Hikvision's H264 compression cards used at a karting and leisure venue in Florida

(14/07/2010)

Xtreme Indoor Karting in Fort Lauderdale features a half-mile asphalt track and vehicles that reach speeds of 45 mph. The facility is monitored by a combination of PTZ and dome cameras reporting to custom-built PC-based recorders using Hikvision dual-stream compression cards.

Camera footage is used for race analysis, safety monitoring and to resolve disputes from adrenalin-fuelled drivers in the event of a crash under competitive conditions.

The layout of a race track means investigating incidents can be time-consuming if marshals need to move around the circuit, but the Hikvision compression cards are allowing control room staff to review video clips in high-definition display (HDD) from anywhere across the 90,000 sq ft site.

The images have also been used to protect the client against spurious insurance claims, and return on investment (ROI) has been immediate.

CCTV is guarding against inappropriate behaviour at the venue’s mini golf course and bowling lanes as well as monitoring staff use of cash registers for their own protection. The venue works closely with the City of Fort Lauderdale Police Department who use the CCTV footage for evidential purposes when securing convictions.

Integrator National Security Inc are using Hikvision's dual-stream compression cards which offer H.264 (MPEG-4/Part 10) real-time video compression. These units also allow real-time audio compression in the open source Ogg Vorbis format. The cards provide end-users who need to examine footage closely with display resolution of up to 4CIF and they employ the PCI 2.2 local bus standard.

At this application the end-user is receiving a constant feed from trackside cameras, but clients can also monitor activity according to predetermined schedules or opt for footage that is triggered by motion detection. The compression cards offer support for on-screen displays while the ability to overlay a privacy mask means sensitive image sections are not seen by operatives.

The Hikvision compression cards are core components in custom-built PC-based video recorders designed and assembled by National Security. Staff can store video clips locally on Western Digital hard drives in high-definition display (HDD) or transfer data to removable media.

The integrator has employed hard wiring throughout, either RG59 coaxial cable or Cat5. Users report that these H.264 compression cards make minimal demands on computer systems and even multiple-camera units often occupy as little as 11% of system resources.

Anthony Dippolito, Managing Director of National Security, said: “Selecting compression cards from Hikvision shows our freedom to use best-of-breed components. The products are well engineered and failure rate is minimal. If operatives understand Windows-based software they can run with this approach immediately.”

The venue has extensive video arcades where purse snatching and petty theft are a problem but the overt presence of cameras and successful prosecutions have had a positive effect in deterring regular offenders.

Related topics:  CCTV cameras and domes   Monitoring systems   Physical protection 

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