video surveillance

CommunityCam Launches Online Mapping Tool For Security Cameras

Posted by dtaitano 8:22 pm Categories: City Surveillance. Tags: , , , .

Dec. 01–You’re walking down the street. Someone jumps out from behind a wall, grabs your purse and takes off. Time to cancel the credit cards and get a new purse? Perhaps not. A Portland, Ore.-based company that specializes in video surveillance solutions has just launched an online crowdsourced mapping tool in Boulder County that could help victims of crime track down perpetrators and bring them to justice. The tool is called CommunityCam, and it allows people to map online where surveillance cameras are located in a given area. Victims can visit the map — at videosurveillance.com/communitycam — to see if there was a camera in the immediate area where the crime was committed, be it a mugging or a hit-and-run. They can then request that police try to obtain any footage captured. “We’re seeing this as a community-based safety initiative that is being embraced because of the shortfalls in law enforcement budgets,” said Josh Daniels, founder of CommunityCam and president of VideoSurveillance.com. “Most of the cameras out there have been in place for years, and people simply don’t know that they are out there.” So far, 32 cameras in Boulder have been plotted on CommunityCam, with another 500 or so mapped in the Denver area. The first city to go online was Philadelphia, late last year. The Denver metro area went live last month. CommunityCam is also operating in San Francisco, Portland, Ore., Oakland, Chicago and Orange County, Calif. Daniels estimates that about 10,000 surveillance cameras have been mapped […]

IHS Publishes “The Asian Distribution Market For Video Surveillance Equipment” Report

Posted by dtaitano 7:37 pm Categories: Market Research. Tags: , , .

IHS report contains forecasts and analysis for this highly fragmented and competitive market The report estimates that the Top 10 distributors accounted for only just over a tenth of the Asian market in 2012 Supply of CCTV and video surveillance equipment in Asia by distributors is highly fragmented. According to a new report from IHS , large multinationals like ADI Distribution , Anixter , and Ingram Micro do operate in some Asian countries. However, the Asian market is predominately served by a multitude of small, privately-owned distributors. There are relatively few distributors that have a large share of their local market. The report, “The Asian Distribution Market for Video Surveillance Equipment” estimates that the top 10 distributors accounted for only just over a tenth of the market in 2012. There are some exceptions. For example, Aditya Infotech has a relatively high share of the Indian distribution market and Pacific Communications has a relatively high share of the Australian distribution market. However, the Asian market as a whole is mainly served by smaller players. China is easily the largest distribution market for video surveillance equipment in Asia. However, Chinese vendors often have a large sales team of their own and they operate numerous branch offices. Their own sales teams tend to sell direct to systems integrators and installers for big projects. They also manage the relationship with small distributors. WinHi and Digital China were two of the largest distributors of video surveillance equipment in China in 2012. However, both of […]

EFF Amicus Brief: Video Surveillance Of A Home For A Month Without A Warrant Violates Fourth Amendment

Posted by dtaitano 7:23 pm Categories: Legal, Surveillance. Tags: , , , , .

Profile image (Before It’s News) Just because a jogger can see the outside of your home on a public street doesn’t mean you’ve surrendered all your privacy expectations in the home. However, that seemingly obvious concept is being put to the test in a federal criminal case in Washington state, which involves the constitutionality of using a camera mounted on a pole outside a house to allow the police to watch the home for almost a month. Senior District Court Judge Edward Shea invited EFF to submit an amicus brief in the case and Monday we filed our brief , arguing prolonged warrantless video surveillance violates the Fourth Amendment .  In United States v. Vargas , local police in Franklin County, Washington suspected Leonel Vargas of drug trafficking and in April 2013, installed a pole camera on a public road overlooking Vargas’ rural home . They did not get a search warrant to install or use the camera, which was pointed squarely at the front door and driveway of the home. Officers had the ability to pan the camera around and zoom in and out all from the comfort of the police station. They watched the outside of Vargas’ home for more than a month, taking notice of who visited him and what cars they were driving. They observed no criminal activity until a month after they began snooping, when officers saw him shooting a gun at beer bottles in what appeared to be target practice. Because the officer had […]

China’s Big Drone Push

Posted by dtaitano 4:10 pm Categories: Military. Tags: , , .

The state-run China Daily   says this is a big deal , declaring that China has “again narrowed the air-power disparity between itself and Western nations.” Others are skeptical. Chinese military bloggers note that, based on the photos, the  huge engine compromises its stealth , possibly because the Chinese Air Force has  struggled to develop its own engines . Some suspect that the Lijian is a reverse-engineered version of Russia’s Mikoyan Skat drone, equipped with a  Russian-made turbofan engine . Gerry Doyle at Sinosphere concludes that “the stealth features that would make a drone like this a potential balance-shifter  remain unproven in this design .” More From Quartz But though it might not be a game-changer, the Lijian is another landmark in China’s development of drone technology—part of a larger military buildup that the Pentagon worries could prove “ potentially destabilizing ” in the Pacific, as The New York Times reported last year. How might the Lijian “destabilize” things in the Pacific? Du Wenlong, a military expert, told Chinese reporters that the  Lijian’s combat radius is sufficient  to patrol the disputed waters around the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands, which both China and Japan claim. It can also provide high-resolution video of activity in the disputed territory, a former People’s Liberation Army major general told T he South China Morning Post . Used for video surveillance, the Lijian would  escalate tension  over the islands, as Rory Medcalf, a security expert at Sydney’s Lowey Institute, says. “So, the Chinese have kind of put Japan […]

GA Department Of Natural Resources Invests In Cameras

Posted by dtaitano 1:04 pm Categories: Law Enforcement. Tags: , , .

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Georgia Department of Natural Resources officials say body-mounted cameras for police officers in its law enforcement branch were a good investment. Officers like wearing the devices, called Vidmics, because they assure police an accurate depiction of interactions with citizens, Major Stephen Adams told the Gainesville Times. “It provides a good tool to reduce complaints from the public, to protect the officer and to protect the public,” Adams said. “There’s no recounting what happened — you watch the complaint.” The devices can guard the public from abusive police practices while protecting officers from false accusations, said staff attorney for the Georgia branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, Chad Brock. The ACLU supports the use of the devices with proper safeguards, he said. “There shouldn’t be a policy where the officer can selectively turn off the recording. We would want to get a full picture, in guarding against abusive processes,” Brock said. The department has about 150 Vidmics and officers aren’t required to tell citizens they’re talking to that they’re being recorded, Adams said. In accordance with state guidelines, he added that the Department of Natural Resources keeps the footage on file for five years. The ACLU would like to see the data storage policies tweaked, Brock said. “We would want to see data retention policies that require police to destroy any of the video surveillance within a reasonable time for a routine encounter — three days to two weeks — unless there was a reason for […]

Steve Duin: Portland Police Re-Dedicate Themselves To Video Surveillance

Posted by dtaitano 9:23 pm Categories: Law Enforcement. Tags: , , , , .

They were walking, Bill Merritt and Peggy McClure, in the damp shadow of the communication tower atop Council Crest when they bumped into a crew laboring over a manhole and the underground fiber-optic cable that rolls down the hillside. What’s going on? they asked.  “A dedicated line,” one of the ditch-diggers said, “running from the tower down to the Portland police station.” “Great,” McClure said.  “So, that means we’ll have quicker response time on 9-1-1 calls?” Not at all, she was told. This line was dedicated to something else altogether.  “Police surveillance.  It will pick up signals from police-operated aircraft.  Which are sorta like manned drones.” Merritt and McClure have been together for 20 years and married for the last seven, most of which they spent abroad while McClure was managing Peace Corps operations in Botswana and Morocco. For all they knew, this broadband operation had already been vetted in council sessions, neighborhood meetings and newspaper columns.  “We’ve been out of the loop,” Merritt conceded. “But what are we surveilling?” Whatever strikes the fancy of Portland police, it turns out.  And once those fiber-optic connections are completed at the Portland Building, the bureau will be able to stream the video to anyone who wants it. “We do not have drones.  We are not getting drones.  Period,” Sgt. Pete Simpson insisted Thursday.  The bureau’s Cessnas, on the other hand, have been around for years:  “We use them for tactical situations.  Block searches.  Missing persons.  If we’re doing a gang cool-down […]

Englewood NJ Council To Take Up Issue Of Video Surveillance In Business District

Posted by dtaitano 10:25 pm Categories: City Surveillance. Tags: , , , , , .

ENGLEWOOD — A plan to place the city’s downtown business district under video surveillance will be discussed at the City Council meeting Tuesday night. Businesses line Palisade Avenue in downtown Englewood. Businesses line Palisade Avenue in downtown Englewood. If approved, Englewood would be the first municipality in Bergen County to have a police video surveillance system. North Bergen has had surveillance cameras in its commercial areas since 2009. Police Chief Arthur O’Keefe asked the council in September to install 40 cameras along Palisade Avenue to help solve crimes and prevent a variety of illegal activities. The cameras would be attached to utility poles at intersections from Engle Street to the war memorial monument. Police would monitor the cameras and keep the footage for 90 days. The system would cost $300,000, which O’Keefe has said would come from forfeiture funds provided by federal agencies and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. The system would be modeled after one now used by New York City, O’Keefe said, and could expand in time to cover city parks, pools and other public areas. Palisade Avenue was chosen as the first place to install cameras because it draws 40,000 to 60,000 vehicles and countless people every day and attracts large crowds for parades and community events. The council is taking up the discussion as city merchants prepare for the holiday season, when shoppers flock to downtown to buy gifts and patronize local restaurants. The chief told the council in September that surveillance cameras could have […]

Avigilon Improves Safety At Harbor House With Charitable Donation During Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Posted by dtaitano 7:26 pm Categories: Surveillance. Tags: , , , , , , .

Avigilon Improves Safety at Harbor House with Charitable Donation During Domestic Violence Awareness Month VANCOUVER, Oct. 28, 2013 (Menafn – Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) –High-definition surveillance system allows emergency shelter to protect residents Avigilon , a leader in high-definition (HD) and megapixel video surveillance solutions, today announced its donation of a full HD surveillance system to Harbor House of Central Florida, an emergency shelter and community organization for women, men, children and pets who are victims of domestic abuse. Harbor House seeks to eliminate domestic violence by providing safety, shelter, counseling, education, advocacy and justice. The Avigilon installation will take place in October coinciding with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time set aside to recognize the strength of survivors through events and community gatherings across the nation. “Given that many of our residents are escaping dangerous situations, we are very grateful to receive this donation from Avigilon,” said Carol Wick, CEO at Harbor House. “The HD surveillance system will vastly improve our security capabilities and increase the feelings of safety and sanctuary at Harbor House. Avigilon’s program is truly making an impact on neighborhoods and organizations in need.” Since the 1970s, Harbor House has been highly regarded as one of the most comprehensive domestic abuse programs in the state of Florida. The organization has five main programs to support its mission including an emergency shelter, children’s services, community outreach, legal advocacy services, and community and professional education. Due to the nature of its programs and the survivors’ need for […]

Innovation In Video Surveillance Tech At A Crossroads: Part 2

Posted by dtaitano 9:16 am Categories: Technologies. Tags: , , , , , , , .

Editor’s note: This is part two in a two-part series on video surveillance trends from the perspective of several industry experts. Part one examines overall industry trends, the continued migration to IP and how companies are continuing to provide support to the large existing base of analog device users. Part two delves into the progression of high-resolution imaging technology, developments at the edge and the future of video recording. Over the past several years, it seems as though there has been an arms race within the video surveillance industry when it comes to high-resolution cameras. Just a few years ago, only a handful of vendors offered cameras with high-megapixel imaging capabilities. Now HD resolution is the norm and some companies offer cameras that provide users with as much as 40 megapixels of resolution. There have also been great advancements over the last several years at the edge. Functions such as storage and analytics that could once only be performed on the server side are now being done within the cameras themselves. Has the market settled on a sweet spot for image resolution? What kind of impact will advancements in edge capabilities and onboard storage have on camera R&D over the next several years? Here’s what several experts had to say at the ASIS show this week in Chicago. SIW: Has the industry settled on how much resolution is needed for given applications or are we going to continue to see higher and higher megapixels in the years to come? […]

Innovation In Video Surveillance Tech At A Crossroads: Part 1

Posted by dtaitano 9:13 am Categories: Technologies. Tags: , , , , , , , .

Editor’s note: This is part one in a two-part series on video surveillance trends from the perspective of several industry experts. Part one examines overall industry trends, the continued migration to IP and how companies are continuing to provide support to the large existing base of analog device users. Part two will delve into the progression of high-resolution imaging technology, developments at the edge and the future of video recording. Over the past decade, there has been a seismic shift in the evolution of video surveillance. What was once a relatively simple configuration of coaxial cable running from cameras to closed circuit television monitors and VCRs has been revolutionized by network connectivity and ever-increasing image processing power. The result has been the transformation of what once considered a “dumb” security sensor into an “intelligent” device that provides security managers with actionable data they can use to mitigate risks and more thoroughly investigate incidents after the fact. This is embodied in the multitude of video analytic capabilities offered by today’s video products at both the software and hardware levels. It can also be seen in the wide variety of high-resolution cameras that are currently available in the marketplace. Despite these technological advances and the tipping point for IP video equipment sales (at least in terms of revenues) being close at hand , the fact remains that analog still makes up the majority of camera installations and will remain a large part of the market for the foreseeable future. With that […]

Messoa NCB750 IP-Camera Product Profile

Posted by dtaitano 10:12 am Categories: IP Cameras, Technologies. Tags: , , , , , , .

Messoa NCB750 IP camera MESSOA Mini Series consists of three 1-megapxiel network cameras, which are the box-type NCB750 , dome-type NDR720 , and the bullet-type NCR770 . Their exceptionally compact yet versatile form factors make them ideal for projects demanding discreet and low profile installations, such as residences, boutiques and retail shops. Compact design ideal for discreet surveillance No bigger than the size of an adult’s hand, the sleek, compact-designed enclosure of the Mini Series allows the cameras to be easily deployed and fit in any environment for unobtrusive monitoring, which is perfectly suited where discreet, covert surveillance is required. Easy plug-and-play NVR solution ready The cameras are designed for complete functionality and plug-and-play integration with MESSOA Lite Series NVR, making installation hassle-free and easily done within a matter of minutes. No need of any complicated network setup, it is perfect for users who are new to IP technology but are looking for an entry-level IP video surveillance solution to replace the previous analogue system. Superior video quality at full frame rate Though small in size, the Mini Series delivers megapixel video quality up to 30fps. The cameras capture every critical moment with smooth video display. Increased frame frequency significantly reduces blurry images and particularly suits motion-sensitive applications. Packed with market-leading features Each camera is further equipped with its own unique features for their respective target deployment and applications. The NDR720 Dome Camera is built in with patented matrix IR LED to ensure wide-angle, even illumination in low light […]