IP CCTV Archives - Page 3 of 35

VideoIQ iCVR edge recording solution

VideoIQ have claimed they have a unique product that can fulfil a niche in the IP video marketplace that as yet no one else has attempted. In effect they have managed to create analytics on a megapixel camera and use edge technology to achieve a simply better surveillance solution. A bold claim, but does it work and can the new technology really live up to the claim? As part of the day job we got VideoIQ to do us a demonstration. What was seen was an impressive product with some pretty impressive features.

iCVR VideoIQ camera — iCVR Video IQ camera

Firstly unlike most other IP video solutions there is no requirement for a NVR. The VideoIQ iCVR camera looks a pretty robust unit and all the recording is done at the edge of the network. This means that it’s a scaleable approach to recording. If you need just one camera then that’s all you buy, no need to buy expensive recording equipment that is under used, equally no need to upgrade each time you want to increase security across your company or group.
Because all the recordings are stored on the edge of the network, the iCVR camera only needs to stream what is requested or deemed an alarm event. The streamed video can be set up by the use of rules and this means that only minimal bandwidth is ever required, essentially by-passing the most expensive part of a new IP CCTV installation i.e the cabling infrastructure.
So have VideoIQ really achieved effective analytics with a megapixel camera? Yes is the answer, once installed the advanced analytics calibrate themselves. The self learning technology was demonstrated and the iCVR camera seems to get more intelligent with each object detected.

The whole point of this technology is no wasted network capacity but still be able to achieve excellent image quality. Alarms can be generated via email and advanced search facilities mean that objects can be easily tracked and zoomed into. With browser access, viewing is possible from any PC and an event driven alarm review screen incorporated into the VideoIQ view software makes operation easy. The software is included with the purchase of the camera.
VideoIQ claim the iCVR is a fully integrated solution, we tend agree. The package includes the iCVR camera, the embedded DVR, powerful analytics and the video management software.
A complete solution? Well there are those I’am sure who will dispute that, but from what we witnessed it goes a very long way towards one.

IP CCTV the views of the security industry

An excellent article in July’s edition of PSI Magazine asks the question” what is the current state of IP CCTV as it stands in the CCTV market place today?” The opening statement of the article certainly confirms what many think. With input from respected professionals such as central station managers Colin Walters and Steve Kimber it asks how IP CCTV is integrating with the central stations and the quality of the monitoring as a result. The article also touches on HD SDI CCTV with great insight from Todd Rockoff and asks where this technology sits within the CCTV industry and where HD SDI CCTV will be focusing in the future. ONVIF and how it is playing an important role in ensuring IP CCTV does get its fair share of uptake is also covered well within the piece.

The whole article is fair and balanced and really does reflect how most CCTV professionals feel IP CCTV is developing within the security industry.

So for a great read turn to page 22 once you hit the link and look for the article headed “AIR OF MYSTERY investigating the current state of IP CCTV”

IntegratedCCTV – Tell us what you think!

Seems like our BlogAdmin has been provoking some stimulating feedback recently on Twitter!

Well, he’s gone off on his jolly’s for a couple of weeks, leaving the helm with us instead!

We here at IntegratedCCTV simply want to use this Blog as a sounding board for our OPINIONS regarding the state and position of our industry – sure, as has been levelled at us, we are UK based, we may not be the most advanced country in the World for adopting the latest and greatest technology, but this does not mean we do not have an opinion to offer.

Every country region has its own level of expertise and product take up – this happens in any industry with any technology.

We, as UK residents, have been accused of lagging behind in IP take-up – this is not without foundation and probably quite true. I wouldn’t say that its not without trying, but when a professional installation industry is hell bent on sticking to copper, then IP is always going to be the domain of the IT industry to move into the Security industry for the technology to gain traction.

Whilst talking about ‘lagging’ behind, we should really exploit our considerably better nationwide ADSL/Cable infrastructure to improve our IP CCTV market – countries like the US are actually lagging behind us with slower and more expensive internet connections, yet their IP take-up is higher than ours.

Perhaps countries like the US are simply able to adopt what’s new and interesting better than we can? Maybe we in the UK hang on until something has been tried, tested and actually reliable?

And, on the subject of feedback, it would appear that we are also criticised about our presentation and grammar here on IntegratedCCTV. For my part, I cannot see the relevance or importance of this within an informal blog – the purpose being to lay down our thoughts and yes, our musings. Whilst some may think we are some form of ‘authoritative voice’ we are not, we are merely looking to impart thought and word. Unlike many, we do not charge for the information we like to bring and long may that continue.

So, whilst we appreciate criticism, it should be constructive and polite – you know the saying, if you can do better………..

IP CCTV and the future of the CCTV industry.

There are many commentators about who are still asking the question where is IP CCTV going in the future? Most are still undecided on how things will develop and there seems to be a three way split on opinion.

1) The first chain of thought and one that holds most weight is that IP CCTV will grow a little more slowly than previously thought. However it will still grow and many feel that it is inevitable that it IP surveillance systems will become the norm for Image related security and management solutions. The idea behind this thinking is down to TCO or total cost of ownership. Based on the fact that IP CCTV can provide unquestionable flexibility and image quality it seems like a no brainer that this technology will come out number 1 over its two other main rivals, but as yet a slow start despite huge investment from the big boys such as Axis, Panasonic ,Samsumg, Arecont and Sony has suddenly shed a little doubt on just how much this technology can really dominate the market place within the next five years.

ip cameras

2) The reason for this doubt is analogue CCTV. Obvious weakness in this type of CCTV recording and image quality has been tempered by the ever decreasing cost of the products. It was originally thought that IP CCTV cameras would be mass produced bringing an very sharpe end to analogue CCTV dominance and see it disappear faster than the VCR did at the turn of this century. However big manufacturers such as March networks have decided to continue production of some high end analogue DVR products and analogue cameras keep being produced in the far east with endless relentlessness. So when will we see the demise of analogue, at the moment no one is sure but eventually it must be surpassed by IP CCTV solutions, its just when that is now in doubt. We could see analogue persist for another ten years!

3) Finally there is there is a new kid on the block. HDCCTV. This consists of HD SDI products that can transmit uncompressed HD images over coax. Suddenly this technology has huge appeal for existing CCTV companies who’s engineers are struggling to get to grips with IP. Its not that the engineers are not clever enough to make the shift to IP . It seems the cost of tooling up the engineers and giving training is holding them back. When the engineer sees 80 analogue CCTV systems to every 20 IP then even with training he will rarely get to apply newly learned skills and this then can easily cause his knowledge to fade. This is now where the HDCCTV plug and play concept becomes so attractive to CCTV installers. They are finding IP cameras and NVRs prohibitively expensive, difficult to deploy and expensive to maintain . Some are having to rely on third party IT support to commission systems or having to go to the extra cost of actually creating thier own IT departments to cope. A very costly overhead indeed. So HDCCTV with all the benefits of HD images suddenly becomes a very attractive option.

It is difficult to see where it will go in the end. Will it be the flexibility and superior image quality attainable by IP CCTV? The tried and tested analogue CCTV solution? Or the new kid on the block, HDCCTV? The jury is out….. but we do think we know!

Avigilon UK limited

Avigilon is a Canadian based company who specialize in the design of high performance megapixel IP cameras. Their cameras have been deployed in over 50 countries and their Video management system called Control Centre is one of the first open HD network management systems on the market. HD CCTV is Avigilon’s forte and their megapixel cameras are outstanding in their delivery of actionable image detail.

Avigilon ACC-4.6 Range

So what makes Avigilon the company they are? Well at IFSEC this year their staff were helpful and knowledgeable , but most of all the images actually spoke for themselves , they were quite simply stunning and the build quality is superb. In an effort to get installers to upgrade from analogue to IP their codecs are the most competitively priced units on the market.

We look more deeply into A vigilon’s operation and see why they are one of the most successful IP camera manufacturers in the market place.