The Los Angeles Police Department used HDTV and Axis network PTZ cameras on a wireless mesh network to provide situational awareness at the red carpet outside Dolby Theatre for the 86th Academy Awards.

Axis Communications, the global leader in network video surveillance, announced the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) selected a mix of HDTV-quality pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) Axis network cameras to provide video security and live situational awareness along the red carpet at the Academy Awards on March 2.

The LAPD?s commitment to rock solid, reliable security technology is essential to protecting high profile events like the Academy Awards, pro sports victory parades and the final journey of NASA?s space shuttle Endeavour. The red carpet scene is one of the most popular entertainment spectacles of the year, and viewers from across the globe tune in to watch the media interview and photograph their favorite celebrities as they arrive in style wearing clothing and jewelry worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The LAPD was confident that Axis IP cameras and software connected via a wireless mesh network would provide the necessary support to help keep the night glamorous, fun, and incident-free.

?What I appreciate most about the Axis camera system and software is that we no longer have to think about the technology or how to use its capability. High quality resolution, video storage that is searchable and retrievable helps us best leverage our resources? said Deputy Chief Michael Downing, Commanding Officer for Counter Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau, Los Angeles Police Department.

Axis? PTZ cameras were strategically placed in the block surrounding the Dolby Theatre. A wireless mesh network connected the cameras to the command center at the police headquarters seven miles away in downtown Los Angeles. With the cameras managed remotely through AXIS Camera Companion software, the LAPD had an easily deployable, temporary solution to ensure the safety of Hollywood megastars waving to the world on their way to the theatre.

Video Surveillance: Beyond Hollywood Magic

Despite what movies and television often show, the ability of a computer lab technician to magically enhance poor quality video with software is vastly overstated. In the real world, it?s paramount that the surveillance cameras capture the best possible video for image usability. Faced with a number of challenges including large crowds, variable outdoor lighting conditions, cameras flashes and the fact that red is one of the hardest colors for video to render, the LAPD chose IP cameras that could overcome these challenges, capture the best possible images at the forefront and ensure the video was reliably recorded and readily accessible.

This meant the LAPD needed HDTV-standard quality cameras with responsive pan/tilt/zoom functionality, ability to handle a wide dynamic range of lighting (WDR), Power over Ethernet connectivity and on-camera SD card edge storage. Camera placement was also critical, and the LAPD combined comprehensive, wide angle overhead views with additional dedicated cameras at high risk zones throughout the area. With this set up, officers on the ground could relay any suspicious activity back to police headquarters so commanders could zoom in and provide instant support.

For the job, the LAPD chose HDTV 1080p AXIS Q60 PTZ Dome Network Cameras and HDTV 720p AXIS P3354-E PTZ Dome Network Cameras. Each outdoor-ready camera was connected to a wireless mesh node housed inside a custom-built watertight enclosure to protect against inclement weather. The edge-based AXIS Camera Companion software running inside the camera network allowed commanders the ability to select, control and view all cameras wirelessly on 70-inch display monitors at City Hall, as well as access the recorded video.

?With all the TV cameras, world-famous celebrities and expensive wardrobes packed into a single city block, the LAPD had an incredibly tough job,? said Fredrik Nilsson, general manager, Axis Communications, Inc. ?We?re proud the high quality images and flexible installation opportunities offered by Axis network cameras allowed the LAPD to provide the top-notch security needed for such a high profile event.?