Government


Calgary, Canada Uses IP Video Technology In Centralized Surveillance System

IndigoVision’s IP video technology is at the heart of a ground breaking ‘Data Warehousing’ and surveillance system for the City of Calgary, Canada.

Researchers Looking To Commercialize Eye-Tracking Technology As Polygraph Alternative

Shifty eyes long have been thought to signify a person’s problem telling the truth. Now a group of University of Utah researchers are taking that old adage to a new level.

United States Army Garrison Walter Reed, Walter Reed Army Medical Center To Deploy Network-Centric Mass Notification Solution

AtHoc Inc., provider of network-centric emergency mass notification systems, recently announced that the United States Army Garrison Walter Reed and Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) will deploy its AtHoc IWSAlerts system to help alert personnel in the event of an emergency and to rapidly communicate mission-critical information.

Napolitano Highlights Efforts Of Department’s CFATS Efforts At Chemical Sector Security Summit

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano recently delivered remarks highlighting the department’s ongoing efforts to bolster security and increase resiliency at high-risk chemical facilities through the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program at the 2010 Chemical Sector Security Summit.

Securing the Homeland

Homeland Security never sleeps. It is a 24/7 operation that can’t afford downtime or periods of reduced readiness. Thermal security cameras have become the visual surveillance sensor of choice for these demanding, high-security missions. For many years, thermal cameras have proven themselves to be the best 24-hour visual surveillance imaging solutions available, and today they are a vital component in our country’s vital homeland security mission, helping to secure our borders, airports, sea ports, nuclear facilities and other critical infrastructure installations.

ASIS International Receives GSA Federal Supply Schedule Contract

ASIS International, the world’s largest organization for security management professionals, is now an authorized General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule vendor of educational programs, materials and exhibits and seminars for security professionals.

NIST To Help Accelerate Federal Government’s Adoption Of Secure Cloud Computing

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been designated by Federal Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra to accelerate the federal government’s secure adoption of cloud computing by leading efforts to develop standards and guidelines in close consultation and collaboration with standards bodies, the private sector and other stakeholders

DHS-Designed Camera Employs Image Stitching Technology To Provide 100 Megapixel Resolution

A new video surveillance system currently being developed by the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) may soon give law enforcement an extra set of eyes. The Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance (or ISIS) takes new video camera and image-stitching technology and bolts it to a ceiling, mounts it on a roof, or fastens it to a truck-mounted telescoping mast.



Research: North American Biometrics Market To Experience Steady Growth

The North American biometrics market is likely to experience a steady growth rate, with national ID projects, e-Passports, and other security projects spearheading market growth according to new research from Frost & Sullivan.

Mumbai Metro To Deploy Wireless Mesh Video Surveillance Network

Firetide Inc., a provider of wireless infrastructure mesh networks, recently announced a partnership agreement with Thales Portugal S.A., a leading global technology systems integrator, to deploy a real-time, wireless mesh video surveillance network in Mumbai, for MMOPL. The network will be deployed to provide onboard video surveillance and broadcast of text message to onboard display.

Pulling the plug in SBInet

Pulling the Plug

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has halted funding for the Secure Border Initiative-Net, a system of towers, cameras, radar and sensors initially hailed as "the most comprehensive effort in the nation's history" to assist northern and southern border agents with curtailing illegal immigration.

New York Jail Upgrades To Hybrid System Using OnSSI Technology

Facing the need for a scalable system with video recording and archiving, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office in New York has updated its county jail’s video surveillance system with a hybrid analog/IP system that includes Ocularis Recorder NetDVMS and Ocularis Client software from OnSSI.

Keeping Pace with Regulations

The events of Sept. 11 heightened the federal government’s attention to security procedures at chemical/petrochemical facilities and required officials at LyondellBasell to take a fresh look at methods used to secure their facilities.

DHS Announces New Enhancements To Protect Federal Facilities

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano recently announced two enhancements to federal facility security -- initiatives that further strengthen the Department’s ability to protect thousands of government buildings across the United States one week prior to the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.

Overcoming Challenges, Finding Unexpected Benefits In CFATS

The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards are complex and fairly disruptive. Few would argue that. The risk-based performance standards guidance alone is nearly 200 pages long, and many companies have had to re-allocate or hire staff, facilitate training and certification, and contemplate ways to re-imagine corporate processes in order to control access to chemicals of interest.

globe

Laying Down the Law

In response to the failed Christmas Day bombing by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Transportation Security Administration has mandated enhanced screening measures at airports nationwide for U.S.-bound passengers traveling from or through state sponsors of terrorism and other countries of interest.

camera lens

An Extra Pair of Eyes

The biggest challenge in outdoor live surveillance for border patrol, Coast Guard and traffic control applications is atmospheric interference from fog, snow or haze. Existing fog cancellation devices are expensive and often require multiple cameras with individual adjustment to each camera.

Border Patrol

The New Detectives

Customs officials used to have to rely on traditional screening technologies that are ill-suited for the customs mission and have produced mixed results. Today, advanced imaging technology in the form of millimeter wave imagers and other devices are emerging as the newest tools in a customs officer's toolkit.

Capitol Building

Always More to be Done

The rule of thumb in protecting government facilities is simple—any application with a large coverage area is a candidate for a video surveillance system, and that includes the perimeter. Since most government facilities have limited manpower for security-related tasks, with video surveillance systems, only a few people are needed to watch over areas that would be virtually impossible to patrol with 100-percent effectiveness.

Security Products Announces 2010 GovSec Award Winners

Security Products magazine announced the winners of the 2010 Security Products’ GovSec Award today at GovSec, the Government Security Expo & Conference.

Featured

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”