Wild About Security

Integrated video surveillance keeps animals, visitors safe and secure

  • By Courtney Pedersen
  • Nov 01, 2011

Akron Zoo, based in Ohio, started as a children’s zoo in 1953, as an addition to an existing museum of natural history. During its 58- year history, the facility has changed drastically, doubling in size and adding innovative exhibits featuring animals such as penguins, lions, Komodo dragons, tigers, bears and red pandas.

The Akron Zoo is a private, non-profit organization focusing on wildlife preservation and conservation education. It is one of the highest-attended attractions in Summit County. Today the zoo has about 105 employees and the entire park comprises more than 50 acres (about 200 km2), which includes exhibits and undeveloped land. With such an expansive area, and with more than 700 animals to manage, the Akron Zoo has opted for video surveillance as a cost-effective and practical means to monitor animal health and behavior.

Zoo officials chose Milestone XProtect® Professional video management software (VMS). They initially installed version 6.5 but reported that when they later put in version 7.0, the improvement was “really unbelievable” and the installation and operation were “very easy and self-explanatory.”

Other technical specifications for the surveillance installation include a Windows ® server with a large storage device and a mix of Axis and Mobotix video cameras (specifically, Axis 213 PTZ, Axis 214 PTZ, Axis P3344-VE, and Mobotix Q24MSEC). MobileCamViewer from mobiDEOS provides wireless/remote access to veterinarians to monitor animals from home or wherever they are, without having to be stationed in front of their computers.

MobileCamViewer is used on BlackBerry devices through a special integration made possible with the Milestone Software Development Kit (SDK). The SDK is based on an open-platform programming interface, which allows third-party integrators such as mobiDEOS to add their own functionality with ease.

The surveillance solution is used primarily to observe, rather than to alert, and its advantages are numerous. From a veterinary perspective, it is useful because it minimizes physical human intervention and allows staff to remotely observe animals’ natural behavior. It minimizes unnecessary stress, and ill or birthing animals can easily be observed.

Each animal holding area has a display monitor outside the door that displays a live video feed from various views inside the area, so keepers can check proper containment and location of potentially dangerous animals before entering, increasing general human safety and ensuring that animals are not inadvertently startled. When animals become ill, the video can be viewed to determine the cause —and with the mobile solution, veterinarians can observe sick animals before arriving at the site.

The Milestone Smart Client user interface is used mostly by supervisors and veterinarians, and, according to zoo management, no one needed training in order to use it; on the contrary, they added, the system is very userfriendly and a good fit for a site where security issues are sometimes beastly.

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

About the Author

Courtney Pedersen is the corporate communications manager at Milestone Systems.

Featured

  • 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

  • Where AI Meets Human Judgment

    Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. It is driving business growth, shaping consumer experiences, and showing up in places most of us never imagined just a few years ago. Read Now

Most   Popular

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.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • 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.