DALLMEIER Dallmeier electronic
Panomera® cameras differ in essential product features from traditional PTZ cameras and offer a 360° view with simulataneous recording of the overall image.
as there are three different types of 360° video cameras. The classic fisheye camera – we can leave this one out for this consideration due to the distorted low-res image – the so-called panoramic cameras with or without an additional PTZ unit and finally true 360° cameras which ensure a complete 360° coverage, such as the Panomera W8 systems by Dallmeier.
360° often is not really 360°
The essential difference between the latter two systems lies in the way the overall optical context is mapped. Due to their design, panoramic cameras – with or without additional PTZ – always have a blind spot below the camera, which is why they are not suitable for the truly gapless coverage required in casino operation. Also, if casino surveillance managers are looking to replace existing PTZ-based setups with 360° cameras, 4K resolution of the sensors and a sufficient number of them is a must to create a high-resolution overall image for forensic evaluation. Most panoramic 360° cameras only offer a resolution of 2K, which only allows sufficient image quality in a very small area.
How the “eighth sensor” makes all the difference
Even in any of the 360° plus PTZ setups, only one event can be traced, there’s no recording of the overall scene in high-res, moving parts or analytics. In the true 360° – systems however, up to seven sensors are arranged in a circle, and an eighth sensor captures the blind spot below the camera. From these eight images, the software then stitches a complete image of the half-sphere around the camera location that has been captured without gaps. Within this overview image, multiple operators can open any number of detail areas with a mouse- click and zoom in and move around in these areas as if it was a PTZ cam.
Unlimited Virtual PTZs
Based on this unique capability, a truly high-function 360-degree video system now has two main advantages. Firstly, success rate and efficiency in incident management increase significantly. The combination of an overall view of
54 OCTOBER 2022
much larger spatial contexts and the pulling up of any number of virtual PTZ windows on the screen by, again theoretically, any number of operators (multi-user capability) significantly improves control and situational awareness in the casino. Casino operators who use such systems report that they regularly reduce the time needed from the detection of an incident to the resolution – e.g., by catching an offender – by a factor of up to 10 or more.
Lower overall cost
The overall costs for monitoring the gaming floor are reduced. Although the costs per camera are significantly higher than a PTZ system, far fewer cameras need to be installed. The resulting savings in installation, infrastructure, and maintenance as well as in operation itself – significantly fewer operators are needed – outweigh the additional costs for the cameras themselves.
Keep your tables up and running
One of the most important missions of surveillance in the casino is to ensure smooth gaming operations. This primarily involves three things; meeting regulatory requirements and the occupational safety requirements that have recently changed for many casinos, reacting quickly to changes in gaming floor layouts, and minimising disruption during installation and adjustment of the video cameras. The combination of the aforementioned latest-generation 360-degree cameras with single-sensor cameras significantly reduces the total number of systems required. Modern techniques for remote adjustment and adaptation further reduce downtimes and improve work safety and efficiency. If the surveillance manager in the casino is aware of the possibilities of modern video technology, this opens up many opportunities for cross-departmental synergies that contribute to efficient casino operations. Examples include the optimisation of food & beverage and hotel operations through supporting video analytics and real-time visual information about particularly large crowds, cost reduction for IT through a smaller number of systems and, most importantly, higher customer satisfaction through better service, safety, and security.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
