Surveillance Technology Tracks Crimes in Real Time

Surveillance Technology Tracks Crimes in Real Time

  • Feb 25, 2015

While I’m not sure if Americans have gotten more comfortable or just more tolerable with traditional surveillance cameras being deployed throughout cities, here comes a new generation that is so powerful it can track every vehicle and person for several hours at a time across an area that is about the size as a small city. This allows police, businesses and private individuals to watch and monitor a specific person’s movements throughout the space. The kicker? The cameras are airborne.

Ross McNutt, president of Persistent Surveillance Systems (the Dayton, Ohio company that designed this system) and a retired Air Force officer, who assisted the military in designing a similar system for surveillance in the skies above the city of Fallujah, Iraq, hopes to convince others that mounting cameras on fixed-wing aircraft can provide more useful data than police helicopters and for less money. In fact, $1,500 to $2,000 per hour covers the use of 12 commercial Canon cameras mounted in an array, flight time, operation of a command center and analysts’ time for assisting with investigations.

Besides seeing drops in crime with the use of this surveillance technology, McNutt has identified some other positive side effects:

  • Rising property values,
  • Better schools,
  • Increased development, and
  • Lower incarceration rates over time as this type of surveillance helps deter people from committing crimes.

Of course this brings up the concern of civil liberties and if people’s privacy is being invaded illegally. But, if you look at it from the perspective of Persistence Surveillance Systems, it is possible to track crime in real-time, as it occurs, which would in theory provide a safer environment for all. And, to address all those with privacy concerns, McNutt consulted and sought advice from the American Civil Liberties Union in drafting a privacy policy. This policy includes how long data can be kept, when images can be accessed and who can see them, noting that police officers are only supposed to access the data after a crime has been reported.

Featured

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file. 3

  • 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. 3

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3