High-End Video Keeps Watch Even When Security Is Off Duty
To monitor the CordeValle, a Rosewood, Calif.-based golf course, a local integrator installed a 46-camera Panasonic system.
A Panasonic i-PRO WV-NW964 all-in-one network day/night pan-tilt-zoom camera, located near the practice tees at the northwest parking lot, includes an auto image stabilizer to address vibration or wind concerns and a built-in sun shield.
When a golf cart went missing at CordeValle, a Rosewood golf resort in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains near San Jose, Calif., it provided a wakeup call about the resort’s need to upgrade its aging video surveillance system. The current analog CCTV system was more than eight years old, and some of the cameras were no longer operating. The CordeValle resort also wanted to add video coverage to reduce or eliminate risk and to enhance monitoring.
CordeValle first approached Sean Toland, vice president of Engineered Lifestyles, a San Francisco Bay area integrator who specializes in hospitality technology, to assess the property and propose a new video system. Toland specified a new networked system utilizing cameras and recording technology from Panasonic System Networks Company of America. The new 46-camera Panasonic system was a natural choice: Panasonic video technology had already proven effective at Rosewood’s Sand Hill Resort in Menlo Park, California, in Silicon Valley, which Toland had completed the year prior.
“We had good experience with Engineered Lifestyles use of Panasonic technology at Sand Hill,” said Charif Zahrane, IT manager at the CordeValle. “They were very happy with the product after they had it for more than a year.” Zahrane said his biggest concern was the possibility of downtime, but he heard from his colleagues at the sister property that the Panasonic system is dependable and that the cameras “never go down.”
“When you compare Panasonic security cameras with other products, there is no question who is the leader,” said Toland. “When you do a side-by-side test and see how effectively Panasonic’s i-PRO cameras do the job, it’s hands-down who’s going to win.” This proved to be the case at the CordeValle resort.
Planning the New System
CordeValle, a Rosewood resort, is a 44-room golf destination located on 1,700 acres in the countryside of San Martin, California, about 25 miles south of San Jose. CordeValle has been ranked as the No. 14 golf resort in North America, and amenities include the Clos LaChance winery located adjacent to the 6th hole, a 5,000-square-foot full-service spa, hiking, tennis and “complete relaxation.”
In planning the new system, Toland surveyed the property to identify camera locations and to make sure areas of concern were covered and that there were no issues related to guest privacy. He interviewed each department head, noted areas of importance, and made an overall list of proposed camera locations. All areas were evaluated both by day and by night to determine lighting and lens requirements. Toland proposed that all parking lot-based cameras would be IP-based network pan/tilt/zoom (p/t/z) cameras given the need to monitor cars and guest safety.
The Panasonic system’s ease of use is ideal in the hospitality environment where there may not be dedicated security personnel on duty at all times. “It’s a high-end quality solution that doesn’t require full-time management,” said Toland. “It lends itself perfectly to this environment, and they don’t have to worry about a Windows server or the need to bring in other experts. Employees with proper authorization can access the system through a browser anywhere on the property.” Another benefit of the IP-based system is the ability of resort management to access the system from home or from any laptop computer.
New Installation at CordeValle
For areas requiring a fixed day/night camera, Toland chose Panasonic’s i-PRO WV-NW484S Super Dynamic III vandal-proof network fixed dome camera, which provides true day/night functionality and a clear, crisp image. Super Dynamic III (SDIII) technology delivers 128x wider dynamic range compared to conventional cameras. The camera also features built-in MPEG-4 and JPEG digital signal output (VGA) at up to 30 images per second and day/night switching for optimal clarity in any lighting condition.
Three WV-NW484S cameras were installed outside the security “bunker” near the entrance to the parking area, with others on the tennis court, at the side of the building, above the cart garage entry door, at the swimming pool and on the loading dock, among other locations. The camera is easy to work with for a number of reasons, said Toland. Adjustments and modifications can be made directly on the unit itself, which allow for site specific modifications. A ruggedized dome housing protects it in outdoor environments, and the IP66-rated dome is resistant to water and dust as well. At the angle and with the lens in use, the camera can show the license plate of cars entering the property at night. “The quality of the camera gives great clarity day or night,” said Toland.
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