How one of the largest CCTV installations in the United States is going digital.
In one of the largest CCTV installations in the United States, the City of Minneapolis Municipal Parking System is moving to digital CCTV using Kalatel?s DVMRe (digital video multiplexer/recorder with ethernet compatibility) units. The city is also connecting its 1,400 cameras of various makes and models and 1100 call for assistance (CFA) stations via fiber optic cable and transmitting video and audio into one central command centre. Once completed, Minneapolis expects to save $200,000 per facility a year in maintenance costs. Michael Sachi, Minneapolis Parking Facilities Project Engineer, says: ?Since digital recording is more affordable and easier to use, we expect its contribution to our cost savings to exceed $1m per year once the project is completed. One of our largest problems has been dealing with time-lapse video tape recorders. Not only did we have to absorb the cost of storing tape for 30 days, the recorders were constantly breaking down. This was very time-consuming for our security personnel. In five years, we will have 25 facilities, all using digital technology.? Electronic Design sales consultant Jeff Feldstein, the local dealer, says: ?The city was very interested in the increased efficiencies they would get by digitally archiving incidents and events The Kalatel DVMRe is cost effective, easier to use and internet-equipped. There is a built-in modem which accesses the unit to live or recorded video. With the DVMRe, parking staff can undertake remote searches and playbacks as well as download to another media. Images can be recorded locally, yet available for review at the command centre.? According to security consultant Jim Johnson: ?This will be one of the largest systems in the United States. It is a very complicated system that incorporates fiber to provide bandwidth and capabilities while using several different manufacturers? equipment of varying vintages. It is a model for future multi-function centers. We expect a fast three-year return-on-investment.? There are 19 facilities in the municipal parking system with a total of 22,000 spaces, comprising one-third of all downtown Minneapolis parking. In the midst of a big expansion, 15 to 18 facilities will be added by 2006, adding 15,000 more spaces. Monitoring began in early September. All alarms are recorded digitally. Cameras are at elevator lobbies, stairwells, entries and exits and in the general parking areas. They are focused on the CFA stations, where there is two-way communication and a security guard nearby. Kalatel manufactures a wide range of CCTV and digital video storage equipment for security and safety applications. See www.kalatel.com.
