Industry News: ALPR Cameras Help New Orleans Secure Historic Districts
Securing New Orleans’ Historic Districts Without Extra Wiring
The city of New Orleans in the U.S. state of Louisiana features several historic landmarks and neighborhoods. While this can make for a lovely setting for residents and visitors of the Crescent City during Mardi Gras or its iconic jazz festival, it can sometimes be a challenge for security practitioners.
The mission of the city’s Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) is to protect the city’s communities by monitoring locations and providing first responders and public safety agencies with intelligence in real time. The RTCC opted to use a few Genetec products to support monitoring and investigations, including video management system Genetec Omnicast to help manage more than 1,000 cameras throughout the city. The center also uses AutoVu Cloudrunner to support its automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) program, which helps gather evidence and capture high-quality images of vehicles’ plates and other information.
The Cloudrunner cameras have had particular benefits in areas like the French Quarter, where historical buildings often have restrictions on wiring. The cameras are not hardwired and can perform well in low light, allowing the RTCC to still collect information on suspect vehicles entering or leaving the area, according to RTCC director Ross Bourgeois. Beyond image capture, the system also supports investigations by allowing a user to search through collected and stored images for vehicles based on characteristics or time periods.
Mergers & Moves
Health Catalyst, Inc. // Intraprise Health, LLC
Data and analytics technology and services provider Health Catalyst announced it signed a definitive agreement to purchase Intraprise Health, a cybersecurity provider. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Addsecure // Astrata
After Addsecure acquired Astrata’s European telematics division in June 2024, the two companies are together rebranding under the Addsecure name and brand, consolidating transportation and logistics solutions in Europe.
Pye-Barker Fire & Safety // Protect Alarms
Full-service fire protection, life safety, and security services provider Pye-Barker acquired Protect Alarms, a Pennsylvania-based company, continuing its market expansion throughout the Northeast region of the United States.
Pye-Barker Fire & Safety // United Automation
Also in December, Pye-Barker acquired fire and security systems integrator United Automation, expanding the company’s market presence in Louisiana.
Pye-Barker Fire & Safety // Security On-Line Systems
With the additional recent purchase of Security On-Line Systems—a security systems, fire detection, and alarms company serving the greater Philadelphia region—Pye-Barker continues to offer more Northeast customers with fire code compliance and life safety protection.
NewSpring Holdings, LLC // C Speed, LLC
Through the acquisition, NewSpring plans to provide C Speed—a provider of advanced radar systems, surveillance products, and engineering solutions for civilian and military use globally—with strategic guidance, resources, and human capital to meet the needs of government clients.
Protective Industrial Products // Honeywell
Protective Industrial Products has agreed to purchase Honeywell’s Personal Protective Equipment business in an all-cash transaction of $1.325 billion.
ASSA ABLOY // Premier Steel Doors and Frames
ASSA ABLOY acquired the doors and frames manufacturer as part of its intention to improve its position in mature markets that complement its core business. Premier Steel Doors and Frames makes hollow metal doors and frames, metal building door systems, and aluminum windows.
ASSA ABLOY // 9Solutions
This month, ASSA ABLOY also purchased 9Solutions, which provides integrated AI-powered real-time healthcare solutions for critical communication and collaboration, with a focus on senior care.
Molex // AirBorn
Global electronics and connectivity provider Molex completed its acquisition of AirBorn, a global manufacturer of connectors and electronic components designed for mission-critical applications in aerospace and defense, commercial air, space exploration, medical, and industrial markets.
Awards
Securitas Technology was named one of only 40 suppliers to the U.S. government that meets all four climate action benchmarks set by the federal government as it scores federal suppliers.
Inc. included security staffing and risk management solutions company Inter-Con Security on its 2024 Best in Business list, in the Security category.
Contracts
The U.S. Coast Guard awarded MSA Safety, Inc., a 10-year, $33 million contract to provide new firefighter respiratory protective equipment.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police will be outfitted with more than 10,000 body-worn cameras, along with a digital evidence management system, from Axon as a result of winning a Public Services and Procurement Canada contract.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence awarded a contract to DomainTools, making it a foundational technology partner of the Sentinel Horizon program, which aims to integrate data collection and sharing across the U.S. intelligence community.
The U.S. Department of Transportation, through a Safe Streets and Roads for All Program grant, awarded Arrowhead EMS Association a $5 million contract for telemedicine services in rural communities and tribal areas. As part of a program to improve and expedite post-crash care in these regions, 20 ambulances will be equipped with Avel eCare’s EMS telemedicine services, allowing EMTs and paramedics to connect virtually with board-certified physicians, paramedics, and nurses.
While modernizing its national identity document, San Marino awarded HID a contract to provide a new contactless national ID card, which can serve as a residence permit, driver’s license, health card, and hunting license.
The U.S. military awarded a four-year, $42 million contract to QinetiQ US, which will deliver intelligent sensor processing and optics advanced technologies for critical research and development efforts belonging to the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command C5ISR Center’s Research & Technology Integration Directorate.
The U.S. government awarded a $2.5 million contract to System Innovation Group. Under the contract, System Innovation will equip users to securely leverage networking devices within low-visibility mission critical operations.
The Taiwan Lottery Co., Ltd. (TLC), awarded Pollard Banknote Limited an exclusive five-year, $66 million CAD ($46.3 million) contract, making Pollard Banknote the sole provider of instant tickets for TLC.
The Canadian government selected Vaultie for a contract to allow government agencies to test verifiable credentials for Canadian citizens.
Announcements
Elite Interactive Solutions is launching a series of educational webinars that will feature subject matter experts and thought leaders discussing the latest developments in security technologies, methods, crime and loss prevention, law enforcement, and more. The series started on 10 December.
The government of Canada provided the Thompson Regional Airport with $30 million through the Airports Capital Assistance Program, funds that will be used for the constriction of a new apron, two new taxiways, and new drainage and electrical systems.
Blackline Safety Corp. released a new white paper, Navigating Radiation Risks: Key Concepts for Protecting Workers and Responders. The paper is meant to help teams assess, react to, and mitigate the threat of radiation exposure for fire hazmat and first responder teams.
Partnerships
Auto theft. The Canadian government has partnered with INTERPOL in a joint initiative to combat transnational organized vehicle crime.
Criminal trends. CAP Index and the University of Arkansas partnered with the Child Poverty Action Lab, a Dallas-based nonprofit, to analyze crime trends and conduct targeted research on firearms. The research will analyze how exposure to violence can influence mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being.
Election security. The Cayuga County Board of Elections partnered with the county’s Information Technology Department and sheriff’s department to install SaferWatch LTE panic buttons at every polling station in the New York county.
Finance and communications. Communications and multi-cloud connectivity solutions provider IPC has partnered with LeapXpert to provide regulated financial businesses with enhanced messaging communications capture, governance, and compliance capabilities.
Multisector risk reduction. Convergint entered into a strategic alliance with Deloitte to offer clients access to physical and cybersecurity services, including Deloitte’s advisory services, market insights, and cybersecurity knowledge as well as Convergint’s expertise in advanced technology and physical security integration capabilities.
Passenger safety. Hyundai Motor America and Children’s of Alabama partnered to host a community child safety seat check in Birmingham, giving families technical knowledge and resources.
Payment fraud. Equifax and Mastercard have teamed up with Latin American financial institutions, payment service providers, acquiring banks, and merchants to provide them with enhanced fraud management tools.
Port security. Cybersecurity provider for industrial control systems and operational technology Waterfall Security and GoCloud, an IT and cloud solutions provider, announced a new partnership aiming to secure OT environments across vital sectors, including the Port of Miami.
Risk management. Threat modeling platform provider IriusRisk announced a partnership with Toreon, a European cybersecurity firm, which will offer customers improved threat modeling and risk management maturity.
School security. ZeroEyes has joined forces with RapidDeploy, a cloud-native solution provider for public safety. Together, they will provide emergency communication centers and field responders with real-time critical information to assist with faster emergency responses during incidents involving firearms at K-12 schools.
ZeroEyes, this time with Ohio-based integrator EPS, also announced a partnership with the Tri-County Career Center in an effort to expand customer service and product offerings to the Southeastern Ohio region.
Smart city. Ubicquia, Inc., is collaborating with Genetec to accelerate the deployment of public safety cameras and automated license plate recognition technologies through existing streetlight networks.
