IP Video Monitors Animal Behavior At Vienna Zoo -- Security Today

IP Video Monitors Animal Behavior At Vienna Zoo

Jan 30, 2009

IndigoVision’s integrated IP video security surveillance system has been adopted by Vienna Zoo for use in some ground-breaking research. Pandas, rhinos and penguins are being continuously monitored by CCTV cameras as part of an animal behavior research program. The system was designed and installed by IndigoVision’s local partner C&C Salzgeber GmbH.

‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s IP video management software, provides complete control for the 15 fixed and PTZ cameras being used to monitor the animal enclosures. Research technicians and students can control the cameras in real time and view live and recorded video from any of the enclosures. IndigoVision’s ‘Control Center’ software is licensed on a per seat basis free of charge, allowing researchers to deploy 10 workstations throughout the zoo at no additional cost. Recorded video is also copied onto external hard disks so students can analyze the video remotely on their own laptops installed with ‘Control Center’.

The analog CCTV cameras and microphones are connected to IndigoVision’s 8000 transmitter/receiver modules. The 8000 digitally compresses the video and audio for transmission over the network. IndigoVision’s advanced compression technology ensures minimal impact on the IP network. The ability to transmit and record high-quality audio was an important criteria for the zoo when choosing IndigoVision’s solution.

“A key factor for us when selecting the video system was to find a future-proof solution that was easy to operate and could be incorporated into our existing infrastructure,” said Dagmar Schratter, the zoo's director. “Excellent compression means that all the video can be transferred via our existing network backbone.”

All the cameras are continuously recorded on an IndigoVision standalone NVR with 1 Terabyte of storage. The amount of video stored is considerably reduced by using the Activity Controlled Framerate (ACF) function built into the 8000 modules.

When a scene is inactive the video can be streamed at a much lower frame rate. As soon as the motion analysis software detects movement the video is streamed at full frame rate. This allows the Zoo to keep up to 1 year of recordings on a single NVR. A secondary NVR mirrors the primary NVR to provide redundancy in the event of an NVR failure or during maintenance. Video is also exported for use by local TV stations as was the case recently when viewers were enthralled by the birth of a baby panda recorded by the IP video system.

Featured

Survey: Nearly Half of Employees Hide Workplace AI Use

Laserfiche, a SaaS provider of intelligent content management and business process automation, recently released new survey findings on AI adoption in the workplace, revealing that nearly half of Americans (49%) who use AI at work keep it to themselves, with 15% deliberately avoiding telling their manager. Read Now
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cybersecurity
46% of Enterprise Passwords Are Vulnerable to Cracking

Picus Security recently released The Blue Report™ 2025, based on more than 160 million real-world attack simulations. Now in its third year, the report provides a data-driven assessment of how well security controls perform against today’s threats — and this year’s findings are the most concerning to date. Read Now
- Cybersecurity
Community-Led Video Security Network Transforms Pennsylvania City Public Safety

A community-supported video security initiative has transformed public safety in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The citizen-led collaboration demonstrates how open platform video technology can help revitalize struggling urban areas. Read Now
- Government
Browser-Based AI Agents: The Silent Security Threat Unfolding

Some of the most revolutionary advances in artificial intelligence include browser-based AI agents, which are self-sustaining software tools integrated into web browsers that act on behalf of individuals. Read Now
- Cybersecurity
Report: Cybercriminals Abandon Tech Tricks for Personalized Email Deception Tactics

VIPRE Security Group, a cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection company, has released its email threat landscape report for Q2 2025. Through an examination of worldwide real-world data, this report sounds the alarm on the most significant email security trends observed in the second quarter of 2025, enabling organizations to develop effective email security defenses for the remainder of the year. Read Now
- Cybersecurity

Security Today eNews

Sign up today for essential industry news and product information that can help you stay afloat in the fast-paced world of security.

Email Address*Country*

Please type the letters/numbers you see above.

Webinars

Whitepapers

New Products

PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.
Camden CM-221 Series Switches

Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.
ResponderLink

Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.