The Panocam360 range is entirely designed, developed, and manufactured in the UK. AMG-Panogenics is hopeful that the company’s efforts will be further recognised with the winning of the accolade.

David Myers, CTO of AMG-Panogenics, is the main driver behind the development of Panocam360 and he comments on the shortlisting. “For a smaller, niche company to get through to the finals of such a prestigious award is a superb achievement and a huge encouragement to the team around the development, marketing, and sales of the products. It was always our intention to bring to market a product range with technical innovations that offer the users real benefits. The 5 megapixel 360 degree cameras have absolutely no moving parts whatsoever and offer the very latest in surveillance capability. It is ideal for a wide range of crime preventing applications, such as retail where we have noted significant interest and currently have several trials underway.

Combined with the right analytic software, one single 360 degree camera mounted in the ceiling can cover the entire store floor and, thus, reduce the number of cameras required. Applications in schools and other educational institutions, where a single camera mounted in a hallway junction can cover the hallways leading off in other directions, as well as discreet surveillance for applications in care homes and hospitals are also currently under evaluation. A trial in a major International airport is also in progress.

Generally, the camera is suitable for applications which include areas with busy scenes that need monitoring in great detail, such as help points in transport applications, access control points in restricted zones, prison corridors and custody charge desks, as well as other areas which are expected to require extensive post event analysis.” He concluded.

Panocam360 streams 12.5 frames per second and the on-board de-warping reduces the processing requirement back in the control room. Offering up to 14 de-warped video streams/independent camera views simultaneously alongside the full-resolution 5M fish-eye view for recording makes Panocam360 one of the most powerful and versatile 360 degree camera ranges available. It provides complete situational awareness from a single camera. This means, literally, that there is nothing in the scene the user cannot zoom in on, down to the greatest detail – in full resolution - through a standard web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc.).

The camera also provides many high-end camera features, such as built in ‘Privacy Zones’. This allows the client to define up to 10 blocked out areas, which are private and, therefore, hidden in all of the camera’s fisheye, panoramic, and PTZ views, eg beds in hospitals and private windows. The camera works on an open software platform, which makes it very easy to integrate into 3rd party recording systems (NVR) and Video Management Systems (VMS). The SDK provided for integration with third party NVR/VMS facilitates de-warping and enables electronic-PTZ playback.

“Although we have to wait until October to find out who the actual winner is, we’ve already got everything crossed,” added David Myers. “Just to be in the running is excellent but, obviously, we’d really like to win. As AMG continues to grow and establish itself further with innovative products, the possibility of receiving such high profile recognition from our own industry is a phenomenal boost of confidence to the entire staff who are working so hard to secure our continued growth”.

The 2012 Security Excellence Awards Ceremony takes place on Wednesday 17 October at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, London.