CASE STUDY 29 January 2010
Hikvision protect students and staff at college in Massachusetts
Massasoit Community College caters for over 7,000 students. The institution is one of the largest community educational establishments within the Massachusetts Public Higher Education system and offers a variety of degree courses in both vocational disciplines and the liberal arts as well as part-time programmes.
Challenge
Local integrator SoundBytes Security were charged with creating a 100-camera surveillance system that would contribute to the safety of students and faculty members across the college’s two sites, the 100-acre Brockton Campus and an 18-acre complex known as Canton in the Blue Hills area south of Boston. The end-user requested the ability to monitor live video as well as inspect footage retrospectively as far back as a calendar month at high frame rates. The storage implications of keeping this amount of data were significant and the nature of the site also necessitated use of Power over Ethernet (POE).
Solution
SoundBytes chose two dome camera models from the Hikvision range together with the company’s DVRs which the integrator has custom-assembled. At interior locations the college is benefiting from Hikvision’s mini PTZ speed dome cameras which have been installed at facilities including laboratories, computer centres, theatres, media studies studios and major hubs such as the library, refectory and gymnasium.
The mini speed dome features a ¼ inch Sony CCD and is valued by security staff at the college for its 3.8-38mm, 10x zoom ratio as well as 200 pre-set positions, tour mode and ability to set privacy zones.
SoundBytes are using a fibre optic network and are recording the data to servers by Sun Oracle. Ed Morando Snr of SoundBytes said: “The RAID demands for this number of cameras functioning at 30 frames per second are significant and we are benefiting from Hikvision’s H.264 dual stream real-time compression. Footage is monitored both within the college and at a local police department, with officers having had input on the programming of the high-activity cameras that they often wish to scrutinise in detail.”
“Mr Morando continued: “The conduct of Massasoit students is exemplary though in the unlikely event of any inappropriate behaviour the problem could also be monitored on the camera system. But the surveillance is designed to protect students and faculty members from the threat of intruders and possible assault as a result of trespass. The camera system covers all public spaces such as entrances, exits, hallways and foyers. The larger outdoor domes from Hikvision [model DS-2DF1-617X] have a zoom ratio of x36. They are effective in helping to protect users of the many parking lots where low-light capability (0.01 lux at F1.4) is one of many valuable attributes.”
College administrators and police can not only observe live footage but may review it retrospectively to assess specific incidents going back 30 days. SoundBytes, who are based in Middlesex County, have laid Cat6 cable across the two sites and benefited from the ability of the Hikvision cameras to function as part of a Power Over Ethernet (PoE) installation though the remote location of a few outside cameras meant hard-wired power was necessary. The external dome cameras are fitted with heaters that allow the units to operate within the widely fluctuating temperatures encountered on this part of the eastern seaboard.
Hikvision is known for the compatibility of its cameras with third-party video management products but at this application SoundBytes have used Hikvision’s own PC client and NVR software products. These allow remote recording and configuration as well as recording triggered by an alarm or motion detection. Clients appreciate the functionality of the NVR’s video on demand (VOD) server and the ease with which off-site searching can be performed.
Massasoit Community College is strong in nursing and allied health including dental technology. The courses in media studies have a state-wide reputation and the college excels in physical education, with recent alumni including Major League baseball player Jim Mann, a pitcher who appeared for the New York Mets and the Houston Astros. Faculty numbers currently approach 500 and their pupils range from teenagers to seniors attending life enrichment classes. Over 4,600 people enrol annually in non-credit community education or workforce development courses.
The Canton campus is home to the Milton Art Museum whose permanent collection covers traditional disciplines as well as the development of photography. Highlights include work by the painter, sculptor and war correspondent Frederick Remington.
Mr Polo Cai, Vice President of Hikvision, said: “Our company is delighted that the academic excellence at this college is being matched by the quality of its camera surveillance, with Hikvision units being central to the safety of everybody on the two sites. The client had high expectations of how CCTV should work and these demands were passed on to the integrator who immediately opted for our dome units.”
About Hikvision
Hikvision Digital Technology Co. Ltd is a leading supplier of digital video surveillance products with headquarters in China. The company has 30 years’ experience in research and development of video technology. The product range includes A/V compression boards, embedded networked DVRs, hybrid DVRs, digital video servers and networked front-end products such as IP-addressable cameras and speed domes. Hikvision supplies an advanced H.264 solution for the digital surveillance sector based on its own patented algorithms.
Hikvision’s commitment to product development is illustrated by the fact that of its 2,300 employees worldwide, 700 staff members are involved in R&D. The company has been characterized by dynamic growth and has expanded from a base in China to a global presence. Rapid development has seen Hikvision recognized by Deloitte as one of the top 50 fastest-growing companies in the hi-tech sector as well as being nominated as one of the most-promising SMEs in China by Forbes Magazine.
For more information please visit our website at www.hikvision.com
Press contact
Finn Wu
Tel: +86 571 87006060
Fax: +86 571 8993 5635
Email: wulin@hikvision.com
