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exacqVision Case Study: Berklee College of Music
The case study for the exacqVision installation at the Berklee College of Music has just been posted.
There is nothing typical about Berklee, which presents many challenges with regards to physical security. The student body of nearly 4,200 is served by approximately 1,000 faculty and staff members. The campus is made up of 30 different buildings spread across multiple city blocks in downtown Boston.
“Some of our buildings are over 100 years old,” notes Roy Murphy CPP, Director of Public Safety for Berklee. “They’re used to house students, classrooms, music studios, performance venues, editing facilities and more. People associated with the school are moving about the campus regularly throughout the entire day. Our situation is unique in that we also serve as a landlords to many retail tenants who occupy the lower levels of some of our buildings.”
Working with exacqVision integrator GS Security, Berklee replaced 16 legacy DVRs with exacqVision Hybrid servers as well as commercial servers, connecting to the existing 200 analog cameras, as well as adding over 100 IP cameras from Axis and Panasonic. In their security control center, a six-monitor video wall powered by the exacqVision client enables viewing of all 300+ cameras simultaneously.
The exacqVision native Macintosh client was one of the key factors in their decision:
Given the fact that Berklee is a highly creative environment, it’s not surprising to find many Apple Computer products on campus. In fact, Macintosh is the standard platform of the school and Macintosh computers are issued to students and faculty. “The fact that the exacqVision client is freely available on Macintosh computers, as well as Windows and Linux, was another huge selling point for us,” notes Nick Costa, Systems Manager with Berklee. “In addition to using the client on a Mac, many of our faculty members and even students use the free exacq Mobile app on their iPhones, iPads and even Android devices.”
The complete case study is here:
http://exacq.com/downloads/exacqvision-education-Berklee.pdf
Our thanks to Joe Gillis and Nick Sink and the team at GS Security for this impressive and professional installation.
Building A Safe Community – a Case Study
The cover story in this month’s Network-Centric Security magazine is Building A Safe Community.
It is an interesting case study, detailing the unique security challenges facing Northridge Cooperative Homes, a non-profit housing development in the Bayview-Hunters Point area of San Francisco. The article starts out:
The community campus is located next to a decommissioned naval shipyard, Hunters Point, and near San Francisco’s downtown area situated in one of the city’s prime hilltop locations. However, the area surrounding the community contains some of San Francisco’s rougher neighborhoods.
It’s a security struggle that many condo associations and housing authorities endure: safely managing their interior grounds while holding at bay outside threats with no ties to the community.
They started out with just 24-hour guards, but:
What they didn’t account for at first, however, was that, as a large open site with multiple buildings that lacked any secure perimeter, the property presented substantial opportunity for trespassing, illegal dumping and general criminal activity. With only street lighting in place, perpetrators could use the low-light conditions at night to their advantage, as most criminals do.
After repeated incidents, NCH realized it needed a surveillance system in place—and fast—to establish safer grounds for its community members and help reduce the crime, vandalism, violence and illegal drug activity. Specifically, NCH sought out a system that would monitor vehicles and their occupants entering the community and capture vehicle license plate numbers.
NCH chose San Francisco-based integrator Applied Video Solutions:
NCH enlisted the expertise of local integrator Applied Video Solutions to provide a full security and system needs analysis at the property. The integrator completed a full site survey and needs assessment, and designed a tailor-made video management solution that would aid in tackling the various challenges of the community and help manage the specific issues of the property’s aesthetic layout.
Applied Video Solutions’ analysis provided NCH with a clear understanding of what it would need to control when it came to physical security. The question then became, given the challenges of the site, what technology should NCH use in order to deliver the desired outcomes?
After significant lab and field testing, including a wireless interference survey, products from Axis Communications, Exacq Technologies and Hautespot Wireless Networks were selected for their performance and reliability.
The full article makes great reading and is available here. This installation was also highlighted in a case study done by Applied Video, available here.
This installation will also be featured in the seminar entitled "Run a Tight Ship: New Tools to Enhance Site Security" at the upcoming AHMA-NCNH Conference in Santa Clara, Sept 15-16.
Posted in exacq
Tagged "case study", Applied Video, Axis, Hautespot, Housing Development
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Securitronics secures LPGA championship
This week’s Security Systems News has a detailed story on the security and surveillance system installed at this year’s Wegman’s LPGA Championship in Rochester, NY, by exacqVision integrator Securitronics.
Organizers of the Wegman’s LPGA Championship decided to augment their security operations with electronic security this year for the first time in the history of the 35-year-old event.
Wegman’s brought in the Securitronics Company to secure the event. Owned since 1997 by Jeff Heath and Terry Rivet, Securitronics is an 18-person systems integrator with offices here and in Syracuse and a remote location in Buffalo. Rivet, Securitronics’ EVP, said the bulk of the company’s work is in card access and IP camera installations. It also does some intrusion, intercom and emergency phone work. It focuses on the health care, financial and education verticals across its statewide footprint.
The article goes on to describe the installation, which includes exacqVision servers, Axis Communications IP cameras, and a Fluidmesh 10-node network:
Securitronics installed eight Axis cameras, (two thermal cameras, two interior fixed dome cameras and four fixed-position day/night cameras) which were used to watch the delivery area, operations area (where all the maintenance people resided), a carts storage area, the medical area (where drugs were stored), and the expo tent—inside and out.
“The thermal cameras were used in the areas of the golf course that are accessible at all hours and completely dark at night,” explained Mark Robinson, Securitronics director of operations.
The cameras were monitored via an ExacqVision server at a portable mobile security office that was set up in an RV.
Security personnel could watch the video from the security trailer and from a smartphone while onsite or offsite. “This system greatly increased [the security operation’s] eyes on the site,” Rivet said.
The full article can be read here.
The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety & Security recognized Wegman’s LPGA for their achievement in security this year at an awards ceremony yesterday at the NCS4 Conference in New Orleans.
"The reason for this new award is to allow professional leagues, NCAA member institutions and amateur organizations to honor outstanding safety and security achievements," NCS4 Director Dr. Lou Marciani said in a statement. "These achievements involve actions above normal operational activities whereby a safety or security issue may have been tackled."
We want to thank Securitronics for their excellence in deploying this security system. Pictures of the Securitronics booth in the registration tent at the event are below.
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Tagged "case study", Axis, Fluidmesh, LPGA, NCS4, Securitronics, Sports Security, Wegman's
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Exacq named Axis ADP Gold Partner
We’re pleased to report that Exacq Technologies has been named by Axis Communications as a Gold Partner in their Application Development Partner program.
Axis’ ADP program assists the top software and hardware manufacturers in the complete integration of Axis network products in end-user solutions. The Gold designation is the highest level of achievement in the ADP program and is only offered to partners with significant worldwide market share in the growing IP-based physical security industry.
In a press release accompanying this designation, a case study of an Exacq-Axis deployment was cited:
Nearly three years ago Thompson School District of Loveland, CO (32 public schools, 16,000 students, 2100 staff) installed an exacqVision hybrid NVR at one of its 34 buildings, which allowed the district to incorporate existing analog cameras while adding Axis IP cameras. Today the district has migrated its analog video to IP video with 15 servers from Exacq all running exacqVision VMS software and supporting more than 140 Axis IP cameras of various types, of which 33 are PTZ and more than 60 are HD. The presence of the systems has resulted in fewer incidents and insurance claims plus an overall feeling of safety and protection in the district.
“We’ve experimented with other VMS systems and DVRs in the past, but we never got the results we wanted,” notes Josh Coseo, Security Systems Engineer of Thompson School District. “The exacqVision system paired with the powerful Axis network cameras was easy to install and operate. At least half of the employees in the school system use Macintosh computers, so it was important to have a client that is convenient for everyone to use. Anyone with access can easily and quickly get what they need from the exacqVision client and Axis cameras spread throughout the network in the district.”
“Axis is a partner-driven company, so we thrive off of success stories like the one at Thompson School District, which is the end-result of our close collaboration with a qualified and dedicated network video partner like Exacq,” said Fredrik Nilsson, general manager, Axis Communications Inc. “Installations like these that lead to satisfied and secure end-users will continue to drive the adoption of IP-based video systems.”
The Exacq-Axis press release is here.
The Thompson School District case study is here.
Exacq at Security Essen 2010
We are once again getting ready for Security Essen, the semiannual physical security tradeshow held in Essen, Germany, October 4-7, 2010.
Exacq’s booth is Hall 5 #120K in the USA Pavilion. We’ll be showing the latest features in exacqVision, including the new ONVIF compatibility in exacqVision 4.4, the latest features in Exacq Mobile, our iPhone & iPad app, and a new Enterprise Health Monitor program that provides monitoring, assessment and action for exacqVision system health events in a large enterprise video surveillance deployment.
On Thursday, Oct 7, Exacq will be participating in the ONVIF Public Plugfest & Reception, held in the New York Hall in the Essen Trade Fair grounds. Exacq is one of the sponsoring exhibitors of the Essen ONVIF Plugfest, and we’ll be showing certified compatibility between exacqVision and ONVIF-compatible IP camera models from Axis and Bosch, including the Axis M1031-W Wireless Network Camera and the Bosch NBN-498-22P Dinion2X D/N IP Camera.
More information on Security Essen is available here.
exacqVision 4.3 Released
Version 4.3 of exacqVision Video Management Software has just been released. This latest release, compatible with all exacqVision Hybrid and IP video surveillance systems, incorporates new features and enhancements, and continues our quest for rapid, incremental updates.
Version 4.3 is available for download here. Key features in the 4.3 Release include:
- Pelco Sarix IP camera support
- New Sony IP camera support
- New Panasonic HD IP camera support
- New Axis P8221 Network I/O Audio Module support
- Enhanced time zone search capabilities
- Enhanced oldest video date
Here are some of the features in detail:
Pelco Sarix IP Camera support
exacqVision now supports the complete line of Pelco Sarix IP cameras. The Sarix IP camera family features fixed and dome cameras from standard to HD megapixel resolution, H.264 compression, advanced low-light capabilities, megapixel autofocus, and consistent color balance.
The Sarix IP camera models supported include:
Sarix IX Series Fixed Network Cameras
IX30 * IXE20 * IX10 * IXE10 * IXS0
Sarix IE Series Outdoor Network Fixed Dome Cameras
IE30 * IEE20 * IEE10 * IE10 * IES0
Sarix ID Series Indoor Fixed Dome Cameras
ID30 * IDE20 * IDE10 * ID10 * IDS0
Sarix IM Series Mini Indoor Network Dome Cameras
IM10 * IMS0
More information on the Pelco Sarix line of IP cameras is here.
New Sony IP Camera Models support
Support has been added for the latest models of HD IP cameras from Sony. These models are all 720P or 1080P and heature H.264, MPEG-4 and MJPEG compression.
New models supported in 4.3 include:
SNC-CH120 Network 720p HD Fixed Camera
SNC-CH160 Network 720p HD Bullet Camera with IR Illuminator
SNC-DH120 Network 720p HD Minidome Camera
SNC-DH120T Network 720p HD Vandal Resistant Minidome Camera
SNC-DH160 Network 720p HD Vandal Resistant Minidome Camera with IR Illuminator
SNC-CH210 Network 1080p HD Fixed Camera
New Panasonic HD H.264 IP Camera support
Support has been added for the latest generation of Panasonic HD IP cameras. Supported models include:
DG-NP502 Megapixel Network Camera
WV-NP502 Megapixel Nework Camera
WV-NW502S Megapixel Vandal-Resistant Fixed Dome Network Camera
WV-SP302 Fixed Network Camera
WV-SP305 HD Fixed Network Camera
WV-SP306 HD Fixed Network Camera
WV-SF332 Fixed Dome Network Camers
WV-SF335 HD Fixed Dome Network Camera
WV-SF336 HD Fixed Dome Network Camera
New Axis P8221Network I/O Audio Module support
Support has been added for the new Axis P8221 I/O Audio Module.
The P8221 Network I/O Audio Module provides eight configurable input/output (I/O) ports plus audio capabilities. Sensors such as a door switch, smoke detector, IR detector or glass break detector—used for triggering an alarm event—can be connected as inputs. Output ports can be connected to control devices or relays, to open/close doors or turn on/off lights upon alarm. High quality audio can be encoded in AAC at up to 128 kbit/s bit rate with 32 kHz sampling. It has a built-in low power amplifier for small speakers so there is no need for an external preamplifier. It also has phantom power for a balanced microphone. AXIS P8221 has support for Power over Ethernet (POE).
New Search Feature – Search on Server Time or Client Time
New selector buttons have been added when searching on servers located in different time zones. The user now has the choice to search based on client time or based on server time.
Days of Video Reporting Enhancements
Additional functionality has been added to the Storage Setup page. In addition to showing how many days of video has been recorded on each camera, a new tooltip appears on a mouse hover that shows the date of the oldest video for that camera.
Recent Releases
With this release we continue to make rapid progress with exacqVision, and incremental releases have hit about every 2 months. A large number of new features have been added in a short period of time. You can see the full release history of exacqVision here:
exacqVision Release History
Download and Installation
As always, the latest versions of exacqVision client and server software can easily and quickly be copied over existing versions while retaining all user settings. The latest versions can always be downloaded from the exacqVision Downloads page, or you can click on ‘Check for Updates‘ within the ‘About‘ box in the exacqVision software.
exacqVision Server software is available in both Windows and Linux versions, and the exacqVision client software is available in Windows, Linux and Macintosh native versions. Any version of exacqVision client can connect to any version of exacqVision server.
Exacq at PSA-TEC 2010
We have just returned from PSA-TEC 2010, the annual education, training and technology event that PSA Security Network holds for its members. We have found PSA-TEC to be of considerable value to us, as it affords us the opportunity to spend some in-depth time with the PSA member resellers.
One of the most important parts of the conference is the training sessions. We held one of our day-long exacqVision technical reseller training sessions on Tuesday, where we had a pre-registered full house as well as some dealers who added the course on-site.
Wednesday morning was the Vendor Awards Banquet, the result of PSA member surveys ranking vendors on overall products, support, pricing, and service to the membership. We were very honored to receive the "Superstar Vendor Achievement Award" this year, the highest award PSA offers. Our sincere appreciation goes out to the entire PSA member base for this award.
After the awards breakfast was the trade show. This was the first year at the Rosemont Convention Center, and the upgraded facilities were a great change of pace. We had a packed booth the entire show, and the increased space and wider aisles were most welcome. We showed our latest exacqVision Version 4.1 features, as well as a sneak peek of the upcoming Version 4.2 features, including Sanyo IP camera support and ONVIF support, using Bosch and other ONVIF-compatible cameras. We also were using IP cameras from Axis, Vivotek, IQeye, Panasonic, ACTi, Sony, and Arecont Vision, who was also right across the aisle from us.
Additionally, we also featured our iPhone & iPad surveillance app, which allows full connection to all exacqVision servers, live viewing with multiple camera layouts, and search and playback of recorded video.
Sam Pfeifle of Security Systems News gave his take on the show in this blog post. Wednesday night was the popular PSA-TEC Jam Session, and Sam was live-streaming the band over his iPhone via ustream.com. He posted archival video of that event here.
Our thanks once again to the entire PSA organization for the great job they did with this years’ well-run event. Below are some pictures and a video from the show floor. Click on each for a larger image.
Exacq at Axis Technology Showcase, Tokyo 2009
On Wednesday, May 27, 2009, Axis Communications Japan held their Axis Technology Showcase, Tokyo 2009, at Sumitomo Hall in Tokyo. The day consisted of presentations by Axis, IMS Research, and others; case studies; and product exhibits.
Our distributor for Japan, Sun Systems, was there exhibiting the Japanese version of exacqVision Video Management Software. Mr. Naohiro Kishi, Managing Director of Sun Systems, also gave one of the main presentations, entitled Acceleration from Analog to IP.
The conference was filled to capacity, reflecting the rapidly-growing interest in IP video surveillance in Japan. The Sun System booth was packed with people interested in the exacqVision/Axis solution.
Our thanks to Axis Communications Japan and to Sun Systems for a successful event. Below are some pictures from the event. More pictures are here.
At the Ballpark with Emerge IT Solutions
On Thursday we joined our Erlanger, KY-based reseller Emerge IT Solutions and forty of their customers for product demonstrations and a baseball game at the Great American Ballpark – home of the Cincinnati Reds. In addition to having a beautiful day to watch the Reds play the Astros, the guests got to see the latest technology offered by Emerge: data storage, structured cabling and wireless infrastructure, and physical security solutions with the exacqVision VMS software.
Emerge is a leading IT provider in the Ohio and Kentucky area, and has recently begun offering physical security to their clients as part of the overall IT mix. It’s a perfect fit for them. They already supply their customers with audiovisual solutions and IT systems infrastructure. In many cases, they built these networks from the ground up. Adding physical security to the network is the next logical step, with IP cameras and exacqVision IP video management software.
Several products were on display in the suite. Connected to the exacqVision system were two Axis 207MW IP cameras inside the suite, and one IQeye 855 5-Mpixel Sentinel Series mounted outside the suite to provide a detailed view of the stadium.
Our thanks to Emerge for putting on such a great customer-oriented event. Emerge can be reached as follows:
Web: www.emergeits.com
e-mail: sales@emergeits.com
exacqVision Version 2.10 Released
Version 2.10 of exacqVision NVR video surveillance software has been released. This latest release, compatible with all hybrid and NVR exacqVision systems, continues the quest for rapid, incremental releases to roll out new features and enhancements quickly.
Version 2.10 can be downloaded here. Key Features in the Version 2.10 Release:
- ACTi Megapixel – Support added for the new line of megapixel IP cameras from ACTi
- Vivotek – new Vivotek IP camera models supported
- Axis & ACTi – New resolution modes supported
- New Media Formats – DVD+R and DVD+RW formats now supported for exporting video
- New System Configurations – New 4U chassis, up to 8 TB storage
Here are some of the new features in detail:
ACTi Megapixel Support
ACTi has recently launched a new line of megapixel IP cameras. We support this entire new line, which includes the following models:
ACM-5601
ACM-5611
ACM-3401
ACM-3411
ACM-4200
Vivotek New IP Camera Support
We also have added support for the latest models in the Vivotek IP camera line, which includes these models:
Axis & ACTi – New Resolutions Supported
exacqVision now supports 1280×1024 and 1280×720 resolutions on all Axis and ACTi megapixel cameras, in addition to all of the other previously-supported resolution modes.
Both the Axis and ACTi megapixel cameras produce faster frame rates when running in the 1280×720 mode vs. higher-resolution modes.
New Media Formats
Support has been added for the DVD+R and DVD+RW media formats for exported video. exacqVision also supports DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD-R and CD-RW formats.
New System Configurations
We have expanded the chassis offerings for our exacqVision NVR servers and Hybrid Servers. A new, matching 4U-height chassis configuration is now available, in addition to the 2U chassis and the space-saving desktop chassis. The new 4U chassis allows for increased storage options up to 8 TB on storage, as well as RAID-5 storage options. The spec sheet for this new offering is here, or you can click below.
Recent Releases
We have continued to make rapid progress with exacqVision, with incremental releases hitting about every 2 months. Here are some highlights of the most recent releases:
exacqVision Version 2.9 release (January 7, 2008)
exacqVision Version 2.8 release (October 31, 2007)
exacqVision Version 2.7 release (August 8, 2007)
exacqVision Version 2.6 release (June 19, 2007)
exacqVision Version 2.5 release (May 7, 2007)
exacqVision Version 2.4 release (March 27, 2007)
As always, the latest versions of exacqVision client and server software can easily and quickly be copied over existing versions while retaining all user settings. The latest version can always be downloaded from our Downloads page, or you can click on ‘Check for Updates‘ within the ‘About‘ box in the exacqVision software.
The next release, Version 3.0, will coincide with the ISC West show in Las Vegas, April 2-4, and will have some major feature additions.