Megapixel Cameras Improve Monitoring At College World Series
Every June, close to 300,000 fans make their way to Omaha, Nebraska for one of the high points of college sports -- The College World Series. The top 8 teams in Division 1 Men’s collegiate baseball can command more than 23,000 fans at game time, filling Omaha's Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium to maximum capacity. Since 2007, safety and security of the games has been managed using megapixel camera technology from Arecont Vision.
“With so many people moving through the venue in high spirits, maintaining security in any stadium can be a challenge,” said Mike Hodor, director of sales, North America at Arecont Vision. “The megapixel capabilities of Arecont Vision's cameras are ideally suited to an application of this size and complexity.”
Serving as back up for local law enforcement at the College World Series since 2002, Hawkeye Vision Inc. (HVI), of Omaha, Nebraska, introduced Arecont Vision megapixel cameras to the CWS in 2007. This year HVI upgraded all portable and fixed camera locations to Arecont Vision’s megapixel technology, with HVI’s own GlobalView software as the control solution.
“Megapixel technology raises the comfort level of having surveillance," said Jonathan Driscoll, President/COO, Hawkeye Vision Inc. “You could install high resolution analog cameras and have a nice deterrent surveillance system, or you can install Arecont Vision megapixel cameras and have a real surveillance system designed to catch people or events.”
The centrally monitored solution, which utilizes 8, 5, 3, 2 and 1.3 megapixel models from Arecont Vision’s full suite of cameras, provides enough megapixel coverage to enable security identification of more than 80 percent of the seated spectators at the stadium. The innovative megapixel cameras are priced comparably to standard resolution IP video cameras.
The AV8360, AV8180 and the AV3130 proved to be the key additions to the surveillance upgrade at the 2008 CWS. Ideal for panning across a large field of view like the grandstands of the Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium, Arecont Vision’s AV8360 360º Panoramic Megapixel IP Camera features exclusive SurroundVideo® technology to deliver panoramic views and cinema comparable high frame rates with HD quality.
The four sensor camera provides 8 megapixels of high definition video (6400 x 1200) over the entire panoramic view. The full motion progressive scan of four 1600 x 1200 video channels at 22 fps features image processing architecture capable of sustaining more than 6 billion operations per second. Additionally, the AV8180 180º Panoramic Megapixel IP Camera delivers all the performance of the AV8360 with a 180-degree panoramic field of view.
For heightened surveillance both before and after game time, Arecont Vision’s AV3130 DayNight Megapixel IP Camera was also added to the upgrade. Featuring a unique dual sensor design that integrates a full 3-megapixel color sensor with a 1.3 megapixel B/W sensor, the unit employs Arecont Vision’s DualBand technology to switch seamlessly to an optimized monochrome sensor in low light to accommodate scene illuminations ranging from bright sunlight to cloudy moonlight.
The system solution was designed completely by Hawkeye Vision, an early adopter of megapixel technology, with technical support provided by Arecont Vision when needed.
“We appreciate the ability to have a close working relationship with Arecont Vision,” Driscol said. “Their collaboration helped optimize the performance and effectiveness of this installation.”