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Estate security unwired

Petty theft of personal belongings and vandalism of playground equipment were two of the key aggravations for residents at the upmarket Glen Erasmia Boulevard in Glen Marais, Kempton Park. The estate, which was started in 1998 with 430 residential stands and one cluster development now known as Zimbali, promises its 1760 residents a safe and secure living environment.

The estate manager at Glen Erasmia Boulevard approached security specialists Keystone to develop a solution that would provide security and continuous monitoring for the 440 homes and over 5000 entries/exits at the estate daily. Wouter du Preez, technical director at Keystone, explains that the company had previously installed a number of analogue CCTV cameras at the entrance to the estate, together with a gated boom and electric fencing. This was complemented by an armed guarding service which patrols the estate on foot.

It was imperative that the new solution had minimal impact on the well-established infrastructure of the estate. “Because we were not permitted to dig trenches or lift paving and gardens to install wiring for the system, we were forced to consider a wireless solution. We have a pre-existing relationship with MiRO and together we were able to design a stable security platform that could be accessed by the body corporate as well as be monitored from an offsite facility,” says Du Preez.

“We had to carefully plan the wireless system within the estate because of the layout and difficulty of the location. We had to ensure that we could achieve line of site so that all wireless links could perform at their optimal rate. We also designed with consideration for a complete lightning protection solution because the estate is located on rock in an area known for lightning strikes,” says Izelle Ackermann, product specialist at wireless IP convergence company MiRO.

MiRO provided Keystone with a number of demo cameras to allow them to determine the quality and performance of the products. The demonstrations provided Keystone with valuable feedback and allowed them to indicate the success of the security solution concept to estate residents at the annual general meeting.

The installation was conducted in three phases over a three month period. The first phase included the installation of the wireless infrastructure backbone, the development of an offsite control room and the first phase of the IP camera installation. The second phase included the installation of street surveillance cameras and the addition of extra wireless links. The existing CCTV system at the entrance/exit was simultaneously upgraded to high-definition IP cameras. The final phase included the installation of the IP cameras throughout the rest of the estate.

Targeted solutions

Based on the success of the pilot study, the project escalated from the initial three cameras to 70 and eventually the current 96 cameras (including four thermal cameras on the perimeter). Keystone identified VIVOTEK IP8151 and IP8151P cameras for use on the perimeter and for street surveillance. These cameras form part of Vivotek’s Supreme Series, characterised by video clarity with an associated accurate colour reproduction.

“The latest sensor technology enables the IP8151P to capture exceptional details during daytime, as well as offer visibility under low-light conditions through its Supreme night visibility feature,” says Ackermann.

The Vivotek SD7323 high-performance speed dome network camera, integrated with a 35x zoom lens and CCD sensor, was the ideal solution for the playground area due to its powerful zoom capability. The camera is designed for outdoor surveillance applications where high reliability, sharp images, and weatherproofing (IP67 rated) are required.

“We also supplied the Vivotek IP8332 bullet-style network camera for deployment in the parks and playgrounds. These all-in-one outdoor cameras are equipped with a 1 MP sensor, enabling the capturing of high quality and high resolution video. For protection against harsh outdoor environments, the camera is encased in an IP66-rated housing and weather-proof casing to withstand rain and dust,” Ackermann says.

The Vivotek Vast professional video/central management software was installed to enhance the intuitive functions and features of the Vivotek cameras. Vivotek Vast supports hundreds of cameras and stations for monitoring, recording, playback and event trigger management.

Keystone selected 65 of MiRO’s Ubiquiti products, including power bridges, nano bridges, sectors and rocket M5s to construct the wireless infrastructure required for the estate. Four 15-metre high radio towers were installed to ensure uninterrupted line of sight data transmission.

“The new solution allows Keystone to provide 24/7 offsite monitoring of all incoming and outgoing traffic as well as any suspicious activity both on the perimeter and inside the estate. All video footage is stored offsite and can be retrieved quickly, thus minimising the risk for the estate. MiRO was able to provide a sustainable security solution in a short space of time, ensuring the successful implementation and adoption of the system,” says Du Preez.

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