November 29, 2007
ALPR in Pttsburgh
From City's roving cameras rapidly scan license plates - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Some interesting nuggets on the integration of license plate recognition with other systems:
Pittsburgh bought the license plate scanning technology with $25,000 from the Pennsylvania Auto Theft Prevention Authority, an organization established by the Legislature in 1994 and funded by auto insurance companies. In two years of its use, police have recovered 180 stolen cars.
. . .
The system is used by Pennsylvania State Police, and license plate scanners are mounted at toll booths along the Pennsylvania Turnpike to watch for stolen and wanted vehicles and those who avoid paying tolls, officials said. The Pittsburgh Parking Authority uses a similar scanner to look for vehicles whose owners have outstanding parking violations, officials said.
Harper has visited other U.S. cities that combine the license-plate technology with surveillance cameras mounted throughout neighborhoods and hopes Pittsburgh can do the same. The technology allows police to enter specific query information into the database.
"If we have a bank robbery or other crime Downtown and we have these cameras with this technology mounted on bridges that connect to Downtown, we can enter the suspect vehicle information and the cameras will alert us if they scan a license plate that leads to the same car or make and model of a car that we're looking for," Harper said.
Posted by rshah at 08:09 AM | Comments (0)
November 25, 2007
Smart Camera Car
From ContraCostaTimes.com - L.A. tests array of police technology
LAPD's smart car or the Critical Incident Utility Vehicle is "equipped to sniff out stolen cars, recognize criminals, track fleeing suspects and conduct remote video surveillance in high-crime areas." In a six-month test, officers using ALPR found 200 "parked stolens" and 40 "rolling stolens". It also includes the following:
- A dart-gun-like projectile shooter that fires a global-positioning-system tracking device at a fleeing suspect's car. The electronic monitor clamps onto the rear of the car, allowing officers to discontinue the chase and safely follow the suspect using satellite tracking technology. Operated by compressed air, the "StarChase" system is mounted within the patrol car's front grille. Gomez said it can fire the projectile about 20 feet.
- Video receivers that can connect to closed-circuit TV cameras set up in high-crime areas. Officers responding to emergency calls in those areas can operate the cameras and observe the situation in real time before they arrive at the scene, Gomez said. So far, the cameras are set up around the Jordan Downs housing project in the Watts area, he said. Five patrol cars in that area also have the video capability.
- Specialized computers that allow suspects' fingerprints to be scanned and checked in the field. Wireless Bluetooth technology connects the cruiser's computer to a database that contains the fingerprints of those with outstanding arrest warrants.
- Facial recognition equipment that can identify known suspects. The system has been used in the department's Rampart Division and has resulted in more than 50 arrests, mostly for gang injunction warrants, Gomez said.
- In-car video cameras that record windshield views and activities in the patrol car's back seat. The system automatically uploads its images when the car returns to the police station. About 300 police cars in the department's South Bureau are being equipped with the camera gear.
Gomez said the equipment adds as much as $100,000 to the standard $25,000 cost of a patrol car. Although the costs are expected to drop eventually, the timetable for citywide distribution of Smart Cars is uncertain, he said.
Posted by rshah at 09:09 PM | Comments (0)
November 22, 2007
The Picture Of Conformity
From Washington Post
A nice article on the creepy side of surveillance. At some point people feel that surveillance is disturbing, but its difficult to translate this into workable principles. This article features a number of scholars that provide views on what privacy means.
Posted by rshah at 04:02 PM | Comments (0)
November 20, 2007
Demystifying video analytics – is "intelligent" now a dirty word?
[From News - SourceSecurity.com]
An interesting position piece by ObjectVideo's Edward Troha defining intelligence. He argues that intelligent systems should only refer to systems using computer vision. As a result, ANPR and motion detection should not be considered intelligent systems.
I think Troha is pointing out an important technical difference in these systems, but he is obviously trying to position his technology in the marketpace. Still its a good argument and one that everyone should consider. Neverthess, I will continue following the developments of ANPR, because I consider them part of smart camera systems.
Posted by rshah at 07:48 AM | Comments (0)
November 17, 2007
Spray Can Sensors
From the San Jose Mercury News
A city near LA, Montebello, is spending $1 million on 120 cameras. 25 of them will include sensors that will detect the sound of paint spray. The technology costs $20,000 to $30,000 per camera. This is an effort to detect graffiti.
"So when somebody's spraying a wall or specific target, this sensor activates the camera ... then sends a signal to our dispatch ... dispatch zooms in and sends units to the area," said police Det. Ismael Navarro.
Posted by rshah at 09:03 AM | Comments (0)
November 05, 2007
250 More Cameras for Philadelphia
From SecurityInfoWatch.com:
Philadelphia is expanding its pilot project of 18 cameras, which have been responsible for 60 arrests. 250 cameras at a cost of $8.9 million will be added. The city already has 1000 recommended locations for the surveillance cameras. (More cameras are on the way after this).
Voters in Philadelphia voted by a 4-1 ratio in a non-binding resolution to approve the use of public surveillance cameras. Other interesting nuggets is the claim that siting of the cameras will be done on a "data-driven" process. I personally am interested in how that would work.
The cameras are wireless and can be viewed in real time.
"The initial focus for the cameras will be to deter violent crime in commercial areas of heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic but also near schools, recreation centers and transportation hubs."
Posted by rshah at 01:50 PM | Comments (0)
November 03, 2007
Police to get 280 squad car cameras
From Chicago Sun-Times:
Chicago is going to spend $12.2 million for 280 squad car cameras from Coban Research & Technology. The contract is expanding the initial 30 car pilot program. Here are the details of the camera:
Each squad car is equipped with two cameras that can either be activated manually or automatically when emergency lights are turned on. One camera records those in the backseat. The other is mounted on the windshield and faces forward.
The officer carries a microphone the size of a beeper that records sounds within 1,000 feet of the vehicle. Real-time audio and video can be transmitted back to the district station.
Posted by rshah at 08:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack