Shell steps on the gas with Oman upgrade
When Shell decided to upgrade security across its chain of gasoline stations in Muscat, it decided that it needed a reliable platform that could offer high definition video in preview and playback
With more than 150 stations all over Oman, Shell gasoline stations are one of the biggest petrol retailers in the country. As these customers and their vehicles flow in and out of stations nationwide every day, it is vitally important for Shell gasoline stations to guarantee the safety of the customers and employees with top-class surveillance products.
A reliable surveillance platform supporting high-definition video in preview and playback was the key requirement for this installation, so that Shell staff could clearly view the license plates of vehicles entering or leaving the stations. If a crime is committed at the station or within the scope of surveillance, security staff could play back the video footage and provide the license plate numbers for police investigation or vehicle trace.
The requirements
Hikvision was asked to provide 220 Hikvision DS-2CD852MF-E 2-Megapixel network cameras and over 50 DS-9008HFI-S Hybrid DVRs. These were installed in more than 50 gasoline stations throughout Muscat, the capital of Oman.
The Hikvision DS-2CD852MF-E 2-Megapixel network camera adopts the MPEG4/H.264 video codec based on TI’s high performance DaVinci platform, offering high quality video with resolution of up to 1600-1200 in real-time. Back light compensation and auto white balance are also supported in order to capture clear images in a range of lighting conditions. This was of particular importance as there is often a sharp illumination contrast in and outside the stations during the day, which
can affect visibility. Most importantly, this product is weather-proof and can work stably for a long period of time under high-temperature conditions (-10°C ~ 60°C) dramatically reducing maintenance costs.
Additionally, the Hikvision DS-9008HFI-S Hybrid DVR uses the H.264 video codec and delivers real-time video in preview and playback with a resolution of up to 1280x720. It can work as a standalone hybrid DVR supporting IP and analogue cameras simultaneously in two ways: eight analogue cameras plus eight 4CIF IP cameras, and eight analogue cameras plus four 720p IP cameras. This enables the user to add up to eight analogue cameras if needed. The user-friendly GUI of the DS-9008HFI-S comes with Windows-style interface.
Detailed images
The DS-9008HFI-S hybrid DVR features digital zoom in preview and playback, so that users can view images in great detail, especially license plates or images of people.
"By using Hikvision´s reliable cameras and DVRs, we can now provide a safer environment for our customers and employees. Along with four 2-Megapixel network cameras and one hybrid DVR being installed in each station, every corner of the station is covered by the surveillance system, which helps to detect illegal activities effectively," said Salim Al Busaidy, manager of the engineering department in Shell. "And next year, we will extend this project into all Shell gasoline stations throughout Oman with Hikvision’s products."
Ulhas Godse, divisional manager of OHI Electronics, who was responsible for the installation said: "Unlike other IP CCTV solutions, the Hikvision IP CCTV solution is very user-friendly and bridges the gap between analogue and IP. Their idea is to make it simple to the user without compromising on video quality."
For more information visit: www.hikvision.com (opens a new window)