Pittsburgh Zoo, PPG Aquarium Implements NVR Platform From TimeSight Systems

TimeSight Systems recently announced the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium has implemented the company’s intelligent NVR platform to help protect the visitors, employees, animals and exhibits and to provide long-term audit ability and accountability.

A 77-acre naturalistic habitat zoo that is home to thousands of animals, the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium proudly exhibits 10 threatened and 62 endangered species, and is one of only six major zoo and aquarium combinations in the country.
 
 “As one of the top 10 zoos in the nation, we serve over a million visitors a year,” said Connie George, director of marketing and public relations for the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. “TimeSight’s ability to help us maximize the quality of video from our cameras and to provide us with months, instead of days, of storage allows us to protect our guests, employees and animals. It is important for us to have solid, auditable video data history for months to come, and we have used this feature many times to observe visitor trends, as well as behavioral developments and births of animals such as painted dogs, tigers and polar bears. With TimeSight, we can also meet requirements from the payment card industry associations over longer periods of time.”
 
Even in challenging economic times, the video surveillance market continues to perform well. Recently released forecasts from market intelligence research firm In-Stat found that after a challenging 2009, revenue from surveillance cameras, DVR/NVR, and IP encoders is expected to grow to more than $19 billion in 2011 in the United States alone. With higher quality cameras and the ability to store this data for longer periods of time with VLM, video also continues to become more valuable to an organization beyond traditional security for use in liability mitigation, operations and marketing.

“Our VLM solutions are stellar for public spaces and tourist attractions that need to capture higher resolution video and retain it longer while using a smaller storage footprint,” said Charles Foley, chairman and CEO of TimeSight Systems. “We help these markets meet the demands of both increasing regulations and emerging best practices to protect their assets while also providing the most cost effective solution in these economic times.”

TimeSight Systems offers the only intelligent  NVR to provide automated VLM capability. VLM is the practice of reducing the size of stored video over time, according to business rules, as the video ages and becomes less relevant. The result is massive storage savings. TimeSight’s use of VLM through dynamic H.264 compression, along with its exclusive Motion Optimized Recording (MORe), makes higher resolution analog and IP solutions even more effective and affordable.

Featured

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.