Hoorn80 business park protected by Axis network cameras

Hoorn Park Management opted for a installation of 16 Axis cameras and Agent VI video management software

Hoorn80, located in Hoorn (The Netherlands), is a business park spreading over a total area of 65 hectares and is home to 160 companies. To prevent criminal activity, theft and disorder, Hoorn Park Management was looking for an effective and intelligent video surveillance solution that would not only increase security in the area, but also allow remote monitoring of the system's status for management and maintenance purposes.

Solution

Hoorn Park Management opted for a complete IP-based camera installation consisting of 16 Axis PTZ dome network cameras and Agent VI video management software. The network video system in place, providing for both overview images of the environment and the ability to zoom in on details, offers numerous possibilities for monitoring the park's environment and detecting suspicious incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week, based on presets.

Result

Following system deployment, Hoorn Park Management has seen an 85% decrease in disorderly and criminal activities. All suspicious activity that occurs is captured on camera - all illegal actions in the business park are recorded by the camera system, making it easier to identify and apprehend offenders, and recover losses.

The Hoorn80 business park houses various companies from the secondary and tertiary sector, such as the distribution centres of Deen Supermarkt, Klene, the Hoorn distillery, and various construction companies. The business park attracted an increasing number of disorderly and criminal activities, as it was a favourite location for street racing, illegal waste disposal and unwanted gatherings of people. The area also suffered from vandalism and theft.

Hoorn Park Management opted for network video monitoring as a powerful tool to fight crime. The use of cameras would allow the business park to be monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Captured images are monitored live in the Supervision Centre. As soon as illegal activities are registered by the cameras, supervisors quickly take action and contact the security guards or police.

Installation

The system consists of a total of 16 Axis network cameras. René den Dekker, Director of Spyke Security, the company which runs and mans the Supervision Centre and is also responsible for the system, says, "In this system we are using AXIS 232D+ Network Dome Cameras. These PTZ dome cameras provide a good overview of the environment, and are also able to focus sharply on details. As a result, we can, for example, recognise license plates and faces, which makes subsequent identification of suspects easier."

The cameras are combined with video content analysis software Agent VI, distributed by Secured by Web in the Netherlands. Together with the intelligent camera features the software reviews all images and passes them on if necessary. Agent VI uses low bandwidth communication with the central server, which means that it can also be hosted on a server. Several suspicious situations are pre-programmed into Agent VI.

The IP video surveillance system resulted in an 85% drop in disorderly and criminal activities at the Hoorn80

If, for example, a number of people loiter for more than five minutes at a particular location, this can indicate an unwanted gathering. Driving too fast within a fenced area may be indicative of street racing. Driving very slow or stopping could point to people who are looking for something, or just keeping an eye on something. Gatherings of young people may lead to vandalism, and a visitor in the evening hours could indicate illegal waste disposal.

Monitoring the images

A continuous stream of images and separate messages is transmitted to the supervisors in the control room through Meldweb, a video management software platform supplied by Secured by Web. If the supervisors see something suspicious, or if a report comes in from the police control room or an eyewitness, a security guard goes out to the location to see what is happening.

More than just surveillance

As well as detecting vandalism, theft and other undesirable events, the cameras are also used to manage the business park. Because the cameras monitor the business park around the clock, they can also report defective street lights or potholes in the road. The cameras also have a preventative role, as evidenced by the drop in the number of burglaries and vandalism incidents after the system was installed.

Positive results

The IP video surveillance system resulted in an 85% drop in disorderly and criminal activities at the Hoorn80 business park. In all other cases the suspects have been arrested. René den Dekker enthusiastically explains, "The results of the camera monitoring in the park are very positive. In fact, because of these positive results Hoorn Park Management has decided to equip four additional sites with the same system."