California City Uses Wireless Mesh Technology For Public Safety Video Surveillance Network

  • May 01, 2008

Strix Systems recently announced the deployment of Strix Access/One wireless systems for the City of Pittsburg, Calif.

Strix Access/One was chosen for its ability to deliver high throughput and lowest latency wireless mesh network for high quality stationary and mobile IP-based video surveillance.

Funded through public safety and homeland security grants, the deployment of the Strix Systems wireless mesh network, video surveillance cameras and centralized surveillance server has been responsible for successful police intervention in more than 80 incidents.

Violent and non-violent events have been captured, both live and recorded, enabling police to follow and apprehend suspects involved in theft, assault, aggravated assault, child abductions, drug deals and homicide. The system has also been instrumental in providing evidence to disprove allegations of wrong doing and has assisted in civil cases such as automobile accidents.

Central headquarters is able to view events occurring “live” allowing the police department to respond faster, dispatching officers and other resources, such as SWAT unit, and coordinating response efforts with other agencies as needed.

Police personnel can then control multiple cameras over the wireless mesh network allowing them to follow people and vehicles fleeing from the scene. In real-time, the PTZ capabilities of the cameras allow officers at headquarters to zoom into significant details such as vehicles and even license plate numbers. Simultaneously police officers and public safety officials in the field can remotely view situations in progress and respond before crimes and life threatening events occur.

Odin Systems was chosen by the City of Pittsburg to provide the electronics systems design and engineering, installation, project management, system programming, training, support services and maintenance of the system enabling the police department to control and manage the system as needed.

A key component of the public safety video surveillance network is Strix Access/One wireless mesh network system which delivers power for multiple radio frequencies (multiband) including 4.9 GHz (DSRC-C), 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz.

Odin Systems selected Strix Access/One products as part of their overall communications design for the Pittsburg deployment after extensive evaluation of competing mesh systems.

Odin integrated Strix Access/One into bullet-proof enclosures with battery back up for communications equipment, cameras, infrared illuminators and other peripheral devices. High quality video surveillance pan-tilt-zoom cameras by Sony provide coverage for critical “hot spot” areas in the City. The unencumbered performance of the Strix wireless mesh network allows video streams sent at full resolution to the ONSSI Net DVMS surveillance server located at the department's central monitoring facility.

“The ability to access the video cameras from any location has proven a significant asset to the City,” said Chief Aaron Baker of City of Pittsburg. “Our investment in this project has proven that wireless mesh network technology is an effective means to assist in fighting crime while ultimately saving tax payer dollars. We are expanding the system as needed and we intend to continue to initiate similar programs to improve our city-wide public safety efforts.”

Infrared surveillance cameras manufactured by FLIR Corp. of Santa Barbara, California have also been installed for strategic night viewing applications. Beyond video surveillance, the Strix network provides additional benefits of secured high-speed data access and voice over IP, both providing substantial benefit to public safety and homeland security applications. A significant benefit of controlling this public safety network is that voice over IP services can remain operational in the event that the local carriers' 3G network is saturated or goes down.

“The system offers tremendous performance and reliability,” said Louis Wershaw, president of Odin Systems. “We don’t have to be as concerned with bandwidth usage as would be the case with other industry solutions. Strix Systems gives us the flexibility to set the frame rates, resolution and file size we desire to allow outstanding video playback. And at the end of the day that’s what’s ultimately needed for evidence.”

The amount of tangible evidence provided by the system has been vital to the prosecution of criminals. The City has expanded the system with the Strix Access/One Mobile Wireless System (MWS) and cameras fitted in undercover surveillance vehicles for mobile command and surveillance operations. This expanded system has greatly enhanced the capability of the City to improve law enforcement and to initiate new programs such as the Beat Auto Theft and U-Can and Watch Programs.

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