There was a measurable increase in security spending, particularly for network cameras in 2010 and into 2011, Karas said. “New deployments are predominantly based on IP backbones.”
These high-risk facilities require high-quality video for live viewing, as well as recorded footage whenever possible. “Traditionally, this was achievable using analog CCTV and high-performance premium DVRs,” Liong said. “Recently, the use of high-performance network cameras and NVRs that can record high resolution, such as 4CIF or full D1 resolution video continuously at 25 to 30 fps per camera, is becoming popular. Due to the bandwidth limitation in various sites, the use of H.264 compression is highly recommended instead of M-JPEG or MPEG-4 compression.”
With IP, security devices can easily be relocated or expanded throughout the site, Karas said. “Because network security devices can utilize the same cable infrastructure as other IT/IP devices, this makes adjustments to the system much easier than security devices that utilize legacy cabling methods, since those cables are generally not as prevalent and cannot be shared as easily.”
Power over Ethernet technology reduces the amount of cabling required, which is becoming widely used for oil and gas facilities. “This eradicates the need to provide local power at each door, thus reducing unsightly cabling and cost for the client,” Verner said.
Although IP uptake is growing, it is slowed by a lack of understanding of its benefits. “In some cases where an environment has a large amount of legacy infrastructure, initial adoption might be hampered by the cost of upgrading older devices to incorporate newer technologies. In these situations, upgrades to IP systems are often initiated when the legacy equipment fails, is no longer supported by the original vendor, or if the equipment lacks the ability to expand to meet current security requirements,” Karas said.
Expansion and Up grades
Expansions can be carried out cost-effectively by using a network surveillance system while utilizing the existing corporate fiber-optic IT network. “A hybrid DVR can be used to integrate the existing analog cameras with the new network cameras,” Liong said. “A hybrid system can be created as an effective solution during the migration period from analog to IP.”
The security system cannot be shut down for long periods of time. “One simple solution to upgrade an analog system to an IP system is to connect network encoders installed in rack systems to all latency equipment,” Songe-Moller said. “By adding NVRs and management software to the system, the latency system can be converted into a modern IP system in a matter of a few hours. Also, cameras only need to be offline for less than 30 seconds to perform this upgrade.”
During expansions, the network capacity itself should always be monitored to prevent issues from arising, Songe-Moller said.