Creative use of CCTV in Education

Schools, colleges and universities benefit enormously from CCTV. Many establishments already use analogue technology solutions providing essential safety and security in playgrounds and common areas.

However the advent of IP cameras makes the potential use of CCTV much greater offering fantastic opportunities previously inconceivable that assist with education and help overcome many of the problems encountered with the administration of education establishments today.

Key benefits of IP camera technology are in modern education:

·          Any IP camera within a class can be used to transmit live video and audio to another monitor, PC or Notebook computer anywhere within the school borough or other college anywhere in the country.  This amounts to inexpensive high quality Distant Learning.

·          Cameras can be used to relay live video and audio to many students at home sick or otherwise unable to attend lectures

·          Cameras can be used to assess teacher performance at a distance saving costs

·          IP cameras can be plugged in seconds into any access point enabling cameras and monitors to be deployed only where they are needed. This includes wireless access points

·          IP Cameras allow supervisors to watch and listen to any class in the school and to record locally any learning activity or event that is useful for either discipline or training purposes.

·          Any camera can be used as a training aid during the day whilst can be used as a highly effective security video motion detector and video transmission system at night protecting valuable school assets

·          Cameras can be deployed quickly and easily where they are needed with minimal disruption to education

·          Sharing of cabling and wireless infrastructure with existing IT system making installation quick and inexpensive

·          Can be extended easily with the either additional cabling or wireless transmission using conventional 802.11g Wi Fi Access points and Internet Access Hotspots internally and externally wherever they are needed

·          Transmission of live video between buildings can be achieved through the use of either LaserLink, long haul 2.4 GHZ and 5.8GHZ transmission at low cost

·          Seamless integration with other security measures such as access control, door entry, intercom systems and environmental controls using the same network infrastructure can be achieved . 

·          IP cameras can be deployed cost effectively deployed in full compliance with BS8418 for external CCTV monitoring with police response using the UK’s only IP based Golden Eye central control room

·          Optional hand held RF based personal attack buttons can be used to manual activate audio and video recording of events as they happen

ipCCTVcameras offer a range of alternative camera technologies for different applications within education establishments.  No one camera is either appropriate or cost effective for use throughout a school and so alternative products using a universal control and recording system is considered to be most appropriate.

For guidance we recommend the following camera hardware:

·          External Cameras – Mobotix 10D day / Night Mega-pixel Dual Wide and narrow lens cameras with integrated motion detection, PIR, 2 way audio,  

·          External Intercom and Door / Gate Control Camera – AXVOPIP Integrated IP Intercom and access control system.  This is an all-in- one solution for colour video intercom with built in access control. Pressing the call button will connect to any specified PC or PDA over local and wide area network for high quality video and two way speech. The system also integrates with SIP for VOIP (Voice over IP) Solutions.

The integrated access control can release pedestrian gates or doors and vehicle barriers by use of a valid proximity key fob, or card. The Keypad can also be configured to either work in conjunction with a valid card or as a standalone keypad entry.

·          External combination day / night camera and loud speakers systems (with listen-in functionality) - AX-EVA Integrated camera and enunciator.  This unit is a unique integrated high performance camera and loud speaker unit in one designed to meet the requirements of numerous external surveillance applications in compliance with BS8418.  The unit combines all the functionality of the Mobotix 10D day / night camera with a high performance amplifier and loud speaker system in one off the shelf assembly ready to plug into the network.  This is a low power unit that can be used for perimeter security and surveillance applications.

·          Indoor Pan tilt cameras - ActuVista day / night pan / tilt camera.  Ideal for school class room this ceiling mounted camera enables gives 360 degree pan tilt functionality in rooms for large assembly areas and locations where networked broadcasting of classes is anticipated.  At night the system provides night time vision, using LEDs at zero lux and includes software driven motion detection.  In the event of an alarm pre and post alarm images are instantly captures and stored on the alarm system and relayed to a central control room as well as a central file server.

·          Indoor Fixed cameras - Axis Fixed MegaPixel Fixed cameras – The Axis 206M Wireless or Wired camera is the ideal low cost fixed IP camera for widespread use through out a school at relatively low cost. Giving Megapixel quality at low cost  the Axis 206 is a no frills compact size (55x34x85mm).

Network Connectivity

The transmission of images and installation of traditional analogue cameras is slow and expensive often requiring civil works whuich is time consuming and expensive.  Installation is often limited to holiday periods when buildings are empty.

Adopting IP camera technology enables the rapid deployment of cameras, monitors and camera equipment in any location often with minimal wiring and inconvenience.  A wide range of plug and play network solutions are available from ipCCTVcameras that will allow the connectivity of systems and equipment.

In addition to a wide range of  switcher, routers and structured cabling solutions ipCCTVcameras distribute a range of Wireless solution extremely well suited to education establishments:  These include:

·          Wireless Access Points

·          LaserLink tramsission links

·          2.4 and 5.8 GHZ Back Haul Line-Of-Sight (LOS) and Non-Line-OF-Sight (NLOS) transmission systems

·          G4100 Zyair Internet access Hotspot plus G-3000 wireless bridge and repeater for Wireless communication of cameras on site and access to the Internet by students and staff.  Wireless camera access points should be either the G-560 access point for internal use or the B-5000 for external wireless access.

·          LaserLink Transmission Systems are an ideal low cost transmission solution for Video and data relating from up to 100 plus cameras accross a Wireless bridge over distances up to 200M.  These LOS units are easy to install and eliminate the requirement for expensive and time consuling civil works.

Orthogon Back Haul transmission links are best suited for NLOS applications where many buildings and are scattered over a large campus area each requiring integration within one centralised video and data network.  Whilst more expensive that LOS systems they are able to transmit up to 300 Mb/sec at distances up to 10Km reliably and cost effectively.  When leased their cost is highly competive with leased lines and are of course a capital asset with no recurring cost beyond the expiry of the lease period.