Dallas Police Department Selects ChristeR for Technology Upgrade

  • Jul 26, 2012

ChristieR, a visual display solutions company, recently gave new life to the Dallas Police Department's 24/7 Fusion Center, with a 6 units high by 12 units wide digital video wall.

The 72-unit ChristieR MicroTilesR display is part of the Center's comprehensive technology upgrade to fight crime in the City of Dallas and to gather and share intelligence information with state-level and Federal
Homeland Security.

In 2010, the Dallas Police Department, with major funding from Homeland Security, upgraded its training and special event operations room into a new state-of-the-art Fusion Center, merging information from separate 911
Center, city wide surveillance cameras, tracking systems and investigative analytical databases to improve functionality and response times within the new intelligence operations center. Equipped with new consoles, a SMART
BoardR, intelligent switching capability, and visualizing data from more than 25 sources, the Dallas Police Department, through AV solutions provider, Whitlock, turned to Christie for its visual technology.  "We recommended Christie MicroTiles for their exceptional image quality in brightness, contrast and color reproduction," explained Scott Creevy, senior
account executive with Whitlock. "The MicroTiles also offer a low cost of operation and a long track record of reliability, which made them the perfect choice for the Fusion Center."

As a result of the technology integration, up to 27  Fusion analysis detectives per day work more effectively with the added ability to monitor a comprehensive common operating picture displayed on the MicroTiles wall in real-time.  "The facility operates 24/7 so we needed a  video wall that was high resolution, durable and low maintenance," said Paul Schuster, senior corporal and special projects coordinator of the Dallas Police Department.

"Our detectives monitor close to 100 cameras all around the city, including officer locations, calls and national live events, so the Dallas Police Department needed a video wall that could help us maintain our 24-hour operation," Schuster said. "Christie MicroTiles do just that, while lowering the cost of operations."

Dallas Police Chief David O. Brown credits the Fusion Center, its technology and other new initiatives for reducing crime in Dallas for the eighth consecutive year. States Chief Brown, "It's about policing smarter, using the information and technology that is available to outsmart the criminal element."

"Christie MicroTiles self-calibrate and are designed for maximum image quality in high ambient light environments, such as the Dallas Fusion Center," Creevy said.

"With the Fusion Center's advanced technology, we are fighting crime more intelligently in the City of Dallas,"Fusion Center Commander Lt. Thomasson said. "Our detectives  have quicker access to information that can be shared responsibly with one another, with other departments and with the patrol officers working the streets."   

"Today's control rooms go beyond traditional displaying and monitoring. Integrated technology allows information to be shared anywhere; quickly, accurately, and effortlessly," said John Stark, senior director, Collaborative Visual Solutions at Christie. "The Dallas Police Department had the foresight to see the benefit of using Christie MicroTiles as the visual element of their newly integrated environment, advancing the efficiency and accuracy of their intelligence operations."  

Christie MicroTiles have built-in sensors monitoring each LED's performance, automatically adjusting brightness and color continuously for the life of the display. Built with reliable solid-state components, including LEDs rated at 65,000 hours to half brightness, no lamps or consumables need to be replaced for more than seven years. Using the strengths of both DLPR projection and LED technology, Christie MicroTiles offer substantially brighter images and a much wider color palette than conventional flat panel LCD and plasma displays. With no practical limit to the number of tiles in a display, Christie MicroTiles produce a virtually seamless canvas with an unlimited number of super-fine pixels.

 

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.