VOLUME 25 NO. 3 DECEMBER 2012

S afe C ity Addressing the challenges faced by urban cities

MICA (P) 091/06/2012 ISSN00218-1916

NEWS

Contents

ELECTRONICS REVIEW Volume 25 No. 3 Dec 2012

NEWS

EVENTS

3

Higher profit before tax in third quarter

29 Indo Defence 2012

3

ST Electronics wins rail electronics and satcom contracts

4

无锡地铁引入新科电子 综合监控技术



AWARDS 5

IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Awards

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Microsoft Partners’ Star Awards 2012 ST Electronics (Info-Software Systems) wins National System Integrator Award

APPLICATION NOTES 13 The evolution of technology in traffic management 17 The essence of effective video analytics

FEATURE

29 International Myanmar ICT Exhibition 30 4th Shanghai International Disaster Reduction & Security Show 30 GovWare 2012 32 China Satellite 2012

7

33 IBC 2012 33 It’s a goal! ST Electronics (Info-Comm Systems) hosts live Barclays Premier League match screening 34 Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Dynamic Tour 2012 35 MRTA 20th Anniversary Technology Exhibition

Safe City Addressing the challenges faced by urban cities

12 Meeting challenges of growing cities ST Electronics embarks on R&D in Smart Utilities solutions ...

with related application notes and product articles from page 13 to 26

36 Cultivating the spirit of innovation ST Electronics Business Innovation Competition 36 Upcoming events

PRODUCTS 21 Keeping a watch on territorial boundaries – seeing is believing 24 Integrated Security Management System for key installation protection 26 Intelligent System for Advanced Control Centre (iSACC) 27 Agilis Manpack Terminal A custom-built, compact, highly mobile and easily deployed VSAT terminal 28 iDirect achieves 100Mbps with Evolution X7 Remote Next-generation remote powers high-bandwidth applications, unleashes the performance of high throughput satellites

Electronics Review is published by Singapore Technologies Electronics Limited. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Singapore Technologies Electronics Limited 24 Ang Mo Kio Street 65 Singapore 569061 (Regn no. 196900084E) Tel: +65 6481 8888 Fax: +65 6482 1079 www.stee.stengg.com

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Higher profit before tax in third quarter For the third quarter of 2012 (3Q2012), ST Electronics delivered higher profit before tax compared to the same quarter in 2011. Barring unforeseen circumstances, ST Electronics expects revenue and profit before tax for the full year 2012 to be higher compared to 2011. This will be due to sales recognition from an Automatic Fare Collection System for Bangkok Mass Transit System Extension E10 to E14, Taiwan MRT project, the Singapore Land Transport Authority’s Communications and Integrated Supervisory Control System and Half-Height Platform Screen Doors projects for the Large-scale Systems Group.

The Communication & Sensor Systems Group expects sales recognition from an Advanced Combat Man System, the supply of telematics systems and satellite communications

products, while the Software Systems Group will record sales recognition from the milestone completions of a simulator project, a software system project and managed services sales.

3Q2012

3Q2011

%

2Q2012

%

350.0

317.0

10

362

(3)

41.6

37.6

11

41.8

-

Other income, net

0.5

0.3

42

0.6

(22)

Finance costs, net

(0.9)

(1.1)

17

(0.4) (150)

Profit before tax

40.1

36.3

11

41.8

(4)

Profit attributable to shareholders

30.7

28.7

7

31.3

(2)

S$m Revenue Earnings before interest & tax

ST Electronics wins rail electronics and satcom contracts In the third quarter of 2012, ST Electronics announced that it had been awarded some S$166m worth of contracts for its rail electronics and satellite communications (satcom) and sensor solutions. Leading the company on track, the Large-scale Systems Group was awarded a RMB198m (about S$39m) contract in the city of Wuxi, China. Together with Jiangsu Daway Technologies Co., Ltd, ST Electronics will supply, deliver, install, test and commission, as well as provide warranty for an Integrated Supervisory Control System (ISCS) for Wuxi Metro Lines 1 and 2. Work on this project is expected to be completed by the end of 2014. Wuxi Metro ISCS contract signing ceremony

In another rail electronics success, VGI Global Media Public Company Limited awarded ST Electronics a continued on page 4...

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无锡地铁引入新科电子 综合监控技术 上海新科电子与无锡地铁就1、2号线综合监控系 统采购合同签约仪式于8月23日在无锡湖滨饭店顺 利举行。这标志着继广州之后新科电子综合监控 技术在中国的又一成功应用。 无锡地铁1号、2号线总长56.1公里，共设车站46 座。分别计划于2014年中和年底通车。目前随着 无锡地铁建设的逐步推进，新科电子正联合合作 伙伴大为科技一同为无锡地铁最关键的“神经中 枢”进行缜密详尽的设计规划，以便配合年底无 锡地铁1号线的机电安装工程，使综合监控解决 方案与其他机电系统进行无缝衔接，发挥最高效 益的作用。 新科电子此次为无锡地铁提供的综合监控系统包 含三大功能，担负着对全线主要设备的日常自 动定时启停控制、全线牵引供电的日常快速停送 电控制、全线列车运行状态和各类数据监控的重 任。系统将监视地铁弱电系统的信息并反馈给控 制中心调度人员，使控制中心调度人员在最短时

无锡市长朱克江与新加坡科技电子有限公司总裁李福燊进行会面

间内作出相应反应，此系统在地铁的安全运营中 发挥着极为重要的作用。 签约仪式前，无锡的朱克江市长与新加坡科技电 子有限公司总裁李福燊进行了会面，朱市长表 示：“地铁建设有助于提升城市形象、扩大城市 容量、构建现代化体系，促进无锡产业升级。非 常感谢新科电子为他们带去先进的核心技术，为 无锡现代化建设添砖加瓦。希望新科电子与无锡 地铁的合作就如新加坡和中国的源远流长的传统 友谊一样，紧密无间，战略共赢。”

ST Electronics wins rail electronics and satcom contracts ...continued from page 3

contract to supply half-height platform screen doors for the BTS SkyTrain in Bangkok, Thailand. This S$13m contract includes a two-year maintenance service for the doors, which will be installed in nine BTS Skytrain stations. This project is expected to be completed at the end of 2013.

ST Electronics half-height platform screen door team at BTS SkyTrain station

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ST Electronics also secured about S$114m worth of contracts for the supply of satcom systems to mostly international customers in the third quarter of 2012. These included satcom network infrastructure and products such as satellite hubs and routers, earth stations, cellular backhaul solutions and the Agilis VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) systems.

A W A R D S

IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Awards ST Electronics won two IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Awards this year. This coveted award, which is presented annually by the Institute of Engineers Singapore (IES), recognises organisations or persons for their outstanding and innovative contributions to engineering processes, products and projects which make significant contributions to the well-being and quality of life of residents in Singapore. Half-height Platform Screen Doors ST Electronics’ Large-scale Systems Group (LSG) won the Award for its successful retrofitting of Half-height Platform Screen Doors (HHPSD) at existing subway stations both in Singapore and the region. ST Electronics’ journey in building its capability in the area of Platform Screen Doors (PSD) started in 2001 when it embarked on its first PSD system project for a new mass rapid transit (MRT) line in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Over the years, the company has invested significantly in research and development, embracing leadingedge technologies in its PSD system. It is adept at installing PSDs for new projects and existing stations. Some of ST Electronics' HHPSD projects include the Taipei MRT Red and Blue Lines; Singapore North-South and East-West MRT Lines; and the Bangkok BTS SkyTrain. Unlike new station installations, retrofitting PSD systems in existing stations poses many challenges and requires wider disciplinary expertise from the PSD system providers. For example, during the retrofitting period, the subway stations must

Mr Ang Ban Sher (right), Senior Vice President, International Business, LSG receiving the IES Award from Prof Cham Tao Soon, President, Singapore Academy of Engineering. On the left, Dr Richard Kwok, Chairman, NED 2012 Organising Committee.

The Award recognises organisations or persons for their outstanding and innovative contributions to engineering processes, products and projects that made significant contributions to the well-being

From left: Mr Or Teck Seng, Mr Ang Ban Sher, Mr Thong Cheok Wah and Mr Low Keng Choong at the award ceremony

and quality of life of residents in Singapore.

remain operational without causing disruptions to regular train services and inconvenience to commuters. PSD system providers have to meet tight project schedules, but are restricted to carrying out most of the site work within a small window of time each day. This requires meticulous planning and precise execution. Apart from PSD system knowledge and its interfaces with various systems, expertise and knowledge in the areas of structural engineering, air-conditioning and power supply, etc, are also vital for PSD system providers. continued on page 6...

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Microsoft Partners’ Star Awards 2012 ST Electronics (Info-Software Systems) wins National System Integrator Award ST Electronics (Info-Software Systems) was presented the National System Integrator (NSI) Award at this year’s Microsoft Partners’ Star Awards on 24 October 2012. The National System Integrator Award is a global award recognising the key national system integrator in each country that has demonstrated partner commitment to the Microsoft platform, contributed significantly to clinching major contracts and strategic products innovation, and achieved key business and technical competency.

(Above) Attendees at the award ceremony (Left) Ms Stephanie Hung, Public Sector Director of Microsoft Singapore, presenting the award to Mr Teo Jing Siong, Deputy President, Defence Business & Business Development, ST Electronics (Info-Software Systems)

IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Awards ...continued from page 5

EMAS for Major Arterial Roads Phase 1 ST Electronics (Info-Comm Systems) also received the IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Award 2012 for its Expressway Monitoring and Advisory System (EMAS) for Major Arterial Roads Phase 1.

From left, Dr Richard Kwok, Chairman, NED 2012 Organising Committee; Prof Cham Tao Soon, President, Singapore Academy of Engineering and Mr Lionel Gouw, Chief Technology Officer, ST Electronics (Info-Comm Systems)

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This is the first time EMAS is being applied to manage major arterial roads that also serve as alternative bypass routes to the expressways in Singapore. EMAS is a highly automated and robust system that provides early detection of incidents on the road, enhancing road safety, minimising traffic congestion and ensuring smooth integration with other existing sub-systems.

For motorists, this system provides them with realtime information on traffic conditions. Traffic advisories, realtime congestion and accident updates are disseminated to motorists through the electronic message signages on the expressways and arterial roads. This allows motorists to better plan their routes so as to avoid the roads affected by congestions and incidents, and thereby save commuting time. For more information on Half-Height Platform Screen Door, please contact Low Ming Chuan at (65) 6413 1855 or email: [email protected] For more information on EMAS for Major Arterial Roads, please call (65) 6567 6769 or email: [email protected]

F E A T U R E

Safe City Addressing the challenges faced by urban cities

By 2050, 70 percent of the world’s population is expected to live in urban cities. Overcrowding, safety, health and the environments well-being will become major issues that these cities have to address. One of the key requirements of an urban city is to provide a safe and secure environment for its citizens. As a leading Information Communications Technology (ICT) company, ST Electronics has leveraged its domain expertise and technologies to develop Safe City – a suite of solutions for cities to address urbanisation, sustainability and environmental challenges.

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Safe City:

Feel . Connect . Think . Share

FEEL the Vibes of a City By deploying various sensors, a city can become intelligent. There are many types of sensors: video cameras, environmental sensors, electro optics sensors, radars and intrusion detection sensors, etc. Large fleets of taxis installed with GPS can be used as “probes” to detect congestion on roads. Even citizens can be a source of information with the proliferation of smart devices and social media. A Smart and Safe City is one where the information derived from a multitude of different sensors from different parts of the city are pulled together; enabling the authorities to manage safety and security for its citizens. ST Electronics has the expertise and experience in implementing intelligent systems for governments and large enterprises. Some of our intelligent system which enhance safety and security follow. The i-Transport solution is an advanced Integrated Traffic Management System that centrally manages various subsystems including junctions, expressways and arterial roads’ traffic surveillance and monitoring as well as incident management (see page

Video analytics as a security solution

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Photo courtesy of IZESS Pte Ltd

13-16 for article on The Evolution of Technology in Traffic Management). The cetrac® Intelligent Transport Security System (i-TranSec) offers full asset and resource visibility suited for transport authorities, homeland security agencies and commercial fleet owners. It provides a common platform to consolidate data from individual traffic and fleet management systems to better manage traffic junctions, automate detection and monitor traffic incidents, carry out effective enforcement and mass notification of incidents. The Intelligent Water Management System from ST Electronics integrates realtime information on water resources in Singapore and manages water operations across the entire water supply, water catchment, used water and drainage systems more efficiently. ST Electronics’ Video Intelligence Solution (ViS) offers a comprehensive range of video content analytics-based

solutions that can be fully integrated to any existing command and control system. ST Electronics uses advanced video analytics covering face recognition in crowded scenes, facial indexing, advanced objects recognition, dwelling, abnormal behaviour analysis, pattern recognition and licence plate recognition. All these perform simultaneously to enhance situational awareness and improve decision-making processes. Surveillance and other security information can be instantly searched by activities, motion, specific people or groups of people, colours or transaction data. People profiles can also be managed with associated biometric data, and alerts set up for future detection of people on security watchlists. Among its stable of solutions, ST Electronics also offers an Integrated Security Management System (ISMS), SecurNet. This integrates all sub-systems such as perimeter intrusion detection, access

control, identity management and digital video with the intelligence to trigger certain processes automatically upon detection and confirmation of violation of security pre-set parameters of the various systems. (See page 17-20 for article on The Essence of Effective Video Analytics.) SecurNet V7, the next generation enterprise ISMS, is ST Electronics’ flagship product and has been the preferred choice for key installations such as airports, prisons, government buildings, institutions and military bases. The product has evolved over the last 20 years and is a market leader, proven and tested to meet stringent security requirements. SecurNet is compliant with ISO standards and was the first solution to be rolled for deployment of stringent and secured smart card and biometric verification that adhered strictly to Smart Visa Identification Passport (SmartVIP) and Intelligent Nation Biometric Access Controls

The Integrated Security Management System

(INBAC) standards initiated by the Singapore Internal Security Department under the Ministry of Home Affair. The INBAC standard governs the biometrics identification for door access and border crossing applications. The standard sets the criteria for the electronic verification and authentication of an individual’s

identity, so as to prevent identity fraud, tampering, counterfeiting and terrorist exploitation. (See page 24-25 for article on Integrated Security Management System for Key Installation Protection.) The SmartVIP complies with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guideline for Logical Data Structure for electronic machine-readable travel documents that support both passive and active authentication mechanisms. These standards are now officially published as the Singapore Standard for Identification – SSID SS529.

STELOP’s payloads provide an all-weather multi-imaging system for coastal surveillance (see page 21-23 for Electro Optic products.)

Video data, traffic data, commuter flow, water levels in flood-prone areas, incident detection, intrusion detection are all useful information that a city needs to provide a safe, secure, efficient living and working environment for its citizens.

CONNECT in a network For effective and efficient communication and management of sensors, the sensors must be connected to a reliable and robust network infrastructure. ST Electronics has the capability to design, secure and integrate disparate systems, to network infrastructure and solutions into a unified platform essential for building a safe city. The company’s in-house developed IP based SuperneT™ Unified Communication Centre Suite (UCCS) has been developed to integrate a wide range of communication systems to facilitate seamless interoperability and communications among disparate systems and devices. It is suited for command centres and command vehicles for use in emergencies and public safety operations.

SuperneT™ Unified Communication Centre Suite (UCCS)

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Public safety requires good wireless signal coverage to ensure reliable operations in wide geographic regions that include major population centres, rural areas as well as in buildings and tunnels. Emergency responders must have guaranteed access to reliable and instantaneous communications at all times to effectively respond to emergency incidents. If terrestrial networks fail during a natural disaster, satellite communications (satcom) is a viable alternative. With the iDirect Intelligent Platform™, first responders have full communications capabilities with voice, data and video whether in a densely populated urban area where the infrastructure is damaged, or in a remote and isolated location where no infrastructure exists. The pervasive use of smartphones and tablets has led to increased demand for higher bandwidth, data-rich applications and business intelligence to drive efficiencies in government agencies. Quality of Service (QoS), high resilience and reliability are also essential elements in a network for mission critical communications. But a public commercial broadband network will not fulfil most of these technical requirements. ST Electronics has embarked on developing Long Term Evolution (LTE) solutions that allow large amount of data to be transmitted wirelessly in realtime at greater speeds with high reliability and resilience. This enables government agencies to share information seamlessly, thereby reducing processing and response time during emergency operations. The company has field-proven experience and extensive resources to manage large, demanding and complex projects for public safety

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Intelligent System for Advanced Control Centre (iSACC)

agencies in their drive towards maintaining a safe city. Some of these projects are a realtime Command, Control and Communication (C3) Network for Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Expandable Mobile Command Hubs for the Singapore Police Force, equipped with C4 capabilities (C3 & Computer) to provide integrated communications, surveillance and advanced electronics systems to support on-site mission planning and operations for large-scale incidents, emergencies and disasters. Connecting a network is never complete without securing it to ensure uninterrupted operation of critical infrastructures that are vital assets to ensuring a safe city. ST Electronics provides a full spectrum of products and services designed to fulfil the highest standards for all-rounded information security. Its DIGISAFE EtherCrypt and NetCrypt provide high speed communication security and network security respectively. Its in-house Security Operations Centre also provides security monitoring and advisory to guard against potential cyber-attacks. The company has put

in place a cyber defence framework comprising protection, detection, response and recovery. It integrates people, processes and technologies to secure and protect against potentially damaging network intrusions.

THINK and make sense of data Data can stream into a command centre in a variety of forms, in large quantities, with dynamic and rapid changes, its authenticity may require verification. Making sense of data requires realtime computing to store, categorise and contextualise the data. Tools are also required for video content analytics, social media analytics and data visualisation; to display information that is easily understood. Data mined can be processed, modelled and transformed into more intelligible patterns and trends that would be useful to chart the next course of action. Over the years, ST Electronics has delivered command centres to transport, airport and environment authorities, public safety agencies and operators of large complexes.

The iSACC (Intelligent System for Advanced Control Centre) from ST Electronics can be best deployed for operations centres that need to manage mission-critical resources, as well as handle crises. It uses advanced sense-making technologies in designing visual displays to assist in situational awareness and collaborative planning. Equipped with a set of intelligent support tools that can be customised for different rules, it anticipates issues and enables the making of informed decisions. A command centre chief can even create scenarios to train and familiarise users with the processes in coordinating incident response and management. (See page 26 for article on Intelligent System for Advanced Control Centre [iSACC].) In large cities, huge masses of people use public transport to commute between destinations. To ensure the safety and security of commuters in railway and subway stations, many security measures are deployed. For

rail systems, these include using CCTVs and platform screen doors to ensure safety, to prevent intrusion and to manage access control. Through ST Electronics’ Integrated Supervisory Control System (ISCS), rail system control centre operators are able to see ‘live’ images and videos feedback from various sensors. This enables them to monitor situations and manage incidents as they happen.

SHARE the knowledge With these systems in place, city authorities will then be equipped with knowledge and decision support capabilities to facilitate optimal deployment of manpower and assets when responding to incidents and events. Existing disparate systems can be seamlessly integrated onto one unified platform for better interoperability and communication. Alerts can be sent to citizens should there be a need for a nationwide warning of an impending safety or security issue.

A central collaborative command hub would be ideal to empower the authorities in mission critical operations with the capability to monitor and coordinate response in realtime for air, land and sea operations. However, sharing information across different agencies may be easier said than done. Upholding of individual agencies’ policies, operational secrecy and data privacy laws could be stumbling blocks. One solution is to develop a ‘Think Engine’ where everybody feeds their data into. This ‘black box’ will then process information based on various inputs, but will only release authorised information back to each individual participant. In order for this approach to be successful, it will be necessary to adopt a data interchange standards such as the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) so that critical data can be shared across the participating organisations.

Safe City: Ensuring safety and security in cities of the future Safe City aims to improve the quality of life, allowing people to live, work and play in a secure and safe environment. ST Electronics has the depth of experience and breadth of solutions to provide city planners and authorities with the suitable answer to help them address, improve and transform service delivery to their citizens.

Photo courtesy of IZESS Pte Ltd

For more information, please call (65) 6481 8888 or email: [email protected]

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Meeting challenges of growing cities ST Electronics embarks on R&D in Smart Utilities solutions

Photo courtesy of IZESS Pte Ltd

Over the years, ST Electronics has offered its innovative Smart Utilities products, solutions and services to enhance the infrastructure of cities around the world. Now, it aims to help cities address urbanisation, sustainability and environmental challenges by offering further enhancements of its Smart Utilities solutions and applications. Towards this end, ST Electronics has embarked on more in-depth Research and Development (R&D) activities in Smart Utilities solutions and technologies with the support of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). The company will tap the EDB’s broad network of related industry knowledge and extend its existing competencies in Smart Utilities to offer a more comprehensive suite of integrated smart utilities solutions. This will help build more efficient, clean and safe cities. The Smart Utilities R&D will focus on enhancing smart resource management, distribution and consumption management of utilities (electricity, water and gas). These include solutions that will be robust and converge multi-utility network infrastructure, facilitating integrated electricity, water and gas

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management. The solutions will capitalise on ST Electronics’ advanced communications technologies, comprehensive security suite and a highly flexible and scalable network management system to address different deployment scenarios. The company’s Smart Utilities suite also supports timely and reliable information collection and offers a higher level of competition in the utility retail market. This will eventually lead to increased operational efficiencies, utility resource optimisation and cost savings for utilities service providers and retailers. No stranger to the Smart Utilities arena, ST Electronics participated in Singapore’s Energy Market Authority’s Intelligent Energy System (IES) pilot project and is designing and implementing the critical infrastructure to enable smart grid applications for Phase 1 of the IES pilot project. It is also developing and implementing important segments of an Intelligent Water Management System (IWMS) in Singapore. The IWMS will visually display critical information including the location of water incidents such as damaged or leaking pipes. Response teams can be quickly despatched and have

access to accurate information and route guidance. “EDB is pleased that ST Electronics is making a strategic move into Smart Utilities as a new growth frontier,” said Mr Yeoh Keat Chuan, Managing Director, EDB. “This fast-growing sector will help further diversify Singapore’s clean technology industry into smart grids and energy management. Through the close partnership with our government agencies,” he added, “the R&D focus is aligned with Singapore’s position as a ‘Living Laboratory’ where companies can develop, test, prove and commercialise innovative green solutions for Asian and global markets.” “Large cities will be a joy to live in provided they are safe, clean and efficient. Our Smart Utilities systems will allow city planners to improve operational efficiencies through better management of water, electricity and gas distribution. We are excited by what technology could offer and we look forward to close partnership with EDB and research institutions to enhance our value proposition,” commented Mr Lee Fook Sun, President, ST Electronics. For more information, please call (65) 6567 6769 or email: [email protected]

A P P L I C AT I O N

NOTES

The evolution of technology in traffic management By Sing Mong Kee, Vice President, Intelligent Transport Systems & International Business, ST Electronics (Info-Comm Systems) This paper was originally published in the May 2012 issue of JOURNEYS, LTA Academy

In the majority of fast developing cities, the same phenomenon of rapid motorisation, poor urban planning and inadequate transportation capacity leads to poor mobility and congestion. Transport authorities struggle to acquire land to expand road networks, so as to cope with the growing traffic demand. More often than not, the increased capacity is quickly saturated and traffic congestion starts anew. Developments that generate high traffic demand need a good comprehensive transportation system, underpinning the need for the integration of land use and transport planning. As an example, the TransitOriented Development (TOD) concept has been widely adopted in urban planning to reduce the dependence on cars for mobility by creating compact, pedestrian friendly communities around public transport nodes. However, public transport still cannot compete with cars that provide the comfort, privacy and mobility that every commuter aspires to. Hence, there is a need to continually improve the public transport network and services to maximise its advantages. Traffic management is a round-theclock operation that ensures that traffic on the road is well distributed and smooth flowing. However, peak hour traffic and traffic incidents can create turbulence to the normal traffic flows that road capacities are designed for. Nowadays, traffic management is a much complex operation as compared to the early days of motorisation

Figure 1: Meeting Mobility Needs

when traffic policemen at traffic intersections directing the traffic sufficed. Transport authorities around the world are relying more and more on advanced technologies to help manage traffic more efficiently (Figure 1).

devices. It is now entering the third phase where an interactive transport community among the transport operators, service providers, government agencies and travellers is evolving to provide personalised information and services.

Leveraging Technology Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) are well proven applications of information and communication technologies that integrate transport infrastructure, vehicles and users to better manage transportation issues.

Phase I – Enhancing Operational Efficiencies In the early days of motorisation, traffic management means deploying traffic policemen at traffic intersections. Today, it is difficult to manage an intersection without traffic signal lights. Besides signalling the traffic to stop or go, they also allocate the “green” time according to traffic demand. The traffic signal lights at one intersection also coordinate with other traffic signal lights at adjacent intersections to provide a non-stop drive, or a green wave through a series of intersections.

ITS has evolved in three broad phases. The first phase is the adoption of technology by the transport authorities and operators to enhance their operational efficiencies. The second phase is the wide dissemination of realtime traffic information and transport services via various communication media such as radio, Internet and handheld

Without realtime information feedback

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NOTES

defence agencies can be activated quickly to carry out coordinated rescue efforts. All this minimises delays and saves lives especially when there are serious injuries involved. Enforcement cameras are widely adopted by the traffic police to improve road safety. They are used to deter speeding along highways and the ‘running’ of red lights at road intersections.

Figure 2: Main Functions of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

at intersections, traffic incidents such as vehicle breakdowns, accidents and illegal parking, which cause bottlenecks in traffic flows, may not receive immediate attention. Hence the transport authorities install CCTVs to provide remote surveillance of the intersections. Intelligent sensors are added to detect incidents and provide alerts so that less resources are required to look out for traffic incidents (Figure 2).

fee collection and enforcement of congestion pricing. Without technology, extensive resources are required to ensure the proper operation of such systems. To manage the non-recurrent congestions, traffic sensors, CCTV networks and smart command centres are essential for quick detection of and response to traffic incidents. Traffic police and civil

Taxi fleet operators can enhance their fleet management with technology. Equipping taxis with GPS and mobile display terminals allows the operation centres to track and communicate with their taxis which can then respond to calls quickly. This enhances operational efficiencies while augmenting service levels at the same time. Commuters will find it easy to call for taxis and have comfort in knowing that a taxi will arrive within a stated time (Figure 3). Phase II – Sharing Realtime Information Successful management of

Congestion can be recurrent and non-recurrent in nature. A recurrent congestion is normally due to peak hour traffic causing traffic demand to exceed the capacity of the roadway. A non-recurrent congestion is due to ad-hoc traffic incidents such as accidents and vehicle breakdowns that reduce roadway capacities. Solving a congestion problem now relies very much on technology. Transport authorities are turning to a congestion pricing strategy to tackle the recurrent congestion. Motorists have to pay a fee to enter the congested roadways or restricted zones. Technology helps automate the whole process of vehicle identification,

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Figure 3: Taxi Despatch System

congestion requires the collaborative efforts of stakeholders such as transport authorities, traffic police, fire departments, transport operators, service providers and travellers. Enabling them to work together requires them to share realtime information (Figure 4). The collaborative effort of transport authorities, the traffic police and fire departments will enable quick responses to traffic incidents and quick recovery of normal traffic flow. A timely response is critical, especially for accident victims who are seriously injured. Fleet operators who manage public transport are critical for providing alternative modes of transport to motorists, particularly when roads are congested. The ability to switch between alternative modes of transport is crucial to minimise the build-up of traffic at bottlenecks. Realtime information of traffic conditions is therefore important for motorists who will then be able to switch to alternative transport modes before they set out. The realtime information is also critical to commercial fleet operators who want to achieve just-in-time delivery. They can despatch vehicles to use alternative routes, instead of letting them sit in the congestion and delay deliveries. Service providers such as media and telecommunications companies are important stakeholders in disseminating realtime information to alert motorists about the traffic conditions via radio, SMS, web services and television.

Figure 4: The Stakeholders

Service providers of vehicle assistance or concierge services will be able to use the realtime information to advise and guide their customers, enhancing their customer services. Travellers who have access to realtime information will also be able to make informed decisions on the best alternative routes or transport modes, or even to adjust their departure so as to avoid congestion or congested routes. It is important that this information evolves into a multi-modal transport information. Travellers will

then see the entire transportation system as a better alternative to the use of personal cars or even the use of public transport only. Based on this multi-modal transport information, they can decide to travel via a combination of transport modes that best suit their criteria of shortest time, lowest cost or convenience, to reach their destination seamlessly. The multi-modal transport information will have wide ranging information about the transportation system, such as traffic conditions, parking space availability, public transport services, travel times, incidents and delays, etc. Realtime information is critical for overall operations. All stakeholders should be well connected to access and share the information (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Integration of Private and Public Transport Information

Phase III – Interactive Services Currently, most motorists are kept informed of traffic conditions via radio, handheld devices (smartphones),

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NOTES

Figure 6: Interactive Transport Community

Internet, etc. However, this information is often in the form of a broadcast. This means that motorists may get information that is not relevant to them as they may not be affected by the location of the broadcast traffic condition. Some may find this broadcast information not useful, particularly when information about alternatives to avoiding the problem area would be more useful. The third phase of ITS will see more personalised information and interactive transport related services being developed and promoted.

value-added services and contents targeted at drivers and other road users. These value-added services include traffic-related information (navigation, traffic alerts and road routes), location-based services, multi-modal transit services, infotainment services, etc. The service providers may comprise transport authorities, public safety and law enforcement agencies, fleet operators, logistics companies, telecommunications companies, banks, vehicle manufacturers and other commercial organisations.

ST Electronics has developed the Telematics Service Hub or oTTo-Go to provide an integrated platform to support these interactive transport related services.

An interactive community will then be established to respond to the needs of travellers, delivering a unique travelling experience to every traveller (Figure 6).

oTTo-Go Telematics Service Hub provides a unified and interactive telematics service platform that disseminates realtime customercentric information and services to travellers.

Conclusion ITS may have started as a tool for transport authorities to enhance their operational efficiencies in traffic management, but they also generate useful realtime information to bring all stakeholders to collaborate and respond to transportation needs, demands and woes. More

It adopts open platform standards that allow service providers to develop

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importantly, travellers are getting more empowered in their decisionmaking about their journey and enjoy such services during their commute. Besides the three phases, more exciting technologies are being developed globally to enable vehicleto-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-pedestrian interactions. ITS enhances safety, makes traffic more efficient and reliable and considerably more environmentally friendly. It empowers the travellers and enriches the overall travel experience. Before we get carried away with the wonders of ITS, it is important to note that ITS only works well to keep congestion at bay if alternative choices of travel are available. Otherwise, we have to resort to the traditional approach of expanding road and transit networks to meet the ever growing road and travel population. For more information, please call (65) 6567 6769 or email: [email protected]

The essence of effective video analytics Video Analytics or Video Content Analysis (VCA) is the technique of using computer vision algorithms to analyse live video footages from CCTV surveillance cameras. Commercialisation of this technology began about five years ago, and it has been billed as the panacea to overcome the problems that security personnel face when monitoring CCTV screens, such as the well-documented twenty minutes maximum attention span. Slated as the next big thing in the security industry, video analytics has vendors quickly pushed the hype, suggesting that the technology could deliver artificial intelligence approaching the cognitive abilities of a human. In reality, early adopters of video analytics soon discovered that early products fell short of their promised performance parametres, being difficult to configure when out in the field and plagued by large numbers of false alarms. Many became disillusioned and quickly declared the technology as an overhyped gimmick. Does this then mean that security managers today should disregard video analytics entirely from their security systems arsenal? Current State of Video Analytics Technology The fact is that over the years, video analytics has continued to evolve and mature. While it is believed that the current state of technology will not approach human cognitive vision capabilities for another two to three decades, current video analytics technology can readily be deployed, especially for intrusion detection. The key to effective deployment of the technology is to understand the

capabilities, limitations and mitigation measures of video analytics. How Video Analytics Works for Intrusion Detection Unlike the human visual cognitive system, typical video analytics techniques analyse image scenes at the pixel level. They are able to identify groups of moving pixels and can indirectly infer the type of object from the size and general shape of the group of pixels. A tracker (software) module then attempts to track the movement of the pixel group (also known as the ‘blob’) and checks if the blob’s movement crosses a virtual tripwire or enters a prohibited zone

is easily fooled by any of the following environmental conditions: •

Sudden lighting changes due to passing clouds, headlights or floodlights;

•

Tree branches and leaves blowing in the wind;

•

Water reflections and the continuous movement in the fields such as fountains, rain or fog;

•

Animals, birds, insects, lizards, etc;

•

Camera shake due to improper or unstable mounting.

Each of the above conditions causes pixel changes in the video image,

Moving Target Outline (Blobs), Target IDs

Video Source

Event Trigger

Change Detection Engine & Tracking

Target Track Analysis (Rules Engine)

(Low Level)

(High Level)

Detection Output

Pipeline of a basic video analytics intrusion detection engine

(the detection rule). A system alarm is raised if the detection rule condition is activated. At first glance, this simple technique will effectively detect intruders climbing over a perimeter fence or entering a prohibited area. In actual deployment it is often rendered less effective by various pitfalls.

thereby ‘wrongly’ activating video analytics detection rules and often generating a high rate of false alarms. So while the basic technique will successfully detect a real human intruder under the right conditions, the comparatively high number of false alarms actually creates more fatigue for the security personnel rather than help them.

Common Pitfalls In field deployments, the basic video analytics’ motion analysis technique

To suppress the effects of these ‘nuisance’ movements, many contemporary video analytics products

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NOTES

Extrapolated Horizon

A perspective camera scene. Each small and large rectangular box group represents the minimum and maximum probable people size at near field and far field positions

allow the user to configure the pixel change detection sensitivity to reduce the false alarm rate. Unfortunately reducing detection sensitivity not only reduces the false alarm rate, but sometimes reduces the true detection rates as well. It is therefore common to find products that have a bewildering range of settings that require system engineers to spend days fine-tuning them before they deliver the right results. Even then, there can be on-going problems because of changes in the weather and environment (such as new overgrowth, swaying vegetation), so much so that experts have to be called in repeatedly to verify. Another limitation of video analytics is the inability to perform effectively under insufficient light levels or when the field of view is compromised, such as during the night or in heavy rain. Many end users forget that if the cameras cannot see, neither will any video-based technology. A major limitation that may not be immediately obvious to most users is that today’s video analytics technology cannot truly recognise object types unlike the ability of a human. For instance, the basic video analytics algorithm cannot deduce that a lizard

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A graphical depiction of calibrating a scene’s perspective geometry in software. If the height of the reference person is also known then it is possible to deduce the size of all objects in the scene

crawling on the camera housing window (a common phenomenon) is actually a reptile and will pose no security threat compared to a person who is approaching a perimeter fence. Nor can current technology readily recognise a grass-cutting worker probably has more benign intentions than a stealthily-moving person in a camouflaged outfit. Tilting the Balance Naturally, video analytics vendors typically highlight the benefits of video analytics and may play down the corresponding limitations to potential customers. It becomes clear why many have become disillusioned with the technology. Nevertheless, with appropriate installation and mitigation measures in place, video analytics still has huge advantages over the limited ability of humans. Choosing the Right Cameras and Lighting Levels Torch lights (and perhaps night vision devices) are provided and floodlights are installed to help security personnel see better at night. Hence, it makes sense to ensure that cameras supply a clear video feed to video analytics too. In this case, ‘clear video’ refers to video images with sufficient image contrast and

low noise level. Although camera technology and low light performance have improved in recent years, camera output still exhibit more noise in low light conditions and may cause more false alarms in video analytics. Pitfalls to watch out for: •

Noisy video images in low light will increase the false alarm rate.

•

Low contrasted images in low light will reduce actual detection performance.

•

Insufficiently-lit night scenes will reduce actual detection performance.

•

Cameras with reduced frame rates and low shutter speeds in low light – a low shutter speed results in blurred motion rendition of moving objects or people and can affect the detection accuracy of video analytics.

Cameras used in video analytics must be capable of handling day and night lighting conditions. This can be achieved either with a scheduler that dials in different sensitivity settings at different times of the day, or preferably a video analytics product that provides automatic sensitivity adjustments based on ambient light levels.

Proper Camera Position Video analytics that are based on a single camera view cannot readily discern objects at different depths unlike the three dimensional (3D) vision of humans. Consequently it makes sense to position cameras to provide a top-down, oblique view so that both near and far objects are observable. A typical rule-of-thumb guide often practised by CCTV installers is to mount a camera at a height of about three metres. This position provides sufficient coverage of the near to far field zones and includes minimum view of the skyline, which often produces fast-changing light levels that increase the false alarm rate in some video analytics products. Compared to current commercial video analytics products, the visual cognitive ability in humans is also more efficient as they can readily discern between non-interesting movements caused by swaying vegetation, water or shadows against ‘interesting’ movements such as abnormal security events or human actions. It therefore makes sense to position cameras to exclude noninteresting movements in the camera view wherever possible. Distance to Object The size, in pixels, of the object is an important element to video analytics. Most products require a minimum pixel size for detection (for example, 15 pixels in height), so it is unrealistic to expect that a camera mounted with a 90-degree wide-angle lens can enable video analytics to provide reliable detection of people from 30 metres and beyond. For video analytics to work reliably at longer distances, users should consider switching to a telephoto lens, using a camera with higher image resolution or simply move the camera closer to the detection area.

Degree of Activity Due to the motion-detection and target tracking techniques used in intrusion detection, most video analytics products fare poorly in crowded or busy scenes. Generally, the lower the level of activity, the less false alarms and better detection rates can be expected. Technical Mitigation Techniques With all the above mitigation measures in place, the performance of different video analytics products then depends on additional intelligence built into the analytics engine. Scene-Depth Awareness vs Object Size Analysis Many video analytics products provide a minimum and maximum object size setting to track valid targets (such as people) and ignore invalid targets (such as dogs and cats). Unfortunately, this cannot handle the case of a perspective scene, where an object such as a person will appear larger when closer to the camera and smaller when farther away from the camera.

Over the years, video analytics techniques have continued to evolve and mature... current video analytics technology can readily be deployed, and especially for intrusion detection.

More sophisticated video analytics engines analyse the perspective geometry in each camera scene and are able to correctly adjust the minimum and maximum target size at various object positions. This is a plausible and effective method to ’3D-enable’ a two-dimensional scene. The main drawback of this method is that it requires a one-time manual calibration of the scene’s perspective geometry. This usually involves getting the help of a person of known height to move to different locations in the scene and marking the person’s height at three different positions in the video analytics graphical user interface (GUI) software. Movement Speed Analysis The other advantage of applying the

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NOTES

scene depth calibration technique is that the object’s movement speed can then be estimated, because the absolute ground distance covered by the detected object can be calculated while the movement time interval can be obtained from the inter-video frame interval. The movement speed measurement helps the object tracker module eliminate abnormal object movements. For instance, it is a widely accepted fact that few humans alive can run faster than Usain Bolt

The main drawback of most of these techniques is that the detection sensitivity towards objects of similar colours as the background scene will be reduced as well. Nonetheless, the shadows and highlights suppression capability is an important feature that will effectively reduce the false alarm rate in video analytics today. The Future of Video Analytics Video analytics technology is here to stay and the industry is finding

Pixel change detection affected by shadows (magenta) and highlights (green)

Video Image

Pixel change detection after shadow and highlights suppression

Shadow and highlights detection and suppression in video analytics

– that is approximately 11 metres per second. Shadow and Highlights Suppression Dynamically appearing, disappearing and moving shadows and lit spots (highlights) that are subconsciously ignored by humans often wreak chaos in video analytics since these generate pixels change. For instance, some of the most common causes of high false alarms are simply due to overhanging tree branches casting moving shadows on the ground or overhead clouds casting shadows on the ground as they move in the sky. Computer vision algorithms that make use of the fact that areas in shadow and highlighted areas contain similar colour information as the surrounding areas can be applied to suppress the effects of shadows and highlights.

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uses in new fields and improving the robustness of existing applications in security and intrusion detection, such as behavioural analysis, whereby the system ‘learns’ normal trends and patterns on its own. In the future, substantial advances in computing power and major leaps in the development of artificial intelligence could eventually lead to computers having cognitive abilities rivaling the human visual system. Until that day arrives, it is prudent to understand the capabilities, limitations and mitigation measures that will make video analytics work for you today. For more information, please contact Tan Koh Hock at (65) 6413 1691, email: [email protected] or Wong Chang Kin at (65) 6413 1782, email: [email protected]

P R O D U C T S

Keeping a watch on territorial boundaries – seeing is believing Imagine for a moment, an intruder entering the premises of your home and stealing the things that you most treasure. As you take stock of the items that are missing or damaged, your sense of shock turns to one of disbelief and frustration and finally, anger. What if you could have done something to prevent this unfortunate event? Your only regret will be that you did not see it coming. Now scale up this scenario, imagine a group of terrorists infiltrating our sea zone boundaries with fast moving craft. If they remain undetected before reaching territorial waters, what harm will be inflicted within a few hours?

Fortunately, with the use of modern technology, such attacks can be prevented. The research and development into microwave and infrared imaging technologies have produced devices for security and defence purposes. STELOP, a complete Electro Optic (EO) solutions provider and service centre, creates and develops EO imaging products allowing users to achieve that critical edge, to see what the eye cannot see. What’s on the shelf STELOP offers a range of solutions and products that allow detection of objects in all conditions.

Payloads An all-weather multi-imaging system that can be deployed onto mobile platforms to detect and track small boats at very far distances. STELOP’s payloads allow flexibility for both day and night imaging and ranging and is able to pipe the images to a central processing facility for analysis, enabling quick decisions for the rapid deployment of protection forces if necessary. STELOP’s payloads are configurable to integrate with network systems in providing instantaneous imaging at the touch of the button.

continued on page 22...

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...continued from page 21

Family of Handheld Devices STELOP has a family of handheld products that can be deployed by any security force. These handheld imaging devices come with high resolution thermal imaging sensors and eye-safe laser pointers that work hand-inhand with a night-vision guiding (NVG) device. Fitted with precise optics, the devices allow the user to detect targets beyond the visual range. STELOP handhelds can include a digital compass with image enhancement functions as well

A high-end dual imaging handheld device for advanced users

product has a high resolution day and night imaging sensor, working in tandem with an eye-safe laser range finder, GPS and north-finding sensors. This allows the user to perform precise target locating tasks at the press of a single button. Its high-end optics allow the user to detect targets beyond the visual range. This offers the user an advantage over his adversary in terms of imaging and target-locating capability. STELOP handhelds pack a big punch with lightweight and extreme battery endurance using a standard battery pack, hence making them ideal for prolonged usage under demanding conditions.

A handheld device with night-vision capability

as video and image recording capabilities. They can also operate continuously for over five hours with commercial off-the-shelf batteries. Designed as true binoculars, these handheld devices provide greater comfort for users to operate over long periods of time and under demanding environments. STELOP has also designed a higher-end dual imaging handheld product for advanced users. The

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The compact design allows easy integration with networkbased systems; and enhances the operational capability to the concentric defence network.

Driver Viewer The driver viewer is a must-have for transport and closed-hatch driver vehicles. Designed with the driver and vehicle in mind, it has a state-of-theart thermal sensor that allows drivers to see even when there is no light. STELOP is able to customise the MMI (man-machine interface) to suit the vehicle characteristics to enable seamless night driving experience.

Helmet Mount Devices STELOP offers a new concept in night time navigational aid. It has designed a helmet-mounted thermal imager that allows the user to operate in a no-light environment. Lightweight and ergonomically designed for left or right eye adjustment, the helmet mount thermal imager is every soldier’s dream for taking a walk in the dark. STELOP helmet mounts can be used in conjunction with a multi-sensor weapon reflex sight to enhance the operational role of the urban soldier.

Clip-on Sights STELOP has designed a family of clipon weapon sights designed specifically with the sharp shooter in mind. With compact superior optics and high resolution imaging sensors, these clip-on sights deliver the punch, be it from a crew-served weapon or a large calibre weapon. There is no need to perform any bore-sighting when it is clipped-on; the user just needs to point and shoot.

There is a saying: “Seeing is believing and what you can’t see won’t win you a war.” Hence, to keep the borders of a country secured, it is necessary to possess cutting-edge day and night imaging capabilities. STELOP is among a handful of imaging technologies companies in Asia that have invested, developed and created EO products out of operational concepts. Apart from EO technology, STELOP has expertise in thermal imaging, shortwave illumination and imaging, electronic image fusion, Tera hertz imaging, image gating, video motion analytics, all-round surveillance imaging, night vision devices and image stitching, to name a few. For more information, please contact Adrian Chan at (65) 6403 2095 or email: [email protected]

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Integrated Security Management System for key installation protection readily connected to other systems via OPC, XML, ddl and .Net objects interfaces. The irony is that the highly integrated information at a central location poses a new problem with respect to access control. SecurNet allows for centralised database with distributed access authorisation and this is usually implemented with database partitioning. So physically, there is one database (usually well protected by firewalls and anti-spyware) but operationally, they are separate databases for autonomy.

The SecurNet Integrated Security Management System (ISMS) developed by ST Electronics offers an integrated platform for the seamless convergence of multiple technologies of various security sub-systems as a single solution to address the security needs of specific customers. In the past, a good security system simply offers integration of video surveillance, intruder alarm, access control and fire detection subsystems. Terrorist incidences around the world have changed how people look at security controls. Now, it is vital to have more stringent and complex security management solutions that look at various aspects of security loopholes to tighten the control of every possible point of entry and probable security breach. For years, SecurNet has been the preferred choice for high-end integrated security solutions for key installations such as airports, seaports, government buildings,

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ELECTRONICS REVIEW

museums, military bases, correctional institutes, as well as healthcare and educational institutions. With such a diverse customer base requiring different yet exacting security needs, SecurNet has evolved to cater for such diversification, customisation, integration and scalability. Most integrated solutions are customised in terms of hardware and software governing operations. Hardware is made up of many devices from different manufacturers usually using proprietary hardware and operating systems that pose a major challenge to linking them up. SecurNet, a system of systems, is designed with a database that is able to accommodate sensors data information, access transaction as well as graphical floor plans and biometric data images stored in a variety of databases such as SQL, mySQL, OQL, XQL, Oracle, FoxPro, DB2 and Sybase. SecurNet can be

SecurNet is now in its seventh generation and is the first in the market to successfully perform the conformance test to ISO/IEC 19794-2 on biometric data interchange record (BDIR). BDIR allows interoperability of biometric data between different manufacturers of fingerprint biometric

be configured to suit the operational needs without compromising on security. Another advantage is that the system is futureproof to cater for upgrades to newer sensors as biometric sensors technologies evolve.

readers. This compliance removes the restriction of having to engage one biometric sensor supplier exclusively, as diverse biometric technologies from different vendors such as Dermalog, Futronic, Lumidigm, Koehlke or Superma are available. This allows different sensors to be deployed in one site with each sensor specifically addressing different site operating constraints. For example, sensors from different suppliers may be used for outdoors and indoors, dry or wet finger, and levels of security verification. With the ideal mix-andmatch of sensors, the system can

ISMS Network Primary DB Server

ISMS Network Backup DB Server

Monitoring & Control

SecurNet V7 is the pioneer in the adoption of .Net platform and supports industry-leading SQL database. The platformindependent framework enables developers to quickly

Visitor Management

Time Management

CCTV Station

Card Perso Station

Camera Card Printer

DS

DS

SC

SC

SC

SC

SC

Fingerprint

Realtime Server (RTS)

SIO or LAM Applications:

100M TCP/IP

SIO LAM

Door #1-#4

#1

- Input monitoring - Output control - Interface to lift system - Access for floor selection

#7

RS422 (Max 1200m) 100M TCP/IP

Designed for scalability, SecurNet V7 can operate from a single workstation to multiple-users network based enterprise-wide configuration. It can be configured to operate either in a LAN and/or WAN environment, which is ideal for large organisations with multiple remote sites. The enterprise-wide configuration allows users to monitor and control activities such as access, video surveillance or alarm arming for a single-site or multi-site installations anywhere in the world.

Door #1-#32

RS422 (Max 1200m) 100M TCP/IP

Door #1-#4

Biometrics Reader comply to SSID standard

INTEGRATION TO EXTERNAL SYSTEMS

CCTV System

Alarm System

BAS System

HR System

build, deploy, and manage Web-based, smart client and XML Web services applications.

Customer Specify System

For more information, please call Eric Chan at (65) 6413 1868 or email: [email protected]

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P R O D U C T S

Intelligent System for Advanced Control Centre (iSACC) Enterprises running operations centre of key installations need to understand the complex and dynamic environments they are operating in while being able to constantly provide critical services. When there are unforeseen interruptions, they will also have to respond appropriately in a timely and collaborative manner. ST Electronics’ iSACC is the ideal solution to bring enterprises forward to the next level of operational efficiency. Using a Common Application Platform (CAP) developed by ST Electronics (Info-Software Systems), iSACC is a networked system that integrates all major information and control systems to enable an operations centre to function effectively. When deployed in an airport operations centre, iSACC delivers situational awareness to operations personnel at different levels.

Through state of the art visualisation, collaborative platform and decision support system, it assists operations personnel in making better-informed decisions and optimises the efficiency of airport operations. In this environment, iSACC synchronises all stakeholders and integrates the numerous functional systems already deployed for security, airlines, ground

handling and immigration. Airports can now enjoy realtime access to a comprehensive picture of air and ground activities, as well as airport resources. The system will facilitate asset management and provide video views to assist in collaborative planning, decision-making and time-on-time comparison of key performance indicators. It incorporates an advanced decision support system that anticipates issues associated with airline delays or faults in any airport resource. A solution will then be recommended based on each airport’s standard operating procedure (SOP), thus empowering users to make informed decisions. iSACC also enhances the airport’s ability to handle sudden demand surges and crises, for example, by helping to divert travellers and airlines swiftly to other terminals when security threats are detected. For more information, please contact Tan Keng Leng at [email protected]

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Agilis Manpack Terminal A custom-built, compact, highly mobile and easily deployed VSAT terminal One of Agilis’ most innovative products to date, the Agilis Manpack is a custom-built compact, highly mobile and easily deployed VSAT terminal extending network connectivity with voice, data and video communications for its users on the move. Designed and manufactured for the commercial, government and defence sectors, Agilis Manpack has a built-in Power Management System (iPMS) to prolong its operating time. The unit is highly suited for operations in harsh environmental conditions. This extended Ku Band (13.75GHz to 14.8GHz) manpack terminal, measuring only 500L x 300W x 170H mm and weighing 10kg, is currently the smallest of its kind. It features a Global Positioning System (GPS) aided graphical user interface (GUI) system that does not require reconfiguration of the modem when deployment location changes. It also has an intelligent sensor system that provides realtime feedback of the antenna viewing angle through a built-in wide LCD screen. This enables even non-technical personnel to perform antenna alignment easily. With built-in GPS, compass and other functions and features, full deployment of the Agilis Manpack Terminal can be completed within 10 minutes.

For more information, please call (65) 6521 7888 or email: [email protected]

FEATURES •

High performance flat panel antenna

•

Extremely compact and rugged

•

Optimal size, weight and power

•

Built-in Tx and Rx rejection filter

•

Intelligent power management system (iPMS)

•

Built-in GPS and 4.5-inch LCD touchscreen with simple GUI

•

Built-in compass

•

Supports external wide range AC and DC supply

•

Compact packaging for easy transport

•

MIL-STD-810F compliant and weatherproof IP65

•

Optional manual battery charging in the field

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P R O D U C T S

iDirect achieves 100Mbps with Evolution X7 Remote Next-generation remote powers high-bandwidth applications, unleashes the performance of high throughput satellites VT iDirect’s (iDirect) Evolution X7 remote, the first in a family of next-generation remotes that have been optimised to deliver best-inclass Adaptive TDMA throughput performance and operate with high throughput satellites. Built on an entirely new multi-core hardware system, the X7 can reach up to 100Mbps of combined inbound and outbound throughput, with more than 20Mbps on the return channel alone. iDirect is a world leader in satellitebased IP communications technology. The Evolution X7 leverages dual DVB-S2 demodulators with fully independent Radio Frequency (RF) chains. This makes it uniquely suited to support a robust suite of enterprise voice and data services while simultaneously receiving up to 12 shared, high-definition multicast channels over the same or a second transponder or satellite. The X7 also features an embedded eight-port switch, which provides unrivalled flexibility for physically segregating multiple end-user traffic groups based on VLAN tags when coupled with the iDirect platform’s best-inclass GQoS and NMS. Additionally, the new remote comes with multiple embedded PSU configurations to power higher wattage BUCs. The X7 enables service providers to deliver high-bandwidth data rates while utilising the iDirect Intelligent Platform’s Adaptive TDMA shared return. For example, service providers in the maritime, cruise, oil and gas, as well as mining industries can efficiently deliver basic voice and data traffic, while

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ELECTRONICS REVIEW

also managing bandwidth-heavy business applications and multicast services like IPTV. Furthermore, cellular backhaul providers can meet the throughput requirements for demanding and large cell sites as mobile operators expand 3G and 4G networks in remote areas. “With the X7, iDirect has achieved a breakthrough in packets-per-second performance. Our partners can now deliver data speeds on a TDMA platform that until now have only been possible on an SCPC dedicated link. This is just the first step in our ambitious plan to equip our partners to meet escalating customer demands for satellite bandwidth, while capturing the market opportunities that high throughput satellites will bring.” said Mr Dave Bettinger, Chief Technology Officer, iDirect

With the X7, iDirect has

“The X7 is a critical development that positions the iDirect platform as a go-to solution for high bandwidth applications. With the next-generation design of the X7, iDirect has once again lived up to its reputation as an innovator in the satellite industry at a time when demand for highthroughput service is exploding and satellite is poised to become a mainstream connectivity solution.” commented Mr Simon Bull, Senior Consultant, COMSYS.

link.

The X7 will be supported through iDX 3.2 software and will be available in the first quarter of 2013. For more information, please visit www.idirect.net/x7 or contact Teh Choon Ling at (65) 6521 7348, email: [email protected]

achieved a breakthrough in packets-per-second performance. Our partners can now deliver data speeds on a TDMA platform that until now have only been possible on an SCPC dedicated Dave Bettinger Chief Technology Officer iDirect

E V E N T S

Indo Defence 2012 7-10 November 2012, Jakarta ST Electronics (Info-Comm Systems) participated in Indonesia’s fifth official tri-service defence event – Indo Defence 2012 Expo and Forum. Hosted by the Ministry of Defence of Republic of Indonesia, the Expo saw participation from over 500 exhibitors from more than 40 countries and 20,000 delegates and trade visitors. It is an ideal event for international defence industries to showcase their range of military products and technologies for the local defence industry. ST Electronics’ exhibits – the Advanced Combat Man System, Tactical Throwing Sensor and Forward Sensor System, and SuperneT™ Integrated Communication System ST6800 – provided good opportunities for the company to network with defence and security professional

practitioners and government officials from the region. For more information, please call (65) 6567 6769 or email: [email protected]

International Myanmar ICT Exhibition 12-14 October 2012, Yangon solutions to the local authorities and to explore possible business ventures with the country. This event was jointly organised by the Myanmar Computer Professionals Association (MCPA) and Myanmar Computer Industry Association (MCIA).

The International Myanmar ICT Exhibition

Myanmar’s rapid transformation opens up many business opportunities for Information Communication Technologies (ICT) and infrastructure solutions providers. The International Myanmar ICT Exhibition 2012 provided a platform for companies to offer their

ST Electronics (Info-Comm Systems) showcased its SuperneT™ Unified Communication Centre Suite, Transport Management Solutions and CETEON™ Mobile Command Hub at the exhibition. Its representatives met up with potential customers, including local government officials, partners and other stakeholders from the private and public sectors to explore future business opportunities in the country. For more information, please call (65) 6567 6769 or email: [email protected]

Visitors at ST Electronics’ booth

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E V E N T S

4th Shanghai International Disaster Reduction & Security Show 10-12 October 2012, Shanghai iDirect participated in the 4th Shanghai International Disaster Reduction & Security Show, one of the most established international exhibition and conferences in China for the safety and emergency services industry. Held at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre, the event brought together more than 250 exhibitors and attracted over 3,000 visitors, mainly from the Chinese provincial government agencies, such as the civil defence,

police, emergency rescue and earthquake management teams.

remote which is also suitable for surveillance purposes.

The event provided an excellent opportunity for iDirect to reach out to end-users in Northern China, especially those in the public safety and emergency response agencies. These visitors were able to find out more about the iDirect Intelligent Platform of Evolution® hubs and line cards, satellite remotes suitable for Communications On-the-Move and emergency response communications, including the new X1 outdoor

Many high profile delegates, including Mr Yu Jianhua, China’s Assistant Minister of Commerce, and Mr Shen Xiaoming, Deputy Mayor of Shanghai, visited iDirect’s booth with their respective entourage and media representatives during the three-day exhibition cum conference. For more information, please contact Teh Choon Ling at (65) 6521 7348 or email: [email protected]

GovWare 2012 27-29 September 2012, Singapore ST Electronics (Info-Security), together with its partners, participated the GovernmentWare 2012 (GovWare) exhibition held from 27 to 29 September in Singapore. This year’s exhibition theme was ‘Proactive Strategy Against APT’ Cyber Defence, and ST Electronics showcased its latest range of products, solutions and gadgets related to this theme. APT, or Advanced Persistent Threats, refers to the capability and the malicious intent to persistently and effectively target a specific entity. This includes cyber threats that use a variety of intelligence gathering techniques to access sensitive information. GovWare 2012 updated participants on the latest threat landscape and

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ELECTRONICS REVIEW

ST Electronics (Info-Security) booth at GovWare 2012

modus operandi of cyber adversaries. Participants also learnt about proactive strategies and solutions that their organisations can adopt to improve the level of operational readiness against potential cyber attacks and network infiltrations.

ST Electronics’ expansion into the cyber defence market sees the company strengthening its comprehensive cyber defence framework encompassing protection, detection, response and recovery.

VIPs at ST Electronics (Info-Security) booth during GovWare 2012

ST Electronics’ partner, Boeing, showcased a solution known as Cyber Range in a Box (CRIAB). This is a compact, portable system used to support the development, test and experimentation of cyber tools

and techniques, as well as to train today’s network defenders. Another partner, Breaking Point, exhibited a solution known as Actionable Security Intelligence that prevents impact of attacks and application loads.

GovWare 2012 was an excellent arena to showcase ST Electronics (InfoSecurity) solutions to customers and it has further established ST Electronics as a reliable brand choice in this industry.

Systems and solutions showcased at GovWare 2012 Cyber Defence Training ST Electronics provides a wide range of services and solutions to help organisations build on the cyber defence framework, and an excellent training platform to: • assess the cyber defender; • test Standard Operating Procedures (SOP); • replay different scenarios (for example, Distributed Denial of Service [DDoS]) for cyber defenders.

mobile devices, 2FA offers superior access control. Device hardening – Provides the ability to lock down devices and control access to hardware resources in the Operating System (OS) layer such as cameras and WiFi, thereby making the OS more secure. Application access control – With an application whitelist/blacklist access control, organisations are able to control what applications users can run on mobile devices.

Security Operations Centre • Round-the-clock security monitoring and advisory • Security incidents and events correlation tools • Threats and incidents management Mobile Security ST Electronics provides a comprehensive suite of solutions to secure mobile devices for tomorrow’s workforce, targeting Android devices as their openness allows users and organisations more control over their devices. Two-Factor Authentication – Employing a secure microSD card (what you have) and a PIN (what you know) to log into

Device Encryption – Applies industry standard AES encryption with the encryption key stored in the secure microSD card. Secure VoIP/IM/SMS – Utilising industry standard AES encryption and certificate-based key exchange, secure VoIP/IM/SMS provides peace-of-mind when communicating on mobile devices. Secure VPN – End-to-end data security for mobile devices is ensured by using a certificate-based native IPSec VPN client that supports a multitude of encryption and authentication methods.

For more information, please call (65) 6568 7118 or email: [email protected]

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China Satellite 2012 19-21 September 2012, Beijing ST Electronics participated as a platinum sponsor of the 14th China Satellite Conference & Exhibition. Held annually since 1998, the largest satellite show in China brought together more than 600 conference delegates and even more visitors to the exhibition in Beijing. ST Electronics showcased its latest range of satellite communications products from ST Electronics (Satcom & Sensor Systems) and its related company, iDirect Asia, at the exhibition.

ST Electronics booth at China Satellite 2012

Agilis RF Products and Systems In addition to displaying the comprehensive range of Agilis Radio Frequency (RF) products including the C, Ku and Ka band Block-Up Converters (BUC) and Converters, ST Electronics also showcased its latest innovation, the Agilis Manpack Terminal. Highly portable and currently the smallest of its kind in the market (500L x 300W x 170H mm), it weighs only 10kg, it is lighter than others on the market considering the performance it delivers. Agilis Intelligent Manpack VSAT Terminal operates in Super High Ku-Band (13.75GHz to 14.8GHz) and features an intelligent power management system that offers superior advantage in system operating time. (See page 27 for more information.)

iDX 3.1, and provided a preview of iDX 3.2, SatManage Network Management System 5.2 and High Throughput Satellite animation video.

iDirect Range of Products iDirect showcased its latest range of Evolution® hubs, line cards and remotes, including the latest low-cost, low-power X1 indoor and outdoor remotes. The company also updated visitors on its new software release

For more information Agilis range of products, please call (65) 6521 7888 or email: [email protected]

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Mr John Arnold, iDirect’s Regional Vice-President, Sales, Asia Pacific, gave a presentation on one of the hottest industry topics, ‘New Era of HTS/ Ka Capacity for Enterprise and Government’, at the conference. A networking cocktail reception was held at the booth and was hosted by Mr Arnold and Dr Liu Gang, iDirect Asia’s China Country Manager. It was attended by customers, the conference chairman and key committee members, the region’s key media representatives and industry players.

For more information on iDirect solutions, please contact Teh Choon Ling at (65) 6521 7348 or email: [email protected]

IBC 2012 7-11 September 2012, Amsterdam ST Electronics (Satcom & Sensor Systems) showcased its new line of compact 80W, 100W, 150W, 200W and 250W Ku-Band Block-Up Converters (BUC) at the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2012 in Amsterdam. IBC is one of the key annual events for businesses engaged in the creation, management and delivery of entertainment and news content worldwide. With over 50,000 attendees from over 160 countries, IBC is an ideal platform to showcase ST Electronics’ compact series of BUC under the Agilis brand. The new generation of Ku-BUCs has been designed to offer reliability, choice and innovation, with the flexibility in selection of Monitoring and Control (M&C) software interfaces such as RS232, RS485 or RS422. Ethernet (SNMP and HTTP) and WiFi connectivity

are built-in. In addition, all the highpower Ku-BUCs are incorporated with the highly intuitive M&C software with a data logging feature. This allows performance reports to be generated for analysis purposes. The M&C software runs on PCs, iPhone and tablet computers, offering greater mobility and accessibility to organisations with installations anywhere in the world. Other exhibits showcased included the Compact C-Band BUC, Palm Size 1W-4W, 6W Ku-Band BUC, Compact Ka- and X-Band BUC, Ultra Slim C, X, Ku-Band BUC, fibre optic transceiver and converters. For more information, please call (65) 6521 7888 or email: [email protected]

It’s a goal! ST Electronics (Info-Comm Systems) hosts live Barclays Premier League match screening It was cheers all around as customers and staff rooted for their favourite team at the Live Screening of Barclays Premier League match between Manchester and Liverpool. It was a night filled with laughter and breathtaking moments as each team attempted to score goals during the live broadcast. Organised by ST Electronics (Info-Comm Systems), this yearly event was held at Harry’s Bar @ Demspey on 23 September to thank customers for their support.

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Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Dynamic Tour 2012 21 August 2012, Singapore ST Electronics (Info-Comm Systems) participated in the Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise’s Dynamic Tour 2012 at the Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore on 21 August 2012 as a platinum sponsor. The theme – ‘’Build Your Own Destiny” (BYOD), focused on reshaping the enterprise communications arena and pushing organisations to seriously rethink how they can deliver on users’ experiences and lifestyle, by meeting challenges that have arisen through new user trends. ST Electronics’ exhibits at the event included a comprehensive suite of Urban Sustainability Solutions comprising Smart Energy and Water Management, Integrated A good opportunity for networking with customers and partners

City Management Centre and Smart Transport Management; Infocommunication Infrastructure Solutions and Services; Smart Cloud and Video Analytics solutions. The event provided a unique opportunity for the company to share their solutions with experts, analysts, customers, peers and partners.

Explaining ST Electronics’ solutions to a visitor

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For more information, please call (65) 6567 6769 or email: [email protected]

MRTA 20th Anniversary Technology Exhibition 30 August 2012, Bangkok

ST Electronics’ Large Scale Systems Group (LSG) participated in a technology exhibition in Bangkok commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). ST Electronics showcased its extensive suite of advance rail electronics solutions, including the Control, Command and Communications; Automatic Fare Collection; Passenger Information Display; and Maintenance Management systems. Organised by Bangkok Metro Public Company Limited (BMCL), this four-day event brought together the region’s best rail solutions providers to share their latest technologies, products and services to distinguished guests and visitors. During the event, over 5,000 guests visited ST Electronics booth.

Mr Yong Thiam Chong, Deputy President, International Business, ST Electronics, briefing Mr Charupong Ruangsuwan, then Thai Transport Minister

Mr Chaiwat Utaiwan, President of BMCL, viewing the company’s latest systems

Mr Charupong Ruangsuwan, the then Transport Minister of Thailand, officiated at the opening of the exhibition. He was accompanied by senior officials of the Transport Ministry, MRTA and BMCL’s senior management. For more information, please contact Low Ming Chuan at (65) 6413 1855 or email: [email protected]

ST Electronics’ AFC systems being demonstrated to Mr Plew Trivisvavet, Chairman, CH Karnchang Public Company Limited

E V E N T S

Cultivating the spirit of innovation ST Electronics Business Innovation Competition ST Electronics, a leading engineering company, is constantly innovating and renewing itself to deliver bestof-class solutions for its customers. This requires innovative and reliable products and solutions; cost-effective and efficient processes, and dedicated engineers working together to create competitive offerings. Through the ST Electronics Business Innovation Competition (STEE-BIC), the company encourages innovation and nurtures a culture of continuous improvement. Innovation can be as simple as looking at doing things in different and more efficient ways. Given the enthusiastic and diverse

Mr Lee Fook Sun, President, ST Electronics (front centre) with organisers and prize recipients, 2012 STEE-BIC

range of entries this year, the annual STEE-BIC has succeeded in showcasing the progress in generating new product and business ideas. It is an avenue where staff can let their creative juices flow and be rewarded for developing ideas into marketable

offerings. Many ideas indeed went on to win projects, awards and form the basis for new businesses. For more information, please contact Ho Kok Foong at (65) 9697 5531 or email: [email protected]

Upcoming events What

When

Where

Who

International Water Summit

15-17 Jan

Abu Dhabi, UAE

ST Electronics (Info-Software Systems)

Convergence India 2013

16-18 Jan

New Delhi, India

ST Electronics (Satcom & Sensor Systems), iDirect

Global Space Technology Convention 2013

21-22 Feb

Singapore

ST Electronics (Satcom & Sensor Systems)

ST Electronics Technology 8 Mar Seminar

Singapore

ST Electronics

CABSAT 2013

12-14 Mar

Dubai, UAE

ST Electronics (Satcom & Sensor Systems)

SATELLITE 2013

18-21 Mar

Washington DC, USA

ST Electronics (Satcom & Sensor Systems)

LAAD Defence & Security 2013

9-12 April

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

ST Electronics with ST Engineering

IMDEX 2013

14-16 May

Singapore

ST Electronics

CommunicAsia 2013

18-21 Jun

Singapore

ST Electronics

Information is accurate at time of printing

In its support towards environmental sustainability, ST Electronics has printed this publication on recycled paper.