Published in Construction Business Owner, January 2012

Stop crime now with a wireless security system.

Construction business owners face tough decisions when trying to secure their jobsites. In an industry that has been hit hard by the struggling economy, business owners have tight budgets. As a result, security often does not become a priority until an event occurs that results in vandalism and stolen assets.

Losing heavy machinery, such as front-end loaders, bulldozers and cranes, can cost thousands of dollars. Tool theft and copper theft have also increased. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, copper theft costs the national economy about $1 billion per year.

Depending on the size of a loss, anywhere from one day to several weeks can be lost. Between the unexpected claim filing and inability to work, time-sensitive project hours can be eaten up. It only takes one or two significant events to occur during a project for a contractor to experience a major loss in profitability and time, making it critical for construction companies to find a cost-effective solution to avoid these unexpected costs.

How to Deal with Theft

A construction site or remote facility can be secured through several options. Most construction sites have a perimeter fence. A perimeter fence keeps unauthorized parties from trespassing and protects people from accidentally wandering into a hazardous site. While this keeps honest people away, thieves often have no problem finding a way in.

To avoid this, many business owners also have on-site security guards to protect their construction sites after hours. Guard services can be effective, but they can also be expensive, costing thousands of dollars each month. Also, a guard or even multiple guards cannot be in all places at all times.

An ideal security system acts as the omnipresent eye, and today, a variety of wireless solutions can accomplish this. They monitor the construction site’s perimeter and provide up-to-date, real-time data. Often, wireless security systems use combinations of technology, including motion detectors with LED lights and industrial grade IP video and audio solutions.

One increasingly popular example is battery-powered motion detectors with wireless monitoring. The motion detectors, which can be easily installed, create invisible lines or zones to form a perimeter around either an entire facility or a specific area where valuable equipment has been stored. If someone crosses the established perimeter, motion detectors send a signal to a control panel.

These systems can be tailored to fit each contractor’s needs. For example, in some cases when a motion detector has been triggered, a large-scale white LED light will illuminate in an attempt to ward off intruders. Or, very specific pre-recorded audio messages can also be played by using an amplifier and outdoor-rated loudspeakers in addition to lighting systems, strobe lights, etc. With telephone or Voice over IP (VoIP) systems, a contractor or designated security professional can communicate directly through the system.

Wireless sensor networks provide proven reliability during instances when a legitimate security breech has occurred, and timely notification will save money in stolen or damaged equipment.

Wireless sensors can be easily integrated with other solutions and reliably operate in secluded, industrial locations. A variety of other technologies can be combined with wireless systems, especially in remote sites where Internet access and power may not be available or where weather conditions can be a challenge.

 

Published in SecurityInfoWatch, August 2011

At a contractor trade show a few years ago, Mark Shumate, president of Shumate Constructors, met Dave Meurer, president of Albuquerque’s Armed Response Team. Meurer introduced Shumate to the idea of a flexible, reliable wireless solution that could continually monitor the entire site without the need to trench around the perimeter.

“Mark [Shumate] was fed up with theft at his construction sites so we started to discuss some prevention ideas,” Meurer says. “I knew this was a great fit for the combined Inovonics transmitter and Optex sensor solution. Shumate was not aware of any reliable solutions that could provide this type of theft prevention.”

Shumate decided to allow the Armed Response Team to implement the joint Inovonics and Optex solution. Inovonics wireless transmitters, embedded in Optex passive infrared sensors, were installed atop four-foot, free-standing steel posts with a base plate. Once installed, a wireless signal was easily achieved. The amount of sensors needed at Shumate’s different construction sites vary — for some sites, it can be as few as a dozen, and others it can be as many as 30 or more.

“The sensors can handle varying weather conditions and wireless connectivity offers less signal drop and more consistent reporting signal than any of the other transmitters we have tried,” Meurer says.

Meurer adds that one of the greatest benefits with a wireless solution is the flexibility to mold to a new location if the site changes. Oftentimes, the site is graded/re-graded; equipment or storage containers are delivered and removed. Additionally, for a period of time during the day, workers may need to move the perimeter posts that hold the sensors out of the way. Any of these factors can change the perimeter and create a need to re-configure the posts to ensure a secure perimeter; however, the wireless connectivity enables users to easily reposition the posts in the proper location at the end of the day.

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From RFID Journal, August 2011

Armed Response Team provides Inovonics' RFID system in conjunction with a manned response to attempted thefts at electrical boxes in Albuquerque.

In response to four incidents involving the theft of copper electrical wires at its showroom in Albuquerque, Accent Southwest Windows and Doors is now employing an RFID-based solution combining an arsenal of police officers and automated wireless sensors.

For businesses, the theft of copper wire can be a recurring problem. Electrical service boxes—access points for the underground wires that provide electric power to companies—are frequently located outside a building, where thieves can potentially access the wires and pull them out of the boxes. The process of stealing copper wire can take 30 minutes to an hour to complete, but if a box is located in a secluded area, a thief can pull off such a heist without being observed, and then sell the copper on the black market for triple the price that it would have fetched just a few years ago. A burglar can simply rip out the wires, and later strip off the insulation in order to sell the bare copper. For businesses, the expense is often absorbed by insurance companies, though a company's operations can remain down for a day or more until rewiring of its electrical service can be accomplished.

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From Security Magazine, April 2011

Today, security is of utmost importance at the nation’s colleges and universities. Events such as the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007 remind administrators, parents and students of the stark reality that considering the safety of all individuals who visit, work or attend classes at college campuses is essential.

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Published in Security Info Watch, July 2011

Aqua Water Supply, a non-profit water provider, has implemented a wireless perimeter security system from Inovonics and Optex to protect a water treatment facility in Bastrop, Texas.

Turnkey Security integrated Inovonics RF module transmitters with the Optex iSeries outdoor motion detectors for comprehensive and real-time perimeter protection. The combined perimeter protection system provides around-the-clock perimeter monitoring to prevent theft, vandalism and crime. The system provides a complete wireless secure perimeter around the water treatment facility and is incorporated into the plant’s existing Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.

Additionally, Inovonics universal transmitters provide tank hatch monitoring to stop potential unauthorized access to water storage tanks. “The seamless integration with our existing SCADA system made implementation very easy,” says Bill Loven, GM of Aqua Water Supply. “We are confident that this security solution is the best match for protecting our water treatment plant.”

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From Security Info Watch, July 2011

Today, of course, systems are going wireless because the wireless technologies have become so much better with companies like Honeywell, Visonic, and Inovonics producing dependable wireless security solutions. As I was aiming a 3/4-inch auger bit to start the process of providing a dedicated 20-amp Romex circuit to my fridge, I was thinking about these wireless systems and wondering if our industry might someday find that fishing wire through walls becomes a lost art. Will the techs of tomorrow still need luminescent fishing sticks? Will they know what a double-weave pull grip is? Will they carry those heavy duty auger bits that can grind studs and nails? Will they have a selection of wobbly flex bits clattering around in their vans? Will fishing wire just mean that monofilament stuff you use on your rod-and-reel when you're at the lake, or will it still be part of a honest day's labor?

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From Security Dreamer, June 2011

Inovonics helps its customers create value. Its line of wireless life safety technologies, led by its flagship RADIUS product, leverages existing network infrastructures to provide superior service. Imagine integrating a wide variety of sensors, including people-location, around your facility built around a single architecture of standard wireless networking. It is life safety information management at its finest.

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Published in Campus Safety, June 2011

Improved range and reliability, along with comparatively low installation costs, are making wireless solutions more than just practical for hospital, school and university security projects.

Whether it is a school, university or hospital, the story is the same: security budgets are tight and campuses have a short timeframe to install and update their security systems. With budgets and time constraints increasingly an issue, wireless intrusion technology has become an invaluable tool because of the labor savings of not pulling wire from the security panel out to the sensors.

Depending on the difficulty of the installation, the savings can be profound. And there are many environments that simply cannot be hardwired. Wireless technology has overcome practical obstacles and is increasingly seeing widespread acceptance.

Wireless security networks are being deployed in campus environments more today than ever before. As recently as five years ago, many believed wireless was best suited for residential applications, but increasingly campus stakeholders are coming to expect jobs will be finished faster with little to no disruption to their businesses and their buildings.

Advances in technology and applications have brought the industry to the point where commercial wireless is ready for primetime. As campus security stakeholders become convinced of the reliability, value and dependability of a wireless approach, they continue to expand the use of wireless to additional locations, facilities and, especially, applications. Some of the most recognizable facilities in the world have adopted wireless security systems for their buildings, providing a testament to the maturity and proven performance of the underlying technology.

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Published in Security Director News, June 2011

NEW YORK—After two high-profile men were charged with assaulting housekeeping staff at New York hotels within just weeks of each other, state legislators have offered up two bills requiring hotels to strengthen their security and safety measures...

...This represents a new possible vertical market that hadn’t been utilized for providers of commercial-grade wireless pendants, according to Mark Jarman, president of Inovonics, which manufacturers Radius, a wireless notification product. Jarman said he spoke with leaders of the New York Hotel Trades Council about this legislation and possible security solutions to offer hoteliers in the city.

“Before this series of events, this was not vertical or an application that was on our radar,” said Jarman.  The company works mostly in the senior care market, providing wireless pendants for seniors as well as the financial institutions, providing solutions for bank tellers. Jarman said the company has certainly been fielding a lot of phone calls in recent weeks.

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Published in Sensors Magazine, May 2011

Adding a wireless sensor network to fire extinguishers in large facilities or on sprawling campuses allows facilities managers to continuously ensure that the extinguishers are operational, present, and unobstructed rather than relying on a manual inspection every 30 days.

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Published in Security Director News, May 2011

Wireless sensor networks in commercial settings are continuing to gain traction for life-safety applications. The wave of smart phones and tablet computers has contributed to an increased acceptance of wireless as a reliable alternative to wired in security and life-safety. 900MHz wireless sensor network technology, in particular, continues to prove itself as a trusted solution for emergency situations. Decision makers in the security industry are seeing a surge in the demand for wireless solutions, particularly in IP-based security solutions and applications that require mobile security capabilities. The need for integrated security solutions that can tie all the benefits of wireless together into a single, seamless platform as well as manage security infrastructure has become top of mind for many. Security dealers and directors are increasingly leveraging wireless throughout their organizations for these reasons. In 2011, we are seeing several trends that reflect this movement towards wireless.

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Published on CanadianSecurityMag, May 2011

While wireless devices are more expensive than wired, labour costs are lower, says Jarman. For a 200-square-foot distribution centre with 140 sensors, for example, he estimates it would cost $34,400 to install a hardwired system, while the Inovonics system would be $21,800.

Many businesses are finding that their existing security system, designed solely for interior detection, is not enough, says Jarman. With an add-on receiver, a client can add a perimeter beam around the edge of a property. Outdoor wireless systems are being used in supply compounds, at cell towers, and at any site where the danger of electrocution makes it important to detect someone before they get over a fence.

Inovonics transmitters are put into infrared-based beamed detection devices, made by Optex, and mounted outdoors, around the perimeter of the property. The technology of the perimeter beam is very good, Jarman says.

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Published in Security Products, March 2011

The cost of copper wire has continued to increase in certain parts of the United States as a result of the economic recession, meaning thieves can make a living by selling it. Copper, however, is critical to much of the country’s infrastructure backbone, including power lines, heating and cooling pipes and grounding wires.

Thieves often rip the wire from buildings, leaving little else as part of the structure, and the loss of such essential infrastructure can have a big impact: phones drop calls; retail outlets close for days or weeks; police stations lose power and phone services, making them unable to respond to crime scenes; and city budgets must pay to replace the wire. These thefts are becoming a national concern.

According to the Department of Energy, copper theft costs about $1 billion a year. From January 2006 through March 2007, electric utility companies in 42 states reported 270 copper thefts, which represents millions of dollars in maintenance and repairs. A 2008 FBI report, Copper Thefts Threaten U.S. Critical Infrastructure, warned that the persistent, widespread theft “presents a risk to both public safety and national security.”

Keep reading . . .

Published in Multi-Housing News, March 2011

The industry continues to observe a heightened interest not just in utility cost recovery, but also in utility management.

“The emphasis is shifting toward the types of benchmarking and analytics that allow companies to take a proactive position, says Radice, “not only on conservation and green orientation, but how to become more aggressive and more fluent on decisions for programs that can reduce their utility spend.”
The problem, he adds, has been a lack of a benchmarking standard for the industry that would relate to energy conservation programs. The industry, says Radice, lacks a database “that would allow it to do comparative studies—based on geography and building type.” Through its UtilitySmart tool, NWP is working to support this effort by creating an analytics database of its clients for water invoice comparison and analysis.
Meanwhile, from a hardware standpoint, remote and/or wireless meter-reading systems are becoming more prevalent, making it easier not only to install a meter inside each apartment, but also for the meters to communicate with the data collector without having to run wires throughout a community.

“Wire is extensive from an installation standpoint,” notes Jarman. “To run a wire to every unit is labor- and material-intensive, and over time it doesn’t sustain performance-wise.”

While this may correlate to a slightly higher upfront cost, such installations are often more cost-effective because a technician doesn’t have to enter each apartment and run wires throughout the building, points out E-Mon’s Millstein. What’s more, wireless meters are easier to install in retrofits.
These systems encompass 900 megahertz of power, strong enough to penetrate multiple floors, and may use repeaters to cover the entire property, explains Jarman.

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Published in SDM Magazine - February 2012

The industry finds itself at a tipping point in 2011, with major shifts in technology, end-user demands, competition, and maybe, just maybe, its long-standing 20 percent penetration rate.

As you are reading this article, odds are you have a mobile phone within reach. You might even be reading this article on a mobile device via SDM’s digital edition. Even if one is not in reach, you probably still have a mobile phone, making you one of five billion global mobile connections globally, according to the latest report by Wireless Intelligence. There is also the possibility that you have a smartphone — making you one of 45.5 million people who owned a smartphone in 2010 in the United States, according to a study by ComScore. Additionally, Gartner predicts that by 2015, mobile devices will surpass Pcs to become the main mode of accessing the Web.

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Published in Stores Magazine, March 2011

Wireless monitoring solution from Inovonics and Albuquerque Armed Response Team helps deter copper theft for Albuquerque retailer. 

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Published on Security Info Watch Feburary 2011

In today's world of increasing concerns over safety, security and protection of lives and valuable assets, the need for developing and implementing a comprehensive mobile duress, situational awareness and mass notification system has become not just nice to have, but rather a mission critical requirement.

An increasing number of organizations are turning to integrated intelligent security systems that incorporate location, situational awareness and emergency mass notification capabilities to help protect their premises and human resources. These types of systems not only can help notify security personnel when an event occurs-anything from a fire to unwanted temperature increases to an injured person-but also pinpoint where it occurred. It also integrates emergency mass notification capabilities so that a security director or facilities manager can notify appropriate personnel and get people out of harm's way quickly and safely.

There are several considerations prior to purchasing a wireless location/situational awareness and emergency mass notification system:
1) Basic System Needs: Specifying any security system begins with understanding the basics, such as premises size and layout, as well as who will interact with the system. How large is the overall site? Does it consist of one building or is it a large multiple-building campus? Who needs to access the site, how frequently and during what times of day/week? Who will be responding to events when they occur?
2) Construction or Environment: Since wireless systems offer much more flexibility and allow you to easily move sensors, repeaters and transmitters where needed, strong consideration should be given to utilizing these technologies. Installing a hardwired system is much less forgiving and can cost more without offering greater security or reliability. Robust wireless technology with a repeater network can overcome most potential obstructions and ensure complete coverage of the site.

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Published in SDM, December 2010

The use of wireless technologies in security systems is at a tipping point of sorts that many agree will lead to explosive growth in the months and years to come. Among the driving factors are more IT-savvy end-users, new technologies that increase network bandwidth and the uncertainty of the future of POTS for alarm communications.

Niall Jenkins, a senior research analyst with IMS Research in Wellingborough, U.K., recently published a report titled “The America’s Market for Wireless Infrastructure Used in Video Surveillance.” He says that while the use of wireless for security systems makes up only a small percentage of total installations, the future looks bright.

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Published in Security Sales and Integration, December 2010

In releasing a list of major wireless security trends for 2011, Inovonics President Mark Jarman predicts that mobile security, integrated IP-based solutions and wireless systems will lead market next year. Inovonics is a provider of wireless sensor networks for commercial and life safety applications.
Jarman states that today’s security needs are different than they were a decade ago. “People and assets are mobile so security needs to be as well.

People are ‘connected’ thanks to mobile devices so they can stay linked to their security and data systems in real time,” he says. “When security is mobile, you need to be able to track it. People and assets are increasingly mobile so Real Time Location Solutions (RTLS) will become increasingly important.”

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Published in Security Info Watch, December 2010

In order to enter and leave the outdoor storage facility, the thieves would have to enter one of the three driveways going into and out of the facility. What they needed, HSG determined, was a robust transmitter that could be placed by each driveway that would connect back to the central control station.

Having worked with Inovonics for more than 10 years, HSG knew that it was a fitting solution to Aluma's problems. The company's wireless security products can connect to almost any security system and offer direct interfaces with many industry-leading control panels. Plus, with the availability of add-on and serial receivers, Aluma would have flexible connectivity options.

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