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Ron Alalouff is a journalist specialising in the fire and security markets, and a former editor of websites and magazines in the same fields.
March 2, 2018

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UK transport operators failing to realise benefits of IP surveillance technology, says survey

With a vast legacy of analogue CCTV systems, transport operators are finding it difficult to migrate to and take advantage of the features of real-time, network IP surveillance, according to a new survey.

While more than 85% of transport networks across western Europe are planning to install IP cameras in the near future – according to the survey commissioned by Axis Communications and global public transport organisation the Union Internationale des Transports Publics (UITP) – the UK has struggled to keep pace with the installation of such technology.

Two-thirds of respondents to the survey cited other priorities, funding difficulties or the lack of a clear business case as the main reasons for not investing in IP technology.

“The perceived lack of a business case highlights that many transport operators are unaware of the security and efficiency benefits real-time video surveillance can offer,” said Lucas Young, business development manager, transportation at Axis Communications. “To respond to security events as and when they happen, a proactive rather than reactive approach is required. That just isn’t possible with legacy CCTV equipment.”

telent installs IP CCTV Cameras at Canary Wharf from telent Technology Services Ltd on Vimeo.

There are significant exceptions, however, such as the installation of network camera technology at Canary Wharf station in east London, which helped enable 24-hour train operations as well as increasing passenger safety.

The shift to IP video surveillance is helping transport operators use real-time analytics to improve situational awareness and decision-making, says Axis, such as algorithms to detect suspicious or abnormal activity.

“When analysing security footage in real-time with advanced IP technology, operators are faced with hundreds of live feeds,” continued Mr Young. “This may seem daunting but automated alerts can assist in managing the increased amount of data real-time video creates, helping to identify potential threats as they happen [and] preventing them from becoming security incidents. This is also freeing up staff time so they can concentrate on improving the passenger experience.”

But network technology has issues too, such as its vulnerability to cyber attack. “Cyber security is a huge issue for the transport industry and could prove a costly oversight if technology is not implemented correctly. We aim to protect our transport networks not only from physical threats, but also online ones.”

To learn more about network video surveillance and public transport download the latest Axis whitepaper: 

 

 

 

 

 

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