ADT Security Services, a provider of electronic security services, has completed work on new digital networks allowing the two major international airports serving the Washington, D.C. area to migrate to the latest generation of video surveillance cameras.
ADT Security Services, a provider of electronic security services, has completed work on new digital networks allowing the two major international airports serving the Washington, D.C. area to migrate to the latest generation of video surveillance cameras.
The new network serving Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will enable the use of megapixel network cameras offering higher resolution and other benefits.
The project was authorized by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), which operates both airports.
The airports will be able to protect their existing investment in more than 2,200 analog security cameras through the use of encoders that will convert the current video to digital signals before being recorded. Analog cameras can be replaced as the airports expand or as MWAA decides to upgrade.
ADT has also integrated open platform IP systems at each airport that help to manage both analog and digital video, while offering operators more options for viewing, analyzing and recording that video.
As one of the first projects to take advantage of the new network, ADT is scheduled to install about 250 network megapixel cameras at Dulles. That project is due for completion in September.
"We have helped create a networked system to allow both airports to upgrade as their needs change," said John Gaydos, VP, Federal Systems for ADT.
In addition to transmitting both live and recorded video, the stand-alone digital network will also integrate data from access control and fire and life safety systems and other inputs for both airport security and operations personnel to view on a single monitor. For example, an access control alarm immediately activates a nearby camera that provides both pre- and postevent video helping airport security personnel to quickly determine the cause of the event.
Security data is shared between the two airports via a 45 GB dedicated digital link. The new network removed the transmission of this data from the airports' local area networks.