20 Sep 2011
Sony’s XI’s wide area video monitoring incorporates the XIS-3420 HD camera unit
The XI's allowed the Baltimore police to monitor the entire event area from a single centralised location

Sony Electronics' XI's wide area monitoring security solution provided extensive video surveillance for the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix, an auto race over a two-mile temporary street circuit traveling through the heart of downtown Baltimore over Labor Day weekend.

The XI's system, incorporating the XIS-3420 High Definition camera unit, allowed the Baltimore police to monitor the entire event area from a single centralised location. Image data is transmitted over an IP network for storage on a server. With the XI's visual information, police and first responders had confidence that they had a complete picture of the environment and were able to improve coordination of their efforts. The system served to enhance a significant existing surveillance camera network.

Wide Area Monitoring: "Streamlined, More Effective"

"Sony XI's system demonstrated its ability to deliver a comprehensive video surveillance solution on a temporary basis for such events," said Mark Collett, General Manager of Sony's Security Systems Division. "This provides a streamlined, effective approach, that can be used both as an enhancement to existing systems, or as a standalone for events where there is no physical security infrastructure in place."

Collett added that the XI's system's ability to view a wide area in extraordinary detail with its 240+ megapixel images affords particular advantages. It can help reduce the "camera clutter" required to properly carry out surveillance through traditional means. Instead of utilising hundreds of cameras, the XI's' centralised architecture requires a far less intrusive "footprint" to maintain safety.