Perimeter protection is essential for securing premises and critical infrastructures. Video analytics can greatly improve security in such environments while lowering costs at the same time. Security personnel and operators want to be alerted instantly when suspicious events are detected but not distracted by false alarms. No matter what technology is used, there is only one way to determine if a system is delivering the protection that is needed: A comprehensive test, in a real-world environment, executed by experienced professionals.

While there are numerous tests and reviews available for a variety of consumer products, not a lot of data is available for professional security products and systems. When it comes to choosing security products and systems for projects, end-users, security installers and system integrators very often have to rely on their experience with certain vendors in the past, recommendations from others, or the information that the vendors provide. Success stories and articles about installations are a valuable tool to gather information and may influence a buying decision, but they have their limitations. As a result, we were often asked if we could provide more in-depth information about systems or if we could test products and systems and then share the information.

GIT SECURITY and GIT SICHERHEIT Partner with SMP
We were very open to the idea when we were approached by SMP (Sachverständigenbüro Markus Piendl) to work together on independent testing for security systems. We decided to partner with them as they are very experienced and have often worked with end-users, insurance companies, and system integrators on perimeter protection projects.
Markus Piendl from SMP is a Munich-based expert for security technology, prevention and perimeter security. He is a recognized specialist in Germany and abroad for reports in the security industry and is a manufacturer-independent expert with proven experience in more than 1900 projects. His colleague, Ing. Hannes Dobler, Msc, is based in Vienna, Austria, and is a judicially certified expert with extensive experience in military technology and security projects. Wiley and SMP partnered with i-Alarmsysteme as a technical service provider at the test site for the GIT System Test Video Analytics.
Once the concept of the test was finalized, we approached vendors active in video analytics for perimeter protection and asked them to join the test. Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Dallmeier, Hikvision, Honeywell, Mobotix and Saimos/Vivotek/Milestone joined us for the first series of tests.

Ready for Testing

With just a few days to go before the tests began, we had the opportunity to talk to our partners about the progress we made and the upcoming tests.

GIT SECURITY: Mr. Dopler, you presented two test sites within only a few days of our first inquiry. Why did you choose these sites?

Hannes Dopler: First of all, the proximity to a European capital was important to us with regard to logistical issues. For practical reasons, we wanted to ensure that a reliable, competent technical service provider was located in the immediate vicinity. Furthermore, it seemed reasonable to us to have two test sites: A short distance one with a distance of 120 meters on which the focus will be; and a long distance one with a distance of 300 meters, which can be evaluated from the same container.

Mr. Zehetner, you are the managing director of i-Alarmsysteme GmbH. What did you think when Mr. Dopler and Mr. Piendl asked you to be the technical service provider for our test?

Peter Zehetner: I have been in the security industry for more than 30 years now. The approach of a comparative test with equal conditions for each manufacturer appealed to me very much for a variety of reasons. Vendors that we already know very well will have the opportunity to prove their capabilities. Vendors we don’t currently work with would be able to show where their strengths lie. There is no better training and development opportunity for my technicians, but also for the sales department. I immediately agreed and got my team excited about the joint test.

Mr. Dopler, how did you and your colleague, Mr. Piendl, describe this test in detail to the manufacturers?

Hannes Dopler: We wrote a 30-page document in German and English in which we presented the requirements, measures and the process in detail. Some vendors also asked for an online conference to ask questions about installation, logistics and test scenarios. We were particularly pleased to work on refining over 500 realistic test scenarios that we will run in order to test the performance of the systems.

Kathrin Karner, MA, your responsibilities for the i-Alarmsysteme included communications and coordination. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

Kathrin Karner: I received requests from all parts of the world. Some manufacturers asked us to set up their cameras and digital image storage for them because the Corona virus restricted entry. Other manufacturers came to us themselves to prepare their systems; that was a matter of coordination. Packages from manufacturers arrived almost daily. Their content had to be checked, the setup was coordinated by me, and we held online conferences to clarify technical questions. Communication and coordination with the manufacturers, my colleagues from the technical department, Wiley and the two experts from SMP were my priority. My top priority was to ensure that the hardware could be installed on both test sites as quickly as possible and that no request, no matter how small or large, on any subject was left unanswered. A time consuming, challenging and stressful job - especially in the last days before the different systems were disconnected from the internet to be checked for unwanted and false alarms.

Gert Hammer, you and your colleague Luciano Terziu provided the extensive technical infrastructure for our test in record time. How elaborate was that?

Gert Hammer: We were dealing with eleven different systems, all of which work differently. Some manufacturers we knew. Video analysis for the perimeter is a special topic for which we as technicians needed time to familiarize ourselves. The fact that the manufacturers helped with online training, configurations via the Internet or on-site was a great advantage. Rarely have I had the opportunity to learn so much in a short period of time.
Luciano Terziu: For me, it was important to keep to the tightly planned schedule and to offer all vendors the same starting conditions. A container with enough space for eleven workstations had to be sourced, extensive cabling, power supply and dedicated network had to be secured, lightning and surge protection was installed, a temporary mechanical fencing system was erected, powerful infrared floodlights arrived from the UK and were installed. This all happened alongside our demanding day-to-day business and was only possible through a team effort.

So much for a report on the concept and preparation of our joint test. We will report exclusively on the results in a special section of our June 2022 issue. It’s definitely something to look forward to.