Month: October 2012

HD SDI DVR recorders. Is the data safe?

With recent comments in the press about HD cctv and how we manage the data of our HD images it is important to mention that all the fuss is really a back handed compliment to all the manufacture’s of HD SDI cameras and DVR’s. Not long ago CCTV images were so poor the technology itself was questioned as to its usefulness and the uncontrolled spread of cameras into public areas caused ongoing concerns. Now with HD cctv firmly in the news it seems that end users in industry are asking “whats is this all about”?

Well in summary its simple. HD SDI CCTV has finally achieved a standard that is considered by some to be almost too good. Better images though mean more deterrent for crime , better control of working environments, health and safety improvements and better monitoring of manufacturing processes. Add to this airport and train and travel security as well as town centre monitoring and we have product now that will now do the job. HD SDI CCTV is here to stay and with easy upgrades to existing systems using legacy coax we can keep the cost down.

In answer to the question , is the data safe? We say as long as the data controller works within the bounds of the data protection act it will be. So something good here for everyone as long as you are not a believer in the big brother conspiracy of course!!

IR illuminator

Using either an IR illuminator or a white light illuminator is always the best way to get the ultimate performance from your CCTV system. Easily installed the illuminators can work off a 12v power supply or even your local POE switch. In order to gain optimum performance try to install an IR illuminator adjacent to your CCTV camera looking into your field of view. Activate your IR and the scene is transformed from a dark grainy picture into to a crisp clear image.

ir illuminator

As HD cameras start to become more and more popular the IR illuminator is becoming almost mandatory. Remember HD cameras need more light to perform in darkness than their analogue predecessors . White light illuminators are also an important tool if you need to retain colour images at night something you should discuss with your customers in detail. This brilliant form of led lighting is also sometimes known as network illuminators as well, the fact that you can just connect it into your local network switch means that white lighting will also be used in other situations other than CCTV. Domestic white light illuminators can be used as security lighting or even general lighting around the home the end user can be happy knowing that maintenance is low and that both current draw and on-going cost is negligible .

So how do they work? Firstly we need to look at how light behaves. Energy in a light wave is directly related to its wavelength. The shorter the wave length the more energy that will be emitted. Looking at the spectrum below we can see that violet has the most energy, and red has the least where we compare visible light. Adjacent to the visible light spectrum is the infrared spectrum.

light spectrum

We can’t see infrared light, however CCTV cameras that are either mono or true dual chip can. This means that our IR illuminator is able to shed invisible light onto a scene and see what we can’t see with the human eye. So night time surveillance using our IR Illuminator now becomes possible. This allows images to be captured and viewed covertly, meaning you can be watched without your knowledge. The distance that an IR illuminator can achieve will vary significantly depending on the camera and lens combination. Using a modern IR illuminator angles of light spread can be adjusted to suit the needs of the system.

So an IR illuminator has many benefits, however it can’t give you colour images at night. If there is a requirement for colour together with overt lighting then you will be better off installing a white light illuminator. Spectacular advances in white light led technology means that for prices that would once have been impossible we are getting incredible performance from 12v and POE powered lighting.

ir illuminator

This spills into areas way beyond CCTV we see street light illuminators now that cost a fraction of the price of sodium or halogen lighting to run. Add to this domestic applications and white light illuminators will be common place within the next 10 years.

We need to add one note of caution. There are now many options available out there. Many claims are made as to the output/lumens of both white light and ir illuminators, all correct of course  but this does not tell the whole storey. It is the distance this lighting can achieve plus the spread of light that dictates the real performance of the light. This will be reflected in the cost of the unit and its important that you investigate fully what you will get when you buy your lighting.

We suggest that any ir illuminator costing below the £100 mark at today’s prices (2012) will probably not suit most peoples needs. We firmly believe if you buy cheap you will buy twice. Paying over the £100 mark may seem expensive for what is essentially just a light fitting but when you buy quality illuminators you really do get what you pay for. Reliability, brilliant accurate light spread , low cost to run, low maintenance and control of light pollution. The carbon trust expect both IR and white light illuminators to repay the purchaser many times over before he ever has to consider a replacement.

Your old halogen lighting that is both expensive to run and difficult to maintain are quite simply a thing of the past. So in summary for IR illuminators and white light illuminators using an external 12v PSU or over POE check out the information we provide and increase performance of your on site lighting and CCTV systems and reduce your costs over night.

 

HDcctv is it really a threat to your human rights?

One thing is for sure. HDcctv is certainly able to pick up a face in the crowd and use this image as undeniable proof it’s you in the picture. Some view this a threat, some view this as some kind of infringement on their human rights. One thing it does prove though now a big fuss is being made over the use of HDcctv is that previously the public perception of CCTV was one of complete disinterest. Perhaps a reflection on the fact that the images of the past are so poor and unusable. To be honest it makes a mockery of CCTV technology in the first place.

So what now? The images produced by HDcctv cameras are crisp, clear, easily stored and easily sent over the Internet. Lets be honest you could be a wanted man on the other side of the world and your image could be captured and sent to those looking for you in a matter of seconds. It is scary in some respects but surely most logical law abiding citizens will just shrug their shoulders and say” if I do nothing wrong, I have nothing to fear” and of course they are 100% right. Even those who may think of committing a crime will now be discouraged by the realization that they can no longer deny their presence in an image when it is shown to them as evidence.

So back to the question. Is it a breach of human rights? Well to be fair if used recklessly by those who have control of the stored data then yes. Strict guidelines already exist under the data protection act. Flouting of the law and misuse of images and data can lead to heavy fines and we all have the absolute right to see images that we feel have been captured that may be inappropriate. We may have to pay £15 for the privilege but this discourages time wasters and those with a genuine reason have cheap access to their stored data.

Should we be worried about the advance in the field of HDcctv? HD has been a dream of the industry for many years and tired old analogue CCTV cameras litter both public and business premises across the country. These cameras need replacing with modern HDcctv cameras that will ensure crimes are solved and thieves, murderers and vandals are caught. We all have the right to protect our property and we all have the right to feel safe. A right that we at HDcctv solutions would suggest is far more important than the right not to be recorded in Public areas. Some of the well intentioned but misinformed campaigners should think twice ensure we get the right control of data in place and back a technology that clearly has more benefits than downfalls.

HDcctv regulation.Can the industry control the data?

So  HDcctv has suddenly hit the headlines. It all started when Andrew Rennison  the surveillance camera commissioner questioned the way CCTV has suddenly become a much more powerful tool. With HDcctv images giving us hugely detailed definition, together with facial recognition technology now available that can track and monitor targeted individuals, the question asked by Mr Rennison was how effectively the industry as a whole was able to control the data? Of particular worry to Mr Rennison and anti CCTV campaigners was  to what use were the much improved images being put? Are they being used to track and target innocent individuals? Are innocent people suddenly coming under unnecessary  scrutiny by the authorities? Is big brother really watching us all now? Well some may be paranoid enough to think so . The majority of UK citizens though will just be happy that images are clearer , more detailed and a whole lot more effective. As a result bringing criminals to justice and acting as a much more effective deterrent.

The British Security Industry Association has also had their say and spoke of their disappointment over  the remarks made by Mr Rennison. The BSIA are clearly worried about the detrimental effect these remarks might have in terms of sales of CCTV for their membership. Andrew Rennison also questioned the effectiveness of CCTV overall casting doubt that was perhaps quite unnecessary.

In a letter to the editor responding to a front page article in last weeks Independent newspaper warning that HD CCTV in public spaces puts human rights at risk, the BSIA said:

“It was disappointing to read Mr. Rennison’s statements questioning the effectiveness of CCTV cameras in detecting crime, an assertion which is countered by the fact that over 3,000 arrests were made as a direct result of CCTV technology following last year’s August riots, in addition to the pivotal role it also played in the investigation of the 7/7 bombings. Examples such as these demonstrate that, in public areas, CCTV does play a positive role in providing public safety and supporting our hard-working police in their endeavours to detect and solve crime.”

The BSIA also went on to say that controls are already in place to ensure Data is handled correctly and this is governed by strict laws included in the data protection act.

It is our belief that both of the above parties have justified concerns. Data in our opinion is not always controlled correctly and the ability to remotely access images and drag these across the Internet or load them onto a memory stick mean there are all sorts of images that have slipped through the net and are now “uncontrolled”. This should rightly be of concern to the industry, but at the same time it is easy to build in safe guards to allow proper auditing and indeed prosecutions if data is not controlled by those in positions of responsibility.

Equipment must be built to log all data movements and the clever manufacturers out there will build in these features in to their HDcctv products. This will also be of relevance in private industry and any regulation that is correctly enforced will mean those providing cheap equipment without the ability to restrict and record the data will fall by the wayside. Another reason to have compliant standardized HDcctv equipment.

In summary HDcctv is a fantastic concept and once you have seen a properly installed HDcctv system you will not go back to analogue. The technology has started to take a hold especially in the UK and the trend is now irreversible. So whether it be for public places or private industry Mr Rennison should be ensuring that the images we do record are fit for purpose, properly controlled and used to prevent crime wherever we can. This means good installers and properly regulated and certified equipment should be used at all times. This in turn will ensure public confidence, increased sales but most importantly, huge deterrent value and reduced crime. Something all those  involved must agree is going to be  a very good thing indeed.

 

 

 

 

 

Essen 2012

The bi-annual Essen Security exhibition has now closed for another 2 years.

Boasting a huge array of Halls and technology to visit, surely Essen has now rightfully claimed its title as THE Security Exhibition to visit ahead of rivals such as IFSEC?

Essen security show

Spread over 11, yes that’s 11 Halls, Essen needed a transport system of its own inside just to get us from hall to hall !

Talking of transportation, the travel system, namely the hugely efficient DB Train system, delivered us on time every day – if the platform board showed 1 minute until the next train, 1 minute it was!

Anyway, back to the show.

Notable massive stands (or booths as our European friends referred to ) were Bosch, Honeywell, Siemans.

Bosch had their representation of an aircraft, complete with actual airline seats to sit and listen to the presentations! Rumour has it (and only rumour because we weren’t invited!) that all visitors to their stand (oops, booth) were taken out to the back of the Bosch area and treated to a full 3 course cooked lunch!!! Now that is customer care!

security shows

Interesting that their flagship new MIC 550 was represented by one, solitary lonely looking model on top of one of their product podiums…….

The British contingent were represented in the BSIA section by the likes of GJD with their HD CCTV lighting solutions, Elmdene and NVT. Also present for the first time at ESSEN was 360 Vision Technology, brave guys taking their range of Predators into the back garden of Bosch MICS!!!!

Talking of 360 Vision, they certainly flooded their stand with multiple-coloured Predators! Gold, orange, green and JCB Yellow ensured that sun glasses were needed for this UK manufacturer!

Into Hall 2 and the mighty Geutebrueck had an amazing stand – packed with staff and visitors it seemed for the full 4 days!

Some great video Analytics were observed over at the UDP Technology stand – fully expecting these guys to be taking the UK by storm real soon with their very clever technology!

MP was represented amply by the usual guys – Arecont and Avigilon had excellent displays.

We spotted  Todd Rockoff  at the show as well spreading the word about HDcctv . Keep watching this space for more news from Todd soon.

Visitors attending the show were from far flung regions – talking with some of the exhibitors, they had seen good quality leads from US, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East and of course the main Euro regions – affirming Security Essen’s status as a truly International show.

It therefore must beg the question, with such a high quality show held only every 2 years, is there now room for a smaller, certainly less well presented IFSEC anymore in the UK? We paid fairly low airline fares to Dusseldorf, stayed in a clean, functional but inexpensive hotel (compared to London or Birmingham hotels) and travelled effortlessly, cheaply and efficiently on excellent transport to and from the halls.

Our opinion? Security Essen is the show that is worth visiting……and waiting for!