Video storage solutions specialist Visimetrics showcased its technology within the Intelligent Integration Zone at IFSEC 2010. Brian Sims reviews the experience with the help of Craig Howie. Select Link to read the full story ...

One of the most impressive technical feats in designing and implementing video surveillance systems is mixing new technology with old to create fully integrated hybrid systems. For the full article follow Link.

One of the most impressive technical feats in designing and implementing video surveillance systems is mixing new technology with old to create fully integrated hybrid systems.

Few dare to take on the challenge of designing a solution mixing new and old technology in a fully integrated hybrid video system. Instead, many are skipping around it with excuses of how the technology is incompatible, the existing system is too old to be supported or “new” technology is superior. In fact, just about anything goes but taking on the challenge of integrating legacy and IP video surveillance systems.

So exactly what are the challenges in integrating legacy video to create a true hybrid system? For the purposes of this article, the definition of legacy systems will be based on equipment conforming to PAL/NTSC-based standards. Typically, this would encompass all or some of the following:

● analog cameras
● video matrices
● DVRs
● standard definition (SD) monitors

Compare this with the newer technology of network cameras, video encoders, software matrices, NVRs, video management systems and HD displays.
How do all of these elements function together under that nominal term of “hybrid” system?

Constraints
Regardless of how you wish to integrate legacy with IP systems, the resulting hybrid system will always be subject to the practical constraints of:

● budget
● existing equipment
● existing physical infrastructure
● bandwidth limitations
● video or security management system
● manufacturer cooperation

The options available for each of these constraints will define the optimal course for integrating analog with IP. In practice, we need consider these constraints and work around them, while minimizing risk.

Stepping Away From Video Standards
Bridging analog systems with IP systems is a move away from standards-based systems, such as PAL/NTSC. For the moment, the world of IP video equipment is a land of bespoke systems sharing only the common transmission standard of IP. The actual format of the information passed from camera to recorder or video management system is known only by the equipment manufacturer. This poses a risk for users, as they invest in technology unique to the supplier.

There is some light on the horizon, with standards organisations such as the ONVIF and PSIA. However, the infancy and adoption of both organizations to date means we are still a long way from having defined standards shared by all. Hence, the only practical option is to use the manufacturers' SDKs to provide comprehensive integration for third-party access.

Mixed Manufacturer Software Integration
SDKs are a set of software tools that allow access between software applications
such as VMS, DVRs or NVRs. SDKs are commonly used by NVRs to integrate network cameras from third-party manufacturers. Conceptually, this seems practical and easy, allowing users to mix and match on individual preference or derived benefit from specific products. This is until the practicality of the commercial world rears its ugly head.

Practicalities such as branded manufacturers choosing to source OEM'ed equipment from different suppliers result in different ranges of equipment from the same manufacturer not working together. Other commercial influences include manufacturers unwilling to provide SDKs due to perceived competitive risks, unsupported SDKs unless covered by licensing royalties, undocumented SDKs or simply SDKs that become antiquated. Most manufacturers never use their own SDK, so it places a burden on them to continually update and support it. This all goes on in the background, usually unknown to the end user who is simply keen to develop his video system.

Moving Forward with Megapixel
Without doubt, megapixel cameras will become the tipping point towards full adoption of end-to-end IP systems. However, they shouldn't be perceived as the panacea for all until their generic capability is refined and the investment costs become more bearable. Like all video surveillance technology, some implementations are better than others, but one must cite caution on capability, configuration and integration.

Megapixel cameras provide superb tools for post-incident review. They enable much wider fields of view to be achieved than SD cameras are capable. However, they come with higher price tag, not only for the cost of the actual camera, but also needing much higher storage and potentially delivering lower frame rate. Certain applications require the ability to view scenes in real-time or near real-time, such as cash counting or casino tables. Many megapixel cameras simply can't deliver real-time images at the highest resolution yet.

Summary
The application and surveillance requirements should be the deciding factors for use of the most appropriate technology. Key to the advantages of one technology over another must be the information available in one image, when compared against any another.

In wide fields of view overlooking large areas, megapixel cameras can provide extensive amounts of information and detail unavailable from SD cameras. However, for real-time applications having narrow fields of view, SD cameras can provide just as much practical surveillance information.

Recommendations
If you are considering integrating legacy and IP video systems, the checklist below will help you to ask the right questions.
● Understand the extent of software integration between all of the equipment you have and are considering. Do you have complete control over all configuration and functionality centrally?

● If possible, get a demonstration which allows you to view the full capability of the integration, rather than simple video display.

● Make sure your vendor has an SDK, and that it is maintained and upgraded with backward compatibility. Find out if they use the SDK within their products or solutions.

● Be clear on performance expectations from the hybrid solution. For example, at which point will the system start to slow down from higher bandwidth, storage and processing requirements of megapixel cameras.

● Understand any limitations the solution is confined by, such as the absolute limit of cameras supported or limit of cameras displayed/played back together.

● Be clear who holds responsibility for integration, to ensure “ownership” of any problem

If you missed the opportunity to meet up with us at IFSEC this year then here's a short video telling a little of our products and how they can benefit you.

Visimetrics high-performance digital video recording, storage and management systems to showcase full integration with ISM’s Control Room Management Software Suite – Genesys

Visimetrics FASTAR Digital Video Recorders (DVR’s) have been chosen by Standard Life to provide continuous surveillance across their property estate. FASTAR is a key component of a comprehensive package of measures to ensure ...

Visimetrics FASTAR Digital Video Recorders (DVR’s) have been chosen by Standard Life to provide continuous surveillance across their property estate.  FASTAR is a key component of a comprehensive package of measures to ensure the safety and security of staff, customers and data and enables Standard Life to store high quality images locally while keeping bandwidth usage over the corporate network to a minimum.

Standard Life has a significant estate of managed properties within the UK, including prestigious office locations such as London’s iconic Gherkin building.  On-demand access for incident investigation at each remote site is available for authorised users directly from Standard Life’s own Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) in Edinburgh. The “distributed recording” approach to DVR deployment ensures the most efficient use of the network and offers a high degree of fault tolerance. Should the network be unavailable, the ability to record data and provide evidence locally continues without interruption.

“FASTAR is the third generation of DVR to be sourced from Visimetrics by Standard Life,” says Craig Howie, commercial director of Visimetrics (UK).  “From the outset, the deployment of Visimetrics DVR’s within Standard Life properties required network integration as an essential feature. In addition to meeting the security department’s requirements for image quality, ease of use and provision of secure, auditable evidence, the DVR’s and associated Video Management “CONTROL” software also had to meet the group’s stringent network security requirements.”

Standard Life’s Security Manager, Clive Teague, confirms: “We knew the progression to a networked CCTV system would be complex and, without the early commitment of our IT department, achieving the solution we wanted would not be feasible. It was essential to our success that we selected a manufacturer we could work closely with to meet the security and IT needs of the company. Visimetrics has been instrumental in delivering and evolving systems to provide us with the essential tools to monitor our property estate” 

“All DVR-associated hardware and software was thoroughly tested and verified by Standard Life’s IT department before approval was granted for use across the corporate network,” continues Howie. “Visimetrics product development team worked closely with Standard Life’s IT department to ensure the products were fully compliant to their stringent requirements, allowing the addition of further sites and DVR’s to become a standard globally.”

More recently, Standard Life has invested in a purpose built Alarm Receiving Centre to monitor the Access Control, BMS, Fire and Intruder Alarms and CCTV across their property estate.  The monitoring of such a diverse range of equipment required a Security Management System GUI (Graphical User Interface) which meant that a single application provided a graphical representation on the overall security status of the property estate. FASTAR, in this case, allows for visual verification of the alarm source. This level of integration is achieved via Visimetrics Software Development Kit (SDK) to provide direct access to both live and recorded images for display within the Security Management System.

About Standard Life
Standard Life is a long term savings and investment company headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland. Established in 1825, Standard Life provides life assurance, pensions, investment management, banking and healthcare insurance products to over 6.5 million customers worldwide. The Group has around 10,000 employees across the UK, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Austria, India, USA, Hong Kong and mainland China.

Network Rail has awarded Visimetrics a Certificate of Acceptance (PADS Approval) for the FASTAR and VADER ranges of Digital Video Recorder. This certification means that FASTAR and VADER is accepted for use across Network ...

Network Rail has awarded Visimetrics a Certificate of Acceptance for the FASTAR and VADER ranges of Digital Video Recorder. This certification means that FASTAR and VADER is accepted for use across Network Rail's infrastructure including CCTV security systems at surface stations.