Intelligent cities and buildings are all about developing sustainable and supportive environments which are safe and truly responsive to the needs of their end user groups. Where does security fit in, though? Peter Houlis airs his views.
In my last article – entitled ‘CCTV and Austerity 2010: Part 2 – from A to IP’ – we looked at the compelling argument for migrating from analogue CCTV to network video, and also aired the potential cost savings and advantages to be had from using digital-based solutions.
Looking at the wider impact of new technology in the security space, though, what does the future hold?
Advances in technology for the security sector realise an exciting time for the serious systems Integrator and, importantly, an opportunity for change.
There are new developments in access control, including smart cards, improved biometrics and advanced networking capabilities.
Meantime, the transition of CCTV from an analogue to a digital offering, the introduction of intelligent scene analysis and the continued convergence of security and Information Technology provide a unique opportunity to expand the current uses and scope of such systems.
Systems have become easier to deploy and more powerful and, with the introduction of HD and megapixel camera technology, the improvement in picture quality is clearly visible for all to see, in turn providing greater coverage and far more detail for the end user than ever before.
Rising crime... and the continued fear of crime
It’s true that world events, rising crime and the continued fear of crime will ensure industry growth. There’s an increasing need for security awareness against terrorist actions and other risks and threats, and this is propelling Government agencies, managers in the travel and leisure industry, Critical National Infrastructure mandarins, corporate concerns and other high profile targets to invest heavily in new protective measures.
Further growth opportunities are forecast for systems being used to develop intelligent buildings and even intelligent cities where integrated technology is fundamental.
Intelligent buildings and cities move the boundaries on from the ‘Safe City’ concept where the emphasis is on integration and networking of security and safety systems to detect and monitor security incidents, making the information accessible to multiple responsible agencies and the emergency services, etc such that they might initiate the correct level of preventative and corrective responses.
All of which is vital in order to better manage emergency situations and other disruptive incidents and increase public safety and welfare.
Needless to say the subject of ‘The Intelligent City’ covers a vast field too big for the parameters of this article, but clearly life safety and security devices – and video surveillance in particular – will play a key part here as it’s already well recognised that CCTV and security have a major role to play in urban regeneration and making people feel safer.
Intelligent cities and buildings are all about developing sustainable and supportive environments which are safe, responsive and effective to the needs of their user groups.
As a consequence, there is now new attention being paid to multi-purpose, multifaceted systems that not only accomplish an array of specific security tasks but can also add people and employee accountability, building automation and other labour and manpower savings into the mix.
This results in a move from simple intrusion detection and standalone security systems to an integrated systems approach, developing products that can interface with a wide range of security systems solutions and IT – whether it’s through computer software, the user interface, microprocessors or other hardware – in order to ensure public safety and aid incident management and situational awareness (upon which intelligence driven management decisions can be made).
Developments in intelligent network video
At the forefront of this move is the development of intelligent network video providing ‘real-time visual intelligence’. Indeed, it’s the culmination of the benefits of network video and digital security products coupled with the convergence of information technologies that has expanded the scope of video surveillance beyond security into its application-driven operational use as a management tool to assist in Health and Safety, sustainability, productivity, personnel management and marketing.
It’s really all about enabling a given host organisation to ‘see everywhere’, providing real-time visual intelligence or post-incident analysis from which informed decisions can then be taken.
According to industry experts, the development and use of operational video surveillance will dwarf the security application as these systems will enhance business practises and add significantly to an organisation’s bottom line, further maximising the return on investment.
Currently, it’s the retail sector which is capitalising on the huge potential offered by service-based surveillance as the benefits of doing so may be readily seen.
Using video images for marketing analysis to ascertain shopping patterns and trends, tracking people to see how they move around a store or mall and which products catch the eye are distinct benefits.
Also, video may be used for staff monitoring and training: are staff presentable and adhering to corporate procedures and service levels, are they being proactive with customers, are queues building, do more tills need opening and are more staff needed on the shop floor, etc?
ANPR systems and facial recognition-based solutions are being used to target specific customers or regular visitors to drive customised advertising or generating personalised welcome signs (or summoning help or assistance in the case of disabled visitors).
On the Health and Safety front, are fire exits and escape routes clear (thus diminishing any potential for slip and fall claims) and are there any problems around the escalator?
The list goes on. In fact, the scope for surveillance here is almost as big as a person’s imagination.
What does all of this development really mean?
What, though, does all of this mean in terms of intelligent buildings?
Traditional buildings incorporate a number of mechanical and electrical services which operate independently: security and life safety devices, lifts, HVAC, lighting, IT, telephony and so on.
In some cases, those buildings may feature a degree of interoperability through a BEMS (Building Energy Management System) to provide a certain level of energy management. There might also be an integrated security system whereby devices operate on a ‘cause and effect’ or ‘What if?’ basis.
For example, if a valid card reader is presented to a door for entry a camera may be switched to record a few seconds of video images of the scene to provide a visual record of authorised entry.
Conversely, if an invalid entry is made a wholly different set of parameters may be instigated. For instance, associated cameras might be sent to presets, viewing exits and escape routes, with recorders switched into real-time record at a higher quality. Security personnel will be sent an alarm, the lifts disabled and doors electronically locked.
However, these separate and diverse systems require multiple networks on which to operate, offer limited building functionality, often result in the duplication of systems and, at the end of the day, represent individual control environments which are costly and difficult to both integrate and manage on a day-to-day basis.
Intelligent devices talking to one another
In the ‘intelligent building’ these devices all talk to each other at a high data level, bringing together access control, elevators, energy, fire, HVAC, lighting, security, video surveillance and 24/7 monitoring in one converged IT and building systems environment.
All these systems will report to a common ‘front end’ which will make informed decisions based on the information fed back to it via the various sensors and devices residing on the common infrastructure network. In turn, this allows centralised management and environmental sustainability through more efficient uses of energy, improved occupant comfort, safety and security and a greatly improved facilities management capability.
The end result? Reduced capital and operational cost for the host organisation, not to mention greater real estate effectiveness.
Traditionally, access to most building has been gained via a proximity access card. More recently, this has become a smart card which will store the holder’s security authorisation as well as HR detail (for example pay role, qualifications and job description information).
As well as providing access into and around the building, the smart card will provide controlled and auditable access to IT devices and vending machines, rest and welfare facilities.
In the very near future, carrying a card will be obsolete as authorisation/verification will be via biometrics (either fingerprint, facial recognition or retina scan), thereby removing a weakness in the system posed by the card.
As described above, the access regime will communicate with the other building systems, for example to inform the fire and intrusion detection system, lighting and HVAC that the last person has left the building.
Estimates for growth in the biometrics sphere
It’s estimated that the biometrics market will grow to be worth circa $11,000 million by 2015, with finger print identification systems generating the highest revenue (primarily driven by its adoption in national and civil identification programmes). Very soon, carrying car, office and house keys and basic passwords will be a thing of the past, to be replaced by your own unique identifier.
The video surveillance system will be the ‘eyes’ of the intelligent building, fulfilling both a security and people management role. Clever analytics in the camera will control lighting by detecting when there are people in a room or corridor. The ability to count people will be used to control HVAC based on room occupancy, setting and keeping temperatures to the optimum for comfort and energy efficiency.
The video system will also play an important part in emergency situations, first being used to detect or confirm an incident (ie the confirmation of smoke in an area following activation of the fire system, which will automatically alert the appropriate camera).
The ‘real-time’ video images will then be used to manage safe and efficient exit from the building: crowd detection in an escape route would initiate the PA system to herd people out through an alternative route. Lighting will be automatically controlled to signal and illuminate the way out. It may also trigger smoke extraction or fire extinguishing where and when the surveillance system shows it is safe to do so.
Lessons would be learned and operating procedures improved thanks to post-incident analysis of the surveillance footage.
ANPR and facial recognition would be used to direct visitors to allocated parking, to welcome them to the building and direct them to the relevant office or department.
Most access control systems contain fairly sophisticated alarm handling and management, but by integrating with the surveillance system or by using video analytics you gain the ability to not only detect and confirm intruders and track them but also to subsequently ID them post-event.
Unified front end management
The unified front end management platform in charge of the various system devices will not only control the building services but also provide standard operating procedures and ‘what to do’ instructions to operators for varying situations, escalating and or amending them as the incident changes, reducing training and manpower costs while at the same time providing uniform responses.
It will also provide incident logs and statistical reports on energy use, number of visitors and usual occupancy levels, etc: all designed to enable an organisation to improve and adapt to changing situations and, more importantly, validate and confirm adherence to regulations and Best Practice techniques.
Clearly, to achieve the truly ‘intelligent building’ will require change. Integrators will need to develop far stronger and meaningful relationships with architects, consultants and clients during the planning and design stages, and there has to be much more of a partnership approach between various trades and organisations during construction and implementation.
There is little doubt that the impact of new technology coupled with world events, rising crime (and the fear of crime), the cost of manpower and the requirement for detailed information will push this change.
We need to maximise the desire for reliable, effective, integrated and intelligent systems, and present a secure future for systems integrators who really grasp what the future is all about.
As featued on Info4Security - 28th June 2011
