Caterpillar Dealer Undergoes Security Metamorphosis
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“It was a collaborative process educating them on the available technologies and matching them to their needs and budget,” says Kottkamp. “Their IT department was very involved and cooperative throughout the project.”
One of the key strategic decisions made at the outset was addressing all the systems — access control, video surveillance, intrusion and fire — simultaneously to reduce the total installation time as well as its impact on the ongoing operations of the business.
“We recognized it made more sense to upgrade all of our systems at one time and tie them together,” says Munday. “We knew we would be working in our shops and operational areas, and we felt it made more sense to get everything done at once instead of multiple times. So the scope of the project expanded from just upgrading our CCTV system to upgrading all of our alarm and card access systems and implementing a new company photo ID.”
Cost of System Not Disclosed, But Value Said to Be Immeasurable
ESS began working on the project in January 2006, with the initial phase at the Charlotte location taking about three months and requiring more than 600 man-hours to complete. Installations at the remote locations took approximately two to four weeks, depending on the size of the system. To date, the project has encompassed more than 1 million square feet and its scope continues to expand.
“At the main facility, since we were replacing existing systems, we would complete one building entirely, commission and test it, and then move to the next. It took longer, but we had to minimize downtime,” says Kottkamp. “We’ve continued to expand the system to several other buildings on and off the main campus since that time.”
Although the parties will not disclose the cost of the system, Munday believes placing a price on the value that has been derived from it is practically moot.
“We wouldn’t have continued to expand the system if we didn’t feel like it has been a good investment,” he says. “Sometimes management has questioned the cost of th
e additions, but we’ve seen a decrease in security problems and thefts and the system has helped us identify suspects or determine causes of problems, so we feel like it has cost-justified itself. And you can’t put a price on any crimes the system has helped prevent.”
Access,Video, Intrusion Pace Integrated, Networked System
To achieve the desired level of integration and flexibility, as well as address a variety of the customer’s needs, ESS based the system around AMAG’s Symmetry Professional system for ID badging, utilizing a Fargo Electronics card printer, alarm management and access control. It is integrated with DMP XR500 Series iCom controllers for intrusion and fire monitoring, as well as Integral Technologies SentryTM hybrid DVRs.
“It has been very useful having the system to review any problems that we’ve had,” says Munday. “We’ve also liked having the photo ID system. We have so many customers and vendors on our property at one time, it’s made it much easier to identify who belongs where, and make sure we don’t have unauthorized visitors in areas they shouldn’t be in.”
Images are captured via Pelco SpectradomeTM III day/night cameras, ICS110 outdoor domes and ICS090 indoor fixed dome cameras, with Verint wireless transmitters being used for some of the p/t/z devices. The access, intrusion and video systems are completely IP-based over Carolina CAT’s wide area network (WAN). An AXIS Communications four-camera IP server retrieves cameras from remote locations to record/display on the Integral DS Epress recorders.
“We have approximately 50 card readers between the various sites using HID IsoProx cards with photo IDs printed from the AMAG system,” says Kottkamp. “All panels communicate over their network, and the software can access the system over their network or remotely through the Internet. We are controlling vehicle gates and full height turnstiles at the employee entrance.”
DMP keypads embedded with HID proximity readers allow employees to use their prox badges for codeless arming and disarming. The keypads are connected to panels that communicate over the WAN and report to a third-party monitoring station as well as secondarily to the AMAG system for direct or E-mail alarm notification.
The video surveillance system includes some 50 cameras in a combination of networked high-resolution color, vandal-resistant fixed dome and low-light p/t/z cameras. Meanwhile, several buildings are protected against fire by DMP XR2500F addressable control panels to monitor the buildings’ existing smoke and heat detectors, pull stations and flow switches.
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About the Author
Scott Goldfine
Scott Goldfine is the marketing director for Elite Interactive Solutions. He is the former editor-in-chief and associate publisher of Security Sales & Integration. He can be reached at [email protected].
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