Baltimore Marine Terminal Reduces IP Surveillance Digital Transformation Costs by 30%

Baltimore Marine Terminal Takes an Innovative Approach to Improve Safety and Security for Employees

3-minute read time

Summary

• Baltimore Marine Terminal wanted to modernize its security system with IP cameras to enhance security and operational efficiency.
• Establishing a new network infrastructure to support the new IP devices across such a large area was both cost-prohibitive and logistically complex.
• The project reseller, Dresner Group, recommended the NVT Phybridge PoE extender solutions to eliminate the risk, high costs, and complexities of replacing the existing network infrastructure.
• The NVT Phybridge extenders helped the marine terminal achieve 30% financial savings and minimize operational disruption during implementation by completing the project in three phases over the course of a year, each taking 2-3 weeks.
• The marine terminal maximized its ROI by allocating network infrastructure cost savings towards high-quality Avigilon cameras.

Challenge

Baltimore Marine Terminal, located in the Port of Baltimore, specializes in handling metals, ores, fertilizers, alloys, and other dry bulk, break-bulk, and project cargo. The busy marine terminal faced significant challenges with its outdated camera system. The existing system, with distributed DVRs across 200 acres, was prone to frequent failures due to the harsh industrial environment. The manufacturer of the original system had gone out of business, leaving no easy replacement options and causing frequent loss of recordings and significant system downtime. Having to rip-and-replace network infrastructure including new cabling and all the IDF closet requirements across such a large area was both cost-prohibitive and logistically complex. The marine terminal needed an innovative solution to upgrade their security system without requiring a complete overhaul of the existing network infrastructure.

Solution

Dresner Group, the reseller, recommended the NVT Phybridge extender solutions, as they were familiar with the capabilities of NVT Phybridge solutions and were confident they would help overcome the marine terminal’s IP migration barriers. The reseller decided to implement a phased approach using NVT Phybridge solutions. The project was completed in three phases over a one-year period, with each deployment taking 2-3 weeks. This allowed the marine terminal to continue operations as usual with minimal disruption and significantly reduced costs. The phased approach allowed for continuous monitoring and adjustments, ensuring that each stage was completed successfully before moving on to the next.

NVT Phybridge extender solutions are designed to increase the reach of existing network switches while leveraging any new or existing network infrastructure. The ethernet extender solutions deliver Ethernet and PoE to IP devices over any cable type with up to 6,000ft (1,830m) reach to support IP devices up to 18-times further while eliminating risk, disruption and complexity.

Results

Dresner Group used extender innovations to deploy the new IP cameras, which resulted in a 30% cost reduction by utilizing the existing coax cable runs, rack space, cooling, and other supporting infrastructure. The marine terminal invested the infrastructure cost savings towards high-quality Avigilon IP cameras with advanced analytics instead of spending the budget on infrastructure, resulting in a better return on investment, improved image quality, and enhanced security monitoring across the large marine terminal. The solution’s ability to leverage the existing infrastructure gave Dresner Group a significant advantage over competitors, enabling them to secure the project and enhance its relationship with the customer. There are plans to evaluate and expand the use of NVT Phybridge solutions at other locations within the Baltimore Marine Terminal. “NVT Phybridge enabled us to secure the project and expand further. The customer’s willingness to implement fiber in some areas allowed us to outbid competitors. This also enabled them to retain the high-quality Avigilon cameras, whereas competitors offered cheaper brands. By using NVT Phybridge, the customer could invest in a robust, qualified brand solution with advanced analytics, rather than spending their budget solely on infrastructure and settling for lower-quality equipment,” said Brandon Del Pilar, Physical Security Systems Engineer at Dresner Group.

Together, NVT Phybridge and Dresner Group delivered an innovative solution that significantly improved the customer’s digital transformation outcomes. The marine terminal avoided disruptive and costly network infrastructure changes while creating a secure, robust, and high-performance network backbone for the new IP cameras.

Sustainability

Baltimore Marine Terminal’s decision to leverage NVT Phybridge technology exemplifies its commitment to sustainability. By utilizing the existing infrastructure, the project significantly reduced electronic waste and minimized the environmental impact associated with large-scale projects. This approach not only conserved resources but also contributed to a more sustainable, cost-effective solution. The efficient use of existing resources aligns with modern sustainability practices, demonstrating how innovative technology can support both operational efficiency and environmental responsibility. As the marine terminal continues to expand the use of NVT Phybridge solutions, they set a precedent for sustainable digital transformation in the transportation and logistics industry.