Protecting the Priceless

Protecting The Priceless

One-of-a-kind facility uses advanced video analytics and megapixel technology

Protecting the PricelessThe National Museum of Funeral History in Houston houses the country’s largest collection of funeral service artifacts and highlights renowned exhibits on one of man’s oldest cultural customs. The museum features the mourning rituals of ancient civilizations, items used in the funerals of U.S. presidents and Vatican popes, and the rich heritage of the industry that cares for the dead.

Recently named one of the “Ten Places to See in Houston,” the museum has deployed an integrated system comprised of advanced Acuity-vct video analytics software and an array of IQinVision HD megapixel cameras to protect its many exhibits and priceless artifacts.

In 2008, museum vice chairman and CEO Bob Boetticher knew his new papal exhibit was going to increase museum attendance dramatically, as well as the number of priceless artifacts to protect. While attending the American Association of Museums tradeshow, he discovered Acuity-vct’s booth, where he met Dan Lazuta, Acuity-vct director of sales.

“Dan demonstrated his system and basically he had a camera focused on a framed picture,” Boettchier said. “Then, using his software, protection zones were placed on designated areas of the picture. If any of these zones were disturbed, an alarm immediately went off. We were definitely intrigued and I knew rather quickly we had finally found what we’d been looking for.”

Up to that point, Boetticher and his staff had been purchasing off-the-shelf cameras to keep an eye on things, but a more sophisticated system was critical to moving forward.

“I’m a funeral director by trade, so we brought Acuity-vct in to provide additional demonstrations, set up the system to fit our security and protection needs, and to recommend the right kind of cameras,” Boetticher said. “We stressed the value of many of the items that would be on display and that it was critical we have extremely clear video. After seeing the quality the IQeye megapixel cameras can deliver, you just can’t go back to a lesser technology.”

Currently, the museum has a mix of 52 IQinVision cameras and some legacy cameras at the facility. When a legacy camera fails, it is replaced by an IQeye camera. Four to five additional IQeye cameras are on order as the museum continues to expand the areas under surveillance. Most cameras are deployed inside the museum, but a few provide surveillance for the building’s exterior and the parking lot.

Most of the museum’s exhibits are protected by Acuity-vct’s advanced motiondetection analytics. When a protection zone around an item or exhibit is broken, an alarm immediately goes off. The museum guard is able to get to the affected area within 30 seconds.

“We have a guard on a raised platform as our visitors are walking through the gift shop, so he is clearly evident,” Boetticher said. “This system works great. It does exactly what we were told it would do when we bought it. You don’t get to say that very often.

“We do get alarms, mostly by the Popemobile. People will lean way over the railing to touch the vehicle. If you set off an alarm, it’s not by accident the way we have the system designed. So we take those alarms very seriously. Sometimes a shadow can set off an alarm, but we can easily adjust the software to prevent such false alarms.”

Boetticher doesn’t use his Acuity-vct system and his IQinVision cameras to protect only the Popemobile. From his main office 30 miles away from the museum in downtown Houston, he can access all the crystal-clear, camera views when he wants to catch up with activity at the museum.

The museum’s parking lot surveillance has proved important in thwarting airconditioner copper theft and helping the police investigate car break-ins. Because the museum is co-located with the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Services, there is a large amount of vehicular traffic. For this reason, the museum recently invested in IQinVision 5 MP Sentinel cameras to provide high-resolution images for the license plate recognition software system.

This article originally appeared in the May 2013 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Wendi Burke is the Senior Director of Marketing for 3xLOGIC.

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

New Products

  • 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.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.