Eyes All Around
Dec 1, 2007 12:00 PM, By Terry Denison and Tony Sivore
On completion of a multi-million dollar sports complex, the Town of Parker, Colo., needed to do something to ensure that the recreation center offered a safe and secure environment for its citizens. Considering the needs of both citizens and building staff, the town implemented a state-of-the-art video surveillance security system to monitor and manage the sprawling facility effectively.
The Town of Parker called on CDW Government Inc. (CDW-G), Shelton, Conn., for advice in choosing a system that would best meet the security requirements for the Parker Fieldhouse. The town needed a complete video surveillance security system for the soon-to-open 100,000-sq.-ft. complex. The complex includes two regulation-size hardwood basketball and volleyball courts, an in-line hockey rink with seating for 200 spectators, an artificial turf field with spectator seating, a 25-foot indoor rock-climbing tower as well as a suspended running track, fitness area, batting cages, two multi-purpose rooms and a children's playground.
Working with CDW-G, the town selected and implemented a video surveillance system from Axis Communications, Lund, Sweden, that allows staff to monitor nearly all activities within the fieldhouse from a central location, as well as remotely via a secure Web page. The Axis 221 network cameras provide high-quality images under all lighting conditions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks. Vandal-resistant Axis 216 fixed-dome network cameras were positioned in the hallways outside the fieldhouse locker rooms. Given the tight implementation deadline, the essentially plug-and-play Axis video system proved to be a perfect fit for the fieldhouse, and the ease of implementation enabled the town's IT staff to get the security system up and running in less than 45 days.
Two staff — 48 eyes
With just two to three staff members on duty at any time, and given the thousands of people expected to use the facility weekly for team sports and other activities, the town implemented 24 motion-activated Axis cameras in and around the recreation center. The cameras were placed in areas not readily visible to the staff, including entry points, corridors and parking lots. Cameras were also positioned in the children's play area and throughout the numerous athletic venues and exercise facilities, providing the staff with valuable insight into any situation that may occur. The system relays video feeds via coaxial cable from six analog CCTV units fixed to light poles outside the building to the fieldhouse recording and monitoring stations. Analog video feeds are digitized into a real-time IP video stream utilizing Axis 240Q video servers.
CDW-G also outfitted the fieldhouse with Axis video surveillance software for the front desk monitoring station. The software not only enables staff to view up to 16 camera feeds at a time, but also records video, which is archived for up to two weeks. With 18 cameras positioned at various locations within the facility and six cameras mounted in key locations outside the fieldhouse, the staff and public safety officers have round-the-clock visibility of the facility and its patrons.
On-site insight
One of the key benefits of the system is the ability of staff, as well as public safety officers, to monitor the facility from on- and off-site locations via a Web page. This remote-viewing capability enables dispatchers, in the event of a security incident, to access real-time video feeds and relay critical information to officers responding on-site. Additionally, the archiving component provides public safety officers with the ability to review incidents as necessary, regardless of recreation center hours.
By using technology to extend the town's resources, fieldhouse staff are able to strengthen the security of the citizens and the integrity of the state-of-the-art recreation facility cost-effectively. Additionally, the ability to share information quickly and effectively improves cross-agency collaboration, and promotes the overall safety and security of the entire community.
About the Authors
Terry Denison is the systems analyst for the Town of Parker and Tony Sivore is the senior sales manager at CDW Government Inc. (CDW-G).
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© 2010 Penton Media Inc.
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