Case Study

When it comes to major CCTV /Security and Access Control Systems, Crimetech Security a Queensland family owner company is up there with the large multi nationals.

The challenges and unique situations that Security managers and CCTV System Design engineers face at Airports are wide and varied. For the Australian Customs Service in protecting our borders at an Airport they have a massive task and one which requires many specialized needs.

An ideal system for one specific aspect of an Airport security operation may differ from that of another, which requires a totally different set of parameters. The best solution for all applications is one that provides a solution to best meet the needs of all the stakeholders and is both functional and economical .

This was the situation facing Crimetech when having to provide a new CCTV System, and New Server and Master Control Rooms for the Australian Customs Service at the newly expanded Brisbane International Terminal.

The Project:

The relocation of some existing CCTV cameras, the installation of additional CCTV cameras throughout the International terminal, the Installation and Commissioning of the Security Equipment in a new and larger Server room, and the ‘Fit Out’ of all the CCTV & Security equipment in a new Master Control Room.

The Challenge:

Whilst it was a straight forward project to relocate or just install the 200 + cameras throughout the International Terminal for the Australian Customs Service at Brisbane Airport, the design of a system for interfacing them and the existing CCTV cameras into the switcher and peripheral equipment was only part of Crimetech’s scope of works.

This overall project also involved the fitting out of a new High Security Server room and a new Airport Control room . Whilst this was in effect a challenge, the real Challenge involved carrying out all these works while still maintaining the security and continuity of the existing surveillance system.

The expansion of the International Terminal Building over the four levels ( ITBX as it was known), was to increase the terminal itself by approx 60%, as well as extending the northern concourse arm for two new aerobridges one being two level aerobridge to accommodate the new A380 Airbus.

In addition to installing all new cameras for the new areas, some supplementary cameras were deployed or relocated into existing refurbished areas of the terminal .

Cameras of various types, PTZ ( Pan Tilt & Zoom) & fixed, internal & external were used throughout the project. Depending on the camera location in the terminal, its video signal, as well as control data for the PTZ cameras all fed back to strategically placed Communications Cabinets on various levels through out the terminal building. The Video & data signals were then fed between the Comms. cabinets and the main Server room over single mode fibre optic cables.

For the first phase of the project, signals for the new and relocated cameras were fed back to the existing Server room via the ‘location’ of a new and larger server room planned to come on line later in the project. During this time Customs surveillance operations continued to use both their existing Server & Control rooms.

In the second phase of the project, in addition to the continuing installation of the cameras, work progressed with the installation and construction of a new and larger Server room to house all new CCTV Equipment (Racks, Switcher, terminal modems, DVR’s etc.) as well as some of the existing and operational server room equipment when it was decommissioned., (Access Control panels . additional DVR’s etc. )

On completion of the new Server room, a staged ‘cut over’ from the old Server room allowed normal Customs surveillance to continue operations from the existing Master Control room .

The third phase of the Project involved the fitting out and bringing ‘on line’ a new and larger Master Control room remotely relocated from the new Server room.

While this was not as involved as fitting out the Server room, here a new Control desk, new wall monitors and all the ancillary operational surveillance equipment needed to be in place before the room could become operational. On the practical completion of the installation of all the equipment, Tests & checks were carried out, and in a midnight to dawn operation, the old Control room was closed down, interfacing and re patching took place, and the next day the new Master Control Room became the new ‘hub of activity’ for the Airport’s Border Security operations .

In a seamless transition the Australian Customs Surveillance team now operates from a new state of the art Control room.

The installation & Commissioning was so successful, Crimetech were engaged by the Australian Customs Service as the nominated and preferred installers for the CCTV & Access Control system at the new look Gold Coast Airport. In an almost identical operation Crimetech Security has provided 200 additional cameras for Australian Customs, as well as ‘fitting out’ the new CCTV Server and Operations Control rooms.