Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix protects invaluable collection with Omnicast

Musical Instrument Museum

Genetec, a provider of world-class IP security solutions, announced on March 3 that the acclaimed Musical Instrument Museum (MIM), of Phoenix, AZ, has installed Omnicast, Genetec’s IP video surveillance system, for the protection and monitoring of its prized collection.

The Omnicast system is currently managing more than 200 Axis Communications and Interlogix IP cameras, plus a few analog PTZ cameras connected via encoders.

MIM is the world’s first global musical instrument museum and has a collection of more than 10,000 musical instruments and artifacts housed in a magnificent award-winning building of over 190,000 square feet.

Several key stakeholders at the museum previously had positive experiences with Genetec products and believed they would be an ideal fit for MIM, said a press prelease issued by Genetec on March 3.

Armed with Genetec’s powerful and flexible Omnicast video surveillance solution, museum staff are able to key-in to specific high-risk pieces and ensure they remain safe. Currently, Omnicast monitors everything from the 190,000-square-foot interior to the exterior of the building and the parking lot, for complete facility coverage.

All main security operations are centralized in MIM’s security command center, a station manned 24-hours a day. However, the Omnicast system also allows for remote monitoring by senior staff.

Omnicast’s intuitive user interface, which required little training despite a staff unaccustomed to security system usage, was a key feature. Jeff Worcester, project manager at Climatec, the integrator involved in the project, said, “Omnicast’s ease of use is a key advantage to the system in any environment. It enables a security team comprised of individuals with any level of experience -- from none to a lifetime on legacy systems -- to quickly and easily learn to navigate the software.”

Additionally, the system’s highly flexible nature -- permitting customization via programming, as well as an array of plug-in and macro options -- was paramount to the success of the installation, says the Genetec release.

While MIM has only been open since April 2010, staff members were able to use the surveillance system to track a potential thief leaving the grounds and getting onto a bus. Later, MIM staff personnel were able to direct law enforcement to the suspect, using the bus identification number.

In another instance, security staff members were able to promptly identify paparazzi outside the building – who were attempting to photograph a visiting celebrity -- and attend to the situation immediately, all without visitor disruption, said the news release.

Justin Karim, the head of security at the museum, noted, “We have been quite pleased with Genetec’s Omnicast Enterprise system. Its flexible nature is particularly well suited to a museum environment, where exhibits move and the security needs are amorphous, changing regularly. The Omnicast system has met our demands, and we are even looking at possibly using the system to inform business decisions -- for example by expanding our system to include Genetec’s AutoVu LPR (license plate recognition) software for counting license plates in the parking lot to keep track of patron numbers.”

“We are excited to have had the opportunity to play an integral role in protecting both this unique collection and its visitors,” said Mark Feider, regional sales manager at Genetec. “It is immensely satisfying to see the system in action and confirm that it is able to seamlessly adapt to such a wide variety of applications as this install required.”