Turn on the Light

Municipal utility turns to software solution for better business practices

Since 1923, the city of Garland, Texas, has been providing electricity service to its citizens through Garland Power & Light with its locally owned and controlled not-for-profit municipal utility. With nearly 68,000 customers, GP&L is the third-largest municipal utility in Texas and the 41st-largest in the nation.

GP&L needed to enhance video surveillance protection of its wide-ranging infrastructure and facilities, well beyond the capabilities of its existing analog CCTV system.

The utility has three gas-fired generating plants, for a total of 640 megawatts of generating capacity, supported by a transmission system of 23 substations and 133 miles of transmission lines. In addition, the city is a partner in the Texas Municipal Power Agency, which operates the 462 megawatt, coal-fired Gibbons Creek Power Plant. GP&L’s energy distribution system has 1,007 miles of overhead lines and an additional 1,000 miles of line underground. For this extensive and widely dispersed infrastructure, GP&L required improved image quality, increased coverage and extended video retention capacity for its video surveillance system.

Preferred Technology Solutions, an authorized Intransa integrator, provided a complete solution to GP&L. The solution integrates three types of previously installed cameras, including Axis Communications’ megapixel cameras, for greatly improved coverage and higher image resolution. Eventually, GP&L officials envision more than 300 IP cameras for complete video coverage to meet the utility’s requirements.

“The IP surveillance system is a major component in our ability to monitor and protect our critical infrastructure,” said David Grubbs, regulatory and compliance director of GP&L. “The Intransa platform provides scalable capacity that will allow our new surveillance solution to cost-effectively meet our objectives, now and in the future.

“Working with Intransa, we have integrated the three brands of previously installed IP cameras and are able to use the newer technologies and cameras as they become available. We are impressed with the ease of expanding the system and are already beginning the next-phase expansion.”

A Milestone video management system now provides a new level of video management and control to meet GP&L’s needs for both live stream monitoring and video archiving capabilities. Milestone and Axis are both members of the Intransa VideoAppliance, certified for quick, simple and risk-free integration with Intransa platforms.

Supporting the new video surveillance solution is an Intransa recording and playback platform that supports modular recording capacity without ever halting recording.

“The platform used in the new Garland Power & Light IP video surveillance deployment provides a simple, single-system view of all of the video recording capacity supporting the Axis Communications, two other brands of IP cameras and the Milestone Systems VMS,” Grubbs said. “Because of the design of the system, we have been able to meet the bandwidth requirements of large numbers of cameras recording continuously, as well as vast storage capability to meet our storage requirements for up to 90 days of recorded video.”

The fault-resilient platform also delivers advanced RAID protection to eliminate the risk of lost video, which plagues CCTV environments. Hot-swap technology provides nonstop recording with unattended operation supported by e-mail alerts, and without need for scheduled downtime for maintenance.

Access to both live and recorded video, and to system management tasks, can be performed as needed from any authorized location with IP access, providing increased flexibility and reduced administration for GP&L.

This article originally appeared in the February 2011 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Jeff Whitney is vice president of marketing at Arecont Vision

Featured

  • AI to Help Resolve Non-Emergency Calls Across Utah and Decrease 911 Caller Wait Times

    The Utah Communications Authority (UCA), which oversees the state’s next generation 911 technology services, recently announced that public safety answering points (PSAPs) throughout the state plan to implement Motorola Solutions’ Virtual Response technology to automate the receipt and resolution of 10-digit non-emergency line calls in Utah with the help of AI. Read Now

  • Report Reveals Local Governments Face Surge in Ransomware Attacks with Minimal Resources

    KnowBe4, the cybersecurity platform that comprehensively addresses human risk management, recently released new research highlighting the critical cybersecurity challenges facing state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments. The report details how government organizations have become prime targets for cybercriminals while simultaneously facing severe resource constraints. Read Now

  • Video Surveillance Trends to Watch

    With more organizations adding newer capabilities to their surveillance systems, it’s always important to remember the “basics” of system configuration and deployment, as well as the topline benefits of continually emerging technologies like AI and the cloud. Read Now

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. 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.

  • 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.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.