Genetec's Plan Manager Solution

To efficiently monitor highly-critical sites, operators need simple and effective tools that enable them to anticipate and quickly respond to threats and emergencies. In such instances, graphical representations of maps that integrate various surveillance elements facilitate the operators’ tasks, especially at large, complex and remote sites.

With Plan Manager, Genetec has pushed this concept even further by integrating interactive command and control functions, and by expanding the range of entities represented on the maps.

Plan Manager is an advanced map-based interface built into Genetec's unified security platform, the Security Center. It allows users to create a virtual environment from maps or floor plans for all types of sites including cities, neighbourhoods, airports , campuses and industrial sites, buildings, floors multi-site interfaces are also possible. The plans can be interconnected for continuous navigation, from a high-level overview right to the smallest detail.

Maps can be created from various sources (geographic information system (GIS), architect's drawings, general snapshots) and then updated using the Plan Manager configuration feature, which is integrated into Security Desk. Each video surveillance entity (cameras, sensors, doors, alarms, etc.) is represented on the map by an icon indicating its status; specific actions, which can be simply triggered by the operator, are linked to each entity. These statuses and actions can be expanded with the map entity editing tool.

Integrated Synthetic Operating Environment

With Security Center, you get a large number of tools that are essential to safety and security operations. Plan Manager enhances the features of the interface by offering operators an unparalleled experience: an all-encompassing view of all the entities required for effective monitoring. Its interface displays the status of entities such as cameras, doors, alarms, etc., and allows operators to trigger actions such as show a camera, lock a door, execute a macro, turn off an alarm, etc.

Rather than search through cameras or doors on a list, operators use Plan Manager to select an area to view.  Plan Manager then selects the closest cameras for this zone and automatically positions (pan, tilt, zoom) the cameras towards this area (Smart Select), showing the corresponding video from the selected zone. Operators can move through the map quickly by easily selecting various entities on the map such as a hot spot, a link from one map to another, a favourite view, or a camera or encoder. User-friendly toolbars make navigation a breeze, and the building plans include menus that can be used to move within levels.

Also, Plan Manager faciliates the search of any entity, and allows users to center the map by a simple click of the mouse or on any triggered  alarm.

The integration of the various entities in the same view enables the operator to work more efficiently by providing a better perspective of the situation. As a result, the operator becomes more action-oriented. The operator can also decide to hide the layers of entities that he does not require at a given moment, and graphically highlight hot spots such as a forced door or an intrusion in a given zone.

Plan Manager Operator Interface within Omnicast

Plan Manager can run in any video tile within Security Center and can be displayed according to the user's viewing preferences. Plan Manager’s interface is organized into the following three areas:

The Map Display Window represents the portion of the screen where the maps are displayed. This window supports multitouch actions such as zooming when using a touch screen.

The Plan Manager Toolbar contains icons for all available functions. Only icons for functions accessible based on an operator's profile are displayed.

The Minimap shows the portion of the map being displayed. The Minimap can also be used as a map navigation tool.

The Rapid Access Metaphor allows operators to quickly navigate from one level to the next when a building map is displayed.

The Contextual Floating Window, at the left of the screen, allows operators to display the properties of entities selected as well as action screens (search, add to favourites, alarms, main site map).

Display preferences can be set at any time to accommodate the operator's requirements. These display options are managed in the Plan Manager toolbar.

Map Organization

The map environment of the site is organized according to operator needs. Usually, there are at least two levels within the maps:

The main site map as well as map access rights can be configured from the Plan Manager configuration tool, which automatically synchs with the Security Center groups and users. Plan Manager accepts vectorial PDF plans exported from Autocad and other systems. The import tool allows the user to select a specific page in a PDF file, crop or rotate the page, and import the map automatically to the server.

Entities on the Map

Each entity is represented by a specific dynamic icon, which indicates its status in real time. The various interactive elements on each map make it easy for operators to access video imagery and information. These entities include the following:

• Hot spots
• Map links
• Favourite views 
• Cameras 
• Doors

The status of an entity in Security Center can be customized by the system administrator with the help of a property tool (shown below).

Users can link specific entities to each status, change its colour or view, or make it blink. These entities can have multiple statuses; for example, a door could be represented by a red blinking icon on an alarm and simultaneously display as opened or closed, depending on its status.

Each object is linked to a main action, e.g. display the video image on a camera tile.,  A user can also add additional actions to this main action where a macro is launched within the Security Center. This allows users to extend and adapt the possibilities offered by the map interface to the specific requirements of the monitored site.

These actions then appear in the contextual menu of the map entities.

Hot Spots
A hot spot is a portion of a map requiring particular attention and, consequently, increased interaction. Hot spots are identified and created by the administrator.

• PTZ cameras associated with this hot spot are centered on the area with an appropriate zoom factor and the images are displayed.
• Images from other fixed cameras associated with this hot spot are also displayed. 
• An operator can perform a specific action (link to a macro). They are then accessible via the contextual menu.

Map Links
Plan Manager offers various functions to allow operators to toggle from one map to another: rapid access metaphor, main site map, favourites, alarms on the map, searching mapping objects. A map link is usually a door, stairs or elevator to another part of a map or a different level, and is represented by a specific icon on the map.

Favourite Views
A favourite view is a portion of a map defined dynamically by an operator (private favourite views) or the system administrator (private or public favourite views) for quick access to a given view. Once created, the favourites can be searched for by name and, if selected, will automatically display the corresponding view of the map.

Cameras and Doors
Cameras are integrated into the maps as coloured icons, which indicate their location, status and the camera's field of view in real time with PTZ mobile cameras with positional return. Camera statuses, e.g. in operation, not working, not installed and in alarm, are indicated by the colour of the icon, making it easy for operators to assess the status of the system at a glance. Only cameras for which an operator has access rights are displayed.

The doors are also integrated as coloured icons, which represent their status: in operation, not working, open, closed, locked, unlocked. They allow access to video imaging from the associated cameras.

There are many ways an operator can display camera images:

• By direct selection of one or several cameras on a map.
• By selection of a hot spot.
• By selection of a door.
• By selection of any point on a map.
• After searching for a camera, favourite, or any operator-defined object on maps.
• On alarm.

Simplified Map Navigation

Plan Manager is designed for operators who need to search an interactive map quickly and effectively. To that end, navigation tools, view mode options, advanced search features and alarm triggering are offered.

Also, navigation between the maps is easily accomplished using a mouse. Zooming in and out with the mouse wheel will be completely fluid while workstation performance stays optimal. Moving from one map to another becomes instantaneous which allows users to take action and handle events in real-time.

 When video is displayed, operators need only the PTZ commands to control the view. Also, advance search features allow operators to quickly pinpoint their favourite views, cameras or hot spots by name or by filtering through a list.

Alarm Management

The alarm management feature quickly locates incidents on the map when different types of alarms are triggered, such as alarms generated by the video surveillance equipment (e.g., cameras or doors, access control systems or (future) video analytics systems). These alarms are positioned on the map or associated with entities through the Plan Manager administration tools.

The type of alarm will be displayed and the map will automatically center on the alarm zone with associated icons blinking. Operators can then select which cameras to display, lock or unlock doors, and perform all configured actions in the alarm zone without having to search each entity on a list.

Once the incident is closed, the operator can turn off the alarm directly from the map or use the Security Desk features.

Custom Features

Like Security Center, Plan Manager was built to function with an architecture that offers the ease and possibility of further custom development. Whether adapting existing functionalities, customizing the interface with entities or integrating with third-party systems, Genetec provides other options for further custom development to distributers and integrators with clients that require such adaptions or extension.

Customizing the capabilities of Plan Manager maximizes the efficiency of security missions and provides operators with even more control at their fingertips.