MTS-ISS views video surveillance as a mission critical application – a digital media application. Whether it is used for aiding with modern policing or in helping to reduce liability for commercial real estate owners, video surveillance is a business enabler. As a mission critical application, MTS promotes digital video surveillance (DVS) solutions as a software architecture. We believe in open architecture, software-based DVS applications that run on standard Information Technology (IT) computer systems. We encourage our clients to understand the value of an open architecture and the protection from proprietary solutions that is realized by that value. MTS believes in ‘future proofing’ DVS solutions, i.e., allowing the architecture to support technology upgrades when they become desirable or affordable, without replacing the hardware infrastructure.
By approaching DVS as digital media, we can exploit decades of research and development in computing, networking, and storage. We can also leverage operational knowledge in such critical cost areas as systems management, policy management, and IT Processes to maintain critical service levels while minimizing operational costs. Once you get in the mode of treating DVS technology as IT technology, and video as digital media, then you can begin to open upthe possibilities of the sharing and manipulation of the data and the cost effectiveness gained with the ever-decreasing cost of IT. This equates to better value.
MTS believes that there are five basic functions of video surveillance for law enforcement:
- Discrete Surveillance of known and unknown criminals
- Command and Control to act as a force multiplier for police and first responders
- Provision of Evidence by increasing guilty pleas and reducing the time and expense of the prosecution processes
- Deterrence when used as part of an overall policing or protection strategy
- Re-assurance to help increase the public confidence through crime reduction and other factors
MTS architects DVS solutions to meet business or security requirements. The DVS architecture must be linked to the particular security program for each organization. MTS promotes using intelligence in DVS architectures. Most organizations do not possess the resources to sit and monitor cameras. MTS believes that by applying pixel-based algorithms, tuned for a particular organization’s threats and vulnerabilities, then an alarm-based DVS solution can be highly effective for both discrete surveillance and command and control functions.
We also believe that true internetworking is an essential component of many of our designs, enabling multiple locations and personnel the ability to see pertinent information when needed. The sharing of video and more importantly, the sharing of video infrastructure makes for a more cost effective and higher value policing environment.
Rob Merchant has been in the IT and Security Consulting business for over 20 years, both independently and for premier consulting organizations. He has focused on the application of technology to provide clients solutions and helps clients identify the processes that drive those technology solutions. . He has promoted the application of technology-based security solutions including Digital Video Surveillance (DVS), access control, C4ISR architecture, Command Center design & implementation, biometrics, and cyber security architecture. He has worked within several industries including Government (Federal, National, State and Local) Transportation Industry, Media Industry, Telecommunications Industry, Distribution Industry, and Financial Industry.
MTS provides consulting, design, and implementation services for Digital Video Surveillance solutions. Our focus on applying intelligence to DVS solutions, leveraging IT infrastructure and treating DVS as a mission-critical application ensures clients maximize their investment while obtaining solutions that address the problems at hand.
