The new Heathrow Terminal 5 has specified Forward Vision’s Mic1-400 PTZ cameras for surveillance of key external areas, in a project being handled by NTL Business.
Some 46 of the rugged speed domes, known as ‘Metal Mickeys’, are being used as part of the £70m security and telecommunications network at airport.
Previously, 20 MIC1-400s – featuring resolver technology for accuracy and 18X optical zoom (12X digital) – had been in use at Heathrow. Since 2002, these cameras have provided surveillance of one of the airport’s key road tunnels, monitoring high traffic volumes round the clock. The project’s planners say one of their key priorities has been to find equipment which delivers long term reliability – the technology being installed must not only meet the highest standards now, but must continue to deliver. "Following the original installation, Forward Vision MIC1-400s were specified again because they were the best cameras available for the job," says Tim Woodward of NTL Business.
The creation of Heathrow’s new IP-based security and data hub is a major undertaking, with each component being tested on a dummy system before it is installed on the real network. The network comprises around 2.5 million metres of cabling which will carry a range of operational systems, including CCTV, voice, access control data, and building management systems. The MIC1-400s ability to integrate into virtually any system, in this case as part of the IP-based network, is a major advantage for specifiers and installers alike, the makers say.
The MIC1-400 casing, machined from a solid block of 6mm aluminium or stainless steel, is rated to IP68 to ensure reliable operation in even the harshest of environments, the makers add. Image capture is assured with a totally flat viewing window offering perfect optics, with options available to ensure the best-fit solution to any application, it is claimed.
"The Mic1-400 has proved its performance and durability at some of the world’s highest profile and most demanding locations," says Peter Beare, managing director of Forward Vision. "The Heathrow T5 installation is another example of the MIC1-400 being the camera of choice where the highest standards are required."
