On the Case

The International Ship and Port Facility Code has imposed some of the most extensive security reforms and conditions seen in any sector since 9/11.

Great Yarmouth responded by installing a CCTV system that not only protects against vandalism but reacts promptly when a vessel experiences difficulties. Images are recorded to Videoswitch VDC recorders.

Said Deputy Harbour Master Alec Murray: "Being a river port means that we don't have a view of the whole complex from any one point. The combination of dome and static cameras working in conjunction with the Videoswitch DVRs have given us the ability to monitor or review an incident simultaneously from a number of camera angles."

Oldest university secured

Uppsala University, the oldest university in the Nordic countries, has installed a Hi Sec ThorGuard Management System to secure the campus.

The university near Stockholm, Sweden, which was founded in 1477 will install 464 Mifare Card Readers and five ThorGuard Management Units in the project which will eventually total 2000-3000 new card readers.

Uppsala required its security management software to integrate with an educational software platform. Compatec AB, Hi Sec's partner in Sweden, was the vendor

Security sets a trend

An integrated security system installed by Midlands specialist Security Design Centre Ltd has been so successful that the client has adopted similar solutions at its other sites.

Mucklow, one of the most successful property companies in the West Midlands, appointed Security Design Centre to design and install a system that ensured peace of mind for tenants working on its industrial estates, whilst still allowing flexible access.

It was also important that it did not increase the existing site security running costs.

To help manage the estates after normal working hours, the installer linked a sophisticated remote control room to an integrated security system. This combined advanced remote CCTV transmission, on-site CCTV recording and automated gates with audio communications.

MD, David Trimmer, said: "Before designing the system we took great care to understand the needs of Mucklow as well as their tenants. We used a combination of high quality VCL colour/mono dome cameras and a Dedicated Micro transmission system, using ADSL to transmit data to our control room managed by The Corps ."

The system comprises a network of external detection devices to protect the sites, plus speakers to challenge unwanted visitors.

Automated gates have also been installed and are remotely managed via an intercom system from each site to the control room.

The automation of each site has removed the need to have on-site security guards.

Mucklow's Property Leasing Director, David Rampling said that tenants are attracted by the added benefits of having electronic security technology in place.

Existing tenants looking to move on to larger premises, invariably, now opt to stay on site until a more suitable unit is available rather than move away altogether.

Dome on high sees it all

Network video integrator, Nextan Pte, successfully installed an IP speed dome with long range WiFi at a "mega" construction project in Singapore. The dome was installed at the top of a nearby 30 storey building.

The installation enables real time remote monitoring and archiving to be carried out at the site and allows clients to access every stage of the construction work.

The Cam-6200 IP speed dome was used at the "Pinnacle@Duxton" construction site to enhance security and archive the construction progress.

The project is the highest class public housing ever in Singapore and will consist of seven blocks of 50-storey buildings with a total of 1,848 apartment units when the construction is completed in 2009.

Visitors' view

Hundreds of visitors to an experimental arts event in Nottingham were able to use CCTV technology within an unusual environment.

The large scale event - organised by the Reactor arts group and known as 'Total Ghaos' - included a scaffolding structure that participants needed to negotiate in order to progress through the event.

All audience member movements and actions were watched and recorded to produce a film of the event. Merit Li-Lin created a network of CCTV cameras, DVRs and workstations to monitor and record participant progress. Cameras were viewed from control stations within the structure where users operated keyboard controllers.

Complex job a success

Bayley Security has specified and installed a complex access control system at one of the North East's largest hospitals.

The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough has doubled in size and now houses all of the specialties of South Tees Hospital NHS Trust.

Locally based Bayley Security installed a state-of-the-art access control system from Bewator. It ensures that only specified people can gain access to secure areas at a given time.

The company specified the Granta system to handle more than 200 access points and integrate other elements of the security system, such as door alarms and baby tagging. It is managed via a PC-based software system.

Five other outbuildings have also been incorporated into the single access control system.The project to install, test and commission 200 access points has taken Bayley just over a year and has been complicated by the need to integrate the work with the day to day hospital running.

Bayley specified Bewator proximity readers to work with the Granta system. To reduce cost, five outbuildings were connected through an existing LAN fibre optic communications network. Said director, John Bayley: "As well as access points on the wards and other key areas, we have also incorporated the firedoors and emergency exits into the system enabling security to view on a separate graphic if a door has been opened or left open."

Climate no problem

Local security provider Kuwait Computer Services (KCS) specified 80 EX82DXL cameras from Extreme CCTV as part of an integrated security management system for one of Kuwait's leading telecom operators.

Connected to a network of DVRs managed from a central control room, the cameras interface with the central OnGuard Server over a wireless communication network.

The camera combines camera, lens and infra-red illumination technology into a single all-weather housing and 6mm Lexan protective window make it suitable for outdoor surveillance in the harsh Kuwaiti climate.

Access to learning

Oxford based Chris Lewis Security Services has completed an extensive security installation as part of £8 million refurbishment project commissioned by Oxford University's Lincoln College.

Over the last two years the installer has been closely involved in the redevelopment of Lincoln Hall, the college's student accommodation, as well as the new purpose built Lincoln EPA Science Centre.

The college wanted to protect the safety of its students by limiting access to Lincoln Hall and restricting entry and movement within the new Science Centre.

Chris Lewis' solution was to install an access control system within each of the buildings, which was networked to a central control system in the porter's lodge. This enables college staff to amend access rights, run reports on users, track the use of lost or stolen cards and issue new cards.

So that authorised staff and students do not have to carry an additional swipe card or key fob, Chris Lewis encoded the access rights onto their existing university cards.

Ten CCTV cameras, networked to a central system, were also installed to enable staff and porters to monitor movement. Said Stuart White, Lincoln College Surveyor: "I have been very impressed with the service provided by Chris Lewis Security Services, from the very detailed introduction we received regarding the proposed installation, to the friendly and accommodating service of the IT department and engineers who were all very pleasant and keen to ensure the job was completed to our 100 per cent satisfaction."

Playing their cards right

Ghana Telecom has installed TSSI's Verid+ iClass fingerprint reader at its facility in Accra, marking the first phase of a rollout programme that will eventually encompass all sites across Ghana.

The reader will be used in conjunction with HID's iClass smartcards to secure telephone exchanges, equipment rooms and repeater stations.

All of the installations in Ghana Telecom have been undertaken by TSSI's long-established distributor, Timeware (Ghana) Ltd.

Setting the fashion

Fashion retailer Oasis has invested in digital CCTV recording technology to protect 60 of its stores from crime.

Instead of security officers patrolling the stores, the managers used a combination of well trained staff and CCTV to detect and deter crime.

Oasis wanted a digital CCTV recording system which store managers would find easy to use and, according to Mitch Haynes, Head of Security at Mosaic Fashions, DVRs from Videoswitch offered the solution. No special software is needed to replay footage.

Back to school

Dublin-based Executive Security has carried out a CCTV installation at a prestigious private school in Bray near Dublin.

Rainbow's new OCL Series outdoor colour DSP cameras are operating from the school's entrances, stairwells and playground, serving a building which has a split-level structure with eight classrooms. Images will be monitored in real time by school staff and also reviewed from Columbus DVRs supplied by Norbain. Wiring is CAT5 throughout, employing NVT transmission.

Future plans include networking the system in order to offer remote monitoring and allowing central administration staff to observe footage.

Executive Security has been operating for 25 years and specialises in CCTV, access control and intruder systems, working predominantly in the commercial and retail security sectors.

Banking on lenses

Over 2,000 lenses from Rainbow CCTV have been used across 300 branches of one of Brasil's leading banks.

The Rainbow lenses used include 2.7-12 and 5-50mm vari-focal models and allow the client, Banco Itaú, to perform varied surveillance tasks in a range of areas including entrances, vestibules and main foyers as well as internal and external ATM sites.

The locations include major cities such as Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Brasilia.

Access for Wolves

G Security and Surveillance Ltd has installed access control at a newly opened community initiative within the Warrington Wolves rugby stadium.

The system, supplied by Norbain, provides security at the Warrington Wolves Community Learning & Sport Foundation charitable trust.

Part of the Wolves' Halliwell Jones Stadium has been developed to provide health, well being and learning facilities.

"We needed a networked access control system that would enable all areas to be monitored," says G Security and Surveillance Limited Sales Director Shaun Ryan. "We chose to use the Paxton Net2 system because it is so easy to set up and use."

The system secures doors throughout the area and can be easily set up to suit each day's programme of events. Doors are individually fully controlled and can be released or locked depending on what activities are taking place. Authorised users have a fob that is programmed to allow entry to the area at the allocated time.

Foundation Director, Neil Kelly praised the advice and help he received from G Security and Surveillance Limited and the additional training for users that Norbain provided.

Wide light range

Baydale Control Systems of Darlington has installed Pentax 8~120mm lenses in the North Yorkshire town of Harrogate, as part of the city's rolling surveillance expansion programme.

The siting of the additional cameras range from well-lit city centre locations to darker environments in more suburban areas.

The installation mainly covers routes between Harrogate itself and Knaresborough. Said Andy Ward of Baydale: "As Baydale Control Systems is also responsible for the maintenance of the Harrogate system, the use of quality components such as lenses means that firstly the client has less downtime - if any - and we have fewer callouts."

Wayne Barraclough of Pentax said the 8~120mm lens is a popular choice for the kind of role Harrogate required.

At one end of the focal length there is a good field of view, allowing for wide areas to be observed, but at maximum zoom, subject recognition can be achieved up to 80 meters distant.

Smart move to track thieves

An innovative surveillance system installed by Intrepid Security Solutions is helping the Co-operative Group combat warehouse theft and improve staff performance.

The Co-operative Group, which operates nearly 1,800 food stores throughout the UK, has introduced a Sentry SmartTrack CCTV system at its new National Distribution Centre in Coventry to detect internal theft.

Intrepid mounted two separate SmartTracks onto the ceiling of the Coventry site. Together, the tracks are 225 metres long, sufficient to cover the 39 aisles inside the 300,000 square foot warehouse. Each SmartTrack has a concealed pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) camera which glides silently along the track at speeds of up to 13 feet per second, enabling the Co-operative Group to swiftly position the cameras over any aisle to monitor for signs of suspicious activity.

Joe Swinbanks, regional loss prevention manager for logistics at the Co-operative Group, said: "We have only used fixed cameras before and where we have identified areas of concern or where we have specific requirements to have cameras viewing a part of the building not normally covered, this has resulted in additional cost implications for manual redeployment of the equipment.

"We had the opportunity to upgrade our systems by incorporating modern technology combined with a smarter way of operating"

Live images from the warehouse's SmartTrack cameras are sent to a central monitoring station in Manchester run by Visual Verification. Joe and the three senior managers based at the Coventry warehouse, can also log on to office PCs and view footage.

He said: "Installing such a long track on a ceiling could have caused lots of problems but Intrepid took just two and a half weeks to finish the installation, which was a remarkable achievement."

Filling a need

Johannesburg-based Spidereye, an installer covering high end industrial, leisure and infrastructure projects, has been installing vari-focal lenses from Rainbow CCTV at filling stations throughout South Africa.

The Engen network consists of 1,250 service stations and 450 convenience shops in South Africa. The lenses are being used with Security Evidence cameras employing a Sony Super HAD chip.

New CCTV pays off at Perrys

Theft and vandalism has been significantly reduced at Perrys Motor Group thanks to an innovative CCTV-based solution specified, implemented and managed by Farsight, the Peterborough-based video monitoring business.

The system centres around Farsight's event-driven E-surveillance platform (ESP) tailored to the needs of each individual site.

Perrys Motor Group Chairman Ken Savage said: "We had used CCTV before (with a mix of manned guarding), but only on a case-by-case basis and only with limited success," he says.

The previous combination of CCTV and manned guarding had proven both ineffective and expensive. As well as specification and design, Farsight also manages the tender process for the install, and is involved in the final commissioning.

If an intruder should enter a site, a detection device triggers an alarm. Images are recorded on-site, but also transmitted within seconds via Perrys own corporate network (using a VPN secure high-speed link) to Farsight's dedicated Video Receiving Centre where operators decide what action to take.

Sly slider!

Installer, Access Control and Automation solved the problem of a home owner in Edinburgh who wanted auto gates on his property but did not have the room for them. The company installed a sliding gate system that was designed to look like swing gates.

Said ACA's Barry Law: The reasoning behind it was actually very sensible. The style of house suited the aesthetics of swing gates but there simply wasn't the room for them. Furthermore the space that was available for them was needed for car parking".

The company designed and built sliding gates with solid wood cladding with a darker strip down the middle to give the impression of two swinging gates.

The system is operated by BPT Automation's Nyota 115 electro mechanical gate operator which suits most styles of sliding gate. Now the owner can use all the long, yet shallow, space around the house for off road secure parking."With a little thought and a bit of clever deception, sliding gates can be used on any premises where space is at a minimum", said Law.

Russian Vista

Russian installer Informatsionnye tekhnologii - the local representative of OKNO-Professional Security Systems, which distributes Norbain security systems in Russia - has undertaken the first major Vista project in the area.

The installer provided a Siberian branch of the Alpi hypermarket with effective stock and customer supervision. It involved installing two internal and three external Vista PowerDome fully functional cameras. Included are 25:1 zoom, 24 dynamic privacy zones and 128 presets giving 360 degree surveillance. Control is by a NPX/KBD/J3DE keyboard with 3-axis joystick.

Also installed were 45 Vista VFD13M monochrome fixed dome cameras inside the shop and warehouse. Images are recorded on to a Vista Solo 80F single channel DVR used in conjunction with Vista Lite VCD16L multiplexers.

Vista equipment was chosen because it was seen as superior to Far East or 'patchwork quilt' multi-sourced solutions, said OKNO-Professional Security Systems General Manager, Boris Aristarkhov.

Norbain's three-year warranty, and Russia's traditional view of British goods as trustworthy, also played a part in the decision.

Lap of luxury

Leading Northern Ireland installer JBC Security, one of Gardiner Security's best customers in the province, has completed a sophisticated access control system for a new coastal development of luxury apartments at Seafields Court, Warrenpoint, overlooking Carlingford Lough.

The two striking buildings, each consisting of 18 two to three bedroomed apartments and penthouses are currently selling for up to £750,000 each.

Besides entry gates, both four-storey buildings at Seafields Court have two main entrances, all of which are required to communicate with each apartment.

Gardiner Security recommended Urmet access control and worked with the manufacturer in designing a solution which would overcome the challenge of large and heavy natural wooden doors operating so close to the sea.

Said Jim Barron of JBC Security: "Natural wood can be considerably affected by its environment, swelling and moving even to the point of self-opening in a wind, so the system devised included not just one mag lock to each building and apartment entrance door, but two."

The system now operating at Warrenpoint includes video and audio handsets in each apartment.

Parker scores at Lords Elstree-based Parker Security has specified and installed a new security system for Lords, the "spiritual home of cricket".

Parker, which has expertise in installing for the commercial and private sectors across the UK and in Northern Europe, upgraded security at the grounds with a Bewator management and monitoring system, Bewator Granta and Bewator Eventys.

The 200 year old ground is also a major sports arena, hosting international matches, cup finals and county games throughout the summer. Security is a major concern - especially at key events. The ground has had a CCTV system in operation for some years, but the management team decided to upgrade it.

"This project was sizeable," said Parker Security's MD, Kevin Parker. "There was a total of 90 cameras around the ground, complete with monitoring and recording equipment, and 17 access control points. We specified Bewator equipment because the company could provide a totally integrated, high quality security system."

Parker installed Granta access security management system and a Bewator Eventys RMC (Remote Monitoring Centre), together with 90 cameras to handle the CCTV end of the contract.

Granta enables users to connect multiple PC workstations to provide distributed monitoring across any number of sites, including remote locations, via TCP/IP technology. This allows security monitoring at a number of peripheral points in the ground as well as centrally.

Images from the 90 cameras are processed through the Bewator Visilynx 3i integrated video matrix and then fed into the Eventys Digital Video Monitoring System (DVMS). which is, effectively, a hard disk recorder.

The Granta software integrates with the Eventys DVR platform to allow for event-triggered video recordings. This has an enormous 900Gb storage capacity.

The 17 access points, which have all been fitted with proximity readers to control entry, are linked to an administration PC and supported with cameras that are placed in key locations. Entry cards are individually programmed to allow specified access at certain times.

The system can be easily upgraded and expanded as new technology options arrive, said Parker.