Traditionally, CCTV systems are monitored from a control room located in the physical space of the same client, but a Chilean integrator firm found a way to control electronic security systems through massive 24/7 monitoring.
By SECURITY SALES
Massive Camera Monitoring App in Chile
The most recent case of which this medium was aware is an application in Chile, in which a company is providing this type of services to a significant number of companies in that country, in which it linked more than 100 clients, and installed about 1000 cameras to protect more than 30 thousand people.
Chile is not traditionally a dangerous nation, however the perception of insecurity has been growing, which has somehow encouraged investments in private security; it was expected that in the period between 2006 and 2007 this item would present a growth of at least 10%, a situation driven by the entry of new players into the market.
In addition to the perception of insecurity, the entry into the Chilean market of cutting-edge technology for electronic security has been generated as a kind of fashion for the acquisition of various devices, mainly real-time image transmission systems over the Internet, sensors that differentiate the presence of an animal with respect to a human being, and radio contact systems so as not to lose the connection in case of telephone failures.
In this market, those who are leading the purchase of technology are banks and the retail sector, although the latter is very dispersed by the number of establishments there are. The residential sector has also grown, led by ADT, a subsidiary of the US company Tyco Fire and Security.
Installation in line with the law
The project in question is very interesting, not only because of the figures it offers, but because to participate in the program it is necessary to make an infrequent analysis in these cases and that consists fundamentally of a D.O.F.A (Weaknesses, Opportunities, Strengths and Threats) matrix of the installation to be implemented, and then proceed with the installation of the equipment. All of the above is done within a job or work order.
Alonso Rossi Villalobos, Master in Security and General Manager of V and S T (Vigilancia y Seguridad Tecnológica Ltda.), the firm that offers this type of services, clarified that both the firm and the service provided comply with the rules and protocols authorized by the Carabineros de Chile (O.S.10 Private Security) to execute the online monitoring service, for the protection of persons goods and services.
This same official explained the reasons why so many companies (more than 100) decided to join in this mega project, which however was not due to the occurrence of particular or common criminal acts. "The public perception in Chile about the evolution of indicators related to crime has put this problem at the top of the public agenda. The government's interventions have aimed to increase resources for the police forces, to strengthen the existing public offer in terms of citizen security and to the implementation of anti-criminal policies. Among the latter, the following programs promoted by the government can be mentioned: the 'Criminal Procedure Reform', the 'Preventive Security Quadrant Plan', the 'Safe Commune, Commitment 100' Program, 'Safe Neighborhood', 'Drug Policy', promoted by the National Council for the Control of Narcotic Drugs (CONACE), the 'Penitentiary Policy', the programs promoted by the National Service for Minors (SENAME) and the actions of the governorates in matters of citizen security. All of the above led to the implementation of modern security systems, such as the one VyST has in the area of technological security, as a fundamental support in the evidence delivered to the Prosecutor's Offices of illicit actions recorded and filmed."
Intrusion-proof system
One of the objectives of the implementation of a CCTV system is precisely the security of the system itself, a premise that begins to be diluted with the use of projects based on cameras connected to conventional workstations by video capture cards. The project in question goes beyond this scheme because it links the cameras to a DVR, equipment specially designed to record what they are observing, running on Linux and whose information can be transmitted over the Internet so that those interested can see it regardless of where they are on the planet. Based on this modality, the company has installed a CCTV system that promises 24/7 online remote control.
The project included about 1000 cameras, of different types: color, infrared, fixed and PTZ, domes, minidomes and hidden, which are assigned to a DVR for transmission via Internet and recording of the information sent by the cameras. The recorders can record up to 240 continuous hours and support up to 16 cameras; for this medium it was not possible to know the number of cameras segmented by type, nor the references of the DVRs, so the reader cannot be informed about the capabilities of the capture units or storage of the recorders.
According to Rossi Villalobos, with the implementation by customers of the system under this modality (not monitoring from a control room, but from a common one supplied by the company VyST) can be achieved, among other things:
• Exercise control over those personnel who perform security functions
• Prevent malicious manipulation of the system by internal company personnel
• Have trained personnel with the necessary skills to exercise this function
• Have a monitoring carried out by the same user (via the Internet, from the comfort of their home), which is added to that carried out by VyST.
In addition to simple monitoring, the end user receives several advantages, Rossi said:
• Application of the ABC Plan (Ambulances, Firefighters and Carabineros) in the event of any abnormal and irregular event detected in the monitoring
• Immediate information about unwanted events whom the customer designates as responsible for security
• Daily delivery of news reports, via e-mail, to the person responsible for the installation.
So far there have been no difficulties related to the operation of the system, thanks to the fact that, according to Rossi, the installation was done by highly trained technical personnel who are able to offer an immediate response to the slightest failure.
It is important to note that although the system has been able to use equipment from old security systems, state-of-the-art technology has also been involved to ensure compliance with the objectives of the application.
Highly practical balance
Although electronic security systems have fundamentally dissuasive purposes, the truth is that these programs become especially important when they manage to reduce the commission of crimes or facilitate the capture of those responsible for them. This system has this to its credit, because in addition to sending not a few rascals behind bars, it has also generated a greater climate of security.
Alonso can attest to the above, who said that "the implementation of such security systems demonstrated a decrease in the rates of victimization and in the feeling of insecurity of the inhabitants, as well as a decrease in the commission of crimes, being a system with magnificent results. In this way we have the best response to the increase in crime figures in the country."
Today the security system has totally satisfied users, which have brought more customers to the online CCTV monitoring system. "More than 30 criminals have been handed over to the Chilean Justice, with the respective images that betray them committing an assault or robbery," said Rossi Villalobos.
He added that "day by day VyST receives more requests for the online remote surveillance service and wireless alarms, thanks to the fact that it is a serious and responsible alternative; ten additional vehicles were recently incorporated, such as reaction mobiles to users who are at risk, by activating alarms or suspicious intrusion, observed by the monitored cameras."
Perhaps the most important thing and that justifies the installation by itself, is that the aforementioned system is proof that Latin America is already able to install modern security systems as is done in developed nations and that offer optimal results when it comes to neutralizing crimes.
