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Case studies: 
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News > Case studies University : Oxford goes Digital It may be the City of Dreaming Spires, but the University of Oxford is far from being a dreamy academic backwater. When it comes to the safety and security of Oxford’s students and staff, the traditional and highly effective College Porters and University Security Services have been ably assisted for a number of years by a sophisticated University-wide CCTV security system. Unique environment Much of the commercial and retail centre of Oxford is actually owned by either the University or individual colleges. All colleges have their own CCTV systems, but none have any monitoring facilities themselves. This makes the role of Oxford University Security Services (OUSS), the University Department responsible for the CCTV system, especially important. As well as providing CCTV coverage of a significant portion of central Oxford, OUSS also provides contracted CCTV services to individual colleges, and provides CCTV reviewing services to all colleges in the University. This year Oxford University’s CCTV system has undergone a major re-fit. This has seen the installation of Surcha Domes from Bewator and, in the control room, the complete replacement of 5 VCRs and 4, 16-way multiplexers with 4 digital video recorders and 3 matrix controllers. Transmission The existing CCTV system was already using the University’s fibre-optic Wide Area Network (WAN) to transmit images from the cameras to the control room. The renewed system is also connected to the University’s WAN allowing images to be viewed in the Control Room. Remote monitoring is also undertaken from the University’s emergency secondary control room, and for maintenance purposes (such as re-programming the digital video recorders), from the installer’s site nearby. Both are connected to the central control room by way of a secure Virtual Private Network (VPN). Quality equipment Chris Lewis Security is the primary CCTV supplier to Oxford University and is responsible for the migration of the University from analogue to digital recording. On the choice of equipment, Chris Lewis was keen to emphasise the high quality of the equipment installed: "The mix of equipment used on this install reflects the high performance requirements of the University. Bewator and Dedicated Micros make a very effective combination across all three key areas - image capture, recording and network access." The Bewator Surcha Dome has become recognised as one of the leading domes for prestigious high specification sites. Offering privacy zones, 99 presets, auto day/night switching and stylish housing (D08ZXE-Z), the Surcha Dome is ideal for a large, networked system operating in a complex environment such as a University. It also offers integrated protocol support for Bewator’s own Visilynx matrix. The V3i matrix installed at Oxford is highly suited to multiple rack-mounted environments. Designed to a ‘single-box’ architecture model, each unit can handle up to 32 cameras viewed on eight monitors. The V3i provides full bi-directional telemetry control enabling remote alarms to trigger actions such as movement sensors or PIRs. Each unit has 32 BNC video inputs for connection to remote video servers, multiplexers, VCRs or, in the case of Oxford University, four DVRs, mounted on the racks above. Dedicated Micro’s BX2 is a high performance 16-camera digital multiplex recorder offering all the functionality now expected of a modern DVR. Four internal hard disks provide over two months continuous recording (up to 1.2 terabyte of storage) with a maximum record rate of 50 frames per second (PAL), variable by camera. At Oxford, optimum use of the available storage is made by recording at 25 frames per second with all images recorded for 31 days to ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act. Each unit offers its own CD-RW writer. Challenging install The University’s CCTV system covers many of the key Faculties of the University, such as Engineering and Science, and also the key tourist area around Radcliffe Square. This is home to three of the City’s most attractive buildings – the Sheldonian Theatre, Bodleian Library and Bridge of Sighs. "Designing and installing a CCTV system in the heart of a conservation area as strict as this is very difficult," explains Chris Lewis. "It requires considerable sensitivity and a detailed understanding of how to make the most of the technology available to you. The lengths we need to go to can be well illustrated by the dome outside All Souls College, tastefully disguised in a Victorian street lamp." Monitor & Review The University’s Control Room is situated appropriately enough in the Old Observatory. This consists of two distinct areas – the Review Suite and the more secure Control Room. Norman Stewart, the University’s Crime Reduction Officer explained that crime prevention is not the primary purpose of the system: "This system is designed to protect students, staff and the University. It is not primarily about detecting crime. Having said that we have very close and cordial relations with Thames Valley Police who do not have a review suite of their own in Oxford. Also we have a fibre optic link to the Police control room in Oxford and, with our permission, they can view any of our cameras should the need arise." Next door, the Review Suite provides the OUSS and other staff from the University and individual colleges, with the facility to review previously recorded images. Linked to the University’s bank of DVRs, the Review Suite also features a simple combination of monitor, multiplexer, VCR matrix & DVR keyboards, with the additional benefit of a stills printer. Benefits Norman Stewart is unequivocal about the benefits of digital recording: "Tape storage management had been an absolute nightmare and so migrating to digital has eliminated a huge burden for us. Searching with digital is excellent. However to take full advantage of the new technology, archiving procedures will need to change. It’s important to consider whether an incident should be written to CD and archived, otherwise after 31 days the incident will be overwritten and lost. Another of the big advantages of digital is the recording quality. Our viewing quality has always been excellent since adopting the fibre optic network. But analogue recording was only at 5 frames per second. We’ve improved this five-fold with digital, which is excellent. The Network Viewer software is used routinely by Chris Lewis Security to remotely solve problems, set up new users and maintain the system. "The network viewing software is very easy to use but also very versatile. Image quality is excellent, it is extremely easy to configure and there is a multiplicity of screen configurations to choose from." Overall, Norman Stewart is pleased with the result of the upgrade. "It took just one week to install and anticipated system downtime of 48hrs was successfully reduced to 24hrs. Oxford University now has a more robust system offering amongst the highest quality of image capture and recording that is currently achievable."
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| | | Copyright © 2008 Norbain SD Ltd: updated on May 13 2008 | |||||