Smart Cameras Blog

Chicago’s surveillance cameras were used to track Chicago School Board chief Michael Scott from a convalescent home to a lonely downtown spot along the Chicago River. By using the cameras, the police believe that Scott didn’t meet up with anybody else during that time.

This investigation highlighted the vast network of surveillance cameras in Chicago. Chicago has approximately 15,000 cameras at its disposal. Two thousand cameras are used for fighting crime by the CPD. The rest can be found at the CTA, airports, Park District, McCormick Place, public schools, and private cameras that have joined the city network.

Despite concerns about big brother, the current network is totally inadequate at monitoring every possible location. As I have previously pointed out, the current network of cameras covers only 5% of the city. (This does not include private cameras that are not networked to the city’s camera network.) Nevertheless, the city’s network is large and impressive.

To illustrate the camera network in Chicago, I am publishing a data set of 1,200 cameras used by the police. I believe this is useful to help educate people about the camera network in Chicago. I also hope that this data can find other innovative uses. I am very curious how this data will be viewed, used, and manipulated to other ends.

The data set can be viewed within either Google Earth or Google Maps through the KML file.

I will keep readers updated on how this information is used.

Update 1: I have also published the mapping data at GeoCommons, see the Chicago Surveillance Cameras layer. This should allow more people to use the data in additional formats, e.g., Shapefiles.

Update 2:

rshah Chicago

[From Chicago's red-light cameras don't always deter accidents -- chicagotribune.com]

I am hoping to review this data in a more detailed post later. But for now, here are some important snippets:

Cameras are said to reduce accidents, but collision records compiled by the Illinois Department of Transportation indicate that accidents increased at many city intersections the year after red-light cameras were installed. In fact slightly more intersections saw an increase than a decrease, the data show. The city tells a very different story. Crash statistics compiled by the city reflect broad success in reducing accidents with cameras, and the city could not explain why the numbers are so different.

The read from the state numbers is this: Although some Chicago intersections indeed appear to benefit from the presence of cameras, nearly 60 percent do not.

By year’s end red-light cameras will be installed at 189 Chicago intersections, the most of any big U.S. city. Sprawling Los Angeles, where the car is king, has 32; New York, 150.

This work casts doubt on the city’s claim that the cameras reduce accidents. (If the cameras don’t reduce accidents, then they aren’t providing the promised safety benefits.) Read the city’s claims here:

The City of Chicago reports crashes have been reduced by 20 percent in the two years since the camera technology was installed in early 2006 at 10 intersections. . . . Crashes decreased 30 percent, from 1,055 in 2004 to 736 last year, at intersections where red-light cameras were installed in 2004 and 2006, according to the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications.

rshah Chicago, Red Light Cameras

[From YouTube - Video Analytics in Chicago (video)]

A news video from ABC 7 (full text) that provides an overview of the chicago camera network. Demonstrates a couple of analytic techniques such as setting a spatial trip wire, identifying left bags, and identifying cars in traffics. Otherwise no new info.

rshah Chicago

[From Illinois Lawmakers Push Red Light Camera Restrictions from the Newspaper.com]

Three bills that would limit red light cameras:

The most ambitious proposal comes from state Senator Dan Duffy (R-Barrington) who last month introduced Senate Bill 2466 to wipe any authorization of automated ticketing machines from the statute books.

State Representative Angelo Saviano (R-Elmwood Park) has a more limited objective in mind. Last month he introduced legislation that would not ban cameras entirely, but instead would ban the most lucrative form of ticketing. “A county or municipality, including a home rule county or municipality, may not use an automated traffic law enforcement system to provide recorded images of a motor vehicle for the purpose of issuing violations to persons driving a motor vehicle who enter an intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a one-way street into a one-way street,” House Bill 4631 states.

State Senator Rickey R. Hendon (D-Chicago) offered the least ambitious of the red light camera measures. His bill would prevent localities from issuing a ticket for a certain type of technical infraction. “A county or municipality, including a home rule county or municipality, may not use an automated traffic law enforcement system to provide recorded images of a motor vehicle for the purpose of issuing violations to persons driving a motor vehicle who come to a stop one foot or less past the point where a driver is required to stop,” Senate Bill 2477 states.

While these bills have an uphill battle, it is good that some legislators are willing to stand for a principle against easy money.

rshah Chicago, Red Light Cameras

[From Chicago's Camera Network Is Everywhere - WSJ.com]

A good overview article of the current state of Chicago camera network. I was interviewed for the article. Couple of snippets:

While many police forces are boosting video monitoring, video-surveillance experts believe Chicago has gone further than any other U.S. city in merging computer and video technology to police the streets. The networked system is also unusual because of its scope and the integration of nonpolice cameras.

The city links the 1,500 cameras that police have placed in trouble spots with thousands more—police won’t say how many—that have been installed by other government agencies and the private sector in city buses, businesses, public schools, subway stations, housing projects and elsewhere. Even home owners can contribute camera feeds.

Rajiv Shah, an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago who has studied the issue, estimates that 15,000 cameras have been connected in what the city calls Operation Virtual Shield, its fiber-optic video-network loop.

Former U.S. Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff has called Chicago’s use of cameras “a model for the country.”

rshah Chicago

[From Atlanta seeks to add 500 surveillance cameras | ajc.com]

The Urban Institute is conducting a study on the surveillance cameras in Chicago. Here is an article with their preliminary results:

Preliminary results from the study show crime has fallen in parts of both cities where the cameras are located. For example, violent crime and larcenies fell by 25 percent — or 30 incidents per month — in downtown Baltimore, starting in the fourth month after the cameras were installed in 2006, the study says. The cameras, according to the study, have helped identify suspects and getaway cars and find weapons used to commit crimes. “It has helped solve literally thousands of crimes,” Chicago police spokesman Roderick Drew said. “In fact, our detectives have reviewed over 20,000 video segments this year alone.”

The Urban Institute’s study, meanwhile, has found the cameras are not without their problems. When they automatically pan areas, they may capture only portions of a sequence of events. At night and during bad weather, they might not capture images strong enough for evidence. They are sometimes targeted by vandals. And their maintenance costs can be high.

I will be looking forward to the final study and its associated data. I don’t fully understand the results stated in the article. It took 4 months before crime fell? Maybe it was something other than the cameras?

rshah Chicago, Policy

[From $43 million later, Homeland Security project bogged down :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES ]

A year ago I pointed our the numerous problems with Cook County’s Project Shield. The goal of the project was live video from police to central command stations. The project consists of 802.11b and 4.9Ghz hotspots, adjustable and fixed cameras, vehicle locator GPS, pole mounted police surveillance cameras, premises digital video recorders, and personal computer-based viewing stations. These devices are wired into the Cook County network. The project was funded by a $100 million from Homeland Security.

But as Chicago Sun-Times/NBC5 investigation found, there are still major problems:

Already 36 percent over budget, the massive effort now isn’t expected to be fully operational until 2011 — three years late. Even then, it could be without a number of suburbs that opted out because of problems.

Begun in the administration of the late Cook County Board President John Stroger, Project Shield was to be completed in three phases, at a cost of $31.5 million. As of August, the county has spent $42,961,306.38 on Project Shield.

But two years later, after spending $26 million and still suffering with technical problems, IBM — which declined requests for an interview — was dumped. . . . IBM was replaced last year by Johnson Controls, and, as of July, the county boasted that 90 first-responder vehicles had cameras.

The cameras are working in Evanston, Elmwood Park, Glencoe and Palatine. But other police departments have complained of problems — including cameras that don’t work. As a result, Berwyn, Forest Park, Morton Grove, Norridge, Park Ridge, Tinley Park and University Park have abandoned Project Shield. “Every municipality in the county was supposed to be involved,” said Quigley. “If you leave several out . . . it’s useless.”

. . . Still, at a recent demonstration, the video from a patrol car driving down a street was so bad it was impossible at times to clearly see. Oak Park is home to one of three mobile command vans for Project Shield. Each cost $400,000. But the vans haven’t been tested to see if they can communicate with one another, according to Tanksley, and can’t access other cameras.

rshah Chicago

[From Report: Fire city public safety exec :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: City Hall]

According to the Sun-Times, see also Second City Cop:

The inspector general’s office is recommending the firing of the No. 2 man at Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications for alleged contract irregularities that cost taxpayers $2.25 million.

Jim Argiropoulos, the $149,832-a-year first deputy who once served as OEMC’s acting director, is accused of engineering a scheme that culminated in the falsification of documents to expedite the purchase of a new 911 dispatch console system from Schaumburg-based Motorola.

I briefly met Jim in 2005, when I was trying to setup a project to study the OEMC’s roll out of the cameras. He was very professional and knowledgeable and appeared willing to assist me in my project. (A week later after my meeting with Jim, the city refused to work with me on the project).

From the news story, it is obvious that Jim did something that was wrong. However, it should be noted he wasn’t trying to personally profit, but was instead making sure the city received a good deal. (Nevertheless, he shouldn’t have punished the whistleblower).

rshah Chicago

[From Anti-Red Light Camera Rally Set For Tuesday - Parking Ticket Geek]

Here is another batch of red light camera info. While I think this is an important topic, I think I am going to focus more on smart camera technologies in future posts and less on red light cameras. For a good overview of the issues around red light cameras in Chicago, the parking ticket geek suggests we look at the CBS 2 coverage.

There is also a protest happening:

Tuesday evening at 7:00, Peter Breen, candidate for Illinois State Representative in the 41st district, is encouraging everyone opposed to red light cameras to come out for a protest right in front of RedSpeed Illinois, LLC, one of the state’s largest red light camera companies.

. . .

Breen’s goal is nothing short of ambitious. He wants to rid the state of all red light cameras.

. . .

The keynote speaker for the event will be Illinois State Senator Dan Duffy (R-Lake Barrington), an outspoken critic of red light cameras. Duffy has pre-filed a bill (SB-2466) in the Illinois Senate that pushes for removal of red light cameras in Illinois.

In addition, Illinois gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski and Brian Costin of theSchaumburg Freedom Coalition will speak at the event.

Breen is very serious on the issue and just last week launched BanRedCams.com, a website dedicated to this issue to announce the rally, disseminate information about red light cameras, and keep people up to date on the issues.

The rally takes place at 7 PM tomorrow in front of of RedSpeed Illinois, located at 400 Eisenhower Lane N, Lombard, IL (just off of Finley Road, north of Butterfield, IL-56).

Breen encourages everyone attending to bring a flash light in order to “turn them on RedSpeed and give them a taste of their own medicine,” he said laughing.

Go to www.banredcams.com for more information.

rshah Chicago, Red Light Cameras

A couple of developments from the Chicago Tribune, WBBM 780, Security Park

The first is cameras at CTA stations. Teleste Corp. of Georgetown, Texas, will install high-resolution digital cameras at all 144 CTA rail stations by 2011. The new cameras will be capable of showing facial features. I think its a good assumption that facial recognition technology will also be deployed at the stations.

The second is a satellite-based monitoring system which will track the real-time location of about 2,000 CTA buses. The OEMC states that this will allow for a better gauge of traffic flow. Currently, buses are GPS enabled on more than 150 routes. This data can be seen at ctabustracker.com. (I don’t fully understand this development, is there new data? or just the OEMC is going to start analyzing it?)

The CTA also deferred a contract with a security services. According to the CTA, “A more cost-effective approach would be to install security systems that alert authorities immediately of signs of forced entry or tampering.” So the CTA is in the market for a smart camera system for security.

Finally, Illinois Police now have access to a large database of license plates associated with revoked/suspended drivers licenses. This adds considerable utility to the ALPR system in Illinois.

rshah ALPR, Chicago