The Customer

This large teaching hospital known for its forward-thinking approach to medicine and healthcare part of the National Health Service (NHS) Trust in Northeast of UK.

Over the past decade, the hospital has made significant advancements in its security infrastructure, transitioning from analog CCTV systems to a fully IP-based setup. As part of this transformation, the hospital recently installed 25 i-PRO X-Series AI cameras, which are integrated with Milestone Systems' Video Management Software (VMS). The hospital's goal was to enhance the security of its large campus using the latest AI-enabled camera technology while optimizing operations.

The main challenge the hospital faced was upgrading portions of its existing security system with state-of-the-art, AI-enabled cameras without exceeding strict public sector budget constraints and with minimal disruption to the daily operations in a busy hospital. Additionally, with a vast campus and numerous security vulnerabilities, the hospital required a solution that could extend the capabilities of existing non-AI cameras while providing enhanced monitoring capabilities.

"The primary challenge was upgrading the system within budget limitations while maintaining a high level of security and operational efficiency," said Chris Lakin, Director at Oracle Vision, the system integrator overseeing the project. "This client wanted a solution that could integrate with their current infrastructure, provide advanced AI capabilities to better protect hospital patients, staff, and assets while being adaptable for future needs."

After a detailed assessment, the hospital decided to install i-PRO X-Series AI cameras, which are a premium and innovative solution that delivers exceptional value while seamlessly integrating with Milestone’s XProtect VMS platform. Importantly, these AI cameras enabled local hospital to add AI functionality to their existing, non-AI cameras—an innovation that allowed them to maximize the potential of their current equipment without needing to replace all cameras.

The X-Series AI cameras are equipped with the AI Processing Relay feature, which allows non-AI cameras, including those from other manufacturers, to gain AI capabilities. Such approach maximizes the life of existing surveillance systems while significantly reducing false alarms. The hospital was able to enhance its surveillance network across 100 cameras by installing 25 i-PRO X-Series cameras and linking them with their existing non-AI models.

"It was a bit of a no-brainer for the hospital. With i-PRO, they didn’t need to replace their entire fleet of cameras. We were able to upgrade their existing system by adding AI capabilities to non-AI cameras, helping them maximize value while staying within budget” Lakin added.

Advanced AI Capabilities

The i-PRO X-Series AI cameras include on-site learning features that allow the hospital’s security team to customize what the cameras can detect and monitor. For example, operators can teach the cameras to recognize specific objects, such as vehicles or individuals, and receive alerts when certain behaviors or activities occur in sensitive areas like emergency entrances.

“The flexibility of i-PRO’s AI Processing Relay app is impressive. It turns any connected camera into an AI-enhanced solution. This system now allows the hospital to achieve a level of security and operational insight that wasn’t previously possible with their older equipment” Lakin noted.

The hospital also benefits from AI-driven analytics, which help security staff manage crowd control, identify suspicious behavior, and even integrate with their Paxton access control system. The cameras are connected to the hospital’s XProtect Smart Wall, where events triggered by AI analytics or access control events, such as a security breach or abnormal behavior, automatically display on screen, allowing staff to respond in real time.

Futureproofing with Advanced AI Features

The i-PRO X-Series cameras utilize Ambarella’s AI SoC (CV52) to provide high-performance edge computing, enabling the hospital to handle complex analytics locally without burdening the network. With the capability to run nine different AI applications, such as i-PRO’s Privacy Guard, which blurs the faces or the entire bodies of patients for privacy, the cameras can allow the hospital to enhance its security while also gathering operational metrics such as tracking the movement of specific equipment or personnel across the campus.

i-PRO’s cameras also feature Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) of up to 144dB, ensuring superior image quality in all lighting conditions. With models offering up to 6MP resolution and IR illumination up to 70 meters, the cameras deliver high-definition video regardless of the environment.

By implementing i-PRO’s X-Series AI cameras, the hospital has been able to enhance its security infrastructure while remaining within tight budgetary constraints. The advanced AI capabilities provide the hospital with real-time alerts and automation features that streamline their security operations. Most notably, the flexibility of i-PRO’s solution allowed the hospital to effectively upgrade 100 cameras with AI features by installing only 25 i-PRO cameras, providing an exceptionally effective premium solution and future-proof investment.