The Francisco Helio Viana de Araujo State Prison in Pacatuba, Fortaleza, Brazil recently became a pioneer in the implementation of an integrated security platform. The prison that houses 400 inmates installed a security solution that combines 180 Axis Communications network cameras (mostly HD), ISS facial recognition software (for turnstiles), motion detection, access control and IR cannons on ramparts. The platform was funded by the Ministry of Justice and Treasury of the State of Ceara, and implemented by local system integrator Imagem Seguranca, who is experienced in network video and prison security. The project serves as a model for other jails in Brazil.
The Francisco Helio Viana de Araujo State Prison in Pacatuba, Fortaleza, Brazil recently became a pioneer in the implementation of an integrated security platform. The prison that houses 400 inmates installed a security solution that combines 180 Axis Communications network cameras (mostly HD), ISS facial recognition software (for turnstiles), motion detection, access control and IR cannons on ramparts. The platform was funded by the Ministry of Justice and Treasury of the State of Ceara, and implemented by local system integrator Imagem Seguranca, who is experienced in network video and prison security. The project serves as a model for other jails in Brazil.
The prison is privy to a comprehensive monitoring system, covering eight different areas and 20 vacancies for individual isolation. The facilities include social and legal care for the prisoners held in custody, medical facilities, library, computer room, classrooms with capacity for 120 students and workshops, as well as an industrial kitchen, bakery and multipurpose hall for social activities. Of the 180 cameras, 30 are fixed HD, four PTZ domes, six small HD and 140 small IP models. Steel boxes were installed on some cameras to combat vandalism. Imagem chose specific camera models to withstand internal or external environments and took into consideration video quality, real-time access and scalability. The network cameras, together with the ISS software, monitor the prison perimeters and movement among points of collective facilities.
"The main advantages of this design are the simple way to operate the system and the seamless integration of the entire security project,” said Mario Jorge, official responsible for the project at the Department of Justice.