DVTEL provides its Latitude network video management system to Port Everglades in the US

Background

Almost 6,000 ships call at Port Everglades annually, and its growing containerised cargo business places it 12th among the nation's seaports. The port's petroleum storage and distribution hub serves all of South Florida, it is one of the top three cruise ports in the world, and it boasts a major convention centre within its 2,000 acres. Port Everglades is one of South Florida's strongest economic engines with annual operating revenues of approximately $100 million. A major security incident or act of terrorism would have a strong negative impact on the port and South Florida as well as reverberations throughout the world.

Security challenges 

Few sites pose more complex or critical challenges than a nation's seaports. In addition to the usual concerns of asset and employee protection, ports face additional security threats from terrorism, drugs and other smuggling operations, and stowaways.

According to Mel Becena, Port Everglades Security Administrator: “Seaports need to allow public traffic on the waterside; we're not a naval base where we can seal off access. Shutting off access would impact millions of dollars of commerce.”

Becena's Port Everglades security operation is in charge of the port's four access gates (both on land and on water) where thousands of vehicles pass daily. The initial design for the port's Homeland Security system upgrade called for 14 “node rooms” spread over 2,000 acres, where DVRs and other equipment would connect directly to nearby cameras before streaming data to the network. This called for expensive hardware, placed all over the complex, a lack of centralised control and recording, time-consuming and complicated maintenance, and a costly system design.

The DVTEL solution

System integrator, Security One, recommended DVTEL’s Latitude Network Video Management System (NVMS) to extend and improve on the initial design plan — a solution that enabled the port to take advantage of its dedicated 1 GB network to bring all data back to the Security Operations Centre. Camera data travels through DVTEL encoders in the node rooms and is transmitted over the network to the control centre’s ObjectVideo VEW system (for intelligent video analysis) and to DVTEL’s NVMS for monitoring and recording.

The project represents collaboration and integration among systems and equipment provided by DVTEL, Lenel, ObjectVideo, StorageTek, FLIR and Bosch.

“DVTEL is a true network-based system, eliminating the need to put DVRs through-out the port,” said Mel Becena. “DVTEL's integration with ObjectVideo gives us the performance we need to meet our complex security threats at a significant savings over the original design. Plus, it is more manageable and scalable.”

The highlights

• Ease of integration by DVTEL VMS delivered improved design and functionality
• Seamless integration with ObjectVideo VEW and Lenel OnGuard Alarm Monitoring systems
• Systems working together creates alarms into control center for immediate and thorough investigation
• Hardware in one location provides greater control, easier maintenance and lower TCO (Total Cost of Owner-ship)
• DVTEL and ObjectVideo integration enables ObjectVideo VEW system to take video data directly from the network instead of the analogue camera
• Any camera can be run through the ObjectVideo analysis system, not only the 100 cameras initially dedicated video analysis
• Video is recorded 24/7 at 7 fps to the 33TB StorageTek Bladestore servers. In the event of an alarm, video re-cording goes immediately to 30 fps to ensure maximum investigation capabilities, while keeping storage demands manageable.

“Our innovative, software-based architecture gives Port Ever-glades the freedom to locate equipment where they need it and the ability to integrate systems to create performance efficiencies that are essential for improved security capabilities.”

“The Port Everglades team now has eyes all over the port and from a central location, efficiently monitor and intelligently respond to threats from anywhere in the port complex.” Former DVTEL CEO.