Axis, Extreme Networks Team Up to Protect Little League World Series

Axis has integrated its Q60 Series p/t/z cameras with Extreme Networks Summit X430 series Gigabit Ethernet switches to manage crowd control at the 2014 Little League World Series.

WILLAMSPORT, Pa. – The 2014 Little League Baseball World Series has drawn quite a crowd this year, thanks in part to a 13-year-old pitching phenom, that has tested the role of physical security.

To protect the young players, Axis Communications and Extreme Networks have partnered up to handle the flood of fans at the Howard J. Lamade Stadium.

Now in its 68th year, the LLWS has drawn as many as 350,000 spectators, many of whom have come to watch Philadelphia’s Taney Dragons throw a fastball topping out at more than 70 miles per hour.

The amount of fans attending the 10-day tournament is quite overwhelming, considering that Williamsport is a small town of 6,500. So it was imperative for security personnel to select high-quality, reliable technology that could be set up easily.

For video surveillance, the LLWS team has added the AXIS Q60 Series pan/tilt/zoom (p/t/z) cameras to its existing network of Axis devices. The cameras have been deployed at numerous sites, including all entry points of the complex, scoreboards and the outfield, to monitor activity.

LLWS security directors selected the AXIS Q6044-E and AXIS Q6045-E p/t/z network cameras to help manage crowd safety because of the devices offer 30x optical zoom and HDTV-quality resolution. Security staff use the cameras to quickly scan crowds to locate lost children, track suspicious packages or vehicles and zero into any area of concern with high detail.

Additionally, the Axis cameras’ open platform allows close integration with the Extreme Networks Summit X430 series Gigabit Ethernet switches, as the products’ power over Ethernet (PoE) capabilities assisted with the speedy installation of the wireless infrastructure required in temporary surveillance systems.

Extreme Networks’ Summit switches promote deployment simplicity of the surveillance network due to software automation through the ExtremeXOS operating system, automating key configuration and management policy settings across the infrastructure, according to the company. The Extreme Networks’ Summit X430 switches boast enabled network convergence, high availability and resiliency, programmable extensibility, scalability for future network growth, comprehensive security features and high performance, high bandwidth and non-blocking architecture.

“This year, together with Extreme’s high-class wireless infrastructure, we were able to double the amount of wireless surveillance,” says Robert Muehlbauer, business development programs manager of Axis Communications, Inc. “From entry points to the main scoreboard of the Howard J. Lamade Stadium, we have worked with our trusted technology teammates to equip this legendary event with the most sophisticated surveillance available.”

The LLWS team is pleased with the results.

“Protecting the safety of our athletes and fans is always a priority,” says Jim Ferguson, director of security for Little League Baseball and Softball. “Together, with the high standard technological support of Extreme Networks and Axis, we will provide a safe and secure environment to fans, workers, players and other participants.”

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