Australia Square CCTV Installation Project 2021.

We all know nothing lasts forever, the old wears out and fades into obsolescence, only to be replaced by superior technology. This reality holds true for all things, not the least of which are the aging analogue CCTV systems charged with protecting many of our highest profile commercial buildings.
The CCTV system at the iconic Australia Square building in the heart of Sydney’s CBD district was no exception. Riddled with low resolution analogue cameras that had progressively degraded over time, the building was no longer up to the task of effectively monitoring the movements of the thousands of tenants and visitors that flood through its lobby, extensive food court and external courtyard areas daily.
Micron Group were approached by DEXUS building management to bring the building back to the present with a cutting-edge IP-based Genetec CCTV system boasting 83 technology-packed, high-resolution Axis Cameras, and a new multi-screen security control room layout designed to ensure no incident goes undetected.

Project Delivery and IP Network Configuration
Spanning three stages, the project saw existing cameras upgraded and many new cameras installed to eliminate critical blind spots across the building.
To kick off the project, the four-man dedicated team of Micron technicians were tasked with installing additional communication racks housing UPS-backed Cisco Security Gigabit Network switches within the L19 and L35 plant rooms, loading dock and adjacent building “Plaza” MDF room, all connected by high through-put Fibre Optic cable.
Thousands of meters of Siemon Cat6A structured cabling was installed from each rack to existing analogue field cameras, followed by the decommissioning and replacement of each analogue camera with new High Definition Axis IP cameras. This cabling was installed using a mix of cable trays and PVC conduit through ceiling cavities, depending on location.

The unique cylindrical layout of the building presented some serious challenges. Top of the list was installing cabling for additional cameras to cover blind spots in the ground floor main foyer and perimeter locations. The cylindrical arrangement of the main lobby also informed the choice of Axis ultrawide angle cameras to provide effective coverage.
Four cameras were installed on the roof, providing security with top-to bottom oversight for the first time in the building’s history, with an additional two cameras installed in the fire stairs to give eyes on the entrances to the L19 and L35 plant rooms.

Australia Square’s adjacent low rise Plaza building, situated on the east side of the courtyard, presents a number of critical issues impacting overall security. Multiple blackspots around building structural columns and three accessible external fire stairs provided ample opportunity for homeless, intoxicated or amorous people to hide from view.

Axis and Wisenet Specialized Cameras
Targeting these areas, Micron Group engineers opted to install six cameras, the Axis (P3717-PLE) multi-lens unit providing crystal clear visibility in four directions at once.
The heart and brain of the system is the top-tier Genetec Security Centre surveillance software, built upon a Genetec Directory Server with two archivers in RAID configuration providing 120TB of total storage capacity. To maximise storage space each camera was programmed to record at a lower frame rate until motion is detected.
With all but a handful of external and back-of-house cameras to install during stage three, Micron technicians set about overhauling the security control room in earnest.

Two existing small screens were removed from wall and four 45” 4K LED screens driven by two new PC workstations servers were mounted, giving an optimum overview of the customizable camera layout matrixes. The end result was a stunning improvement over the former system and earned the immediate praise of management and the on-site security personnel.
Addition of a new concierge workstation with dual monitors and a second remote terminal within the dock masters office enables further collaborative monitoring across the security team.

More to Come
The Australia Square CCTV system continues to grow and evolve. By the end of 2021 additional cameras in a few external locations, as well as new cameras for the lifts will expand the capabilities of the system even further.
Australia Square has been lifted out of the foggy blur of analogue history and propelled into the hi-resolution digital age.
Micron Group are proud to have delivered a powerful, expansive and easy to operate CCTV system that has made a massive improvement in the monitoring and security of this premium commercial asset.
To explore what Micron Group can do for your building, get in touch with us today. 02 9221 6155

Project details