CCTV Today articles from May 2004

CCTV Today archives from May 2004

Norris derides London mayor's transport surveillance policy.(News)
May 1, 2004... LONDON mayor, Ken Livingstone's proposals to fit cameras on London's railway network have been denounced as a "publicity stunt" by the Conservative candidate, Steve Norris. As part of the Mayor's package, three new projects were announced...

Staff screening standard updated.(News)
May 1, 2004... CONFIDENCE in employees is key for all businesses, particularly when staff are in charge of vulnerable people or the security of valuable assets. With this in mind, the BSI has recently revised the British Standard for Security Screening of...

Surveillance fortifies capital's flood defences.(News)
May 1, 2004... LONDON's flood defences ore themselves being dfended by a fully integrated security and surveillance system. Photo-Scan designed and installed the system for the Thames Flood Barrier, as well as two other flood barriers, the Barking Barrier and...

Facial recognition helps identify missing persons.(News)
May 1, 2004... FACIAL recognition technology has been adopted by charity organisation the National Missing Persons Helpline (NMPH). Aurora Computer Services supplied the charity with its facial recognition software package, Gallery, to help it identify...

BIDs could open door to CCTV funding schemes.(News)
May 1, 2004... CONSULTATION on the introduction of Business improvement Districts (BIDs) ends this month, with the new partnership funding arrangement expected to start operation later this summer. The move follows publication of a government White Paper as...

Identifying illegal dumpers.(News)
May 1, 2004... OXFORDSHIRE County Council has invested 60,000 [pounds sterling] on CCTV to monitor all eight of the county's waste recycling centres. The systems, supplied by Chris Lewis Security, are being used to improve customer service, protect the...

Croma to boost acquired Shawley business.(News)
May 1, 2004... CROMA Defence Systems has acquired the Shawley brand and business from the company's liquidator, promising to expand the operation and fulfil its potential. Shawley had run into short term financial difficulties. The firm manufactures CCTV...

Europlex Technologies.(People)
May 1, 2004... Europlex Technologies has appointed tour new staff to technical, logistics and marketing roles. Tom Collins (pictured) and Niall Flynn have joined as field technical support engineers to provide telephone and on-site service for customers in...

Cyberlyne Communications.(People)
May 1, 2004... Bishop Auckland-based Cyberlyne Communications has added to its sales team, with Mike Sixsmith joining the company as a key account manager.

Quadrant Video Systems.(People)
May 1, 2004... Ian Moore has been promoted to sales director at Quadrant Video Systems. Responsible for building on the company's position in the town and city centre surveillance market, Ian will focus his attention on expanding its presence in other key...

Network Video Technologies.(People)
May 1, 2004... Another internal move, this time at transmission products company, Network Video Technologies, sees Steve Proctor promoted to UK sales director.

Synectics.(People)
May 1, 2004... Meanwhile, Synecttcs has expanded its customer support team with the recruitment of a new internal sales coordinator. Hired to provide grassroots support and provide a fast-track response to any sales, or technical sales-related issues, Scott...

Pelco.(People)
May 1, 2004... Pelco has announced the further expansion of its UK sales operations, with the recent appointment of Richard Allen. Reporting directly to UK regional manager Kevin Smith, Richard is responsible for business development activities for the full...

Be standards-compliant and expect a quick response.(News)
May 1, 2004... SECURITY system users could be jeopardising their ability to receive a timely police response, warns the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), if they rail to secure a Unique Reference Number (URN) for detector-activated CCTV systems....

Silent Witness goes 'exclusive'.(News)
May 1, 2004... THE Silent Witness range of products in the UK is to be exclusively distributed by Norbain SD. The move comes hot on the heels of the acquisition by Honeywell of Canadian-based Silent Witness earlier this year, and marks a further step in...

Liaison on licences and an American adventure: Peter Fry director of the CCTV User Group, provides the lowdown on a recent consultation meeting on training and licensing control room operators as security guards, the setting-up of a new User Group across the Atlantic, and the winners in the Operator of the Year Awards.(User Group)
May 1, 2004... How many CCTV operators really see themselves as security guards? The short answer in our experience of town and city centre systems is very few. They relate far more closely to community safety and the extended police family. Despite...

Taking control of image authentication: evidence to stand up in court: with the coming of new standards, the CCTV community will finally have access to the guidance it needs to decide whether certain images delivered by digital CCTV pass the credibiity test or not, as Adam Wiseberg chairman of the BSIA's CCTV section explains.(BSIA)
May 1, 2004... Few would argue that the digital revolution sweeping through the CCTV world has succeeded in delivering substantial benefits for end users, from its flexibility of operation to bottom-line economics--fast outstripping the potential of older...

Clarified or confused?(DPA Special)
May 1, 2004... In our last issue, we reported on the Information Commissioner's new guidance on systems which may no longer need to be registered under the Data Protection Act. Here Ian Fowler suggests that rather than clarifying the law, the latest...

Hospital watch: it's not just punch-ups in A&E that concern security staff at Manchester Royal Infirmary--the hospital site is surrounded by some high crime areas. Ian Drury reports on how a new surveillance system has led to a renewed sense of well being and confidence among staff, patients and visitors.(Health Sector)(Cover Story)
May 1, 2004... The new Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust is based on a 47-acre site, sandwiched between two areas--Moss Side and Longsight--notorious for their drugs and gun crime problems, including street robberies....

New screens' resolution: OK--so we just about got the hang of the importance of resolution in terms of TV lines when along comes a whole new way of measuring picture quality for digital images. Mike Constant clarifies the picture.(Digital Images)
May 1, 2004... The increasing use of digital recording systems has introduced yet more terminology to digest. And with it come several areas for even more misunderstanding of specifications and more opportunities to exploit the unwary. The essential...

High security care: there's more to a control room than security equipment. To kick off our special feature, we profile an installation at Rampton Hospital, where the control room has been ergonomically designed to a recognised international standard.(Control Rooms)
May 1, 2004... Control room furniture specialist Winsted has supplied equipment to integrated security systems specialist Siemens Building Technologies, to assist security staff manning a new control room constructed at Rampton Hospital. The new building...

From detection to decision-making: is modern technology better than a pair of human eyes? Dvir Doron marketing director at digital video manufacturer NICE Systems, outlines how new technology can work hand in hand with operators to make them more effective.(Video Analysis)
May 1, 2004... The security officer is not treated too kindly by the media. The picture presented, in TV and film especially, often shows an officer in a hapless or mundane situation, Images of security guards asleep, playing cards or listening to music...

Putting caravan thieves in a spinney.(Products & Services)
May 1, 2004... A detector-activated CCTV system is helping a motorhomes dealer ensure that apart from legitimate sales, its valuable stock stays just where it should--on the forecourt! Spinney Motorcaravans in Cheshire has up to 200 motorhomes and...

Council control room made Semple.(Products & Services)
May 1, 2004... Mechanical and engineering company Scruple recently completed a 1 million [pounds sterling] installation for Southampton city council. Involving 286 surveillance cameras, the project integrates the previous city centre-based control unit (CCTV...

More disabled staff in monitoring jobs.(Products & Services)
May 1, 2004... Remploy, which provides employment for disabled people, has taken over daily management of CCTV monitoring services for the control room covering two Kent local authorities, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge and Mailing borough councils. The...

No strings attached: as the uptake of IP surveillance systems continues to grow apace, a borough council has taken a further leap forward and installed a wireless network. Andrew Sansom went to Wiltshire to learn more.(Wireless IP)
May 1, 2004... Local government is beginning to cotton on, it seems. Monmouthsire County Council has already installed an IP system which covers four towns (see Jan/Feb 2004, p20) and now, not only has Swindon borough council decided to upgrade its system...

Integrating in Bold fashion.(Advertising Feature)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2004... Customer Needs The business philosophy of Bold Communications is to find out what the customer needs and then provide the solution. For more than two decades, Bold Communications has served the needs of the worldwide security,...

Network rail: the Tyne & Wear Metro has been a landmark project for the North East. Now, in response to the latest extension to the light rail network, a new surveillance system--one of the largest and costliest single projects in the UK--has just gone live. Ron Alalouff reports on what is a truly regional CCTV system.(Transport)
May 1, 2004... If ever there were any doubts left about using digital images as evidence, then the new surveillance system an the Tyne and Wear Metro has blown them away. Over 7 million [pounds sterling] of government money has helped fund one of the largest...

Security show hits home with Network Advantage: the rapid growth in IP and networks technology cannot have escaped anyone who has visited IFSEC. Now, on the back of comprehensive visitor feedback in this area, this year sees the launch of Network Advantage and a dedicated IP seminar programme.(Exhibition & Conference Preview)
May 1, 2004... Reflecting the latest trends and technologies is part of IFSEC's tradition, and this year's event will be no different. The introduction of Network Advantage--in association with IBM--will enable IFSEC to offer a dedicated range of expert-led...

Pre-bookable access control.(Exhibition & Conference Preview)
May 1, 2004... STAND NO C100 The Bewator group will be highlighting system integration at this year's show. Among products being unveiled for the UK market is 2010, which integrates all aspects of security and other systems, including access control,...

Surveillance assets.(Exhibition & Conference Preview)
May 1, 2004... STAND NO N82 Asset Security -- UK and Ireland agent for Samsung Electronics--returns to IFSEC for its third year at the show. New products on display will include a 480 tvl day/night camera with built-in 22x optical zoom lens with an...

Place bets on digital recording.(Exhibition & Conference Preview)
May 1, 2004... STAND NO H100 Among the highlights on Dallmeier electronic's stand will be what is claimed to be the largest digital video recording system in the world--or at least a 1:100 scale mode of it! The representation is of the system at the...

Digital users to get more than just a bunch of disks.(Exhibition & Conference Preview)
May 1, 2004... STAND NO S110 & S116 Dedicated Micros is launching a range of external storage solutions, providing extra capacity for its family of digital video recorders and DV-IP network video servers. The JBOD (Just a Bunch Of Disks) upgrade is...

New Vistas on the horizon.(Exhibition & Conference Preview)
May 1, 2004... STAND NO L110 Vista, the brand name of Norbain products, will be launching three new products at the show--VNPR Lite, Vista TEAM and new models in the PowerDome range. The VNPR rite number plate recognition system is designed for the...

Viable alternative to coax and fibre.(Exhibition & Conference Preview)
May 1, 2004... STAND NO N116 NVT will debut its new range of unshielded twisted pair (UTP) DA receiver products, along with its existing range of single, 4, 8, 16 and 32 channel video transmission equipment. New 8 and 16-channel rack-mountable hubs...

Don't be afraid of the dark.(Exhibition & Conference Preview)
May 1, 2004... STAND NO Q116 Shedding light on all things infrared and more will be the theme of Derwent's stand. Products unveiled will include a new design of illuminator bracket, to improve the effectiveness of fully functional dome cameras in...

It's the vision thing.(Exhibition & Conference Preview)
May 1, 2004... STAND NO K110 NICE Systems will be demonstrating new developments in its NiceVision range of digital recording solutions and video analysis applications. The company's product marketing manager, Tim Giles, will also be presenting at...

Network simulations.(Exhibition & Conference Preview)
May 1, 2004... STAND NO R100 Vicon will be demonstrating its network video solutions with a simulation of a multi site security system, controlled by the video management platform, ViconNet. Incorporated in the system will be the latest range of...

Buy real-time now, time-lapse later.(Exhibition & Conference Preview)
May 1, 2004... STAND NO T118 Synectics will be showing its Time-lapse Later digital recording technology, which is aimed at high motion applications which need to conserve digital storage capacity. It works by initially making real time (25 fps)...

Pole position.(Exhibition & Conference Preview)
May 1, 2004... Altron is using IFSEC to launch a new range of camera mounting poles. It will also unveil its 2004 product catalogue, which has boon redesigned to include more technical information in a full colour format. The company has established...

DVR departure.(Exhibition & Conference Preview)
May 1, 2004... STAND NO S84 In a departure for the company, Visimetrics will be unveiling a DVR which unlike its other products is not PC-based but uses dedicated hardware. Despite being only 1U in height the product offers storage capacity in...

New things come in three.(Exhibition & Conference Preview)
May 1, 2004... STAND NO P118 Videoswitch reports it will have a new look, a new, larger stand and a host of new products at IFSEC 2004. Commenting on Videoswitch's new exhibition stand, Roland Simmons, MD of Videoswitch said: "IFSEC has always been a...

Belt and braces monitoring.(Exhibition & Conference Preview)
May 1, 2004... STAND NO D75 Romec is launching a new security system for use on IP networks. NetSec is a monitored system that can be configured to suit users or specific sites, and uses dual-path signalling to ensure communications are maintained,...

Lower cost per channel.(Exhibition & Conference Preview)
May 1, 2004... STAND NO T96 VCS says it is reducing the cost of high qualify, networked video, It will be showing the compact VIP 10 and VIP 1000, which are said to make it easy for camera manufacturers to "IP-enable" complete ranges of cameras...

Video brands unite under Honeywell umbrella.(Exhibition & Conference Preview)
May 1, 2004... Honeywell Security has chosen Ifsec as the public launch of its new identity. The international manufacturer is currently bringing together all the products from its former VCL, Ademco Video, Ultrak and Silent Witness acquisitions as part...

Language barrier: although transmission over IP networks has come a long way over the last year or two, there are still significant barriers to overcome. Not least is the feeling that the IT and security industries talk different languages. Ron Alalouff reports on the second meeting of the IP User Group.(IP Video)
May 1, 2004... Barriers to the adoption of IP technology was one of the topics at a lively meeting of the IP User Group. David Petrook of DVTel opened the session by appealing to manufacturers and others to be open about the way in which they use...

Dome truths: in this issue, our Tavcom testers move their attention to external domes. They are generally impressed by the improvements made in the production of these now ubiquitous housings, and find that their often diminutive size does not mean any shrinking of performance.(Dome cameras)
May 1, 2004... The demand for improved aesthetics and more discreet surveillance options--particularly from the retail sector--have led to a huge increase in the popularity of domes. They have made a major impact on CCTV in general and have been refined as...

I can see clearly now ...(Industry News)
May 1, 2004... A pedestrian right of way across the River Humber's Boothferry Bridge has increased the need for public safety in recent years. But the addition of a few static cameras still left a far from complete view for bridge operators, including several...

IP video technology used to stop computer fraud.(Industry News)
May 1, 2004... A Scandinavian company selling computer equipment over the Internet was finding that a number of customers were claiming missing parts in their deliveries, even though the company was sure they were complete. In response, the...

Designing for 'the unknown tomorrow'.(Industry News)
May 1, 2004... High-tee digital printing company Nomad Worldwide LLC is using IP video surveillance for more than just security. The system is used by managers to monitor environmental waste procedures, round-the-clock production quality control and to...

Oxford upgrades with networked solution.(Industry News)
May 1, 2004... The University of Oxford security services department has upgraded to a networked digital system controlled by Dedicated Micros DVRs. Four BX2 DVRs support 60 cameras which have been upgraded to keep a watchful eye on the university estate,...

Monitoring centre places importance on image quality.(Industry News)
May 1, 2004... As part of air upgrade from analogue to digital recording, the Enfield Public Safety Centre in north London has specified the Universal Video Management System from PI Vision. The centre has been built as part of a 2.5 million [pounds...

Public able to view history being revamped.(Industry News)
May 1, 2004... Meyertech has just completed an unusual CCTV surveillance project for the Historic Royal Palaces at The Tower of London. During refurbishment work on the Wakefield Tower, which includes the installation of a new conical lead roof, a camera...

IP cracks Ireland.(Industry News)
May 1, 2004... Believed to he the first commercial enterprise in Ireland to fully exploit the benefits of video over IP technology, pharmaceuticals ingredients manufacturer Cambrex has installed a Sanyo CCTV system to watch over its 20-acre site on the...

Premiership club kicks analogue into touch.(Industry News)
May 1, 2004... In a major transfer deal, Charlton Athletic football club has upgraded its CCTV system from analogue VCRs to digital video recorders manufactured by Videoswitch. Images from 32 dome cameras placed in and around the stadium are recorded...

Car park wins police approval.(Industry News)
May 1, 2004... Police-approved 'Secure car Park status has been awarded to St Martin's Gate multi-story car park In Worcester. Formally presented on 16 March 2004, the status is subject to an annual review following regular inspections by independent experts....

Proactive detection for Israel's parliament.(Industry News)
May 1, 2004... The Israeli Parliament building is being fitted with a video threat detection system supplied by ioImage. The digital signal processing system connects to existing cameras and can be used to detect intrusion, as well as abandoned objects....

Responding to the distress call.(Industry News)
May 1, 2004... Reflex Systems is working with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to deliver public help points linked to CCTV cameras, across the borough's pedestrian areas and public car parks. Emergency call points are now located around the town...

Shopping surveillance.(Industry News)
May 1, 2004... The busy Stratford Shopping Centre in east London has upgrade its CCTV system with digital recording from Vigilant. The centre--which houses more than 60 stores as well as a traditional market area-now benefits from recording at 12.5 images...

CCTV pulls in at 21 stations.(Industry News)
May 1, 2004... Gardiner Security is supplying all CCTV equipment for 21 railway stations on the Arriva Trains Wales Network. The system is based on an IP network technology combined with high capacity digital recorders/multiplexers. All cameras...

Unshielded twisted pair a sure bet at casino.(Industry News)
May 1, 2004... The Spirit Mountain Casino in Grand Ronde, Oregon, is using NVT equipment to transmit video signals from cameras to monitors via unshielded twisted pair (UTP) wire, resulting in cost reductions in both installation and maintenance. NVT's...

Fashion victim no longer.(Industry News)
May 1, 2004... Sportswear retailer JD Sports has undertaken a security overhaul of some of its stores, Consultancy and installer Integrated Electronic Security (IES) specified a digitally networked security system, based on Dedicated Micros' DS2 multiplexers...

Cameras capture crime footage during tests.(Industry News)
May 1, 2004... An incident was captured on video outside one of London's largest synagogues by a system which includes Bosch's latest Dinion and EnviroDome CCTV cameras--before they had even been fully commissioned. The cameras were being installed to...

Security overhaul at children's hospital.(Industry News)
May 1, 2004... Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London has undergone a major security upgrade using Bewator Cotag equipment to secure some 120 access points throughout the hospital building. The Granta for Windows V4 system uses 120 proximity...

Camera with noise counter-measures.(Products & Services)
May 1, 2004... Samsung has announced the launch of the SVD-4120, the first of a new range of cameras to feature its Super Noise Reduction (SSNR) technology. This filters the noise amplified by AGC under low light conditions and, as a result, provides a higher...

It's a video recorder--but not as we know it.(Products & Services)
May 1, 2004... The new VR-601U is a single channel digital video recorder from JVC and is equipped with two Hard Disk Drive (HDD) compartments. One HDD is pre-installed; the second can be added for expansion or used for hot-swapping removable disks. The...

Picture messaging adds new layer of defence.(Products & Services)
May 1, 2004... A new visual security system from has been developed by Trans Visual Media, which uses wire-free observation cameras to transmit images over the mobile network. This is done through a secure picture messaging service delivering images within 40...

Genie gets tough with domes.(Products & Services)
May 1, 2004... Camera systems and accessories specialist, Genie CCTV, has launched a range of Armaview ultra-tough dome cameras. The combination of a heavy-duty cast aluminium body and a high-strength, impact-resistant polycarbonate dome, helps ensure...

Passenger protection system.(Products & Services)
May 1, 2004... A new digital recording system for trains is a step closer, following a new venture between digital recording supplier Wavelet Technology and transportation communications specialist Falcon-Protec. Falcon has commissioned Wavelet to provide...

Spartan domes are hard cases.(Products & Services)
May 1, 2004... Vantage has a new family of domes on offer--the Spartan range--comprising internal, impact-resistant IP66 and vandal-resistant IP66 versions, all available exclusively from Gardiner Security. The range features varifocal lenses, low...

4x4 offers fast track performance.(Products & Services)
May 1, 2004... With a recording speed claimed to be up to 200 pictures per second--four times faster than was previously the case--Geutebruck says its new MultiScope II plus/4x4 is designed for monitoring casino activity, cash counting operations and other...

IP video brought under control.(Products & Services)
May 1, 2004... IndigoVision has launched a new version of the VideoBridge Control Center software suite. As well as a range of new features, Control Center 2.1 now supports both the VideoBridge 6000 and the new MPEG-4 8000 product ranges. The new...

Retail fraud detection.(Products & Services)
May 1, 2004... Aimed at specific market sectors, a new line of bespoke DVRs has been launched by Dedicated Micros. The company claims that its Retail Solutions range is set to save retailers tens of thousands of pounds a year in lost stock by providing...

'Picture perfect' processing.(Products & Services)
May 1, 2004... Bosch Security Systems has introduced 15-bit image processing to provide improved CCTV picture quality with its new enhanced DinionXF family of smart surveillance cameras. According to the company, the video processing technology captures...

Shedding light on infrared technology.(Products & Services)
May 1, 2004... Published by Derwent, a new guide to 24-hour infrared technology contains essential technical information on designing and installing effective night vision CCTV surveillance systems using the latest IR technology. The Night Time Handbook...

Filter gives cameras true day/night capability.(Products & Services)
May 1, 2004... Packed with a host of advanced surveillance features, the new range of high specification true day/night bodied cameras is available from Genie CCTV. Capable of operating in lighting conditions down to 0.5 lux in colour and 0.01 lux in...

Two sensors, two lenses.(Products & Services)
May 1, 2004... Available from Batt Networks, the Mobotix M10-Day/Night camera has a new megapixel sensor (1280 x 960) and features a light sensitivity reported to be ten times higher than existing models. The camera is equipped with two image sensors and...