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Control room integration platform the key to effective shopping centre and street security

Armed robberies continue to grab headlines in the press, despite the fact that many of the targeted shopping centres and supermarkets use sophisticated electronic CCTV surveillance systems as crime prevention measures.

It goes without saying that shopping centre and supermarket managers and owners have a duty to do as much as they possibly can to ensure the safety of their customers and staff and many of them have installed CCTV surveillance systems that should provide early warning of such robberies. Yet the crime continues.

Dr Bennie Coetzer, managing director of Protoclea Advanced Image Engineering, a specialist in image processing, data communications and digital CCTV surveillance, believes much of the problem lies with the effective integration of security systems and the presentation of images and information to the control room and its staff. His view of the problems and solutions is as follows:

It has to be clearly understood that public area surveillance in shopping centres and streets is not controlled access surveillance. There are vast differences between the requirements of these two applications and not all CCTV equipment is able to perform public area surveillance.

A suitable security solution will make customers feel secure yet unhindered. It requires a balance between visible security measures and customers believing they are safe as well as between restrictive measures and general freedom of passage. It must also act as a credible deterrent so that would-be criminals avoid the area. The only way to achieve this is by successfully preventing crime or by apprehending and successfully prosecuting criminals if a crime has been committed.

The most important consideration of all is that the system must offer management suitable information upon which crime prevention action can be taken, managed and controlled. Such security information can also be integrated to benefit overall operational management and the management and maintenance of physical assets.

Against this background, Protoclea has concentrated on developing for the surveillance industry a comprehensive integration platform known as Argus, which presents accurate, timely visual information to control room operators. It is also important that control room operators are high-level well-trained security staff able to interpret the images and information Argus presents to the control room and take correct proactive preventative action.

The Argus platform provides the control room with comprehensive views of the entire area of interest and offers control room operators the ability to zoom into any area at a mouse click. Operators are presented with a multiscreen view of any incident that may take place and this ensures that all aspects of any developing situation are considered.

The general views can be enhanced by the addition of terrain or layout views that indicate the positioning of cameras, fire hydrants and other resources, emergency exits, fire doors, fire escapes, staircases, escalators, elevators and so on. As a full integration tool Argus also offers users information from the access control system and will indicate door status or access status, information on fire alerts and the status of critical building aspects such as fire escapes, lifts, sprinkler systems and emergency exits.

The Argus platform also facilitates immediate review of images from the digital video recorders which adds considerably to the realism of incident management and operators are also assisted by guidance text prompts for effective management of the incident.

As a hardware-independent platform, Argus is not encumbered by the limitations that may accompany any specific security surveillance system hardware. It is designed as a security information tool that can integrate with most of the systems available in the market. There are also no limitations regarding image resolution or recording rates and Argus seamlessly mixes analog and digital products, standard CCTV and high definition TV of all classes.

The unique architecture of Argus uses a standardised command set with product specific drivers to integrate OEM products. The front end of the system has also been meticulously planned to present security operators with what they need most - visual images of the unfolding events, location maps showing actual location as well as direct command and control capability over any incident. The actual hardware and connections are hidden from the operator so that a single system is seen, no matter whether there are eight or 800 cameras employed in the system.

Multiple workstations can be connected to ensure sufficient human effort for every event or simultaneous events and operators can be spatially located in different rooms, buildings or remote locations

The Argus enables effective event management through its event manager functionality that is designed around powerful script architecture. It allows the system designer to define exactly what should happen under whatever circumstance and turns management of the access control system, the fire system, guidance system and the display system into an easy task.

Random incident management or disaster management is inherently different as it requires proactive input. Argus therefore has a fully integrated command and control system that allows the operator in charge to effectively deal with all aspects of a fire, explosion or other disaster. This includes communication with external resources such as police and emergency services and with customers or members of the public, typically through a public address system, to instruct them on which exits to use, where to go and what to do.

Good management and control systems are essential to assist control room operators in proactive surveillance to prevent crime. Operators also need to be well-trained in human behaviour patterns and body language in order to recognise the build up to a robbery or other incident. Thus, they are in a position to take preventative action while ensuring the safety of customers and innocent bystanders.

Training is also critical and should involve police and other authorities who can provide information on modus operandi variations as well as details and photographs of known criminals that will assist operators to recognise them on CCTV footage relayed to the operations room.

Security procedures and processes have to be regularly reviewed, tested and audited to maintain the highest possible standards and to motivate staff, ensuring they are always ready and prepared for any eventuality.

Finally, the Argus platform provides the full integration required by the control room, allowing digital video recorders (DVRs), access control, perimeter alarm systems, fire systems and many others to be combined into a single, effective security solution. Apart from shopping centre control rooms and street surveillance control rooms other typical applications include security remote control facilities (joint operations) and building management control rooms.

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