Video Surveillance has accelerated in the post 9/11 world. Key points of entry at nations' borders such as airports, shipping ports, and highway checkpoints as well as key infrastructure locations such as bridges and power utility substations have experienced unprecedented growth--as have corporate premises. Reasons for this growth include the increasing economy and ease-of-use for installing and using networked IP video cameras and data devices.

New enabling technologies such as Power over Ethernet (PoE) have brought IP Video Surveillance to areas where it might not have otherwise been practical or economically feasible. Sometimes, traditional power wiring for AC power is not available or easy to install. Power over Ethernet (PoE) has emerged to allow devices such as networked cameras to receive power over the same cabling that carries the network data. PoE simplifies the installation and operation, keeping the cabling secure while not interfering with the network operation.

Video surveillance cameras have also grown in popularity and use as an effective tool for traffic control and management. Video cameras can provide real time, full-motion feedback as traffic problems develop, whether at a city intersection or on a major freeway. New Power over Ethernet (PoE) models add simplicity and convenience.

Traditionally, serial communications lines have been employed to transmit traffic control signals. However, live video, as part of an intelligent transportation system (ITS), requires a transmission bandwidth up to 100 times greater than the standard serial links.

Furthermore, the video signal often must be transmitted over a distance of several miles, usually to a central traffic operations center (TOC). Fiber optic cabling is the preferred medium to carry the video signal, since fiber optic cabling has a very large bandwidth and is immune to magnetic interference.

The combination of high bandwidth demand along with fiber cabling has resulted in the emergence of Ethernet as the protocol of choice for video surveillance and traffic control systems. Ethernet’s virtually unlimited bandwidth, ruggedness, scalability, and inexpensive systems components make it a natural for the new generation of video surveillance and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).

IP Video Surveillance requires hardened networking products that can be installed in temperature uncontrolled environments. A full range of rugged Magnum Ethernet products, including PoE, is available.

For a paper on networked (IP) Video versus analog, click here.