Axis Communications offers full-featured thermal network cameras for surveillance

21 January 2010

Thermal network cameras create images based on the heat that always radiates from any object, vehicle or person. This gives thermal cameras the power to see through complete darkness and deliver images that allow operators to detect and act on suspicious activity. Thermal cameras can also handle many difficult weather conditions better than conventional cameras, e.g. allowing operators to see through haze, dust, and smoke.

Axis Communications is the first company on the market to offer customers full-featured thermal network cameras for surveillance. The new network cameras use thermal imaging, which allows users to detect people and incidents with great reliability even in complete darkness and other difficult conditions.

Up until now, there have been no such cameras available on the market, and existing analogue thermal cameras have typically been designed for high-end installations and are associated with a high price and a large degree of customisation.

“This launch provides our customers with cost-efficient, easy-to-install thermal network cameras for professional installations and will promote safety and security in critical areas such as public places, industries, railways, ports and roads. We see a great potential for these new cameras and we are proud to be able to broaden our portfolio and thereby contribute to strengthening our customers’ security systems”, says Ray Mauritsson, President, Axis Communications.

“We see a great demand from customers in high-end professional applications to enhance their IP-Surveillance systems with thermal cameras,” says Johan Paulsson, Chief Technology Officer, Axis Communications. “Up until now, there have been no full-featured thermal network cameras available on the market, and analogue thermal cameras have proven a challenge to integrate with modern video surveillance systems. AXISQ1910 and Q1910-E change this by being the industry’s first thermal cameras that mesh perfectly with any network video system, delivering all the benefits that customers have learned to expect from network cameras.”

AXIS Q1910 is designed for indoor surveillance, while AXIS Q1910-E is an IP66-rated, outdoor-ready camera. “AXIS Q1910/-E Thermal Network Cameras are an excellent complement to conventional cameras within area protection, perimeter monitoring and building security. Another typical scenario is monitoring of freeways and railways – including platforms, bridges and tunnels,” says Johan Paulsson.

Both cameras offer competitive thermal imaging capabilities such as 160 x128 resolution, 8.33 fps and 17° angle of view. In addition, they are unique on the market in supporting key IP-Surveillance features such as H.264 and Motion JPEG, audio, local storage and Power over Ethernet. Intelligent video is a key component of any thermal camera, and AXIS Q1910/-E provide tampering alarm, motion detection, and support for AXIS Camera Application Platform.

AXIS Q1910/-E Thermal Network Cameras are supported by the industry’s largest base of video management software through the Axis Application Development Partner program as well as AXIS Camera Station. They also support the ONVIF specification for interoperability of network video products.

“The thermal network cameras’ features, combined with the usual benefits of Axis’ network cameras such as intelligent video capabilities, ease of installation, and integration with all leading video management systems, will help keep our customers’ security installations one step ahead”, says Ray Mauritsson.

With Axis’ distribution network, consisting of more than 27,000 partners worldwide, thermal cameras will now be accessible to whole new groups of users. Axis thermal network cameras mesh perfectly with any network video system and can be used in many surveillance systems in a broad range of customers segments such as government, transportation, city surveillance and education.