Network digital video surveillance from IBM and Cisco

The goal - Improve public safety capabilities

Real-time video and analytics increase public safety, while delivering evidence-grade video that can help drive success within the judicial system, and reduce law enforcement litigation costs. Network digital video surveillance from IBM and Cisco can enable law enforcement and public safety teams to access real-time and archived video to determine the most effective response to ongoing situations, prevent and mitigate future emergencies, provide litigation support and centralize control of agency assets.

The advantage - From incident awareness to response, investigation and evidence

Network digital video surveillance from IBM and Cisco provides best practices in infrastructure, integration, storage management and process flow to help you deploy, manage and use digital video. Fixed and mobile video camera feeds provide virtually real-time information and situational awareness of developing incidents. Before first responders appear on-site, they can view video streams from cameras mounted on streetlights or buildings near the location from the command center or from vehicles responding to the incident. This video is an effective force multiplier, as shared usage reduces the number of responders needed to assess the situation.

Upon arrival, responders can share video surveillance from their vehicle-mounted cameras with the command center and other responders, increasing situational awareness. For example, in a chemical spill or explosion, shared video could show the extent of damage, such as the impact of a toxic cloud or spill on a freeway.

The solution is designed to provide:

• Video that is accessible from mobile units, command centers or desktop computers for incident management.
• Video analytics to help identify objects, recognize license plates, and detect motion and other criteria on multiple video streams simultaneously.
• Information sharing and collaboration between commanders and responders as the incident is developing, allowing for effective response.
• Video storage and management for later forensic analysis and evidence—and to improve future response plans and train employees.

The benefits - Leverage video as a force multiplier

Network intelligent digital video can provide critical information far beyond traditional monitoring. Video is one of the best ways to obtain real-time information and evidence. Our solution can help improve public safety capabilities to:

• Enhance first responders’ ability to protect and serve constituents.
• Increase the safety of civilians and police, and reduce crime.
• Improve evidence accuracy and credibility.
• Reduce costs related to officers having to appear in court, longer court cases due to incomplete evidence and frivolous lawsuits.
• Improve decision making through real-time information access.
• Ease the retrieval and management of archived video.

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The goal - Real-time video information

Capturing real-time video provides situational awareness which can help your agency better protect and serve constituents in the event of an emergency. Managing, storing and making that video usable as evidence or analysis can take your surveillance system to the next level—providing video intelligence, prosecutable and forensic evidence. Network digital video surveillance from IBM and Cisco can help improve decision making through video data access and easier retrieval and management of archived video.

The advantage - A view into the future of surveillance

IBM and Cisco have implemented solutions in a variety of settings, including rural borders, city-wide grids, city bus systems and police cars. We have the breadth and depth of experience to help your agency easily deploy, manage and use network digital video surveillance.

• IBM and Cisco have experience with more than 70 worldwide catastrophic events in 49 countries.
• Both IBM and Cisco have been on the front line with first responders during many disasters, including the September 11th terrorist attack, the tsunami in Asia, many hurricanes and forest fires.
• Both IBM and Cisco have a track record of helping public safety officials fight crime, improve responsiveness to emergency situations and generally improve services to the public they serve. Examples of these are the Chicago Transit Authority, the State of Missouri and the Gauteng Province in Africa.
• IBM and Cisco are financially viable partners who can deliver point or end-to-end solutions that fit into a long-term roadmap for public safety.

The benefits - Advanced insight for situational awareness

Responders who better understand an event prior to arriving on the scene can effectively identify the response required to best protect the public and speed resolution. In instances where a crime has been committed, a video "witness" can help solve the case more quickly and later serve as evidence. Depending on the criteria specified, video analytics can automatically identify size, color, shape and speed of vehicles. Capture and recognize faces and license plates. Detect motion on multiple video streams simultaneously. Send alerts to the appropriate personnel and more. Our solution is designed to help your agency enhance its capability to protect the public.

• Improve the quality of response as well as response time to a crime or disaster.
• Monitor remote areas that have proven difficult to protect with police presence.
• Enhance the safety of police officers in the field.
• Minimize the amount of time spent by police officers in court answering questions about an arrest or incident.
• Raise the quality of trial evidence.
• Reduce the complexity of capturing, transporting, accessing, archiving, sharing and maintaining digital video from cameras positioned around the city and mounted in vehicles.

The approach - Chicago Transit Authority enhances security through networked video

To ensure the safety of its one million daily passengers, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) needed the ability to monitor footage and collaborate with police in real time. IBM Global Technology Services implemented a Cisco wireless infrastructure that enables the CTA Transit Police Department to connect to video surveillance cameras in the system's buses, as well as to fixed cameras at bus and rail terminals, using the Cisco 3200 Mobile Access Router (MAR).

• Provides video footage to nearby police, so they can quickly respond to the incident in progress.
• Strengthens the security of CTA transportation.
• Helps promote peace of mind for passengers to increase the use of these transportation methods.

The financial advantage - Lower the cost of safety

In today's challenging economic environment, governments must continue to protect citizens, for whom public safety is priceless. IBM and Cisco can help governments improve public safety, while addressing budget challenges to do more with less. We can fundamentally transform the economics of providing public safety. The solution is designed to:

• Enable law enforcement and public safety agencies to work smarter because video provides situational awareness—they can better determine the appropriate level of response needed.
• Reduce costs of litigation, especially from fraudulent lawsuits against the police, through easily accessible video archives.
• Lower costs of officer overtime to attend court hearings.
• Provide training material for new officers and employees.
• Accelerate the judicial process by compiling evidence faster.

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The issues - Centrally managed digital evidence

Capture, transport, store and view real-time video from fixed or mobile cameras with an integrated, reliable and cost-effective end-to-end digital video surveillance solution. Network digital video surveillance from IBM and Cisco is designed as a centrally managed system for accessible and automated digital content management and archival of video needed for evidence or solving crimes.

The benchmark - Comprehensive networked support

Drawing on a combined 75 years of experience using technology to support government agencies worldwide, we have melded our technology expertise and services knowledge to address many of the complex challenges faced by law enforcement and other public safety agencies.

• For law enforcement and public safety agencies, IBM and Cisco offer a broad suite of solutions that include communication, collaboration and coordination within the agency, as well as between agencies and private sector entities.
• Both IBM and Cisco have received industry acknowledgement for their leadership in public safety:
• Cisco: 2005 Frost and Sullivan Technology Leadership Award for Cisco’s Wireless Networking Solutions in the First Responder IT and Telecom markets
• IBM: 2008 Frost and Sullivan North-American Video surveillance software company of the year.

The components - Scalable. Reliable. Interoperable.

Technology, software and services from IBM and Cisco can help deliver the foundation for your network digital surveillance solution. We start with an evaluation of your needs. Based on your legacy systems and agency requirements, your solution could include the following components:

• Input and output devices, such as cameras, computers, Web clients, analog controls and displays.
• A wireless or wired Internet protocol (IP) infrastructure, including in-vehicle networks.
• IBM Smart Surveillance designed to help you integrate data from a variety of monitoring devices, and apply advanced analytics to improve security, reduce overhead, and increase organizational flexibility and business intelligence.
• IBM Systems, which provide access to networked digital video data and analytics through industry-standard platforms such as IBM BladeCenter®, IBM System x™ servers and IBM System Storage™.
• IBM Tivoli® Storage Manager, which enables automated data backup and restore functions from centralized storage management operations.
• IBM Lotus® and Cisco Unified Communications which establish integrated communications and collaboration through unified telephony, voice, video, instant messaging, Web conferencing, e-mail and voicemail.
• Cisco Intelligent Converged Environment for video surveillance, which provides an open, standards-based infrastructure to help enable better access to video when and where you need it most.
• Cisco Integrated Services Router which offers an easy-to-manage integrated wireless router to provide extended mobility and flexibility.
• IBM Global Technology Services support from initial assessment to implementation, training and management.

The implementation - Chicago moves towards mobile, wireless and real-time video

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) worked with IBM to implement a Cisco wireless infrastructure. The transit authority and the Chicago Police Department can now connect to video surveillance cameras in the system's buses, as well as to fixed cameras at bus and rail terminals, using Cisco 3200 Mobile Access Router (MAR). On CTA trains, the solution is enabled by 40 hotspots incrementally situated along the rail stations. The solution included:

• Wireless mobile video on the buses, with the ability to establish a connection between buses and transit police cars.
• The Cisco Mobile Router installed in transit police cars to provide access to cameras on buses, trains and at rail stations.
• Cameras and DVR on the buses connected to Cisco Mobile Router.

The cost of ownership - Smaller footprint, improved archival and retrieval

Our digital video surveillance solution is designed for a low overall cost of ownership and can help your agency:

• Reduce the number of devices and the complexity of buying, installing and managing the use of video in public safety.
• Lower administrative and training costs with an easy-to-use interface.
• Streamline operations and centralize control for reduced costs.
• Automate video and archival operational functions.

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