M. S. WILSON, Infinova, Monmouth Junction, New Jersey
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rganizations have experienced a dramatic demand for surveillance technology development to protect people, as well as private and public assets. The growing need for increasing security, especially surveillance, leaves many security managers in a quandary.A challenging dilemma that petro- chemical industry security managers face is how and when they should take the leap from an analog system to an Internet protocol (IP)/digital video system. They want to jump to IP surveillance in a cost- managed way that extends the existing equipment life. For most sites, this migra- tion will take place gradually and, during the process, analog and IP solutions will have to coexist, in some cases, for many years to come.
Traditionally, in the leap from analog to digital video, organizations convert ana- log signals to digital signals by buying and installing rack encoders for their bank of analog cameras. They replace the analog control room equipment with new IP con- trol room equipment. This can be quite expensive at the front end.
Some believe that a better way is to cre- ate a coexistent system. In this scheme, the system keyboards connect to a virtual memory system (VMS), not the matrix switchers. The analog side of the coexisting system stays untouched. Nothing is added to it. However, since the VMS sits on top of the system, operators use their traditional keyboard commands to manage both the analog and digital solutions.
This is true since the VMS interfaces with both the system’s analog matrix switch- ers as well as the IP cameras. As a result, on the combined video wall, the analog and IP solutions coexist but are still separate. Transparent to the operator, with no mouse needed, the system sends IP camera images
to the digital monitors and analog cam- era signals to the analog monitors. With this coexistent solution, agencies can begin using an IP solution simply by adding IP cameras, digital monitors and the coexis- tence VMS.
In the leap from analog to digital, five major system areas need to be considered:
• Cameras
• Transmission and cabling, including power supplies
• Storage and retrieval • Command and control • Integration.
Cameras—throw out the analog or keep them. A key consideration for security professionals is whether or not the existing analog cameras or new IP ones will provide the image quality needed to achieve the functional requirements of the system. Different applications have differ- ent requirements; some users require the ability to see and track suspects in chang- ing lighting conditions, while others sim- ply need to see that a corridor is clear.
In many migration plans, specific loca- tions of greater vulnerability or image detail requirements are ideal places for IP-based cameras, including megapixel and high- definition models, and one needs to ask if higher-resolution cameras can help at each location (Fig. 1). A risk/vulnerability matrix can display overall elements or drill down to specific locations such as the perimeter, parking garage, entrance and exit doors, hallways, computer center, security com- mand and control (Fig. 2).
Typically, a hybrid approach is consid- ered in which analog-to-digital encoders at the camera end can transform images from an analog camera to digital trans- mission and storage. The analog control room equipment gets scrapped but the new
IP control room equipment controls the already-installed analog cameras.
Coexistence is a more cost-effective approach that holds down the budget at the beginning. The existing analog equip- ment, including cameras, control room, video wall and cabling remains untouched. VMS software, integrated with the present keyboard, sits on top of the system to man- age the new IP equipment and the already- installed analog system.
The petrochemical industry has another major camera challenge as well—the threat of explosives. Cameras must be in explo- sion-proof product housings that meet stringent corrosion-resistant requirements (Fig. 3). These housings should be made of 316 stainless steel and be suitable for both indoor and outdoor installations. The cam- era should comply with the IECEx standard and have an IP66 environmental protection designation. The standard for explosion- proof camera housing is ExdIICT6.
High-definition (HD) 36° continuous rotation megapixel IP PTZ dome cameras with 1.3-megapixel resolution. FIG. 1
PLANT SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT
SPECIALREPORT
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NOVEMBER 2010 HYDROCARBON PROCESSINGThere are also explosion-proof inte- grated pan tilt zoom (PTZ) cameras that are designed for use in flammable and explosive hazardous areas. The housings on these explosion-proof cameras are sealed to prevent the intake of explosive dust while featuring strong corrosion- resistant capabilities.
Transmission choices—budgets can dictate. Coaxial, shielded twisted pair and unshielded twisted-pair cable, fiber optics and, to a lesser degree, a variety of wireless approaches carry most security video. The difference and business advan- tage of the various transmission schemes are in the installation and maintenance costs. A question to ask is whether or not the new IP cameras will eliminate long dis- tance analog cabling.
One strategy to handle both analog and digital networks is to transmit all the signals over a single fiber optic cable that is secure and immune to electrical or environmental interference. Installation is dramatically simplified by eliminating the need for multiple fibers, transmitters and receivers. Not to be forgotten are power supplies. Following a coexistence plan, power supplies that are multi-tap, address- able and programmable have advantages.
Other considerations include the
increased bandwidth impact on the enter- prise’s network. This is a tricky assignment and IT can help. Newer types of compres- sion, decompression or codec, such as H.264, reduce bandwidth traffic load but at a cost of more storage and command center processing. Can the budget afford the increased transmission and storage associated with megapixel cameras?
Storage and retrieval challenges.
Though being analog-based, most secu- rity organizations already have digital and network video recorders for storage and retrieval. However, storage solutions have their own challenges, thanks to myriad fea- tures and benefits that can range from com- mon specs to helpful elements such as intel- ligent PTZ control with preset positions and e-mail or SMS message notification upon motion detection or event alerts.
Migrating from MJPEG to H.264 can reduce storage use by 50% or more. That’s why security users migrated from MJPEG to MPEG-4 and now are moving to H.264. It compresses video into a smaller size, yet maintains the same video quality when compared with an MPEG-4. With an H.264, a representative frame (R-frame) is selected from a group of frames in a video sequence. Only the selected R-frame is stored. By using R-frames, H.264 can compress a video stream, thereby more efficiently generating significantly less bandwidth.
This is true for most camera situations, such as a fixed camera with a low amount of motion. If there is a lot of motion, as in an airport lobby, or if the camera is moving, such as a PTZ, the number of the R-frames generated will increase. In some situations, the compression provided by H.264 may be only marginally better than M-JPEG.
Nonetheless, because of the lower band- width generated by H.264, less storage is required to archive the video. Overall, in most surveillance situations, H.264 is a more efficient codec to use for both band- width reduction and storage.
At the camera edge, security managers are deploying secure digital or secure digi- tal storage cards, as well. This is especially important in applications where connec- tion loss to the rest of the system could lead to lost images.
Regardless, there are several questions to consider before selecting one mode or another on the pathway to IP:
• If the video is being monitored from a remote location (and it typically is), will one get exception reporting?
• Do files ever need to be shared with other departments, including law enforce- ment, in real time?
• How much does one need to record and how long does one need to keep those recordings?
Command and control options.
There is a lot to consider with command and control. Traditional matrix switching and joysticks are workhorses but in a fast- approaching software world, a solid next step is to consider networked video matrix switchers.
Integration. True security systems inte-
gration is a goal of most security operations. Beyond relays and interfaces, seamless inte- gration of security video with electronic access control, intrusion, perimeter, and identification systems is a beneficial end- point of any operation and one made sim- pler through IP.
The bottom line for security operations. No matter the speed of the change-over, a solid plan is where both analog and IP cameras can coexist. Such coexistence increases security’s overall situ- ational and domain awareness, improves its operational effectiveness and efficiencies, and provides a growth plan that extends the existing equipment’s life. It also makes sys- tems affordable and easy to manage. HP
Mark S. Wilson has overall responsibility for Infinova’s product marketing and global marketing ini- tiatives as well as extending relation- ships with manufacturing partners. He focuses on building a program structure for global marketing activities and matrixes with product manage- ment and manufacturing to develop efficient processes for new product launches and marketing operations.
Likelihood assessment Impact assessment High Medium Low Criticality Critical assessment Threat experts Mitigation strategies Transportation professionals Vulnerability experts V ulner ability Reduced likelihood Reduced impact Risk/vulnerability marix. FIG. 2
Explosion-proof camera housing. FIG. 3