Middlesborough Council

All councils across the UK are feeling the effects of squeezed budgets. Some areas have closed CCTV schemes altogether. Recognising the long-term savings CCTV security delivers, Middlesbrough Council wanted a cost effective security upgrade to enable its CCTV network to migrate to IP at a comfortable pace.

The brief was to strengthen the town’s existing security infrastructure by installing a number of network video recorders and upgrading the integrated software in control rooms.

The overall aim was to improve CCTV monitoring from an existing network of 170 cameras.

How was the solution reached?

Vizsec, a local Middlesbrough company specialising in the design and installation of security systems, led the project, integrating Pelco Digital Sentry, a cost effective network video recorder enabling slicker operation in the control room, with Veracity’s VIEWSCAPE software. The intended result was a better environment for control room operators.

Intuitive operation, open architecture

Kevin Smith, a director of Pelco commented:

“In this instance, Middlesbrough Council was looking to manage several IP and analogue cameras as part of an upgrade to its security infrastructure. By using Pelco’s Digital Sentry NVR they have the advantage of intuitive operation and open architecture, while overall they have benefitted from a cost effective method of migrating to IP, at a comfortable pace. Meanwhile, Veracity’s VIEWSCAPE software has allowed Middlesbrough Council to operate a combination of analogue and IP cameras and encoders through a single interface.”

Multiple applications visible and controllable via single interface

Veracity VIEWSCAPE software, an open integration platform solution for IP and analogue security technologies, strengthened the scope of the control room, enabling integration between CCTV, access control, fire system, fence management, traffic management and more, to provide a fully operational control system.

Fully operational control system

Veracity installed a centralised server with three operational VIEWSCAPE clients to control the Pelco system as well as other elements. This was then linked into four Veracity wall controllers, providing a fully operational control system for live or recorded incident management.

Scalable, so future-proof

Michael Gallager, Director of New Business for Veracity commented:

“The set up means that the control room can move forward from simply a public space control room to covering larger sites, such as universities and public shopping areas. VIEWSCAPE software was selected as we are vendor neutral, meaning that it can integrate into any system regardless of manufacturer.”