Axis Communications announced that four of its HDTV-quality Q6035-E PTZ dome network cameras will be used to monitor race day activities at the Athletes’ Village and finish line for the 116th running of the Boston Marathon on April 16th. Needham, Mass.-based LARiiON Integrated Solutions will be installing the IP video system and condensing more than 12 hours of marathon activity into a few minutes of video via specially designed time lapse software.
The Athletes’ Village, located at Hopkinton High School, is where the 26,000-plus registered runners meet to relax and stretch before the marathon. The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) and its sponsors provide pre-race entertainment, light refreshments, liquids and shelter at the Village before directing the runners to the starting line in assigned waves, to ensure the event begins efficiently and in an orderly fashion.
Two Axis Q6035-E network cameras will stream live video to the command center trailer to help race organizers monitor operations and assign volunteers and resources where necessary. Two additional pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) cameras mounted near the finish line will simultaneously cover multiple blocks-worth of activity, including runner flow from the finish line to the medical tents, operations at the medal reception and refreshment zones, as well as volunteer staffing levels and foot traffic at the race souvenir and Mylar blanket areas.
LARiiON’s time lapse software will be used to create race day videos for runners and fans, as well as to give race organizers insight into hours’ worth of activity recapped in a few minutes to help identify future operational efficiencies. Additionally, live view from the AXIS Q6035-E network cameras will provide the B.A.A. with real-time video feedback for the first time.
Axis bills the outdoor-ready Q6035-E PTZ dome network camera as its highest quality PTZ model, with 1080p HDTV performance and 20x optical zoom capability. The IP camera, which is typically used for demanding surveillance applications, features day/night functionality, multistream H.264 and Motion JPEG compressions, Power over Ethernet connection and intelligent video features, including active gatekeeping, tour recording, and motion and audio detection. The Axis Q60-E Series can operate in temperatures from 122° down to -40° F while capturing 1080p video at 30 frames per second, and 720p at up to 60 frames per second.
"With more than 26,000 runners and 500,000 spectators participating in Monday's Boston Marathon, it's important that our event upholds high standards of safety for all involved," commented B.A.A. executive director Tom Grilk. "To have access to high definition cameras and cutting edge surveillance technology will be a major asset to our operations team and our event."
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