With the rapid development of my country's economy and the continuous improvement of living standards, people's concept of home has evolved from initially satisfying simple living functions to emphasizing the humanized needs of housing. Safe, comfortable, fast, and convenient smart communities have become the mainstream trend in housing development, with security being the primary goal. The realization of security in smart communities, besides human factors, mainly relies on the community's intelligent security and prevention system.
1. Principles for Setting Up Security Systems
A technical security system established for the purpose of ensuring safety is called a security system. It includes various devices that use modern physical and electronic technology to promptly detect intrusion and vandalism, generate audible and visual alarms to deter criminals, record images and sounds of the incident scene to provide evidence for solving cases, and remind on-duty personnel to take appropriate physical preventative measures. The setup of a smart community security system should follow these principles:
(1) The corresponding protection level should be determined according to the risk level of the protected objects in the smart community, so as to meet the design requirements of comprehensive protection and local depth protection of the community and achieve the required level of security.
(2) Based on the construction standards, functions and security management needs of smart communities, electronic information technology, computer network technology, sensor detection technology and security technology should be comprehensively applied to form an advanced, reliable, economical and applicable security technology system.
(3) The system design and configuration of the intelligent community security system and its subsystems must comply with relevant national security technical regulations and the norms and standards for intelligent residential communities, and adhere to the principle of people-oriented approach. System integration should be achieved in a structured, modular, and standardized manner, and should be able to adapt to the needs of engineering construction and technological development.
2. Security System Composition
Smart communities typically enhance security by installing security devices along the community perimeter, in key areas, and inside residents' homes, all managed centrally by the community's property management center. The community's intelligent security system mainly consists of the following subsystems.
2.1 Home security alarm system: Residents install home security or emergency alarm devices in their homes, which are connected to the computer system of the community property management center to process and record alarm events in real time, or directly report to the local police station duty room.
2.2 Visitor intercom system: Install an electronically controlled security door and a voice or video intercom device at the entrance of the building unit or at the entrance door, so that residents can control the opening and closing of the security door.
2.3 The perimeter intrusion alarm system installs intrusion detection devices on the perimeter walls of the closed-off smart community and connects them to the community property management center's computer system. It can promptly detect illegal intruders and display the alarm section and alarm time in real time, and automatically record and save alarm information.
2.4 The CCTV system, designed for the security and management needs of the smart community, installs cameras at the main entrances and exits of the community and important areas of public buildings for monitoring. The community property management center can automatically or manually switch system images, control the camera pan/tilt units and lenses, and record long-term video of the monitored important areas.
2.5 Electronic Patrol System An electronic patrol system is installed in the smart community. Security personnel patrol according to a set route and record their observations. The community property management center's computer can read the recorded information in real time, thereby enabling effective supervision and management of the security personnel.
2.6 Access Control System: Access control machines are installed at the main gate of the smart community, important public gates, and shared garage doors. Only individuals with IC cards can open the corresponding access control machines via card readers. Unauthorized personnel will find it difficult to enter illegally.
3. Security System Functions and Applications
In practical applications, security systems are composed of multiple optional subsystems integrated and organically combined, with layered defenses, strict monitoring, and comprehensive management, allowing homeowners to live within an invisible security net, which is safer and more comfortable than a physical security net.
3.1 Home security alarm systems deploy various sensors in important locations and areas of the home, replacing the traditional steel security bars of homes, so that homeowners no longer feel like they are imprisoned.
A home security alarm system consists of a security center management unit, home alarm units, sensors, and transmission cables (not required for wireless communication). Sensors mainly include infrared detectors, thermal detectors, glass breakage detectors, window magnetic sensors, and door magnetic sensors. Users can install different types of sensors in locations such as the front door, living room, balcony, and exterior windows to detect unauthorized intruders. Home alarm units are generally installed near the front door so that the homeowner can arm the system when leaving and deactivate it within a delay upon returning home to avoid false alarms. The home alarm units are networked with the security center management unit. When an unauthorized intruder is detected, the home alarm unit will sound an alarm, and the management unit will display the location and nature of the alarm. The security center can then determine the appropriate response plan and promptly stop the crime.
If the building does not have an automatic fire alarm system, residents can install smoke detectors in their bedrooms and living rooms to detect fires, and gas detectors in their kitchens to detect gas leaks. These devices can all be connected to a home alarm system. Additionally, each household should have an emergency call button in a relatively concealed location in the living room and bedroom. In case of emergencies such as robbery or illness, this button can promptly alert the control center and provide timely assistance to residents.
3.2 Visitor Intercom System: A visitor intercom system shall be installed at the entrance or door of the residential unit within the community to prevent strangers from accessing the community, restrict unauthorized intrusion, and maintain the privacy, safety and quietness of the living environment.
The visitor intercom system consists of an intercom main unit, indoor units, electrically controlled security doors, a management main unit (optional), and transmission cables. The intercom main unit is further divided into non-visual and visual intercom types. Through the visual intercom system, homeowners can more intuitively understand the visitor situation and control door locks. The system can be networked, with each building's intercom main unit connected to the security center's management main unit, allowing the security center to receive residents' distress signals at any time. From the main entrance of the community, residents can also make calls and have visual intercoms with the property management center and other residents. If a visitor arrives, security personnel can contact the resident to confirm whether to receive them.
3.3 Perimeter Intrusion Alarm System The perimeter intrusion alarm system is designed to prevent unauthorized crossing of perimeter lines, roads, and walls. It generates an alarm signal to trigger an unauthorized intrusion, records unauthorized intrusion activities in real time, and issues sound, light, deterrent, and other security management measures to unauthorized intruders.
A commonly used perimeter intrusion prevention system consists of infrared beam detectors, receivers, an alarm control panel, and transmission cables. Outdoor infrared multi-beam intelligent detectors are installed on the community fence to form a comprehensive perimeter alarm system preventing unauthorized crossings. Simultaneously, the controller employs intelligent fuzzy control technology to avoid false alarms caused by leaves, debris, wind, rain, or small animals such as birds crossing the fence. When an unauthorized crossing occurs, the detector immediately transmits the alarm to the central control room, displaying the crossed area on an electronic map. The system automatically activates perimeter searchlights and switches to CCTV cameras, transmitting images to the central control room to record the intrusion for police investigation. The control center simultaneously notifies security personnel to arrive at the scene promptly to prevent unauthorized individuals from succeeding. Thermal infrared detectors or microwave cable detectors can also be used for deployment.
Using sound, light, and other deterrent signals to intruders is an important perimeter security measure, but it is often overlooked in many smart communities. Providing strong light can leave intruders nowhere to hide and deter them, while also supplementing the lighting for video recording systems. Audible warnings can politely dissuade intruders and reflect the civilized image of a sophisticated community; however, when designing this measure, it is essential to consider local conditions and avoid disturbing residents.
3.4 The CCTV system appropriately installs cameras in key areas of the residential community, such as main passageways, parking lots, and elevator cars, based on the actual conditions of the community to achieve effective surveillance. Currently, outdoor high-definition black and white cameras are commonly used for real-time recording of illegal intrusions. With the gradual improvement of network application technology, network digital cameras have been introduced, fundamentally solving the installation distance problem in traditional technologies, allowing cameras to be set up arbitrarily over large areas and long transmission distances.
The CCTV system consists of cameras, matrix controllers, video recorders, monitors, and transmission cables. Cameras are installed in key areas and public spaces within the community. Security personnel at the center can gain a comprehensive understanding of events unfolding within the community via a video wall; the video recorder records data in real-time for future verification; and the matrix controller allows for switching and monitoring at the control console. Perimeter infrared alarm signals can serve as alarm input signals for cameras in the corresponding areas, automatically triggering the corresponding camera upon alarm activation. The system control section can utilize an intelligent digital image motion tracking alarm to achieve fully automatic operation and control. Camera configurations can be tailored to specific locations and requirements, employing fixed cameras, omnidirectional PTZ cameras, dome cameras, infrared cameras, etc. Camera lenses can be zoomed and telescopic, and the PTZ can rotate horizontally and vertically. When the number of cameras is small, the video signals from each camera and the PTZ control signals can be directly transmitted from the security center to each monitoring point. When the number of cameras is large, video matrices are set up in sections or by building. These matrices collect video signals from nearby cameras and PTZ control signals, which are then transmitted centrally to the security center via fiber optic cables. This reduces the number of outdoor cables, creates a clear network structure, and facilitates maintenance and management. Security centers typically set up a video wall composed of multiple monitors. One monitor rotates for inspection or uses screen splitting to simultaneously display the status of other cameras, one monitor is dedicated to freezing, zooming in, and editing suspicious points, and the remaining monitors display other important areas.
3.5 Electronic Patrol System The electronic patrol system is a management system designed and developed to effectively supervise patrol personnel and ensure their patrols are carried out thoroughly. Patrol personnel use a patrol device to check in at designated times along the agreed-upon patrol route. After completing their task, the patrol personnel connect the patrol device to the management center's computer via a dedicated communication cable. The computer's patrol system management software reads data from the patrol device, performs statistical analysis and processing, and provides feedback on whether the patrol personnel have adhered to the prescribed time, frequency, and route. This allows management personnel to have a clear overview of the patrol personnel's work status.
The patrol system consists of patrol devices, information buttons, a security center computer, and transmission cables. The information buttons are installed on main roads, blind spots, and dead angles within the residential area. The central computer stores security guards' patrol routes and check-in times in advance. If a security guard fails to check in, the central computer will immediately remind the on-duty personnel to investigate the situation and identify problems as early as possible.
Users can set up dedicated patrol stations (equipped with information buttons) at key locations and areas within the community, configure multiple independent patrol routes based on system capacity, and assign numbers and names to the patrol stations on each route. This allows the patrol device to display the station names when outputting reports, and when an automatic guidance function is available, it can display the next station. The patrol route is a sequential arrangement of patrol stations. Incorporating this patrol route into the patrol device enables it to accurately record the expected patrol data and output corresponding reports. Users can also set time limits between patrol stations; if early or late inspections occur, this will be displayed in the report.
3.6 Access Control System An access control system, also known as an entry/exit control system, is primarily used to automatically record the entry and exit of personnel in real time, restrict the areas and times in which personnel can enter and exit, politely refuse entry to unwelcome personnel, and effectively protect the legitimate interests of users.
The system includes management software, data acquisition units, controllers, entrance information buttons, electronic door locks, exit buttons, alarm sensors, and alarm horns. The entrance information buttons receive user input and convert it into electrical signals, which are then sent to the controller. The controller receives user information from the entrance and exit devices, stores it, and sends it to the next-level computer via the data acquisition units. The computer's management software manages all data acquisition units and controllers in the system, configures them, receives incoming information, sends control commands, and performs analysis and processing of all information within the system.
4. Problems exist in the security system.
4.1 Improper Configuration: Insufficient understanding of security systems by development and design units leads to inappropriate design and configuration, resulting in incompatibility between subsystems and wasted investment. The large number of security product manufacturers and the incompatibility of their products limit user choices. During the design phase, many technical issues are often left to integrators or construction companies, resulting in unreasonable security system design, poor system integration, substandard equipment configuration, and non-standard cabling.
Some residential communities, when setting up security systems, blindly pursue multiple functions, increasing costs without necessarily ensuring practicality or mature technology. Furthermore, complex systems lead to complex operation, requiring users to possess a greater level of technical expertise, making them inconvenient for consumers.
In addition, due to the lack of coordination in industry management and approval systems, some systems are set up separately (such as automatic fire alarm systems), resulting in incomplete overall functions of security products and failing to achieve the effect of intelligence.
4.2 Lack of unified security products: Most security products are imported, and there are few competitive domestic manufacturers. The production standards, system composition, and interface methods of these products are not the same, which makes it impossible for the various systems to coordinate with each other, achieve centralized networking, and achieve the ideal intelligent effect.
Currently, security systems lack unified design specifications, construction standards, and project acceptance criteria. Some existing standards are also inadequate for the technical requirements of intelligent security systems, leading to serious consequences such as unreasonable design schemes, substandard construction quality, and failure to meet acceptance standards in many projects.
4.3 Poor Operational Stability Currently, the operational stability of many installed security products cannot be guaranteed. The main reasons are: ① Security products are based on computers and are limited by computer crashes and processing power; ② Security systems are linked by networks and are susceptible to viruses, hacker attacks, and other factors; ③ Security products are mostly low-voltage products with low operating voltage, resulting in poor overall anti-interference capabilities. They are easily affected by internal and external factors such as harmonics, surges, lightning, and noise. In particular, poor grounding can easily lead to interference and even system crashes.
5. Development Trends of Security Systems
5.1 Digitalization of Security Systems With the advent of the information and digital age, "digital security" has emerged as a powerful force. Its technological development direction is based on digital CCD technology and infrared illumination source technology, moving towards ultra-high sensitivity infrared video systems; video surveillance and prevention systems based on analog signals are evolving towards fully digital video surveillance systems; and system equipment is developing towards intelligence, digitalization, modularization, and networking. Digital security products can record and store various movement and alarm information digitally. Since 2000, digital surveillance products have entered a period of rapid development, especially with the entry of some high-tech enterprises with strong technical capabilities and financial backing into the security market, injecting new vitality into the security industry. Products have also evolved from the original digital surveillance video recorders to a variety of products such as network cameras, network transmission equipment, telephone transmission equipment, and professional digital video recorders (DVRs).
5.2 Security System Integration Security system integration includes two aspects: ① Integration of the security system's own functions: Integrating video, voice, access control, alarm, and other functions into the same network architecture platform to provide a comprehensive solution for smart community security monitoring; ② Integration of the security system with other intelligent systems in the community: Integrating the security system with the smart community's communication system, service system, and property management system, allowing them to share a single data line and computer network, and share the same database. This one-time investment yields twice the results with half the effort, completely eliminating the hassle of repeated wiring and maintenance.
5.3 Localization of Security Technology Currently, global development is underway for coaxial cable magnetoelectric induction technology used for precise perimeter intrusion detection, while a domestic manufacturer's microwave cable has already entered the market. This type of cable can accurately locate any intrusion attempts to cut or climb over the perimeter using the principle of vibration effect, pinpointing the location within 3 meters. The system utilizes digital signal processing methods for precise location, preventing false alarms caused by noise, wind, rain, fog, or vibrations from passing vehicles. These technologies demonstrate that domestic security manufacturers are heavily investing in technological development, narrowing the gap with developed countries, and striving to reach or surpass international advanced levels in some aspects. During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the main tasks of my country's security industry are to develop automatic tracking and locking systems and long-distance multi-channel alarm image transmission systems to improve the quality of monitoring products. The goal is to develop system products with independent intellectual property rights and increase the market share of domestic products.
6. Conclusion
The rapid advancements in science and technology, and the widespread adoption of computer technology, have led to the rapid rise of smart communities in response to people's growing demand for a better life. This has also brought about unprecedented changes in the development of security products. It is believed that, guided by a people-centered approach, new systems with more powerful functions, stronger security, and more readily accessible information will emerge, bringing convenience to people's daily lives and thus stimulating a broader market.
