New Ohio Courthouse To Use Integrated IP Video/Access Control System

Vicon Industries Inc., a designer and producer of integrated IP video surveillance and access control systems, and SimplexGrinnell, a provider of fire and life-safety systems, have begun installation of a comprehensive, IP-based security system for the new Franklin County Courthouse, currently under construction in Columbus, Ohio.

Scheduled to open in early 2011, this innovative structure will be the first LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) courthouse in the state of Ohio and the only county courthouse in the U.S. expected to receive gold-level certification.

The building’s glass façade, one of the key components of its energy-efficient design, creates challenging indoor lighting conditions that require the use of over 70 wide-dynamic-range cameras.

The cameras used, impact-resistant Vicon Roughneck V910D-WDR-IP5 domes, are designed to accommodate viewing of areas with extreme lighting contrasts, such as backlit people and objects located within the courthouse’s sun-drenched corridors with reflective marble floors.

In total, the courthouse makes use of over 170 Vicon IP cameras, all of which are viewed, controlled and recorded by an NVR-based ViconNet video management system. Recorded video is securely stored within a RAID-5 level device. The ViconNet system is fully integrated with a building-wide Software House C-CURE 9000 access control system and WonderWare detention software for use within the building’s holding cell areas.

The security system is monitored from two control centers within the new courthouse, one monitoring general building security and the other exclusively monitoring the detention area and holding cells.

A parallel set of control centers exists in the old courthouse building and the county jail. All four control centers make use of ViconNet Virtual Matrix Controllers that allow for viewing and control of up to 32 video streams simultaneously, displayed across multiple monitors. The integration with C-CURE 9000 and WonderWare software automatically links ViconNet video to corresponding access control or detention-related events, facilitating the immediate viewing of events as they occur and providing for easy future call-up.

Installation of the entire security system is being provided by the Columbus office of SimplexGrinnell, working in coordination with Franklin County Public Facilities Management. SimplexGrinnell is an authorized dealer of Vicon security solutions.


 

Featured

  • UL Solutions Launches Artificial Intelligence Safety Certification Services

    UL Solutions Inc., a global leader in safety science, today announced the launch of artificial intelligence (AI) safety certification services, enabling comprehensive assessments for evaluating the safety of AI-powered products. Read Now

  • ESA Announces Initiative to Introduce the SECURE Act in State Legislatures

    The Electronic Security Association (ESA), the national voice for the electronic security and life safety industry, has announced plans to introduce the SECURE Act in state legislatures across the country beginning in 2025. The proposal, known as Safeguarding Election Candidates Using Reasonable Expenditures, provides a clear framework that allows candidates and elected officials to use campaign funds for professional security services. Read Now

    • Guard Services
  • Ransomware Attacks Rise for the First Time in Six Months

    Ransomware attacks have risen for the first time in six months, increasing by 28% month-on-month to 421 attacks. While overall attack volume remained below 500, the uptick may signal a renewed escalation heading into the year’s most active period for cyber criminals. Read Now

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services
  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

New Products

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • 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.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.