An outdoor 8,000 seat amphitheater set on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion is a premier outdoor setting for summertime concerts on the East coast.
An outdoor 8,000 seat amphitheater set on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion is a premier outdoor setting for summertime concerts on the East coast.
With parking lots, tailgating areas, overnight camping options, VIP lounges, vendor tents, and tens of thousands of visitors each year, security at Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion faced a difficult task. Fights and altercations are a frequent concern, as are theft and other crimes. The old video surveillance system struggled to produce quality video for law enforcement investigations, and the process of exporting those video files was time consuming.
New system features fixed and PTZ HD cameras
Matt Desbiens, Information Technology Manager at Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, reached out to VideoSurveillance.com for information on IP cameras to replace their current analog models. Director of Sales Rob Clemson responded to Desbiens quickly, and worked to create a custom-built surveillance system that would highlight HD resolution.
The system designed for Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion features two models of Optica cameras — the fixed bullet 1080p HD B204M camera, and the powerful P218Z HD PTZ camera. Also included in the system is a server with
Milestone XProtect software and an Ubiquiti wireless system to connect the cameras over the large grounds.
Because they will need to positively identify suspects in the security videos, 1080p high definition cameras were used in this system. In addition, both Optica cameras feature:
- WDR (wide dynamic range) for clear videos in challenging light conditions
- Built-in IR illuminators for nighttime recording
- Progressive scan to produce crisp videos even with fast moving objects
Optica's outdoor cameras also come equipped with IP66-rated outdoor housings to withstand temperatures as low as -40F, rain, and dust. This will protect the cameras as they monitor the Pavilion's parking lots and outdoor venues.
The Optica P218Z PTZ camera offers a full 360 degree view, with 18x optical zoom. The PTZ controls are managed by a security officer in the control room, who can move the cameras using a joystick to focus in on suspicious activity.
Easy video exports with milestone software
With their old video surveillance system, exporting video was a labor-intensive process. Videos were taken directly from each camera, requiring Desbiens and his team to drive out to each individual camera. With cameras installed at both parking lot entrances, along with the large midway, this process could take all day.
Each time an incident occurred, security personnel at Bank of New HampshirePavilion could spend hours physically gathering files from the cameras. Because they couldn't preview files before exporting, it was difficult to export only the video of the incident, and police would then have to search through un-related video to pinpoint the scene they needed.
With the new Milestone system, it takes just minutes to find and export a video file. They can search for all recordings during the time an incident occurred, reviewing all their cameras in one place, and then directly export only to relevant files directly onto a USB thumb drive to hand over to law enforcement.
Benefits of supported self installation
Prior to sending out the system, VideoSurveillance.com technical support configured the entire system, allowing the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion staff to easily install and set up the system once it arrived.
Supported Self Installation is a popular choice with IT departments tasked with installing and managing a video surveillance system, because it allows them to save time and money handling the installation themselves, but with the remote support and assistance of VideoSurveillance.com only a phone call or email away.
Surveillance system already used by law enforcement
With such large crowds at the concerts, Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion works with law enforcement on investigations including theft, unauthorized entry, fighting, and assault. Within the first six months of using the new surveillance system, Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion had exported almost a dozen videos for police. Even more investigations are currently pending. The ease of finding video files in the new system has made the process faster for both staff at Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion and local law enforcement, allowing them to follow up on more cases than before.
In addition, the Pavilion's security forces can react instantly to disruptive activity they see on the live camera feeds. This ability to quickly respond keeps concert-goers safe at events. There is always someone stationed to monitor the camera feeds and manage the PTZ cameras; when disturbances are found security guards can be notified over their radios within seconds. This has helped to quell violence, as security can step in and remove aggravated guests before fights break out.