Mission
Following a spate of thefts that its existing analogue-based CCTV surveillance system failed to pick up, City Inn in Manchester, UK, decided to upgrade its system for a higher quality, more advanced solution. The hotel approached Axis partner Kings Security to provide a solution with extensive camera coverage and increased recording capacity. As the analogue system was a recent investment, the hotel was keen to adapt it rather than start from scratch.
Solution
The solution recommended by Kings Security was well received by the hotel's management team as it could offer more coverage across the hotel. Building on the existing analogue-based system, Kings Security provided an IP-Surveillance solution that incorporated the hotel's existing cameras and 33 new network cameras. In order to improve the image quality that the analogue cameras could deliver, two 6-channel AXIS Q7406 Video Encoder Blades were used to convert the analogue data stream into a digital H.264 stream.
Kings Security also installed 23 AXIS P3301 Network Cameras, four AXIS 216MFD Network Cameras, three AXIS 225FD Network Dome Cameras and three AXIS 209MFD Network Cameras. The new H.264 technology offers improved storage capacity allowing for recording time to be increased from 10 to 30 days. It also allows for easy addition of new cameras to the system if needed, and in certain areas of the building the number of cameras has been reduced, as the Axis network cameras are able to cover a wider area per camera without compromising image quality.
Result
City Inn, Manchester now has a high-quality, advanced surveillance system, which fits its needs perfectly. The hotel's existing analogue cameras have been integrated into the new network-based solution, which has helped keep costs down. The number of cameras in the hotel has been increased to ensure optimum surveillance.
A safe environment for guests
City Inn is an independent brand of modern and stylish city centre hotels. City Inn, Manchester is the most recent addition to the prestigious City Inn chain. It opened in May 2007 and is located at One Piccadilly Place in the heart of a major city redevelopment, within walking distance of the city's main train station. Equipped for both leisure and business visitors, the hotel boasts over 200 rooms alongside bars and restaurants including the Sky Lounge which offers panoramic views of the city.
City Inn's strategy is to develop hotels in prime UK and international city centres. The company's ethos is to deliver an uncompromising approach to quality; a commitment to innovation and to always put the customer's needs first, including their safety.
Optimum surveillance
With security a key concern for any venue in a city centre, City Inn, Manchester frequently reviews its security requirements to ensure optimum safety and security of its guests. The hotel decided that its existing analogue-based CCTV system was no longer adequate for its needs due to lack of camera coverage and limited image recording capacity. City Inn approached security systems specialist Kings Security Ltd. to provide a solution that could offer increased camera coverage and which had the storage capacity to record more footage.
In order for the hotel to benefit from an IP-based solution without having to discard its recent analogue investment, Kings Security recommended a hybrid surveillance system using Axis video encoders to incorporate the hotel's existing analogue cameras alongside 33 new network cameras.
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| Overall, the number of cameras has been reduced, as the Axis cameras are able to cover a wider area per camera |
Impressed with the image quality delivered by Axis' network cameras and the ease at which images could be retrieved and shared over the network, City Inn, Manchester's management team decided that the solution recommended by Kings Security would be perfect for their needs.
Image quality has been improved by the use of two 6-channel AXIS Q7406 Video Encoder Blades to convert analogue images into digital H.264 streams. The video encoder comes with H.264 video compression, which drastically reduces bandwidth and storage requirements without affecting the quality of the footage. The AXIS Q7406 enables large numbers of analogue cameras to be integrated into an IP-based, high-density video surveillance system.
The hotel's IP-surveillance system now consists of 23 AXIS P3301 Network Cameras, four AXIS 216MFD Network Cameras and three AXIS 225FD Network Dome Cameras. In addition, the hotel's lifts are protected by three AXIS 209MFD Network Cameras. The IP-based system runs over a CAT6 network, providing Power over Ethernet (PoE) for all the cameras.
Kings Security also installed AXIS Camera Station which allows for the easy management and retrieval of video. Images are stored at seven frames per second (fps) and kept for 30 days on a dedicated Dell 3 Terabyte server. Motion detection is used on network cameras in low activity areas with frame rates reduced to 1fps when no motion is detected, further optimizing the investment in video storage.
City Inn, Manchester is now seeing a whole host of benefits thanks to the remote monitoring and use of intelligent video applications, which the IP-based surveillance system makes possible. For example, it is now far easier to document incidents, as video recordings are stored digitally and can be easily recovered and shared across the network. The hotel is now well equipped for any future surveillance requirements it may have and has the depth and breadth of coverage, image quality and scalability it desperately required.
