Three Counties Showground protects plants, livestock and machinery using wireless Milestone IP network video surveillance "We have a stable, leading-edge technology system that is helping our fight against criminal activities very successfully. We would recommend this system to everybody."- Ashley Willoughby, Computer and Security Manager for Three Counties Showground
The Challenge Because of the sheer physical size of the Three Counties Showground with numerous entranceways and public access areas, vandalism was becoming a major problem. After normal closing time people could still wander into the showground and commit acts of vandalism, machinery theft, or attempt to steal the on-site cash machine. It was physically impossible to lay co-axial cables in the ground for standard CCTV coverage due to constant work for the Horticultural Shows. Off-site monitoring was also required. The Solution View-IT (a Gardiner Security Integration Partner) installed a wireless transmitter, Milestone XProtect IP video surveillance software, Axis 2130 and 213 network cameras. The Benefits After placing the surveillance cameras over all the workshop areas, vandalism and theft from these areas was eradicated. Entrance Monitoring with Number Plate Recognition View-IT, a Gardiner Security Integration Partner, was on site at Three Counties Showground to install a new cabling infrastructure and telephone system. When they learned of the crime problems, they recommended using the technology based on their experience in voice and data networking to move video images wirelessly around the showground campus for storage onto a server located in the main communications room. David James, Managing Director of View-IT, states, "Advice on the correct types of cameras, software, housings and pole types with power supply options was crucial. We had the wireless technology skills and Gardiner Security helped us to select a Milestone software solution working with Axis fully functional PTZ and fixed cameras."  It was necessary to monitor movements on site through all of the showground entrance areas. The Axis 213 cameras (as shown at left) are strategically located at various points throughout the site and are set to record all movements on motion detection. The software directs the camera into ‘touring modes' and the cameras are capable of viewing huge areas. When a car enters the showground, the Axis fixed cameras capture car number plates as they move into the entranceways. This information is then stored on the Milestone server.
Axis 2130 cameras monitor traffic coming and going through the showground's main entrances. The Milestone and Axis solution meets the challenge of monitoring 90,000 visitors per year - many who have pre-paid for tickets over the Internet. The XProtect Remote Client software enables video monitoring to take place after the showground has closed to the public, with viewing of live or recorded images from the comfort of the manager's own home. Ashley Willoughby, Computer and Security Manager for Three Counties, is delighted with the new system and states the following: "We have a stable, leading-edge technology system that is helping our fight against criminal activities very successfully. We would recommend this system to everybody." No bandwidth problems The whole system runs over a structured cabling and wireless architecture. This same infrastructure is also used for Broadband Access to exhibitors' stands. Bandwidth is never a bottleneck issue with the Milestone software's motion detection and file size settings in place. A separate disk was installed in the server to handle recorded images, and 30 days' recording with nine cameras only uses an average of 40GB hard disk space.  Glenn Fletcher, National Sales Manager for Gardiner Security's Integrated Systems Division, sees View-It as a specialist installer with the perfect skills required to handle these converged solutions. "The market is ready for video surveillance working over an Ethernet architecture. The expert knowledge View-IT has of Local and Wide Area Networking, coupled with the ability to keep the wireless part of the network secure, enabled Three Counties to have confidence that the project would be worth investing in. At Gardiner Security we are working closely with these specialist companies and giving them the accreditation of Network Video Integration Partners."
David James of View-It is shown above operating the Milestone software installed at Three Counties Showground. | 
