Video Surveillance Guide

A new wireless video surveillance system is a key element in protecting military helicopters undergoing repair at the Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport in Temple, Texas.   Installer RedMoon Inc. used equipment from Firetide Inc., a developer of wireless mesh and access networks, to provide the wireless infrastructure required for this video surveillance system.  A key reason for going wireless was lower infrastructure cost:

The alternative to the Firetide network was to trench and install fiber, which easily would cost $200,000 to $300,000 more, said Bill Young, government sales representative for RedMoon Inc. Security, flexibility and cost-effectiveness are the criteria for security officials, and the Firetide mesh network delivers all of these while quick and simple to install.

In addition to protecting the helicopters, the overall security situation is improved by having real-time video surveillance of the property. From Texas Airport Helps Protect Black Hawk Helicopters with Wireless Surveillance from Firetide.

This article has been out for a while, but it remains a compelling story: Big Brother’s Big Business at Newsweek.  The article details how, in a post-9/11 world, video monitoring is becoming ubiquitous:

Video surveillance has become the fastest-growing industry within the major categories of electronic security—with nearly one in four major cities in America investing in new technology, analysts say. It has more than doubled in the last five years, becoming an estimated $9.2 billion business in 2005 and expected to grow to $21 billion by 2010, says Joe Freeman, a columnist for Security Technology & Design Magazine and founder and president of J.P. Freeman, a market research and consulting firm.

 A combination of factors are driving the explosive growth in video surveillance.  The ability of cameras to operate on IP networks and for the data to be recorded on digital video recorders (DVRs) is of major importance.  In the past, dedicated wiring was needed for each camera and recording could only be accomplished on a VCR.  In addition to the digital revolution, cameras are getting smarter: now, systems can recognize exception conditions and send that video to monitoring personnel.  This allows a smaller monitoring staff to handle a larger number of cameras – a far cry from the old days of CCTV.

 Today’s smart video camera systems may even reduce the load on conventional police:

Chicago has made recent headlines with its ongoing installation of 2,000 such cameras in its downtown areas, and the city is negotiating with local businesses to link their private cameras to the city system in an effort to form a single, unified network. And many small towns—in states from California to Vermont—have begun using cameras as a way to reduce the need for on-duty officers in local police precincts.

According to the article, the number of video cameras in New York City may exceed 15,000, making it hard for any resident to escape their view.  Public opinion seems to be split – they approve of video surveillance as an anti-terrorism or anti-crime tool, but don’t like to be monitored themselves.

In Linksys Gets Physical With Launch of New IP Video Security Camera, CRN writer Jennifer Hagendorf Follet reports that the Linksys division of Cisco, best known for its inexpensive routers and other network gear, is introducing an IP-based video camera.  Targeted to sell at a street price of $299, the camera offers pan, tilt, and zoom functions, and is targeted at the small to medium business (SMB) market.

With its pan, tilt and zoom capabilities, users can control the camera’s movement and focus remotely via the Internet. Up to 10 users can simultaneously access the camera remotely. An integrated microphone also picks up and records audio.

In addition, the camera can be set in a security mode that can automatically record video and audio feeds when it senses motion and can send a short video clip via an e-mail alert. The camera also includes an Infrared cut filter that enables viewing in low-light or no-light environments when an external IR light is used.

The camera offers 640×480 resolution, and supports MPEG-4 video compression.  Linksys intends to introduce a full range of SMB security components, including remote recording and motion detection software, other suveillance cameras, and special training for its partners.

While the major intended use for the camera may be physical security, employers also use video surveillance systems to track productivity, prevent safety violations, and document workplace accidents.  Inexpensive but powerful cameras that can run over a firm’s network will make these activities easier and cheaper to accomplish.