The hybrid approach allows the Harbour to maintain its existing analogue CCTV infrastructure, whilst accessing the advanced image quality and capability that an IP Video solution provides. When deciding to upgrade its system, the Harbour recognised the importance of archiving high-quality evidential video and having a CCTV platform that could easily be expanded in the future.

Commenting on the success of the project, Ken Reilly, Engineering Director of Aberdeen Harbour said, "We are delighted with the new IndigoVision recording solution. The system is a huge improvement on the previous equipment and has greatly enhanced our CCTV capability at the Harbour."

Aberdeen Harbour handles around 5 million tonnes of cargo a year and is the centre of activity for the offshore oil and gas industry's marine support operations in North-West Europe. This creates a complex security environment, with the need to monitor staff and public safety, manage traffic and shipping movements, protect assets, detect criminal activity and combat terrorism. Advanced search and analysis of recorded video is therefore an essential tool for the Harbour and law enforcement agencies.

"The approach we took to upgrading the video recording solution ensured that there was minimal disruption to the CCTV operation," said Liam Mowat, engineering manager of Scottish Communications, IndigoVision's approved Partner who designed and installed the upgrade. "There was also no re-training required as the front end CCTV control room remained unchanged. Adding a networked-based IP Video solution to the existing equipment has given the Port a simple migration path to a fully distributed IP-CCTV solution for the future."

IndigoVision's 8000 series MPEG-4 transmitter modules are used to convert the analogue camera feeds to DVD-quality video for streaming onto the network. The NVRs, which together with the 8000 modules are rack mounted in the Harbour's IT suite, record video directly from the network. The NVRs provide a 31-day archive, recording all cameras at 4CIF/25fps. IndigoVision's advanced compression technology ensures both the network bandwidth and recorder storage are minimised. This is further reduced by the use of IndigoVision's unique Activity Controlled Framerate (ACF) feature that is built-in to the 8000 modules. ACF reduces the amount of video that is transmitted from a camera during periods of scene inactivity. As soon as motion is detected, the 8000 automatically starts streaming video at the maximum configured framerate.

Operators in the IT suite use a workstation running 'Control Center', IndigoVision's Security Management Software, to review and analyse recorded video. Evidential video clips can be exported for use by the police and other agencies. Should the Harbour wish to expand the system in the future any component, such as cameras, NVRs or workstations, can be installed at any point on the network, creating a truly distributed system. Many ports around the world have invested in IndigoVision's complete integrated IP Video solution for wide-area surveillance. The flexibility and distributed nature of the system allows a number of different agencies to monitor their own operations within the port. IndigoVision's low-bandwidth technology also means that wireless networks can easily be deployed, an important consideration when monitoring the huge areas covered by port operations.