Iconic Shanghai

Iconic Shanghai

Video system watches over WorldExpo Culture Center

Shanghai WorldExpo Culture Center, shaped like a flying saucer—and often referred to as the “Spaceship”—is one of Shanghai’s iconic buildings. Its total area is 125,945 square meters with a building height of 40 meters. When the time came to create a surveillance system that would protect people and property, organizers wanted the video system to be as modern and flexible as the rest of the center. It was especially important to ensure that there would be no “dark spots” throughout the entire complex.

Organizers chose Infinova cameras, modems and matrix switches to provide security for the multiple six-story facilities that make up the complex, including its 18,000-seat theater. Cameras have been installed at entrances and exits, garages, fire control passages, stairways, control rooms, elevators, elevator halls and other important areas. The video surveillance system is linked with the WorldExpo Center’s burglar alarm, access control and parking lot management systems.

Both fixed-color cameras and mini-dome cameras are installed at indoor corridors and halls. Among the attributes of the fixed cameras are a high-resolution 1/3-inch CCD sensor and excellent low-light operation. Areas with lighting fluctuations, such as at the entrance and exit, leverage wide-dynamic-range day/night cameras, which can increase exposures in darker areas and decrease exposure in brighter areas. Details otherwise lost are simultaneously captured vividly with more clarity and color vibrancy regardless of lighting conditions.

IP speed-dome cameras also are installed at other important areas, such as at the square, perimeters and basement, where it is important to create high-resolution images. All cameras are configured with auto-iris lenses.

Video signals are managed at the video control center, providing forensic records via transmission and evidence recording. The system automatically and dynamically adjusts camera angles and selects the most effective views and what to display.

Due to the expansiveness of the center, a variety of transmission distances and types of transmission mode for video, control and power signals, the signal transmission system is complex. The distance to many cameras from the control center is longer than standard coaxial cable can effectively handle. For transmission beyond 500 yards, fiber optic modems are deployed with signals from/to the camera being transmitted to and from the control room via fiber. SYV75-5 coaxial cable is used for distances up to 300 yards, and SYV75-7 coax carries transmissions between 300 to 500 yards. A centralized power supply provides power for the camera modules.

All monitoring of the center takes place in the video control room. This control center provides video recalls, priority settings and system linkage. With a large-scale monitor, guards are able to see clear images and respond quickly in any emergency. At the core of the control room is an Infinova V2060 large-scale matrix switcher that supports 4,096x512 channels. With it, WorldExpo Center security management can predefine tours, time events and set alarm displays.

With so many cameras deployed, it is impossible to display real- time video images for all cameras simultaneously in the control center. Instead, when an alarm occurs, an alarm-handling routine is triggered and the matrix switcher calls the live video from the camera that triggered the incident and displays it on the monitor. Using this solution, the video surveillance system can manage alarms from multiple inputs, including the burglar alarm, access control and parking lot management systems.

The system automatically adjusts the camera angle and sets the camera for the best view. Since there are so many cameras involved, it is impossible to get complete real-time video images from all cameras at once in the control center. Thus, an alarm line was configured. When an invasion alarm occurs, the alarm signal drives the relay control module via the RS485 interface and triggers the 32-channel alarm host, calling up the image of the alarm site via the matrix switcher. An image from any channel can be switched and displayed on any monitor at a predefined time.

At the center, video information must be stored for a long time for future search and playback. Images from all devices are stored on a multi-channel DVR that provides image quality identical to that of a DVD. Leveraging H.264 compression, the system also provides multi-view display, motion detection, digital recording, playback, image search and management, back-up, pan/tilt and lens control, speed dome control, video loss alarm and temperature inspection.

As one of the symbolic, and busy, venues of Shanghai, the WorldExpo Center has many guests and dignitaries visiting. Therefore, a system that provides reliable security for today yet offers scalability for future needs was an absolute necessity. The new surveillance system helps advocate the theme of the WorldExpo—Better City, Better Life—by keeping staff and patrons safe.

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

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

New Products

  • 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.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.