Soaring to new heights with IP video
Every airport aims to provide a safe and enjoyable passenger journey. That’s why Tampa International Airport (TIA) upgraded to the Security Center Omnicast™ IP video surveillance system. Today, airport police monitor over 800 cameras covering roadways, terminals and tarmac.
The company
Tampa International Airport (TPA) handles over 16 million passengers annually. The Public Safety and Security department at TPA follows strict security policies and procedures to safeguard passengers. After securing funding from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), TPA decision makers seized the opportunity to undertake a major security upgrade across the airport.
The challenge
TIA had an analog video and access control system which were becoming obsolete and unreliable. “It was all hardware based, so if we lost a component, we would lose a whole series of cameras and video,” said Safraz Samad, Security Project Manager at TPA. “It became difficult to pull up archived/recorded video, and it was hard keyed, so our team had to punch in codes to get to the camera.”
The solution
Unified airport view and alarms
“We have much more camera coverage and the cameras are linked to the access control system triggers, so we get video instantaneously alongside alarms,” said Samad.
Quick map navigation
Plan Manager, the map interface of Security Center, helps officers respond faster. The team can say ‘I’m on the south end of the airport, what cameras are here?’ and easily find video.
Sharing with other departments
With the partitioning feature in Security Center, TSA and contractors like the parking management company can access the cameras in parking garages and at security checkpoints.
Improved customer service
Operational teams at TPA also use the cameras to help streamline the flow of traffic in and out of the airport, and anticipate crowds in security, customs or baggage.
“We have to maintain a certain response time to any alarm in the airport and handle these alarms appropriately. Now with Security Center, we are able to do that much faster than ever before.”
Safraz Samad, Security Project Manager, Tampa Airport International
Results
Today, the Omnicast video surveillance system manages over 800 cameras, and TPA is pleased with the results. According to Samad, "Our police use Omnicast extensively and have archived over 100 cases in the last seven months. They are able to find video, open cases with more information and then close these cases faster. At the checkpoints, we have daily recoveries of lost or forgotten items which are resolved within minutes.”
Within Security Center, the Omnicast system has also been unified with their existing access control system. This means the Public Safety and Security department is now able to receive access control alarms within the same interface where video is being monitored. TPA also provides secure video feeds of their airport tarmac on their website. It’s an extra little perk for the public who enjoy viewing incoming airplanes as they land.