Re: VistaScape

["Roland Moore" <roland@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for the info.

"J. @netscape.net>" <jsloud2001<removeme> wrote in message
news:bf8om21014i8pq25vsq8s26bads6bhtr3q@xxxxxxxxxx
> On Tue, 28 Nov 2006 06:05:29 GMT, "Roland Moore" <roland@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
>
>>Thanks for the response. I am glad someone here knows something about
>>VistaScape.
>>>Siemen's recent decision to buy the company.
>>Who can parse what that really means? Having the best technology doesn't
>>mean that much to the head bean counter at a huge corporation. Look at
>>what
>>United Technologies paid for Lenel. I think everyone except Borris and
>>Natasha are still scratching their ass over that one. According to the
>>VistaScape web site the Siemens deal just went down in September. What if
>>Siemens just landed a bunch of contracts that used VistaScape it it was
>>cheaper to by the company than to by the product the company makes? (Just
>>like Lenel?). Or what if a Siemens competitor just landed a bunch of
>>contracts out from under Siemens and this was a move just to get Siemens'
>>nose down in that food chain a little deeper?
>
> Could be.  VistaScape was started by software engineers rather than a
> security or video company looking for a new niche.  The technology
> really is something different than the rest of the intelligent video/
> video analytics on the market, so I think there is some value in that.
>
>>Out of all the gear that gets picked at seaports and airports I had never
>>heard of VistaScape. Nice, Verint, VCS, Genetech, etc. were always the
>>names
>>I heard. As a company we do big places, but that is more vertical than
>>horizontal so a product like VistaScape wasn't one we were ever looking
>>for.
>>I guess someone pulled down a big carcass (I have no idea where yet, but
>>it
>>might have nothing at all to do with water) so now stuff like this
>>VistaScape is on the menu.
>
> VistaScape is still a very small company compared to Nice, Verint, or
> Object Video.  Most people in this industry had never heard of them
> before the Siemens announcement.  The first time that I'm aware that
> we used it was at MassPort/ Logan.  They were happy enough with the
> product to expand the contract considerably.
>
>> >For large scale video monitoring, it's the best thing we've come across.
>>What other vendor's products have you tried to compare and contrast
>>VistaScape with?
>
> There really isn't anything else out there that I'm aware of that does
> what VistaScape does with the GPS/ GIS mapping and situational
> awareness thing.  The user interface is what really sets it apart.  We
> still use Object Video more because it has more applications like
> indoor security.  VistaScape is really a niche product for large
> outdoor applications.  All of the applications we've worked on have
> been homeland security/ asset protection covering a relatively large
> area.
>
>>If the original VistaScape set up is a pain, how much tech time (per day,
>>week, month) does it take to keep it up and going in real life versus what
>>the factory says it should take?
>
> The system itself consists of video processors that VistaScape calls
> appliances - ain't that original - and the software components.  All
> of the ongoing maintenance that I'm aware of is typical IT stuff.
> With this product, I've been more involved in the pre-sales and
> installation phases, though.
>
>>What does the day to day end user have to say about it?
>
> The interface is probably the easiest CCTV user interface that I have
> seen for multiple cameras/ sensors over a large area.  The analytics
> work fairly well, but I think there is some room for improvement here.
> We're involved in one project that is tasked with finding new
> technologies for port security/ antiterrorism.  They looked at a bunch
> of different products, but really liked the VistaScape platform.    It
> just fits there application well.
>
>
>>Are they on the verge of some new release of a new VistaScape software
>>revision?
>
> They seem to constantly be on the verge of doing something new with
> the software.  They're still a software company and they operate like
> one.  One thing I know they were looking at was the ability of
> autotracking objects with assessment cameras based on data received
> from detection sensors.  They custom write drivers for third party
> sensor integration.
>
>>Do you think that Siemens is going to change VistaScape and pull it close
>>(like Bosch did with Radionics, DS and Phillips) or let it be what it has
>>always been.
>
> Of course they're telling me no, but who knows.  We did business with
> Radionics and Philips (Burle) for years before they were bought, and
> we still do business the same way with those guys for the most part.
> However, Siemens is a direct competitor and a very active player in
> the port security/ asset protection arena where VistaScape is
> typically used.
>
>
>
>>
>>
>>"J. @netscape.net>" <jsloud2001<removeme> wrote in message
>>news:ns7nm21pi02d5k0dn6vskgl9hurium2tub@xxxxxxxxxx
>>> On Tue, 28 Nov 2006 00:45:56 GMT, "Roland" <roland@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>I know there are some CCTV guys here. I know some service accounts with
>>>>a
>>>>ton of cameras. Someone here has to do seaports and airports and such.
>>>>Does
>>>>anyone here have any experience with VistaScape? If so does it work in
>>>>real
>>>>life anything like their (impressive) demo?
>>>>http://www.vistascape.com/flashlauncher.htm
>>>>
>>>
>>> I've posted here about VistaScape a little in the past.  I've been
>>> directly involved in two projects using SiteIQ.  It's really intended
>>> for large outdoor settings.  Basically, it overlays data from
>>> detection devices like visual or thermal cameras on preloaded GIS maps
>>> to provide situational awareness.  It includes video analytics to
>>> classify objects and to determine speed, direction, etc.  The objects
>>> then appear as icons on the GIS map.  At this point you can set up
>>> rules like virtual tripwires, directional rules, speed limits, or
>>> vehicle type.  The unique thing about VistaScape is that it uses GPS
>>> coordinates derived from known positions within the detection cameras'
>>> fields of view.  You then know the position of every object of
>>> interest.  Assesment cameras can then be linked to detection devices
>>> to allow an operated to further investigate a threat.  They can take
>>> inputs from other devices such as vessel tracking, radar,
>>> etc...basically anything that provides a GPS coordinate, so it's not
>>> necessary to have complete detection coverage provided by cameras.
>>>
>>> It's very complex to set-up.  I spent a couple of days alongside the
>>> VistaScape tech workin on a site.  Setting up the detection devices is
>>> more of an art than a science and is really dependent on the data
>>> provided. This may mean riding around in a boat with a GPS device to
>>> get coordinates for a bunch of cameras.   For large scale video
>>> monitoring, it's the best thing we've come across.  It's actually been
>>> around for a while under most people's radar.  They used it during the
>>> G8 Summit in Savannah that was probably 2 1/2 years ago.  I guess the
>>> best evidence of it's effectiveness is Siemen's recent decision to buy
>>> the company.
>>
>