|
|
 |
|
Law Enforcement
|
 |
|
 |
 |
Video part of integrated security solution at busy Canadian border
Mar 12, 2008
|
|
by James Careless
|
Three bridges span the Niagara River between the United States and Canada -- the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge, the Rainbow Bridge, and the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge. Together, they account for nearly $26 billion in annual cross-border trade between the two countries, which works out to nearly12 million passages every year.
Not surprisingly, security is top priority for the Niagara Falls Bridges Commission, the joint international body that oversees the three bridges. To maximize it, the NFBC's original assemblage of analog cameras and monitors have been integrated into a new network of Axis Communications digital cameras, with signals carried on a secure network it operates. The network terminates in the NFBC's new Operations Center, housed inside a 10,000-square-foot administration building in Lewiston, NY.
"Our job is to monitor and manage the efficient flow of traffic across the border, while at the same time ensuring the security of the infrastructure," said David Woods, the NFBC's manager of IT. "To do this, we have deployed a very sophisticated, highly redundant, and well-protected voice/video/data network."
More than 160 security cameras cover the approaches and spans of the three bridges, six U.S./Canada Customs plazas, and the NFBC's Lewiston headquarters. Although some are legacy Pelco analog cameras (some fixed, others in pan/tilt-equipped weatherproofed cases), many are new Axis 211, 2120, and 2420 network cameras, the latter being enabled for both natural and IR light conditions. While 42 of these cameras are PTZ, the rest are fixed.
"Our cameras cover key areas of our premises," said Brent Gallaugher, manager of agency relations and security. "We're looking out for threats to our infrastructure from people with nefarious purposes."
 |
| Video surveillance is used to monitor three bridges between the United States and Canada. |
All Pelco analog cameras convert their video into IP signals via Axis 2401+ and 241s video servers inside the NFBC's Operations Center. Once there, the images are displayed on 10 desktop monitors and are routed to a Barco display wall at the front of the room, which can show up to 14 feeds from different cameras.
"Our camera feeds are recorded at all times," said Gallaugher. "Any events that occur are automatically tagged in our video register for easy location and investigation as required."
These camera feeds are part of a larger access system, which also incorporates ID card and fingerprint readers. All of these systems are converged onto the NFBC's network, which is secured by a Lenel OnGuard management system.
A Secure Solution
"Our current system was designed in the wake of 9/11, when we commissioned a security consultant to assess our vulnerabilities," Gallaugher explained. "They recommended integrating our CCTV surveillance with an access control system, so that we would be able to detect intrusions at the very first instance and evaluate them. That's what our system does today."
Specifically, the system integrates the agency's CCTV surveillance with its card readers and biometric scanners, ensuring that they work together to keep unauthorized personnel out. When combined with alarms and other intrusion detection equipment, the result is a fully integrated surveillance and access system that allows the NFBC's on-duty staff to guard all three bridges from a single location.
In fact, the entrances to the Whirlpool Bridge are operated remotely through the OnGuard system. "Our Operations Center opens the wire gates in the morning and closes them at night, even though we are located six miles away from the bridge," said Woods.
The OnGuard system also provides the control interface for remotely operating the cameras, selecting feeds, and pre-setting alarm/intrusion detection thresholds. It is even connected to the system's ID card readers, allowing it to compare scanned cards against the NFBC's database.
The protection doesn't end here: The OnGuard system also secures access to and storage of the agency's video and data files. To do this, it controls all data and video traffic across the agency's fiber optic/coaxial/encrypted wireless transmission paths, and stores it on distributed video servers located at the bridge sites and Operations Center.
Recently, the NFBC added two new weapons to its security arsenal: Lancope's StealthWatch Network Behavior Analysis (NBA) and Response software and Lockdown's Enforcer Network Access Control product. According to Woods, the new tools are all about maintaining network security and preventing unauthorized access.
Event Attention
Gallaugher is generally happy with the NFBC's integrated surveillance system. "In the old days, it was up to human operators to monitor the camera feeds, making it possible for some events to go undetected," he told Government Video. "With the new system, the operator is only alerted when something untoward seems to be happening. This ensures that events that need attention get it, and that the operator doesn't get overwhelmed and burned out by too much passive monitoring."
That said, there were challenges in getting the NFBC's integrated surveillance system operational. "Chief among these was the technology," said Woods. "There was a tremendous amount of legacy and cutting-edge equipment that had to be brought together."
Woods added that it took "a fair degree of investigation" to find versatile IP cameras they needed. "To our surprise, many IP cameras being sold today are behind the times when it comes to capabilities and performance."
Today, the Niagara Falls Bridges Commission has an integrated surveillance system that is comprehensive, versatile, and scalable. "It's easy for us to add new monitoring PCs to the system," Woods said. "We don't have to pull new cables or fuss around with other custom extensions. We just connect the PC to our network, and it's good to go."
"With border security being such a priority, and the three Niagara Falls crossings being so busy, the NFBC must have a security solution that can keep up and do what's necessary," added Gallaugher. "Fortunately, that's exactly what we have in place today."
MORE INFO
Axis Communications axis.com
Barco barco.com
Lancope lancope.com
Lenel lenel.com
Lockdown Networks lockdownnetworks.com
Niagara Falls Bridges Commission niagarafallsbrides.com
Pelco pelco.com
|
|
|
Government Video is part of the NewBay Media Community
copyright 2007© NewBay Media LLC.
810 Seventh Avenue, 27th Floor New York, NY 10019 T (212)378-0400 F (212)378-2160
|
|
|
