2009 News

 

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14 December 2009 - IndigoVision IP-CCTV Delivers Major Technology Benefits for the City of Marietta

Over the last year and a half, the City of Marietta, Georgia has replaced most of their standalone analog CCTV systems with a complete integrated IP Video solution from IndigoVision.

“The IndigoVision system was deployed in support of the City of Marietta's strategic plan, which called for security cameras to assist with homeland security and crime prevention,” said Rich Tieslau, the City’s Director of Management Information Systems. “Improving video analytic capabilities was a key factor in deploying the IndigoVision system. It took too long to find an event with any of the old video systems. Another major push was to consolidate multiple systems to a centrally managed system that provided for better system administration and control.”

Buildings located in the downtown government campus and vitally important municipal utilities are now being protected by a distributed IP-CCTV system that can be monitored both centrally and locally by each department. The solution was designed and installed by IndigoVision’s approved partner South Comm.

The city’s operational performance has improved partly because the IndigoVision solution is distributed – allowing any camera, video workstation or video recorder to be located at any point on the network. This also gives the City a scalable platform for future expansion. Compared to the original analog/DVR systems, centrally monitoring and growing a distributed IP Video solution was more cost effective for the City.

‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s Security Management Software can be used by operators in the Crisis Management Center (CMC) in the event of a disaster. ‘Control Center’ allows the security staff to view live and recorded video from the cameras; however, operators using departmental workstations only have access to cameras for which they have been granted permission. In addition ‘Control Center’ offers the user a feature-rich suite of utilities for searching and analyzing recorded video and this coupled with advanced alarm management facilities helps further improve incident response.

IP encoder technology enables easy expansion of the IP Video system, as long as network access is available. Network access has been expanded at the City of Marietta however to remote locations via WiMAX wireless technology from Harris Corporation (formerly Tyco Electronics). The IndigoVision system uses very low bandwidth, which was a major factor in the deployment of a wireless network for remote locations,” added Tieslau. “The video quality is exceptional even over the wireless link.”

Efficient bandwidth utilization is achieved through the use of advanced H.264 compression technology deployed in the IndigoVision hardware. This also reduces the NVR storage requirement and ensures easy deployment of wireless networks.

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8 December 2009 - UK’s Newest Shopping Center Benefits from Integrated IP-CCTV

IndigoVision’s complete IP Video system has been deployed at the new arc Shopping Center in Bury St Edmonds. The integrated surveillance solution interfaces 24 CCTV cameras with door entry intercoms and plant equipment, allowing the Center’s security team to respond quickly to incidents and problems.

The $170m, 265,000 sq ft arc Center opened in March 2009 and is the UK’s newest shopping complex. The Center has 35 shops and restaurants, including the breath-taking curved Debenhams flagship store. As with any retail environment arc has to deal with public safety, criminal activity and anti-social behavior in and around the public areas of the Center. It was therefore paramount to deploy a flexible and high-quality surveillance solution. The design and installation of the system was completed by Essex based GES Security Services, one of IndigoVision’s approved Partners.

“We have been delighted with the IP-CCTV system installed at arc Shopping Center,” said Center Manager, Paul Haynes. “arc is a major asset within Bury St Edmunds town center and the quality of the system has impressed all stakeholders involved with the scheme.”

Door Intercom units located at staff and delivery entrances are interfaced to the IP Video system via a digital input on the IndigoVision 8000 transmitter modules. When an Intercom call is made an alarm is raised in ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s Security Management Software, and the nearest camera is automatically panned to a preset position and displayed on the spot monitor. The location of the generated alarm is also highlighted on an interactive map of the Center. The operator can then confirm visual identity and open the door.

“The ability to monitor other systems and equipment using the CCTV workstations has been very helpful,” continued Haynes. “We have been alerted instantly to a number of faults with water pumps that are interfaced to the IndigoVision hardware.”

The water pumps are connected to IndigoVision’s IP Alarm Panel, which allows discrete inputs to be transmitted across the network as data and displayed and logged as events or alarms in ‘Control Center’. The Alarm Panel provides 32 opto-isolated and/or supervised tamper-detect alarm inputs and 8 relay outputs, which can be activated remotely over the IP network from ‘Control Center’.

The security team use ‘Control Center’ PC workstations to view live and recorded video from the cameras. Two workstations are located in the main control room, with a third on the Center Manager’s desk. As the IP Video system is distributed then any component, including workstations, video recorders and cameras can be located anywhere on the network. This makes the system very flexible and scalable. Continuous recording of all the cameras is achieved with 2 of IndigoVision’s standalone fault-tolerant Network Video Recorders (NVRs), which gives the Center a minimum 31 day archive.

“The powerful features of ‘Control Center’ allow the security team to quickly analyze recorded video in the event of an incident,” added Haynes. “When requested we have exported evidential quality video for the police on a number of occasions.”

Distributed IP Video systems are becoming very popular with new build projects due to their minimal cabling costs compared to traditional analogue CCTV equipment. Instead of analogue cameras connected to transmitter modules, as used in the arc Center, IP cameras can be used. These combine the camera, compression and network transmission hardware in the camera enclosure. IP cameras also support Power-Over-Ethernet (POE), allowing the cameras to be powered directly from the network, further reducing installation costs.

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30 November 2009 - IndigoVision IP-CCTV Helps Drive Down Crime in City of Flic en Flac, Mauritius

Flic en Flac, one of the main tourist areas in Mauritius, has seen crime significantly reduce since installing a distributed surveillance system using IndigoVision’s IP Video technology. The new CCTV system is helping police closely monitor criminal behavior, public safety and manage traffic and parking violations – the security issues facing many urban areas.

“The Government aims at modernizing the police force so as to transform it into a service to better serve and protect the public,” said the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Dr. Navin Ramgoolam, G.C.S.K., at the recent official launching of the CCTV Street Surveillance System at Flic en Flac. The Prime Minister announced that by March 2010, an additional 271 cameras will be installed in Port Louis, the island’s capital and some 70 in Grand Baie, another major tourist zone. This new project will cost around US$4 million.

IndigoVision’s approved partner Brinks Mauritius designed and installed the IP Video surveillance solution. The system is fully scalable and distributed allowing cameras, recorders and video management workstations to be deployed at any point on the network. Multicast video transmitted from the cameras permits multiple users to view the same camera feed, anywhere on the network. This enables the Mauritius Police to monitor the system from the local Flic en Flac Police Station and at the Police HQ in Port Louis, which is over 15Km away. A video workstation is also situated in a local administrator’s office, further highlighting the flexibility of the system. A total of 13 workstations have been deployed running IndigoVision’s ‘Control Center’ Security Management Software. ‘Control Center’ software is licensed on an unrestricted basis within the cost of IndigoVision hardware, making the deployment of multiple workstations very cost effective.

Commenting further on the success of the project, Mr Khemraj Lochee, Deputy Assistant Superintendent of Police said, “The IndigoVision system has exceeded our expectations in every area. The video management software is very user friendly and allows our officers to quickly find and analyze stored video following an incident. The video quality is also very good, which considering the network limitations is testament to IndigoVision’s exceptional technology.”

One of the main challenges of the project was to stream multicast video at SIF resolution with less than 1Mbps per camera, using the existing public network. This was easily achieved, without sacrificing video quality, by deploying IndigoVision’s 9000 series H.264 codecs and utilizing unique features such as Activity Controlled Framerate (ACF). The excellent video compression deployed in the IndigoVision hardware allows DVD quality images to be streamed around the network with minimal bandwidth. This is further reduced by using ACF, which reduces the amount of video that is transmitted from a camera during periods of scene inactivity, such as at night.

Video is recorded using a Windows-based PC server located at the Police HQ. The server has 27 TB of Raid 6 storage and runs IndigoVision’s Network Video Recorder (NVR) software. Powerful features in ‘Control Center’ allow operators to quickly find video footage and identify potential suspects. Video clips can be exported for evidence in the event of an incident.

A total of 83 cameras consisting of indoor and outdoor, fixed and PTZ domes were installed throughout the city. The majority of the outdoor cameras are mounted on poles overlooking streets and the public beaches at Flic en Flac and Wolmar. Each camera is connected to an IndigoVision 9000 transmitter module and then to a network router.

“The superb video quality and class-leading compression are why the IndigoVision system was ideal for the Flic en Flac project,” added Vikash Augnu, Project Manager for Brinks Mauritius. “IndigoVision has many field-proven city-wide surveillance projects around the world, so we were confident in offering their technology. We pride ourselves on providing the very best security solutions for our clients and so being associated with manufacturers such as IndigoVision is vitally important for our business.”

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23 November 2009 - IndigoVision Previews ONVIF Video Management Software

At a number of recent trade shows, IndigoVision, the leading manufacturer of complete IP-CCTV security solutions, has unveiled a technology preview of ‘Control Center’ displaying live video from ONVIF-compliant IP cameras.

‘Control Center’, the company’s Security and Video Management Software, demonstrated live viewing of video from AXIS and Bosch cameras. The company believes this is the first public demonstration of a professional Video Management System working with multiple ONVIF-compliant cameras. This underpins IndigoVision’s support for the IP Video open standards. The ONVIF specification will ensure interoperability between network video products regardless of manufacturer.

IndigoVision plans to release the ONVIF version of ‘Control Center’ in the second quarter of 2010, together with ONVIF versions of its new range of ‘green’ high-performance standalone Network Video Recorders (NVRs) and its existing Windows-based NVR software. The company will follow this with a rollout of compatible versions of its standard and high-definition fixed, dome and PTZ IP cameras.

“IndigoVision has already established itself as a leader in the integration of CCTV with third-party security systems using IP networks, so we are keen to help develop the standards for IP Video,” said Oliver Vellacott, IndigoVision CEO. “We are active members on a number of the ONVIF working groups and are totally committed to providing a complete standards-compliant end-to-end IP security solution.”

‘Control Center’ software is a highly-scalable application that allows operators to view live and recorded video from cameras and NVRs located anywhere on the network. It supports powerful search and analysis tools, analytics and advanced alarm management features, and together with the IP network creates a virtual matrix. Through a range of integration modules, ‘Control Center’ can interface with other security systems across the IP network, including access control, intruder security, Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) and building management systems, to provide a complete integrated security solution.

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16 November 2009 - IndigoVision launches a low-cost IP-CCTV Video Wall

IndigoVision, the leading manufacturer of complete end-to-end IP security solutions, has released Video Wall software that allows professional fully-featured IP-CCTV control room video walls to be built to any size, at a fraction of the cost of other dedicated display products.

Based on ‘Control Center’, the company’s Security Management Software, video walls can be constructed with complete scalability using any PC monitor type (CRT, LCD and plasma), with standard or High Definition wide-screen format. The video wall is driven using slave ‘Control Center’ workstations, each of which manages up to 4 monitors. Up to 98 slaves can be controlled over the IP network from an unlimited number of master ‘Control Center’ workstations. Each monitor can display up to 25 video panes, allowing video walls with up to 9,800 panes to be constructed.

On large sites multiple video walls can be deployed in different control rooms, all accessing the same video from any camera or Network Video Recorder (NVR), no matter where they are located. This can only be achieved because IndigoVision’s architecture is completely distributed.

Monitors within the video wall can be used to display a variety of information, including live or recorded video, guard tours, salvos, site maps and alarm status. In addition, information from third-party applications can be displayed, such as the status of access control or building management systems. The video wall is controlled using standard CCTV keyboards connected to any of the master workstations.

The video wall supports the ‘Control Center’ black screen monitoring mode, where video is only displayed on alarm. This method of operation is recognized as providing a more efficient operator environment that leads to quicker incident response. Using IndigoVision’s advanced alarm management features, content and layout of individual monitors in the video wall can be controlled dynamically from the status of alarms and events.

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9 November 2009 - IndigoVision Wins Security Manufacturer of the Year Award for Second Consecutive Year

IndigoVision, the leading supplier of complete IP CCTV security solutions, has won the coveted ‘Security Manufacturer of the Year’ category at this year’s Security Excellence Awards held at London's Hilton Park Lane Hotel on October 22. IndigoVision beat off stiff competition to win this prestigious award for the second year running. Unlike the other awards, which were judged by a panel of leading industry figures, the winner of ‘Security Manufacturer of the Year’ was chosen by the industry itself using an online vote.

The ‘Security Manufacturer of the Year’ category recognizes the company that has demonstrated outstanding service and made a significant contribution to the market during the last year.

"To win this award for the second year running is testament to the contribution that all our staff have made to the company’s continued success," said Oliver Vellacott, IndigoVision CEO. “IndigoVision operates with 290 authorized system integrators in 64 countries around the world and our relationship with these Partners is at the heart of our business.”

Lee Abraham, IndigoVision’s UK Sales Director, who received the award from Ronnie Corbett on behalf of the company, added, “We are also delighted that ATEC Security and Communications, one of our key UK Partners, won the award for ‘Small to Medium Security Installer of the Year’ for the second consecutive year. Working with the very best integrators is one of the major reasons for IndigoVision’s success.”

In the last year IndigoVision has launched some significant new products including a range of High-Definition (HD) IP cameras, the NVR-AS 3000 series of ‘green’ high performance Network Video Recorders (NVRs) and further integration modules for third-party access control and EPOS systems. Over 500 of the new HD IP cameras were chosen by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for monitoring US-Canada border crossings, in what is believed to be the largest ever High-Definition (HD) IP Video surveillance system.

IndigoVision has over 1000 major CCTV surveillance installations worldwide including four Olympic Games, the 2006 Soccer World Cup, 7 major rail networks, 2 of the world's top 5 banks, 30 casinos and 31 airports. IndigoVision completely develops its technology in-house, including a rich suite of hardware products and 'Control Center' its flagship Video and Alarm Management software.

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2 November 2009 - New Marketing Manager Continues IndigoVision’s Growth in North America

IndigoVision, the leading manufacturer of complete IP Video security solutions, has appointed Bobbie Sauter to the new position of Regional Marketing Manager – North America. This new role is the latest addition to IndigoVision’s Sales and Support team and is part of their aggressive expansion plans for the US and Canada.

Bobbie Sauter comes to IndigoVision with over 15 years experience in B2B Marketing for the IT and IT Services industry. She has also spent many years working in both international and ‘start-up’ environments. These two dynamics have helped her to develop skills in repurposing European content and messaging for the US marketplace as well as commanding a full spectrum of marketing strategy, planning and execution. Bobbie will be based in the company’s North American HQ and will be working closely with the sales team to expand the company’s footprint in the US and Canada.

 “IndigoVision’s success comes from building great relationships with its Partners, backed-up with a class-leading IP Video solution,” said Bobbie Sauter. “The company is in a remarkable growth phase and I am delighted to be joining at this exciting time.”

“Bobbie will be instrumental in strengthening our presence in North America and providing our partners with excellent marketing support,” said Bill McQuade, Senior Vice President – North America. “She has the right skills and experience to drive forward the next phase of our marketing strategy and will be a key member of our team.”

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21 October 2009 - Sears Canada Invests in IndigoVision IP-CCTV for New Head Office

IndigoVision’s complete IP security system is providing an integrated surveillance solution for Sears Canada’s new head office located on the top four floors of its flagship store at the Eaton Centre in the heart of Toronto. The retail group recently relocated its head office to the Eaton Centre following a renovation of the multi-storey office space located above what is Sears Group’s largest department store.

The 76-camera system was designed and installed by IndigoVision’s local approved partner Quinn Digital Asset Protection. The system is used for staff security and safety as well as asset protection, with cameras monitoring office areas, emergency exits and public/staff entrances at street level.

Sears explored DVR-based technology before choosing an IndigoVision IP Video solution, which offered significant benefits. Apart from the superior video quality, IndigoVision’s networked video system realized significant cost savings for labor and materials by being able to cable to the nearest network point as opposed to a centralized DVR and by using Power-Over-Ethernet (POE) switches to power the cameras.

“The excellent video quality and unlimited expansion potential of the system are two major benefits for Sears,” explains Don Beresowski, Sears Canada’s Divisional Vice President Loss Prevention. “We have also been very impressed with the broad functionality and ease of use of the security management software that drives the system.”

‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s Security Management Software (SMS) is at the heart of the system and allows operators to view live and recorded video from any camera and to manage all system alarms. A suite of tools enables fast retrieval and analysis of recorded video ensuring fast incident response. The IndigoVision system is truly distributed allowing cameras, Network Video Recorders (NVRs) and SMS workstations to be located anywhere on the network – a feature that Sears has exploited by locating workstations at different locations around the office complex. ‘Control Center’ is licensed on an unrestricted basis within the cost of IndigoVision hardware allowing Sears to deploy workstations for no more than the cost of a PC, realizing further cost reductions.

“The advanced alarm management features of ‘Control Center’ are being used to good effect by Sears,” added Beresowski. “When an alarm is generated from the door access system live video from the nearest camera is automatically displayed on the monitor and the location of the alarm depicted on a map of the building.”

Alarm outputs from the door access control system are wired into an IndigoVision IP Alarm Panel, where they are transmitted across the network to ‘Control Center’. The Alarm Panel is a general purpose interface that provides interconnection of discrete I/O from external systems on to the IP network.

Alarms can also be generated from magnetic locking devices on the lobby elevators on the top three floors, should the power fail to these devices. The locks are normally released by swiping an access card by each elevator, but automatically release if power fails, removing controlled access. The alarm output from each mag-lock is connected to a digital input on the nearest IP camera, which then transmits the alarm data over the network. This is just another example of the way third-party systems can be integrated with the IndigoVision system.

The 5 standalone NVRs and network equipment are located in a central loss prevention office next to the main reception where a 3-monitor ‘Control Center’ workstation provides the main surveillance for the head office. An additional three workstations are located around the building in different security offices. IndigoVision’s flexible recording architecture allows different cameras to be recorded at different framerates and for different periods. Sears are recording most cameras for 31 days, with 5 sensitive cameras for 90 days.

The 76 cameras are a mix of IndigoVision’s fixed and PTZ IP domes, which only require a single CAT-5 cable connection to the nearest network point. They are powered directly from the network through POE network switches. Each IP dome contains a high-quality Sony camera and the MPEG-4 compression hardware. DVD-quality video can therefore be streamed directly from the camera on to the network without the need for an external codec. Each IP camera has the ability to run real-time analytics and deploy a unique feature call Activity Controlled Framerate (ACF) which Sears is using to minimize bandwidth and storage requirements.

ACF controls the amount of video that is transmitted on to the network. When the scene is inactive, the framerate is reduced, as soon as any motion is detected in the scene the framerate is automatically set to maximum. Integrated real-time features such as ACF and analytics that operate in the camera at the network edge can only be fully realized because IndigoVision’s system is a complete end-to-end solution, with all components designed by IndigoVision. This ensures maximum performance in any environment.

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7 October 2009 - IP Video Security Protects Staff and Patients at Madrid Hospital

IndigoVision’s IP-CCTV solution has been integrated together with access control and intruder detection to provide one of Madrid’s newest hospitals with a state of the art security system. Opened in 2008, the Infanta Sofía Hospital is located in San Sebastián De los Reyes and was built by the Madrid Regional Government as part of plans to improve healthcare services for towns in Northern Madrid. The hospital consists of several buildings on a 25 square mile site with the main facilities in an 8-storey tower block.

“Hospitals create a demanding security environment, where the protection of staff and patients is paramount, especially in frontline areas such as emergency and psychiatry departments,” explains Francisco De Diego, Project Manager with Cybsegur, the System Integrator that designed and installed the system. “It was therefore important to choose the very-best CCTV system, both in terms of performance and picture quality.”

IndigoVision’s IP Video system was integrated with the access control and intruder detection systems using Fabricom’s ICAROS system to provide the hospital’s security team with a complete solution for managing the security of the site. Consolidation of alarms centrally from CCTV, access control and intruder systems create a more efficient operator environment and a vastly improved incident response.

“The distributed nature of IndigoVision’s system means that cameras, recorders and CCTV workstations can be located at any point on the network,” continued Diego. “Compared to traditional analog/DVR CCTV systems this saved us a considerable amount of time and money during installation. It also gives us a great deal of flexibility to re-deploy cameras when required with little extra cost for the hospital. High-quality evidential video has already helped the police during an investigation of a robbery and assisted the hospital identify potential security weaknesses, which were easily corrected due to the flexibility of the system.”

Seven IndigoVision standalone Network Video Recorders (NVRs) record video continuously at 25fps, directly from the network, providing a typical 15-day archive. In the event of a NVR failure or routine maintenance, video can be sent to the other NVRs while the unit is swapped with a hot-spare. Indigovision’s IP Video system provides end-users with a range of redundant solutions, from simple hot-spare swapping as used by the hospital to fully resilient recording configurations using mirroring or automatic failovers with individual NVRs being distributed around the network.

Over 80 analog cameras are installed inside the hospital and externally around the grounds. A combination of internal domes and external vandal resistant cameras are connected to IndigoVision 8000 transmitter/receiver modules which converts the analog feed to DVD-quality MPEG-4 digital video for transmission over the network.

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2 October 2009 - IndigoVision Posts Record Results Ahead of Expectations

IndigoVision, the leading supplier of IP Security Management Systems, has announced another outstanding set of financial results, with significant growth of sales in the Americas +103%, Asia Pacific +50% and EMEA +10% and a 59% increase in operating profits. The company, in its results for the year ended July 2009, has reported an increase in total product revenues of 43% to a record £26.4m ($43.7m) and operating profits increasing to £3.26m ($5.4m). 

IndigoVision continues to invest heavily in product development with a substantial increase in spend last year. The company recently launched a range of High-Definition (HD) IP cameras, which were chosen by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for monitoring US-Canada border crossings, in what is believed to be the largest ever High-Definition (HD) IP Video surveillance system. IndigoVision has also been chosen by several hotels and leisure projects including the prestigious London Marriott Hotel in Kensington and the new Mövenpick Tower & Suites Hotel in Doha, Qatar. The 500 mile long Sakhalin-2 gas pipeline project in Eastern Russia continues to expand using IndigoVision’s IP Video technology, creating one of the largest wide-area surveillance projects in the world.

Casinos continue to be a strong performing sector for the company with 18 installations in North America, 11 of which were completed in the last year. Airport wins were achieved in North America, Europe and significantly in China and India, where strategic projects are underway in Shanghai and Delhi. Rail success was achieved in all major regions with the latest being the Santiago Metro in Chile.

Commenting on the results Oliver Vellacott said “These are great results achieved in a difficult economic climate. I am especially pleased to be announcing our first ever dividend to shareholders.

The financial results achieved are a direct result of the strength of our product range and its powerful supporting technology, the talented group of people which we have worldwide, and the strong market position which we have built based on the needs of customers.

The long term market potential for IndigoVision’s offering continues to be attractive, the sales force is well developed, distribution and service centers are working well and finances are sound. Although the security market is moving from older analog systems to IP, 90% of this transition has still to take place, giving IndigoVision a clear opportunity.

In the current year we will be stepping up spend on research and product development to prepare IndigoVision for the next phase of growth. We expect the short term economic background to continue to be difficult, but believe that IndigoVision can meet this challenge.”

The full results statement is available from http://www.indigovision.com/investors_financeinfo.php

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21 September 2009 - Largest Ever HD IP Video System Keeps Watch on US-Canadian Border Crossings

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has deployed what is believed to be the largest ever High-Definition (HD) IP Video surveillance system to monitor its customs operation on the US-Canadian border and at Vancouver Airport.

CBSA chose IndigoVision’s complete IP Video system to upgrade 30 of its land border crossings, transitioning its surveillance from analog/DVR technology to a fully distributed, scalable IP-network based platform. The enhanced video surveillance images and tools assist the CBSA with the enforcement of illegal and threatening acts through the collection of useable evidentiary video images.

“With the new HD cameras, CBSA officers can more easily identify critical information that was not perceivable before,” explains Terry Hoffman, CPP, CBCP, Principal Hoffman & Company, Security Management Consultants Inc, the company which designed and project managed the upgrade. “They can now display dozens of cameras on multiple screens and analyze video much quicker, resulting in incidents being resolved in a fraction of the time.”

Five-hundred IndigoVision HD cameras were installed alongside 500 of the original analog cameras, which are connected to the network using IndigoVision’s 9000 series transmitter modules. The megapixel HD cameras stream high-quality H.264 video at 15 fps. Due to its advanced H.264 compression technology and unique architecture, IndigoVision allows both standard definition and HD video to be streamed and recorded side-by-side using standard IP networks and storage. This has allowed CBSA to significantly improve its retention period for recorded video, even when taking into account the increased storage requirements of HD video.

“IndigoVision’s robust, scalable technology has been field-proven worldwide in large enterprise projects,” continued Hoffman. “However, it was also their local support and Partner network that were major reasons for choosing them. The scale of the project meant a number of installers were required across the country and IndigoVision partnered with Intercon ADT Advanced Integration, Chubb Canada and Southwest Surveillance to achieve this.”

Currently, each border crossing has their own self-contained surveillance system with video being monitored on workstations running IndigoVision’s ‘Control Center’ Security Management Software and recorded on IndigoVision standalone Network Video Recorders (NVRs). The distributed architecture however, will allow live and recorded video from each border crossing to be viewed regionally or nationally if required in the future. Over 200 standalone NVRs were deployed locally across the system, configured as RAID 1 discs and with failover redundancy, which automatically records video on a back-up NVR should a primary NVR fail. Evidential quality video clips can be exported from any NVR for use by other agencies following an incident.

“CBSA will benefit from IndigoVision’s flexible licensing, as they will not have to pay for expensive software licenses every time they add a video workstation or pay for yearly maintenance upgrades,” added Hoffman. “This will ensure that their surveillance solution remains leading-edge for years to come.”

With its distributed architecture, live and recorded viewing of multiple cameras, thumbnail displays, motion search and unique features such as Activity Controlled Framerate (ACF), IndigoVision is helping CBSA meet its new surveillance objectives and at the same time ensure future requirements are accommodated. As IndigoVision’s system is a complete solution, including everything from the cameras to video management software designed in-house, it can offer advanced analytics features such as ACF, which has been implemented in many cameras by CBSA. ACF reduces the overall bandwidth and storage requirement by reducing the framerate of the transmitted video from a camera to a pre-configured minimum when its scene is inactive. The instant that motion is detected in the scene, the camera automatically begins streaming at maximum framerate.

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11 September 2009 - IndigoVision Continues North American Expansion with New Team

IndigoVision, the leading manufacturer of complete IP Video security solutions, has made a number of important additions to its team as part of its continued expansion in North America. Bill McQuade has been promoted into the new management role of Senior Vice President for North America. Reporting to Oliver Vellacott, IndigoVision CEO, Bill has full responsibility for driving the next phase of the company’s expansion in the region. Bill has worked for IndigoVision for 6 years in senior sales roles and has extensive experience of the North American CCTV market.

Grant Foster has recently joined the IndigoVision Sales Team in the new position of Director Business Development - North America. Grant was previously Director of Sales for March Networks.

“I'm confident his experience can help us penetrate new business opportunities and build on recent successes in the banking and retail sectors,” said Bill McQuade. “With his knowledge of the IP Video market, Grant is a major asset for the team and key to our expansion plans.”

To further bolster the North American Customer Support operation Dan Graham has been promoted to Sales Engineering & Support Manager and California-based Jonathon Kelly has recently joined the company as part of the Technical Support Team. Jonathon was originally with Dedicated Micros and has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and extensive knowledge of networking technology and programming.

“These organizational changes are part of an exciting new phase for IndigoVision’s growth, in which we are strengthening our presence in North America,” said Oliver Vellacott. “We are relocating technical support and marketing from our European HQ to North America. Bill’s experience of security in the region will be invaluable in achieving this and making our business more responsive to our Partners and their customers.”

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3 September 2009 - Glasgow Science Center Surveillance Transformed by IndigoVision IP Video

The Glasgow Science Center, one of Scotland’s premier visitor attractions, has upgraded their ageing analog/VCR CCTV system with IndigoVision’s complete end-to-end IP Video solution. The 49 camera system, which was installed by IndigoVision’s local partner SCS Security Design, has transformed the Center’s surveillance operation.

Commenting on the success of the project Steve Ross, the Center’s Exhibition and Technical Services Manager said, “Glasgow Science Center has seen a considerable improvement in operational efficiency since installing IndigoVision's CCTV system. This has greatly assisted with several security issues that have occurred since the new system was installed.”

At the heart of the Glasgow Science Center is the Science Mall, a gleaming titanium crescent overlooking the River Clyde, which has three floors packed with hundreds of interactive exhibits. Next to the Science Mall is the 127m high Glasgow Tower, which is the only building in the world capable of turning 360 degrees into the prevailing wind. The aerodynamic structure allows the entire building to be turned to face the wind, thus reducing wind resistance and enabling its slender design.

The original analog system used VCRs for recording CCTV footage. As with the majority of VCR-based systems it was a major overhead for the security staff to continually rotate tapes and access recorded footage. IndigoVision’s system now provides the Center with a CCTV solution that provides high-quality video that is recorded onto Network Video Recorders (NVRs). Using ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s Security Management Software, operators can view live video and quickly search and analyze recorded footage from the NVRs. In the event of an incident, evidential quality video clips can be exported for use by the police. Four of IndigoVision’s fault-tolerant stand-alone NVRs, with a total of 6TB of storage, record all cameras continuously at 25fps for 31 days.

IndigoVision’s class-leading compression technology means that DVD-quality video can be transmitted across standard IP networks with minimum impact on bandwidth. This enabled the Science Center to install the complete IP Video system on their existing LAN, sharing network capacity with other IT services.

The Center is also using a unique feature of IndigoVision’s IP-CCTV system to further reduce bandwidth usage. Activity Controlled Framerate (ACF) is built into IndigoVision’s transmitter modules and controls the amount of video that is transmitted on to the network. When the camera scene is inactive, the framerate is reduced; as soon as any motion is detected the framerate is instantly set to maximum. Integrated real-time features such as ACF and analytics that operate at the network edge can only be fully realized because IndigoVision’s system is a complete end-to-end solution, with all components designed by IndigoVision. This ensures maximum performance in any environment. The Science Center is investigating the use of analytics functions such as ‘counterflow’ to monitor their queuing system and ‘museum mode’ to detect left luggage and illegal parking.

The distributed nature of the system means that additional components such as cameras and monitoring workstations can easily be added to any point on the network as the system expands. There are currently plans to add an additional 25 cameras to the system.

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27 August 2009 - University Designs Its Own IP Video Surveillance System

When the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) in Lisbon decided to install campus-wide CCTV, they chose to design the system themselves using IndigoVision’s IP Video technology. IST is Portugal’s leading School of Engineering, Science & Technology and is part of the Technical University of Lisbon. Using their own engineering team in partnership with IndigoVision’s Authorized Partner, Vigilarme, IST designed the entire 50 camera solution.

“It was important for the university to have a flexible and scalable system that could be easily expanded in the future,” said Joao B. Ferreira, an engineer with Núcleo de Segurança Higiene e Saúde, the university department responsible for campus security, “Following a public tender the university chose IndigoVision’s system as it provided by far the best price/performance and demonstrated excellent video quality, flexibility and data security. The distributed nature of the system made it easy for our own team to design a solution that could monitor the entire campus.”

The campus consists of 16 buildings and surrounding grounds, covering an area in excess of 650,000 square feet. The university was ideal for an IP-based CCTV solution as it already had its own fiber-based network covering the whole campus. The system consists of 50 cameras that are predominantly installed to monitor outside areas. The university now has approval from the data protection authorities to monitor inside the buildings and will shortly be adding another 60+ cameras. The security team uses ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s Security Management Software (SMS) to view live and recorded video, analyze footage and export evidential video to the police in the event of any incidents.

“In use the system has proved to be very stable and easy to use,” added Ferreira. “It has been a terrific deterrent, with serious incidents being almost completely eliminated since it was installed. Before, we had a small number of isolated CCTV systems in a number of buildings, now we have a system that can monitor the whole campus from one location using a single ‘Control Center’ workstation with 4 monitors. The overall footprint of the control room setup is very small.”

The university takes data security and privacy very seriously and was keen to ensure live and recorded video could only be accessed by authorized staff. “Even though the video was streamed on the existing network we created a Virtual-LAN to keep the IP Video data separate and therefore secure from other network users. We allow only three users to export footage and the video recorders are located in a secure room in a different building to the live monitoring centre,” said Ferreira.

Video is recorded continuously on 3 IndigoVision standalone, fault-tolerant Network Video Recorders (NVRs) with RAID storage for redundancy. “With IndigoVision’s excellent compression and motion detection features such as ACF we can record all cameras 24/7 at 25fps for 30 days very affordably and know we will not lose evidence,” continued Ferreira. “When there is an incident and the police request footage, it is very quick and easy to retrieve the relevant video using ‘Control Center’, even though the recorders are in a separate building.”

Activity Controlled Framerate (ACF) is a unique feature built into IndigoVision’s transmitter/receiver units. ACF reduces the framerate when there is no activity in a camera scene. When motion is detected the video is instantaneously streamed at maximum framerate. This can significantly reduce the network bandwidth and storage requirements, particularly at night when there is little activity.

IndigoVision has a flexible range of encoding hardware that allows analog cameras to be connected to the network. The 8000 MPEG-4 based transmitter/receiver units can be housed in individual units or in more cost-effective 10-way racks. The university used a combination of both, with racks being used when a group of cameras were installed near each other. This provided further cost savings for the university.

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7 August 2009 - Government Agency’s CCTV Capability Transformed by IndigoVision IP Video

IndigoVision’s integrated IP Video solution is at the centre of a major upgrade to the CCTV capability of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) complex in Swansea, UK. The DVLA aims to facilitate road safety and general law enforcement by maintaining registers of drivers and collecting road tax for the UK’s 34 million vehicles.

The 100+ camera system was designed and installed by the Security Services Group (SSG), the UK Government’s own high-security installation team. SSG recommended IndigoVision to the DVLA, having worked successfully with the company’s IP Video system on other Government projects.

“The new IndigoVision system has transformed the CCTV network coverage of our sites,” commented Roy Evans, Technical Advisor at the DVLA. “The ease of use for the operators, expandability and the seamless integration of other security systems, such as IDS, has all benefited our operation.”

IndigoVision’s unique distributed architecture means that the DVLA’s CCTV system is highly flexible and scalable and has provided the ideal monitoring solution for the Agency’s vast complex, which consists of multiple-buildings covering an area of 23 acres and housing over 4000 staff. The system can even be operated from a remote location if the main control room is out of action. IndigoVision’s equipment was used in the DVLA’s new sustainable print plant as well as to replace ageing analog/DVR CCTV systems in existing buildings.

“Upgrade of old CCTV equipment was driven by the need for life-cycle replacement of existing legacy systems,” explained Evans. “Distributed IP Video delivers improved integration with a raft of site-wide systems and a secure platform for future expansion.”

As with any major Government site a high-quality CCTV system is required for staff safety, crime prevention, counter terrorism, access control, traffic management and incident response. Operators using ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s enterprise Security Management Software, can view live and recorded video from any of the cameras. A number of rugged standalone Network Video Recorders (NVRs) provide 31 days of continuous recording from all cameras. The distributed nature of IndigoVision’s system means ‘Control Center’ workstations, NVRs and cameras can be located anywhere on the site – all that is required is a network connection.

“The fast retrieval of recorded footage using ‘Control Center’ is a major improvement over the original CCTV systems, aiding the security team in more efficient incident management,” added Evans. “The software also produces an audit log that enables managers to quickly identify who carried out the tasks on the system. This was an important requirement for the new monitoring solution.”

All of the existing analog cameras are connected to IndigoVision 8000 transmitter/receiver modules. The 8000 converts the analog feed into DVD-quality digital video for transmission across the network, using advanced MPEG-4 compression. The network and ‘Control Center’ software acts as a virtual matrix, where any camera feed can be routed to any workstation or NVR, no matter where they are located on the network. This replaces the traditional centralized hardware switching matrix of analog/DVR CCTV systems and eliminates the associated single point of failure.

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4 August 2009 - IndigoVision Launches High-Performance IP Video Network Video Recorders

IndigoVision will be revealing for the first time a new range of high-performance standalone Network Video Recorders (NVRs) for its complete end-to-end IP Video solution at the ASIS 2009 show. The new NVR-AS 3000 range has more than double the performance of the company’s existing models and has excellent green credentials with extremely low power consumption.

Each NVR can record video and audio from up to 64 cameras and playback up to 20 video streams at full framerate simultaneously. Several models are available with different storage capacities from either integrated fixed disks or hot-swappable removable drives. All the NVRs use the latest hard drive technology from Seagate, with disks that have been developed for continuous video surveillance recording.

The high-performance specification of the new NVRs, coupled with IndigoVision’s class-leading compression technology means that each NVR can record both MPEG-4 and H.264 video from multiple cameras for long periods. For example, a single NVR-AS 3000 could record H.264 video from 32 cameras continuously at 4SIF, full framerate, based on moderate motion levels for 50 days.

As with all current IndigoVision standalone NVRs, the new 3000 range is based on a robust LINUX architecture and provides high-levels of redundancy. The new models can be configured to have RAID 0, RAID 1 or RAID 5 disks and all have redundant network connections and internal power supplies with redundant power connectors. Using ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s Security Management Software, users can implement advanced redundancy strategies. NVRs can be configured to work as failover backups and mirrors for primary NVRs. The backup NVR can continuously record the same video in parallel as the primary NVR (mirroring) or automatically takeover recording if the primary NVR fails. Due to the distributed architecture of IndigoVision’s IP Video solution, the backup NVRs can be located at a different physical location to the primary NVRs, adding further to the resilience of the system. Sophisticated webs or chains of NVR redundancy can be implemented allowing the user to choose their level of redundancy based on a risk/cost analysis.

Alongside the NVR-AS 3000 IndigoVision is also launching the Compact NVR. Based on the same technology, the Compact NVR is designed for smaller applications such as retail outlets and commercial premises. The unit allows 20 cameras to be recorded and played back at the same time and consists of a single removable drive for easy archive or securing of evidence. The Compact NVR is smaller in size than the NVR-AS 3000 and can be mounted horizontally or vertically.

The NVR-AS 3000 range has extremely low power consumption ranging from 32W (Compact) to just 53W (RAID Array). This means running costs are much lower compared to PC-based recording servers with attached storage. They can be stacked densely in a 19 inch rack and any AC cooling plant can be smaller, both helping to reduce the overall cost of the recording solution and physical footprint - an important consideration in many control and plant rooms.

The ‘AS’ in NVR-AS 3000 stands for ‘Alarm Server’ and means that each NVR can also store system-wide real-time alarm information that is configured in ‘Control Center’. This ensures that automatic alarm events can still operate even though a ‘Control Center’ workstation is inoperative, adding further redundancy to the system. A typical event would be an access control alarm, generated from an attempted illegal entry, triggering the nearest camera to pan and zoom to a pre-configured position so that the area around the entrance could be monitored and recorded.

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20 July 2009 - IndigoVision Launches EPOS Integration

IndigoVision has developed a powerful surveillance solution for the retail and hospitality sectors by integrating its IP Video system with Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS).

Data sent from an EPOS system can be overlaid on a live video display, allowing operators to view the camera feed and till transaction simultaneously. The transaction information and alarms generated by the EPOS system are also bookmarked and recorded alongside the video. This facilitates visual identification of an incident in both real time and through post-event analysis.

Powerful transaction analysis can be undertaken on the stored data, for example, finding out when a particular credit card was used by searching every till in a store or across all stores from the head office. Conversely, recorded video can be searched using a thumbnail feature, which displays a video still image for every transaction, allowing the operator to quickly identify the relevant footage. Evidential quality video clips and associated transaction data can be exported for investigation or use in court. This can be played back using IndigoVision’s standalone Incident Player.

Alarms generated by the EPOS system, such as ‘till left open’, ‘refund’, or ‘large note deposit’ can automatically trigger a number of events. For example, display the nearest camera view to the specific till and pinpoint the alarm on an interactive map. This creates a more efficient operator environment that leads to quicker incident response. Alarms from non-security systems such as building management and plant monitoring can also easily be integrated into the system and benefit retail applications, for example, alerting staff when a freezer fails or a door is left open.

“IndigoVision has a strong presence in the retail sector and has deployed surveillance systems with some of the world’s best-known retailers such as IKEA, Sears and John Lewis Partnership,” said Oliver Vellacott, IndigoVision CEO. “This new development will strengthen that position further and provide stores with an unmatched solution for integrated surveillance.”

The seamless integration with third-party systems is achieved through integration modules in ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s Security Management Software. In addition to EPOS, the company has integration modules for over 20 different IP-based access control and security systems.

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8 July 2009 - First IP Video Casino Surveillance System Deployed in France

One of France’s newest Casino and Entertainment centers in Toulouse has deployed IndigoVision’s IP Video solution for its demanding security surveillance requirements. The Casino Théâtre Barrière de Toulouse is an exciting 14,000m2 venue, which includes a 1,200 seat theatre, 3 restaurants, 3 bars, 14 gaming tables and 250 slot machines.

“We are pleased to have chosen IndigoVision for the first IP-based surveillance solution in a French casino in 2007,” said Steve Dupoizat, the Casino’s Director of Security. “The operation of the system has been very impressive.”

Steve Dupoizat realized early on that a distributed IP Video solution was fundamental to provide the casino complex with a reliable, fault-tolerant and scalable surveillance solution.

“We commissioned a trial of competing IP Video vendors led by an independent consultant,” continued Mr Dupoizat. “IndigoVision was chosen because of its superior compression technology, excellent video quality and the ease of use of their video management software for both the operators and supervisors.”

SPIE Sud-Ouest, IndigoVision’s approved partner, installed the 350 camera system, which is controlled using ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s Security Management Software (SMS). The software allows operators to view live and recorded video, manage alarms and to quickly search and analyze recorded video for an incident.

“Having quick access to recorded video allows operators to deal efficiently with incidents and disputes,” added Mr Dupoizat. “Responsiveness is fundamental to the Casino as we need to respond rapidly to ensure smooth operation of the games.”

IndigoVision’s advanced compression technology ensures video can be streamed across the network with a guarantee of no dropped frames, whatever the level of motion and activity in the camera scene. This was a fundamental requirement for Groupe Lucien Barrière when choosing the IP Video technology. Any dropped frames within a video clip could hide fraudulent or criminal activity and make any customer disputes more difficult to resolve.

Redundancy and reliability were another key factor for choosing IndigoVision. Should a camera or recorder fail, the associated gaming tables or slot machines may see their operation compromised. The reliability of IndigoVision’s IP Video technology has been field-proven in 27 casinos around the world and it incorporates one of the most advanced fault-tolerant recording solutions available. Video from all of the cameras is recorded directly from the network onto 28 primary standalone Network Video Recorders (NVRs). The same video is simultaneously recorded onto 14 secondary windows-based NVR servers as a mirror backup. Three additional standalone NVR units are configured for automatic fail-over, taking over recording from a primary NVR if needed. Video is recorded at full framerate continuously for 28 days on 80 key cameras and for 7 days on the rest.

Being a truly distributed IP Video solution has provided the casino with many benefits, not least the ability to locate cameras, NVRs and ‘Control Center’ workstations at any point on the network. This gives a high-degree of flexibility and eliminates any single point of failure that is often associated with analog/DVR systems. The casino has deployed 7 workstations in the main control room, one in the security room and one on the desk of the Director General. There is no additional cost for this as ‘Control Center’ software is licensed on an unrestricted basis within the cost of IndigoVision hardware.

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26 June 2009 - IndigoVision ‘Serves Up’ Ace Surveillance Solution for Argentinean Tennis Tournament

IndigoVision’s complete IP-CCTV solution was deployed during the Copa Telmex 2009 tennis tournament in Buenos Aires to provide security surveillance throughout the event. Copa Telmex is one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in Latin America and is an ATP World Tour 250 series event. The competition is staged every year on clay courts at the 5,500 capacity Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club located in the Palermo area of Argentina’s capital.

IP Video is an ideal CCTV solution for events of this type, where high-quality surveillance has to be quickly and cost-effectively installed just for the duration of the tournament. The distributed nature of IndigoVision’s system allows any component to be installed anywhere on the network; this includes cameras, workstations and video recorders. This flexibility also allowed cameras to be easily repositioned around the venue as is often required during the event build-up. The IP-network was provided by Copa Telmex, the event’s sponsors, and the IP Video system was installed by IndigoVision’s local Partners Logicalis and Isikawa Electrónica.

“In the past the Tennis Club used analog/DVR CCTV systems to provide surveillance coverage for the annual event,” explained Diego Lorenzo, International Relations Manager for Logicalis. “Using IndigoVision’s system significantly simplified installation and provided the organizers with a more flexible solution that delivered far superior video quality.”

The event’s security team used ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s Security Management Software to view live and recorded video throughout the tournament. ‘Control Center’ also provided the security team with a feature-rich set of utilities for searching and analyzing recorded video, allowing the operators to quickly respond to an incident. Evidential quality video could be exported for use by the police in the event of criminal activity.

Video from all cameras during the event was recorded on an IndigoVision Windows-based Network Video Recorder (NVR) with 500GB of storage. IndigoVision’s advanced compression technology and the use of innovative features such as Activity Control Framerate (ACF) reduced the amount of data required to transmit DVD-quality video across the network, thereby minimizing network bandwidth and NVR storage.

The ACF feature is built into IndigoVision’s transmitter/receiver units and IP-cameras and reduces the framerate of the transmitted video during periods of scene inactivity. As soon as motion is detected the framerate is automatically increased to maximum. This feature helped reduce the overall NVR storage requirement during the event, particularly during the night when little or no activity was present.

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8 June 2009 - Industry Heavyweight Joins IndigoVision

IndigoVision, leading manufacturer of complete IP Video security solutions, has appointed Ivo Drent as Senior Vice President for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Before joining IndigoVision Ivo was in a similar role at Pelco, where he headed up EMEA for the last 10 years, during which time he led their growth from nothing to $100m sales. Reporting to Oliver Vellacott, IndigoVision CEO, Ivo has full responsibility for driving the next phase of the company’s expansion in the region.

“Ivo’s appointment is part of an exciting new phase for IndigoVision’s growth, in which we are strengthening our presence in EMEA, Americas and APAC,” said Oliver Vellacott. “We are relocating management of technical support and marketing from Edinburgh to within these regions, reporting to three regional VPs, along with sales. Ivo’s experience in European security will be invaluable in achieving this and making our business more responsive to our Partners and their local markets.”

 

 

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29 May 2009 - IndigoVision IP-CCTV Helps Protect APEC Peru 2008

IndigoVision’s complete IP security system is providing an advanced wireless surveillance solution for San Borja, Peru, which was deployed as part of the recent APEC summit. San Borja is primarily a middle-class district of the country’s capital, Lima, covering an area of 4 square miles and with a population of 100,000+. The system was installed in advance of the annual meeting of the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which met in Lima in November 2008.

The San Borja authorities needed a surveillance system that could deliver high-quality video using wireless networks to monitor public safety and identify criminal activity in an urban environment. Following a technical evaluation, IndigoVision was chosen and the system was designed and installed by Exprescom and their partner Netkrom Technologies.

“Several digital CCTV technologies were evaluated for this project,” explains Ing. Andres Reyes, Corporate Project Manager at Netkrom Technologies. “IndigoVision was chosen because it demonstrated by far the best video compression, which meant that high-quality images can be streamed across a wireless network without image degradation.”

The system is monitored by the staff of the Serenazgo, the local authority’s security force, from a Central Command Center. The security team use ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s Security Management Software (SMS) to monitor live and recorded video and manage alarms. ‘Control Center’ provides powerful search tools for analyzing recorded video and features such as maps, which coupled with alarms, ensures timely incident response to emergencies. Evidential quality video can be exported from the system to aid the local police in investigations following an incident. The Central Command Center has 4 ‘Control Center’ workstations with multiple monitors and an IndigoVision Network Video Recorder (NVR) for continuous recording of the video.

“‘Control Center’ software is field-proven and provides the authorities with a robust and advanced solution for monitoring and analyzing video and managing alarms,” added Reyes. “Using the thumbnails feature they can search through 24-hours of video in just a few seconds.”

What makes IndigoVision’s technology ideal for wide-area urban monitoring and sets them apart from other digital CCTV solutions is its class-leading compression technology. Evidential-quality video can be transmitted across standard IP networks over large distances with minimal bandwidth requirement. This ensures latency is kept to a minimum, which allows PTZ cameras to be controlled smoothly from a distance, and wireless networks to be deployed easily to overcome the cabling problems associated with wide-area surveillance. Fully synchronized high-quality two-way audio can also be transmitted alongside the video, to broadcast public announcements through camera mounted speakers or to be used in video intercom help-points for use by the public.

San Borja deployed 43 of IndigoVision’s 8000 Series PTZ IP Domes at strategic points around the district. Each IP dome contains a high-quality camera, robust PTZ mechanism and the MPEG-4 compression hardware. DVD-quality video can therefore be streamed directly from the camera on to the wireless network without the need for an external codec.

IndigoVision’s distributed architecture allows any system component to be located at any point on the IP network. This means that the system is very flexible and scalable allowing existing cameras to be easily relocated or new cameras to be inexpensively added – an important benefit in the ever changing surveillance landscape of urban areas.

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18 May 2009 - Mauritius Port Invests in IndigoVision IP-CCTV for Multi-Agency Surveillance

Port Louis, the capital and main port of Mauritius, has invested in IndigoVision’s complete integrated IP Video solution for a new harbor-wide surveillance system. The flexibility and distributed nature of the system allows a number of different agencies to monitor their own operations within the port. Based in a new central control room and a number of sub-control rooms the Mauritius Police Force, National Coast Guard, Customs and the Mauritius Port Authority (MPA), can access live and recorded video from the many cameras located inside and outside of the port buildings.

A port operation creates a complex security environment, which requires a surveillance system that is both flexible and delivers the very highest-quality video. Following an analysis of competing systems, IndigoVision was chosen because of its class-leading compression, video quality and the fact that it was a genuinely distributed system that is fully scalable.

Vikash Augnu, Project Manager for Brinks Mauritius, IndigoVision’s local partner that designed and installed the system said, "Brinks has always maintained a key differentiation over other system integrators by exceeding the expectations of its customers. In doing so, we had to provide the very best CCTV system for the port, which is one of the main trade entry routes into Mauritius and a high profile government installation. The site was very complex, which demanded a solution which was easy to install and deploy. As a key member of the system design and execution team, I was amazed at the flexibility that the IndigoVision system provided, while still being a very robust solution."

With some cameras located over 2.5 miles away and a number being connected via wireless networks the video compression used was very important. IndigoVision’s compression technology allows DVD-quality, 25fps, video to be streamed with minimum bandwidth requirement and latency. This enables PTZ cameras to be controlled smoothly over large distances and wireless networks to be easily deployed.

Each agency’s operators use ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s Security Management Software (SMS), to view live and recorded video from any of the cameras. An advanced suite of tools provides fast playback and analysis of recorded video and clips can be exported for evidential purposes following an incident. ‘Control Center’ is licensed on an unrestricted basis within the cost of IndigoVision hardware, which means workstations can be deployed for no more than a cost of a level-entry PC. This was exploited by the MPA as 3 workstations, with 21 spot monitors, were installed in the main control room and a further 9 workstations deployed in 5 sub-control rooms. The distributed nature of the system means any component, including ‘Control Center’ workstations, can be located at any point on the network. IndigoVision’s distributed architecture removes the single point of failure associated with analog and centralized network systems, creating a more robust solution – an important consideration for a high-profile surveillance operation at a major port.

“The system has been a great benefit to the MPA and other agencies,” continued Augnu. “Petty theft has decreased, they have improved surveillance of the main gates, enhanced control and monitoring at the terminal and quay areas and a much better deterrence particularly in the customs area.” 

Each camera is continuously recorded at full framerate for 1 month on 8 IndigoVision Network Video Recorders (NVRs), with a total storage of 16TB. Any ‘Control Center’ workstation with the right permissions, no matter where it is located, can access recorded video from the NVRs. The cameras used were a variety of indoor and outdoor analog models, with each being connected to IndigoVision’s 8000 transmitter/receiver units. These convert the camera video into a MPEG-4 compressed digital stream for transmission over the fiber LAN or wireless network, both of which were newly installed by Brinks. MPA also use wash/wipe kits on their external cameras, which are triggered directly from any ‘Control Center’ workstation using custom commands sent over the network to the 8000 and then via a RS845 serial interface to the wash/wipe unit.

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8 May 2009 - IndigoVision Launches 21st Integration Module

IndigoVision has developed a number of new integration modules for Bosch, MAXxess and Software House access control products, as part of its complete end-to-end IP Video system. These modules allow true integration with third-party systems to provide a totally IP-based security solution, encompassing CCTV, access control and intruder alarms amongst others.

‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s Security Management Software, can be seamlessly integrated with the majority of the most popular access control systems, alarms and BMS and with specialist systems such as process control and EPOS. This approach is an open-platform solution, ensuring an integrated system can be supplied to cover any access control and security application around the world.

The benefits of integrating systems together can be significant, allowing the user to trigger operations in one system from events generated in another. For example, an alarm generated by a forced door can trigger an alarm in ‘Control Center’ which in turn automatically moves a PTZ camera to a pre-programmed position, displays the video of the incident and indicates the location on a schematic map. Some of the integration modules allow 2-way operation, allowing for example, an analytics motion detection event generated in a camera to lock doors and trigger a local alarm.

The latest additions to the suite of integration modules are for Bosch TCU, MAXxess and Software House C.Cure 9000 access control systems. This takes the total number of third-party systems supported to 21, including Lenel, Cardax, GE, Honeywell, TAC/Andover Controls and Senstar-Stellar.

In an integrated security environment the most used interface is normally the CCTV system. This coupled with IndigoVision’s sophisticated alarm handling capabilities makes ‘Control Center’ the obvious place to consolidate alarms from all the systems. These advanced alarm features allow ‘Control Center’ to operate in what is known as a ‘black’ or ‘dark’ screen monitoring mode, where video is only displayed on alarm. This method of operation is recognized as providing a more efficient operator environment that leads to quicker incident response.

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20 April 2009 - St Lawrence Seaway Continues Investment in IndigoVision’s IP-CCTV

IndigoVision’s IP Video technology is at the heart of a major 4-year CCTV upgrade to the Welland Canal section of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Dubbed Highway H2O, the Seaway is the safe, reliable and environmentally friendly transportation route of choice to the heart of North America. IndigoVision’s position as a technology leader in IP Video is underpinned by the numerous projects that have been field proven over a number of years, such as the one for the Welland Canal.

The all-Canadian Welland Canal is 27 miles long and connects Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Eight giant locks along its route lift ships 326 feet between the two lakes. Remote surveillance of the vertical lifts is fundamental for traffic management and the safe operation of the locks for shipping and the public. The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation monitors the entire canal system from a state-of-the-art traffic control center.

A number of IndigoVision 8000 IP Video transmitter/receiver units were initially installed in 2004 under specific projects to support remote bridge control along the Welland Canal. Since that time the Seaway has continued to deploy additional 8000s as well as installing a number of IndigoVision’s Windows based Network Video Recorders (NVRs). The various elements of the IndigoVision based IP video system installed along the Seaway are transported via a high-bandwidth routed network using both layer 2 & 3 segments. Network connections use a combination of both TCP and UDP Multicast transports dependant upon bandwidth availability. The Seaway now utilizes 8000s throughout its extensive canal systems between the Port of Montreal and Lake Erie.

The entire CCTV system is now managed using ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision's IP Video and alarm management software.  Live video is viewed by a mix of ‘Control Center’ workstations, or where needed by using 8000s as transmit / receive pairs with analog monitors. For certain applications, ‘Control Center’ salvos are used to switch video views and control cameras as dictated by other Seaway canal control systems. The salvos are triggered by canal control PLCs, which make input changes to I/O incorporated in the 8000.

Windows based NVRs with about 8TB each of recording space have been deployed to assist in security and incident management over extended archive periods. Each server is used to record 30fps 4SIF live video from remote locations with each easily handling about 32 video streams and providing an archive period of approximately 15 days. The servers and direct attached SAS arrays can easily be expanded using inexpensive high-capacity SATA drives for a total storage space on each NVR of about 30TB.

Apart from very high quality video, IndigoVision’s compression and transmission technology ensures minimum impact on network bandwidth providing ample spare capacity for the future. The cost benefits of the adopted technology compared to traditional analog solutions for the existing project and future expansion are significant.

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3 April 2009 - IndigoVision Launches Advanced Audio Broadcast Facilities

IndigoVision, the leading manufacturer of complete IP security solutions, has added advanced audio broadcast facilities to its latest release of ‘Control Center’, the company’s Security Management Software (SMS). Speakers directly connected to IndigoVision transmitter/receiver modules and IP cameras can be allocated to ‘PA Groups’. Manual and pre-recorded voice messages can then be broadcast over the IP network to a specific group of speakers.

This new release, which is being launched at ISC West, allows full IP-based Public Address (PA) functionality to be integrated into the CCTV system, producing significant cost savings compared to using a separate PA system. As an example the cost savings and flexibility of this approach has been demonstrated in schools. Here a pre-recorded message of a class-change bell is broadcast to all speakers at regular intervals throughout the day. Staff can also manually transmit a live message to one or more specific speakers in response to an incident viewed on the CCTV, warning students of their actions.

Audio is streamed in high-fidelity using full-duplex MPEG-4 Advanced Audio Encoding (ACC). The audio is fully-synchronized with the video, which is an important factor in law enforcement applications. Recording and exporting evidential interview video where there is no lip-sync delay is a fundamental requirement. IndigoVision’s integrated audio facilities have also been widely used in IP Video Intercoms and Help Points located in city center public areas, which allow two-way audio and video communication over an IP network. As with the video, the advanced compression used on the audio stream ensures minimum bandwidth and storage requirement and allows full framerate video and audio to easily be transmitted across wireless networks.

This latest release of ‘Control Center’ also includes a number of other enhancements, including Spot Monitor Incident Export. This allows the video displayed on a Spot Monitor to be recorded and then viewed or exported as a single clip. This can be used for evidential purposes as the Spot Monitor would typically be tracking an incident or as an audit trail to analyze an operator’s response to an incident.

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1 April 2009 - Texas Police Department Invests in IndigoVision IP-CCTV

Grand Prairie Police Department, Texas, has transformed the way it uses CCTV after installing a complete integrated IP Video solution from IndigoVision. Replacing an ageing and unreliable VCR/analog system, which was used primarily for video archive, the new IndigoVision system is being used as an active tool to help manage the facility. As with most law enforcement facilities Grand Prairie PD has a complex security environment, mixing all the normal Police operations, with a short-term detection facility and areas that require public access. A reliable CCTV system, delivering the very highest quality video images, is therefore an essential tool for the Police Department.

The 40 camera system was installed by IndigoVision’s local approved partner Metroplex Control Systems. Much of the original analog CCTV equipment was reused, including cameras and the video matrix. This allowed the original control room configuration to remain largely unchanged. In addition CCTV workstations running IndigoVision’s ‘Control Center’ software were installed around the facility to allow users such as the Jail Commander, Police Chief and Internal Investigation to remotely monitor live and recorded video. In the event of an incident this allows the Jail Commander to oversee the emergency response without the need to be in the cell blocks.

Commenting on the project, Sgt. Blaine Smith, Grand Prairie PD Jail Commander said, “Moving to the IndigoVision system gives me the freedom to manage my facility in a whole new way. Its extensive features give us tools we never imagined were available and its forensic level video is phenomenal.”

Video from all the cameras is continuously recorded for 30 days using four 1 TB standalone Network Video Recorders (NVRs). Audio from 5 cameras is also stored alongside the video. Audio and video are fully synchronized and guaranteed not to drop frames, even at maximum frame rate – an important benefit for law enforcement as unsynchronized video and audio is not admissible as evidence in court. Evidential quality video can be exported from multiple cameras for use in court or as is the case with the Department, specific incidents which they export onto CD for archive.

“The system has already proved useful in resolving issues with the bond desk clerk and disgruntled citizens over bond related payments and services,” added Smith. “The system is also being used to effectively document disagreements between inmates.”

Grand Prairie PD’s original CCTV was based on outdated analog/VCR equipment that delivered poor quality, low framerate video that couldn’t be remotely monitored. IndigoVision’s solution provides the Department with a truly distributed system where DVD-quality video can be viewed on any ‘Control Center’ workstation at any point on the network.

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23 March 2009 - IndigoVision and 655 Partner for Remote IP-CCTV Monitoring

IndigoVision, the leading manufacturer of IP Video security solutions has partnered with 655 Limited to provide its UK customers with a remote video monitoring facility. 655’s purpose built facility is both a BS 5979 approved Alarm Receiving Center (ARC) and a BS 8418 approved Remote Video Response Center.

655 monitor a number of different IndigoVision sites, including schools, logistics operations and National Trust properties. Video is streamed from each site via standard ADSL business broadband links. This is considerably more cost effective and reliable compared to remotely monitoring traditional analog/DVR systems that use expensive leased lines. IndigoVision’s class-leading compression technology ensures that minimum bandwidth is required to transmit high-quality video from each site to the monitoring center. To further aid remote transmission, IndigoVision’s system allows each camera feed to be dual-streamed. For example, video with maximum framerate and resolution could be viewed and recorded locally, with a second lower framerate stream transmitted to the remote center. This low bandwidth requirement also ensures low latency, which means 655 can smoothly control PTZ cameras at any site.

655 use ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s IP Video and alarm management software for monitoring all the sites. As far as each individual site is concerned, 655’s ‘Control Center’ workstation is just like any other on their network, viewing live and recorded video from any camera. This can only be achieved because IndigoVision’s architecture is truly distributed, unlike some IP-based CCTV systems that have a centralized architecture.

IndigoVision’s solution allows real time analytics, such as motion detection and virtual tripwires, to be run in cameras at the network edge. This can be used to trigger alarms in ‘Control Center’ when an intrusion is detected. When an alarm is raised, 655’s ‘Control Center’ workstation will automatically display the associated camera feed and allow the operators to quickly review the incident. If necessary they can view other cameras around the site or review recorded video anytime before the alarm was raised. 655 can then contact the police or key holder if necessary. Pete Johnson, IT Manager, at Parklands School, recalls how 655’s remote monitoring of their IndigoVision system help prevent a serious break-in.

“At around 4.00am in the morning two intruders were picked up on the CCTV entering the school by the rear gate. The alarm was raised and 655 called the police. Before the police arrived the intruders forced a window, entered the school and removed PC equipment. The police later apprehended one of the criminals and their car and the equipment was recovered after the CCTV footage revealed that it was dumped shortly after they left the grounds. After the incident we exported high-quality video clips from the IndigoVision system onto CD as evidence for the police. This incident proves that well configured and managed remote monitoring is an extremely useful tool that ultimately saved our school considerable hassle and cost.”

IndigoVision’s open architecture allows tight integration with other security systems such as access control, intruder detection and perimeter protection. Events from any of these systems can also trigger alarms in ‘Control Center’ which again can be monitored remotely, providing 655 with a very powerful tool for monitoring any aspect of a site’s security.

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13 March 2009 - IndigoVision Reports Continued Growth

IndigoVision, the leading supplier of complete IP Video security solutions, has announced its half year financial results. The company reported an increase in sales revenues of 16% to £10.7m ($14.8m) for the 6-month period ending 31 January 2009, with operating profits of £1.2M ($1.66m). 

Commenting on the results Oliver Vellacott, IndigoVision's CEO said "As we expected, growth has slowed as a result of weaker corporate spending, dislocation in credit markets and rapidly deteriorating economic conditions in most markets. Against that background, increasing sales in the first half is creditable. Profitability remains sound and the balance sheet healthy. We have had a good start to the second half."

IndigoVision has continued to drive forward its product development plans with the recent launch of the company’s High-Definition (HD) IP camera range. This is now starting to be deployed in the field, including the first phase of the coast to coast surveillance project for the Canadian-US border crossings.

IndigoVision's market-leading position in the demanding gaming sector has been strengthened by major wins including the M Resort casino on the Las Vegas strip and approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission of the Colorado Belle casino making IndigoVision the first manufacturer of IP-based CCTV to be approved. IndigoVision is now streaming video from over 8000 cameras in 27 casinos worldwide.

IndigoVision solutions are employed across 20 different market sectors, with strong presence in casinos, rail, government and city security. IndigoVision’s route to market is through its local partners – systems integrators and installers – who receive comprehensive training from IndigoVision and who provide local system design, installation and support. IndigoVision continues to widen its channel to market with over 290 partners now authorized in over 64 countries. The company completely develops its technology in-house, including a rich suite of hardware products and 'Control Center' its flagship Security Management Software. The full results statement is available from www.indigovision.com/investors_financeinfo.php.

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11 March 2009 - IP Revolution Roadshow Arrives at IFSEC

IndigoVision, a leading manufacturer of complete IP security solutions, will be running an IP Revolution Roadshow during the IFSEC week. The Roadshows, which have proved to be very popular with end-users, consultants and integrators, were launched in 2008 and have been staged at a number of shows and venues around the world.

The IP Revolution Roadshow consists of a ½ day conference with a number of seminars designed to educate and inform the participants of the benefits that a true IP video security solution can deliver. This will include a presentation on High Definition (HD) video technology, with live demonstrations of the latest HD IP cameras. IndigoVision’s senior management team will be available for informal discussions after the seminars. Further information and registration details are available by visiting www.indigovision.com/IFSEC.

IndigoVision will also be demonstrating a number of new products on stand D60 in Hall 4 throughout the show, including the HD 10000 series of IP cameras and a revolutionary H.264-based PTZ IP-dome from its successful 9000 range of standard 4SIF cameras.

Using outstanding H.264 compression technology, an HD 10000 series IP camera will allow high-definition video to be streamed at 15 fps and recorded for 50 days using just 1TB of storage. Updated versions of the HD 10000 range, which allow video streaming at a full 30 fps, will be released shortly. This exceptional compression enables IndigoVision’s HD solution to be used on standard networks and storage, bringing the benefits of high-definition video to everyday CCTV surveillance applications. The unique hardware-based compression engine of the HD 10000 series guarantees frames are never dropped.

The 9000 H.264 PTZ IP dome overcomes the high data rates or loss of video quality associated with traditional IP domes when a camera is moving. IndigoVision’s innovative design reduces high-bandwidth bursts during pan and tilt movement, through the use of a unique algorithm that automatically adapts the compression to suit the type of movement. The result is improved video compression without losing picture quality during high-motion periods. This unique approach, coupled with the company’s renowned video quality delivers one of the best performing IP PTZ cameras on the market.

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5 March 2009 - ScottishPower Invest in IndigoVision IP Video for Integrated Security Solution

IndigoVision’s complete IP Video system is at the heart of an innovative multi-site integrated security solution for ScottishPower, one of the UK’s largest utility companies. The system integrates CCTV, intruder alarms, intercoms and control of gates, barriers and doors through IndigoVision’s ‘Control Center’ IP Video and alarm management software. The system was installed by IndigoVision’s approved partner Pointer Limited across four existing sites and in a new central control room at Cathcart House, the company’s HQ. All this is achieved across an IP network.

‘Control Center’ workstations can be located at any point on the IP network and can view live and recorded video from any camera, from any site. In addition ‘Control Center’ software is licensed on a per seat basis free of charge, which allows workstations to be installed for no more than the cost of an entry-level PC. ScottishPower have benefited from this by installing several workstations in the central control room as well as one at each remote site.

The intruder security systems use Honeywell Galaxy panels which are fully integrated with ‘Control Center’ over the IP network. This tight integration allows improved operator efficiency and incident response. Control room personnel at Cathcart House and locally at each site can talk to site personnel using IP intercoms, which are again fully integrated into ‘Control Center’. IndigoVision has developed a wide range of interface modules that allow seamless integration with many other security systems including a majority of the world’s leading access control systems.

The original CCTV systems were standalone and could not be viewed remotely from other sites. ScottishPower now has a truly flexible and scalable solution that can be easily expanded in the future. The existing cameras have been re-used by connecting them to IndigoVision’s latest 9000 transmitter/receiver modules. Using H.264 compression, the 9000s convert the analog camera feeds into digital video for transmission over the network. By using H.264 compression a saving of up to 50% on bandwidth and storage requirement can be achieved compared to MPEG-4 based systems.

IndigoVision’s Network Video Recorders (NVRs) record video from each camera. An NVR is installed at each remote site, where they record continuously. A further NVR is located in the central control room which only records on alarm. The distributed nature of IndigoVision’s IP CCTV system means that NVRs can be located at any point on the network, helping to manage bandwidth and to create a more resilient recording architecture.

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23 February 2009 - IndigoVision IP-CCTV to Keep Palermo’s Main Hospital Safe

IndigoVision’s integrated IP-CCTV system has been chosen to protect the main hospital complex in the Italian city of Palermo. Situated in the center of the city, Villa Sofia-CTO consists of three main hospital buildings located on a single site. The new 650+ camera CCTV system will provide the hospital with the latest surveillance technology, helping them to protect staff, patients, visitors and valuable assets.

The IP Video system will be installed on dedicated networks in each of the three main buildings. Each building will be interconnected using a wireless LAN. This will allow the hospital security team to monitor all 650 cameras, from all three sites, using a single central control room. IndigoVision’s class-leading compression technology ensures that full framerate high-quality digital video, from all the cameras, can be streamed 24/7 across the network with minimal impact on bandwidth – an important factor when using wireless networks. The system is being supplied by IndigoVision’s local partner Bettini Srl and installed by CEPIE in partnership with the design consultant Studio Diblasi di Palermo.

The security staff will use ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s IP Video and alarm management software to monitor live and recorded video from the cameras. Video will be recorded at full-framerate for 7-days using 42 standalone IndigoVision Network Video Recorders (NVRs), which will be installed around the three buildings to minimize network bandwidth. Using the ‘Control Center’ workstation operators will be able to view recorded video from any NVR no matter where they are located. The distributed nature of IP Video removes the single point of failure associated with an analog video matrix and DVR system. If a NVR fails, video can be automatically re-directed to another NVR and as they are distributed, the system is inherently fault-tolerant. IndigoVision’s system is thus very flexible and scalable, allowing additional cameras, NVRs or ‘Control Center’ workstations to be added cost-effectively to any point on the network. This, together with the high-quality low-bandwidth video, was the reason IndigoVision’s solution was chosen for Palermo Hospital.

Real time motion detection analytics will be used to trigger alarms in ‘Control Center’ when people or vehicles enter unauthorized areas. The alarms can then be used to automatically trigger events, such as displaying a pre-defined salvo of cameras or panning and zooming a camera to a preset location. Automating the real time detection of incidents frees up valuable operator resource and increases effectiveness. The same tools are available in ‘Control Center’ for the post-event analysis of large volumes of recorded footage. This dramatically reduces the time to locate critical events, enabling timely response to emergency situations.

The 650+ cameras are a mix of fixed and dome analog cameras, installed internally and externally. Each camera is connected to an IndigoVision 8000 module which converts the analog feed to DVD-quality MPEG-4 digital video for transmission over the network. The processing of real time analytics and a unique IndigoVision feature called Activity Controlled Framerate (ACF) is achieved in the 8000 module itself. ACF controls the amount of video that is transmitted on to the network. When the scene is inactive, the framerate is reduced, as soon as any motion is detected in the scene the framerate is automatically set to maximum. Integrated real-time features such as ACF and analytics that operate in the camera at the network edge can only be fully realized because IndigoVision’s system is a complete end-to-end solution, with all components designed by IndigoVision. This ensures maximum performance in any environment.

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11 February 2009 - Top London Hotel Upgrades Security with IndigoVision IP-CCTV

IndigoVision’s complete IP Video system has been installed at the prestigious London Marriott Hotel in Kensington, as part of a CCTV security upgrade.

The 7 storey, 216 room hotel wanted to upgrade its surveillance capability with the very best available technology, to meet the ever increasing security demands of a central London hotel. By deploying the IndigoVision solution, the hotel re-used its existing analog CCTV infrastructure whilst at the same time adding advanced features and superior image quality that was not available from the original system. The CCTV upgrade was installed by IndigoVision’s approved partner Astro Communications.

The security threats facing a city centre hotel are significant, not only does a surveillance system have to aid guest and staff safety but also has to monitor the security issues around high-profile guests and specific incidents such as walk-in-theft. It is therefore, vitally important to have a flexible surveillance solution that provides the very best image quality and analysis tools.

“The IndigoVision system provides us with an excellent tool for monitoring the security of the hotel,” said Jim Fraser, Marriott Hotel Chief Engineer. “The video quality is superb and the facilities of the video management software are far superior to what was achievable with the old CCTV system.”

‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s IP Video and alarm management software is used by the security operators to view live and recorded video from all of the cameras in and around the hotel. A single PC running ‘Control Center’ software replaced all of the original analog control room equipment and at the same time provided a suite of tools for viewing and analyzing the video. Over 30 days of video recording is achieved using IndigoVision’s standalone rugged Network Video Recorders (NVRs), providing a fault-tolerant recording solution.

“The analysis tools allow us to quickly identify recorded footage of an incident, even well after the fact,” added Jim Fraser. “Following a recent hit-and-run incident on one of our driveways, we were able to quickly identify the relevant footage and export evidential quality video for the Police.”

This project demonstrates how the benefits of an IndigoVision IP Video solution can be achieved without the need to replace much of the original investment in the existing analog CCTV. The migration from analog to digital can be achieved seamlessly, with little or no surveillance downtime. Astro Communications reused all of the original cameras and coax cable infrastructure for the Marriott hotel project. The original hardware switching matrix was replaced with IndigoVision’s 8000 transmitter/receiver modules that convert the analog camera feeds into DVD quality MPEG-4 digital video for transmission over a local IP network, to which the ‘Control Center’ workstation and NVRs are also connected. The combination of ‘Control Center’ and the IP network creates a ‘virtual matrix’, that provides far more flexibility and scalability than a traditional hardware matrix.

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4 February 2009 - Holidaymakers Safe with IndigoVision IP-CCTV

IndigoVision’s end-to-end IP Video system has been installed at Butlins, Bognor Regis to provide a site-wide integrated CCTV solution. This is the first project of a UK-wide rollout of IndigoVision’s IP-CCTV at many of the holiday resorts owned and operated by Bourne Leisure Group, which include the well known brands of Haven, Warner and Butlins.

The Butlins resorts are as popular as ever, with 1.5 million guests per year visiting the 3 sites at Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness.

Butlins at Bognor Regis is typical of the demanding security environment that holiday resorts can create. During the weekend there will be more people in the bars and clubs at the resort than would normally be seen in many town centers across the UK. CCTV is not only used to ensure the safety of guests and staff but also to help alleviate the traffic problems at peak times.

The new IndigoVision IP Video system was installed by Astro Communications as a part of a security refurbishment using the park wide wireless network from Wicoms. The original CCTV surveillance was provided by three different analog/DVR systems offering particularly poor video quality that was not suitable for use as evidence. Using ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s IP Video and alarm management software, the security team now has a single integrated solution that can control, monitor, and record high-quality evidential video from all 34 cameras at 25fps, 4CIF. The system will also provide live feeds to the local Police Station in the event of an incident. The security team can now more effectively manage the resort using CCTV and quickly and easily retrieve recorded footage in the event of an incident. This was recently highlighted when a high-profile money laundering gang, which had been operating around the South Coast of England, where caught on CCTV passing counterfeit notes. Recorded video footage from the IndigoVision system was used by the police to identify the gang members and make arrests.

“The IndigoVision system provides us with a great tool for monitoring the security of the resort,” said Paul Dabner, Butlin’s Security Manager. “The video quality is superb and the facilities of ‘Control Center’ are far superior to what was achievable with the old CCTV system. The flexibility of the system allows us to have ‘Control Center’ workstations on managers’ desks around the resort and not just in the security control room.”

The cameras are a combination of IndigoVision’s high-end PTZ and fixed IP domes with a number of specialist analog cameras connected to the network through transmitter/receiver modules. The video is recorded on 7 stand-alone IndigoVision Network Video Recorders (NVRs) with a total of 17TB of storage providing 31 days of continuous recordings from all cameras at full framerate. The NVRs are physically located at different points around the site, which helps with bandwidth loading and creates a more robust solution with no single point of failure, as is typical with traditional analog/DVR systems.

The scalability of IndigoVision’s IP Video solution means that new cameras can easily be added to any point on the fiber network, which runs around the entire site. A further 32 cameras will be added when a new hotel is finished at the resort. IndigoVision’s ‘Control Center’ software is licensed on a per seat basis free of charge, which means Butlins can install further workstations, again at any point on the network, for no more than the cost of a standard PC.

Wicoms CTO, Simon Davies, added “It demonstrates the flexibility and scalability of using wireless networks and it proves the cost effectiveness of our multi-channel solution where we can deploy many different solutions over the same network.”

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27 January 2009 - IndigoVision IP-CCTV Keeps Watch on Animal Behavior at Vienna Zoo!

IndigoVision’s integrated IP Video security surveillance system has been adopted by Vienna Zoo for use in some ground-breaking research. Pandas, Rhinos and Penguins are being continuously monitored by CCTV cameras as part of an animal behavior research program. The system was designed and installed by IndigoVision’s local partner C&C Salzgeber GmbH.

‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s IP Video management software, provides complete control for the 15 fixed and PTZ cameras being used to monitor the animal enclosures. Research technicians and students can control the cameras in real time and view live and recorded video from any of the enclosures. Uniquely amongst IP Video vendors, IndigoVision’s ‘Control Center’ software is licensed on a per seat basis free of charge, allowing researchers to deploy 10 workstations throughout the zoo at no additional cost. Recorded video is also copied onto external hard disks so students can analyze the video remotely on their own laptops installed with ‘Control Center’.

The analog CCTV cameras and ultra-sensitive microphones are connected to IndigoVision’s 8000 transmitter/receiver modules. The 8000 digitally compresses the video and audio for transmission over the network. IndigoVision’s advanced compression technology ensures minimal impact on the IP network. The ability to transmit and record high-quality audio was an important criteria for the Zoo when choosing IndigoVision’s solution.

Commenting on the project Dr. Dagmar Schratter, the Zoo's Director said, “A key factor for us when selecting the video system was to find a future-proof solution that was easy to operate and could be incorporated into our existing infrastructure. Excellent compression means that all the video can be transferred via our existing network backbone.”

All the cameras are continuously recorded on an IndigoVision standalone Network Video Recorder (NVR) with 1TB of storage. The amount of video stored is considerably reduced by using the Activity Controlled Framerate (ACF) function built into the 8000 modules. When a scene is inactive the video can be streamed at a much lower frame rate. As soon as the motion analysis software detects movement the video is streamed at full frame rate. This allows the Zoo to keep up to 1 year of recordings on a single NVR. A secondary NVR mirrors the primary NVR to provide redundancy in the event of an NVR failure or during maintenance. Video is also exported for use by local TV stations as was the case recently when viewers were enthralled by the birth of a baby panda recorded by the IP Video system.

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19 January 2009 - IndigoVision’s Integrated IP-CCTV Protects New Flagship Hotel in Qatar

IndigoVision’s complete IP Video technology is providing a fully integrated CCTV surveillance solution for the new Mövenpick Tower & Suites Hotel in Doha, Qatar. The 5-star, 350 room, 26-floor hotel is housed in a futuristic building located at the entrance to the prestigious West Bay Area, a booming trade district, only 15 minutes drive from Doha International Airport.

The 116 camera system, which was installed by IndigoVision’s local approved partner Capital Technology WLL, is seamlessly integrated with the GE Secure Perfect access control system using ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s enterprise IP Video and alarm management software. Four workstations running ‘Control Center’ are used by the security team to monitor live and recorded video from the cameras and to manage alarms from the CCTV and access control systems, both of which are integrated over the IP network. IndigoVision’s class-leading compression technology means that high-quality; full-framerate video can be delivered over the IP network with minimal bandwidth overhead, allowing the IP Video and access control system to share the network with other services such as IP-TV, IP-Telephony, guest Internet and IT.

The tight integration of CCTV and access control brings many benefits to the hotel, helping to improve the overall efficiency of the monitoring operation and to speed up incident response. Through the use of a ‘Control Center’ integration module, the access control system can drive the CCTV system using events and alarms. For example if the access control system detects an attempted intrusion an alarm is sent to ‘Control Center’ which in turn automatically displays the relevant camera for that area, bookmarks the recorded video and initiates a full alarm management procedure. Similarly, it is possible to lock a door remotely from a click of a mouse on a ‘Control Center’ map screen.

‘Control Center’ is the obvious place to consolidate alarms from various systems as the CCTV operator interface is the most often used. IndigoVision has developed integration modules for the most widely used access control, intruder detection and building management systems around the world. This makes the company’s IP Video system an open-architecture solution that can provide true integration. In addition ‘Control Center’ software is licensed on a per seat basis free of charge, allowing workstations to be deployed anywhere on the network for no more than the cost of an entry-level PC.

DVD quality video from all cameras is recorded continuously on 3 IndigoVision Network Video Recorders (NVRs) for 30 days. Advanced features in ‘Control Center’ allow recorded video to be quickly searched and incidents identified. Evidential quality video clips of the incident can then be exported for use by the police if required.

IndigoVision and Capital Technology have been very successful with deploying integrated solutions in the region, including the 1050 camera, 300 access control point system at Doha International Airport, which was completed in 2006 as part of the preparations for the 15th Asian Games.

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7 January 2009 - IndigoVision IP-CCTV Protects Pearl of the Orient

IndigoVision’s complete end-to-end IP Video technology is at the heart of a new integrated public safety system on Penang Island. The most populated of Malaysia’s islands, Penang has often been called the Pearl of the Orient. Its capital Georgetown attracts many tourists and as with other city centres around the world it faces a complex security environment, including criminal activity and traffic issues.

The new CCTV surveillance project was designed and installed by IndigoVision’s local Approved Partner CyberGuard Systems Sdn Bhd for the Municipal Council of Penang Island. The system consists of 31 PTZ dome cameras connected via a wireless IP network monitoring the whole of the Georgetown area. The cameras are focussed on crime and traffic hot spots such as tourist areas, banks, petrol stations, traffic intersections and commercial centres.

“IndigoVision was chosen following a competitive analysis by the client. Excellent video-quality and low-bandwidth transmission over the wireless network were two reasons IndigoVision won over the competition,” explains Jee Yong Keong, Product Development Manager at CyberGuard Systems. “The Penang authorities are very pleased with the system and it has already recorded a number of incidents that have helped the police with their investigations.”

The distributed nature of IndigoVision’s IP Video system meant that three separate control rooms could be deployed, one used by the City Council and the other two by the police. Operators use ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s IP Video and alarm management software, to view live and recorded video from any of the cameras in the system, no matter which control room they are located in. Powerful search and analysis tools allow the operators to quickly identify the relevant video clip in the event of an incident. These high-quality video clips can be exported for evidential purposes. Each control room has a similar configuration with 4 ‘Control Center’ workstations driving a video wall consisting of 32 LCD monitors.

The flexibility and powerful integration features of IndigoVision’s solution allowed a number of Emergency Kiosk’s to be installed in tourist areas. Using IndigoVision’s 8000 transmitter/receiver module, which can transmit high-quality video and audio as well as digital I/O, CyberGuard Systems developed a standalone video intercom solution for the kiosks. When a member of the public activates the emergency button, two-way communication is opened up with one of the control room operators via a hidden microphone and camera in the kiosk. The intercom video from the kiosk automatically displays on a ‘Control Center’ workstation and the nearest PTZ is panned and zoomed to the kiosk area. This is all achieved over the wireless network. The only cabling required is power to each of the kiosks. The PTZ domes are also connected to 8000 modules and the audio capability is used to provide public announcement facilities through speakers mounted with each camera.

Thirty days of recording is achieved using 2 servers running IndigoVision Windows Network Video Recorder (NVR) software, located in two of the control rooms. Each camera is recorded at 25fps at 4SIF. The overall bandwidth and storage requirement is reduced by using Activity Controlled Framerate (ACF). Built into the 8000 modules ACF controls the amount of video that is transmitted on to the network. When the scene is inactive, the framerate is reduced, as soon as any motion is detected in the scene the framerate is automatically set to maximum.

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