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Safety in transport

Modern-day society necessitates video surveillance of public transport systems and property.

Today's complex society - modern and diverse, overloaded and fast-paced, continually buffeted by and exposed to fringe elements such as petty and hardened criminals as well as the threat of terrorist attacks - has necessitated video surveillance technology be harnessed to ensure that public transport systems run smoothly and efficiently, and to protect their operators and users.

While video-enabled solutions are far more common in European, North American and some Far East countries, they seldom exist in Africa.

South Africa's private and public transport managers as well as toll road operators, could learn a great deal from existing sites around the globe, says Reditron managing director, John Loftus.

For example, Singapore's population of over four million is squeezed into an island of only 1100 square kilometres and the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) is responsible for ensuring the safety and efficiency of its transportation system. With a network of expressways and thousands of intersections, its mandate is "A smooth and seamless journey for all".

Achieving this goal is accomplished through the use of an intelligent transport system, an integral component of which is a Pelco video system, the backbone of the Expressway Monitoring Advisory System (EMAS).

"Pelco cameras perform to the high standards that have been set by the LTA," says Loftus. "Under the difficult lighting conditions present in this type of application, for example, capturing images of wet roads at night with streetlights reflecting off them, the wide dynamic range, particularly of the Pelco Esprit positioning systems, far surpasses anything the competition can offer."

Products featured in this installation include Esprit Systems with Integrated Optics Package, the System 9760 Video Matrix Switch and Genex Multiplexers. This current system is used as a remote eye to monitor traffic flow and incidents and in essence, saves time and manpower for traffic control needs. The EMAS system provides a great advantage to Singapore motorists, as they receive quick responses to traffic incidents, minimised congestion at peak hours, messages that inform of congested conditions, and overall safety along the motorways.

EMAS work in conjunction with another project called 'J-Eyes', which helps traffic operators remotely identifying traffic congestion, caused by illegal parking or unloading, for example, and reduce its impact at thousands of intersections throughout Singapore.

This system has proved so successful that LTA has opted to install Spectra Domes and fixed camera systems at a new tunnel expressway and over 130 traffic junctions.

"By being able to determine remotely the most appropriate and efficient response to any given situation, the LTA has benefited to the tune of millions of dollars of operating cost reductions. As importantly, Pelco enable EMAS to bring real, tangible benefits to thousands of motorists 24 hours a day, every day," says Loftus.

DSB, Denmark's state rail operator is deploying Verint's Networked Video Solution to enhance passenger security of the Copenhagen railway system.

Verint Systems is a leading provider of analytic software-based solutions for communications interception, networked video security and business intelligence. Verint Networked Video Solutions enable government and commercial organisations to enhance the security of their facilities and infrastructure and the performance of their operations by networking video across multiple locations and applying advanced content analytics to extract actionable intelligence from live and stored video. By alerting security personnel to potential security threats, Verint Networked Video Solutions are designed to help organisations prevent security breaches, improve response time and enhance operational efficiency.

Loftus expands, "DSB transports 700 000 passengers each working day across Copenhagen's rail network. As part of an ongoing strategy to enhance passenger security and improve customer service, it is implementing Verint's Mobile Networked Video Solution in train cars in certain portions of the Copenhagen railway system. The Verint solution will enable onboard rail operations personnel to monitor activities to help prevent crime and create a safe environment for passengers and employees.

"A similar system is also being used by Portugal's City of Porto (Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos do Porto) to enhance security of its public transportation system. It has deployed Verint's Networked Video Solution to enhance passenger security on buses in the metropolitan area of Porto.

"STCP operates 570 buses and transports 222 million passengers annually across Porto, the second largest city in Portugal. As part of an ongoing strategy to enhance passenger and driver security and improve customer service, STCP is implementing Verint's Mobile Networked Video Solution in certain buses in its fleet.

"The Verint solution will enable operations and security personnel to centrally monitor activities to help prevent crime and create a safe environment for passengers and employees," Loftus concludes.

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