Large US University End-User Video Surveillance Interview

By Dan Gelinas, Published Mar 18, 2019, 10:45am EDT (Info+)

Schools have become targets in modern days of active shooters and terrorist fears. The need for video and access security is high. Universities also present increased challenges—students live both on and off campus, people take night classes that require unique time-based access levels, cameras are required to see in a broader variety of conditions, for example.  When that university system is very large—not one campus but 20—there are even more considerations.

IPVM interviews the Technology Administrator of a large US University that comprises numerous campuses across their state. The system incorporates thousands of cameras and manages permission rights for more than 100,0000 credential holders.

Our interview with a Technology Administrator at a large US University covers a wide range of important topics:

  • Why they do not use integrators for their video surveillance and what they do instead
  • Why they still have thousands of analog cameras and what they are doing about that
  • How many cases a year video surveillance has an impact on and what image quality challenges they have 
  • What VMS, camera and access control manufacturers they have
  • What multi-imager cameras they are using and which 'failed miserably'
  • What type of facial recognition they are considering and why they rejected Anyvision
  • Why they have 'no intention' to use Dahua, Hikvision or Huawei and why they 'tore apart some camera models'

****: *** **** **** *** **** the ********** ************* ** **** ********** system?

*** * *****. *’** **** **** the ********** *** * ***** ** 10. ** *** *** ********** ******** the ************ ******. *** ***** ***** put ** ********* *** ****** * spreadsheet ********* *** **** *** ****** much **. **** * ***** ******* here ** *** ** ****** ******, so ** ****’* ******* * *** of *********, *** **** ** *** into *** ** *****, ****’* **** I *** **** ** ****** ****** to ** ******* *** * ****** to ***** ******* *****.

****: *** *** *** **** **** that ***?

* ******* *** ** *** **********. So ****’* *** * ****** ********* to **** ** *** ********** ** a ****** ********. ** ** ****** crime ************ ****. ** **’** ******** for *********. ** **** *** *** police ********** *** **’** * ******* dispatch ****** **, ***, ****** *********, and ****** ******* ************** *** **** end **'** *** ** *** **** area.

****: *** ** ******** *** ********** at *** ********** ********?

****, ****'** ****** *** **** ** create *** ********* **** **** ***. That ** *** ***. *** ********** is ****** *** **** ** **** new ********* **** ***** *** ***** sets ** *** **** ** ********** we **.

****: ** *** **** ** ******* any ******* ****** ****** ** *********** ****** like ***** ******* ** ******* ****** to ****, ***?

***. ** ****** ****** ****** ** department, ****, **** *********, *** ******** as **** ** ******* ********** ****** hours **** *** *******/*****/******* *******. ***** are ********* ** ************ ** **** created *** *****. ************, ** **** of *********, ***** *** ************ ****** levels **** ***** ** ** ******* who *** ** ***** *** **** regardless ** ***** ***** ****** *****.

****: **** *** *** ** **** modifications ** ******** ** ***** **** cameras ** *** ** *****, ** are *** ******* ** ******'* ** ************?

************ ** **** *** ** ****** to ***** *** ***** *** ****-*** the ******** ** ** *****, *** for *** **** **** *** ******* illuminators *** **********. *** *** ******* spaces ***** **** ** ********* *** prohibitive, ** *** **** *******.

****: **** **** * ******* *** on *** *** **** **** *** you?

*** **, * **** ** *** I ***** *** ** **** ** make **** ******* ******** *********. * get ******, *** * **** ** check *** **** ****. ** **** health **********, *** **** ******* **** dropped. ** **** * **** ******* network.

****: **** ***** ** ************* (*******, access, *********, *****, **** ************, ***.) and ***** ********* ** *** ******?

** *** ****** ****** ****** ** my ******* ****. *’* ****** *** only *** *** ***** ** ******* and *******. *’* **** *** ********* manager *** *** ****** ******* ******, so * ****** *** ****** *** adding ********* *** *********** *** **** whole ******.

****: **** ** *** **** *** scope ** ***** ******* *******?

** **** ****** ******* ** **% of *** ********* *** ** **** 20 ********. ** **** ***, *** cardholders ** *** ****** *** **** includes *********, ********, *******, *****, ***. It’s *** ****** *****.

****: *** **** ******* *** ******* do *** ****?

**’** *********** *,*** ******* *** ****’* approaching **% ** /**% ******, *** that **** ***** ************ ** *** next *** *****. **’** ******** * lot ** **** ******* *** *********. For ******* **'** **** **** *,*** across *** ********.

****: ***** ***'** *** ** ****** even *** ** ****** *** **, which ***** *** *** *** ******, older ** *****, ****** ** **?

****, ***** ** ******* ******* ********** old ** *** ****** *******.

****: **** **** ****** ******* **** missed ******** ******* ** * **** of **********?

**** *****'* '******' ********, *** ***** quality *** *** ***** *** ****** the ***** ********.

****: **** ******* ************** *** ***** with * *****-***** ********** ************ ****** that *** ******’* **** **, ***, a ****** ******, ** ** ****** building?

**’** *********** * ****. ** **** trains ******* ******* **** ** *** campuses, ** ** **** ****** ****** from *** **** ****** ***** ***** to ****** ****** ****. ** *** everything **** ****** **** ** ***** theft.

****: *** ***** ** **** ******* help *** ** ***** *** * problem? *** ******* *****, *********, ******** up * *****, ******** ** *******?

**’* ******** ** ***** * ****. I ******’* *** **** **’** ******** this ***** **** *********, *** **’* an ************. ** ***** *** * fight ********* ** ******* ******** * bike *** ** *** ******** ** the ***. ** **** ** ***** to ** ************, **’** ********** ********** so **** *** *** * ******** account ** ****.

****: *** ** *** ******* ********* together? *** ** *** ******* *** communicate *** ** *****?

****’* **** ** **** *’* ***** right *** ** ******** ***** ***** of ******** **** ***** ****** ** all *** ******** ** **** ***** cameras **** **** **** ** *** main ****** ******* ******. **’* *** ethernet. **’** ***-**-****** ******** ****’* ******.

****: *** *** *** ************** *** ************* these *******, ******** ** **?

****** ******. ** ** ****** ***, security ** ****** ***. **’* *** way ************ ****.

****: *** ** *** ******/******** ******** integrators ** **** ****?

** ******** ***’* *** *********** *** cameras. ** ** *** ****** *******. We **** * **** ** ********* vendors. *** *******, **** ******* **** gets ***** **** * ******* *** that **** *** ** ***. *’* responsible *** ******* *** ******* *********. We **** **-***** *********** *** *** very *******. *** ******* **** ** great *******, *** ** **** *** system **’** ***** **** ****, ** there’s ** **** ** ***** ** anybody **** *** *******.

Manufacturers *** ****** *** ***** - **** / ***, ****, *******

****: **** ************ ********—******* *** ***—**** *** used?

** ********* *** ******** ***** *** American ******** ********. *********, ** *** C*Cure **** *** ****** *** *** Victor ***** **** *.*. **’* *** Axis *** ******* *** *******.

Dahua *** ********* ********

****: **** *** **** ******** ** Hikvision *** *****?

**** ** *** **** ** *** government ****** ******* **** *** ****** we *** * **** ******** ** be **** ** *** **** ** these ******* ** *** ******. (** **** tore ***** **** ****** ****** ** were ********** ** ** ****** *** chipset ****'* *********.) ** *** ***, *** have ** ********* ** ***** ****. 

****: **** *** **** *** ******** with ******** ***********—**** ** ** *********, being ****** **** ******** ********, ***** over-budget **** ****** ******, ***.?

**, ** ******* **** **** *******. The ******* ** **** *** **** is **** **** *** ********** *** integrators ** **** **** *** **** knowledgeable.

****: ** **** *** ****** **** consultants **** ** ***** ** **** security **** *** *** ********** ** do *** ** *** ******** ******** and ******* ********/*********?

*** **** **** ** **** *************. We’re ******* ***** ** *** ***** on **********. ** **** ********** ** terms ** **** ******** *** **. We **** **** ******* **** *** that ** ******* *** ** **** and ** ***’* ******* ** ***** we **** ** *** *** ** in *** *** ***********. *** *** a **** *** **’* *** **********. It’s *** *** ***********, ******** **** variables. ** * *** *** ***** the **** **** * **** **** in ** *********** **’* ***** ** perform ***********.

****: ** *** **** * ********* or ********* ******* *** **** ******* and ***** *******?

**** **** ***** *** *****. ** the **** ******, ***** *** **-*** backbones **** *** *** **** ** 10-gig ********. **** ******* ***’* **** well ** *** * *** *******, so ** **** ** **** **** down *********.

****: **** **** **** ******* **** entail?

****, **** ** *** ** ** realm ** *********, *** ********** *** 10gig ******** *** ** ******** **** from ** ** * ** **** and **** ** ******* ***** **** basically ********* ** **/***. **** ******* don't **** ** ******** **** *** switch *** ** ****, ** ** use *** **/*** ******* ** ***** cases.

****: ** *** ******* ****** ******* to ****** ** ** ************* ******** limit **** *******?

**********, ****** ** **** **** ** controlling ******. ** ** ******** **** 25 ****** ******* *****. * ********* their ******* ** ****** *** *******. No *** *** ****** ****** ****** safety. **** ******** *** **** *** PTZ ** **** **** **.

****: ** *** ** *****, ** you *** * *** ** ******* remote ****** ******?

**’* *** ** *** **** *******. We *** **** **** ** **** that ******* ** ** *** **** LAN *** **** ** ******** **** off. **’* * ****** *** ** my ***** **’* * ****** ****** IT ********.

****: **, **** **** **** ** someone ***** ** ****** *** ******* from ***** ****? **** *** ***?

******/********* ****** **** ***** **** *** be ***********, ** **** ******** **** purchase * ****** ** *** **** I **** **** *** *********** ******. Sometimes **** ****** ** *** * decoder **** ** **** *** *** the ***** ****** **** ** ***** functionality. ** *** ******* ** ****** Safety *** *** ******* **** ****. If ** **** ** ** **** we **** * ****** ********** ** place.

****: ** *** ** **** ******* are ********* *** ******** ***** **** equipment **** *** ****?

**, ** ******** *****. **’* *** copper, ******** ** *****. ** **** some ******** **** ******* **** *** there, *** ** ******** *******.

****: **** *** **** ******** *** brands ** ********* (*******, ***, ********, etc.) ****** **** ****** *** ** so **** **** *** ****** *** were *** ***** **** *** ********.

** **** *** **** *** *******. In ** ***** **** ** **********, I **** ********* *** **** * came **** * ***** *** ** weren’t ***** ** *** ** ********* came **** ** ****. *’* *** sure ** ***’** ******** **** ****** but *** ***** ********** **** ********. We’ve ****** ****** ******* **** *** last *** ***** *** **** *.* it’s * ****** ****** *******.

****: **** ** ** ***** **.* that ****** * ******? **** ** you **** ***** **?

** *** * ********** *** ** with ****** ****** *****. ******* *.* is *****, ** *** *** * lot **** *** ** *** ****** PC. They **** ******* ****** * *** of ************* ** *** *** *** series, *** ********* ***** ******** **********/***********.

****: ****, ** ***, ******** ************* audits **** *** *** *** **********’* surveillance/security ******* *******?

****’* **** ** * ******** ********** and *'* *** ***** ** *** frequency. * **** **** ******** ******* for *** **********. *** *** ****** with ***** **** ** **** **’***-***** *** *************.

****: *** ***** ** *** ******** new ****** *** ******** **********?

*** ******* *** ****** *** *******, when *’* ********** *** ***** ** in *** * **** **. *’* constantly ******* *** *****.

****: ***'** ********* ******* * *** times, ***** *** **** ****** *** a *** *****. ** *** ***** use ******?

** ***'* *** **** ***********, *** we *** ****** ******* ***** ********* as ** ******* **.

****: *** ** **** ******* ******* (i.e. *** ** *** ********/***** *** cameras *** ******** ****** *** ******** installed ******?) ** ** **** *** or *** ** ******* * *********?

****, **, ********** *** *** ***** who *** *** ****** *********. ****’** the ***** **** *** ********** *** desire *** * **********. ** * say, ** ** ***** ***** ** a ** *****? ** **** ***** does *** ** *** *** ******. So * ****** ** ** ** and **** ****** *** ***** ****** can ****** *******. ** ** **** a ***** ********* **** ********* *** projects—if **’** ***** ** ***** $***,*** on ********* **** *** ******** *** make * ************** ** **********. ******* stuff ** ******* ** * ******* level.

****: *** ***** ************, *** *'** ask ************: ** ** ***** ***** to **? *** ** *** ***?

**** * **** ** *** ** what ** *** **** **** ** ownership? **** **** ** ******* ****** will *,*** ** ******* ****? **** storage ***** *** **********? ** ** necessary ** ********** *** *****? ** always, ** ******** ****** ***** ***** on ***** *********** *** *********** ******. In *** *******, ** *** ******, we *****'* ***** *** ********** ******** impact, ** **'** ****** ******* ** out.

****: **** ** **** ******* *** on **** *******? ** **** **********? Does ** **** **** ** ** more? *** ** **** ** ****?

*** ******** ** ** ******. *** in *** ********** ***** ********* **’** need ** **** **** **. ******* high-security **********, ** *** **** ** 30 ***. * ***’* ****** ***** there’s * ****, *** ***** *** guidelines. **** ** *** ****** ********, you **** ** ** ** **.

****: *** **** ****** ** ********** are ***** **** **** ***/******/*******/***** ************?

**** **** ** **** ** *** facility. **** ********** *** ** ***. That’s *** *********** **********, *** ** prevents *** ******* **** ***** ****. That’s ********* ** **** ** **** on ** *** **** ****. ** we **** ** **** ** ********? We ** *** *** **** *** it, *** *** ********** ********** ** such **** **’** **** ******* ** have ** ** * ********** *** there’s **** *** ********** **** *** video ****** *** ** **.

****: *** *** ****** **** **** down? *** *** ********** **** ******?

** ** **** * **********, ******** in **** ********** ** **** ***** it ** ********. ****'* *** ** are ****** *** ******** **********. ** a ******** ** ** ***, **** the *** **-****, ** ***'* **** anything.

****: ** *** ** *** **** camera **********? ** *** **** ******* used ** ** ***** ***** ****?

*** **** ******** *** ***** *** audit purposes *** ***** ** ***** ******, that *******. **** *** ***** *****. Primarily, ***** ** ***** ******, **** operators *** ******** ** ****** *****, on *** ******, ******** *** *********. For *******, ******** *** ******* *** staff ** ****** *** ****** ***** somewhere—to *****, ** * *******, ** get ****—*** **** ****** ****** **** backpacks. ** ** ** *** ******* who *****’* *** *** ** ***** molds—they’re ********* ****** *** *** ******* laden **** **** **** ******** **** tools ** ****—** **** ****.

****: ** *** *** *** ***** monitoring ** ***?

**, ** *** * **/* ******.

****: **** **** ******* ** ******* are **** ******* ********** **** ********** system?

** *** ******. ** *** **** out ** *** ******, ** ********. For ******, ***** *******, ****’** *****. Then ** *** ******* *** ******* plate *********** * ***. ** **** depends ** *** ***********.

Multi-Imager ****** *****

****: **** *** **** **** *****-****** *******?

** **** ***** ** **** *****-******* in *** ******-****, *** ****'* *******. We ****** **** ** *** ******* Hanwha ******, *** ****-****** *** ***** just *****'* **** ** **** ******* for. ******* ****** ********* ** *** environment.

Analytics *** ****** *********** *****

****: ** *** *** ****** ***********, LPR,  ** ********* *** ****** **** managing ******* ****/**********, *******/******* ******** *********? What ** *** *** ** *** horizon *** *** ** ***** ***** in ***** ************?

** *** *** **** *****. ** have ****** *********** ***** **** ** object *********. **’** **** ****** ******* it *** ******* ** ***’* **** to ** ******* ** **. *** at ******** **********, *** **’** ***** AI. **’** ******* *** ******* ***** recognition ******* ****’* * ***** ******* from ***. ****** *********** ** **** but ** *****’* ****** *** *** because, ** ** *******, **’* *** there. **** ** ** **, * want ** ** ** **** ** standard ******* *** ******** ***********. **’** still ****** **** ********** **-***** ** how ** **** ** ** **** and **** **’** **** ***** ******** from *** **********. **’** ***** ****** to ****** *** *** ** **** to *** ** ****** ** **** the ************** ** **********. * *** see *********’* *** ****’* ******** *** closet, * *****. * ***’* ***** it’s ***** ***** *** ** ** trustworthy.

****: **** ***** ** ****** *********** will *** ** ******* *** ********** and *** **** *** ****** **** some *****?

** *** *** ******** ******** *******, but **** *** ***** ** **** it ***. ** *** **** ********* and **** ****, *** ** *** to ***** ********** ******* ** **** as ********.

****: ** ******* *** *********/********* **** a *******?

***** **** ****** ** **** ************** for **, ** *** ***** ** generally *****.

****: **** ** *** ******* *** determining ****** ********* ********** *** ******?

**** ** **** ****** ******* *** the ****** ** ***** *** ***** holes ** ***, *** ********* ***** look ** ***** **** *** ***, "Wow **’** **** ****. ** **** a ******." *** **’* ****** ** the ****** ********* *** **’* ****** by **********. ****’* *** *** * prefer ** ** ** **** ******* these ****** **** **** ***** ** be ****.

****: **** *** **** ****** *** pushback **** *** ******/******** ** ***** rights ****** ***** ******* ** ****** areas ** **** ********?

** **** ***. * ***** *** university ********* ****** **** *** ******* of **. ** **** ******** *** will **** ** *** *** ********* happened *** **** ******* ***** *** a ****** *****. * **** *** police ********* ********** **. ** **** you * ****** ****, ***'* *** someone ***** *** *** ** *** that ******’* ******** *** ** **** that ** **** ******* ** **** area, ** ***** **** ** *** we’re ******* ****** **** *********** ** officers *** *** ** *****. **’* also ******* ******. **’** ********* **** calls **** ** *** ** ******* who ***** **** **** ** **** don’t **** ** **** ***** **** buttons.

****: **** ********* ****** *** ******** be ***** **? *** *******, *** should ******** ************ ** **** ** novel **** *** **** ********** ************ do *** ***** **** **** *** biggest ******?

****, *** *** *****, * ***** if ** **** ******, **’* *** pushback **** ********. * ***** *** industry ** ****** ** *** ***** direction **** **, ********** **** ****** processing. * ** ******** ** **** point ********** ******* ***********. ** *****, I ****** *** ** *** ***** way: * ***’* **** **** ************ will **** *** ** **** ****-*** cameras************. ** ***’* **** * *** camera. *** ***** **** *** ** a *******, *** ** ***********?

Comments (13)

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Dave Arnould

03/18/19 03:47pm

Great Write up. Coming from Higher Education as well this is a new and changing field for the Public Safety Department.

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Undisclosed #1

03/18/19 04:53pm

Excellent Q&A piece!

I am a big fan of all of Dan G's recent articles interviewing industry players.  Please keep up the good work!  ; ) 

Have you ever thought of doing a video version of this same thing?

Kind of a podcast look and feel, but with Dan G interviewing the person being highlighted?

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Dan Gelinas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/19/19 12:03am

Thank you, all! Interesting suggestion about doing it as video. However, since all my interviewees are located remotely from me, I'm not sure it would work as well as it might seem on paper. It's definitely an idea to consider, however.

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Dan Gelinas | 03/19/19 12:37am

Also, keep in mind the majority of end users are doing these interviews undisclosed so showing them on video would run counter to that. And we are not going to blur their faces and distort their voices...

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Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Honovich | 03/19/19 02:36am

I hadn't thought of the anonymity thing.... that makes sense.

but blurring faces and distorting voices does sound kind of funny...  ; )

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Cary Menage

IPVMU Certified | 03/18/19 11:04pm

Quick and affordable solution for your remaining analog cameras would be to get HD-Analog DVR'S, HD-Analog cameras and ask AD/Videoedge for document on how to incorporate an RTSP stream as a camera on your VE VMS. You would inherently get redundancy at the edge for video storage in addition to your VE servers.

The cost savings in labor and per camera would yield significant savings. I have successfully vetted this methodology on the bench

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Undisclosed #2

In reply to Cary Menage | 03/19/19 02:34pm

Agree'ed, but thereI are several AHD encoders now, I would probably resort to that and push for a full integration with VMS.

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Cary Menage

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 03/19/19 05:16pm

Do you find the encoders cost the same or more than HD Dvr's. if not, can you recommend some AHD encoder brands? Essentially I resorted to using the Dvr's instead of encoders.

Thanks

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Undisclosed #2

In reply to Cary Menage | 03/19/19 06:05pm

Have seen Hanwha, Vicon, and Digital Watchdog...then there are the Hiks and Dahuas.

Have you been able to pull recorded video from the DVRs through the VMS? That is one of my major concerns with distributed storage topology and DVRs. Maybe an IPVM test?

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Cary Menage

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 03/19/19 08:07pm

No, but I would pull video from the VMS storage, the DVR storage is just redundant, and if needed, I just use the DVR, web, client or local interface to pull from the DVR storage. A working scenario I have in my lab is Shinobi VMS with W-Box (hikvision oem) and HISvideo (Amazon) DVR's.

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Cary Menage

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 03/19/19 11:47pm

I forgot, but I did incorporate AD Holis brand into their Victor VMS, and you could play back stored video from the DVR, But Holis is Dahua OEM, and quality was not very good.

They didn't charge any license either, so there is that bennefit. But if you want enterprise quality to match that of VideoEdge recorders, I would just use them for encoding and incorporate their RTSP stream into a VE recorder, So I think you would be hit for a license per stream, but check with AD, they are pretty good tech support.

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Undisclosed End User #3

03/19/19 05:37pm

I'm the interviewee.

We tested HD DVR's, (probably 5 or so) and while they work fine, they are more expensive and have a larger footprint.

I can't confidently recommend a model, because while Axis encoders work well for us, they may not for you due to the idiosyncrasies of our networking.

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Undisclosed #2

In reply to Undisclosed End User #3 | 03/19/19 06:05pm

Does Axis have any AHD/TVI/CVI high def encoders?

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