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Eyes On Haiti

The motion and still images coming out of Haiti tend to bring sorrow and angst. But at the same time, the information allows people from all over the world to see what is happening. Security cameras are playing a key role as online footage of the earthquake devastation is available to relief agencies, governments and news-gathering groups.

Immersive Media cameras are capturing 100 million pixels at 30 frames per second, which enables agencies to access video over low-speed connections. The video quality has been optimized for lower-bandwidth Web viewing.

High-resolution, 360-degree video footage of the destruction in Haiti also is available at http://www.immersivemedia.com.

The videos place viewers squarely in the middle of the environment, giving them full control over what they see in a scene. Online viewers can click and drag a computer mouse to look sideways, up, down or all around in 360-degrees. The viewer also is able to zoom in and out.

Each frame of the video is geo-coded, which will enable planners and operations teams to pinpoint exact locations for relief, recover and rebuilding operations.

While the events of the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti are indeed very sad, it’s rather amazing what today’s technology can do to help speed relief and recovery efforts. The cameras give an unprecedented view of the devastation from the ground level. This type of technology is critical to relief efforts and future planning, both of which are needed in Haiti.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

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