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Transport surveillance

March Networks secures transport projects.

The Basix Group has been awarded several major transportation infrastructure projects in the country, which have been equipped with March Networks surveillance systems to help create a safe and secure environment.

Johannesburg’s new Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system will consist of more than 300 kilometres of dedicated bus lanes and 150 bus stations. The first phase of the system included 48 stations covering a distance of 40 kilometres. The second phase will cover an additional 86 kilometres and include 102 stations.

March Networks’ VideoSphere fixed and PTZ IP cameras, recorders and software are being installed at every station by Bona Electric Solutions, a Basix Group company that is a March Networks Certified Solution Provider. The cameras will be linked to March Networks NVRs located at the Joint Command and Control Centre (JCC) operated by the Johannesburg Roads Agency via a high-speed fibre-optic network.

Joint control

The purpose of this Joint Command and Control Centre (JCC), another contract won by a subsidiary of the Basix Group, is for the operation, management and security for ITS Intelligent Transport Solutions (ITS) and for Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to view all CCTV cameras and other ITS related equipment installed.

The new Traffic Management Centre’s (TMC) large display video wall together with the associated management systems was also supplied by Bona Electronic Solutions. The TMC accommodates the control centres for the Freeway Management System (FMS), future Arterial Management System (AMS), existing Area Traffic Control system (ATC), future Ikapa bus rapid transit system (IRT), existing Metro Transport Information (MTI) call centre as well as the Metro Police Strategic Surveillance Unit (SSU). This display video wall consists of (80) 46-inch narrow bezel TFT-LCD-based display modules. Management of the various inputs is made possible with the use of the EYECON software and hardware components; a graphic controller (Netpix) and an operating controller (ECS). The images can be displayed in any size to give a comprehensive survey of scenarios to all operators in the control room (single point of view). In addition to this, the eyevis eStreamer DVR units have been deployed at the TMC to allow any digital source to be displayed in any configuration, on any screen or multiple of screens as desired. The eStreamer allows three separate government agencies to share any data, but at all times retain full network integrity.

A total of 80 46-inch narrow bezel TFT-LCD-based display modules have been deployed at various locations throughout the TMC. Management of the various inputs is made possible with the use of the EYECON software and hardware components; a graphic controller (Netpix) and an operating controller (ECS). The images can be displayed in any size to give a comprehensive survey of scenarios to all operators in the control room (single point of view).

In addition to this, eyevis eStreamer DVI units have been deployed at the TMC to allow any digital source to be displayed in any configuration, on any screen or multiple of screens as desired. The eStreamer allows three separate government agencies to share any data, but at all times retain full network integrity.

Station surveillance

The Basix Group also won the contract to supply fixed video recording systems for South Africa’s 80-kilometer, twin-tracked Gautrain Rapid Rail Link, another major transportation infrastructure project. One line connects OR Tambo International Airport with Sandton, Johannesburg’s financial and business centre, and another links Johannesburg with the country’s capital, Tshwane, formerly Pretoria. Travelling at speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour, the Gautrain will take 40 minutes to make the 54-kilometre trip between the two cities.

The fixed Gautrain video surveillance system covers 10 stations and one rail depot for a total of more than 1000 analogue cameras connected to March Networks VideoSphere Edge encoders and networked recorders.

Coincidentally, the Bombardier Transportation high-speed trains running on the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link will be equipped with an onboard SEKURFLO security solution jointly designed and developed by Bombardier and March Networks.

Road surveillance

Bona Electronic Solutions is also using March Networks recorders for Intelligent Transportation Systems that monitor traffic on major highways serving Johannesburg and several other cities in South Africa. The systems include analogue and IP cameras, March Networks’ VideoSphere Edge encoders and 32-channel networked recorders linked to a monitoring centre operated by the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL).

“In all cases, March Networks technology was our first choice,” says Groenewald. “Quality, reliability, and value for money were key considerations. Another important factor was the option to take advantage of March Networks’ video analytics in the bus and rail station environments sometime in the future.”

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