ASIS Enthusiasm
- By Ralph C. Jensen
- Sep 01, 2008
It seems like we barely stop talking about ASIS
before it’s on the calendar again. Such is the case
this year as the industry is gearing up for the
tradeshow, seminar and educational opportunity. We
plan our magazine editorial content for this tradeshow to
highlight some of the most spectacular innovations,
products and people.
In June, I traveled to the Foxwoods Resort in
Connecticut to visit with the video surveillance director of
the MGM Foxwoods and had the pleasure to interview
Ron and Cyndi Freschi of North American Video. I came
away with a better understanding of security applications
in the casino/resort setting. Without question, the facilities
are better off with the NAV solutions implemented by the
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.
“Our performance is based on maintaining the bestin-
class security systems in the gaming industry and
building that into a worldwide reputation,” Cynthia said.
I think you’ll find this story as interesting as it is
entertaining. And if you plan to vacation in Connecticut
any time soon, it’s a wonderful time of year to be in the
Northeast. What about the Freschis? Look for them to
make high impact in the aerospace industry, key infrastructures
and healthcare.
Speaking of security solutions and plans at an airport,
we also caught up with Lior Frenkel of Waterfall
Solutions to inquire about airport security. The fact is,
airports have more duties than you can imagine. Airport
officials can’t forget traffic control, generators, air conditioning,
customs and border control—the list goes on.
Part of that list is protection against cyber attacks.
Frenkel is correct in suggesting that technological innovations
help provide improved security. IP-based surveillance
systems have many benefits over analog and
older-generation digital systems.
IP-based surveillance provides a means for automated
alerting, generated in response to predefined events.
As Frenkel concluded, “IP-based surveillance systems
allow the possibility of advanced and automatic analytics
of numerous video feeds to identify predefined
events, threats and fraud.”
With all the bases covered, what about those in the
security industry charged with protecting students, staff
and visitors? We’re pleased to address that topic with
an article from Glenn Rosenberg. He writes that it is a
formidable challenge keeping a single campus safe and
secure, but it is even a greater responsibility when implementing
security across multiple locations.
Well, it can be accomplished successfully, and here’s
how. Consistency of security service across multiple
locations is paramount, and it often falls to the contract
service companies to scale up security across numerous
geographic locations. Rosenberg writes that experience
in protecting facilities counts for quite a lot these days.
One of my favorite topics is that of border security. In
my opinion, we don’t do enough to seal our borders. But
how can that happen when officers are asked to inspect
422 million travelers and more than 132 million cars?
They can’t. On a typical day, Customs and Border
Protection officers process about 70,000 truck, rail and
sea containers. On the U.S./Canadian border, one truck
crosses every 2.5 seconds.
There must be a balance between increased security
demands and maintaining the free flow of trade. In our
Homeland Security section of the magazine, you’ll want
to read an article by Meta Rotenberg, who says the solution
is license plate recognition. Automatic capture of
license plate data can immediately verify plates against
a watch list, which will flag suspect or wanted vehicles.
A couple of months ago, we sent our e-news editor,
Brent Dirks, to Richmond, Calif., to enjoy a tour with
integrator ADT. The Port of Richmond takes in more
than 32 miles of shoreline and is the third busiest in the
state. The security system in place is an IP video surveillance
network powered by wireless mesh technology.
The port handles nearly 19 million tons of non-containerized
products, such as cars from Kia and
Hyundai, we well as liquid bulk items. Dirks writes that
the surveillance solution came from a $2.5 million
Department of Homeland Security grant, including 64
Axis IP fixed and 18 PTZ cameras to monitor the port’s
perimeters and facilities.
Why a wireless network system? Easy. The port
covers more than 15 square miles, and the wireless
installation was simple. There was no cost to run fiber
across such an expansive area, and wireless allows for
an easier expansion of the system, which is already
under discussion.
Included with the magazine this month is a special
supplement addressing the ins and outs of monitoring. In
the cover story, Felix Gonzales of Stanley Convergent
Security Solutions reminds us that terrorism or homeland
security issues are still at the forefront of everyone’s
minds. The government security market is growing at a
quick pace, and the fear of losing data to foreign interests
is a critical concern.
And speaking of critical concerns, school, networkcentric,
food supply and infrastructure security pretty
much top the list in terms of importance. We’re addressing
these topics head-on in a new news outlet, our
collaboration with Safe and Secure TV Channel. Visit
www.secprodonline.com now to view online video of
industry experts discussing each of these hot subjects.
It’s time again for the ASIS dance. Hope to see you
in Atlanta.