a number of chances to confirm that the camera is sharpest within 12m before pixel spread has an impact.
As evening wears on, noise starts creeping into the colour image. The noise is very consistent across the frame and colour rendition and detail levels remain high. The camera is set to switch to night mode at 10 lux but according to my Sekonic, it goes over into mono early at around 55 lux (4.6 EV), but does so with none of the usual fuss. In black and white, noise reduces, and sharpness and contrast remain high. As light levels slide, noise increases – it’s much more apparent upon digital zoom – when it comes to noise, the deeper you go, the deeper you go, so to speak. At full screen, however, the night scene in the lane is good.
The passage of a car up the lane suggests the Mobotix M16 is particularly good against motion blur. The noise levels remain very consistent across the frame. There’s still considerable detail in this scene as light slips to 28 lux (3.4 EV), 15 lux (2.7EV), 7 lux (1.6EV) – same as most cameras, that last EV or so is the point at which the image becomes most stressed. At a little after 8 on a rainy night, I measure 0 EV at the lens, that’s sub 2 lux. The image remains useful – more than sharp enough to see rats running about in the lane at 8m.
SEN is occasionally accused of targeted enthusiasm in its camera tests but this assertion is off the mark. We see many cameras and sometimes we see something that really knocks our socks off optically – typically that something is high resolution, has a motorised zoom and a remote focus, and does very well in low light. Comparatively, the M16 in this configuration has high resolution and a fixed 3.6mm lens, making it an all-rounder the reviewer comes to respect more and more after living with it.
All top-flight cameras, including the M16, have areas of optical performance and operational function that are praiseworthy. It took only about 5 minutes for me to come to appreciate the core strengths of the M16 – its build quality and potential for longevity, the instant appearance on my workstation with zero hassle, the intuitive interface.
In terms of camera performance, there’s a lot to like about the Mobotix M16 in this ultra-wide angle configuration. There’s barrel distortion but it’s mild – about 8-9 per cent. Chromatic aberration is there if you look for it in areas of high contrast but it’s mild, too, suggesting a quality lens design. Overall, the M16 it exhibits low latency, a strong angle of view for retail, lobby, lane and courtyard applications, zero discernible blur in good light and very little blur in low light.
At opposite ends of the spectrum, the ability to handle variably lit scenes and low light scenes without blur are also very good. Important for performance on the street, bloom in low light is reasonably well controlled. You also get surprisingly useful performance from the M16 in a completely dark room with just its little green LED indicator shining. I try to measure the light emitting from this LED – it’s 0 EV. There’s amplification noise under 50 lux but the trade-off between blur and sharpness is worth it.
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Setup once MxManagementCenter is loaded is very simple – as soon as you run the software the camera is found and displayed – it couldn’t be easier. This software is probably the key for me – the simplicity of driving the camera with all the controls you want – brightness and contrast slider on the left of the main screen, image quality and bit-rate control top right with one-click selection, zoom slider on the bottom (along with mouse wheel zoom and click and pull panning), volume control on the right – all there in the viewer with no need to minimise the image.
Usually I need to burrow into a browser interface to play with brightness and contrast and that means I tend to leave the settings as they are during live viewing when I ought to change them. MxManagementCenter is more highly evolved and keeps reminding you that the M16 is a system, not a camera. What does that mean? It means that from the viewer you can open a door, answer a phone call, turn on a light, check temperature, check recent alarm events, drive a hyperlink, as well as doing all the normal stuff – taking snap shots, tweaking resolution and recording.
In an era of me-too surveillance cameras there’s certainly more to the Mobotix M16 than meets the eye.
Further details about this MOBOTIX M16 here, MOBOTIX ONE is coming soon! see below. You can also read more SEN news here.
“In terms of camera performance, there’s a lot to like about the Mobotix M16 in this ultra-wide angle configuration.”
Manly Library Access Control – Northern Beaches Council is seeking an access control and alarm system to allow unstaffed access to Manly Library.
The scope of this RFQ is supply and install a control system with 2 units that validate a visitor’s authorisation to access Manly Library when the library is unstaffed.
Manly Library is a 3-storey building situated in a busy pedestrian strip located at 1 Market Lane, Manly. There are 2 entry doors that require access control – one from the pedestrian strip to a foyer, and one from the foyer to the library.
This tender closes on July 18 – you can learn more here or read more SEN news here.
Manly Library Access Control Functions
Manage the access system and other building functions such as lighting controls, automated announcements, and building alarms
Allow for operational schedules by time of day and day of week as well as the ability to schedule exceptions, such as for public holidays
Run reports on building visits
Ongoing support and maintenance is required for a period of 5 years after installation
Installation is to be carried out by October 2024.
Permaconn Announces Romteck Acquisition – Mission-critical security signalling provider Permaconn has announced its acquisition of Romteck, significantly expanding its mission critical solutions base.
Romteck is an Australian manufacturer specialising in ultra-high-reliability safety-critical
telemetry (IoT) solutions with offices in Sydney and Perth and customers across multiple industries through a diverse product range enabling automatic fire alarm monitoring and emergency lift communications.
Romteck customers include state Fire Brigades in Victoria, NSW and ACT, state and federal government departments as well as commercial and residential building owners.
“We have built Romteck into the business is it today over several decades through a relentless commitment to maintaining leadership in ASE technology, network security and customer service,” said Romteck founder, Sean Joseph.
“We see strong overlaps between the Romteck and Permaconn cultures and their commitments to outstanding customer service outcomes and are excited about the business combination.”
According to Andrew Pears, CEO of Permaconn, the Permaconn team has huge respect for the achievements of the Romteck team in building itself into a significant player in critical communication solutions.
“We believe the combination of Permaconn and Romteck is underpinned by a strong commercial rationale given the overlaps in our respective technology solutions, customer-centric cultures and customer base,” Pears said.
“We look forward to building on Romteck’s success with continued investment in signalling technology and value-added services.”
Pears said Sean Joseph will continue leading the Romteck business and become a shareholder of Permaconn.
You can learn more about Romteck here, discover Permaconn here or read more SEN news here.
There’s Much More to Electronic Security Than CCTV – It’s easy to forget that video surveillance is only part of the security manager’s operational matrix – without the support of additional systems and effective procedures, CCTV cameras are reduced to the role of investigative tools – useful but not able to inform security staff in real time, writes Luke Percy-Dove.
Over the last few months, aside from doing the typical security design and risk assessment work that accounts for the bulk of our time at Matryx, we have also been auditing a diverse mix of commercial properties and acting as expert witnesses in a couple of civil suits. It has been both varied and challenging at times. What has been fascinating is learning what security means to each of the businesses that we have been working with and how they go about securing their properties.
One of the common themes has been a very high reliance on CCTV for property protection, which we would strongly recommend against unless the CCTV is supported by other systems and processes. So we thought it was time to explore what security is, how it should be applied to your property or commercial premises and how to determine what you might need aside from CCTV.
What is security?
A quick search of dictionary.com states that security is:
1. Freedom from danger, risk, and safety 2. Freedom from care, anxiety, or doubt; well-founded confidence 3. Something that secures or makes safe; protection; defence 4. Precautions taken to guard against crime, attack, sabotage, espionage. It is clear from these descriptions that security is intangible. It is not necessarily a product or a service, but more of a mindset. And it will likely be achieved only once a series of steps or precautions have been undertaken.
How do we apply security to a property or commercial business?
Security of a premise will be dictated by the property in question and its individual risk profile. This cannot be guessed or assumed, as each property will be different in some way; differing suburb and local environment, neighbouring properties, traffic patterns, crime rates, accessibility, lighting, parking, trees and foliage; the list goes on and on.
A fellow security professional that I have known for many years and have enormous respect for, once said to me that the level of security required is always ‘just enough’. It’s a principle we have embraced at Matryx and helps us bring perspective to many of the security recommendations we put to our clients. So the very first step that needs to be determined is what ‘just enough’ security actually is, relative to the property we are advising on. The best way to do this is to undertake a security risk assessment in accordance with ISO 31000 for risk management. This will identify the risk profile of the property and determine what risks need to be considered and addressed.
From the risk assessment process, it is common for a whole series of recommendations to be put to the client for consideration. We say consideration because whatever is recommended to the client must make sense and not contradict the theme of the business. For example, you wouldn’t recommend steel bars and roller shutters to a welfare organisation that is heavily involved in community engagement. Security has to achieve a purpose and more often than not, will come with a low profile. Security must achieve a purpose and more often than not, will come with a low profile.
There’s Much More To Electronic Security Than CCTV
Assessing your security performance – How well is your security working for you?
When we are deciding what measures are appropriate, we need to be mindful of what each treatment is capable of achieving relative to the fundamental principles of security risk management. These principles are:
* Deter – Will the measure provide a level of deterrence? * Detect – Will the measure aid in the detection of unlawful access? * Deny – Will the measure aid in the denial of unlawful access? * Delay – Will the measure delay access into or from the property? * Respond – Will the measure allow an efficient response to a criminal or other event?
Very few security treatments can tick all the boxes and achieve full compliance with each of these principles. So more often than not, security will be achieved through a range of treatments that are complimentary to one another.
When recommending a security treatment that has a physical or operational aspect to it, we need to understand exactly what function it will perform. The simple way to do this is to use a table such as we have below to compare treatments and to understand what value each can add from a security perspective. When recommending a security treatment that has a physical or operational aspect to it, we need to understand exactly what function it will perform.
In the table below, we have listed a range of treatments that can enhance security and would be common to many commercial properties. It can also be used to help you determine how well your security is working for your business and if it is meeting your organisational objectives.
Security Treatment
Deter (*1)
Detect
Deny
Delay
Respond
Security lighting
Possible
Possible (*2)
No
No
No
CPTED compliance
Possible
Possible (*2)
No
No
No
Door, window locks
Possible
No
Yes
Yes
No
Window Grilles
Possible
No
Yes
Yes
No
Cyclone fencing
Possible
No
No
Yes
No
Security fencing
Possible
No
Yes
Yes
No
Intrusion detection
Possible
Yes
No
No
No
Alarm monitoring
No
No
No
No
Yes
CCTV
Possible
Possible (*3)
No
No
Yes
Bollards
Possible
No
Yes
Yes
No
Security gates
Possible
No
Yes
Yes
No
Security guards
Possible
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Security Patrols
Possible
Yes
No
No
Yes
*1. Deterrence is subjective and will be based on the state of mind and motivations of the intruder *2. Detection would be achieved through improved surveillance of the property *3. Where video motion detections and analytics have been applied.
In an ideal scenario, you would employ a mix of treatments that ensures you can achieve a ‘yes’ in each of the 5 columns at least once when all the security treatments applicable to the property have been listed. Once you can confidently say that, you have probably achieved a reasonable level of security. To improve on that further, we would recommend that at least two methods of detection are always used. This could be reed switches fitted to perimeter doors and internal intrusion detection. Or intrusion detection and VMD. Or security guards and CCTV. The point here is that if one treatment is bypassed for some reason, then another opportunity for detection still exists.
For high security properties or where the risk of loss is greater, we would go further again and ensure that each column has a yes in it at least twice or more. This is good security risk management. If you are not sure how many boxes you can tick in securing your property, or how well your security is working for you, a professional security consultant can show you how.
Luke Percy-Dove, CCTP, is a physical security and risk consultant and a counter-terrorism and critical infrastructure security adviser at Matryx Consulting.
The Matrix – There’s Much More to Electronic Security Than CCTV
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What is Video Motion Detection VMD?
Video Motion Detection (VMD) is the camera’s ability to trigger a recording based on any motion that is detected. The camera notices and is triggered by motion through measuring how the video’s pixels change from one moment to the next.
This is not the same as PIR motion detection. When VMD is set up correctly, it can be an effective way to capture activity and generate notifications for the customer.
Contents
There’s Much More to Electronic Security Than CCTV – Original Publish Date 07.07.2016
Matt Kelly Joins PMT Security As Solutions Development Manager.
Matt Kelly Joins PMT Security – Matt Kelly has joined PMT Solutions in the role of solutions development manager.
“I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as solution development manager at PMT Security Systems and I’m looking forward to working in a fast-growing and dynamic security integrator,” Kelly said.
Kelly has a solid security integration background having worked with Spotless, TechGuard, Stanley, MPV and SNP.
Founded in 1979, PMT Security is a national, Australian-owned security and communications integrator, providing a complete spectrum of customised security and communication solutions.
PMT Security provides electronic security installations and service for some of Australia’s biggest organisations across the retail, commercial, logistics and data centre sectors, with more than 4500 4000 customer sites nationally.
The company has been on a tear in recent years with a number of key acquisitions, along with quality hires that look certain to maintain its positive trajectory.
You can learn more about PMT Security’s security integration services here or read more SEN news here.
“Matt Kelly Joins PMT Security As Solutions Development Manager.”
Demystifying Class 5 Intruder Alarm Systems’ Functionality And Advantages.
Demystifying Class 5 Intruder Alarm Systems – Class 5 intruder alarm systems are an extremely secure type of alarm system, designed according to the Intruder Alarms Standard AS/NZS 2201.
Class 5 systems are ideal for locations that require an enhanced level of security such as correctional facilities, financial institutions, data centres, medical research facilities, government facilities, and other such facilities storing assets of critical national importance.
Generally, Class 5 systems require the use of active end of line (ELM) modules, higher level authentication to disarm, more frequent polling to monitoring stations, stringent battery backup and recharge requirements, as well as a more secure cabinet with enhanced hardware and componentry.
By implementing a Class 5 solution, clients are assured alarms are reported should the system come under attack.
The Intruder Alarms Standard AS/NZS 2201 was published in 2007 and specifies the minimum requirements for the design, commissioning, installation, and maintenance of intruder alarm systems rated from Class 1 (lowest security level, suitable only for domestic use) to Class 5 (highest security level, suitable for protection up to an extreme business level).
For Australian government entities seeking zone 3 compliance, the Protective Security Policy Framework document must also be considered. The Policy 16 Entity Facilities of the Protective Security Policy Framework outlines the guidance for physical security controls for different security zones.
The 5 security zones detail the level of security needed to meet the risk level of an entity facility. While not strictly considered high security, zone 3 areas still require precise security controls. Zone 3 areas are closed to the public, with restricted access for authorized personnel.
Class 5 solutions are ideally suited for sites that require enhanced levels of security. The Class 5 intruder alarm system is designed specifically to meet the unique security requirements of high-value and high-risk facilities such as government agencies, defence facilities, banking, data centres, and pharmaceutical companies. These systems are robust, versatile, and provide reliable security to safeguard against potential threats.
Class 5 solutions should be utilized by sites that need higher levels of security; this could be correctional facilities, financial institutions, and data centres – any site where a breach could cause serious business impacts. Class 5 solutions are also used to ensure the protection of zone 3 areas within Australian government entities. These areas are restricted and therefore need an assured solution that provides a high level of protection.
When installed and implemented in the correct manner, a Class 5 intruder alarm can provide a high-security level of protection. The Class 5 is a cost-effective solution, offering the protection of a high-quality, certified intruder alarm system.
A Class 5 solution is not just the alarm technology provided and its implementation; it is also the detailed documentation, operating procedures, and maintenance carried out on the system.
In order to meet the Class 5 requirements, a Class 5 solution must include the following in addition to the alarm system:
As built documentation that includes detailed plans of installation:
Logbook
End user training
Warranties of all installed equipment
Full maintenance schedule
Written advice on remote access
99.95 per cent up time to monitoring (local/remote) with polling every 20 seconds.
Once the checklist above has been completed, a qualified system installer or consultant can provide a declaration that the installed solution complies with the AS/NZ 2201 standard.
In addition, Class 5 solutions installed in Australian government zone 3 areas require the use of SCEC-approved detection devices available in the SEEPL catalogue.
Importantly, certification for a Class 5 intruder alarm revolves around the whole solution and implementation, not just the technology itself. To meet the requirements of Class 5, the system requires regular servicing by an authorized provider which must be carried out annually, at a minimum, and requires a report to be issued on completion of the maintenance.
The maintenance report needs to be signed by both the technician performing the maintenance and the client receiving the report. The report will include recommendations for performance improvement or alterations to ensure compliance is kept.
Other ongoing requirements for a client include:
Staff trained to adequate levels on operation of the system
System utilized in a satisfactory manner
Walk testing of the system monthly
Fault rectification is performed as soon as possible
Ensure system remains compliant with AS/NZS2201
Responsibility for compliance of the system ultimately lies with the client.
Gallagher high security solutions are scalable, flexible, and trusted to protect sensitive sites worldwide. With a dedicated high security R&D team, Gallagher is amongst the best in the world when it comes to meeting government high security standards. Security is built in at every level, meaning the hardware and software that make up Gallagher’s solutions are designed to be as secure as possible from inception.
Gallagher’s Class 5 solution provides a fully encrypted, authenticated, and compliant solution that has been independently certified by an IANZ approved test facility and can protect high-value assets from physical security threats. Gallagher also offers standalone solutions for smaller air-gapped secure areas.
Specialized Class 5 training is available to Gallagher channel partners to provide awareness and understanding of the requirements for installing a compliant solution. Part of this training includes reviewing the compliance checklist that is issued with a Gallagher Class 5 solution and what is needed to ensure this is completed.
You can discover more about Gallagher’s Class 5 solution and other high security offerings here or read more SEN news here.
* Karl Harris is national high security & federal manager for Gallagher in Australia.
“Demystifying Class 5 Intruder Alarm Systems’ Functionality And Advantages.”
Territory Generation Seeks Security Services For 36 Months.
Sorry folks, the BGIS tender we posted earlier is no longer available but Territory Generation is seeking security services across its TGen power stations.
Services required include such as alarm monitoring, static and mobile guards, security patrols, and response alarm events to ensure the safety of the staff and sites.
Territory Generation supplies 2000GWh of electricity to residential, commercial and government users in the Northern Territory, including key defence installations such as Pine Gap.
T-Gen is based in Berrimah and owns and operates 8 power stations across the Northern Territory supporting large population centres like Darwin, as well as remote centres such as Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.
You can find out more about this territory generation security services tender here or read more SEN news here.
“Territory Generation Seeks Security Services For 36 Months.”
