How the Electronic Security Industry Protected the Men's Shelter of Charlotte

ESS went with a hybrid design based on two Hikvision DVRs supporting 16 analog and 16 IP channels, accommodating around 15 analog and 15 IP Hikvision cameras. The second DVR is intended to balance the camera load, extend recording time and provide some system redundancy. Should one of the DVRs require servicing, the other can remain in service and support critical cameras. In vital outdoor areas like the patio and main entrance, 2MP cameras were installed, and cameras in the rear parking area were augmented with internal IR illuminators. Panoramic 360⁰ cameras were also placed in key internal areas, while vandal-resistant housings were selected for even interior cameras to make the system robust and durable.

“We needed to have different camera options for indoor vs. outdoor functions,” says Dean. “Inside the facility there needed to be different applications for hallways vs. kitchen vs. public spaces. Outside especially needed vandal-proof cameras. The software system needed to be very easy to use for monitoring, recording and search. ESS did a great job explaining what would best suit our needs.”

The solution also entailed deployment of a new cabled infrastructure that includes a CSC dual-hinged equipment rack, 24-port PoE Hewlett Packard switch donated by BCDVideo and a Clinton Electronics LCD monitor donated by ADI. There’s also an Altronix 32-channel rack-mount power supply, and the entire head-end is backed up by a rack-mount UPS donated by ESS.

“I felt a hybrid system was the best fit because they didn’t have an extensive IT infrastructure to support the scale of the system they wanted,” says Kottkamp. “So analog cameras are used for general surveillance areas and then higher resolution IP-based cameras are used for particular.”

The MSC project team (top left) included, left-right, HWP’s Todd Dunsmore, ESS’ Kurt Kottkamp and Hikvision’s Chris Zenaty.

Industry Challenged to Contribute

Aside from the initial delay getting rolling and coordinating the equipment donors, the MSC project came off with nary a hitch or glitch. The end user was especially pleasantly surprised how smoothly the process transpired as normal operations were unimpeded. That does not happen by accident.

“I credit our operations team with outstanding planning and project implementation, so that when it actually came time to install the system, it really went very smoothly,” says Kottkamp. “Howard specifically was instrumental in the smooth delivery of the system.”

So enthused is Dean that he says there are plans to expand the camera system, possibly even doubling its capacity, when the facility is renovated late this year. The system features he is particularly enamored with include its ability to cover more area than the previous system and how it provides clearer images, during both day and night.

“The system’s mounting rack is well organized and contained. I love the anti-vandal aspects of the cameras. And I love their ability to focus, and the software’s ability to capture still and video images, plus the ease of search features,” he says.

As if the value the system delivers to MSC does not contribute enough to the betterment of the community, shortly after going live the solution aided local authorities. According to Kottkamp, as part of a serious crime investigation in the area, police were able to obtain video from the shelter for analysis. Within MSC, in several instances the video has been used to determine the course of events to help resolve disputes and conflicts among guests.

Kottkamp has thrown down the gauntlet with a challenge for other companies and colleagues to give back to the communities they serve. Such endeavors not only help those in need, but can also reflect positively on your business, instill employees with a deeper sense of purpose and elevate the public’s perception of the security industry.

“I encourage integrators and small business people everywhere to seek out areas where their expertise can contribute to their community through providing systems for charities, nonprofits or other community organizations,” he says. “It was very rewarding and all the people involved really bought into helping the shelter and delivering a quality system.”