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Surveillance Systems: Three Profiles

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By Scott Berinato

January 01, 2005 — CSO — Bill Bowens

Project Manager,

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport

Surveillance network: Airportwide

Technology mix: Digital network.

Main security requirements: Public safety, antiterrorism, customer security

Best ROI argument: A recent terminal evacuation that turned out to be unnecessary. Bowens says if he avoids two terminal evacuations, the new system will have paid for itself.

Biggest Challenge: Avoiding the wow factor. Without good analysis and design skills from the security team, Bowens says he'd end up with lots of stuff he didn't need, and that might hinder his ability to give the decision support analysis.

Advanced applications: Limited.

On the power of digital video: "I can't spend 15 minutes trying to decide whether or not to evacuate a terminal. I've got to provide that decision support data in 10 seconds. Now I can do that."

Dave Kent

CSO, Genzyme

Surveillance network: Global; sites in 30 countries

Technology mix: Some legacy CCTV with networked cameras connected to DVRs. Small but growing stock of digital network equipment. Moving to a fully digital network slowly, swapping in IP-based surveillance when he can justify the upgrade.

Main security requirements: Employee security and safety, corporate espionage deterrence, manufacturing plant monitoring

Best ROI argument: Networked surveillance with central control allows Kent to add surveillance at small remote sites where it used to be cost-prohibitive to have CCTV and a full-time employee for monitoring.

Biggest challenge: Kent says there's no one tool that he believes is up to the challenge of managing a video network on a global scale.

Advanced applications: Video tours, assembly line quality control monitoring, training.

Sheng Guo

CTO, New York State Unified Court System

Surveillance network: 200-plus sites across New York

Technology mix: Now building a digital IP-based surveillance network, replacing CCTV systems at many courthouses.

Main security requirements: Public safety

Best ROI argument: Standard IT hardware and software save millions on capital costs and allow in-house software development.

Biggest challenge: The potential for buyer's remorsethat what he buys will be supplanted by better, cheaper equipment. "You have to commit at some point," says Guo. "If you're worried something better will be out in two years, you'll still be worried about that two years from now."

Advanced applications: Motion detection; Guo has tested infrared surveillance for low-light spots but has yet to deploy it.

On his mission trumping ROI: "It was more [about] public safety and saving lives."