IFSEC 2009 - world security fair

The most prestigious event in the field of security industry - International Fire &Security Exhibition and Conference (IFSEC) in Birmingham - took place on May 11-13, 2009. IFSEC shows new trends in the global security market, and therefore is closely monitored by distributors who can evaluate condition of major companies and attractiveness of new products. On the basis of the new products at the fair, many distributors are tailoring their offers for the second half of the year.

Has this year's IFSEC brought some breakthrough products? Are there any new developments in the field of security? What is the strength of the market?
The exhibition facilities in Birmingham are among the best in the world,
located in one complex with the airport and railway station
- convenient for exhibitors and visitors
In terms of products used for protecting different places and objects, the main trend is towards dominance of techniques related to image analysis. Systems based on the use of cameras become the basis for alarm and access control installations. Digital technology allows cameras to easily integrate with biometric systems, emergency centers, radars, etc.
Solutions based on CCTV are the basis
for management of modern buildings
A breakthrough in the field of popularization of IP cameras may be the adoption of standards developed by the ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum), a forum set up for standardization of protocols of IP cameras. One standard would enable mass production of the cameras, so the lower prices of hardware and software. Software manufacturers could focus on the development of image analysis, instead of laborious work over new proprietary protocols. This year, there seems to be a widespread acceptance of the forum recently created by leading manufacturers, confirmed by the first products in the market - advertised as being in conformity with the requirements of the Forum (e.g. Sony - SNC-RH124P).
Image analysis can provide best results with high resolution images, thus the interest in megapixel cameras. This year, new products were megapixel cameras equipped with CCD sensors - more sensitive in comparison with CMOS devices - such cameras were presented by ACTi Corp. (the distributor in Eastern Europe is DIPOL).
The stand of Samsung was the largest at the fair, there were a number of new products:
a robot for border surveillance, intelligent building management systems,
as well as a family of cameras based on the latest A1sensor
Next to the sensor, lens is another element critical for creating high-resolution images.
In the photo - 10 Mpx lens from Tokina company,
represented in the European market, among others, by DIPOL
Sanyo VCC-HD4000P camera - the fair prize winner for best CCTV product
The number of solutions presented indicates that the first truly mass implementations
associated with image analysis will be ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) systems
The industry response to the increasing threat of terrorism are surveillance systems for monitoring of large areas, using typical CCTV solutions supported by thermovision and radar systems. Protection of borders, ports, military bases requires reliable means of detecting any potential intrusion, so the systems combine video, infrared and microwave equipment
Image analysis also helps to monitor forest areas
and automatically detect fires
RFID technology operating at a few meters allows to create
convenient access control systems
Wireless signal transmission and power supply based on solar cells and wind turbines are the basis for surveillance systems that can be installed even on mountain summits often being national borders
Cellular phones and PDAs allow to monitor homes and other places practically from anywhere
The equipment becomes more reliable - Sony camera capable of operating in extreme temperature and humidity conditions
Hikvision - the leader in H.264 DVRs, represented in Eastern Europe by DIPOL,
showed hybrid solutions
British Security Industry Association (BSIA) ensured high conference standards,
Cisco, the patron of the conference, made a large contribution to the promotion
of the idea of building efficient networks for video transmission
The security industry is not so much in crisis as other areas (IT, telecommunications), however one can see a major change of the leaders. There was apparent lack of major distribution companies from the UK - as a result of the crisis and relatively high market saturation. European companies are still losing their significance, while companies from Asia show their technological dominance.