Vista Cameras Watch over Development Construction in the U.K.

Editor / Provider: Vista | Updated: 5/24/2011 | Article type: Commercial Markets

Wixams, a housing development in Bedfordshire, is protected during its construction by Vista dome cameras.

The Wixams “new town” project comprises four villages, and when completed, the 750-acre brown field site will comprise 4,500 homes in each village. At the development, various projects being built by Deejak Builders are protected by a remotely monitored surveillance solution installed by Ace Fire and Security Systems.

"Deejak work constantly to innovate and deliver high levels of service and added value, employing the latest technology in our construction and management processes,” said Steve Titmuss, Director of Deejak. “In the early phase of the project, several Wixams homes were close to completion and final handover, when intruders struck and stole fittings and fixtures, causing significant damage, estimated to be in the region of more than US$40000. Prompted by this incident, we approached Ace Fire and Security for a solution to protect our investments at the site during out of hour's periods."

In a short period of time, a surveillance system was installed to protect the site from further attacks. "Our expert installation team installed Vista day/night domes, connected via UTP video transmission to a DVR located in a secure room at the site,” said Kevin Burraway, Director of Ace Fire and Security Systems. “From there, live and recorded images are transmitted to our own remote alarm-receiving center, from where we monitor the site 24/7."

Comprehensive surveillance brings several advantages both from a security, and health & safety perspective. "Thanks to the technically advanced electronic surveillance system, we now have protection for the site against further attacks, and have experienced no losses since the cameras were installed," Titmuss said.

"A few days after the original attack, two intruders were spotted onsite by our remote monitoring team. Thanks to their expert monitoring skills combined with the HD images, we were able to detect the intruders and dispatch our rapid response team and local police," Burraway said.

IndigoVision IP Surveillance Weathers Storms at Russian Gas Plant

Editor / Provider: IndigoVision | Updated: 5/5/2011 | Article type: Government & Public Services

IndigoVision's IP video technology is providing end-to-end surveillance for one of the largest integrated oil and gas projects. Sakhalin-2 was built from scratch in the harsh subarctic environment of Sakhalin Island in the Russian Far East. Phase 1 involved oil production from an offshore platform installed at the Piltun-Astokhskoye field in 1999. Phase 2 included the installation of two further platforms, 300-kilometer offshore pipelines connecting all three platforms to the shore, more than 800-kilometer onshore oil and gas pipelines, an onshore processing facility, an oil export terminal and the construction of Russia's first liquefied natural gas plant. Sakhalin-2 has standardized on IndigoVision's solution, with more than 600 cameras providing remote monitoring for the entire infrastructure in what is believed to be the largest wide-area IP video surveillance system.

Sakhalin-2 creates a demanding security environment with the need to protect its vast operation against a range of possible threats. The challenge was to build a reliable, fault-tolerant surveillance system that delivers high-quality live and recorded video over huge distances. The project initially installed first generation IP video systems, which suffered from unstable operation, lost frames and capacity problems. In contrast IndigoVision's solution offered a distributed serverless architecture that had no single point of failure, limitless expansion capability, guaranteed no-dropped frames and compression that reduced network load. Cameras, NVRs and workstations could be located at any point on the network, providing the flexibility and scalability needed for a project of this scale.

All of the original cameras from the first generation IP system were reused by connecting them to IndigoVision encoders. An additional 250 IndigoVision network cameras have also been connected directly to the network. More than 50 NVRs have been installed locally near clusters of cameras to reduce network loading. Multiple workstations located in 15 regional monitoring centers allow operators to monitor the entire operation. An operator with the correct permissions can view live or recorded video from any of the cameras on the system, no matter where they are located. IndigoVision's compression ensures minimum latency, an important factor when streaming video more than 800 kilometers.

[NextPage]IndigoVision's IP alarm panels are used throughout the system to interface to remote hardware alarms from process systems and ancillary equipment. These are then monitored using the alarm handling capability, automatically alerting operators to potential operational and security problems. Each IP alarm panel has 32 optoisolated binary inputs and eight relay outputs.

Sakalin-2 uses real-time analytics running in IndigoVision's encoders and network cameras to automatically alert operators to potential problems. Functions such as virtual tripwire will automatically trigger an alarm if a person or vehicle enters a restricted area. With so many cameras to monitor, real-time analytics can play an important role in helping to improve operator efficiency and incident response.

The improved remote surveillance capability has allowed the security of 104 important Block Valve Stations (BVS) to be monitored from a central location as well as local satellite control rooms. This completely replaces the manned guarding operation at each BVS that was necessary with the old system, significantly reducing travel and staffing costs.

Comparing NVR Designs

Editor / Provider: The Editorial Team | Updated: 5/11/2011 | Article type: Tech Corner

The emergence of the NDVR — an NVR construct with several hybrid DVR features — has created a great deal of discussion and confusion among manufacturers, channel partners and end users alike. Why did they come into being, and what are they for?

The reason for the NDVR's existence is more evident; in larger and more complex video surveillance systems, the NDVR provides a unified, network-enabled platform for connecting all network cameras, routers/switches, video servers/encoders and capture cards. These devices can be accessed through a network, using client-server architecture, allowing remote access through any browser or server in the world. This enables remote monitoring as well as remote controls, for a network that is not quite like a DVR or an NVR.

The NDVR preserves the DVR's basic functions of recording and content management, while adding the NVR's advantages of Internet connectivity and remote storage. It also connects to analog cameras through video servers/encoders as well as network cameras. The NDVR enables long-term recording, remote monitoring and PTZ controls.

NDVRs straddle a blurred line between hybrid DVRs and pure NVRs, as the migration to IP continues. There is no doubt there is demand for DVRs with network connectivity or that NVRs enable more flexibility and are more future-proof. However, an NVR requires replacing all front-end devices and cabling with network cameras and Ethernet cables, driving up the cost of network-based surveillance. As hybrid deployments increase, NVRs are positioned as lofty and difficult-to-implement devices. Thus, the NDVR combines the advantages of DVRs and NVRs, contributing to its popularity.

NDVR APPLICATIONS
The NDVR's adoption of NVR advantages overcomes the limitations of DVRs. Network connectivity is the prime advantage, with the video management software (VMS) platform of NVRs being deployed for NDVRs. However, the NDVR supports analog as well as network cameras, much like a hybrid DVR. A crucial distinction is processing efficiency, with a Windows NT server or SQL server installed on the hardware to run the VMS. The NDVR is more of a NVR than a hybrid DVR with its NVR architecture, but adds the ability to integrate analog inputs.

[NextPage]An NDVR emulates the NVR's front-end operation and core processing, overcoming DVR shortcomings. NDVRs achieve superior network transmission and support real-time streaming at 30 fps to different remote sites or client Web browsers. A network-enabled DVR could not support such real-time applications, but these are now possible with the NDVR. An NDVR uses server hardware with VMS, enabling wireless 3-GPP transmission and HTML image transfer, conveniently fulfilling remote monitoring needs.

NDVRs also offer advantages for back-end recording and video playback. While DVRs were restricted by local storage limits, NVRs have large amounts of remote storage, with cloud storage soon becoming a reality. NDVR design not only supports local storage to IDE or SCSI drives, but also enables mirrored storage approaches, as well as direct attached storage or network-attached storage (NAS). This flexibility is more than either a DVR's or NVR's storage and playback capabilities.

Another improvement of NDVRs is better integration with third-party security systems and information security systems. NDVR SDKs are more open than closed DVRs and proprietary NVRs, giving end users more convenience and control over the video surveillance interface.

The differences between server-based NVRs and DVRs have resulted in varying applications. For increased competitiveness, the design of NDVR software and hardware has emerged in the wake of DVR and NVR usage shortcomings.

NDVR VERSUS NVR
After understanding how the NDVR came to be and its design concept, what are the true differences between NVRs and NDVRs? Before comparing the two, it is important to make a distinction between NDVRs and hybrid DVRs. There are storage solutions on the market which use Linux or Windows with four to 16 channels of analog and IP inputs, along with remote monitoring capabilities. These are much like network-enabled DVRs, but in terms of functionality and online management, they do not measure up to NDVRs.

The table below shows that the greatest difference between NDVRs and NVRs is not so much their features, but how they are applied and efficiently managed. The pure IP approach of the NVR has some inflexible shortcomings in real-world applications. Therefore, NDVR selection depends on actual installation needs. For example, NDVRs do not require a large number of embedded audio/video recording servers but can accommodate both IP and analog signals. Equipment selection, thus, depends on whether the system architecture can support user or site needs.

[NextPage]The system's scale and bandwidth will determine how many users can simultaneously access video or playback footage in real time. Through a TCP/IP network, the central command can monitor multiple NDVRs, flexibly managing RAID and NAS storage. As NDVRs and NVRs must consider scale, network architecture is different. Considering typical network environments and IP infrastructure, an NDVR is more flexible and usable for midsize or large-scale video deployments.

Selection of NDVRs depends on several key areas.First, the NDVR server-side functions must be examined by checking the CPU efficiency and flash memory. The display card must meet basic standards, with compatibility with the operating system and network camera brands. The device must support local recording as a backup in emergencies. Most importantly, the solution must be scalable and have four server management functions over the real video server, alarm-processing server, digital matrix and database server. These management functions will raise NDVR system manageability and efficiency to NVR levels, unlike a networkenabled or hybrid DVR.

TROUBLESHOOTING
After comparing and contrasting NDVRs and NVRs, let us examine the unique applications NDVRs are suited for. This type of system is suited for PoS integration, particularly for retail chain stores. As NDVRs support network and analog signals, they are suited for large-scale, hybrid projects with huge existing analog investments or users who have a diverse group of cameras. These include airport boarding gates, long-haul bus depots, railways, mass transit, highway toll booths, universities, industrial facilities, amusement parks and casinos.

A common problem for NDVRs in these applications is networking. As cameras must connect to the back-end storage over an IP network, the system's firewalls and front-end VPN address translation for multiple network devices are trouble areas installers must address. The ease of setting up multiple cameras will depend on protocol selection and the type of UPnP access and TCP compatibility used. Different equipment groups, such as camera groups or recording settings for specific devices or zones, frequently cause configuration headaches and are set up wrong, costing installers valuable time. On the hardware side, storage compatibility must be considered for projects involving third-party equipment and software. Integrating multiple SDKs will require integrators to spend time programming. Sometimes, open IP and analog brand options, along with unrestricted Internet Explorer-based remote viewing and navigation, create more integration and programming issues for integrators and installers.

In real life, many NDVRs have added networking capability to previously closed analog systems, shown through many success stories. NDVRs have surpassed DVRs for networking and surveillance performance. In areas where NVRs are growing, NDVRs — given their DVR DNA — are not guaranteed for defeat.

Capturing Crystal Clear Images With Megapixel Technology

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 4/12/2011 | Article type: Tech Corner

Megapixel surveillance is not a new concept — its applications and benefits are starkly clear. What has changed are smarter cameras, taking advantage of the added pixels and a better understanding of illumination in real life. In the first of a two-part report, A&S examines how smarter megapixel cameras are getting; the second part looks at best practices for optimal performance.

The big picture for megapixel surveillance cameras looks bright, in the wake of the recession. HD and megapixel cameras are expected to make up nearly 30 percent of network camera shipments in 2011, according to IMS Research. By 2015, it is forecast that more than 60 percent of network cameras shipped will be of megapixel resolution.

The resolution increase has a noted effect on the whole surveillance system. While a 2.1-megapixel or 1,080p HD image is six times larger than a D1 image, the additional pixels require a bigger pipe to transmit more data. The infrastructure and storage costs for megapixel are well-documented, with ROI and TCO being used as arguments in favor of bigger pictures. The fate of megapixel is linked to the future of IP networks, with HD forecast to make up most high-resolution cameras compared to megapixel, according to IMS.

Megapixel surveillance requires careful planning, but the benefits of added resolution boost the accuracy of analytics. Edge devices take advantage of faster processors, resulting in smarter use of pixels. Analytics can help reduce bandwidth, as an event will trigger video streaming, rather than constantly sending the same still images over the network. A more distributed architecture puts less strain on networks and makes life easier.

Clarity is the main driver for megapixel. “At the end of the day, you're putting in a security system to protect life and provide evidence in a court of law,” said Stephen Moody, Security Development Manager for ViS Security Solutions, an integrator in Ireland.

Cracking the Code
H.264 is the de facto standard compression for megapixel cameras, due to its efficiency in crunching large data files into smaller ones for transmission and storage. As compression evolved from M-JPEG's stills to MPEG-4 and now to H.264, a variety of profiles yield differences in performance. With 17 profiles in all, three are the most common: baseline, main and high, said Sachin Khanna, PM for CCTV, Bosch Security Systems.

By profile, the baseline is appropriate for video conferencing; the main profile is good for broadcast video; and high profile is most applicable for HD broadcast video. “H.264 requires a fair amount of processing power for encoding and decoding; this may limit the camera's frame rate and dictate the NVR platform to achieve the desired performance,” said Rich Pineau, CTO of Oncam Global.

Most H.264 profiles stem from 2-D applications, with not all profiles being capable of integration. “Even if both cameras are H.264 and the manufacturers are partners, the system could still not work,” said Patrick Lim, Director of Sales and Marketing for Ademco Far East. “The I/O and output are hard to integrate. Some engineers say it's easy to plug and play — there's no such thing.”

 [NextPage]Different H.264 profiles are useful and important to maximize performance and efficiency, which affects camera selection. “Outside the top end of applications, people evaluate camera performance by visually comparing images from the cameras with different profile settings,” said Andrew Pigram, Technical Director at Norbain. “Ultimately, users want the highest quality for the lowest bandwidth, but will choose the right video stream profile for recording, transmission and live viewing.”

The compression's performance is marked by how well it captures moving images, without spiking in bit rate. “There are a variety of simple yet effective ways to evaluate encoder performance, such as waving a hand in front of the camera or panning the camera itself, like simulating a speed dome,” said Bengt Christensson, Senior Director of Marketing, Ambarella.

Baseline and high profile H.264 meet real-time requirements of about 100 to 200 milliseconds, with longer delays for megapixel, said Xiang Wei, CTO and VP of Engineering, Grandstream Networks.

Using H.264 permits megapixel cameras to match standard definition (SD) bit rates. An SD PTZ camera using MPEG-4 compression would need about 2.5 to 4.0 megabits per second (Mbps); the bit rate would fall to 1 to 1.75 Mbps using H.264, keeping storage manageable. “Most cannot see a difference between 1.5 Mbps and 6 Mbps in H.264 in side-by-side testing,” said Ed Thompson, CTO of DVTel.

However, some integrators prefer to work with MPEG-4 over H.264, minimizing any effects on quality. “It depends on the surveillance and recording platform because one of the serious cons is not every manufacturer supports the H.264 codec, particularly in remote monitoring situations,” Moody said.

Multiple Streams
No single compression profile will make or break a camera — it boils down to the viewing purpose. Nearly all megapixel cameras support multiple streams, allowing users to choose the appropriate one for different situations. “During off hours, a building could be monitored with M-JPEG at a slow frame rate, and switch to H.264 at a faster frame rate when an alarm is triggered,” said Becky Zhou, APAC Sales Director for Arecont Vision.

H.264 compression is less efficient with motion and also loses detail, while M-JPEG does not lose a frame. “If you have a lot of movement and every pixel changes every second, H.264 predicts what happens and what takes place in the scenery,” said Gerrit Schreiber, Senior PM at Basler. “But with M-JPEG, you are looking at the detail. For a plain surface, M-JPEG is most clear. But if you are looking at a mosaic with a high amount of detail, M-JPEG will increase bandwidth requirements.”

“M-JPEG is somewhat like the cockroach of the industry: It isn't very pretty, but it's very good at what it does, and it isn't going anywhere,” said Ian Johnston, CTO of IQinVision.

The lifespan of M-JPEG will be extended by increased storage. “There's going to come a time when cloud storage becomes so cheap and everyday, storage constraints will be a thing of the past,” said Todd Pinnell, PM for Video at Speco Technologies. “It's what you want to see and what you want to pay.”

[NextPage]Component Issues
One of the most noticeable trends in megapixel surveillance is intelligence. Analytics are being baked into the latest DSPs from Texas Instruments and Hisilicon, making basic algorithms — people counting, motion detection, missing object detection and tracking — nearly universal on megapixel cameras. “Basic intelligence would be motion detection; then, next are some more advanced analytics that go beyond to things we haven't thought of yet,” said Vance Kozik, PM at StarDot Technologies.

Analytics take advantage of faster processors and increased pixel counts. This makes edge devices suited for detail recognition, particularly for facial or license plate recognition that requires zoom, said Philip Siow, Senior Consultant for South APAC, Axis Communications.

While most megapixel cameras support basic analytics, they will support more intelligent access control and intrusion functions, said Ebony Huang, President and CEO of Brickcom.

HD or megapixel cameras are expected to become smarter with analytics and storage on the edge, changing video system architecture from server-centric to edge-centric and providing reductions in TCO. “With fewer servers to buy, install and maintain, coupled with a lighterweight network when not streaming the recording video back to the servers, the system becomes cheaper and easier to install and maintain,” Thompson said.

A smarter camera that puts less stress on the network will enable megapixel cameras to handle 24/7 recording. “There are also a few trade-offs to consider,” Christensson said. “Higher resolution and pixel rates require more processing, and features such as WDR will further add to the DSP cycles needed, requiring low-power ISP implementations.”

Higher pixel density will require higher processing power for the infrastructure, said William Ku, Director of Brand Business for Vivotek.

Image Sensors
Objectively, there are some benchmarks for identifying a megapixel camera with a good sensor. “Look at the pixel size,” Schreiber said. “Do not trust any of the sensitivity figures, because there is no standard.”

To combat poor low-light sensitivity, IR illuminators boost image sensor performance. “For side-by-side low-light performance, a CCD is more light-sensitive than a CMOS sensor,” Kozik said.“However, that is beginning to change.”

More pixels in megapixel sensors will generate more noise at night. “The performance with IR lighting for night conditions is quite important because there are some megapixel implications, particularly with IR-cut filter switching sometimes not being as smooth as a typical CCD camera,” Moody said.

[NextPage]Lenses
Megapixel cameras are constrained by the optical limits of lenses. True megapixel lenses are rare, expensive and therefore have not kept pace with image sensor increases. “One thing people use megapixel cameras for is the wider view requiring fewer cameras, but it's a challenge to do that with more background motion,” Moody said. “Lens adjustment in external areas of a large warehouse or retail situation may pick up too much background motion interference, with no relevance for the site's consideration. It is important that the scene does not overspill onto a surrounding road, where there may be excessive traffic flow.”

There are 5- or 10-megapixel lenses for machine vision, but they can retail from US$700 to $1,400 each — about the same price or even more than the camera itself. “There's not a standard lens that can provide the resolution for a 5-megapixel image sensor,” Schreiber said. “The pixel size is so small at 2 microns that it cannot be held with a standard lens. I can give you an example of a 5-megapixel camera using a bad lens resulting in a worse image than a 1.3-megapixel camera with a good lens.”

A good megapixel lens should have the same resolution at the edges as well as the center, Khanna said. Image performance should be maintained throughout lighting changes, particular for outdoor scenes that require IR correction.

Fisheye lenses are catching on in megapixel surveillance, thanks to increased sensor sizes. A good hemispheric camera should select a fisheye lens that is responsive and matches its sensor, Pineau said.

Looking at the spec sheets is good reference, but nothing beats field tests. “We do quite a lot of large projects, where the client requests 100 to 200 cameras, so this type of application warrants looking at megapixel or HD cameras to reduce the camera quantities,” Moody said. “We go out with footage, show them how it was tested in various conditions and show them the results for cameras 1, 2, 3 and 4. We will show them the one we would recommend; it is important that the client understands the choice and why we have recommended a certain type of camera over another.”

On paper, there are relatively few differences between cameras. However, software and programming will affect performance; two cameras using the same hardware can produce completely different results. In our next section, we explore best practices in megapixel camera installation, particularly for illumination, as well as real-life project specifications.

Axis Network Cameras Displayed at Hong Kong Luxury Store

Editor / Provider: Axis Communications | Updated: 3/31/2011 | Article type: Commercial Markets

Christelle Limited, a Hong Kong manufacturing jeweler, has been producing and exporting exceptional jewelry for more than three decades. Known for its unique designs and high-quality materials, it participates in more than 30 tradeshows around the world each year. At these shows, and in their international offices, security and staff safety are key concerns.

To enhance security, Christelle selected a new digital video surveillance system from Axis Communications. The system is easy for sales staff to set up and operate during tradeshows as well as reliable and powerful enough for around-the-clock office surveillance. The system comprises Axis network cameras and management software. It allows monitoring of real-time and recorded images as well as remote monitoring via an authorized PC or 3-G smartphone.

With this Axis technology in place, Christelle can prevent theft while reducing costs in a more effective way. The cameras capture high-resolution images so that personnel can distinguish individual pieces of jewelry and more readily spot suspect behavior. Compressed for low-bandwidth IP transmission, these images can even be accessed remotely to confirm false alarms and hence, increase the efficiency of the security team. Furthermore, staff does not need special training and can also set up or use the new security system.

“Our Axis network video solution delivers extreme image quality at exceptionally low bandwidth. So we get crystal clear images that we can access from wherever we are. This helps us enhance security and make better use of our manpower resources, both at tradeshows and in our offices,“ said Ken Ng, GM, Christelle Limited.

QNAP Surveillance System On Sale at Japanese Convenient Stores

Editor / Provider: QNAP | Updated: 3/31/2011 | Article type: Commercial Markets

A famous chain of convenient stores throughout the Hokkaido region in northern Japan installed QNAP NVR surveillance systems in 600 of its 986 stores as an initial trial to create a safer shopping experience for customers and a safer working environment for employees.

Convenience stores are the backbone of daily life in Japan, where much of the workforce commutes to work by train, often for more than one hour each way. The branch manager of the convenience store chain understands his customer's needs and that creating a pleasant and safe shopping experience is critical to keeping the customers loyal to his store chain.

After two armed robberies and a string of theft incidences at some of the stores, a branch manager for the store chain set out to begin discussions with security consultants to work out a solution that prevents unexpected guests and would aid in loss prevention throughout the chain of stores and allow for both local and remote centralized monitoring. The primary challenge is this chain store group currently runs more than 900 convenience stores and with such large enterprise it was difficult to design a security system that could be deployed chain-wide and allow local recording and storage of the surveillance as well as remote monitoring of video from many stores by a remote office. The secondary challenge for deployment of a security system is that it needed to be PC-less and fit into the limited space in the stores.

The previous surveillance systems installed in the stores delivered poor image quality and there was no provision for remote monitoring. Most of the surveillance systems recorded on tape, which was not always reliable. After a great deal of research, the branch manager of the store chain selected QNAP NVRs for deployment at 600 stores. The solution is a compact NVR that can record video surveillance from up to eight network cameras installed in the stores on two internal hard disk drives with enough space for up to 30 days of recorded surveillance video. The NVR is a networked video surveillance system, allowing the video feeds from the cameras to be transmitted securely over the Internet to a remote monitoring location. Additionally, a monitor can be connected for local monitoring in the store managers office, if desired.

The essential places to monitor in a convenient store are typically the cash register area, store entrances, stockroom and merchandise areas. These areas are protected by two to three Axis network cameras using H.264 video compression, delivering VGA-quality video clear enough for important details but small enough in size to be sent over the Internet and not take up much storage space on the NVR's internal hard disks. In addition to video, the usage of audio interaction allows the cashiers to receive instructions, enabling them to react in a timely fashion. Other cameras fixed on the store shelves and store entrance give the store manager an indication of where customers might need assistance from staff.

Surveillance videos can also be viewed on mobile devices, which enable store managers to analyze the staff's working efficiency and have a better picture of where resources should be allocated. The remote security staff based at the chain's headquarters office can easily access any of the recorded video surveillance from any of the systems at any time to support investigations and share with authorities. The NVR offers features that allow the security team to get an SMS and E-mail alert automatically if movement is detected in certain areas before or after specific times.

"The amount of time and effort required to monitor security in 600 stores may seem impossible; fortunately, QNAP's backend multiserver remote operation is smartly designed and simplified for headquarter security staff and store management personnel," said Yasushi Nakaguro, PM at R.O.D. "Local playback and mobile viewing capability are essential for retail shops as they have limited budgets and no space for extra PCs in the store. More than anything, the world-class service and support from our QNAP security team played a critical role in this project's success."

UK Council Gets Live Images from Wavestore Surveillance System

Editor / Provider: Wavestore | Updated: 3/29/2011 | Article type: Government & Public Services

Wavestore is at the heart of the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames' recently upgraded and expanded surveillance system.

Control room operators now have the ability to view live or recorded images from industry standard analog cameras, alongside images from the latest generation of Full HD cameras.

The first phase of the project saw the installation of 128 analog cameras to allow comprehensive remote monitoring of the town center. Seven Sanyo Full HD network cameras and an additional eight analog cameras were added shortly afterwards to specially cover the Guildhall complex.

"We recognized early on that the success of this project was dependant on choosing a recording solution which was operator friendly and was expandable as and when the client's requirements changed," said Martin Taylor, Digital Systems Manager for Waltham Cross based Videcom Security, a specialist installer of Town and City Centre CCTV systems. "We evaluated digital recording systems from a number of manufacturers but the final decision took a number of factors into consideration including the operators' assessment of all three systems which were shortlisted."

"We were impressed with how Videcom security and the Wavestore technical support team worked together to deliver a system which we are very pleased with,” said Martin Lazell, CCTV Control Room Manager at the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames. “With minimal training our operators very quickly became confident in their ability to get the best out of a system. We also value the fact that we will be able to add new-generation network cameras as and when we need them, while continuing to benefit from our investment in analogue technology."

IP Video Surveillance and Wireless Networks - A Successful Partnership

Editor / Provider: Submitted by IndigoVision | Updated: 3/28/2011 | Article type: Hot Topics

Oliver Vellacott, CEO of IndigoVision, discusses the benefits, applications and technology involved when IP video surveillance is deployed using wireless networks.

A benefit of digital video surveillance is it is compressed and streamed across standard Ethernet networks using Internet protocol (IP). This is exactly the same protocol for corporate networks and the Internet. Digital video can therefore be transmitted across any broadband network connection, such as cable, fiber or wireless.

There are a number of wireless technologies that allow digital surveillance video to be transmitted across large urban areas and from remote locations. As far as the IP video system is concerned, the wireless interface is transparent and is a replacement or extension of the wired network. Connecting to a wireless network is the same as connecting to an Ethernet switch.

Wireless Benefits
Combining IP video surveillance with wireless networks can provide the user with benefits:
● No cable
●  Less disruption: With less cable to install, project time frames are reduced and business disruption is minimized
● Lower transmission costs: No expensive fixed lines required
● Expansion and migration
● Remote monitoring
● Mobile applications: Live and recorded video can be viewed over 3-G mobile phone networks
● Heritage protection: At historic sites where installation of cable is prohibited, wireless is the only alternative

Wireless Technologies
Wireless Broadband Networks Wireless broadband typically operates in the unlicensed frequency spectrum and provides high-speed wireless Internet and data network access over a wide area.

For IP video applications, wireless broadband networks can be deployed in a number of configurations:
● Point-to-point, often known as an Ethernet bridge
● Point-to-multipoint
● Mesh wide-area network

Different network technologies, both wired and wireless, are often deployed together to achieve wide area coverage. Chihuahua State, the largest state in Mexico, deployed such a distributed IP video system. Its capital is also named Chihuahua and includes eight other cities.

The distributed system allows an operator in the state capital to view video from any other city in the region. Surveillance in each city uses point-to-multipoint wireless networks, which is connected to the capital by fixed network links.

[NextPage]WiMAX
Worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) supports wireless broadband access over large distances as an alternative to cable and DSL. It is different from Wi-Fi, which covers hundreds of meters; WiMAX provides coverage over kilometers.

An example is the Acuicola Marina fish farm in Spain. Its offices and a warehouse are located 3 kilometers inland, with the fish farm facilities located 10 kilometers offshore. The valuable fish stock is a target for poachers, making it difficult to police offshore facilities.

To overcome this, Acuicola Marina deployed a wireless video system. Its network infrastructure consists of a local Wi-Fi network covering the offshore facilities, with a 7 megabits per second (Mbps) WiMAX link to the on-shore offices 13 kilometers away. Along with providing security for the fish stock, it also offered operational benefits with submersible cameras monitoring fish stocks and food distribution.

Mobile Wireless Broadband
This provides high-speed Internet access through existing 3-G mobile phone networks. It is an established technology used on phones to access the Internet on the go. It can be a tool for law enforcement officers to monitor live and recorded footage from surveillance cameras on laptops mounted in police vehicles.

This was demonstrated by the integrated public video surveillance system developed in Lansing, Michigan. Here, video is streamed at 30 fps across various network technologies including ShDSL's, fiber, mesh wireless and mobile 3-G broadband. The police department's 60 vehicles each have a laptop with 3-G, allowing officers to view and control any camera in the system.

Long-term evolution (LTE) is a fourth-generation (4-G) mobile broadband standard, aimed to be the successor to 3-G. LTE offer higher throughput and low latency,providing an ideal wireless platform for IP video streaming.

Satellite
Satellite broadband access is expensive, but is often the only option for remote areas. Since data has to travel approximately 35,000 kilometers to reach its destination, latency can be more of an issue than with standard radio-based wireless networks. It can be affected by weather and climatic conditions.

A wireless surveillance system is helping to cut crime and provide a safe and secure environment at the Grand Canyon West Resort, Arizona. IP video has been deployed at the popular tourist destination, operated by the Hualapai tribe. The resort includes Skywalk, which allows visitors to “Walk the Sky” on a horseshoe-shaped glass bridge that overhangs the Grand Canyon.

Several sites, including Eagle Point (home of the Skywalk), Guano Point, a hotel, fuel depot and airport, are all centrally monitored from the airport terminal building. The facilities are located several kilometers apart and have no cabling or infrastructure between them. Each local IP network is connected using a satellite broadband network.

[NextPage]Bandwidth
Wireless networks typically have lower bandwidth than wired networks. A wired network can have an available bandwidth of up to 700 Mbps, while wireless networks typically offer no more than 25 Mbps.

It is paramount to minimize the amount of data that is transmitted wirelessly. This can be achieved by ensuring the video surveillance system deployed utilizes the best compression available, is operating on a distributed architecture and ensures the minimum amount of video is transmitted.

Compression
Deploying efficient H.264 compression can significantly affect the performance of the wireless IP video system. This is important when using high definition cameras. With the limited bandwidths available from wireless networks, this is an important consideration.

Architecture
There are two architectures used by IP video systems: centralized and distributed. A centralized architecture uses a master database, usually located in the central control room. A distributed architecture spreads the data around the security management system, generally keeping it close to where it is produced or needed.

Normally, more data is transferred across the network to the centralized video and storage servers than would be the case with a distributed system. Well-designed distributed systems reduce the need for large amounts of data to travel large distances.

Multicasting
IP multicasting is a networking feature that allows video from the same camera to be viewed and recorded by multiple operators simultaneously, using the same bandwidth as a single operator would. Using multicasting on a distributed system is a efficient solution for IP video systems.

Summary
The benefits of using wireless networks with IP video systems are clear and can sometimes be the only solution available for large or remote areas. However, the overall performance of the network and surveillance system depends on the performance, features and capability of the IP video system itself. Choosing the correct IP video technology that has good compression, the most suitable architecture and fully-featured network cameras is important.

Axxon Provides Russian Vehicle-Service Company with Video Surveillance

Editor / Provider: Axxon | Updated: 3/23/2011 | Article type: Commercial Markets

The company Swed-Mobil is the largest official Volvo dealer in St. Petersburg, Russia. The company sells and services vehicles at two major dealerships equipped with showrooms and the latest vehicle servicing equipment.
Swed-Mobil invests substantial resources into the development of its IT infrastructure, including for the enhancement of its security. One of the components of its infrastructure is the deployment of a video surveillance system with the help of the company Vizzara.

Expansion of the customer's video surveillance system was carried out in several stages. During the first stage, the interiors of the service station and showroom at the dealership on Energetikov Avenue were equipped with Axis surveillance cameras and an Axxon video processing server with a LPR module was deployed. This enabled remote monitoring of vehicle servicing processes, a reduction in the probability of personnel-caused losses and the implementation of automated vehicle control.

The second stage comprised of setting up external perimeter surveillance. After an inspection of the building and perimeter, Vizzara technicians proposed that external surveillance cameras be installed along the building perimeter and linked to the existing network video server. When choosing the most effective equipment, Vizzara provided the customer with various models of video cameras, lenses and accessories so that they could be tested. Considering the climatic conditions of St. Petersburg, it was decided to equip the cameras with a robust and weatherproof casing.

Based on the results of testing and a review of customer demands, 18 universal megapixel network cameras with a day/night function were installed. The cameras were equipped with weatherproof casings that guarantee equipment operation at temperatures from -55 to +50 degrees Celsius and were also equipped with Japanese Fujinon varifocal lenses.

All cameras were linked to the customer's local area network through a 3Com network switch, network camera processing software was installed for video data management and remote client workstations were configured. The network cables of cameras and power cables for their weatherproof casings were installed within corrugated pipes with a total cumulative length of one kilometer.

After completion of the second stage of the project, Swed-Mobil obtained the capability of round-the-clock monitoring of the external premises in any weather, thereby substantially enhancing the security of its customers, employees and property.

Swed-Mobil and Vizzara are currently continuing their collaboration with the implementation of the third stage of the video surveillance deployment project. The third stage involves increasing the customer's surveillance coverage by installing additional cameras outside of the Volvo dealership building.

Verizon Launches Home Monitoring and Control Service to Enable Connected Home

Editor / Provider: Submitted by Verizon communications | Updated: 3/23/2011 | Article type: Hot Topics

Verizon Communications' remote monitoring service is undergoing tests in New Jersey. It offers homeowners anytime, anywhere access to lights, thermostats, appliances and monitoring systems, via smart phones, computers and fiber-optic service TV.

You are miles away from home when you realize that you forgot to lock the front door. With a fully integrated and customizable home monitoring and control service developed by Verizon, you won't have to frantically call a friend or neighbor. The service, now in the trial phase and expected to be available in the first half of 2011, will enable customers to lock doors remotely; see what's going on with network cameras; and control lights, smart thermostats and appliances — all by using a smart phone, computer or through fiber-optic service (FiOS) TV.

Beginning in January, a pilot program for home monitoring and control will be conducted in New Jersey. The homes selected for the program will be outfitted with an energy reader, smart appliance switches and thermostats, a smart power strip, a smart door and window locks, motion sensors, a pan-tilt camera and a fixed indoor and outdoor camera.

“What we'll be testing in these homes is just the beginning,” said Eric Bruno, VP of Product Management for Verizon Communications. “We're giving customers a remote control for their homes that they can use to cut carbon dioxide emissions and their energy bills and give them anytime, anywhere access and control of their homes. The concept of the connected home has been discussed for many years, and now Verizon's high-IQ networks are making that concept a reality by converting customers' homes into bandwidth-rich ecosystems that enable a wide variety of customizable options.”

Platforms for Innovation
Since launching FiOS, Verizon has pushed the boundaries of TV and broadband speed by introducing innovations.

Verizon is one of the first U.S. providers to offer ultrahigh- speed symmetrical Internet service to customers. In 2010, the company began offering 150/35 megabits per second (Mbps) Internet service, the fastest speeds available on a mass scale. Consumers can choose from various FiOS Internet downstream and upstream options up to 50/20 Mbps.

Verizon also offers a Media Manager, available to all HD customers, that enables them to access PC-based personal photos, videos and music — as well as search and enjoy online videos from YouTube, blip.tv and Dailymotion. DVR customers can remotely access their DVRs from any broadband connection or Internet-enabled phone. And in November 2010, Verizon launched Flex View, a new feature that allows customers to take their video content with them and purchase, rent or watch videos on TV, online and on select mobile devices.