[MSN] Axis wireless network cameras help secure priceless art works at the Royal Academy of Arts

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Axis wireless network cameras help secure priceless art works at the Royal
Academy of Arts

Axis cameras have been deployed by CNL to help secure priceless art works
including 'The Scream' on loan to the Royal Academy of Arts from the Munch
Museum in Oslo.

Network cameras by Axis Communications were selected as part of a
comprehensive surveillance solution put together for the Royal Academy of
Arts (RAA) by leading integrator CNL (Computer Network Ltd). The RAA was
given less than a week to install a new security system in its main
galleries prior to the hanging of key works from the Munch Museum in Oslo
for a loan exhibition held from September to December 2005.

The additional surveillance was requested by the head of security from the
Munch Museum who came to assess security measures at the RAA less than a
week before the Munch loan exhibition was due to be exhibited. Only a year
before three key Munch works, including one of three original 'The Scream'
paintings, had been stolen from the Munch Museum in Oslo by masked gunmen.

With no time to run cables in the listed building at Burlington House, one
of the twelve wireless access points placed at the entrance to the main
public galleries was used to provide an encrypted network connection to a
number of AXIS 206W wireless network cameras.

The AXIS 206Ws were installed to cover the key exit points from the main
galleries due to house the Munch works. David Vobes, facilities manager of
the RAA summarised the installation: "Having our new surveillance system
running over IP enabled us to extend the system rapidly via the wireless
access points without damaging the fabric of the building, thereby avoiding
major capital outlay. No less importantly, with CNL's assistance, we created
a system which reliably delivers high quality images helping us meet modern
high specification requirements to protect works of art which often cost
millions."

CNL worked with RAA's IT and facilities management staff to provide output
from existing CCTV cameras to RAA's network via AXIS 241Q Video Server
Blades. Together with new Axis network cameras installed on the RAA's roofs,
foyer and administrative offices, the RAA now has a highly comprehensive
surveillance system designed to meet the highest standards requested by
museums loaning work to them, the Museums Libraries & Archives Council and
the Home Office.

James Condron, sales and marketing manager at CNL, said: "Axis has an
extremely strong portfolio of technology allowing us to meet and respond to
our customers needs. The AXIS 206W was ideal to meet the requirements for
this part of the project whilst their codecs provided the platform to
seamlessly integrate with the RAA's existing analogue infrastructure -
providing a highly-efficient and cost-effective surveillance network."

Steve Gorski, managing director of Axis Communications (UK) Ltd, said: "The
installation at the RAA by CNL demonstrates how our wireless and wired
network cameras can work together with our video server technology to create
a secure site using a mixture of traditional analogue-based CCTV cameras and
state-of-the-art wireless networking infrastructure. The outcome is a system
which has cost effectively enabled the RAA to migrate to IP-Surveillance
whilst upgrading their system to meet dynamically changing security
requirements." 

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