The Control Centre, funded by the Safer Stockport Partnership operates 24/7, takes more than 17,000 calls a year
from the public and last year handled over 1,600 incidents.

At the centre of the CCTV control and management functions are two Meyertech 17" flat panel display touchscreen equipped FUSION workstations providing operators with the latest in Graphical User Interface's (GUI) from which all aspects of the system can be controlled, monitored and managed. Mr Bob Ashley, Security Development Manager for Stockport, reported, "It was the advanced technology of the FUSION workstations and the ability to run an audit trail (provided by FUSION-AUDIT software) which led us to choose Meyertech. The operators find the mapping very useful and user friendly."

Such is the flexibility and scalability of FUSION CCTV Integrated Software and ZoneVu CCTV Integrated Hardware, it is expected the system will expand to include all the car parks and district centres in the area. The next phase of the system will see it take in the Portwood area, which is close to the M60 and the site for a new Tesco superstore.

As Chief Superintendent Neil Wain said, "The CCTV system in Stockport has been extremely beneficial in assisting the police to protect the community. The updated and revamped Control Centre will enhance this excellent operation."

What was installed ?

Supplementary information

2 x FUSION-WS3

Fusion workstation incorporating 15-inch LCD Touchscreen and FUSION-GUI software providing 2 24/7 operator positions

FUSION-AUDIT

Fusion system auditing software logging all system events and providing monthly management reports

FUSION-EDIT

Fusion editing and configuration software for on-line or off-line maintenance

11 x FUSION-MAP

Fusion unique pastel GUI maps for easy system navigation and reduced operator fatigue

2 x FUSION-MSC

Fusion 12-month remote support contract providing peace of mind and free upgrades to the latest version of FUSION-GUI

2 x FUSION-RMK

Fusion radio keyboard and mouse for an uncluttered workspace

19 x ZVR-530

ZoneVu advanced DC variable speed camera controller with camera Serial Integration Port for remote configuration, upload and download of the camera and ZVR-530 complete set-up

1 x ZVM-9664

ZoneVu Series 2 modular video matrix 96 input x 64 output incorporating Time, date and text generation

1 x ZVM-4816

ZoneVu Series 2 modular video matrix 48 input x 16 output incorporating Time, date and text generation

5 x ZVK-77D

ZoneVu system keyboards with integrated proportional joystick and large backlight LCD ergonomically designed for 24/7 use.

3 x ZSC-1000

ZoneVu peer to peer site controller providing total system integration

3 x ZSC-250

ZoneVu gateway module for control by FUSION

1 x ZVM-328

ZoneVu video matrix 32 input x 8 output

4 x ZVR-510

ZoneVu DC variable speed camera controller with integral coax telemetry to upgrade and replace existing receivers

1 x ZSC-EFD-COE

ZoneVu ZSC-1000 resident embedded firmware driver for existing COE cameras.

1 x ZSC-EFD-MME

ZoneVu ZSC-1000 resident embedded firmware driver for existing Mark Mercer domes

1 x ZSC-EFD-TELTRONIC

ZoneVu ZSC-1000 resident embedded firmware driver, which integrates the Complu Teltroninc ‘Public Help’ points located throughout the town centre.

Supplementary Information

Project Background
The refurbishment and official opening of the Control Room was the culmination of over 18-months of carefully phased works during which the system was transformed from a number of small independently operated systems into a borough-wide fully integrated and managed system. Prior to Meyertech's involvement the client, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, had five independently operated CCTV schemes in the Borough, each using equipment made by a different manufacturer.
Client Requirements
The dilemma for the client was how to implement/realise their strategy of a Centralised Control and Command Centre without having to completely replace the divergent systems it had installed and already funded. It was at this point that Meyertech were contacted to advise if their ZoneVu CCTV Integrated Hardware product range could provide a possible solution. After listening to the Council's requirements, including the constraint to utilise the existing fibre paths between sites, the prerequisite that the new control and management system must be scaleable and flexible I.E. it must be able to expand in the future to meet the clients continuing demands and the ability to integrate with new and emerging technologies such as IP, Meyertech promptly reported back to the Council with a solution.

The solution
a) Addressed the requirement to utilise existing fibre paths. This meant the new control system had to be able to offer multi-layered intersite video switching and camera control as some of the fibre routes passed through a number of sites on their way to the control room.
b) Offers a truly modular approach to expansion, integration and is convergent with IP technologies.
c) Overcame the concerns of having to replace existing Legacy systems.

Meyertech Solution
The key to the Meyertech proposed solution was the ZoneVu ZSC-500 and ZSC-1000 Site Controllers, products which allow the implementation of a multi-site topology whilst retaining existing CCTV hardware at each independent site.

In order for the Control and Command Centre operators to manage such a complicated scheme effectively, FUSION CCTV Management Software was employed as the user interface. FUSION software, running on a standard Windows XP PC and Touchscreen, provides operators with seamless management of the entire system irrespective of where the camera is located or how it is connected to the system E.G. Site x, Site y, ISDN2e, Fibre, Satellite, IP ETC.

Via a Graphical User Interface (GUI), employing both maps of the CCTV scheme and icons to represent cameras, the user can quickly select any system camera and take control of it instantly thanks to Meyertech's innovative smartZFI feature. This is a smart mode of operation where FUSION and a ZoneVu keyboard function together to provide the operator the best of both worlds, system navigation and selection of cameras via the touchscreen and full proportional joystick control using a ZoneVu keyboard. As well as supervising the system efficiently, FUSION also monitors public HELP Points located throughout the centre of Stockport. When activated, they alert the operator through an alarm event which can be configured to switch video, trigger real time recording, instruct cameras and domes to go to presets or commence patrols. An auditing application, FUSIO-AUDIT, was installed onto a separate office management PC to provide powerful review capabilities of the entire operation. Logging alarms, operator responses and system events, FUSION-AUDIT data can be filtered and graphed to provide useful information for a particular camera's usage during certain hours of the day. The information can then be imported into standard Microsoft Office applications to form the basis of detailed management reports.