The company Tecnología Acceso & Seguridad TAS, S.A., regional office Costa Rica, was the integrating firm in charge of unleashing the security project advanced with Axis Comunications equipment at the University of Costa Rica. Here we will detail the intervention.
By Santiago Jaramillo Hincapié
The project developed by the company Tecnología Acceso & Seguridad TAS, S.A., consists of the implementation by faces of the IP video surveillance system for the University of Costa Rica. It consists of more than 250 Axis cameras, some of which replaced the analog system that the institution had with IP technology. The project will continue to grow to cover all the campuses and the central university campus.
As for what type of institution it is in which the security system was installed, how many buildings were protected and how many people are in turn protected by the system, our guest Juan Diego Vargas Rojas, representative of Tecnología Acceso & Seguridad TAS, S.A., told us that the video surveillance system was installed in a state university, which is the most important institution of higher education in Costa Rica.
The focus was to place cameras inside, outside, perimeters of the Campus, called Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio and all the Venues. Fixed Cameras, Mini Domes, PTZ Domes, Thermal Cameras, and Anti-Vandalism Cameras were installed.
The idea was to offer the university's more than 50,000 students and staff the best video surveillance coverage in approximately 200 buildings across the country.
Security Sales: Tell us about the security conditions of the city where the installation was made, and the areas where the branches or protected buildings are established. Were there any difficulties or criminal acts that would drive the implementation of a better security system?
Juan Diego Vargas: Yes, because the University both in its headquarters and in the regional headquarters are surrounded by green areas and protected areas, it has been necessary to not only protect the infrastructure of the buildings and assets but also human life, both in the Central Campus and in its 8 Regional Headquarters. Even though the Headquarters are not exactly in conflict areas, there was vandalism with the assets of the institution and the vehicles of the students and staff of the university.
The facts are mainly committed by people outside the institution who saw the opportunity because of the very conditions of the campuses and in the buildings they took advantage of mixing with the students and committing the criminal acts. The cameras alert security officers and have already managed to identify many criminals and remove them from the institution before they commit the crimes.
VDS: Have there been changes in security legislation in this country and that this fact has motivated the implementation of more robust security systems?
JDV: There have been no changes in the country's legislation, but the leaders of the University with a lot of professionalism, have been concerned about security and providing the institution with the latest in Electronic Technology to have many more monitored spaces and be able to collect evidence to support themselves in case of resorting to the judicial authorities.
Technical description
VDS: Could you talk about the security system that was previously installed? Give us a description of it, if there was one.
JDV: The system that was previously installed analogous, the cameras were Pelco brand, with a matrix also Pelco. PTZ analog domes and fixed cameras were used, they used analog to IP pelco converters and then in the monitoring center they were converted one by one from IP to analog again to be recorded in DVRs of different brands.
VDS: Please tell us about the technical characteristics of the safety system, operation and differences of the system compared to the models offered by other companies.
JDV: AXIS cameras were chosen knowing their versatility with open recording platforms, their excellent quality, high-resolution devices were needed and their management could be done in a centralized way, operating a single control room. Most importantly, they can be integrated into most of the most robust recording systems on the market and with a high resolution.
VDS: Tell us about the monitoring process that is carried out with this equipment and what other advantages, in addition to surveillance, they offer the client.
JDV: Basically there is a centralized monitoring room with two (2) operators, where the entire Rodrigo Facio campus and the Headquarters are monitored. In case of an incident for any of the people who pass through any of the headquarters and buildings of the institution, you can resort to the institutional security authorities to clarify the event and provide evidence if necessary.
VDS: What are the objectives or purposes of this security system? Is it integrated with other subsystems like alarms or something else?
JDV: Andover Control is being used to integrate video with Digital Sentry and Axis cameras.
VDS: Were there any technical or logistical difficulties when implementing the system? If yes, could you tell us about them?
JDV: At first there were problems with the domes in the exteriors in some areas with a lot of scratches, in winter time they burned very frequently. We solve it with peak protectors in both energy and communication.
VDS: Now tell us why you chose the technology mentioned for this project.
JDV: Axis was chosen for this project due to the quality of the products and the compatibility with the recording and integration systems that the University has.
VDS: For the implementation of this system, resources from the previous technology could be used or it was necessary to start from scratch for this project.
JDV: The implementation has been carried out little by little since the technology they had was analog and we have been migrating it to IP. What has been reused for this is their network platform since they have a robust data network.
Results
VDS: How could you describe how this equipment works?
JDV: Perfect and of very good quality.
VDS: Could you tell us about end-user satisfaction with this technology?
JDV: Very satisfied. When asked what has been the greatest contribution he perceives from this video surveillance system, his answer is blunt: "Greater security for both officials and students."
VDS: Has this security system allowed to catch criminals and therefore increase the security rates in this client?
JDV: This system has made it possible to identify criminals, and scare them away at the entrance of the facilities and present evidence to the judicial authorities when necessary.
VDS: Would you like to add something that you consider important and that we have omitted to ask in this questionnaire?
JDV: Having provided the University with demo cameras of each new model that is introduced to the market, has made it easier for us to be acquired later by the university since they were able to corroborate the quality and benefits of these new products.
BOX
Overview
Integrating firm: Tecnología Acceso & Seguridad TAS, S.A. regional office Costa Rica
Manufacturers involved: Axis Comunications
Contacts: Juan Diego Vargas Rojas, MBA
Email: [email protected]
Company covered with the installation: University of Costa Rica
Installation dates: 2009/2013
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