IP Video Enhances Hong Kong Traffic Surveillance

  • Sep 05, 2008
IndigoVision’s complete IP CCTV technology has been used to extend the capabilities of Hong Kong’s extensive traffic surveillance system. The current analog system has been expanded with the addition of 48 cameras using IndigoVision’s IP video system, creating a fully integrated 250 camera hybrid solution. The introduction of IndigoVision’s IP-based distributed networked provides a platform for full migration to IP Video in the future.

The migration project was designed and installed by IndigoVision’s local partner Tung Po (HK) Technology Enterprise Ltd. Tung Po also developed bespoke software to create an integrated ‘front end’ for both the existing analog system and IndigoVision’s IP video. This was interfaced with ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s IP Video and alarm management software, which provides powerful virtual matrix switching features, alarm handling and video analysis tools.

Like many large analog systems, Hong Kong’s CCTV surveillance consists of a number of isolated video control rooms which are not interconnected to form a single centrally monitored system -- often referred to as ‘islands’ of video. The IndigoVision solution has created a fully scalable and distributed solution that will allow the future integration of these remote control rooms into one unified system, allowing Hong Kong’s Traffic Police to centrally manage and control the region’s traffic problems.

Plans are in place to expand the system to more than 700 cameras. The first phase of this expansion has been completed with the addition of a 48 camera IP-based system to monitor the Northern district of the city, which was previously not monitored. This region is close to the Chinese border and has significant traffic problems caused by 2 million people a day making cross border journeys. Even though the new extension to the system is predominantly for traffic surveillance the Police also use it for monitoring public events in the area. This demonstrates how easy additional monitoring can be integrated into the new system -- something that would have been too costly with analog CCTV equipment.

IndigoVision’s IP video solution provides a number of significant benefits compared to old VCR/analog systems. Multiple live camera views can be displayed alongside recorded video on the same monitor. ‘Control Center’ tools provide fast analysis of recorded footage allowing the Traffic Police to quickly determine the cause of accidents and incidents. Cameras can also be easily added or relocated in response to changes in the traffic situation at specific locations.

“IndigoVision’s system was chosen following an analysis of competing systems,” said Kenny Leung of Tung Po (HK). “The equipment easily exceeded the technical compliance part of the tender and the end-user was particularly impressed with the picture quality and low latency. Operators can smoothly control PTZ on cameras that are located in the Northern District over 15 miles away.”

IndigoVision’s Software Interface Kit (SIK) was used to develop an interface for uploading video images to the Traffic Department’s website, allowing the public to view selected traffic cameras. IndigoVision uses the SIK to develop interfaces for many third party systems including leading access control systems, to create a truly integrated solution for IP security applications.

The combination of ‘Control Center’ and the IP network creates a ‘virtual matrix’. This replaces the physical video switching matrices of analog systems. Each of the analog camera feeds are connected to IndigoVision’s 8000 transmitter/receiver modules, which converts the signal to 4CIF 25 fps digital video for transmission over the network.

The ‘virtual matrix’ can switch any camera feed to any PC or Monitor, wherever they are located on the IP network. Seven days of full-frame rate continuous video is recorded using IndigoVision’s NVR software running on dual-redundant servers located at the Transport Department HQ.

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