New Ohio Courthouse To Use Integrated IP Video/Access Control System

Vicon Industries Inc., a designer and producer of integrated IP video surveillance and access control systems, and SimplexGrinnell, a provider of fire and life-safety systems, have begun installation of a comprehensive, IP-based security system for the new Franklin County Courthouse, currently under construction in Columbus, Ohio.

Scheduled to open in early 2011, this innovative structure will be the first LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) courthouse in the state of Ohio and the only county courthouse in the U.S. expected to receive gold-level certification.

The building’s glass façade, one of the key components of its energy-efficient design, creates challenging indoor lighting conditions that require the use of over 70 wide-dynamic-range cameras.

The cameras used, impact-resistant Vicon Roughneck V910D-WDR-IP5 domes, are designed to accommodate viewing of areas with extreme lighting contrasts, such as backlit people and objects located within the courthouse’s sun-drenched corridors with reflective marble floors.

In total, the courthouse makes use of over 170 Vicon IP cameras, all of which are viewed, controlled and recorded by an NVR-based ViconNet video management system. Recorded video is securely stored within a RAID-5 level device. The ViconNet system is fully integrated with a building-wide Software House C-CURE 9000 access control system and WonderWare detention software for use within the building’s holding cell areas.

The security system is monitored from two control centers within the new courthouse, one monitoring general building security and the other exclusively monitoring the detention area and holding cells.

A parallel set of control centers exists in the old courthouse building and the county jail. All four control centers make use of ViconNet Virtual Matrix Controllers that allow for viewing and control of up to 32 video streams simultaneously, displayed across multiple monitors. The integration with C-CURE 9000 and WonderWare software automatically links ViconNet video to corresponding access control or detention-related events, facilitating the immediate viewing of events as they occur and providing for easy future call-up.

Installation of the entire security system is being provided by the Columbus office of SimplexGrinnell, working in coordination with Franklin County Public Facilities Management. SimplexGrinnell is an authorized dealer of Vicon security solutions.


 

Featured

  • 2025 Gun Violence Statistics Show Signs of Progress

    Omnilert, a national leader in AI-powered safety and emergency communications, has released its 2025 Gun Violence Statistics, along with a new interactive infographic examining national and school-related gun violence trends. In 2025, the U.S. recorded 38,762 gun-violence deaths, highlighting the continued importance of prevention, early detection, and coordinated response. Read Now

  • Big Brand Tire & Service Rolls Out Interface Virtual Perimeter Guard

    Interface Systems, a managed service provider delivering remote video monitoring, commercial security systems, business intelligence, and network services for multi-location enterprises, today announced that Big Brand Tire & Service, one of the nation’s fastest-growing independent tire and automotive service providers, has eliminated costly overnight break-ins and significantly reduced trespassing and vandalism at a high-risk location. The company achieved these results by deploying Interface Virtual Perimeter Guard, an AI-powered perimeter security solution designed to deter incidents before they occur. Read Now

  • The Evolution of ID Card Printing: Customer Challenges and Solutions

    The landscape of ID card printing is evolving to meet changing customer needs, transitioning from slow, manual processes to smart, on-demand printing solutions that address increasingly complex enrollment workflows. Read Now

  • TSA Awards Rohde & Schwarz Contract for Advanced Airport Screening Ahead of Soccer World Cup 2026

    Rohde & Schwarz, a provider of AI-based millimeter wave screening technology, announced today it has won a multi-million dollar award from TSA to supply its QPS201 AIT security scanners to passenger security screening checkpoints at selected Soccer World Cup 2026 host city airports. Read Now

  • Brivo, Eagle Eye Networks Merge

    Dean Drako, Chairman of Brivo, the leading global provider of cloud-native access control and smart space technologies, and Founder of Eagle Eye Networks, the global leader in cloud AI video surveillance, today announced the two companies will merge, creating the world’s largest AI cloud-native physical security company. The merged company will operate under the Brivo name and deliver a truly unified cloud-native security platform. Read Now

New Products

  • 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.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • 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.