Cincinnati Mall Uses IP Video Surveillance To Protect Shoppers

  • Mar 27, 2008

Northgate Mall in Cincinnati, Ohio has installed an IP video CCTV surveillance system from IndigoVision as part of a recent renovation. The mall has more than 1.1 million square feet of retail space and more than 100 specialty shops and four department stores.

Twenty-seven cameras monitor the main public shopping areas inside the mall and the surrounding areas around the outside of the building. The system was designed and installed by IndigoVision's local authorized partner Mobilcomm.

Control Center, IndigoVision's IP Video and alarm management software, is used by operators to view live and recorded video from any of the cameras. Two Control Center workstations are used, one in the main security control room and one in the manager's office. Video is recorded using IndigoVision's NVR software running on a Windows 2003 server. The flexibility of IndigoVision's IP video solution allows workstations, cameras and NVRs to be located at any point on the network. This creates a 'virtual matrix' which replaces the traditional analog switching matrix providing for remote monitoring and a truly scalable solution for the future.

"The video quality produced by the system is excellent and the Control Center software is very easy to use. The map layout on Control Center which shows the camera positions, has been a great help in training new operators. The search and analysis tools also allow the operators to quickly find the required video clip from recorded footage" said Jerry Weller, manager of Northgate Mall.

Northgate Mall's security team work very closely with the local police and have assisted them on several occasions by supplying video clips of incidents from outside cameras. Video clips can be exported from Control Center for evidential purposes using sophisticated encryption and watermarking techniques to ensure the material is tamper-proof.

Each camera is connected to an IndigoVision 8000 transmitter/receiver module which converts the analog feed to DVD-quality digital video for transmission over the network. Each 8000 module can also transmit 2-way high-quality audio and interface to hardwired I/O, both of which have been used to good effect at Northgate Mall.

In order to prevent inappropriate use of the family restroom an intercom has been installed that the public has to use to gain access. When the intercom button is pressed an alarm is triggered in Control Center, which displays the location on the camera map and the video image from the local camera. Two-way communication is initiated between the member of the public and security operator. The restroom door is then released via an 8000 output triggered from Control Center. The whole intercom function has been totally implemented using standard IndigoVision features.

Featured

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

  • Empowering and Securing a Mobile Workforce

    What happens when technology lets you work anywhere – but exposes you to security threats everywhere? This is the reality of modern work. No longer tethered to desks, work happens everywhere – in the office, from home, on the road, and in countless locations in between. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.