City of Calgary Enjoys a New Light Rail System with Genetec Video Surveillance

As Calgary's transportation system welcomes a new light rail, the city also amps up its security surveillance.

Calgary Transit, located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, has installed Genetec’s Omnicast video surveillance system on its popular, highly-used light rail transit (LRT) system. Omnicast was installed as a stand-alone IP video surveillance system within the Security Center, Genetec’s unified security platform, and helps to ensure the safety of Calgary Transit’s 270,000 daily (weekday) LRT customers.

Calgary Transit selected Contava, a Genetec Unified Elite Integrator, to manage and supervise the design, deployment, and configuration of a new video surveillance system to replace the existing platform. David Sime, Director of Operations at Contava, suggested Omnicast. By selecting an IP-based platform, Calgary Transit has been able to establish a robust IP network onto which additional technologies can rely in the future.

The new system is comprised of 471 Panasonic megapixel NW502 IP cameras in addition to 23 Panasonic NW964 PTZ (pan tilt zoom) IP cameras. It is managed by Dell servers with distributed archiving throughout Calgary’s 38 LRT stations and centralized redundant archiving at the City Hall data center. Operators can monitor the security system at each station and video can be remotely viewed at the central location.

The Omnicast system replaces Calgary Transit’s old system of analog cameras, which transmitted, recorded and switched analog video. Transitioning to the Genetec platform provides Calgary Transit with an interactive system, and many additional possibilities.
“This new system has increased our coverage, while keeping our costs lower on a per-camera basis,” said Colin Adderley, Project Manager and Engineer for Calgary Transit’s CCTV system. “We currently are able to use it for observing train arrival times and ensuring interlocks are working correctly. In the future, there are a number of additional initiatives planned for the platform that will help improve and support our operations.”

Among the advantages of the Omnicast platform is its ability to integrate with other technologies, for example, by allowing Calgary Transit to integrate video surveillance with its emergency phone and elevator SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system to facilitate centralized alarm management. Operators can communicate with their mechanical systems directly via the surveillance platform, which syncs the video feed to the task at hand.

“Honestly, Genetec simply provides the strongest video management platform, both from usability and scalability standpoints,” said Mr. Sime, “Add to that Omnicast’s ability to integrate with transit operation technologies, and I believe Genetec is a great choice for any transit deployment.”

“We are excited to add Calgary Transit to the long list of Genetec’s mass transit customers,” said Danny Peleg, Director of Business Development for Transportation. “Securing LRT systems is not an easy feat, especially in recent years. With the Security Center, our mass transit customers can rely on two essential elements: high-system availability and ease of interoperability between their various systems.”

Featured

  • 12 Commercial Crime Sites to Do Your Research

    12 Commercial Crime Sites to Do Your Research

    Understanding crime statistics in your industry and area is crucial for making important decisions about your security budget. With so much information out there, how can you know which statistics to trust? Read Now

  • Boosting Safety and Efficiency

    Boosting Safety and Efficiency

    In alignment with the state of Mississippi’s mission of “Empowering Mississippi citizens to stay connected and engaged with their government,” Salient's CompleteView VMS is being installed throughout more than 150 state boards, commissions and agencies in order to ensure safety for thousands of constituents who access state services daily. Read Now

  • Live From GSX: Post-Show Review

    Live From GSX: Post-Show Review

    This year’s Live From GSX program was a rousing success! Again, we’d like to thank our partners, and IPVideo, for working with us and letting us broadcast their solutions to the industry. You can follow our Live From GSX 2023 page to keep up with post-show developments and announcements. And if you’re interested in working with us in 2024, please don’t hesitate to ask about our Live From programs for ISC West in March or next year’s GSX. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • People Say the Funniest Things

    People Say the Funniest Things

    By all accounts, GSX version 2023 was completely successful. Apparently, there were plenty of mix-ups with the airlines and getting aircraft from the East Coast into Big D. I am all ears when I am in a gathering of people. You never know when a nugget of information might flip out. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • ComNet CNGE6FX2TX4PoE

    The ComNet cost-efficient CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is a six-port switch that offers four Gbps TX ports that support the IEEE802.3at standard and provide up to 30 watts of PoE to PDs. It also has a dedicated FX/TX combination port as well as a single FX SFP to act as an additional port or an uplink port, giving the user additional options in managing network traffic. The CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is designed for use in unconditioned environments and typically used in perimeter surveillance. 3

  • 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. 3

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame. 3