17 November 2017
OSS installed an IndigoVision Control Centre, a fully integrated system that is said to allow video, access control and alarms to be easily managed.
Loughborough University has upgraded its CCTV security network to increase the level of protection for the 17,975 students and 3,787 members of staff that study, work, live on or visit the campus.
The project was completed by security and IT infrastructure solutions specialist OpenView Security Solutions (OSS) which also claims to be the UK’s largest privately owned independent security firm
OSS was awarded the contract through the ESPO tender portal. ESPO (Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation) is a professional buying organisation jointly owned by six county and city councils: Leicestershire; Lincolnshire; Cambridgeshire; Norfolk, Warwickshire; and Peterborough.
Loughborough University last enhanced its CCTV system in 2012 when it was chosen as the official preparation camp for Team GB prior to the London Olympics. With the existing security control room equipment reaching end of life, the network needed another upgrade.
This project entailed the consolidation of two separate workstation systems. This would enable them to monitor any part of the campus, enhancing service delivery and delivering cost savings.
OSS installed an IndigoVision Control Centre which is described as a fully integrated system designed to allow video, access control and alarms to be easily managed.
It’s claimed the platform features a “unique” distributed network architecture to deliver “greater resilience”, and supports continuous system growth for future-proofing.
The company also installed two of IndigoVision’s Enterprise NVR-AS network video recorders in a server farm on the university’s IT network, along with an additional failover unit for added resilience. Each NVR is said to offer data throughput of 2Gbps and up to 112TB usable storage.
More than 300 cameras have been connected to the IndigoVision platform using what OSS says is the latest high speed IP technology over the existing IT infrastructure.
The university also took the opportunity to install 30 new IndigoVision PTZ cameras to provide enhanced monitoring at key locations across its 440 acre campus.
Furthermore, OSS installed encoders and an IndigoVision Camera Gateway to enable older analogue cameras to stream images via IP over the network.
The new system also allows images from the bodycams used by security patrols that help maintain an effective campus watch scheme. Footage from these cameras is uploaded to the system via docking stations and is stored centrally, helping to maintain crime recording procedures and make informed decisions concerning the patrolling strategy.
OSS says it has now been awarded a contract to support and maintain the university’s CCTV network, control room and intruder alarm systems.
Andrew Burgess, director of infrastructure and commercial services at Loughborough University, says there was no loss of service throughout the upgrade process.
He adds: “The new system has delivered immediate operational benefits by being easier to use and manage.”
