Industry News May 2009
BUSINESS NEWS
The inauguration of President Barack Obama, which drew millions of attendees, also led to sizeable security preparations among government agencies, private businesses, and other organizations. Alert DC, an interoperable emergency text messaging system from Cooper Notification, helped 58 local law enforcement agencies coordinate the largest security and safety operation for an inauguration in the nation’s history. The DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency and its counterparts in surrounding counties were able to communicate with the Metropolitan Police Department, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Capitol Police, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the FBI, among others.
Meanwhile, the Office of Unified Communications in Washington, D.C., used a computer-aided dispatch system from Intergraph to operate its 911 emergency numbers, so operators could field calls, create and update incidents, and manage emergency response resources, including field and mobile units stationed near the event.
The Washington D.C. Office of the Chief Technology Officer turned to Federal Signal Corporation for its alerting and notification system, with digital speaker arrays, management software, voice controllers, and IP cameras and communications.
Lockheed Martin provided its DisOPS situational awareness system for coordinating personnel and tracking incidents to the U.S. Park Police without charge. The Park Police also used towers, thermal cameras, illuminator cameras, and biological sensors from ICx Technologies.
Nearby George Washington University Hospital used Netpresenter software to communicate with its staff via PC screensavers and digital signage about inauguration preparations and updates, including sleeping arrangements, command center instructions, and transportation updates.
PARTNERSHIPS AND DEALS
AMAG Technology and DAP Technologies will integrate AMAG’s security management system and DAP’s handheld computers to create a mobile security solution.
Arecont Vision is working with NUUO to enable seamless integration of the Arecont Vision H.264 megapixel camera line with NUUO’s network video recording software.
The Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation has deployed an Avigilon HD surveillance system to secure its facility.
Cyberoam has appointed Interwork Technologies as a distributor for the North American market.
Dortronics Systems, Inc., has named P.A.S. Associates as the company’s sales representative for upper New York State.
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee has deployed the intelligent security operations center from DVTel, Inc.
Duke University has deployed a Federal Signal campus safety and security system to keep students and employees informed of emergencies.
Liberty University has chosen a Cybercat fire alarm system from Fike Alarm Systems to protect its campus of more than 80 buildings. Greer Supply worked with the university to design and implement the system.
An IP video surveillance system from IndigoVision has been adopted by the Vienna Zoo for use in animal behavior research.
Intellitactics and Egghead Systems and Networks, Inc., have formed a business partnership where Egghead will sell and provide services for Intellitactics’ SAFE appliance in the Philippines and Pacific Rim area. Open Technologies will distribute the entire portfolio of Intellitactics products in Russia.
Convergint Technologies LLC will distribute Intransa products under a new sales alliance.
MATE Intelligent Video is providing its analytic video encoder to Spanish distributor CCTV Center to protect local solar fields.
A new Major League Soccer stadium and waterfront complex near Philadelphia will incorporate an IP-based networked surveillance system from Panasonic System Solutions Company. Keystone Sports and Entertainment, LLC, has named Panasonic the Official Technology Partner.
PSA Security Network and InService are collaborating to encourage their members to participate in joint marketing initiatives, events, and strategic planning.
The historic Saint George Hotel in Weston, Missouri, has implemented a fire protection system from Silent Knight. The system was designed and installed by Tec-Larm.
Tyco International has selected Intelligent Marketing, Incorporated, to represent its American Dynamics video products and Kantech access control products in Florida.
Insurance company RLI Corp. has chosen Voltage Security SecureData to protect against data breaches.
The VESDA aspirating smoke detection system from Xtralis has been chosen to enhance fire safety at Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem.
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
AtHoc, Inc., was awarded a contract for its IWSAlerts mass notification system from the U.S. Air Force Central Command.
Beretta U.S.A. Corp. has received a U.S. Army contract to provide pistols to U.S. military customers throughout the world.
The U.S. Coast Guard has chosen hand-held biometric terminals from Datastrip Inc. for its Transportation Worker Identification Credential program.
Gemalto will deliver additional electronic ID cards for citizens and residents of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Ideal Innovations, Inc., has been awarded a contract for biometrics operations and support services by the U.S. Department of the Army’s Biometrics Task Force.
LaserCard Corporation has received a purchase order for U.S. Permanent Resident Cards from General Dynamics as contractor for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Northrop Grumman received a contract for biometrics operations and support services by the U.S. Army.
Midstate Security, LLC, will install a Panasonic System Solutions digital video surveillance system in the new jail in Midland County, Michigan.
An integrated border security solution from Perceptics LLC and American Science and Engineering, Inc., will be used by Abu Dhabi Customs to protect the emirate’s borders.
Telos Corporation has won a U.S. Army contract to provide biometrics services, supplies, and related software and hardware.
Researchers from Virginia Tech are collaborating with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to develop a statewide hazard mitigation plan.
A security system from VUANCE, Ltd., will monitor and control activity at the Decker Lake Youth Complex, a correctional facility in Valley City, Utah.
AWARDS AND CERTIFICATIONS
IQinVision and partner Spectrum Security-Safety received the Best Security Company of the Year award in the Solution of the Year category in an awards competition organized by the Hungarian magazine Detektor Plus in cooperation with the International Bodyguard and Security Services Association.
SMP Data Communications received a patent for its installation system for home technology, including home automation, lighting, security systems, and computer connections.
Pelco received a Government Video Salute award for its Sarix Mega-Performance imaging technology platform. The awards were presented by NewBay Media’s Government Video magazine.
The Protection Bureau has retained its Five Diamond Certification from the Central Station Alarm Association.
ReadiMinds was named one of the Red Herring Top 100 Global Companies.
S2 Security Corporation has received a U.S. patent for the architecture used in its physical security network appliances.
Security Sales & Integration magazine chose Winsted Corporation’s Sight-Line command center consoles as one of the Top 30 Technology Innovations of 2008.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ADI is bringing together all of its businesses under one brand name with a new logo.
The European Security Systems Association has updated its ECB•S product locator for secure storage units. ISACA has released Defining Information Security Manager Position Requirements: Guidance for Executives and Managers, a report that is available free from the association’s Web site.
Rampart Partners LLC and Scott Greiper have launched the Secure Strategy Group, a strategic advisory firm that works with growth companies in the security and defense technology markets.
Samsung Techwin America announced that all of its CCTV products now come with a three-year warranty.
Technomad Associates, LLC, announced that its military P.A. systems were featured in Full Battle Rattle, a two-hour special that aired on the National Geographic Channel.
UPM Raflatac promises to ship a wide selection of RFID tags and inlays to customers within 48 hours of ordering.
ASIS NEWS
ASIS Community Service Award Established
ASIS International has created an Annual Community Service Award to honor the beneficial involvement of ASIS chapters in their cities or towns. The new awards will provide winning chapters with matching funds toward contributions to the groups’ charities of choice.
“The purpose of the awards is to inspire our members to conduct their chapters in a manner that exemplifies the goals and practices of ASIS,” says the Society’s Chief Executive Officer Michael Stack. “We want to encourage chapters to reach out to their communities, inspire good practices, and intensify volunteerism.”
As with other ASIS annual awards, competition will be among chapters of similar size. Up to two awards will be granted for each group. First place will be a donation of up to $1,000 from ASIS; second place will be a $500 donation. The funds will go to the specific community charity funded by the chapter.
Nominations for the inaugural award were submitted last month for vetting by ASIS regional vice presidents. The Society’s Awards Committee will evaluate the qualified applications in June. Winners will be announced in July. For more information or to obtain an application for entering next year’s awards competition, visit the ASIS Web site,www.asisonline.org.
Student Writing Competition Winners Announced
The ASIS International Foundation, Inc., and the ASIS Council on Academic Programs in Colleges and Universities have announced the undergraduate and graduate winners of the 2008 Student Writing Competition. The competition rewards college and university students who conduct research, engage in thoughtful deliberation, and write an academic paper relevant to security and assets protection.
The undergraduate winner of the 2008 Student Writing Competition is Michael Massarotti of New Jersey City University in Jersey City, New Jersey, for Repairing Security’s Image. Honorable mention goes to Mike Remington of Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts, for Protecting Information and Intangible Assets in the 21st Century.
The graduate winner is Andre Jackson, from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, for his paper, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Security Solutions, and the Future of Anti-Terrorism Forces.
Honorable mention goes to Antonio Freeman of Webster University, St. Louis, for The Most Promising Technology to meet Tomorrow’s Security Challenge.
Entries were judged on several criteria, including the creativity of each student’s approach to the topic, organization of the material, overall writing quality, and the student’s ability to analyze information and draw relevant conclusions.
Massarotti will receive a $1,000 cash prize; Jackson will receive a $1,500 cash prize. Each winner will be given a one-year ASIS student membership and registration to the ASIS International 55th Annual Seminar and Exhibits in Anaheim, California, in September. The honorable mention recipients will collect awards of $500. Winning papers will be submitted to Security Journal, a peer-reviewed journal for security researchers and professionals, affiliated with ASIS.
“We saw a significant increase in the number of entrants at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, a trend we hope will continue in the years ahead,” says Stephen Saravara, CPP, who served as coordinator for the competition.
“The material produced by participants can contribute to the security community’s body of knowledge, which is composed of the thoughts, ideas, theories, and practical applications that address today’s global challenges,” notes Kevin Peterson, CPP, past chair of the ASIS Council on Academic Programs.
Peterson adds that he was particularly pleased to see that a number of students from outside the security or criminal justice fields of study submitted papers.
For more information on the competition, visitwww.asisonline.org.
