Resort surveillance

The largest ski and outdoor sports resort in North America required a high-performance HD video surveillance system that can ensure visitor and employee safety, protect company assets and reduce theft in its retail and rental division. Located just 125 km north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Whistler Blackcomb is a worldclass ski resort that accommodates over two million skiers and snowboarders annually. One of the main venues during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Whistler Blackcomb is the largest ski resort in North America and home of the world-record breaking “Peak 2 Peak” Gondola. Security personnel at Whistler Blackcomb manage the Avigilon high-definition security system from their control room using the Avigilon Control Center (ACC) 5 network management software (NVMS) with High Definition Stream Management (HDSM) technology. The resort uses over 100 Avigilon HD Dome and HD Bullet cameras, ranging from 1 MP to 5 MP in both indoor and outdoor settings, to monitor retail and rental stores, inventory locations, public loading areas, financial vaults, employee service areas, and numerous doors and gates. Whistler Blackcomb uses Avigilon video encoders to leverage the resort’s 100-plus existing analog cameras Whistler Blackcomb uses Avigilon video encoders to leverage the resort’s 100-plus existing analog cameras. The team also uses ACC Mobile to view live and recorded images remotely and Avigilon Network Video Recorders (NVRs) to store up to 30 days of continuous surveillance footage. Benefits Create a safe environment for visitors and staff Cost effective installation Prevent accidents and theft Meet insurance requirements Reduce investigation time Upgraded video surveillance In recent years, the resort had relied on an outdated, largely analog-based video surveillance system to oversee its security initiatives. But with 8,171 acres of skiable terrain along with over 100 buildings and facilities on the property, it was inevitable that Whistler Blackcomb would need to upgrade to a versatile, high-performance video surveillance solution that can efficiently manage the area. “Our video coverage for viewing was antiquated and not effective,” said Carl Rochon, IT Systems Administrator at Whistler Blackcomb. We felt that Avigilon offered the complete package of quality cameras at a good price" “The number of buildings, the terrain and the multiple business units that we operate certainly posed a challenge and made it difficult for us as a security department to analyse footage right away.” With the assistance of the Vancouver-based security integrator, BMS Integrated Services, the resort considered several surveillance camera manufacturers before ultimately selecting Avigilon. “We felt that Avigilon offered the complete package of quality cameras at a good price and an excellent interface to maximise the effectiveness of those cameras,” said Rochon.  600 cameras and NVR installation “We are continually impressed with this combination.” Whistler Blackcomb has been so satisfied with the Avigilon system, the resort has plans to install over 600 more cameras and 12 NVRs in the next few years. “We are moving closer to our goal of greater employee safety, external guest safety and the protection of company assets by utilising surveillance technology with better evidence,” Rochon said. “We are certainly moving in that direction with our Avigilon solution.” Security personnel at Whistler Blackcomb use the ACC 5 software to efficiently manage the resort’s HD surveillance system. Due to the scope of Whistler Blackcomb, the resort has multiple users within each business unit (60 in total) that have 24-hour access to cameras within their designated area. Whether security personnel are monitoring from their desktops or from their smart phones and tablets using ACC Mobile, they can quickly locate and assess certain incidents. HD video surveillance has enabled security officials at Whistler Blackcomb to monitor large outdoor areas with greater efficiency, which has been a key asset in locating lost skiers or assessing any incidents. Avigilon Control Center software “The Avigilon Control Center software is a tool that enables our security and management team to be more efficient in their jobs,” said Rochon. “Our staff can view video, both live or recorded, and immediately address situations.” Rochon attributes the software’s ease-of-use and advanced playback and search functionality as the ACC software’s key benefits. “We used to literally spend hours searching individual camera footage on local DVRs to hopefully find anything useful,” Rochon said. “Now, it takes less than a minute to achieve significantly greater evidence. The search capability is mind-blowing to say the least.” Given the vast terrain and multiple business units that Whistler Blackcomb is home to, ensuring the safety of guests and employees can be challenging for security officials at the resort. Each separate division within Whistler Blackcomb’s umbrella of operations has their own security and safety concerns. “Our Guest Services Division would cite employee and guest safety as their top priority,” Rochon said. The Avigilon solution has also proven to be a cost-effective surveillance solution for the resort HD video surveillance “It is from this perspective that we endeavor to leverage practices and technology to minimise these concerns.” HD video surveillance has enabled security officials at Whistler Blackcomb to monitor large outdoor areas with greater efficiency, which has been a key asset in locating lost skiers or assessing any incidents. “As we upgrade our cameras across our mountain operations, the only question I am constantly asked from the various business units is, ‘When can we get that new camera solution installed at our location?’” said Rochon. “It makes a much-needed difference for improved safety, security and protection.” Despite the size of Whistler Blackcomb, the Avigilon solution has also proven to be a cost-effective surveillance solution for the resort. “We were always told that Avigilon was too expensive to install for a site like ours,” said Rochon. “We found the opposite to be true.”  With over two million annual skiers and snowboarders, as well as 1500 full-time and 3500 seasonal employees, minimising theft was a challenging task for Whistler Blackcomb. Since deploying the Avigilon HD solution, the security team at Whistler Blackcomb has been able to effectively protect the resort’s retail and rental stores, inventory locations, public loading areas, financial vaults, employee service areas, and numerous doors and gates. The resort has also been able to use the high-definition footage to identify and prosecute individuals who commit theft Aid in crime-prevention The resort has also been able to use the high-definition footage to identify and prosecute individuals who commit theft. “With each camera installation, it gives us greater evidence to apprehend the culprits as well as deter those that may be contemplating such actions,” said Rochon. “Our local RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) detachment doesn’t hesitate to request video evidence anymore since we have installed our Avigilon cameras.” Almost immediately after deploying the Avigilon solution in the ski rental shop at the resort, the security team was able to catch two individuals stealing expensive snowboards and equipment. “Because of the clarity of the image captured, we were immediately able to clearly identify our suspects and push that picture out to all our managers in the area,” said Rochon. “The perpetrators tried to flee Whistler quickly and it didn’t work for them.” The Avigilon solution also positively impacts the resort’s ability to affect the costs associated with vandalism and theft. Once the resort completes its Avigilon camera expansion, Rochon estimates Avigilon’s end-to-end solution will help Whistler Blackcomb recover $250,000 worth of product per year. “All in all, we probably have half a million dollars worth of theft or damage to property that shouldn’t occur,” said Rochon. “Avigilon will not only help us cut that cost in half, but it will also lower our liability insurance cost.”

Siklu’s mmWave Gbps radios extend fibre reach for the municipal networkat the resort Siklu Communication Inc., the global market leader in millimetre-wave radios, recently announced that its 60GHz and 70/80GHz wireless radios were deployed to enable gigabit wireless backhaul and to cost-effectively extend the town of Vail’s underground fibre infrastructure for communication and surveillance. Vail ski resort One of the largest ski resorts in the world and a prime venue for concerts and music festivals, Vail, Colo., has almost 2 million visitors a year. Details such as security, capacity-rich Wi-Fi, and environmental aesthetics are of utmost importance, but also a tall order in this challenging geography with its advanced infrastructure. The town’s underground fibre optics connect the town buildings, facilities and surveillance cameras, and Ruckus Wireless access points deliver advanced, high-speed free Internet. Aspen Wireless sought a wireless solution to extend the reach of the municipal fibre network, as in many locations, terrain challenges made fibre laying a physical impossibility. The solution needed to provide copious amounts of bandwidth without congesting the Wi-Fi service. The town was also looking to add new megapixel cameras and to upgrade analogue surveillance cameras to IP. Siklu’s mmWave radios “Who cares about 100’s of megabits when everyone wants Gigabit,” said Jim Selby, Aspen Wireless Technologies, Inc., when considering a solution for the town’s wireless POPs that are connected to a 10Gbps backbone. Selby selected Siklu’s mmWave radios to deliver interference-free Gbps to future proof Wi-Fi and CCTV services, and enable speedy and foolproof recovery. Aspen Wireless deployed the links within days and were delighted with the ease and speed of installation “Siklu’s solution is just so easy to deploy,” added Selby. With its diminished latency, and interference-free Gigabit capacity, Siklu backhauled the selected cameras; SurroundVideo®, cutting edge, multi-sensor panoramic cameras from Arecont Vision, and HD megapixel dome cameras from Axis Communications, to provide high resolution video surveillance. Aspen Wireless integrated the new cameras with Milestone’s Xprotect® Expert version VMS to create a reliable surveillance network ready to handle today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. Wireless backhaul Today, the Vail network utilises 60, 70/80GHz frequencies for wireless backhaul, with the whole of the 2.4GHz and 5GHz spectrum free to service end-user Wi-Fi devices. The network reaches speeds and performance quality far beyond expectations. Wireless backhaul capacity has soared from 20-50Mbps to Gbps and the new cameras have improved video quality from low-rate standard resolution to multiple megapixels at 30fps. Ruckus ZoneFlex™ 7762 outdoor dual-band Wi-Fi access points and ZoneFlex 7782 Series carrier-class 3x3:3 2.4/5 GHz outdoor APs, featuring integrated antennas with patented BeamFlex™ technology for unprecedented performance in high-density, high-capacity applications, perform at top throughputs of over 100Mbps per end user device, while apps run without a snag.

At the top of the challenging ski resort with the steepest pistes in Lower Austria, towers one of the most modern mountain stations at a height of 1,600 metres above sea level: the Terzerhaus. It was only completed in 2014. All door areas of the Mitterbach mountain railway have been equipped with EVVA Xesar and 3KSplus. The project was managed by the experienced EVVA Partner Jürgen Hirsch from Amstetten. The view is well worth the visit. This true gem for summer and winter sports is located a mere 130 kilometres from Austria’s capital Vienna. Climb the mountain by funicular or using the new tow lift and come back down using your preferred method: scooters in summer and skis or the chairlift in winter – anything is possible. One of the first Xesar systems in Austria It was one of the first times that EVVA’s individually adapted locking system was installed throughout the new development as well as in modernised areas: "As one of the first Xesar projects in Austria this was a particular challenge because it was all new," Jürgen Hirsch explains the special conditions of the installation as managing director of the EVVA Partner company Hirsch from Amstetten. "We already ordered individual components directly during the training," he chuckles. As a trained and tested Certified Partner (CP) they developed the best security solution together with EVVA and Andreas Markusich, branch manager at Bergbahnen Mitterbach. "The greatest challenge here was the high number of employees and the fluctuation. For this reason, Xesar was ideal: all key changes can be programmed in no time." Event logging was also crucial – Andreas Markusich is always up to date with precise data on access events, leaving him in control at all times. Mechanical and electronic lock combination The combination of mechanical and electronic locking systems for the mountain railways resulted from the different requirements of the many external doors, for example to maintain the funicular. "Around 250 3KSplus cylinders have been installed here," Markusich says. "You can hardly believe where they all hide," he laughs. The greatest advantage here is its flawless operation even in extreme weather conditions. Brand-new combined keys ensure optimum use – they open the extremely durable 3KSplus cylinders in addition to all doors secured with Xesar. 3KSplus – a reversible key for the toughest conditions 3KSplus (3-curve system) is characterised by the unique and patented, functional principle free from springs. Unlike conventional locking systems, 3KSplus features locking sliders in cylinders that move along the curve key cuts and are not pushed against a spring force. Andreas Markusich, who has been responsible at Bergbahnen Mitterbach for ten years now, is very happy with the selected locking system and the service provided by Jürgen Hirsch. Security and administration of the system have worked perfectly from the outset, Markusich is happy to announce.

The resort installed LILIN’s 9-channel NVR Touch, NVR109 along with 4 2MP IPD2122ES HD dome IP cameras LILIN USA provides HD IP surveillance application for Paws Pet Resort in Lake Forest, California. With an embedded video feed on their website called the Live Doggie Cam, PawsPR was unhappy with the quality of their existing CCTV system. Looking to improve the experience of their guests’ owners, the hotel decided to replace their existing application with one that would guarantee clear footage of their four-legged friends. Helping in the development of this project, Regional Sales Manager Robert Melendez recommended the resort install LILIN’s 9-channel NVR Touch, the NVR109, along with 4 2MP IPD2122ES HD Dome IP Cameras. All LILIN iMEGAPRO cameras come embedded with the Java-written LILINApplet, which automatically downloads itself to the user’s PC. Therefore, no web master needs to host LILINApplet in order to use it. Robert stated, “Paws Pet Resort was unhappy with their previous cameras. Customers were having trouble logging onto the Doggie Cam without downloading an app. With LILIN cameras installed in their facility, customers can view their pets without downloading an app. This way they can view their pets when they want to and make sure they are being taken care of.” With two of the camera feeds live on the website, the Paws Pet Resort will have constant vibrant footage during business hours, allowing all “parents” to check up on their pets while away.

Barix IP audio security system enhances existing intrusion alarm solution at the resort Barix is helping the parent company of a Maldives Islands resort boost property security through the power of IP audio. The system, installed by Maldives-based systems integration firm EIT Private Limited, integrates two-way Audio over IP technology from Barix as part of an intrusion alarm solution for the business offices of Bandos Island Resort and Spa. The complete solution also includes CCTV video and remote monitoring components. EIT Private Limited installed a security system following recent burglaries at the resort’s headquarters, located in the 13-story Jazeera Building in the capital city of Male’. The Barix solution employs two Annuncicom PS1 devices, with one at the main Jazeera Building control centre and a second in a control center on resort grounds, where all remote monitoring takes place.  The PS1 enables a direct connection for intercom communications between the two control centres over an eight-mile (13-kilometer) distance. EIT Private Limited Director Mohamed Afzal estimates that the Barix solution saved his customer five thousand dollars ($5,000) versus a legacy audio system, eliminating interference concerns in the process. Long-distance audio is streamed between the two PS1 devices over a WiFi link from Ubiquiti Networks, costing far less than communicating by mobile phone or PSTN networks.  Ultimately, the Barix solution provides his customer with the high audio quality needed to reliably communicate and prevent theft and the flexibility to grow the system moving forward. “Barix offers the best option for a customised IP audio solution in security, with open software that allows us to integrate and customise their hardware,” said Afzal.  “Most vendors don’t provide that kind of flexibility. In this case, Bandos Island Resort and Spa no longer have to depend on others or worry about the questionable reliability of SMS-based mobile communication to report security incidents. The PS1 ensures that guards can better communicate (at no additional cost), and more effectively catch suspects during a forced entry or theft.” Afzal added that Barix provides flexibility in audio streaming, allowing users to choose any type of format or compression depending on the customer’s network strength. “Too many other products have fixed bit rates for audio, and in many cases the customer’s network cannot accommodate the bandwidth needed to handle the streams,” he said.  “offers plenty of audio streaming options so that customers are not forced to invest in network upgrades or buy additional hardware.” The configuration for the Bandos Island Resort and Spa system uses standard voice over IP (VoIP) protocols for communication between guards at two control centers. SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) calls can be initiated to allow communication with multiple receiving devices.  Remote access control at the main office building entrance is also made possible with the Barix installation. Afzal concluded that set up was extremely simple, with streaming enabled between the two PS1 devices within minutes of configuration. “The PS1 devices detect each other over the network almost immediately once set up and powered on,” he said.

An integrated access control system provides sophisticated services at the ETO Park sports complex, an entertainment and shopping centre in Györ, Hungary.Györ is a city with 125,000 residents in northwest Hungary, around halfway between Vienna, the capital of Austria, and Budapest, the Hungarian capital. The city's former ETO FC football stadium was redeveloped into a full-blown sports and leisure complex a while ago. ETO Park, as the ultramodern site is now known, houses a shopping mall and entertainment centre, a hotel and a residential soccer training academy as well as the local football club's rebuilt stadium. It can currently accommodate 16,000 spectators to UEFA standards, or nearly double that number if further developed.It has heated turf and a water management system to provide the best possible playing conditions come rain or shine. In addition to hosting football matches in the warmer season, the stadium is also a venue for concerts, shows and cultural events the year round. Access control and e-ticketing at the ETO Park complex were once barcode-based. Much of that has now been replaced with a G4S WinAccess access control system that integrates multifunctional LEGIC technology.It was a complex project that covered vehicle access, public access to event spaces, e-ticketing as well as a customer loyalty scheme for restaurants, a beauty salon and a children's play centre operating inside ETO Park. All were tied into a LEGIC based system - and this during the height of the football season. It meant integrating the previously installed and operating Kaba full-height turnstiles, long-range G4S LEGIC readers linked to vehicle barriers and an external e-ticketing system. The programmable system components used in the project (access controllers, LEGIC readers, etc.) were developed by G4S Security Systems Ltd for multifunctional integration tasks like this one.   Access control and e-ticketing at the ETO Park complex were once barcode-based The tried-and-tested Interticket e-ticketing system continues to be used for issuing regular barcode tickets to football matches, while season tickets have been converted into LEGIC cards - resulting in a parallel application of barcode and LEGIC contactless credentials for event access. LEGIC cards can be used in the soccer club's catering facilities, where G4S LEGIC desktop readers link the stadium's restaurants with the access control system. In the complex's mall section, specially designed SAG LEGIC soft wristbands with Velcro have been introduced to the children's play area and the beauty salon.The system integration has been a success, and the recently implemented LEGIC based loyalty functions are operating smoothly in the stadium's restaurants and shops. The story is set to continue, with specifications and plans now in development for electronic wallet functions to be used with a connected restaurant management system and for multifunctional access to the stadium hotel.