Innovative parking enforcement system at clinic chain in Hanover
 
Control center and parking spaces equipped with SiemACCS solution 

In four of its 13 hospitals, Klinikum Region Hannover GmbH is going to run one of the most cutting-edge parking enforcement systems available today. In November 2008, the clinic chain's security service provider, protec Service GmbH, completed the acceptance procedures for the parking management control center and the system installed in the last two of the four hospitals taking part in the project. The technology came from Siemens: The Siemens Industry Sector supplied the barrier systems, Siemens Programm- und Systementwicklung GmbH & Co. KG provided integrated security control center solutions based on its SiemACCS® platform (Siemens Advanced Communication and Control System), while Siemens Enterprise Communications had arranged the project.

It was in 2007 that Klinikum Region Hannover GmbH decided to manage and monitor the parking spaces at their clinics according to the latest state of the art. They entrusted their security service provider protec with managing this project. protec is a company offering a broad range of services in the fields of security, cleaning and facility management for businesses and private customers, public institutions and event organizers – among them large organizations such as Expo 2000, the local public transport authority and AWD Arena Hannover.

For the clinic project, protec opted for a SiemACCS control center solution as had already been installed in Hanover for local transport and police security and traffic management during EXPO 2000. This platform, which was developed by Siemens Programm- und Systementwicklung GmbH & Co. KG, serves as the basis for the SiemACCS CCTV video surveillance module with integrated license-plate detection, which is used to cover not only the clinic entry and exit zones, but also sensitive areas that are difficult to observe, thus helping to prevent theft and vandalism. The video images can be viewed at protec's Kröpcke security control center. The license plates of all vehicles entering or exiting the clinic area are automatically recorded, with a reference image being stored in the system. Among other things, this permits fully automated dispatching of hospital staff, ambulance vehicles or visitors with an appointment. Differences between entry and exit data – as they are likely to occur in cases of theft or ticket swapping – are detected by the system, which will then raise an alarm.

Another solution provided by Siemens Programm- und Systementwicklung GmbH & Co. KG – SIEmergency® ECD – takes care of voice connections and link-up with other systems. This so-called Electronic Call Device has a long history of reliable service in the emergency call boxes installed in Hanover's public transport system. Upon customer request, the network connection is provided via the Internet. This required special DSL broadband routers to be used: with a dynamic DNS function and a sophisticated firewall configuration, the Vigor routers supplied by DrayTek make it possible to provide secure connections between different sites through a public DSL connection.

Key factors for the customer's decision were not only the track record of turn-key integrated systems supplied to health institutions and full control of all security-relevant situations, but also investment protection and the innovative approach to data, voice and video convergence. If more sites are added to the system, it will not be necessary to acquire additional central components – another aspect that influenced the customer's decision. Moreover, it is possible to integrate already existing systems such as barrier controls, parking management and fire detection with SiemACCS, so that in the event of an alarm pre-defined workflows can be triggered via the built-in intelligence.