Page 24 - Security Today, September 2017

can be correlated with other system sensors, and they can provide this location information to video management systems for real-time target tracking with assessment cameras.”
Thermal cameras with analytics have become trusted, reliable so- lutions with a low rate of false alarms. Additionally, the high ana- lytics ranges of these cameras allow for greater detection coverage using fewer cameras, reducing the total cost of ownership for the end user. San Jose International Airport, Orlando International Airport and Edmonton International Airport have all recently added ther- mal technology to their security solutions by installing cameras from FLIR Systems.
The growing trend for airport intrusion detection is deploying pan-tilt thermal cameras with radar. When the radar identifies an object, it slews the thermal camera to point to the target, locks the camera and provides a clear video feed to the security manager who uses the visual to assess the incident. When these technologies are in- tegrated by an advanced video management system (VMS) or physi- cal security information management (PSIM) solution, a GIS map appears to provide the exact location of the target.
The locational tracking provides essential information as to the path the intruder takes once inside the airport perimeter and not just an alarm from a specific point. There will be a response time to de- ploy security personnel, and it is critical to know where the intruder has moved to in order to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. All in all, thermal-radar solutions deliver unparalleled situational awareness for security staff and allow airports to monitor larger areas with fewer patrols. They serve as a cost-effective alternative to fence detection systems, which require significantly more infrastructure.
HD Cameras, Facial Recognition and LPR
With radar and thermal acting as the first echelon of response to exte- rior threats at airports, new multi-sensor cameras and emerging video analytics are optimizing identification and assessment of those threats.
“The key trends that are redefining airport security in general are the rapidly improving CCTV camera capabilities,” Wheaton said. “The wide dynamic range, high resolution, and multi-sensor features of some of today’s cameras are enabling the use of fewer cameras with greatly enhanced real-time and play back viewing of the video.”
In other words, one HD 360-degree camera can do the job of mul- tiple PTZ or fixed cameras; this again presents a cost-savings for the airport. These next generation cameras are characterized for having superior post analytics, enabling security managers to rapidly search video for a specific event or individual.
Multi-sensor cameras are gaining traction in the airport sector, particularly pan-tilt cameras with both thermal and visible light sen- sors. The dynamic duo allows staff to quickly detect people or vehi-
cles in low-light or no-light scenarios and later identify the individual utilizing the visible light camera feed.
Facial recognition and LPR are two technologies that are proving to be game-changers for human and vehicle identification at airports. The analytic software can be easily downloaded into existing cam- eras and VMS, and by adding them to a perimeter security solution, airport staff gains access to law enforcement databases and can in- stantly recognize a wanted person.
Say a suspicious man approaches the airport entrance. As he ap- proaches, he passes into the purview of a camera and is recognized by biometrics software like facial recognition. He’s then entered into a homeland security database and is positively identified as a person on the watch list. Simultaneously, the car he left in the parking lot has a license plate that has been reviewed by a local police department and recognized as a stolen vehicle. Soon after, the man is apprehended before he is able to get past the check-in area.
HD cameras, facial recognition and LPR certainly represent the future of security identification and make crime prevention a reality.
Bringing it Altogether
While the aforementioned technologies provide quick detection and identification of threats, a robust VMS is key to bringing it altogether and allowing airport security teams to respond. When radar or a thermal camera with analytics detects an intruder, the VMS triggers alarms and notification to security teams. Through the VMS, secu- rity officers in the control room can access acoustic devices and give commands to the unidentified individual on the ground. Should the suspicious person become non-compliant, the officer could initiate a lockdown of all the nearest doors to contain the suspect and dispatch additional personnel to the area. These are just some of the delay, deter and defend actions managed through the VMS.
For airports looking to manage several security technologies with information gathering processes and IT infrastructure, directors should consider deploying a PSIM solution. PSIM solutions, also known as command and control software, operate as a “system of sys- tems.” Whereas a VMS is the central component of a video solution and derives its function due to its connection with cameras, a PSIM is a separate solution for aggregation. For this reason, an airport us- ing security devices that are manufactured by several companies, and in many cases different VMS solutions, scattered across many differ- ent sites within the airport, will be able to more easily integrate their technologies through a PSIM rather than a single VMS. Additionally, a PSIM is ideal for deep integration between radar systems and cam- eras, delivering geo-referenced map-based presentations of all devices, targets and sites and providing unparalleled situational awareness. A PSIM solution essentially equips airports with the tools it needs to easily manage these advanced security technologies.
Radar, thermal imaging, high-resolution cameras, analytics and PSIM solutions are the core building blocks of an end-to-end air- port perimeter security system. While these technologies are not nec- essarily new, they are just now becoming accessible to all airports. In the past, radar and thermal cameras were commercially developed, military qualified technologies that only primarily government enti- ties could afford. However, higher demand and greater production of these solutions has resulted in lower price points for the systems. Today, airports are able to deploy a greater num-
ber of advanced technologies not at a capital
project price, but at a per unit price. This ulti-
mately results in enhanced security monitoring
capabilities and greater protection for the airport
perimeter.
John Distelzweig is the general manager at FLIR Systems Inc.
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