Page 51 - Security Today, August 2017

fied School District. They are able to stay on top of the surveillance, in large part, because of the video management software they use from Pelco, and because of their technology partnership with the Pelco advanced tech- nology and engineering leadership team.
The VMS, VideoXpert, is the gateway whereby all network traffic passes, and is the portal that connects not only the cameras but other features the crime center has deployed. For instance, FPD has deployed ShotSpotter software and sensors in various neighbor- hoods in the city; places where law enforce- ment has identified active gangs or higher crime statistics. When a suspected gunshot is picked up by at least three of the sensors, it is triangulated to a specific location and police are able to respond much quicker. ShotSpot- ter is able to provide officers on the streets with real-time information, a map of the lo- cation and an audio file that can be played in the squad car.
“Beyond gathering and displaying infor- mation, a critical role of that VMS is to help contextualize information in a way that can be easily understood by officers, so they can respond quickly and effectively in an emer- gency situation,” said Ray Still, director of advanced technology & engineering at Pelco.
“We love to try this new technology,” Casto said. “We’re able to position our cam- eras in response to in-progress incidents, and when these images are viewed inside our crime center, we have real-time situational awareness of what is taking place in the city.”
Well, some of the city. Fresno has over 500,000 residents spread across a city cover- ing more than 115 square miles.
“We enjoy having the FPD as a part- ner in technology development, and ap- preciate their interactive communications about product ideas,” Still said. “Our goal is to provide solutions with meaningful in- novationwhenitisready,andoncewehave tested it in the office. It is convenient that we have such a willing and informed partner,
such as FPD, to work with.”
With the partnership, there is a roadmap,
including the development of the VMS and the cameras.
Cameras. Obviously cameras need to pro- vide high quality video, with greater detail and clarity, to support the security mission of our customers. But, to better serve customers in the future, cameras will also need to pro- vide a larger spectrum of information that is not readily apparent to human observers.
“Metadata provided by video analytics algorithms or thermographic information are examples in current use,” Still said. “But there are many other analytics that, to date, have not been used to their full extent.”
VMS. The answer is a roadmap that in- cludes an increased focus on geographic awareness, mobility and automation. By combining these with an expanded spec- trum of information provided by cameras, and leveraging deep learning capabilities, we will enable our customers to not only better detect security incidents, but also more effec- tively mobilize their resources to respond to those incidents.
Because the Fresno metropolitan area is so spread out, there are several public and private partnerships in the works, includ- ing local shopping complexes, universities, property developers and hospitals. The partnership with FPD is ongoing, as well as the department’s opportunity to continue its role as an incubator of new things com- ing down the road. Still said that much of the work they are doing with FPD should be completed by the end of the year. But, by then, the engineers, integrators and end users will have talked
again, and the drawing
board will be filled with
new ideas.
Ralph C. Jensen is the editor-in-chief of Security Today magazine.
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