Intelligent Video Helps Increase Security At Puerto Rico Housing Complexes

  • Sep 19, 2007

ObjectVideo recently announced ObjectVideo OnBoard has been integrated into Avant Technologies surveillance systems to increase the security of a number of public housing complexes across Puerto Rico. The project is part of a $9.3 million effort by the Puerto Rican government to help ensure public housing safety.

The Avant Technologies-ObjectVideo comprehensive security surveillance system comprises 400 cameras in 20 public housing developments in Puerto Rico. The system consists of Avant's VZip Rack IVIS, a rack mounted digital video encoder, and ObjectVideo OnBoard software for embedded video content analysis that allows rule-based object detection, classification, tracking and real-time alerting.

"Security in public housing is a challenging issue involving a lot of complex social problems and law enforcement," said Carlos Laboy, executive director, Vivienda Public Housing, the largest public housing system in Puerto Rico. "We did a lot of research on security throughout the U.S. and Europe and determined exactly what we needed to improve the quality of life for our residents."

Monitored centrally throughout the day and night, the cameras are meant to be a preventative measure against crime. With ObjectVideo analytics, the police are able to detect, classify and track objects of interest in real-time, and address security concerns as they are happening. The software can distinguish between cars and people, for example, and can monitor and record the activity in the public housing areas.

"In addition to helping us reduce crime, the intelligent video surveillance system has enabled us to improve communication throughout our police force and centralize our public housing issues," Laboy said.

The centrally managed surveillance system provides great efficiencies by eliminating redundancies, improving communication and increasing shared knowledge among police and other public safety officials. In addition, recorded video can be used as evidence in criminal investigations and can reduce the associated costs to the government.

"The public's safety is very important to the government of Puerto Rico, which is evident in its commitment to improving the security of its public housing areas through monitoring and surveillance," said Alberto Diaz, business development manager of Avant Technologies. "It is our hope that our surveillance systems not only help identify and prosecute criminals, but more importantly, serve as a deterrent to crime to keep our cities safe."

Vzip Rack, Avant Technologies' video server, was implemented to centralize the large number of cameras in use. This rack-mounted chassis includes a wide array of interfacing devices for remote alarm monitoring, device control and remote data acquisition, which is important for such a distributed surveillance systems.

"Combining video analytics with a centralized surveillance system creates a powerful crime deterrent and public safety solution, and we are pleased that Avant has leveraged our intelligent video surveillance software in such a positive way," said Brian Eckert, vice president of sales and marketing for ObjectVideo. "Avant Technologies' solutions are critical to the security of the public housing areas of Puerto Rico, and the real-time surveillance enabled by our software is sure to further help in its public safety efforts."

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.