Customer
Nirvana Spa is located about an hour outside of London in the Berkshire countryside.
The award-winning facilities feature a variety of amenities including treatment rooms for hands-on healing, a gym, cafes, and 14 natural mineral water pools designed for pleasure, relaxation, or therapy. Nirvana Spa has a well-deserved reputation for luxury and first class service that has attracted a diverse range of clientele seeking to relax and unwind in secure and pampered comfort.
Challenge
Video surveillance cameras are as much a part of daily life in the UK (United Kingdom) as are the local pubs, and the grounds and facilities of Nirvana Spa are no exception. Video cameras on pan/tilt units have been installed outdoors on poles, on rooftops, and on the sides of buildings to cover the parking lot, perimeter areas, entrances, tennis courts, outdoor gardens, and maintenance buildings. Fixed and pan/tilt cameras have been installed in exercise rooms and pool areas for safety reasons and for general security in common areas.
In keeping with the premium standards set at Nirvana Spa, the original analogue video surveillance system was high quality when originally installed. Image quality was considered acceptable but required additional lighting to ensure useable recordings on a 24/7 basis. The need to increase the number of cameras for additional coverage was a major concern since it would become more difficult for the surveillance system to remain discrete.
The most important issue related to the existing pan/tilt cameras, which were not adequately capturing incidents on video because they were usually facing the wrong direction when an event occurred. All of these issues were of concern and needed to be addressed by the new solution.
Megapixel solution
Nirvana Spa management received a demonstration of Arecont Vision® SurroundVideo® panoramic megapixel cameras arranged through its system integrator, Lantec Security.
The image quality of the Arecont Vision® SurroundVideo® panoramic cameras was considered to be far superior to other cameras that were demonstrated and evaluated. Camera features include true wide dynamic range (WDR), motion detection, day/night functionality, remote focus/remote zoom, and vandal-resistant housings. Arecont Vision® SurroundVideo® 180° and 360° panoramic megapixel cameras were the choice for the new installation.
Megapixel benefit
Arecont Vision® SurroundVideo® IP AV-8185DN panoramic megapixel cameras were deployed for surveillance of the car park and surrounding perimeter areas. Each camera provides a 180°continuous view of the scene which means that fewer cameras are needed to cover the entire area. There are no lapses in coverage, unlike the previous pan/tilt-based solution.
The day/night capability of the SurroundVideo® cameras also ensures that high quality video is captured 24 hours a day. In the event of an incident, operators can zoom in live or on recorded video for a closer look or for evidentiary purposes.
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| The surveillance system provides full coverage of external parking areas and increases safety of customers & staff |
Arecont Vision® SurroundVideo® IP AV-8365DN panoramic megapixel dome cameras are used inside the facilities. Each camera provides a continuous 360° view. Areas which previously required several analogue pan/tilt cameras are now monitored by a single 360° megapixel panoramic camera.
Nirvana Spa clients and staff alike appreciate the added coverage without the feeling of being watched. Issues are now quickly resolved because of the exceptional video quality and the ability to capture the moments leading up to and after any incident.
“The image quality of the Arecont Vision® megapixel cameras is excellent,” said Graham Walker, Head of Procurement & Security, Nirvana Spa. “They have helped us to improve the level of safety and security without intruding on anyone’s sense of privacy.”
Significant cost benefits were delivered by requiring fewer cameras and less supporting infrastructure. The SurroundVideo® panoramic megapixel camera solution is also less taxing on the IP network due to H.264 compression and bit rate control capabilities.
Digital Sentry video management software
Digital Sentry® video management software from Pelco by Schneider Electric was selected as part of the project. Digital Sentry® is Arecont Vision® MegaLab™ integration certified.
These collective advantages further reduce the overall Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of the new surveillance system while increasing Return on Investment (ROI) for Nirvana Spa.
“From a cost standpoint, we have saved time and money,” said Mr. Walker. “Fewer cameras are needed and any problems or incidents are resolved much faster and with less expense.”
Megapixel video-based solution
The megapixel video-based solution delivers highly detailed images that are displayed on a video wall and monitored 24/7. Operators are able to control which views from each of the Arecont Vision® cameras are displayed, and they can zoom in on any selected areas to get a closer look if needed.
The high quality of the video and the combined camera and VMS functionality allows Nirvana Spa to monitor key areas such as the gym and to respond to incidents or issues in real time as they occur. The new surveillance system also provides full coverage and recordings of external parking areas, minimising potential losses, and increasing the safety of both customers and staff in a discreet manner.
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