Wireless transmission options for security & surveillance: point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, mesh - pros and cons of each; mistakes to avoid; steps to successful wireless deployment; case studies; questions to ask your wireless technology provider.

1. Wireless Infrastructure for
Security and Surveillance
Ksenia Coffman, Firetide
ASIS CCTV Workshop, Las Vegas, NV 10/26-29 1

2. Agenda
Why wireless?
Wireless options
Considerations for wireless video systems
Case studies
Municipal public safety; Campus security; Critical
infrastructure/industrial operations; Transportation
security; Mobile video
Planning a successful wireless system
Q&A
2

3. Why Wireless?
Cost savings
Deploy virtually anywhere
Mobility and flexibility
Extend or back-up wired
infrastructure
3

4. Who Needs Wireless Security & Surveillance?
Public Safety Education Industrial Transportation
Retail Hospitality Healthcare Government Utilities
4

5. Wireless Challenges
Availability of channels & spectrum
RF interference
Dynamic RF & physical environment
“Trust but verify” attitude required
5

6. Wireless Options
6

7. Wireless Frequency Bands
Licensed? Line of site Advantage Disadvantage
900 MHz Unlicensed Not required Improved street-level Lower throughput
penetration for video compared
to other bands
2.4 GHz Unlicensed Required Better penetration Interference from
compared to 5 GHz consumer devices
4.9 GH Licensed Required Reserved for public Requires frequency
safety; less coordination with
interference other agencies
5 GHz Unlicensed Required Better range and less Lower penetration
interference than 2.4 GHz
compared to 2.4 GHz
7

8. Point to Point
Pros
Dedicated connection
Highest bandwidth for backhaul
Cons
Does not scale; no flexibility
Single point of failure
8

9. Point to Multi-Point
Pros
Simplicity of design
Cost effective when tall assets are available
Cons
Limited scalability: bandwidth divided by # of subscribers
LOS required to each subscriber unit
Base station creates a single point of failure
9

10. Multi-Point to Multi-Point (Mesh)
Pros
Reach & scalability with multi-hop connections
Flexibility – can be deployed a PtP, PtMP or mesh
Cons
Variable performance from different vendors
More complex design vs PtP or PtMP
10

11. What About Throughput?
Point to point
Up to 1 Gig+
Point to multi-point
20-30 Mbps total capacity typical (divided by # of subscribers)
Wireless mesh
Can deliver up to 250-300 Mbps in PtP mode or 100-150 Mbps
sustained over multiple hops
Varies greatly by vendor: from 10-15 Mbps to 100-150 Mbps
sustained
Numbers listed are usable throughput, not theoretical data rate
11

12. Deployment Scenario: Mesh & PtP
12

13. Deployment Scenario: PtMP
13

14. Deployment Scenario: Linear Mesh
Linear mode takes advantage of dual-radio capabilities
District 5
District 4
District 3
District1
District 2
14

15. Not All ‘Wireless Mesh’
Created Equal
15

16. Imagine a Traditional Wired Switch
Most efficient mesh utilizes L2 distributed wireless switch architecture
(Wired Ethernet infrastructure)
16

17. Now, Give Each Port Wireless Capability
(Wired Ethernet infrastructure)
17

18. Separate the Ports…
Bingo, a Virtual Ethernet Switch!
(Wired Ethernet infrastructure)
18

19. Considerations for
Wireless Video
19

20. Key Requirements for Video
High throughput
Low latency < 1.5 ms per hop
Low packet jitter (variation in latency)
Support for multicast traffic
End-to-end QoS & traffic prioritization
20

21. Caution About AP-based Systems
Not suitable for professional-grade video surveillance
Typically shared with other traffic: unpredictable bandwidth
Limited QoS or traffic prioritization
Multicast traffic brings effective bandwidth to 6 Mbps
2.4 GHz band deployments are especially risky
Result: packet loss, jitter and high latency = unusable video
Wi-Fi enabled cameras only suitable for indoor, small-scale
surveillance
Caution: Many of the above limitations apply to “Mesh APs” as well
21

22. But Wi-Fi Access Can Be Useful
Live video in Wi-Fi ‘hot spots’
Laptops, PDAs
Local and remote viewing
Wi-Fi enabled Radio, AP & Camera
patrol car
22

23. A Word on WiMAX & 4G
Fixed WiMAX – unlicensed spectrum (2.4/4.9/5 GHz)
You own the infrastructure
Point to multi-point topology
Typically 4.9 GHz & 5.8 GHz spectrum; could be separate HW
Throughput limitations compared to high-end mesh
Mobile WiMAX/4G – licensed spectrum
License held by operators (Sprint, Clearwire, etc)
Service model similar to cellular data; available in a few major cities
3-4 Mbps downstream; 1 Mbps upstream
Okay for 1 or 2 covert cameras but not for critical deployments:
outages, downtime for service, etc.
23

24. Mistakes You Can Make
Mistakes You Can Make
24

25. RFP Process
Not verifying claims/performance
Not talking to users with like-size systems
Specifying solution based on a 3-camera trial
Not being clear on requirements
Accepting the lowest bid without making
apples-to-apples comparison
25

26. Design & Deployment
Skipping a formal, professional site survey
Not securing access to camera sites & power ahead of time
Not taking seasonal variations into account
4.9 GHz users – not verifying spectrum availability
Using non-manufacturer-approved accessories (i.e. antennas)
Not planning for future growth
26

27. Operation
Not securing a maintenance agreement with the integrator
Not purchasing spares
and
Who will clean the cameras?
27

28. Case Studies
28

29. Public Safety and Security
Hospital
Ambulance
Fire
Station
Public Park
Police
Station
City Hall Police Car
29

30. Los Angeles County Sheriff
Narcotics, prostitution,
gang retaliations
30 cameras trained on
priority locations: key
intersections, parks,
schools, hospitals
Linear mesh topology
due to lack of fiber
points of presence
30

31. Wireless-enabled Campus
31

32. Cal State Long Beach PD
37 cameras
How used
Overt surveillance
Integrated with
dispatch
Wireless offload for
ALPR cameras
Funding
PD budget
32

33. Critical Infrastructure & Industrial Ops
33

34. Construction – Dubai Tower
Radio over IP
Video surveillance
34

35. Open Pit Mining
Diagnostics & weight data
Video surveillance – operator safety
& location
35

36. Transportation Security
36

37. Steveston Harbor, BC, Canada
Overt surveillance
Fixed and PTZ, megapixel cameras
37

38. Wireless ‘Look-in’: MBTA, Boston
• 500 busses, 8 cameras each
• Mobile-to-mobile surveillance
• Passenger and operator safety;
liability protection
38

39. Mobile Video
Security Monitors
Internet
Internet
Gateway
39

40. Outfitting Patrol with Mobile Video
40

41. Wireless Gear
41

42. Radio Equipment
Indoor Radios
Outdoor Radios Custom or Integrated Enclosures
42

43. Antenna Types
Omni-directional - doughnut-shaped radiation pattern
Sector – Broadcast signal in one general direction
Patch/Panel – Moderately-directional “spotlight’ pattern
Yagi – Directional antenna used for point to point
Parabolic – high-gain, highly directional
43

44. Use Directional Antennas for Video
Sector antenna for head end Patch antenna for street level
44

45. Planning a Successful Wireless System
Business
objectives
Future System
growth requirements
Deployment Site survey
RF/Network
design
45

46. Requirements
Application – what do you want to do?
Real-time video vs R&R (“recording & retrieval”) operation
Any data or voice requirements?
Is there a need for roaming or mobility?
Bandwidth – how many video streams? What frame rate?
Logistics
Permits, approvals
Access to mounting locations: rooftops, light poles, towers
Future changes: construction? expansion?
Facility – consider differences:
Ports, construction sites – moving objects, unpredictable LOS
Shopping centers – people absorb RF
Special events – ad-hoc, remote and on-site command centers
46

47. Site Survey
The #1 ingredient to a successful system
Results
Detailed layout prepared
Required network throughput determined
Potential interference identified
Power sources identified
Available frequencies identified
BOM and deployment plan created
47

48. Design
Determine bandwidth requirements Analyze bandwidth per radio link
• Per stream & aggregate Adjust proposed layout as required
Get a map, plan, aerial photograph
Use directional antennas
Plot camera and other equipment
location Add intermediate nodes
Develop a proposed layout Increase bandwidth
• Node types Route around obstacles
• Antennas and directions Make sure you have enough
• Head-end/wired infrastructure head-end bandwidth
connections
48

49. Deployment
Use experienced installers who are certified on the equipment
49

50. Bad Radio Placement – Wall Mount
Multipath due to wall reflections
Metal objects near antenna
Wrong antenna for position
• Sector would be better choice
50

51. Bad Antenna Placement – Toll Booth
Antenna obstructed by AC unit
LOS is compromised
51

52. Good Intersection Camera Design
Sector to head node
Omni mounted on bracket
• approx. 2 feet away from pole
• 4 feet below sector antenna
52

53. Good Pole Mount Design
Patch instead of omni
RF cables less than 10 feet
53

54. Future Growth
Make sure the network can scale
Engage other departments / entities to fund or support the system
Evaluate new applications
Cameras technology: ALPR, infrared, HD, megapixel
Other services: Wi-Fi access, VoIP
Mobility: real-time mobile video
54

55. Questions to Ask Your Wireless Vendor
What is usable throughput per link/total capacity? (not ‘data rate’)
How do you handle multicast traffic?
What is the latency per hop/per 5 hops?
Max number of hops before backhaul is needed?
What QoS mechanisms do you support?
What security mechanisms have you implemented?
What is the largest install do you have in terms of # of cameras?
Can I contact your customers?
55

56. Wireless Saves Time, Money
LA County Sheriff’s Dept. Buffalo, NY
Rockford, IL Denver / DNC ‘08
Dallas, TX
NASA Dryden Yuma Intl Airport
Downtown Chicago
56

57. Thank You!
For a copy of the presentation, please contact:
Ksenia Coffman, Firetide
kcoffman@firetide.com
See more case studies at:
www.firetide.com/video2
Follow Firetide on twitter:
http://twitter.com/firetide
57