Category Archives: CCTV

AVIGILON HD PRO camera range.

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HD Pro Cameras

 

Avigilon are about to Introduce their new line of HD Pro cameras. Avigilon claim that these cameras are the industry’s most powerful and they also claim these are the most innovative line of high-definition cameras that the have been manufactured to date.

 

The new HD Pro cameras are available in three different versions. This is the 8 MP, 12 MP and 16 MP resolutions. Each camera has been completely re-engineered on Avigilon’s next generation H4 platform and designed to deliver the ultimate combination of performance, processing power and bandwidth economy.

Avigilon have achieved this through the seamless integration with Avigilon Control Center by using Avigilon’s proprietary HDSM 2.0 technology. Avigilon’s HD Pro cameras also come with onboard storage capabilities, allowing for the storage of footage directly on the device using a standard SD card. This is another step forward in edge recording.

Avigilon have deployed their technology in many different places from stadiums and airports to large-scale critical infrastructure projects and Avigilon’s new HD Pro cameras continue to provide vast coverage with unparalleled image detail.

KEY FEATURES BENEFITS OF  THE NEW AVIGILON RANGE INCLUDE

8 MP, 12 MP and 16 MP resolutions.

Capture high-quality, detailed images over vast areas, while providing maximum coverage options.

H.264 Compression H.264 compression allows for maximum image quality while minimizing impact on bandwidth and network performance.

Focus and Iris Control of SLR Lenses.

Remote focus for ease of installation and operation.

Plug-and-Play No external power required.

Flexible lens options Compatible with both EF and EF-S mount lenses for the best possible optical quality.

Onboard storage SDHC and SDXC card compatability for storage of video footage directly on the device.

LightCatcher TM Technology Collects significantly more detail from a low light scene, to deliver higher quality colour images with far less noise than other low light cameras.

 

The H4 platform and HDSM 2.0 Engineered using H.264 compression technologies, Avigilon’s next-generation H4 platform allows for improved overall camera performance, including faster processing power, more efficient bandwidth management and superior image detail.

So how is this achieved?

Its quite simple, by harnessing the strength of Avigilon Control Center and the second generation of our patented High Definition Stream

Management technology (HDSM 2.0), our H4 platform intelligently and efficiently manages your HD data, letting you view and search through high-definition video easier than ever before, with fewer strains on network resources. The combination of these two revolutionary technologies results in Avigilon’s most powerful cameras yet, which means your system can maintain optimal performance while still getting unparalleled image detail.

Vast coverage. Superior detail.

The HD PRO series is built to accomodate the coverage of  large areas such as Stadiums, carparks and airports, Avigilon’s HD Pro camera series are the ultimate camera for providing full situational awareness combined with crystal clear detail when zoomed in. Monitor a full stadium and capture fan disruptions to comply with mandatory government regulations. Cover a full parking lot and identify number plates. Or cover the entire tarmac of an airport while still being able to distinguish plane numbers. Regardless of your coverage needs, Avigilon’s HD Pro cameras provide the power and detail you need to keep your environment safe and secure. If you need security, need to monitor public spaces, reduce false injury claims, control crowds and prevent theft then look no further than the Avigilon HD PRO camera range for unimaginable detail.

 

Avigilon acquire VideoIQ

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Well the big news this week in the world of CCTV is Avigilon’s announcement that they are buying out HD analytics experts VideoIQ. In a statement released yesterday a spokesman for Avigilon said:

“We are excited to announce that today we have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the video analytics company, VideoIQ, Inc.  Founded in 2006, VideoIQ has grown to become a leader in real-time intelligent video analytics solutions for security and business intelligence applications. This new acquisition complements Avigilon’s line of high-definition surveillance solutions and provides us with sophisticated and proven analytics technology supported by one of the leading development teams in the industry”.

Avigilon ACC-4.6 Range

Back in March 2011 we reported a synergy between the two companies now it seems they are one.

 

So why would Avigilon purchase videoIQ and what advantages does it bring to the installers and end users? Well firstly it brings powerful analytics into the Avigilon range. This will help installers deliver security solutions that now includes an intelligent method of detecting changes in the images that are needed for a proactive approach to security. Alarms generate a measured response and will prevent crime rather than just have the ability to watch it being played back after the event. A spokesman for Avigilon continued:

” Adding this technology to our HD video surveillance solution enables end-users to prevent crime proactively and to more effectively analyze large amounts of data for both security and business intelligence purposes. By adding VideoIQ’s advanced technology to the Avigilon solution, our customers will have the benefits of automated real time detection, real time alerts and post-incident analysis and forensic search capabilities, along with all of the other benefits that Avigilon’s end-to-end solutions deliver”

There is one other benefit that Avigilon may chose to exploit. Video IQ are well known for being pioneers of EDGE recording. It remains to be seen if this will be developed further by Avigilon but its always been a unique selling point for VideoIQ and something that should not be overlooked for the future.

So is this the end of VideoIQ ? For the moment we are led to understand that Video IQ will continue in its own right. It has a global user base and support will continue to be provided as before. Eventually though of course VideoIQ will be integrated fully into Avigilon’s products and eventually the two companies will be one.

It is certainly an exciting development that Avigilon should chose to take this step, an already powerful product will become an almost complete solution and this will give end users a huge choice as to how they are able to process and act upon activity taking place within their company. Avigilon will still be providing solutions to health and safety issues as well as monitoring production and increasing security but now with the benefit of high quality analytics on board.

Automated realtime detection in HD is now here and underpinned by technology developed by two of the most successful companies within the industry.

Are smart phones killing off CCTV monitoring stations?

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As broadband was rolled out across the UK some 10 years or so ago, Central monitoring stations were rubbing their hands at the prospect of a surge of CCTV monitoring connections that looked to be coming their way. Broadband also signalled a rush of new start remote CCTV monitoring stations looking to get in on the action and why not? Each connection was worth a small fortune.

 

Until broadband took off ISDN was the only effective way of monitoring and one product led the way. This was ADPRO. Pretty much every central station ran the video central gold software and it seemed that there was little or no alternative. Many new products tried and failed to break the hold on the market but with limited success.

Honeywell IMMIX

Just when things were looking good for all involved in the CCTV industry along came the recession . This by its very nature cut the number of new connections and depleted those that already existed. In an effort to cut costs customers looked elsewhere,  they were also prepared to take the inconvenience of monitoring systems themselves on their home PC,s rather than pay for monitoring. This habit persisted throughout the recession but as smart phone technology took off so it became easier for an end user to monitor his own CCTV from anywhere.

 

Now this form of monitoring is not safe. It also does not have an audit trail associated with it, you can’t monitor it when you are asleep. To be fair from a security perspective it’s a pretty ineffective way to monitor CCTV and protect your premises. The problem for genuine CCTV monitoring stations is that there is nothing driving end users to use their services. Not insurance companies nor CCTV installers either. Yes bigger organizations will still insist on “proper monitoring  but they are rare and the market is getting fragmented. So are the smart phones winning?

 

Most in the industry will probably tell you that for the time being yes! They are a big part of the sizzle at the point of sale and what salesman is going to push remote monitoring when he can tell the end user he can connect for nothing.

 

A short sighted approach all round though. It means there is no ongoing revenue and a customer that has in effect been left with a system that in reality will just show him what happened yesterday night and not prevent a crime taking place as it is happening.

 

Remote CCTV monitoring is proactive but smart phone monitoring is inevitably reactive. New advances in CCTV mean big companies such as AVIGILON are now talking to software development companies such as IMMIX as they try to bring HD CCTV monitoring to the world. This is exciting for the future. Powerful Avigilon software and HD images mean that remote CCTV monitoring will go to a new level.We anticipate this happening once the economy gets back to normal meaning remote CCTV monitoring will recover its place in the market where it truly belongs. Until then it seems everyone is just happy to fly by the seat of their pants!

 

 

 

Predator HD integrated CCTV solution

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Take a look at the new Predator. It is all about integrated CCTV solutions. 360 vision have teamed up withThermal from FLIR
Radar from Navtech and Analytics from Ipsotek. All these technologies combine to make the new Predator the CCTV heavyweight camera that just about solves all your security requirements.

Do Thermal CCTV cameras really have a place in the world of security today?

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We have recently seen a rise in the number of companies starting to promote Thermal CCTV as a viable option to help end users protect their premises against crime and intrusion. This trend is currently a trickle but some in the industry seem to believe that Thermal CCTV really does have value and should be at the forefront of every specifiers mind. Difficult to believe when thermal cameras can retail from anything from £4000 to £25000 installed.

Thermal camera image

 

So let’s start with the different types of Thermal CCTV cameras on the market. We have a choice it seems. Thermal PTZ domes and Thermal statics. Some of the domes also combine a standard colour camera to compliment the thermal. The static thermal CCTV cameras tend to come with a variety of lens options and definition, the majority though concentrate on using lenses that mean the scene width will be narrow, feeling that perimeter protection is likely to be the main area where these cameras will sell.

 

At the fore-front of the industry we have the big manufacturers such as Flir, 360 Vision and Bosch. These giants of the industry have spent millions in development  but some smaller guys are starting to break through and this is encouraging. What makes these manufactures want to invest so much in thermal when as we said earlier the prices are seemingly high to the end user? To be honest it’s one of those things you need to see to actually make you release the power of thermal. These cameras can see in ZERO  light conditions, look through fog and rain, pick out movement in trees and bushes but most importantly they work brilliantly in conjunction with on-site security or high end analytics. The best until last though, the distance that they can realistically detect an intruder can be measured in Kilometres rather than meters and this makes them exceptionally cheap compared to their colour camera rival.

Thermal predator

 

We asked earlier if they have a place in the market . Recent research has predicted that the use of thermal technology could increase by up to 25% in the next 5 years. A growth that will have quite an impact and reward those who have spent lots of time and money researching and producing Thermal CCTV camera technology.

 

The sort of scenario where we expect these cameras to be deployed are wide open spaces on critical infrastructure sites where intruders can do untold damage to electricity, communications or military establishments. As we said earlier perimeter protection suits thermal quite brilliantly it gives the watching guard the sort of information they need to do their job,  lighting up the screen with a clearly defined image of an intruder in absolute darkness.

 

Central stations to are beginning to capitalize on Thermal CCTV camera technology to. With false alarms being a central stations biggest nightmare Thermal plus analytics is giving reliable alarm triggers and the clearly defined images leave the operators in no doubt if there is a human presence on site or not.

 

We have all seen the police camera action videos , so we all know just how good these images can be. Well now it’s not just the police who can apply this technology its actually the average business trying to protect its assets . That is good reason to belief then that Thermal really is the next big thing.