Find news and information for the executive corporate security director, CSO, facility manager and assets protection manager on issues of policy, products, incidents, risk management, threat assessments and preparedness.
Issue link: http://sdi.epubxp.com/i/103910
SPECIAL FOCUS:WIRELESS CASE STUDY vertical angles of certain links, from high rise roofs to neighboring complexes, often across city streets. In the end, Fluidmesh radios were specified to meet the challenges of the project. "Wireless technology has improved substantially over the last decade and is becoming a solid alternative to fiber for many customers." —Cosimo Malesci, Fluidmesh Networks Why wireless mesh? The main benefit of deploying wireless at MRHP was the significant cost savings versus trenching and piping for the numerous cameras installed to cover the perimeter of the housing properties. Many of the required camera locations were one- or two-story multifamily residential buildings, with no common wiring or LAN network in place. Wireless connections proved to be the only viable way to install those cameras and connect them back to the network. An additional benefit was the form factor of the wireless mesh product; with the combined radio and antenna, the installations PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS Integrator: Fernando Flores, Valley Communications Systems Inc., Chicopee, Mass. End User: Milford Redevelopment and Housing Partnership (MRHP), Milford, Conn. Equipment: The installed system has over 150 megapixel IP cameras and twelve video management servers in a distributed IP WAN/ LAN network that allows secure remote access from anywhere, not only for MRHP staff, but also for local Milford, Conn., law enforcement agencies. A significant number of IP cameras are deployed using Fluidmesh MITO series wireless units, in point to point and multi-point configurations, at speeds up to 100 Mb. Exacq Technology servers are installed at each main MRHP property and all cameras at that property connect back to that local server over a private security LAN via a hardwired connection or a wireless link. All video is stored locally. All servers are connected to the Internet using special cable company provided high uplink connections, allowing remote access from anywhere using secure ExacVision clients. 32 were aesthetically pleasing, unobtrusive and contained a small footprint. This was important to the overall look of the properties and the desire by the end user to keep security devices in general unobtrusive. Overview and project planning Initiated in September 2011, the project was completed in March 2012. Valley Communications Systems Inc., Chicopee, Mass., responded to the public bid along with many other vendors and provided the best design at the best cost to win the business. "Fluidmesh was specified in the bid as one of the recommended wireless vendors for the project, because we knew from experience that they built excellent wireless solutions," noted Project Integrator Fernando Flores, Valley Communications Systems. "Fluidmesh provided us outstanding support in our wireless network design process for MRHP, as well excellent installation support and training during the implementation," he added. "The deployed MITO series radio is easy to install and configure and the form factor is durable, small, light and easy to work with. We have lots of previous experience designing wireless IP camera networks for schools, reservoirs, large enterprises and other housing authorities." The MITO series is a MIMO-based tri-band wireless Ethernet product line designed and manufactured specifically for multi-service backhaul applications. "One item of interest from our perspective as the vendor and general contractor," Flores said, "was that due to the SW design and sensitivity of the cameras, it was necessary to have the three major vendors perform remote troubleshooting and then come to the site for a multi-vendor day-long session to optimize the network. Exacq Technologies, Arecont Vision and Fluidmesh Networks had technical representatives participate and with some excellent collaboration, the network was optimized and all three companies gained insight and made improvements to their solution sets as a direct result. It was a great example of 'walking the walk' by all three companies," he said. www.SecurityInfoWatch.com | SD&I; | January 2013