IndigoVision IP Video Delivers High-Level Security for ‘The Gherkin’

  • Sep 29, 2011

IndigoVision’s integrated IP Video surveillance system has been deployed as part of a major security upgrade at one of London’s most iconic skyscrapers. 30 St Mary Axe, widely known as ‘The Gherkin’ is situated on the former site of The Baltic Exchange and at 180m tall, is the third tallest building in the City of London. ‘The Gherkin’ is a multi-tenanted commercial office block occupied by a number of the world’s best known insurance and legal businesses.

The distributed and open architecture of IndigoVision’s IP Video system provides the ideal installation platform for the migration of legacy CCTV and the seamless integration with other security systems. Using this advanced capability, Universal Security Systems Ltd, IndigoVision’s Authorised Partner, implemented a fully integrated surveillance, access control and intercom solution.

The new surveillance system replaced old analog CCTV matrix and DVR equipment with a fully digital network solution using an IP-based distributed virtual matrix. This allows any component in the system to be located at any point on the IP network, delivering a scalable and flexible solution that was a key factor in IndigoVision being chosen for the project. All of the original analog fixed and PTZ cameras were reused and the migration was achieved without any disruption to building operations, an important consideration for a building of this type with diverse activity occurring 24/7.

IndigoVision’s ability to stream high-quality, fully synchronized audio across the network alongside the video, allowed Universal Security Systems to develop an innovative video intercom system, recording audio from existing intercom equipment with the appropriate video from nearby cameras.

The security of the video archive, through the use of a resilient and redundant recording solution, was another important factor for the building owners choosing IndigoVision. Video is recorded on 6 standalone IndigoVision Network Video Recorders (NVRs), with a 7th used as a failover backup. Should any NVR fail or be taken off-line for maintenance, the backup automatically starts recording in its place. The standalone NVRs have a Linux-based software engine and a fault tolerant design with dual redundant network and power supply connections.

Two ‘Control Center’ workstations are used in the Security Office to monitor live video and analyze recorded footage from all of the cameras. ‘Control Center’ provides advanced analysis tools such as motion thumbnails for fast incident review. Guard tours, sequences and Privacy Zones are all supported, with video being displayed on PC viewing panes or traditional monitors. Operators can view an interactive map of the entire site to quickly locate cameras and alarms.

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

Most   Popular

New Products

  • 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.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • 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.