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The Present and Future of Security Technology

February 2nd, 2012

Moore’s law states that performance of computer-based hardware will double every two years. And security technology is no different. So let’s take a look at where some of these technologies may be headed in the near future.

IP Video: Currently, IP video is the best and brightest video technology around, but because its total cost of ownership (TCO) remains fairly high, IP video fails to be a viable option for small systems. These smaller systems, often found in gas stations boutiques, offices, and franchises, still rely primarily on analog video. However, that will all change in the next 15 years due to 4 factors: large on-board storage, much better image processing, better compression and a higher speed Internet.

Analytics: For the most part, analytics has been a fairly overrated technology when it comes to facial recognition and detection. However, there are still several useful ways that analytics can benefit your security efforts. These include: high quality motion detection, camera tampering detection and cross line detection. Analytics can be used in marketing and building management, as well, for such purposes as people counting, heat map generation and detection for empty shelves and product sweeps.

And analytics technology continues to grow and evolve, alongside the performance predictions of Moore’s law. The sky is the limit!

High Resolution Images: In the near future we will begin to see analog cameras being taken down as end-users opt to move to 720p HDTV and then later to 1080p.

Light Sensitive Cameras: As video surveillance camera resolution and storage continues to improve, so too does video functionality, including super-low light color cameras, improved dynamic range (WDR/HDR) and thermal/IR cameras. A perfect example of this would be a HurleyIR Thermal Imaging Camera. “HurleyIR has developed a design methodology for thermal imaging solutions that allows for custom configuration to meet spectral needs and control formats imaging systems beyond compare”

Please visit www.hurleyir.com for more information.

Hosted Video: Video-as-a-service is poised to be one of the biggest technology trends in the near future as more and more integrators are pushing hosted video. Alarm verification with video, construction site monitoring, city surveillance systems, and many more video functions will benefit from hosted solutions. The possibilities are nearly endless!

For any further questions on the Future of Security Technology, simply contact ARK Systems at 1-800-995-0189 or click here today.

When you consider how crucial security can be, and when you think of all the options that you’re faced with today, one thing becomes clear. You need a contractor with experience. For assessment, design, installation, testing and service, ARK is the expert across the board.

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What Lies Ahead

The Benefits of Off-Site Video Monitoring and Storage

January 25th, 2012

As much as we would like to think otherwise, security systems for homes and security systems for businesses are pretty different. Both have their own goals and both have their own unique set of challenges. And then there are homeowners associations (HOA), which have completely separate security hurdles.

Perhaps the biggest challenge HOAs face is with their leadership. Have you ever heard the saying “Too many cooks spoil the broth?” While private homes and businesses have a single point of contact with a vested interest in the well being of the property, HOAs are typically governed by a board, whose members all have their own personal distractions. And when a single security concerns goes ignored, the entire security system suffers.

But there is a fairly simple solution to these security problems…Off-Site Video Monitoring and Storage.

More often than not, HOAs do not realize they even have a security problem until it is too late. Remote monitoring and storage offers several benefits, including:

•Low up-front cost. This is a big deal for HOAs with small budgets. While traditional systems start around $5,000, off-site monitoring offers a cost-effective security solution with many security companies offering monthly prices per camera.

• Access to the latest technology at no additional cost to the HOA.

• Traditional security systems can be difficult to learn…off-site monitoring is easy to use.

• Training is available.

•Off-site video can be accessed remotely via any Internet-connected device.

• Since everything is remotely accessible, there are no management issues for the HOA members.

• DVR and tape are subject to theft when stored on-site. With off-site storage, archived video is secure.

•At the HOA, only the network’s IP cameras and a switch are required. The video is available even if the HOA is burned down.

• Off-site monitoring leads to decrease in significant events (trespassing, destruction of property, vandalism, etc.)

• The system will send email alerts or similar notifications when problems arise.

For any further questions on Homeowners Associations, Security, and Off-Site Monitoring and Storage, simply contact ARK Systems at 1-800-995-0189 or click here today.

When you consider how crucial security can be, and when you think of all the options that you’re faced with today, one thing becomes clear. You need a contractor with experience. For assessment, design, installation, testing and service, ARK is the expert across the board.

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HOAs: At Home and in the Clouds

Enterprise-Class Access Control Solutions

January 20th, 2012

With the frequency of access points increasing across access control networks, end users will be excited to learn that fewer and fewer of those doors are required to be hardwired. This not only allows for a much for customizable network, it greatly reduces labor and materials costs, as well. A typical wireless router can support 12 to 25 access points and can be installed much faster than the associated wired door panel components. This is particularly great news for businesses in today’s tight economy.

There are currently three options for delivering centrally managed network access control.

  1. Wired Networks: The strengths of such a network include real-time monitoring, centralized management, constant power source, global lock down, audit reports, and more. However, of the three available networks, this typically comes with the highest total cost of ownership (TCO).
  2. Wireless Networks: What was once an inconsistent networking option, wireless is now an extremely valid choice. This technology has proven itself time and time again in fire intrusion and CCTV applications. And when it comes to access control networks, wireless provides the same functionality as wired networks, but at a fraction of the installation costs. Leading wireless systems also have built-in redundancy, such as mesh network, to ensure that the wireless network remains operational even if a particular router is down. Best of all, locks/readers can be easily relocated, allowing for a much more customizable network. Changing the configuration of a wired network is a very labor intensive and costly project.
  3. Virtual Smart Card Networks: Last but not least, a virtual smart card network is a great compromise between wired and wireless solutions. This type of network provides many of the same benefits of the first two networks, with a few additional advantages. First of all, access points never have to be updated as populations change. As users move throughout a building, updates and audit logs are regularly transferred to/from the database via online and offline access points. This is a much different philosophy than traditional wired or even wireless system design. Virtual Smart Card Networks also offer higher levels of data encryption on the card to prevent data tampering.

Of course, this is just an overview of these access control networks. For any further questions on Wired, Wireless, and Smart Card Access Control Networks, simply contact ARK Systems at 1-800-995-0189 or click here today.

When you consider how crucial security can be, and when you think of all the options that you’re faced with today, one thing becomes clear. You need a contractor with experience. For assessment, design, installation, testing and service, ARK is the expert across the board.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

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Building Enterprise-Class Access Control Solutions

Video Can Prove Valuable in Fire Applications

January 13th, 2012

Video and security technologies are quickly making a big splash in the fire prevention, detection, and verification industry. This is happening in several ways, which we have outlined below. These include:

The Double Life of Video Surveillance Technology: Just a decade ago, video had one purpose; it was expected to show what people were doing. Now, video has so many more functions, including alarm verification. Dispatch operators have a direct connection with one or more cameras in the vicinity of the alarm and can view real-time and recorded video to verify the validity of an alarm. This has drastically cut down on the number of false alarms and unnecessary dispatches across the United States.

Fire Detection Through Video Imaging: Not only can video technology be used to verify alarms, it can also be used to actually detect smoke or fire. This is a fairly new development that is incredibly useful, especially in large warehouses and other large structures where traditional detection methods are difficult to employ.

According to National Fire Protection Agency, there are two categories of video detection:

•Video Image Smoke Detection (VISD)

• Video Image Flame Detection (VIFD)

New Regulations and Guidelines: To accommodate this new technology and method of fire detection, the NFPA has adopted a few standards fire alarm technicians must observe when installing video-based fire detection. These new regulations include:

1. NFPA 72, 2010, under the heading, Origin and Development of NFPA 72: Some of the more significant revisions in the 2007 edition addressed protection of fire alarm control units, personnel qualification, heat detector response time, smoke detector spacing, smoke detection in ducts, detectors that use multiple sensing inputs, video image smoke and flame detection, synchronization of visible notification appliances, exit marking audible notification appliances, tactile notification appliances, different types of protected premises fire alarm system, and in-building enhancement systems for firefighter radio communications.

2. Section 17.7.7.2, NFPA 72, 2010: Video image smoke detection systems shall comply with all of the applicable requirements of Chapters 1, 10, 14, 17, and 23 of this Code.

• NFPA 72 allows video data to be used for multiple functions, but in order to do this there must be separate connections.

3. 17.7.7.3, NFPA 72, 2010: Video signals generated by cameras that are components of video image smoke detection systems shall be permitted to be transmitted to other systems for other uses only through output connections provided specifically for that purpose by the video system manufacturer.

4. Section 17.7.7.4: All component controls and software shall be protected from unauthorized changes. All changes to the software or component settings shall be tested in accordance with Chapter 14.

For any further questions on Video Surveillance and Fire Application, simply contact ARK Systems at 1-800-995-0189 or click here today.

When you consider how crucial security can be, and when you think of all the options that you’re faced with today, one thing becomes clear. You need a contractor with experience. For assessment, design, installation, testing and service, ARK is the expert across the board.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

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Video Can Prove Valuable in Fire Applications

Video Continues to Enhance Its Security Image

January 5th, 2012

The security industry is always on the leading edge of the technological revolution. This is especially true when it comes to video surveillance or closed circuit television (CCTV), which has been around since the 1970s. Video cameras combine proven reliability, trackable success in security and operational applications, reasonable price points, exponential growth, and that all-important upside.

Over the years, video surveillance technology has continued to push the limits of technology, with such developments as IP-based systems, high definition video, and ever-increasingly sophisticated software.

Megapixel Security Cameras: High definition video, defined as a minimum resolution of 720-1,080 pixels, allows for a much clearer picture. And a clearer picture allows for better identification of individuals, the utilization of fewer cameras to cover a given area, special applications like license plate recognition (LPR), and much, much more!

HDcctv: This relatively new security innovation, which transmits uncompressed video without being encapsulated in TCP/IP, is built on technology pioneered for broadcast television. HDcctv boasts many of the same benefits as Megapixel Cameras while still permitting the use of conventional analog equipment.

High Quality Optics: The need for high quality optics is often forgotten and lost in the hype over HD video and storage capacity. But what good is a security camera without the right lens?

Video Management Systems and Software (VMS): With the expanding complexities and sophistication of video surveillance systems came the emergence of VMS, a unified user interface, and the open or nonproprietary platforms to facilitate interoperability. These solutions play an important role in several markets, including: include education, government, healthcare, transportation and even homeland security.

Storage Capacity: Today, data storage technology has finally evolved enough to meet demand. Yet, prices continue to fall.

Analytics: With the increasing and widespread use of video surveillance came the need to better track, analyze, and evaluate all the video these systems capture. Video analytics is a form of machine vision designed to eliminate the need to for human monitoring, because people are simply not capable of monitoring so much information on their own.

And this is all just the tip of the iceberg that is video surveillance technology!

For any further questions on Video Surveillance Technology, simply contact ARK Systems at 1-800-995-0189 or click here today.

When you consider how crucial security can be, and when you think of all the options that you’re faced with today, one thing becomes clear. You need a contractor with experience. For assessment, design, installation, testing and service, ARK is the expert across the board.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

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Video Continues to Enhance Its Security Image

Hospital Abduction

December 30th, 2011

A 2009 kidnapping incident at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital’s Mother Infant Unit now has the facility facing a $50,000 fine following a state oversight agency review of the unfortunate event.

Details of the 2009 Kidnapping:

Leanna Patricia Arzate took an infant from the mother’s room, while disguised as a nurse. Several hours later, the child was returned to his family, unharmed. Arzate was taken into custody and later sentenced to 11 years in prison.

“Of course we were relieved that, because of our existing security system and with the support of local law enforcement, we were able to recover the baby within hours and return it to its parents,” said Cottage Health System spokeswoman Janet O’Neill.

But the hospital realized there was still drastic room for improvement in regards to its security efforts.

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital’s New Security Initiative:

At the time of the 2009 kidnapping, Cottage Hospital had no dedicated security guards on the floor, leaving the screening and monitoring of visitors to the nursing staff. Following the kidnapping incident, the hospital implemented several security improvements, including a permanent security greeter in the Mother Infant unit and mandatory badges for everyone that enters the unit.

Access to visitors was has since been restricted to just two entrances, with additional security personnel posted at these locations.

California’s Reaction to the 2009 Kidnapping:

Following the above-mentioned incident, the California Department of Public Health launched a statewide review, penalizing 14 total facilities (including Cottage Hospital) for noncompliance with licensing requirements that caused, or were likely to cause, serious injury or death to patients.

For any further questions on Hospital Security Initiatives, simply contact ARK Systems at 1-800-995-0189 or click here today.

When you consider how crucial security can be, and when you think of all the options that you’re faced with today, one thing becomes clear. You need a contractor with experience. For assessment, design, installation, testing and service, ARK is the expert across the board.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

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Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Slapped with $50,000 Fine After 2009 Baby Abduction

Inside Baltimore’s CitiWatch Program

December 22nd, 2011

Have you ever heard of Baltimore’s CitiWatch program? If not, you should pay attention. CitiWatch is only one of the most sophisticated municipal surveillance networks in the United States.

Launched in 2005 by former mayor Martin O’Malley, the program was then comprised of just 50 cameras. Almost 7 years later, and CitiWatch no integrates 538 cameras – monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week by a specially-trained CCTV operator – across Baltimore into the Criminal Intelligence Watch Center located in the Baltimore Police Department. The program utilizes crime statistics to strategically place cameras in prime locations.

Not only are operators able to view live feeds from every camera, but footage from each is stored for up to 28 days. The video is recorded at a rate of 15-30 frames-per-second and all video evidence is burned offsite, per the city’s CCTV policy.

All current Baltimore City police investigations are cross-referenced with camera locations. This has proven to be a huge asset to officers, resulting in 1,282 camera-initiated or assisted arrests in Baltimore in 2010 and 1,080 in 2011.

Down the road, the city of Baltimore hopes to integrate Citiwatch with its Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system and also utilize license plate recognition and gunshot detection technology to even further the capabilities of this already beneficial program.

Citiwatch and surveillance networks like it are the future of police work.

For any further questions on the CitiWatch program, simply contact ARK Systems at 1-800-995-0189 or click here today.

When you consider how crucial security can be, and when you think of all the options that you’re faced with today, one thing becomes clear. You need a contractor with experience. For assessment, design, installation, testing and service, ARK is the expert across the board.

 

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

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Inside Baltimore’s CitiWatch Program

US Park Police Leverage Video Surveillance for Large Scale Events

December 16th, 2011

Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

The country’s oldest uniformed police agency – the U.S. Park Police – has implemented a bold new video sharing initiative for its large-scale events. This cutting edge video surveillance technology will help the agency with many of its operational concerns for special events: life safety, situational awareness, resource protection, crowd control, and the detection and mitigation of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents.

The Park Police take a layered approach to surveillance, including the use of cameras connected to multiple communications platforms including: mesh networks, D Block (public safety radio spectrum), existing local networks, as well as cellular-based systems. The agency can also tie all of these cameras together – into a single system – for remote viewing.

The Park Police can then share their video feeds with other agencies, from the FBI and Secret Service, to the American Red Cross and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. But the widespread sharing of video creates several security concerns in itself. To ensure that shared video was not exploited, the Park Police wrote several restrictions into their policies. These include:

1) The video could only be received in an official government facility

2) The video couldn’t be recorded

3) The video could not be redistributed

4) The video feed may cut.

And to combat video degradation concerns, the Park Police turned to datacasting – the utilization of television broadcasting bandwidth – truly making this video sharing initiative state-of-the-art.

“We thought outside the box,” said Park Police Capt. David Mulholland.

For any further questions on Video Surveillance Sharing Capabilities, simply contact ARK Systems at 1-800-995-0189 or click here today.

When you consider how crucial security can be, and when you think of all the options that you’re faced with today, one thing becomes clear. You need a contractor with experience. For assessment, design, installation, testing and service, ARK is the expert across the board.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

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US Park Police Leverage Video Surveillance for Large-Scale Events

GSN Exclusive: Integrated security system will safeguard new WTC site

December 8th, 2011

With security awareness heightened since the terrorist attacks of 10 years ago, it only makes sense that the new World Trade Center site be equipped with one of the most state-of-the-art security systems available. This is why the new site will utilize a security system capable of providing efficient response and prevention coordination amongst police, fire, port authorities and building owners, as well as combining physical security information management, identity and access management capabilities from security cameras, security gates, doors and portals, heating and cooling systems, and fire alarms.

The new system is said to offer “unprecedented security, with systems operating at the memorial, commercial buildings and other facilities across” the World Trade Center campus into one integrated system. It provides a single platform to make common information available to everyone involved, allowing for better coordination and response in the event of an emergency situation.

Yet, while the entire systems shares information, each building’s security system will remain autonomous. This means that each building owner will still have full control of his/her system; it is just the security data that will be shared.

The entire security project – which will eventually integrate identity and access credential management; video surveillance; intrusion and fire alarms; building management systems; intercoms; radio communications; vehicle scheduling and management systems; and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear detection systems – is scheduled to be completed in the next three years, with each aspect being installed incrementally as buildings are completed.

For any further questions on The World Trade Center’s New Security Platform, simply contact ARK Systems at 1-800-995-0189 or click here today.

When you consider how crucial security can be, and when you think of all the options that you’re faced with today, one thing becomes clear. You need a contractor with experience. For assessment, design, installation, testing and service, ARK is the expert across the board.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

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GSN Exclusive: Integrated security system will safeguard new WTC site

Video Can Prove Valuable in Fire Applications

December 2nd, 2011

You have video surveillance, you have a security system, and you have a fire alarm. But currently, they are all working as individuals systems. That doesn’t sound very efficient, does it?

Fortunately, the security world agrees and has begun to develop hybrid systems that meet multiple needs, including video surveillance systems that not only verify burglaries, but also fires.

Alarm Verification

Over the past decades, video technology has progressed by leaps and bounds. What was once only used to review previous events can now be used to not only view real-time affairs, but also to verify alarms (both fire alarms and burglar alarms) – resulting in fewer false alarms. Dispatchers have access to these cameras and can verify the existence of a fire or intruder or a lack thereof.

Video Imaging & Fire Detection

What is truly amazing is the capability of new video surveillance technology to actually detect smoke or fire while also incorporating the above mentioned alarm verification capabilities. But how does this work?

Through the use of DVR-based technology, each camera represents a different zone. Each of these zones can be configured to detect fire, smoke, motion, etc. The system also allows operators to schedule days and times when the system will not be operational, making it the ideal solution for high-traffic areas.

What This Means for You

Instead of having three systems each performing a single task, now you can have a single system performing multiple tasks and performing them more efficiently than ever before. But because the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) has established some strict standards for the installation of video-based fire detection systems, it is important to entrust the work to a well-qualified security company, like ARK Systems.

At ARK, we understand that with fire alarm systems the stakes are high and the codes are tough. Expertise is crucial, and we’ve got it to spare.

We can design, install, service and test just about any type of fire alarm system you need, in just about any environment, large or small – from office to high-rise, from single building to corporate campus, hard wired or microprocessor based, conventional or IP.

For any further questions on Video and Fire Applications, simply contact ARK Systems at 1-800-995-0189 or click here today.

When you consider how crucial security can be, and when you think of all the options that you’re faced with today, one thing becomes clear. You need a contractor with experience. For assessment, design, installation, testing and service, ARK is the expert across the board.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

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Video Can Prove Valuable in Fire Applications