The University of the West Indies in Trinidad, home to more than 39,000 grad and undergrad students, has deployed a wireless IP-based video surveillance solution consisting of 77 Bosch network cameras, VMS, and nine Fluidmesh network hubs to improve security on campus, while minimizing environmental impact. The system was designed and installed by system integrator, Streamline Systems.
The University of the West Indies in Trinidad, home to more than 39,000 grad and undergrad students, has deployed a wireless IP-based video surveillance solution consisting of 77 Bosch network cameras, VMS, and nine Fluidmesh network hubs to improve security on campus, while minimizing environmental impact. The system was designed and installed by system integrator, Streamline Systems.
After experiencing an increase in crime, the university was searching for a video surveillance system to improve the security of its students and assets. There was no underground infrastructure in place, so a wireless IP system was chosen. There was also a very clear mandate from the university to maintain the natural beauty of the campus. No trees were to be cut and minimal overhead lines were to be run.
In the first phase of installation, cameras were used to focus on entry and exit points to the main campus along with major parking areas. A Fluidmesh point-to-point networks was installed to provide wireless transmission of video surveillance feed from camera locations back to nine network hubs. Each of these network hubs handled a zone of the campus. Video surveillance recording was done locally within zone with automatic failover support to nearby zones. These hubs were then connected back to the main command center via a fiber optic network.
"The MIMO-based wireless radio and dual-radio wireless technology met the university's requirements to connect cameras to the video surveillance network in a point-to-point wireless architecture, avoiding the need to run expensive aerial or underground cables,” said Wilbur Nedd, Systems Engineer, Campus IT Services for the university.
After the original installation, Streamline Systems was invited to design the second phase which would include the installation of video surveillance network into the Mt. Hope Faculty of Medical Sciences Complex situated a couple of miles away from the main campus. "For this project, the MIMO-based wireless radiowas available and we immediately were impressed with the low visual impact design, construction and the even more professional PoE injector,” said Michael Pereira, Director of Streamline Systems. It was also much faster to install a high quality, high throughput wireless link than it is to install and terminate the required cable to create the same link. A number of different throughput licenses from 10Mbps up to the 100Mbps were deployed to meet the vary throughput requirements.
The wireless network is supported by MIMO-based wireless radio, and dual-radio wireless unit. The new link between the main and medical campus was completed using just one pair of MIMO-based wireless radio units with 100 megabyte licenses to allow the maximum possible bandwidth when needed.
The Bosch IP camera system included smart PTZ domes, high quality fixed cameras and domes. All internal legacy cameras were integrated into the modern IP system with the use of encoders. Streamline Systems also installed Bosch VMS, and iSCSI storage solutions. Additional network gear used was Cisco Catalyst series, APC power backup, and NEC Projectors.
"Since its installation, the system has been instrumental in a number of arrests on campus and has offered an increased feeling of safety to students and staff," said Sgt. Gregory Corraspe, who manages the security control room on campus.