Relaxed shopping thanks to a comprehensive security solution
Security comes first: in the Dreiländergalerie mall in the far south of the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, experts from Bosch Energy and Building Solutions installed a holistic security solution that had been designed to nip potential dangers in the bud so that shoppers could relax and enjoy a worry-free experience.
Today’s modern shopping malls are more multifunctional meeting places than just a bunch of stores. Inaugurated in late 2022, the Dreiländergalerie in Weil am Rhein spans 25,000 meters of floorspace. It contains not only stores and supermarkets but also restaurants, offices, and even a gym. It benefits from being uniquely located at the “Dreiländereck,” or tripoint, where the borders of Germany, Switzerland, and France meet, very close to Basle, Switzerland’s third-largest city. Architecturally the shopping center is impressive, marked by flowing shapes, transparent surfaces, and shimmering metal. On the inside it’s open and spacious with lounge areas fitted with designer furniture of the Vitra brand, which is also based in Weil am Rhein.
Security technology should be the starting point for planning. Required organizational, construction, technical, and personnel-related measures follow from it.
Solutions extendable step by step
Systems integrator Bosch joined the project at a relative late stage to plan and implement the security systems to supplement the already installed fire protection. “When most people hear about security systems, the first thing that pops into their minds is the prescribed fire protection. It’s definitely a must, but more is also needed: video surveillance systems, intrusion alarm systems, and access control systems, to name just a few. Ideally these solutions should be included in the planning from the start, as they result in organizational, construction and technical measures. This way it’s also clear from an early stage how many security staff will have to be hired and trained,” says Sebastian Gerber, a sales manager with Bosch Energy and Building Solutions in Freiburg.
Bosch was contacted about planning a complete security solution comprising video surveillance, intrusion detection, access control, and mechanical locking cylinders, as well as a extensive network of cables. And everything had to be finished and ready for handover to the customer just nine months later. “The time frame was relatively tight, and since the work we were doing hadn’t been included in the original budget our options were limited. So we concentrated on installing futureproof systems that could be easily expanded to keep pace with requirements as they grew,” explains Gerber. He has the mindset of an enabler. He sees his own strengths in project management and communication, which are important contributors to success, along with high-quality planning and integration: “We held meetings several times a week: with the Bosch team, with our partners and those responsible for third-party work, and of course also with the customer. It all worked like a charm.”
“When a project is on a tight schedule, you have to talk to one another. Communication was the key to success.”
An all-out planning and implementation effort by the Bosch team
“We were asked to install cameras for keeping an eye on the outdoor areas and corridors and also provide an access control system to protect the storerooms. The project team jointly decided which technology would make the most sense for these purposes,” adds Gerber. Each level was meticulously analyzed in turn. Where are the escape paths? Where is the stairwell leading to the 550 parking spaces, and where does it enter the mall? Which areas will be publicly accessible and which ones can only be entered by authorized individuals? Where would it make sense to combine the intrusion detection and access control systems and who should be able to access the access control system? After these and many other questions were answered, Gerber’s team drew up specifications together with the customer defining exactly what other contractors responsible for installing doors, drywall construction, and other work would be required to do.
Since at that point the cable network for the security systems hadn’t been installed yet, Bosch teamed up with a local electrical company to install them: “Since we took charge of the technical planning and implementation, we were able to lay the cables in such a way that it would later be easy to scale up the security system to meet increasing requirements. Right now there are 130 cameras, but up to 250 can be installed and connected.” All of the data for video, fire, and intrusion protection is transmitted to the control room used by the security company, but it isn’t merged in a single management system. “This isn’t a very intuitive setup for the employees, since they have to constantly switch among the views of the individual systems. Ideally they should be combined in a management system. That would make their jobs a lot easier,” explains Gerber.
The challenge is to make the mall’s visitors feel safe without detracting from their shopping experience or encroaching on their privacy. The cameras are therefore discreetly positioned at key points to keep the main entrances, wide corridors, parking garage, and doors to the storage rooms in view. The video streams all run together in the control room, giving the security personnel an overview so they can respond quickly in case a potentially dangerous situation arises. The cameras can also provide after-the-fact visual evidence in case the police has to investigate any cases of theft or vandalism. The intrusion alarm system prevents unauthorized entrance into stores, storage facilities, or other sensitive areas. If an alarm is triggered, the security service is automatically alerted. “A holistic security solution like this one can minimize potential risks in order to safeguard customers, employees, and property,” stresses Gerber.“ A holistic security solution like this one is able to minimize potential risks and protect customers, employees, and property,” he adds.
If the customer wants, going forward it will also be possible to use the data generated by the 130 installed cameras for AI-supported video analysis. This could generate information on visitor flows over the course of days, weeks, or entire years or identify the main paths used by customers and how much time they spend where. “It’s possible to break this down to the level of individual shops,” explains Gerber. “If four persons are waiting in line to pay at a register, say, an employee could receive a push notification requesting that another one be opened.” In any case, the Bosch experts and those in charge of the Dreiländergalerie mall are going to stay connected to one another. A Bosch crew is responsible for servicing the installed solutions and resolving any problems that may arise. And the two partners will definitely be talking about possible future extensions and innovative solutions.
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Digitalization and artificial intelligence are opening up new possibilities, offering more security, creating comfortable living environments and worlds of work, and making building management more efficient while producing fewer emissions. Their continued success requires one thing above all else: an exceptional team like ours at Bosch Energy and Building Solutions. Around 6 000 competent and motivated associates – from the junior talent to experienced professionals – develop, implement and manage state-of the-art building solutions, combining an excellent customer orientation and technological expertise with high level of enthusiasm.
