Working with installation partners Central Security Systems (CSS) Ltd and software manufacturers Meyertech, the integrated CCTV solution helps reduce the threat of crime and improves safety, enabling residents and visitors to feel more secure.
His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester saw the new CCTV solution and state-of-the-art control room during a visit in October. The control room is a complex multi-function room, which in addition to CCTV monitoring deals with Careline calls and is a fully equipped alarm-receiving centre.
Combating crime
Community Safety Manager for Runnymede Borough Council, David Dodd, said: “CCTV is an important weapon to help combat crime and the fear of crime. Controlware has been on hand to support us every step of the way with this important project that provides advanced IP video management, control and recording of CCTV from cameras situated around the Borough.”
The council network includes a mixture of more than 200 analogue and IP cameras with numerous sites linked over broadband. Recordings from these cameras needed to be available digitally so that the council can benefit from fast access to archived video.
Controlware based the new recording system on Bosch equipment. Working closely with CSS Ltd, VIPX-1600 codecs were installed to cost-efficiently encode video from more than 160 analogue cameras so that video could be recorded digitally.
Improved functionality
Chris Lazzari, managing director of CSS Ltd, who installed and maintains the security network, said: “The new solution provides improved functionality for the council and enables them to expand their network and storage requirements easily. Best of all by using the codecs we have installed, the council saves money by retaining their investment in their existing analogue cameras.”
The video from more than 200 cameras is recorded constantly and archived for 31 days on 11 Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) Redundant Array of Independent Disk (RAID) servers.
At the heart of the new recording system is the Bosch Video Recording Manager. VRM manages data virtually, automatically allocating video to iSCSI-based servers and eliminating the need for dedicated storage systems.
Quick review
In the control room operators monitor live CCTV with Meyertech software and search, retrieve and review archived video with Bosch Archive Player. The new recording system is a significant improvement on the old system that required review of multiple videotapes, which consumed an inordinate amount of time.
“Today operators can view both live CCTV and archive video side-by-side at the same time,” explains Dodd. “Operators can therefore quickly review incidents while tracking suspects in real-time and this is a powerful tool which is already producing improved results.”
General manager of Controlware Communications UK Matt Caine said: ” The new solution is cost-efficient and delivers greater flexibility but perhaps more importantly the council benefits from a system that enables operators to improve the way they work thanks to fast access to stored video data.”
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