Safe and Secure
Real Estate

Safe and Secure

Prior to the lockdown, the security market in India was close to $1 billion and growing at a CAGR of 15 per cent, according to Pramoud Rao, Managing Director, Zicom. “Video products constituted 70 per cent of the market while the remaining 30 per cent was made up of products like acces...

Prior to the lockdown, the security market in India was close to $1 billion and growing at a CAGR of 15 per cent, according to Pramoud Rao, Managing Director, Zicom. “Video products constituted 70 per cent of the market while the remaining 30 per cent was made up of products like access controls, intrusion detection, perimeter control, fencing, etc. Western India accounted for 35 per cent of demand. The North contributed 30 per cent, the South 25 per cent, and the East 10 per cent.”Mohit Oberoi, Director, Integrated Technology Solutions, G4S Security Systems (India), has a more optimistic view. “The booming Indian market for fire, security and integrated building management systems was growing at an approximate CAGR of over 20 per cent and is projected to do so till 2022,” he shares. Oberoi expects this projection could be downwardly revised depending on the severity of the construction slowdown in the residential and commercial space, and on whether Make in India can take off because most security equipment comes from China and Europe.Securing infrastructure“Perimeter intrusion detection solutions (PIDS) are the foremost security solution to protect a country’s critical infrastructure such as airports, thermal plants, oil and gas facilities and pipelines,” opines Vishnu Choudhary, Managing Director, Athena Security Solutions. “Even residential and commercial properties use basic PIDS solutions like closed circuit television (CCTV) and electric fences.”“Intrusion detection solutions reduce the number of personnel needed in the field and make their work easier by providing them actionable, intelligent information on which to react,” explains Choudhary. “In protecting critical assets, a multi-layered solution is always recommended, where various technologies, including optical fibre cable-based PIDS, CCTV, thermal cameras, radar, LiDAR and underground sensors, integrate and work together, supplying vital information to a command-and-control system. Drones, too, form a part of this multi-layered approach – an eye in the sky can provide a more comprehensive view of the threat. The selection of layers and technologies depends on the location and nature of the threat to be addressed.”In this segment, Choudhary believes the government has been extremely aggressive in the past year or so with projects worth more than Rs.30 billion tendered, sanctioned or in the pipeline. He cites optical fibre cable-based systems as one of the preferred choices, especially for large perimeters, for not needing power in the field and being immune to electromagnetic interference, radio frequency interference and lightning. Integrating these with good camera systems can collectively provide an intelligent and cost-effective solution.  Protecting commercial spacesPopular products in commercial establishments are high-end CCTV cameras, shares Mehernosh Pithawalla, Vice President and Global Head, Marketing, Sales & Innovation, Godrej Security Systems. Godrej offers Seethru CCTV cameras with Katview camera imaging technology, which offer clear images even in low light or excessively bright conditions and a host of options when the device is connected to the Internet.R Nandakumar, Founder & CMO, Active Total Security Systems, points out that most CCTV cameras installed across India are plain deployments without video analytics or artificial intelligence (AI). “In contrast, AI-powered security solutions can filter out false positives from video feed, thus improving the quality of monitoring and reducing the number of people needed on the ground. Updating CCTV installations would help ensure that surveillance video is continuously, accurately analysed to detect motion, faces, license plates, and so on.”Upgraded CCTV technology is finding takers. “Buyers of systems for commercial properties and malls increasingly want more out of security systems than pure play surveillance,” says Rao. “CCTV camera installations have moved from being dumb devices to intelligent devices to identify faces, conduct head counts, identify emotions, identify loiterers, find missing objects, detect weapons, facility management, etc.”Rao cites command-and-control stations to monitor all installed security and safety systems plus emergency response management as emerging needs in this space.Integrated securityMany facilities today have multiple, disparate security products and systems, such as video monitoring, access control, and (sensor-based) alarms. Managing these security systems independently creates opportunities for error and increases the potential for a lapse in security, observes Devidas Kulkarni, Head, Regional Solutions & Services, Smart Infrastructure, Siemens India. So, Siemens offers a single, intelligent interface to optimise decision-making and incident management.Siemens’s intelligent physical security information system unifies security and building systems from third-party vendors to help home owners and asset managers stay aware to the exact situation on their properties, explains Kulkarni. The solutions that can be integrated include motion detectors, contacts, cameras, combined intercom and keypad, multilevel access rights and keyless solutions.A step further, Siemens’ smart security products with analytics can “work together to detect potential threats before they happen, thus improving situational awareness and offering clear, actionable insights for a proactive approach to security operations, including an effective emergency response,” elaborates Kulkarni.Home safetyPopular products in the residential segment are home cameras and video door phones, while high-rise residential buildings deploy IP multi-apartment video door phones, says Pithawalla. Describing Godrej’s offerings in this segment, he says: “Eve home cameras are responsive to a mere tap on a smartphone, so they can be remotely panned or tilted, and can enable live streaming. The camera adjusts on the basis of the available light. There is a two-way speaker and microphone power communication. A motion sensor triggers alerts that are sent to the user’s smartphone. High-end wireless video door systems provide clear images, automatic and manual video recording, and are accessible by a mobile app.”Home owners want to integrate security cameras with Alexa and Google Home, and they want full details of visitors, adds Rao.(See more on security solutions in smart homes in the CW DESIGN BUILD Cover Story.) Growing role for IoTWith Internet of Things (IoT),  security products such as alarm systems, home cameras and video door phones are getting integrated into home automation solutions, thus allowing users to define how security equipment behave in emergencies, observes Pithawalla.The deployment of integrated solutions and IoT-enabled solutions varies as per the housing segment, explains Nandakumar. “In the low-end segment, basic security products such as video door phones are popular. Mid-end housing deployments extend further to home automation products and CCTV installation. Luxury housing deployments additionally include electric fencing and perimeter fencing, and their CCTV systems offer video analytics as well as capture and store visitor images.”Oberoi observes that IOT-based integrated security and building management solution platforms, both in terms of risk and cost mitigation, have been well received for luxury housing, large commercial real estate, infrastructure projects and Tier-I companies of all industry verticals with a large and distributed landscape of assets to maintain and secure.Eshwar N, CMO, Casagrand, cites the high costs associated with technology, limited configurations and technological obsolescence as obstructing the acceptance of integrated and IoT-enabled solutions.Going forward, Rao believes, “AI technology and video analytics with IoT will play a significant role to reduce the cost of human resources, improve productivity and help protect workers. Also, facial recognition, monitoring work from home technologies, live alert video and alert monitoring via a command-and-control station will drive future growth.”Security features per class of residential real assetCasagrand equips affordable housing units and mid-end housing units with a mix of technologies like a gate app (My Gate App) for entry and exit control, CCTV surveillance systems for common areas and intercom features for individual apartments, shares Eshwar N, CMO, Casagrand. “For the luxury segment, Casagrand offers a mix of high-end integrated security technology solutions and fully automated solutions, such as video door phones; a three-tier security system restricting access at the entry gate, lobby and at individual units to control vendor and visitor movement; digital door locks with the latest in facial recognition technology; and mobile apps that can control entry and exit to a unit and provide CCTV access from anywhere across the globe.  However, buyers of less expensive units can opt for advanced security technologies as an add-on feature.”“Generally, security features usually make up 1-2 per cent of the project cost,” adds Eshwar.“CCTV and gas leak detectors are standard security features in our affordable housing offerings (Provident Housing),” says Srikanth Srinivasan, Group Head, Commercial, Puravankara. “Buyers of mid to luxury housing (Puravankara projects) expect digital door locks, video door phones, sensors, alarms and motion detectors as standard features. In this segment, security constitutes 1-2 per cent of the project cost. We offer home buyers the option to upgrade to higher convenience features in the luxury segment. In commercial properties, security features such as entrance management, utilities management and visitor management are integrated into the building management system.”Security Services It is one thing to provide security solutions. It is another to partner customers to help them optimise their spending on security and reduce security incidence rates. G4S Integrated Technology Solutions does both, according to Mohit Oberoi, Director, Integrated Technology Solutions, G4S Security Systems (India).The right partner will have the expertise to effectively install the security solution. For instance, “Athena has invested more than three years in conducting detailed no-cost-no-commitment trials for different stakeholders across the country,” shares Vishnu Choudhary, Managing Director, Athena Security Solutions. “During this time, the company has adopted ways to surmount the implementation challenges presented in a vast geography, as well as trained personnel who have then successfully completed several projects.”Role of security solutions during the COVID-19 outbreak  CCTV cameras are immensely useful to monitor spaces to identify crowded places. Based on their feed, police can be deployed to dispel gatherings, explains R Nandakumar, Founder & CMO, Active Total Security Systems. It simply isn’t feasible to deploy police everywhere.During the lockdown, the dependency on electronic security systems is critically high to secure closed offices and facilities, says Mohit Oberoi, Director, Integrated Technology Solutions, G4S Security Systems (India). “We have adopted processes to ensure unhindered services to our clients and 100 per cent uptime of electronic security systems. Even as the lockdown is lifted in phases and work resumes, on-site safety will need to be ensured.”Look out for…Perimeter intrusion detection solutions (PIDS) for properties with perimeters of 2 km or less: In the ongoing financial year, Athena plans to launch products to prevent intrusions into residential and commercial properties with perimeters of 2 km or less. Currently, this market is dominated by electric fencing solutions, which are adversely impacted by high-tension wires, electromagnetic interference and lightning, and more prone to failure for having a greater number of components in the field. Optical fibre cables need almost zero maintenance.AI-driven security solutions: Athena is developing more intelligent algorithms to reduce the already low false acceptance rate of its solutions. New solutions will combine the alarms for PIDS with the data steam from cameras. Athena wants to integrate AI with camera systems to provide actionable information, at a competitive price. These solutions will be useful for those applying for Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) certification, as well as storage facilities needed to improve the effectiveness of their CCTV streams.Counter-drone solutions: Athena is also working on a counter drone solution to thwart the growing threat from commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) available drones. Athena sees this as a growing marketplace and believes that a Made in India solution will gain greater traction by providing both technological advancements and a cost-effective price.To share your views on the market for Security Systems in India, write in at Feedback@ConstructionWorld.inPrior to the lockdown, the security market in India was close to $1 billion and growing at a CAGR of 15 per cent, according to Pramoud Rao, Managing Director, Zicom. “Video products constituted 70 per cent of the market while the remaining 30 per cent was made up of products like access controls, intrusion detection, perimeter control, fencing, etc. Western India accounted for 35 per cent of demand. The North contributed 30 per cent, the South 25 per cent, and the East 10 per cent.”Mohit Oberoi, Director, Integrated Technology Solutions, G4S Security Systems (India), has a more optimistic view. “The booming Indian market for fire, security and integrated building management systems was growing at an approximate CAGR of over 20 per cent and is projected to do so till 2022,” he shares. Oberoi expects this projection could be downwardly revised depending on the severity of the construction slowdown in the residential and commercial space, and on whether Make in India can take off because most security equipment comes from China and Europe.Securing infrastructure“Perimeter intrusion detection solutions (PIDS) are the foremost security solution to protect a country’s critical infrastructure such as airports, thermal plants, oil and gas facilities and pipelines,” opines Vishnu Choudhary, Managing Director, Athena Security Solutions. “Even residential and commercial properties use basic PIDS solutions like closed circuit television (CCTV) and electric fences.”“Intrusion detection solutions reduce the number of personnel needed in the field and make their work easier by providing them actionable, intelligent information on which to react,” explains Choudhary. “In protecting critical assets, a multi-layered solution is always recommended, where various technologies, including optical fibre cable-based PIDS, CCTV, thermal cameras, radar, LiDAR and underground sensors, integrate and work together, supplying vital information to a command-and-control system. Drones, too, form a part of this multi-layered approach – an eye in the sky can provide a more comprehensive view of the threat. The selection of layers and technologies depends on the location and nature of the threat to be addressed.”In this segment, Choudhary believes the government has been extremely aggressive in the past year or so with projects worth more than Rs.30 billion tendered, sanctioned or in the pipeline. He cites optical fibre cable-based systems as one of the preferred choices, especially for large perimeters, for not needing power in the field and being immune to electromagnetic interference, radio frequency interference and lightning. Integrating these with good camera systems can collectively provide an intelligent and cost-effective solution.  Protecting commercial spacesPopular products in commercial establishments are high-end CCTV cameras, shares Mehernosh Pithawalla, Vice President and Global Head, Marketing, Sales & Innovation, Godrej Security Systems. Godrej offers Seethru CCTV cameras with Katview camera imaging technology, which offer clear images even in low light or excessively bright conditions and a host of options when the device is connected to the Internet.R Nandakumar, Founder & CMO, Active Total Security Systems, points out that most CCTV cameras installed across India are plain deployments without video analytics or artificial intelligence (AI). “In contrast, AI-powered security solutions can filter out false positives from video feed, thus improving the quality of monitoring and reducing the number of people needed on the ground. Updating CCTV installations would help ensure that surveillance video is continuously, accurately analysed to detect motion, faces, license plates, and so on.”Upgraded CCTV technology is finding takers. “Buyers of systems for commercial properties and malls increasingly want more out of security systems than pure play surveillance,” says Rao. “CCTV camera installations have moved from being dumb devices to intelligent devices to identify faces, conduct head counts, identify emotions, identify loiterers, find missing objects, detect weapons, facility management, etc.”Rao cites command-and-control stations to monitor all installed security and safety systems plus emergency response management as emerging needs in this space.Integrated securityMany facilities today have multiple, disparate security products and systems, such as video monitoring, access control, and (sensor-based) alarms. Managing these security systems independently creates opportunities for error and increases the potential for a lapse in security, observes Devidas Kulkarni, Head, Regional Solutions & Services, Smart Infrastructure, Siemens India. So, Siemens offers a single, intelligent interface to optimise decision-making and incident management.Siemens’s intelligent physical security information system unifies security and building systems from third-party vendors to help home owners and asset managers stay aware to the exact situation on their properties, explains Kulkarni. The solutions that can be integrated include motion detectors, contacts, cameras, combined intercom and keypad, multilevel access rights and keyless solutions.A step further, Siemens’ smart security products with analytics can “work together to detect potential threats before they happen, thus improving situational awareness and offering clear, actionable insights for a proactive approach to security operations, including an effective emergency response,” elaborates Kulkarni.Home safetyPopular products in the residential segment are home cameras and video door phones, while high-rise residential buildings deploy IP multi-apartment video door phones, says Pithawalla. Describing Godrej’s offerings in this segment, he says: “Eve home cameras are responsive to a mere tap on a smartphone, so they can be remotely panned or tilted, and can enable live streaming. The camera adjusts on the basis of the available light. There is a two-way speaker and microphone power communication. A motion sensor triggers alerts that are sent to the user’s smartphone. High-end wireless video door systems provide clear images, automatic and manual video recording, and are accessible by a mobile app.”Home owners want to integrate security cameras with Alexa and Google Home, and they want full details of visitors, adds Rao.(See more on security solutions in smart homes in the CW DESIGN BUILD Cover Story.) Growing role for IoTWith Internet of Things (IoT),  security products such as alarm systems, home cameras and video door phones are getting integrated into home automation solutions, thus allowing users to define how security equipment behave in emergencies, observes Pithawalla.The deployment of integrated solutions and IoT-enabled solutions varies as per the housing segment, explains Nandakumar. “In the low-end segment, basic security products such as video door phones are popular. Mid-end housing deployments extend further to home automation products and CCTV installation. Luxury housing deployments additionally include electric fencing and perimeter fencing, and their CCTV systems offer video analytics as well as capture and store visitor images.”Oberoi observes that IOT-based integrated security and building management solution platforms, both in terms of risk and cost mitigation, have been well received for luxury housing, large commercial real estate, infrastructure projects and Tier-I companies of all industry verticals with a large and distributed landscape of assets to maintain and secure.Eshwar N, CMO, Casagrand, cites the high costs associated with technology, limited configurations and technological obsolescence as obstructing the acceptance of integrated and IoT-enabled solutions.Going forward, Rao believes, “AI technology and video analytics with IoT will play a significant role to reduce the cost of human resources, improve productivity and help protect workers. Also, facial recognition, monitoring work from home technologies, live alert video and alert monitoring via a command-and-control station will drive future growth.”Security features per class of residential real assetCasagrand equips affordable housing units and mid-end housing units with a mix of technologies like a gate app (My Gate App) for entry and exit control, CCTV surveillance systems for common areas and intercom features for individual apartments, shares Eshwar N, CMO, Casagrand. “For the luxury segment, Casagrand offers a mix of high-end integrated security technology solutions and fully automated solutions, such as video door phones; a three-tier security system restricting access at the entry gate, lobby and at individual units to control vendor and visitor movement; digital door locks with the latest in facial recognition technology; and mobile apps that can control entry and exit to a unit and provide CCTV access from anywhere across the globe.  However, buyers of less expensive units can opt for advanced security technologies as an add-on feature.”“Generally, security features usually make up 1-2 per cent of the project cost,” adds Eshwar.“CCTV and gas leak detectors are standard security features in our affordable housing offerings (Provident Housing),” says Srikanth Srinivasan, Group Head, Commercial, Puravankara. “Buyers of mid to luxury housing (Puravankara projects) expect digital door locks, video door phones, sensors, alarms and motion detectors as standard features. In this segment, security constitutes 1-2 per cent of the project cost. We offer home buyers the option to upgrade to higher convenience features in the luxury segment. In commercial properties, security features such as entrance management, utilities management and visitor management are integrated into the building management system.”Security Services It is one thing to provide security solutions. It is another to partner customers to help them optimise their spending on security and reduce security incidence rates. G4S Integrated Technology Solutions does both, according to Mohit Oberoi, Director, Integrated Technology Solutions, G4S Security Systems (India).The right partner will have the expertise to effectively install the security solution. For instance, “Athena has invested more than three years in conducting detailed no-cost-no-commitment trials for different stakeholders across the country,” shares Vishnu Choudhary, Managing Director, Athena Security Solutions. “During this time, the company has adopted ways to surmount the implementation challenges presented in a vast geography, as well as trained personnel who have then successfully completed several projects.”Role of security solutions during the COVID-19 outbreak  CCTV cameras are immensely useful to monitor spaces to identify crowded places. Based on their feed, police can be deployed to dispel gatherings, explains R Nandakumar, Founder & CMO, Active Total Security Systems. It simply isn’t feasible to deploy police everywhere.During the lockdown, the dependency on electronic security systems is critically high to secure closed offices and facilities, says Mohit Oberoi, Director, Integrated Technology Solutions, G4S Security Systems (India). “We have adopted processes to ensure unhindered services to our clients and 100 per cent uptime of electronic security systems. Even as the lockdown is lifted in phases and work resumes, on-site safety will need to be ensured.”Look out for…Perimeter intrusion detection solutions (PIDS) for properties with perimeters of 2 km or less: In the ongoing financial year, Athena plans to launch products to prevent intrusions into residential and commercial properties with perimeters of 2 km or less. Currently, this market is dominated by electric fencing solutions, which are adversely impacted by high-tension wires, electromagnetic interference and lightning, and more prone to failure for having a greater number of components in the field. Optical fibre cables need almost zero maintenance.AI-driven security solutions: Athena is developing more intelligent algorithms to reduce the already low false acceptance rate of its solutions. New solutions will combine the alarms for PIDS with the data steam from cameras. Athena wants to integrate AI with camera systems to provide actionable information, at a competitive price. These solutions will be useful for those applying for Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) certification, as well as storage facilities needed to improve the effectiveness of their CCTV streams.Counter-drone solutions: Athena is also working on a counter drone solution to thwart the growing threat from commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) available drones. Athena sees this as a growing marketplace and believes that a Made in India solution will gain greater traction by providing both technological advancements and a cost-effective price. - Charu BahriTo share your views on the market for Security Systems in India, write in at Feedback@ConstructionWorld.in

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