Government


Security Money Goes Missing

I’m no fan of the current administration in Washington, D.C., especially when it comes to spending money. The White House, it would seem, pays its bills by printing more money and borrowing from a creditor that has no interest in democracy.

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.

Featured

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • 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.”

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.