Surveillance integration – why people matter
United Arab Emirates – As investment in Middle East industrial, financial and critical infrastructure continues to rise, increasing protection of assets crucial to ongoing economic and social development is naturally becoming a higher priority.
At Intersec 2015 in Dubai, global surveillance business Synectics explained and demonstrated how achieving this is as much about people as it is about technology.
Paul Webb, Managing Director of Synectics, said: “The Middle East market is familiar with the concept of security systems integration – unifying multiple systems (CCTV, perimeter security, access control, emergency alarms etc.) into a single environment to streamline and enhance protection and operations. Advances in IP-based surveillance networks and HD camera technology have supported growth in this concept.
“But while integrated security represents a vital step forward in asset protection, collating information from disparate data streams in this way is only part of the equation. To fully maximize the opportunities this presents, it is necessary to understand the interplay between technology and personnel and then take action from that vantage point.
“How individuals and teams use and respond to data will ultimately dictate the security and operational outcomes for any site, whether that’s an airport, gas plant or a city traffic network.”
In 2014, Synectics rolled-out its open and fully scalable Synergy 3 command and control software platform that integrates alarms and events, security and process control subsystems, surveillance, and other essential site systems. Crucially, the solution can be programmed to detect and understand potential threats by mining the data captured, and present that information to best guide appropriate action.
“It’s about data ergonomics”, said David Aindow, Product and Technology Director at Synectics, “presenting the right data, in the right way, at the right time for the right people to act on it.
“This concept was integral to our development of Synergy 3, demonstrated by features such as the customisable Graphical User Interface (GUI), interactive mapping engine (with Geospatial Information System (GIS) technology), and dynamic workflow functionality to guide operators through required response procedures and protocols in specific situations.
“It’s also the driving factor behind the latest enhancements we’ve made, specifically around task management – enhancements that help operators identify and enlist the skills required to resolve specific issues.
“For example, a single subsystem alert (perhaps from a perimeter fence) can now trigger immediate visual/audio feed correlating with the incident location, and an associated workflow programme to guide operators in responding. Operators can also cross-reference information received with a database of skillsets to identify appropriate first responders and issue coded alerts to the relevant personnel via SMS. On task completion, whatever that task may be, the responding personnel can then use mobile devices such as telephones and tablets to automatically update the control room operator accordingly.
“It’s a solution that closes the loop on incident identification and response, and that’s how ultimate protection and efficiency is achieved.”
Intersec 2015 also saw Synectics demonstrate Synergy 3’s mapping, workflow and integration capabilities, alongside its COEX™ C2000 TriMode and new C3000 HD IP camera stations. The surveillance solutions specialist will also demonstrated its Synergy Tablet which offers mobile situational awareness, taking the concept of personnel integration a step further by delivering system capabilities to operatives in the field.
