Surveillance & Security News for August 2005

The July 7 bombs in London were small-time stuff, it is claimed; and worse is to come, according to a security consultant. David Rubens of north London-based Meido was, ironically, in central London attending a police anti-terrorism seminar on the morning of July 7 when the police asked attenders to clear the building. David told Professional Security : “I have been in cities under attack before; and [on July 7] there was absolute normality.  People were hanging around; going to McDo...

How do employers comply with data protection laws and yet investigate wrong-doing? Monitoring staff - especially covertly - has been rather a grey area, despite the Data Protection Act. A security or fraud manager may want to observe staff - examine logs of websites visited to check that staff are not downloading pornography, say; or videoing workers outside the workplace, to collect evidence that they are not in fact sick; or asking credit reference agencies to check that staff are not in fina...

iOmniscient and DVTel integrate their product solutions The intelligent surveillance industry is rapidly expanding, with consumers recognising the benefits of artificial intelligence behind the cameras of traditional surveillance systems. iOmniscient, the world leader in Intelligent Surveillance has just announced an integration partnership with DVTel, a highly regarded provider of IP cameras, network video and audio recording and monitoring and analysis tools. iOmniscient's products are now...

Dedicated Micros has delivered the main CCTV element for DangerPoint, an innovative safety education centre created by the Police and the key agencies responsible for safety in North Wales.  The centre at Talacre, Flintshire, is targeted at school children across the region and is scheduled to open to the public this September.Dedicated Micros has delivered the main CCTV element for DangerPoint, an innovative safety education centre created by the Police and the key agencies responsible for...

Varifocal lenses from Rainbow CCTV are being used on the Irish rail network by the country’s railway authority Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail). As part of its “On Track” initiative the authority is investing over EUR1.3 billion in its service with co-funding from the Irish Government under the National Development Plan. There is also financial involvement from the European Union.Many of the Rainbow units have been installed at level crossings. The lenses are operatin...

Zoom lenses from Rainbow CCTV are being deployed following the development of previous camera usage at Oldbury, a nuclear power station in Gloucestershire. As part of its remit to ensure that the plants work properly and are safe to operate, British Nuclear Group Reactor Sites perform detailed observations inside nuclear reactors using specially-built manipulators and robots. The procedures allow the company to meet criteria set by an external body, the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate. The 8-...

Ottawa-based network management specialists and DVR manufacturers Mach Networks have been specified to provide mobile video surveillance systems for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in California. March Networks' reseller and channel partner Diversified Security Solutions Inc. secured the contract through its Viscom Division in a deal worth $1.5 million, that includes a three-year maintenance agreement.  The programme will see some 80 light rail vehicles (LRVs) equipped...

The Tulsa Creek Nation Casino is one of Oklahoma's premier gaming destinations.  The casino, open around the clock and seven days a week, offers a unique brand of entertainment with an array of over 1400 casino games, including blackjack, poker, slot machines, and many others.  With the completion of a $4.6 million expansion project in December 2005, the casino increased to a total size of 81,000 square feet.  Creek Nation Casino has 650 employees, and over 300,000 visitors from 4...

Eastman Kodak Company is the world leader in helping people take, share, enhance, preserve, print and enjoy pictures - for memories, for information, for entertainment.  With sales of $13.3 billion in 2003, the company comprises several businesses: Health, supplying the healthcare industry with traditional and digital image capture and output products and services; Graphic Communications Group, offering on-demand color printing and networking publishing systems consisting of three wholly ow...

Arizona State University is one of the premier metropolitan public research universities in the U.S. Enrolling more than 57,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on three campuses in metropolitan Phoenix, including the historic main campus in Tempe, ASU maintains a tradition of academic excellence in core disciplines, and has become an important global center for innovative interdisciplinary teaching and research.ChallengeSince 1997, ASU’s identification/access “Sun...

Zerodegrees, the expanding microbrewery and restaurant chain, has installed a new IP-Surveillance system at its Bristol-based restaurant in response to local authority licensing requirements for 30-days of high quality recording in public entertainment facilities.  A total of 16 Axis Communications network cameras, two Axis video servers and Milestone XProtect software has been deployed at the restaurant.Following completion of the trial this summer, Zerodegrees is planning to replicate the...

Zoom lenses from Rainbow CCTV are being deployed following the development of previous camera usage at Oldbury, a nuclear power station in Gloucestershire. As part of its remit to ensure that the plants work properly and are safe to operate, British Nuclear Group Reactor Sites perform detailed observations inside nuclear reactors using specially-built manipulators and robots.  The procedures allow the company to meet criteria set by an external body, the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate....

National Mini Storage is the largest self storage company in New Zealand, with six self storage facilities, each with up to 1 kilometre of perimeter that needs security protection.  Since 1993, National Mini Storage has been a strong advocate of the PowerFence™ system to assure customers their property is safely protected. The concept of a self storage facility was relatively new to New Zealand when National Mini Storage opened their first site in Penrose in 1991.  The site desi...

AirAsia, the Malaysian Low Cost Carrier pioneer, has selected FlightVu Cockpit Door Surveillance Systems (CDSS) for seven Boeing B737-300 aircraft. As a forward looking innovative airline AirAsia is taking this important step to increase the safety and security of its passengers.With this order FlightVu CDSS can now be truly said to be aiding aircraft security worldwide with airlines using the systems in Asia, Europe and America. AD Aerospace of Manchester, UK and Aircraft Engineering & Inst...

Videoswitch have come to the aid of the Bracknell branch of the Samaritans by donating one of their VDC-4 digital video recorders. The VDC-4 DVR forms part of a security system installed by the Samaritans to ensure their volunteers can care for callers and visitors in a safe and secure environment.  Roland Simmons, Managing Director of Videoswitch said: "We are very pleased to be have been able to help this very important voluntary organisation.  The work that they do is universal...

Varifocal lenses from US manufacturer Rainbow CCTV are being used in dome camera units at major Boots stores throughout the UK.  The sites include the company’s flagship operation in Oxford Street, London.The 3-8mm direct drive Rainbow lenses are operating from Mark Mercer QuickSwitch fixed domes and are used internally.  The client is recording digitally at its large stores and there is ongoing migration to DVRs from analogue equipment.  Monitoring is currently performed on...

Vari-focal lenses from US manufacturer Rainbow CCTV have been installed at Woolworths stores including Liverpool, East Ham and Egham. The lenses are 3-8mm varifocal models and are operating within dome camera assemblies supplied by Mark Mercer. The client is recording digitally using DVRs by Dallmeier. The systems have been implemented by Bedfordshire-based CSG, a design and installation company who have also created tailor-made matrix managers for the sites.  CSG has niche expertise in ret...

“We’re a compact urban area and some sections of our road network have become oversaturated.  To ease congestion we want to give people travel information that allows them to make informed choices about their mode of transport and the route and timing of their journey.”Siemens Traffic Controls’ innovative traffic management and information system forms the hub of Reading’s control centre.Its principal features include a common database and co-ordination facilit...