Cathexis DVR and Acam CCTV system installed in Derby crime scene house |
10/07/2007: Posted by: Phil Rennett - Quiet Storm Consultants (01530 276550)
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A police-owned three-bedroom, semi detached house, is being used by the University of Derby as a practical crime scene environment for its forensic students.
The crime scene house consists of a control room, two classrooms and nine areas that can be made out as crime scenes (including stairs, stairwell and shower room).
Students carry out the procedures they have studied and are observed by their lecturers on a Cathexis digital CCTV system that has been installed throughout the building. Recorded activity is then copied onto DVD and reviewed either in the classroom or in one-to-one sessions.
The CCTV system was installed by Circuit Services of Derby, who were briefed by the university to develop and install a system that provided comprehensive and detailed coverage of each crime scene, recorded audio, provided real-time recording and review, was easy to operate and was future-proofed to accommodate expansion and other future developments.
Circuit Services worked with CCTV specialist Acam Technology (also of Derby) to create a system consisting of three PTZ dome cameras and nine Acam varifocal dome cameras, linked via a Cathexis Cheetah digital video recorder (DVR) feeding four hi-resolution monitors and one LCD screen in the control room, plus projector feeds into both classrooms.
The upgradeable DVR is capable of real-time recording (25 images per second from each of the 12 cameras) DVD-quality video and audio.
As with all Cathexis DVRs, this one was built to the specific requirements of the university - including a simple one-button access to facilitate recording in each of the crime scenes.
Acam helped Circuit Services with the commissioning of the system and the training of the university team. The installer ensured the students had the best possible environment to work in by hiding all crime scene cabling under floorboards, in roof space and cupboards.
Jonathan Wright of Derby University said: "The quality of the system and the results it produces are unbelievable. The students using the facility have been extremely impressed - and a little unnerved - by the systems ability to catch everything they do.
The result is a teaching and training facility of which both the university and the county’s police force can be extremely proud."
Acam Technology Limited, Unit3, Prime Enterprise Park, Prime Parkway, Derby, DE1 3QB
Tel: 01332 382555 Fax: 01332 382666