 |
| WV-NW964 fully functional IP cameras monitoring pitch and seating areas |
Security keystone
Commissioned into service for the start of the 2007/2008 football season, the Acctive Systems installed CCTV system is the culmination of many years of involvement of the company and Panasonic at the ground, and provides the club's organisers with the security keystone they need to support a concerted security effort on match days. In addition, during the week, the new system also provides comprehensive protection for Portsmouth FC's offices and adjacent retail outlets.
Acctive Systems first became involved with Portsmouth FC four years ago, when they were awarded the club's maintenance contract, inheriting an 11 camera legacy system, containing products from a wide variety of manufacturers, and of varying ages. Following the team's recent success, further investment at the club has allowed Jason Kirton, Portsmouth FC's Facilities Manager to take advantage of a security budget that would permit a restructuring of the surveillance operation. Dan Bishop, Technical Surveyor at Acctive Systems takes up the story: "Our familiarity with the ground provided a solid platform for us to undergo a review of the existing system's weaknesses, and to address those areas highlighted within a completely new system design. Assessing Jason's and his team's needs for the system's deployment on match days and general usage, also gave us the opportunity to fulfil the review's findings with a quality branded solution."
The retail floor is equipped with WV-CF284 static mini-dome IP cameras |
The CCTV solution provides an IP networked camera system that utilises nine Panasonic Super Dynamic III WV-CW964 fully functional domes, three WV-CP484 static colour/mono Super Dynamic III cameras, and three WV-CW474 high-resolution colour/mono vandal resistant static dome cameras. Allowing remote viewing via Portsmouth FC's dedicated IT network, specific computers have been equipped with Panasonic WV-AS65 Management PC Software, to permit authorised monitoring of the Fratton Park ground and its surrounding area. Providing comprehensive coverage of turnstiles, entrances and exits, key thoroughfares, and the whole of the ground's interior, the new system provides Jason and his team of security staff, stewards and police officers, with an integrated surveillance backbone.
Jason explains: "The Panasonic based surveillance system has become invaluable to the smooth and safe running of events and has helped us to meet the safety standards of the Football Association Safety Advisory Group, and as documented in their ‘Green Guide'. Right from the beginning of match days, even before the fans arrive, our safety officer and the police match day commander use the system to oversee all parts of the ground and its surrounding area; from the match day control room, which overlooks the playing pitch and stands. Taking control of the cameras, via a Panasonic WV-CU650 system controller and four 17" WV-LC1710 LCD Monitors, they can visually verify that all fan ‘footfall roots' are free from obstacles, such as parked cars. When fans start to enter the ground, their progression is constantly monitored. If there are too many fans inside the ground that are not yet seated, fan flow into the ground can be restricted by the gate stewards. Contactable by our dedicated radio network, this allows blockages to clear, and to resume a safe, normal flow. Conversely, we can also increase people-traffic flow into the ground if crowds are building up outside."
"Our ticket office is housed within the Megastore complex of buildings 200 metres from the stadium. Recently built to form the basis of daily operations at Portsmouth FC, this area can also generate another hotspot on match days. Again viewable from either the match day control room, or any of the WV-AS65 software equipped networked PC's, we can monitor this sensitive area where public order incidents are likely to occur. These may be customer disputes over tickets, or large numbers of visiting away fans collecting tickets, that will need to be carefully monitored whilst on route to the ground itself."
Multiple applications
When inside the ground, the system's role is primarily that of crowd monitoring, being deployed for both security and safety applications, Jason continues: "We constantly monitor the crowd and inform stewards of any potentially problematic incidents, allowing them to deal with situations before they can escalate into a bigger problem." Using programmable camera ‘preset' and ‘home' positions, programmed via the Panasonic controller, Jason's team can focus cameras on specific fans' seats, in particular, those known to be potentially ‘problematic' season ticket holders. "This allows an instant check to be made on a number of specific individuals at the touch of a button," adds Jason.
Utilising a Panasonic WJ-HD316A digital recorder and associated WJ-HDE300 external hard drive extension unit, during match events, to ensure maximum clarity and detail all camera images are recorded in maximum resolution. This advanced facility also allows fast download of selected video footage to third party media should an incident need to be investigated off-site, or for prosecution purposes. Using this set-up, Jason also has the ability to archive all footage from a season's home matches, by transferring the data to portable drives, building an archive of the year's matches that can be referred to at any time.
 |
| Control room overlooking ground with WV-CU650 system controller and WV-LC1710 LCD monitors |
Comprehensive surveillance
Employing Panasonic Super Dynamic III WV-CP484 static colour/ mono cameras (along with infra-red lighting) on the exterior of the building, backed by 22x zoom Panasonic WV-CZ352 static cameras, and a Super Dynamic fully functional WV-CW964 dome camera, the interior and retail floor is monitored via WV-CF284 static mini domes. This means that on a daily basis, full-time security staff enjoy comprehensive surveillance monitoring, accessed via the multiple Panasonic Management PC software equipped work stations, linked via Portsmouth FC's own network.
Jason explains: "Our exterior cameras are each linked to Redwall perimeter detectors, which if tripped during the hours of darkness, trigger preset camera positioning, to provide an instant alarm and visual verification of any unauthorised on-site activity."
Recording at a reduced frame rate on non-match days, to maximise recording capacity, all footage is archived via a 16-channel Panasonic WJ-HD316A digital recorder, located in the administration building's first floor server room. This allows Jason to access not only live camera footage via his office PC but also recorded footage for quick retrospective investigation of any incident.
As well as surveillance of the retail and office buildings, Jason also has extensive surveillance access to the Sports Bar and corporate hospitality facilities. "These areas are used on match days for corporate guests on pre-paid hospitality packages," explains Jason; "And throughout the week for conferences and functions. We also use the networked CCTV system to cover our two town centre based shops, one in Portsmouth's Cascades shopping area and the other in the nearby town of Fareham, and this, along with a large warehouse used to store our shop and Internet shopping stock. Here, the system is protecting valuable goods around the clock."
By effectively auditing their customers' needs, and addressing them with the use of flexible Panasonic technology, Acctive Systems have supplied Jason and his team at Portsmouth FC with a comprehensive surveillance solution that not only protects fans on busy match days, but that also assists in the smooth running of the club's day-to-day business activities.
