Polish Medical University Chooses Messoa Video for Efficient Management

Editor / Provider: Messoa | Updated: 11/23/2011 | Article type: Education

The Medical University of Gdansk, the largest medical academic institution in Northern Poland, inaugurated its state-of-the-art Academic Center of Invasive Medicine in September, 2011. A six-storey building with a total area of over 64,000 square meter, the medical center is furnished with the most cutting-edge medical equipment. It will serve as the country's leading research and clinical institution specializing in a broad range of surgery practices and intensive care.

To ensure the safety of those valuable assets, as well as that of patients and medical staff, the university was seeking a reliable, weatherproof outdoor surveillance solution capable of 24/7 wide-range monitoring with superb image quality for securing the perimeter.

In search for the top-quality solution available to match with this state-of-the-art facility, the MESSOA network speed dome cameras were recommended for this project to meet the requirements. The is chosen for its wide coverage capability with the superior turbo-speed pan/tilt performance, zoom-in up to 324X and the superior low illumination performance backed by MESSOA'S Lumii imaging technology. The IP67-rated solid construction with the built-in heater and blower make this camera an ideal outdoor weatherproof surveillance solution to endure the sub-zero temperature in Gdansk's long wintertime.

To achieve a complete coverage, a total of 15 cameras are installed on the exterior of the building to secure every side and corner of the facility, including the main entrance facing a major carriageway. Leveraging on University's existing IP network, the digital images are transferred to a control site inside the building. They are then sent in bandwidth-saving H.264 format to the university's Operator Station for centralized management with a back-end management platform.

After the cameras are deployed, what impresses the security staff the most is 360-degree continuous pan operation range with a maximum pan speed of 430-degree per second and the 324X zoom-in on objects up to 200m away. It allows the operators to quickly locate and follow any suspicious target or incident from the remote Operator Station. Operators are also able to browse real-time scaling images in high-resolution during both day and night, which significantly facilitate positive identification by showing every possible detail.

Chinese Security Providers Safeguard Shenzhen World University Games 2011

Editor / Provider: Aiven Zhang | Updated: 11/10/2011 | Article type: China Corner

The Universiade 2011, or World University Games, took place in Shenzhen, China. A number of Chinese security players actively participated to secure the events, athletes and spectators. A comprehensive robust security system was deployed throughout the stadiums. a&s International China Best Buys talked to these providers to find out how they combined their technologies for a winning solution.

Security for the Shenzhen Universiade Games was a largescale project. There are more than 20 stadiums involved in the world event, with 1.8 million spectators and 20,000 athletes, coaches, referees and officials from 180 countries and regions. Considered to be the biggest event ever, it presented many challenges for surveillance, identification and crowd management.

“To meet potential challenges, we needed to implement a high-level security system with stable equipment for the International Games,” said Sam Yu, Planning Manager at Santachi Video Technology. “In this large-scale surveillance, high quality video and constant wide-area monitoring are needed.”

All of the security equipment used in the stadiums came from different Chinese and international providers, bringing integration challenges. To ensure stability, interoperability was taken into consideration, said Qingrui Hu, Technical Manager of Hikvision Shenzhen office.

“Our products adopt an advanced SRM CPU and FPGA platform and are compatible with more than 40 management platforms,” said Zhigao Zhou, Technical Engineer of Sunell Technology. “They also are ONVIF-compliant with open SDKs, enabling more flexibility and connectivity.” Michael Archer, PM of Sunell Technology emphasized that reliability came first in security and quality images were essential for image detail in analysis and monitoring. To secure the event, a comprehensive solution with video surveillance and access control was deployed.

High-Quality Images
The Universiade event welcomed large crowds. To ensure the safety and security of spectators and players, quality video surveillance is of great importance. Moreover, high definition (HD) images provided more detail for further analysis.

The cameras needed to provide HD images for identification of individuals. As the Games were held in large stadiums, seeing clearly was vital for surveillance, Archer said.

“HD analog dome cameras were deployed in 20 stadiums and 12 training gymnasiums,” Zhou said. “They deliver high resolution images of up to 1,280 by 960 pixels, providing more detailed information for analysis and viewing throughout the games.”

“We designed an HD solution with our high-resolution speed domes for wide-area surveillance,” Hu said. “The cameras capture and record megapixel video when the perimeter intrusion detectors trigger an alarm in the stadiums. This ensures image clarity and provides high quality images for forensic evidence.”

With wide-area coverage requirements, this brought difficulty for viewing and identifying the scene. “We chose PTZ domes to work in low-light environments using wide dynamic range (WDR),” Archer said. “These cameras were specifically designed for wide-area monitoring in airports, stadiums, seaports and banks, and their positioning accuracy is precise to ±02 degrees, even at low speeds.”

“ The PTZ speed dome sare positioned at the entrances, corridors and spectator stands for wide-area applications,” Yu said. “Owing to their WDR capabilities, they make adjustments according to lighting conditions and produce quality images for surveillance purposes.”

Yu continued, “The adoption of low-lux and IR features makes sure the cameras deliver clear images of dark areas so operators can see them, even if there is no light at all.”

Along with quality images, HD monitors were used for better video performance. A variety of 20-, 42-, 46- and 52-inch LCD panels and video walls were supplied. “They can automatically eliminate ghosting and self-adjust the picture size, providing sharp video output without trailing,” said Yongshuang Fang, Regional Manager of Marketing Department at Skyworth Qunxin. These panel monitors respond quickly with no noise and low power consumption.

Intelligent Monitoring
High image quality provides more possibilities for intelligent analysis. In such large spaces, crowd management and identifying suspicious behaviors can further enhance stadium security.

Video analytics plays a crucial role for proactive security. “With video analytic algorithms, the system provided real-time alarms for various incidents by automatically detecting, tracking and classifying specific objects and people,” Hu said.

Behavior analytics monitored and detected subtle suspicious actions. In densely populated areas, intelligent analytics measured the crowds, estimated change rules and analyzed risk level, resulting in a combination of real-time warnings and crowd management, Hu said.

For critical places, intelligent analytics detected abnormal and suspicious behaviors, such as loitering, theft and other threats, enhancing security without human supervision, said Xianpeng Zhang, Manager of Planning Department at Bellsent.

Zhang pointed out the intelligent solution supported both analog and IP-based video, providing real-time alert notifications and on-alarm events for recording and visual verification. Its robust and proven analytic capabilities provided highly accurate and reliable detection indoors and outdoors, even in severe weather.

Authorized Access
Access control increased the stadium's safety and security by preventing unauthorized persons from entering restricted Universiade sites. In each important entrance, a person needed authorization for access.

“Our networked access control system includes 22 four-door controllers, 86 card readers and 86 electronic locks to proactively and effectively prevent unauthorized entries,” said Ping Zheng, Technical Manager at Neatech. “It supports unlimited access control points, along with cross-segment and cross-node hybrid access.”

For crowd control purposes, the system integrated people counting to enforce capacity limitations. People were automatically restricted from entering sites once they reached capacity, while they gained access before the venue's capacity was filled, Zheng said.

The access management system was integrated with video surveillance to capture and record images when individuals swiped their cards. Stadium security was improved after the integration of access control, image capture, video recording, e-map and alarm, Zheng said.

Additionally, the participating providers took the world event seriously by establishing on-site technical support. Archer said, “We set up a team for emergencies to secure the main stadiums and respond promptly to emergency events. Together with our technicians, the Universiade was under complete surveillance and we won't allow for carelessness or mistakes in securing the event.”

Yu said, “Our team stood by 24/7 from the opening of the event and examined the equipment to make sure they worked. We also stocked backup devices to respond to any situation in a timely fashion.”

Fang said, “Our monitors were used in more than 20 stadiums throughout Shenzhen. We have calculated exactly how many devices are in every stadium and backed up spare parts. Should any of the equipment fail to work, our technicians there will see to it immediately.”

Dahua Aims to Become Total Solution Provider

Editor / Provider: Tim Shen | Updated: 10/11/2011 | Article type: China Corner

Dahua Technology posted strong growth of more than 50 percent, reaching US$ 123 million for the first half of 2011. The company's domestic and overseas sales were respectively US$ 89 million and US$ 34 million, with overseas markets growing nearly 91 percent. a&s talks to President Fu Liquan and Vice President Michael Chen to discuss what makes the company successful.

Some experts believe the security industry in China is on the verge of a new phase. As more players talk about customization for specific vertical markets and projects, this requires more resources and integration between different security systems. Product suppliers used to manufacture a single product, but now they must adapt to be solution providers for versatile and specific demands.

Fu Liquan, President of Dahua Technology, has his own opinion on industry developments. “There is no doubt the market d e m a n d s s o l u t i o n providers,” he said. “Some people believe that in a few years, there will only be few big players remaining on this stage. I think otherwise.”

Fu pointed out that security is not like the telecommunications industry in China , which is dominated by Huawei and ZTE. “The Chinese security industry emphasizes government projects and specific customized projects, which are not easy to replicate on a mass scale,” Fu said. “For example, traffic monitoring solutions might be different, depending on the region. It takes industry players to invest more resources but may not yield corresponding profits.”

Furthermore, China is a society that greatly emphasizes relationships. Therefore, Fu believes the Chinese security industry will surely move to system integration, which could eliminate unfit suppliers in the long run. But it will not be dominated by a few major players. Greater integration requires “co-petition,” as no one player can do everything by their own efforts.

Continuous R&D Investment
Fu pointed out that the company relies on its core value — technology. The company continues to invest in R&D, ensuring its product competitiveness. In Fu's opinion, Dahua's products should be unique and superior to anything else. The company plans to increase its R&D budget. Its R&D team will recruit to 1,000 staffers, from its existing 800. Furthermore, the company's long-term goal is to develop other security products, such as alarms or intercoms. Fu pointed out that all individual products must be outstanding to work together as an outstanding solution. “All products need to be designed for usage in solutions from the outset,” he added. “Therefore, we are setting up a R&D team for solution products.”

The company remains open to technology partnerships. However, there is one condition before any means of cooperation is undertaken. “We need to understand new technology and have our initial in-house R&D capabilities,” said Fu. “Then, we can better develop and integrate new technologies into our products. If you do not have a basic understanding, you cannot ensure your product will deliver better performance.”

The company will showcase new products with its enhanced R&D capabilities. These include a full series of 960H cameras, a wide range of HD-SDI DVRs as well as network cameras.

IP Brings Opportunities and Challenges
From Fu's standpoint, video surveillance will be focused on intelligence, high definition (HD) as well as integration. When it comes to IP and integration, the importance of software cannot be underestimated. For most hardware manufacturers, IP brings more opportunities but also new challenges. “In an IP world, it requires a software platform,” he said.

For example, the company just partnered with video processing expert NetPosa, a Beijing-based company, to develop software and hardware for demanding security users. “This partnership does not mean we have given up on our in-house software development,” Fu said. “We are working to combine our hardware with NetPosa's management software, which will upgrade product development and bring greater opportunities for both parties.”

Promising Overseas Market
At the overseas front, the company enjoyed nearly 91 percent revenue growth in the first half of 2011. Fu believes success came from its strong sales team. “We see great potential in the overseas markets,” he added. “We hope that by connecting with foreign buyers, it helps us to better understand international applications, as these applications are ahead of China. These product requirements give our R&D team a good reference to refine our products.”

“We would like to work with our overseas partners on every front,” said Michael Chen, Vice President of Dahua. “The key reason for Dahua's success was our products cater to user needs and different market requirements, thanks to our R&D capabilities and an ideal ratio of price-performance. This truly gave us an edge to penetrate challenging markets, such as India, Brazil and other emerging markets.”

From Chen's standpoint, a video system symbolizes a circle connecting everyone. With more possibilities and potential growth, the larger the circle will be. Dahua's ultimate goal is to help customers realize their business goals by partnering with the company. Chen believes Dahua has the complete product lineup to satisfy buyer needs, enabling customers to enjoy high performance and quality products from entrylevel to high-end.

This year, the organization will enhance its front-end devices. “We will promote our solution in overseas markets,” Chen said. “With our strong and highly performance back-end devices, we offer our customers a complete package. Our new analog and network speed domes are already in our portfolios.” Lastly, Chen added the overseas sales team will also recruit more people to better serveits customers.

Infinova Cameras Watch Over Metro Line in Chongqing, China

Editor / Provider: Infinova | Updated: 10/27/2011 | Article type: Infrastructure

Infinova announced that, with the opening of the first phase of a new metro line in Chongqing (southwest China), 750 Infinova fixed cameras and 40 Infinova dome cameras will be covering the 37 km (23 mile) Chongqing Metro Line 1 which includes a grand total of 23 stations. The first section was completed in July (2011) and the second phase completes next year.

“Considering that metro security is considered a main requisite of the Chinese transportation system, the metro authority chose Infinova because of our worldwide experience in providing such solutions, including the 1000-plus camera system that covers the Shanghai metro system in China,” explains Mark S. Wilson, Infinova VP of Marketing. “We also have similar systems in countries from Turkey to the United States.”

In Chongqing, cameras are located at the platforms, station centers and inside the train cars. Both the entrances and exits of metro stations have fixed cameras, each capable of viewing a person from the front as they enter a ticket-check station. In each of the metro halls, an integrated high-speed dome camera surveys the entire facility. Secluded corners also have additional fixed cameras so that these areas are not out of sight to the surveillance system.

Cameras are also on the platforms to give rail system administrators an overview of passenger flow. As a result, the system can monitor passengers entering and leaving the station centers and the cars to prevent and detect crimes, including potential terrorism and kidnapping.

Hikvision Surveillance Solution Keeps French Hospital in Check

Editor / Provider: Hikvision | Updated: 10/27/2011 | Article type: Commercial Markets

Hikvision's network speed dome cameras and IP cameras are being used at the Louis Pasteur Hospital in the city of Chartres in northern France to protect patients, staff and visitors.

This district general hospital, situated to the southwest of Paris, is a 528-bed facility offering general surgery, convalescence and a maternity unit. There is also emergency in-patient accommodation and a specialist respiratory department.

The Hikvision products being used here offer real-time compression, allow network transmission to multiple clients simultaneously and have the flexibility of optical performance - including wide dynamic range (WDR) – required at a site with activity as varied as that of a hospital.

At the Chartres application, Hikvision's technology partner, ARGOS Technologies, has integrated the cameras with its own NVR and multiplexer solutions to enable hospital authorities to monitor visitor activity, alert on possible intruders and assess the efficiency of hospital logistics including patient admission and use of emergency vehicles.

All hospitals present broad video surveillance requirements, with camera footage being used to record interaction between patients and reception staff, monitor flow of people and use of ambulance bays, and protect crucial high-value items such as controlled drugs in pharmacies.

Many of the Hikvision network speed domes are located in foyer and reception areas where extremes of shadow and highlight have presented a major challenge. Similarly, the IP box cameras are being used externally at approach areas, on walkways and in car parks, all on a 24/7 basis and thus with varying illumination. The hospital therefore required cameras offering true day-night functionality which could accommodate IR focus switch, trigger alarms on motion detection in areas prone to loiterers and allow control of saturation, brightness and contrast through client software Problems associated with fluctuating lighting conditions, even during the day, and the hospital's requirements as to the graduation of exterior to interior light levels have been solved by the versatility of the Hikvision speed dome cameras.

Features such as 128x WDR has allowed the integrator to provide hospital management with clear images and filter out the ‘noise' caused by contrast between bright sunlight and muted interior lighting. As with other hospitals, lighting contrast has been increased by the presence of large glazed doors which are crucial to allow surgical teams and wheelchair-users easy access. With 36x zoom and horizontal resolution of up to 540TVL, the speed dome cameras also help to observe interaction between patients and staff - to the point of capturing clear image of people's faces and close analysis of incidents.

The Hikvision network cameras are benefiting hospital security staff. In remote car park areas and the hospital perimeter, the cameras can operate in B/W mode at very low light levels. The camera's IR cut filter ensures the correct focal shift as the transition is made from day to night operation. In addition to motion detection, security officers at the hospital can receive alarms on video loss, network disconnection, IP address conflict and storage exceptions.

The camera footage is recorded on ARGOS'S own network video recorder (NVR) and images are viewed on ARGOS's multiplexer with mouse-driven or joystick control. The recorder is an open-protocol solution which operates with IP and megapixel cameras as well as encoded streams from analogue devices. The ARGOS NVR allows precise PTZ control over IP, and offers high-capacity storage on disk with easy export to removable media including USB devices.

Polo Cai, VP of Hikvision, said: “Few organisations make more complex demands on their security equipment than hospitals or are more aware of social obligations in ensuring that best-of-breed technology protects patients and staff. Installed by one of our trusted technology partners, the Hikvision cameras are forming part of a versatile and robust solution.”

Messoa Ensures VIP Safety at the Congo Presidential Pavilion

Editor / Provider: Messoa | Updated: 8/11/2011 | Article type: Residential & Consumer

Messoa, a leading forefront of complete high-resolution IP video solution have released details of an installation of its IP solution which is protecting Presidential Pavilion in the Congo. Situated by the Congo airport, sits President Pavilion, this has VIPs from all over the world stay with them.

Guest security was of the utmost importance. A guard station checked every vehicle that entered through the gate. With such a high emphasis on security, only the cutting edge in surveillance security would do. That's the reason Democratic Republic of Congo government chose to use MESSOA IP security cameras. The Messoa High Quality Indoor and Outdoor IP Cameras Were Both Required.

The Messoa NCR870 cameras were installed outside. The NCR870 was chosen because the camera is a ready to go out the box infrared (IR) camera that is able to see even in total darkness. 24 high quality IR illuminators built around the lens reveal crystal clear pictures even in the darkest night as far as 25 meters (82 ft). With IP67-rated all-weatherproof, aluminum casing, the NCR870 ensures reliable operation in any environment. This camera proved ideal for the hot Congo weather.

The Messoa SDS750PRO cameras were installed outside. The SDS750PRO is a speed dome security camera with low lux capabilities. A Sony EXview CCD, 128X Wide Dynamic Range and Day/Night function with ICR ensures 24 hour monitoring in even the most difficult conditions. An LED Illuminator was added for long distance illumination of up to 160 meters (525 ft.).

The Messoa IP D/N Vandal IP Dome cameras -NDF820 were placed throughout the inside of the building. The NDF820 IP camera is a cost-effective full HD camera designed to show you extremely detailed images. It features Lumii technology that significantly increases light sensitivity to deliver crisp image in the dark. Motion detection and day and night functionality ensures that all visitors can be recorded at any time.

The Messoa IP Dome cameras with WDR and ePTZ -NDF831 were also installed for entrance. The premium NDF831 is a cutting edge 1080p camera equipped with mechanical (ICR) day/night switch for 24/7 surveillance. As part of MESSOA MegaSmar IP products family, the NDF831 features intelligent detection capabilities including motion, audio, blur and network disconnection detection. Completely vandal-proof and IP67 water-proof, along with an optional heater, the NDF831 can withstand even the harshest of conditions.

Speaking from the main control room, a security official who did not wish to be identified said that these new cameras were unlike any he had seen before. Pictures were sharp and the features were helpful. Smiling, he said this would make his job just a little bit easier.

Hikvision and Argentina: Working Together for a Safer Tomorrow

Editor / Provider: Hikvision | Updated: 8/5/2011 | Article type: Residential & Consumer

The growing Argentinean economy has been a boon to the entire country. Unlike the current economic situation in many places in the world, new jobs are being created every day. Lic. Christian Uriel Solano, President of Security One Argentina, noted that one of main benefits – for Argentina as a whole – is the “ability for its citizens to not only get jobs, but to get better jobs.”

And with these better jobs, comes a better salary. Unfortunately, better work and better pay cannot alone solve all of society's problems. This is where Security One Argentina, and Hikvision, can help.

This recent economic surge has presented the city of Magdalena's greater metropolitan area a unique opportunity; and this opportunity has come in the form of a test case for public security solutions called the Safe City Project.

Located in the province of Buenos Aires, this Safe City Project actually encompasses the cities of Magdalena, Bavio, Atalaya and Vieytes; and provides security for over 40,000 citizens.

Yet, what makes this particular civic project so notable is the fact that it represents the first opportunity for system integrators to utilize high-quality products in a public fashion. Mr. Solano explained “that previously the economy simply could not afford projects such as this; but now the combination of greater civic funds, combined with high-quality Hikvision products – make this a first for Argentina.”

The Magdalena case also represents an additional opportunity: the ability to use, and apply, technology in a setting that had never been attempted in Argentina before.

As the name implies, the goal of this project was to provide the citizens of these cities a greater level of security. To do so, the decision was made to create a video surveillance solution that would monitor, and control, key access points in these cities. Additionally, as Mr. Solano explained, the goal of “better surveillance for the various popular nightlife areas was also an important factor.”

Additionally, a combination of long-range wireless links and fiber-optic cable was used to connect these Hikvision cameras to the head office. It was determined that at certain points in Magdalena, and the other cities, long-range wireless links would be a better economical fit for the needs of this specific project. And significantly, this technology now provides wireless connectivity for up to 30 kilometers from the central monitoring office.

But of equal importance, this project represented a first for Argentina: never before had long-range wireless links been used on such a large public project. “While smaller projects had previously utilized wireless technology, nothing had been attempted that involved multiple cities; as well as each of the multiple locations within each individual city,” Mr. Solano explained.

The wireless network infrastructure is reliable and economic solution for these medium or small cities.

The central monitoring office was set-up with two 42-inch digital LCD monitors to view the Hikvision cameras' surveillance. Security One Argentina and VIMOX S.R.L decided that high-end monitors were essential to this project because of Hikvision cameras' superior detail and resolution.

Additionally, Hikvision's detailed recognition also benefited the police and fire departments, along with overall emergency services. This improved resolution allowed all of these public institutions to not only assess potential situations more quickly; but critically, to allow them to respond in more timely manner.

Yet, while the performance of these cameras was paramount to this solution, it is only one aspect that swayed Security One Argentina and VIMOX S.R.L towards Hikvision products. Mr. Solano remarked, “It is a congruence of factors why we chose Hikvision cameras for the Safe City Project. Ultimately it came down to the unique combination of quality, great technology, and a very competitive price.” Additionally, a level of confidence in using Hikvision products was inherent, since Hikvision has a long history of working with cities in China on similar “Safe City” projects.

At this point, the Safe City Project represents a boundary of sorts for larger civically-oriented security solutions in Argentina. While the modern-day economic situation is improving, the ability to duplicate a similar surveillance program on a larger scale is not currently feasible.

But, based on the results of this first solution, this glass ceiling could very well be removed in the near future; and in turn create a market for cities both larger and smaller throughout the country. Much of the criteria for such a decision will rest upon the performance of the current Safe City Project in the Magdalena area.

Initial results for this project, and the future of large-scale public surveillance programs throughout Argentina, has been very promising. After only a few months of operation, the greater Magdalena area has seen a decrease in vandalism, theft, and violence – all a direct result of this surveillance solution. Additionally, response times to emergencies have been improved.

In anticipation of such, Security One Argentina originally designed this solution with the ability to incorporate additional Hikvision Speed Dome and IP Megapixel Cameras; which is expected in the near future. As Mr. Solano summed up, it is this “positive effect on protection of the citizens of Magdalena City” and a higher level of overall comfort that is leading the way to a more secure Argentina.

ZTE NetView-Offers Complete Security Solutions

Editor / Provider: the Editorial Team | Updated: 6/30/2011 | Article type: China Corner

ZTE NetView employs a powerful R&D team of more than 1,300 employees. With 107 service centers around the globe and five research centers in France, Germany, the U.K. and the U.S., the company possesses advanced surveillance technologies and resources. This enables it to consistently outperform its competition and yields hard-earned experience in surveillance solutions.

The company's monitoring division has worked on overseas surveillance projects since 2002, before it was spun off as a subsidiary in 2005. Until now, it has numerous surveillance installations for domestic and overseas customers.

Experienced in Surveillance The company has engaged widely in public security projects, such as intelligent traffic solutions, petroleum applications, power plants and railway stations. It provided integrated surveillance and telecom solutions by working with foreign governments and its Chinese headquarters.

In order to integrate all security devices to a single system, the company has developed its own software platform for smoother and more stable operations. The combination of hardware and software makes ZTE NetView more experienced.

Case Studies
The company has a long list of satisfied customers. It recently completed a project for a Moroccan electrical substation, supplying video surveillance equipment and installation know-how to a local integrator. The project covered an area of 30 acres in a strong magnetic field. "We adopted an IP network with great scalability and flexibility over a wide area," said Yang Weifeng, VP at ZTE NetView. "We designed a customized solution to combat the magnetic interference issues. Finally, H.264 video compression reduced storage requirements, while providing high-resolution images."

Another IP video deployment was for a correctional facility. HD cameras were installed in interrogation rooms and inmate cells. Intelligent mobile devices enabled on-site staff and central officials to monitor the institution anytime from anywhere. It features real-time viewing of interrogations, emphasizing remote control and management. The solution supported real-time recording and simultaneous transmission of H.264 streams. Authorized users can remotely view judicial procedures over a Web browser.

New Phases
The company will continue working on global projects. The company is keen to cultivate its brand throughout the world. "First of all, we will maintain our existing advantages to work with government and telecom service providers, providing them a solutionbased product," Yang said. "Second, we will expand our solution business to the commercial security market. Based on our experience, we can prove to security players that we offer comprehensive surveillance solutions."

"In emerging markets such as Southeast Asia, we plan to look for security product distributors to sell our branded products," Yang continued. "At the same time, we will closely cooperate with our channels in telecommunications to sell our security products as well."

"Lastly, we are open to being an OEM partner, if there is the quantity to support," Yang added. "With in-house R&D and manufacturing capabilities, we can offer customized products. We plan to penetrate the security market with this multifaceted strategy."

Product Strategy
Despite ZTE NetView's background in communications for more than two decades, the company's long-term experience in networking and surveillance provides more opportunities for the company's business development.

The company understands that it not only needs to optimize its production lines and software, but also to develop new solutions that cater to market needs. It continues to produce analog speed domes, network HD cameras, Wi-Fi cameras and 3-G cameras. Meanwhile new communication standards such as WiMax and long-term evolution (LTE) will be added to video surveillance solutions as well. According to Yang, a new product series supporting WiMax and LTE will be launched soon

Oman Hotel Benefits from Hikvision Security Products

Editor / Provider: Hikvision | Updated: 6/23/2011 | Article type: Commercial Markets

Oman is experiencing a change, and the Al Falaj Hotel is determined to take advantage of it with Hikvision security products.

Scenically located between the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea; this nation is undergoing a transformation from an economy based on petroleum and natural gas exports into a more diverse model. Specifically, Oman is betting on tourism to help replace these two long-standing economic pillars. But, in order to capitalize on this lucrative potential, a new breed of international customer must be specifically catered towards.

Customer demands now transcend the traditional reliance on price and luxury. In many cases, the modern-day tourist in Oman considers the level, and quality, of security systems to be nearly as important as the size of their rooms. Additionally, recent governmental legislation has required public facilities, such as hotels, to maintain CCTV systems and recording devices as part of an overall pre-emptive strategy to discourage potential crime. Sachin Srinivasan, Senior Sales Manager at OHI Electronics (the firm that installed the Al Falaj Hotel's security system) related, “Overall, Oman is experiencing a boom period in security industry growth.”

In order to position the Al Falaj Hotel on the leading edge of this trend in customer security awareness, Mr. Sachin turned to Hikvision for solutions. Mr. Sachin did so “because Hikvision offers a top-quality product at a very reasonable price. Furthermore, Hikvision's products are easy to install, easy to manage, and hold up very well to the extreme climate and temperature conditions that Oman is prone to,” and added “from a customer-satisfaction standpoint,” he is very satisfied.

Travelers arriving from more distant locales are generally more sensitive to this issue of quality security solutions. Mr. Sachin noted, “Tourists to Oman from regional areas are not as conscious as to what specific security measures are in place; but in order to attract tourists from destinations such as America or Europe, it is a business necessity to provide quality security.

To ensure the four-star Al Falaj Hotel stays on the cutting edge of its security needs, Mr. Sachin currently employs a variety of Hikvision security products. This specific combination provides both the hotel and its guests the assurance of safety in an extremely efficient manner. 
                                                                                                                                                            

The most widely employed Hikvision product in the hotel is the DS-2CC591P-A Vari-focal Dome Camera, placed throughout the interior of the facility. Mr. Sachin chose this specific camera because of its “ability to see very clearly in environments where lighting levels not only vary from one corner to another, but also change throughout the day.” The specific challenge of having sharp resolution in low-light requirements was the impetus for selection of the DS-2CC591P-A. Mr. Sachin explained, “With this camera, we are able to identify any person in question, regardless of how dark the particular area might be inside the Al Falaj. For a hotel, this is vital.”

Mr. Sachin also explained the additional importance of the DS-2CC591P-A's unobtrusive appearance: “We can place this camera in virtually any interior area without it sticking out or attracting our customers' unwanted attention. As a hotel, it is very important – from a customer satisfaction standpoint – that we promote a pleasant atmosphere; so the quality of a camera must also be matched by its unobtrusive housing.”

Obviously, security needs begin before a customer actually steps through the front door. The Al Falaj Hotel is no different, and to monitor who is coming and going through the main entrance, Mr. Sachin chose the DS-2AF1-514 Analog Speed Dome for its 360° of endless pan range; as well as its 360° of coverage in front of the lobby. Mr. Sachin noted the range of the camera, along with its “ability for tremendous resolution to identify customer's faces, license plate numbers, and the ability to get a clear image from up to 35-40 meters out.”

Importantly, the issue of quality and durability was a large reason this particular camera was acquired. “The reality is, Oman presents very difficult challenges to any structure left outside, let alone electronic security equipment. We needed something that could withstand the huge variance in temperature, especially the heat, and other potentially destructive weather like sandstorms,” Mr. Sachin explained.

For specific and more security-sensitive areas, the Al Falaj Hotel uses the DS-2CC193P-A High Definition Box Camera. One such example is at the hotel's petroleum station. Mr. Sachin has deployed this Hikvision HD Box Camera in order to “make absolutely sure we are always able to immediately, and positively, identify license plate numbers at any time of the day or night; as well as the driver or passenger's face.”

[NextPage]
Each of these components is electronically tied into the main security room located inside the hotel. This centralization allows security personnel to immediately access any of the above mentioned devices and respond to any potential situation.

The Al Falaj Hotel utilizes the DS-8116HDI-S Standalone DVR units to ensure enough space is always available for the hotel's sizeable recording needs. Additionally, each unit is connected to its own monitor and keyboard, thereby allowing separate security personnel to continually observe and respond in an independent, and efficient, manner.

Additionally, these DVRs are connected to a remote network that allows additional monitoring possibilities from the Security Manager's office, the General Manager's office and the Administrative Manager's office.

While Mr. Sachin stresses that the current analog security solution utilized at the Al Falaj Hotel is more than adequate to achieve the challenges presented; he said the future of this hotel's security would be in HD.

In fact, this process is already happening in a piecemeal fashion: “Our existing analog system is very good, but HD simply offers better options such as higher quality resolution. While I do not see the total transformation from analog to HD within the coming year or so; I do see the Al Falaj Hotel taking further steps in this direction, especially with Hikvision digital cameras, and eventually replacing the entire analog surveillance system with a high definition network.”

Scottish Communications Updates UK School Surveillance System

Editor / Provider: Scottish Communications | Updated: 5/30/2011 | Article type: Education

Following the success of the installation of surveillance at its Junior School, St Columba's in Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire has extended and upgraded its surveillance to cover all parts of the campus.


The Junior School installation by Scottish Communications involved a comprehensive surveillance with movement detection to cover the perimeter of the grounds and other areas. When activated the system records and activates an alarm within the Corps of Commissioners CCTV Alarm Receiving Center (ARC) in Glasgow.

The new system installed for the Senior School is very similar with a number of fixed positional cameras and fully functional speed domes placed at strategic points which are linked to the ARC in Glasgow.


"The success of the Junior School installation was one of the main factors in the school's decision to extend the coverage to the Senior School," said Alex Galbraith, Estate Manager for St Columba's.


"The Junior School system has been a real success with regard to security but also as a means for ensuring the health and safety of pupils," Galbraith said. "This is particularly important where young children are concerned."


"It made sense to extend coverage to the Senior School and we are delighted with the way the system is operating and the real benefits it provides."


The ARC views all cameras and if anything suspicious is detected the police are immediately informed. The ARC operator can also make announcements over a system to warn an intruder that they are being monitored. The system also allows the school management to monitor the grounds during the day as required.


Scottish Communications have also just received an order from St Columba's to connect the Junior School system to cover the perimeter of their new nursery block.

For more information, please go visit Scottish Communications.