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

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • 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.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.