In preparation for an upcoming project we decided to put together a little test scenario involving the exacqvision VMS and an Arecont AV8185 180 degree view 8 megapixel camera.

Our setup on the street
Our setup included an Alienware Laptop running the exacqVision enterprise server & client, an Arecont AV8185 camera mounted on a 3 meter AV stand, a Netgear 8 port POE router, a 5 meter IP cable and power from the nearby flower stand.

Video of the Setup (including lots of interested onlookers)

Results
Here’s a video of what the system was showing us. Forgive the resolution – remember this was compressed once for the screen capture & again when uploaded to VIMEO.

Although the video appears choppy this appears to stem from the 5.5 fps limitation on each of the 4 cameras when running at full 2 megapixel res – 8 megs across the board. In reality the 5.5 fps is plenty fast enough to capture vehicle license plates and other fast-moving objects in the camera’s view. All things being said we were extremely pleased with the performance of the solution – especially considering there was absolutely zero configuration of the cameras prior to shooting the video.

The original-resolution exacqVision video export is here:
http://nnodal.com/sharedfiles/180cam.exe  (350MB)

Below are some screen captures from the video export. Click on each for a larger view:

Using the exacqVision digital zoom, we can clearly read the license plate number:

And again using exacqVision digital zoom:

Other views from the Arecont cameras:

The original nnodal blog post is here. Our thanks to Tony Luce and everyone at nnodal for this interesting experiment.

Version 4.4 is available for download here. Key features in the 4.4 Release include:

• Bosch IP camera support via ONVIF
• Export to Quicktime enhancements
• Enhanced ‘My Systems’ reporting and functionality
• ACTi privacy mask support
• German translation update

Here are some of the features in detail:

Bosch IP Camera support via ONVIF
exacqVision now supports several models of Bosch IP cameras through ONVIF. The Bosch IP cameras support H.264 video compression and include the new AutoDome Easy II IP cameras, the Dinon 2X D/N IP cameras, and the FlexiDome 2X D/N IP cameras.

The Bosch IP camera models supported include:

NBN-498-22P – Dinion2X D/N IP Cameras
VEZ-221-ECCEIVA – AutoDome Easy II IP Cameras
NDN-498V09-21P – FlexiDome2X D/N IP Cameras

Bosch IP camera firmware version 4.11.1 or later is required for ONVIF support.

Export to Quicktime enhancements
New additions for Quicktime video exports include on-screen text overlay.

Quicktime video can be exported from exacqVision Mac, Linux and Windows clients.

Enhanced ‘My Systems’ reporting and functionality
Two new features have been added to the exacqVision ‘My Systems’ page. The first is the ability to connect to any server immediately without adding it to the list of servers that connect automatically. This is particularly useful in enterprise deployments of large amounts of servers.

Additionally, a new column has been added on the My Systems page indicating the days of recorded video that are on each server, another useful tool in large enterprise deployments.

ACTi Privacy Mask
The Privacy Mask mode in ACTi IP cameras is now supported, allowing the administrator to define non-visible areas of the video image.

German Translation Update
Enhancements have been made to the German translation of exacqVision. exacqVision VMS software now has 14 unique language translations.

Recent Releases
With this release we continue to make rapid progress with exacqVision, and incremental releases have hit about every 2 months. A large number of new features have been added in a short period of time. You can see the full release history of exacqVision here:
exacqVision Release History

Download and Installation
As always, the latest versions of exacqVision client and server software can easily and quickly be copied over existing versions while retaining all user settings. The latest versions can always be downloaded from the exacqVision Downloads page, or you can click on ‘Check for Updates‘ within the ‘About‘ box in the exacqVision software.

exacqVision Server software is available in both Windows and Linux versions, and the exacqVision client software is available in Windows, Linux and Macintosh native versions. Any version of exacqVision client can connect to any version of exacqVision server.

Exacq’s booth is Hall 5 #120K in the USA Pavilion. We’ll be showing the latest features in exacqVision, including the new ONVIF compatibility in exacqVision 4.4, the latest features in Exacq Mobile, our iPhone & iPad app, and a new Enterprise Health Monitor program that provides monitoring, assessment and action for exacqVision system health events in a large enterprise video surveillance deployment.

On Thursday, Oct 7, Exacq will be participating in the ONVIF Public Plugfest & Reception, held in the New York Hall in the Essen Trade Fair grounds. Exacq is one of the sponsoring exhibitors of the Essen ONVIF Plugfest, and we’ll be showing certified compatibility between exacqVision and ONVIF-compatible IP camera models from Axis and Bosch, including the Axis M1031-W Wireless Network Camera and the Bosch NBN-498-22P Dinion2X D/N IP Camera.

More information on Security Essen is available here.

Alpha Pricing Co., the Exacq distributor for Taiwan, has a large booth showcasing a number of the vendors they distribute. The exacqVision product line is prominently featured, highlighted by connecting megapixel IP cameras from Arecont Vision and others.

MegaPixel IP camera vendor StarDot is featuring exacqVision VMS software in their booth to demo their new line of H.264 multi-megapixel IP cameras.

Stretch, Inc, is highlighting the new exacqVision EL-S embedded Linux Hybrid NVR appliance, which utilizes the Stretch S6000 processor for H.264 video compression. The exacqVision VMS software is also running on the Stretch VRC6404HD board, designed specifically to connect to HDcctv cameras. Stretch is one of the founding members of the HDcctv Alliance.

SecuTech continues for two more days. You can see exacqVision  at Alpha Pricing booth #L627-L632, at StarDot booth #K724-K725, and at Stretch, Inc. booth #L410-L412. You can click on the images below for larger versions.

On Wednesday, May 27, 2009, Axis Communications Japan held their Axis Technology Showcase, Tokyo 2009, at Sumitomo Hall in Tokyo. The day consisted of presentations by Axis, IMS Research, and others; case studies; and product exhibits.

Our distributor for Japan, Sun Systems, was there exhibiting the Japanese version of exacqVision Video Management Software. Mr. Naohiro Kishi, Managing Director of Sun Systems, also gave one of the main presentations, entitled Acceleration from Analog to IP.

The conference was filled to capacity, reflecting the rapidly-growing interest in IP video surveillance in Japan. The Sun System booth was packed with people interested in the exacqVision/Axis solution.

Our thanks to Axis Communications Japan and to Sun Systems for a successful event. Below are some pictures from the event. More pictures are here.

At IFSEC 2009, we were showing our latest integration with the Basler IP megapixel cameras in the Basler booth. Basler, long a premium machine vision camera vendor, has a new line of IP cameras for the surveillance market.  Information on their IP cameras is here, and an overview brochure in PDF format is here.  Security Systems News Europe editor Steven Sachoff had this to say about Basler:

Germany’s Basler, which just entered the IP camera market last year, is another example of a company with roots outside the security industry that is doubling down on its security business during the tough economy. Basler’s Anke Wuebbelmann told me the company, which has its basis in machine vision technology, had recently made the decision to invest even more to develop its line of IP cameras for security applications at the expense of some other non-security areas the company is active in. At IFSEC this year Basler is touting a number of new partnerships, including with Lenel, Exacq, Alnet and OnSSI. The company has also just launched training programs for partners and distributors, and will be starting road shows as well. Basler is not just going after the European market—Wuebbelmann said they’re busy building up their sales channels in the U.S. and Asia, and towards that end, the company recently established a new subsidiary in Taiwan.

There was a great deal of international trade coverage about IFSEC.  John Honovich of IPVideoMarket.info provided his comprehensive IFSEC roundup.  We also found the real-time IFSEC Twitter posts of interest.  Many pictures from the show have been posted on the web. Our friends at IP camera vendor ACTi had a booth right across the aisle from us, and posted a number of pictures on their flickr site, like this and this.

At CeBIT Australia 2009, we were exhibiting as part of the New South Wales technology booth, along with our distribution partner Zone APS. Zone APS is a technology-leading provider of IP security products, including Exacq, Arecont Vision, ACTi, ioimage, and MSCP, their own PSIM system.  Zone has had great success deploying exacqVision IP surveillance systems in large retail chains, airports, casinos, mining facilities and shipping and logistics companies throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

CeBIT is primarily an IT-oriented show, but as physical security rapidly converges with IT, it had a bigger presence at this year’s show. Turnout was high and there were a number of first-time exhibitors, despite early press reports about some vendors backing out.

The trade press coverage of this show was more fragmented than with IFSEC, but once again we found the real-time CeBIT Twitter posts interesting.  Also of interest, CeBIT Australia has their own flickr page with 1100+ photos of the event.

Exacq in the Basler booth at IFSEC 2009:

Exacq in the Zone APS booth at CeBIT Australia 2009:

LRG Int’l is one of the leading security manufacturer representatives for the Americas, with headquarters in San Antonio, and offices throughout Latin America including Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. In addition to Exacq, LRG Int’l represents a number of physical security manufacturers, including power controller manufacturer Altronix, megapixel camera manufacturer Arecont Vision, access control and panel provider DMP, and access control vendor International Electronics Inc, among others.

The exacqVision product line has seen a considerable interest throughout Latin America, with some significant customer wins, and exacqVision is fully localized into Spanish. Adding the resources of LRG Int’l will help build on this momentum, and we’re pleased to welcome Glenn Patrizio and his team to the Exacq family of reps.

LRG Int’l can be reached as follows:

Web: http://www.lanrepgroup.com/int/
Phone: +1-210-408-9136 (Texas) or +52-55-5608-0817 (Mexico)
e-mail: sales@lanrepgroup.com
Detailed contact information here.

Pictured below is the LRG Int’l team at Expo Seguridad in Mexico City, Apr 20-22, 2009. From left, Octavio Lemus, Manuel Hernández, Glenn Patrizio, Manuel Rebagliati, Andrés Mosqueda and Mónica Mejía.

Thomas Rasi, Marketing Director of Gate Security, reported that they had high traffic and great interest at their booth:

Butiksleverantör was a great success for Gate Security. We had many demos and the interest in the exacqVision product was very high. A lot of good leads and a nice promotion of Exacq.  We had two main demo stations, one with 3 monitors and one with 4 monitors , and we had online connection with exacqVision servers in other locations throughout the country, all making for impressive demos.

We’ve enjoyed a long partnership with Gate Security.  They have amassed an impressive clientele, having installed exacqVision video management systems for a large number of retail customers, including the ICA chain of Supermarkets and Hypermarkets throughout Sweden, as well as a diverse array of sites such as the Kalmar Airport, the Gröna Lunds Tivoli amusement park, a number of municipalities including Svenljunga and Arvika, and even the backstage studio surveillance for the popular Let’s Dance program on TV4.

Additionally, Gate Security holds the distinction of being one of the first companies in Sweden with engineers to be certified in CCTV by the Svensk Brand & Säkerhetscertifiering AB (SBSC), the country’s leading organization for certifying companies, products, management processes and personnel within fire protection and crime prevention, ensuring all video surveillance systems they install conform to the SSF-1060 standard for CCTV video.

Our congratulations to the entire group at Gate Security for a successful trade fair.  Gate Security can be reached as follows:

Gate Security AB
Phone: +46-5453-6600
www.gatesecurity.se

Sun System was showing the latest Version 3.3 of exacqVision VMS video surveillance software.  Included in the 3.3 feature set is international localization, and full Japanese localization is now shipping, in addition to several other European and Asian localizations.

There was a steady stream of people in the Sun System booth, with key areas of interest being the cross-platform capability of exacqVision (Windows, Linux and Mac); mobile viewing capability for iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and even simple mobile browsers; the contemporary, intuitive user interface; and the low price point.

Our congratulations to Sun System for their successful exhibition.  Sun System can be reached as follows:

Sun System Supply
Web: www.sunss.co.jp