Re-opened project for interest in a more powerful machine to support the streaming demand that is overloading periodically.

The stream from the 4 cameras went live at 11:15 am on 3/4/24. They are visible via the following links;

YouTube direct link

https://www.youtube.com/live/izYFKdw9qc4?si=gVjVR-q4AtEq-msO

NJDEP’s YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@NewJerseyDEP/streams

 Park page:

NJDEP | Barnegat Lighthouse State Park | New Jersey State Park Service

The cameras will be highlighted in a communications campaign called 52 Weeks of Adventure.

Ben shared the stream to Youtube today, and it was not working. The reason is not known even while it worked last week. Next steps before launch:

Troubleshoot the current video being down. This can be an exercise in figuring out the documented path to future troubleshooting steps, and associated roles & expectations.

Knute to draft an uptime and return to service expectations along with roles and language, contacts etc. to be posted along with access to the stream. This should include steps for onsite and remote troubleshooting.

Also there is a reflection issue for the indoor cameras at certain times shooting through the glass of the lighthouse. A decision is needed as to whether to note the issues or make more effort to resolve it, such as moving closer to the glass. Ben to ask Dave to engage on moving the camera, which may also happen via the maintenance staff. Office of resource development (a Parks unit) oversaw the original mounting of the cameras by the vendor who may need to be engaged in the event warranty issues are impacted. Ben to dig into this question and get the camera moved as an effort to reduce reflection.

Finally, the server currently in use in the top of the lighthouse is subjected to temp swings that it is not built for. Dave L. has to be involved to run cabling down to the base, which does not overheat the same as the top.

7/12/23 site visit with Dave Leitinger and Jim Dunn to Lighthouse to configure RTSP stream in OBS Studio. Was not able to successfully configure the RTSP stream as a source in OBS Studio. We referenced several information sources including official Avigilon Knowledge base info online without success. We may need to contact Avigilon techs directly to request assistance. Need to look into more the issue of the internal / external networks on the Avigilon VMA-AS3-8P (server).

Update from recent work on this completed by Dave Leitinger, Jim Dunn and Ben Trotter.

Completed tasks:

 The internet connection to provide connectivity to send the stream out is completed.  Note this took a while as it required configuring the network in a way to segment the Friends group camera equipment from the State network and lighthouse cameras.  This was done as a network security measure.

• Installation of Open Broadcaster Software (OBS Studio) on the client PC in the interpretive center.  This client PC is what will be sending the stream to YouTube.

• Arrangement to use YouTube Live.  I’ve reached out to Rich Hyjack and he has given me access to the DEP’s YouTube channel.  We have drafted a Live Stream called, “Barnegat Lighthouse State Park Webcams”  This will provide a “stream key” that will be used in OBS Studio to send the stream to YouTube.  This method works well as makes the video stream “outbound” network traffic to further mitigate network security issues.

To be completed / outstanding issues:

• OBS on the client PC

  • Configured cameras as the source via Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP).  This needs to be done at the client PC.

  • Set OBS to auto reconnect to YouTube live upon a connection / restart / power disruption.

• Webpage / camera layout

  • We’ll need to decide on how the video will be depicted on the Parks website.  Will it be all 4 cameras in a box or each one individually as the North, East, South and West cameras in their own stream?  Would we do just one “box” with the 4 cameras cycling every 10 seconds or so?

  • Concern over the bandwidth and client PC hardware ability to push 4 separate streams simultaneously, may need to reduce # of cameras or get higher tier internet service.  This will have to be tested prior to going live on YouTube

  • YouTube live stream

    • We need a picture as a thumbnail for the Livestream icon.

• Move Network Video Recorder (NVR / server) from top of lighthouse to the base (Not critical to getting streaming going but important)

  • The main camera server hardware was installed by the contractor at the top of the lighthouse.  It works but upon review of the environmental specifications for the equipment there is concern that it may get too hot or cold at the top and lead to hardware failure. 

  • Plans are being set to move the server to the base.  This will require installing 4 network cables (for each camera) down to the base of the lighthouse.  This work can be done by Dave Leitinger, myself and Jim Dunn.

Diane Gormley of Barnegat Lighthouse reaches out about status of streaming video of the lighthouse cameras. A Coast Guard rep. and the Friends Group has expressed interest in access to the stream. It is only available via the monitor in the interpretive center at the park.

Below are what I see as issues to resolve.

 Network segmentation settings still need to be done.

• Physical move of server from top of lighthouse to the bottom

• Configure server for remote access.  Likely can follow the methods here, How to Live Stream Your IP & HD-TVI Security Cameras with OBS! (Three Methods) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzF4ojntQEc   

• Develop a webpage for hosting the camera field

  • Can we ask Rich Hyjack to wok with the SPF&HS communications staff to get this ready.  This way it can be ready to accept the code for the video stream.

 I have recently spoken to Dave Leitinger and heoffered to reach out to Len LaRosa LaRosa603@comcast.net cell is 609-529-1850 about the Coast Guard interest.

Just need to make time to be on site to address these issues. I will engage Rich Hyjack and SPF&HS Communications about drafting the website for the streaming video so it’s ready once the remote access has been completed.

Refreshed with Ben today the benefits to clarifying what will be the future path to support/failure response, whether in-house or via contract. There is added value in running those conditions by 3rd party interests like Coast Guard or OHS and to suggest we might do better if they wanted to get involved in some funding or support. With this sharing we can at least manage expectations.

2/10/23 Conf call with contractor for camera system with Dave Leitinger on site to perform settings on client PC to address slow pixelated streaming video issues. Settings were not available / able to be found. Decide to schedule the contractor to come on site to do fix or end up replacing client PC hardware as solution.

1/27/23 Site visit with contractor resulted in having the camera system connected via the network cable run down the lighthouse to a POE switch then thru conduit between the lighthouse base admin office. The hardline connection did not fully resolve the image issue on the monitor in the interpretive center. It was determined that there appears to be an issue with the client PC in the interpretive center closet. The contractor will be working on troubleshooting the client PC. A Remote Desktop connection was established as a workaround to show the camera views on the interpretive center monitor however that is not the optimal way depict the streams.

Once the streaming video issues are addressed and made acceptable, network settings on the state router will be done to properly put the camera system on the network and prepare for streaming video to be accessible for use on state websites / social media.

Additional site visits are to be planned.

1/13/23 Site visit with Peter Tenebruso and Dave Leitinger. We were able observe the video performance of the cameras which were laggy (hardly moving) and pixelated. We were able to login to the Avigilon Control Center (ACC7) and make some adjustments that made the image clearer but there was still significant lag. We learned that there is a second run of unused network cable that was installed by the Friend’s group that we can use as a hardline for the lighthouse cameras. We would need to complete a hardline connection between the lighthouse base to the admin building.

A site visit by the installer is scheduled for Friday 1/27/23. The installer will be returning to work on “tuning” the wifi connection to meet the work spec of a clear live video stream.

While work is being done to correct the video stream, it is asked that DoIT look into the best way to make the video stream available on the DEP / State Park Service website as well as accessible by entities like the US Coast Guard.

How to Live Stream Your IP & HD-TVI Security Cameras with OBS! (Three Methods)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzF4ojntQEc

The Project Planning Sheet has been submitted to DoIT on 12/22/22

Meeting 12/1 LaPolla, Trotter, Hyjack, Tenebruso, Leitinger and Jensen.

Need rundown on current system (Installed by friends of the lighthouse?) - what is in place, can it produce a streaming output? Need additional hardware in between cams and web?

Ben - recently completed restoration included a new IP camera system and TV meant for the visitor center. 4 cameras already linked to the feed in office. Comcast cable service to the office on cradle-point router, possibly on cellular. Parks controls the cams and feed to TV. How to get it out to the web is unclear. Ben has a contact with the contractor who installed the equipment.

Rich: Is this as simple as Youtube LiveStream?

Ben: Believes Cecil has seen and likes the feed to the office. It is using point to point wireless connection (we think).

Dave: No connectivity to the lighthouse- even fire alarms are down due to copper degraded. What is working is poor performance (as of last week).

New conduit run between lighthouse and office - meant to support new cable and to replace what must be a wireless connection now (? ).

Next step: Ben to clarify the project scope in an IT project sheet- What is the full problem or problems to solved. Does it include further needs for the site connected to the running of conduit? What are the elements of that which are connected to this. Who will own the full camera system and be responsible for ongoing upkeep and support to maintain a signal?

Dave is working with Mario at the site to set up the conduit to the lighthouse itself for all ethernet electronic/digital services (Phones and computing). The friends have interest in this to support new added security cameras at the base and possibly at the top - not to be streamed.

Rich: For the web stream- Ultimately we could employ YouTube live (as used elsewhere) and add the feed to any DEP website.

I spoke to Pete T. today about this project. Will be working with Knute J. to setup a meeting with Rich Hyjack, Dave Leitinger, Pete T. and others from DoIT to figure out next steps to accomplish getting the camera feed to the Parks / DEP website.

Info on contractor contact:

Contact for Check Electric is

Maddie her number is 1-732-850-8504

 Check Electric is the sub-contractor that installed the cameras and associated devices.

Jeffery Adams of ORD confirms that cameras are working.

Send email to Peter Tenebruso on 11/17/22 regarding ask by AC Cecil to continue to pursue getting a video feed from the lighthouse onto the Parks website. Plan to include Dave Leitinger and Rich Hyjack as well as do a site visit to assess the new equipment. I have reached out to Jeffery Adams of the Office of Resource Development who was part of the restoration project there asking for info about a contact regarding access to the camera equipment there.

Now that construction at the lighthouse has completed, connectivity of the cameras for streaming to the park website can be looked into further. Need to schedule a site visit with Dave Leitinger.

From: Trotter, Ben [DEP] <Ben.Trotter@dep.nj.gov>
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2022 2:24 PM
To: Cecil, John [DEP] <John.Cecil@dep.nj.gov>; Madden, Robin [DEP] <Robin.Madden@dep.nj.gov>
Subject: RE: Barnegat Lighthouse (Cameras)

John,

I’ve gotten updates on the cameras (4) at the lighthouse.  Ed Mulvan put me in touch with Jeffrey Adams of ORD.  Jeffrey sent the spec sheets of the equipment that is being installed.  It looked good and checked off some major concerns like equipment being compliant with the National Defense Authorization Act.  The connection between the cameras down to the visitor center will be via Point to Point antennas which is good.

Keep in mind this new camera equipment will provide a video feed to the visitor center as a way for those with mobility issues to get a view of what it’s like at the top.  Getting that video feed out to a DEP Parks pages or other website is another issue we’ll need DoIT’s help with. 

My understanding from Jeffrey is that the overall project is ~90% complete.  Let me know if you need anything else.

Ben