Bahrain Formula One monitored by Vista
Vista, the UK’s biggest selling brand of CCTV equipment, played a significant role in ensuring the success of the Middle East’s first Formula One Grand Prix that was held at the recently completed Bahrain F1 circuit between 2-4 April this year.
The tiny state of Bahrain measures only 48km x 16km with a population of approximately 700,000 of which 175,000 live in the capital city, Manama, near to the location of the Bahrain Racing Circuit at Sakhir. Mindful of the broader security issues involved and with a huge influx of people coming from abroad to attend the event combined with unprecedented local demand for tickets, the Ministry of Interior – Traffic Directorate approached local security specialists, Yusif Bin Yusif Fakhro, to devise an appropriate CCTV system for the event.
The devised solution comprises six Vista PowerDome™ cameras to monitor road traffic and people flow at the various major intersections that approach the circuit. These are connected to a Vista SmartTel unit to facilitate remote viewing via ISDN lines at the traffic control room in Manama 20km away. To optimise image quality and speed of image refresh, images from each camera are viewed on separate LCD monitors.
Anil Kumar, Projects Manager for Yusif Bin Yusif Fakhro describes the project as a complete success:
“The Director of Traffic Control found he was able to control the traffic much more accurately because of the visual aid provided by the cameras. With people coming to the circuit from all over the world the potential for chaos was considerable. The quality of images that were obtained meant that the traffic control was excellent and the monitoring of people attending the event was highly effective.”
The 2004 Grand Prix of Bahrain was the first ever round of the FIA Formula One World Championship to be held in the Middle East. Construction of the circuit began in November 2002.
Vista has featured in two other high profile installations in Bahrain recently. At the National Motor Company’s premier car showrooms in Manama, YBYF has installed a Vista solution comprising 48 Vista vandal resistant dome cameras and three, Triplex™ Columbus Digital Video Recorders (DVR). Images are viewed via the manager’s PCs using the WaveReader™ software that is available on each Columbus DVR. Meanwhile at the prestigious Blue Elephant restaurant group, part of the Ritz Carlton group, YBYF has installed a solution based around the Vista Powerdome™ for viewing the restaurant’s Perimeter and Customer Parking. Digital recording of this high resolution camera is also onto a Triplex™ Columbus Digital Video Recorders (DVR).
