On the Case

Cars at college

Systems integrator SDA Protec has used IndigoVision's integrated IP solution to provide CCTV surveillance for the new £5m Automotive Centre of Excellence at Gateshead College.

The system uses IndigoVision's Control Center enterprise video and alarm management software, which provides control, administration and viewing of the live camera feeds and recorded video over the network. Full PTZ control of external domes is also achieved over the network.

The system was integrated into the college's LAN, which also delivers IT and voice-over-IP services. IndigoVision says its compression technology allows live 25fps video from all cameras – 21 IP cameras and four external domes – to be transmitted around the network with minimal impact on the available bandwidth.

Art of surveillance

Computer Network Ltd has used Axis network cameras to help secure priceless art works, including 'The Scream', on loan to the Royal Academy of Arts from the Munch Museum in Oslo.

The RAA was given less than a week to install a new security system in its main galleries prior to the hanging of the works for a loan exhibition. A year earlier three key Munch works, including one of three original 'The Scream' paintings, had been stolen from the Munch museum.

One of 12 wireless access points placed at the entries to the main public galleries was used to provide an encrypted network connection to a number of Axis 206W wireless network cameras. These were installed to cover the key exit points from the main galleries.

RAA facilities manager David Vobes said: "With CNL's assistance, we created a system which reliably delivers high quality images helping us meet modern high specification requirements to protect works of art which often cost millions."

Access for Asda

City Building and Engineering Services has installed an access control system in Asda stores. The company wanted to use the Mifare Smartcards already carried by staff, and the system needed to be flexible and easy to use.

Rob Cox from CBES worked with Norbain to arrive at the solution, using ACT and the HID iClass reader. The ACTWinPro Lite software was chosen as it is able to extract the Mifare cards' 32Bit serial number, while also maintaining the various users, doors, groups etc on the system, and communicating this information to physical controllers around the building.

Asda is very happy with the results. "We're completely satisfied with the solution provided by Norbain and CBES," said Steve Storey, Asda's Technical Manager Security. "The system does exactly what we wanted it to do and our own people haven't had any problems using it."

Hotel uses good Reflex

Reflex has completed a major upgrade to integrated asset protection systems at the Cambridge Garden House Hotel.

The company has installed a security and car park management system and enhanced the existing CCTV technology. Reflex provided a fully engineered solution to be integrated in conjunction with existing security systems including barriers, ticket dispensing and reading machines, and an automated credit card enabled payments system.

Hotel manager Diane Van Grondelle said: "With Reflex's help we have transformed an under-utilised asset – our car park – into a valuable additional revenue stream that provides additional safety and security for hotel guests as well as an additional safe parking option for the general public."

She said the return on investment on the contract was likely to be very short. "We are likely to achieve payback in months rather than years," Van Grondelle said.

Lewis off to College

Chris Lewis Security Services has installed a new digital CCTV system for New College, Oxford.

The college's head porter Tom Franklin said: "The pictures from our black and white CCTV system were far too grainy to be submitted as evidence to Thames Valley Police. If a theft occurred, trawling the hours of footage for evidence was a fruitless task."

The new system includes 13 cameras that can be set to record in different modes at different times, allowing the college to vary security levels according to the level of activity.

"This has been the single most successful non-academic related project we've implemented," Franklin said. "We have total confidence in the system and know it's never going to let us down because of the outstanding ongoing service Chris Lewis provides."

Seeing the City

Federal Network Services has installed a 123 camera integrated IP system from IndigoVision for the City of Santa Monica.

The system is fully integrated with the city's existing security network, and security staff remotely monitor live and recorded video using Control Center, IndigoVision's video and alarm management software.

Continuous full frame rate video recording is achieved using the company's Networked Video Recorder software. Each of the external day/night cameras is connected to the network via IndigoVision 8000 transmitter/receiver modules. These convert the analogue camera signal to MPEG-4 digital video for transmission over the city's IP network. "We are pleased IndigoVision partnered with Federal Network Services on this project," FNS president Doug Chesler said. "IndigoVision's experience in security and monitoring applications was a critical component in building the santa Monica public video security system."

CCTV high school

ACTi's video server, the SED-2100R, and transcoder – SED-3200 – has been used to help a Californian school to employ IP-based CCTV systems for surveillance.

Working alongside the school's current DVR system the new system solves the limitations posed by the distance between analogue cameras and the DVR. By deploying a hybrid IP CCTV system, it provides a simple and cost effective solution over a LAN environment.

Check-out cameras

Glasgow-based City Facilities Management has installed varifocal dome cameras from Rainbow at an Asda store in Dagenham, north-east London, as part of a pilot programme. City Facilities Management has a 10-year nationwide contract with Asda's 254 stores.

The cameras are mounted in the supermarket's check-out areas and allow management to monitor the activity of both customers and till operators. The lenses have a focal length of 3.3-12mm, which is unusual for a dome camera unit, and allows installers to adjust the field of view in order to accommodate end-uses who may have varying ceiling heights within the same property.

Protecting Sharjah

Advanced Security Engineering has specified and installed a comprehensive CCTV system to secure the city centre of Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates. The original installation took place in 2002, and has recently been expanded.

The control and digital recording solution was entrusted to Synectics, with camera switching handled by its Tesseract switching matrix.

The expansion was achieved using additional Synectics matrices and Synectics Matrix Manager technology.

Michael Pedersen, MD of Advanced Security Engineering, said: "The in-built, long term upgrade expandability of Synectics equipment has proved key to ensuring that this system continues to maintain the highest technological standards, as CCTV technology benchmarks progress."

The Swedest thing

Swedish installer Skanska and Flexib El have used a Bewator Entro access control system for the construction site of the £40m Skarholmen Centre redevelopment. The 60,000sq m site can have up to 400 contractors on site, and permanently accommodates eight portacabins.

On the site, the Bewator Entro accommodates wireless communication between the sub-centres (portacabins) to the connected card readers. The eight portacabins and the site office are equipped with two card readers each, one for entry, and one for exit.

In order to monitor who is at the workplace, when and where, Skanska has used the screen event log of Entro's open software interface, BAPSI, which enables the site manager to check on attendance and obtain lists of those people who are at the workplace at any given time.

Countryside calling

Altex Security has used a Legrand door entry solution for a Countryside Properties residential village, South @ Didsbury Point.

The gated city village features Legrand's multi-block eight-wire audio door entry system in all apartments, block and home entrances, plus the main gates to the development. The system has a dual function keypad with both calling and coded door lock facilities, which means only one keypad is required instead of the usual two.

Legrand's Dave Watkins said that using only eight-core cable throughout the whole building installation meant that installation was easy.

"The capacity to interlink different blocks means apartments can be called from any entrance in the development," he said.

Traditional security

NSI Gold installer West London Security has installed a Honeywell Win-Pak access control system at the London offices of Tradition UK Ltd, a global leader in the brokering of financial and non-financial products.

Tradition required an access control system that would enable fast access for authorised personnel, which would not require cards or access PIN codes, to avoid security breaches as a result of employees passing on cards or codes. As a result, the system was designed to use fingerprint scanners from Bioscrypt.

At Tradition, the fingerprint scanners have been installed at all secured doors inside the buildings. Employee fingerprints are scanned and entered into the Win-Pak database where the access ID is created and stored. West London Security completed the installation outside of normal working hours to ensure minimum disruption to Tradition's business.

Tradition's Facilities Manager Mark Henke said: "We are very pleased with the results of this biometric access control system and the high standard of work carried out by West London Security." Following the success of this project, West London Security will be providing additional security services for Tradition.

Eye on Stratford

ADT has installed a five camera addition to Stratford-on-Avon's new 725 space Park & Ride initiative.

The type of camera installed had to be capable of providing good pictures during the night time as the planning permission did not include for the street lighting to be lit throughout the night. Lenses used were the Pentax 8~144mm day/night zooms, because they can deal reliably with lux shifts from daylight to low light, with IR taking over.

The cameras are connected back to the Stratford-on-Avon control room, and will be monitored locally as well, once the on-site car park control room is completed. The new phase will also assist Warwickshire Constabulary in its ANPR programme scheduled for commissioning in future.

School service

South West installer Alarm Service Group Ltd is using SeQuad Sequential Confirmation detectors from Optex Europe for a major Schools PFI project underway in Swindon.

NACOSS Gold installer Alarm Service Group won the contract because of its all round capability in CCTV, access, fire and intruder sectors. The detectors are being installed in seven primary, secondary and special needs schools in the area.

Sales director Jamie Bishop said: "SeQuad effectively gives us a 'one box' solution for a confirmed signal. From an installation perspective, they are no more difficult to install than a single detector, so it's 'win win' all round."

Finding clarity

Guardian Security Services has teamed up with Zandar Technologies to upgrade the video system used to monitor a chemical facility in Ohio, USA.

Guardian had recently designed and installed the facility's surveillance systems, but the images received were often unclear because of the combination of analogue video feeds monitored on digital LCD displays.

Guardian installed Zandar's FusionPro MultiViewer, which processes the analogue video feed and converts the image format to one that is compatible with the LCD monitors, increasing the quality of the video on the displays.

Guardian's Rick Frye said: "It's great to have good looking video feeds, but the system is truly designed for a specific purpose – security guards must be able to easily identify potential threats. It's easier to monitor the premises when the images are crisp, clear and highly detailed."

Air safety

WillB and Telematic Solutions has installed a CCTV system at Vespucci Airport in Florence. The system uses Fluidmesh wireless technology, developed by Fluidmesh Networks, a Boston-based MIT spin-off.

Fluidmesh 2200 is a wireless product with 'intelligent' transmission capabilities, based on advanced 'mesh networking' algorithms. The company claims it is able to "optimise transmission through the optimal path, performing 'intelligent' routing of packets in real time".

WillB and Telematic solutions marketing manager Ciro De Bonis said: "Fluidmesh 2200 is the right product for this location, which can need a fast extension of the system. The airport actually wants to add another three units, and this modification won't cause any problems – we will use the same system and the auto-configuration will help us, because it guarantees flexibility."

Animals thwarted

Richards CCTV has used Redwave external detectors from Optex Europe to assist in reducing false alarms at nationwide business to business delivery operation Tufnells Parcels Express.

Richards has used the detectors to protect the perimeter at two of Tufnells' largest distribution centres in Haydock and Northampton, both of which have been experiencing excessive false alarm activations.

Brian Sutton, general manager security services, said: "Because our depots are in operation 24 hours a day, most of our sites are in isolated corners of commercial estates, often adjacent to agricultural land. This means we do get quite a number of alarm activations caused by animals – and on the two sites in question, animals weren't the only problem. Alarms were also being triggered by traffic, environmental conditions and the weather, both sunshine and rain.

"Activations had risen to such a level that we turned to our installer for a solution. All of our sites use Redwall detection technology from Optex, and Richards CCTV recommended we trial its new Redwave technology. It has proven very successful. False alarms have been reduced dramatically, with the resultant savings in cost from our monitoring provider, Remguard, dealing with a lower number of additional activations."

IP goes South

Rexel Video has specified an IndigoVision IP system for the traffic monitoring systems of South Australia's Department of Transport.

For the South Eastern Freeway Tunnel project, the existing CCTV cameras were connected to IndigoVision's 10-way transmitter/receiver racks. These converted the analogue video to MPEG-4, 25fps 4CIF high quality digital video for transmission over a newly installed fibre-based network.

It was important that the new additions were seamlessly integrated into the existing CCTV system and that the configuration of the Norwood Traffic Control Centre, situated 15km from the tunnel, initially remained unchanged. To achieve this further IndigoVision racks were installed in the Traffic Control Centre to convert the digital video from the network to analogue, which was then fed into the existing matrix for crosspoint monitor switching.

Upgrade for G-MEX

Con-Tec Solutions Ltd has installed a modernised CCTV system at Manchester's G-MEX and MICC, the International Convention Centre.

The system is comprised of 23 dome cameras, two Vicon Kollector PRO DVRs, keypad and ViconNet software package. The domes have been sited to protect all doors at the venue, and have been added to a network of cameras giving full coverage of internal and external key points.

Security manager Mike Williams said: "We have been able to deal with a number of incidents thanks to the clear images that we are getting. In one recent case we identified two individuals who tried to steal goods from an exhibitor at one of our shows. The clarity of our CCTV evidence led to them being quickly arrested."

Site gets reflex treatment

Reflex has installed a site-wide security system at Belfry Business Park in Watford.

Site owner Kenningtons was looking for security in the form of 24/7 CCTV video surveillance, using a combination of on-site and off-site monitoring, active perimeter detection, and traffic management and electronic access control for all tenants and staff.

Reflex installed a remotely monitored integrated CCTV, perimeter and vehicular barrier entry systems. A Kenningtons spokesperson said: "We have achieved exactly what we set out to do when we briefed Reflex; created a secure environment for staff and tenants, and benefited from a managed service allowing tenants to concentrate on their core business activities. Opportunities for theft of vehicles and theft from vehicles have been successfully eliminated."

Upgrade for Cup

System integrator PKE Germany has installed an IndigoVision integrated IP video solution as part of the city of Stuttgart's security system for the 2006 Football World Cup.

The new system has upgraded and extended the existing analogue CCTV infrastructure to provide monitoring for the city's transport network in a 30km radius around the stadium. The surveillance inside the stadium was also upgraded to IP video, providing a totally integrated solution delivering continuous high quality, 25fps video to several control centres around the city.

PKE Germany installed the system in less than two weeks. Following the World Cup, Stuttgart City is looking into expanding the system further by adding additional cameras to the network for the monitoring of tunnels, roads and pedestrian areas.

Maxx for ID

ID Technology Group, based at Middleton, near Manchester, has worked with Sanyo to provide a 'complete solution' in over 80 of TK Maxx's stores.

ID Technology has supplied TK Maxx with Sanyo VCC-9300P dome cameras to provide discrete and unobtrusive surveillance. These incorporate a newly developed Sanyo DSP module and auto-focus lens, providing images at 520 TV lines of resolution. The cameras and DSR-3716 DVR are controlled by a VSP-9000 touch screen keyboard.

TK Maxx technical security specialist Luke O'Reilly said: "The keyboard is a very important part of the system. Its graphical user interface can be tailored to each individual store. We can use the mapping facility to indicate where each camera is, making it very easy for staff who might be temporarily moved to another store to quickly become familiar with the CCTV system operating at that location."

Seeing the light

Local authority specialist security contractor GD Security claims to have solved the problem of yellow fluorescent street lighting in public space CCTV schemes.

In a major system replacement for Southwark, GD is replacing 44 out of 50 cameras with a combination of Pentax 8~144mm day/night lenses and Bosch's LTC0610 cameras.

Water protection

Zandar and SiteSecure Inc have teamed up to upgrade the video surveillance and monitoring system at a centre Florida water utility.

They provided full network access for operators and a custom user interface based on Zandar's new Z-configurator control software. The water utility wanted a CCTV system that enabled the plant to record and monitor live 125 to 150 cameras simultaneously.

SiteSecure developed the solution using Zandar FusionPro MultiViewers and six high definition DLP rear projection systems projected onto a single 75-inch x 281-inch custom screen.