Re: Portable Wireless Covert Video System

["St Clair, Jim" <Jim.StClair () GT COM>]

Dave,

 

One of the leading issues in any surveillance system are your local
(campus or otherwise) requirements for retention of video.

 

Your "nanny cam" analogy is a good one, although the technology has
changed quite a bit in the last 4-5 years, driving down the cost of
quality IP-based digital video systems. With watermarking, however, you
will also need to have "chain of custody" ability on digital evidence
similar to forensics - as you may know, this is accomplished with hashes
and checksums in digital media.

 

The issue is that storage of full-frame rate (30 frames/min) 640x480
video can quickly gobble up a lot of storage - In my experience,
customers interested in these systems suddenly realized it became
prohibitively expensive, just like the price of a concert ticket
includes handling fee, parking, sales tax, etc. - suddenly its double
the price. Additionally, a wireless video stream often requires its own
network, and resolution/frame rate can be impacted by prevailing
conditions.

 

In today's age, anybody can build a Dell PC based digital DVR and call
it a surveillance system. I highly recommend speaking with a system
installer instead, many of whom are authorized partners for Panasonic,
Sony, JVC, etc, and can advise you about a professional set up. "Covert"
is also something that needs to be discussed as well.

 

I hope some of this rambling helps....

James A.St.Clair, CISM 
Sr. Manager 
Global Public Sector 
Grant Thornton LLP 
(703) 637-3078 (office) 
(703) 727-6332 (mobile) 
(703) 837-4455 (fax) 

________________________________

From: Dave Koontz [mailto:dkoontz () MBC EDU] 
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 2:32 PM
To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
Subject: Portable Wireless Covert Video System

 

Our Security Office is requesting a portable Wireless Covert Video
system that can be easily moved and setup in various campus locations
and would be completely transparent to anyone in that area.  Most of
what I've seen on the Internet are the cheap home type of systems. ala
"nanny cams" and such.   Ideally the system would have it's own DVR and
the ability to send an encypted video stream both with a watermark that
would hold up in court to prove no tampering of the images has occured.

 

Has anyone had any experice with such systems?  I would appreciate any
suggestions or advice you could share.

 

Thanks in Advance.

 

 

---

Dave Koontz

Mary Baldwin College

Staunton, VA
 

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