IP-Based Access, CCTV Anchor Apartment Application
Access Control, CCTV Systems Use Separate Local Networks
The AA-R500WP long-range vehicle reader was a natural fit for Nortronics’ security design. One of the reasons was the way each reader integrates with a centralized head-end using the complex’s LAN.
According to Gonzalez, “The access system uses the LAN to communicate with the head-end [S2 NetBox]. This head-end does not support the CCTV portion of this project, but the S2 system is quite capable of doing that. However, for this project the CCTV system is supported by an entirely different head-end system.”
Because Nortronics decided to go with separate head-ends for both the CCTV and access control systems, integration and communication between the two is achieved using the facility’s LAN.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the AA-R500WP (weatherproof) readers is that they’re designed to connect directly to the facility LAN using Category 5e or 6 cable. The AAID readers are capable of communication using either RS-232 or the more robust RS-485 protocols. In this case, Nortronic
s used the latter to accommodate the distances required.
Future expansion of the access control system won’t be a problem either as the S2 system is designed to accept any reader capable of outputting 26-bit Wiegand. The AAID access control readers conveniently provide a 26-bit Wiegand output. Technicians Keep Portions of Original Video Surveillance System
East River Landing’s Bynoe was pleased when Nortronics gave the owners more for their money than they thought possible.
“By using some of the existing hardware, we were able to give the complex much more than they had thought they could afford at almost the same cost of the lesser upgrade that had been planned,” says Gonzalez.
The original analog CCTV system, according to Gonzalez, used VCRs to document events at the complex. The new specification had called for something similar to DVRs. “We were able to give them the advanced features of NetImage XSO CCTV over IP and stay within their budget,” she adds.
NetImage XSO is actually an advanced software technology that enables security personnel to access and view specific cameras in any of the four buildings on the complex. This technology also contains a feature that makes video surveillance easier by allowing a single security person to monitor numerous cameras, even from outside the facility through the Internet.
There is another advantage associated with this relatively new technology. The software contains a behavioral analysis function, which means it will evaluate images and alert security personnel when something happens in front of one of the cameras. Not only is this a convenient feature, but also it makes the task of watching more than 100 cameras much easier.
Putting the CCTV System Together and Integrating New With Old Nortronics installed 18 pan/tilt/ zoom (p/t/z) dome cameras, two fixed domes and six network IP cameras. For monitoring the system, security personnel were given three 42-inch flat-screen, LCD color monitors and three 21-inch flat-screen monitors. Nortronics also provided two complete PCs for monitoring video.
The 18 Kalatel (GE) CyberDome p/t/z cameras with heavy-duty housings that Nortronics’ technicians installed are day/night cameras, which mean they will operate under a wide range of lighting conditions. Toward dusk (when the ambient light in the area of a camera reaches a certain point), the CyberDomes will automatically switch from day to night, providing black-and-white pictures, which are easier to discern in low-light conditions. The next day when the light level rises, the camera will then switch from night to day (color) mode.
CyberDome cameras are scalable to fit any situation. In this case, Nortronics chose an output card that uses unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) video transmission to send video images from camera to network.
This was accomplished using 16-channel active UTP video distribution receivers with built-in amplification, manufactured by Menlo Park, Calif.-based NVT. In this case, Nortronics installed three 16-channel receiver units to accommodate the 18 Kalatel domes, along with a number of existing cameras. The existing cameras were connected to the UTP receivers using single-input UTP video transmitters. With this arrangement, transmission distances of up to 11/2 miles could be realized.
Putting the Head-End Together Via Network Storage Devices
Four Dell PowerEdge video network servers were installed in the main facility where the security office is located. The Dell servers act as network storage devices for the entire system, allowing security personnel to access stored images at will whenever necessary.
“All the cameras are coming into the Dell servers. These servers are also used to convert the video camera images into IP. A card in each server, handling 32 cameras in all, does this, which eliminates the need for 92 individual video servers,” says Gonzalez.
Kalatel preset alarm interface modules also were installed by Nortronics’ technicians. This enables security the luxury of automatically moving the p/t/z mechanisms to preset positions with certain input triggers. In this case, the interface utilizes input from the access control system in such a manner that when one of the users drives in or out of the parking garage, the Kalatel preset alarm interface calls up a specified camera nearby to document the event.
Most Difficult Part of the Job Was Sorting Out the Old Cable
Nortronics’ plan was to utilize all the existing coaxial cable already installed throughout the four-building complex. Although this is exactly what Nortronics’ technicians did, this did have its problems.
“The prior installer did not label his wires, which made the job extremely time consuming and difficult,” says Gonzalez. “We had to go back and trace and label each wire, which is a pain.”
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