Not a fashionable trend, but a necessity.
Some aspects of integrating a video surveillance system with a security and fire alarm system
Introduction
It seems that today there are no unintegrated technical security systems (TSS) left. At least, it is very, very difficult to find them in the product catalogs of manufacturers, not to mention advertising publications in industry media. It seems that this is the result of normal technical and technological development of systems, even simple in their architecture and not very rich in functional capabilities. The simplest method of integration at the relay output level has long been used in the installation of CCTV and fire alarm systems. Hundreds of examples can be given of such integration of fire alarm systems with video surveillance systems.
There are no regulatory requirements and unified standards for the integration of technical security equipment (TSE) in Russia yet. Only for large high-rise buildings, such as the high-rise buildings of Moscow City, is it necessary to install integrated security systems in accordance with the MGSN specially developed for them. In the West, non-profit self-regulatory organizations develop and successfully implement standards for the integration of various TSE. In addition, large Western companies develop their own standards for the organization of TSE, and integrated security systems are often used to ensure security in such companies. In Russia, today, only the installation of a fire alarm is mandatory. The installation of other TSE equipment and the degree of their integration with each other is determined by the customer. And, it should be noted that the choice of Russian customers is increasingly leaning toward the maximum possible integration of technical security equipment for a particular facility.As many Russian experts note, the demand for integrated systems in our country is constantly growing. When building large class A and even class B business centers, a competent owner does not spare money to create powerful, integrated security systems, which allows the future tenant of the premises to be confident in the safety of his office and the prompt response of the operation or security service to various incidents. At the same time, the owner of the business center has to set higher rental rates, which in turn pays for his costs of creating such systems. Naturally, this process is primarily taking place in large cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg and other megalopolises. However, recently the number of such installations has been growing in the cities of the Urals, Siberia, etc.
Tasks
One of the most popular tasks today is the integration of video surveillance systems with fire and/or security alarm systems. The solution to this problem allows you to automatically track the appearance of smoke or the penetration of an intruder into protected areas, and as a result, respond more quickly to the situation. To implement such integration, various methods are used, from the simplest (integration at the level of dry contacts) to more complex (integration at the software level). Here, a clear pattern is observed: the higher the class of the building, the more complex the integrated security systems, the richer their functionality.
Let us recall that the ISBS includes:
- fire alarm systems;
- security alarm systems;
- access control and management systems;
- video surveillance systems.
What are the advantages of integrating security and fire alarm systems with CCTV? Firstly, security personnel have the opportunity to quickly respond to each alarm event. Indeed, the use of integrated systems allows for automatic monitoring of the facility in modes set by the security and building operation services. Automatic monitoring is full control of the operational situation at the facility, when the dispatcher does not have to manually find the location of the alarm event (fire, intrusion). The monitor screen displays an image from the camera where the event (fire, intrusion) occurred, it only makes a decision on what needs to be done to prevent a dangerous situation.
Secondly, the integration of fire alarm systems with video surveillance allows for maximum reliability of the information received. The security personnel on duty have the opportunity to see what is actually happening in the area from which the alarm signal was received. Moreover, the latest developments in software allow the video surveillance camera to be automatically directed to the alarm trigger zone.
Thirdly, the integration of the fire alarm system with the video surveillance system increases the reliability of the entire ITSB.
And finally, it is necessary to mention such an important factor as the efficiency and convenience of monitoring the situation throughout the building. Agree, if for each alarm event the security guard has to run, say, from the first floor, where the control room is located, to the 25th, can we talk about the efficiency of using the system and the efficiency of solving individual problems? At the same time, automation of the process allows to reduce the number of personnel on duty and, accordingly, reduce the costs of operating the building.
How to integrate
I have already mentioned one of the integration methods using so-called dry contacts. This is a reliable and widely used method, but it is used mainly at small facilities. Systems installed at medium, and especially at large facilities, require integration at the software level.
It is widely believed that wires are more reliable than a computer. Indeed, in a small building, it is easier and cheaper to combine a dozen cameras, two or three security and fire panels and 20 detectors into a single system at the hardware level. But what if we are talking about a 40-story building, where the amount of integrated equipment is in the hundreds of units? Imagine how many wires need to be laid, relays installed, etc. And you will agree that the possibility of an installer error in this case is very high.
The price of the issue is also important. Initially, more expensive software and, accordingly, integration at the software level becomes more economically advantageous at a large facility than hardware integration.
As for reliability, when integrating at the software level, many companies use systems with backup capabilities. For example, installing backup servers, organizing RADE arrays, etc. As one example, we can cite the OnGuard platform from LENEL Systems, which allows you to create integrated security systems with backup.
In addition, the integration of systems at the software level has broader functionality. For example, the output of information from all security systems to a single computer using a single software and interface, which allows you not to build a wall of monitors and computers. The dispatcher will have quick access to information from all security systems from one computer. An example of such software is Winmag software, which combines Esser fire alarm systems, Ef-Ef security alarms and access control, and video surveillance, such as Bosch, Axis, JVC, etc.
Main approaches to software integration of security systems
First: equipment manufacturers themselves develop software for its integration. For example, the Alliance software from General Electric allows you to integrate equipment of your own production (Aritech security and fire alarm, Kalatel video surveillance, etc.), but it is closed for integration with equipment from third-party manufacturers. Bosch has its own BIS software in its line, which integrates equipment (fire alarm, notification, video surveillance, etc.) of its own production, but also has the ability to integrate with third-party manufacturers using OPC. There are such companies in Russia, too. For example: BOLID and its OrionPRO software, which integrates security, fire alarm, access control and BMS systems of its own production, as well as video surveillance.
Second: companies specializing in software development create software for integrating products from one or more manufacturers. An example of this kind of SCADA system is the Siemens APOGEE system, which integrates a whole list of not only security systems, but also BMS buildings from various manufacturers. There are many such companies in the West, they are usually part of large corporations such as Siemens, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Tyco, etc.
Often software developers negotiate with manufacturers and write appropriate drivers for their equipment. Many companies declare the ability to custom-write some additional functionality or integrate third-party equipment. Such companies include LENEL or Honeywell.
The third approach is when the software is made for some specific equipment (fire alarm or security alarm) and other systems, for example, CCTV, are integrated into it. In this case, integration can be carried out, for example, via OPC. For this, you do not need to write a special driver, it is necessary that the software of both manufacturers support the OPC client-server system. An example of such a solution is the Simplex addressable fire alarm system from TYCO, which allows you to transfer data on fire and the operation of fire-fighting automation not only to the integrated security system, but also to the BMS of a building from various manufacturers.
Each of the named companies has a fairly wide range of equipment, which includes both budget options for systems that are not integrated at all or are integrated at the level of the same dry contacts, and systems that are integrated at the software level. Such systems occupy the middle and upper price ranges. The general trend today is the desire of developers for maximum openness. Many leading manufacturers open their systems for integration with other manufacturers. To some extent, this trend reflects the integration processes taking place all over the world. In addition, customers, especially large ones, as a rule, do not want to be rigidly tied to the equipment of one manufacturer. Previously, this was typical only for the Western market, but it is increasingly becoming more visible in Russia. And the customer's requirement is the main factor determining the development vector of any normal manufacturer.