TECHNOLOGY
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BIOMETRIC SOLUTIONS
Downtown Miami Hotel Revamps Security With Touchless Biometrics
In the heart of Miami stands The Grand Condominium, a modern and stylish 42-story complex that houses short- and long-term guests, renters and residents. The waterfront complex is equipped with boat drive-up access, event space, a pool, fitness and business centers and four on-site restaurants. The Grand’s expansive footprint, attractive location and various access points required a comprehensive security solution that could provide peace of mind for guests and employees, and match the hotel’s modern and technology-forward aesthetic.
The Grand began evaluating new electronic security providers after their inadequate fingerprint solution exposed vulnerabilities in the property’s access management and security protocols. The faulty solution was tied to each entryway and the eight elevators connecting guests to their accommodations throughout each floor.
Realizing these gaps in their security system and obligation to make swift improvements for the safety of guests and visitors, The Grand contacted Securitas Electronic Security Inc. (SES) to completely revamp and enhance their overall security program, management and operations. It was essential the hotel’s chosen security systems integrator could integrate the industry’s best security technology and offer coast-to-coast service and support.
The Grand Hotel in downtown Miami was in need of an upgrade before Securitas came along.
IMAGE COURTESY OF SECURITAS
“We offer unique solutions through strategic, long-term partnerships with the industry’s leading technology companies in video, access, intrusion, fire and life safety and integrated systems,” said SES Senior Account Executive Miguel Casanova. “As one of the industry’s few pure play national integrators, our goal is to be a trusted advisor to our clients, helping them make the right choice in what technology best fits their unique needs. To enhance this confidence, SES established the SES Technology Evaluation Committee to fully research, test and vet any technology before recommending a solution to clients.”
SES collaborated with The Grand and IDEMIA, Boon Edam and LenelS2 to design and develop a best-in-class security solution that can efficiently manage access for the hotel’s hundreds of daily visitors. The comprehensive solution mitigates unauthorized entry to the hotel’s lobby and automates guests’ access experiences through a touchless biometric system integrated with optical turnstiles. The customized, sophisticated solution is managed through a flexible and reliable security management system providing a complete view of the hotel’s security system. — By Courtney Wolfe, SDM Managing Editor //
The legendary Big Red Camaro is a serious, open road racing car that has been setting records at the highest level for over 30 years. Since they started on the project back in 1987, Richard Gottlieb and his father Dan Gottlieb have invested countless hours as well as millions of dollars upgrading, refurbishing, restoring and improving the performance of the car. To protect their investment and ensure the continued success of the racing team, the Gottliebs built a new 14,000-square-foot facility featuring a state-of-the-art video surveillance system with Hanwha Techwin cameras to help keep this priceless piece of American racing history safe.
The camera selection was tailored to match the security requirements for each area. For the back of the facility, which is isolated and has several dumpsters, the team installed Hanwha cameras with lowlight operability. They also deployed in-camera masking to prevent passing trains from triggering motion alerts. Out front, the team deployed Wisenet PNM-9030V multi-sensor panoramic cameras from Hanwha to provide a complete 180-deg. view. In addition to protecting this priceless car, the team also wanted to open up live feeds if there was major maintenance or customization activity. The goal was to use the new video surveillance system for both security and entertainment. In addition to the three Wisenet PNM-9030V panoramic cameras, the site also includes five Wisenet XNO-8020R bullet cameras, nine XND-6010 dome cameras, two QND-7030R dome cameras and one QNO-7080R bullet camera.
IMAGE COURTESY OF HANWHA
Qognify’s VisionHub is trusted and relied upon by six departments at the University of Vermont, one of the oldest universities in the U.S. The VMS+ is fully integrated and operational across the university’s on-campus install base of 459 video channels (predominantly AXIS IP cameras) and CBORD’s CS Access system. It has been instrumental in helping to reduce unnecessary on-site attendance, as part of the university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
VisionHub is a VMS+ that enables organizations in critical and highly regulated environments to effectively and efficiently respond to security threats, and mitigate the impact of incidents. It centralizes, integrates and organizes core physical security systems and sensors into a single video-centric interface, providing heightened situational awareness and powerful incident response management capabilities.
IMAGE COURTESY OF QOGNIFY
The ISONAS Pure IP access control solution has been deployed at a school district in the southwest suburb of Chicago. They wanted to be able to manage access at all six buildings in the school district on one unified platform. The school district had three main priorities for the upgrade: controlling the flow of traffic during after hour events; eliminating the need for keys to manually lock and unlock doors; and to finally have the ability to utilize remote access. Safety was also a huge priority at the school district, needing to keep students and staff safe and secure. Without being able to control unauthorized visitors at all entrance ways, there was no way to effectively protect everyone district-wide.
The project — implemented on a tight timeframe — included installing 188 ISONAS RC-04 reader controllers in under three months on every access point within the six buildings that made up the school district. The district can now easily monitor all controlled doors remotely and set access schedules for regular school hours and after hours when special events and activities are taking place.
IMAGE COURTESY OF ALLEGION
Legrand donated solutions from its Vantage, QMotion and Luxul brands which were utilized in a customized smart home for Marine Sgt. Jonathan Blank, who was severely injured in Afghanistan. Provided by the Wounded Warrior Project and Gary Sinise Foundation as part of the Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment (R.I.S.E.) program, the home and its technologies are designed to make Sgt. Blank's life more comfortable and convenient.
The home’s network is centered on Luxul’s dual-WAN Epic 5 wired router (ABR-5000), while the AMS-4424P 26-port/24 PoE+ stackable Layer 2/Layer 3 managed switch handles AV-over-IP video distribution and delivers power and network connectivity to in-wall keypads and other devices. Two XAP-1510 wireless access points (APs) provide Wi-Fi connectivity.
