Barnet Council is advancing its electronic surveillance system by collaborating with i-PRO and systems integrator DSSL in a comprehensive upgrade of its CCTV framework. This key initiative aims to bolster security, aid urban planning, and promote smart city ambitions in the borough.
Faced with an outdated and largely ineffective CCTV network, the council needed to replace the system while ensuring cost-effectiveness and scalability. Utilising i-PRO’s edge computing analytics allowed for the implementation of a versatile technology that not only ensures robust security and safety but also delivers critical data insights for both business and community development.
Future-proof technology in Barnet
Barnet Council serves as the governing body for the London Borough of Barnet, home to nearly 350,000 residents in a diverse area that includes Hendon, Finchley, and other urban centres as well as rural settlements like Totteridge. The previous CCTV system had fallen into disrepair, with only a small fraction operational, prompting the council to upgrade to smarter, more insightful technology capable of finding efficiencies and enhancing service quality.
Embracing advanced AI capabilities
The council needed to replace the system while ensuring cost-effectiveness and scalability
The council adopted a phased upgrade approach, integrating i-PRO cameras with a newly enhanced control room and Genetec video management system (VMS) via the X-series AI Processing Relay Application. The transition to i-PRO was motivated by its cost-saving AI capabilities, projected to save around £600,000 over five years compared to server-based options. Importantly, this scalable solution also allows Barnet to expand its camera network without additional server infrastructure needs.
“A key factor in the decision was the ability of i-PRO cameras to serve as multifunctional sensors, capturing both security footage and valuable urban analytics. The cameras are used for people and vehicle counting, feeding real-time data into Power BI for internal council reports,” explained Aaron Stephens, Managing Director at DSSL Systems.
Improving infrastructure with data insights
The analytics derived from the upgraded security system have played a crucial role in planning future projects, including expanding CCTV coverage in key areas such as parks and railway stations. These insights assist local businesses in analysing customer footfall and guiding investment decisions, thereby aiding the council in efficient traffic management and public space utilisation.
“Unlike traditional server-based AI technology, which places a heavy burden on network infrastructure, i-PRO cameras process analytics on the edge, transmitting only metadata rather than large video files,” continued Stephens. This edge-based approach leads to reduced costs and quicker data processing, while adherence to stringent cyber security standards ensures data integrity during transmission.
Enhanced video management and community security
The deployment involved installing 127 X-series bullet cameras for general monitoring
The deployment involved installing 127 X-series bullet cameras for general monitoring, 10 fisheye cameras equipped for heat-mapping in libraries, and dual-view 5G cameras for events. These installations play key roles in security and crowd monitoring, with features like audio detection for alerts in unmanned libraries.
Beyond surveillance, the use of redeployable 5G cameras at public events offers valuable crowd insights for event planning in Barnet’s culturally diverse community. The council’s £1 million investment leveraged existing infrastructure to expand data capabilities without incurring significant new costs, with further expansion already underway.
Ongoing technological advances
Phase two of the upgrade has been approved, adding 60-70 new i-PRO bullet cameras. Barnet’s smart city teams are extending the use of i-PRO’s technology into advanced applications, such as people and vehicle analytics, and are trialing automatic number plate recognition.
Looking ahead, Barnet is exploring IoT integrations including environmental sensors and traffic coordination systems to enhance its smart city infrastructure further. Stephens noted that i-PRO's compliance with security standards and deep integration within Genetec solutions reinforced the council's confidence in the system.
The project exemplified the potential of data-driven planning, expected to lead to optimised public expenditure and informed infrastructure investments. As more councils realise the benefits, Barnet’s approach may set a benchmark for smart city technology adoption.
Barnet Council recently undertook a major upgrade of its CCTV infrastructure, partnering with i-PRO and systems integrator DSSL to enhance security, improve urban planning, and drive smart city initiatives.
The project was driven by the need to replace an aging and largely non-functional CCTV network while maximising cost efficiency and scalability. With i-PRO’s market-leading edge computing analytics, the council was able to implement a future-proof technology that not only delivers high-quality security and safety but also provides valuable data insights for business and community planning.
Future-proof technology
The Customer - Barnet London Borough Council, also known as Barnet Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Barnet in Greater London, England. The borough's major urban settlements are Hendon, Finchley, Golders Green, Friern Barnet, Chipping Barnet, Whetstone, and Edgware; there are also village settlements notably Totteridge and Arkley along with rural areas and countryside part of the Green Belt. As such, the area is geographically diverse and is also the largest London borough by population, with close to 350,000 residents.
Business Challenge - The council’s previous CCTV system was in a state of disrepair, with only 15-20 of its 3000 cameras operational across the entire estate. Further to this, the council also looked ahead and made the decision to future-proof existing technology and enhance the capabilities of the system by strategically upgrading to smarter technology, capable of providing deeper insights, finding new efficiencies and generally improving the quality-of-service Barnet Council could provide to constituents and local businesses alike.
Prominent AI capability
The Solution - To address this, Barnet opted for a phased upgrade and system enhancement using the X-series AI Processing Relay Application, integrating i-PRO cameras with a newly upgraded control room and an enhanced Genetec video management system (VMS). The decision to go with i-PRO was influenced by its prominent AI capability and the substantial cost savings— an estimate of £600,000 over five years — when compared to server-based alternatives. Additionally, the system’s scalability allowed Barnet to expand its camera network without requiring extra server infrastructure, space, or cooling requirements.
“A key factor in the decision was the ability of i-PRO cameras to serve as multifunctional sensors, capturing both security footage and valuable urban analytics. The cameras are used for people and vehicle counting, feeding real-time data into Power BI for internal council reports,” states Aaron Stephens, Managing Director at DSSL Systems.
Planning future expansions
The analytics data has become instrumental in planning future expansions, which will include additional coverage in parks, railway stations, and high-traffic areas. The insights generated help local businesses understand customer footfall, assist in investment decisions for town infrastructure, and support the council in managing traffic and public spaces more efficiently.
“Unlike traditional server-based AI technology, which place a heavy burden on network infrastructure, i-PRO cameras process analytics on the edge, transmitting only metadata rather than large video files,” continues Stephens.
Video management solution
This approach significantly reduces costs while enabling faster and more efficient data analysis. The system was deployed with strict cyber security compliance, in alignment with regulations such as NDAA. Installed by DSSL, the network adheres to stringent firewall policies and integrates seamlessly with the Genetec video management solution, ensuring secure and reliable data management.
"The i-PRO forensic capabilities are directly embedded within Genetec Security Center, which enables control room operators to quickly find specific objects or events by filtering through attributes and characteristics captured by the cameras. This speeds up the investigative process and enhances collaboration with the Metropolitan Police," said Benjamin Durrant, Account Executive, Genetec UK & Ireland.
Culturally diverse community
The deployment included 127 X-series bullet cameras for general safety and monitoring, 10 fisheye cameras in libraries for heat-mapping and people counting, and dual-view 5G re-deployable units for festivals and outdoor events. In Barnet’s unmanned libraries, the cameras also play a critical role in security, with audio detection triggering alerts for disturbances and automated people counting ensuring buildings are empty before lockdown procedures are initiated.
Barnet Council’s investment in smart city technology extends beyond security. Re-deployable 5G cameras are being used to track attendance at public events, festivals, and religious gatherings, providing valuable crowd insights for better planning within a culturally diverse community.
Return on investment and planning
“With an initial £1 million investment, the council has maximised existing infrastructure to expand its data capabilities without significant additional spending. Phase two of the project, which has already been approved, will see the addition of 60-70 new i-PRO bullet cameras,” states Stephens.
Beyond security, the smart city and community safety teams are leveraging i-PRO’s capabilities for advanced applications such as people and vehicle analytics. A new trial for automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) is also set to begin, potentially leading to a larger rollout. The council has already started benefiting from i-PRO’s analytics, such as heat-mapping in libraries, but is awaiting governance approval before publicly sharing results. The system complies with data privacy regulations as it does not use facial recognition.
Smart city infrastructure
Looking to the future, Barnet is exploring additional IoT integrations, including environmental sensors, flood detection, and traffic signal coordination. These efforts will further enhance the council’s smart city infrastructure.
“This transparency, combined with i-PRO’s compliance with strict security standards, solidified the council’s trust in the solution. The i-PRO team came in to answer questions from the council and really won them over with their knowledge and honesty,” said Stephens. “Furthermore, i-PRO’s deep integration with the Genetec security solutions portfolio created a seamless ecosystem, reinforcing its market position as a leading smart city solution provider.”
Looking to the future
As Barnet Council continues its journey towards a fully integrated smart city, the focus remains on future scalability and efficiency gains.
The initial return on investment is still being assessed, but the long-term impact is clear: by leveraging real-time data insights, the council can optimise public spending, justify infrastructure investments, and drive smarter, more connected urban development. As more councils recognise the benefits of data-driven planning, projects like Barnet’s will set the standard for the future of smart city technology.
