Case Studies

Oracle goes hybrid

by Mark Rowe

Looking to move to a totally IP cameras while wanting to upgrade their analogue cameras now, The Oracle shopping centre in Reading has been installing the Predator Hybrid camera from CCTV designer and manufacturer 360 Vision Technology.

The on-site security team at The Oracle has a mixture of guards in public areas of the centre, and operators working in the CCTV control room, from where they can view over 300 static, covert, PTZ and dome cameras.

Andy Salmon, Security Manager at The Oracle, says: “As our security consultant of choice for many years, we have enjoyed a successful relationship with Zada Technology Ltd, in which time we have built a working relationship that has seen the installation of further cameras to our system. For the latest upgrade we had some concerns about investing in analogue cameras, only to be faced with them becoming obsolete and having to replace them in the future when we upgrade our control to IP, which will happen in the next round of planned rolling upgrade programme.”

Adam Parsonson-Smith, Technical Director at London NW2-based shopping centre security installer Zada Technology Ltd says: “We specified the 360 Vision Technology Predator Hybrid to provide both analogue and HD functionality in a single PTZ camera. It’s the perfect choice for use at The Oracle. This ‘Patent pending’ technology means that when their installation moves to HD infrastructure, the Hybrid camera’s standard analogue 4:3 images can be replaced with a full HD 1080p output – at the flick of a camera switch and with no additional equipment required.”

Predator Hybrid also features ONVIF compliant or 360SDK protocols for set-up and IP68 certification for performance in harshest environments – all backed by 360 Vision Technology’s three-year warranty, and their design and manufacturing base in the UK.

Using the new Predator Hybrid cameras, the Oracle security team can view all aspects of the shopping centre’s malls and its car parks, in HD quality. These high-definition images are the installers say an improvement on the original images and assist the control room team to identify suspicious and anti-social behaviour. Better quality images also means that ‘known’ offenders can be identified as soon as they enter the centre, and their behaviour monitored and recorded.

This new HD overview of the centre allows security, management, and health and safety decisions made based on a visual summary of monitored situations. If an incident requires one of the security team to attend, resources can be directed to the location via radio link from the control room. Andy says: “High-definition images from the Predator Hybrid cameras mean we don’t have to deploy our guards to every situation. Using the new cameras we can monitor the situation and only deploy our manned guarding team if necessary – this frees them to perform other tasks and helps me as manager use the resources at my disposal for best effect and in the most economical way.”

Adam adds: “Predator Hybrid’s designed-in seamless integration and simple set-up meant minimal installation time and therefore minimal disruption to The Oracle’s business trading during camera installation. This provided The Oracle management with the assurance and satisfaction derived from a quick camera changeover procedure and minimal downtime while the work was carried out.”

About the centre

Opened in September 1999, the first phase of The Oracle was followed in November of that year by The Riverside, of restaurants, pubs and cinema. The final phase completed the development in May 2000, which was officially opened by the Princess Royal. Along with The Riverside’s 22 restaurants, cafés and bars, The Oracle’s 90 stores and shops increases Reading’s retail outlet footage by 33 percent. Visitors to the centre can use its two large car parks, which provide 2,300 vehicle spaces.

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