1 2 · d e t e k t o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l
Security News Every Day
www. securityworldhotel.com
a potential terrorist activity point
of view, it offers a feature which
creates an alert if an item, such as
a briefcase, is left unattended and
is not moved for a defined period
of time.
VMS have also taken ad-
vantage of VCA Technology
video analytics' intruder detection
capabilities to enhance Glasgow
Museums' sophisticated out of
hours detection system.
Indoor and outdoor
The video analytics operates with
both indoor and outdoor cameras.
The software can be used for a
wide range of applications includ-
ing intrusion detection, vehicle
monitoring, abandoned object
detection and loitering detection.
It can even detect camera tamper-
ing and failure. The software can
also be used to ensure Health
and Safety compliance and is
capable of indentifying potentially
dangerous situations before they
occur. Operators can be alerted,
for example, when fire escapes are
obstructed or when items are left
in walkways.
Multiple overlapping detection
lines and zones can be desig-
nated to ensure that only specific
activity is recorded. Direction
of movement is defined so that
the software only triggers when
individuals or objects move in
a particular direction across a
zone, or when they move into
a zone but not when they leave
it. A rapid `learning time' of just
two seconds means that images
are detected and classified almost
instantaneously.
"We found that the VCA
Technology video analytics soft-
ware was very easy to configure
to match each of the building's
requirements," said Graeme
Anderson. "Equally important,
Glasgow Museums' control room
operators, security personnel
and facility managers have found
that with very little training they
can take full advantage of the
highly valuable data collectively
provided by the software and our
Titan Vision video management
platform." n
to monitor activity across all of
the Glasgow Museum buildings.
Security personnel are able to
control and monitor live or
recorded images captured by all
the cameras via VMS' proprietary
Titan Vision video management
software platform which also acts
as an integrated security manage-
ment platform to provide visibility
and control over a variety of other
systems, including intruder and
fire detection, HVAC and access
control systems.
"In addition to helping protect
the 1st Earl of Pembroke's suit
of armour, the VCA Technology
video analytics has assisted us to
provide Glasgow Museums with a
security solution which has gener-
ated cost savings of more than
£500,000 a year, whilst equipping
security personnel with a power-
ful tool to react quickly to any
security incident, "said Graeme
Anderson, Regional Business
Manager of VMS. "At some of the
buildings we have installed new
cameras which incorporate the
software, but we have also been
able to upgrade existing camera
capabilities where necessary, by
linking them to VCA Technology
encoders."
Reduce costs
At some of the Glasgow Museum
buildings, such as the Riverside
Transport Museum and the Bur-
rell Collection, VCA Technology
video analytics has been deployed
as a highly reliable method of
simultaneously accurately count-
ing the number of visitors that
stream through a large number
of entrances. The statistical data
gathered by the software, which
can be configured to distinguish
between adults and children, is
used in support of Glasgow Mu-
seum's funding applications. The
data can also be used to reduce
costs by identifying busy and quite
periods so that staff are efficiently
deployed.
At other sites the software
is being utilised to detect any
unauthorised movement of
exhibits as an early indicator that
a theft may be taking place. From
Despite the fact that the priceless
exhibit is the only known surviv-
ing set of armour of its kind, the
Museum's curator has been deter-
mined to allow visitors to have an
unobstructed view of the highly
impressive artefact. With the risk
of unintentional damage being
caused by visitors getting too close
to the exhibit in their enthusiasm
to have a close up view of the
magnificent workmanship carried
out by 16th Century craftsmen,
the Museum has put its trust in
the detection capabilities of VCA
Technology video analytics soft-
ware, to alert security personnel to
the danger.
detection zones
The VCA Technology video ana-
lytics software has been configured
to analyse the images captured by
ceiling mounted dome cameras
which are constantly monitoring
the exhibit. An alarm is generated
the moment anyone strays into a
pre-defined detection zone, allow-
ing security personnel to quickly
respond by guiding the visitor
to a safer distance away from the
exhibit.
This solution is just one of a
number of projects carried out by
Glasgow based Visual Manage-
ment Systems Ltd (VMS) for
Glasgow Museums, where VCA
Technology video analytics soft-
ware has been applied.
200 cameras
VMS have provided an IP
network based video surveillance
system which utilises 200 cameras
technology
in application
Glasgow Museums is the UK's largest local author-
ity museum service with a collection of 1.2 million
objects of national and international interest. wil-
liam Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke would no doubt
be impressed that a unique set of armour made over
460 years ago for him and his horse, is being watched
over by security cameras equipped with VCA Tech-
nology video analytics, at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art
Gallery and Museum.
Video analytics helps
shield Glasgow Museums' exhibits