In 2001 Brussels International Airport was a pioneer of IP video when it installed what was then the largest networked video CCTV system in Europe.  Based on IndigoVision’s IP video technology, the 700+ camera system was installed using their existing LAN and interfaced to the airport management system.  One of the main reasons for choosing an IP video solution from IndigoVision was its flexibility and scalability which would accommodate the airport’s growth plans and allow a smooth migration path to newer technology in the future.

Six years on Brussels Airport is benefiting from their early decision to deploy IP video by upgrading their current IndigoVision 6000 series technology with the latest series 8000 MPEG-4 product.  As well as providing DVD quality video, the 8000 series will give Brussels Airport access to real-time analytics.  Managed by IndigoVision’s local partner Fabricom GTI, Security Division, all 800 of the original series 6000 transmitter/receiver units will eventually be replaced with over 1,000 of the new 8000 units, providing additional surveillance in addition to the benefits of the newer technology.  The airport management system has also been updated to allow both 6000 and 8000 series units to work alongside each other during the upgrade process.

The CCTV system operates over the whole 3,706 acre site of the airport and provides surveillance footage for many departments, including police, fire service, customs, baggage handling and airport operations, via PC workstations or one of 150 video monitors located around the airport.  When it was first installed, the existing investment in analogue technology was not discarded, with many of the cameras and much of the control room equipment being re-used.

Commenting on the project, Oliver Vellacott, IndigoVision’s CEO said, “This project demonstrates that after 6 years of operation in a high-security application IP video is truly field-proven, with the airport continuing its commitment to IP video technology for many years to come.”

One of the major benefits of the upgrade will be the ability to deploy real-time analytics.  Real-time analytics are run at the edge of the network, i.e., at the camera within the 8000 transmitter/receiver units, making the solution totally scalable.  CCTV operators around the airport will be able to detect events as they happen such as congestion, stolen objects, cars parked too long outside a building or people moving the wrong way through security checkpoints.  Pre-determined events are identified as they happen, at any camera, and can drive the virtual matrix, e.g., display a salvo on a bank of monitors.  Real-time analytics lead to increased effectiveness and improvements in incident detection hit rates.

For more information, please send your e-mails to swm@infothe.com.

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