February 24, 2005
Sentri Cameras Used For Arrests
From NBC5:
At a news conference at the Office of Emergency Management and Communications center, 1411 W. Madison St., OEMC Executive Director Ron Huberman, Harrison Area Deputy Chief of Patrol Charles Williams and Harrison District tactical unit officers displayed how a narcotics exchange caught on camera led to three arrests Feb. 9 at 4422 W. Madison St. The arrested were Evette Sanders, 49, of West Chicago, Ruby Moore, 46, of West Chicago, and Oscar Scott, 42, of Maywood.
The article notes the Sentri cameras use a gunshot detection system, night vision, bulletproof casing, and are connected wirelessly to the OEMC Center.
Here is how the arrests occured:
Information Services Sgt. Gregory Hoffman was monitoring surveillance cameras at the Operations Center when he said he noticed the suspects engaging and soliciting passersby at 4422 W. Madison St. for about 15 minutes. From a camera a block away, Hoffman observed a hand-to-hand transaction being made the morning of Feb. 9, and then contacted Harrison District Tactical Sgt. Michael Stack, Hoffman said at the news conference.
Another transaction was made with a man who jumped back into his car with the drugs in his pocket, and a third was made with a woman who walked away into a vacant lot with her purchase, according to Hoffman.
Stack and his team of plain-clothes officers, who went to the scene from the Harrison District headquarters after being called by Hoffman, made the three arrests without incident within 20 minutes after receiving the call, Stack said. Two of those arrested were a man and a woman dealing at the site, while the third arrest was the woman seen buying drugs, according to Hoffman. He did not know the names of which suspects were selling and which was a buyer. Twelve packets of heroin were recovered from the suspects, according to an OEMC news release.
The article notes the cameras can focus several blocks away allowing officers to see faces, read lips, and even the hair on a hand. This allows them to pinpoint where suspects are carrying drugs on their body.
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Default Passwords Negligent?
In a recent case a school is being sued, because it had cameras in a girls locker room that were accessible via the Internet with their default password. According to the story:
Fredrik Nilsson, Axis's general manager for the United States, points out that Axis cameras are installed with a default password, and it is up to the owners to make the cameras more or less secure.
"Just to give some perspective, we have delivered close to half a million cameras, and a Google search produces only a few hundred of them," Mr. Nilsson said. He acknowledges that default passwords to many camera systems, including those of Axis, are frequently traded over the Internet. Nevertheless, he maintains, Axis cameras are secure against accidental intrusion.
A lawyer for the school acknowledged in court papers that school officials never changed the video server's password from its default setting.
"The real scandal is why these Webcams are insecure," Ms. Newitz of the Electronic Frontier Foundation said. "This is just really, really sloppy. It is one thing for an employer to place employees under surveillance, but to take no effort to keep the Webcam access limited just to the workplace is really reprehensible."
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Public CCTV surveillance schemes do not cut crime, or the fear of crime
From Spyblog:
Public CCTV surveillance schemes do not cut crime, or the fear of crime:
BBC and other media reports about a Home Office study into the effectiveness of CCTV surveillance spy cameras, chaired by Professor Martin Gill of the the University of Leicester, seem to bear out previous studies,which show that public CCTV camera surveillance schemes do not actually cut crime or the fear of crime.
We will link to the actual study if and when we can find it on the labyrinthine Home office website.
Thursday, 24 February, 2005, 14:03 GMT
CCTV systems 'fail to cut crime'
Most CCTV fails to cut crime or make people feel safer, according to a research study.
Experts at the University of Leicester studied 14 systems across the country on behalf of the Home Office. They found only one area saw a drop in the number of incidents which could be attributed to CCTV. Professor Martin Gill, from the university, said: "Overall, areas have encountered real difficulties in using CCTV to good effect."
The study showed the only crime decrease attributable to CCTV focussed on reducing vehicle crime in car parks. Systems covered by the research included those in town centres, city centres, hospitals and residential areas. Professor Gill, from the university's criminology department, said: "For supporters of CCTV these findings are disappointing. "For the most part CCTV did not produce reductions in crime and it did not make people feel safer."
Staffing levels
Researchers said control room operation was an important factor in a CCTV system's ability to detect crime. About half of the control rooms involved were staffed for less than 24 hours a day
Professor Gill said: "The truth is that CCTV is a powerful tool that society is only just beginning to understand. "It looks simple to use, but it is not. It has many components, and they can impact in different ways. "It is more than just a technical solution; it requires human intervention to work to maximum efficiency and the problems it helps deal with are complex."
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Automated License Plate Identification
Forbes has a story on G2 Tactics technology that can scan license plates on cars moving at 60mph. Teh technology designed by Andrew Bucholz is called Grand Larceny Auto Video Detection System (GLAVID). It can read the license plate of passing vehicles and compare it to the National Crime Information Center record of stolen cars.
The cameras sell for 25,000 and so far 17 have been bought, but only 2 to a law enforcement agency. The cameras are instead being used in cities such as New Haven, Conn. to identify people with outstanding parking tickets or personal property taxes. In New Haven, the camera has generated 500,000 in city revenue from overdue parking tickets and motor vehicle taxes.
More details of the camera and its technology for search multiple databases can be found here.
It notes that cameras can be used to search for BAD GUYS on the following lists:
Stolen Autos
Amber Alerts
Felony and Misdemeanor Warrants
Gang Members
Missing Persons
Revoked Driver’s License
First found at Arstechnica
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Cernium
Cernium offers Perceptrak, from their web site:
Perceptrak 3.0 is a complete enterprise system that immediately alerts security personnel to potentially dangerous or suspicious events through real-time behavior recognition and intelligent video analysis of live video. The software is capable of detecting 16 events, including erratic human behaviors, lurching automobiles, left-behind objects and much more. Perceptrak allows one person to monitor dozens or even hundreds of cameras effectively and can provide rapid return on investment through personnel efficiencies and reduced incidents. Perceptrak is the leader in the industry, analyzing and recording 16 cameras on a single PC.
Posted by rshah at 08:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Another Red Light Camera Mistake in Chicago
From Politech, another example of the red light cameras fining the wrong car. In this case, they misread the license plate. Richard Diamond points out that the city had kept the footage of this incident for 5 months and even sent it to a reporter. Link to Sun-Times story.
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February 22, 2005
SmartConnect
Smartconnect provides software for video surveillance of point of sale (POS) terminal data. Through a web based interface, you can view camera footage. The software combines the camera footage with POS data in real time. This allows you to see all the customers that buy tuna salad sandwiches, how long the cash drawer is open, or watch certain employees.
Here is a screenshot:
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February 20, 2005
Vistascape
Mentioned in the March 2005 Wired
Vistascape
At VistaScape Security Systems, video surveillance enters a new dimension. Our SiteIQ™ surveillance solution displays a bird's eye view of your entire physical environment on one screen, enabling you to grasp your security situation as never before. We secure facilities with or without existing perimeter barriers by combining input from multiple cameras with other sophisticated, site-specific sensor data. Then we apply your customized security policies in real-time, pinpointing potential security violations before they occur. Unlike traditional surveillance systems that depend heavily on the judgment of security personnel, our automated alerts enable guards to respond more quickly than ever.
Posted by rshah at 06:04 PM | Comments (0)
February 19, 2005
Cameras in Cicero
Cicero is planning to install surveillance cameras that can stream video to squad cars.
From the trib:
Town officials listened this week to representatives of one company that has installed surveillance systems in Calumet City and Country Club Hills. The firm, South Holland-based Public Safety Communications Inc., also is in the process of installing a system in Cook County as part of its Homeland Security initiative.
One feature of the pole-mounted, wireless cameras is their portability, enabling authorities to deploy them in different areas, said company president Clarence Brownlow. The cameras can detect chemicals and have "shot spotter" sensors that zoom in on areas where gunshots are heard, Brownlow said
Cicero is looking to install the first camera in the next two months, and to eventually have three to five cameras, said Duque. He estimated the cost at $50,000 per camera, and said the town will seek federal funding to defray the expense.
Posted by rshah at 09:20 PM | Comments (0)
February 15, 2005
PL E-Communications Smart Software
Smart Software Gives Surveillance Eyes a ‘Brain’ (Feb 2004)
Randal Nelson at the University of Rochester is working on software for cameras that looks for things. While the software can:
Though a six-month-old baby can distinguish different objects from different angles, getting a computer to do it is a Herculean task of processing, and more complicated still is identifying a simple object in a complicated natural setting like a room bustling with activity.
Unlike the baby, the software needs to be told a lot about an object before it’s able to discern it. Depending on how complex an object is, the software may need anywhere from one to 100 photos of the object from different angles. Something very simple, like a piece of paper, can be “grasped” by the program with a single picture; a soda can may take half a dozen, while a complex object like an ornate lamp may need many photographs taken from different angles to capture all its facets. With those images in mind, the software matches the new object it sees with its database of object to determine what the new object is.
This technology has been licensed to PL E-Communications, LLC., which has plans to develop the technology to control video cameras for security applications. For instance, CEO Paul Simpson is looking into using linked cameras covering a wide area to exchange information about certain objects, be they suspicious packages in an airport or a suspicious truck driving through a city under military control. Even unmanned aerial reconnaissance drones like the Predator that made headlines during the current Iraqi war can use the technology to keep an eye on an area for days at a time, noting when and where objects move.
Posted by rshah at 10:29 PM | Comments (0)
Markland Acquires Genex Technologies
There is an announcement of the acquisition for Genex.
According the press release:
Founded in 1995, Genex has an established history in video surveillance sensor science. Its Surveillance Group provides innovative sensor and algorithm solutions that are small, tactical, low power and low cost solutions. Its surveillance technologies combine powerful algorithms, such as object tracking and image enhancement, with revolutionary wide-area, 360-degree sensors. These solutions operate in visible, near-infrared, infrared, and acoustic wavelengths. Within its biometrics technologies the 3D Facial Recognition Group develops tools for enhancing facial recognition. By leveraging the power of 3D, Genex enables existing recognition systems to perform reliably while advancing progress towards total 3D systems. The company's tools allow for seamless integration of capabilities, such as 2D-to-3D face conversion and compensation for pose, lighting, expression, aging, and weight. Management believes that Genex expertise has particular impact within the DOD and Homeland Security market place.
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February 14, 2005
Network Camera Paradox
A survey of security managers, systems integrators and service providers at the TechSec Solutions conference found that 92% of respondents say they're already -- or soon will be -- acquiring Internet Protocol (IP)-ready devices, appliances and system components. But, 74% of respondents say information safety on the Web, coupled with a lack of expertise in integrating physical security systems with the enterprise network, are the two highest barriers to putting critical physical security functions onto the Internet.
So while video surveillance cameras, are now Internet-ready, it may be the case that information and network security aren't adequate to protect sensitive security-related information on the corporate IP network. Link
Posted by rshah at 10:32 PM | Comments (0)
City calls camera mistake 'very much a unique situation'
A story in the Sun-Times today about a mistake with Chicago's red light cameras. Apparently, there was a moving violation, but the wrong car was sent the ticket. The article provides some nice background on the cameras which cover 20 intersections in the city. The vendor for the cameras is Redflex Traffic Systems. So far the cameras have noted more than 100,000 violations in 15 months. The cameras are designed to zero in the on the license plate of the violator. System operators are suppose to verify this process. The cameras take 3 still photos and video for every ticket they generate. This video is available if a ticked is appealed.
Posted by rshah at 09:08 PM | Comments (0)
February 11, 2005
Sentri Gunshot Cameras in Chicago
"Gangs fear camera that focuses on guns" from the Times Online
The article has some details on the gunshot detection cameras.
The cameras are known as Sentri (Smart Sensor Enabled Neural Threat Recognition and Identification). They cost $32,000 each. They can detect a gunshot within 350m and zoom in on the source. Chicago has 5 of the cameras and will add 80 more this year. Los Angeles is also testing the camera system. (In LA, TV stations are bidding to fund Sentris, because the winner will be exclusive crime stories and footage of the incidents.)
The technology was designed by Theodore Berger, director for neural engineering at the University of Southern California and co-founder of Safety Dynamics. He used neural nets to train the computers for what a 45-calibre gunfire sounds like, while ignoring other noises such as a car backfiring. He has another project working on recognizing specific words such as "explosives" in a noisy environment.
He is funded by the Office of Naval Research in Arlington. They are testing a mobile version of Sentri. The project named Gun Slinger uses a Humvee allterrain vehicle fitted with a small “listening” mast; if it detects gunfire, vehicle-mounted machineguns swivel in the direction of the sound to help soldiers to aim.
Posted by rshah at 10:39 PM | Comments (0)
February 10, 2005
RCN settles with city for $53 mil. in cable services
BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter
The City of Chicago will expand its fiber optic network, due to a settlement from RCN Cable. This settlement cam out of violations by RCN of the city's cable television ordinance.
RCN will let the city use a 388-mile fiber network for the next 75 years and to maintain and upgrade that network during the next five years. This is valued at $48.5 million. The resulting network expands the city's existing 600 miles of fiber.
According to Consumer Services Commissioner Norma Reyes, "RCN defaulted in over a dozen cities, including San Francisco and Boston. ... No other municipality has received the deal that we ... were able to negotiate. ... If they sell it, we still have the right to use this fiber. If they abandon it, it becomes our fiber".
Posted by rshah at 08:09 PM | Comments (0)
Videient Releases SmartCatch 2.0
SmartCatch 2.0 has a new user interface allows for ease of use according to the press release.
Here is more from the press release:
SmartCatch 2.0 is available immediately through Vidient Systems, Inc., and NEC Solutions America, Inc. (NECSAM) who is marketing, selling and distributing SmartCatch worldwide through a partnership it formed with Vidient in September 2004.
. . .
Extending Vidient's primary application focus -- access control, perimeter monitoring and asset protection -- the company has added a number of advanced new behaviors, significantly expanding the uses of SmartCatch. A sample of these new behaviors includes the bi-directional tracking of cars and people, such as passengers going the wrong direction in exit lanes at airports; and, the detection of objects of all sizes, inside or outdoors, that have been left unattended in secure areas, such as parked cars that have exceeded their allotted time in passenger loading zones at airports and train station.
. . .
With its new distributed architecture, the components of Vidient SmartCatch 2.0 now function more independently. This enables SmartCatch 2.0 to support significantly more individual, widely distributed cameras while still enabling central management of security policy compliance, administration and alerts. This distributed approach lets SmartCatch support up to 100s of cameras in a single CCTV network.
. . .
The software's flexibility and scalability is also expanded through its new open hardware APIs. These new APIs broaden the range of security devices supported by SmartCatch 2.0, such as card readers, PDAs, mobile phones and pagers.
Posted by rshah at 07:23 AM | Comments (0)
February 09, 2005
Public eye / Hundreds of thousands of surveillance cameras across America track our behavior every day
Public eye / Hundreds of thousands of surveillance cameras across America track our behavior every day
A nice overview article on some of the issues with surveillance cameras
Posted by rshah at 10:42 PM | Comments (0)
Using Cameras in Chicago for Traffic
This story was carried by the Chicago Sun-Times
Los Angeles has long been known for its marathon traffic jams and Star Wars efforts to mitigate congestion.
. . .
Daley is in Los Angeles this week learning about that city's highly-touted traffic surveillance system.
The Automated Traffic Surveillance and Control system is a network of closed-circuit cameras and traffic-detecting devices linked to a central computer that instantly adjusts stop lights at 3,000 intersections when back-ups occur.
. . .
"It has improved traffic . . . and at this point the technology might buy you a 30 to 40 percent reduction in road delay times," he said. "Chicago, with its larger, higher-density downtown, might get a greater benefit."
. . .
The biggest piece of Daley's traffic control plan will rely on replicating the Los Angeles system, which can automatically change traffic signal times on a second-by-second basis when needed.
The system is set up so that if automatic responses don't work, workers can call up any of the system's 200 surveillance cameras to eyeball intersection problems and dispatch police or traffic officers, said John Fisher, assistant general manager of the Los Angeles department of transportation.
The system also includes street-side sensors that keep track of how traffic affects bus on-time performance.
"It works like a scanner. When a bus arrives a little late, it will automatically get an extended green light to make it through the signals and make better time," Fisher said.
. . .
Implementing a new traffic control system will be an expensive process that will take years to install, but Huberman, who oversees the Traffic Management Authority, says he expects it will "significantly reduce congestion in key parts of the city."
. . .
Currently, there are 2,900 intersections with traffic signals. Only 13 percent of them are equipped to be adjusted by a remote computer.
Traffic signals on Addison Street from the Kennedy Expressway to Wrigley Field, for instance, are controlled remotely from the Chicago Transportation Department control center when there is heavy traffic on game days.
...
The city already has 20 red-light cameras and 2,000 surveillance cameras -- soon to be augmented by at least 250 and maybe more, thanks to a $48 million Homeland Security grant -- linked together by a single software network.
Posted by rshah at 10:35 PM | Comments (0)
Cameras add power to keep eye on Chicago
From the IHT:
As police specialists here can already monitor live footage from about 2,000 surveillance cameras around the city, the addition of 250 cameras under the mayor's new plan is not a great jump. The way these cameras will be used, however, involves an extraordinary technological leap.
Sophisticated new computer programs will immediately alert the police whenever anyone is seen wandering aimlessly in circles, lingering outside a public building, pulling a car onto the shoulder of a highway or leaving a package and walking away from it, on any of the cameras placed at buildings and other structures considered terrorist targets.
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