Radius Security Solutions

In the middle of the hectic Frankfurt banking district, tranquility can be found at the traditional Le Méridien Parkhotel Frankfurt (www.lemeridien.com). Located in the idyllic Wiesenhüttenplatz, a street surrounded by trees, the hotel, which was built in 1905, offers its guests a superior standard of comfort as well as a discreet and courteous service with all the flair of a grand old establishment. Guests are guaranteed a haven of comfort and relaxation, whether they opt for a room imbued with the art nouveau of the historical palace or a newly refurnished room in the exclusive business wing, complete with plasma TVs, light maple furniture and modern lighting.

Le Méridien Parkhotel Frankfurt is also well equipped for events and conferences. Clients have a choice of thirteen function rooms, with state-of-the-art presentation technology available as required. With its delicate international cuisine, the elegant Le Parc restaurant caters to all culinary needs. Even the most demanding guest can enjoy the delicacy they prefer. The shady Le Jardin summer garden proves a popular retreat in the height of summer. There is no better way to end a hot day than with a cold beer and a hearty meal in the company of fellow diners – all this just a few steps from the comfort of your own room. Those wishing to explore the metropolis on the river Main will particularly appreciate the hotel’s central location. Whether you have set your sights on the Museum Embankment, the Old Opera House, the exhibition grounds, the historic “Römer” city hall or the romantic Äppelwoi (German cider) taverns in Sachsenhausen, all the attractions can be reached on foot or by public transportation quickly and conveniently.

After an exciting yet tiring day, the tasteful Moroccan-style Casablanca Bar at Le Méridien Parkhotel Frankfurt is the perfect place to switch off and unwind. Reflect on the day’s events to the soothing sounds of the piano and soak up the relaxing atmosphere, clearing your mind ready for the days ahead.

Comfort Requires Security

A reliable security system, which remains discreetly in the background, is indispensable for making guests feel at ease in the three-hundred room building. High-performance camera surveillance in sensitive areas creates safety and trust, forming an essential basis for comfortable relaxation.

High Security, Low Investment

After investigating the market in detail, Chief Engineer Zlatko Hizman, who is responsible for building services at Le Méridien Parkhotel Frankfurt, recommended an IP camera system from MOBOTIX to the hotel management. Previously, 21 analogue cameras were in use, yet several factors sealed the fate of this antiquated solution: the high degree of maintenance, low resolution, large memory requirements and complex evaluation of recordings, to name but a few. The time was right for an IP-based alternative, capable of fulfilling future requirements. Not only did this system impress with its technical superiority, but it also demonstrated many cost benefits in terms of procurement and operation.

All-In-One Solution From MOBOTIX Secure Partner ADS Networks GmbH

Being an engineer with practicality in mind, Zlatko Hizman prefers to put his faith in hard facts rather than fancy words. That was certainly one reason for opting for the solution from MOBOTIX Secure Partner ADS Networks GmbH. Key Account Manager Semsettin Özünal and his team swiftly drew up a professional concept that suited the customer’s needs. After developing a plan, they then set up the control room and installed the recording software. With its experienced and knowledgeable staff, ADS proved extremely flexible when it came to keeping the noise of the imminent building works to a minimum. The Bad Homburg based company (www.ads.de), which specialises in complex network solutions, has a broad range of experience which is essential for solving minor and major problems during the installation phase, and ensures that projects are always completed on time.

Well Planned Is Half Built

The starting point for the planning process was determining the camera positions. Using a telescopic pole with a tripod and a mounted camera on it, each camera was positioned exactly where they would be when in operation. The recordings made with these cameras revealed the various strengths and weaknesses of the specific positions. Was sufficient illumination available at all times of the day? Was the angle sufficient for recording the area of surveillance in full? Could a 180° panorama dome camera replace two conventional cameras? Was there a less conspicuous location that offered the same benefits?

Once all these questions from the customer had been answered, a detailed CAD drawing was created as the basis for laying the cabling. This naturally also pinpointed the locations of the storage computer, monitors and the emergency power supply.

Clear View Thanks To Detailed Images

After the complete installation with 29 indoor cameras and 6 external cameras was put into operation, the verdict of all the users was unanimous: "We have never seen such clear pictures on the surveillance monitors here at Le Méridien Parkhotel Frankfurt!" The reason for this of course are the various excellent features of the MOBOTIX cameras: megapixel resolution, extreme backlight resistance and a fast frame rate. The cameras are inconspicuously installed and perform their work without any flashing LEDs. In just a short time, the clear 24-hour view of the hotel’s key areas already produced desired outcome for administration, documentation and security. For the management team of Le Méridien Parkhotel Frankfurt, the MOBOTIX system solution has become an important tool to increase transparency.

The porter is especially pleased about the cameras for monitoring access to the parking area and the underground car park. To the great amazement of suppliers, tradesmen and staff, he often opens the barrier to familiar faces before they have even pressed the intercom button. The image clarity delivered by the cameras and their ability to adapt to the constantly changing lighting conditions are what make this possible.

Significant Cost Savings

A special feature of MOBOTIX cameras is their low power consumption of just 3 watts. Thanks to the extremely wide operating temperature range of -30°C to + 60°C, there is no need for the camera case to be heated, cooled or ventilated, even in difficult environmental conditions. Given that up to 12 conventional cameras are required to record the same variety of detail as one MOBOTIX IP camera, the potential for making savings becomes even more obvious. Last but not least, the power feed via the Ethernet cable (PoE: Power over Ethernet) for up to 20 cameras from one network power rack provides significantly more performance than using individual power supplies. Compared with conventional solutions offering a comparable resolution, a system such as the one used at Le Méridien Parkhotel Frankfurt delivers savings of several thousand euros over its lifetime. It also makes an important contribution towards the environment!

Software Included

MOBOTIX provides its camera users with a free sophisticated software package for professional video and alarm management with MxControlCenter.  Up to 30 camera images in CIF format can be displayed simultaneously on a 1920x1200 pixel screen at an image rate of 30 Hz simultaneously. An integrated layout editor allows the user to adjust the settings to their individual display preferences. Camera symbols, for example, can be inserted into a building plan, which significantly increases ease of orientation.

Reliable And Future Compatible

"The network-based video surveillance and recording solution from MOBOTIX is much more user friendly and offers significantly better live and stored image quality than conventional analogue alternatives. We also expect a significantly higher degree of reliability and therefore lower maintenance costs. The fact that the software in the cameras and  MxControlCenter can be updated free of charge at any time also ensures the value of our investment in the future. These are convincing reasons for installing the concept used in Le Méridien Parkhotel Frankfurt in other buildings of our hotel group as well", explained Chief Engineer Zlatko Hizman, summarizing his thoughts.