Dallmeier's CCTV recording system is proving ideal for handling changing requirements while Croydon College undergoes major redevelopment. Extensive building work will be taking place over the next few years but the Dallmeier hard disk recorders will remain operational throughout, thanks to the adoption of an innovative layout that will simplify the CCTV network's cabling.
Some 13,000 students attend Croydon College, which offers Entry Level through to Postgraduate qualifications in a range of subjects including Art and Design, Business and Finance, Catering and Engineering. The College's main Fairfield building has four storeys, plus a basement where there are vocational workshops. Courses in the College continue into the evening and the College makes security a priority. Barriers and swipe cards ensure that access is strictly controlled. OCS Security Systems has provided a network of more than 60 cameras as well as the Dallmeier recorders to keep watch over activity in and around the busy main building, particularly at key areas such as the perimeter, entrance, corridors and IT rooms.
The College has no need for full time monitoring, but all camera views are captured by the recorders and can be viewed in near real time if required, or called up later from the recordings.
Output from the cameras is currently recorded to a trio of Dallmeier DLS 24 hard disc recorders. The College will soon be adopting Dallmeier's advanced Leonardo technology, the DMS 240 system, which retains the proven operational security and user-friendliness of the existing system while adding new features. These include H.264 high-standard video compression and simultaneous real-time recording of video and audio for all camera inputs at all frame rates. "Dallmeier continues to add useful new features while providing stable machines that are ideal for the security industry," says OCS Security Systems Corporate Development Director Roger Noakes. Leonardo also includes the option to view a real-time split display of all the cameras connected to the recorder.
OCS has worked closely with the College staff to come up with a solution that keeps cabling changes to a minimum by locating the recorders close to the cameras they serve |
The College's switch to the Leonardo system will coincide with changes to the layout of the CCTV network.
The upgrade of the College's facilities involves major changes to the building layout. A series of new basement workshops is also being constructed. At present, the recorders are all grouped into a single location, from which they feed their recordings to a bank of nine screens in the main control room.
Without careful planning, the CCTV cabling layout would have needed frequent alterations during the construction programme to keep every camera connected to a recorder. However, OCS has worked closely with the College staff to come up with a solution that keeps cabling changes to a minimum by locating the recorders close to the cameras they serve.
"There will be a Dallmeier recording system on each level and all the cameras for that level will come into that Dallmeier recorder," explains Croydon College's Premises and Estates Manager, Ken Crouch. Everything will be recorded within the mini communications room set up on each floor, which simplifies the cabling requirements. Only the recorder's output will need to be fed to the main control centre, avoiding the need to reroute the cables from individual cameras.
Dedicating a Dallmeier recorder to each floor was the most sensible solution he says. The refurbishment will last some three years and orchestrating the work involves considerable planning. The solution avoids disruption to the network during the building work, ensuring reliability. "There is no point putting in wiring only to take it out again," adds Croydon College's Client Care Supervisor, Eddie McCourt. The infrastructure is being installed at present, with a view to switching over in summer 2007.
"The idea came from consultations and discussions with OCS Security and our IT Manager," explains Mr Crouch. The decision was not made on the basis of cost - although this has proved to be one of the most cost effective options. "It was done because of logistical support and also to ensure the security of the system. The infrastructure is a lot easier to maintain by having it laid out this way."
"OCS Security has been extremely helpful in terms of support, backup and helping with future plans", says Mr Crouch. "We've included them in discussions every time we've extended a part of the building or have carried out refurbishment. We explain our objectives and they tell us whether or not they are feasible." The discussions ensure that money is only spent on solutions that will serve the College's aims. "If you don't need it, they won't sell it to you," says Mr McCourt. "OCS Security Systems offers a range of services complemented by excellent customer care. They always make you feel like an important client," says Mr Crouch. 
He is also very pleased with the performance of the Dallmeier recorders. "They are easy to operate and the recordings can be viewed practically in real-time. The recorders can be stored anywhere within the building and operate very well on the network. We don't get any problems." If required, sections of recordings can easily be archived to disc and photographs can be created from key frames. Each recorder holds at least three weeks of footage, with the exact amount depending on the number of cameras served.
Most of the cameras are domes, with pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) models for the external areas at present. More PTZ cameras will be introduced as part of the redevelopment, for instance to provide flexible coverage of seating and TV-viewing areas around the new refectory. New cameras are colour, although some older black and white models remain in use. "Our intention is to switch everything to colour eventually, because the picture definition is a lot better. Every new camera installed is colour," says Mr Crouch.
Only the 'front line' cameras - the external cameras and those covering the entrance and key areas such as the refectory - will be routed directly to the control room. The 'front line' cameras can then be viewed live from the control room's bank of nine monitors, while the recordings from the others will be available there in 'near-real-time'.
The cameras are useful in the event of an accident or for checking if students are in restricted areas |
The cameras are useful in the event of an accident or for checking if students are in restricted areas. Cameras are also useful in monitoring people exiting the building, for example during a fire alarm and enable the College to monitor the effectiveness of its evacuation procedures.
The College continues to explore further options for enhancements to the CCTV network. One idea that is being considered is the installation of cameras with individual IP addresses. "This would allow us to call up an individual camera to watch," says Mr Crouch. Another option being explored is the use of cameras with PIR controls so that recordings would only be made when there was someone in the vicinity, making it even easier to check for any incidents.
