Puma Energy, an office headquarters complex and a oil processing depot, is Tanzania’s largest oil refinery. Ganesh R Iyer, Head of Sales and Business Development at ComSec Security Systems Ltd., had a number of hurdles to overcome when designing a CCTV overhaul for Puma Energy’s Head Office and Depot facility in the capital Dar-Es-Salaam.
Installing CCTV wasn’t simply a hardware issue. As Mr Iyer said: “Of course, combating issues such as theft, as well as safety, were paramount. However, this solution was asked to do something more: help change an unfortunate cultural norm that readily looks the other way in issues of theft.”
Mr Iyer looked to Hikvision to help:
– upgrade a pre-existing and underperforming CCTV system
– take into account the differences between the office and depot
– design a two-pronged, CCTV method for both areas
– combat a larger cultural acceptance of theft that is gradually ruining the economy
Originally, Puma Energy bought this site from British Petroleum. Puma also acquired BP’s existing CCTV. However, the new owners found the previous analogue system unsatisfactory.
Thus, Tanzanian-based ComSec was contracted to act as turnkey contractor of new CCTV to improve video quality. Mr Iyer opted for a new CCTV model: an IP system on a fiber-optical backbone communication ring with industrial-grade switches in the field.
While this IP-based infrastructure provided the means to improve the CCTV performance, ultimately what would make or break the solution was the choice of hardware. Mr Iyer chose Hikvision for his cameras and NVR.
This overall site actually has two highly-different parts. A modern office building poses a different set of security questions compared to an outdoor petroleum refinery.
In the head office, Mr Iyer opted for Hikvision’s DS-2CD2712F-I 1.3MP Vari-focal Network IR Dome Camera. Mr Iyer decided that “flexibility was key. We needed a camera that is able to quickly adjust its view and provide great resolution regardless of shorter or longer distances. This camera’s 2.8 – 12mm vari-focal lens gives us a great many viewing options.”
This is particularly of use in the reception area. Previously, fixed camera lens could lead to problems. Now, the vantage can be changed from the reception desk to the main door, to name one example.
Also, the DS-2CD2712F-I’s IP66 rating and vandal-proof housing solved an earlier problem. Mr Iyer said: “Previously, due to the indoor location, there have been issues where cameras were tampered with. Now, due to the sturdy nature of these new cameras, it would take a considerable amount of time to actually disable the units. This would not go unnoticed … hence providing a great camera for access control and safety issues.”
Also indoors, Hikvision’s DS-7732NI-SP 32 Channel NVR provides the means to record all these HD camera images. In a central control room, the DS-7732NI-SP provides 32 channels for the head office. Not every channel is needed, which also supplies future-proofing aspect for later needs.
The recorder’s 4 SATA HDD interface of up to 4TB each providing the means for Puma’s three to four week video-storage requirement; while the up-to 5MP recording resolution ensures the pictures will be of quality regardless of when viewed.
Outdoors in the refinery is the DS-2DF1-718 IR Speed Dome. Using a 36x optical zoom and a 16x digital zoom, the DS-2DF1-718 provides perimeter security. In fact, even adjoining facilities can now be clearly seen. Iyer said: “With this camera’s up-to 80m IR range and 36x zoom, we get excellent coverage in the evening … a time when most issues of theft historically occur.”
Also in place around the refinery are DS-2CD2612F-I 1.3MP Vari-focal IR Bullet Cameras. Mr. Iyer notes that due to the oscillating lighting challenges, this camera’s up-to 30m IR range and true day / night feature is paramount. Digital WDR has proved an important function to compensate for the difficult bright and dim background lighting changes that the outdoor refinery sees daily.
As with indoors, the DS-2CD2612F-I’s 1.3 megapixel high resolution provides the sought-after resolution upgrade. For the refinery, the DS-9664NI-XT 64 Channel NVR was chosen for its robust storage combined with 160 mbs bitrate and up-to 5MP recording resolution.
Mr Iyer stresses that all of these tools help to ultimately combat the biggest threat to both Puma and Tanzania’s overall economy: the acceptance of a culture of debilitating theft.
Mr Iyer noted that it isn’t an issue of petty or grand theft, instead it is the idea that theft is okay that ultimately does the most damage. “The reality is, in Tanzania, the best recourse is a high-quality reactive CCTV solution. Of course, given unlimited funds, a proactive solution with both technology and liberal manpower would be great, but this is unrealistic. However, with our new Hikvision CCTV solution featuring greatly-enhanced resolution, thieves now understand that they will be ultimately caught. We have already seen noted improvement in this area,” he summed up.
