From The Field

Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM

The Springfield (Mass.) Water and Sewer Commission has deployed the intelligent Security Operations Center (iSOC) from DVTel Inc., Ridgefield Park, N.J., to assist in protecting the water supply for more than 250,000 people.

The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission (SWSC) and Affordable Monitoring Systems (AMS), the final project integrator, sought to install a security system that would control access to the Commission's reservoir — which is in a remote location — against malicious intent.

Fixed and pan/tilt/zoom cameras run over encoders into the iSOC, and video is transmitted to a central monitoring station located eight miles from the reservoir.

Delaware's Department of Technology and Information (DTI) is using the CloseView Video Tracking and Detection System from Dynapel, Memphis, Tenn., as an enhancement to its building security system.

“We needed improved surveillance capabilities in order to get a closer view of people and vehicles around our building,” says Glenn Wright, a senior telecommunications technologist at DTI.

Using the facility's existing cameras and DVR recording system, CloseView enables the system to track multiple objects and to zoom in for close-up images. Designed for unattended operation, CloseView makes it possible for virtually any PTZ camera to track multiple objects within the same scene without regard to size or speed of the motion. When there is detected motion in the field of view, the device automatically directs the PTZ camera to zoom in on the activity. An alarm output is then triggered to activate recording to a DVR for review and action.

The Castleberry Independent School District in Ft. Worth, Texas, has chosen the Rapid Responder crisis management system from Prepared Response Inc., Seattle, to protect students, staff, and buildings during an emergency.

The system, which will be installed in elementary, middle, high school and administration facilities, provides school security, police, fire, and other first responders with key information that allows them to act quickly, decisively, and in coordination with other responders. Responders will be able to view more than 300 data points, including floor plans, satellite and geospatial information, interior and exterior photos, emergency plans, hazardous materials locations, utility shut-offs and evacuation routes.

The University of Maryland Medical Center, a large teaching hospital in downtown Baltimore, has 669 beds with more than 1,000 attending physicians, a diverse staff of more than 6,000 employees, as well as volunteers and others who have business within the facility.

When the medical center sought a card printer to create its employee badges, it chose the P420i printer from Zebra Card Printer Solutions, Camarillo, Calif.

“We wanted to make sure we could print our badges without interruption,” says Sgt. Kathy Shanks, security project coordinator for UMMC. “We have about 10,000 active badges in the system at any given time, and we are always printing badges because of our large size and our complexity.”

All employees, contractors and vendors are required to wear badges at all times on the hospital grounds. The magnetic stripe cards are used for access control, timekeeping functions, scrubs and linen control, and tracking exactly who has changed camera angles in the center's operating rooms.

The University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) has successfully implemented a single sign-on solution from Sentillion Inc., Andover, Mass., for more than 19,000 individuals across multiple facilities.

The deployment includes three hospitals, 30 health centers and 120 outpatient clinics. The solution makes it easier for caregivers to access computer applications while improving security and protection of patient information.

When a UMHS caregiver provides their username and password, they are authenticated against the hospital's directory. Network access is granted and, through single sign-on, the caregiver is signed into UMHS' health information system, CareWeb, and Eclipsys Sunrise Clinical Manager.

Meissen, whose porcelain and exquisite craftsmanship draw visitors from all over the world, recently expanded both its visitor facilities and CCTV system to provide space and protection for its displays, exhibitions and retail operation.

The German company's museum houses its 20,000-piece historic porcelain collection, displaying 3,000 items. It was enlarged in 2005 with the addition of a modern extension.

Video cameras from Geutebrück GmbH, Germany, monitor the buildings, with motion detection alerting for anyone straying beyond safe limits. The CCTV, fire and intruder alarm systems are integrated into an alarm management system. Geutebrück's open interfaces enable video and intercom systems to work together, so that control room staff can interact with delivery drivers and official visitors.

Lockheed Martin has selected video surveillance and media integration components from BroadWare Technologies Inc., Santa Clara, Calif., as part of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Integrated Electronic Security System and Command, Communications and Control system.

The MTA oversees the New York City Transit system, Long Island Railroad, Metro North Railroad, and MTA bridges and tunnels. Lockheed Martin is leading a highly experienced team to design, develop and deploy a critical infrastructure protection system that integrates command, communications, control and security capabilities across MTA facilities.

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© 2008 Penton Media Inc.

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