Government agencies have experienced a dramatic demand for surveillance technology development to protect people as well as private and public assets. Recent security challenges — from boarding airplanes to protecting embassies — highlight the growing need for increasing security, especially surveillance.

One of the most challenging dilemmas that homeland security managers face is when and how to take the leap from an analog to an IP/digital video system. They want to jump to IP surveillance, but in a cost-managed way that extends the life of existing equipment. For most sites, this migration will take place gradually and, during the process, analog and IP solutions will have to coexist — in some cases, for many years to come.

Five major system areas need to be considered:
- Cameras;
- Transmission and cabling, including power supplies;
- Storage and retrieval;
- Command and control; and
- Integration.

Cameras – Throw Out the Analog or Keep Them

A key consideration for homeland security executives is whether or not existing analog cameras or new IP ones will provide the image quality needed to achieve the functional requirements of the system. Different applications have different requirements — for example, some users require the ability to see and track suspects in changing lighting conditions, while others simply need to see that a corridor is clear. In many migration plans, specific locations of greater vulnerability or image detail requirements are ideal places for IP-based cameras, including megapixel and high definition models. One needs to ask if higher resolution cameras can help at each location.

As part of a co-existence plan, analog-to-digital encoders at the camera end can transform images from an analog camera for digital transmission and storage. The analog control room equipment gets scrapped, but the new IP control room equipment controls the already-installed analog cameras.
Another approach holds down the budget at the beginning — the existing analog equipment, including cameras, control room, video wall and cabling remains untouched. VMS software, integrated with the present keyboard, sits on top of the system to manage the new IP equipment and the already-installed analog system.

Transmission Choices

Coaxial, shielded twisted pair and unshielded twisted pair cable, fiber optics and — to a lesser degree — a variety of wireless approaches, carry most homeland security video. The difference and business advantage of the various transmission schemes are in cost of installation and cost of maintenance. A question to ask is whether or not the new IP cameras will eliminate long-distance analog cabling.