On the case

Security over network is a star

Chubb Electronic Security has completed an extensive security upgrade at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh.

The Royal Observatory is home to the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) which works to keep the UK at the forefront of world astronomy.

As well as being a UK Research Council site, it also houses the Edinburgh University astronomy research group and a visitor centre.

Chosen for the upgrade was the Monitor AFx system, an Integrated Security Management technology which integrates and manages each element of the installation. Data is combined from independent devices such as intruder motion detectors and access control readers onto one software application, with one database, using the customer's IT network as host.

Ron Lambert, Head of Premises, said it was Chubb's most sophisticated networked system which is ideally suited to complex requirements.

Visitors, contractors and staff all have proximity cards to access selected parts of the site.

All information can be merged with other measurement information to give a detailed picture of all activity across the site.

Vandalism and the potential loss of intellectual property and years of research is the main concern, rather than fear of theft.

The Chubb AFx system covers all areas, including the perimeter. CCTV is planned to be integrated in next year.

Retail system pays for itself

Customer service has improved and sales have increased dramatically at Devon Cliffs Holiday Park's retail outlets (pictured right) after the installation of an electronic article surveillance (EAS) system.

The ADT-installed system has paid for itself within one season.

Martin Harvey, General Manager for ADT Plymouth, said: "Two of the main problems facing Devon Cliffs were theft and shrinkage. ADT was able to target problem areas with a combination of EAS and electronic point of sale (EPOS) technology. The system has demonstrated its worth already, as the retail team has seen increased sales across all product ranges. They have also reported some surprises – for example children's novelty watches, which had previously shown negligible sales, have shot onto the best seller lists, thanks in part to EAS."

Pat Titley, retail manager, said EAS had allowed them to be more confident with product displays.

They were able to place higher risk items in hot spots, such as closer to the exits and stock previously locked in a glass case is on show and able to be handled by customers before purchase.

The system has also allowed the retail team to identify areas of shrinkage. As a result, losses of higher value items such as cases of beer from the mini-supermarket have been radically cut.

The combination of a decrease in theft and shrinkage and improved customer service has meant that the improved profit margins paid for the system in only one season. As a result, the parent company Bourne Leisure is in discussions with ADT about future roll-outs.

Channeling efforts into hotel refurb

Channel CCTV is to complete an installation of 48 CCTV mini dome and static cameras for a multi million pound high-tech refurbishment project at London's Mandeville Hotel. The Mandeville,(pictured above), a 142 bedroom hotel, is situated in Marylebone Village near Oxford Street. It has been upgraded and becomes a four-star deluxe boutique hotel with updated rooms, updated rooms, bar, restaurant and the reception area.

The installation includes JVC's TK-C205EA dome camera and the TK-WD310E wide dynamic range cameras which work well in changing light conditions.

Tony Lewis, Operations Director of Channel CCTV, specialists in providing security to the hotel industry said, "The Mandeville Hotel wanted quality and attention to detail in the installation. As well as high performance and reliability, the JVC dome cameras blend in well with the refurbishment.”

The project is now in the final stage and is just one of the high profile installations the company is working on. Others include The Phoenix Hotel, The Regency Hotel in London, The Holt Hotel in Oxfordshire and The Pendley Manor Country Hotel in Hertfordshire.

Images from the cameras are recorded using digital video recorders with networking. The hub of the full system is in the security office.

The final stage will include cameras to basement and external car parking areas. In total, 48 JVC cameras will complete the upgrade on time and within budget.

Lenses with a buzz!

Strood-based Ewatch Limited are helping Watford Football Club migrate from a legacy analogue CCTV system to a DVR solution from Dedicated Micros.

As part of the project at Watford's Vicarage Road ground, they are using 6.5-65mm focal length zoom lenses from Rainbow CCTV. These are sited on one of the stadium's main gantries in PTZ mounted cameras and are used predominantly to monitor crowd behaviour.

The 'Hornets' started in 1881 and joined the Football league in 1920. They have consistently hit the headlines through Sir Elton John's high-profile involvement.

The Rainbow lenses have a maximum relative aperture of F1.4~360 and horizontal angular field of view of 40.5deg to 4.2deg for a 1/3 inch camera and 31.0deg to 3.2deg for a 1/4 inch camera. They are available in three motor, motorised DC type auto-iris or video type auto-iris formats and are available with presets.

'Project of the year'

Data, voice and IP CCTV surveillance have been brought together on a single network by Telindus at New College Durham.

Now the company and the college have jointly been awarded the Network Project of the Year Award within the public sector category at the Techworld.com Awards 2005.

The award was presented to Telindus and NCD following the successful integration of the college's new ICT network, which brings together data, voice and IP CCTV surveillance on a single network infrastructure.

The aim of the network was to support the advanced teaching and learning environment that the college required to set itself apart from other educational establishments.

Danny Williams, Telindus Director of Marketing Communications UK and Ireland said: "The overall project was complicated because the 'new' campus was to be built on the site of the working 'old' campus and necessitated the phased move of staff and students into new working accommodation with the support of ICT services.”

Telindus and NCD had to develop ways to allow progression from old to new networks with minimal impact on learning.

“NCD is a pioneering college, and its converged network now offers a vast improvement in flexibility, manageability and total cost of ownership, through this integrated service,” said Williams.

The project delivered a demonstrable return on investment because it helped achieve organisational improvements and “new learning experience”.

Delhi delivery

COE Group and Siemens Transportation Systems are delivering the third stage of the CCTV system for Delhi's underground network.

This follows COE's involvement as supplier of transmission, switching and control technology for the 1st and 2nd phases of the work.

The system will include fibre transmission equipment and, for the first time in Delhi Metro's system, COE's X-class high quality MPEG4 codecs.

These will allow delivery of analogue quality, digital images anywhere on the video network operated by Delhi Metro.

The System will also use COE's latest version of SEE-net for control of the analogue and digital system elements.

Guarders are guarded

An all-Bosch CCTV solution has been chosen by VSG Security to watch over their own high-tech headquarters.

VSG is responsible for security and guarding for some of the UK's leading blue-chip companies including Abbey, B&Q, Exel, Volkswagen Group, TNT and many more including Bosch's own buildings in the UK.

The integrated Bosch system which includes Dinion cameras with Nightsense for day/night operations, FlexiDomes and EnviroDomes for outdoor applications and a Divar DVR, was integrated into an advanced security access control system at VSG's new custom-designed security HQ in Northampton by Nova Integrated Systems.

The building also houses an advanced new remote CCTV monitoring control room as part of a major expansion by VSG into remote observation for its customers' sites.

External Bosch EnviroDomes are installed around the perimeter of the building to provide surveillance across the whole site. These are interfaced with the access control and intercom systems to preset the EnviroDomes to detailed views of the staff and main entrances to the building, main generator house and vehicle entrance barriers.

Dinion cameras with Nightsense low light capability also monitor both visitor and staff entrances 24hrs of every day, and FlexiDomes are used for internal monitoring throughout the building. Images from all cameras are recorded in high quality on a 16 channel Divar digital recorder offering instant playback.

The entire system including access control, intercom and CCTV, controlling and monitoring doors and vehicle barriers, was designed and installed by Nova Integrated Systems, a leading security systems integrator as part of a complete building security and access control solution.

Naval watching

Croma Group plc, the specialists in the design, development and production of overt and covert surveillance and defence related products, has announced a major contract win, for its R&D Design Services Ltd subsidiary, based in Margate.

The contract win is with international defence company Thales UK, of Crawley in Sussex and is for the design and development of 52 flat panel colour monitors for use in a new naval application. The programme is underway with completion due in July 2005.

Croma Group Chairman John French said: “This win is testimony to the design skills and quality standards that are inherent in our Margate operation.

“The team has done well adhering to tight timescales despite moving to larger premises in the middle of the delivery programme.”

Largest wireless network in NI

Telindus and Trapeze Networks are integrating Northern Ireland's largest wireless LAN Project.

The project was carried out after Derry City Council, the School of Computing and Intelligent Systems at the University of Ulster's Magee Campus and the North West Institute of Further and Higher Education joined forces.

The network, designed by Telindus and based on the Trapeze Networks Mobility System, spans one square mile.

It will allow students and lecturers to benefit from a smart classroom environment and tourists to access historic and cultural information via GPS/WLAN enabled PDAs.

The flagship project, which is funded by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment, is due to be completed by December 2006.

The wireless infrastructure will be a seamless network across the whole area. Students will have more flexible access to computing and educational resources, email and the Internet because of the wireless network. Smart classrooms replace static seating with a more dynamic and interactive multi-media learning environment.

The Wireless Council will develop existing e-government services from both the Council Offices and the Council Chamber, giving wireless connectivity to city councillors and local government officers.

A wireless network within Derry City walls means tourists will be able to rent wireless-enabled PDAs containing information on historical and cultural information and eating and shopping guides.

Telindus will implement the solution and provide ongoing training and support.

Fire defensive

Defensor Fire Detection Systems has installed an analogue addressable fire detection system at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, a flagship NHS Trust hospital.

Defensor installed the ESP range of interference-immune detection products from Hochiki Europe (U.K.) to cover the 100,000 square metres site (pictured left).

The installation includes more than 6000 ESP photoelectric analogue addressable smoke sensors incorporating 'High Performance Optical Technology' which allows the sensor threshold level to be increased, thus extending sensitivity to a much wider range of combustible materials.

In addition, zone-monitoring is performed by over 2500 of Hochiki's Input/Output Modules for monitoring and control of external equipment.

Uninterrupted service

For internet based banking operations a single power failure can cost thousands of pounds and dramatically reduce call centre and on line service response levels. The computing and telecoms systems must be able to work through the worst possible mains failures.

The ING Direct call centre in Cardiff takes a pre-emptive approach to power protection. Planning and selection of the right suppliers ensures a first time install and reliable protection system.

Secure IT, a specialist in physical computer room security and IT security, undertook the work in Cardiff. It works with Riello Galatrek on design and build projects across the UK.

The Cardiff building required a fourth floor rather than ground floor installation with the added complexities of housing a generator on the building roof top.

Three Multi Dialog 60kVA UPS were chosen with a large standby power generator to cater for future expansion.

Each UPS has its own ten minute battery pack to provide protection from short duration mains failure and allow the roof top based 377kVA generator to start.

The UPS are installed in parallel operation.

Should one fail the other two systems can take over without disruption to the loads.

Each UPS was installed with an SNMP adaptor to connect it to the ING Direct network using a TCP/IP port address.

Local network managers can monitor a wide range of UPS parameters including load and battery performance for each and the combined power system.

Wireless IP at showground

Vandalism was becoming a major problem at the Three Counties Showground (Hereford, Worcester & Gloucester) because of its size and the number of entranceways and public access areas.

After normal hours people could still wander into the showground, committing acts of workshop vandalism, machinery theft, and even an attempt to steal the on site cash machine. It was physically impossible to lay cables into the ground for standard CCTV coverage due to the fact that it is constantly worked upon.

The solution was provided by View-IT, a Gardiner Security Integration Partner. View-IT was on site installing a new structured cabling infrastructure and telephone system. With their experience in voice and data networking they recommended they use this technology to move video images wirelessly around the campus and store on a server located in the main communications room.

Said David James, MD of View-IT: “Advice on the correct types of cameras, software, housings and pole types with power supply options was crucial. We had the wireless technology skills and Gardiner Security helped us to select a Milestone Software solution working with Axis fully functional PTZ and fixed cameras”.

After placing wireless cameras over the workshop areas, vandalism and theft was eradicated.

Advanced Remote Client software enables video monitoring to take place after the showground has closed to the public from the comfort of the manager's own home.

The system is run over a structured cabling and wireless architecture.

Glenn Fletcher, National Sales Manager for Gardiner Security's integrated systems division, said: “The market is ready for video surveillance working over an Ethernet architecture”.

Luxury refurb

Market Lock & Safe has installed BPT's System 300 door entry system into Free Trade Wharf, a luxury apartment development in London's East End.

The work was part of an extensive refurbishment of the security system at the apartments that are spread over seven blocks.The apartments were built in 1987 when the existing security was put in place.

To avoid the rocketing maintenance costs and update security with the latest equipment, the decision was made to refurbish the flats, including the ripping out of the door entry system.

MLS used System 300 as a replacement because it uses “true” two wire upline signal transmission for maximum installation and cost efficiency.

However, re-wiring the site was not an option so MLS trialled System 300 using the existing wiring.

“Not only did it work perfectly but it was also very easy to retrofit,” said Michael Maragh, Electronics Manager. “We usually allow for one person to fit four flats per day. With the System 300 we were averaging an incredible ten flats.”

System 300 has been installed with BPT's YVF/300UK monochrome video monitors in each flat.

On the entrances to all seven blocks, the System 300 has been installed with especially designed stainless steel analogue panels to fit in the space of the previous panels.

Equipment is connected to the digital porter switchboard to allow the concierge to take calls when necessary.