With the site hosting numerous valuable and historically significant pieces, security is of the utmost importance. Constant surveillance is essential to protect the valuable and historically significant artefacts against the risk of theft and damage.

However, the security systems in situ were no longer appropriate to deliver effective protection. Operating with a CCTV platform which used legacy analogue technology, the customer wanted to use a modern platform, with embedded analytics, which facilitated a migration to a more intelligent, proactive security model. What’s more, given the financial pressures, any investment needed to be future proofed.

It was also important that during the installation process, video footage was not lost so security couldn’t continue to function. Finally, given the facility was built in the 17th century, it was critical that engineers worked within the limitations of the aging site infrastructure.

THE GOALS

In the case of this museum, the goals were very well defined and understood. G4S could realistically reduce these goals to two primary and intertwined objectives:

• Analogue to IP Migration with no disruption - Complete the migration from analogue to IP without interruption to surveillance.
• Introduce intelligent surveillance - Use embedded analytics to provide early visibility of suspicious behaviour and take corrective action.

The new surveillance was to underpin a more proactive approach to security delivery.

THE SOLUTION

G4S substituted the analogue devices in situ with a range of powerful IP cameras which offered improvements in image resolution and analytics to assist with issue detection to facilitate a more proactive security service.

Analytics were used to support operators quickly identify potential issues as they occur and intervene - without relying on historic footage. Compression technologies ensured that the cameras operated within the confines of the available bandwidth, meaning the customer saw no service disruption to non security operations.

THE RESULTS

The G4S project team worked carefully with the customer’s operations and security teams to ensure that there was minimal disruption during installation to the site’s normal operation. Continuity of video monitoring was maintained through the installation process to reduce any risks that could result from a disruption in bandwidth.

Following installation, the security team have delivered a more proactive approach to security by using the inbuilt intelligence in the new camera suite to alert potential issues as they occur. This has led to a more visible security presence and a reduction in incidents as a result.