AxxonSoft VMS protects 50,000m² Vaal Mall in Vanderbijlpark
Client
Vaal Mall, the heart of Vanderbijlpark and the Vaal Triangle, offers 50,000m² of convenient shopping. The centre provides 135 fashion and retail stores, a food court with a variety of take-away and sit-down restaurants, a wide variety of banking services, seven different promotional courts and parking for over 3000 cars.
Major anchor tenants include Pick n Pay, Woolworths, Edgars and Game.
Challenge
The purpose of video monitoring in the retail sector such as shopping malls is primarily to keep the public and their belongings safe. Petty crimes and organised violent crimes such as armed robberies are all a reality at malls. Parking areas have a reputation for drug deals, illegal trade and even the sale of rhino horn, which was captured during the commissioning of the AxxonSoft system.
It is vital to use only equipment that meets a high standard and to provide comprehensive training for operators regarding both the CCTV product and procedures.
Cameras should be of high quality to ensure that facial detection can be used to at least perform a valid identification of suspects. Static and PTZ cameras need to be used in surrounding areas such as open parking areas, where most criminal activities take place. In addition, the VMS must be user-friendly in order for the operators to use the PTZ functions and switch between preset views quickly and easily.
Immediate access to footage must be available in the event of situations unfolding and if there are any queries from patrons.
Solution
Addressing the issues both around the mall and inside the mall, a combination of panoramic, MP and PTZ cameras have been placed in strategic areas to allow full views of entrances, high risk areas such as banks and ATMs, general areas of concern where the public congregates, fire escapes, parking areas, and maintenance areas such as the air-conditioning rooms, DB boards and server rooms.
Tag&Track in AxxonSoft VMS allows operators to easily select an area noted by any of the ground personnel as suspicious, and if a suspect is noted, follow him or her automatically across all cameras.
Alarms have been created in fire escape areas, so they are activated after hours (18:00-06:00) to generate a popup alert when motion is detected.
Instant playback, a function that is part of the live view on AxxonSoft VMS, is used to replay events from recorded video at any time.
133 channels are active on site, with 2 fully populated servers. The operators each have a station running AxxonSoft VMS Professional and a video wall with 12 monitors for maximum situation awareness at any time.
Result
Installing the AxxonSoft VMS has allowed the operators as well as management to keep an eye on patrons enjoying the retail environment and store owners opening and closing their shops, and to assist the deployed guards in keeping unwanted criminals at bay. By using the VMS to assist the general public in finding lost keys, provide footage for insurance purposes in case of accidents, and catch criminals, the management is able to put their minds at ease.
Software
AxxonSoft VMS Professional
Hardware
Servers: CAPSULE DR1630, CAPSULE DR430-R
Cameras: Sunell, Hikvision, Bosch
Network: Dell
Additional useful information
"Because the system is so visual, even those who are unfamiliar with computers can operate the system. This was a key advantage because it allowed us to equip our many regional branches with the same system."
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