The most significant driving force behind the explosion
in the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) has been the
worldwide increase in theft and terrorism and the commensurate
concern and need to protect personnel and
assets. The terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, brought
about a quantum jump and a complete reevaluation of the
personnel and asset security requirements to safe-guard a
facility. To meet this new threat, video security has taken
on the lead role in protecting personnel and assets. Today
every state-of-the-art security system must include video as
a key component to provide the “remote eyes” for security,
fire, and safety.
The fateful day of September 11, 2001, has dramatized
the importance of reliable communications and remote
visualization of images via remote video cameras. Many
lives were saved (and lost) as a consequence of the voice,
video, alarm, and fire equipment in place and in use at the
time of the fateful attack on the World Trade Center in
New York. The availability of operational wired and wireless
two-way communication between command and control
headquarters and responders (police, fire, emergency)
played a crucial role in life and death. The availability
(or absence) at command posts of real-time video images