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Protoclea wins prison upgrade contract

CCTV systems technology specialist Protoclea Advanced Image Engineering has won a third prison surveillance upgrading contract worth about R400 000 for the design, manufacture and supply of a digital on-line surveillance system operating 110 cameras. Incorporating seven digital image recorders each with 16 channels and 1,6 terabytes of image storage capacity, the system interfaces to the Allegiance matrix and is now operational at Empangeni Prison in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The CCTV surveillance network was installed by the KZN electronic systems installer and integrator, Cato Ridge Electrical Contracting, which also maintains and services the system. The specifications and requirements for the system and its operation were determined by Tsepa Consulting Engineers of Johannesburg.

Protoclea Advanced Image Engineering (formerly Thales Advanced Engineering) has also designed and supplied digital CCTV surveillance systems that are assisting with security at Malmesbury Prison near Wellington in the Boland and at Goodwood Prison in Cape Town.

Protoclea managing director Dr Bennie Coetzer says reliability and the ability to openly interface with other systems were factors in the awarding of the contract to Protoclea. "The new digital system that has replaced the outdated original VCR-based image recording system at Empangeni Prison includes motion sensors so that images are only recorded if there is movement. This is a cost-effective and highly reliable means of improving internal and external security at prisons."

Dr Coetzer adds that digital technology in CCTV surveillance applications had proved inherently reliable as well as flexible with the value-adding ability of open interfaces that allow integrated operation with other existing or new electronic peripheral equipment or systems used at prisons.

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