To ensure that essential as well as extremely valuable equipment was not stolen or sabotaged, security was high on the agenda. With millions tuning in to watch one of the most exciting Opens for many a year, it was essential that all of the broadcasting equipment was kept safe and secure and in good working order at all times.
Man guarding specialists Octavian Security were commissioned to provide 18 security guards to protect the TV compound around the clock in the build up to and throughout the duration of the Championship. To complement the activities of the security guards, Leeds based Alpha Integrated Systems were asked to install a CCTV system to detect would-be intruders.
Pete Rushforth, Director of Alpha Integrated Systems, decided to install three SHC-730 fixed cameras and an SPD-3300 speed dome, all of which are manufactured by Samsung Techwin. The SPD-3300 has a 30x zoom function which, according to Peter, proved very useful to the operators when they wanted to observe what they considered might be suspicious activity in close detail.
"We needed just four cameras in total to allow the operators in the Octavian Security control to observe all activity in and around the TV compound," said Pete Rushforth, Director of Alpha Integrated Systems. "Despite the fact that we were working in a temporary environment, the installation went like a dream and we were able to deliver some great views on the cameras."
A contributing factor to the success of the project was that the SHC-730 and SPD-3300 are both Day/Night cameras that incorporate SSNR, Samsung's Super Noise Reduction technology. By dramatically reducing noise, SSNR ensures that cameras are able to deliver high-resolution images at very low light levels without any smear or "ghosting".