After two years’ market research Copenhagen Airport took two years on market research into digital CCTV.
A large number of products in the market were considered. The airport reports that it identified the Dallmeier system as best for their requirements. The German manufacturer was chosen for this extensive solution mainly because of its picture quality, the flexibility afforded by the system architecture and the ease with which the new equipment could be integrated into the existing systems. The system has been running to the customer’s utmost satisfaction for over two years. Thanks to the flexibility of the system architecture many expansions have been made during this time – and more are possible.
Requirements
Specifications included the use of the existing IT infrastructure as well as support for IP multicasting. This enables a video data stream to be transmitted into the network only once, yet the video can be viewed at many different points (control points and operations centres) at the same time. By using multicasting the network load is not increased, and the IP network itself ensures that all participants/viewers receive the desired CCTV picture. The Linux operating system, stored separately on a flash disk, was another important factor in favour of the Dallmeier solution because it ensures reliability of the total system. More than 130 cameras at the airport are monitored, recorded, and, if necessary, their pictures transmitted via the IP network. By using MPEG-2 compression the camera pictures are delivered in real time, top quality and with high picture repeat rates, thus ensuring that control of PTZ or dome cameras is straightforward. The broadcast quality video is stored in a ring memory that is automatically overwritten after seven days. Dome cameras installed at the terminals’ check-in counters are moved according to preset positions. Fixed cameras are used to observe and monitor the gate locks and provide general observation around the airfield.
Digital matrix
In the airport security control room 28x DIS-1 systems act as receivers for the digital matrix. Live or recorded pictures from 32 of the 130 cameras can be displayed simultaneously by means of automatic control, event control or manual control. Other workstations can easily be added as required to receive pictures on a PC platform or an analogue monitor. The preview on the PView screen offers a rough overview where four, nine or 16 cameras can be displayed at once in a video split. The current management is based on the new Dallmeier management system SeMSy Professional together with OPC. The CCTV manufacturer also provides lots of interfaces for integration into higher level management systems or for their expansion, it would for example also be possible to support further tasks such as the control of flight information displays.
Technologies
International airports seek to expand their existing security systems, and Copenhagen is no different. The importance of technologies in the motion detection field is – in addition to picture transmission and recording – increasing more and more. The Dallmeier DI-Detector, DVS 600 III and SEDOR technology are part of a range of products, which are involved in intelligent picture evaluation and analysis. By using them it is possible to carry out event-controlled alarm switching more intelligently so that the camera pictures are evaluated according to different criteria – the aim being to support the user and relieve him of some work.
In the airport world, besides perimeter fence monitoring where it is desirable to suppress false alarms caused by animals, lighting or weather conditions, another important current issue is deterring terrorism within terminal buildings. By using SEDOR technology the DI-Detector can recognise the arrival or removal of static objects. This allows the system to identify an unattended suitcase in a terminal and to trigger an appropriate alarm. However, other functions such as people counting at entrances and exits, number plate recognition at car park entrances and many other functions can also be implemented with the DI-Detector modules.
What they say
Christian Linthaler, Sales Manager at Dallmeier: "We have been collaborating with the Copenhagen Airport for many years. The airport is constantly expanding the system and is meanwhile also using our Cam_inPIX cameras with great success – they were convinced by the outstanding picture quality compared to the cameras they used to have. The responsible persons are totally satisfied with the technology.”
