24 Jul 2017
“Our analogue system was no longer as innovative as it once was; upgrading to HD IP camera technology made complete sense to us as we strive to maintain our status as the leading event facility in Northern Ireland.” Brian Hughes, Group Head of Facilities at The Odyssey Complex.
Mission
The Odyssey Complex, a premier entertainment venue in
Belfast that plays host to many of the city’s concerts,
exhibitions and sporting events, had been operating a
legacy CCTV system installed at the venue’s inception in
2000. The quality of images produced often created
problems for security teams when investigating crimes
or seeking to identify individuals. In line with The
Odyssey Complex’s commitment to providing leading
entertainment within a safe and secure environment, its
management team decided that a futureproof solution
would be pivotal to the venue’s ongoing success.
Simultaneously, the organisation sought to lower its
total cost of ownership (TCO) by decreasing the storage
challenges presented by its incumbent solution.
Solution
Diamond Systems, an Axis partner and market leader in
electronic fire and security solutions, closely reviewed
the challenging requirements and proposed 140 new
Axis IP cameras. This included AXIS P3367-V Network
Camera, a day and night fixed dome camera with 5
megapixels for improved image quality; this would
allow the Complex to identify incidents in real-time.
All cameras utilise Axis innovative Lightfinder technology
with extreme light sensitivity to give more life-like
colours in low-light conditions, vital within the arena
and during evening events. Axis Zipstream technology
also helps reduce the complex’s TCO by decreasing storage
and bandwidth requirements. In addition,
AXIS A1001 Network Door Controller and AXIS A8004
Network Video Door Station have been installed to
restrict public access to certain areas of the complex.
Result
The Odyssey Complex team has been extremely
impressed with the quality and robustness of the
solution. The cameras’ superior image quality means the
complex can now rapidly investigate suspicious activity.
Since the system went live, it has already assisted with
the prosecution of those committing offences, including
an incident where vandals sought to compromise a bike
rack in the vicinity of the site. The installation met all of
The Odyssey Complex’s operational requirements, with
significant cost savings achieved through Axis Zipstream
and Lightfinder technology, optimising storage capacity
and improving low-light scenario image capture.
The Odyssey Complex is Northern Ireland’s premier
entertainment venue. The 23-acre site hosts concerts by
international musicians, exhibitions and sporting events,
as well as being home to the Belfast Giants ice hockey
team. The impressive site, which comprises the SSE Arena,
a Pavilion including restaurants, shops and a
cinema, the W5 Science and Discovery Centre and a
1,500-space car park, attracted over 1,000,000 visitors in
2016. Ensuring the public’s security and safety is therefore
of paramount importance, as well ensuring compliance
with best practice procedures for crowded places.
Almost two decades on from the implementation of an
analogue CCTV security system, Diamond Systems were
re-engaged by The Odyssey Complex to ensure the
ongoing safeguarding of its guests. This included a
complete overhaul of its legacy CCTV system, including a
six-month upgrade to full HD IP. The installation ran
smoothly from start to finish, with no reported downtime.
Moving with the times – new technology
for a connected world
This installation featured over 140 new cameras throughout
the entire complex, creating coverage for entrance
and exit points, as well as bar and VIP areas. After testing
various technologies from a variety of vendors, Axis was
chosen for its consistently high performance, fantastic
customer support and the vast range of devices available
to support the complex’s diverse camera requirements.
Steve Snoddon, Managing Director at Diamond Systems,
states, “We installed the original CCTV system 17 years
ago when the complex was first developed. While providing
value at the time, technology has progressed at such
a rapid pace since that it was time for us to re-evaluate
the technology available to support its requirements.”
As hackers seek new ways to access companies’ confidential
data, ensuring the cybersecurity of IP technology
is vitally important. The installation at The Odyssey
Complex was therefore subject to Axis’ cybersecurity
policies and guidelines. Steve Snoddon continues,
“We wanted something that would not only incorporate
today’s leading technology and maintain a high level of
cybersecurity, but also prepare us for the complex’s
security needs of the future. As the leading entertainment
venue of its kind in Northern Ireland, the
Odyssey’s security requirements are continuously
evolving. Our commitment to really understand the
business, and partnering with leading technology
organisations such as Axis, ensured we could deliver
a solution that was tailored to its needs.”
Security excellence in line with
entertainment venue needs
The Odyssey Complex’s new system is one of the most
modern within Northern Ireland; an installation of this
size required a bespoke solution to suit the needs of the
entertainment industry. One of the tools employed to
facilitate this was Axis Lightfinder technology, providing
the lighting sensitivity needed to give life-like colours in
low-light conditions. Its noise reduction feature, outperforming
many other platforms on the market,
supports the cameras’ fantastic image quality. This is
critical during concerts, when the arena is typically dark
and individuals can prove difficult to identify.
Many of the outdoor cameras installed also use an
innovative speed dry function to shake off water residue
from the lens. This is useful in outdoor locations as
often bad weather meant the complex experienced
droplets which restricted visibility.
Brian Hughes, Group Head of Facilities at The Odyssey
Complex, explains, “Through the use of intelligent
applications such as Lightfinder and Zipstream, we can be
confident we have the technology to support our unique
security needs. Working closely with Diamond Systems
and Axis, we were also keen to ensure the system has
capacity to include analytics in the future. This could
include customer footfall and queue management,
bringing benefits in terms of operational effectiveness,
guest satisfaction and of course, visitor safety.”
Beyond safety and security, the installed IP technology
has also been used during Belfast Giants hockey matches.
The large screens within the SSE Arena often display
members of the public for features such as ‘Kiss Cam’,
keeping the audience entertained during half time.
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Axis Communications (UK Ltd)
Website
T: 01582 283760
1 Capability Green
LU1 3LU
Luton, Bedfordshire
United Kingdom
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