Largest Scottish University Centralizes Security

  • Aug 28, 2014

Milestone Systems open platform IP video management software (VMS) and network cameras from Axis Communications are helping all of the campus locations for the University of the West of Scotland to more efficiently manage security through one unified surveillance solution, designed, delivered and maintained by Boston Networks.

Largest Scottish University Centralizes SecurityThe University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is one of the country’s largest modern universities, providing higher education and innovative research, with campuses in Ayr, Dumfries, Hamilton and Paisley which indicates an important regional role in the communities. The university is organized into different academic schools across the campuses, offering a wide range of academic, social and sporting facilities and delivering a range of courses, post-graduate programs, masters and research degrees. The university currently has over 18,000 students and approximately 1,300 staff. Ensuring their safety is a top focus.

The four campuses across the west coast of Scotland had all been previously running disparate security systems. The university recognized that a centralized approach to the control and maintenance of its entire security estate would create a more effective solution and safer campuses. UWS had already begun the migration of its infrastructure to a more streamlined IP video solution, resulting in multiple variations of Milestone VMS which were not yet centralized.

Boston Networks then worked with the university to review each of its existing installations across multiple campuses, to produce a detailed migration plan which incorporated the following:

  • Centralized Milestone XProtect Expert VMS to control the largest campus;
  • Integration of all Axis digital cameras to provide ubiquitous surveillance; and
  • Maintenance and support service to ensure ongoing maximum system performance.

The initial phase of the migration included the introduction of additional Axis IP cameras across indoor and outdoor areas of the Paisley campus to provide surveillance throughout key areas, including hallways and corridors, libraries, building entrances and exits, car parks and outdoor campus areas. Boston Networks then began the integration of more than 200 new IP cameras and the consolidation of the existing VMS platforms to a central monitoring station at the Paisley campus. The platforms were then wholly upgraded to one standard Milestone XProtect Expert platform.

The use of industry-leading technology coupled with the professional consultancy, design and deployment services from Boston Networks has enabled the university to increase security with enhanced image quality and centralized control. The advanced Axis network cameras and Milestone XProtect Expert open platform IP VMS provide HD-quality footage with a powerful management interface to effectively control the university’s multi-campus surveillance in a single, uniform system.

Paul Goodbrand, director of intelligent buildings, Boston Networks, said, “This solution provides many benefits for the university: superior image quality from Axis cameras, future-proof integration capabilities from the Milestone open platform software and distributed intelligence with IP scalability and cost effectiveness. Moreover, Boston Networks will continue to work with the university to maintain its system and ensure that performance and security are never compromised.”

Milestone XProtect Expert VMS was chosen for its strengths as a central management tool. The software interface delivers a wide range of dynamic resources to streamline the system administration of the university’s multi-campus solution, including device group management which ensures efficient and structured handling of hundreds of cameras. The XProtect System Monitor also gives real-time feedback on system performance to drive proactive administration, and there are intelligent configuration reports.

High-performance video recording is achieved with the XProtect 64-bit recording server, which allows the university to efficiently run more cameras on less hardware. Unlimited system scalability gives full flexibility to add additional servers and expand the system to suit the university’s changing requirements over time. Multi-live streaming of live footage, with optimized bandwidth and viewing performance, is ideal for the university’s multi-campus estate.

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