360 Vision Technology, the UK manufacturer of ruggedised HD, radar, and thermal PTZ imaging cameras, has been chosen to supply the camera surveillance technology for a flexible, rapidly deployable CCTV town centre network extension for Plymouth City Council.
Designed to cover hot spots of activity, both criminal and anti-social, the extension was required to tackle areas of rising anti-social behaviour and surfacing security issues at disparate areas around Plymouth.
Invictus Hybrid camera
“We had considered a hard-wired permanent extension to the existing camera network to cover the required areas but were put off by the cost of this option,” says Stuart Venn, CCTV & Street Lighting Engineer, Street Services, Plymouth City Council. “Plus, many of the reports of criminal or anti-social activity in the areas concerned had yet to be confirmed, so a permanent extension was a big commitment without any guarantee of making a significant impact and benefit to each area."
“We already had a long-term technical relationship with 360 Vision, as they had assisted us to transition from an analogue camera network to an IP one, via the use of their clever Invictus Hybrid camera.”
An alternative solution
Plymouth City Council turned to 360 Vision, for advice on an alternative solution to extending the existing CCTV
Capitalising on this long-term technical partnership, and the successes it had brought in the past, Plymouth City Council again turned to 360 Vision, for advice on an alternative solution to extending the existing CCTV network with costly permanent cameras, to cover the emerging hotspots.
“Once we had our Community Team involved, it was clear from the reports we were receiving about the requirement for coverage, that a network of redeployable cameras would yield the best coverage and return on investment, to provide the communities involved with the best protection,” says Stuart.
Simple and rapid deployment
“Using re-deployable and rapidly deployed cameras would allow us to assess and confirm the problem at each location without committing to a permanent camera installation."
"Our close technical relationship with 360 Vision paid off here, with the team suggesting a network of Invictus PTZ cameras similar to the Invictus Hybrid camera we had purchased to extend the network previously, but this time, equipped with innovative 360 Vision TX technology, to enable simple and rapid deployment utilising video transmission over mobile phone networks.”
Saves time
360 Vision Technology’s TX wireless video camera transmission technology delivers camera video & PTZ control from just 6 Kbps, full 1080p HD edge recording, and remote retrieval on demand.
It also saves the council time and money on fixed camera video transmission infrastructure costs and ongoing cost of ownership.
Wireless transmission
These cameras use highly efficient optimised video compression, with unique minimal latency
Delivering high-quality camera video over low bandwidth, 360 Vision Technology’s 3G/4G LTE/5G TX wireless CCTV camera range provides a reliable wireless video transmission solution, even within difficult wireless video transmission environments.
Additionally, these cameras use highly efficient optimised video compression, with unique minimal latency that is fully encrypted and secure.
Low costs
“The Invictus TX complies with all our network security requirements, so we can always be confident of the results when adding Invictus TX units to our camera network,” says Stuart.
Keeping running costs down to a minimum, the Invictus TX Range of 3G/4G LTE/5G TX wireless CCTV cameras operates without the need for expensive airtime contracts.
Low and high-bandwidth video streams
With complete control of the bandwidth used, Plymouth City Council can choose the resolution and frame rate to transmit, to suit the bandwidth available.
Additionally, operators can switch dynamically between low and high-bandwidth video streams, depending on network capability, adjusting CCTV camera video quality to suit.
Rapid installation
“With our network of 19 Invictus TX cameras, we can rapidly install a unit at the site of a complaint, sometimes within hours of the complaint arising,” continues Stuart.
“Once installed, we can assess the real-world requirement for surveillance at the site, and the effect a CCTV camera impacts on the area."
Using resources economically
“If the camera is not required or has helped to tackle the issue, we can then remove it, usually after 3 months and the unit either goes back into storage or because of demand, goes straight back out to another site awaiting surveillance."
"Being able to set up cameras where they are most needed ensures we are using our resources most economically and extracting the maximum return on our camera investments.”
Varied applications
In use, the deployable network of wireless TX cameras has been installed at many disparate locations
In use, the deployable network of wireless TX cameras has been installed at many disparate locations and covered an array of applications, from tackling anti-social behaviour on suburban estates to securing crime hot spots across the city.
Such has been the success of the cameras that are even being used within Plymouth’s traffic camera network, where they are deployed to cover large highway construction projects, health and safety, and traffic flow monitoring while work is being carried out.
Genetec Omnicast video management system
Linked directly to the combined public safety and traffic control centre via innovative 360 Vision TX technology, the cameras are seamlessly integrated into the control room’s Genetec Omnicast video management system and can be locally powered via the street furniture they are mounted to, such as street lighting.
“Fixing the TX cameras on street lighting gives us access to any number of surveillance locations, a convenient and easy site to install them at, and local power to connect to,” continues Stuart. “As we drive towards a greener street lighting network, thanks to the low-power consumption certification of the Invictus TX camera, each unit can be connected to the audited street power network without a problem."
High-definition images
“The cameras are providing high-definition images of places that were previously inaccessible with traditional camera deployment and are in such demand that we rarely have any TX cameras in stock awaiting deployment, as they are usually all out at sites. Once they have done their job, they are simply moved from one site to the next."
“With the benefits of these units demonstrated, we are looking to further increase the Invictus TX network, with plans to deploy cameras to tackle the council’s fly-tipping issues, and to assist the Event Team to cover large events and organised gatherings across the city.”
‘Always On’ and ‘Rugged at the Roadside’ IK10 certification
Jason Wyatt, National Account Manager at 360 Vision Technology says, “Unlike standard or off-the-shelf wireless video transmission systems, the Invictus TX has been specifically designed to suit low bandwidth or unreliable network conditions, such as the cellular networks used here."
"Along with ‘Always On’ and ‘Rugged at the Roadside’ IK10 certification, our Invictus TX cameras include built-in cyber security, local point-to-point Wi-Fi access, easy Plug & Play set-up, require no fixed cable infrastructure, and can be easily integrated into existing VMS control systems – attributes the forward-looking Plymouth City Council are taking full advantage of."
