Leicester-based De Montfort University has adopted an advanced NetVu Connected surveillance solution from DM Fusion member Security Design Services, featuring CCTV systems from Dedicated Micros to maximise the safety and security of its 20,500 students and 3,240 staff.
Key elements of the ambitious scheme include the linking back, over fibre, of 21 geographically dispersed campus buildings - using a number of Digital Sprite 2 DVRs (Digital Video Recorders) and the associated user-friendly NetVu ObserVer GUI (Graphic User Interface) - to a new control room in the Estates Services and Security building at the Leicester campus.
Additionally, Security Design Services has installed 26 smaller ECO DVRs to link-back 26 lifts at various locations across the campus, over the network, and has also started a rolling upgrade programme of existing CCTV cameras by fitting the latest Dennard 2060 and 2040 dome cameras - including those at the multi-million pound Kimberlin Library - for both internal and external monitoring.
Commented Steve Critchlow, General Manager, Security Design Services, "The project was initiated back in May 2007 and from the start it was decided to adopt a Dedicated Micros solution to deliver the key elements of the project. Going down the NetVu Connected route has allowed us to put the Estate Services and Security team in a position to monitor CCTV cameras across the campus by removing the legacy - and disparate - monitoring systems."
The NetVu Connected solution at De Montfort University can be easily scaled-up with new cameras or DVRs dropped-in with minimum disruption to day-to-day operations.
Morgan Lloyd, Security Team Leader, who is responsible for control room operations at De Montfort, was a keen supporter of the upgrade process. "I could appreciate from talking to Security Design Services that the networked CCTV was going to make our lives much easier, especially having a centralised system. With remote monitoring and compatibility between the various NetVu Connected elements we are able to respond faster to situations as they develop."
In specifying the CCTV solution for De Montfort, Steve Critchlow's team at Security Design Services had to take 
account of a number of issues on the ground, considerations which are typical of a campus situated in a busy urban environment.
According to Mr Critchlow, "At the start of the process when we were discussing the CCTV infrastructure with De Montfort it was clear that the key security challenges included: student and public safety on campus - potential assaults, the security of the adjacent car parks, prevention of damage to buildings or other property such as graffiti, burglary, personal theft and potential traffic accidents. These all had an impact on the positioning of cameras - the lifts being a case in point - and number of DVRs required."
The CCTV upgrade is part of a wider University plan as Kevin Burrows, Head of Security at De Montfort, explained, "This is a pivotal element of a five year security programme to ensure that we have cutting edge solutions in place to meet our future needs."
Carol Cope, Partnership Manager at Dedicated Micros, who runs the DM Fusion partnership scheme, is delighted with Security Design Services efforts. "It is good to see Security Design Services as a DM Fusion member involved in such an ambitious project and we welcome the positive comments from De Montfort regarding the benefits of the NetVu Connected solution based around CCTV systems from Dedicated Micros. More and more we are finding that large scale sites - including schools, colleges and universities - are adopting this seamless approach to satisfy their future security demands."
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