Customer: Regency High School
Location: Worcestershire
Requirement: Install new IP cameras and integrate existing Mobotix and Bosch CCTV cameras into a single recording and playback platform
Solution: Avigilon IP Cameras, Avigilon Encoders, Avigilon HD Network Appliance
Services: Design, Installation, Ongoing Support & Maintenance
Customer’s View: “The new system works far better for us and saves so much time in searching for events.” Kevin Beck, Site Manager
Regency High School needed to integrate existing systems with new cameras
Regency High School prides itself on providing a caring, supportive yet challenging environment for students between 11-19 years with a range of additional needs including moderate, severe and profound learning disabilities, physical and medical needs, and sensory impairment. Regency work closely with a wide range of professionals, organisations and educational providers to offer a high quality education to all of their students. Regency High School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to actively share this commitment.
The schools CCTV system was being maintained by an external contractor, however on several occasions they had underperformed with maintaining the system and so Kevin Beck, Site Manager for Regency, had no choice but to look for an alternative partner for their security and maintenance requirements. In addition to this there was a need for further cameras to be installed onsite and possibly a new Video Management system to integrate the existing Mobotix IP System and the Bosch Analogue System.
Ecl-ips is an established security installer who specialise in IP security systems and have worked with many organisations of all sizes with regards to their security requirements. Ecl-ips are an authorised Mobotix partner and were introduced to Regency as a possible alternative partner. Having met with Kevin Beck and Ash Hall from Regency they were able to understand the issues the school faced and establish what they were trying to achieve from their surveillance system, which was to primarily discourage crime and anti-social behaviour and also to safeguard the staff and pupils.
After consulting with Kevin and Ash from Regency and doing an audit of the existing system, Ecl-ips were able to establish the limitations of the existing system and to recommend a solution that would best fit the school to meet their security needs and budget requirements.
Ecl-ips’s solution for Regency
The existing installation already included the Mobotix IP cameras which provide an excellent solution and high quality images, however the original set up of the system wasn’t getting the best from the cameras. At the heart of the system Ecl-ips suggested bringing in an Avigilon HD Network Appliance which has Avigilon Control Center preloaded and configured which allows for plug-and-play network video recording and management of multi-megapixel IP cameras. This would make it far easier for Regency to review images and retrieve information quickly.
Avigilon Control Center (ACC) is an easy to use video management software and has optimised how security professionals manage and interact with high definition video. As a distributed network platform with enterprise-class reliability, Avigilon Control Center is able to efficiently capture, manage and store high definition surveillance video while intelligently managing bandwidth and storage. Avigilon Control Center can be pre-installed and configured on an Avigilon High Definition Video Appliance, Network Video Recorder (NVR) with the industry’s highest NVR network throughput or work as stand-alone software, to meet the needs of a wide variety of installations.
Within the proposal Ecl-ips integrated the existing Mobotix IP cameras and Bosch analogue cameras into the new system. The ACC Appliance and software allows searching via a single workstation or up to 5 workstations – Certainly in Ecl-ips’s experience the time spent searching for valuable footage will be decreased and the system will also allow access via mobile devices.
Regency knew that they needed more cameras to be added to the site to achieve the required coverage. Ecl-ips offer a free trial for customers, to allow them to see the quality and ease of use of a number of the cameras that they offer.
Regency trialled the new Fisheye camera from Avigilon in the Music Room. This camera has 2 models with 6MP and 12MP resolution and can be ceiling or wall mounted. The camera has a sleek design and is also vandal resistant with IK10 rating also IP66 rated and ONVIF Compliant based on open standards. The Fisheye camera is based on the faster H4 platform which means superior image quality, a faster processor and better bandwidth management. The displayed image has no blind spots with a 360 degree panoramic view and has lightcatcher technology to provide clear, colour low light images which is usual for a Fisheye. The content adaptive infra red illuminates dark images to provide enough light without providing too much reflection in the image.
This camera is ideal for reception areas and classrooms as it has an integrated microphone and a future firmware upgrade will provide video analytics. Following the trial Regency decided to install a fisheye camera to monitor the music classroom, with traditional cameras they would have required 3 devices as there are 3 entrances but one Avigilon Fisheye camera could do the job, saving time and money for Regency.
In Conclusion
Regency High School has now got one integrated system, which is working perfectly for their needs now and can grow in the future. They can now view all 3 systems on one device, making it easier to manage all cameras.
“Ecl-ips fitted the Avigilon Fisheye camera about 3 months ago this is one special piece of equipment to us it covers wall to wall and can be viewed in several ways, play back is so easy and night vision is perfect” Kevin Beck, Site Manager
Download the Regency High School Case Study PDF