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Geutebruck system could save lives
Windhagen, Germany
Woollahra Municipal Council
Sydney
, Australia, has imple-
mented a master plan including
a Geutebruck Geviscope-based
video security system to reduce
tragedies at their beautiful park.
Gap Park in Sydney, Australia
extends for a couple of kilometres
along the top of sheer rugged
cliffs facing the Pacific Ocean. It
is a public space with stunning
views and an ecologically sensitive
environment, but sadly also a
place with a history of suicides,
accidents and unexplained
deaths. Feeling duty-bound to do
something to reduce tragedies and
repair the park's negative image
Woollahra Municipal Council has
implemented a master plan involv-
ing both deterrence and response
measures which now include a
Geutebruck Geviscope-based
video security system.
A consultation with local
people, mental health and crisis
support agencies revealed that
troubled individuals often spend
several hours on the cliff tops
before finally deciding to commit
suicide, and that active interven-
tion during this period might save
life. So the council developed a
multifaceted plan for reducing self
harm incidents, improving the
area's reputation and encouraging
more visitors. A key element was
a video surveillance system for
allowing incidents to be identified
and analysed round the clock to
aid rapid police intervention.
With Security Consultants
International helping with design
and implementation, and Kings
Security with integration and
installation, the council's plan is
coming to fruition. At first its tight
budget only allowed for partial im-
plementation of the CCTV design
but federal funding subsequently
enabled significant upgrading.
Work began with restyling
the park entries, the erection of
inward curving fences along the
cliff edge to deter climbing, the
installation of new seating and low
level LED lighting to improve the
ambience especially at night. New
signs were installed as were two
purpose-built, vandal-resistant tel-
ephone help points with autodial-
ing for the charity Lifeline and the
emergency services, together with
automatic audio visual feeds and
location ID. Four Bosch MIC 412
thermal PTZ cameras provided
vision at night and in bad weather,
at considerable distance and
amongst vegetation.
Then in 2011 with the
new federal funding came a
GeviscopeHS/R with an expan-
sion unit; new fixed view cameras
to monitor the telephone help
points; and five Moog `thermal
& optical' cameras for providing
thermal and optical views at the
same time.
The Geviscope is housed in a
New South Wales National Parks
building adjoining the park. Most
cameras are concentrated near
the north and south entrances
and along the cliff-top walk. This
enables monitoring centre opera-
tors to help police with missing
persons searches by identifying
individuals as they enter or leave
the park, and to locate them if
they remain in the park.
The operator at the remote
security monitoring centre only
views the live video and assesses
the situation when requested to
do so by the police. This may be
because a member of the public
has reported a possible incident,
there has been an emergency call
from a help point, or following an
alert from Lifeline. The operator
can also review recorded footage
for post-incident investigation but
only with specific permission from
the Council.
Justine Henderson, communica-
tions manager and spokesperson
for Woollahra Council reports,
"We know the footage has been
useful to police in responding to
potential on site emergencies as
we've seen an increase in use of
the monitoring provided by the
camera system. At the start of the
project the footage was being used
for retrospective investigations
and now it is being used more for
direct interventions which is a
good result."
Hochiki to acquire Kentec
Dartford, Kent (UK) and Tokyo, Japan
Hochiki Corporation Japan
has entered into an agreement
to acquire the stock of Kentec
Electronics Ltd.
Hochiki Corporation Japan
first established in 1918 as Japan's
first fire alarm manufacturer is a
leading manufacturer of fire de-
tection products with an expand-
ing presence across the world.
Kentec Electronics Ltd
was established in 1985 and
together with its American
subsidiary company VES LLC
produces and supplies a range of
control panels for fire detection,
extinguishing media release,
water and smoke detection and
sprinkler control.
Kentec Electronics will
continue to be run by its current
management team as a separate
unit within Hochiki Corpora-
tion Japan and will continue to
use existing suppliers and sup-
port all of its customers includ-
ing the current sensor partners.
Kentec Electronics subsidi-
ary company VES LLC will be
amalgamated with Hochiki
America Corporation and
continue to operate from its east
coast base in the United States
of America.
According to the company,
Kentec Electronics believes this
is an opportunity to benefit both
parties and to further develop its
business and allow access to new
world wide markets.
Tyco completes separation transaction
Westford, Ma (USA)
Tyco
has now completed its
separation transaction, forming
the world's largest dedicated fire
protection and security company
as measured by market share.
Post separation, the company's
Security Products business unit
and other well known brands,
including American Dynamics,
Software House, Kantech, DSC,
CEM, Bentel, and Visonic, remain
an intrinsic part of the new organi-
sation. Tyco's Security Products has
historically developed technologi-
cally advanced intrusion, video,
access control, and real-time track-
ing solutions for use in a variety of
security-critical markets.
"As a vital part of this new,
more focused Tyco, our business
is more committed than ever to
delivering the innovative products,
solutions, and services that are
our customers' preferred choice,"
said Mark VanDover, President of
Tyco's Security Products busi-
ness unit. "Whether it's securing
Fortune 500 companies, providing
operational efficiencies to educa-
tional, healthcare and government
facilities, or protecting private
residences, we are committed to
finding smarter ways to save lives,
improve businesses and protect
where people live and work."
Mark VanDover.