Smart Cameras Blog

[From Vumii]

Vumii Sensorii software combines a static panoramic image with a live view at night. This allows users to easily navigate an area at night. See the video for a demonstration.

Vumii also has added a software module that enables communication between radar systems and its Discoverii day/night laser camera platform. This allows for a seamless transition between radar and cameras.

While I am sure other vendors offer similar capability, the point here is how software can integrate multiple systems and sensors. As a result, users have access to greater data, but in a very manageable way.

rshah Vendors

[From Security Camera Blog (CCTV DVR): Cincinnati to receive security cameras]

Cincinnati Ohio will be installing 120 “crime cameras” soon after receiving a two million dollar federal grant. Cincinnati City Council is hoping to see similar results as observed in Chicago where their 600 surveillance cameras have reportedly assisted in 1,400 arrests.

rshah Other Cities

[From San Francisco Chronicle, S.F. board panel imperils crime-watching gear]

A 3-2 vote in San Francisco is cutting $360,000 that Mayor Newsom sought for installations and repairs of the anti-crime devices, i.e., cameras and gunshot sensors. The cut was motivated by the lack of evidence that the cameras and sensors were effective. This decision could still be reversed and it doesn’t affect all the camera/gunshot systems in the city.

The anecdotal evidence seems to show that gunshot systems are useful. Its unfortunate that there isn’t hard data to support the use of gunshot systems. I am afraid that these useful systems will be muddied by the less effective surveillance cameras.

rshah Gunshot Detection, Other Cities

[From MATEUSA.NET]

A sensible application of smart cameras for traffic. I apologize for just using a press release, but this should provide a flavor of how they can be used.

MATE’s Behavior Watch™ intelligent video detection system performs analysis using specifically designed outdoor algorithms to detect unusual events that may cause a security hazard: stopped cars on a road or shoulder, boats lurking near bridges, people or animals crossing highways, accidents or fallen cargo. This automated incident detection system and real-time alarm notification solution helps traffic operators increase their awareness and response time to incidents that can cause traffic congestion and endanger public safety.

rshah Applications

[From For New York City Subways, Another Delay in Surveillance System - NYTimes.com]

This is a followup from a story posted a few months ago.

rshah Other Cities

[From Racist CCTV - facial recognition techniques used to classify people by race - thankfully this is only an art project ! - Spy Blog - SpyBlog.org.uk]

An interesting art project from Benjamin Wales. He has setup a smart camera system that has the ability to find and follow faces and then analyse and store their race data. His motivation was to critique our ideas about surveillance.

He also has another interesting project, Static Obesity Logging (SOLA), which analyzes BMI. The system is able to remotely calculate Body Mass Index and publish the data via wired and wireless networks.

Both of these applications are interesting ways to use the power of smart cameras.

rshah Applications, Facial Recognition

[From theNewspaper.com New York: Lobbyist Sparks U-Turns on Cameras] [Buffalo News]

An article on red light cameras gave me some pause on the role of government in using camera systems. Apparently in New York, legislation was introduced favors certain technologies (i.e. vendors) for red light cameras. The article notes the following about the bill:

AB 10948 states red light cameras must use “radar-based down-the-road speed measurement methods in which a photograph is taken coincident to, or as near as possible to, the location of, recorded speed measurements.” This is the description of the technology by Sensys Traffic.

The bill further states “Such demonstration program shall not utilize vehicle sensors of the following types: video, virtual loops, laser-based, across-the-road radar, in-the-road embedded or surface mount or additional road markings . . .” This eliminates laser sensors used by Lasercraft, video technology used by Nestor, and in road sensors used by Affiliated Computer Services (ACS). The leading vendors of red light cameras, American Traffic Systems and Australia’s Redflex, also rely on some of the banned technologies.

While this bill has been pulled at this point, the article points out that “2005, the Pennsylvania legislature likewise adopted legislation mandating “wet film” be used for ticketing so that ACS would be favored over rivals like Redflex that use digital cameras”.

I didn’t realize this type of behavior was happening for surveillance cameras. I am not naive, I understand that lobbyists push for this type of language in bills and its not too difficult to get someone to introduce these bills. I think this type of favoritism is wrong and something all vendors should despise. If anyone knows of other examples, please pass them on. (You can read a defense of the bill in the Buffalo News article, the defense is flimsy).

rshah Policy, Red Light Cameras

[From In Hard Focus: More Cool Privacy Tech]

Stephen Russel of 3VR Security has a very nice blog on issues around smart cameras. In a recent article shows off some technology 3VR is working on. Its a way to provide some privacy. Here is part of post:

The image on the left is from the original video feed. The second image is from a scrambled and encrypted version of that same feed.

Though with the encrypted feed it’s possible to detect loitering, fighting, and many other behaviors of concern, identity information is totally protected…that is, until an authorized user chooses to decrypt the feed. BUT then that action is controlled and logged, and an alert can even be generated, to ensure that the surveillance system is not being abused or misused.

(See the link for a larger picture)

rshah Policy