Axis Communications, Chelmsford, Mass., announced that four HDTV-quality AXIS Q6035-E PTZ Dome Network Cameras were used to monitor race day activities at the Athletes’ Village and finish line for the 116th running of the Boston Marathon on April 16. Needham, Mass.-based LARiiON Integrated Solutions will be installing the IP video system and condensing more than 12 hours of Marathon activity into a few short minutes of video with specially designed time lapse software.

The Athletes’ Village, located at Hopkinton High School, is where the 26,000-plus registered runners met to relax and stretch before the Boston Marathon. The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) and its sponsors provided pre-race entertainment, light refreshments, liquids and shelter at the Village before directing the runners to the starting line in assigned waves to ensure the Marathon began efficiently and in an orderly fashion. Two AXIS Q6035-E Network Cameras streamed live video to the command center trailer to help race organizers monitor operations and assign volunteers and resources where necessary.

Two additional pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) cameras mounted near the finish line simultaneously covered multiple blocks-worth of activity, including runner flow from the finish line to the medical tents, operations at the medal reception and refreshment zones, as well as volunteer staffing levels and foot traffic at the race souvenir and Mylar blanket areas. 

LARiiON’s time lapse software was used to create a compelling race day video for runners and fans, as well as give race organizers insight into hours’ worth of activity recapped in a few minutes to help identify operational efficiencies that can be used for next year’s Marathon and other races, Axis said. Additionally, live view from the AXIS Q6035-E Network Cameras provided the B.A.A. with real time video feedback for the first time.

The outdoor-ready AXIS Q6035-E PTZ Dome Network Camera is Axis’ highest quality PTZ camera with 1080p HDTV performance and 20x optical zoom (see video). The IP camera, which is typically used for the most demanding surveillance applications, features true day/night functionality, multistream H.264 and Motion JPEG compressions, High Power over Ethernet connection and intelligent video features like Active Gatekeeper, tour recording and motion and audio detection. AXIS Q60-E Series can operate in temperatures from 122-deg. down to -40-deg F thanks to Arctic Temperature Control, and high-quality performance enables 1080p video at 30 frames per second and 720p up to 60 frames per second.