ASIS 2011 Conference, Orlando FL, September 19-22, 2011

Jim Viscardi reports that Smiths Detection is a world leader in the manufacturing of detection and imaging products that detect chemical weapons, toxic industrial materials, biological warfare agents, narcotics, radiation, nuclear materials and explosives. The company provides multiple technologies to multiple markets, he claims, segmenting by application and customer rather than by technology, a practice which gives Smiths Detection a competitive advantage because of its depth and breadth of products.

The 3VR Video Platform, says Al Shipp, takes standard video surveillance and extracts video information that is useful and actionable. In managing incoming video streams, 3VR can build metatags and put the useful information on a database that is searchable. This reduces the time to find what you are looking for down to minutes, rather than hours or days. “Anything you can search you can put an alert on,” says Shipp. Traditionally, if something bad happens, you used video surveillance to figure out what it was.

Intergraph, short for “interactive graphics”, is a software company that uses graphics to help its clients visualize complex information, according to Bob Scott. The company’s Security Solutions unit develops software tools for the government to make maps; provides mapping for transportation applications; designs and maintains facilities for utilities and communications; and is the world’s largest provider of public safety systems.

Chairman and CEO Brad Conway explains that Autoclear is basically an anti-terrorist, anti-perpetrator company which is in the business of detecting contraband, explosives, weapons, metal, narcotics, chemical and nuclear substances through its broad lines of X-ray scanners, metal detectors and trace detection products. Key markets for the company are military/force protection, embassies and government buildings, airports and seaports, nuclear and oil facilities, customs, police bomb squads and other law enforcement applications. Mr.

According to veteran technology sales executive Chris Peterson, Vector Firm is a management consulting business which specializes in the sales and business development departments of security businesses. The company’s clients range from multi-billion dollar contractors to $5-million systems integrators that want to break the $5-million barrier. Vector’s contribution to these companies, he says, is building strategies, processes and tools, both on a strategic and a tactical level.

Lenses for government applications in border security, maritime and port security and critical infrastructure protection are at the high end of the specialized lenses produced by Pentax Imaging, according to Andrew Shemo. These long range lenses feature PAIR, the Pentax Atmospheric Interference Reduction Technology, which provides a crystal clear picture through fog, rain, smoke and sand.

Smith & Wesson, an American tradition in the firearms business for 160 years, recently moved into the perimeter protection business following its purchase of Universal Safety Response, creating Smith & Wesson Security Solutions.

BRS Labs, as president John Frazzini describes, has invented an artificial intelligence-based video surveillance platform that has injected advanced artificial neuro network technology into the analysis of video surveillance data. The company has seen a substantial growth in business over the last few months, he says, as the market has recognized BRS Labs’ rethinking of the core problem in video surveillance, which is that there are far too many cameras being deployed and not enough human monitors to evaluate the data being captured.

Ameristar Fence is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of steel palisade residential, commercial and high-security fencing, as well as passive cable barriers, according to Chris Herold. In the government and critical infrastructure markets, the company’s current client list includes the Department of Defense, petrochemical companies, big oil and gas and major government facilities.

Although electric fencing has long been the flagship product of the Gallagher Group, the company now offers an integrated package including access control, according to the New Zealand company’s CEO Sir William Gallagher. He adds that the package also encompasses a very good monitoring system as well as vibration sensors which are ideal for detecting fence cutting. If someone cuts the fence, he says, an alarm goes off, but rain, hail and sleet will not affect the vibration sensor.