Caracas, Venezuela
April, 2014

The top ranked university, national and international reference in the training of human talent and in the generation, management and dissemination of knowledge, entrusts SupraBT with the implementation of a comprehensive security system. In the first phase, the registration of physical accesses to the university campus was optimized through a system of ip video surveillance cameras and license plate readers for vehicles entering its facilities.

Alberto Bellorín, Deputy Director of Technology of the Central University of Venezuela, opens the dialogue commenting on the need to implement a security system with the best technology available, since they only had analog cameras that, even when the solution they used scaled well, did not provide the needed image resolution.

It was then when the UCV Technology Directorate decided to buy a solution for the surveillance booths and the design of a comprehensive video surveillance project was proposed, which began with taking the fiber optics to the sentry boxes. “In this, the National Anonymous Telephone Company of Venezuela, CANTV, offered us personnel for the project, as well as a whole proposal, however it was out of our budget”. At that time, he says, they began to search for suppliers and the tender process was opened, through which they reached SupraBT.

The first step was the purchase and installation of the cameras, since the university had all the other equipment and had part of the infrastructure; “The University needed a flexible and open provider, who could also be trusted with part of the data”, said Alberto Bellorín.

The project, which has taken nearly 3 years of work, began with a proof of concept, where some cameras were placed so that both the Information Technology and Communications Department (DTIC) and the Security Department could evaluate the benefits of the technology. Once the requirements were determined, we worked hand in hand with the UCV’s multidisciplinary team to determine a project that could grow in phases, allowing the university to obtain concrete results under the available budgets, points out Luis Mariano Aranguren, SupraBT Director & CTS. “This project has involved not only technology, but adaptation of existing processes and trained personnel. This is an important challenge, since it involves not only safeguarding the physical integrity of the UCV community, but also a world heritage site as declared by UNESCO in 2001”, said Aranguren.

 

For the university’s video security system, 3 megapixel cameras were selected, from the manufacturer Axis Communications Series P33, PTZ Series P55, Series ML11; which allow greater coverage of the area to be supervised and therefore greater detail. Axis infrared illuminators were also used, which are configured to illuminate in the absence of light, spaning wide areas of the scene that the camera covers, allowing monitoring even in total darkness.

To maintain an infrastructure on par with the demands of the UCV, the need arose to use cameras designed for exteriors, and that they could additionally resist vandalism. In this regard, Aranguren points out that Axis network cameras are 100% digital and transport their data via IP networks, which makes video transport over the network more flexible. Moreover, he adds, Axis video processors give the ability to more closely monitor captured videos at 30 frames per second.

On the software side, IPronet & IPronet ANPR were used, installed on a Oracle SUN X2270 server and VMWare Enterprise Plus virtualization. The IPronet software allows advanced management of the security platform, including the parameterization of access profiles, multi-profile motion detection by camera, H.264 compression, creation of scripts, and the flexibility of being able to work with your SDK (Software Development Kit) to expand functionalities.

 

“At the beginning of the implementation, in 2010, difficulties with the software arose, especially regarding licensing on the machines due to problems with key matching, and later there were differences with the cameras; but everything was solved, and today there is a robust and scalable surveillance solution”, says Bellorín.

“The difference between before and after the installation was astronomical”, says Bellorín. The process was quick in terms of commissioning, however “the issue of surveillance is a sensitive issue, because many people argue that they feel invaded, they even went so far as to vandalize the facilities several times”. This led the Technology Directorate to redo all the cabling through underground pipelines over which concrete was poured. Likewise, he adds that they are completing the implementation of the license plate readers since several posts through which this cabling passes have been vandalized.

Among the benefits, stand out the ability to better document what happens at the sentry boxes, as well as the detection of automotive license plates, which allow monitoring the access of automobiles to the University. “A great advantage is that the university authorities have VPN access, thus allowing them to monitor the university gates, from wherever they are, allowing them to supervise the most critial areas”, Bellorín points out.

The project continues to progress and among its expansions, the installation of the new video-security infrastructure in the University Library is planned, which allows the use of cameras with the latest technology called Lightfinder, which allows color viewing in low-light conditions without the use of infrared lighting.

 

Also, web shots are being set up on the website to be able to view the gates minute by minute; and an improvement of the infrastructure is planned where an alternate data center will keep a copy of all the data.

Given the events that have been occurring, they are currently working on improving the entire area of the Rectorate, Bellorín says.

Additionally, work is being done with other areas of the university to expand the security platform.

The next step will be to work as a team with the CICPC, since the University is often used to leave stolen vehicles. In the medium term, the installation of a monitoring panel for firefighters is also contemplated.

“There are many advantages and scalability of this solution”, says Bellorín, who highlights the importance of not being afraid and continuing to delve into changes, since the advantages are greater than the investment cost.