Interview Spotlight: Christoph Kreis, Sales Manager for Dallmeier electronic

Please provide an overview of Dallmeier’s Panomera sensor system

Christoph Kreis, Sales Manager for Dallmeier electronic

With the Panomera system we are taking a whole new approach to video surveillance as well as the use of video technology as a versatile tool for gathering all kinds of data. As the name says, multifocal sensor technology is a camera technology with several sensors (multisensor), each operating with different focal lengths (multifocal), in contrast to single-sensor cameras. This makes it possible to monitor large areas and distances from a single location, and to do so in real time with uniform image resolution, high dynamic and consistent focal depth.

What are the challenges for airports when it comes to surveillance, and how does Panomera help with this?

Due to the layout of modern airports with numerous separate buildings and areas, the need arises for multi-area surveillance systems with the flexibility to set up secondary control centres as well. Emergency scenarios and the integration of mobile control stations also play an important role. The security requirements at airports are extremely high. Whether on the airfield or in the hangar, the terminal buildings, car parks or access roads: At airports, huge premises with a variety of areas must be monitored around the clock. In particular, expansive areas such as airfields are especially challenging for video surveillance. The Panomera system can, for example, provide clear documentation of accidents or damage while an aircraft is at the parking position or alert airport control by recognising debris or parts on runways or aircraft roadways.

How important is it for surveillance systems to provide uniform resolution over the entire scene?

In order to be able to provide reliable security over large expanses, it is imperative to be able to make out details and identify individuals not only close to the camera but also in more distant regions. And this is where a very simple physical principle takes effect: a real scene is three-dimensional, but in the camera image it is only represented in two dimensions. The camera pixels are distributed evenly over the camera sensor, which means that the advertised resolution is also constant for the entire image angle – even though a much higher resolution and pixel density might really be needed for more distant regions in order to deliver the same number of pixels per metre as are available for a region closer to the camera. The patented Panomera multifocal sensor technology is capable of representing more distant objects at the same resolution as objects in the foreground.

How can airports benefit from a Panomera installation, particularly with regard to cost and infrastructure savings?

Well, with the Panomera technology the number of installation points required to cover any given area can be optimised, which in past projects has reflected in truly remarkable reductions. Where conventional monitoring approaches would have entailed the deployment of dozens of camera to cover one specific area, we were able to provide a solution with no more than one Panomera. Not only does this mean that this solution is extremely cost-effective since huge savings can be achieved both in the number of required cameras and especially in the necessary infrastructure such as masts, cables, etc. It also means that solid solutions can be found with this technology for projects that could not previously be implemented at all. And speaking of camera masts: airports are not the kind of environment where you can set up masts all over the place. In numerous cases safety regulations simply won’t allow for that. Panomera avoids that problem as well.

Biography

Christoph Kreis is Sales Manager for Dallmeier electronic GmbH & Co.KG.

With an academic background in forestry Christoph saw an opportunity to apply his business development skills in a different industry. In 2006, he was hired as senior sales manager for a global supplier of e-passport and related technologies. He then became area sales manager with an engineering company. Since 2014, he has been leveraging his wide experience as a member of the Dallmeier sales team, focusing on the airport industry. Christoph adapts his previously gained unique insights into African and Asian markets, combined with his strong personal skills, to developing tailor-made security solutions for demanding projects around the world.