29 December 2021 - Security Buyer Magazine

Smart cities – An integrated future

The UAE is leaping into the realm of smart cities and adopting integrated security measures that protect infrastructure, homes, transportation and people The dream of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to develop smart cities stemmed from the government’s Vision 2021, an ambitious plan to make the UAE amongst the best countries in the world. By building smart cities, the UAE would clear the path to achieve one of Vision 2021’s six national priorities: that of a sustainable environment and infrastructure. By creating a smart city, the UAE can ensure continuity and fluidity between public safety, transportation, infrastructure, security and building technology. By creating a seamless urban environment security resilience is easier to maintain. What is ‘smart’? There are a number of definitions of what makes a city ‘smart,’ for example, IBM defines a smart city as “one that makes optimal use of all the interconnected information available today to better understand and control its operations and optimise the use of limited resources.” However, in short, a smart city uses a framework of information and communication technologies to create, deploy and promote development practices to address urban challenges and create a joined-up, technologically-enabled and sustainable infrastructure. Smart cities use a variety of software, user interfaces and communication networks alongside the Internet of Things (IoT) to deliver connected solutions for the public. Of these, the IoT is the most important. The IoT is a network of connected devices that communicate and exchange data. This can include anything from vehicles to home appliances and on-street sensors. Data collected from these devices is stored in the cloud or on servers to allow for improvements to be made to both public and private sector efficiencies and deliver economic benefits and improvements to the lives of citizens. Many of the IoT devices use edge computing, which ensures that only the most relevant and important data is delivered over the communication network. In addition, a security system is implemented to protect, monitor and control the transmission of data from the smart city network and prevent unauthorised access to the IoT network of the city’s data platform. Alongside the IoT solutions, smart cities also use technologies including: Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cloud Computing Services Dashboards Machine Learning Machine-to-Machine Communications Mesh Networks ITU defines a smart sustainable city as “an innovative city that uses information and communication technologies (ICTs) and other means to improve quality of life, efficiency of urban operation and services, and competitiveness, while ensuring that it meets the needs of present and future generations with respect to economic, social and environmental as well as cultural aspects.” This definition is very well reflected in the smart city plans and projects of the UAE. To read the full article see our December-January issue available in the new year. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, Security Portfolio Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@securitybuyer.com

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Heald partners with truckBloc

UK News Desk / Rebecca Morpeth-Spayne

Heald, an innovator in the field of perimeter security technology and a manufacturer of security equipment in the UK, along with its German security manufacturer and distribution partner truckBloc, has secured one of Germany’s leading Christmas Markets in the city of Mainz. Set in the historical backdrop of the 1,000-year-old St. Martin’s Cathedral, the Mainz Christmas Market features over 100 decorated stands and welcomes hundreds of visitors every year. Following a number of vehicle attacks including the terrorist attack on the Breitscheid Platz Christmas Market in 2016 in which 12 people lost their lives and an additional 50 were injured, along with a drunk driver killing 5 and injuring 15 others in the city of Trier in 2020, German officials have been ensuring measures are put in place to reassure and protect visitors. Working in partnership with Germany based truckBloc, Heald has provided two of its surface mount mechanical Matador 4’s to complement truckBloc’s tB18 fixed barriers. The Matador 4 is a sliding bollard solution that can be opened to allow access to service, delivery and emergency response vehicles. Both Heald’s Matador and truckBloc’s tB18S are crash tested to IWA-14 and PAS 68 standards. The Matador 4 also holds a CPNI Vehicle Attack Delay Standard (VADS) rating. VADS rated products provide an alternative risk-based option for event managers and other risk owners: pragmatic, affordable and achievable levels of protection, typically for, but not exclusively, temporary events. Debbie Heald MBE, Managing Director at Heald, commented, “We are delighted to be working alongside truckBloc to bring the industry-leading Matador to the German security market. After Christmas Markets were cancelled around the globe in 2020, it is an honour to ensure that Christmas Markets can resume safely once again”. Michael Dahinten, Head of sales and business development at truckBloc added: “Thanks to our excellent partnership with Heald, we are now able to ideally combine the truckBloc tb18 high-security bollard with the Heald Matador. For events such as Christmas markets, a flexible, yet highly secure security line can be installed with little effort”. The installation in Germany follows the announcement that Chester is to keep security bollards it recently installed, including Heald’s Matador, in the closed position throughout the Christmas season to offer added security to shoppers. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, Security Portfolio Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@securitybuyer.com

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What to expect at Intersec 2022

Event News / Ghyslaine Cordrey

Intersec, a global emergency services, security and safety event, will mark its return on 16-18 January 2022. The 23rd edition of the event, will be staged under the theme of ‘Uniting the World’s leading industry specialists for the safety & security of future generations.’ The extensive development of the show will see the best minds in the industry participate in the new 3-day conference program, with six industry pillars addressing the sector’s most vital issues and opportunities including the Global Security Leaders’ Summit, Protecting Future Connected Cities & Citizens Conference, Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure Conference, Agile First Responders Conference, Cyber Lab and a dedicated KSA Focus Day. Who are the headlining speakers? Ex-MI6 Chief Sir Alex Younger is one of the first announced international headliners, speaking for the first time in the UAE as a guest speaker. Younger joined the United Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), also known as MI6, in 1991 and served as a diplomat and undercover operative. He was appointed Chief or ‘C’ of MI6 in 2014 and retired in 2020, making him the longest-serving chief in 50 years. He will be sharing his unique insights as the best minds in the industry gather between the 16-18 January 2022 at Intersec’s ‘Global Security Leaders’ Summit. Sir Alex said: “I am delighted to be speaking for the first time in the UAE at Intersec, and at a time when conversations for the Security and Safety industry has been thrust into the spotlight from recent global events. The Middle East has always fascinated me – the ever-shifting intricate dynamics of geopolitical relationships in the region and the impact they have internationally create a complex security landscape that I have been immersed in for much of my career. For this industry, Intersec offers the most valuable platform for knowledge exchange on the protection of citizens from existing and future threats and I look forward to sharing my perspective on a topic which remains a global priority.” Ethical hacker, Freaky Clown (FC) will also be attending as a headline speaker at the event and will give deep insights into the world of cybercrime. FC brings a truly unique perspective to Intersec’s inaugural Cyber Security Lab conference, where he will talk about how cyber criminals circumnavigate access controls, how governments and organisations can identify their cyber weaknesses and what they can do to improve their security. FC said: “At a time when governments, individuals and organisations the world over are experiencing a steep increase in cyber security threats, I am in a unique position to be able to share inside information on the very people that they are being attacked by. I can help them become more aware, more secure and more capable of defending themselves and look forward to doing so at such a unique event like Intersec which brings the industry’s most important stakeholders together under one roof”. To read the full article see our December-January issue available in the new year. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, Security Portfolio Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@securitybuyer.com

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