Page 86 - Security Today, March 2017

Tackling the Storage
Challenges presented by today’s video-based data
BTy Wayne Arvidson
he transportation industry affects all of us. Regardless of what we do for a living, or where we live, we de- pend on the transportation industry—day and night, for work and leisure. Today, video surveillance is help- ing transportation agencies improve safety, services,
and efficiency. But in doing so, vast amounts of content are being produced which requires overcoming several video and data storage challenges.
On the Move
People and cargo are always moving. It’s one of the demands of our modern society. Our lifestyles—and the vibrancy of our economy— depend on the free-flowing movement of people and goods.
Recent data indicate the number of travelers is increasing. Ac- cording to statistics just released by the Transportation Security Ad- ministration (TSA), over 708 million airline passengers were screened in 2015, an increase of more than 40 million passengers over the pre- vious year. In addition, the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported that “U.S. airlines and foreign airlines serving the United States carried an all-time high of 895.5 million scheduled service passengers (domestic and interna- tional) in 2015.”
Public transportation figures were also significant. According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), more than 10 billion trips were taken on public transit systems in the U.S. in 2015. That’s 16 times the number taken via domestic air travel.
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Transit organizations understand the impact. Growth brings in more revenue, but also puts more demand on existing systems and infrastructure, including those used for security and surveillance. As a society, we expect to stay safe when we travel, and that raises the bar for transit organizations to provide the best security possible.
An Unfortunate Reality
There’s no denying the fact that security threats are an unfortunate reality in today’s world. Both global and domestic incidents happen far too frequently, and many times involve transportation facilities.
That’s because transportation plays such a vital role in our society. The industry itself is a big part of the U.S. economy. According to SelectUSA, $1.48 trillion was spent in the U.S. logistics and transpor- tation industry in 2015, and that “represented 8 percent of annual gross domestic product (GDP).”
In addition, transportation modes—busses, trains, subways, air- liners—and transportation centers like train stations, boarding plat- forms, and airports are gathering places for large numbers of people. Major disruptions to any of these can wreak havoc, resulting in loss of commerce, costly damage to property, and potential loss of life.
Video Surveillance
Video surveillance systems are a fixture in the transportation indus- try. Today, cameras are commonplace: onboard busses and train cars; at airports, parking garages, and boarding platforms; and inside bus and railway stations. These systems monitor activity and support
TRANSPORTATION SECURITY