Homeland Security


Wireless Video Surveillance System Funded By Seized Narcotics Cash Goes Live In Texas City

The city of Mission, Texas is now live with a state-of-the-art wireless mesh video security network providing this border town’s police department with extra “eyes in the sky” to help keep the community safe.

Black & Veatch to Design Public Safety Communications System for Oregon

Black & Veatch was selected by the state of Oregon to provide architectural and engineering services for the Oregon Wireless Interoperability Network (OWIN) project that is designed to enhance public safety.

ioimage Video Analytics Protect Water Storage Tanks In Pennsylvania Town

ioimage recently that its products have been installed to protect the water storage tanks of the borough of Kutztown, Penn.

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions Select Cernium Video Analytics

Cernium, a developer of video analytics-enabled products, announced recently that Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions has selected and deployed Perceptrak, Cernium's server-based enterprise video analytics software solution. Perceptrak will assist corporate security personnel in monitoring the perimeter of the Baltimore medical center campus.

South Africa Airport Taps DVTel For Security Expansion

The O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, is undergoing a major security project upgrade, adding to an existing DVTel video surveillance system already installed in the domestic and international terminals.

Honeywell Provides Radar Security For Port Of Miami

Honeywell recently announced the successful implementation of a waterside radar system that provides situational awareness of the waterways in the general areas surrounding the Port of Miami, one of the United States’ busiest seaports.

BridgeWave’s Wireless Links Help Power Video Surveillance System For Texas Town

BridgeWave Communications, a supplier of gigabit wireless solutions, today announced that its FE60U gigabit upgradeable wireless products power the backbone of the wireless video surveillance network for the City of Highland Village in Texas.

DHS Using Ground Penetrating Radar To Battle Cross-Border Tunnels

Criminals of all kinds are digging tunnels along the U.S. border at a fast and furious pace. Of every tunnel ever discovered by U.S. border patrol agents, 60 percent have been found in the last three years. Agents spot a new one every month.



New Jersey City Selects Video Surveillance Solution From GVI Security

GVI Security Solutions Inc. recently announced the company has been selected to provide a Samsung Electronics comprehensive video surveillance solution to the police and fire departments of a large New Jersey city.

Frost & Sullivan Says Improving Security In Luxury Hotels Top Global Priority

The list of locations around the world having experienced terrorist attacks on luxury hotels is growing fast: Netanya in Israel, Jakarta in Indonesia, Taba and Sharm al-Sheikh in Egypt, Sana'a in Yemen, Amman in Jordan, Islamabad in Pakistan, Mumbai in India in November 2008 and last month, Peshawar in Pakistan.

Questions and Answers From the Top

Thermal security cameras -- cameras that make pictures and video from heat, not light -- are affordable, available and becoming a must-have technology for the serious security professional. To learn more about this exciting technology, Security Products sat down with Andy Teich, president of FLIR Systems’ Commercial Vision Systems division.

The Carbon Bootprint

It’s easy to see that some of the hottest topics of the year are climate change, the economy, energy and, of course, security. Although at times these may seem like four separate challenges, a new report asserts that they are instead symptoms of the same larger, global problem.

Bring Forth Fair Winds

Modern-day pirates have laid down their swords in exchange for GPS systems, assault rifles, rocket launchers and semiautomatic pistols. Their objective has changed from plundering to demanding ransoms in excess of $1 million in exchange for the safe release of hostages.

GE Security To Provide Safety Solutions For 25 Metro Lines In China

GE Security, a leading supplier of security and life safety technologies worldwide, announced it has won more than 25 metro lines projects across China to supply state-of-the-art metro safety solutions consisting of fire alarm systems, gas release control systems and integrated metro security systems.

IBM Partners With Axis, Genetec To Provide Intelligent Networked Video System At Chicago’s Navy Pier

IBM recently announced the creation of one of the world's most advanced, integrated network video monitoring systems for Chicago's Navy Pier. The project increases video security capabilities at Navy Pier and integrates new and existing safety resources to safeguard people and property.

SIA Endorses Bill To Boost Security At Wastewater Treatment Plants

The Security Industry Association has endorsed a new bill that would improve security at wastewater treatment plants. The “Wastewater Treatment Works Security Act of 2009” (H.R. 2883), introduced by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, on June 16, would authorize $200 million in annual Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants through 2014 for certain security enhancements and would require security assessments of wastewater treatment plants that include a site security plan.

Driving Forces

The Cayman Islands are a popular Caribbean getaway, so it’s not surprising that Owen Roberts International Airport is extremely busy for its size. Located on the southwest end of the largest island, Grand Cayman, the airport handles approximately 1 million passengers through its five boarding gates and facilitates 30,000 takeoffs and landings each year. The airport’s current 60,000-square-foot terminal has been welcoming passengers since 1985.

South African Transportation Projects To Use March Networks IP Video Technology

March Networks, a provider of intelligent IP video and business analysis applications, announced recently that it will provide its VideoSphere Intelligent Video Management solution for two significant transportation projects in South Africa.

Senture Security Solutions, CoreStreet Announce Partnership

Senture Security Solutions LLC, a full service security solutions integrator, and CoreStreet, provider of credential validation solutions, recently announced the companies will team up to deploy national security programs for both the maritime and transportation industries, as well as the defense, homeland security and emergency management markets.

Justice League

The next time you find yourself with nothing to do, why not go online and help fight border crime? The Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition, in collaboration with BlueServo, has deployed Virtual BorderWatch, a real-time surveillance program that allows the public to keep an eye on the U.S.-Mexico border from their home computers.

Featured

  • 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

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

New Products

  • 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.”

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities