The Reutling M-Park mega-disco draws up to 1000 visitors into its halls on some days with its several dance areas spread over different levels. Carefully planned events and marketing, as well as a sophisticated security concept ensure the guests’ well-being. The eneo video surveillance system provided by Videor and installed by mbp GmbH from Munich plays an important role in all of this.
The happily dancing people in M-Park have not always felt safe: the past has often been witness to scuffles and false fire alarms. The operator Mexa GmbH therefore decided to install video surveillance supplemented by single-person access locks that allowed unique face recognition or production of a complete storyboard for each customer.
Infrared Cameras and Fastrax Domes
According to the specification, the CCTV system should have the ability to document the behaviour of visitors and security personnel for in order to provide clear identification of wrongdoers when security equipment is improperly used even when there are large numbers of people. A challenge, because the difficult lighting conditions prevail in the interior of the dance temple are made even more difficult by the extensive laser-show and stroboscope effects. Furthermore, there was a requirement for surveillance of the zone outside of the entrance as well as the five emergency exits with true-to-detail playback for face recognition.
The total of 27 installed video surveillance cameras including three Fastrax Domes and eleven infrared cameras from the VKC series master this task with bravura. In addition to the general and detailed overviews they show all incidents that must be observed for security and safety, and they simultaneously provide a preventative effect. Eight cameras therefore document the cash desk zone and clearly show cash transactions. Eleven more support the security staff in the entrance zone and a further eight cameras are installed at the emergency exit doors with pushbutton sensors. Further priorities are formed by the individual bars, cloakrooms and dance floors.
Remote Access to Recorded Imagery
Imagery recording is covered by two 16-channel DXR Digital Recorders, which offers a recording speed of 100 fps and an integral CD writer in addition to further professional features. In one instance this allowed a CD containing appropriate 
scenes to be handed to the Reutling police so that light could immediately be shed on the evidence. The police officers were very happy with this, because the integral Viewer Software allowed the imagery documenting the sequence exactly to be easily replayed on a PC.
Furthermore, the RAS Remote Software bundled with the DXR allows operators to access live images from cameras and the recorded imagery directly from their office. Additionally, a 4-channel and a 1-channel video server plus the corresponding software for image export (MPEG-4) files are installed on an external PC that is the server. The eneo monitors and the MTC-1 keyboard round off the system perfectly.
Surprising Side Effect
The mbp Managing Director Wilfried Rong as well as the MEXA Event Manager Martina Lorch are fully satisfied with the result. Video surveillance has shown effect results: since its installation there have not been any more fire alarms or court cases where the security staff were the losers. They had often been accused of violence themselves, now the incidents are documented and people who tried to use tricks or had become aggressive are clearly identified. A complete surprise is the quality of the images from the Fastrax Domes installed in the dance areas that can be fed into the disco’s own TV system and then presented on several flatscreens!
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