Faster boarding times for passengers at Helsinki airport

Helsinki, Finland, 16 May 2006 – Finavia, the Finnish airport operating company, will be reducing passenger waiting times at Helsinki’s Vantaa Airport with the assistance of the new SmartCatch video monitoring software. It has purchased several SmartCatch 2.5 licenses from NEC and Vidient Systems. The system automatically reports queues exceeding a pre-defined length in the security check-in zone. This enables the management to open another counter and prevent the zone from becoming overcrowded to guarantee fast and flexible check-in.

The passenger volume at Helsinki-Vantaa airport has continually increased over recent years to over 11.1 million in 2005. At the same time, security requirements are growing more complex. Finavia was looking for a technical solution to reduce the security personnel’s workload and prevent long waiting times and delays for passengers without compromising its high security standards.

Numerous tests were performed in diverse application scenarios before Finavia decided to opt for SmartCatch. One scenario consisted of checks to establish compliance with runway safety regulations. In this application, SmartCatch automatically detects whether a service vehicle is parked in a prohibited zone on the airfield, such as the area near a gate. If the service vehicle has been parked at a gate where there is no plane, an alarm is automatically triggered and the security personnel are informed. "We use over 500 cameras at the airport. That's why we were very keen to find a solution that reduces the burden of work falling to our security personnel so that they have enough time to focus on genuinely serious security breaches," said Jyri Vikstrom, Head of Corporate Security at Finavia.

The airport operator chose SmartCatch because it enables the more precise and efficient use of CCTV camera networks. The programme can differentiate between people, vehicles and other objects, as well as stationary and moving objects. It can identify people who are standing around and objects that are left behind in security zones, as well as people going the wrong way through exits (e.g. going back out through entry barriers). That's why the SmartCatch software is able to optimally support security personnel in complex environments such as airports, stations, corporate and public buildings.

SmartCatch 2.5 can easily be integrated in existing security infrastructures, and the programme has numerous application interfaces for individual adaptation to existing systems and applications. Real-time warnings are sent automatically to security staff via mobile phone, PDA or pager, and the software supports all current mobile communications devices which run on Palm OS, Windows CE and Symbian.

SmartCatch was developed by Vidient Systems, which was spun-off from NEC's US Research and Development Centre in 2003. "Over the last few years, we have continually adapted SmartCatch to diverse security scenarios," said Brooks McChesney, President & Chief Executive Officer of Vidient Systems. "SmartCatch is far more intelligent than conventional video surveillance solutions or pure object tracking systems because it is a behaviour and rule-based video monitoring software. In other words, the programme can actually recognise behaviour, respond in real-time, initiate alarms and inform the relevant security personnel."

"NEC Deutschland has worked closely with Vidient right from the outset. We know what SmartCatch can do and how versatile it is. We are also convinced that the system will soon catch on in the market," said Eckhard van Deest, General Manager Security Solutions at NEC Deutschland GmbH.

About NEC Corporation

NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) is one of the world's leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its diverse and global base of customers. NEC delivers tailored solutions in the key fields of computer, networking and electron devices, by integrating its technical strengths in IT and Networks, and by providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC Electronics Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 140,000 people worldwide and had net sales of 4,855 billion yen (approx. $45.4 billion) in the fiscal year ended March 2005. For additional information, please visit the NEC home page at: http://www.nec.com * Newsroom: http://www.nec.co.jp/press/en/ 

About Vidient Systems, Inc.

Vidient Systems, Inc. designs, develops and deploys behavior recognition software systems that enable video surveillance cameras to monitor for and detect behaviors that threaten safety and security, alerting guards in real-time and intelligently managing event response. It is used today to monitor secure locations at major transportation facilities, corporations and public institutions. The Sunnyvale, California-based company was founded in 2003 and is funded by leading global venture investors Blueprint Ventures, Trident Capital and Hotung Venture Capital. For more information visit www.vidient.com .