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

  • Evolving Cybersecurity Strategies: Uniting Human Risk Management and Security Awareness Training

    Organizations are increasingly turning their attention to human-focused security approaches, as two out of three (68%) cybersecurity incidents involve people. Threat actors are shifting from targeting networks and systems to hacking humans via social engineering methods, living off human errors as their most prevalent attack vector. Whether manipulated or not, human cyber behavior is leveraged to gain backdoor access into systems. This mainly results from a lack of employee training and awareness about evolving attack techniques employed by malign actors. Read Now

  • Report: 1 in 3 Easily Exploitable Vulnerabilities Found on Cloud Assets

    CyCognito recently released new research highlighting critical security vulnerabilities across cloud-hosted assets, revealing that one in three easily exploitable vulnerabilities or misconfigurations are found on cloud assets. As organizations increasingly shift to multi-cloud strategies, the findings underscore significant security gaps that could provide attackers with potential footholds into networks. Read Now

  • Built for Today, Ready for Tomorrow

    Selecting the right VMS is critical for any organization that depends on video surveillance to ensure safety, security and operational efficiency. While many organizations focus on immediate needs such as budget and deployment size, let us review some of the long-term considerations that can significantly impact a VMS's utility and flexibility. Read Now

  • Paving the Way to Smart Buildings

    In today's rapidly evolving security landscape, the convergence of on-prem, edge and cloud technologies are critical. The physical security landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rapid digitalization of buildings and the evolving needs of modern organizations. As the buildings sector pivots towards smart, AI and data-driven operations, the integration of both edge and cloud technology has become crucial. Read Now

  • The Cybersecurity Time Bomb

    If you work in physical security, you have probably seen it: a camera, access control system, or intrusion detection device installed years ago, humming along without a single update. It is a common scenario that security professionals have come to accept as "normal." But here is the reality: this mindset is actively putting organizations at risk. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • 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