Video Surveillance for Public Safety

Alan Gatlin from Leverage Information Systems presented about "The Power (and Drawbacks) of Video at the International Wireless Communications Expo - IWCE 2014. He shared key opportunities and challenges for video surveillance in public safety industry.

Video Surveillance is a Public Safety Force Multiplier - it increases the effectiveness of enforcement organization (e.g. military or police).

Two Key Reduction Objectives for Video Surveillance:

1. Nuisance Crime
2. Violent Crime

Video Surveillance areas:

1. Prevention - inhibiting - criminals avoid cameras
2. Intervention - monitor and respond
3. Suppression - monitor and live communication
4. Apprehension - identification and tracking

Wireless Video Trends:

1. Video Offload from Vehicles - move - medium to high BW
2. Static Video Locations - fixed - medium to high BW
3. Portable Devices - mobile - low to medium BW

Video DUI Enforcement - having a visual record of a person driving a car with license plate verification and being tested for a driving under the influence (DUI) can be used in court. This overcomes the challenge of an officer not seeing the person driving who has tested as above the limits.

Video Monitoring Audio Deterrent - monitoring video in popular crime locations with an audio channel that can announce "police have been dispatched." People rapidly vacate the scene when hearing the announcement.

Video Audio Recording Restrictions - there are some laws that prohibit the recording and distribution of public audio. Regulations vary by state.

Public Video Recording Authorization - In general, video surveillance in public places is permitted. There are some regulations that may restrict the recording of video.

Video Surveillance Consumer Awareness - most people accept that public areas may have video surveillance.

Video Surveillance Revenue Generation - Parking tickets - one cities earns about $2M per year from parking tickets. Automatic license plate readers are located at fixed locations and on vehicles (e.g. police cars).

Facial Recognition with Video Surveillance - limited databases - need good view of face - needs camera with high enough resolution.

Analog Camera Systems - generally lower quality than new digital IP cameras. Can still use. Need to convert analog to digital to allow for video signal capture and distribution.

Digital IP Camera Systems - quality and features can dramatically vary. Recommend using a standard video compression such as H.264.

Video Surveillance Storage Requirements - typically ranges from 30 days to 5 years. Can have enormous storage requirements.

Proprietary Video Surveillance Systems - several video surveillance systems have custom interfaces that require the purchase of equipment from the same vendor. If the vendor does not have the features you need, this can limit or restrict your ability to implement that feature.

Video Latency - video compression can take time and video camera control delays can make video surveillance ineffective. Recommend less than 1 second maximum video latency time.

End to End Throughput - need to verify end to end throughput of wireless video systems and find choke points.

Private Wireless Video Links - better to use private licensed frequencies such as 4.9 GHz to ensure reliable communications.

Power Over Ethernet - POE - distance limitation for video cameras is a few hundred feet.