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IP integration watches the media

Allied Publishing, the distribution house for newspapers such as The Citizen and The Star, wanted a professional surveillance system at their Booysens and Kramerville depots that focused on IT. “We had experienced a number of incidents of internal harassment and external vandalism at both depots and our existing security system was just not up to the task at hand.

“Our previous CEO weighed up the costs of installing a new, high-tech, high quality system against the cost to the company of installing an analogue system and decided that this would be a very worthwhile investment,” says Allied Publishing’s Patrick Tau.

The basic requirements included a system that would cover both the work processes and security. Camsecure designed a solution based on HDTV technology which provides increased coverage and more detail. The second part of the solution, once the hardware is installed, will be to ensure the new network infrastructure allows management to be able to access both sites remotely. This eliminates the need for a centralised control room with banks of screens and numerous operators monitoring the screens.

“We have used Milestone as the recording software platform because it is able to stream at a compressed rate while being bandwidth efficient and at the same time, as the need arises, being able to enhance the image quality,” says Camsecure’s MD, Francois Malan. “In addition, Milestone is able to downsample frame rate and video quality, then upscale it again on request. The system gives the security manager the ability to manage the system and be informed of what is happening in terms of logistics, from anywhere in the world.”

Part three of the solution includes the access control. This is an IP based system and fully network managed. The user can switch between controls on both individual sites, dependent on network availability. This gives the flexibility of enrolment of new people onto the system by either site’s management.

The fourth element under consideration was the robustness of the system. “Durability is critical to us. We find that at both locations, we have problems with loiterers as well as with instances of internal vandalism,” says Tau.

Keeping a watchful eye

“We have placed all network infrastructure cabling in steel Bosal piping for resistance to vandalism. This has become our installation trademark and ensures a neat appearance as well as acting as a deterrent for would-be vandals and thieves,” says Malan.

Camsecure has also selected a high-specification standard for all access control enclosures, casing and piping to ensure maximised resistance to tampering. “The client’s perception of what constitutes vandal- and tamper-proof is often very different to our perception. We constructed our own vandal-proof enclosures for the biometric fingerprint readers as it is common practice for this to be a soft target for criminals. There have been instances in the past of attempts to thwart the system using mechanical means as well as petrol bombs, but our enclosures ensure that no tampering is possible,” Malan explained.

The CCTV coverage on the street and on the no-man’s-land in between the depots and the street is a hotspot for troublemakers. “The new system gives Allied Publishing the ability to identify troublemakers during industrial unrest and it can also be useful for logistics such as monitoring when Mondi recycling arrives to collect paper; in addition to when and how the staff is refuelling. The client can monitor the dispatch of newspapers as well as any casual staff payments, using this system,” says Malan.

This is a full network based system for the required level of client support on the access and CCTV surveillance side. The system comprises the Axis P3344HD CCTV cameras running on the Milestone Enterprise software platform; access control using the Suprema BioLite Net biometric fingerprint readers; and the Dell PowerEdge Server Solution.

The Axis P3344 is a fixed dome network camera offering 1MP or HDTV 720p in compliance with the SMPTE standard in resolution, colour representation and frame rate. Wide dynamic range and day/night functionality enable clear images both in daylight and in dark lighting conditions.

Remote zoom ensures that the viewing angle is optimised for the scene and required pixel resolution at installation, which also ensures reduced maintenance. The remote focus function makes the installation convenient, eliminating the need for focusing at the camera position. Digital PTZ (DPTZ) allows a user to zoom into a live image with no loss of picture quality. The benefits of this being there are no moving parts so PTZ movement is instant and cannot be witnessed by people in the area surrounding the camera.

“This is a particularly robust camera, with a number of winning features built into the design,” says Malan. “It is vandal-resistant, waterproof, has a fan and heater as well as a moisture wicking membrane, which ensures the interior remains dry. We are so impressed with this camera that we have made it a Camsecure standard for installations.

“In addition, it has alarm inputs and an SD card for onboard recording. There is ease of installation engineered into the camera due to the fact that only one cable is needed for both power and transmission,” he added. There are 28 cameras installed at Booysens and nine at Kramerville.

Access integration

The Suprema BioLite Net is the world’s smallest IP-based fingerprint terminal with time attendance and access control capabilities. Its rugged IP65 rated waterproof structure offers extra durability and makes it perfect for outdoor installations. The BioLite Net is suitable for both simple door control and complex networked environments.

Six doors at the Booysens facility have no-touch access control. “This system uses a proximity sensor for access and thereby prevents excess wear on typical pushbuttons, leading to extended longevity of the system and reduced downtime,” says Malan. In addition, there is a double bi-directional turnstile at the entrance which is controlled using Turnstar biometric equipment.

“We have created a pedestrian funnel using Clearview fencing. Unlike many other similar installations that use fencing to channel employees and visitors, the fencing we have chosen is virtually vandal proof.” The Kramerville facility includes three doors and a double bi-directional turnstile.

“We are extremely pleased with the installation at both facilities. The professionalism exhibited by the Camsecure team has been exceptional and service levels are incomparable. We have dealt with other system integrators in the past but Camsecure is top of the list in terms of quality and service as far as we are concerned,” says Tau.

“We established a relationship based on trust at the outset. The Allied Publishing management and risk assessment team was invited to inspect our offices and credentials to determine our credibility. We ensured that our performance exceeded client expectations by providing the client with uncompromising quality. It is the little things, the attention to small details, that make the difference between ‘good’ and ‘great’,” says Malan. “In spite of the difficult layout and the area in which our team was working, we have managed to deliver a superior system that will ensure complete peace of mind for Allied Publishing with regard primarily, to the personal safety of their employees, as well as the ability to remotely monitor and manage the system,” Malan concluded.

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