Australia Local Government To Deploy Country’s Largest Municipal Wireless Video Surveillance Network


Using funds from Australia’s Federal Government’s Safer Cities project, Moreton Bay Regional Council has contracted with Link Security Group to deploy the most extensive wireless IP video surveillance network in Australia, with 130 square kilometers of mesh coverage.

Moreton Bay Regional Council is the third largest local government in Australia, with an estimated population of 370,000. The system integrates wireless infrastructure mesh from Firetide, network cameras from Axis Communications and video management software from Milestone Systems.

Link Security Group was selected based on their proposed solution’s ability to overcome challenges in the design and deployment of the surveillance network. Chief among those were designing a completely wireless high-bandwidth video solution that would not be affected by weather conditions, rust, corrosion or vandalism. Most importantly, the system needed to be built under a critical timeline and meet the requirement to transmit high-resolution and HDTV live video feeds.

The extended coverage area and stringent performance specifications were the major factors in selecting wireless product for this project. Link decided to use Firetide’s wireless infrastructure mesh network that could meet these requirements and provide industry leading performance and reliability. Forty-two Firetide outdoor mesh nodes form the infrastructure backbone of the project, supporting close to 50 outdoor IP video surveillance cameras.

In addition to all-wireless infrastructure, the project is also the first in Australia to incorporate Axis HDTV cameras alongside Firetide’s wireless infrastructure mesh technology. Link chose Axis Communications rugged outdoors cameras for the installation, including pan-tilt-zoom Q6032-E cameras for their impressive optics package, and fixed HDTV P1344 cameras for the ability to transmit video at 30 frames per second in HD resolution. Milestone XProtect open-platform video management software supports multiple server applications and unlimited IP cameras. The benefit of the Milestone VMS in this project is that although the Council’s initial requirement is to support the IP cameras, there is an opportunity for the Milestone platform to integrate the Council’s existing large population of existing analog CCTV cameras.

“Firetide represents the very best in cutting-edge wireless technology, with its wireless infrastructure mesh optimized for the transmission of surveillance video,” said Alex Baulden, senior network engineer of Link Security Group. “Firetide clearly has the best in class hardware for the project of this size. The security and reliability of communications were critical, and performance we’ve seen in the field is impressive.” The network is currently ahead of the project delivery schedule, and Link intends to transfer system ownership to the Council within months.

“Where image quality is the key consideration it is important to have full frame rate video streaming so that activities in a scene and fast-moving objects can be easily seen and captured,” said Wai King Wong, country manager ANZ of Axis Communications. “Our HDTV cameras are compliant with the SMPTE standards in resolution, frame rate, color fidelity and aspect ratio to ensure that a rich viewing experience with excellent image detail is achieved.”

Featured

  • Trends Keeping an Eye on Business Decisions

    Today, AI continues to transform the way data is used to make important business decisions. AI and the cloud together are redefining how video surveillance systems are being used to simulate human intelligence by combining data analysis, prediction, and process automation with minimal human intervention. Many organizations are upgrading their surveillance systems to reap the benefits of technologies like AI and cloud applications. Read Now

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • The Impact of Convergence Between IT and Physical Security

    For years, the worlds of physical security and information technology (IT) remained separate. While they shared common goals and interests, they often worked in silos. Read Now

  • Unlocking Trustworthy AI: Building Transparency in Security Governance

    In situations where AI supports important security tasks like leading investigations and detecting threats and anomalies, transparency is essential. When an incident occurs, investigators must trace the logic behind each automated response to confirm its validity or spot errors. Demanding interpretable AI turns opaque “black boxes” into accountable partners that enhance, rather than compromise, organizational defense. Read Now

  • Seeking Innovative Solutions

    Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. You may recognize these terms as the “5 Phases” of a grieving process, but they could easily describe the phases one goes through before adopting any new or emerging innovation or technology, especially in a highly risk-averse industry like security. However, the desire for convenience in all aspects of modern life is finally beginning to turn the tide from old school hardware as the go-to towards more user-friendly, yet still secure, door solutions. Read Now

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    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.

  • 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.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.