Oman Auto Dealership Gets a Hikvision Surveillance Solution

Located in the heart of Muscat, the capital of oil-rich Oman, reside the showrooms of Suhail Bahwan Automobiles. Offering cars from manufacturers such as BMW, Infinity and Nissan, the agency is the largest automobile dealer in Oman with correspondingly large showrooms. With such impressive and lucrative facilities, it is no surprise that the company placed a great deal of emphasis on securing the safety not only of its cars but also the many employees and customers that surround them.

Anoop Nair, sales manager at Technosolutions, the integrator on this car showroom project, designed a robust solution consisting of 8 separate Hikvision products and employing no less than 100 individual cameras. When asked why he had chosen so many products from the same manufacturer, Mr. Nair responded, "With the quality and versatility that these products offer, and the competitive price they are set at, I consider them the best choice for a solution of this nature."

The client's goal with this system was to monitor all showroom locations deemed critical. Locations, such as entrances, exits, financial transaction counters, customer service counters, and a variety of other employee work areas were also to be observed with a high-resolution CCTV system. Mr. Nair satisfied this goal by employing 6 separate Hikvision camera models, as well as applying the manufacturer's video management software to manage the overall solution. This software provided an optimal platform based on both practical and performance-based aspects. "With this many products, we really wanted a Hikvision platform to tie it all into. Their software has grown by leaps and bounds and was a big plus for this project." The manufacturer‘s range includes hybrid DVRs, NVRs, standalone DVRs, digital video servers, compression cards, high-definition IP cameras and speed domes.

In Control
To further simplify and gain added efficiency, the DS-1000KI Network Keyboard was chosen to operate this CCTV solution. The keyboard‘s joystick makes PTZ control of camera functions and management of up to 99 networked DVR units a simple matter. While Hikvision software and keyboards provide the means to control this system, a great deal of effort was placed into selecting the cameras. Since a location such as an automobile dealership presents a wide variety of optical challenges, Mr. Nair utilized an equally wide variety of model types to meet this challenge.

For internal areas like reception and financial transaction counters, the DS-2CD753F-EI 2.0 Megapixel vandal-proof network dome camera was chosen. Oman's automobile showrooms have experienced instances of camera vandalism in these areas so obviously, in sensitive locations where money is involved, the client preferred vandal proofing and Mr. Nair was happy to oblige.

Light at Night
Many of these showrooms had existing hardware and logistical infrastructure, such as PoE- enabled network switches. Mr. Nair utilized the DS-2CD753F-EI's PoE, thereby limiting cables to a maximum of 50 meters from all units. Obviously, this benefited the aesthetic element, but more importantly, it eliminated expensive fiber-optic cabling to a central location, thus greatly saving on installation costs. Monitoring the employee hallways is the DS-2CD793PF-EI 4CIF network dome camera. Since these showrooms are closed at night, lighting in the rear of the premises - including the hallways - is turned off. The DS-2CD793PF-EI's super low light capability and a day/night auto switch served to overcome this obstacle.

At the main entrance, the DS-2CD7253F-EIZ 2 MP IP66 day/night waterproof vandal-proof network dome camera provides coverage. Owing to the nature of the location, a less-obtrusive dome was chosen over a more visible box-type camera. An IP66 rating protects this camera from the highly-fluctuating Oman weather conditions, while a 30 meter IR range provides the ability to not only view the entrance but also the parking area as well. In this case, a customer can literally be seen from the point of entering the parking lot - and well before they arrive at the front door.

A Shot in the Dark
Hikvision's DS-2CD8253F-EI 2 MP IP66 network IR bullet camera provides coverage for a variety of areas, such as internal access control locations, outdoor parking lots, and vehicle entry/exit areas that do not possess access control. Utilizing its 30 meter IR range, the DS-2CD8253F-EI is positioned in such a way as to actually see license plate numbers. Additionally, preset motion searches provide security staff with the ability to zoom onto objects in total darkness.
Rounding out this solution is an internal and external aspect. The DS-2DF1-534 indoor network PTZ high-speed dome camera, placed on the interior of the 4-meter high showroom ceilings, exploits a 23x optical zoom „... to provide coverage of each and every nook of the showroom and see people and objects that normal bullet/dome cameras cannot," explained Mr. Nair. Outside, mounted on top of the buildings, is the DS-2DF1-718 outdoor network IR PTZ speed dome camera. Similarly, a 36x optical zoom provides the ability to zoom onto any object or person at a large distance; and an IR range of 80 meters allows it to do so in total darkness.

Integrator ingenuity and Hikvision technical prowess has resulted in a successful solution towards meeting Suhail Bahwan Automobiles' goal of providing surveillance over all critical aspects of their showroom ­environment.