Faenza's International Ceramics Museum was founded in 908 at the conclusion of the great International Exposition dedicated to Evangelista Torricelli, who carried the products of many Italian and European manufacturers. In 2000, UNESCO recognized it as “a monument professing a culture of peace” as the “expression of ceramic art throughout the world.” In order to protect its rich one-ofa- kind coll...
Faenza's International Ceramics Museum was founded in 908 at the conclusion of the great International Exposition dedicated to Evangelista Torricelli, who carried the products of many Italian and European manufacturers. In 2000, UNESCO recognized it as “a monument professing a culture of peace” as the “expression of ceramic art throughout the world.” In order to protect its rich one-ofa- kind collections, the museum needed a video surveillance system equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
Solution
In order to design and build the video surveillance system, MIC contacted Lucchi engineering studio and R.C.M., a corporation that created an IP infrastructure that was easy to install and scalable, equipped with 85 cameras with standard and HDTV resolution and a new video encoder managed with image analysis software developed by Axis' Application Development Partner ARTECO.
Surveillance and control are therefore performed through a dedicated supervision system capable of focusing on specific control stations through “intelligent” video surveillance to follow events taking place in specific areas as defined by users.
Result
R.C.M. was able to completely integrate the 13 preexisting analog cameras with 85 new generation Axis network cameras. The museum's entire 9,000 m2 area is effectively monitored while containing costs, ensuring safety and preventing acts of vandalism and theft of the valuable ceramics collection and works that make Faenza's MIC unique in the world.
Faenza ceramics are secure thanks to Axis IP surveillance
Faenza's International Ceramics Museum (MIC) planned to reorganize the surveillance system used, which had become uneconomical, and a video surveillance solution was needed to monitor the entrance and the numerous halls set up to showcase the museum's extensive permanent collection. The choice of the museum managers was to install an IP infrastructure that could be implemented for temporary exhibitions that require specific arrangements. Other determining factors were ease of installation, the ability to remotely confirm alarms in real time, cost containment and the use of a GPS system and an emergency generator that provides power in case of a blackout.
The pre-existing analog system that included 13 cameras was integrated via network video to take advantage of all of the system's typical characteristics and the benefits of digital technology. Furthermore, 85 Axis new generation network cameras were installed using Power over Ethernet that allowed the museum to resolve the logistical limits of installation by eliminating the need for dedicated power lines. Thanks to the Axis cameras' smart functions, monitoring the entire system is extremely simple. The dedicated staff, supervising from 3 work stations are able to concentrate solely on relevant events reported in real time.
The system includes fixed network cameras (AXIS P1343 and AXIS P1346) and PTZ dome camera (AXIS 215 PTZ) that fulfill the objectives requested by the Museum. More specifically, the AXIS 215 PTZ Network Cameras were installed primarily in the middle of the halls to cover the largest possible area thanks to the camera's ability to perform a 360 degrees rotation and recline to 180 degrees The camera's compact design is tamper-proof because all the mobile parts are located inside the dome of the camera. Additionally, the automatic reverse functions and electronic inversion enables the possibility to follow a moving person or object, regardless of the direction of the movement. The 12x optical zoom, combined with the 4x digital zoom allows for high quality enlargements, with rich details thanks to the 48x total zoom.
AXIS P1346 Network Cameras with megapixel/HDTV resolution allow users to capture much wider shots by allowing the operator to choose whether he wants to enlarge the photo or maintain a wider visual field without compromising the ability to see and observe the picture's most minute details useful for identifying people and objects. Featuring 3MP resolution and HDTV quality images, these network cameras are installed in the most strategic locations within the Museum such as at the entrance, therefore guaranteeing complete and reliable monitoring for the general safety of the client.“Since we have been Axis partners for 5 years, we hadno doubt about our choice of video surveillance camera installation. We wish to acknowledge the reliability of Axis products and the company's availability which allowed us to better perform our duties” said Paolo Mancini, R.C.M. Sales Manager.