Hikvision: Why has it become such a popular choice for installers?

The History of Hikvision

Hikvision Digital Technology Co Ltd was founded in 2001 and is now the worlds largest supplier of electronic video surveillance products. Today,  Hikvision employs over 13,000 employees,  a very impressive total for a company that started just a few years ago. Perhaps though, the real secret of its recent  success lies in the fact that Hikvision currently employs over 4500 research and development staff, these guys form the backbone of the organisation.

Hikvision’s product range is extensive and there is little that they do not manufacture in the way of surveillance related products. IP cameras now form the hub of their product base but analogue is still an important part of their portfolio even now,  as many commentators  predicted it was tailing off as a technology.

Hikvision first started their rise to success by moving into embedded DVRs after moving away from PC-based systems. These early systems were  more sophisticated but ultimately more  complicated to use. The benefits of going embedded were the costs dropped significantly and the operation became far easier, this met market requirements at the time. The move to embedded corresponded with a boom in DVR products across the CCTV industry. By continuing to employ a large workforce in their R& D department they were able to forge ahead of the competition constantly moving things forward at pace.

Hikvision 3 MP AV IR Dome - DS-2CD2132-I

Hikvision, from small beginnings are a very well known name in the industry now. Just a few years earlier however the company evolved quietly from within a Chinese government research facility that specialized in video surveillance. The original research was based around video compression and was the basis for the development of the analogue DVR,  at the time this was hailed as a refreshing replacement for the humble video recorder. Even with lots of new ideas and innovation Hikvision still did not become part of the consciousness of the CCTV surveillance community until 2009 when they shifted from PC based video capture cards to launch an embedded DVR range.

The company grew incredibly quickly and it was IFSEC 2011 when you could not move around the show  without seeing a Hikvision bag or some form of advertising with their name on it. It seemed even then that the whole CCTV world revolved around their cameras and DVR’s.

Hikvision’s success today lies in their extensive range of products. Cameras, both analogue and IP together with DVRs , NVRs as well as ancillary devices to compliment the range. However it is some of the clever features they have built into their IP based devices that are really catching the eye right now. We will outline many of these features later in this article.

The question many have asked though  is how have Hikvision managed to gain such a market presence? It would seem the simple answer to this is to concentrate on quality,  then invest heavily to ensure each item within the Hikvision portfolio is laden  with a number of clever and desirable features. Then finally brand it (Hikvision) and continue to promote this brand relentlessly. Eventually it becomes self perpetuating as installers realize that the quality is easily associated with the Hikvision brand by end users. Finally and probably most importantly Hikvision sell at a price point that makes room for profit but screams competitiveness and with all that together you have a natural winner.

Today Hikvision are regarded as a total solution provider.  With the industry marching towards IP,  Hikvision has developed some simple but brilliant features to help it win market share. Take the HIKvision 3 MP bullet camera for example. Take a look at the spec and features below.

Hikvision 2 MP Full HD IR Bullet Camera - DS-2CD4232FWD-IZ

“a 1/3 progressive scan CMOS chipset, a graphic display resolution of 2048 x 1536@12.5 FPS,  IP66 rated,  this camera is built to perform in all sorts of  external applications. Equipped with a clever DWDR function the camera is able to give a far better image where back-light would normally be a problem. In effect DWDR is a digital version of WDR and provides colour images with light conditions as low as 0.01 Lux. The F1.2 appeture lets plenty of light onto the chipset however once conditions reach 0 Lux the infrared cut filter switches the camera to monocrome and combines built in IR  for an excellent night time image.  The range of 20m – 30m IR coverage outdoors is achieved. As standard the camera can be powered by either 12VDC or PoE (power over ethernet) and comes with a fixed  4mm lens. The 3D digital noise reduction feature allows for noise filtering of each individual frame this means quality images even in noisy environments. The camera comes with a full 2 Year Warranty”. This camera represents quite outstanding value. This is the spec of just 1 camera out of a huge range Hikvision offer.

Perhaps one of the biggest features end users want these days is to be able to connect remotely to their cameras. Many DVR’s can do this and Hivision DVR’s and NVR’s are no exception. However one market they have cleverly broken into here in the UK is central station monitoring. Custodian, one of the biggest CCTV monitoring central stations in the UK have found their products a highly effective way of monitoring remote sites. IMMIX compatible, the transmitted images are second to none and operators find their simple menus easy to navigate, it is currently specified by many now as the most cost effective way of monitoring CCTV and as result is playing its part in generating revenue for central stations and installers alike.

Hikvision 32 Channel Network Video Recorder - DS-8632NI-ST-12TB

Hikvision is focused clearly on the future. Features within the product range include algorithms for encoding and decoding, compression, video analytics, facial recognition and storage solutions, everything you can think of in fact. ONVIF compliant and now truly worldwide Hikvision are offering a camera and recording range that is literally catching the imagination of all those in the industry and beyond. I would add,  remember the name but its more than likely you have already heard of it. What you may not have known but do now is just how advanced the product range is and what exceptional value for money it offers.

 

Avigilon acquire VideoIQ

Well the big news this week in the world of CCTV is Avigilon’s announcement that they are buying out HD analytics experts VideoIQ. In a statement released yesterday a spokesman for Avigilon said:

“We are excited to announce that today we have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the video analytics company, VideoIQ, Inc.  Founded in 2006, VideoIQ has grown to become a leader in real-time intelligent video analytics solutions for security and business intelligence applications. This new acquisition complements Avigilon’s line of high-definition surveillance solutions and provides us with sophisticated and proven analytics technology supported by one of the leading development teams in the industry”.

Avigilon ACC-4.6 Range

Back in March 2011 we reported a synergy between the two companies now it seems they are one.

 

So why would Avigilon purchase videoIQ and what advantages does it bring to the installers and end users? Well firstly it brings powerful analytics into the Avigilon range. This will help installers deliver security solutions that now includes an intelligent method of detecting changes in the images that are needed for a proactive approach to security. Alarms generate a measured response and will prevent crime rather than just have the ability to watch it being played back after the event. A spokesman for Avigilon continued:

” Adding this technology to our HD video surveillance solution enables end-users to prevent crime proactively and to more effectively analyze large amounts of data for both security and business intelligence purposes. By adding VideoIQ’s advanced technology to the Avigilon solution, our customers will have the benefits of automated real time detection, real time alerts and post-incident analysis and forensic search capabilities, along with all of the other benefits that Avigilon’s end-to-end solutions deliver”

There is one other benefit that Avigilon may chose to exploit. Video IQ are well known for being pioneers of EDGE recording. It remains to be seen if this will be developed further by Avigilon but its always been a unique selling point for VideoIQ and something that should not be overlooked for the future.

So is this the end of VideoIQ ? For the moment we are led to understand that Video IQ will continue in its own right. It has a global user base and support will continue to be provided as before. Eventually though of course VideoIQ will be integrated fully into Avigilon’s products and eventually the two companies will be one.

It is certainly an exciting development that Avigilon should chose to take this step, an already powerful product will become an almost complete solution and this will give end users a huge choice as to how they are able to process and act upon activity taking place within their company. Avigilon will still be providing solutions to health and safety issues as well as monitoring production and increasing security but now with the benefit of high quality analytics on board.

Automated realtime detection in HD is now here and underpinned by technology developed by two of the most successful companies within the industry.

Do Thermal CCTV cameras really have a place in the world of security today?

We have recently seen a rise in the number of companies starting to promote Thermal CCTV as a viable option to help end users protect their premises against crime and intrusion. This trend is currently a trickle but some in the industry seem to believe that Thermal CCTV really does have value and should be at the forefront of every specifiers mind. Difficult to believe when thermal cameras can retail from anything from £4000 to £25000 installed.

Thermal camera image

 

So let’s start with the different types of Thermal CCTV cameras on the market. We have a choice it seems. Thermal PTZ domes and Thermal statics. Some of the domes also combine a standard colour camera to compliment the thermal. The static thermal CCTV cameras tend to come with a variety of lens options and definition, the majority though concentrate on using lenses that mean the scene width will be narrow, feeling that perimeter protection is likely to be the main area where these cameras will sell.

 

At the fore-front of the industry we have the big manufacturers such as Flir, 360 Vision and Bosch. These giants of the industry have spent millions in development  but some smaller guys are starting to break through and this is encouraging. What makes these manufactures want to invest so much in thermal when as we said earlier the prices are seemingly high to the end user? To be honest it’s one of those things you need to see to actually make you release the power of thermal. These cameras can see in ZERO  light conditions, look through fog and rain, pick out movement in trees and bushes but most importantly they work brilliantly in conjunction with on-site security or high end analytics. The best until last though, the distance that they can realistically detect an intruder can be measured in Kilometres rather than meters and this makes them exceptionally cheap compared to their colour camera rival.

Thermal predator

 

We asked earlier if they have a place in the market . Recent research has predicted that the use of thermal technology could increase by up to 25% in the next 5 years. A growth that will have quite an impact and reward those who have spent lots of time and money researching and producing Thermal CCTV camera technology.

 

The sort of scenario where we expect these cameras to be deployed are wide open spaces on critical infrastructure sites where intruders can do untold damage to electricity, communications or military establishments. As we said earlier perimeter protection suits thermal quite brilliantly it gives the watching guard the sort of information they need to do their job,  lighting up the screen with a clearly defined image of an intruder in absolute darkness.

 

Central stations to are beginning to capitalize on Thermal CCTV camera technology to. With false alarms being a central stations biggest nightmare Thermal plus analytics is giving reliable alarm triggers and the clearly defined images leave the operators in no doubt if there is a human presence on site or not.

 

We have all seen the police camera action videos , so we all know just how good these images can be. Well now it’s not just the police who can apply this technology its actually the average business trying to protect its assets . That is good reason to belief then that Thermal really is the next big thing.

 

 

 

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!